Category: Natural Health

Fluoridated Water Destroys Your Brain and Teeth

(Mercola.com – Dr. Mercola) In the U.S., water fluoridation has been widespread for the last 70 years. Despite the fact that clear-cut evidence suggests consuming fluoride is dangerous to human health and does little to protect teeth from cavities, it continues to be supported and recommended by nearly all public health and academic institutions.

This includes the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S. Public Health Service and the World Health Organization (WHO). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even went so far as to name water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century.

Meanwhile, the evidence continues to stack up against this archaic practice, with federal data now showing more than half of U.S. kids may be suffering ill effects from consuming too much fluoride.

Most US Kids Have Fluoride-Damaged Teeth

According to research presented at the April 2017 National Oral Health Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 57 percent of youth between the ages of 6 and 19 years have dental fluorosis, a condition in which your tooth enamel becomes progressively discolored and mottled, according to data from 2011 to 2012.1

The statistic represents an increase from 37 percent reported from 1999 to 2004. Further, the author stated, “There was a significant increase in caries experience …” When Fluoride Action Network (FAN) researchers analyzed the same set of data, they found “The 2011 to 2012 NHANES survey found dental fluorosis in 58.3 percent of the surveyed adolescents, including an astonishing 21.2 percent with moderate fluorosis and 2 percent with severe.”2

According to FAN, “The data suggests that up to 24 million adolescents now have some form of dental fluorosis, with over 8 million adolescents having moderate fluorosis, and 840,000 having severe fluorosis.”

In stark contrast, when fluoridation was first started in the U.S. in 1945, it was promised that only 10 percent of people would suffer from mild dental fluorosis.3 Public health officials often brush off fluorosis as a purely aesthetic issue, one they believe is a good trade-off for the supposed benefits of fluoride but, in reality, fluorosis is an outward sign that fluoride is damaging the body.

Research has found impairment in cognitive abilities among children with fluorosis (even mild fluorosis) compared to children with no fluorosis. And some studies have even found that children with higher levels of fluorosis have increased rates of cavities.4,5

US Lowered Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water, but Risks Still Remain

With all the fanfare over water fluoridation, you may be surprised to learn that in 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to lower the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water for the first time in 50 years. This meant the level of fluoride in drinking water was reduced to 0.7 mg/L from a previously recommended range of between 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L.

This was a significant reduction in fluoride exposure for some U.S. communities, but it’s important to understand that at doses ranging from 0.7 to 2.3 mg/L of fluoride per day, adverse effects including reduced IQ, behavioral alterations, neurochemical changes, hypothyroidism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been demonstrated.

Also noteworthy, reduced IQ has been seen in study participants with higher urinary fluoride concentrations, even when no dental fluorosis was present, which suggests that the doses of fluoride that impair cognitive ability are lower than those that cause severe dental fluorosis.6

FAN is among a coalition of environmental, medical and health groups urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water supplies.

In a petition toward this end, they highlighted several other studies that also demonstrated “fluoride’s ability to cause neurotoxic effects at low levels,” including one that found just 0.5 uM of fluoride (.009 mg/L) caused lipid peroxidation after 48 hours of exposure. “Most individuals living in fluoridated areas in the United States have fluoride levels in their blood that exceed this level,” they wrote.

National Cancer Institute Researcher Warned Against Fluoride in the 1960s

Chemist Dean Burk, Ph.D., co-founded the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1937 and headed its cytochemistry department for over 30 years. In the taped interview, he equates water fluoridation to “public murder,”7 referring to a study that had been done on the 10 largest U.S. cities with fluoridation compared to the 10 largest without it.

The study clearly demonstrated that deaths from cancer abruptly rose in as little as a year or two after fluoridation began. This and other studies linking fluoride to cancer were government-ordered but were quickly buried once fluoride was found to be linked to dramatic increases in cancer.

Since then, a 2012 study found a link between fluoride exposure and osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer.8 A 2006 study also found a link between fluoride exposure in drinking water during childhood and the incidence of osteosarcoma among men.9 Such a link is biologically plausible, according to FAN, because of the following:10

“The plausibility of a fluoride/osteosarcoma connection is grounded in the three considerations:

  1. Bone is the principal site of fluoride accumulation, particularly during the growth spurts of childhood;
  2. Fluoride is a mutagen when present at sufficient concentrations; and
  3. Fluoride stimulates the proliferation of bone-forming cells (osteoblasts), which may increase the risk for some of the dividing cells to become malignant.”

In addition, the inhalation of airborne fluoride has been found to be a potential cause of bladder cancer and lung cancer among fluoride-exposed workers.11

‘If It’s Not Effective, Why Do It?’

