Lifestyle
Super Tub Scrub
Jan 20th
Looking down at my wintry hands I thought: ugh…they look weathered and dry. 
Our skin is our biggest organ so taking care of it is very important. So what to do? I went into my superfood cupboard and came up with a SUPER scrub. My recipe includes Coconut Oil which kills bacteria and is an incredible moisturizer. The Rock Salt also serves to remove toxins from the skin, it hydrates the skin as it allows moisture to be retained and also promotes cell regeneration. The Chia acts as a great exfoliant but also has vitamin E which is vital for skin health. The lavender oil not only smells terrific but also is anti-bacterial, removes nervous tension and enhances blood circulation. So go ahead and have a super-you day!!!!
2 Tablespoons Mum’s Original Coconut Oil (room temperature)
3 Tablespoons Mum’s Original Himalayan Inner Mountain Rock Salt
1 Tablespoon Mum’s Original Wholeseed Chia
3 drops organic lavender oil
Mix all ingredients together with a spoon until it forms a thick paste. Tip: if oil is too liquid, place in fridge. Use scrub to exfoliate body while in dry bathtub. Once done, rinse off with warm water. Don’t use soap as it will strip your skin of the amazing effects. Dab yourself dry with a fluffy towel. You will smell and feel wonderful!
Be A Better Being: It Ain’t Easy Being Green….Or is it?
Mar 30th
As posted on WWW.ONEGREENPLANET.ORG February 24, 2011 by Ann Barnes
While in my 30’s I recall a visit from a friend of European descent . She was updating me on her gossip while watching me cook veggie chili in my tiny kitchen. After emptying a can of diced tomatoes into my pot, I turned and dropped the can in my garbage. With a look of sheer horror she shrilly said: “Ann, WHAT are you DOING?”. “What do you mean”” I asked, getting ready for the eco-diatribe sure to come.
She then berated me for putting the can into the garbage as our city had recently introduced a recycling program. She asked why I wouldn’t recycle when I was afforded the opportunity. After politely listening to her, I then answered her “ The recycling Police [sarcasm] won’t pick it up unless I WASH it out….until they make it easy for me, I won’t do it”. It was a point of principle.
Now years later, the ridiculousness of my statements still stings. My lack of desire to make a small contribution, combined with downright laziness and a holier than thou attitude are embarrassing at best. But luckily I have become a reformed reformer. How you ask? My turn towards green was accelerated due to my two pregnancies, for different reasons.
My first ‘green epiphany’ began when I was pregnant with my first born. Unlike my years of climbing up the corporate law ladder, I now was focusing on something, or someone, other than myself. But my legal background came in handy. As I was sourcing the best foods, the best furniture, the best clothes and the best baby care products, I quickly realized through my research that most of the baby lines are made or filled with toxins. What I then discovered as well was how damaging these chemical substances were for our adult bodies (not to mention a baby’s body) and….the environment.
Once you know something it is hard to look back, especially if you are a Type A personality type. I embraced the green-baby-lifestyle and became very passionate (my hubby would say obsessed) with ‘getting to the bottom’ of the issues. Once on this path I realized how much of the information that we are fed, by governments and corporate marketing geniuses, is wrong and misleading. Many of the things we commonly use daily are toxic for our bodies and for our planet, above and beyond driving using fossil fuels. It made me mad.
The second “green epiphany” occurred while I was pregnant with our second child. During this time, I became involved with a local environmental association as the environmental educational facility (focusing on grade school ages) located on our cottage lake was closed without notice by the government. Save some bucks and lose the opportunity to teach children about nature and our planet. This made me madder.
So my go-big-or-go-home attitude came in handy for once. I decided to raise the money we needed to fight this worthy cause by doing a big fundraiser event. But how? Well Dr. David Suzuki agreed to be the key note speaker. To this day I am so grateful to him as his presence allowed us to successfully fight the government while also raising environmental awareness in the community. Also, his speech changed my life. His one hour talk morphed into almost three hours and his poignant discussion of all aspects of environmental issues was educational and incredibly inspiring.
After the event was over, I took the time to reflect on my priorities as a parent and as a temporary inhabitant of this beautiful planet. I took the time to appreciate what a gift we have been provided and how vital it is to protect it for generations to come. I thought if my children came to me in their 20’s and asked me what I had done to help BE the change, I wanted to be able to answer them without embarrassment but with pride.
So it is easy to be green? Well a lot easier than I thought. I can never turn back as I now KNOW. I try to make all of my choices conscious ones, and I try to make all of my purchasing decisions based upon this. It is not only a part of my life but has become my life. Now I am hoping that any Green God will forgive my early years of insolence. I am hoping for a Holy Carbon Off Set for my newer good eco-decisions used against all of the tin cans in the landfills with my name on them.
Columnist, Ann Barnes: Ann Barnes is the author of the healthy living book: “BETTER BEING“, which provides simple answers and recipes for clean and balanced living. She leads an organic, gluten free and vegan lifestyle and acts as a superfood spokesperson for Mum’s Original. Ann contributes a monthly column to One Green Planet, called Be A Better Being.
Tomato Chickpea Curry – Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Soy Free
Jan 7th
This recipe is great for keeping off the pounds: the coconut oil helps to speed up the metabolism, the c
hickpeas are full of protein and fibre, turmeric is a known weightloos tool, the ginger boosts digestive enzymes and the chia allows you to feel fuller for longer. During the winter months serve it hot over brown rice or in the summer as a spicy summer side.
1 15oz can chickpeas (or 1 1/2 cups presoaked and boiled)
2 large onions chopped
1 1/2 square inch piece of ginger root (1 1/2 tablespoons chopped)
3 medium garlic cloves (3 teaspoons minced)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Juice of one lime
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1 15oz can diced tomato (or 1 ½ cups fresh)
2 tablespoons premium white chia
1/2 cup washed, towel dried and chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
Peel onion, garlic and ginger and cut into small pieces. Place in a blender or magic bullet along with red chili, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and lime juice. Blend into a paste and reserve. In a saucepan, add coconut oil and heat on medium. When hot, add paste and sauté for 2 minutes. Add tomato and premium white chia and sauté for 5 minutes stirring occassionally. Add cooked chickpeas, turn heat to low-medium and cook and stir for 10 minutes. Remove and add in cilantro and salt to taste. Serve hot or cold.
