Hello Everyone,
Well, I feel really stupid. For about 5 years I've been dealing with "energy" challenges. Major energy challenges. Now I thought as they would appear, one by one over time, that I was just "over worked" or "over stressed." And by taking that thought pattern, I would shrug it off and just tell myself to "buck up."
I can't begin to tell you how many times my "internal" voice would be nagging at me to get up off the couch and get to work, beat me up for being lazy, and generally make me feel like I was a good-for-nothing, no account laggard.
On a good day I would give myself a break, saying to myself, "you've got a lot on your plate, be patient with yourself, give yourself a wee bit of mercy." That was on a good day. But never once did I connect the dots: stress, stress response, menopause, food and diet, exercise = hormonal imbalance. I mean to say that I never understood the deep response and the downward spiral of this delicate house of cards known as the endocrine system.
Well, yesterday as I lay in bed all afternoon wondering - despairing - if I would ever get my act together, it suddenly came to me. What if it were hormones?
Now I have been cleaning up my diet quite religiously for at least a year now. This is to say that I'm eating way more veggies and fruits, absolutely NO processed foods, and mostly organic. I drink no sodas, only water and green/white teas. I went off coffee a year ago, and if I do have a cup (one cup), it's decaf. I faithfully take my "superfood" and mineral supplements. I have even begun doing Tai Chi in the mornings to rev up the old engine. But within hours, I'm out of energy, focus and fuzzy. I could sleep ( and do ) a lot.
I've had patience with this for over a year since my chiropractor informed me that my adrenal glands were "blown out". No sh_t Sherlock. No wonder I couldn't get up off the floor, but more importantly, was the realization that it was my reaction to stress (internal) and the consistency of it that got me here. Add to that, this particular time of life to which I gave no notice or import.
So it came to me, what if it were hormonal? Then I went searching and found http://www.womentowomen.com. I took their online quiz and found out that my symptoms were "severe" and "entrenched" hormone deficiencies. Sigh. The good news (found the answer) and the bad (not an instant fix).
I don't know when I've felt so utterly stupid, not to have put this together sooner. I should have known when the antidepressants did nothing for me and I threw them away. I should have guessed a long time ago, but well, let's stop the self-flagellation and get on with the getting well part.
This morning I called Women To Women in Maine and reached a lovely woman named, Lisa.
Turns out they've been doing this work for 20 years. Well, thank heaven.
The symptoms which I think every woman should pay attention to are these:
1. by 3:00 pm you need coffee or a nap to get through the rest of the day;
2. you're craving sweets (bagels, donuts, carbs, candy); and
3. your sleep patterns are disrupted (can't get to sleep, can't stay asleep, or you could sleep all the time); and
4. your thinking is fuzzy.
Listen, it doesn't matter what age you are, seems that we here in Western Culture with all of our "stress" can experience hormone imbalance at any age, it doesn't have to be menopausal age.
Lisa told me that in some parts of the world where they don't live our life style, they don't even have a word for "menopause", because women don't experience anything disruptive. Imagine that.
Our food (quality) and our lifestyle is what contributes to this hormonal imbalance at any age.
Well, to make a long story short, I have signed up for their 90 day program which consists of phytotherapy (plants and herbs for hormone rebalance and regeneration) as well as nutritional support (the foundation). A book comes along with the supplements. Lisa assures me that by the 4th of July I will be feeling like my old self again. (Can't remember what that felt like, to be truthful.)
So stay tuned. I am going to be the human experiment once again and report back to you as I go along.
Baseline is today, May 28, 2008. I eat mostly organic foods; I eat no processed foods other than tortilla chips; I drink no sodas. I drink only decaffeinated coffee and probably have less than one glass of wine a week (organic). I do eat meat, but not a lot. I am doing Tai Chi in the am for 20 minutes. I write in my journal every am. Meditate daily. Walk daily for at least 20 minutes. I take a superfood, and liquid minerals daily. I sleep at least 8 hours a night (and could sleep more).
What I'm hoping for? Energy, enthusiasm, staying power and pure positive focus, even temperament, balanced optimism, and cheerful countenance.
Stay tuned, I will keep you all posted. In the meantime, if you'd like to join me on this 90 day program, check out http://www.womentowomen.com. Take the quiz and participate along with me.
For now I have decided to wait on any kind of HRT - hormone replacement therapy, which will be the subject of another blog at a later time.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Sunlight: Healthy Skin, Healthy Body
Good Morning Everyone!
Last blog I spoke about the necessity of water for healthy skin and a healthy body. Today we're going to talk about sunlight.
Once again we're pushing against the tide here. The powers that be, principally the American Dermatological Association in conjunction with manufacturers of sunscreens would have you scared witless about your exposure to sunshine. Well, here's the True scoop: you need sunlight!!! And it's always better to get your vitamin D from a natural source than a synthetically manufactured pill. It's cheaper too, of course, since sunshine is free. You can go to the link provided and download the report for yourself.
http://downloads.truthpublishing.com/Sunlight.pdf
The report is an interview with Dr. Michael Holick, MD. at Boston University School of Medicine.
His information is a result of his direct research.
