Hei my dear friend,

This week I discovered two things:
1. Bananas have a secret second life (spoiler: it involves muffins 🍌).
2. Scientists can still be shocked, and what they found about ultra-processed food will make you want to hide your chips.

Oh, and in between baking and reading research, I found myself weeding raspberry canes with two four-legged sidekicks named Bamse and King 🐾 Life here is never boring!

So today you’ll get muffins, brand-new science, skincare safety updates, and a farm story: basically, all the essentials 😉

🍌 Banana Muffins 🍌 to the rescue

Sometimes life hands you... overripe bananas 🫣 And if you’re like me, that can go one of two ways: either you sigh and toss them, or you get creative and bake something delicious 😋

For me, it’s always the second option, because when those cravings hit
(and oh yes, they do... several times a week 🙈), it’s way too easy to fall into the ultra-processed trap.

You know the one: snacks that promise instant happiness, but leave you feeling heavy, tired, and guilty five minutes later... That’s why I always keep some homemade «rescue treats» on hand, quick, clean, and satisfying.

This week, I made my favorite banana oat muffins! They’re ridiculously easy, naturally sweet, and if your bananas are really overripe, you can skip the sugar altogether. Easy, quick, and better for both belly and skin... 🍦

Recipe at the bottom of this email👇😉

But speaking of gut health: I stumbled upon some research this week that honestly left me furious... 😖

The Study That Made Me Angry 😳

Okay, now onto the less sweet news.

A brand-new Danish study tested young, healthy men on diets with and without ultra-processed food. In just 3 weeks, the results were shocking 😨
- Increased body fat
- Lower testosterone
- Worse sperm quality
- Early signs of poor heart health

All that... in three weeks. And the researchers admitted the damage might be even worse if people did not already eat processed foods regularly.
This hit me hard. And sadly, it’s not just men: Studies also show clear links between ultra-processed foods and women’s health issues like breast health, fertility, and even menopausal symptoms.

👉 A couple of years ago, after YEARS of struggles, pain and insecurities, I finally got diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). It gave me a label for my symptoms and troubles, but no real cure 😕

I tried a lot of extreme diets and treatments, but like in the case of skincare, my healing came from simplicity: Move away from wonder cures promising magic, stop giving my body foods that claims to help my busy life (fast food and ultra-processed foods), and strip it down to four main learnings:

New research also shows clear links between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and skin health, especially for women:
Psoriasis: A large UK study (175,000 participants) found that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a much higher risk of psoriasis.
Eczema: Another study looked at salt intake (often high in UPFs). For every extra gram of salt per day, the risk of eczema went up by as much as 16%, and symptoms became more severe.
Skin aging: Italian researchers found that a diet heavy in UPFs is linked to faster biological aging, meaning the body, including the skin, ages quicker.

The point isn’t that you should never touch a cookie or frozen pizza again...
But that small swaps can make a big difference.

Simply reducing ultra-processed foods and adding more natural foods is a true investment in both your skin and your overall health💛

Here’s one thing I’m grateful for: living in a place where at least some rules protect us.

From September 1st, more than 20 new chemicals were banned in cosmetics across the EU, because they’ve been linked to serious health risks like cancer and reproductive harm ⚠️

One example is TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide), a common ingredient in gel nail polishes. It helps the polish harden under UV light, but scientists have raised big concerns about its safety. From now on, many gel polishes with TPO will no longer be sold or used in Europe.

😓 But here’s the frustrating part: in the US, these same ingredients are still legal. Which means something considered too dangerous for us here is still being used in American beauty salons ‼️

👉 Tip: Take a peek at your bottles at home, or ask your nail tech to show you the ingredient list. If it contains TPO, you might want to reconsider ❌

I’ve linked the official list of banned ingredients so you can scan for anything still hiding in your products! Access the banned ingredients list

That makes me furious, but also proud. Proud that none of these banned chemicals (not now, not ever) have touched a single Frøya jar. Everything we make is safe, clean, and something I’m happy to put on my own skin 🥰

Life on the Farm 🌱

Of course, not everything this week was science and regulations. Autumn is creeping in, and the raspberry canes needed cutting back to make space for next year’s growth.

With little Bamse and King, my borrowed farm dogs trotting behind me, I couldn’t help but smile. Sometimes life feels complicated, but nature keeps reminding me: clear away the old, make space for the new.

And of course, there’s always some heavy lifting on the farm 💪 We’re a bit behind (should’ve been done by summer, hehe), so now it’s full-on before the ground freezes:

But let me tell you... My shoulders were screaming after all that work 😫 Luckily, the Joint & Muscle Healing Balm came to my rescue once again, easing the soreness and letting me get back to farm life the next day without a hitch 💪

Before I wrap up… 💭

I’d honestly love to hear from you! 👩💻
Did you enjoy this mix of recipes, science, and farm life? Was today’s note about gut health and beauty useful - or maybe just fun to read?
Or maybe you just want to talk muffins (always welcome 🍌🧁).
And of course, if you have questions about the Frøya products, ingredients, or your own skin and health journey, just hit reply. I read every single message, and your feedback truly makes my day! 💌
Until next week, take good care of yourself, body, skin, and soul ❤️🩹

Warm hugs,
Line 💚
The heart of Frøya 🌸

Banana Oat Muffins Recipe as promised 🍌

Ingredients
2 overripe bananas
2 eggs
100 ml neutral oil
70 g raw cane sugar (skip for a bit more savory muffins)
100 g all-purpose flour
100 g rolled oats or oat flour
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and prepare muffin cases.
Mash the bananas with a fork until smooth. Add the eggs and mix well, then stir in the oil.
Sift in the dry ingredients and gently fold together with a spatula. Do not overmix, or the texture will become dense!
Spoon the batter into the muffin cases, filling each about two-thirds full.
Bake in the middle of the oven for about 18 minutes (baking time may vary depending on your oven) 🧁