Day 4 Friday 9.5 lbs
Seems like weight lose should be more. Not really hungry, but want to eat- it's a drug for sure. At Joey's today and there was an empty pizza box in the trash, luckily no pizza - yes I checked- trash and fridge! So I may make it through today after all- don't think I would have with pizza around.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Days 4-7: Full-blown Cleansing!
Fat, tumors, diseased cells, scar tissue, etc are being broken down and purged from the body. Hunger should have subsided by now. The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing organs, and the immune system and lungs are in the process of being repaired.
Symptoms you may experience:
Low blood pressure (get up SLOWLY), impressive weight loss, difficulty sleeping (due to lack of needing extra hours since you are not digesting foods. Quality of sleep improves over quantity), skin eruptions, headache, overall lack of energy and mental fog, disappearance of hunger. You may experience discomforts in places that you have had a previous injury, for example, if you pulled a muscle in your arm several years ago and took tylenol for it the injury was never actually healed- you may feel the work of the cleanse cleaning out the scar tissue and ACTUALLY healing the injury. Or you may have a wart on your hand that you've had a hard time getting rid of and it will just fall off on its own.
Symptoms you may experience:
Low blood pressure (get up SLOWLY), impressive weight loss, difficulty sleeping (due to lack of needing extra hours since you are not digesting foods. Quality of sleep improves over quantity), skin eruptions, headache, overall lack of energy and mental fog, disappearance of hunger. You may experience discomforts in places that you have had a previous injury, for example, if you pulled a muscle in your arm several years ago and took tylenol for it the injury was never actually healed- you may feel the work of the cleanse cleaning out the scar tissue and ACTUALLY healing the injury. Or you may have a wart on your hand that you've had a hard time getting rid of and it will just fall off on its own.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
10 minutes until 24 hours on the fast! Lost .5 lb since morning. that's making it through Dad eating tacos in the car and then stopping at Aldi and eating eclairs in the car. He'll be going to a meeting tonight, so there won't be any temptations after he leaves. I am drinking a cup of warm water w/a cinnamon stick in it.
Day 3: This is the day you've been waiting for!
What to expect:
Day 3 is when your body becomes a furnace; burning off your fat, old scar tissue, and dead cells that junk up your body! Yay for eliminating toxins!!
As this switch occurs, your hunger should subside but may become psychological- so stay strong!
Days 3-7 are the most cleansing days, so let that be your motivation. Weigh-in often (if weight loss is your goal), note the mucus being purged from your body (in your urine, from your sinuses, or even coming out of your pores). This is a great sign of detoxing!
My sidebar:
I'm expecting a rash breakout within the next few days. My previous 8-day fast was most cleansing on days 4-5, so I'm waiting to see what my body decides to do this time. Overall, I feel much more energetic than I did my previous fast (I didn't believe I would be one of those people who found fasting becomes easier, but I'm a believer now)! I feel elated and happy most of the time, even though I am constantly fantasizing about food. I couldn't sleep last night from 1am to 6am, so I spent that time creating an in-depth menu of how I'm going to break my fast. I'm very excited about it!
Day 3 is when your body becomes a furnace; burning off your fat, old scar tissue, and dead cells that junk up your body! Yay for eliminating toxins!!
As this switch occurs, your hunger should subside but may become psychological- so stay strong!
Days 3-7 are the most cleansing days, so let that be your motivation. Weigh-in often (if weight loss is your goal), note the mucus being purged from your body (in your urine, from your sinuses, or even coming out of your pores). This is a great sign of detoxing!
My sidebar:
I'm expecting a rash breakout within the next few days. My previous 8-day fast was most cleansing on days 4-5, so I'm waiting to see what my body decides to do this time. Overall, I feel much more energetic than I did my previous fast (I didn't believe I would be one of those people who found fasting becomes easier, but I'm a believer now)! I feel elated and happy most of the time, even though I am constantly fantasizing about food. I couldn't sleep last night from 1am to 6am, so I spent that time creating an in-depth menu of how I'm going to break my fast. I'm very excited about it!
Day 1-- 4/9/13 Tues of Fast
Started fast around 4 PM Monday, so this is still day 1 until 4. Went to bed around 10 last night. Got up around 8 AM, was dizzy, but am sure its the air pressure (30.09) as I am randomly dizzy in the morning and it goes away in an hour or two (and mostly has now but won't know for sure until I get up again). Not especially hungry, but a warm cup of water tastes good! Temperature supposed to get to high 80s today and we may go downtown DC to see cherry blossoms. Started prefast on Sun and Mon until 4, I have lost 5.5 lbs.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Days 1-2: Let the Fasting Begin...
Day 1-2: Physiological Changes and what to expect:
Physiological Changes:
On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for a half day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness.
Physiological Changes:
On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for a half day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness.
