I hear this phrase a lot from friends and acquaintances and never really understood it until I was telling a friend of mine that I was thinking of getting back into knitting. Mind you, I haven’t knitted since I was about ten years old when my grandmother and I would spend hours upon comfortable hours together knitting, crocheting and drinking together (me the forbidden soda and her, well, let’s say my bartending days started at an early age…). I remember looking at her a bit askew after she sarcastically, but lovingly said ‘like you need more to do’ and wondered, yup, I really did wonder for a moment why she was saying that.
Then, two days later another friend e-mailed me asking me how I ‘do it’. She meant; how on earth do you manage to get through each day in one piece and not sobbing into your pillow ready to die. Like her, I have some serious chronic pain, but I manage it, and thankfully, my busy, farm lifestyle either doesn’t allow me to dwell or enables me to take a few more breaks during a 26 hour day –either way, I get through it. But her question made me question myself – how do I really do it? I was reminded of my first experience in counseling almost twenty years ago when the counselor asked me ‘what makes you happy’. I was flummoxed so completely it took me years to even come close to answering that question. I CAN answer it today very easily, here goes: Writing & reading, creating marketing info for my farm, tending to my chickens, most of my work in general, baking and creating new recipes for my family, friends and my bakery, being self sufficient and raising and growing most of my resources ie; food, and exploring with my boys and watching them grow (not necessarily in that order). So, I wanted to add knitting….
I actually couldn’t physically knit for about twenty years due to severe carpal tunnel in both wrists which I finally had surgery to correct them over the course of about a year and a half. So….now I can do a lot more than before (like hold a glass). And, I feel that it’s very important for me to create ‘things’ to offset the feeling of stagnation created by daily pain. Having had my thyroid gland removed in 1998 has presented me with many years of challenges like depression, anxiety and chronic pain. I once asked my chiropractor if I had fibro myalga and he responded with ‘ what’s the difference? Will a diagnosis change what you are doing – you already do everything in your power to manage you situation with your yoga, diet and attitude – why bother worrying if you HAVE fibro myalga?’ Point taken. But, I do have daily pain that would probably keep most people in bed all day. How do I push through it? That is a hard question that I’m still trying to answer, but here goes:
I find solace when I pet my dog and snuggle her.
I love my pillow and even when my back is screaming at me in pain, I will turn into my pillow and revel in the feel of that soft caress.
I feel completely whole when my youngest son snuggles with me and tells me I smell like ‘fresh air and clouds’.
I take guilty pleasure a couple times a week and eat my homemade ice cream with chocolate chips for breakfast (so I can burn it off all day mind you…).
I do yoga every day and that makes me feel whole for a short while, but also helps control the pain.
I love it when a new customer comes into my store and a great conversation takes place.
I walk- my most important pain reliever!
Simple, small things such as these help me through the day or week. Sure, I get stuck some days and feel as though I haven’t done enough or I feel profoundly down. When that happens, I am blessed with friends who are there for me no matter what. I can bitch and moan and they listen and that’s all that matters – they have either been there or completely sympathize and understand and that type of friendship is the core of every woman’s (and should be every man’s) happiness.
I am never sure what to say when I work with people who are ‘stuck’ in a part of their life whether it be sickness, obesity, menopause or depression. I think it’s important that they (you) are reaching out, that’s always the first step in the healing process. But, ultimately, it’s up to all of us individually to heal ourselves. Find the tools like people like counselor, a confidant or me. Find the information like books or use the Internet to help guide you. And then, find the courage to take action and like the Nike ads, ‘just do it’!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The cheese is 'real'?
I have been long familiar with cheese products that are only partially real cheese. I worked for a nation-wide pizza outfit back in the late '80's and found out then that the cheese they put on their pizza is a 'cheese food' meaning only about 50% of the cheese is real cheese and the rest is emulsifiers, fillers and other manufactured food to cut the cost down and create a better melting cheese on top of one of America's favorite foods.
So, needless to say, I make my own pizza at least once a week and it has real cheese on it - aged, raw milk cheddar cheese to be exact.
