Earth Day - 2012

What will you do to help our enviroment on EARTH DAY? April 22, 2012

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 Here are some ideas:

• Read produce and food labels- start paying attention to ingredients.  Buy organic produce. Buying organic is currently the best way to ensure that your food has not been genetically modified.
• Find/Use a Non-GMO Shopping Guide like this one: GUIDE-click here 
• Recycle!!!! Freecycle! Buy products from companies who care about real recycling and sustainability
• Plant a tree!
• Visit the website EARTHDAY and click on "What you can do" for lots of ideas and make a pledge to make a change THIS year- lots of easy ways to give back!
• Stop buying bottled water! Alternatives: try glass bottles or aluminum- yes, you can wash your bottles, it only takes a minute.  Millions and millions of these plastic bottles are filling up our landfills (even though they can be recycled, plastic is still not biodegradable).    And for your own health, if you must drink from a plastic bottle, educate yourself on the harmful chemicals that can come into your water through certain types of plastics.  There are a lot of great water bottles now you can find online and your local Sporting goods stores carry many great aluminum choices! Here is one of my favorites: GLASS WATER BOTTLE : be sure to check out the new flip top!
• Carpool one day per week (if you don't already) to school or work
• Take your reusable bags to the grocery store and every store you shop at - keep them in your car, your purse, be ready!
• Have a garage sale!  It's surprising what others may find useful that you might throw away and you could make a few extra $$!
• Support Companies/products that have recycling/sustainability as a part of their Company philosophy/plans going forward like: http://www.stonyfield.com/healthy-planet/our-roadmap-green-business/mission-action-program-map/map-teams/sustainable-packaging

Interactive reflexology map

Check out this great interactive Reflexology Map!

Why? How? Essential Oil Science

You might enjoy this video from L. Jacobs -It gives some insight that I think I haven't seen explained in this fashion elsewhere....

Brown Sugar Scrub, Oatmeal Mask

I found these recipes some time ago - I wanted a hair treatment, so I pulled these back out and thought I'd share.  I've tried all three and they are all very very nice! Give it a try!

(by Michelle Howard, Spa Director, Zermatt Resort)

Brown Sugar Scrub (Can be used for full body exfoliation or for hands and feet)

½ cup Brown Sugar

2 heaping Tablespoons of fractionated coconut oil (Almond or Olive Oil can be substituted)

3 to 5 drops of your favorite essential oil
Mix well. To apply wet skin and massage gently, rinse with warm water and apply favorite moisturizer

Peppermint Hot Oil Hair Treatment (Stimulating & Refreshing to scalp, deeply moisturizing for hair)

½ - 1 cup Olive Oil (amount can be adjusted depending on length of hair)

5-6 drops of Peppermint essential oil
Gently warm Olive oil by putting it in a glass cup or jar in a pot of hot water; once the olive oil is warm add the essential oil and apply immediately to scalp and massage the remaining amount through entire hair. Cover with a shower cap to hold in the heat. Allow to sit for up to 20 minutes, to finish shampoo & condition hair.

Oatmeal/Yogurt Facial Masque (Good for all Skin Types, nourishing and moisturizing)

1 Tbsp Oatmeal

1 Tbsp plain organic yogurt (skip all the pre-sweetened types)

A few drops of warm honey
Mix all the ingredients together and gently apply to face. Leave on for 15 minutes, rinse with steaming washcloth and apply favorite moisturizer.

Water - Distilled? Purified? Tap?

bottled water

Often people ask when I'm making homemade products, what kind of water do you use and why?  Now, I'll go on to explain the differences between these two, however, please note that my thoughts on waters may be quite different if I'm comparing various other waters as compared to these for "drinking".  Distilled water is generally my water of choice when I'm making cleaners and lotions. 


Distilled Water: 
This is water which has been boiled and then the vapors/steam is collected.  As the steam is forming, some of the heavier molecules (possible contaminants) do not rise and collect with the pure water.  These heavier  molecules can also contain scant minerals that we might normally get in our foods.  This removal of impurities and lack of "additives like iron and fluoride make it a good choice for cleaning.  Additionally, it is a good water to choose for filling up your iron when you take to doing that chore because it will leave no residue on the clothing AND is a good choice when you are concerned about mineral build-up in your small electronics.  It does not taste great, however, so I don't recommend it for your drinking water. 


Purified Water:

EPA Flyer-Water Health

In general, purified water is safe for drinking and has gone through a process of removing some unwanted contaminants similar to distilled water.  Purified water can simply be "boiled tap water".  If you are purifying water in case of a emergency, you might add a small amount of bleach to the water if you don't have time or tools to boil water (3 drops to 1 quart of water).   Other common methods of commercially purifying water could include: distillation, reverse osmosis, filtration, etc.  These all make water "drinking water".   Purified water seems to have no real "definition" in terms of how it is treated, however, it is mean to be a water free from contaminants and no additives, unless stated so on the label.  Drinking Water, however, typically does have fluoride added to it. 
Generally, the cost a of generic brand-gallon of either of these will run about the same price, though sometimes I see purified a little higher.  
Here, you can find a link to this great flyer from the EPA that defines all the different kinds of water very well: EPA FLYER- Water Health Series

23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

I think you'll find this video interesting and a great reminder of how little we may need to change in our lifestyles in order to get big benefits!