Retired journalist Jack Crowther of Rutland, Vermont, wrote an opinion piece for news outlet VT Digger that brings up a very important point: “Regardless of the other objections to fluoridation, if it’s not effective, why do it?”12

He presents graphs of data prepared by FAN showing that tooth decay in countries that fluoridate most or some of their water (or salt) has been on the decline from 1970 to 2010. Likewise, another graph shows that tooth decay has also been on decline in countries with no water (or salt) fluoridation during the same period, including Italy, Sweden, Finland, Japan, Norway and Belgium.

If you’re surprised that so many countries do not fluoridate their water, you should know that the U.S. is in the minority when it comes to water fluoridation. In fact, the vast majority (97 percent) of Western Europe has rejected water fluoridation, whereas in the U.S. 200 million Americans live in areas where water is fluoridated.

Tooth decay in 12-year-olds is coming down as fast, if not faster, in nonfluoridated countries as it is in fluoridated countries. In one Lithuanian study, for instance, it was shown that dental caries did not vary according to the level of fluoride in the water.

Regardless of the concentration of fluoride in the drinking water, the prevalence of past and present caries was high,” the researchers noted,13 showing once again that subjecting entire populations to a form of mass medication without informed consent is highly questionable and dangerous, especially considering its unnecessary and ineffective.

Leading Fluoride Supporter Changed His Position When Confronted With the Evidence

Crowther also features data from the late New Zealand dentist John Colquhoun, who was a leading fluoridation supporter until he delved into the research in 1980.

His international tour showed no difference between rates of tooth decay in the nonfluoridated versus fluoridated areas he visited, causing him to change his position and become a fluoridation opponent. “For the remainder of his life, Colquhoun sought to end fluoridation, a program he had helped create,” Crowther said.14 An interview with Colquhoun is above and well worth watching. FAN added:15

The most obvious reason to end fluoridation is that it is now known that fluoride’s main benefit comes from topical contact with the teeth, not from ingestion. Even the CDC’s Oral Health Division now acknowledges this.

There is simply no need, therefore, to swallow fluoride, whether in the water, toothpaste or any other form. Further, despite early claims that fluoridated water would reduce cavities by 65 percent, modern large-scale studies show no consistent or meaningful difference in the cavity rates of fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas.”

Fortunately, the word that fluoridation is not a suitable means for keeping teeth healthy is spreading, including in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The city was considering adding fluoride to their water, necessitating a fluoride forum held May 4, 2017.

Fourteen speakers spoke in opposition of fluoridation while 11 spoke in favor of it, trying to sway the Meadville Area Water Authority board’s decision. Board member Hal Tubbs, who voted against fluoridation, pointed out that most of those in favor were affiliated with the pro-fluoridation Meadville Smiles group, leaving only perhaps one independent voice.

This tells me that actual customers are against fluoridated water by a count of 14 to one,” Tubbs wrote in an email to The Meadville Tribune. “What I took away from the presentation is that our customers want to decide and control what they put into their bodies … They don’t want a fluoride additive forced on them.”16

Protecting Your Oral Health Has Nothing to Do With Fluoride

When it comes to good oral hygiene and preventing cavities, please remember, drinking fluoridated water and brushing your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste is not the answer. Rather, it’s about your diet and proper dental care: brushing and flossing. By avoiding sugars and processed foods, you prevent the proliferation of the bacteria that cause decay in the first place.

Following up with proper brushing and flossing and getting regular cleanings with a mercury-free biological dentist will ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy naturally.

Your toothbrush and natural fluoride-free toothpaste are important, but don’t be misled by thinking they’re the only options for sound dental health. Many natural substances, like the foods you eat, also have the power to drastically improve the health of your teeth and gums, and thereby the health of the rest of your body, too.

Recommendations released by The University of Calgary School of Public Policy championed the use of prevention and education to prevent early childhood cavities, noting water fluoridation wouldn’t be needed if such measures were effectively practiced.

The paper’s authors even pointed out that water fluoridation is not preventing tooth decay, as areas with water fluoridation still have a high rate of early childhood cavities. The recommendations call for increased education for parents on the importance of proper feeding and dental hygiene for infants, as well as for health care professionals to discuss these issues with patients.17

Help End the Practice of Fluoridation

There’s no doubt about it: Fluoride should not be ingested. Even scientists from the EPA’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory have classified fluoride as a “chemical having substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.”

Furthermore, according to the CDC, 41 percent of American adolescents now have dental fluorosis — unattractive discoloration and mottling of the teeth that indicate overexposure to fluoride. Clearly, children are being overexposed, and their health and development put in jeopardy. Why? The only real solution is to stop the archaic practice of water fluoridation in the first place.

Fortunately, the Fluoride Action Network has a game plan to END water fluoridation worldwide. Clean pure water is a prerequisite to optimal health. Industrial chemicals, drugs, and other toxic additives really have no place in our water supplies. So please, protect your drinking water and support the fluoride-free movement by making a tax-deductible donation to the Fluoride Action Network today.

