health

Toothpaste

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Toothpaste

The mouth is one of the most absorbent places in the body and the reason why some medications are administered sublingually, or under the tongue. So think about what’s in our toothpaste, how much of it we and our kids swallow! 

Triclosan, found in toothpaste, is an antibacterial chemical linked to antibiotic resistance and endocrine disruption. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies triclosan as a pesticide. 

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are linked to breast, ovarian, prostate, and testicular cancer, preterm and low birth weight babies, precocious puberty in girls, and undescended testicles in boys. Banned in Minnesota, it's still in toothpaste, soaps and cosmetics.

Surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate make the foam in toothpaste. They can cause skin irritation and canker sores, particularly an issue for patients in chemotherapy.

A component in antifreeze, propylene glycol acts as a wetting agent and surfactant in toothpaste. The Material Safety Data Sheets for propylene glycol warn the chemical can be rapidly absorbed through the skin, leading to brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. The EPA won’t allow its workers to handle propylene glycol without wearing rubber gloves, yet its still used in common health care products including toothpaste.

Artificial sweeteners cause sensitivity from a methyl component and bring about many symptoms including headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, gastro upset, weakness, chills, memory lapse, numbness, and behavioral disturbances. It, too, is in toothpaste.

Then there are Microbeads, the tiny plastic pellets found in toothpaste body washes and facial scrubs. They go down the drain straight into the environment, absorbing toxins from the water. They’re eaten by a wide variety of marine life and people too, where they get stuck under the gums, inviting food and bacteria to cause gum disease. Procter & Gamble stopped using microbeads in 2016, but the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is lobbying to use microbeads made from biodegradable plastic in personal care products.

Protein

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Protein

How much protein do we really need? High protein diets, like The Paleo diet, are popular because people are losing weight and feeling better on these regimens. 

Like carbohydrates and fat, protein is a “macronutrient.” We need relatively large amounts of it to stay healthy. Unlike carbohydrates and fat, the body does not store protein, so it has no reservoir to draw from when you’re running low. 

The body needs protein to build muscle mass. Your brain relies on protein. It is necessary for the proper function of the digestive tract and for our endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of hormones that regulate the immune, reproductive, and central nervous systems.

The best sources of protein are those that contain the essential amino acids we need to sustain growth, repair our muscles, bones, organs, cells, and gut.

The healthiest sources are meat from livestock and poultry that eat pesticide-free grass and bugs and roam chemical-free pastures. And wild caught fish.

Enjoying a surge in popularity is Bone Broth. Bone broth is easy to make and buy in liquid and powders, it can help heal the gut and boost the immune system.

Then there’s whey protein. A high-quality whey protein will contain 100 percent whey protein isolate derived from chemical-free, grass-fed milk. Whey contains the full spectrum of amino acids.

For vegetarians and vegans, nuts and seeds are a great source of protein. Two superfood choices are chia and hemp seeds. The shelled varieties of Hemp seeds contain 11 grams of complete protein per 30-gram serving.

We need about .8 grams for every kilo, that’s 2.2 pounds, of bodyweight. Thank heavens for calculate.net, where you will find out how much you need in a day. If you are moderately active, pregnant or a real steam engine, your needs will vary. 

Detox Bath

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Detox Bath

Were exposed to thousands of toxins every day. Starting with a shower in water contaminated with chlorine and pollutants, using soap and shampoo loaded with chemicals, fluoride in the toothpaste and then breakfast where we are exposed to pesticides, Genetically Modified Organisms, hormones, antibiotics and nitrates And we haven’t even left the house! 

The body is a miraculous design. The liver removes toxins and waste through urine and in bile through the bowels. Toxins not completely removed by these processes may be eliminated through our skin by sweating.

A detox bath is easy and cheap! Epsom salts "Epsom" is in England where it's found in natural springs and is also known as magnesium sulfate. The salts draw out toxins. Use it for: 

Use 2 cups Epsom salts to one cup Baking Soda for a standard size tub. Unless you have purified water, the Baking Soda will help neutralize chemicals, especially chlorine and help with absorption of the minerals. Try a few drops of rosemary essential oil to help with digestion or lavender to relax you. Be careful about slippery tubs when using oil!

Fill the tub and sink in up to your chin. Let the toxins leave your body. Once the water is cooled your body will absorb the beneficial minerals through the process of osmosis. Give yourself at least 20 minutes.

Get out of the tub slowly as you might be a bit woozy, and shower off the salts. 

This is a great relaxer before bed. If taking a detox bath at another time of day leave yourself about two hours to rest, rehydrate and recuperate. Do not eat an hour before or after a detox bath. Let your body concentrate on detoxing and absorbing the healthy minerals from the tub.

Do not take Epsom salt baths if you are pregnant, have cuts or burns, or are dehydrated. People with cardiovascular disease should check with their doctor about Epsom salts and Detox baths. Don’t use Epsom salt in a hot tub, whirlpool, or other tub with jets unless the manufacturer says it's OK or you may cause damage to pipes and mechanisms not covered by warranty.

 

 

Hungry is Good

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Hungry is good

The key to maintaining our weight and our health starts by understanding our need for food.

Why we get hungry is a question I hear a lot. We get hungry for many reasons. The bottom line is, the human body is designed to get hungry so that we feed it. We need to eat so our bodies and minds can perform. 

The urge to eat, feel satisfied, get hungry, and eat again is controlled by ghrelin the "hunger hormone“and leptin, the "satiety hormone." Often our emotionscomplicate our food associations. 