Acidosis, usually begins a couple of days after the last meal and lasts about one week. During acidosis the body vigorously throws off acid waste products. Most people starting a fast begin with an overly acid blood pH from the Standard American Diet (SAD) that contains a predominance of acid-forming foods. Switching over to burning fat for fuel triggers the release of even more acidic substances.
As the body nears the end of its cleansing process the tongue will clear and hunger returns (unmistakable feeling in the throat, not the stomach). This is when you should begin to re-introduce liquids and eventually solids, gradually.
What to Expect:
The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period.
The second stage, psychological hunger, usually is felt as an intense desire for food. This passes within a few days of not eating anything. Psychological hunger usually begins with the first missed meal.
Acidosis is usually accompanied by fatigue, blurred vision, and possibly dizziness. The breath smells very bad, the tongue is coated with bad-tasting mucus, and the urine may be concentrated and foul unless a good deal of water is taken daily. Two to three quarts a day is a reasonable amount.
Warning Signs to End the Fast:
Stop your water fast immediately if you experience any severe physical side effects, such as fainting spells, intense muscle pain that doesn't pass (potassium deficiency), or heart palpitations.The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period.
The second stage, psychological hunger, usually is felt as an intense desire for food. This passes within a few days of not eating anything. Psychological hunger usually begins with the first missed meal.
Acidosis is usually accompanied by fatigue, blurred vision, and possibly dizziness. The breath smells very bad, the tongue is coated with bad-tasting mucus, and the urine may be concentrated and foul unless a good deal of water is taken daily. Two to three quarts a day is a reasonable amount.
Warning Signs to End the Fast:
As the body nears the end of its cleansing process the tongue will clear and hunger returns (unmistakable feeling in the throat, not the stomach). This is when you should begin to re-introduce liquids and eventually solids, gradually.
Leading Up to the Fast
If you have never fasted before, you undoubtedly have many questions about it. But since fasting is not yet a regular part of medical practice, it may be difficult for you to seriously consider it. This is unfortunate because fasting can have a powerful effect in reversing pathology and establishing a foundation for health. Fasting is not an all-encompassing solution to every health problem, but it has great promise to bolster the recovery process for many ailing people.
In order to make an intelligent decision about fasting, you need reliable information that is accurate, factual, and scientific. It is good to talk to people who have fasted and to doctors who are experienced in the use of fasting. Dr. Herbert Shelton (1895-1985), who was one of the founders of the American Natural Hygiene Society, probably had more experience with fasting than anyone else who ever lived.
Think twice before accepting condemnations of fasting from those who know nothing about it and have no experience with it, whether they a physicians or lay persons. if you objectively look at the evidence about fasting, you will see that it has improved health and life for countless people under a broad range of circumstances.
Benefits of fasting
Like when you go to sleep at night, your body immediately goes about the tasks of repair and recovery from the wear and tear of the day's activities. This period of digestive rest allows your body to devote more of its energy to its nightly repairs and restoration. When fasting is combined with rest, your body treats it as an extended period of renovation and renewal.
During fasting, your senses become more acute, including taste, smell, and hearing. Your body naturally begins to normalize itself from years of abuse.
More specifically than an overall normalization of the body, fasting promotes detoxification, resolves inflammatory response, reduces blood sugar, increases fat break down, promotes weight loss, lowers blood pressure, promotes the return of a healthy pallet/diet, helps overcome addictions, and boosts immunity.
Absence of hunger
Your next question might be, "won't I be hungry all the time?" The surprising fact is that after one or a few days of fasting, most people experience little or no desire for food.
The desire to eat is dictated by a combination of physiological and psychological factors. It is thought that hunger is triggered by the activity of certain brain cells within the "appetite center" of the hypothalamus which respond to the blood glucose level.
During fasting, the body begins to burn fat as a fuel, and the appetite center becomes temporarily desensitized to blood glucose. This makes it possible to fast without a gnawing hunger.
Most people report little desire for food while fasting. They do not have a powerful, overwhelming urge to eat. This helps make it possible for most people to fast comfortably for several weeks or longer.
Fasting, NOT starving
There is an important difference between fasting and starving. Fasting is a period of abstinence from food during which the body's nutrient reserves are adequate to meet the body's nutritional needs. Starvation can occur only if you abstain from food beyond the point where you have sufficient nutrient reserves.
The differences between fasting and starving are unmistakable.
Will I experience discomfort?
While fasting, everyone tends to experience some "locomotor weakness," which refers to the withdrawal of energy from the muscular system as the body tries to conserve energy.
In general, those who are large tend to remain more energetic than those who are smaller. The body enforces an earlier slowdown of caloric expenditure in those who have the least reserves.
Symptoms may arise during fasting, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin eruptions.These all are related to the increase in your body's eliminative activities during the fast, and they are considered to be constructive. Dr. Shelton used the term "orthopatbic," which means "right suffering," to describe these events. Nevertheless, they can be uncomfortable and distressing.
