I would run for the fresh pot of coffee one of my coworkers would brew up every afternoon around 3pm. She called it her "Special" brew, but really it was just two of the packets of coffee in the industrial sized machine instead of one. The pot always would go FAST as fellow bored, tired and droopy co-workers would smell the pungent aroma, wafting lazily through the taupe walls of our prison. It was the ONLY way to get through the next two hours of bleary telephonic work.
Or so I thought.
Now, I'm working at home as a full time telecommuter, but I still feel the pull of the 3pm sleepies, that time frame after lunch where you get hit full on with the overwhelming need to nap, your productivity takes a plunge and everybody around you knows not to ask any questions or risk certain demise from your crankiness. This phenomenon is so widespread that they even made commercials for it, in an attempt to sell more nuts. (Mmmm...almonds...)
How do you combat this though? Is the double up caffeinated beverage the only answer? Should you swill one of those tiny little bottles that promise you "Hours and hours of energy"? Should you give in and take a snooze at your desk, risking the wrath and scorn of your superior? NO! (Unless you're planning on getting yourself fired anyway...then, go for it!)
Here are some suggestions for getting through the afternoon with enough pep to get through the rest of the afternoon.
1. Space out your meals. I was a desk eater and many of you probably are too. I never would take a proper "lunch" break but I'd often munch away while working, usually on the worst sorts of snacky items I could find (Some cookies to go with my double coffee? Oh....shortbread cookies!) Instead of snacking/grazing though, try eating three small meals while in the office (easy..break your breakfast into 2 meals, one at home and one for a mid morning snack, and your lunch into two meals...one at noon and the other around 2-3pm.) This will keep your blood sugar steady. Especially if you make sure to include some slow carbs AND protein with each mini meals.
Example:
Breakfast: 1 egg scrambled with 1/2 small zucchini. Top with salsa and a small amount of cheese if you wish (without cheese, you're paleo!)
Breakfast snack: 1/2 cup yogurt with 2 plums, or 2 Tbsp unsweetened raw almond butter with 1 apple (paleo)
Lunch: Large salad topped with 2 oz tuna, oil (1 tbsp olive, walnut or avocado) and cider vinegar (2 tbsp) to make a dressing, cucumber slices and mushrooms.
Lunch snack: 1 cucumber and 1 small tomato sliced and dressed (oil and vinegar) and 2 ounces of cooked chicken breast.
With each of these you get slow carbs from the fruits/veggies and protein to keep your blood sugar levels steadier. You're getting plenty of carbs, fat and protein, which will help you feel more awake and alert through out the day.
2. DRINK WATER: we are chronically dehydrated in this country. And yes, coffee is wet but it's not water, so don't reach for it! Start the day off before breakfast with a full 8 oz glass of water, and keep it going throughout the day. If you are feeling sleepy in the afternoon, go into the break room and fix yourself a glass. One of the signs of dehydration is confusion and lethargy, which feels a whole lot like the mid-afternoon sleepies.
3. Ditch the caffeine entirely: Whoa...sounds counter intuitive right? But caffeine is rough on your system. Coffee has a mildly diuretic effect which can pull off water leaving you a bit dehydrated (caffeinated tea does the same, along with irritation your bladder to make you need to go more frequently) and you go through the caffeine ups and down. Try switching to an herbal tea instead. If you want the "comfort" of a sweet warm drink, there are some awesome herbal chai teas out there. Fix a mug with stevia to sweeten and some REAL heavy cream (or full fat coconut milk) for cream. All the comfort of coffee, bold taste and warm comfort.
4. Knock out the sugar: Jam on your toast in the morning, a donut at that breakfast meeting you're forced to attend, a slice of your bosses "world famous" chocolate peanut butter cake, a handful of the chocolates the receptionist keeps...(EVERY time you walk buy...), a mid afternoon soda pop...suddenly you're swimming in SUGAR! Offices are full of the stuff. I swear it's the only way sometimes that people don't kill each other during the long dull goal meetings. Avoid it at all costs! Sugar is not the answer to your 3pm lack of energy. In fact, it will only make the rest of the day that much harder at it hits your system full steam them BAM, is gone, leaving your cells wondering what to do next. Instead practice the slow but steady eating described above, and keep those blood sugar levels EVEN, which also will help keep the cravings down.
5. Take a lunch time walk: I loved seeing the girls who I work with doing this. They'd be out hoofing it, in their business casual wear and sneakers, name badge pinned primly to their hips as they moved down the office park road. Walking, or any other form of exercise will help to stimulate you're brain, moving oxygen into your cells and keeping you awake and alert! It also helps to move sugars/carbs into your cells which gives them more energy. Not to mention the fresh air outdoors is a HUGE improvement to stuffy office air. Trees, sunshine, wind...all help to reduce office related stress and fatigue. Don't think about work, put on some tunes and walk!
6. Organize a book club in the office: If you can't walk at lunch, meet up with your buddies and talk about something OTHER than work. This will give you the mental stimulation you may need to be able to tackle the rest of your day. A book club is a good idea, or you can talk movies or play games. Anything but worrying over the meeting coming up that afternoon or the new regulations rolling out. Make your lunch hour your own, your time to decompress so the rest of the afternoon won't drag.
7. Get enough sleep at night: This seems a no-brainer but really, it's hard! Try for a 10pm bed time, every single night. That may mean you need to have the TV OFF at 9pm (no prime time TV..sorry) so you can spend an hour winding down for bed. Read during this time, stay off the computer or tablet ( the back lit screen can mess with your sleep cycles). When bedtime comes, settle into a quiet dark room. If you have trouble falling asleep, try standing up on the side of the bed and reading THE MOST BORING book you have in your arsenal. You'll start to feel sleepy in no time. If you still can't fall asleep, repeat the process. Keep doing this for several nights and you'll "train" yourself that sleep time is sleep time.
8. Before you sleep, avoid wine or alcohol: Yes this is a night time thing, what does it have to with the 3pm sleepies? Well, a good nights sleep goes a long way to getting through the next day. Alcohol, despite making you sleepy, will NOT promote a good nights sleep. It only hinders you getting through a good normal sleep cycle, so don't go for the night cap. Try some herbal tea instead.
9. Keep your body temp steady while in the office: Dress in layers. It's always inevitably to hot or to cold in most offices so come prepared. Keep a sweater at the back of your chair, some fingerless mitts or make sure you can take off your suit jacket. Anything to keep you comfortable because being to hot or cold will lead to you feeling tired.
10. Keep a small fan at your desk: Offices are stuffy places filled with chemicals that rise from everything from printers to carpets. Most of them also don't allow for opening windows to let in fresh air. Keeping a small fan on at all times will help to move the air around you, making it feel "fresher". Fresh air does wonders for keeping you alert!
Have any thoughts or tips of your own? Let me know!
(*In the interest of full disclosure, I am writing this blog at 1:12 pm...while drinking a cup of fully caffeinated coffee. Hey, I never said I was perfect! )
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Friday, August 17, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Living Crunchy and..picking your battles?
I live in a "co-habitation" arrangement with my parents. No, I'm not a lazy 30 something who can't get her act together! We found it to be mutually beneficial on many levels. Financially it gives us all a lot more wiggle room, personally my son home schools and my mother is able to do this. Also with three speical needs kids, it sometimes takes three adults to stay on top of them all! Plus many hands make light work, our house keeping arrangements work out better than if I was on my own, trying to do it all on my own. But it's not always an EASY arrangement, as any adult child who has ever resided with their parents knows all to well. There's always the inevitable power struggle, the stand for being seen as an ADULT and not longer a child and learning to find balance with people who were historically 'your boss' and are now your "ally and supprt." It can be done though, and we're hitting that balance fairly nicely.
But it does mean picking your battles at times.
For instance, our financial wiggle room is now better but we are not out of the woods as far as debt goes. We all have to watch our budgets pretty carefully. Now, I'm guilty in my grand schemes of crunchy idealism of trying to subject the family to bouts of healthy eating, healthy cleaning and healthy living that may strain the family budget (and ah...tastebuds). I've had to learn that I can talk and talk but some things are just going to remain the same. I will NEVER completely abolish the appearnce of snack foods in this house for instance. Chips, cookies, ice creams, sugar, kool-aid...they all march through here routinely and I have to accept that this will always be the case. I can limit the quanities that are consumed by myself and my son and my sisters even to some extent, but they will never be gone completely. That's just a fact of life since I do not have 100% control of the household grocery expenses. And.....I'm okay with it. It's a balance afterall. If I can get my folks on board with a MOSTLY low sugar and high protien diet for my autistic kid, I'm doing okay. They can make the choices for what they eat for themselves and that's okay too. We're adults.
I can not set myself on hard limits 100% of the time, and that goes I'm sure for any relationship you may be in, whether it's parents or spouses or adult children or even bosses/co-workers you are dealing with. We give and we take, we compromise. I get to limit the access to the video games...grandpa still gets to buy him the fun games he loves and be the fun grandpa he wants to be. I can implement small changes (getting everybody on MOSTLY whole grains...if they're going to eat grains) and those are important steps.
I guess I'm telling you guys this out of the need to self disclose. We don't practice our crunch 100% here because we're not all 100% on board with the program. And chances are the same will happen in your world. It's not the end of the world if that is the case..make what changes you can, as you can. It may take a while to get to that crunchy state of bliss, and maybe it will only ever effect you alone and not the rest of the house hold. But at least awareness has been raised, right?
But it does mean picking your battles at times.
For instance, our financial wiggle room is now better but we are not out of the woods as far as debt goes. We all have to watch our budgets pretty carefully. Now, I'm guilty in my grand schemes of crunchy idealism of trying to subject the family to bouts of healthy eating, healthy cleaning and healthy living that may strain the family budget (and ah...tastebuds). I've had to learn that I can talk and talk but some things are just going to remain the same. I will NEVER completely abolish the appearnce of snack foods in this house for instance. Chips, cookies, ice creams, sugar, kool-aid...they all march through here routinely and I have to accept that this will always be the case. I can limit the quanities that are consumed by myself and my son and my sisters even to some extent, but they will never be gone completely. That's just a fact of life since I do not have 100% control of the household grocery expenses. And.....I'm okay with it. It's a balance afterall. If I can get my folks on board with a MOSTLY low sugar and high protien diet for my autistic kid, I'm doing okay. They can make the choices for what they eat for themselves and that's okay too. We're adults.
I can not set myself on hard limits 100% of the time, and that goes I'm sure for any relationship you may be in, whether it's parents or spouses or adult children or even bosses/co-workers you are dealing with. We give and we take, we compromise. I get to limit the access to the video games...grandpa still gets to buy him the fun games he loves and be the fun grandpa he wants to be. I can implement small changes (getting everybody on MOSTLY whole grains...if they're going to eat grains) and those are important steps.
I guess I'm telling you guys this out of the need to self disclose. We don't practice our crunch 100% here because we're not all 100% on board with the program. And chances are the same will happen in your world. It's not the end of the world if that is the case..make what changes you can, as you can. It may take a while to get to that crunchy state of bliss, and maybe it will only ever effect you alone and not the rest of the house hold. But at least awareness has been raised, right?
Saturday, July 28, 2012
39 Uses for Zucchini
39 uses for Zucchini! To awesome not to share!
http://itbeganincamp4.blogspot.com/2012/06/39-uses-for-zucchini.html
http://itbeganincamp4.blogspot.com/2012/06/39-uses-for-zucchini.html
Friday, July 27, 2012
15 things to do indoors when it's HOT
Summer is all about the great outdoors! But for some kids, for instance those who are medically fragile or prone to serious asthma, staying out of the extreme heat is a MUST. These kids may do better inside with air conditioning that will filter the air and dehumidify. But this isn't exactly the most fun way to spend a glorious summer. So, what can you do to help combat it? Here are som ideas for some indoor fun to help with the summertime blues.
15. Let your kids help you make a "mixed tape" of fun summer songs. Use only what you have already downloaded or have on CDs around the house!
14. Visit the local pet shop. Make a game out of it by counting how many different kinds of fish, birds and rodents they have. (The tricky part of this is NOT coming home with a new pet....)
13. Play the story game. One person starts a story and stops after two sentences. The next family member picks up there and so on and so on. The las time we played this, the hero of our story ended up driving a car made of a corn cob that used butter for gasoline....it's also a GREAT car game for long trips!
12. Print off several free coloring pages. http://www.free-coloring-pages.com/ encourage your kids to tell you a story about each page they complete.
11. Pop a big bowl of air popcorn and sit around in the dark with flashlights, telling eachother ghost stories.
10. Let your kid teach you how to play chess. You'll be surprised what rules he suddenly comes up with!
9. Make popsicles: http://dandysugar.com/recipes/homemade-popsicles
8. Set up an indoor picnic down in the basement. Make sure to make a BIG pitcher of lemonade with fresh lemons slices inside!
7. Make microwave smores: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Smores-in-a-Microwave
6. Get the kids into the bath tub and let them each have a bottle of bubbles. Spray them down with the shower with cool (but not cold water) for some "sprinkler" fun.
5. Join a local library book club and make a contest out of trying to read more books that is each childs goal. Celebrate at the end with build your own ice cream sundaes!
4. Go cloud watching INSIDE. Sit with you kids and study the clouds out the window. Encourage your kids to draw the clouds they see and make them into animals, even wild monsters!
3. Sign up for indoor activities at the YMCA. Many have open gym for playing basketball, indoor swimming pools and karate classes that are all held indoors.
2. Go on a scavenger hunt at your local mall. Make a list of items for kids to find and break into teams (include an adult in each team!) Treat the winners (and loosers) to a treat at the food court.
1. Make a weekly baking date with your kids. Teach them to bake using simple recipes and uses their creations for desert that night, or for snacks for the next few days.
15. Let your kids help you make a "mixed tape" of fun summer songs. Use only what you have already downloaded or have on CDs around the house!
14. Visit the local pet shop. Make a game out of it by counting how many different kinds of fish, birds and rodents they have. (The tricky part of this is NOT coming home with a new pet....)
13. Play the story game. One person starts a story and stops after two sentences. The next family member picks up there and so on and so on. The las time we played this, the hero of our story ended up driving a car made of a corn cob that used butter for gasoline....it's also a GREAT car game for long trips!
12. Print off several free coloring pages. http://www.free-coloring-pages.com/ encourage your kids to tell you a story about each page they complete.
11. Pop a big bowl of air popcorn and sit around in the dark with flashlights, telling eachother ghost stories.
10. Let your kid teach you how to play chess. You'll be surprised what rules he suddenly comes up with!
9. Make popsicles: http://dandysugar.com/recipes/homemade-popsicles
8. Set up an indoor picnic down in the basement. Make sure to make a BIG pitcher of lemonade with fresh lemons slices inside!
7. Make microwave smores: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Smores-in-a-Microwave
6. Get the kids into the bath tub and let them each have a bottle of bubbles. Spray them down with the shower with cool (but not cold water) for some "sprinkler" fun.
5. Join a local library book club and make a contest out of trying to read more books that is each childs goal. Celebrate at the end with build your own ice cream sundaes!