Internet Resources Where You Can Learn More

I encourage you to visit the website of the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) and visit the links below:

Together, Let’s Help FAN Get the Funding They Deserve

In my opinion, there are very few NGOs that are as effective and efficient as FAN. Its small team has led the charge to end fluoridation and will continue to do so with our help! Please make a donation today to help FAN end the absurdity of fluoridation.

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The Healing Effects of Bone Broth and How To Make Your Own

Without an adequate intake of protein and minerals, your body begins to malfunction. Meat provides minerals and is known as the best source of protein, while dairy products are known as a great source of protein and calcium. But having a glass of milk with your steak dinner is not the healthiest way to ensure that you are getting protein and minerals in your diet.

IGF-1, mTOR, Insulin, and Cancer

Dairy and animal products contain an abundance of protein, with all the amino acids (the building blocks of protein) that your body needs to heal, grow, and function properly. When you consume dairy or animal protein, your body responds by releasing a hormone called insulin and activating two pathways called IGF-1 and mTOR so that you can utilize the protein to promote the growth of your cells. In other words, insulin, IGF-1, and mTOR cater a party for your cells to celebrate the abundance, but as we age cancerous cells start to crash the party.

Related: Homemade, Vegan Nut Milk Recipes and More

When we are children, and even after we finish an intense workout, the amino acids from the animal and dairy proteins we consume tend to aid in the growth of cells necessary for our health like the cells in our bones, muscles, blood, and organs. However, when we are fully grown, rarely workout, and consume many servings of meat per day, cancer cells begin feeding and thriving off of the catering that IGF-1, mTOR, and insulin provide.

One particular amino acid, leucine, is known to be a potent stimulator of the secretion of insulin and activation of the IGF-1 and mTOR pathways. Animal and dairy proteins tend to be high in leucine, which is why things like whey protein and chocolate milk tend to be heavily marketed as “muscle builders”, but they also stimulate the growth and proliferation of cancer cells and disease as well.

Another amino acid that can cause problems when consumed in high amounts is methionine. This amino acid is abundant in dairy and meat proteins, and it leads to an increase in homocysteine levels in the blood. Homocysteine is a significant risk factor for serious diseases like heart disease, stroke, and mental illness.

What About Vegan Sources of Protein?

Protein from beans and vegetables has been found to stimulate little to no increase in IGF-1, mTOR, insulin or homocysteine, which partially explains why a plant-based diet is known for its cancer and disease preventing power.

But when it comes to minerals, many vegetables contain oxalates which can inhibit the absorption of minerals like calcium. Plus many find it difficult to maintain adequate protein intake and a healthy lifestyle with a vegan diet. However, for non-vegans, there is something that you can make at home that comes with all of the benefits of animal protein without the risk, a good dose of minerals, and many other benefits that you won’t get from a steak dinner.

Related: Animal vs. Plant Protein – What’s Better?

Bone Broth and Its Benefits

Bone broth is a savory liquid consisting of the water in which the bones and cartilage of meat or fish have been simmered. The nutritional content of each bone broth varies based on the bones used, cooking time, and cooking method, but you can almost guarantee that you will find these nutrients to some degree in every bone broth (and experience their health benefits).

Collagen and Gelatin

Collagen makes up about 30 percent of the protein in your body and is the main component of connective tissues like cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone, and skin. Gelatin forms when the collagen is simmered during the process of making bone broth, which gives the broth a Jell-O like consistency when it is cooled.

Although this technically is an animal protein, it has much less leucine than the protein found in meat and dairy. It also has less leucine than common vegan sources of protein like soy. Even without the extra leucine, collagen still supports the growth of muscle tissue, so you may not need the whey protein after all.

Bone broth also contains high amounts other amino acids that maintain health and prevent disease of many organ systems in the body.

Glycine

Collagen contains high amounts of the amino acid glycine, which helps control blood sugar levels and prevents the negative effects caused by having too much methionine that we talked about earlier in this article. Glycine is also important for the production of myoglobin and hemoglobin for oxygen transport in the muscle and blood respectively. This means that it improves your exercise performance and your ability to recover from those exercises.

Glycine aids in digestion by protecting us from gastric ulcers, stimulating stomach acid production, and as a component of bile acid to help us digest fats. The effects of glycine are also felt in almost every cell in the body because it restores the body’s master antioxidant, glutathione.

Proline

About seventeen percent of collagen is made up of the amino acid proline. It helps regulate mTOR, aiding in cell growth and proliferation, while it clears up waste products and free radicals from cells. This makes it less likely that the activation of the mTOR pathway will lead to cancer growth.