In short, here's the information. In answer to the question why is Vitamin D so important?
"Every tissue and cell in the body requires vitamin D, not just bones and teeth. Vitamin D deficiency contributes to the cause of many diseases such as cancer, MS, rheumatoid arthritis and depression. It's critical to overall health. Many people are deficient, but at first the symptoms are subtle. After a time, they can develop bone pain, muscle pain and physical weakness. Often, they will end up being misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome," says Dr. Holick, author of The UV Advantage and director of the Bone Clinic at Boston University.
And you can't get too much of it, either!
Did you know that upwards of 42% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D? And even more serious is that upwards of 80% of seniors in America are Vitamin D deficient. I know that I personally know many people that complain of joint pain, muscle pain and fatigue accompanied by depression. These same folks get very little sunlight and if they do go into the sun, they're covered up and have sunblock slathered all over them.
You say you work in an office all day? Well take your 15 minute break and go OUTSIDE! And while you're at it, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go sit outside and feel the sunshine on your face, breathe deeply, smile at the birds and check out the flowers, then take the stairs back up to your office. You've given yourself a "health break" all the way 'round, including a mental break from what you were doing.
I've always been skeptical of sunscreens, simply because they are synthetic chemicals; and it seems even more dangerous to me to be applying a chemical to your skin and then add the heat of the sunshine to "cook" it into your absorption system. Just seems wrong to me, somehow. So, as you know, I have found that there are organic sunscreens for the same purpose which work as a reflectants with no synthetic chemicals.
However, Dr. Holick's studies prove that we absolutely require pure sunshine for optimal health - without a sunblock for prescribed periods. In his book there is a chart to help you regulate your direct skin exposures. For example, you might expose 6-10% of your body (face, hands, feet) for 20 minutes 3 times a week. Recently a friend of mine who is experiencing symptoms of MS was written a prescription by her homeopathic MD for sunshine at 20 minutes per day. She lives in Northern California.
Again, this seems to be another area where common sense has taken flight. I know how uncomfortable I feel in prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and I have an olive complexion. It used to be growing up in Ohio that I could be outside all day and only get slightly pink cheeks. Now I notice here in Southern California that after 15-20 minutes in direct sunlight, my skin begins to feel taught. I can feel it telling me, "Enough!"
In the summer when I'm gardening, I make every effort to be outside in the early morning, say from 7-9 am. After that, the sun is too hot, and I'm in for the day. If I still have more work to do in my garden, I wait until the evening hours. I rarely use a sunscreen, but when I have to, I use Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm (see link
https://honestskincare.mionegroup.com/product/13430) coupled with a wonderful wide-brimmed floppy hat and a cool long-sleeved linen shirt and trousers.
Again, it's how does this feel to you? When it stops feeling good, it is time to stop. But you also have to pay attention to how you're feeling! You have to be aware and know when enough is enough. Listen to your internal guidance, it says "when" and so does your body.
Meanwhile, get out there and soak up one of the last remaining free things left: the sunshine. You might also want to get a copy of the UV Advantage, by Dr. Michael Holick to check out the sun exposure table he recommends for your skin type and longitude and latitude.
You may not be getting old, just not getting enough Vitamin D. Which begs the questions, perhaps that's why people "get old"....they stop playing in the sun!
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Last blog I spoke about the necessity of water for healthy skin and a healthy body. Today we're going to talk about sunlight.
Once again we're pushing against the tide here. The powers that be, principally the American Dermatological Association in conjunction with manufacturers of sunscreens would have you scared witless about your exposure to sunshine. Well, here's the True scoop: you need sunlight!!! And it's always better to get your vitamin D from a natural source than a synthetically manufactured pill. It's cheaper too, of course, since sunshine is free. You can go to the link provided and download the report for yourself.
http://downloads.truthpublishing.com/Sunlight.pdf
The report is an interview with Dr. Michael Holick, MD. at Boston University School of Medicine.
His information is a result of his direct research.
In short, here's the information. In answer to the question why is Vitamin D so important?
"Every tissue and cell in the body requires vitamin D, not just bones and teeth. Vitamin D deficiency contributes to the cause of many diseases such as cancer, MS, rheumatoid arthritis and depression. It's critical to overall health. Many people are deficient, but at first the symptoms are subtle. After a time, they can develop bone pain, muscle pain and physical weakness. Often, they will end up being misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome," says Dr. Holick, author of The UV Advantage and director of the Bone Clinic at Boston University.
And you can't get too much of it, either!
Did you know that upwards of 42% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D? And even more serious is that upwards of 80% of seniors in America are Vitamin D deficient. I know that I personally know many people that complain of joint pain, muscle pain and fatigue accompanied by depression. These same folks get very little sunlight and if they do go into the sun, they're covered up and have sunblock slathered all over them.
You say you work in an office all day? Well take your 15 minute break and go OUTSIDE! And while you're at it, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go sit outside and feel the sunshine on your face, breathe deeply, smile at the birds and check out the flowers, then take the stairs back up to your office. You've given yourself a "health break" all the way 'round, including a mental break from what you were doing.