4. Go cloud watching INSIDE. Sit with you kids and study the clouds out the window. Encourage your kids to draw the clouds they see and make them into animals, even wild monsters!
3. Sign up for indoor activities at the YMCA. Many have open gym for playing basketball, indoor swimming pools and karate classes that are all held indoors.
2. Go on a scavenger hunt at your local mall. Make a list of items for kids to find and break into teams (include an adult in each team!) Treat the winners (and loosers) to a treat at the food court.
1. Make a weekly baking date with your kids. Teach them to bake using simple recipes and uses their creations for desert that night, or for snacks for the next few days.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Crunching at depression: Can natural cures work?
I have been a LONG TIME sufferer of moderate to severe "medication resistant" depression. This means, that for the past 16 years I've tried every medication out there for depression. (Okay, not all of them, but it sure feels like it!) In the interest of disclosure...I've tired prozac, zoloft, lexapro, welbutrin, Paxil, ritalin (not an anti-depressant but they thought maybe it would help?) and finally effexor XR. I'm still on the Effexor, at a whopping 300mg a day. And I'm not ready to give it up just yet...but it does come with some wicked side effects and I know it's ADDICTING and causes terrible withdrawal symptoms. But, it's the first thing that has ever worked for me.
That being said...there are also natural options out there, and yes, I've tried some of them them as well. Now, depression is NOTHING to sneeze at. It comes with some serious problems that I'm only to familiar with, including anxiety, apathy towards life, serious suicidal and homicidal thoughts. It shouldn't be taken lightly and if you choose to go the a natural route, it's best still to do so under the guidance of a doctor, preferably a psychiatrist who knows how these things work in the body/brain. Not all physicians have a lot of training in psychology and while they are usually willing and able to start you off down anti-depressant lane, they can't manage you for the long haul. So, that's my disclaimer for this post, what are the natural options? Do they work? Keep in mind, this is all informational and not intended to be medical advice, for that please go to your doctor!
St. John's Wort: This is probably the most well known and popular of the over the counter/herbal depression remedies. It's derived from a plant (the flower of the St. John's Wort plant, actually) and has been studied with some decent results in improving mood. But it needs to be taken with caution, especially if you're using it in conjunction with other medications. It's been found recently to allegedly act as more of an MAOI type medication rather than an SSRI. Which, if you don't know, MAOIs are an older class of anti-depressants that come with a HUGE list of interactions with other drugs, and foods. There is no stable dosing currently in the U.S. on herbal formulations, so traditionally it's best to stick to brands that are well known for quality and purity to ensure you're going to get an accurate dose.
SAM-e: Another popular over the counter remedy, SAM-e is a complicated byproduct of breaking down other chemicals in the body. I won't go into great scientific details, wikipedia can do that for you, but basically it occurs naturally in the liver. What sparked interest in it at first, was that people suffering from alzheimers were found to have lower levels of SAM-e than the average population. Still, this is not understood why. In the USA it's sold as a supplement and boasts treating several ailments including depression. Now, this one I have tried and I can honestly say from personal experience...it didn't help or hurt me one way or another.
GABA: This is an ammino acid that is part of the seratonin cycle or "chain" that occurs in your body. I tried this one on the reccomendation of my psychologist (Note...NOT my psychiatrist) for anxiety/panic attacks. But reading further I've found that this in it's current, OTC form does not cross the blood/brain barrier readily to acutally do what you need it to do, so it's use is iffy. I took a sub-lingual form and I did notice a certain amount of sleepiness after taking it....so it did have a calming effect. You need to be careful taking this or anything on the seratonin cylce (5-htp or L-tryptophan) if you are taking an SSRI because there is such a thing as TO MUCH seratonin, and it could actually be life threatening. Again, always check in with your doctor on what supplements you take.
5-htp: Another amino acid along the seratonin cycle. Usually you'll find this marketed for insomnia, but my psychologist suggested it might help with calming my overly anxious self down. I took some, and I found it helpful. I took it for about 6 months and I had a marked reduction in anxiety attacks, but maybe it was just from sleeping a bit better, since I did notice I tossed and turned less at night while on this. I stopped taking it when the anxiety lessened and haven't taken it since. Please see above about using it cautiously if you're already taking an SSRI.
L-Tryptophan: Tryptophan is a buzz word you may have heard, especially around thanksgiving! What? Why is that you say? Well...tryptophan is the amino acid that is found naturally in abundance in turkey that everybody swears makes them sleepy. And it does make you sleepy, but it's also a part of the seratonin cycle. Now, there was a scare awhile back as a bunch of tainted L-tryptophan reached the US markets, so it's harder to find these days as a supplement. I found mine at the vitamin shoppe. I took this, along with 5-htp for about 6 months then backed off it. I had good results using both of those together, but again...it's something to do with caution! Tryptophan does occur naturally in many other foods besides turkey, mostly in protein rich foods.
Omega-3 fatty acids: (and 6...and 9...). In the US today, following a Standard American Diet (SAD diet) we are deeply deficient in omega 3 fatty acids. More and more research is coming out on this and it turns out, these acids are vital to our bodies for everything from cholesterol synthesis to mood support and so on. You've probably all heard about fish oil being good for your heart. Well, now you know it can also be good for your mood! In fact, it's on our regimen for ADHD/Autism care for my son because it's so vital for brain function. If you add this as a supplement, don't just go getting any brand though, look to make sure that the brand of fatty acids you are buying is 1. PURE and 2. balanced. You probably get a boat load of omega 9s from rancid oils (corn, safflower, canola...) but you still want to get it from a good source in good balance along with omegas 3 and 6. The brand I personally use is Nordic Naturals, who does quality checks on their fish to ensure they are free of heavy metals (like mercury). They're not the only brand out there that does this, I'm sure, but they're easily accessible to me from amazon.com.
B Vitamins: They have been linked to mental health for a long time now, but research continues to show that people who suffer depression are low in b-vitamins, particularly vitamin B-12. It's unclear why this is, but a good B-complex will help with this, along with a diet full of plenty of fish, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. I've had bad personal experience with B-vitamins (the taste makes me feel queasy). I've started taking them in a gummy form though and this seems to help. I can't speak from personal experience though on this one since I've not taken it long enough. Just be sure, as with any vitamins, to watch dosing if you're also taking other vitamins/supplements that might have the same ingredients (like a multi-vitamin).
Glutathione: This is a set of amino acids that have been recently studied and shown to have some effect in treating severe depression. They are synthesized naturally in the liver, however, people with depression are found to be low. To get this in over the counter form, you would buy the amino acid N-acetyl cysteine, or NAC as it's commonly marketed. This is the precursor for natural Glutathione production. This is another one, I have personal experience with. I started NAC about two years ago, and continue to take it today. I do think it's been helpful to me and I've had no side effects one way or another while taking it. I found it at the vitamin shoppe and have also ordered it OL from amazon.com (along with my fish oil supplements).
Diet AND yes, EXERCISE: Diet plays a HUGE role in our health, mental health included. Think of it this way...pretty much everything you intake into you body is a drug of sorts, causing a chain of reactions to go through your system. Adding in a bunch of junk (processed foods, preservatives, garbage carbs like white flour..) only gums up these reactions, making them either over exaggerated or non-existent. Our bodies simply weren't designed for the types of food now available to us. Not on a routine basis anyway. So opt for shopping the perimeter of the store only, where all the fresh meats, veggies, fruits and dairy are kept. Stay away from the interior regions at all cost, except for maybe some frozen veggies and dried beans/rice (if you're eating grains. I'm not at this time). Shoot for organic meats IF you can. Right now....alas...we can't. Our budget and the need to feed 6 individuals doesn't allow for this. We do what we can, when we can.
And yes, I said exercise. Routine exercise is important, but it's especially important if you suffer from depression. Moving gets the blood flowing and creates a better level of hormones in your system, which can greatly affect your mood for the better. Added bonus if you do your exercising outside, you get a does of sunshine which helps your body in the natural production of vitamin D, another vitamin whose deficiency has been linked to depression (and most women in the US are deficient in vitamin D, thanks to our avoidance of the sun.) Get out and try to walk at least 30 mins a day. This can be in short spurts, or all at once, it doesn't matter.
Good old fashioned therapy is also something that I want to included on this list. Therapy allows for a safe environment to express your fears, concerns, frustrations, pains...all to somebody who will listen, help you to problem solve and who is hopefully compassionate to what you are going through. This is very helpful in helping you to process what is at the root of the depression. But in order for it to work, you have to approach it from the angle that you are READY to change what is broken, ready to work and ready for the feed back. This has to be true of any approach to tackling a mental health issue, holistic or conventional. It will NOT work if you're not ready for it to work. Nothing can take root and make changes in your mind and body if you aren't open to allowing it. As somebody who has worked in a mental health setting, I'd say being READY for healing/changing and working on your illness is the number one step to truly recovering.
I hope you found this helpful. Obviously this is just the tip of the holistic depression iceberg. As always, do some research and let me know if you have any other holistic therapies up your sleeves. I'm always reading up myself, trying to figure out what is helpful for me and what isn't and I'd love to hear what else is out there!
That being said...there are also natural options out there, and yes, I've tried some of them them as well. Now, depression is NOTHING to sneeze at. It comes with some serious problems that I'm only to familiar with, including anxiety, apathy towards life, serious suicidal and homicidal thoughts. It shouldn't be taken lightly and if you choose to go the a natural route, it's best still to do so under the guidance of a doctor, preferably a psychiatrist who knows how these things work in the body/brain. Not all physicians have a lot of training in psychology and while they are usually willing and able to start you off down anti-depressant lane, they can't manage you for the long haul. So, that's my disclaimer for this post, what are the natural options? Do they work? Keep in mind, this is all informational and not intended to be medical advice, for that please go to your doctor!
St. John's Wort: This is probably the most well known and popular of the over the counter/herbal depression remedies. It's derived from a plant (the flower of the St. John's Wort plant, actually) and has been studied with some decent results in improving mood. But it needs to be taken with caution, especially if you're using it in conjunction with other medications. It's been found recently to allegedly act as more of an MAOI type medication rather than an SSRI. Which, if you don't know, MAOIs are an older class of anti-depressants that come with a HUGE list of interactions with other drugs, and foods. There is no stable dosing currently in the U.S. on herbal formulations, so traditionally it's best to stick to brands that are well known for quality and purity to ensure you're going to get an accurate dose.
SAM-e: Another popular over the counter remedy, SAM-e is a complicated byproduct of breaking down other chemicals in the body. I won't go into great scientific details, wikipedia can do that for you, but basically it occurs naturally in the liver. What sparked interest in it at first, was that people suffering from alzheimers were found to have lower levels of SAM-e than the average population. Still, this is not understood why. In the USA it's sold as a supplement and boasts treating several ailments including depression. Now, this one I have tried and I can honestly say from personal experience...it didn't help or hurt me one way or another.
GABA: This is an ammino acid that is part of the seratonin cycle or "chain" that occurs in your body. I tried this one on the reccomendation of my psychologist (Note...NOT my psychiatrist) for anxiety/panic attacks. But reading further I've found that this in it's current, OTC form does not cross the blood/brain barrier readily to acutally do what you need it to do, so it's use is iffy. I took a sub-lingual form and I did notice a certain amount of sleepiness after taking it....so it did have a calming effect. You need to be careful taking this or anything on the seratonin cylce (5-htp or L-tryptophan) if you are taking an SSRI because there is such a thing as TO MUCH seratonin, and it could actually be life threatening. Again, always check in with your doctor on what supplements you take.
5-htp: Another amino acid along the seratonin cycle. Usually you'll find this marketed for insomnia, but my psychologist suggested it might help with calming my overly anxious self down. I took some, and I found it helpful. I took it for about 6 months and I had a marked reduction in anxiety attacks, but maybe it was just from sleeping a bit better, since I did notice I tossed and turned less at night while on this. I stopped taking it when the anxiety lessened and haven't taken it since. Please see above about using it cautiously if you're already taking an SSRI.
L-Tryptophan: Tryptophan is a buzz word you may have heard, especially around thanksgiving! What? Why is that you say? Well...tryptophan is the amino acid that is found naturally in abundance in turkey that everybody swears makes them sleepy. And it does make you sleepy, but it's also a part of the seratonin cycle. Now, there was a scare awhile back as a bunch of tainted L-tryptophan reached the US markets, so it's harder to find these days as a supplement. I found mine at the vitamin shoppe. I took this, along with 5-htp for about 6 months then backed off it. I had good results using both of those together, but again...it's something to do with caution! Tryptophan does occur naturally in many other foods besides turkey, mostly in protein rich foods.
Omega-3 fatty acids: (and 6...and 9...). In the US today, following a Standard American Diet (SAD diet) we are deeply deficient in omega 3 fatty acids. More and more research is coming out on this and it turns out, these acids are vital to our bodies for everything from cholesterol synthesis to mood support and so on. You've probably all heard about fish oil being good for your heart. Well, now you know it can also be good for your mood! In fact, it's on our regimen for ADHD/Autism care for my son because it's so vital for brain function. If you add this as a supplement, don't just go getting any brand though, look to make sure that the brand of fatty acids you are buying is 1. PURE and 2. balanced. You probably get a boat load of omega 9s from rancid oils (corn, safflower, canola...) but you still want to get it from a good source in good balance along with omegas 3 and 6. The brand I personally use is Nordic Naturals, who does quality checks on their fish to ensure they are free of heavy metals (like mercury). They're not the only brand out there that does this, I'm sure, but they're easily accessible to me from amazon.com.
B Vitamins: They have been linked to mental health for a long time now, but research continues to show that people who suffer depression are low in b-vitamins, particularly vitamin B-12. It's unclear why this is, but a good B-complex will help with this, along with a diet full of plenty of fish, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. I've had bad personal experience with B-vitamins (the taste makes me feel queasy). I've started taking them in a gummy form though and this seems to help. I can't speak from personal experience though on this one since I've not taken it long enough. Just be sure, as with any vitamins, to watch dosing if you're also taking other vitamins/supplements that might have the same ingredients (like a multi-vitamin).
Glutathione: This is a set of amino acids that have been recently studied and shown to have some effect in treating severe depression. They are synthesized naturally in the liver, however, people with depression are found to be low. To get this in over the counter form, you would buy the amino acid N-acetyl cysteine, or NAC as it's commonly marketed. This is the precursor for natural Glutathione production. This is another one, I have personal experience with. I started NAC about two years ago, and continue to take it today. I do think it's been helpful to me and I've had no side effects one way or another while taking it. I found it at the vitamin shoppe and have also ordered it OL from amazon.com (along with my fish oil supplements).
Diet AND yes, EXERCISE: Diet plays a HUGE role in our health, mental health included. Think of it this way...pretty much everything you intake into you body is a drug of sorts, causing a chain of reactions to go through your system. Adding in a bunch of junk (processed foods, preservatives, garbage carbs like white flour..) only gums up these reactions, making them either over exaggerated or non-existent. Our bodies simply weren't designed for the types of food now available to us. Not on a routine basis anyway. So opt for shopping the perimeter of the store only, where all the fresh meats, veggies, fruits and dairy are kept. Stay away from the interior regions at all cost, except for maybe some frozen veggies and dried beans/rice (if you're eating grains. I'm not at this time). Shoot for organic meats IF you can. Right now....alas...we can't. Our budget and the need to feed 6 individuals doesn't allow for this. We do what we can, when we can.