How to Lose 5 Pounds in 10 Minutes
Jan 6th
Yes, you read this correctly! It is possible to lose the 5 pounds of weight by simply reading. Reading what you ask? Well, reading a letter that you are about to write to yourself for next year’s holiday season. By writing a letter to yourself TODAY, you can prevent the onslaught of the 5-10 pounds of “extra you” next January.
Studies have shown that the average North American gains at least a pound over the holidays, and this one pound, on average will stay with you for life. So, even if you gain 5-10, like most people do, the odds are that even if you try hard to lose it you will likely carry that extra one pound beast with you to next year’s New Year’s celebration. That means that any weight gain over the holidays is a slippery slope over time to becoming a larger version of yourself.
So, this January I challenge you to take 10 minutes out of your day and write to yourself. The steps are easy: 1) print off this blog post; 2) answer the 5 questions below as honestly as you can; 3) put the envelope in your Thanksgiving or Holiday decoration storage boxes; and 4) when you open it next Holiday season tape it to your fridge. You will have a daily reminder from yourself on the hard-fact results of your over consumption of festivity foods. By doing so, you will consciously eat less, make better choices and you won’t have the 5-10 to contend with in the New Year.
So, print this off and let’s get started!
1. Have you gained weight from November 1 to January 1? If so, how much?
_____ lbs
2. Have you spent, or are thinking of spending, any money as a result of your weight gain? (i.e exercise equipment or videos, bigger clothes, weight loss programs, foods or supplements) If so, how much will these items cost you?
$ ___________
3. How much time every day do you think about your weight? (i.e how often during an hour do you think about: your appearance, weight gain, what people may be thinking about you, how you plan to lose it, assessing your shape, weight measurements, shopping for weight loss items, etc.
____ min/hour = _____ min/day = _____min/week.
4. Do you recall the taste of every poor fat forming food that you consumed over the holidays?
Y / N
5. Choose 3 words that describe how you feel about your weight gain – this can be the emotional feeling (i.e sad, angry, depressed, etc) OR physical feelings (bloated, heavy, etc).
________________________ _______________________ ______________________
Now put this in an envelope, seal it and mark on the front of it:
THIS HOLIDAY I AM GOING TO BE A BETTER BEING AND WILL LOSE 5 POUNDS IN 10 MINUTES.
When you open it, place it on your fridge and give yourself a healthy holiday hug!!!!
Best wishes for an excellent year ahead!
Ann
Back to School – Top 10 Tips to Stay Calm, Cool and Collected
Sep 1st
Well, it is “Back to School” time. With sun-kissed vacations a warm memory of the past, along with the change of season and new routines thrust upon us, “Back to School” takes on a very new life of its own. With all of the change coming at us at once, I have always thought that we should change our Gregorian/Civil calendar to one that has the first day of school as the true “New Year”.
Amongst all of these changes, it can be a constant struggle to stay organized and feel like all is under control. But with a few simple tips, it is possible to keep calm, cool, collected and….smiling
1) Get the Kids on Board. Make sure your children (and partners) know what the new routines will be. Get the alarm clocks set and ensure that they understand the school rules, times, and any new courses or classes they are enrolled in. If they know what to expect they will be much more willing to “get with the program”.
2) Meal Plan. Try these easy to implement ideas:
Dinner: For the initial month of September pick a couple of your favourite and easy recipes for dinner meals that are nutrient dense and stick to it. Make things that can be frozen or made ahead of time. Also, those that keep well in the fridge and can be reheated are great options for extending out the dinner meals. Check out the Better Being Recipe section for great ideas.
Breakfast: Opt for a nutrient rich smoothie to jump start everyone’s day. Buy some cups with built in straws and tops so the kids (or YOU) can drink it on the drive in or carry it around the house while getting ready for the day if pressed for time. See the recipe section of this blog for great smoothie ideas.
Lunch: Make the school lunches the night before and have the kids help. If they make their own lunch they are more likely to eat it (or anything else for that matter).
3) Review Children’s School Year . Get the school planner and take the half hour to get it into your own calendar planner or blackberry. That way you will be prepared for key school events and will avoid scrambling for the entire year!
4) Stake a Place. Take the hour or two to organize key items and explain to all in the house why things need to remain (and be put back) into the right location. If the umbrellas are always in the basket in THAT corner, the rainy days will be much easier to deal with. Baskets with taped on headings can save lives (ok , maybe not lives, but definitely sanity!). Also have homework done and set out in ONE place.
5) Checkpoints. Regulate the mornings with timelines (X has to happen by Y) time that are realistic and work for all. Be sure to give the children and slow risers enough time to get ready and prepared. Sometimes that extra 10 minutes of sleep can result in an extra 20 minutes of lateness!
6) Family Calendar. Having everything that relates to key dates on one calendar in the kitchen can help to keep the household all informed.
7) Communicate. Talk to each teacher about what is specific to each child’s term – know when library books come back, any special dates for in classroom events. Also, take the five minutes each night to go through backpacks for school notices so that any special needs for the next day are dealt with at night and not in the morning’s scramble.
Bedtime Booster. Establish a routine for you and the children that is easy to follow. Set out clothes for the following day, get to sleep at the same time and take the time to relax. This will help all to get better sleep which leads to better mornings.
9) Think ahead. Easier said than done! But try to get things done ahead of time so things can flow. For example, set the breakfast table the night before, fill up the car on the way home not on the way TO, buy in bulk for core items and keep the staples stacked.
10) Have FUN. Enjoy what this season truly offers: new beginnings, new routines and a wonderfully refreshing time of the year. No one is perfect so don’t worry if the occasional morning is full of chaos and spilled milk. Try to laugh when wiping it up and just pour another.
Good luck!!
Top 10: Natural Ways to Get Healthier Whiter Teeth
Jun 30th
A nice smile is contagious. Having clean white teeth is a great way to show off the fact that you take good care of yourself. Having white teeth will help give you a more confident smile and make your smile more contagious, If you know of any good teeth whitening tips feel free to share them in the comments below!