Hunger triggers our hormones and jumpstarts our digestive system. So when a client who’s in good physical shape, and all seems right in his world, is constantly wondering why he’s never satisfied much less finding joy, I have to ask, ‘What are you eating?”

He starts his day with a smoothie and vitamins. Chia seeds, flax oil, a turnip, a beet, celery, green powder, turmeric, black pepper, garlic, ginger and stevia in a nut milk base. 

Yuck is what I’m thinking, but everyone’s palate is different. “Does it taste good?“ “Oh no it doesn’t taste good but I know its good for me. It fills me up and I make enough for three days so by the third day it’s like pudding.” Blech!

Juicing and smoothies are great, but those nutrients degrade for every hour we don’t consume them. 

In the time it takes to make a smoothie you could make a beautiful, fragrant bowl with fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, and avocado and spend 10 minutes eating it, you know, chewing, like why humans have teeth. Stimulate your digestive system by absorbing the scents, site and pleasure of eating something delicious and creating a greater connection to our planet by being in touch with your food.

Make friends with your food, find joy and feed your mind, body and soul and chances are, you will feel better.

Cruciferous Vegetables

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Cruciferous vegetables are unique because they are rich in sulfur containing compounds called glucosinolates which support detoxification and indole-3-carbinol which greatly reduces the risk of breast, colon and lung cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, glucosinolates are powerhouse chemicals that break down during chewing and digestion into bioactive compounds that prevent cancer cells growth.

Glucosinolates stimulate the body’s natural antioxidant system, triggering the liver to produce detoxifying enzymes that block free-radical attacks on your DNA.

Glucosinolates are:

  • Anti-inflammatory

  • Contain antibacterial and antiviral properties

  • Inactivate carcinogens

  • Reprogram cancer cells to die-off

  • Prevent tumor formation and metastasis

Your top twelve cruciferous vegetables are:

  • Arugula

  • Bok Choy

  • Broccoli

  • Brussels Sprouts

  • Cabbage

  • Cauliflower

  • Collard Greens

  • Kale

  • Mustard greens

  • Radish

  • Turnip

  • Watercress

 A common concern is can eating cruciferous vegetables cause thyroid problems?

Research shows it would take a lot of cruciferous veg to cause hypothyroidism and only if someone also has an iodine deficiency.

Studies show the consumption of 5oz a day of cooked Brussels sprouts for four weeks had no adverse effects on thyroid function.

So if you have a thyroid issue, eat cooked cruciferous vegetables and keep it to about 1-2 servings daily.

Ultradian Rhythm

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Ultradian Rhythm

Do you wake up, chug some coffee, and fling yourself into a nonstop day of meetings, classes, pick ups and drop offs and before you know it you’re too tired for yoga class, order a pizza on the way home, eat dinner in a haze and at bedtime you’re too wired and tired to sleep, much less have sex? Did you use the bathroom today? Do you remember?

The human body is designed with a 90 to 120 minute attention span, called our Ultradian Rhythm cycle and when we ignore it and override our circuits, we get tired, thirsty, foggy, hungry and cranky.

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Often we reach for Coffee, sugar or carbs for a lift, when what we really need is to STOP. Ideally we should be taking a 15 to 20 minute break in the morning and afternoon. The best case scenario is to lie down in a dark room. At the office? Try tilting the chair back and wear a pair of blue glasses to stop the overstimulation of the lights. Ok maybe I’m stretching, but did you pee this morning? How about a trip to the bathroom and a glass of water. Grab a healthy snack like nuts or nut butter and an apple. Or call, or Skype a friend, call not text, I’m talking about heart connection here, stepping away resets your brain. Leave your to do list alone. Go sit in your car and close your eyes. Your brain will thank you and you will perform better for it. Some employers are creating dark break rooms, because the rewards are that great. The funny thing is children do this naturally, watch your kids, sometimes that’s when you get the best hugs.

FDA Healthy Food Guidelines

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Today, the FDA says its going to need a few more years to get a grip on what’s healthy and what’s not. Like Frosted flakes are ok but the jury is out on salmon, nuts and avocados. Really? How many times does the clue phone have to ring? We are responsible for our own bodies and everybody’s body is different. Now hear this: Frosted Flakes, much as I love them, and I do love them and Tony The Tiger too, are not healthy food. Corn, GMO Corn and sugar are going to make you fat, cranky and sick. That’s the real truth. Somebody has to tell you and that somebody is ME.

My private clients are well aware that we must take charge of our own health. National statistics declaring we are a sick society, and getting sicker, are skyrocketing and if you have been waiting for the US government to tell you what to eat, you will get, be or stay sick. Your brain wont function as it should, you will get fat, depressed and ultimately sick. We are talking obesity, heart disease, diabetes and Cancer, just for starters.  Then you will be subjected to the medical system of medications that mask your symptoms, don’t make you well and feeds the fatcat salaries of Big Pharma.

Come on, be your own person. Get your head out of the sand. Take charge of your health. The human body is designed to heal itself. Every time you put something in your mouth you have the opportunity to feed your body, mind and soul. That’s what makes and keeps you well.  Food is meant to stimulate your brain. Anticipation triggers your nervous system. Smelling and seeing a beautiful plate of food stimulates your digestive juices. Chewing your food well breaks down the fibers and allows your digestive juices to do their job, so your body can absorb the nutrients and process the wastes, giving you the proper amount of time to feel satiated and satisfied.

If you are waiting for the Government to tell you what’s right for your body, you could wait a very long time and given the state of our political system and the current election dog and pony show…. well, I think I’ve said enough!