But, while traveling last week, I was delayed in a huge airport and found myself waiting 8 hours for a connecting flight. My supply of my own food was exhausted, I was hungry so I went to a pizza place in the airport and took my chances. Not before I entered into a very spirited conversation with one of the workers, possibly the franchise manager, and it goes like this:
Caroline - Is your cheese real on your pizza?
Pizza Guy - What?
Caroline - Real, 100% pure cheese?
Pizza Guy - Why do you ask?
Caroline - Well....I made pizzas about 20 years ago and I know that most cheese on pizza's today are only partially real...
Pizza Guy - (with a perplexed look) No, it's cheese, it's real. I know.
Caroline - Oh (looking tired and hungry).
Pizza Guy - It's real, it's our cheese, IT COMES WITH OUR NAME ON IT! It's real.
Caroline - (thinking finally that even asking was a lost cause in the first place, let's it go, shrugs and orders a piece of plain cheese pizza).
"It comes with our name on it", OK, that's a great answer. He hasn't a clue for sure.
Just because the restaurant chain has their own labeled cheese means nothing, absolutely nothing. Our food today is so tainted and messed around with we don't know whether we are coming or going. What I should have done is suggested he look at the list of ingredients on his cheese and then figured it out himself if it is real or not. Cheese should have only a couple of ingredients, milk, salt, enzymes/rennet. That's it.
I must have walked around for at least an hour chuckling about that interaction. What really is real nowadays?
So, needless to say, I make my own pizza at least once a week and it has real cheese on it - aged, raw milk cheddar cheese to be exact.
But, while traveling last week, I was delayed in a huge airport and found myself waiting 8 hours for a connecting flight. My supply of my own food was exhausted, I was hungry so I went to a pizza place in the airport and took my chances. Not before I entered into a very spirited conversation with one of the workers, possibly the franchise manager, and it goes like this:
Caroline - Is your cheese real on your pizza?
Pizza Guy - What?
Caroline - Real, 100% pure cheese?
Pizza Guy - Why do you ask?
Caroline - Well....I made pizzas about 20 years ago and I know that most cheese on pizza's today are only partially real...
Pizza Guy - (with a perplexed look) No, it's cheese, it's real. I know.
Caroline - Oh (looking tired and hungry).
Pizza Guy - It's real, it's our cheese, IT COMES WITH OUR NAME ON IT! It's real.
Caroline - (thinking finally that even asking was a lost cause in the first place, let's it go, shrugs and orders a piece of plain cheese pizza).
"It comes with our name on it", OK, that's a great answer. He hasn't a clue for sure.
Just because the restaurant chain has their own labeled cheese means nothing, absolutely nothing. Our food today is so tainted and messed around with we don't know whether we are coming or going. What I should have done is suggested he look at the list of ingredients on his cheese and then figured it out himself if it is real or not. Cheese should have only a couple of ingredients, milk, salt, enzymes/rennet. That's it.
I must have walked around for at least an hour chuckling about that interaction. What really is real nowadays?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Balance
Balance seems to be a hot topic lately: Balancing our free time with work time, our children and their needs with ours and everyone else in our homes. And, let's not forget community needs. We are still in the midst of recovery from two horrible floods here in this county and it's like living in a war zone with the grief, physical damage and an overall feeling of destruction. How do we balance that with regular daily needs? It's a daunting task, but thankfully, we are usually not presented with more than we can handle. We can look at this cosmically or just physically...what ever way you view it, your life may seem like it has 'too much' in it or going on. If that's the case, can you control the 'too much' part? Is it a case of choices you are making that are creating the 'too much'? Scaling back and creating simple, small chunks of time for just you can do wonders. A great example is something I have done to help alievate my perpetual feeling of having too much to do and not enough time in the day: I write down what I need to do the night before, or when I'm thinking of it. That gets those 'to do's" out of my head so I can concentrate on other things. Then, another simple thing I do is pick up my book while dinner is cooking, instead of cleaning or doing some other chore. Granted, I need to do those chores, but It's more important I chill out for just five minutes so I can proceed to dinner and not feel so rushed. Between those two very simple sounding solutions, I feel much better and not so worried.