I've always been skeptical of sunscreens, simply because they are synthetic chemicals; and it seems even more dangerous to me to be applying a chemical to your skin and then add the heat of the sunshine to "cook" it into your absorption system. Just seems wrong to me, somehow. So, as you know, I have found that there are organic sunscreens for the same purpose which work as a reflectants with no synthetic chemicals.
However, Dr. Holick's studies prove that we absolutely require pure sunshine for optimal health - without a sunblock for prescribed periods. In his book there is a chart to help you regulate your direct skin exposures. For example, you might expose 6-10% of your body (face, hands, feet) for 20 minutes 3 times a week. Recently a friend of mine who is experiencing symptoms of MS was written a prescription by her homeopathic MD for sunshine at 20 minutes per day. She lives in Northern California.
Again, this seems to be another area where common sense has taken flight. I know how uncomfortable I feel in prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and I have an olive complexion. It used to be growing up in Ohio that I could be outside all day and only get slightly pink cheeks. Now I notice here in Southern California that after 15-20 minutes in direct sunlight, my skin begins to feel taught. I can feel it telling me, "Enough!"
In the summer when I'm gardening, I make every effort to be outside in the early morning, say from 7-9 am. After that, the sun is too hot, and I'm in for the day. If I still have more work to do in my garden, I wait until the evening hours. I rarely use a sunscreen, but when I have to, I use Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm (see link
https://honestskincare.mionegroup.com/product/13430) coupled with a wonderful wide-brimmed floppy hat and a cool long-sleeved linen shirt and trousers.
Again, it's how does this feel to you? When it stops feeling good, it is time to stop. But you also have to pay attention to how you're feeling! You have to be aware and know when enough is enough. Listen to your internal guidance, it says "when" and so does your body.
Meanwhile, get out there and soak up one of the last remaining free things left: the sunshine. You might also want to get a copy of the UV Advantage, by Dr. Michael Holick to check out the sun exposure table he recommends for your skin type and longitude and latitude.
You may not be getting old, just not getting enough Vitamin D. Which begs the questions, perhaps that's why people "get old"....they stop playing in the sun!
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Water For A Healthy Life
Good Day Everyone!
First thing this morning I learned quite a bit reading an interview in Natural News with Doctor Batmanghelidj, author of Water For Health, For Healing, For Life.
If you have been following my blogs, I have been on a quest for some time now to understand why so many people are getting sick, especially with autoimmune dis-eases. Myself, included with exhausted adrenals. This quest is what has led me to One Group and their wonderful certified organic personal care products - without any synthetic chemicals, which has bee step one for me in detoxifying. Step two has been to switch as many of my foods into organic foods, further eliminating any toxic chemicals - pesticides, herbicides, etc. I never ate many prepared foods, but for those of you who do. Stop. Start cooking whole, fresh, foods.
Today after reading Dr. Batmanghelidj's interview in Natural News, I am further convicted!
Drink your water! I have a wonderful concoction that I brew up and drink all day. It's tea made with green tea, white tea and berry tea - all organic. I have been drinking this in lieu of water.
Why I wonder am I so tired? Still. Well, ask and it is given. This morning I learn that my body is dehydrated. This dehydration takes many forms, including pain. Are you suffering from headaches, joint pain, asthma, stomach pain? These are just a few SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION.
For those of us concerned with beautiful skin. Listen up! That crepe waddle under your chin and those crows feet around your eyes - symptoms of dehydration according to Dr. Batmanghelidj.
"The skin -- if the skin is nice and loose and smooth, then we are hydrated. If it becomes creasy and shriveled, it means dehydration. The crow's feet on the face of elderly people, that's a sign of dehydration. The turkey neck under the chin is a sign of dehydration. These are mentioned in my books, Your Body's Many Cries for Water, and also in my Water For Health, For Healing, For Life. I recommend everyone to read Water Cures, Drugs Kill, because in this book I've identified over 90 health problems that we in medicine have called disease, and yet water cures them.
A ready sign that you are dehydrated is to simply notice the color of your urine. Says Dr. Batmangheliidj,
"So, first thing, people should never allow themselves to get thirsty -- they should drink throughout the day. An average person needs two quarts of water a day. Average person really needs four quarts of water a day. But two quarts we have to supply. Two quarts we get from food metabolism and water content in foods. We need this amount of water to manufacture at least two quarts of urine. You know, not to put pressure on the kidneys. When we drink enough water so that the urine is colorless, that is a good sign. When the urine becomes yellow, it means that the body is beginning to become dehydrated and when it becomes orange, then the body is truly dehydrated and some part of the body is suffering from that dehydration."
A few parting thoughts of my own regarding water. Be utterly certain that the water you are consuming is pure.
Don't just take it for granted that the bottled water you are buying is pure. We're looking to consume water that has been cleaned of all toxic chemical residues as well as biological impurities.
Also stop buying bottled water in all those little bottles. First of all it's absolutely wasteful and they all end up in the landfill. Buy yourself a great stainless still thermos or cup and use that for your water. Or you can use that old fashioned glass. It might be well worth the time and trouble to research water purification systems so that you can be assured that what you are consuming and cooking in, not to mention bathing in is pure - and that includes free of chlorine and fluoride. But for this discussion today, we're talking about your portable drinking water. Stainless steel or glass. Use NO PLASTICS as when they heat up they degrade and impart more toxins into your water.
