10 Harmful Chemicals to Avoid

It feels like everywhere around you there is something that causes cancer, whether it's food, cleaning products, environmental toxins, clothes, furniture and the list can go on. This can be really overwhelming for people, especially those with children.

Parents Magazine published an article in 2013 about the results of specific chemicals that should be avoided. Many of those chemicals are "known or suspected" to be linked to cancer, early puberty, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, autism, and other serious health issues.

There seems to be so much to avoid that lists such as these are a great way to get started without feeling overwhelmed. The goal is to reduce the usage of any products that contain harmful chemicals.

Here is a summary of the list, with some additions, provided by the published article done by Parents Magazine:

1. Arsenic 

Linked to: Skin, bladder, kidney and lung cancers

Found in: 

• Apple and grape juice
• Rice products (which are contaminated through pesticides in groundwater) 
• Pressure-treated wood made or manufactured before 2003

What you can do: 

• Consume juices in small amounts
• Limit amount of rice consumed and try to switch to 100% organic and, if possible, whole wheat products
• Avoid older pressure-treated wood, which may be found in sandboxes, playgrounds, wing sets, decks. If your child gets a splinter, it can actually be absorbed into the skin.

Remember, the skin is the largest organ of the body and absorbs everything placed on it. For children, it absorbs at a much higher rate relative to their body size, so it's best to limit the exposure to these harmful chemicals as much as possible.

2. Formaldehyde 

Linked to: Skin irritants, allergies, respiratory symptoms, headache, fatigue, and nausea

Found in: 

• Embalming fluid
• Household products
• Makeup
• Skin care products
• Baby wipes
• Hair products
• Pressured wood medium density fiberboard
• Furniture
• Glue and adhesives 

What you can do: 

• Ventilate any furniture outdoors or in an open garage if you purchase wood made of pressboard or MDF that has been treated with this chemical.
• Avoid beauty and household products that have these ingredients: 
• Quaternium 15
• Bronopol (also written as 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol)
• Diazolidinyl urea
• DMDM hydantoin
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

3. Mercury 

Linked to: Impaired neurological development and high levels of ADHD 

Found in: 

• Air pollution
• Industrial waste
• Fish (shellfish and larger fish that eat shellfish)
• Older thermometers 

What you can do: 

• Eliminate the consumption of large fish such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish from diet, especially if you're trying to conceive, are pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about the air pollution, but if you live in a major city with a lot of pollution, try to make a weekly visit to a park surrounded by trees and clean air and inhale. 
• Fight for clean air through the Clean Air Act. 

4.  Bisphenol A (BPA) and 5. Phthalates 

Linked to: endocrine disruptors, hormone disruptors (they mimic natural hormones and can affect reproductive development and health), early puberty, low testosterone for males and male reproductive problems. 

Found in: 

• Plastics
• Lining of food and beverage cans
• Bottled formulas
• Shopping receipts 
• Vinyl plastics (raincoats, backpacks, shower curtains, blow-up toys)
• Perfumes, lotions and soaps 

What you can do: 

• Don't support or purchase any body products with "Fragrance" listed as an ingredient. They legally DO NOT have to tell you how many toxins are used in that word used to mask an array of chemicals including this one. 
• This may come as a shock to you ladies, but it's in 99% of your products that are not organic. Use EWG to see what ingredients are found in the daily products you use. Purchase organic skin care products for your whole family.
• Look for "PVC-free" raincoats and backpacks
• Try to have cashiers drop the receipt in the bag to refrain from touching the chemical.
• Avoid purchasing food and beverage cans, plastics and bottled formulas unless they are marked "BPA-free"
• Do not microwave foods in plastic containers because they release this toil chemical and others into the food
• Purchase "BPA-free" cups

6. Flame Retardants

Linked to: damaged reproductive systems (specifically polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs]), affected motor skills, learning, memory and hearing. 