Acid reflux, GERD, heartburn - be aware of side effects of common medications

The struggles I hear about involving acid reflux, GERD, heartburn and hiatal hernia come up frequently.  These types of digestive problems are quite common.  Medications that are recommended or prescribed are meant to try and decrease acid production or neutralize stomach acid.  Some people report night sweats which can also be associated with acid reflux. Along with medications, it's also recommended that those who suffer from any of these gut maladies to avoid large meals, eat slower, avoid coffee and alcohol, reduce their weight, not laying down right after meals (or bending over).   These are all in attempts to address the symptoms basically.  In some cases, surgery may be recommended to resolve a hiatal hernia.

For most sufferers, prescription drugs and over the counter meds are their only real choice for living with the symptoms other than watching their diets very closely.  With these drugs and medications, come some pretty troublesome possible side effects -both short term and long term.  If you would like to read some interesting thoughts on the subject of PPI's (proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium) just go to www.mercola.com and enter Prilosec in the search engine and you'll see a number of articles by Dr. Mercola who is of the opinion that these drugs actually can cause acid-related problems and a dependency on these drugs.  

Dr. Andrew Weil recommends a few things that could help with the typical symptoms of Hiatal Hernia on his web site:   http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA293383      He says in reply to a question about suggestions for relief of symptoms:

“For relief, I recommend deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which can soothe the lining of the esophagus and stomach. Chew two tablets slowly before each meal or between meals, or take one-half teaspoon of the powder before meals. Let it slowly trickle down your throat. You can continue to use DGL as long as you have symptoms. Here are some other lifestyle changes that can help:

·         Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption. If you do take an occasional drink, be sure to eat something first.

• If you smoke, stop - tobacco can irritate the digestive system.
• Avoid coffee and decaffeinated coffee. Caffeine can aggravate symptoms. Substitute chamomile tea, which is soothing.
• Experiment with foods to see which ones trigger your symptoms and avoid any that do.
• Don't eat within two to three hours of bedtime, and don't lie down after meals.
• Eat frequent small meals rather than three large ones.
• Elevate the head of your bed by six to eight inches (to prevent stomach acid from refluxing while you're lying down).

• You should also try to avoid drugs that can make reflux worse by decreasing the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter. These drugs include calcium channel blockers, nitrates, sedatives, and theophylline. Peppermint can have the same undesirable effect.

Conventional doctors probably will prescribe acid-suppressive drugs. I recommend using them only short-term or not at all, as they have significant side effects, are not intended for long-term use, treat the problem superficially, and cause rebound increase in acid production when you stop taking them.”  Andrew Weil, M.D.

Here are a few concerns and warnings coming from the FDA over the last few years in regards to PPI’s: 

Don’t take Prilosec with Plavix:

The FDA added a warning regarding Prilosec (one PPI which is used to prevent/reduce stomach acid) can actually reduce the effectiveness of Plavix if these two are being taken at the same time.  Plavix is a anti-clogging drug taken by those who are at risk for heart attacks/stroke.[1]

Depletion of magnesium

            HEARTBURN DRUGS DEPLETE MAGNESIUM

            “The FDA has warned that prescription drugs for heartburn or acid reflux can cause serious side effects because they deplete the body’s stores of magnesium.  Such drugs-including Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid and others-work by blocking production of acid in the stomach.  If you use one of these drugs regularly, it’s a good idea to take magnesium supplements and have a doctor check your magnesium levels.

Symptoms of magnesium depletion include racing heartbeat, palpitations, muscle spasms, tremors, or convulsions, but low magnesium levels don’t always produce these effects.  Children might experience abnormal heart rates and fatigue, upset stomach, dizziness and lightheadedness.  An FDA review of adverse event reports and scientific literature found that magnesium shortages occurred most often when the drugs were taken for more than a year.  In 75 percent of cases, magnesium supplements provided relief, but in others, patients had to stop taking the drugs.[2]

            The FDA issued this warning March 2, 2011 so this warning might be unknown to some.  There are a few podcasts available on the FDA web site here: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugSafetyPodcasts/ucm246866.htm[3]

Risk of increased fractures

The FDA also notes in a press release in May 2010 that studies suggest an increased risk of fractures for those who have been taking the drugs for more than a year.[4]  Additionally, in the FDA’s advice to consumers on the same topic, they remind people of the following:  “Be aware that the over-the-counter PPIs should only be used as directed for 14 days for the treatment of frequent heartburn. If your heartburn continues, talk to your health care professional. No more than three 14-day treatment courses should be used in one year.”[5]  

I wonder if people who are taking PPI's are really reading the label or if their doctors are reminding them of this 3 treatment per year recommendation?

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[1] http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2009/ucm191169.htm, accessed 11/7/11

[2] Better nutrition, Aug 2011, volume 73, no. 8,  p. 10

[3] http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugSafetyPodcasts/ucm246866.htm, accessed 11/7/11

[4] http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2010/ucm213377.htm, accessed 11/7/11

[5] http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm213240.htm, accessed 11/7/11