Glutamine

Glutamine is abundant in the blood and is one of the few amino acids that can cross the blood-brain barrier. It is essential for the health of the intestinal barrier of our gut and the function of our immune cells because these cells prefer to consume glutamine for energy.

Minerals

Earlier in this article, we mentioned that milk contains many essential minerals for our health. Bone contains almost all of the minerals found in milk and then some. Calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc are all found in bone. Each mineral serves its own essential role for the health and function of your body while providing the raw materials you need to build strong bones.

Glycosaminoglycans

When you make bone broth using bones with the tendons, ligaments, and cartilage still attached you will guarantee that you are getting natural sources glycosaminoglycans.

Not familiar with the term?

How about the popular joint support supplement called chondroitin sulfate? This is a glycosaminoglycan that is found in the cartilage, and it protects our joints from wear and tear.

Glycosaminoglycans are complex carbohydrates that attach to proteins to form parts of your connective tissue and synovial fluid, the lubricant that surrounds the joint. They also play an important role in skin health by promoting skin hydration and wound repair. Combine this with the beneficial effects that collagen has on reducing cellulite and protecting the skin from UV damage, and you have a skin health supplement in your bone broth that actually works.

Specific glycosaminoglycans serve other important roles in the body. The glycosaminoglycan called heparin sulfate has been shown to help regulate immune system function, and the most well-known glycosaminoglycan, chondroitin sulfate, plays an important role in boosting our cognitive abilities.

Order Out or Make Your Own?

Now you know that bone broth contains nutrients essential for the health of every cell in the body, and it can be a valuable addition to any diet, but how do you get it?

It is best to get your bone broth from people that source their bones from healthy animals. Here are some high-quality bone broth sources that will ship to directly to your place:

But if you’re feeling ambitious and want to guarantee that you will get all of the benefits from the bone, tendon, cartilage, and ligaments, I suggest making your own bone broth.

The Simplest Bone Broth Recipe

Making bone broth is easier than you think. All it takes is high-quality bones, water, heat, and patience.

Step 1

Save the bones and cartilage from something you already ate, or purchase bones from a quality source like U.S Wellness Meats or White Oak Pastures.

For example, you can use the bones from a chicken, duck, or lamb leg that you just ate from dinner.

Bonus Tip: The best broth that I’ve ever made was from two pig feet. It was filled with so much gelatin and glycosaminoglycans that it became completely gelatinous at room temperature. Using parts of the animal that have very little meat, but a lot of cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and skin is the best way to make bone broth that is filled with gelatin and glycosaminoglycans. Fish heads, chicken feet, and pig feet are all perfect examples of this and make the healthiest broths.

Step 2

Put the bones in a pot, a slow cooker, or a pressure cooker and cover them with water.

If you’re using a pot, bring the water to a simmer and cook the bones for 8-24 hours.

If you’re using a slow cooker, cook the bones on the low setting for 8-24 hours.

If you’re using a pressure cooker, you only need to cook the bones for 2-3 hours.

Bonus Tip: Add 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the water and let the bones soak for 30 minutes to modestly increase the mineral content of your bone broth.

Flavor Tip: Add a small onion, a couple carrots, a stalk of celery, and a pinch of sea salt to improve the flavor of your broth.

Step 3

Sift out all solid particles by using a mesh strainer, so that you have a liquid broth with no solid particles floating in it.

Step 4

Use the broth as a base for soups, add the broth to smoothies, drink it as a hot beverage, store it in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze it.

Enjoy!

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Ditch Tampons – Sustainable and Healthy Menstrual Cycle Tips

Let’s be real. No one looks forward to getting their period. In all honesty, the entire process is a messy, unpleasant business that leads to overflowing trash cans and last minute runs to the store to stock up on more panty liners. At the end of every cycle it’s all you can do to let out a sigh of relief while waiting for the next visit to strike in a matter of weeks.

If you think the pain of this disposal will only be felt by your trash can, think again. Your period is more expensive than you know. Spending just $5 a month on disposable period products (a very conservative estimate) will cost you close to $3,000 over the course of your menstruating life. My guess is that there are plenty of ways you’d rather spend your hard earned cash than dumping it in the bin.

The Environment and Your Tampon: A Bad Combination

But there’s more to worry about with your period than staining your favorite pair of underwear. In truth, your easy access to modern period-care products is coming at a sinister cost for the environment. The average woman uses more than 16,000 pads and tampons throughout her lifetime, creating more than 300 pounds of plastic that will never truly go away. Multiply that figure by the 3.5 billion woman on the planet today, and you have roughly 12 billion sanitary pads and 7 billion tampons winding up in landfills every year. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to realize this is a major problem.

The problems with your period products go far beyond their disposal issues. It turns out that many pads contain special chemicals that make them extremely efficient at absorbing fluids, often up to 10 times over their weight. While this is a great way to keep leaks in check, these chemicals come in some crazy combinations, and far too little research has been conducted concerning their effects on the environment, much less your body. Until these chemicals can be thoroughly studied (which is unlikely to happen anytime soon), your best solution is to keep them away from your skin.