The vast majority of people are able to fast for a sufficient period of time without major discomfort.The most frequent complaint from people who are fasting is that they are bored. But, if you take it just one day at a time (and don't decide ahead of time how many days you will fast), you can get through your first fast without too much difficulty.
Keep in mind the basic steps of Water Fasting:
In order to make an intelligent decision about fasting, you need reliable information that is accurate, factual, and scientific. It is good to talk to people who have fasted and to doctors who are experienced in the use of fasting. Dr. Herbert Shelton (1895-1985), who was one of the founders of the American Natural Hygiene Society, probably had more experience with fasting than anyone else who ever lived.
Think twice before accepting condemnations of fasting from those who know nothing about it and have no experience with it, whether they a physicians or lay persons. if you objectively look at the evidence about fasting, you will see that it has improved health and life for countless people under a broad range of circumstances.
Benefits of fasting
Like when you go to sleep at night, your body immediately goes about the tasks of repair and recovery from the wear and tear of the day's activities. This period of digestive rest allows your body to devote more of its energy to its nightly repairs and restoration. When fasting is combined with rest, your body treats it as an extended period of renovation and renewal.
During fasting, your senses become more acute, including taste, smell, and hearing. Your body naturally begins to normalize itself from years of abuse.
More specifically than an overall normalization of the body, fasting promotes detoxification, resolves inflammatory response, reduces blood sugar, increases fat break down, promotes weight loss, lowers blood pressure, promotes the return of a healthy pallet/diet, helps overcome addictions, and boosts immunity.
Absence of hunger
Your next question might be, "won't I be hungry all the time?" The surprising fact is that after one or a few days of fasting, most people experience little or no desire for food.
The desire to eat is dictated by a combination of physiological and psychological factors. It is thought that hunger is triggered by the activity of certain brain cells within the "appetite center" of the hypothalamus which respond to the blood glucose level.
During fasting, the body begins to burn fat as a fuel, and the appetite center becomes temporarily desensitized to blood glucose. This makes it possible to fast without a gnawing hunger.
Most people report little desire for food while fasting. They do not have a powerful, overwhelming urge to eat. This helps make it possible for most people to fast comfortably for several weeks or longer.
Fasting, NOT starving
There is an important difference between fasting and starving. Fasting is a period of abstinence from food during which the body's nutrient reserves are adequate to meet the body's nutritional needs. Starvation can occur only if you abstain from food beyond the point where you have sufficient nutrient reserves.
The differences between fasting and starving are unmistakable.
Will I experience discomfort?
While fasting, everyone tends to experience some "locomotor weakness," which refers to the withdrawal of energy from the muscular system as the body tries to conserve energy.
In general, those who are large tend to remain more energetic than those who are smaller. The body enforces an earlier slowdown of caloric expenditure in those who have the least reserves.
Symptoms may arise during fasting, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin eruptions.These all are related to the increase in your body's eliminative activities during the fast, and they are considered to be constructive. Dr. Shelton used the term "orthopatbic," which means "right suffering," to describe these events. Nevertheless, they can be uncomfortable and distressing.
The vast majority of people are able to fast for a sufficient period of time without major discomfort.The most frequent complaint from people who are fasting is that they are bored. But, if you take it just one day at a time (and don't decide ahead of time how many days you will fast), you can get through your first fast without too much difficulty.
Keep in mind the basic steps of Water Fasting:
1. Preparation: You must be mentally and emotionally prepared. Know that it will be highly beneficial and enter the fast without fear or anxiety. Use the buddy system or be in daily contact with an experienced faster.
2. Rest: Reduce mental, sensory and physical activity to a minimum to conserve energy and expedite toxin release.
3. Activity: You may enjoy walking in a leisurely pace but other than that keep activity to the bare minimum.
4. Warmth- The faster’s resistance to cold is lower in most cases than when they are eating. Chilling inhibits elimination, so it is important to keep warm- especially the feet.
5. Water- Drink soft spring, rain, filtered or distilled water only and only when you are thirsty . This allows the kidneys to rest. Do not drink the water iced. This also slows the elimination process down by chilling the system.
6. Bathing- To be performed daily or as often as needed. It should be of short duration and neither too hot or too cold. If the faster is too weak to bathe, a sponge bath may be taken.
7. Sunbathing- Sunshine is an essential nutrient factor in both the plant and animal nutrition and is helpful while fasting. Do not overdo this. Keep the sunbathing short to begin with–5 minutes each front and back and each day work up one extra minute per side to a maximum of 30 minutes. If the fast continues past 21 days cut the time to 8 minutes/side.
3. Activity: You may enjoy walking in a leisurely pace but other than that keep activity to the bare minimum.
4. Warmth- The faster’s resistance to cold is lower in most cases than when they are eating. Chilling inhibits elimination, so it is important to keep warm- especially the feet.