Found in: 

• Upholstered furniture (couches, pillows, mattresses, carpet padding)
• Because the chemical is not bonded to foam, they can be released in the dust of the furniture as it ages (very scary!)
• Electronics before 2014
• Foam products manufactured before 2005

What you can do: 

• Don't let babies put electronics, especially those mobile phones, in their mouths
• Replace furniture and pillows if foam is old and beyond repair
• Use a vacuum with HEPA filter and/or run HEPA air filters in rooms
• Throw out older items such as car seats and mattress pads where the foam is not covered in a protective fabric

7. Fluoride

Linked to: cancer, discolored teeth, loss in tooth enamel, brittle bones, and neurotoxicity. 

Found in: 

• Water supply
• Toothpaste and mouthwash
• Soil

What you can do: 

• Switch to a toothpaste and mouthwash that does not contain fluoride. I personally use Now XyliWhite Toothpaste and love it! I have for over 4 years. 
• Call your state department of environmental protection or municipal water supplier to see the level of fluoride in your waters. We do this every time we move to find out immediately.
• Invest in purchasing a water filtration that does reverse osmosis. Use the EWG water filter buying guide before doing this. 

8. Pesticides 

Linked to: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia in children and negative neurobehavioral development. 

Found in: 

• Sprays to treat and kill inspects and weeds produce, outdoor lawns and gardens. 
• Soil as a result of spraying
• Groundwater supply as a result of spraying
• Baby food and drinks

What you can do: 

• Don't let children play in areas where pesticides have just been sprayed
• Buy organic fruits and veggies!
• Always wash fruits and veggies with a soft brush and water or peel and trim before eating. 

9. Lead 

Linked to: nervous system damage, stunted growth, kidney damage, and delayed development 

Found in: 

• Homes built before 1978 that have not been in good repair (lead was found in wood and used in paint) 
• Imported toys,
• Jewelry 
• Candy 

What you can do: 

• If you live in a home built before 1978, be sure all the paint is in good condition as it contains lead and can be inhaled by young ones. Frequently mop and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth.
• If you live in an older home, make sure to get a lead-safe certified contractor to do repairs
• Avoid painted or metal toys older than 1978
• Avoid purchasing imported toys and children's jewelry, especially from China
• Do not buy candy made in Mexico

10. Perchlorate  

Linked to: high doses interferes with iodine absorption into the thyroid gland, which interferes with hormone production needed for growth and development.

Found in: 

• Naturally occurring it is found in arid states in the southwestern U.S.
• Industrial chemical contaminant used in rocket fuel, fireworks, explosives and flares
• Bleach
• Some fertilizers
• Groundwater
• Drinking water and irrigation all over the country

What you can do: 

• Call your state department of environmental protection or municipal water supplier to see the level of perchlorate in your waters. 
• Check with your doctor about taking an iodine supplement to boost thyroid function and offset any contaminants. 

Getting Rid of Acne Naturally

Let's face it, acne sucks! No one likes to have it and yet for many people it is inevitable. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects about 80% of all Americans between the ages of 12-44. It's also the most commonly treated skin abnormality.

We know it can be embarrassing and make us feel insecure about the way we appear to others.

Acne can be caused by so many different factors, and still there are natural treatments and remedies that will help you get rid of it.

*For the sake of keeping this post simple, I will not be discussing Acne Rosacea or Acne Vulgaris.  

Let's dive in...

What is acne?

http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms

Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder that occurs when the natural oils in your skin begin to clog. When this occurs, bacteria is multiplied and the skin becomes inflamed. This characterizes itself in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and sometimes cysts.


What causes acne?
Acne has several causes, but these are the main ones (you'll know which category you belong to):

• Hereditary
• Oily skin (FYI: this is NOT a bad thing and the more you try to remove the oil from your skin, the more your skin tries to replenish it, so don't. Appreciate this...you'll wrinkle slower than generational peers)
• Hormone imbalance 
• Monthly menstrual cycle
• Candidiasis (If you suffer from candida, which is basically a fungal infection that can happen anywhere in the body, one of the best natural treatments I've seen for this has been Candida Freedom. They have pills and a soap. The soap is good for topical candida or acne.)

