What's in your Cleaning Products?

Time and time again you hear about reading the labels on the food products you choose to buy to ensure the best possible health. There are so many ingredients out there that cause damaging effects to our health from MSG, to high fructose corn syrup, BHT, trans fats, and more. Have you ever stopped to think about what could be in your very own household cleaning agents? A scary thought to think not only have companies put toxins in our foods but also the products we use that we think are keeping our houses cleaner. Cleaner is NOT always Greener. What’s the BIG deal? Let’s take a look:

Many popular cleaning products – all-purpose cleaners, dishwashing liquids, furniture polish, oven cleaners, window cleaners, air fresheners, spray starch, and spot removers – might contain ingredients with known or suspected carcinogenic properties. Carcinogens are any substances that can cause or aggravate cancer. They also contain toxic chemicals which are substances that can cause severe illness, poisoning, birth defects, disease, or death when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed by living organisms.

I stumbled across a professional cleaning companies website and explored their website. Upon my amazement, I found a complete list of different home-made recipes for your own cleaning agents! Now you will know exactly what's in your product and will be creating a safer environment for you and your family. Being a new mom with a 7 month old who is now starting to get into everything, it's important to have clean surfaces with health conscience products to ensure the safety of my little baby. Take a look at the article below.

Zing Zap Cleaning Service posted:

Everything you need to clean your house is probably in your house already!

If you have these ingredients, you can make natural cleaners and deodorizers for every corner of your house and save an amazing amount of money.  You can also pat yourself on the back that you are not exposing you or your family to harmful chemicals.  And reusing your containers means you by-pass the recycle bin.

You might also think about investing in microfiber cloths for cleaning. I find that I don’t even need to use anything but water when I use these because the fibers are made to clean grease and oil.  They work great on windows.  You wash these in the washing machine and they come out great. (wash them separately because they tend to collect fiber and lint). Here are the one’s I have, but you can find these anywhere.

Just buy these cheap items the next time you’re out:

• white vinegar – only white as others might stain. Yes, there is a vinegar smell when it’s wet, but when it dries there is none. For most recipes a bit of lemon juice will cut the smell.
• lemon juice – fresh is best, but reconstituted in a bottle will do.
• borax – where has this stuff been all my life!!? I love this stuff! You can do pretty much all your cleaning with just borax.  It’s been around for over 100 years.  Borax has just one safe ingredient (sodium tetraborate decahydrate.  I know it doesn’t sound safe but it is)   The only caution is not to inhale the powder when you’re using it.  My laundry has never smelled so clean!
• baking soda – you can clean with it, deodorize with it, and even drink it for an upset stomach.  Costco sells it in 13.5 pound bags.  We buy it by the case.
• liquid castille soap – “castile” soap means it is derived from plant oils and fats. You can purchase this already made (in nice scents like peppermint) and some grocery chains carry it. Or you can make your own.
• hydrogen peroxide – you can get this at any drug store in the first aid aisle
• olive oil – low grade cheap will do for cleaning
• scented essential oils if you wish: lemongrass, cinnamon, lavender, or tea tree – these can be purchased at any health food store.  Make sure you buy essential oil and not “fragrance oil” as essential oils are pure. I get mine here.
• Coke  - yes, as long as you don’t drink it, this unhealthy American drink has a purpose!

Kitchen

All purpose cleaner: 2 cups water, 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup lemon juice. Mix well in a spray bottle. Use on any surface like you would any spray cleaner.

Dishwashing detergent:  Mix equal parts borax and baking soda (slightly more baking soda if you have hard water) and store in a tightly sealed container.  Use 2 tBs per load.  Put vinegar in the rinse dispenser. You may add 1 tsp of lemon juice to the detergent for greasy dishes.

Disinfectant:  1/8 cup borax to 1 liter warm water (one hospital used this formula and it satisfied the hospital’s germicidal requirements) Another solution is: 2 tsp borax 4 tBs vinegar, to 3 cups hot water. Wipe on with damp cloth or use in non-aeresol spray bottle.  You can add 1/4 tsp castile soap if desired.

