HealthiaCynthia

No Bleach Here, Thank You

Filed under: Health & Wellness, Green for Life, Chemical Toxins by healthiacynthia on March 17, 2008 10:35 pm

What follows is the reason that this Granny does not use Household bleach…. this comes from the CHEC Chemical Profile page.

  Chlorine
Rank: Red
Red = Danger! Prevent Exposure
Orange = Warning - Avoid Exposure
Yellow = Caution - Limit Exposure

Common Names: chloramine, sodium hypochlorite, bleach, hydrochloric acid, trihalomethanes, disinfection byproducts

Chlorine is a highly corrosive gas with a pungent odor that is derived from natural sources such as salt (sodium chloride) and produced in mass quantities for industrial use. Chlorine is a building block for PVC plastics (vinyl) and for numerous chemicals, including pesticides, refrigerants, anti-knock compounds, and antifreeze. Dissolved in liquid to form sodium hypochlorite, or bleach, it is widely used as a disinfectant, in bleaching, and to purify public water supplies. Another form, hydrochloric acid, may be used in some toilet bowl cleaners.

Household bleach is a weak sodium hypochlorite solution. Household bleach is the most common cleaner accidentally swallowed by children. Children can also be exposed to dangerous gases when cleaners containing bleach are mixed with other cleaning agents, such as ammonia.

Concern about chlorine exposure also arises from its ability to form more toxic byproducts. Chlorine reacts with organic matter in drinking water to produce trihalomethanes, which may cause cancer and possibly developmental effects. A recent study links children's exposure to one byproduct, nitrogen trichloride, in chlorinated indoor pools to asthma. Chlorine bleaching of paper and the manufacture and incineration of PVC plastic results in the formation of highly toxic dioxins and furans.

Acute toxicity information below is for sodium hypochlorite (bleach).

Acute Toxicity

What do these toxicity
categories mean?

Restocking the Bathroom Cabinet Without Parabens

Filed under: Health & Wellness, Facebook.com, Green for Life by healthiacynthia on February 20, 2008 4:34 pm

You have also heard about it lately (in the media, from friends): parabens is the newest dirty word in health and wellness awareness.  This is the word you don't want to see as an ingredient in any of your personal care or cleaning products.

It is first of all, good to have a definition of parabens: a group of petro-chemicals (from the petrol industry, like plastics, etc.) traditionally used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical industries– and even in food– as a preservative.   Some of the names it goes by are: methylparaben (E number E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216) and butylparaben. Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts.  Look on your shampoo bottle or even your frozen soy 'Stripples' and see what you find as a paraben.  Kind of shocking, isn't it?

Studies have come out recently suggesting the long-term use of parabens may be connected to breast cancer and many skin problems.  The 'scientific community' is torn on this– some claiming that parabens only show small levels of toxicity and that some 'natural organic' products, such as grapefruit seed, are not shown to be effective in doing what they claim to do. 

Too, manufacturers who claim their products are "natural" and "organic" are not well regulated for these claims at this time.  While some products might contain organically-grown ingredients, they might ALSO contain parabens.  In the eyes of the supporters of organic and sustainable farming, the two just don't make for a happy marriage.  See the Oregon Tilth site to learn about what standards need to be maintained for the use of the label "organic" to be used ethically.

Now, if you are like me, you would probably just as happily want to use products that truly ARE made without parabens in them.  I spent a couple of days this week clearing out the paraben-containing cosmetics and other products from my main bathroom closet.  My husband was a little irritated when I attempted to shang-hai his deodorant, so I will have to make the switch with a non-toxic deodorant for him, tout de suite. 

Young Living personal care products all claim to be petrochemical-free but they also contain pure essential oils, which some people have sensitivities to, particularly during the period of changing from using toxic ingredients, like parabens, to non-paraben containing products.  If you have no sensitivities to pure essential oils (most are organically farmed and distilled using very stringent practices, some are distilled from selectively wild-crafted plants, such as frankincense and palo santo), then you will likely be fine with Young Living products.