So I'm a believer now and will switch to water starting today. Minimum two quarts folks, more of this stuff is not a mistake. And check out www.watercure.com; just click on the title of this blog and it will take you there. Lots to know.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
First thing this morning I learned quite a bit reading an interview in Natural News with Doctor Batmanghelidj, author of Water For Health, For Healing, For Life.
If you have been following my blogs, I have been on a quest for some time now to understand why so many people are getting sick, especially with autoimmune dis-eases. Myself, included with exhausted adrenals. This quest is what has led me to One Group and their wonderful certified organic personal care products - without any synthetic chemicals, which has bee step one for me in detoxifying. Step two has been to switch as many of my foods into organic foods, further eliminating any toxic chemicals - pesticides, herbicides, etc. I never ate many prepared foods, but for those of you who do. Stop. Start cooking whole, fresh, foods.
Today after reading Dr. Batmanghelidj's interview in Natural News, I am further convicted!
Drink your water! I have a wonderful concoction that I brew up and drink all day. It's tea made with green tea, white tea and berry tea - all organic. I have been drinking this in lieu of water.
Why I wonder am I so tired? Still. Well, ask and it is given. This morning I learn that my body is dehydrated. This dehydration takes many forms, including pain. Are you suffering from headaches, joint pain, asthma, stomach pain? These are just a few SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION.
For those of us concerned with beautiful skin. Listen up! That crepe waddle under your chin and those crows feet around your eyes - symptoms of dehydration according to Dr. Batmanghelidj.
"The skin -- if the skin is nice and loose and smooth, then we are hydrated. If it becomes creasy and shriveled, it means dehydration. The crow's feet on the face of elderly people, that's a sign of dehydration. The turkey neck under the chin is a sign of dehydration. These are mentioned in my books, Your Body's Many Cries for Water, and also in my Water For Health, For Healing, For Life. I recommend everyone to read Water Cures, Drugs Kill, because in this book I've identified over 90 health problems that we in medicine have called disease, and yet water cures them.
A ready sign that you are dehydrated is to simply notice the color of your urine. Says Dr. Batmangheliidj,
"So, first thing, people should never allow themselves to get thirsty -- they should drink throughout the day. An average person needs two quarts of water a day. Average person really needs four quarts of water a day. But two quarts we have to supply. Two quarts we get from food metabolism and water content in foods. We need this amount of water to manufacture at least two quarts of urine. You know, not to put pressure on the kidneys. When we drink enough water so that the urine is colorless, that is a good sign. When the urine becomes yellow, it means that the body is beginning to become dehydrated and when it becomes orange, then the body is truly dehydrated and some part of the body is suffering from that dehydration."
A few parting thoughts of my own regarding water. Be utterly certain that the water you are consuming is pure.
Don't just take it for granted that the bottled water you are buying is pure. We're looking to consume water that has been cleaned of all toxic chemical residues as well as biological impurities.
Also stop buying bottled water in all those little bottles. First of all it's absolutely wasteful and they all end up in the landfill. Buy yourself a great stainless still thermos or cup and use that for your water. Or you can use that old fashioned glass. It might be well worth the time and trouble to research water purification systems so that you can be assured that what you are consuming and cooking in, not to mention bathing in is pure - and that includes free of chlorine and fluoride. But for this discussion today, we're talking about your portable drinking water. Stainless steel or glass. Use NO PLASTICS as when they heat up they degrade and impart more toxins into your water.
So I'm a believer now and will switch to water starting today. Minimum two quarts folks, more of this stuff is not a mistake. And check out www.watercure.com; just click on the title of this blog and it will take you there. Lots to know.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Saturday, April 26, 2008
De-Toxifying Your Experience
http://www.naturalnews.com/019434.html
Good Day Everyone,
Today I'm going to talk to you about detoxifying your life. As I've discussed in past blogs, the cumulative effect of toxins in our lives has made us sick to the breaking point. The most important way this is experienced is in the increased dis-eases in our immune systems. More and more folks are coming up with autoimmune diseases such as MS, fibromyalgia, etc. I am including a link to the book, The Hundred Year Lie, by Randall Fitzgerald, his site as well as a site from an interview with Mr. Fitzgerald in Natural News. Read them both, get the information and take action.
The first place you might notice a weakened immune systems is that you are getting colds and flu easily and they are lasting a longer time. A good cold now and again gives your immune system a good work out. Gets the gang going and pumps up their strengths. But when it takes too long to recover and you find a viral infection going into a bacterial infection and you need antibiotics, your immune system is compromised.
The immune system is the body's natural way of fighting dis-ease. It - the body - knows how to be well. But in these times, after a life time of Western culture and industry and medicine, we are experiencing something that no other culture has before: the build up and cumulative effect of toxins in the body which are weakening our immune systems.
These toxins are everywhere, of course. Toxins are in the water, in the soaps, in the foods, in the cosmetics, in the personal care products, in the upholstery, in the air.