And yes, I said exercise. Routine exercise is important, but it's especially important if you suffer from depression. Moving gets the blood flowing and creates a better level of hormones in your system, which can greatly affect your mood for the better. Added bonus if you do your exercising outside, you get a does of sunshine which helps your body in the natural production of vitamin D, another vitamin whose deficiency has been linked to depression (and most women in the US are deficient in vitamin D, thanks to our avoidance of the sun.) Get out and try to walk at least 30 mins a day. This can be in short spurts, or all at once, it doesn't matter.
Good old fashioned therapy is also something that I want to included on this list. Therapy allows for a safe environment to express your fears, concerns, frustrations, pains...all to somebody who will listen, help you to problem solve and who is hopefully compassionate to what you are going through. This is very helpful in helping you to process what is at the root of the depression. But in order for it to work, you have to approach it from the angle that you are READY to change what is broken, ready to work and ready for the feed back. This has to be true of any approach to tackling a mental health issue, holistic or conventional. It will NOT work if you're not ready for it to work. Nothing can take root and make changes in your mind and body if you aren't open to allowing it. As somebody who has worked in a mental health setting, I'd say being READY for healing/changing and working on your illness is the number one step to truly recovering.
I hope you found this helpful. Obviously this is just the tip of the holistic depression iceberg. As always, do some research and let me know if you have any other holistic therapies up your sleeves. I'm always reading up myself, trying to figure out what is helpful for me and what isn't and I'd love to hear what else is out there!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Day SEVEN: Under there.
Okay, this is a delicate topic...one that I've looked around and around and haven't seen approached much in the world of blogging. I've decided to take it on. What am I talking about? Moisture and odor that forms under...delicate folds of skin. Now, this may not affect everybody, but I'm willing to bet with the number of women today who struggle with their weight, we all have encountered once or twice a problem area in a "skin fold". (Think, under your belly if it hangs, in the folds between thigh and pelvis, under your breasts in the summer heat.....boys, you have places too...)
EWWWWWW, right? Right. I'm right there with you. Ew.
So...what can be done about this? Well, we could all loose weight and tone up! Wait what? Oh right..that won't work in the immediate will it. I'm sure it's something we are all striving to do anyway, but what about RIGHT NOW when it's hot outside, sticky and you're stuck in a crowded office with bad air circulation wearing tight panty hose and wishing for death? Okay, take a deep breath.
The first step is keeping the area dry. Easy right? No..probably not. It's a problem area for a reason: that's a problem. We sweat. We get nervous or drink to much coffee and voila, problem. So now what?
Deodorant helps (not the over the counter kind though, which has aliminum and other things you don't want on delicate skin). Consider the kind we made earlier this week...with a little tea tree oil (anti-fungal). It puts some cornstarch or arrowroot powder to the area which will absorb some of the moisture. After rubbing it in well, make sure the area is DRY (don't rub with a towel though, we're talking about delicate skin). A fan works, or a blow dry set to cool. Not the sexiest thing in the world but...you know. We do what we have to do. Wear loose clothing if you can to help keep the area dry and aerated. Skip the pantyhose.
I've also found using a bit of baking soda on my fingers mixed with water to gently wash the area is very helpful. Do this while bathing and rinse well afterwards! The baking soda helps to make the area a bit more alkaline, which will help ward off bacterial growth. Following this up with deodorant seems to do pretty good. Again, this is all personal experience, not medical advice.
If you have continued odor, irritation or any sort of rash...you need to see a doctor. Yeast can grow in those areas, as can bacteria and you may have a skin infection (intertrigo) especially if you've been struggling with this for a while.
If you have yeast problems in other delicate areas (ladies) and they are reccurent, do consider looking into a diet for Candida. http://www.thecandidadiet.com/ or http://www.gapsdiet.com/ (both address this issue). Sometimes you have to work from the outside in.
I hope you've enjoyed my 7 day spree into the world of beauty. I'm trying to learn to love my lumpy/bumpy, CURVY, lush body and I'm certainly enjoying learning what it is trying to tell me.
EWWWWWW, right? Right. I'm right there with you. Ew.
So...what can be done about this? Well, we could all loose weight and tone up! Wait what? Oh right..that won't work in the immediate will it. I'm sure it's something we are all striving to do anyway, but what about RIGHT NOW when it's hot outside, sticky and you're stuck in a crowded office with bad air circulation wearing tight panty hose and wishing for death? Okay, take a deep breath.
The first step is keeping the area dry. Easy right? No..probably not. It's a problem area for a reason: that's a problem. We sweat. We get nervous or drink to much coffee and voila, problem. So now what?
Deodorant helps (not the over the counter kind though, which has aliminum and other things you don't want on delicate skin). Consider the kind we made earlier this week...with a little tea tree oil (anti-fungal). It puts some cornstarch or arrowroot powder to the area which will absorb some of the moisture. After rubbing it in well, make sure the area is DRY (don't rub with a towel though, we're talking about delicate skin). A fan works, or a blow dry set to cool. Not the sexiest thing in the world but...you know. We do what we have to do. Wear loose clothing if you can to help keep the area dry and aerated. Skip the pantyhose.
I've also found using a bit of baking soda on my fingers mixed with water to gently wash the area is very helpful. Do this while bathing and rinse well afterwards! The baking soda helps to make the area a bit more alkaline, which will help ward off bacterial growth. Following this up with deodorant seems to do pretty good. Again, this is all personal experience, not medical advice.
If you have continued odor, irritation or any sort of rash...you need to see a doctor. Yeast can grow in those areas, as can bacteria and you may have a skin infection (intertrigo) especially if you've been struggling with this for a while.
If you have yeast problems in other delicate areas (ladies) and they are reccurent, do consider looking into a diet for Candida. http://www.thecandidadiet.com/ or http://www.gapsdiet.com/ (both address this issue). Sometimes you have to work from the outside in.
I hope you've enjoyed my 7 day spree into the world of beauty. I'm trying to learn to love my lumpy/bumpy, CURVY, lush body and I'm certainly enjoying learning what it is trying to tell me.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Day Six: My toes are shamefully naked! Foot and nail care
I don't do pedicures. I don't do manicures for that matter. I've said it before...my style is "tomboyish" at best. Earthy nutty crunchy at worst? But this has a more practical side to it...I wasn't allowed to wear nail polish for many years because bacteria can grow under nails and good clean short nails are a nurses best friend in stopping the spread of infectious diseases. Now that I've taken up a desk job, I still haven't embraced the world of polishes and paints. Personal style I guess, it's never been my "thing". I have read recently though that nail polishes are laden with horrific ingredients so I don't plan on jumping on that bandwagon any time soon.
However, I am trying to be more "polished" in general about my overall appearance so I have started to try to take care of my nails and feet. That means, no more going out with raggedy hangnails and huge nasty foot callouses. Umm...er....most of the time.
So, let's look at some simple natural steps to nail care and foot care. Keep in mind, I'm a newbie at this.
Nail care:
Step one: Gently file the nail using and emery board from corner to center, rounding the shape out as desired.
Step two: Soak hands in warm (soapy) water to soften cuticles and get rid of excess dirt. (Ew...good plan.) Clean under the nail carefully.
Step three: Push the cuticle gently back. Do not cut or trim, just push it back and leave it intact.
Step Four: Apply a moisturizing cream to the hands to prevent nail breaking.
(Hmm...moisturizing cream. Look, we can make that ourselves! http://naturalnailcarerecipes.homestead.com/handcream.html)
That's it. Whew. Not to painful. I can do that.
Okay, now how about our aching tired, stand up all day nurse feet?
Start with a basic foot soak of on gallon or so of hot water (whatever you can tolerate. I like mine fairly hot) and 1 cup of epsom salts. (If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation please be cautious with the temperature of your water.) Soak your feet until the water starts to cool then pat your feet dry on a dry towel you have standing by. (Option, adding 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda to the water will help to moisturize dry feet and absorb foot odors)
Another option, a callous conquering foot scrub:
1 cup of sea salt (or epsom salts, which are super cheap and found in the pharmacy section)
3 tablespoons of moisturizing oil (Jojoba, almond, apricot, even olive oil will work here.)
Mix ingredients into a thick paste. You can add essential oils to the mix if you'd like. Take a bit and sit on the edge of the tub, and scrub scrub away gently at your feet, heels and ankles, using your hands to work in the oils while the salts slough off the dead skin and draw out the toxins.
Final thoughts for today, if you still want some sparkle and bling to your nails, look for nail polish options that are rated as "Toxin free" but be warned, those have STILL be found to contain toxic ingrediants.
However, I am trying to be more "polished" in general about my overall appearance so I have started to try to take care of my nails and feet. That means, no more going out with raggedy hangnails and huge nasty foot callouses. Umm...er....most of the time.
So, let's look at some simple natural steps to nail care and foot care. Keep in mind, I'm a newbie at this.
Nail care:
Step one: Gently file the nail using and emery board from corner to center, rounding the shape out as desired.
Step two: Soak hands in warm (soapy) water to soften cuticles and get rid of excess dirt. (Ew...good plan.) Clean under the nail carefully.
Step three: Push the cuticle gently back. Do not cut or trim, just push it back and leave it intact.
Step Four: Apply a moisturizing cream to the hands to prevent nail breaking.
(Hmm...moisturizing cream. Look, we can make that ourselves! http://naturalnailcarerecipes.homestead.com/handcream.html)
That's it. Whew. Not to painful. I can do that.
Okay, now how about our aching tired, stand up all day nurse feet?
Start with a basic foot soak of on gallon or so of hot water (whatever you can tolerate. I like mine fairly hot) and 1 cup of epsom salts. (If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation please be cautious with the temperature of your water.) Soak your feet until the water starts to cool then pat your feet dry on a dry towel you have standing by. (Option, adding 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda to the water will help to moisturize dry feet and absorb foot odors)
Another option, a callous conquering foot scrub:
1 cup of sea salt (or epsom salts, which are super cheap and found in the pharmacy section)
3 tablespoons of moisturizing oil (Jojoba, almond, apricot, even olive oil will work here.)
Mix ingredients into a thick paste. You can add essential oils to the mix if you'd like. Take a bit and sit on the edge of the tub, and scrub scrub away gently at your feet, heels and ankles, using your hands to work in the oils while the salts slough off the dead skin and draw out the toxins.
Final thoughts for today, if you still want some sparkle and bling to your nails, look for nail polish options that are rated as "Toxin free" but be warned, those have STILL be found to contain toxic ingrediants.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Day Five: It's getting funky in here! Underarm deodorizing
Shewwwy! Something smells funny around here and it's not the dog! Has that line came up around you lately? Probably not, because you probably wear a good quality commerical deodorant plucked off the shelf from your favorite store. Or, not...maybe you're already cruncy and have an alternative already but seek something new?
I've only recently broken my bondage to commercial deodorants! This was hard to do. I'd tried natural brands with no luck (stinky by noon? NO THANK YOU!) and even made a powder concotion that left me feeling galded and unhappy. Finally I hit upon gold. A natural, home made deodorante recipe that actually...WORKS! It works for me and I'm a heavy sweaty betty! I can lift my arms without fear! I can bake down in my hot basement bedroom all day at work and emerge smelling like....well not a rose...tea tree! I can go out in public with confidence that when I hand my change to the cashier she won't faint. I'm free free free!
Now, this recipe I'm about to share with you, is not an antiperspirant. Perspiration...is not a bad thing. It's how your body gets toxins out. If you really want an anti-perspirant I'll look around for something but for now, deodorizing is where it's at! Let the sweat pour and know at least you won't be stinky.
So, here's what you do:
5 tbsp of coconut oil (I used refined...I know it's more processed but I'm okay with that. It was cheaper and it lacks that coconut smell that may be off putting.) Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial.
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder (or cornstarch if you don't have any and aren't worried about GMOS)
10-15 drops of tea tree essential oil (You can use other oils or mix and match a few, but I really like the tea tree for it's fresh, clean scent AND it's anti-bacterial properties!)
Mash all the ingrediants together until you have a thick paste (You may need to add more baking soda and/or arrowroot powder to get the consistency you want). Voila. That's it. You can be fancy and try to store it any number of ways. I'm finding that our house is warm enough now (summer) that the oil is melted at room temperature, so we're keeping ours in the fridge, wrapped up in a plastic baggie. The deodorant hardens this way so that when you use it, you take it out, holding the lump by the baggie and just press it to your body. The heat will melt it and you can rub it in then. A little bit is all it takes so if you don't mind the melted version, leave it out and just keep mixing it well! Take a little on your finger and just rub it on/in. You're good to go. Really, not hard at all.
There are many variations on this out there. I've seen other types of oils use, or just sprinkle on the powders only. I didn't like that though, it didn't seem to work well for me, the coconut oil was the lynch-pin in my deodorizing success I believe, so I'm sticking with it!
I found the original recipe here: http://www.survivingthestores.com/homemade-coconut-oil-deodorant.html Neat trick, putting it into a used deodorant container! To messy for me though, my baggie lump works just fine!
I've only recently broken my bondage to commercial deodorants! This was hard to do. I'd tried natural brands with no luck (stinky by noon? NO THANK YOU!) and even made a powder concotion that left me feeling galded and unhappy. Finally I hit upon gold. A natural, home made deodorante recipe that actually...WORKS! It works for me and I'm a heavy sweaty betty! I can lift my arms without fear! I can bake down in my hot basement bedroom all day at work and emerge smelling like....well not a rose...tea tree! I can go out in public with confidence that when I hand my change to the cashier she won't faint. I'm free free free!
Now, this recipe I'm about to share with you, is not an antiperspirant. Perspiration...is not a bad thing. It's how your body gets toxins out. If you really want an anti-perspirant I'll look around for something but for now, deodorizing is where it's at! Let the sweat pour and know at least you won't be stinky.
So, here's what you do:
5 tbsp of coconut oil (I used refined...I know it's more processed but I'm okay with that. It was cheaper and it lacks that coconut smell that may be off putting.) Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial.
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder (or cornstarch if you don't have any and aren't worried about GMOS)
10-15 drops of tea tree essential oil (You can use other oils or mix and match a few, but I really like the tea tree for it's fresh, clean scent AND it's anti-bacterial properties!)
Mash all the ingrediants together until you have a thick paste (You may need to add more baking soda and/or arrowroot powder to get the consistency you want). Voila. That's it. You can be fancy and try to store it any number of ways. I'm finding that our house is warm enough now (summer) that the oil is melted at room temperature, so we're keeping ours in the fridge, wrapped up in a plastic baggie. The deodorant hardens this way so that when you use it, you take it out, holding the lump by the baggie and just press it to your body. The heat will melt it and you can rub it in then. A little bit is all it takes so if you don't mind the melted version, leave it out and just keep mixing it well! Take a little on your finger and just rub it on/in. You're good to go. Really, not hard at all.
