HERE ARE QUESTIONS ON HEALTH AND wellness from readers.



What gentle detox can you recommend?



The main filters of blood are the kidneys. The body is better-armed against toxins if the kidney and liver are cleansed three times a year. But you can do it daily.



Double water intake. Begin the day with warm water. Add green tea and freshly juiced (not canned) vegetables and fruits. Popular combinations are apple-carrot, cucumber-carrot, sugar beet-carrot, guava-apple/turnip (singkamas), pineapple-guava, papaya-apple. Or simply drink coconut water. Eat rainbow-colored fruits and vegetables to get a variety of antioxidants.



Good detox begins with chewing food properly—at least 25-30 times before swallowing. This will improve one’s digestion, acid reflux and stomach problems.



Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and junk food.



Add up on fiber by taking rolled oats and psyllium. At day’s end, take two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or virgin coconut oil. This will line the tummy and colon for smoother elimination.



Every morning and night, scrape your tongue.



Exercise for 30 minutes.



Have a good body scrub using two tablespoons of salt or sugar and one tablespoon of olive/coconut/sesame oil. This combination leaves a sweet earthy scent on skin. Follow with a massage.



Cleanse your spirit, unload your heart and ease your mind.



What is in my sunscreen and is it safe?



Sunscreen ingredients block ultraviolet radiation in several ways.



Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide protect skin from UV rays. They appear milky on skin.



The following absorb radiation: octyl methoxycinnamate, methylbenzylidene camphor and bentyl methoxycinnamate. Over the years, sensitivity to sunscreen chemicals has grown. Don’t use sunscreen if it contains 4MBC (4-methoxybenzylidene camphor, trade name Parsol). Safety has been questioned by the Danish Environmental Protection Authority and other health experts. Avoid oxybenzone, a photosensitizer which will cause skin to absorb more UV radiation. To play safe, try natural sunscreens with tocopherol acetate (natural Vitamin E), green tea extract, grape seed oil/extract, Vitamin C and retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A). Fortify skin by eating red beans, black beans, apples, guavas, strawberries and berries.



Take selenium up to 100 mcg/day, which protects skin from DNA damage.



Add a slice of lemon to water and sip it before going out. It has anti-skin cancer properties, especially if you eat the skin.



Any remedies for back pain?



Pain can be chronic (less intense but for long periods) or acute (intense pain). Manage pain by seeing a chiropractor. But one of the best ways to avoid pain is to stop abusing the part of the body that hurts.



Supplements like glucosamine help the regeneration of cartilage. But it’s best to consult a naturopath or herbalist. Call US-trained Dr. Tam Mateo at 401-1608.



Affirm today: “I am a source of endless energy.”



Love and light!