Another good idea with balance, and this is for all of us women...is to do something for us, just us, as often as possible. This may be a dance class, a phone call daily with a friend or sister or time set aside for reading. We need to balance all that we do for others with doing for ourselves. I don't think it will ever be even, the scales will always be tipped toward us doing more for others, but we can try. Happy Fall!
Another good idea with balance, and this is for all of us women...is to do something for us, just us, as often as possible. This may be a dance class, a phone call daily with a friend or sister or time set aside for reading. We need to balance all that we do for others with doing for ourselves. I don't think it will ever be even, the scales will always be tipped toward us doing more for others, but we can try. Happy Fall!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
How expensive is your HEALTH?
In many of my interactions with people who express interest in what I'm doing, my lifestyle or eating habits, I have been hearing a theme in the concerns of those people, and that is they all think that going organic will mean going broke. One of the first things I tell clients and casual acquaintances alike is that when you eat a traditional food diet like the one I eat (90% organic), my overall food bill is cheaper than when I was a 50% organic vegetarian. Hummm, interesting isn't it? Let me explain:
I eat only local, organic, grass-fed meats that either I raise or farms very close to me raise. I then take those meats and utilize not only the meat, but the fat, the organs, the marrow and other parts to make broth, use the fats in cooking and so forth. The meats on average are only $5.00 per pound. I go through about 2-3 pounds per week. I then drink organic, RAW, grass-fed milk from goats or cows which costs me $5.00 per gallon. That milk is drunk, made into cheese, yogurt, icecream and so forth. Cream and butter I get from a different, fairly local farm. I freeze large quantities of the butter which I get for about $3.00 per lb. and the cream is consumed as a treat!
The vegetables and fruits I eat are either grown by myself or other organic farmers, and about 80% local because I don't always have enough to get me through the winter. I eat a lot of pumpkins and squash which are very inexpensive and nutritious. Now for the grains I consume: I get 50lb bags of my organic grains, from here in NY at about $1.20 per lb. I do purchase ground amaranth/ kamut and millet which aren't local, but they are important healthy additives to my bread flour mixes that I feel the benifits outweigh the distance traveled to get them to me.
So, what do I do with all this SIMPLE food? I make stews, daily bread, yummy roasted vegitable dishes, and yes, lots of pizza as I have two young boys who love their pizza. My sauce is a simple pureed tomatoes, basil, garlic and salt and pepper - the tomatoes and basil are frozen for winter use. We eat eggs daily and in general, our protien intake is slightly higher than our grain intake. We consume as much butter, pork fat and olive oil and coconut oil as needed, without worrying that we are going to harm out bodies. We need this fat (I'll discuss this in another blog) for our health and without it we actually starve outselves inspite of overeating and being overweight. And, the most important factor in all of this food is that it's real, wholesome, and without any chemical alteration, additives or processing.
So, in short, you can eat healthy, local food for less. There are resources in your area to help like the Weston A. Price foundation, westonaprice.org (see older blogs), localharvest.org, naturallygrown.org to name a few. Just remember, you will not eat cheaper if you think you will get all of your food needs from your local grocery store. The food there has traveled great distances and most of it is processed. The only thing I purchase from the regular grocery store are my paper products, natural soaps etc...
If you need help on your journey feel free to contact me, that's what I'm here for.
Happy healthy eating!
I eat only local, organic, grass-fed meats that either I raise or farms very close to me raise. I then take those meats and utilize not only the meat, but the fat, the organs, the marrow and other parts to make broth, use the fats in cooking and so forth. The meats on average are only $5.00 per pound. I go through about 2-3 pounds per week. I then drink organic, RAW, grass-fed milk from goats or cows which costs me $5.00 per gallon. That milk is drunk, made into cheese, yogurt, icecream and so forth. Cream and butter I get from a different, fairly local farm. I freeze large quantities of the butter which I get for about $3.00 per lb. and the cream is consumed as a treat!
