WHAT ARE YOU CLEANING WITH?
Ahhh! Open those windows and breathe in that fresh spring air! Spring is here, which means it’s time to start thinking about our spring cleaning checklists. There’s just something about the nice weather that brings on motivation for a fresh start. So let’s get to it! But wait, before you reach for those cleaners and get to work, let’s do a little digging into those ingredients, shall we?
Did you know? In 2000, cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10% of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers, accounting for 206,636 calls. Of these, 120,434 exposures involved children under six who can swallow or spill cleaners stored or left open inside the home. With no federal regulations on ingredients in household products, the only way we can protect our families is to learn how to read labels ourselves.
Let’s take a look at the top 4 ingredients to avoid and why.
UP FIRST, AND THE BIG ONE, FRAGRANCE!
This first ingredient is a BIG ONE, but it is in just about every household product that we use daily. Synthetic scents or “fragrances” represent an unidentified mixture of ingredients, including carcinogens, allergens, respiratory irritants, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxic chemicals, and environmental toxicants. You can find these artificial scents in all kinds of body care and cosmetic products, as well as candles, air fresheners, cleaning materials, and laundry detergents.
Let’s talk about fragrance, or parfum or perfume or a million other names ;) This Article shares the dangers of Fragrance. "Synthetic scents or “fragrance” represent an unidentified mixture of ingredients including carcinogens, allergens, respiratory irritants, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxic chemicals, and environmental toxicants. You can find these artificial scents in all kinds of body care and cosmetic products, as well as air fresheners, cleaning materials, and laundry detergents.
In general, there at least 3,000 ingredients that companies could use to form a product’s scent. According to the online “Transparency List” put out by the International Fragrance Association, an industry trade group. It may seem unbelievable, but the FDA does not even require fragrance and cosmetic makers to disclose exactly what they are using to scent products. If companies are using truly natural ingredients, then why be shy? Many will say that their formulas are proprietary, and they don’t want other companies copying them. The FDA website also states how the agency cannot legally require companies to warn about allergens in cosmetics like they do with food.
Are you wondering why companies would continue to use synthetic scents if they’re so bad for our health? The answer is straightforward — they are cheaper. Synthetic scents can be extremely cheap to give everything from shampoo to lotion to candles a desirable scent. Unfortunately, just because you enjoy a scent doesn’t mean it’s good for you." Source - https://draxe.com/health/dangers-synthetic-scents/
PARABENS/PHTHALATES
Parabens are preservatives that mimic estrogen. Found in many cosmetics & personal care items. When combined with heregulin, a growth-promoting substance normally found in breast tissue, the effects are multiplied by 100x, contributing to breast cancer, tumor growth &"moobs" (man boobs). Phthalates are a low-cost endocrine-disrupting chemical that in lab studies has shown to interfere with hormone production in rats and mimic estrogen in human studies. Found in: plastic food packaging, lotions, skin moisturizers, fragrance, cleaners, glues, and nail polish.
SLS - SODIUM LAUREL SULFATE
This chemical is used to de-grease car engines. It is also added to some toothpaste, soaps, detergent, skin products... it's in just about everything. It damages the kidneys/liver, teeth, endocrine system, causes hair loss, cataracts, ulcers, major toxicity, headaches, nausea, coughing, congestion, and more.
TRICLOSAN
An antibacterial agent registered as a pesticide by the EPA. Topical absorption has shown disturbances to the endocrine system and is believed to lead to birth defects and uncontrollable cell growth. Found in: soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, shave gel, first aid spray, kitchenware, and toys.
While there are many, many other ingredients that you will want to know about, these are my "TOP OFFENDERS." As you go further on this low tox living journey, you will learn about so many more. Remember, "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day," and your journey of learning is just that, a journey.
I have a FUN Spring Cleaning Challenge starting in April! 7 Challenges in 10 Days with FANTASTIC info on why you should do them, all for FREEEE and with accountability! Are you ready to join in??? Let’s DO IT!!!
Is it just me?? or are you feeling it also? STRESS...I am not one to stress, or at least not let it consume me. Lately, I am feeling stress all around me. I can feel it deep down, deep into my chest, deep into my stomach. Where do you feel stress? I usually carry it on my shoulders, but this is different...this is STRESS!
There is so much in our environment that we can not control. I don't even want to see the next news report. So what are we to do?? I had to ask myself this question. What am I going to do? I am going back to the things I know about handling stress. The techniques that I have used for 50 years. You know what? They still work.
Let's focus on the things around us that we can control. Mainly, that is ourselves. We may not be able to control the things around us or the things that happen to us in our environments. We definitely can control how we react and handle the situations that are handed to us.
First, let's focus on our minds. What are we letting in? Turn off the TV, close your social media page. Focus on the positive in your life. Positive sources for me are scriptures—upbeat music, and spending time with my family. Think about things that bring you joy, and spend time with them.
Food... are you eating to fuel your body with nutrients or junk?? What we eat gives our bodies the components used to build our body. When you eat protein, our bodies break that down into the smallest component, in this case, amino acids. Amino Acids are the building block to build other proteins in our bodies. Think about how muscle cells are made. What do you think the body builds with... sugar?? NO!! Focus on a healthy diet, knowing that it is strengthening you.
Exercise... is known as a great stress relief. Blood pumping, lymphatic draining, Endorphin released these are definitely mood boosters, and you will have a lasting effect. I personally love to work out with friends. I get the brain happy with endorphins and friends. Relationships are essential to good health and stress. Having a friend to work out with keeps you accountable in getting those workouts complete.