Through a great group on the social network, Facebook, I have discovered several great cosmetic and cleaning products that are actually not just NOT toxic, but healthy for the skin, hair, and air that we breathe.  I might be out of the loop, because I don't watch TV, but the products that really caught my attention were Dr. Bronner's soaps.  I like to go somewhere 'to shop' where I can get a broad range of items and brandnames, and I particularly like this little company in the pristine wilds of Minnesota.  It's a one-stop-shopping spree for me– everything there from coconut flour (for those of us who are wheat gluten intolerant) to … well…. here are some examples:

Baby Mild:
Unscented: No Essential Oils have been added, which makes a mild, smooth soap for sensitive skin (but still be sure to keep it out of the eyes).
Ingredients: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Olive oils (w/ retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E

Baby Mild 16 oz.
$8.99
Baby Mild 32 oz.
$14.49

 No scent for those who are scent-sensitive! (or, if you are into Young Living oils, you can add your own particular scents– and come join the Facebook Group called).  Please note the ingredients– definitely parabens-free!

And here are a couple of really health-conscious bargains!

"Toothpaste, Natural Herbal, Supirvicky Ayurvedic 75 gm. tube,

40% Discount (Overstock Sale)"
"Toothpaste, Natural Herbal, Supirvicky Ayurvedic 75 gm. tube, 40% Discount (Overstock Sale)"
Code: TOSK01
Price:$2.25

Shipping Weight: 0.20 pounds
 
 
 
Regular Price: $3.75

Overstock Sale Price: $2.25 (save 40%), while supplies last.

This is Ayurveda Preparation approved by the Department of Ayruveda. It helps to control tooth decay,

discoloration and tarter. It keeps gums healthy and promotes fresh breath.

 and what the heck, for anyone who wants to make their own wonderful face creams (or fry their organic veggies), you can't beat Virgin Organic Coconut Oil!

Order Certified Organic Centrifuge Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil,
Extra Virgin, Certified Organic,
Centrifuge Extracted, 1 pint
Code: QF1010 - Price: $16.95
Coconut Oil,
Extra Virgin, Certified Organic,
Centrifuge Extracted, 1 quart
Code: QF1032 - $22.95
Coconut Oil,
Extra Virgin, Certified Organic,
Centrifuge Extracted, 1/2 gallon
Code: QF1096 - Price: $41.95
Coconut Oil,
Extra Virgin, Certified Organic,
Centrifuge Extracted, 1 gallon
Code: QF1128 - Price: $64.95
Coconut Oil,
Extra Virgin, Certified Organic,
Centrifuge Extracted, 5 gallons
Code: QF1640 - $225.00
Coconut Oil,
Extra Virgin, Certified Organic,
Centrifuge Extracted, sample, limit of 4
Code: S-QF1010 - Price: $3.00

BUY BY THE CASE AND SAVE!

Buy by the case qualifies for a 15% discount and free shipping in the 48 states of the Continental United States. For your free shipping to take effect you need to choose the UPS Ground Shipping selection while checking out.

 There ya go!  For those who are interested, you can join the Facebook group called Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and the People Who Use Them and get in on some ways to blend Dr. Bonner's magic soaps and to make other paraben-free cosmetics and health aids!

 


Don’t Waste Your $$ on These High-Hype Supplements!

Filed under: Health & Wellness, NingXia Red, Green for Life by healthiacynthia on August 24, 2007 11:07 am

 I used to take supplements by the ton.  In fact, when I went into the hospital to have our second baby I had a suitcase full of them…. the idea was to have "a painfree labor"– as though such a thing exists!  Over time I have done quite a bit of reading on supplements and now rely for my health on a balance of attitude/physical nurture/great whole foods (including NingXia Red) and I agree with the following article:

3 Popular Supplements That Are a Waste of Money

This might make me a few enemies, but I believe that 99% of supplements and "superfoods" on the market are an absolute waste of money.

It seems like every time you turn your head, someone is offering the latest and greatest "beauty enhancing" or "breakthrough" superfood or supplement.

But what if I told you something shocking yet so simple to understand: there's no "food" that arrives in a bottle, having been made in a factory and sold in powdered form, that will ever compare in terms of "super-nutrition" to fresh fruits and vegetables.

But still, almost every day I get an e-mail that says, "what do you think of __________" (fill in the blank with whatever supplement or superfood is now being promoted as the latest "amazing" product).