5. Water- Drink soft spring, rain, filtered or distilled water only and only when you are thirsty . This allows the kidneys to rest. Do not drink the water iced. This also slows the elimination process down by chilling the system.
6. Bathing- To be performed daily or as often as needed. It should be of short duration and neither too hot or too cold. If the faster is too weak to bathe, a sponge bath may be taken.
7. Sunbathing- Sunshine is an essential nutrient factor in both the plant and animal nutrition and is helpful while fasting. Do not overdo this. Keep the sunbathing short to begin with–5 minutes each front and back and each day work up one extra minute per side to a maximum of 30 minutes. If the fast continues past 21 days cut the time to 8 minutes/side.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Trial and Error: Where I Stand Today
The below posts are all the discoveries I've made during trial and error to heal my skin. Although I cannot claim any one of them has led to complete success, I do believe they have all helped calm my flaming skin.
Up to this point, the common reader would probably believe I live a paranoid life. On a daily basis, I try to avoid things the average person may not think twice about. Should I wash my hands with that soap and water or am I better off with the germs on my hands? Can I eat over at the Johnson's for dinner or will I embarrass myself by asking about every ingredient in the foods? Should I risk having a glass of water or is it best to remain parched?
Keep in mind, I employ a mainly vegetarian diet, rich in organic raw fruits and vegetables, dehydrated fruits and vegetables (excluding those with the toxin sulfur dioxide), fruit juices (without additives), but on occasion I do include meat and eggs (grass-fed, antibiotic and hormone free). Unfortunately, it's not possible to eat like this 100% of the time, but I've been pretty close.
I have banished all coffee, caffeine, soda, diet drinks and foods, refined sugars, refined carbohydrates, dairy, cheese, and alcohol from my diet for the past 2-3 months. I realize it may take longer to get those toxins out of my body, but given the addictions I had to the above listed foods, it is a huge feat for me which I am proud.
I have experimented with candida diets, anti-candida diets, thyroid diets, and the Atkins diet, all to say that I don't believe any of them impacted my skin enough to convince me of their relativity, for my condition.
On 4/12/13, I will be seeing an allergist to determine if there's something in the environment or in my diet causing these skin eruptions.
In the meantime, my current lab results show my body has elevated bilirubin and iron levels. This may indicate a problem with my liver. I am scheduled to be re-tested in 6 weeks to determine if the levels are fluctuating (which would indicate no real problem), or if the levels are constant (which would result in extensive liver testing).
I recently discovered the high dosage of Fluconazole my doctor prescribed for me last month, is directly related to liver dysfunction/failure. I received a dosage of 600mg, which is 3x the strength of the recommended dosage, 200mg. I orally ingested this dosage in ONE sitting. This is likely the cause of my elevated bilirubin.
I will keep you posted on the discoveries I deem share-worthy, as in our western society it proves more difficult to stay healthy every day . You MUST do extensive homework on your doctors, drugs, herbs, supplements, water, hygienic and cosmetic products, foods and clothing fibers, to the point where you start wondering why we our poisoning ourselves for profits.
Up to this point, the common reader would probably believe I live a paranoid life. On a daily basis, I try to avoid things the average person may not think twice about. Should I wash my hands with that soap and water or am I better off with the germs on my hands? Can I eat over at the Johnson's for dinner or will I embarrass myself by asking about every ingredient in the foods? Should I risk having a glass of water or is it best to remain parched?
Keep in mind, I employ a mainly vegetarian diet, rich in organic raw fruits and vegetables, dehydrated fruits and vegetables (excluding those with the toxin sulfur dioxide), fruit juices (without additives), but on occasion I do include meat and eggs (grass-fed, antibiotic and hormone free). Unfortunately, it's not possible to eat like this 100% of the time, but I've been pretty close.
I have banished all coffee, caffeine, soda, diet drinks and foods, refined sugars, refined carbohydrates, dairy, cheese, and alcohol from my diet for the past 2-3 months. I realize it may take longer to get those toxins out of my body, but given the addictions I had to the above listed foods, it is a huge feat for me which I am proud.
I have experimented with candida diets, anti-candida diets, thyroid diets, and the Atkins diet, all to say that I don't believe any of them impacted my skin enough to convince me of their relativity, for my condition.
On 4/12/13, I will be seeing an allergist to determine if there's something in the environment or in my diet causing these skin eruptions.
In the meantime, my current lab results show my body has elevated bilirubin and iron levels. This may indicate a problem with my liver. I am scheduled to be re-tested in 6 weeks to determine if the levels are fluctuating (which would indicate no real problem), or if the levels are constant (which would result in extensive liver testing).
I recently discovered the high dosage of Fluconazole my doctor prescribed for me last month, is directly related to liver dysfunction/failure. I received a dosage of 600mg, which is 3x the strength of the recommended dosage, 200mg. I orally ingested this dosage in ONE sitting. This is likely the cause of my elevated bilirubin.