Now, there are other more common factors that contribute to acne that are easier to treat:

• Nutritional deficiencies 
• Poor diet high on saturated fats, hydrogenated fats and oils, and/or animal products
• Drug use (e.g. steroids, lithium, oral contraceptives, and some anti-epileptic drugs)
• Exposure to industrial pollutants (such as machine oils, coal tar derivatives, and chlorinated hydrocarbons) 
• Stress - This one is a doozy. It's really the root of so many illnesses, so RELAX! =)

How can I get rid of acne naturally?
Depending on what the cause of your acne is from the two lists above, depends on the best solutions for treating it naturally.

When it comes to nutritional deficiencies and poor diet, that is something you have in your control.

Stay Away
Getting rid of nutrient-deficient foods, such as junk food, carbonated beverages, highly processed foods, sugar, enriched flour products, refined foods...etc, is the best way to start, even if you don't have acne. Here's a quick list of ingredients you should stay away from: Bad Ingredient List.

When it comes to drug use, just remember that your body absorbs everything you put inside and outside of it. Harmful chemicals that only add inflammation to your body, will not only cause acne, but other detrimental illnesses and diseases that are triggered by the same.

The skin is the largest organ in the body; you need to make sure you treat it as such and be methodical about how to care for it. I'm going to share with you the best nutrients and remedies to use if you do have acne.

Nutrients
According to Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, the top three nutrients to combat acne are the following:

• Acidophilus - replenishes essential bacteria to reduce outbreaks (taking it pure is better than yogurt, but if you don't want to purchase it, than yogurt is better than nothing at all. Make sure it's not sugar-induced yogurt or your defeating the purpose).
• Collodial silver - Take orally and apply topically with cotton. This is a natural antibiotic. (I personally use this anytime I feel I'm coming down with something. It's definitely always in my house)
• Vitamin A - 25,000 IU daily until healed then reduce to 5,000 IU daily. If you are pregnant, do not exceed 10,000 IU daily. This vitamin strengths the protective skin tissue.

Natural Remedies 

• Bentonite clay mask- This is one of my favorite things to do! Bentonite clay pulls toxins from the body and the clay mask really works wonderfully. I have hooked so many people on this mask for good reason. Click on the heading for the best way to use it. 
• Stay away from toxins - I blogged on this as well a while ago and there a few key ingredients that you should steer clear from in your beauty products. 
• Tea tree oil - this has been my go-to product for years the second I feel like a pimple is coming or once it has taken residence on my face. Tea tree oil is antimicrobial, which is why it's an amazing product for acne. I use the Tea Tree oil by Desert Essence. 
• Clean up your diet and eat healthy whole foods - increase consumption of greens (veggies) and fruits
• Drink lots of water - rule of thumb is to drink half your weight in ounces of water daily
• Eliminate junk food, fried food (that's just more oil), saturated fats, hydrogenated fats, carbonated drinks, shortening, trans-fatty acids, refined foods and concentrated sugars
• Limit alcohol intake - this contains lots of simple sugars that will only agitate acne
• Eat a high-fiber diet - this helps clean you out of toxins as well

Consider this!
All disorders, pains and illnesses you feel are your body's way of telling you something is wrong. Taking medication without knowing the true cause is just telling your body to shut-up for a short while. Meanwhile, whatever the main cause is could be progressing at an alarming rate and damaging or compromising other organs or functions in your body.

The natural solutions offered could be permanent or temporary solutions. That all has to do with the cause behind your acne. Unless you know, find out from a medical professional.



As with all health posts, it is important to consult your doctor before beginning any treatments, especially if you are currently taking any medications. None of these statements have been approved by the FDA (if they had, I wouldn't post them =p...jk, but not really). 

So much to post, so little time

I have been really bad about updating this blog. I have had so many ideas, but not enough time to research and write.

Every post on this blog is researched and cited to give credibility. As a result, my posts take a little longer than most. So yes...in a nutshell, I've been lazy.

