Salutations!

As the cost of "Sick"care skyrockets so to do the cost associated with every aspect of the sick care industry (insurance premiums, co-pays, pharmaceutical drugs, sick leave, etc.). The time to act and take care of ourselves while jealously guarding our health has come. We can no longer afford to hand over our health or our wealth to others and hope to live happy, productive lives. The goal of this blog is to wade through some of the more mundane as well as a few sensational health issues that affect us today and how to get over them.







Showing posts with label Chemicals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chemicals. Show all posts

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Constant Cravings???

Thermogenic synergy for rapid fat loss that is all natural!


Allow me to set the scene if you will: You've decided to be healthier and with that decision you endeavored to do things right. Things like eat healthier, eat more often, engage in moderate exercise and engage in stress reduction to help shed unwanted pounds and improve overall health. A hearty congratulations goes out to you because you bridged the gap between talking the talk and walking the walk. But what sometimes happens is as you progress in this healthful turnover you may stumble with an insidious and formidable adversary that has the potential to sabotage your efforts. That adversary is called cravings!

The cravings are usually for foods (or stuff that is supposed to pass as food) that are highly refined and either salty or sugary. In other words simple carbohydrates that spike your blood sugar, increases appetite, increases insulin sensitivity (and subsequently enhances fat storage - not good) and has the potential to wreck your healthy habits. Cravings stem from a variety of reasons and being cognizant of them may prove helpful as you contend with those cravings in the future.

  • Candida albicans: Candida is a fungus that is primarily birthed in the gut usually due to intestinal flora imbalance brought on by antibiotic use, poor nutrition, sluggish digestion or any combination thereof. A good colon cleanse along with a quality probiotic can help reverse the candida invasion. Candida thrives on sugars so it releases compounds that acts on the brain to signal hunger pangs and so the cravings begin. 
  • Chemical addiction: Many of the foods and psuedofoods we consume today are laced with chemical flavor enhancers that interact with the pleasure centers in our brain (e.g. free phenylalanine metabolized after drinking diet soda). This is a sure way to create cravings because physiologically one becomes addicted to the euphoria that can be created when consuming certain chemicals found in what we eat. Have you ever noticed in some people, or yourself, that mood and disposition change for the better after they have a simple carbohydrate snack (e.g. cookies, pastries, etc.) or a diet beverage or snack? 
  • Psychological: Stress in our society is unrelenting and rarely handled in a positive way. In other words we as group of people have fallen short on our stress coping skills. With a lack of positive coping skills we often turn to binge eating of comfort foods. Again, it tends to be chemically laced simple carbohydrates that exacerbates the chemical addiction component of cravings. Wondering if this is true? When was the last time you saw someone become stressed and then consumed an entire bag of carrots? You are not likely to see such a thing because carrots, or any other healthy food, would not satisfy the pleasure centers in the brain without being laced by a chemical cocktail.

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What are we to do then? Is there any hope for us mere mortals who seek positive health outcomes? Fear not because there are ways to help overcome these cravings. Here are some ideas for you to consider:

  • Avoid highly processed foods. These are foods that primarily come packaged in bags or boxes (e.g. potato chips and cookies). These foods are also most likely to be laced with chemical flavor enhancers that wreak havoc by causing cravings.
  • Address candida issues by cleansing your colon and taking probiotics. There are several chemical free all-natural colon cleanses on the market today that could prove helpful in cleaning out the gunk, increase digestion and in turn increase metabolism. It can also pave the way to allow for proper intestinal flora balancing through probiotics. Probiotics work much better in people who do not have impaired digestive function. Balanced intestinal flora decreases candida and therefore decreases cravings.
  • Eating every 3-4 hours is also extremely helpful. Not only does this increase metabolism but it helps the body maintain blood sugar at steady levels which decreases cravings. 
  • Destress. I know this sounds easier said than done but it must move up your list of priorities  Breath exercises, meditation, Tai Chi, or anything of the like will start you on the right path and take care of the psychological aspects of cravings.
  • Parasites are seldom considered when regarding cravings but they can have a profound effect on what a person eats especially when it comes to sweets.


The last two items that could assist you in decreasing cravings are natural supplements.

The first item is L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (also known as 5-HTP) help with cravings by assisting the body in serotonin production. Serotonin is generally credited with creating feelings of happiness and well-being. Because of this action L-tryptophan and 5-HTP can counteract the negative stimulus of chemical food additives on the pleasure centers of the brain. The recommended dose of L-tryptophan is 500-2,000 milligrams and should be taken at bedtime. The dose for 5-HTP is 50-100 milligrams taken one to three times per day or 100-300 milligrams at bedtime. Two notes of caution here. One, these supplements are not a substitute for eating healthy and highly processed foods should be avoided even if you decide to take these supplements. Secondly, if you are on migraine medication called triptans or on a SSRI anti-depressant you should consult with your doctor before taking either supplement.

The second item is N-acetyl L-tyrosine which raises dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. The potential for a better mood, decreased appetite and decreased cravings are greatly enhanced. N-acetyl L-tyrosine should be taken on an empty stomach in the morning or early afternoon (to avoid not being able to sleep) in a dosing range of 500-1,000 milligrams.

Constant cravings? Try some of the above recommendations and be sure to allow enough time for proper assimilation and assessment (30-90 days) to see if it helps. Go in good health and take back your life!

Thermogenic synergy for rapid fat loss that is all natural!