Sleep...try to get the recommended amount of sleep for your body. Sleep is so vital for the body with handling stress. Rest is the body's time to repair and the brain to sort through information. A good sleep pattern is essential for stress relief. Do you have a hard time letting your mind settle when you go to bed? Try diffusing Essential oils, or place the oils on the bottom of your feet. It is imperative to get an oil with the highest naturally-occurring blend of constituents to maximize the desired effect. I can help you find those oils and suggest ones that may help you sleep better.
Try this technique to fall asleep faster... My favorite is tightening every muscle from head to toe, muscle by muscle, tightening, and release. Then take a few deep breaths feeling your belly move up and down. Push all thoughts out of my mind. I tell myself not to think of anything that I will get back to it in the morning. It's amazing how well this works for me.
Bath...have you ever tried a detox bath? There are a few different techniques out there. Here is my favorite. Hot water, pour in while water is running, 1-2 cups Epsom salt, 1 cup baking soda, ½ cup pink Himalayan salt, and a few drops of your favorite Essential oils. Quality matters. Let me know if you need help picking out a high-quality EO. These detox baths can smooth your skin and help relax you. Try one before bed and see if you sleep better.
Deep breathing can help calm the nerves and the fight or flight response. Here are some breathing techniques you may try.
Hera method, breathe out to clear lungs, then close lips and inhale silently through the nose a count of 4(in your head), hold this breath for a count of 7, then a whoos breath out for an 8 count. Stop at any time you feel light-headed—4-7-8 breathing method. I also like to take a deep breath in and a deep cleansing breath out.
Time, priorities, and letting go of "what's good for the best." What do you have on your "to-do" list? Make a schedule of your day. Give yourself time to switch between tasks. Take a good look at your list. Do you love doing everything on your list? Go back through your list. Place at the top things that you have to do. Things that need to be done and things that you want to do. Go back through the list. Are there items that you can delegate to others? Are you doing things that you don't like to do, that do not have to be done? Can you hire someone to do what you do not want to do or bring too much stress to you? Make sure you schedule time to do the things you love and bring you joy.
Smelling... Essential oils, affecting the brain, and imprinting. EOs can enter through the nose and come in contact with the olfactory system. This is an organ in the brain for smell. Oils also interact with the limbic system, the emotional part of the brain. The limbic system controls the heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance. Smells can trigger emotions and memories. Try picking your favorite EO, and when you are happy and relaxed, grab that oil and smell it. Do this often and the next time you feel stress, grab that same oil, and see if it helps you relax.
Grounding... Try the 5-4-3-2-1 method.
Working backward from 5, use your senses to list things you notice around you. For example, you might start by listing five things you hear, then four things you see, then three things you can touch, from where you're sitting, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
Hopefully, one or more of these techniques will help you get a handle on stress. If you still feel overwhelmed by stress, please look for a professional in your local area.
God Bless, He wants us to live our lives in abundance, and I believe that is also in joy. John 10:10
"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up" (Proverbs 12:25, NIV)
Hey, What's in that sunscreen?
Have you checked the ingredient list of your sunscreen lately? You might want to have a second look. The skin is an excellent protective barrier for our bodies, but many chemicals can penetrate this protective layer. These chemicals can cause many disruptions to the usual chemical process that happens from day to day within our cells, and all tissues and organs of our bodies.
What should we look for? And Avoid.
Chemicals such as
Benzophenone-3, also known as Oxybenzone. …
These chemicals can interfere with how some hormones work—known as hormones disruptor. Hormones are what send messages to various parts of the body. Hormones help regulate the body's processes, like hungry, blood pressure. See what an import the job hormones have? Do we want chemicals in our bodies that can hinder their function?
Avobenzone, also known as benzophenone. …It can be toxic to the liver. The liver is the organ that filters all the toxins out of our blood. We can not risk damaging our livers.
Cyclopentasiloxane / Cyclomethicone. … Can cause skin rashes
Formaldehyde, Diazolidinyl urea, Quaternium-15, DMDM Hydantoin, and Hydroxymethylglycinate. …
Affects the nervous system, skin irritations,
Homosalate. …
Effects of the estrogen system
Methylisothiazolinone. …
Lung toxicity, neurotoxicity
Microbeads. …
Damage marine life, wash down the drain end in freshwaters, oceans waters..
Nanoparticles.
Lung inflammation and heart problems
The sunscreen we use can also damage marine life. Check out this site. It has a great visual of the damage that can occur.
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html
Wow, that is a lot of damage that can come from our sunscreen. What do you do? We already know the damage that the sun can cause. The sun has UVA and UVB rays. UVA is associated with skin aging, and UVB causes the skin to burn.
Some sun exposure is good. Sun helps our bodies make vitamin D. Vitamin D has been shown to be a great immune booster that can help protect us during the germy season.
What ingredients are safe to use in sunscreen?
The FDA proposes that two ingredients are "generally recognized as safe and effective" (GRASE). These ingredients are:
- Titanium dioxide
- Zinc oxide
Look for a sunscreen that does not have Nanoparticle zinc oxide.
Nanoparticle-sized zinc oxide in their sunscreen formula means they contain particles so small that they can enter the bloodstream. Can affect the marine life as well.
Young Living is ocean safe, and skin cancer foundation approved.
"We are proud that our Mineral Sunscreen will now carry The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation." Young Living's Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is an over-the-counter, natural sunscreen that does not contain chemical UV absorbers, making it a safe alternative for adults and kids.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/young-livings-spf-50-mineral-sunscreen-receives-seal-of-recommendation-from-the-skin-cancer-foundation-300703816.html
Young living sunscreen also includes non-nano zinc oxide. Safe for the environment and your body.
Other choices that can use to protect the skin from UVA/UVB rays are Physical barriers. Long sleeves, hats, and sunglasses. Try to stay in shaded areas. Avoid long hours of sun exposure, especially from hours of 10 to 2.