The vegetables and fruits I eat are either grown by myself or other organic farmers, and about 80% local because I don't always have enough to get me through the winter. I eat a lot of pumpkins and squash which are very inexpensive and nutritious. Now for the grains I consume: I get 50lb bags of my organic grains, from here in NY at about $1.20 per lb. I do purchase ground amaranth/ kamut and millet which aren't local, but they are important healthy additives to my bread flour mixes that I feel the benifits outweigh the distance traveled to get them to me.
So, what do I do with all this SIMPLE food? I make stews, daily bread, yummy roasted vegitable dishes, and yes, lots of pizza as I have two young boys who love their pizza. My sauce is a simple pureed tomatoes, basil, garlic and salt and pepper - the tomatoes and basil are frozen for winter use. We eat eggs daily and in general, our protien intake is slightly higher than our grain intake. We consume as much butter, pork fat and olive oil and coconut oil as needed, without worrying that we are going to harm out bodies. We need this fat (I'll discuss this in another blog) for our health and without it we actually starve outselves inspite of overeating and being overweight. And, the most important factor in all of this food is that it's real, wholesome, and without any chemical alteration, additives or processing.
So, in short, you can eat healthy, local food for less. There are resources in your area to help like the Weston A. Price foundation, westonaprice.org (see older blogs), localharvest.org, naturallygrown.org to name a few. Just remember, you will not eat cheaper if you think you will get all of your food needs from your local grocery store. The food there has traveled great distances and most of it is processed. The only thing I purchase from the regular grocery store are my paper products, natural soaps etc...
If you need help on your journey feel free to contact me, that's what I'm here for.
Happy healthy eating!
Friday, February 4, 2011
March Maple Syrup Challenge
In the northeast, we all know it's winter right now - just look outside and all you see is snow. It's been an old fashioned winter of sorts which is good (we hope) for us maple producers. After last year's "worst season on record" for our farm and most others in this area, we are hopeful that this very cold, snowy winter may help us produce a good crop of maple syrup.
Did you know that from the start of maple season to it's end, our climate goes from deep winter to spring. I love maple season because it heralds in spring and everything changes. Maple syrup is the only harvest that I know of that starts in winter and ends in spring, instead of starting in spring and ending in summer or fall.
So help us celebrate this sweet harvest by using maple syrup instead of sugar for the month of March this year. Throw out or put away all of your artificial sweeteners, refined sugars and corn syrups and only use maple syrup or maple sugar for one month. The health benefits are numerous as maple syrup does not cause a huge spike in insulin like refined sugars and corn syrups (don't listen to your dietician...they just don't know!). Maple syrup isn't a neuro toxin either unlike aspartame (how can our government condone use of this chemical that is known to kill animals, cause brain cancer and mess with our entire body?).
Maple syrup is one of the oldest sugars know to man. We don't do anything to it except boil water out of the sap concentrating the sugar making maple syrup. No processing with chemicals, no additives - just pure nature.
Take up the challenge and let me know how you feel. If you need help or want to talk about your March Maple Syrup Challenge, just e-mail me at mhfarmvcrb@wilblue.net - I'm here to help you! I'll be sending reminders to change your sweetener this March throughout this month!
Blessings,
Caroline
Did you know that from the start of maple season to it's end, our climate goes from deep winter to spring. I love maple season because it heralds in spring and everything changes. Maple syrup is the only harvest that I know of that starts in winter and ends in spring, instead of starting in spring and ending in summer or fall.
So help us celebrate this sweet harvest by using maple syrup instead of sugar for the month of March this year. Throw out or put away all of your artificial sweeteners, refined sugars and corn syrups and only use maple syrup or maple sugar for one month. The health benefits are numerous as maple syrup does not cause a huge spike in insulin like refined sugars and corn syrups (don't listen to your dietician...they just don't know!). Maple syrup isn't a neuro toxin either unlike aspartame (how can our government condone use of this chemical that is known to kill animals, cause brain cancer and mess with our entire body?).
