April 3rd, 2007, 17-year-old Arielle Newman of Castleton Corners, N.Y., a track star at Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, had gone to a party the night of April 2nd, then returned home and spent hours talking with her mother. Little knowing that, hours later, she would draw her last breath, dying from a toxic overdose of poisons spawned from the overuse of topical sports creams. Click here to read.

The New York City medical examiner's office concluded that the track star's blood contained lethal levels of methyl salicylate, the active ingredient found in muscle rubs such as BenGay and Icy Hot. Many school-aged and professional athletes use muscle rubs to alleviate pain and keep muscles stimulated.

The autopsy revealed that the young girl's excessive overuse of the topical medication allowed the poisons to accumulate in her body over an undetermined amount of time. Newman, who garnered numerous track awards, had no idea she had applied a lethal amount of the medication to her body.

It is important to note that the toxicology report revealed more than six times the safe amount of methyl salicylate in Arielle's blood. Click here to read. A strong case could be made that this is a rare, freak occurrence. The reality, however, is a lethal level of this substance caused the untimely and tragic death of young woman. This story saddens us deeply and shines a much-needed spotlight on the necessity for greater awareness and better education. NaturOli is a source for healthy, natural skincare and personal beauty alternatives. Here's the big kicker: Methyl salicylate is actually a "natural" product. Albeit there are synthetic variations, it's typically found in wintergreens. We have no way of knowing exactly what Arielle was applying.

"Natural" does not always mean "good for you." Knowledge is the only key. We strongly believe that a public's improved understanding of how your body absorbs ALL topical substances may have helped Arielle. Put simply: Topical substances enter your blood stream in much the same way as consuming them. It just takes longer.

We hope Arielle's story serves as a wake-up call to us all in the pursuit of healthier lives. We must obtain a deeper, broader understanding of our body. At NaturOli her story further deepens our resolve to share the truth. We have good reason for adopting our tag line, "The Result of Natural Selection." It's the results that count. We remain committed to eliminating results such as Arielle found. To all the family and friends of Arielle Newman, we offer our most heartfelt sympathies. You have our promise that we will continue endeavoring to make a difference.

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