Drain opener:  Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar and cover drain if possible. Let sit for 5 minutes, then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. (don’t use if you have used a chemical drain opener and it’s still in the drain.)  You can use this weekly to prevent clogs.  Throw a piece of lemon peel in the garbage disposal every week to keep it smelling fresh.

Floor cleaner: for all floors including wood: 1 cup of vinegar to a pail (1 1/2 gallons) warm water.  For wood floors, you can also add 1/4 cup castile soap.

Stainless and chrome cleaner:  Dip cloth in undiluted vinegar. Wipe surface.

Scouring powder: 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, 1 cup regular salt. Combine and keep in a tightly sealed container. Use on sinks and tubs.

For burnt-on pans: Pour Coke into pan and boil on stove. The stuck on mess should soften and be easy to clean

Natural toilet cleaners would even work on this guy’s bowl (hmmm I wonder what his urinal looks like?)

Bathroom

Disinfectant: see above

Lime and mineral deposit remover: Soak a rag in vinegar and apply to lime deposits around faucets. Wait 1 hour. deposits will be soft and easily removed.

Shower heads:  Place 1/2 cup undiluted vinegar in a plastic bag and secure bag to shower head with rubber band (I used a large plastic bag and secured it with a zip tie leaving enough room to cut the tie. I found I needed more “bag” on top to keep the shower head immersed without sagging)

Tub and tile cleaner: 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup white vinegar.

Toilet bowl cleaner:  Pour 1 cup borax and 1/4 cup vinegar in bowl and let sit overnight. Scrub with brush in the morning, or  pour 1 can Coke in toilet.  Let sit for a 1 hour and flush. (This is where Coke belongs 

Laundry   

Whitening: 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide in bleach dispenser or 1/2 cup borax in with the detergent. (adding borax will also soften clothes)

Fabric softener: 1/2 cup white vinegar, baking soda or borax in the rinse cycle, add a small ball of aluminum foil in the dryer with the clothes to reduce static cling.

Stain remover: 1/4 cup borax, 1/4 cup baking soda in 2 cups cold water.  Soak for 10 minutes or so before laundering. For severe grease stains add 1 can of Coke to washer with your detergent.   Full strength hydrogen peroxide will remove blood stains.   Full strength lemon juice will remove ink spots.

Starch: 2 – 3 tsp cornstarch in 1 pint of water. (you way need to dissolve the cornstarch in a small amount of warm water first, then add that to more water to make 1 pint) Use in refillable spray bottle.

Shoe shine: rub shoes with the inside of a banana peel  or olive oil and buff with paper towel.

House 

Air fresheners:   Mix 1 oz vodka or witchhazel with 20 – 40 drops of essential oil (lemongrass, lavender etc.) and mix that with 6 oz filtered or distilled water.  Put in a spray bottle and spray as often as needed.  Or,  simmer cinnamon or cloves in a saucepan with water on the stove.  Zeolite   is a mineral that safely and naturally absorbs odors and can be purchased commercially.  Most air is stale because of poor ventilation…open windows and run fans to circulate air. (Caveat: Wait till you’re done cleaning to drink the remaining vodka)

Windows and mirrors:  Use plain water and microfiber cloth.  Consumer Reports (1992) found that plain water worked as well as half of the products tested. In addition, the most effective cleaner for oily fingerprints was lemon juice and water.  2 tBs of lemon juice in 1 quart (1 liter) water or 1/2 water 1/2 vinegar poured into a spray bottle.

Carpet deodorizer: Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and leave overnight. Vacuum in the morning.

Dusting:  dust with microfiber cloths or mix 1 tsp olive oil with 1/4 cup vinegar and apply with soft cloth.

General cleaning tips when using cleaners:  These tips are important whether you use chemicals or naturals.