So to begin to give your body and your immune system a break takes some deliberate thought and conscious attention. Take notes and then get busy cleaning up and limiting your exposure.
Toxins are synthetic chemicals that are used in just about everything from your food to your tires to "make life better." We'll skip that part, as it is a useless debate. We're getting sick and having a poorer quality of life as a result of the pervasiveness of these chemicals. Period.
So. First thing you need to do is go through the inventory of the foods you eat and as best you can switch over to organic and certified organic foods. And perhaps the other "first" thing you need to do is stop purchasing and consuming all prepared foods, packaged foods, processed foods as these almost assuredly have chemical preservatives. You want to go to whole, fresh and organic foods as much as possible and where ever possible.
Secondly, you must take an inventory of the personal care products you are using. I can tell you that unless you are using certified organic personal care products you ARE consuming more toxins. The worst of these are the preservatives and enhancers that are formulated into the products. The preservatives, of course, are placed there to give them a longer shelf life and to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. The enhancers are really dangerous, as they open up the skin pores so that the chemicals can penetrate more deeply, and thus the absorption of the chemicals is more efficient into the body. This makes the product more 'effective'. Say no more.
Thirdly, you must look at the items around you in your environment: fabrics, cleaning products, laundry soap and dryer sheets, carpeting and floor coverings, paint and laminates. Anything NOT 100% natural is comprised of chemical alterations that impart to you and yours - the baby crawling on the floor. A side note here is that using all these anti-bacterial cleaning agents actually diminishes your immune system's ability to fight these bugs. Anti-bacterial soaps and cleaning products like too much antibiotics in the body debilitate your own body's ability to produce the required antibodies to naturally fight off sickness and remain well. Once you enter that abyss of antibiotics to get well, it's a hard road back to relying on your own body to do its job. This is where you will need to consume probiotics.
Fourth, you need to realize that it is the "synergy" of the chemicals that cause the havoc. All these free and loose chemicals coming in from such diverse directions into the body is akin to a chemical lab where there are uncontrolled reactions happening. Chemicals that shouldn't mix are being joined together in your body. For example: drinking a cola and eating Frito's creates benzenes in your body - carcinogens. So it's not just the single chemical from this and that, but the combinations and their reactions with resulting new chemicals within the body, as well.
Fifth, start using your good Common Sense. If it's not natural, it's probably not good for you.
But simply do the very best you can and STOP worrying about it. Just the chemical load that you consciously remove from your experience, your body will reward you with a giant sigh of relief and thanks for lightening the burden. Trust your body, because its natural state is well and balanced. It is always striving to regain that healthful balance. Always.
Sixth, and perhaps most importantly, is to rid your mind of toxic thoughts. Focus yourself on creative and life-giving images, ideas and activities. Cut loose toxic, negative people, news casts, thought forms and experiences. You don't have to consume those things into your mind, either.
Seventh, find trusted suppliers for all your consumptions: food, cosmetics, personal care products, water, clothes, carpet and ideas - including television shows, radio shows and newscasts, love and friendship. If it doesn't FEEL good, it's toxic.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Good Day Everyone,
Today I'm going to talk to you about detoxifying your life. As I've discussed in past blogs, the cumulative effect of toxins in our lives has made us sick to the breaking point. The most important way this is experienced is in the increased dis-eases in our immune systems. More and more folks are coming up with autoimmune diseases such as MS, fibromyalgia, etc. I am including a link to the book, The Hundred Year Lie, by Randall Fitzgerald, his site as well as a site from an interview with Mr. Fitzgerald in Natural News. Read them both, get the information and take action.
The first place you might notice a weakened immune systems is that you are getting colds and flu easily and they are lasting a longer time. A good cold now and again gives your immune system a good work out. Gets the gang going and pumps up their strengths. But when it takes too long to recover and you find a viral infection going into a bacterial infection and you need antibiotics, your immune system is compromised.
The immune system is the body's natural way of fighting dis-ease. It - the body - knows how to be well. But in these times, after a life time of Western culture and industry and medicine, we are experiencing something that no other culture has before: the build up and cumulative effect of toxins in the body which are weakening our immune systems.
These toxins are everywhere, of course. Toxins are in the water, in the soaps, in the foods, in the cosmetics, in the personal care products, in the upholstery, in the air.
So to begin to give your body and your immune system a break takes some deliberate thought and conscious attention. Take notes and then get busy cleaning up and limiting your exposure.
Toxins are synthetic chemicals that are used in just about everything from your food to your tires to "make life better." We'll skip that part, as it is a useless debate. We're getting sick and having a poorer quality of life as a result of the pervasiveness of these chemicals. Period.
So. First thing you need to do is go through the inventory of the foods you eat and as best you can switch over to organic and certified organic foods. And perhaps the other "first" thing you need to do is stop purchasing and consuming all prepared foods, packaged foods, processed foods as these almost assuredly have chemical preservatives. You want to go to whole, fresh and organic foods as much as possible and where ever possible.