I will keep you posted on the discoveries I deem share-worthy, as in our western society it proves more difficult to stay healthy every day . You MUST do extensive homework on your doctors, drugs, herbs, supplements, water, hygienic and cosmetic products, foods and clothing fibers, to the point where you start wondering why we our poisoning ourselves for profits.
Omitting Petrochemicals: Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates, GMOs
Why should you worry about using products that contain the chemicals listed above? The skin is a super-absorber of substances both good and bad, and the products you put on your skin end up in your body. On average, consumers use about 10 personal care products containing 126 ingredients per day. The government does not require health studies or pre-market testing for these products. The FDA has a GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) list, but almost every chemical is included in that list.
Parabens
Parabens are preservatives found in many skincare products. You can spot them easily on the product label because they end with the word paraben. Examples include: methylparaben, proplyparaben, isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, and sodium butylparaben.
Although the FDA has determined that parabens are safe for inclusion in skincare products, many scientist and layperson alike agree that they are not a wise choice. One reason has to do with the chemical structure of a paraben, which is close to that of estrogen and can fit into estrogen receptors at the cellular level. This is not good because research suggests that when this happens, the delicate endocrine (hormone) system is disturbed and may eventually lead to breast and other forms of cancer.
Phthalates
Phthalates are chemical compounds that are used as plasticizers – ingredients that give plastics their elasticity and change the texture and quality of skincare products. The most widely used phthalates are di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP). There are many other forms too. Just check the ingredient label for words ending in phthalate. Butyl ester and plasticizer are other words to watch for.
As with parabens, phthalates are considered estrogen disruptors and the cause of reproductive problems, especially in males. They also have been indicated as causing fat-related health risks.
A University of Rochester Medical Center study connected common chemicals to rising obesity rates. The analysis found that several phthalate metabolites showed a positive correlation with abdominal obesity. Men with the highest levels of phthalates in their urine had more belly fat and insulin resistance. Researchers adjusted for other factors that could influence the results, such as the men’s age, race, food intake, physical activity levels and smoking. (8) Who wants their skincare products adding to the already difficult task of battling the bulge?
Sulfates
Ingredients to look for include: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Myreth Sulfate. These ingredients generally act as detergents or foaming agents and are found in cleansers and shampoos.
Tests show that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can penetrate into the eyes as well as systemic tissues (brain, heart, liver, etc.) and show long-term retention in those tissues, especially when used in soaps and shampoos. This is especially important in infants, where considerable growth is occurring and because a much greater uptake occurs in the tissue of younger eyes. SLS also changes the amounts of some proteins in cells in eye tissue of all ages.
SLS forms nitrates. When SLS is used in shampoos and cleansers containing nitrogen-based ingredients, it can form carcinogenic nitrates that can enter the blood stream in large numbers. They can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions.
As well as containg GMO's, most products today are made from petrochemical derivatives of non renewable crude oil. Many lotions, cosmetics and other product have mineral-oil base--and mineral oil is a petrochemical. Mineral oil is such a common ingredient that you may be applying this petrochemical to your skin daily.
Cancer and health risk experts just concluded reviews that indicate mainstream cosmetics and personal hygiene products pose the highest cancer risk exposures to the general public, higher than smoking.
After cosmetologists complained of headaches, loss of balance, memory loss, asthma, nervous system damage and respiratory damage in a 1989 government hearing on the safety of cosmetics, a House sub-committee called for the analysis of nearly 3,000 chemicals used in cosmetics.
The results were disturbing. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health studied 2,983 ingredients and found 884 to be toxic. Of the 884 toxic ingredients, biological mutations could be caused by 314, reproductive problems by 218, acute toxicity by 778, cancer tumors by 146, and skin and eye irritation by 376. And they are still being used!
Easily Recognizable Petrochemicals and Harmful Ingredients:
Mineral Oil
Petrolatum
Petroleum
Artificial Dyes
Artificial Colors
Artificial Fragrances
Sodium Fluoride
Collagen
Citric Acid
Corn Starch
Glycerin
Lecithin
Soy Isoflavones
Hydrolized soy protein
Sugar
Lauric Acid
Ingredients that are often or usually from GMO's:
Xanthan Gum
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin E (Tocopheral)
Cosmetic ingredients potentially derived from Genetically Modified Organisms include ingredients such as corn oil, corn flour, soybean oil, lecithin and proteins produced by yeast. These are just a few of the common ingredients in personal care that are often genetically modified. There are many, many more.
The best way to avoid the Genetically Modified Organisms in your products is to buy CERTIFIED Organic.
Take charge of your health today by using a combination of botanicals vitamins, and herbs that work synergistically together to promote healing, anti-aging, moisturizing and healthy living.
http://www.nogmo4michigan.org/toxin_awareness_gmo_s_in_our_toiletries
Support the Safe Cosmetics Act!