- Raw fruits and vegetables are healthy to eat and can also clean your teeth. The extra crunch helps to produce saliva which washes away foods and helps to kill bacteria.
- Vitamin C rich foods (strawberries and lemons) have natural bleaching elements. Mashed up strawberries or lemon peel or orange peel can be placed on teeth for whiter teeth. Be careful to use one time a week as the citric acid can effect tooth enamel. Immediately brush teeth after doing to remove and acid remnants.
- Lay off the red wine, ciggies and coffee as they quickly stain your teeth.
- Cut down on sugars as much as you can. If you do indulge, the make sure afterwards you brush or eat some raw veggies to help clean your mouth.
- Good oral hygiene always starts with the foods you choose to eat. A healthy body is the start of healthy teeth so make wise choices to ensure that your whole being gets the nutrients it needs. Opt for plant based foods and get your daily requirements of carbs, healthy EFA fats (Salba and hemp) and effective proteins.
- Avoid animal protein as much as you can as it is often the cause of bad breath. Animal proteins (versus vegetable proteins like hempseed, Salba or legumes) are highly acidic and require additional digestive acids to be released in your stomach that can result in an acid reflex and an acidic mouth.
- Baking soda is a useful way to keep stain free (great for red wine and coffee leftover reminders). Only use a few times a week as it is abrasive and can r emove enamel if overused.
- A few drops of oregano oil swished around the mouth with warm salt water have medicinal properties and can cut down on bacterial growth.
- You need a good brush so replace every 2 months – that way all of your work brushing is more effective.
- And finally, the no brainer: visit your dentist and get your teeth cleaned professionally at least once a year.
Don’t forget to Smile!
100 Tips to a Better You!
Jun 29th
Here are 100 great tips that I hope will help you promote better being in your life!
After you read this list leave a comment and let us know what you thought of the list.
Have you ever tried any of these tips before? What is your favorite tip?
Enjoy the tips!
- Eat before bed?!? If you have problems falling asleep, eat a handful of walnuts before bed. You are boosting your fiber and essential fatty acids along with the amino acid tryptophan — a natural sleep-inducer.
- A cold and flu trick! Use a pair of cotton socks and a pair of wool socks, soak the cotton socks in cold water, wring them out and then put them on your feet. Put the wool socks on top and then go to bed. This will help get the body fluids draining and moving and decrease congestion or inflammation in the sinuses and head. Who knew hydrotherapy could be done with socks?
- Manage Stress. We all have stress in our lives but identifying that we are stressed is the first step to managing it. Then look for ways to decrease it constructively: deep breathe, have a walk, have some “me time” and eat good food! The world also looks a lot rosier after a good night’s sleep (new mom’s know this one best).
- Build Your Confidence: Identify your abilities and weaknesses together, try to build on them and do the best you can. Don’t worry, nobody around you is perfect so why should you be?
- Make Time for Family and Friends: These relationships, if positive, need to be nurtured. Share life’s joys and sorrows with those close. Invest time and energy in to those who are positive and loving around you.
- Give and Accept Support! Be receptive to help when you need it and put your pride away (superwoman is a fictional character …and who would be caught dead in that outfit?). Know when to ask for help, know when to give it, and most importantly: know when to accept it.
- Be aware of the Money Pit! Financial problems cause stress. Over-spending on our “wants” instead of our “needs” is often the culprit. Ask yourself: what do I really need and why do I need it? “Retail therapy” is expensive and short lived, so opt for something that is a better investment in YOU like a good meal or a brisk walk. Your body and wallet will thank you!
- Volunteer! Being involved in community gives us a sense of purpose and satisfaction that paid work cannot. Sometimes this “reality check” can go a long way in reducing stress and creating happiness.
- Find Strength in Numbers! Sharing a problem with others who have had similar experiences can help you find a solution. Talk it out with friends, family, support groups… or even a cab driver!
- Find a support “blog” on the internet and you will realize that you are definitely not the only one with similar issues.
- Express Yourself! Express your feelings of anger, sadness, joy and fear in constructive ways. Keep a journal of each mood and when sad, angry or fearful reread your “joy journal” for reminders of what happy experiences you have had. What seems terrible today can seem trivial tomorrow.
- Peace: Think about who you are and what makes you really happy. Try to balance what you can and cannot change about yourself. We are often the most critical of ourselves but we all have great skills and attributes and just have to remind ourselves of what they are (keep a journal of them in case you forget!)
- A wholesome thank you! Buy whole foods (whether canned, frozen, or fresh from the farm) and use them in place of processed foods whenever possible. Your body will thank you!
- Don’t be so corny! Try to reduce or eliminate foods and drinks made with corn syrup. Corn syrup is a calorie-dense, nutritionally empty sweetener that studies indicate are worse for the body than sugar! Corn on the cob is great: corn syrup isn’t!
- Green is #1! Try to start each dinner with a mixed green salad. It will help reduce your appetite for higher caloric foods, increase your fibre and water so food can be easily digestible. It will automatically add veggies to your meal and will help flush through everything else to improve bowel movements and a healthier colon.
The Top 10 Easy and Cheap Ways to Get Fit
May 17th
To get moving there are some simple steps you can take to get on the right path. To give you some ideas, I have set up my top 10 easiest and cheapest ways to get fit:
1. Sex
You have to love something that feels great, costs no money and will help slim you down. A woman weighing 160 pounds having five minutes of foreplay and 20 minutes of sex loses approx 110 calories. Not only is sex a great exercise, but orgasms also release endorphins that make you feel happy and positive about yourself! So have a good roll (safe sex always) to get a good workout in and feel perky.
2. Walk
Simple and cheap, this is a great way to get in some quality time with your partner, friends or kids or just have some you time. You can get in a cardiovascular workout without even breaking a sweat! A person weighing 62kg (or 137 pounds) and walking an hour at an average speed will burn about 260 calories. Not a bad return for a walk and talk! So grab a walking partner and make it part of your daily routine.