Secondly, you must take an inventory of the personal care products you are using. I can tell you that unless you are using certified organic personal care products you ARE consuming more toxins. The worst of these are the preservatives and enhancers that are formulated into the products. The preservatives, of course, are placed there to give them a longer shelf life and to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. The enhancers are really dangerous, as they open up the skin pores so that the chemicals can penetrate more deeply, and thus the absorption of the chemicals is more efficient into the body. This makes the product more 'effective'. Say no more.
Thirdly, you must look at the items around you in your environment: fabrics, cleaning products, laundry soap and dryer sheets, carpeting and floor coverings, paint and laminates. Anything NOT 100% natural is comprised of chemical alterations that impart to you and yours - the baby crawling on the floor. A side note here is that using all these anti-bacterial cleaning agents actually diminishes your immune system's ability to fight these bugs. Anti-bacterial soaps and cleaning products like too much antibiotics in the body debilitate your own body's ability to produce the required antibodies to naturally fight off sickness and remain well. Once you enter that abyss of antibiotics to get well, it's a hard road back to relying on your own body to do its job. This is where you will need to consume probiotics.
Fourth, you need to realize that it is the "synergy" of the chemicals that cause the havoc. All these free and loose chemicals coming in from such diverse directions into the body is akin to a chemical lab where there are uncontrolled reactions happening. Chemicals that shouldn't mix are being joined together in your body. For example: drinking a cola and eating Frito's creates benzenes in your body - carcinogens. So it's not just the single chemical from this and that, but the combinations and their reactions with resulting new chemicals within the body, as well.
Fifth, start using your good Common Sense. If it's not natural, it's probably not good for you.
But simply do the very best you can and STOP worrying about it. Just the chemical load that you consciously remove from your experience, your body will reward you with a giant sigh of relief and thanks for lightening the burden. Trust your body, because its natural state is well and balanced. It is always striving to regain that healthful balance. Always.
Sixth, and perhaps most importantly, is to rid your mind of toxic thoughts. Focus yourself on creative and life-giving images, ideas and activities. Cut loose toxic, negative people, news casts, thought forms and experiences. You don't have to consume those things into your mind, either.
Seventh, find trusted suppliers for all your consumptions: food, cosmetics, personal care products, water, clothes, carpet and ideas - including television shows, radio shows and newscasts, love and friendship. If it doesn't FEEL good, it's toxic.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Friday, April 18, 2008
What's Lurking in Your Sunscreen?
Hello Everyone,
Just off the presses at Naturalnews.com are the latest findings regarding the threat to your health from your sunscreen.
Just today I was out in the garden planting a few veggies for later on this summer and found myself working up a sweat. Almost instantly I thought, perhaps I should get my hat on. The sun is hot even though it's only 72 degrees.
What the Center for Disease Control has related is that 97% of Americans are contaminated with
oxybenzone, a widely used chemical found in sunscreens. Oxybenzone is a penetration enhancer which is present to help other chemicals penetrate the skin. Thus far oxybenzone has been linked with allergies, hormone imbalances, low birth weight in babies whose mother's have used it. When exposed to sunlight, oxybenzone forms free radicals which cause aging and cancer. So the topical sunscreen you're using is actually promoting your skin's aging. How's that for irony.
Thanks once again to the Food and Drug Administration for being so watchful for us, once again.
Folks, you cannot count on "them" any longer, but you must begin trusting your own good sense and knowing.
Some brands that are known to contain oxybenzone are: Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic and Coppertone as well as many, many facial moisturizers.
Read those labels! And make sure you're using something that is absolutely pure, safe and beneficial from the get go. Cast your votes with your dollars.
Thanks for Reading!
Just off the presses at Naturalnews.com are the latest findings regarding the threat to your health from your sunscreen.
Just today I was out in the garden planting a few veggies for later on this summer and found myself working up a sweat. Almost instantly I thought, perhaps I should get my hat on. The sun is hot even though it's only 72 degrees.
What the Center for Disease Control has related is that 97% of Americans are contaminated with
oxybenzone, a widely used chemical found in sunscreens. Oxybenzone is a penetration enhancer which is present to help other chemicals penetrate the skin. Thus far oxybenzone has been linked with allergies, hormone imbalances, low birth weight in babies whose mother's have used it. When exposed to sunlight, oxybenzone forms free radicals which cause aging and cancer. So the topical sunscreen you're using is actually promoting your skin's aging. How's that for irony.
Thanks once again to the Food and Drug Administration for being so watchful for us, once again.
Folks, you cannot count on "them" any longer, but you must begin trusting your own good sense and knowing.
Some brands that are known to contain oxybenzone are: Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic and Coppertone as well as many, many facial moisturizers.
Read those labels! And make sure you're using something that is absolutely pure, safe and beneficial from the get go. Cast your votes with your dollars.
Thanks for Reading!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Healthy Skin Begins with Healthy Mind
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/mind-skin-health-connection
Good Day All!
Here she goes again. I can just hear all the groaning going on out there. Well, just don't shoot the messenger. I am here to tell you that your internal state has a direct bearing on the health of your skin. In Psychology Today, Elaine Zablocki talks about the Mind-Skin-Health Connection. I've provided the link here so you can go and read for yourself the veracity of this phenomenon. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/mind-skin-health-connection
This shouldn't be startling news to you. It's more like something you say to yourself, "easier said that done." True. But, none the less true. And today is a good day to change this, right now.