The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 (H.R.2359) gives consumers, parents and environmental health advocates a real chance at national legislation that will eliminate harmful chemicals from the products women, men and children put on their bodies every day.
It's EASY! Just copy and paste the link below into your web browser!
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5500/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=702
Parabens
Parabens are preservatives found in many skincare products. You can spot them easily on the product label because they end with the word paraben. Examples include: methylparaben, proplyparaben, isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, and sodium butylparaben.
Although the FDA has determined that parabens are safe for inclusion in skincare products, many scientist and layperson alike agree that they are not a wise choice. One reason has to do with the chemical structure of a paraben, which is close to that of estrogen and can fit into estrogen receptors at the cellular level. This is not good because research suggests that when this happens, the delicate endocrine (hormone) system is disturbed and may eventually lead to breast and other forms of cancer.
Phthalates
Phthalates are chemical compounds that are used as plasticizers – ingredients that give plastics their elasticity and change the texture and quality of skincare products. The most widely used phthalates are di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP). There are many other forms too. Just check the ingredient label for words ending in phthalate. Butyl ester and plasticizer are other words to watch for.
As with parabens, phthalates are considered estrogen disruptors and the cause of reproductive problems, especially in males. They also have been indicated as causing fat-related health risks.
A University of Rochester Medical Center study connected common chemicals to rising obesity rates. The analysis found that several phthalate metabolites showed a positive correlation with abdominal obesity. Men with the highest levels of phthalates in their urine had more belly fat and insulin resistance. Researchers adjusted for other factors that could influence the results, such as the men’s age, race, food intake, physical activity levels and smoking. (8) Who wants their skincare products adding to the already difficult task of battling the bulge?
Sulfates
Ingredients to look for include: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Myreth Sulfate. These ingredients generally act as detergents or foaming agents and are found in cleansers and shampoos.
Tests show that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can penetrate into the eyes as well as systemic tissues (brain, heart, liver, etc.) and show long-term retention in those tissues, especially when used in soaps and shampoos. This is especially important in infants, where considerable growth is occurring and because a much greater uptake occurs in the tissue of younger eyes. SLS also changes the amounts of some proteins in cells in eye tissue of all ages.
SLS forms nitrates. When SLS is used in shampoos and cleansers containing nitrogen-based ingredients, it can form carcinogenic nitrates that can enter the blood stream in large numbers. They can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions.
As well as containg GMO's, most products today are made from petrochemical derivatives of non renewable crude oil. Many lotions, cosmetics and other product have mineral-oil base--and mineral oil is a petrochemical. Mineral oil is such a common ingredient that you may be applying this petrochemical to your skin daily.
Cancer and health risk experts just concluded reviews that indicate mainstream cosmetics and personal hygiene products pose the highest cancer risk exposures to the general public, higher than smoking.
After cosmetologists complained of headaches, loss of balance, memory loss, asthma, nervous system damage and respiratory damage in a 1989 government hearing on the safety of cosmetics, a House sub-committee called for the analysis of nearly 3,000 chemicals used in cosmetics.
The results were disturbing. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health studied 2,983 ingredients and found 884 to be toxic. Of the 884 toxic ingredients, biological mutations could be caused by 314, reproductive problems by 218, acute toxicity by 778, cancer tumors by 146, and skin and eye irritation by 376. And they are still being used!
Easily Recognizable Petrochemicals and Harmful Ingredients:
Mineral Oil
Petrolatum
Petroleum
Artificial Dyes
Artificial Colors
Artificial Fragrances
Sodium Fluoride
Collagen
Citric Acid
Corn Starch
Glycerin
Lecithin
Soy Isoflavones
Hydrolized soy protein
Sugar
Lauric Acid
Ingredients that are often or usually from GMO's:
Xanthan Gum
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin E (Tocopheral)
Cosmetic ingredients potentially derived from Genetically Modified Organisms include ingredients such as corn oil, corn flour, soybean oil, lecithin and proteins produced by yeast. These are just a few of the common ingredients in personal care that are often genetically modified. There are many, many more.
The best way to avoid the Genetically Modified Organisms in your products is to buy CERTIFIED Organic.
Take charge of your health today by using a combination of botanicals vitamins, and herbs that work synergistically together to promote healing, anti-aging, moisturizing and healthy living.
http://www.nogmo4michigan.org/toxin_awareness_gmo_s_in_our_toiletries
Support the Safe Cosmetics Act!
The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 (H.R.2359) gives consumers, parents and environmental health advocates a real chance at national legislation that will eliminate harmful chemicals from the products women, men and children put on their bodies every day.
It's EASY! Just copy and paste the link below into your web browser!