Cotton Is Not Your Friend. Here’s Why.

Cotton commercials are amazing, aren’t they? Pretty women dancing in snow-white fields, their cotton skirts twirling in perfect sync with them. Life would certainly be better if this was an accurate depiction of the cotton industry, but the truth couldn’t be more different. Most tampons actually contain rayon, not cotton (a synthetic fiber that is known for drying out the vaginal wall), but the ones made from cotton are hardly better.

In fact, cotton is one of the dirtiest GMO crops on the planet. Four out of the five common pesticides used on cotton have been found to have adverse environmental impacts, and Aldicarb, a common insecticide, is known for being a real nightmare for the natural world when it mixes with wildlife and wetland systems. If these growing conditions aren’t bad enough, commercial cotton goes through some equally damaging post-processing that leaves it chlorinated, bleached, and re-treated with pesticides before you get the pleasure of putting it next to one of the most intimate parts of your body.

Putting Your Body at Risk For No Good Reason

There are an awful lot of weird plastics in pads and tampons, many of which contain chemicals that no one fully understands. Some of these chemicals, like BPA and BPS have been found to change the ways that embryos develop in the womb while also increasing your risk of developing certain types of cancer and even heart disease. Phtalates, a chemical found in many tampons, has been known to affect the way the body expresses genes, and it has occasionally even lead to organ failure.

Take a moment to think about the logic of placing plastic-based, largely untested synthetic products right at the most sensitive part of your body. There’s no way to justify it! The skin around female reproductive organs is extremely thin, meaning your blood vessels run right up against the surface. Skin is surprisingly permeable, which makes it simple for the synthetic chemicals in your pads and tampons to be absorbed into your bloodstream and travel throughout your body. In the same way that a tobacco patch floods your bloodstream with a taste of nicotine, your synthetic pads are slowly leaking a cocktail of chemicals into every corner of your body.

Choosing Natural Alternatives For Your Period

When you look at the facts, there’s not a lot to like about conventional period products. However, the good news is that companies around the world have woken up to this fact and have created a vast array of alternative products that keep your body safe while reducing your impact on the environment. Best of all, most of these products are reusable for months, even years, meaning that you’ll save gobs of money after your one-time investment to buy them.

Are you ready to ditch your disposables and enjoy some alternative period products? Here are some of the latest options.

Period-Safe Underwear

Sometimes it takes a little out of the box thinking to find the best period solution for you. Thankfully, many clothing companies are doing just that, and innovative new underwear is beginning to change the game for good. THINX underwear is designed to be period safe, and its built with an absorbent layer that keeps leaks in check all day long. Different pairs even have different absorbency levels, meaning it’s possible to wear underwear with the carrying capacity of two tampons. Because they look and feel just like any other pair of underwear, period safe undies are a comfortable, discrete way to keep your cycle in check.

Reusable Pads

The idea might sound gross at first, but hear it out. Reusable pads are as simple as they seem; they are cloth (often organic cotton) pads that can be washed between uses to keep you stocked up for every occasion. Not only are reusable pads often more absorbent than regular ones, they are far more comfortable. In most cases, reusable pads come in three pieces that include a holder and two inserts, making it simple to change up the absorbency depending on how heavy your cycle is. While it costs a lot to buy enough reusable pads to last throughout your entire period, the money you spend is a one-time investment because these pads can be used for years to come without any extra expense.

While these pads are handy to have available, a big disadvantage is that they need to be carefully washed. Before tossing the liners into the washing machine, they need to be soaked in cold water, and if you find yourself putting off laundry, day you might come up short on supplies by the end of your period.

Menstrual Cups

If you haven’t already been introduced into the wonderful world of menstrual cups, be prepared to change the way you deal with your period forever. While they look like a simple substitute for tampons, menstrual cups are actually far more useful. There are plenty of brands of menstrual cups available, but in most cases they are silicone cups that are easy to fold up and insert right at the base of the vagina. When inserted, menstrual cups create a seal that keeps them in place and allows them to collect period blood without leaking for up to twelve hours. When the cup needs to get changed, all you need to do is pull it out, empty it in the toilet, wash it out and stick it right back in. After a few uses, most women find their menstrual cups as simple to use as tampons once were- and far more convenient.

When you use a menstrual cup, your purse will never again be filled with annoying tampons, and you’ll never need to worry about getting caught unprepared. Small, easily packable and simple to wash at the end of your period, you’ll never want to switch back to regular products. Best of all, most cups cost less than $30 and will last a decade or more. Your wallet will be fuller and landfills will stay a little emptier, thanks to the fact that your dirty pads are no longer landing in them.