Where do you think all those wrinkles come from? Stress. I used to watch my Mom screw up her face in concentration. Always the same face, deepening those same lines. And my Dad would get the same lines when he got angry - deepening those lines over and over again.
I used to get hives, always when I was nervous or upset. The emotional condition inside has a direct bearing on the skin. Sometimes it's immediate; sometimes with practiced responses, over time the results are evident. Want more first hand evidence? I have had a set of twins in my life since the 4th grade. One twin is happy go lucky and handles things in an even way. The other twin is negative and greedy and mean. After I hadn't seen them for about 4 years, I chanced on them and was shocked. The first twin looked as lovely and twinkly as ever. The second twin looked like the witch in the Wizard of Oz - you know, the one the house fell on! Identical twins and their internal states of being were etched on their faces. One beautifully, the other hideously.
Both were choices. I might add here that the second twin has spent quite a fortune in plastic surgery in order to erase the damages of her "negative internal state."
It is imperative that one gets a handle on their emotional state. Perhaps your motivation is you want to look younger, get rid of that eczema, or you want to be beautiful at any age. I'm rooting for the last one; beauty at every age. But no matter what your motivation is, you will always be led back to your responsibility for managing your internal self.
In stress the human mind is believing something that it thinks is real. So we have a response in fear or anxiety or rage or whatever. This internal response to the external situation produces a chain of chemical reactions in the body. Repeatedly over a lifetime, this takes it toll. Since in this blog we're focused on skin care, we'll stick to that. So wrinkles, excessive flight or fight responses diminish the quality of the skin - elastic and suppleness. We tend to hold our breath, and deprive the skin of oxygen and nutrition. The skin begins to look sallow or dry. These are all responses to internal stress. And, overtime, they take their toll. Left unaddressed, the habituated pattern leaves its marks.
So, what to do? Well, make a decision to begin handling these mental ideas that cause you to respond with a stressful response (fear, shallow breathing, anger, etc.) to begin handling them, even seeing them with a different view. Instead of being afraid, I'll take a deep breath and remind myself that it's never over til it's over...and there's always more. I'll change my response to laughing. I'll be mindful when I'm in anxiety and take a giant break from what I'm pushing at.
I'll take my yoga practice into work or home or the board room.
Getting a handle on stress means you've decided to take a giant step towards being the deliberate designer of your own life and skin. Say yes to all the laugh lines. Bring on all the joy creases! Celebrate all the facial tracks of ecstasy. Point your intention towards giving up stress and embracing the adventures of life. You'll be gorgeous.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Good Day All!
Here she goes again. I can just hear all the groaning going on out there. Well, just don't shoot the messenger. I am here to tell you that your internal state has a direct bearing on the health of your skin. In Psychology Today, Elaine Zablocki talks about the Mind-Skin-Health Connection. I've provided the link here so you can go and read for yourself the veracity of this phenomenon. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/mind-skin-health-connection
This shouldn't be startling news to you. It's more like something you say to yourself, "easier said that done." True. But, none the less true. And today is a good day to change this, right now.
Where do you think all those wrinkles come from? Stress. I used to watch my Mom screw up her face in concentration. Always the same face, deepening those same lines. And my Dad would get the same lines when he got angry - deepening those lines over and over again.
I used to get hives, always when I was nervous or upset. The emotional condition inside has a direct bearing on the skin. Sometimes it's immediate; sometimes with practiced responses, over time the results are evident. Want more first hand evidence? I have had a set of twins in my life since the 4th grade. One twin is happy go lucky and handles things in an even way. The other twin is negative and greedy and mean. After I hadn't seen them for about 4 years, I chanced on them and was shocked. The first twin looked as lovely and twinkly as ever. The second twin looked like the witch in the Wizard of Oz - you know, the one the house fell on! Identical twins and their internal states of being were etched on their faces. One beautifully, the other hideously.
Both were choices. I might add here that the second twin has spent quite a fortune in plastic surgery in order to erase the damages of her "negative internal state."
It is imperative that one gets a handle on their emotional state. Perhaps your motivation is you want to look younger, get rid of that eczema, or you want to be beautiful at any age. I'm rooting for the last one; beauty at every age. But no matter what your motivation is, you will always be led back to your responsibility for managing your internal self.
In stress the human mind is believing something that it thinks is real. So we have a response in fear or anxiety or rage or whatever. This internal response to the external situation produces a chain of chemical reactions in the body. Repeatedly over a lifetime, this takes it toll. Since in this blog we're focused on skin care, we'll stick to that. So wrinkles, excessive flight or fight responses diminish the quality of the skin - elastic and suppleness. We tend to hold our breath, and deprive the skin of oxygen and nutrition. The skin begins to look sallow or dry. These are all responses to internal stress. And, overtime, they take their toll. Left unaddressed, the habituated pattern leaves its marks.
So, what to do? Well, make a decision to begin handling these mental ideas that cause you to respond with a stressful response (fear, shallow breathing, anger, etc.) to begin handling them, even seeing them with a different view. Instead of being afraid, I'll take a deep breath and remind myself that it's never over til it's over...and there's always more. I'll change my response to laughing. I'll be mindful when I'm in anxiety and take a giant break from what I'm pushing at.