Sunday, June 12, 2011

Formaldehyde is not for the Living: Part 1

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Just recently the U.S. government finally issued a safety warning about formaldehyde and placed it on the list of known carcinogens. It would seem that the U.S. is catching up to the rest of the world even if it is years after the fact. But why is formaldehydes new designation important to us?
Formaldehyde is a widely used substance and can be found in the products we interact with the most. Chief among these products are our homes, automobiles and personal care items.
The plywood used in home building is usually treated with formaldehyde. Automobile upholstery and other components are also treated or manufactured with formaldehyde. So the next time you are enjoying that new home or new car smell please know that it is the carcinogen (cancer causing) formaldehyde off-gassing right into your lungs. One exposure will probably not do too much damage but how long have you been inhaling these noxious vapors…10, 20, 30 years?
If you have ever been in a nail salon (or anywhere else where nails are done) you probably noticed the nail technician using a mask to cover their mouth and nose. It is not because they are afraid of your germs. They cover themselves to avoid exposure to particulates containing formaldehyde (as well as other harmful chemicals to include parabens). You may have also noticed who doesn’t have their faces covered. That would be the customers and anyone else who is with them like husbands, friends and children.
Hair salons are not exempt either. In fact, the exposure can be even more hideous since a good bit of heat steams the formaldehyde through any potential filters (read nasal cilia aka nose hair). Even certain treatments regarded as safe can contain formaldehyde or its parent chemical aldehyde (more on this in an upcoming post).
Part 2 will be posted within the next few days with important information on the chemical industry and how to avoid or minimize exposure to formaldehyde.
Interested in a complete line of non-toxic personal care products and beauty aids including nail polish and make up? Visit mysisel.com/thoughtfulhealth.

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Sources:
http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/11/why-the-federal-government-finally-acted-on-chemical-safety/
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc12.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/08/28/the-awful-odyssey-of-femas-hurricane-katrina-trailers/

Monday, October 18, 2010

What's in Your Shampoo?

The twentieth century brought us many industrial wonders. Things like the automobile (and along with it the assembly line), microwave ovens and even the Internet. In the process we have super sized, super valued and super built just about everything. Furthermore, when you have super stuff you need super cleaners and super lubricants.

Industrial machinery and our mechanized society require (?) chemicals of an industrial nature like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Propylene Glycol (PG), and Diethanolamine (DEA). So let us take a brief moment to look at these various chemicals and don't worry, I am going somewhere with this.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate was initially developed as a detergent gaining in popularity as a garage floor cleaner. It is characterized as a harsh detergent which is entirely believable since garage floors can get a tad bit dirty. Its ability to break down oils made it ideal for this type of clean up duty. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can incarnate in different products as Sodium Laureth Sulphate as well which in some ways could be a lot worse considering the process to turn a Lauryl into a Laureth may produce 1,4 Dioxane, a known cancer causing substance and an ingredient in Vietnam era Agent Orange. In other words it's bad stuff!

Propylene Glycol started out as one of the ingredients that could be found in anti-freeze, brake fluid, paint, and airplane de-iceing fluids. To this very day it is still used as such. Propylene Glycol is an alcohol primarily used for its solvent properties.

Diethanolamine (DEA) is used as an industrial solvent, emulsifier, and detergent. It is used as wall and floor cleaners among other things.

Now here's the rub (literally): Everyone of the aforementioned chemicals can be found in most shampoos. It's a curious matter when you consider that each one of these chemicals is known to cause health issues in humans and animals as well.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has been shown to hinder proper eye development in children, cause cataracts in adults and impedes healing in all beings (See summary report of Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc.). SLS is easily absorbed and stored in the body making it a cumulative toxin. Do you remember how SLS breaks down oil on garage floors? It interferes with the biology of the skin primarily through breaking down the oil in skin leading to stripping and over-drying. What is even more incredible is that SLS is commonly used as a skin irritant in clinical testing to see if other products can alleviate the irritation!

The American Academy of Dermatologist published a report back in 1991 establishing Propylene Glycol as a primary skin irritant even at low levels (5% concentration). Unfortunately, PG is usually a top three ingredient in most products it is used in which means it is at least 20% of the product making it at 20% concentration. Judy Vance, author of "Beauty To Die For" stated that in order to sell PG you would have to furnish the buyer with a material data safety sheet (MSDS). Ironically a warning clearly listed on the MSDS states "If on skin: Thoroughly wash with soap and water".

The US DOT regulates the transport of every version of Diethanolamine (DEA). Why, do you ask? Well, the US DOT lists DEA as an environmentally hazardous substance and an immediate health hazard as described as being the only hazardous ingredient in a product called Monamine (CD -100-CAS 68814-92-6). When combined with nitrates it is known to chemically form nitrosamines - a carcinogen (that which causes cancer). Even without nitrates newer studies are showing a carcinogenic effect in addition to mucous membrane and skin irritation.

Yes we undoubtedly live in an industrial age but we do not have industrial bodies. If a chemical was designed to strip a floor please know and understand that it will strip your skin and disrupt your inner and outer biology. I got curious the day I typed this blog and took a look at the ingredients in Wish Bone Ranch Dressing and was amazed that among some of the other questionable ingredients was listed Propylene Glycol! Would you like a little antifreeze with your salad or wings? So the question remains: What's in YOUR shampoo (or deodorant, toothpaste, or any number of personal care/hygiene products and even food)?

Post Script: Most sources were directly referenced within the post. In addition to those another source with great information is a book called Health Wars by Phillip Day.