Softcups Cups

If you’re eager to try out a tampon alternative but aren’t sure you’re ready to commit for the next ten years, a Softcup is a smart option for trying them out. Like most menstrual cups, softcups are flexible menstrual discs that are worn right at the base of your cervix. Rather than absorbing your flow like a tampon does, softcups collect it and can be dumped out when they get full. Unlike other menstrual cups though, softcups are single use.

While you won’t be reducing as much trash as you would from sticking to strictly reusable products, softcups are a great in-between menstrual option that will allow you to experiment with alternatives without investing in pricy products. Also, because they are made from medical grade material made with elastomers, they eliminate any chance of developing toxic shock syndrome. Best of all, softcups can be worn for more than 12 hours, making it effortless to go hours without thinking about your period.

Conclusion

There’s no reason to pollute the planet every month just because you’re on your period. There are plenty of alternatives to conventional menstrual products that are made from natural products, reusable for years, and so comfortable you’ll forget you’re even on your period. If you’re ready to try out some alternatives to your icky pads and dangerous tampons, take the time to give some of these alternatives a try.

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Forget Fad Diets – Try These Sustainable, Healthy Recipes

How many of you out there have tried fad diets? I know I have! Why? Why not? There are so many of them to choose from. They are trendy, they assure weight loss, and they offer other sought after health advantages like a longer life. It seems the best time to start a fad diet is the New Year when most of us are seeking a fresh start and hoping to improve eating habits and get into shape. Most of the time, fad diets are directed at those who are interested in losing weight rapidly without having to exercise.They may be quick and easy, but fad diets are not always backed by science. Fad diets are often found to be distinguished by weird or limited food selections and they tend to promote an unhealthy or unbalanced diet. The Cleveland Clinic reports, “For the food groups that these diets do permit, the amounts are either well above or well below those recommended by major health organizations like the American Health Association, American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Diabetics, as well as the Surgeon General and the United States Department of Agriculture.”

All this aside, if it’s quick and it works, why not give the fad diet a try? What’s so bad about the quick fix? We have busy schedules. We are committed elsewhere. As long as it works, right? Wrong! The fix may work temporarily, but studies show that most people gain back the weight they lose and more at times. You may wind up worse than where you started off, but making just a few modifications in your routine can help you live longer.

What type of diet stands the test of time?  A sustainable diet or a sustainable lifestyle. Rather than engaging in fad diets, a nourishing diet and positive lifestyle is the key to a happier, healthier life!

So, what is a sustainable diet? Mainly, it is a healthy diet with a low environmental impact for present and future generations. It is a diet that elevates the consciousness of consumers and governments of the role that food biodiversity plays in human nutrition and poverty alleviation. It’s eating local, environmentally friendly food and staying clear of food that is heavily processed and put in a box. It’s growing your own food.

Shopping and eating sustainably go far beyond how food is produced. Sustainability acknowledges the integral association between our food and global warming since industrial food production is a tremendous source of greenhouse gas emissions. A sustainable diet is eating for life. It is eating to protect yourself from serious medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes. It is a lifelong eating strategy that benefits your body and your community. It provides opportunities for the occasional indulgence while maintaining a comfortable weight. It is protection from overeating and weight gain. Eating sustainably also means adding lean proteins to balance a controlled portion of carbs at every meal, resetting your metabolism, and warding off chronic health conditions. Sustainable eating is a gift of health, and doesn’t need to be difficult! Here are some helpful hints to ensure you keep yourself on track with sustainable eating habits.

Select wild caught fish from sustainable sources. Buy local seasonal and environmentally friendly food.  Hand-pick and get to know your farmers and suppliers whenever you can. Plan ahead and design meals that give you all the nutrients you need for your busy day. You can maintain a balanced diet, eat in moderation and eat what you like! Choose heart-healthy foods such as fats containing omega 3 fatty acids, legumes, and colorful fruits and vegetables as well as nutritious whole grains. Stay away from too many starches in one meal or lots of dairy foods and remember, processed foods are resource intensive and don’t promote proper nutrition.

I love organic food and pursue an eco-friendly lifestyle, so I suggest using certified organic ingredients to maximize flavors and nutrition while minimizing your risk of exposure to pesticides, chemicals, and preservatives.

Incorporate sustainable foods into your diet with recipes from Mimi’s Organic Corner.

Mimi’s Immune Boosting Yin Yang Breakfast Bowl.

This is a smoothie in a bowl with nutritious toppings.

Smoothie:

  • 1 Frozen Organic Banana
  • 1 Cup Frozen Organic Blueberries
  • 1 Cup Frozen Organic Mango Chunks
  • 3 Fresh Organic Strawberries
  • 1 Cup Organic Pineapple Chunks.