3. Supermen
This one is super easy, can be done anywhere and brings relief to your back while strengthening it. Lie down on your stomach on the floor with your eyes looking at the floor. Point your toes downwards and elongate your body to get a good stretch in. While holding the stretch, bring your arms out in front of you (raised about four inches from the ground) and point your thumbs up towards the ceiling. Take a deep breath, pull back your shoulders and start to slowly raise your arms towards the ceiling while bringing your shoulders and then your chest off the ground. At the same time, slowly raise both legs up off the ground. Your arms and feet should both be heading for the ceiling at the same time – strive to have your body looking like a semicircle. Squeeze your butt muscles and exhale and slowly return to starting position. Repeat as many times as you can but aim for 20 a day to get good returns. If this is too tricky with both arms and legs then simply alternate between opposite arm and leg. Make sure you avoid jerking your neck and you don’t tuck your head into your shoulders.
4. Wall Push-ups
This is an easy way to get the benefits of push-ups without the pain of doing it on the floor. I could never do a full push-up even at the height of my “fit self” because it always hurt my toes. Pick any wall and stand facing it with your toes two feet away. Extend your arms out and place your hands, shoulder width apart, on the wall in front of you. Keep your body straight and pull in your abdominal muscles. Bending only at the elbows, slowly lower yourself forward towards the wall. Then slowly push yourself away from it. Pick a spot in your home that you walk past frequently and plan to stop and do one every time you walk past that spot. You won’t believe how much of a difference this one makes. Aim for 20 a day.
5. Squats
This one is easy – if you do this every time you are about to sit down for a meal you will be fit in no time! Grab a kitchen chair and stand about 1.5 feet away from it. Place your hands on top of chair. Point your feet towards the chair and keep them shoulder width apart. Keep your torso straight, abdominal muscles tight and slightly arch your back. Slowly bend your knees while keeping them over your toes. Squat down as far as it is comfortable, hold the position and then slowly raise yourself by using your leg muscles. Do 20 a day.
6. Standing Calf Raises
This one is a great way to get nice summer legs and have them year-round. Pick some stairs or get out an old thick phone book. Stand on the edge of the step/book with only the balls of your feet on the step/book. Keeping your knees stiff, body straight and tall, lower your heels down slowly towards the floor. Only bend at the ankle. Go down as far as you can until you feel a strong stretch in your calves. Reverse the direction – don’t bounce – and then push up as high as you can. Start by doing both feet at the same time and then go to one foot for greater challenge. Do this while talking on the phone and you can get your workout in without even thinking about it.
7. Arm Twirls
This one requires a bit of room, but is a great way to get tighter arms and get an upper back workout. Stand straight with your tummy tight and your feet shoulder width apart. Extend both arms out at shoulder height with fingers pointed straight. Start to make small circles the size of a doughnut (the one you will never eat again) in a clockwise motion. Speed up your circles and do 50 of them. Then reverse and do them counter clockwise. After completing the doughnut-sized ones, start to make huge circles (the size of a bike tire – the one you will soon be riding everywhere) clockwise and then reverse. You will have a toned upper back and arms in no time!
8. Just Sit There
This is the easiest thing you can ever do to stay fit and aligned. Whenever you are sitting (at work, in a car or in front of the TV or computer) make sure you do the following:
- Keep your shoulders back, not rolled forward. This will keep your chest muscles stretched out and your neck and upper back as well.
- Sit upright. This will force your lower back to stretch and will give your abs a little stretch as well. During every set of commercials on TV or every 15 minutes at your desk or in the car, contract your ab muscles; release and repeat 20 times. This will give you more success than doing sit-ups once a week.
- Raise your heels off the ground and go up and down with your heels quickly so as to jiggle your entire leg. This will keep circulation going and will exercise your leg muscles. P.S.: don’t do the “jiggles” while driving the car – only as a passenger!
9. Balance
While standing for any reason, try to stand on one foot and balance for 30 seconds. The other can be 1 inch off the ground or higher. Alternate your feet. This will help to develop your core strength and is a great way to exercise in those “unused moments” like waiting in line, waiting for public transit or talking on the phone. Do this 10 times for each foot.
10. Laugh!
Research indicates laughter can be the best medicine for weight loss. While studying adults watching film clips, the researchers discovered that laughing increased the heart rate and calorie expenditure of all participants by up to 20 per cent! The longer they laughed, the greater the effects. Using the results, the researchers calculated that with 15 minutes of laughter a day you can burn 10 to 40 calories (depending on the laughter’s intensity and the person’s weight), which is enough to lose a couple of pounds a year. So keep on laughing!
8 tips for getting busy without a gym membership
May 13th
There are ways to get busy without paying for a gym membership you will
never use. There are so many things in day that can all add up to make a
difference – you just need to start and to keep on doing it! Here are just a
few tips:
• Take the stairs – always. Don’t do elevators, escalators or hot air
balloons unless you must.
• Wake up every morning to a full stretch without even getting out
of bed! Lie in bed and reach your arms up high over your head with
feet pointed down. Start the stretch at your fingertips and work your
way down to your toes. Try to feel every muscle pulling as you do it.
Once fully extended, release the stretch just as slowly. The stretch
should be 30 seconds long with the release another 30. Do it five
times for one minute each.
More >
Foods that Increase Your Metabolism
Apr 22nd
There are great ways to boost your metabolism and keep off the pounds. Exercise is the best way to shed those lovey-dovey handles along with a sensible and nutrient rich food plan. Some great foods to consider adding more of are:
1. Beans as they have excellent levels of protein, great source of fibre and contain cholecystokinin a known appetite suppressant
2. Keep energy levels high with protein rich foods like Eggs and veggie protein like Hempseeds or lean meats and fish. Lean low fat protein allows for increased energy and a decrease in snacking and food cravings. It also allows for the building of muscles that in turn burns more calories.
3. Try to eat a salad before meals to ensure you get lots of vitamins and minerals upfront. Salad can be rich in folic acid, Vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and lycopene to help fight disease and sprinkle Omega 3 and fibre rich Salba on along with high protein hempseeds for a bigger boost. Add in quinoa as well for more protein and fibre.You will eat less of the main meal and will ensure that your digestive tract gets nicely hydrated.
4. Opt for a soup as a main meal which can be very filling and enjoyable. Avoid the cream bases and instead choose the broth bases with healthy flavour and veggies to fill you up with healthy fibre and vitamins. Better yet? Try a Miso base instead as it has live enzymes to help you digest!