• Always wear thick gloves.  The skin that you rely on to absorb your favorite hand lotion is the same skin that will absorb phthalates and chemical fragrance in hand soaps.  Most bathroom cleaners are extremely irritating to skin and bay cause chemical burns.    Even if you’re cleaning with alternative cleaners like vinegar, too much exposure can cause skin redness.
• Never mix cleaners.  Ever hear of chloramine gas?  That’s what you get when you mix ammonia and bleach or bleach.  The gas can overcome you in minutes and do permanent harm to your lungs and eyes.  The gas can render you unconscious in minutes.  (see “bleach” above) Even if the surface was cleaned with one product, the chemical will remain and should not be cleaned with another right on top or gasses may be produced.
• Always ventilate.  You can never be sure of what will happen or how you will react to a cleaner.  If you are spraying, the particles are in the air that you are breathing.  Make sure you open windows and turn on fans when cleaning.  In most of the reported injuries from gas formation, inadequate ventilation was the reason for poisoning.
• Rinse everything away.  Never clean without rinsing all the cleaners away from the surfaces that will touch your skin (feet, butt, you get the idea) Don’t ever clean and let dry.

Which brings me to another reason to use naturals:  the water system.  How long can we continue to pour these toxins  down the drains and into the water system and expect clean water to drink and swim in?

So there’s no excuses.  Here’s everything you need to have a TRULY “clean” home.

Death with Dignity

This morning, I came across an article that sparked some interest. Cancer is a huge part of the death statistics in this world. It's a scary illness that I'm sure everyone hopes and prays to not have to experience through a family member, or even themselves. Your life can completely change in the few seconds it takes your physician to lay out the news to you. It's never a pleasant time to hear those devastating words that your beautiful life will come to an end. We all know that it will come to an end, eventually, one day. Maybe of old age. But no one ever wants their life to be cut short abruptly.
 
That must be how Brittany Maynard felt when she got the news last spring when her doctor told her that she had about 6 months to live after being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma. Glioblastoma are tumors in the brain that arise from astrocytes which act as the "glue" and create the supportive tissue of the brain. These types of tumors are found to be most malignant, aggressive, and can spread to other areas of the brain rather quickly. Due to it's rapid growth,  the illness will make its face known causing an increase pressure in the brain which will then, in turn, cause increased headaches, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, single sided weakness, memory/speech difficulties, and visual changes. From what I've read, death can occur anywhere from 14 months to an occassional 5 years of life. It's no wonder that Brittany Maynard may have decided to decline measures of treatment and decided she didn't want to fight the "beat the cancer" fight! Her life became well known and controversial due to her views on the right- to -die movement. If anyone read up on this story, you will know that she ended her own life this past Saturday at her home. She was 29.

" Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me-- but would have taken so much more, The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greates teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type-- Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!"

This is her last post she wrote on facebook before she took barbituates her doctor gave her to end her life. She and her husband had recently moved to Oregon under the Death with Dignity Act to be able  to end her own life when she felt it was the right time to end all suffering before it got to be too much to bear.

This story intruged my interest since the month of November so happens to be Cancer Awareness (typically for lung and stomach cancers), and the fact that it is such a touching story that has anyone scratching their heads and thinking, what would I have done in Brittany Maynards shoes? Her path was on the way to an agonizing death. A completely horrific thought to say the least. In her mind, gaining control over the situation and deciding to end her life would have been a way to calm all terrifying thoughts of the way she'd die. She was able to live her ending days to enjoy her life with her loved ones by doing everything she wanted to do before her death. In her last weeks of life, her health began deteriorating to where she experienced 2 very violent seizures. When you read about her thoughts and moments leading up to her death, you can't help but hold back the tears when you picture someone suffering so much.

Many will say that ending your own life, with or without the Death with Dignity Act is still considered suicide. But what do you think? If someone was doomed to die a horrible agonizing death, would you make them suffer through it just because you feel suicide is wrong? Or do you rid them free of the pain and suffering to let them escape beforehand? Is dying by illness considered undignified? If you believe in God, would HE approve of someone making this decision on their own?