Topping:

  • Organic Shredded Coconut and Organic Chia Seeds.

Directions:

  1. Blend smoothie ingredients and place in a bowl. Cover half of the smoothie the coconut seeds and the other half with the chia seeds.
  2. Place a coconut dot on the chia seeds and a chia seed dot on the coconut.

Mimi’s ABC Frozen Ice (Apple Banana Cinnamon)

  • 1 organic mashed banana
  • 1 organic mashed apple. (You can lightly boil the apple and puree it or use organic applesauce.)

Combine both fruits, sprinkle cinnamon to taste and freeze. This is a healthy and tasty dessert option.

Mimi’s Chilled Cinnamon Couscous and Vegetable Salad

  • 2 cups of water
  • 2 tablespoons of organic coconut oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon of organic cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon of organic turmeric
  • 1/4 teaspoon of chopped raw organic peeled ginger root
  • 2 cups of organic couscous
  • 1/2 cup of organic raisins (optional)

Boil water with coconut oil, cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger root. Then add couscous and raisins. Cover the pot, remove from the heat and leave standing for 10 minutes.

Transfer this mixture to a large salad bowl, then add the following:

  • 1 cup of chopped organic zucchini
  • 1/2 cup of chopped organic carrots
  • 1/2 cup of chopped organic scallions
  • 1/4 cup of chopped organic green and red peppers
  • 1 1/2 cups of organic garbanzo beans
  • 3 tablespoons of organic vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons of organic lemon juice
  • salt to taste. I usually add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt.

Chill for several hours and serve over your favorite organic lettuce leaves and garnish with chopped organic toasted almonds.

Mimi’s Favorite Cinnamon Ginger Tea Elixir

Combine 3 large chunks of fresh, organic ginger root, 3 chunks of organic turmeric root and 4 organic cinnamon sticks in a pot with water and bring to a boil. Allow this tea to steep for several hours and add organic honey and organic apple cider vinegar to taste. You can add a little more or less of each ingredient according to your taste buds.

Mimi’s Tomato Basil & Rosemary Omelets and Veggie Frittatas

Adding fresh rosemary to your frittatas and omelets is a quick and easy way to get it into your diet. Try mincing the rosemary and combining it with the other omelet For the frittata, I use 4 organic eggs, ¼ cup of liquid such as homemade veggie broth, ¼ cup of organic dried rosemary leaves, and 1 cup of filling, including organic broccoli and organic red onion. Add your favorite organic cheese to both the omelets and the frittata if you like, and salt and pepper to taste. For the tomato basil rosemary omelets, I chose feta cheese. You can choose to forgo the cheese if you prefer.

Mimi’s Cumin Ginger Carrots Medley

  • 1 pound of carrots
  • 6 tablespoons of butter
  • 2 teaspoons of cumin
  • 2 cloves of chopped garlic
  • 1 teaspoon of chopped ginger
  • salt and pepper to taste

Liquefy the butter in a pan and add the cumin, salt, and pepper. Then add the carrots, garlic, and ginger. Sauté this veggie mixture until the carrots are at your preferred tenderness.

Mimi’s Mouthwatering Raw Ginger Chocolate

Grate 2 chunks of organic ginger root with a cheese grater and set aside.

Combine:

  • ½ cup organic coconut oil
  • ½ cup of raw organic honey
  • ¼ cup raw organic cocoa

Mix well and then add a few drops of vanilla extract. Once ingredients are combined, add the shredded ginger and mix. Then separate the mixture into cupcake holders and freeze.

Mimi’s Blueberry Banana Muffins

This recipe calls for 1 ¾ cups of your favorite organic flour.  I like a combination of almond, amaranth, and quinoa flour in equal portions.

Combine:

  • 1 ¾ cups of flour mixture
  • ¼ cup of organic whole oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup of organic coconut oil
  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1/3 cup of organic coconut sugar
  • 2 large organic eggs
  • 1/3 cup of organic almond milk
  • a dash of organic vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cup of organic frozen blueberries

Mix well and separate into cupcake holders and bake on 375 for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Mimi’s Blueberry Flaxseed Pancakes

For this  sustainable breakfast dish, combine:

  • 2 well-beaten organic eggs
  • 1 cup of organic buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons of organic vegetable oil
  • 1 stick of organic melted butter
  • 1 cup of your choice of organic gluten-free flour such as brown rice flour or quinoa and amaranth flour
  • ¼ cup of organic ground flaxseed
  • 3 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1/3 cup of organic honey
  • 2 cups of organic blueberries
  • 3 mashed up organic bananas
  • a nice pinch of organic cinnamon
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Glutathione Detoxification – A Comprehensive Overview

Whether or not you know it, there is a good chance that your body is overflowing with bacteria and toxins. Almost everyone has some level of toxins flowing through their body. Many people will believe that they’re not being impacted until it is too late. The only effective way to eliminate these toxins from the body is by performing a detox.