Maple syrup is one of the oldest sugars know to man. We don't do anything to it except boil water out of the sap concentrating the sugar making maple syrup. No processing with chemicals, no additives - just pure nature.
Take up the challenge and let me know how you feel. If you need help or want to talk about your March Maple Syrup Challenge, just e-mail me at mhfarmvcrb@wilblue.net - I'm here to help you! I'll be sending reminders to change your sweetener this March throughout this month!
Blessings,
Caroline
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Buyer beware!
Starting last summer, I began having a strange rash on my chin, which progressed around my mouth. It took a while, but I finally diagnosed it as perioral dermatitis, a very common dermatitis that affects mostly women, between the ages of 25 and 50. Ok, so what causes this? If you know me, you know that I love digging and finding out what is what. The cause is mostly unknown. The treatments, conventional that is, are ineffective and usually cause it to worsen. Now, remember that I said the cause is ‘mostly’ unknown? Well, turns out that some sort of allergen causes most dermatitis. Ok, I get that, and as far as I knew, I was free of any chemicals in my soaps and I make my own lotions from pure oils. At least I thought I was free of any chemicals. I double-checked my shampoos to make sure, and found the culprit. I purchased it and didn’t fully read the ingredients; of course they claimed it was all natural and organic. Hummmm, does that include industrial fabric softener? Three different types of parabens? NO. So, down the toilet the shampoo went. My skin is slowly improving, but my sense of being duped is stronger than ever.
I have been chemical free and either making my own soaps or only purchasing pure castile soaps and pure shampoos since 1988. Yup, that long. I recognized at an early age that what I put on my skin, my largest organ, profoundly affects my entire body. Every now and then I get duped and make a mistake and purchase something full of crap. I pay for it too. I am extremely sensitive and the tainted products either brings on some sort of rash or makes my hair fall out. When I see all the ads for hair replacement I want to scream, “just stop using those common drugstore shampoos and conditioners and you will be just fine!”
No surprise then, when watching a clip on an infomercial on TV the other day my radar pinged. This product, which was being indorsed by a big, young, popular celeb claimed to be the answer to every woman’s hair problems, no matter the type of hair. It is a shampoo free shampoo that will revolutionize your hair. So, I went on-line and looked it up and thankfully, they have a list of ingredients for the product.
And, guess what? I wouldn’t wash my dog with it. It’s full of parabens, and commercial grade fabric softeners along with a few essential oils. Great, with the power of TV, how many of us will be scammed and buy this crap? Buyer beware?
Thankfully, the Internet has a wealth of info regarding the toxic, cancer causing ingredients found in common soaps and cosmetics. Take time and search products out before you buy. For your safety and peace of mind, I have included what I call a ‘hot list’ of substances you should avoid in your soaps, make-up and skin care.
At the bottom of this blog.
And, one final note – do not despair. If you have taken a gander in your bathroom and realize it should be dumped in a toxic landfill, so be it. Take one type of product at a time and replace it with a good alternative. Here is my best pick list for good, non-toxic products (most can be found at Vitaglo.com or Vitacost.com or in your local health food store – though the web-sites listed are cheaper).
Body & Face Soap: Dr. Brunner liquid castile soap or bar soap or Meyer’s bar soap
Shampoos & Conditioner: Aubrey Organics
Lotions: Aubrey Organics or just pure oil such as apricot kernel oil or almond oil.
Apricot kernel oil is also great on your face!
Healing ointments: Castor oil will heal just about anything, as will pure honey.
Essential oils are a must; visit newdirectionsaromatics.com for the purest on the market.
Make-up – NOTHING from the drugstore! Go to your healthful store and see what they have and read the ingredients to make sure it’s pure.
Good luck and happy, healthy new year.
Caroline
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate bubbly surfactant cleanser allows 40% MORE toxins to enter the LAURETH SULFATE (SLS/SLES) body through the skin! Harsh irritant, contributes to yeast infections. May cause hair thinning; Builds up in the heart, liver, lungs, brain. Contributes to cataracts & improper eye development in children under 6.