I for one, would have no clue what I would or would not do in this situation regardless of my beliefs, opinions, and feelings on it. So many people think they know what they would do, but just as Brittany Maynard stated, unless you are suffering of a terminal illness, you really don't know how a person with one must feel both physically and emotionally.  Her views, her story, and her life was shared to us because she wanted to have a voice for all those people out there in her same position. She wanted to get the word out on the choice of being able to choose when and how she wanted to exit this life. Its a strong legacy to leave behind. It's a story that has penetrated my heart, the heart of her loved ones,  and everyone who may have listened to her story.

 

 

"5 Reasons"

A while ago I had signed up for daily health articles from thankyourbody.com. Today’s article discussed different reasons we come up with to ruin our healthy eating regime. I thought it was quite interesting to hear the top reasons people come up with. Let’s face it, we probably had one of these reasons at some point in time. I know I have! So I wanted to share them all with you.

5 Reasons Healthy Eating doesn’t stick

A good point the article made was that REAL food isn’t “diet” food. And many people go out to the stores and buy processed foods that are labeled as “healthy” but in fact have ingredient list a mile long and that in turn, are horrible for you! Anything processed is not good for you. The longer the ingredient label, the less healthy the food is. A lot of these ingredients can increase appetite making you crave those foods even more! The article stresses having this as a motivation when shopping and boosting up your inspiration into making healthier food choices. Yes! Sometimes we may slip up here and there, but just because you do, doesn’t mean you should throw your progress out the window altogether. That brings me to Reason #1.

1.     You try the “all or nothing” approach.

You just learned that GMO’s, vegetable oils, trans fat, HFC’s, and artificial ingredients are basically killing you right now. So you throw everything in the pantry out and bask in the glory of being free of all the garbage. But then you realize, you have nothing to eat. So you result in ordering take out or rushing to a fast food restaurant. You messed up and then decide to quit trying and just eat whatever. You only live once, right?

 

2.     The food doesn’t appeal to you.

Yea, I can admit, processed foods tend to be a lot more tasteful. That’s because of all those toxic ingredients they put in it. The added chemicals are there to increase the taste making it more flavorful and prolonging its shelf life. Buying things kale, won’t be as tasteful, it may even taste like sewage! You may even toss it out and grab that number to local take out restaurants again. But don’t fret, your body and taste buds will readjust. Stick to it!

 

3.     Meal planning is a constant source of frustration.

With thousands of recipes surfacing the internet, you have many options. Shopping for these recipes can get frustrating when looking for an item you’ve never heard of before. Make it easy on yourself, use an old recipe first, and switch off the bad ingredients for good ones. And as you get yourself use to meal planning, begin introducing new ingredients and recipes.

 

4.     Old habits keep coming back.

It’s called the dinner rut. Sure, you’re sick of eating the same four dishes every single night. But you know how to cook it and it requires zero thought!

 

5.     It’s not easy.

When all is said and done, the reason most people fail to keep at their healthy eating goals is because it’s just overwhelming. From finding recipes you actually like, that can be made in the time you have, that don’t require a detective to source all the ingredients, to keeping your life in balance instead of going crazy just trying to get food on the table. No wonder people give up! But don’t give up! You have all the power within yourself to do this! It takes 21 days to form a habit. So your first goal, make it to 21 days of healthy eating. I challenge you! ;-)

"How it all Started"

I have been going strong on my new gluten free way of life for 1 solid year. And I can proclaim the wonders it has done for me and my digestive health. I am a BIG TIME bread eater. Before going gluten free, I ate bread soooo much! I never stopped to notice the many symptoms that I'd experience after eating it until I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease which is an autoimmune disorder where your body is attacking it's own thyroid hormone. I never knew of this problem until I started complaining to my doctor that I have been and have always since I could remember felt fatigued ALL the time. And I was always very slow acting and just overall not feeling lively. They found the problem and noticed my thyroid antibodies were in the 600's (which the normal range is under 30). I was so alarmed because with numbers high like this, my own hormones would eventually start tearing into my thyroid. My doctor then expressed that I will need to be monitored since my antibody levels were so high but medication wasn't needed as of yet since my thyroid levels were still intact and ultrasound testing showed my thyroid was still in good health. He said once my thyroid starts becoming attacked, I will need to be placed on medications. And if anyone knows about thyroid medications, those are taken for life.