There are many variations on this out there. I've seen other types of oils use, or just sprinkle on the powders only. I didn't like that though, it didn't seem to work well for me, the coconut oil was the lynch-pin in my deodorizing success I believe, so I'm sticking with it!
I found the original recipe here: http://www.survivingthestores.com/homemade-coconut-oil-deodorant.html Neat trick, putting it into a used deodorant container! To messy for me though, my baggie lump works just fine!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Day Four: Get your bod clean!
Soap soap soap...how do I love thee...a soap by anyother name would still smell like...lye...You had me at lather...
Okay folks, so there are a LOT of soaps out there in this world. I mean, walmart has an entire aisle here located to body washes, soaps, scrubs, scours and other skin stripping products. And then there's the world of hand made soaps...beautiful little bars of goodness made from all kinds on sunkissed and honey drenched ingrediants of sudsy love. I tend to gravitate towards the hand made soaps, the kinds you find at craft shows, fancy pants boutique stores and on Etsy.com. But even here it can be tricky to navigate your purchases. Some of the bars I've purchased have left my skin feeling pretty darn scaly dry..and I'm not given to dry skin! They also tend to leave a horrible ring around the old tub...but that's another problem.
Now, I'm not adventurous enough to go diving into my own soap making. Not yet. And that's okay, since there are about a million and two good soap makers out there that I adore. (I'll list my favorites later!) But...I have wanted to try making my own "every once in a while" salt scrub. Something to slough off all the grimy dead skin that collects.
So, here is a very simple recipe to get us started!
1/2 cup jojoba oil (or sweet almond, or grapeseed, it needs to be a light "massage" type oil)
1 cup fine sea salt
5-15 drops essential oil (Let's try...tea tree and lavender shall we? Lavender is one of my favorite all time scents and tea tree is getting to be! Other good ones would be rosemary, rose, lemongrass, patchouli...)
Put the salt in a small bowl.
Add the oil, mixing well with a spoon or wooden stick. The texture should be moist enough to hold together, but not overly oily. You can adjust the amount of oil to achieve that texture. Gently add in your drops of essential oils and mix in as well.
Ta Da! This will last you for maybe 3 showers? This doesn't (and shouldn't) need to be done daily, once a week or so is all to get that all over scrubbed off tingly skin!
Alternately...you can also use sugar to make a sugar scrub. Doesn't this Mocha Spice sugar scrub look over the top yummy?
So, where is my favorite places to buy soap?
Real Simple Soap: http://realsimplesoap.com/ Just like it sounds. Real and Simple.
The Bee Folks: www.beefolks.com Not only is this a great place to buy soap, but their honey is fabulous! I buy bars of soap from them every year at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. This year I also got some to die for hand cream...but that's another region of the body...
Chargin Valley Soaps and Salves: http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/ This is a newer find to me. I ordered some shampoo bars from them in my "no-'poo" quest and found they have some amazing soaps!
Blue Ridge Soap Shed: http://www.soapshed.com/Handmade-Soap/ I can't remember, but I got a bar from them as a gift and I loved it! Nice and creamy, lots of lather...
Look on Etsy.com also, there are hundreds and hundreds of soap makers out there. You can get vegan soaps, glycerin, every variety of oil under the sun....The suds the limit!
Okay folks, so there are a LOT of soaps out there in this world. I mean, walmart has an entire aisle here located to body washes, soaps, scrubs, scours and other skin stripping products. And then there's the world of hand made soaps...beautiful little bars of goodness made from all kinds on sunkissed and honey drenched ingrediants of sudsy love. I tend to gravitate towards the hand made soaps, the kinds you find at craft shows, fancy pants boutique stores and on Etsy.com. But even here it can be tricky to navigate your purchases. Some of the bars I've purchased have left my skin feeling pretty darn scaly dry..and I'm not given to dry skin! They also tend to leave a horrible ring around the old tub...but that's another problem.
Now, I'm not adventurous enough to go diving into my own soap making. Not yet. And that's okay, since there are about a million and two good soap makers out there that I adore. (I'll list my favorites later!) But...I have wanted to try making my own "every once in a while" salt scrub. Something to slough off all the grimy dead skin that collects.
So, here is a very simple recipe to get us started!
1/2 cup jojoba oil (or sweet almond, or grapeseed, it needs to be a light "massage" type oil)
1 cup fine sea salt
5-15 drops essential oil (Let's try...tea tree and lavender shall we? Lavender is one of my favorite all time scents and tea tree is getting to be! Other good ones would be rosemary, rose, lemongrass, patchouli...)
Put the salt in a small bowl.
Add the oil, mixing well with a spoon or wooden stick. The texture should be moist enough to hold together, but not overly oily. You can adjust the amount of oil to achieve that texture. Gently add in your drops of essential oils and mix in as well.
Ta Da! This will last you for maybe 3 showers? This doesn't (and shouldn't) need to be done daily, once a week or so is all to get that all over scrubbed off tingly skin!
Alternately...you can also use sugar to make a sugar scrub. Doesn't this Mocha Spice sugar scrub look over the top yummy?
So, where is my favorite places to buy soap?
Real Simple Soap: http://realsimplesoap.com/ Just like it sounds. Real and Simple.
The Bee Folks: www.beefolks.com Not only is this a great place to buy soap, but their honey is fabulous! I buy bars of soap from them every year at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. This year I also got some to die for hand cream...but that's another region of the body...
Chargin Valley Soaps and Salves: http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/ This is a newer find to me. I ordered some shampoo bars from them in my "no-'poo" quest and found they have some amazing soaps!
Blue Ridge Soap Shed: http://www.soapshed.com/Handmade-Soap/ I can't remember, but I got a bar from them as a gift and I loved it! Nice and creamy, lots of lather...
Look on Etsy.com also, there are hundreds and hundreds of soap makers out there. You can get vegan soaps, glycerin, every variety of oil under the sun....The suds the limit!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Day Three: You've got CHOPS! Oral care
Okay, now you want me to give up my toothpaste? I know that's what you're thinking and YES. I do. "But why...." you might whine "It whitens my teeth and freshens my breath!"
Yes...it does that. But I found that the toothpaste I had in my bathroom also contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Whoa...what? Yep. That's that nasty stuff I talked about here. If it makes my hair fall out and is potentially dangerous, do I want it in my mouth? NO, I think not!
So, I looked around for some alternatives and came up with this recipe for a tooth powder:
3 parts baking soda mixed with 1 part salt. (I used 3/4 cup soda to 1/4 cup salt, but this will last me a LONG TIME I think so you may want to cut back a bit.) Add to this 5 drops of tea tree essential oil (anti-bacterial) and 5 drops of spearamint or peppermint esssential oil. Now, I found this mixture to be....salty. Not terrible but not terribly pleasant either. Futher reading showed that I could add a tablespoon of xylitol to the mix. Xylitol is a sweetner and has been used by the dental community for some time in gum products to help with teeth. (it is POISON to dogs though, so be careful). Ah...much better! I store my powder in a small container and just dip my damp brush in. You could also scoop a little out so you don't contaminate your jar with your mouth germs.
Now that we've brushed, shall we rinse? My dental hygeniest reccomended a mixture of 1/2 listerine and 1/2 hydrogen peroxide (the stuff you put on wounds to help disinfect, that you can find SUPER cheap in the pharmacy.) This mixture is gentle on your gums and helps combat gum disease (which most of us have, even if we don't have symptoms.) Now, I've found other recipes using just peroxide mixed with a bit of essential oils (again, tea tree and/or mint) but I think I'll stick to the listerine.
Rinsed and brushed? Now what. Well, I was going to try oil pulling. However, somebody on facebook pointed out to me that it's not a good idea if you have fillings, since the pulling can loosen up those fillings. I....sadly....have a lot of fillings. Years of neglect to my teeth (not getting them cleaned)....I'm telling you, depression is hard core stuff. So I'm opting out of this, (though I did try it once and it's not bad! My mouth felt nice afterwards!)
So floss and now you're squeaky clean!
(Alternate recipe to make your tooth powder into a paste? 6 parts baking soda : 1 part vegetable based glycerin : 1 part hydrogen peroxide : essential oils to flavor to taste)
Wait! Wait!! What about flouride? Ah....the flouride. Read this: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/toxicchemicalsan/a/flouride.htm
and this:
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/fluoride.htm
and this:
http://www.fluoridedebate.com/
and if you really have a lot of time look at this book:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1425144845/ref=nosim/?tag=shirleyswel02-20
You guys decide for yourselves. I'm not saying one way or another. (It's in the water we drink already, sometimes naturally occuring). However...not saying one way or another...I'm opting out of it. I'll take my chances..my teeth are already full of filling as it is.
Yes...it does that. But I found that the toothpaste I had in my bathroom also contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Whoa...what? Yep. That's that nasty stuff I talked about here. If it makes my hair fall out and is potentially dangerous, do I want it in my mouth? NO, I think not!
So, I looked around for some alternatives and came up with this recipe for a tooth powder:
3 parts baking soda mixed with 1 part salt. (I used 3/4 cup soda to 1/4 cup salt, but this will last me a LONG TIME I think so you may want to cut back a bit.) Add to this 5 drops of tea tree essential oil (anti-bacterial) and 5 drops of spearamint or peppermint esssential oil. Now, I found this mixture to be....salty. Not terrible but not terribly pleasant either. Futher reading showed that I could add a tablespoon of xylitol to the mix. Xylitol is a sweetner and has been used by the dental community for some time in gum products to help with teeth. (it is POISON to dogs though, so be careful). Ah...much better! I store my powder in a small container and just dip my damp brush in. You could also scoop a little out so you don't contaminate your jar with your mouth germs.
Now that we've brushed, shall we rinse? My dental hygeniest reccomended a mixture of 1/2 listerine and 1/2 hydrogen peroxide (the stuff you put on wounds to help disinfect, that you can find SUPER cheap in the pharmacy.) This mixture is gentle on your gums and helps combat gum disease (which most of us have, even if we don't have symptoms.) Now, I've found other recipes using just peroxide mixed with a bit of essential oils (again, tea tree and/or mint) but I think I'll stick to the listerine.
Rinsed and brushed? Now what. Well, I was going to try oil pulling. However, somebody on facebook pointed out to me that it's not a good idea if you have fillings, since the pulling can loosen up those fillings. I....sadly....have a lot of fillings. Years of neglect to my teeth (not getting them cleaned)....I'm telling you, depression is hard core stuff. So I'm opting out of this, (though I did try it once and it's not bad! My mouth felt nice afterwards!)
So floss and now you're squeaky clean!
(Alternate recipe to make your tooth powder into a paste? 6 parts baking soda : 1 part vegetable based glycerin : 1 part hydrogen peroxide : essential oils to flavor to taste)
Wait! Wait!! What about flouride? Ah....the flouride. Read this: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/toxicchemicalsan/a/flouride.htm
and this:
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/fluoride.htm
and this:
http://www.fluoridedebate.com/
and if you really have a lot of time look at this book:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1425144845/ref=nosim/?tag=shirleyswel02-20
You guys decide for yourselves. I'm not saying one way or another. (It's in the water we drink already, sometimes naturally occuring). However...not saying one way or another...I'm opting out of it. I'll take my chances..my teeth are already full of filling as it is.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Day two: Putting your best face forward: Face washing
Okay okay...I'll fess up. I am NOT a good one at taking care of myself. I've never been in the habit of washing my face daily. No...seriously. Call it years of major depression? I was lucky to be dressed in clean clothes. Luckily for me, my genes are fairly decent and I've never suffered from major breakouts. I'm new to basic skin care routine, so I'm thrilled to find a fairly natural way to go thanks to Crunch Betty, because yes, I'm now 32 years of age and I'm noticing my face...needs a bit of attention.
So, my problem areas? My nose! It's covered with blackheads. Ewwww...I've done my steady best to ignore the problem in the past. I've picked at them or just pretended they don't exist, but I'm tired of this! I too...suffer a little bit of vanity. I'd like for the first thing people see about me NOT to be pores big enough to drive a mac truck into.
So, following Betty's advice, I'm doing a daily wash with honey. Nothing else, jut 1 tsp or so of plain raw honey into my palm, mixed with a tiny bit of water then washed all over my face. I let it sit a bit then rinse off with cool water. Not bad? I'm surprised by how it feels. It's not sticky like you'd think, and my face afterwards feels...nice! Soft and a bit glowy.
So, let's take this routine a bit further shall we? Betty has a wonderful post on doing an exfoliating wash with baking soda. http://www.crunchybetty.com/3-step-spring-cleaning-for-your-face. Now, do I want to exfoliate? Yes...apparently I do. It would seem after doing some research that in my quest to get rid of blackheads, this is an important step! It removes the top layer of (dead) skin cells off your face, so that they can't later migrate inoto those truck sized pores and aide in clogging them up.
Daily toner: 1/2 cup water and 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar. Use a cotton swab to apply daily to help keep your pores tight and the oil down.
After than we'll follow with a steam. I'm opting for a basic steam I found that uses salted water, and nothing else. Take the sea salt you bought, add 2 tablespoons to a pot full of hot water and let it come to a boil. When it's boiling away, remove the pot from the heat and set it where you can sit by it for several minutes. Drape your head and the pot with a large bath towel and....steam way. Stay like this until the water cools. This opens the pores so that more of that gunk can get out.
Alternative: Steep a couple of chammomile tea bags in the water instead of the honey and use this as your steam instead.
Finally...once a week or so a mask! So, I re-read the post up above and like the idea of Betty's mask. I have honey, lemons and eggs, so I'd like to give that a try. (1 egg white and yolk , 2 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp honey: all beaten together then smeared onto you face).
Other options are just plain honey left to sit on your face for 15-20 minutes or just plain whipped egg whites.
Alternative: You can use french green clay, made into a paste with water then smeared all over your face for a more costly, but super effective mask. (I've heard the clay is especially usefull for blackhead removal so I'll be trying it out.)
Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm trying this out as you do and I'll post later how I thought it came out!
So, my problem areas? My nose! It's covered with blackheads. Ewwww...I've done my steady best to ignore the problem in the past. I've picked at them or just pretended they don't exist, but I'm tired of this! I too...suffer a little bit of vanity. I'd like for the first thing people see about me NOT to be pores big enough to drive a mac truck into.
So, following Betty's advice, I'm doing a daily wash with honey. Nothing else, jut 1 tsp or so of plain raw honey into my palm, mixed with a tiny bit of water then washed all over my face. I let it sit a bit then rinse off with cool water. Not bad? I'm surprised by how it feels. It's not sticky like you'd think, and my face afterwards feels...nice! Soft and a bit glowy.
So, let's take this routine a bit further shall we? Betty has a wonderful post on doing an exfoliating wash with baking soda. http://www.crunchybetty.com/3-step-spring-cleaning-for-your-face. Now, do I want to exfoliate? Yes...apparently I do. It would seem after doing some research that in my quest to get rid of blackheads, this is an important step! It removes the top layer of (dead) skin cells off your face, so that they can't later migrate inoto those truck sized pores and aide in clogging them up.