But, if you want to follow my Pinterest board on DIY Natural Remedies and Beauty tips, as well as Natural Health, you can do so here:

• http://www.pinterest.com/simplyjenelle/natural-stuff/  
• http://www.pinterest.com/simplyjenelle/diy-soaps-natural-stuff/

Stay tuned, I promise I'll be better next year =)

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus is such an amazing aromatic plant. The health benefits of this plant have been known for thousands of years. The essential oil comes from the fresh leaves of the tall, evergreen eucalyptus tree, scientifically classified as Eucalyptus Globulus. 

Native to Australia, this awesome tree has spread throughout other parts of the world. The major benefits of eucalyptus are shown below in the image. It's such a great substitute for toxic inhalants or topical chest ointments (e.g. Vicks VapoRub). 

I like to keep the essential oil in the house as a great inhalant when stuffed up from a cold. Great to have handy, especially if you have children. 

How to treat ADHD naturally

Source: http://www.dryaun.com/

I'm going to preface this blog post by stating that I am NOT a physician nor do I care to be one. I am passionate about holistic nutrition and using natural supplements and remedies to combat illnesses and diseases. I do not prescribe any medication, but I take full advantage of the freedom of having my opinions based on research. 

On that note...here we go.

Many people have asked for my advice on how to treat ADHD naturally to avoid medications such as Ritalin or Adderall for their children.

In the past decade, the diagnosis for ADHD/ADD for school-aged children has risen tremendously. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, child prescriptions for ADHD drugs jumped 50% from 2002 to 2012.

Stop counting calories

Source: http://blogs.bu.edu

I know you've heard it a hundred times, but watching what we eat is really important. I know people who count calories, check carbs, monitor sugar grams or fat content. The main element to focus on are the ingredients.

Don't be so worried about how many calories you're intaking a day. Instead, focus on where your calories are coming from. The source of the calories are more important than you know. They affect your energy level, nutrition deficiencies, health and weight.

First, try to avoid the ingredients listed here: Ingredients to Avoid.

Those ingredients typically carry the highest carb load, sugar content, fat content and calories. I stumbled on a great article that showed the distribution of food and how important it is to watch what you eat.

DIY Kale chips

Courtesy of my awesome neighbor and friend, I have a new easy and health snack I want to share. The other day, we had a dinner party and she brought kale chips. They were a huge hit and absolutely delish!

So when she came to my craft day on Sunday, I went ahead and made them with her direction =).

Here's how easy it is to make:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Wash kale and put on a flat baking pan
3. Add EVOO, Himalayan salt (or sea salt), black pepper, fresh chopped garlic, and mix together with your hands.
4. Place in oven for 10 minutes and then turn the kale over
5. Cook for another 5-10 minutes until crispy. Optional: Add a little lemon juice
6. Eat and enjoy!

A REAL food pyramid

While researching online, I came across probably the best food pyramid I've ever seen. I truly believe it is the most balanced one that has all the right items in order.

When you eat according to this chart, you'll feel better and even lose weight. When you eat like our society does, it's usually upside down and fats, dairy, sugar and medical pills (instead of supplements) get the best of you.

Eat well, live well.

Food for thought.

10 Simple Cancer Remedies That Can Give You A Fighting Chance

Simple cancer remedies that can give you a fighting chance
By: Dr. Veronique Desaulniers

Though cancer can be seen as a very complex illness, it is important to understand that cancer is simply 
the "symptom" and the tip of the ice berg. For your body to allow cancer cells to take root and multiply, there had to be a weakened immune system, toxicity of many kinds and nutritional deficiencies.

Not a resolution...a way of life

I've been given several excuses for not eating organic or healthy: "it's too expensive"and "it doesn't taste good"are the two most frequent responses.

My reply:

1. "It's too expensive" =  Medical insurance and prescription drugs for heart medication, cholesterol, diabetes, colds, blood pressure (and the list can go on) are much more expensive on a monthly basis, especially considering the number of American's on medical drugs on a daily basis. This is not to mention that a healthy lifestyle and regiment can actually get rid of most of these.