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5500/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=702
Synonyms: Crystal Light, Splenda, Formaldehyde
Refined sugar, artificial sweeteners (toxic aspartame, Splenda) and products such as jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, yogurts, ice cream, sherbets, jello, cake, candy, cookies, chewing gum, sodas and diet drinks, pies, pastries, and all sugared fruit juices and fruits canned in sugar syrup.(Health stores have delicious healthy replacements for sugar, such as organic Stevia.)
The formaldehyde exposure from aspartame is significant. Aspartame breaks down into methanol, amino acids and several other chemicals. The methanol is quickly absorbed and converted into formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is known to cause gradual damage to the nervous system, the immune system and has recently been shown to cause irreversible genetic damage at long-term, low-level exposure. The most recent, independent research shows that the situation related to aspartame may be more serious than simply regular formaldehyde exposure. This research on animals demonstrates that the formaldehyde appears to accumulate as adducts (bound to protein molecules) in the organs and tissues of the animals (when aspartame is ingested at relatively low doses): "These are indeed extremely high levels for adducts of formaldehyde, a substance responsible for chronic deleterious effects that has also been considered carcinogenic. .... "It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde adducts." [Life Sciences (scientific journal), Vol. 63, No. 5, pp. 337+, 1998]
Some of the many aspartame toxicity symptoms reported include seizures, headaches, memory loss, tremors, convulsions, vision loss, nausea, dizziness, conufsion, depression, irritability, anxiety attacks, personality changes, heart palpitationns, chest pains, skin rashes, loss of blood sugar control, arthritic symptoms, weight gain (in some cases), fluid retention, excessive thirst or urination. Clearly, regular exposure to a toxic substance such as formaldehyde may worsen, or in some cases contribute to the development of chronic diseases. www.fda.gov
Invest in Water Filters and Non-Fluoridated Toothpastes
Fluoride has long been known to be a very toxic substance. This is why, like arsenic, fluoride has been used in pesticides and rodenticides (to kill rats, insects, etc). It is also why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires that all fluoride toothpaste sold in the U.S. carry a poison warning that instructs users to contact the poison control center if they swallow more than used for brushing.
Excessive fluoride exposure is well known to cause a painful bone disease (skeletal fluorosis), as well as a discoloration of the teeth known as dental fluorosis. Excessive fluoride exposure has also been linked to a range of other chronic ailments including arthritis, bone fragility, dental fluorosis, glucose intolerance, gastrointestinal distress, thyroid disease, and possibly cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.In hypersensitive individuals, fluorides occasionally cause skin eruptions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema or urticaria. Gastric distress, headache and weakness have also been reported.
While the lowest doses that cause some of these effects are not yet well defined, it is clear that certain subsets of the population are particularly vulnerable to fluoride’s toxicity. Populations that have heightened susceptibility to fluoride include infants, individuals with kidney disease, individuals with nutrient deficiencies (particularly calcium and iodine), and individuals with medical conditions that cause excessive thirst.
-Fluoride Action Network, http://www.fluoridealert.org/take-action/
Protect Yourself from Chlorinated Water
I can't say enough about how harmful chlorine is.Chlorine is a toxic chemical. It is used in water treatment to reduce and kill forms of biological agents, such as bacteria and viruses found in water systems. Chlorine is harmful when we drink it and when it is absorbed into our skin and inhaled into our lungs when we shower. It has been estimated that the shower steam in your bathroom can contain up to 100 times the amount of chlorine than the water, because chlorine evaporates out of water at a relatively low temperature. If you bathe or shower in unfiltered tap water you are inhaling and absorbing chlorine into your body.
Conditions contributed to or aggravated by chlorine exposure:
· Respiratory Conditions (nose, throat, lungs, sinuses): Asthma, bronchitis
· Hair: Dry, brittle
· Skin: Dry, flaking, dandruff, itching, rashes
· Eye irritations and other conditions
Chlorine readily passes through the cell wall and attaches to the fatty acids of the cell, disrupting the life sustaining functions. The human body is composed of billions of cells. Most people are aware that the quality of their drinking water can be improved by filtering their tap water or buying bottled water. However, many do not realize that they are addressing only a part of the problem.
One half of our daily chlorine exposure is from showering. Chlorine is not only absorbed through the skin, but also re-vaporized in the shower, inhaled into the lungs, and transferred directly into the blood system. In fact, the chlorine exposure from one shower is equal to an entire day's amount of drinking the same water. For people who are concerned about their health and are willing to take the responsibility to do something about it, a top quality shower water filter is an affordable solution to the problem.
Dr. Herbert Schwartz of Cumberland County College in Vineman, N.J. says: "Chlorine has so many dangers it should be banned. Putting chlorine in the water supply is like starting a time bomb. Cancer, heart trouble, premature senility, both mental and physical, are conditions attributable to chlorine treated water supplies. It is making us grow old before our time by producing symptoms of aging such as hardening of the arteries."