Daily toner: 1/2 cup water and 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar. Use a cotton swab to apply daily to help keep your pores tight and the oil down.
After than we'll follow with a steam. I'm opting for a basic steam I found that uses salted water, and nothing else. Take the sea salt you bought, add 2 tablespoons to a pot full of hot water and let it come to a boil. When it's boiling away, remove the pot from the heat and set it where you can sit by it for several minutes. Drape your head and the pot with a large bath towel and....steam way. Stay like this until the water cools. This opens the pores so that more of that gunk can get out.
Alternative: Steep a couple of chammomile tea bags in the water instead of the honey and use this as your steam instead.
Finally...once a week or so a mask! So, I re-read the post up above and like the idea of Betty's mask. I have honey, lemons and eggs, so I'd like to give that a try. (1 egg white and yolk , 2 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp honey: all beaten together then smeared onto you face).
Other options are just plain honey left to sit on your face for 15-20 minutes or just plain whipped egg whites.
Alternative: You can use french green clay, made into a paste with water then smeared all over your face for a more costly, but super effective mask. (I've heard the clay is especially usefull for blackhead removal so I'll be trying it out.)
Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm trying this out as you do and I'll post later how I thought it came out!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Day one: Gimme a head with HAIR...long beautiful HAIR!
I did a post already about going no 'poo. I've made a few changes to my routine, so I will keep updating as I go along and experiment.
The vinegar rinse using distilled vinegar seems to be working fairly well. I've upped the amount from 1 tbsp to about 1/4 of a cup in 1 cup of water and I LEAVE IT IN instead of rinsing it away. This has cut down on the greasiness dramatically. I've also added 1 tsp of raw honey to this. Put it in the cup, add warm water and then the vinegar and let the honey dissolve and the water cool while you're doing the rest of your shower routine. The honey is a natural humectant and it's helped cut down a bit of itchiness I've found in my scalp. My hair isn't sticky at all and it's shiny, clean scented (if you can tolerate the vinegar, it really doesn't bother me) and CLEAN! I can go two days between washes now with out much trouble. A little greasiness at the end of the second day perhaps, but nothing I'd be ashamed to wear out of the house.
Alternatives? Use lemon juice instead of vinegar. This is also supposed to be helpful for oily hair! Also you can brew a "tea" with dried rosemary sprigs and/or chamomile tea use this as the water/base for your vinegar rinse. Rosemary helps hair to grow and chamomile adds highlights.
Also, I order a BUNCH of sample sized shampoo bars from Chargin Valley Soaps. I've tried only one so far and I loved it! I think I'll wash once a week with this...and do the BS/Vinegar treatment for the other days. Or who knows, I may switch entirely to this?
The vinegar rinse using distilled vinegar seems to be working fairly well. I've upped the amount from 1 tbsp to about 1/4 of a cup in 1 cup of water and I LEAVE IT IN instead of rinsing it away. This has cut down on the greasiness dramatically. I've also added 1 tsp of raw honey to this. Put it in the cup, add warm water and then the vinegar and let the honey dissolve and the water cool while you're doing the rest of your shower routine. The honey is a natural humectant and it's helped cut down a bit of itchiness I've found in my scalp. My hair isn't sticky at all and it's shiny, clean scented (if you can tolerate the vinegar, it really doesn't bother me) and CLEAN! I can go two days between washes now with out much trouble. A little greasiness at the end of the second day perhaps, but nothing I'd be ashamed to wear out of the house.
Alternatives? Use lemon juice instead of vinegar. This is also supposed to be helpful for oily hair! Also you can brew a "tea" with dried rosemary sprigs and/or chamomile tea use this as the water/base for your vinegar rinse. Rosemary helps hair to grow and chamomile adds highlights.
Also, I order a BUNCH of sample sized shampoo bars from Chargin Valley Soaps. I've tried only one so far and I loved it! I think I'll wash once a week with this...and do the BS/Vinegar treatment for the other days. Or who knows, I may switch entirely to this?
Thursday, July 12, 2012
SEVEN DAYS OF BEAUTY!! Has she gone mad?
Hey guys and dolls! I'm going to be doing a 7 day "beauty" course, here on my blog. Yes yes...beauty isn't something that comes naturally to me. I'd say my fashion style is..."Tomboy chique". Jeans, teeshirts...the occaisional skirt..you get the idea. I own exactly three pairs of shoes. Work shoes, sneakers, sandals of the athletic "outdoor" variety. My hairstyle? Straight down or up in a ponytail. I'm a NO NONSENE girl.
So, why am *I* qualified to do a beauty course? Haha...because I know not a damned thing about it! All I know is that I need to wash my face, brush my teeth, get my hair clean and not stink when I leave the house, that's my basic approach to a daily beauty regimen.
So, that being said...I'd like to do all this naturally. I've been reading Crunchy Betty and have been inspired to put food on my face! then I got inspired to go beyond the face....I've also been not using shampoo, store bought tooth paste or commercial deodorant for some time now and I'll share all of that with you in this experience!
So, here is a quick run down of what you'll need to follow along with me. None of it should be terribly expensive per use:
Baking Soda: Several boxes (2-3 or a BIG BAG of it like I found at Sam's club). I use Arm'N Hammer though a lot of people use Bob's Red Mill because it's A) naturally mined and B) Aluminum free. Well, as far as I can tell Arm'N Hammer is also aluminum free, but it is created, not mined. Decide which is best for your pocketbook/conscience. Mine says...go cheap.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Distilled White Vinegar: (this is an optional alternative to Apple Cider Vinegar if like you, you have extra greasy hair and want to use this instead for no-'poo)
JoJoba Oil: This will likely be the most expensive item on your list. I ordered it from here: Mountain Rose Herbs.
Coconut Oil: This is also pricey...relatively speaking when you compare it to oh...everyday cooking oil. But it's worth the price as it can be used later in OH SO MANY things! Go ahead and get a couple of jars if you can.
Raw Honey: it needs to be raw. This is also pricey depending on your location but a little bit goes a LONG WAY.
Arrowroot Powder: Bob's Red Mill has a good product of this. Usually it's found with the non-traditional/gluten free flours. If you can't find it, get cornstarch. But corn starch is suspect as far as being a GMO...so it's up to you!
Tea Tree essential oil: I found it at one of our local grocery stores for relatively cheap. You can also order from Mountain Rose Herbs if you'd like. Also: Lavender Essential oil and Peppermint or Spearmint essential oil
Hydrogen peroxide: Super cheap, look in the pharmacy section, it's usually under a dollar.
Sea Salt and/or epsom salts
Cotton balls/swabs, basic towels and wash cloths, nail care kit, a bin for soaking feet.....
Extras and fun stuff:
Any other skin friendly essential oil you like/like the smell of. I don't know which ones are skin friendly, you'll have to look for yourself but do be careful, some can really hurt you if you're not sure what you're doing! Essential oils are strong stuff!
Glycerine (Vegetable)
Chammomile tea
Dried Rosemary
Lemons
French Green Clay (Found at Mt. Rose Herbs)
Xylitol (it's found with alternative sweetners but I had to find ours in a specialty store)
Any other oils that you'd use for a massage instead of jojoba (apricot, almond...)
What will we be making with this stuff?
Deodorant, face wash, skin toner, moisturizer, shampoo, tooth powder/paste, mouth wash, body scrub, foot scrub and soak and lastly we'll be looking at the delicate issue of...ahem...skin folds! Oh yes, I am going THERE!
Join along in the fun! Leave comments below if you plan on joining in, I'd love to know whose in this adventure with me! The fun will start July 16th!
So, why am *I* qualified to do a beauty course? Haha...because I know not a damned thing about it! All I know is that I need to wash my face, brush my teeth, get my hair clean and not stink when I leave the house, that's my basic approach to a daily beauty regimen.
So, that being said...I'd like to do all this naturally. I've been reading Crunchy Betty and have been inspired to put food on my face! then I got inspired to go beyond the face....I've also been not using shampoo, store bought tooth paste or commercial deodorant for some time now and I'll share all of that with you in this experience!
So, here is a quick run down of what you'll need to follow along with me. None of it should be terribly expensive per use:
Baking Soda: Several boxes (2-3 or a BIG BAG of it like I found at Sam's club). I use Arm'N Hammer though a lot of people use Bob's Red Mill because it's A) naturally mined and B) Aluminum free. Well, as far as I can tell Arm'N Hammer is also aluminum free, but it is created, not mined. Decide which is best for your pocketbook/conscience. Mine says...go cheap.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Distilled White Vinegar: (this is an optional alternative to Apple Cider Vinegar if like you, you have extra greasy hair and want to use this instead for no-'poo)
JoJoba Oil: This will likely be the most expensive item on your list. I ordered it from here: Mountain Rose Herbs.
Coconut Oil: This is also pricey...relatively speaking when you compare it to oh...everyday cooking oil. But it's worth the price as it can be used later in OH SO MANY things! Go ahead and get a couple of jars if you can.
Raw Honey: it needs to be raw. This is also pricey depending on your location but a little bit goes a LONG WAY.
Arrowroot Powder: Bob's Red Mill has a good product of this. Usually it's found with the non-traditional/gluten free flours. If you can't find it, get cornstarch. But corn starch is suspect as far as being a GMO...so it's up to you!
Tea Tree essential oil: I found it at one of our local grocery stores for relatively cheap. You can also order from Mountain Rose Herbs if you'd like. Also: Lavender Essential oil and Peppermint or Spearmint essential oil
Hydrogen peroxide: Super cheap, look in the pharmacy section, it's usually under a dollar.
Sea Salt and/or epsom salts
Cotton balls/swabs, basic towels and wash cloths, nail care kit, a bin for soaking feet.....
Extras and fun stuff:
Any other skin friendly essential oil you like/like the smell of. I don't know which ones are skin friendly, you'll have to look for yourself but do be careful, some can really hurt you if you're not sure what you're doing! Essential oils are strong stuff!
Glycerine (Vegetable)
Chammomile tea
Dried Rosemary
Lemons
French Green Clay (Found at Mt. Rose Herbs)
Xylitol (it's found with alternative sweetners but I had to find ours in a specialty store)
Any other oils that you'd use for a massage instead of jojoba (apricot, almond...)
What will we be making with this stuff?
Deodorant, face wash, skin toner, moisturizer, shampoo, tooth powder/paste, mouth wash, body scrub, foot scrub and soak and lastly we'll be looking at the delicate issue of...ahem...skin folds! Oh yes, I am going THERE!
Join along in the fun! Leave comments below if you plan on joining in, I'd love to know whose in this adventure with me! The fun will start July 16th!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Raw Milk: Am I willing to go there?
I've been TRYING to follow a "Paleo" or "Primal" or "Cavemanish" type diet. Really, I have. I'll write more about it at a later date, but something keeps coming up in my diet research. Raw Milk is healthy.
What? This startled me the first time I came across this claim? Really? Didn't pasteur make his whole reptation on the fact that pasteurizing liquids made it finally safe for consumption and longer term storage? Doesn't it taking away the risk for diseases that carried over from the udder to the human? That's what I thought anyway, and Pasteur is basically a demi-god in the health care world. I mean, we pasteurize EVERYTHING from apple juice to butter. It can't be a bad thing can it?
I don't know...maybe it can be. That's what I'm finding cropping up more and more in my reading. But for today's argument, let's stick to milk. So for those of you who don't know, Pasteurization is the process of gently heating up a liquid to kill off the bacteria present. It's done a low heat (below boiling) for a predetermined length of time. This will also slow the spoilage of the food by inhibiting the bacterial growth. Milk is widely pasteurized today.
Raw milk is milk that is unpasteurized, leaving all the glorious and potentially dangerous bacteria in place for consumption. So..why do this?
Supporters of raw milk consumption, including the large Amish population around where I live, claim that milk in it's raw form is far superior for strong bones and teeth, as well as being beneficial for treating ailments such as asthma and allergies by stimulating the immune system with bacteria in the gut. I can see that being possible.
So what are the risks? Well...those same bacteria. E. Coli being one of them, since cows are pretty well known to be carriers. (Especially cows who are NOT grass fed, but fed corn and other feed products) This is a pretty big risk, in my opinion as E. Coli can be some pretty serious stuff, especially for the young, the aged and those with poor immune systems to start with. It's a big enough risk that most states carry laws against the distribution and selling of raw dairy products.
But it turns out, I don't live in one of those states. In PA, it's legal to buy raw dairy just about anywhere. Thanks to the Amish, I'm sure, since that's pretty much all they'll take.
Now, because of the paleo/primal/caveman inspired diet I'm on, I'm not taking in a whole lot of dairy products to begin with. A little grass fed butter, small amounts of cheese, a little heavy cream and that's about it. So....I've decided to CAUTIOUSLY try taking these in a raw form. I purchased a small container at a local farmers marker from a very nice Mennonite farmer who had brought with him brochures on his farm, his herd and information on his products. I liked that his herd was all grass fed and antibiotic free...so I feel comfortable with starting there. But for myself only, not for the kiddo, not yet at least. I've also bought some raw milk cheeses and I must say...OMG are they GOOD. The flavor is out of this world better than pasteurized cheese..much more complex and sharper. Almost like a "blue" cheese in some ways, in how salty/sharp it is (I've tried both garlic and chive and cheddar at this time). My family doesn't like it as much as I do. That's okay, more for me.
If I die of E.Coli..I'll be sure to let you know that it's not safe. Read more and decide for yourself: http://www.realrawmilkfacts.com/
What? This startled me the first time I came across this claim? Really? Didn't pasteur make his whole reptation on the fact that pasteurizing liquids made it finally safe for consumption and longer term storage? Doesn't it taking away the risk for diseases that carried over from the udder to the human? That's what I thought anyway, and Pasteur is basically a demi-god in the health care world. I mean, we pasteurize EVERYTHING from apple juice to butter. It can't be a bad thing can it?
I don't know...maybe it can be. That's what I'm finding cropping up more and more in my reading. But for today's argument, let's stick to milk. So for those of you who don't know, Pasteurization is the process of gently heating up a liquid to kill off the bacteria present. It's done a low heat (below boiling) for a predetermined length of time. This will also slow the spoilage of the food by inhibiting the bacterial growth. Milk is widely pasteurized today.
Raw milk is milk that is unpasteurized, leaving all the glorious and potentially dangerous bacteria in place for consumption. So..why do this?
Supporters of raw milk consumption, including the large Amish population around where I live, claim that milk in it's raw form is far superior for strong bones and teeth, as well as being beneficial for treating ailments such as asthma and allergies by stimulating the immune system with bacteria in the gut. I can see that being possible.
So what are the risks? Well...those same bacteria. E. Coli being one of them, since cows are pretty well known to be carriers. (Especially cows who are NOT grass fed, but fed corn and other feed products) This is a pretty big risk, in my opinion as E. Coli can be some pretty serious stuff, especially for the young, the aged and those with poor immune systems to start with. It's a big enough risk that most states carry laws against the distribution and selling of raw dairy products.