2. "It doesn't taste good" = Well not after you're used to eating a starchy, high sodium and high sugar diet. Sugar can last on your tongue up to 10 days and anything you eat during that time needs to be as sweet or sweeter in order for you to think it tastes good. Try getting away from all sugars for a couple weeks then take a bite out of an apple. It will never have tasted better!

Tap Water = Allergies and Asthma???

Image Source: BU Today

Water, one of the most important elements in life and something we cannot live without. You would think all water is clean...or at least should be. The problem lies in the fact that we have pretty much polluted our lakes, streams, oceans, rivers and every other source of water.

With this contamination comes the need to "clean" it. How do we think everything needs to get cleaned? Through high intensity chemical compounds that kill bacteria and quite a bit more along the way, including good bacteria in our own bodies.

Whole Foods sells GMOs

While this is no surprise to me, it seems that many shoppers of Whole Foods and other natural health foods stores are unaware and extremely trusting of anything in the store because its been marketed as "healthy" and "natural".

They fail to realize how much of the store is actually made up of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) foods and products.

GMOs = Silent Killers

If rats get tumors and cancer when they eat the same GMO induced food we eat as a society, what is it doing to us? 

Let's start at the basics. What is GMO? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms which is being used to create food, even though it has been proven through scientific research and tests that they are unfit for human consumption.

The uprise is that Monsanto (the enemy of our food and health and hence nicknamed MonSatan) has not only gone against family farms to put them out of business, but they are in cahoots with the government to

Same ol' New Years Resolution

Happy New Years Readers!!!

When the majority of American's create their New Year's Resolutions, 99% (my own made up stat...lol) have some sort of weight loss goal. In addition, this stat is true: 80% of resolutions are renounced by February.

Here's a way to really try to hit those weight loss goals and KEEP it off! First, make a healthy diet change, for life. Don't go ON A DIET. It never works, because when you lose the weight and "get off the diet" you gain it all back plus some extra lovin'.

Here's a list of 8 ways to make the change for a healthier you:

1. Eat more greens! I don't care if you buy Green Vibrance (which is amazing) and take a scoop of it a day in a shake or if you eat raw greens...just do =)

2. Take time to eat breakfast. I hear the complaint all the time about not having time or not wanting to because all they need is coffee. Uhhh...wrong! The word comes from breaking the fast from your previous meal usually about 15 hours before. You need to get your metabolism jumpstarted or it will lag the rest of the day leaving you without energy and fuel.

3. Get more fiber. Women need 25-30 grams per day and Men need 30-35 grams per day of fiber. Most Americans get about 10 grams. It's no wonder most of Americans are constipated and unable to detoxify properly. Flax seed, rice bran, fruits, vegetables and beans are a great way to boost up your fiber intake. Start reading those labels people! =)

4. Go wild with berries: blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries...they provide a powerhouse of antioxidents. I usually buy frozen berries and add a scoop of my green's powder for an awesome smoothie jam packed with nutrition.

5. Cut out hydrogenated trans fats. Read labels and make sure none of it has anything "hydrogenated oil" or "partially hydrogenated oil". This oil is what raises the bad cholesterol, clogs arteries and gives you the lovely fat around your body.

6. Avoid artificial flavors. From vitamins all the way to candy, these sneaky colors make it onto 80% of children's food and about 75% of our grocery store. This is what gives coloring to the food. As if it matters what color it is. There are natural ways to color things (aside from leaving it the color it was intended to be) through beet juice, carrots...etc. Stay away from "Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5...etc)

7. Stay away from White Sugar or High Fructose Corn Syrup. Or any corn syrup for that matter. To really shed those pounds, stay away from refined and highly processed sugars. These raise insulin levels, and can lead to a myriad of diseases starting with obesity.

8. Drink more green tea. It's full of antioxidents and can help with weight loss and cancer prevention. It has so many benefits, it's no wonder its been an ancient tradition in Asia.

Hope this gets you off to a good start! Happy New Year!