*Laureth's and ceteareths and Pegs
May be contaminated with the volatile carcinogens ethylene oxide and dioxane; estrogen mimic & endocrine disruptor contributes to cancer, prostate, fertility and reproductive problems. Affects fetus & sex organs
*DEA/ TEA (Triethanolamine)
Interacts with nitrites in the formula to form the potent carcinogen nitrosamine. Caused liver & kidney cancer in animal studies.
Propylene glycol
Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney & liver abnormalities In animal studies. May inhibit skin cell growth and be irritating to the skin
*Caution: There are 100’s of synonyms & trademarked names used in store products to hide these & other toxic ingredients. Note: Hormone/estrogen mimics/disruptors increase female problems, cancer, and reproductive problems in fetus.
*Phthalates
Hormone mimic; teratogen (causes fetal damage); Fragrance fixative; ingredient plasticizer, used to make plastics soft; Dibutyl phthalate is one of several different common phthalates that are routinely NOT listed on labels because they are part of proprietary fragrances. Neways products are certified phthalate-free.
Talc (talcum powder)
Acute or chronic lung disease (Talcosis), contributes to ovarian cancers.
Mineral Oil / Petrolatum
Dissolves skin’s own natural oils & causes dehydration & dry skin. Blocks pores & holds-in toxins. Made from crude oil known to contain carcinogens and reproductive disruptors.
Glycerin
Unless air humidity is over 65%, glycerin pulls moisture from deeper skin layers to the surface, drying basal layers so cells don’t mature properly & age faster.
Fragrance (undefined mixtures)
Usually contain allergens & hormone disrupting phthalates; excito-toxins and neuro-toxins causing brain damage and behavioral issues. Neways products are essentially fragrance-free except for some natural, aromas and flavors used to mask certain herbal odors. Neways scents comply with new stringent E.U. 7th Directive standards: approved as non-allergenic
Benzoic Acid or Benzyl
Contains benzene rings & toluene, potential cancer causing agents, endocrine disrupters, and may also cause birth defects. Neways is guaranteed benzene-free.
FD&C Red 40
Questionable carcinogen & excito-toxin. (FD&C’s are all synthetic)
Sodium Fluoride
Potent carcinogen, cause teeth mottling, bone problems, irritates tissues
Parabens (preservative)
Powerful in tiny amounts; new concerns they are hormone mimics (see Laureth’s, PEG’s) unless vacuum stripped. Neways, for 20 years, is one of few companies in the world to vacuum strip away impurities- which can also occur in organic products-- without adding harmful solvents. Never should be in 1st half of formula
These common alternatives to parabens release carcinogenic Formaldehyde:
• quaternium 15
• diazolidinyl urea
• imidazolidinyl urea\
• dmdm hydantoin
• sodium hydroxy methyl glycinate
• benzyl alcohol
• 2-bromo-2-nitropane-1, 3-diol
I have been chemical free and either making my own soaps or only purchasing pure castile soaps and pure shampoos since 1988. Yup, that long. I recognized at an early age that what I put on my skin, my largest organ, profoundly affects my entire body. Every now and then I get duped and make a mistake and purchase something full of crap. I pay for it too. I am extremely sensitive and the tainted products either brings on some sort of rash or makes my hair fall out. When I see all the ads for hair replacement I want to scream, “just stop using those common drugstore shampoos and conditioners and you will be just fine!”
No surprise then, when watching a clip on an infomercial on TV the other day my radar pinged. This product, which was being indorsed by a big, young, popular celeb claimed to be the answer to every woman’s hair problems, no matter the type of hair. It is a shampoo free shampoo that will revolutionize your hair. So, I went on-line and looked it up and thankfully, they have a list of ingredients for the product.
And, guess what? I wouldn’t wash my dog with it. It’s full of parabens, and commercial grade fabric softeners along with a few essential oils. Great, with the power of TV, how many of us will be scammed and buy this crap? Buyer beware?