But it turns out, I don't live in one of those states. In PA, it's legal to buy raw dairy just about anywhere. Thanks to the Amish, I'm sure, since that's pretty much all they'll take.
Now, because of the paleo/primal/caveman inspired diet I'm on, I'm not taking in a whole lot of dairy products to begin with. A little grass fed butter, small amounts of cheese, a little heavy cream and that's about it. So....I've decided to CAUTIOUSLY try taking these in a raw form. I purchased a small container at a local farmers marker from a very nice Mennonite farmer who had brought with him brochures on his farm, his herd and information on his products. I liked that his herd was all grass fed and antibiotic free...so I feel comfortable with starting there. But for myself only, not for the kiddo, not yet at least. I've also bought some raw milk cheeses and I must say...OMG are they GOOD. The flavor is out of this world better than pasteurized cheese..much more complex and sharper. Almost like a "blue" cheese in some ways, in how salty/sharp it is (I've tried both garlic and chive and cheddar at this time). My family doesn't like it as much as I do. That's okay, more for me.
If I die of E.Coli..I'll be sure to let you know that it's not safe. Read more and decide for yourself: http://www.realrawmilkfacts.com/
Saturday, June 30, 2012
How to avoid GMOs
Check out this site here:
http://www.nongmoproject.org/take-action/search-participating-products/
Take the guess work out of shopping, if you're concerned about putting GMOs into your body then go for the verified products that are out there. There's no reason to wonder, as there are companies out there who are committed to being ethical, labling their products appropriate and to not treating the consumer like a mindless entity...
http://www.nongmoproject.org/take-action/search-participating-products/
Take the guess work out of shopping, if you're concerned about putting GMOs into your body then go for the verified products that are out there. There's no reason to wonder, as there are companies out there who are committed to being ethical, labling their products appropriate and to not treating the consumer like a mindless entity...
Tooth powder experiments
I'm trying to move everything over to "natural". What goes on and in my body, cleanse my clothes and house and feeds my soul. But the idea of homemade toothpaste....had me skeptical!
What's wrong with commercial toothpaste anyway? It's safe stuff. The ADA and 4 out of 5 dentists say so anyway, and we all know they're always right!
Well, turns out maybe not always:
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) - industrial detergent may cause canker sore, dry mouth and allergies
Sodium hydroxide - NaOH, also known as lye or caustic soda, is a metallic base, used in textiles, drain cleaners and industrial detergents.
Salicylates - allergic reactions to products are becoming very common. Salicylic acid, the common Aspirin ingredient for inflammation, could be one of the causes. Always look for salicylate free products.
PEG/PPG - polypropylene glycol is a surfactant used as a wetting agent, dispersant and in leather finishing.
Oh boy! Sounds like fun right? Yeah....right.
So since I'm into making my own homemade goodies lately, I decided to give tooth paste (or rather tooth powder) a go. Here is the recipe I'm currently using:
2/3 cup baking soda
4 tsp fine sea salt (optional – gives paste extra scrubbing power, but is okay to leave out if the taste is too salty, I definately left it out! )
1 – 2 tsp peppermint extract or 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil (or add your favorite flavor – spearmint, orange, etc.)
water (add to desired consistency)
(Recipe from: http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-toothpaste-recipe-easy-and-frugal/)
So far this has been working really well! However, after I started oil pulling...I'm thinking of adding some coconut oil to some of this to make a "paste". I've also seen other versions of the above recipe that add xylitol for flavor and added scrubbiness. You might want to grind your xylitol down to a finer powder, the stuff I have in my cupboard is pretty coarse!
My teeth are in a sorry state really, stained and full of fillings. I spent nearly 15 years locked in a BAD depression and let my body go. I'll admit it where...there were months I didn't brush at all. WHen I finally did see a hygeinist she got teary eyed when I told her why, and told me I was killing myself. I knew that at heart....but when you're in that state of depression you can't work up enough energy to try to change.
Well, I'm fighting now! Fighting to take care of ME, completely. I still let stuff go that might make most women cringe (I don't wear make up and don't shave my armpitts or legs...but that's for a whole different reason! Lesbian Rebellion?) But I am moisterizing, washing, buffing and polishing and trying to take some pride in my body. I'm trying to excercise and focus on healthy foods only. It's a journey that I'm 16 years behind on, but I will get there, on tooth scrub at a time!
Let me know your thoughts! Let's dish about toothpaste/powders, depression and self care, hairy lesbian women? I'm game!
What's wrong with commercial toothpaste anyway? It's safe stuff. The ADA and 4 out of 5 dentists say so anyway, and we all know they're always right!
Well, turns out maybe not always:
Oh boy! Sounds like fun right? Yeah....right.
So since I'm into making my own homemade goodies lately, I decided to give tooth paste (or rather tooth powder) a go. Here is the recipe I'm currently using:
So far this has been working really well! However, after I started oil pulling...I'm thinking of adding some coconut oil to some of this to make a "paste". I've also seen other versions of the above recipe that add xylitol for flavor and added scrubbiness. You might want to grind your xylitol down to a finer powder, the stuff I have in my cupboard is pretty coarse!
My teeth are in a sorry state really, stained and full of fillings. I spent nearly 15 years locked in a BAD depression and let my body go. I'll admit it where...there were months I didn't brush at all. WHen I finally did see a hygeinist she got teary eyed when I told her why, and told me I was killing myself. I knew that at heart....but when you're in that state of depression you can't work up enough energy to try to change.
Well, I'm fighting now! Fighting to take care of ME, completely. I still let stuff go that might make most women cringe (I don't wear make up and don't shave my armpitts or legs...but that's for a whole different reason! Lesbian Rebellion?) But I am moisterizing, washing, buffing and polishing and trying to take some pride in my body. I'm trying to excercise and focus on healthy foods only. It's a journey that I'm 16 years behind on, but I will get there, on tooth scrub at a time!
Let me know your thoughts! Let's dish about toothpaste/powders, depression and self care, hairy lesbian women? I'm game!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Dear Mr. Big Corporation: Why modify foods at all?
Due to recent legislation that was presented to the U.S. to the Senate, requesting that all Genetically Modified Organisms be labled clearly for consumer awareness, GMOs have become something of a twitter and facebook buzz word. But...not really. I still find that the a good number of people I speak with aren't really aware of what GMO means, or entails as far as our food supply. So, 90% of the US citizens surveyed wanted labling for all GMO products, were the rest of us just asleep? That is very likely....
So, what is a GMO and how rampant is this issue?
According to the World Health Organization: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.
Okay. Wait a minute. Non-related species? This all seems eerily familiar....Oh right. They did it in Jurrasic Park. You all saw that movie, right? Micheal Crichton....DECADES ahead of his game. He warned us then and we just sat back and shrugged, hoping that maybe one day dinosaurs really would be brought back to life, no doubt. (Pet T-Rex anybody?)
So, why modify food?
Again, from the World Health Organization: GM foods are developed – and marketed – because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods. This is meant to translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in terms of durability or nutritional value) or both. Initially GM seed developers wanted their products to be accepted by producers so have concentrated on innovations that farmers (and the food industry more generally) would appreciate.
The initial objective for developing plants based on GM organisms was to improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides.
Insect resistance is achieved by incorporating into the food plant the gene for toxin production from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (BT). This toxin is currently used as a conventional insecticide in agriculture and is safe for human consumption. GM crops that permanently produce this toxin have been shown to require lower quantities of insecticides in specific situations, e.g. where pest pressure is high.
Virus resistance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from certain viruses which cause disease in plants. Virus resistance makes plants less susceptible to diseases caused by such viruses, resulting in higher crop yields.
Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from a bacterium conveying resistance to some herbicides. In situations where weed pressure is high, the use of such crops has resulted in a reduction in the quantity of the herbicides used.
That doesn't sound so bad...does it? Cheaper food, higher nutritional value, bigger crop yeilds because of disease resistance? But..there has to be more to the story, right? What does WHO have to say?
While theoretical discussions have covered a broad range of aspects, the three main issues debated are tendencies to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity), gene transfer and outcrossing.
Allergenicity. As a matter of principle, the transfer of genes from commonly allergenic foods is discouraged unless it can be demonstrated that the protein product of the transferred gene is not allergenic. While traditionally developed foods are not generally tested for allergenicity, protocols for tests for GM foods have been evaluated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and WHO. No allergic effects have been found relative to GM foods currently on the market.
Gene transfer. Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract would cause concern if the transferred genetic material adversely affects human health. This would be particularly relevant if antibiotic resistance genes, used in creating GMOs, were to be transferred. Although the probability of transfer is low, the use of technology without antibiotic resistance genes has been encouraged by a recent FAO/WHO expert panel.
Outcrossing. The movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild (referred to as “outcrossing”), as well as the mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds with those grown using GM crops, may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security. This risk is real, as was shown when traces of a maize type which was only approved for feed use appeared in maize products for human consumption in the United States of America. Several countries have adopted strategies to reduce mixing, including a clear separation of the fields within which GM crops and conventional crops are grown.
Feasibility and methods for post-marketing monitoring of GM food products, for the continued surveillance of the safety of GM food products, are under discussion.
Wait...allergies? Allergies aren't so bad right? Take a benedryl, go about your day? Wrong. Allergens in foods, mostly affecting children if you remember from my previous posting, can lead to serious issues with malnutrition and severe allergic responses including death. And you'll note, that with outcrossing, it's becoming almost impossible to stop the cross breeding of these new items, to ensure a non-GMO product. They work on it but...nature has a way of winning out. Again...Jurassic Park ring any bells?
But, aren't GMOsNON-GMO. No required labling has been passed to date. As I stated in a previous post...largely due to corporate greed on behalf of the lobby representing the major GMO producing coorporations (MONSANTO...if you don't know this name by now, you seriously should do some homework).
Here is the rest of the WHO article I've pulled some of my information from. Look it up and decide for yourself what you deem to be safe, and why you think that our governmenet will not insist on labels: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/
So, what is a GMO and how rampant is this issue?
According to the World Health Organization: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.
Okay. Wait a minute. Non-related species? This all seems eerily familiar....Oh right. They did it in Jurrasic Park. You all saw that movie, right? Micheal Crichton....DECADES ahead of his game. He warned us then and we just sat back and shrugged, hoping that maybe one day dinosaurs really would be brought back to life, no doubt. (Pet T-Rex anybody?)
So, why modify food?
Again, from the World Health Organization: GM foods are developed – and marketed – because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods. This is meant to translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in terms of durability or nutritional value) or both. Initially GM seed developers wanted their products to be accepted by producers so have concentrated on innovations that farmers (and the food industry more generally) would appreciate.
The initial objective for developing plants based on GM organisms was to improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides.
Insect resistance is achieved by incorporating into the food plant the gene for toxin production from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (BT). This toxin is currently used as a conventional insecticide in agriculture and is safe for human consumption. GM crops that permanently produce this toxin have been shown to require lower quantities of insecticides in specific situations, e.g. where pest pressure is high.
Virus resistance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from certain viruses which cause disease in plants. Virus resistance makes plants less susceptible to diseases caused by such viruses, resulting in higher crop yields.
Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from a bacterium conveying resistance to some herbicides. In situations where weed pressure is high, the use of such crops has resulted in a reduction in the quantity of the herbicides used.
That doesn't sound so bad...does it? Cheaper food, higher nutritional value, bigger crop yeilds because of disease resistance? But..there has to be more to the story, right? What does WHO have to say?
While theoretical discussions have covered a broad range of aspects, the three main issues debated are tendencies to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity), gene transfer and outcrossing.
Allergenicity. As a matter of principle, the transfer of genes from commonly allergenic foods is discouraged unless it can be demonstrated that the protein product of the transferred gene is not allergenic. While traditionally developed foods are not generally tested for allergenicity, protocols for tests for GM foods have been evaluated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and WHO. No allergic effects have been found relative to GM foods currently on the market.
Gene transfer. Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract would cause concern if the transferred genetic material adversely affects human health. This would be particularly relevant if antibiotic resistance genes, used in creating GMOs, were to be transferred. Although the probability of transfer is low, the use of technology without antibiotic resistance genes has been encouraged by a recent FAO/WHO expert panel.
Outcrossing. The movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild (referred to as “outcrossing”), as well as the mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds with those grown using GM crops, may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security. This risk is real, as was shown when traces of a maize type which was only approved for feed use appeared in maize products for human consumption in the United States of America. Several countries have adopted strategies to reduce mixing, including a clear separation of the fields within which GM crops and conventional crops are grown.
Feasibility and methods for post-marketing monitoring of GM food products, for the continued surveillance of the safety of GM food products, are under discussion.
Wait...allergies? Allergies aren't so bad right? Take a benedryl, go about your day? Wrong. Allergens in foods, mostly affecting children if you remember from my previous posting, can lead to serious issues with malnutrition and severe allergic responses including death. And you'll note, that with outcrossing, it's becoming almost impossible to stop the cross breeding of these new items, to ensure a non-GMO product. They work on it but...nature has a way of winning out. Again...Jurassic Park ring any bells?
But, aren't GMOsNON-GMO. No required labling has been passed to date. As I stated in a previous post...largely due to corporate greed on behalf of the lobby representing the major GMO producing coorporations (MONSANTO...if you don't know this name by now, you seriously should do some homework).
Here is the rest of the WHO article I've pulled some of my information from. Look it up and decide for yourself what you deem to be safe, and why you think that our governmenet will not insist on labels: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
ADHD: To distracted to...oh look, a blog!...what was I saying?
My son was diagnosed with aspergers disorder back in 2006, when he was in the 2nd grade and struggling with basic reading skills. Now, it came as a HUMONGOUS shock to me, and to my family, because we'd always seen how bright, curious and open he is. He's not "withdrawn" like kids with autism are. He meets your eyes. He gives you big warm hugs and snuggled in my lap for hours on end. But something was wrong. He was a BUSY boy, something I just simply chalked up to male exuberance for life. He still wakes up each day with GUSTO, ready to go, explore and conquer. But he struggles with attention. It's become more and more painfully obvious, the further along he got into school. So, we ran the gammut of medications like you're supposed to. Started with the stimulants (ritalin, concerta...) moved onto the non-traditional (Strattera and tenex..) and finally added in an anti-psychotic (risperdal...). By the time we got to this point, I was freaking out.
I'm a nurse, I do that. Nurses do make the worst patients...and patients parents..after all.
I did give the medication months to see if it worked, then finally, we took him off them. Everything. And following that, we pulled him from a brick and mortar school and started home schooling. Well, my mom did the schooling, I was working. It was a hard decision but we felt it was best for him. The medications made his emotions run out of control, frustration and anger mixed with nausea, headaches and the "buzzy" feeling of being over stimulated. Off the medications, he's a HANDFUL. It takes somebody staying on top of him pretty much all day to keep him out of trouble from his impulses. But it's also worlds better. His moods are more..normal. He's happy, carefree and playful where on the medications he was frequently depressed, nervous and frustrated. Homeschooling affords him plenty of time to play, in the middle of the day and allows for breaks, snacks and tailoring the curriculum to focus on his needs. He's currently working on reading, but is excelling in science and math.
