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 =)

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.

Meat + Glue = Gross

Source: MotherJones.com 

Would it really surprise you to know that within your choice grade fillet mignon you purchase, you may be getting a little more than you bargained for and much cheaper than it's worth?

Here's how: Meat glue.

Just the sound of that is gross and disturbing. I really can't believe they can do this, but at the same time...of course I can.

Using meat glue has already been banned in Europe, but is actively used in the States. Many restaurants here, however, have opted not to use the meat glue.

Source: cndsfood.en.alibaba.com 

What makes up this glue? 
Transglutaminase - it's an enzyme that creates a bond between two different proteins (hence, why it works perfectly with meat). They happen to take the clotting agent out of pig and cow blood in order to clot together pieces of meat.

Aside from it being gross, why is it unsafe?
Well, the FDA has actually regulated this practice as "safe", however, the real problem lies in the meat. When meat travels from the farm to the plant and finally to the store (or restaurant), it has developed and grown bacteria on the outside of the meat. When you grill or cook the meat, the outside bacteria is usually killed and the inside of the meat remains sterile.

Now, when you take two extra pieces of meat and glue them together, you have the outside of two pieces of meat inside with bacteria. This means that the inside will no longer be clean and will leave it open to E. coli outbreaks or food illness even after it has been cooked.

Why is it used?
Because stores and restaurants can charge you more money for a fillet mignon or a steak, than for beef stew or scrap meat pieces that are not the choice parts. They can manufacture fillet mignon, or pretty much anything, using meat glue. The cost can go from a $4.00 p/lb of stew meat to $25.00 p/lb for choice glued meat.

Read ingredients and where it comes from. This is from 6 countries! I wonder what put it together...

How can I avoid meat glue?
Aside from becoming a vegetarian, another way to avoid this is to purchase grass fed or organic meat. If it's local, even better. Read labels (look at the image above. Even if they didn't use meat glue, I wouldn't recommend eating that). Always ask, especially at restaurants.

Some restaurants stay far from it, but others, like Wylie Dufrense of Manhattan's WD-50, are more than thrilled to use it for creative ways to invent new recipes. In Meat Paper, it describes how Wylie has "concocted all manner of playful and bizarre food products with meat glue, including shrimp spaghetti, which he made by mixing salt, cayenne, deveined shrimp, and meat glue in a blender."

If you watch the video below, it will give you an overview of how this is done.

Two great articles

This week I was sent to great articles that are good easy reads. I love numbered or bullet-pointed articles because they let me read quickly and get a good overview of the text in general. These however, you may want to read in detail.

Basics of Herbs

I found this herb illustration from Illustrated Bites that I thought was incredibly useful.

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

7 Side Effects of Soda

This is nothing new to my blog but if you want a quick refresher on the ingredients to stay away from, check out a previous post on Bad Ingredients.

Stay Healthy!

My 10 Day Juice Fast

About a week ago, I watched the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead after my sister recommended it. She started juicing and lost 8 lbs in 10 days.

Since I've been in a rut and this documentary was incredibly inspiring, I decided I would do the same. My husband researched juicers we finally decided on the masticating juicer: Omega 8006. We ordered it....and waited anxiously.

A note about juicing: many people prefer not to do juicing because of the mess and cleanup needed as well as how much money it costs in items in order to juice enough. Another main complaint is that you lose all the fiber in the fruits.

The Benefits

After juicing for 10 days, I've never loved and believed in it so much. The benefits of juicing are:

• Can reduce risk of cancer
• Serves as a great cleanse
• Boosts the immune system
• Losing weight (in a healthy way)
• Removes toxins from the body
• Aids in digestion through the natural enzymes
• Helps the body receive pure nutrients and minerals in an active state
• Helps you eat more fruits and vegetables that you probably would eat or could in a given serving

New Ava Anderson Dish Soap

Order yours today at: 
http://avaandersonnontoxic.com/jenelle

Parabens...steer clear!

Parabens are chemicals widely used as a preservative by cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies in everyday products used by most individuals in the United States. Mostly found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, makeup and perfumes, their efficacy as preservatives, in combination with the low cost are two reasons they are so commonly found in these products. 

Some of the many common products containing parabens

However, this unfortunate chemical group is not banned from products. They are toxic and low concentrations have been found in breast cancer tumors. Another major concern is the fact that parabens mimic estrogen, which may be a factor in the increasing prevalence of early puberty in girls.

DIY Deodorant

Today I tried my hand at making my first all natural deodorant! I've been using natural deodorant's for over a year now and wanted to finally try my hand at it. I got a recipe from a friend who uses it so I tweaked it a little and tried it for myself.

Here's what you'll need:

Let me put a disclaimer saying I take great pride in a clear picture but somehow seemed to have missed this one and it came out terrible. Sorry.

• 2T - Baking Soda
• 2T - Arrowroot Powder
• 1T - Witchhazel 
• 1T - Coconut Oil
• 1T - Shea Butter (or Cocoa Butter)
• 2T - Beeswax (I used local beeswax which is best...good luck cutting it up)
• Essential Oil (I used several drops of Tea Tree Oil and a few of Eucalyptus - Tea Tree is great because it's antibacterial)
• Empty Deodorant container (save one from a previous use)

Use a double boiler to melt the oils (Coconut oil, Shea Butter, Beeswax, Essential Oils), then add Witchhazel, Arrowroot, and Baking Soda slowly to the oils off the heat. It's preferable to use a real silver spoon (I found a great one at an antique shop for under $10). The reason is it doesn't pick up any bacteria and is a clean metal perfect for mixing.

Once you've mixed everything, drop it into the deodorant mold (container). Then refrigerate for a bit and it's ready to use =)

Remember, it won't be as pretty as the one's you buy in the store, but you know and see all the ingredients that go in it and it's beneficial for your skin and body.

Enjoy! =) Feel free to share in comments other ingredients you've used or other recipes. I'd love to try it!

When phthalates are exposed to children in womb...

This article continues to prove my point on the dangerous toxins in health and beauty products sold to millions in the U.S. Parents, please read this article and see what can happen when we "trust" these large corporations to make safe and healthy decisions for us on the ingredients and products we use daily:

Children more likely to have attention, behavioral problems when exposed to phthalates in womb, New York study says — Environmental Health News

This is why I use and continue to sell and promote Ava Anderson Non-Toxic beauty line. It's non-toxic ingredients are great for the skin and actually provide nourishment through antioxidents. You can get more information at www.SimplyJenelle.com.

Ask me! =)