Environmental Systems Distributing
"Although concentrations of these carcinogens are low...it is precisely these low levels which cancer scientists believe are responsible for the majority of human cancers in the United States." Report Issued By The Environmental Defense Fund
Today's Revelation: Crucial to Eat Organic, Chemicals Not Just in the Peel...
Paul Bragg, The Miracle of Fasting
"Tons upon tons of all kinds of deadly sprays are not only sprayed in the air to kill insects, but many more tons are sprayed on our sick fruits and vegetables. Salads are healthy and appetizing, but often are deadly because of the use of insecticide sprays. This year's crop of fruit and vegetables are exposed to more poisonous pesticide chemicals than ever before. You should constantly be on guard to protect your health.
Medical researchers have discovered that DDT and other agricultural chemicals, such as fertilizers, applied to the soil remain there for many months, and are picked up constantly by succeeding crops grown in the fields. The poison finally ends up in the pulp of the vegetable itself. It is part of it and cannot be washed off. I suppose it has occurred to you that, if the vegetables in your salad are contaminated, you should make some effort to get rid of the residue before you eat too much of it. You might feel that peeling the skin of a tomato or removing the outer layer of the lettuce will do the job. It won't. Some of the residue will be removed, certainly, but there will be more in lower leaves, and in the pulp. The chemicals cannot even be broken down by cooking. The poison is there to stay."
My Daily Battle: Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis is a condition I have been struggling with over the past four years. I have tried all of the common treatments, listed below, to no avail. In fact, what was once just a pesky rash affecting my nose, manifested into an uncontrollable all-over-the-body itch.
Below, I have listed the side effects of each "remedy" for perioral dermatitis. Please consider this as your warning; me as the guinea pig. Not only have the treatments below proven unsuccessful, but I believe they are the direct cause of my progressive skin irritation, elevated bilirubin levels, and developing allergies. I also believe there is a candida/leaky gut issue, but I have yet to prove this theory.
Definition:
Perioral dermatitis is related to acne vulgaris, consisting of red pustules that appear around the nostrils, perioral area (around the mouth), or perioccular area (around the eyes). It usually affects women between the ages of 20 and 45. It is not uncommon, and has a tendency to recur in individuals who have had it once.
Causes:
Although the cause is unknown, there is a link between perioral dermatitis and chloride or fluoride exposure, strong prescription (halogenated) cortisone creams/ointments, and asthma inhalers. (http://www.drbaileyskincare.com/blog/tips-for-treating-perioral-dermatitis)
Treatments:
1. Steriods/Cortisone creams
An anti-inflammatory agent that causes resistance to the medicine (meaning you must constantly increase the amount to induce the same affect), thinning of the skin, easy bruising, permanent dilation of certain blood vessels, burn marks on skin, liver and kidney damage and a weakened immune system.
2. Anti-bacterials
Doug Kauffman, http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/06/18/antibiotics-bacteria.aspx,"every time you swallow antibiotics, you kill the beneficial bacteria within your intestines. When you do so, you upset the delicate balance of your intestinal terrain. Yeasts grow unchecked into large colonies and take over, in a condition called dysbiosis.
Yeasts are opportunistic organisms. This means that, as the intestinal bacteria die, yeasts thrive, especially when their dietary needs are met. They can use their tendrils, or hyphae, to literally poke holes through the lining of your intestinal wall. This results in a syndrome called leaky gut. Yeasts are not the only possible cause of this syndrome. Some scientists have linked non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as naproxen and ibuprofen to the problem. Given their ability to alter intestinal terrain, antibiotics also likely contribute to leaky gut syndrome.
In addition to possibly causing leaky gut syndrome, I believe that parasitic yeasts can also cause you to change what you eat in that they encourage you to binge on carbohydrates including pasta, bread, sugar, potatoes, etc. So, it should come as no surprise that weight gain counts as one of the telltale signs of antibiotic damage and subsequent yeast overgrowth.
By altering the normal terrain of the intestines, antibiotics can also make food allergies more likely. An array of intestinal disorders can ensue, as well. Sadly, most doctors claim ignorance concerning their patients’ intestinal disorders rather than admit that the drugs they themselves prescribed actually caused the disorders to begin with.
According to the 2001 Allergy and Asthma Report, the first immunodeficiency syndrome was identified in 1952. This document tells us that since that time, "more than 95 immune syndromes have been identified, with new conditions coming to light every day." The report goes on to say that research indicates that "increased antibiotic use in human infancy may be associated with increased risk of developing allergies."
3. Antifungals
Antifungal medications can cause life-threatening side effects when a person utilizes the oral or injectable forms. Besides possibly causing serious harm to a person's life, antifungals can also be hazardous to your health when combined with other medications.Therefore, a person taking or utilizing an antifungal must be very careful of all the medications she is taking. Affects liver and kidney function and can cause liver damage or failure, particularly when combined with alcohol or certain medicines. Antifungals weaken the heart's ability to contract, leading to heart failure.
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