Thankfully, the Internet has a wealth of info regarding the toxic, cancer causing ingredients found in common soaps and cosmetics. Take time and search products out before you buy. For your safety and peace of mind, I have included what I call a ‘hot list’ of substances you should avoid in your soaps, make-up and skin care.
At the bottom of this blog.
And, one final note – do not despair. If you have taken a gander in your bathroom and realize it should be dumped in a toxic landfill, so be it. Take one type of product at a time and replace it with a good alternative. Here is my best pick list for good, non-toxic products (most can be found at Vitaglo.com or Vitacost.com or in your local health food store – though the web-sites listed are cheaper).
Body & Face Soap: Dr. Brunner liquid castile soap or bar soap or Meyer’s bar soap
Shampoos & Conditioner: Aubrey Organics
Lotions: Aubrey Organics or just pure oil such as apricot kernel oil or almond oil.
Apricot kernel oil is also great on your face!
Healing ointments: Castor oil will heal just about anything, as will pure honey.
Essential oils are a must; visit newdirectionsaromatics.com for the purest on the market.
Make-up – NOTHING from the drugstore! Go to your healthful store and see what they have and read the ingredients to make sure it’s pure.
Good luck and happy, healthy new year.
Caroline
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate bubbly surfactant cleanser allows 40% MORE toxins to enter the LAURETH SULFATE (SLS/SLES) body through the skin! Harsh irritant, contributes to yeast infections. May cause hair thinning; Builds up in the heart, liver, lungs, brain. Contributes to cataracts & improper eye development in children under 6.
*Laureth's and ceteareths and Pegs
May be contaminated with the volatile carcinogens ethylene oxide and dioxane; estrogen mimic & endocrine disruptor contributes to cancer, prostate, fertility and reproductive problems. Affects fetus & sex organs
*DEA/ TEA (Triethanolamine)
Interacts with nitrites in the formula to form the potent carcinogen nitrosamine. Caused liver & kidney cancer in animal studies.
Propylene glycol
Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney & liver abnormalities In animal studies. May inhibit skin cell growth and be irritating to the skin
*Caution: There are 100’s of synonyms & trademarked names used in store products to hide these & other toxic ingredients. Note: Hormone/estrogen mimics/disruptors increase female problems, cancer, and reproductive problems in fetus.
*Phthalates
Hormone mimic; teratogen (causes fetal damage); Fragrance fixative; ingredient plasticizer, used to make plastics soft; Dibutyl phthalate is one of several different common phthalates that are routinely NOT listed on labels because they are part of proprietary fragrances. Neways products are certified phthalate-free.
Talc (talcum powder)
Acute or chronic lung disease (Talcosis), contributes to ovarian cancers.
Mineral Oil / Petrolatum
Dissolves skin’s own natural oils & causes dehydration & dry skin. Blocks pores & holds-in toxins. Made from crude oil known to contain carcinogens and reproductive disruptors.
Glycerin
Unless air humidity is over 65%, glycerin pulls moisture from deeper skin layers to the surface, drying basal layers so cells don’t mature properly & age faster.
Fragrance (undefined mixtures)
Usually contain allergens & hormone disrupting phthalates; excito-toxins and neuro-toxins causing brain damage and behavioral issues. Neways products are essentially fragrance-free except for some natural, aromas and flavors used to mask certain herbal odors. Neways scents comply with new stringent E.U. 7th Directive standards: approved as non-allergenic
Benzoic Acid or Benzyl
Contains benzene rings & toluene, potential cancer causing agents, endocrine disrupters, and may also cause birth defects. Neways is guaranteed benzene-free.