Although it would take forever to review every product on the market, let's review some popular supplements and superfoods that, in my opinion, are an absolute waste of money.

Green Powder

Almost every supplement company has a variation of the "green powder," which is basically a powder made with dried grass, dried grass juices or dried vegetables and possibly algae. This powder is supposed to make your body more alkaline and give you nutrition you can't find elsewhere.

First, I would say that grass powder is not a worthy food and anyone growing grass and turning it into a powder and making a lot of money selling it is really laughing their way to the bank at the expense of unknowing customers. Even if it's called "wheatgrass", it's still grass.

A powder of vegetables or algae can never compare in nutritional value to fresh vegetables, even if those vegetables are not organic.

The real superfoods are dark green vegetables such as spinach, romaine lettuce, black kale, parsley, celery, arugula, and so on.

With the use of "green smoothies" made with *fresh* green vegetables and fruit, anyone can obtain superior nutrition in a few minutes a day (ruling out the argument that people don't have "time" to eat well).

Green smoothies and fresh raw greens literally put these green powders to shame. For a free mini-course on the power of green smoothies, go to: http://tinyurl.com/22gf2l

"Introducing the Green for Life Revolution
That Will Transform Your Health No Matter
What Diet You're On!"
gfl Watch in awe as the Green for Life helps you shed pounds, overcome deficiencies, reverse signs of aging and make you feel just awesome!

Click here to find out more.

Protein Powder

Another all-time favorite of supplement companies is protein powder, in all its forms. There's the ultra-refined soy protein powder, we've got whey protein, rice protein, and now a less refined hemp protein.

But the idea is the same: that somehow, no matter how much food you eat, there's still a chance you might not get enough protein, so therefore you should consume protein in a concentrated, powdered form.

This idea is especially popular among body-builders and gym-goers. It's interesting to note that starting from the Greek gymnasiums two and a half thousand years ago through the ages of gladiators and modern gymnastics, men and women of all ages have been able to build magnificent, muscular bodies eating nothing more than simple foods and without the use of protein powders.

This is a classic example of how you can market a product by first "creating a problem" that doesn't exist.

Nutrition textbooks teach that you can get all the protein you need as long as you consume enough calories from whole foods, even if all you eat is fruits and vegetables.

Noni Juice

Although this discussion could lead me to cover any possible supplement or superfood among the thousands of products available, I think you're starting to get my point.

I'll just finish with an example of a "superfood" called noni and sold as "noni juice."

The noni is a fruit that's been used for centuries in Polynesia for its alleged medicinal properties. But there is very limited scientific evidence to support these properties.

When I visited Tahiti last winter, I was on the tiny island of Huahine and had the chance to try real noni juice from a local Tahitian couple who made the juice from their own fruit tree.

Let me tell you that it was the most disgusting, horrible concoction that I ever had in my entire life!

Obviously, the noni is not a natural food for humans, as there is no way anyone would want to consume it unless they thought it had some medicinal value.

My Tahitian friends explained how they prepare the noni juice. They put all these unappetizing, weird-smelling noni fruits in a jar and then let the thing ferment for several days.

Then the fermented juice that oozes out of the fruits and reeks like the juice that's formed at the bottom of a trash container, is what they drink.

Now American companies have had the great idea of adding a bunch of sugar to this awful tasting Tahitian folk remedy juice, making up a fantastic story around it, throwing in some questionable science and selling millions of dollars worth of the stuff to gullible people.

Listen closely: it's completely absurd to think that one food can be a universal remedy for all our ills. We need nutrients from different sources and Nature isn't so capricious as to put everything in one place.

We're meant to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, drink pure water and have a healthy lifestyle with lots of exercise and healthy relationships and positive thoughts.

All the rest is marketing and hype.

Of course, you are free to believe what you want about noni juice and other kinds of superfoods available on the market.

But do yourself a favor and make the decision to try for yourself what the study and experience of natural hygiene and health through a pure raw-based diet can do for you.

 Frederic Patenaude, is the author of the best-selling e-book "The Raw Secrets" and is known for his no-gimmick, BS-free approach to health and nutrition. You can get a free subscription to his "Outrageous Health & Success" ezine by visiting http://tinyurl.com/22gf2l