So, all this being said, I know MANY parents of boys struggle with ADHD and/or Autism symptoms. I'm not at all advocating going off medications for these kids, but I do want people to know it IS an option, though not an easy one if you do go that route. Many kids do find relief on meds, many more...do not.
I also wanted to share some tips our family has found helpful in reducing distractibility and other ADHD symptoms:
1. Allow for outdoor play time, as much as possible whenever possible! Get the squirrellies out! Let them rip, run and expend as MUCH energy as you can, it will help improve focus! Plus the exposures to sunlight (vitamin D) has been shown to help improve focus and calm. This is something I've experimented on with myself, in struggling with anxiety disorders.
(Playing outside and ADHD: http://add.about.com/od/researchstudies/a/adhd-nature.htm)
2. Reduce screen time. Seriously...this is a LOT harder than it sounds, especially when much of school these days is done on a computer, with lots of online work. But TV, video games, internet usage, Ipads, phones...all of this has been linked to decreased attention. Studies have been done that directly link the number of hours spent in front of a screen with decreased function on administered tests. The basal ganglia portion of the brain becomes very active when a person plays video games and watches TV. And the body releases a chemical called dopamine. This also makes TV and games ADDICTIVE to people who struggle with ADHD or autism, so limiting screen time is best for everybody around. (Here is a good article on the link between Dopamine and video game addiction: http://www.hooked-on-games.com/blog/31-dopamine-is-linked-to-video-game-addiction.html) We try to stick to games only on the weekend and TV only for a little bit after dinner. But it's hard, everybody in this house loves their screens...
(Here is another article, with research by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Screen time for the very young. My son is twelve, but this article is still useful: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/health/19babies.html)
3. Pay close attention to how what your child eats makes them behave. We found for my son, that sugary carby breakfast, like cereals, drastically make the day go worse. He can't function from the start. Where as when we start with a breakfast high in proteins and low in sugar..eggs and sausage with no toast...he functions worlds better and it seems to last him throughout the day. Of course everybody will have different "trigger foods". It may be a good idea to discuss an elimination diet with your doctor.
(Elimination diets and Autism: http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/gluten-free-casein-free-diets-for-autism)
4. Advocate. Advocate. Advocate. If your child attends regular schools...FIGHT for everything you can get for them in terms of services and help. Do not let your child fall through the cracks, like mine was. Even though...or because he had an IEP (individualized education plan) they were letting him slide in areas like reading and writing, using his IEP as an excuse not to keep pushing him. YOU know your kid better than anybody else and YOU know what they are capable of. My son can read! It just took finding the right way to teach him. Don't let them give up.
(IEPs: http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/learning/iep.html)
5. Omega fatty acids 3-6-9. We, in America, following a standard American diet (SAD) are deficient in omega fatty acids. These are important to brain function and mood, amongst MANY other things. There has been a lot of good research done showing that a supplement of Omega 3s in children with ADHD is helpful with their symptoms. We use a gummy form, found at walmart. I also try to sneak in foods like flax seeds and chia seeds..when I can.
(EFAs or essential fatty acids and Autism: http://autism.healingthresholds.com/therapy/essential-fatty-acids-efa)
6. Caffeine. Wait..what? Yes, I said it. A small amount of caffeine, (one cup of coffee) in the morning seems to be really helpful for my child. Now, he is not on a stimulant medication at this time, and coffee is a stimulant...a cup of coffee has about the effect of 5mg of ritalin I've read. I let him have a cup of the general foods instant coffee blends (yes..with sugar, but it's one cup) in the morning, and we see improved concentration. Now, don't go overboard with this, or you'll have your kids climbing the walls! (Sugar AND caffeine? Oh my...)
(Caffeine and ADHD: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/caffeine-for-adhd/)
7. Consistent routines. But mix them up! My son craves a routine, and for the most part, we stick to one. His autism demands it, he likes predictability. But we do purposefully shake things up from time to time...not to frustrate him into a fit, but to let him learn to be flexible. I'm not talking huge drastic changes, just small things. I want him to be functional in the real world, and the real world is all about changes!
8. Increasing the number of commands given... but do it slowly. It is really hard for my son to get a series of instructions to follow through with. For instance "go make your bed, get dressed and brush your teeth" on some days is WAY to many things for him to be able to focus on at once and he'll get lost somewhere after making his bed. We try to take it step by step...but at the same time slowly increasing the number of tasks. He still needs follow through on each of them...meaning I have to go back and check that the bed is made (and am likely to find him playing with toys or with cartoons on...) but we're working on it, like daily exercises, he has to use those follow through muscles.
Parenting these children is immensely challenging, but also immensely rewarding! I wouldn't trade my kids enthusiasm for life and spontaneity for all the "normalcy" in the world, I simply want to channel it so that he can make it through the day with relative calm. He will describe the hyperactivity as a "buzzing under his skin" and I know that can't be comfortable for him to live life that way. And who wants to be followed around constantly and nagged at to complete your tasks? I want joy for him, and laughter and love and light. We are always seeking out new ways to help him out and I'm open to any and all suggestions, questions and ideas!
I'm a nurse, I do that. Nurses do make the worst patients...and patients parents..after all.
I did give the medication months to see if it worked, then finally, we took him off them. Everything. And following that, we pulled him from a brick and mortar school and started home schooling. Well, my mom did the schooling, I was working. It was a hard decision but we felt it was best for him. The medications made his emotions run out of control, frustration and anger mixed with nausea, headaches and the "buzzy" feeling of being over stimulated. Off the medications, he's a HANDFUL. It takes somebody staying on top of him pretty much all day to keep him out of trouble from his impulses. But it's also worlds better. His moods are more..normal. He's happy, carefree and playful where on the medications he was frequently depressed, nervous and frustrated. Homeschooling affords him plenty of time to play, in the middle of the day and allows for breaks, snacks and tailoring the curriculum to focus on his needs. He's currently working on reading, but is excelling in science and math.
So, all this being said, I know MANY parents of boys struggle with ADHD and/or Autism symptoms. I'm not at all advocating going off medications for these kids, but I do want people to know it IS an option, though not an easy one if you do go that route. Many kids do find relief on meds, many more...do not.
I also wanted to share some tips our family has found helpful in reducing distractibility and other ADHD symptoms:
1. Allow for outdoor play time, as much as possible whenever possible! Get the squirrellies out! Let them rip, run and expend as MUCH energy as you can, it will help improve focus! Plus the exposures to sunlight (vitamin D) has been shown to help improve focus and calm. This is something I've experimented on with myself, in struggling with anxiety disorders.
(Playing outside and ADHD: http://add.about.com/od/researchstudies/a/adhd-nature.htm)
2. Reduce screen time. Seriously...this is a LOT harder than it sounds, especially when much of school these days is done on a computer, with lots of online work. But TV, video games, internet usage, Ipads, phones...all of this has been linked to decreased attention. Studies have been done that directly link the number of hours spent in front of a screen with decreased function on administered tests. The basal ganglia portion of the brain becomes very active when a person plays video games and watches TV. And the body releases a chemical called dopamine. This also makes TV and games ADDICTIVE to people who struggle with ADHD or autism, so limiting screen time is best for everybody around. (Here is a good article on the link between Dopamine and video game addiction: http://www.hooked-on-games.com/blog/31-dopamine-is-linked-to-video-game-addiction.html) We try to stick to games only on the weekend and TV only for a little bit after dinner. But it's hard, everybody in this house loves their screens...
(Here is another article, with research by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Screen time for the very young. My son is twelve, but this article is still useful: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/health/19babies.html)
3. Pay close attention to how what your child eats makes them behave. We found for my son, that sugary carby breakfast, like cereals, drastically make the day go worse. He can't function from the start. Where as when we start with a breakfast high in proteins and low in sugar..eggs and sausage with no toast...he functions worlds better and it seems to last him throughout the day. Of course everybody will have different "trigger foods". It may be a good idea to discuss an elimination diet with your doctor.
(Elimination diets and Autism: http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/gluten-free-casein-free-diets-for-autism)
4. Advocate. Advocate. Advocate. If your child attends regular schools...FIGHT for everything you can get for them in terms of services and help. Do not let your child fall through the cracks, like mine was. Even though...or because he had an IEP (individualized education plan) they were letting him slide in areas like reading and writing, using his IEP as an excuse not to keep pushing him. YOU know your kid better than anybody else and YOU know what they are capable of. My son can read! It just took finding the right way to teach him. Don't let them give up.
(IEPs: http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/learning/iep.html)
5. Omega fatty acids 3-6-9. We, in America, following a standard American diet (SAD) are deficient in omega fatty acids. These are important to brain function and mood, amongst MANY other things. There has been a lot of good research done showing that a supplement of Omega 3s in children with ADHD is helpful with their symptoms. We use a gummy form, found at walmart. I also try to sneak in foods like flax seeds and chia seeds..when I can.
(EFAs or essential fatty acids and Autism: http://autism.healingthresholds.com/therapy/essential-fatty-acids-efa)
6. Caffeine. Wait..what? Yes, I said it. A small amount of caffeine, (one cup of coffee) in the morning seems to be really helpful for my child. Now, he is not on a stimulant medication at this time, and coffee is a stimulant...a cup of coffee has about the effect of 5mg of ritalin I've read. I let him have a cup of the general foods instant coffee blends (yes..with sugar, but it's one cup) in the morning, and we see improved concentration. Now, don't go overboard with this, or you'll have your kids climbing the walls! (Sugar AND caffeine? Oh my...)
(Caffeine and ADHD: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/caffeine-for-adhd/)
7. Consistent routines. But mix them up! My son craves a routine, and for the most part, we stick to one. His autism demands it, he likes predictability. But we do purposefully shake things up from time to time...not to frustrate him into a fit, but to let him learn to be flexible. I'm not talking huge drastic changes, just small things. I want him to be functional in the real world, and the real world is all about changes!
8. Increasing the number of commands given... but do it slowly. It is really hard for my son to get a series of instructions to follow through with. For instance "go make your bed, get dressed and brush your teeth" on some days is WAY to many things for him to be able to focus on at once and he'll get lost somewhere after making his bed. We try to take it step by step...but at the same time slowly increasing the number of tasks. He still needs follow through on each of them...meaning I have to go back and check that the bed is made (and am likely to find him playing with toys or with cartoons on...) but we're working on it, like daily exercises, he has to use those follow through muscles.
Parenting these children is immensely challenging, but also immensely rewarding! I wouldn't trade my kids enthusiasm for life and spontaneity for all the "normalcy" in the world, I simply want to channel it so that he can make it through the day with relative calm. He will describe the hyperactivity as a "buzzing under his skin" and I know that can't be comfortable for him to live life that way. And who wants to be followed around constantly and nagged at to complete your tasks? I want joy for him, and laughter and love and light. We are always seeking out new ways to help him out and I'm open to any and all suggestions, questions and ideas!
(He's doing his best "80s" look for a youth group event. Pretty dashing, I think!)
Monday, June 25, 2012
Shampoo Free
I am loosing my hair. Yes, yes...it's true. I'll admit it here and say it for the whole world to know, MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT! This has been going on for some time now. About four years, in fact. It's left me with incredibly thinned down hair, and my hair is super fine already. I've tried using various methods to restore my hair back to it's thin but not balding state, and so far I haven't hit on any "miracle". I've even resorted to using rogaine for women though...I think my problem is not "female pattern baldness" but something more grossly wrong with my body make up. Probably diet related....but I'll get more into that later.
So, on this journey I started doing research on shampoos and this lead me to articles concerning sulfates and how they affect hair loss. Sulfates are found in most commercial shampoos. They are added for their lathering effects and as detergents. You'll find it listed under the ingredients as Sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS, it is also listed as Sodium Laureth Sulfate, a different but no less controversial ingredient. It is also found in many liquid soaps and body washes, because it creates buckets of frothy lather that we love and are addicted to. Improper use of shampoos containing SLS can lead to hair loss, according to the National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation. According to the NTEF, hair loss can be the result of poor rinsing that leaves SLS deposits in your hair follicles. These deposits penetrate your scalp and corrode the hair follicle, causing hair loss. MaximumHair.com reports that SLS also affects the rate of new hair growth, which occurs at a rate about eight times slower than normal. In addition, Personal Health Facts reports that NaCL, the salt used as a thickening agent is drying to your hair and, by increasing the potential for breakage, also contributes to hair loss.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/303970-sodium-lauryl-sulfate-hair-loss/#ixzz1ycqBTFxo
So, is it just an issue of not rinsing well? Well, I tried that. I also tried switching to an SLS free organic shampoo. Now, this did help! Quite a bit actually. The brand I used was geared specifically for hair loss. But after using it for a time, I noticed that while my hair seemed not to be falling out, it also seemed less...clean. So back I went, looking into alternatives.
What I hit upon was going "no 'poo". Now..whomever came up with this Internet moniker deserves a special kick in the pants...but what it is is a shampoo free method of hair care. Yes...no shampoo. At all. There are many variations on this theme and most are met with various results. I decided to start with what seems to be the most popular method, washing your hair with plain old baking soda and apple cider vinegar:
Mix 1 tbsp baking soda with 1 cup of warm/hot water. Wash this into wet hair and scrub the scalp using a brisk circular motion to clean the scalp and hair follicle. Rinse out with warm water. Rinse thoroughly to get all the soda out!
Follow with a mix of 1 cup of warm water mixed with 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Work this mixture through your hair and leave it in. This acts as a conditioner and will close up your hair follicle and balance the scalp pH. Towel dry or blow dry as normal.
So, I did this for several weeks, and I'll say right now, your hair does get clean! I tried just washing every two days and my hair was getting...greasy. But, I'd read that your hair goes through an adjustment period and to expect this so I kept with it. I noticed that on wash days, my hair was softy, shiny and curled up more than it ever has before. (It was previously fine and straight!) This is because your hairs natural oils are no longer working against you, but with you! It's a good thing, those oils. They are protective and healthy.
But my hair was still incredibly greasy after four weeks, on non washing days. So I read some more and decided to switch my vinegar rinse up, from apple cider vinegar to straight distilled vinegar. (1 cup water and 1tbsp white vinegar). I do this method the same as with the cider vinegar, just work it through my hair and let it dry in. It seemed to help somewhat with the grease ball look, but still...it's summer time now and I tend to be extremely sweaty. I may need to move to washing daily.
Here are some other things I've read about doing that I think I will try:
Steep a cup of rosemary tea: 1 sprig of rosemary steeped in 1 cup boiling water. Let this cool and rinse through your hair. This is especially good for hair loss, as rosemary stimulates hair growth. I did try this. I added 1 tbsp of the vinegar to this rinse and used this instead of the plain vinegar at the end. It was nice but I never think to get my "tea" ready before I go wash.
Steep a cup of herbal chamomile tea and do the same, rinsing it through your hair once cooled. This leaves your hair smelling lovely and has a lightening effect for blondes.