5. Opt for fibre rich fruits and veggies. The fibre will fill you up and make you feel satiated for longer meaning you wont want to snack as much. Avoid the high sugar low fibre fruits like cantaloupe or melon and instead reach for a pear, apple or other citrus fruit that has pectin fiber which can help stabilize your blood sugar levels Reach for celery with huge amounts of fibre so it makes your body work hard to digest it, and get a lot of seed and anti-oxidant rich berries for tasty free radical fighting fruits.
6. Green tea is it an antioxidant, but can also boost your metabolism instantly through a substance called EGCG that affects the nervous system and works as an appetite suppressant. It can also help to lower the bad cholesterol levels in your body.
7. Spicy foods are a good way to suppress appetite naturally as hot red pepper contain capsaicin which is an appetite suppressant.
8. Choose Olive oil for salads and cooking over canola or other not-so-good choices. Olive oil is a monosaturated fat that will help you burn calories. For extra bang add apple cider vinegar with honey and garlic as a salad dressing for a big boost on your metabolism.
9. Calcium rich foods like Broccoli, Salba and low fat dairy products are good choices to ensure you have your daily calcium requirements. If not, your brain may send out the signals to eat more resulting in overconsumption.
10. Grapefruit naturally helps to reduce insulin levels so combine it with other foods to help your body turn calories into energy instead of storing them as fat.
……
Don’t forget that diets DO NOT WORK (read my book!) and to keep on moving!!!!
Inspiring Quotes – Wise Life Lessons
Apr 16th
These are Quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt who was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 and became an advocate for civil rights. She founded the UN Association of the United States in 1943 to help the UN. She was a delegate to the UN General Assembly from 1945 and 1952 and chaired the committee that drafted and approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
All in all, she was a tough and smart lady. Her wisdom, as expressed decades ago, is still so relevant today!
__________
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face…. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
_______
Life has got to be lived – that’s all there is to it.
_______
Character building begins in our infancy, and continues until death.
_______
I think somehow we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.
_______
Someone once asked me what I regarded as the three most important requirements for happiness. My answer was: “A feeling that you have been honest with yourself and those around you; a feeling that you have done the best you could both in your personal life and in your work; and the ability to love others.”
_______
Happiness is not a goal, it is a byproduct.
_______
You always admire what you really don’t understand.
_______
I’m glad I never feel important, it does complicate life.
_______
Friendship with oneself is all-important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else.
_______
No man is defeated without until he has first been defeated within.
_______
More people are ruined by victory, I imagine, than by defeat.
_______
In the long run we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.
_______
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
_______
This I know. This I believe with all my heart. If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a human being- we can do it!
_______
I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.
_______
Change means the unknown.
_______
The trouble is that not enough people have come together with the firm determination to live the things which they say they believe.
_______
Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.
_______
Criticism … makes very little dent upon me, unless I think there is some real justification and something should be done.
_______
No leader can be too far ahead of his followers.
_______
You can’t move so fast that you try to change [a situation] faster than people can accept it. That doesn’t mean you do nothing, but it means that you do the things that need to be done according to priority.
_______
No one from the beginning of time has had security.
_______
I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experiences behind him.
_______
What one has to do usually can be done.
_______
What you don’t do can be a destructive force.
_______
I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.
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When you have decided what you believe, what you feel must be done, have the courage to stand alone and be counted.
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When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.
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The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything.
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Do not be afraid of mistakes, providing you do not make the same one twice.
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Every time you meet a situation, though you think at the time it is an impossibility and you go through the torture of the damned, once you have met it and lived through it, you find that forever after you are freer than you were before.
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I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experiences behind him.
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You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.
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Toxic Cleaners – What you don’t know WILL hurt you
Mar 23rd
We are killing ourselves and our loved ones in our own homes without even knowing it. Mopping your floors clean for your crawling baby, or for your birthday party guests is a noble deed but not when you are pouring dangerous chemicals and toxins into your cleaning bucket. Forget about worrying about car seats and savings accounts, look what is in your cleaning products as you are likely using products that are potentially hazardous daily to you, your family and your pets.
Just take a peek below at all of the TOXINS that are allowed to be in household products….and we wonder why we are so sick! The biggest problem is that cleaning companies have no obligation to list all ingredients so you have to call them or go to their website. But, a good rule is that if it doesn’t say what is in it, the chances are pretty high that it does have toxins as an ingredient. Just so you know, most popular well known cleaners ARE toxic unless otherwise stated.
But don’t worry, there are healthy solutions. For Green Clean Options go to the tab on this site. So read on. Then go to your cupboards, dump the junk and get some healthy products in your home that can clean and are green.
Common Hazardous Ingredients in Cleaning Products
(sources: www.lesstoxicguide.ca; www.preventcancer.com)
Acetone – Acetone is a neurotoxin which may cause liver and kidney damage, and has the potential to cause damage to the developing fetus. It can also irritate the skin and eyes.
Commonly found in: spot and scuff treatment cleaners.
Aerosol products- Aerosol products may contain a number of toxic ingredients including: propane, formaldehyde, methylene chloride and nitrous oxide. Even worse? Because aerosal sprays break down the ingredients into small tiny particles, these are more easily and more deeply inhaled thereby increasing their toxic effect.
Ammonia – Ammonia is a severe eye and respiratory irritant that when undiluted can cause severe burning pain, chemical burns, cataracts, corneal damage, kidney damage and liver damage. Long exposure to vapours can result in bronchitis and pneumonia. Ammonia mixed with bleach forms poisonous chlorine gas.
Commonly found in: glass cleaners and other cleaning products.
Bleach: (sodium hypochlorite) – Bleach is a corrosive chemical and is an eye, skin and respiratory irritant. It is especially hazardous to people with heart conditions or asthma, and can be fatal if swallowed. It may be a neurotoxin and toxic to the liver.
Found in a wide range of household cleaners.