I'm a big natural remedy girl. So I went home and googled remedies to heal Hashimoto's. And behold, I came across this word gluten. And I read that gliadin, which is the actual protein in gluten, mimics the thyroid gland! When gluten is then swallowed and digested, the gluten flows in the bloodstream causing the body to initiate the warrior antibodies to attack and destroy the foreigner. Pretty crazy huh? I then made a commitment to myself to at least try a gluten free diet for a month to try and see if I can improve my levels by diet alone. I did get my antibody levels down by half and my thyroid levels were still normal.

So far, eating gluten free did not only help with my Hashimoto's, it has also helped with my overall state of health. My body is less fatigued, my stomach has shrunk down from all the bloating, my goiter (enlargement in your neck) has also shrunk down to non existent, and my digestive system is back in order. Not to mention, I feel like my skin and complexion has thanked me as well.

Although I didn't stop eating gluten because I was diagnosed with an intolerance, I know that my body was under attack due to the gluten I was eating. Eating anything that you are intolerant to will eventually catch up to you and cause dramatic damage to your body. And I've noticed, when I get glutenized (accidently eat something with gluten or traces of it), my body is on shut down for a few days trying to restore itself. The bloating, cramps, nausea, and overall pain comes back and I'm sick until it passes through my system. This reaction alone keeps my willpower strong. And you need that willpower to restore your life back. If I can do it, so can you!

Want to know what gluten is, check out another post on my blogs archive!

XoXo,

Rebecca

"What is Gluten???"

Gluten. It's a new word that seems to have come out of no where. We hear of many people even celebrities talking about their new eating habits. I, for one, am one of them. But what exactly is gluten anyway? When discussing with some family and friends that start to notice my "new" eating habits, they are all scratching their heads wondering "WHAT ON EARTH IS IT?"

To put it quite simply, gluten is a protein present in wheat and other cereal grains that gives it the elastic texture and helps the dough to rise and keep its form. Other grains would include barley, rye, and some oats. So think of gluten as the "glue" in basic bakery items. But not only is it found in food, but it's also found in many other products such as hair products, makeup, and facial products. Now why would these industries feel the need to put this in these products, something I have yet to understand.

Gluten free foods have been created for many people out there that have become intolerant to gluten. Although gluten sounds very important for any bakery side since it keeps its form, many non gluten eaters find gluten free foods unappealing. Yes, since the "glue" in gluten free breads and other items are taken out, it
does make the texture a lot more crumbly. But as in any new habit, it takes a while for your body to get use to it. (And not all of them come out crumbly.)

It does seem as though that being intolerant to gluten is becoming more popular over the past few years. Our food industry has been shoving wheat in our faces with all the bread, pizza, and just everything! Not to mention that the wheat, in itself, is not the purest form. The wheat nowadays have become polluted by all the herbicides and pesticides. The wheat has become contaminated by the whole process that it has been depleted from its nutrients. Its just not what it use to be.

XoXo,

Rebecca

“Back to School: Tips to Enhance a Great School Year!”

 

 

Now that the school year has begun, it can be hard for all of us to get back into the groove of things. Ten weeks off is a long time to set different habits, but now that the school year is here, let’s form new ones that can break our “vacation” minds and kick off the school year right. Here are some tips I found online that can help all of us this coming year.

1.      Set a consistent schedule for yourself and for your students: Consistency and routines are very important to help keep your body in a balanced state. Try setting a regimented schedule and stick to it. Write it down in a place that you can see and have immediate access to, The adaptation process will become easier.

2.        Come to work each day prepared: All teachers have experienced on one or more occasions being unprepared for the day, resulting in stress, anxiety, and panic. The best solution is to plan ahead. Completing lesson plans a week in advance is one way to achieve this goal. Be sure to have all your supplies readily available. This will allow you to be more successful during planning. These few steps will help create free time throughout your week.