Use a mixture of lemon juice (1 tbsp) and water for the rinse, instead of apple cider vinegar. Lemon juice is also supposed to be very helpful for oily hair. I think I'll try this one for sure.
Wash your hair on non wash days, using only hot water. Rub your hair and scalp thoroughly with your fingers as if washing to remove all build up of salts and oils.
Wash your hair using only conditioner instead of shampoo. I don't know about this one...my hair in general doesn't like conditioner as it tends to weigh it down and make it slick. But I imagine it would work well for somebody with thicker and curlier hair.
Use a tsp of honey in your vinegar rinse (warmed so it thins out). Honey is natural moisturizer and will leave hair soft.
Adjust the amount of baking soda up or down if your hair seems to be getting dry or your scalp gets dandruff. I haven't needed to do this yet, I think 1 tbsp works well for me.
Rub in a small amount of tea tree oil or rosemary oil into your scalp if you get itchy or dandruff. Now, I did try this (tea tree oil). Just a few drops, worked into the roots. I loved the way it smelled! It did leave a bit of "oil" feel though, but this wasn't terrible.
Use a mixture of coconut oil and honey, warmed in the microwave until soft, as a hot oil treatment for hair. Leave in for a time then rinse out and wash as normal.
So, there's a LOT out there to try! I am now nearly 2 months shampoo free and so far, I don't mean to go back. It definitely works, but it also definitely takes a commitment of time and grunge until you've tweaked your routine out enough that you're happy with it. Every bodies hair is different and everybody will find different things work. I'd say, even after two months I'm still in the "adjustment" period. But it's all good! I work at home so a little bit of grunge is no problemo! If it is for you..maybe you can start a new trend in your work place of scarves?
Here is an excellent resource for anybody wanting to explore this further! She gives numerous tips and tricks and has some great trouble shooting ideas:
http://www.pistachioproject.com/2010/01/going-no-poo.html
So, on this journey I started doing research on shampoos and this lead me to articles concerning sulfates and how they affect hair loss. Sulfates are found in most commercial shampoos. They are added for their lathering effects and as detergents. You'll find it listed under the ingredients as Sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS, it is also listed as Sodium Laureth Sulfate, a different but no less controversial ingredient. It is also found in many liquid soaps and body washes, because it creates buckets of frothy lather that we love and are addicted to. Improper use of shampoos containing SLS can lead to hair loss, according to the National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation. According to the NTEF, hair loss can be the result of poor rinsing that leaves SLS deposits in your hair follicles. These deposits penetrate your scalp and corrode the hair follicle, causing hair loss. MaximumHair.com reports that SLS also affects the rate of new hair growth, which occurs at a rate about eight times slower than normal. In addition, Personal Health Facts reports that NaCL, the salt used as a thickening agent is drying to your hair and, by increasing the potential for breakage, also contributes to hair loss.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/303970-sodium-lauryl-sulfate-hair-loss/#ixzz1ycqBTFxo
So, is it just an issue of not rinsing well? Well, I tried that. I also tried switching to an SLS free organic shampoo. Now, this did help! Quite a bit actually. The brand I used was geared specifically for hair loss. But after using it for a time, I noticed that while my hair seemed not to be falling out, it also seemed less...clean. So back I went, looking into alternatives.
What I hit upon was going "no 'poo". Now..whomever came up with this Internet moniker deserves a special kick in the pants...but what it is is a shampoo free method of hair care. Yes...no shampoo. At all. There are many variations on this theme and most are met with various results. I decided to start with what seems to be the most popular method, washing your hair with plain old baking soda and apple cider vinegar:
Mix 1 tbsp baking soda with 1 cup of warm/hot water. Wash this into wet hair and scrub the scalp using a brisk circular motion to clean the scalp and hair follicle. Rinse out with warm water. Rinse thoroughly to get all the soda out!
Follow with a mix of 1 cup of warm water mixed with 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Work this mixture through your hair and leave it in. This acts as a conditioner and will close up your hair follicle and balance the scalp pH. Towel dry or blow dry as normal.
So, I did this for several weeks, and I'll say right now, your hair does get clean! I tried just washing every two days and my hair was getting...greasy. But, I'd read that your hair goes through an adjustment period and to expect this so I kept with it. I noticed that on wash days, my hair was softy, shiny and curled up more than it ever has before. (It was previously fine and straight!) This is because your hairs natural oils are no longer working against you, but with you! It's a good thing, those oils. They are protective and healthy.
But my hair was still incredibly greasy after four weeks, on non washing days. So I read some more and decided to switch my vinegar rinse up, from apple cider vinegar to straight distilled vinegar. (1 cup water and 1tbsp white vinegar). I do this method the same as with the cider vinegar, just work it through my hair and let it dry in. It seemed to help somewhat with the grease ball look, but still...it's summer time now and I tend to be extremely sweaty. I may need to move to washing daily.
Here are some other things I've read about doing that I think I will try:
Steep a cup of rosemary tea: 1 sprig of rosemary steeped in 1 cup boiling water. Let this cool and rinse through your hair. This is especially good for hair loss, as rosemary stimulates hair growth. I did try this. I added 1 tbsp of the vinegar to this rinse and used this instead of the plain vinegar at the end. It was nice but I never think to get my "tea" ready before I go wash.
Steep a cup of herbal chamomile tea and do the same, rinsing it through your hair once cooled. This leaves your hair smelling lovely and has a lightening effect for blondes.
Use a mixture of lemon juice (1 tbsp) and water for the rinse, instead of apple cider vinegar. Lemon juice is also supposed to be very helpful for oily hair. I think I'll try this one for sure.
Wash your hair on non wash days, using only hot water. Rub your hair and scalp thoroughly with your fingers as if washing to remove all build up of salts and oils.
Wash your hair using only conditioner instead of shampoo. I don't know about this one...my hair in general doesn't like conditioner as it tends to weigh it down and make it slick. But I imagine it would work well for somebody with thicker and curlier hair.
Use a tsp of honey in your vinegar rinse (warmed so it thins out). Honey is natural moisturizer and will leave hair soft.
Adjust the amount of baking soda up or down if your hair seems to be getting dry or your scalp gets dandruff. I haven't needed to do this yet, I think 1 tbsp works well for me.
Rub in a small amount of tea tree oil or rosemary oil into your scalp if you get itchy or dandruff. Now, I did try this (tea tree oil). Just a few drops, worked into the roots. I loved the way it smelled! It did leave a bit of "oil" feel though, but this wasn't terrible.
Use a mixture of coconut oil and honey, warmed in the microwave until soft, as a hot oil treatment for hair. Leave in for a time then rinse out and wash as normal.
So, there's a LOT out there to try! I am now nearly 2 months shampoo free and so far, I don't mean to go back. It definitely works, but it also definitely takes a commitment of time and grunge until you've tweaked your routine out enough that you're happy with it. Every bodies hair is different and everybody will find different things work. I'd say, even after two months I'm still in the "adjustment" period. But it's all good! I work at home so a little bit of grunge is no problemo! If it is for you..maybe you can start a new trend in your work place of scarves?
Here is an excellent resource for anybody wanting to explore this further! She gives numerous tips and tricks and has some great trouble shooting ideas:
http://www.pistachioproject.com/2010/01/going-no-poo.html
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Asthma, Allergies and..where you live?
Disclaimer: Nothing in this post is meant to be a substitute for medical advice or care. PLEASE see your doctors if you are an asthma and/or allergy sufferer and ask questions if you have any! This is only meant to be informative. Feel free to ask questions. Please do your own research into these issues as well. Asthma and allergies are NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT!
Asthma is a debilitating disease that here, even at this late date of 2012, doctors and researchers are still struggling to understand. Asthma costs the U.S. taxpayers $50 billion dollars and over 24 million Americans (7 million of those children) are affected. This is a serious issue and one a lot of people don't give much consideration to.
Allergies affect 1 in 5 Americans, or over 50 million people. More allergies are being reported than ever before. 6% of allergy sufferers have food and drug related allergies, most of these being children.
So, why am I blogging about this? Well, Asthma and Allergies directly affect my line of work. Asthma is one of the top diseases we as case managers outreach for, because there are steps to help prevent flares. It's something I've seen hit home in devastating ways, as my mom and grandfather are serious asthma sufferers. And it's something that is growing in direct relation to the quality of air in our communities. And it can be related directly to where you live. According to the Environmental Health Perspectives:
"Asthma morbidity and mortality are disproportionately high in urban centers, and minority children are especially vulnerable. Factors that contribute to this dilemma include inadequate preventive medical care for asthma management, inadequate asthma knowledge and management skills among children and their families, psychosocial factors, and environmental exposure to allergens or irritants."
But there's more to the story than that. There has also been many studies done that link exposure to common allergens early in life as REDUCING allergy suffering and asthma. What does this mean? Does this mean you should smoke around your children? No. Smoking around infants will bring on asthma at an earlier age, and asthma at an early age is particularly devastating. So what does this mean?
Science is showing that children who live in farming environments and rural communities as opposed to major urban centers have a lower incidence of major allergies. This may be related to bacteria present in the soil, but also exposure early on spurs the immune system into action. It's also been found that super insulated urban environments (apartments and such) are perfect breeding grounds for dust mites and molds. But the most glaring and obvious factor that increases the rate of asthma/allergies in urban environments is a higher exposure to diesel exhaust pollution.
So, what can you do? Obviously, if you're a city dweller, you can't likely pack up and move you and your kids to a farm easily. But you can take preventative steps to help reduce exposure to allergens/asthma triggers. These include good heating, humidifying and air conditioning units, hypo-allergenic bedding and FREQUENT washings to reduce dust mites. mold inspections, air purifiers. For asthma, try to avoid extremes of heat and cold, put a scarf over your face before you go out. Make sure that if you are using an rescue inhaler frequently that you are talking to your doctor about a daily controller medication! If it's not working, keep asking! Don't rely on a rescue inhaler (something like albuterol) to get you through. Warm drinks during an immediate attack can be helpful, so can slow focus on your breathing. Always stay well hydrated, this thins the mucous down and goes for both allergy and asthma sufferers.
Diet plays a very important role in asthma and allergies. More and more people are finding that milk allergies and gluten or wheat allergies are affecting their symptoms. Most aren't aware that they even have tolerance issues with these until they eliminate them from their diet. That being said, it's NOT advisable to go on something like a gluten free diet without talking it over with your doctor first. Why? Because if you don't get tested BEFORE you start, it's very likely you will test positive for a gluten intolerance after you've cut it out for a while, leading to a misdiagnosis. Check with your doctor first, then look into an elimination diet. A lot of people find them to be extremely helpful!
Lead has also been shown to increase sensitivity to allergens and increase the likelihood of asthma exacerbation. This has to do with cells formed in your bone marrow called dendric cells. I won't get all technical on you, but you need these and lead exposure reduces their numbers. Lead is still found in many older homes, and can also be present in the dust of construction sites, especially where older homes are being torn down or renovated. Children should be lead tested from ages one to two, especially if they are at risk or considered as such. Not all practices will do this. You can ask for it to be done and a lot of local health clinics will provide this service, especially in high risk areas.
So..did you know there is also a link between asthma, allergies and...autism? The link is not yet understood but there seems to be a definite relationship. It gives you pause to think about pollution, our living environments and what it's really doing to us, doesn't it?
Asthma is a debilitating disease that here, even at this late date of 2012, doctors and researchers are still struggling to understand. Asthma costs the U.S. taxpayers $50 billion dollars and over 24 million Americans (7 million of those children) are affected. This is a serious issue and one a lot of people don't give much consideration to.
Allergies affect 1 in 5 Americans, or over 50 million people. More allergies are being reported than ever before. 6% of allergy sufferers have food and drug related allergies, most of these being children.
So, why am I blogging about this? Well, Asthma and Allergies directly affect my line of work. Asthma is one of the top diseases we as case managers outreach for, because there are steps to help prevent flares. It's something I've seen hit home in devastating ways, as my mom and grandfather are serious asthma sufferers. And it's something that is growing in direct relation to the quality of air in our communities. And it can be related directly to where you live. According to the Environmental Health Perspectives:
"Asthma morbidity and mortality are disproportionately high in urban centers, and minority children are especially vulnerable. Factors that contribute to this dilemma include inadequate preventive medical care for asthma management, inadequate asthma knowledge and management skills among children and their families, psychosocial factors, and environmental exposure to allergens or irritants."
But there's more to the story than that. There has also been many studies done that link exposure to common allergens early in life as REDUCING allergy suffering and asthma. What does this mean? Does this mean you should smoke around your children? No. Smoking around infants will bring on asthma at an earlier age, and asthma at an early age is particularly devastating. So what does this mean?
Science is showing that children who live in farming environments and rural communities as opposed to major urban centers have a lower incidence of major allergies. This may be related to bacteria present in the soil, but also exposure early on spurs the immune system into action. It's also been found that super insulated urban environments (apartments and such) are perfect breeding grounds for dust mites and molds. But the most glaring and obvious factor that increases the rate of asthma/allergies in urban environments is a higher exposure to diesel exhaust pollution.
So, what can you do? Obviously, if you're a city dweller, you can't likely pack up and move you and your kids to a farm easily. But you can take preventative steps to help reduce exposure to allergens/asthma triggers. These include good heating, humidifying and air conditioning units, hypo-allergenic bedding and FREQUENT washings to reduce dust mites. mold inspections, air purifiers. For asthma, try to avoid extremes of heat and cold, put a scarf over your face before you go out. Make sure that if you are using an rescue inhaler frequently that you are talking to your doctor about a daily controller medication! If it's not working, keep asking! Don't rely on a rescue inhaler (something like albuterol) to get you through. Warm drinks during an immediate attack can be helpful, so can slow focus on your breathing. Always stay well hydrated, this thins the mucous down and goes for both allergy and asthma sufferers.
Diet plays a very important role in asthma and allergies. More and more people are finding that milk allergies and gluten or wheat allergies are affecting their symptoms. Most aren't aware that they even have tolerance issues with these until they eliminate them from their diet. That being said, it's NOT advisable to go on something like a gluten free diet without talking it over with your doctor first. Why? Because if you don't get tested BEFORE you start, it's very likely you will test positive for a gluten intolerance after you've cut it out for a while, leading to a misdiagnosis. Check with your doctor first, then look into an elimination diet. A lot of people find them to be extremely helpful!
Lead has also been shown to increase sensitivity to allergens and increase the likelihood of asthma exacerbation. This has to do with cells formed in your bone marrow called dendric cells. I won't get all technical on you, but you need these and lead exposure reduces their numbers. Lead is still found in many older homes, and can also be present in the dust of construction sites, especially where older homes are being torn down or renovated. Children should be lead tested from ages one to two, especially if they are at risk or considered as such. Not all practices will do this. You can ask for it to be done and a lot of local health clinics will provide this service, especially in high risk areas.
So..did you know there is also a link between asthma, allergies and...autism? The link is not yet understood but there seems to be a definite relationship. It gives you pause to think about pollution, our living environments and what it's really doing to us, doesn't it?
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