FD&C Red 40
Questionable carcinogen & excito-toxin. (FD&C’s are all synthetic)
Sodium Fluoride
Potent carcinogen, cause teeth mottling, bone problems, irritates tissues
Parabens (preservative)
Powerful in tiny amounts; new concerns they are hormone mimics (see Laureth’s, PEG’s) unless vacuum stripped. Neways, for 20 years, is one of few companies in the world to vacuum strip away impurities- which can also occur in organic products-- without adding harmful solvents. Never should be in 1st half of formula
These common alternatives to parabens release carcinogenic Formaldehyde:
• quaternium 15
• diazolidinyl urea
• imidazolidinyl urea\
• dmdm hydantoin
• sodium hydroxy methyl glycinate
• benzyl alcohol
• 2-bromo-2-nitropane-1, 3-diol
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Paths of life
It seems as though, lately I am the ambassador of connections, hence the name of my business, Caroline’s Connections. Whether I connect people to health info or info about the recent FDA ruling about our food rights, I’m your woman! That said, after a talk I gave at a local B&B association meeting here in Central New York, I realized that what sets me apart, and makes what I’m saying so palatable is that I’m not touting that my way is the only way, or that you need to emulate me. What I’m saying, over and over, is this: If and when you are ready, here are the resources you can look into to improve your life. Whether it’s a magazine article, or most importantly, Weston A. Price Foundation information, I believe that it’s my job to lead the horse to water. Do you want a drink?
Case in point; I met a very nice, very active man the other day who lives with Type Two Diabetes. He and I talked extensively, and I kept saying “just go to westonaprice.org and there is a TON of information there about your condition”. Even though, I do have a wealth of info and ho-to’s under my belt, I think he needs to be the steward of his body. Hopefully, I gave him some tools to put to use.
This presence of mind I have now took only about twenty years to come to fruition. When I was first in tuned to Reiki, I thought it was my job to help everyone and open them all up, and wondered why they weren’t getting better or listening to me. How frustrating. I then moved into the phase of my life where I only treated people who needed me and would listen (boy did that narrow my clients). Over the last few years that has given way to me having lots of books and info on hand to either sell or give out, if, and only if the person wanted it. I make it clear that I am not gaining anything in giving them this info and it’s their drive that will make or break them on their journey to optimum health.
I am a natural researcher, and I understand some people aren’t. But, I have found that the people, who actively seek out info and resources to help themselves, are healthier and happier. The people who don’t, tend to complain and play the victim. Ironically, they need all our help the most.
One word on self-help books while I am on the topic of helping one’s self. Beware, not all are what they seem. Self Help is an oxymoron in many cases, because most of the books out there are ‘this is my way, follow it and you will be like me – or cured’. Hummmm, does that really work? Sometimes yes, like placebo pills. A lot of the time no, it leaves us feeling frustrated and unworthy.
Find what works for you on your journey, every path is different yet similar and if I, or someone else can help guide you on your way, great. If you are like me and a self-motivated person, take our guidance and run, learn and grow.
Case in point; I met a very nice, very active man the other day who lives with Type Two Diabetes. He and I talked extensively, and I kept saying “just go to westonaprice.org and there is a TON of information there about your condition”. Even though, I do have a wealth of info and ho-to’s under my belt, I think he needs to be the steward of his body. Hopefully, I gave him some tools to put to use.
This presence of mind I have now took only about twenty years to come to fruition. When I was first in tuned to Reiki, I thought it was my job to help everyone and open them all up, and wondered why they weren’t getting better or listening to me. How frustrating. I then moved into the phase of my life where I only treated people who needed me and would listen (boy did that narrow my clients). Over the last few years that has given way to me having lots of books and info on hand to either sell or give out, if, and only if the person wanted it. I make it clear that I am not gaining anything in giving them this info and it’s their drive that will make or break them on their journey to optimum health.
I am a natural researcher, and I understand some people aren’t. But, I have found that the people, who actively seek out info and resources to help themselves, are healthier and happier. The people who don’t, tend to complain and play the victim. Ironically, they need all our help the most.
One word on self-help books while I am on the topic of helping one’s self. Beware, not all are what they seem. Self Help is an oxymoron in many cases, because most of the books out there are ‘this is my way, follow it and you will be like me – or cured’. Hummmm, does that really work? Sometimes yes, like placebo pills. A lot of the time no, it leaves us feeling frustrated and unworthy.
Find what works for you on your journey, every path is different yet similar and if I, or someone else can help guide you on your way, great. If you are like me and a self-motivated person, take our guidance and run, learn and grow.
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