3.        Sanitize the classroom to create a germ free environment: When school starts it is common for teachers and students to become sick. Children's bodies harvest viruses and bacteria that are easily contracted. Washing your hands often helps in preventing the spread of bacteria. A great back to school tip is creating a classroom cleaning schedule. Schedule one day out of the week to clean. Plan to sanitize tables, door handles, and countertops daily to prevent illness from occurring. Nothing can be more bothersome then coming down with a cold or flu virus.

 

4.     Healthy Eating: Of course I’d say this, I’m a nurse. Healthy eating enhances the mind and the body. There are a variety of ways of incorporating a healthy diet into a busy work day. Eating several small meals five to six times a day will help you stay full and keep your metabolism from dropping. Due to the fact that your day is so hectic, making a drawer in your desk just for snacks helps you to achieve the proper sustenance needed to complete the day. Try finding foods that are high in fiber and protein such as fruits and nuts. When your body has nourishment, you are more energized, able to concentrate, and able to listen more effectively.

 

5.    Exercise Regularly:  Studies show that exercising releases endorphins that give the body that feel good high. It helps increase energy levels that keep you from getting tired and sluggish midway through your work day.

6.    Make time for you: This is the most imperative health tip to follow. Teaching requires a huge portion of your    time, energy, and emotion, which can be mentally and physically draining. If you do not set aside some quiet time for yourself, you can experience burn-out very quickly. Take about an hour to two hours each day to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul. Whether you choose to read, meditate, or take a bath with candles, it is important to revitalize your inner being. If you want to stay healthy, make it a priority to put YOU first.

 

The most important thing is having a positive mindset. Teachers constantly need to have high energy and be enthusiastic. In order to establish this energetic attitude, your thoughts must project a positive way of thinking. A great health tip to make this easier is to make a list of things that make you happy. It can be anything from words to inspirational quotes. Anytime you find yourself thinking negatively, refer to your list J

 

 

 

 

XoXo,

Rebecca

Tackling your Allergies

Itchy eyes, runny nose, stuffiness, headaches, puffiness, coughing and sneezing. Many of us suffer from these common symptoms during allergy season. Some people more than most. A great example would be my husband, who suffers from really bad allergies throughout the year. Especially during the spring time due to the pollen that floods our air and is splattered on our cars. So I have been on a quest to find different remedies for my husband to get him in better condition to enjoy the outside life. Here are a few that I’ve found that are inexpensive and easy to do:

Saline Solution:

Irrigating the nose with saline solution (salt water) may help soothe upper respiratory allergies by removing irritants that become lodged in the nose and cause inflammation. You can buy ready-made saline solution at your local drugstore, or you can make your own fresh solution daily by mixing a teaspoon of salt in a pint of warm, distilled water and adding a pinch of baking soda. You could also try using a neti pot which is a saline solution placed in a pot and poured into one nostril allowing for the mucus to drain out the other nostril! Sounds gross, but it works!

Wash:

If you've spent long hours outdoors during the pollen season, wash your hair to remove pollen after you come inside. The sticky yellow stuff tends to collect on the hair, making it more likely to fall into your eyes.

Peppermint tea:

Allergy sufferers throughout the centuries have turned to hot tea to provide relief for clogged-up noses and irritated mucous membranes, and one of the best for symptom relief is peppermint tea.

Steam your face:

 Breathing steam refreshes and soothes irritated sinuses, and it helps rid the nasal passages of mucus. Go Bare: Carpets are notorious for being a haven for dust mites. Bare floors, vacuumed and damp-mopped frequently, will help keep your home's dust-mite population down

Dehumidify:

Dust mites love a humid environment, which allows them to reproduce like crazy. Invest in a dehumidifier or use an air conditioner, which works equally well. A dehumidifier can also help prevent mold, another allergen, from growing

Herbs and Supplements:

 Several herbs and supplements—including spirulina, eyebright, and goldenseal have been studied for allergy relief. The plant extract butterbur, which is thought to reduce airway inflammation has produced what are perhaps the strongest results. Higher levels of vitamin C can help lower histamine in your body which will reduce allergy symptoms

XoXo

Rebecca