Diethanolamine (DEA) - A suspected, this chemical is a skin and respiratory toxicant and a severe eye irritant. DEA by itself is not harmful but while sitting on the stores shelves or in your cabinet at home, DEA can react with other ingredients in the to form an extremely potent carcinogen called nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA). NDEA is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked with stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder cancers. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), “There is sufficient evidence of a carcinogenic effect of N-nitrosodiethanolamine”.
Commonly found in: household cleaning products and as a wetting agent in shampoos, lotions, creams and other cosmetics.
D-limonene – (citrus oil and orange oil) – This chemical is produced by cold-pressing orange peels of which 90% is d-limonene. It is a neurotoxin, a moderate eye and skin irritant, and can trigger respiratory distress with some evidence of carcinogenicity.
Commonly found in: insecticides and citrus/lemon all-purpose cleaning products.
Ethoxylated nonyl phenol - Nonyl phenols are hormone disruptors and may contain traces of the carcinogen ethylene oxide. They are eye and skin irritants.
Commonly found in: laundry detergents and other cleaning products.
Formaldehyde – Research indicates that formaldehyde can cause cancer and damaged DNA and acts as a central nervous system depressant. Exposure may result in joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep.
Commonly found in: cleaning products and furniture polishes
Fragrance – Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients, most of which are synthetic. A common fragrance ingredient is toluene, which can cause liver, kidney and brain damage as well as damage to a developing fetus. Symptoms of fragrance exposure have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, asthma attacks and skin irritation.
Commonly found in: laundry detergents and other cleaning products.
Methylene chloride – Methylene chloride is a carcinogen, a neurotoxin and a reproductive toxin. On inhalation, it can cause liver and brain damage, irregular heartbeat, and even heart attack. It is a severe skin and moderate eye irritant.
Commonly found in: stain removers.
Monoethanolamine – This chemical may cause liver, kidney and reproductive damage, as well as depression of the central nervous system. It can cause skin and eye irritation, and inhalation can cause dizziness.
Commonly found in: cleaning products, oven cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, laundry pre-soaks, floor strippers and carpet cleaners.
Morpholine – This is corrosive and can severely irritate and burn skin/eyes, cause liver and kidney damage, and long-term exposure can result in bronchitis. When mixed with nitrites (added as a preservative in some products) to form known carcinogenic nitrosomines. Commonly found in: cleaning products, furniture polishes and abrasive cleansers.
Naphthalene – This is a registered pesticide and is a suspected carcinogen in California. It is dangerous for pregnant women as it can pass through the placenta and result in blood damage to the fetus. It is known to cause liver and kidney damage, and corneal damage and cataracts. Keep it away from pets and children (i.e mothballs) as it can kill them if they consume it or cause extreme skin irritation if touched.
Commonly found in: mothballs, pest repellants and deodorizers.
Parabens – Parabens are hormone disruptors meaning they effect our natural hormones that are required for homeostasis, reproduction, development and behaviour. Parabens are also known to cause contact dermatitis in some. Paraben is usually preceded by the prefixes methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, or propyl.
Commonly found in: cleaning products as a preservatives and in most cosmetic products. (check out how many parabens are in BABY lotions, shampoos and soaps….and we wonder why there is an increase in children with ADD).
Paradichlorobenzene – This highly volatile registered pesticide is in the same chemical class as DDT. It is a suspected carcinogen, and may cause lung, liver and kidney damage. It is used in mothballs and some washroom deodorizers and urinal blocks.
Phosphoric acid – Extremely corrosive, it can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes. Breathing vapours can make the lungs ache, and it may be toxic to the central nervous system. Found in some liquid dishwasher detergents, metal polishes, some disinfectants, and bathroom cleaners, especially those that remove lime and mildew.
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate – This corrosive chemical is a severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant. It may cause liver and gastrointestinal damage, and may be toxic to the central nervous system. It will react with bleach to form poisonous chlorine gas that can cause burning and watering of eyes, as well as burning of the nose and mouth. It is found in some toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers, as well as industrial detergents and some institutional dishwashing detergents.
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is used as a lathering agent. This chemical is a known skin irritant. It also enhances the allergic response to other toxins and allergens. The U.S. government has warned manufacturers of unacceptable levels of dioxin formation in some products containing this ingredient. SLS can react with other ingredients to form cancer-causing nitrosamines
Toluene – Exposure to toluene may cause liver, kidney and brain damage. It is also a reproductive toxin which can damage a developing fetus.
Turpentine – This chemical can cause allergic sensitization, and kidney, bladder and central nervous system damage. It is an eye irritant. Found in specialty solvent cleaners, furniture polish and shoe products.
Xylene – Xylene has significant neurotoxic effects, including loss of memory. High exposure can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. It may damage liver, kidneys and the developing fetus. It is a severe eye and moderate skin irritant. Used in some spot removers, floor polishes, ironing aids and other products.
Good reads and resources:
The Safe Shoppers Bible, David Steinman & Samuel Epstein
Home Safe Home, Debra Lynn Dadd, Tarcher Inc, 1997 includes hundreds of “make your own” recipes.
Non-toxic, Natural and Earth Wise, Debra Lynn Dadd, Tarcher Inc, 1990, includes many “make your own” recipes.
Less Toxic Alternatives, Carolyn Gorman with Marie Hyde, Optimum Publishing, 2002.
Youthful Boosters
Mar 22nd
For better skin, hair and nails you can incorporate great foods into your routine with beauty-saving nutrients for great results inside and out.
Coenzyme Q10
In the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, patients who took CoQ10 supplements saw a noticeable improvement in their skin texture after 3 months. On average pore size and fine lines decreased by 20%.
Hempseeds / Hempoil
For natural beauty opt for the anti-oxidant and EFA power house of hempseeds and hempoil. High in gamma linolenic acid, hempseeds and hempoil are a great tasting way to ensure your cells rebuild and are rejuvenated while reducing and inflammation. The essential fatty acids in hemp also serve to plump up and provide healthy skin. For any dry patches or for an excellent hair and scalp conditioner, use the hempoil topically. Hempoil makes an excellent body lotion, makeup remover and repairs dry scalp and damaged hair (massage in for 2 hours then shampoo out 2x). Keep it by the bedside as it can also be used as a safe and effective natural night time lubricant.