I'll take my yoga practice into work or home or the board room.
Getting a handle on stress means you've decided to take a giant step towards being the deliberate designer of your own life and skin. Say yes to all the laugh lines. Bring on all the joy creases! Celebrate all the facial tracks of ecstasy. Point your intention towards giving up stress and embracing the adventures of life. You'll be gorgeous.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Whole Grains and Great Skin
http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2008/3/18/health/20404047&sec=health
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3300/3350.asp?index=11373
Hello Everyone,
Well, seems I can't escape this concept that beautiful, healthy skin is directly related to the food you eat. So we're going to continue to talk about healthy food today, specifically whole grains.
If you'll recall, I've stated in past blogs that the more processed your food is, the less nutrients are left in it for your body. Not only that, there are "fillers" added to processed foods that now makes it a "food product" rather than food. These fillers can be preservatives which are almost always toxic, not to mention just not good for you. I just don't understand how a commercial bread can contain over 30 ingredients. Back in the day, and even now, when I go to make a loaf of bread it has flour, eggs, milk, yeast, and maybe some oil or butter. Expanding on that I might add another flour, some seeds, but how to get it up to 30 ingredients is beyond me.
The whole idea of "no carbs" is probably one of the sickest ideas that has come down from the
eating disorders of America. Carbs provide some of the most vital nutrients for good skin, a good digestive tract and sustained energy. I'll say it again and will continue to do so over and over again, it is the processing that has caused us all the trouble - ill health and extra weight. Of course this means we ought to be leading a balanced life. Daily walks, take the stairs, park far away in the parking lot, don't move your car once you've parked it - walk to your other errands.
Go outside and play catch with your kid or your dog. Haul wood. Just move around in balance with the time you spend sitting.
While I'm on the soapbox, turn off the computer and the TV. Take an evening stroll. Enjoy the night sky. Think a quiet thought.
I've included two links at the top of this blog. Both will give you new evidence that whole grains are vital to healthy skin, strong elastin and general good health. One source is the Cleveland Clinic and the other a study that showed by eating whole grains, people not only lost weight, but they lost it around the middle and they experienced significant reduction in the inflammation in the arteries and capillaries - reducing risk of stroke and high blood pressure and heart disease.
My personal take on this: inflammation is resistance; resistance is your reaction to stress; when you eat something that tastes delicious and is full of LIFE and nutrients, you're reconnecting yourself back to God, Life, Source. And that folks, is home and where we all ought to be living each day, in intimate connection with Life.
So stop feeling guilty. Just insist on whole foods, whole grain (rice, barley, couscous, whole wheat, etc) and enjoy partaking in Life while watching your skin get healthier. It's all around a much happier way to , well, live.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3300/3350.asp?index=11373
Hello Everyone,
Well, seems I can't escape this concept that beautiful, healthy skin is directly related to the food you eat. So we're going to continue to talk about healthy food today, specifically whole grains.
If you'll recall, I've stated in past blogs that the more processed your food is, the less nutrients are left in it for your body. Not only that, there are "fillers" added to processed foods that now makes it a "food product" rather than food. These fillers can be preservatives which are almost always toxic, not to mention just not good for you. I just don't understand how a commercial bread can contain over 30 ingredients. Back in the day, and even now, when I go to make a loaf of bread it has flour, eggs, milk, yeast, and maybe some oil or butter. Expanding on that I might add another flour, some seeds, but how to get it up to 30 ingredients is beyond me.
The whole idea of "no carbs" is probably one of the sickest ideas that has come down from the
eating disorders of America. Carbs provide some of the most vital nutrients for good skin, a good digestive tract and sustained energy. I'll say it again and will continue to do so over and over again, it is the processing that has caused us all the trouble - ill health and extra weight. Of course this means we ought to be leading a balanced life. Daily walks, take the stairs, park far away in the parking lot, don't move your car once you've parked it - walk to your other errands.
Go outside and play catch with your kid or your dog. Haul wood. Just move around in balance with the time you spend sitting.
While I'm on the soapbox, turn off the computer and the TV. Take an evening stroll. Enjoy the night sky. Think a quiet thought.
I've included two links at the top of this blog. Both will give you new evidence that whole grains are vital to healthy skin, strong elastin and general good health. One source is the Cleveland Clinic and the other a study that showed by eating whole grains, people not only lost weight, but they lost it around the middle and they experienced significant reduction in the inflammation in the arteries and capillaries - reducing risk of stroke and high blood pressure and heart disease.
My personal take on this: inflammation is resistance; resistance is your reaction to stress; when you eat something that tastes delicious and is full of LIFE and nutrients, you're reconnecting yourself back to God, Life, Source. And that folks, is home and where we all ought to be living each day, in intimate connection with Life.
So stop feeling guilty. Just insist on whole foods, whole grain (rice, barley, couscous, whole wheat, etc) and enjoy partaking in Life while watching your skin get healthier. It's all around a much happier way to , well, live.
Thanks for reading!
Kath
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