We’ve got a routine around here whenever someone starts to feel a cold coming on. We boil up a pot of water for our tea infused with Echinacea. We grab fistfuls of zinc lozenges, because, those are supposed to work, right? And if we have any on hand, we top it all off with a glassful of NUUN Immunity, a fizzy alka seltzer like tablet chockfull of things like turmeric, ginger, elderberry and yet more Echinacea.
I don’t know if any of this works, but we all feel like it does, so we soldier on with our approach, cold season after cold season.
We’re probably like most families when fall rolls around and the viruses start to proliferate: relying on a combination of old wives’ tales and traditions in order to fight off the germs. Many of us swear by these remedies, but which of them really holds water? Let’s break it down:
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First, we’re just going to admit that we’re also confused slash annoyed by the word “clean.”
It’s a phrase we use on occasion, always with some hesitation. Because what does it even mean? Is it an actual label that holds any significance for the food and beauty products and everything else that we touch on a daily basis?
Does “clean” mean “better?” Or does “clean” simply mean “free from toxins?” And for those of us who don’t hold a degree in chemistry, have we collectively deluded ourselves into pretending we understand what these “toxins” are and why they’re bad?
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Congratulations! You had a baby! You successfully grew a human for over nine months just by (basically) eating food. And it wasn’t necessarily even healthy food! Sure you ate a salad or two, but those first three months especially you ate a ton of chips, egg rolls, fried chicken and French fries. And even once you conquered the nausea and were finally able to stomach a real meal that you didn’t pick up from a drive-thru, you listened to your body and gave it what it wanted. And it may have wanted ice cream - not your fault!
Now that the baby is on the outside, you’re still eating. Because once again, you’re growing a human. This time though, it’s with your boobs. But at last you don’t have to worry! Because breastfeeding burns so many calories that the baby/burger weight from pregnancy will melt as fast as the cheese on top of it and counteract those current cupcake cravings just by feeding your kid. EXCEPT! Maybe. It. Won’t. In fact, You not only may NOT shed some of that baby weight, but as you plump up that baby, you TOO may in fact pack on a few el bees.
Yes. It’s true. Like pretty much all things in the life of a female, it’s not a guarantee that just because “they” say you’re body is going to do XYZ, that it’s foolproof. (And “they” are probably men anyway. *Eye roll*)
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What if I told you I was coming over in 5 minutes to take photos of your pantry and fridge? Are you beaming with pride of your Pinterest worthy kitchen or is the blood building in your face because it’s looks more like an abandoned, crack house?
As a health and cooking coach, I’ve looked into plenty of pantries and most of the kitchens have the same, common issues:
Chaotic mess of expired items- old cans, boxes and packages of food like substances. Wheat Thins are not food in case there is some confusion on the subject.
Overstocked Fridge- the refrigerators are always overfilled, not only making the food hard to see, but not as cold or fresh as long either
Excess of everything- we just don’t need that much stuff. We don’t use it all and it goes to waste. For some reason we’ve been led to believe we need every inch of the fridge and pantry occupied to feel like we have food.
I detoxed and restocked my kitchen over a decade ago, and it helped change the way I cook and eat. There is no doubt most of us don’t have the expertly organized, healthy ingredient pantries, but if we did, it would change our health and our lives. Not an overstatement. Decanting is one way we can dramatically change the way your kitchen looks and feels.
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Hey, stink happens.
So you’re thinking about making the switch to natural deodorant. There are a few things you should know before you take the leap. Here’s a list of pro-tips and other info to make your transition easier and less smelly.
Aluminum isn’t as bad as we think
Back in 1999, an anonymous emailbegan circulating claiming that aluminum in antiperspirants causes breast cancer. Since then, aluminum’s had a bad rap, and has falsely been linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s, and kidney disease. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the National Kidney Association have all stated that they have not been able to prove any toxic or carcinogenic effects of aluminum and other ingredients in antiperspirants and deodorants. Studies that show otherwise, like this one, have either been debunked or have not been able to be recreated. Likewise, no direct causal link has been found between parabens (preservatives in cosmetics) and cancer. Though they do have the ability to mimic estrogen, there’s not enough evidence to prove that they pose any health risks. Research is still ongoing, so if you prefer to err on the side of caution, your best bet is to limit your exposure.
You’re going to sweat more than you’re used to
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