Naturally Healthy Living in Spain

If you've been out and about around the markets in Spain, you'll have noticed there are loads of fresh figs around. Some people are a bit unsure about what to do with fresh figs - they are more accustomed to dried figs. While dried figs are also very good for you' it's a really good idea to make the most of the fresh ones while they are around. They are great to eat just as they are, and you can also use them for skin care.

We have a fig tree in the garden, and for the first time since we planted it four years ago, the tree is heavy with fruit. There are far too many for us to be able to eat - even if we pass them around our friends. So I've been looking for different ways to use figs, and there are a surprising number of things you can use them for.

The milky juice that comes from the stem of the fig is a good remedy for warts and facial blemishes. If you have a problem with acne or spots, mash a couple of fresh figs into a paste and spread it over your face. Leave it for 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.

For a great face and body scrub, mash two figs and mix with a tablespoon of sugar, two tablespoons of fresh orange juice and a few drops of olive oil. Use once a week to remove dead skin cells and leave the skin healthy and glowing.

Eating figs can help your skin from the inside. Figs are high in calcium, which is essential for the production of collagen. And because figs are high in water content, they help to hydrate and moisturise the skin. Figs are also high in antioxidants, which help to mop up disease-causing free radicals, which can also damage the skin, so they're great for helping you to stay younger looking.

As well as being good for the skin, figs are great for general health too. They help to lower cholesterol and brood pressure, and are excellent for controling blood sugar levels. Some doctors advise people with diabetes to eat figs to help control the condition. And of course they are high in fibre, so they can help sort out any digestive problems you may be experiencing.

All things considered, figs are one of the healthiest foods around, and here in Spain and the Mediterranean region, we're lucky enough to have a steady supply of fresh figs through the summer. If you haven't done so already, maybe you should take a fresh look at fresh figs.

Mineral oil is a by product of the refining process which produces petrol from crude oil. It’s classed as a petrochemical, so it’s absolutely not a natural product.  Mineral oil is derived from fossil fuels, so it’s non-renewable, and this means its extensive use will eventually have adverse environmental implications for the future.

Mineral oil is inexpensive, colourless and odourless as well as being an effective moisturiser, which is why it’s so popular as a filler in many skin care products. It can be found in most major brands in the UK, as well as an incredible 98% of all skin care products in America. Even expensive, so-called premium products list mineral oil high in the ingredients. The mineral oil used in personal care products is admittedly highly refined, but opinion is divided on whether it is a safe ingredient.

Some experts believe that mineral oil is carcinogenic as a result of the processes it goes through. The World Health Organisation classes untreated or slightly treated mineral oil as a Class 1 carcinogen, so they definitely believe it is cancer causing. Refined mineral oil used in skin care products is designated as a Class 3 carcinogen, and although it is not thought to cause cancer in humans, there is insufficient information and research to place it in the safer Class 4 category.  This classification places a question mark over the safety of mineral oil.

Mineral oil acts as a barrier on the skin to prevent environmental damage from the sun and air pollutants , and highly refined oil is not thought to block the skin’s pores. However, something that produces an effective barrier on the skin will prevent things getting out of the body, as well as preventing things getting in. In other words, mineral oil can interfere with the body’s natural cooling mechanism, which expels sweat as well as some of the unwanted toxins in the system.

There is also the worry that mineral oil will block the skin’s natural absorption of moisture. Some experts suggest that the barrier effect of mineral oil could even inhibit the natural renewal of cells, since this depends on the absorption of moisture and oxygen from the atmosphere. The interference with cell renewal could lead to premature aging, which defeats the object of using expensive skin creams.  And remember that environmental moisture is essential for the effective functioning of the body’s natural defence mechanisms.

Why do so many major skin care and cosmetic manufacturers persist in using mineral oil, when there are natural and sustainable alternatives available like coconut oil, argan oil and avocado oil. Cost and convenience obviously come into it, but surely the health and welfare of customers should be paramount? Natural skin care companies tend to use only the safest and best natural ingredients in their products. You will never see mineral oil listed in the ingredients panels of natural skin care products.