PABA (Para-aminobenzoic acid)
PABA assists in breaking down protein, the formation of red blood cells and maintaining intestinal flora. It is used in some sunscreens as it helps protect the skin against ultra-violet radiation. Without enough PABA, you can end up feeling tired, grumpy and nervous and a deficiency may even result in weeping eczema. When taken in excess (i.e too much sunscreen or PABA supplements) it can result in nausea, skin rashes and vomiting and can result in liver damage. PABA is found in liver, kidney, brewer’s yeast, molasses, whole grains, mushrooms and spinach.
Patchouli Oil
This South and East Asian plant, with its distinct smell, is good for the skin as it helps with acne, eczema, oily skin and wrinkles. The oil has therapeutic properties as it is an anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, astringent, cicatrisant, cytophylactic, diuretic and tonic. Mix it in with your skin creams or add to water for a natural skin tonic.
Rosemary Oil
Use this amazingly nutrient dense herb in oil form on scalp and hair to rid product buildup and slow the onset of grey hair as it darkens hair over time.
Seabuckthorn
Native to Asia, this shrub produces Vitamin C and E rich berries that also have phytochemicals and fatty acids. This is one of the most powerful botanical antioxidants and anti-inflammatory. The oil can help topically for skin blemishes, micro skin tears, and help heal scars. This can be used topically and atopically as an anti-oxidant booster both inside and out.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an extremely effective antioxidant, and can neutralize the volatile reactions caused by free radicals (unstable molecules), caused by genes, environmental pollutants, smoking, or excess sun exposure. It is also a critical component for the production of collagen, which is a naturally occurring protein. Collagen is required throughout your body and is critical for connective tissue in organs, bones and teeth.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps support the skin barrier and can assist in protecting the skin from sun damage. It also pumps up the effectiveness of Vitamin A and K at the cellular level.
So by adding in healthy daily doses of vitamin C you can stave off free radicals to reduce your risks of cancer, and improve your overall skin quality. Foods rich in Vitamin C include: strawberries, lemons, oranges, kiwi, broccoli, brussel sproats, kale, peppers and Salba.
Wrinkles
As you get older the body has less ability to handle the evil free radicals which means that cells get more easily damaged leading to older looking skin. With the super antioxidant Vitamin E, as found in hemp, nuts, papaya and seeds, the body can better able process the free radicals and is also studied to firm up the skin. Firmer skin means less wrinkles and fine lines. So eat it and apply it….opt for the pocket book efficient hemp oil or higher cost avocado oil for both topical and digested beauty 101.
Last Excess to Ensure Success
Mar 17th
St. Paddy’s Day along with spring break always seemed like great timing to me. They come at the end of the winter months and both usually involve some kind of not-so-good excess. Whether it be food, booze or lifestyle, we all know that too much of anything isn’t balanced. With spring around the corner, both events are opportunities to say goodbye to winter’s excesses and hello to healthy routines.
Around this time of year, I like to reflect on what I did well over the winter, and where I fell off the wellness wagon. But for all of my reflections, the best one to illustrate my excesses are my pants. The pants never lie, and unfortunately mine are providing me with a whole whack of truth serum right now. So it is, once again, back to basics for me. Save the red wine for special occasions, have at least one salad a day, lay off the cheese and get back into a coherent exercise routine. I am taking my Salba daily to ensure that I feel fuller longer and to clean me out. I am getting protein at every meal so that I don’t carb out and sprinkling Mum’s Hempseed on my cereal and salad is an easy way to do this. Coconut oil has replaced my olive oil to help shed those winter rolls as well. I am swapping out grilled cheese sandwiches, which seemed like such a good idea on cold days, with a big spinach salad. My hope is to fit into my pantalones before May 1. Wish my waist luck!
So, with a little work, I am trading in winter’s Excess for spring’s Success.
Let me know your tip or plan to get rid of wintery excess!!
Toxic Cosmetics
Jan 1st
Toxic Chemicals Found in Cosmetics (www.cosmeticsdatabase.com)
The following is a list of toxins that are found in MOST over the counter cosmetics – even the chi-chi brands with designer names and logos include them….don’t be fooled by labels. Instead, read the labels, ask the questions and know that your local healthy food store will carry excellent good-for-you brands for both your facial beauty and your children’s skin health for creams, bubble baths and sunscreen. Some of my favourites include: Green Beaver, Dr. Hauschka and Zuzu Cosmetics.
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Amine Family or Diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), and monoethanolamine (MEA)
This is found in shampoo, soaps, hair sprays, sunscreens, foundations, concealers, eyeliners, talcs, face powder, and shaving creams. It is used emulsifier, pH adjuster, preservative, foaming agent added to coconut oils. It is a hormone disrupter and carcinogen linked to liver and kidney cancer. It is an irritant to hair, skin, and eyes, corrosive to eyes, causes contact dermatitis, and reacts with other chemicals to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.Butylene glycol
Hair sprays and setting lotions contain Butylene glycol which is used as a preservative with low threshold for skin irritation, which helps resists humidity. It strips the skin of its natural protection barrier leaving the immune system exposed. It is damaging and causes aging of the skin as well as rashes and dryness.
Formaldehyde Family
(Diazolidinyl urea, 3-diol Lmidazolidinyl urea, DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Nicopropane-1, Formalin, Methanal, Methyl aldehyde, Methlene oxide, Morbicid acid, Oxymethylene.)
This is found in shampoo, bubblebath, conditioners, shower gels, skin lotions, bubble bath, hair care products, antiperspirants, nail polish, mascara, mouthwash, makeup remover, and nail hardener. It is used as a disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, defoamer and preservative. Can result in: allergic reactions and contact dermatitis; headaches, irritation of mucous membranes; damage to eyes; linked to joint and chest pain; depression; headaches, fatigue, dizziness and immune dysfunction. It is a carcinogen and irritant.
Hydroquinone skin lightener
Avoid skin lighteners with hydroquinone. This skin bleaching chemical can cause a skin disease called ochronosis, with “disfiguring and irreversible” blue-black lesions that in the worst cases become permanent all over the skin.
Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). Sodim laureth sulfate (SLES)
This ingredient is a harsh detergent found in car washes, engine degreasers, toothpaste, shampoo, bath salts, body and shower gels, cleansing products, and hair conditioners. It is used as a foaming agent and emulsifier. Use of this product can result in: kidney and liver damage; nervous-system disruption, damage to eyes leading to cataracts; eczema and dermatitis. It is known to inflame skin layers. SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier allowing other chemicals to more easily penetrate the skin. When combined with other chemicals, SLS can be transformed into dangerous “nitrosamines”… a potent class of carcinogens. Frequently Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is disguised in products claiming to be natural as, “comes from coconut”.
Lead
Lead harms the developing brain of a child, this neurotoxin is found in hair dyes and commonly found in lipstick. Studies find residues on door knobs and cabinets. Lead is a proven neurotoxin that can cause learning, language and behavioral problems such as lowered IQ, reduced school performance and increased aggression. Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure. Lead easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain where it can interfere with normal development. Lead has also been linked to infertility and miscarriage.
Mercury
Mercury has the ability to damage brain function even at low levels, but it is still found in cosmetics. It can be listed as the mercury preservative “thimerosal.”
Nanotechnology/nanoparticles/nanomaterials
Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials and the creation of structures and systems that exist at the scale of atoms and molecules. Personal care products can use nanoparticles, nanomaterials or nanotechnology. This emerging technology is almost entirely untested for its health effects, and no requirements exist for either testing or labeling these products to make sure consumers are both safe and informed. Nanoparticles have entered just about every personal care product on the market, including deodorant, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, hair conditioner, sunscreen, anti-wrinkle cream, moisturizer, foundation, face powder, lipstick, blush, eye shadow, nail polish, perfume and after-shave lotion. It results in toxicity to human tissue and cell cultures, resulting in increased oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokine production, DNA mutation and even cell death. Nanoparticles can penetrate cell walls, including organ tissues, and are known to be highly reactive. Researchers using animal models have found that, when inhaled, carbon nanotubes may cause the same type of cancer linked to asbestos: mesothelioma.
Nickel Sulphate
Nickel sulphate is used in hair dyes and astringents and can cause skin rashes when used in cosmetics.
Paraben Preservative or alkyl-p-hydrozybenzoates
(methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl).
This is found in conditioners, hair styling gels, nail creams, foundations, concealers, mascara, facial masks, skin creams, deodorants, sunscreen, hair colouring products. It is used as a germicide and preservative. It can result in the development of breast cancer and have been found in breast tumours. It is a hormone-disrupter, estrogenic (mimics natural estrogens, which can lead to cancer), and may cause skin irritations.
Phthatale Family or di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ehtylehexyl phthalate (DEHP)
These chemicals are used because it makes plastic soft and malleable. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) adds flexibility and a moisturizing sheen, and helps dissolve other cosmetic ingredients. It is mainly found in nail polish, hair sprays, body lotions and deodorants. It can result in endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC’s) and carcinogens linked to birth defects; premature breast development, lowered sperm counts, testicular injury, damage to reproductive organs, infertility, feminization of infant boys, lung, liver and kidney cancer. Pregnant women should avoid it in nail polish (“di-n-butyl phthalate”) and everyone should avoid products with “fragrance” on the label. Fragrances are chemical mixtures where phthalates often hide. Fragrances are the great secrets of the cosmetics industry. Law does not require companies to list on product labels any of the potentially hundreds of chemicals in a single product’s fragrance mixture. Fragrances can contain neurotoxins and are among the top 5 allergens in the world. It is wise to buy fragrance free. “Unscented” does not necessarily mean no fragrance ingredients since masking fragrances (which cover up unpleasant chemical odours) do not have to be identified. If a product contains a synthetic fragrance, you may also be exposed to other hazards including: allergens, Phthalates, Sensitizers (One in every 50 people may suffer immune system damage from fragrance and become sensitized, according to the EU’s Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products. Once sensitized to an ingredient, a person can remain so for a lifetime, enduring allergic reactions with every subsequent exposure) and neurotoxins.
Petroleum byproducts/ petrochemicals
These are cancer-causing impurities derived from crude oil containing carcinogens in baby shampoo and petrochemical waste called coal tar in scalp treatment shampoos. Petroleum-based ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin form a barrier when applied to the skin that does not allow our skin to breath and can clog pores, potentially causing skin problems. It interders with your skin’s natural moisturizing mechanism. Petrochemicals are found in a wide range of cosmetics and is used as filler with no benefit. Derived from petroleum or coal, it coats your skin like plastic, clogging pores and decreasing your skin’s ability to eliminate toxins. This can result in the accumulation of toxins leading to acne and skin rashes. It also causes cellular development to slow down, resulting in pre-mature aging and therefore, should never be used in anti aging skin care.
Potassium bromate
It is found in products that are an antiseptic and astringent like toothpaste, mouthwash and gargles. It can cause bleeding and inflammation of the gums. It is very toxic if taken internally.
Resorcinol
This is found in dandruff shampoos, hair dyes, and lipstick. It is used as an antiseptic, anti-itching and antifungal device. It can cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes.
Talc
Talc is found in baby powders, face powders and body powders as well as on some contraceptives such as condoms. Talc is a known carcinogen. It can result in ovarian cancer when used in the genital area. It can also lodge in the lungs, causing respiratory disorders.
Toluene
Toluene is used in nail polish to help suspend the color and form a smooth finish across the nail. It can result in headaches, dizziness, fatigue, chemical pneumonitis (a fatal disorder). It may also affect the liver, kidneys, nervous system, and blood. Severe overexposure can cause coma and death. Exposure to toluene can also affect the proper development of a growing fetus.
Ureas
(Formerly known as diazolidonyl urea, imidazolidiyl urea, or DMDM hydantoin and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate.)
Ureas can release the harmful chemical formaldehyde in small amounts.
The chemicals are not listed on labels because contaminants are exempt from labeling laws. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that babies are 10 to 65 times more vulnerable to cancer-causing chemicals than adults.
1-4 Dioxane
1-4 Dioxane is found in shampoo, liquid soap and bubble bath. It can result in eye irritation, skin irritation, central nervous system depression, headaches, dizziness, damage to the liver and kidneys and blood disorders.