There are many different types of detoxification methods that can be utilized, but the glutathione detox is widely considered to be the most effective. In fact, many experts suggest that the glutathione detox is one of the most effective defenses against toxins and disease.

What Is Glutathione?

First and foremost, you should familiarize yourself with the chemical at the center of the detoxification process. GSH or Glutathione is actually an antioxidant, which is found in plants, fungi, animals, and some specific strains of bacteria. The antioxidant has proven to be very effective for protecting against free radicals, lipid peroxides, and even heavy metals. Glutathione will protect the body’s cellular components, which can be damaged by reactive oxygen species. This is one of the many reasons that the glutathione detox is so enormously effective and beneficial.

A Depleting Resource

Unfortunately, you do not have access to an unlimited amount of glutathione. In fact, glutathione is a depleting resource, which can be diminished by a variety of factors such as taking specific types of medications and failing to consume a sufficient quantity of minerals and vitamins. More importantly, it should be known that glutathione will actually decrease over time.

Finally, you should realize that each person will have a different level of GSH in their body. Your age, gender, diet, activity level, and race can play a role in determining how much GSH you have inside of your body.

What Does Glutathione Do?

Believe it or not, glutathione has a wide array of responsibilities. Nonetheless, the antioxidant’s most important duties are directly linked to the immune system. By maintaining an appropriate amount of glutathione in your body, you will be able to keep your immune system working at optimum levels. In return, this will decrease the frequency of illnesses while simultaneously helping to stave off disease. At the same time, glutathione is known to play a very important role in helping the body detox.

Glutathione will also go to work inside the patient’s liver to make sure toxins can be removed a little bit easier.

Detoxification and Autism

Autism is characterized as a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes repetitive and restrictive behavior. A recent study shows that males are at a higher risk of developing autism than females. However, all children are at risk regardless, but once the child has been diagnosed with the disorder, the parents will need to learn how to deal with it. Humans remove toxins from their body via four different routes: kidneys, lungs, digestive tract and skin.

When the toxins build up inside the child’s body, the child will begin to act out. However, there is a solution to this behavior – routine detoxification. According to Dr. S. Jill James, children who have been diagnosed with autism have impaired methylation, which is how glutathione is made. When the methylation is impaired, the body will not go through the normal detoxification processes.

The impaired methylation is most likely due to glutathione deficiency. When reduced levels of glutathione are detected, the child will be at a higher risk of environmental toxicity from harmful substances such as pesticides, heavy metals and PCBs. Children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have impaired detoxification pathways.

Importance Of Cellular Antioxidants

Cellular antioxidants play a major role in detoxification. When there is a deficiency of these antioxidants noted, the body will fill up with harmful toxins. One of the most important cellular antioxidants that have more prevalence over the others is glutathione or GSH for short. It is crucial that everyone learns about the role glutathione plays in detoxification because its primary responsibility is to prevent the buildup of free radicals in the body.

Glutathione is made up of three different amino acids: glycine, glutamine, and cysteine. Glycine is classified as the “simplest amino acid”, but it is still important because it helps to form glutathione. Cysteine is classified as a sulfur-bearing amino acid. Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid found in the human body. The three amino acids work together to combat free radicals, which are linked to chronic illnesses like cancer.

Medical experts refer to glutathione as a “redox molecule”. The redox process is where a molecule undergoes both the oxidation and reduction cycles. During the oxidation cycle, the molecule will release electrons and during the reduction cycle, the molecule will gain electrons. The oxidation state is increased during the oxidation process and decreased during the reduction process. These processes are a little difficult to understand, but they play a huge role is trying to help the body combat free radicals and prevent organ toxicity.

Glutathione and the Human Organs

Body builders, athletes, and professional weightlifters monitor their glutathione levels because they are more aware of its importance than the average person. However, it is crucial that everyone gets on board and starts doing some research on one of the most important cellular antioxidants.

Our bodies contain an abundance of cellular antioxidants that are responsible for protection from toxicity and free radicals. High-energy demand organs utilize a major amount of biological energy or ATP. High-energy demand organs include the heart, liver, kidneys, gut, brain, and lungs. These organs are continuously working, which is why they utilize so much biological energy.

When biological energy is utilized by the mitochondrion, the production of free radicals is inevitable. Free radicals are the end product of this process and if they are not kept in check, the individual will experience organ toxicity. Environmental toxins can be found throughout the entire body. The organs have to work constantly to prevent the toxins from causing damage to the cells and their functions. The cells will utilize glutathione to combat free radicals and if a deficiency is detected, the body will be at a high risk of disease, inflammation, and infection.

Glutathione and other cellular antioxidants are crucial for the detoxification of carcinogens. An example of a dangerous carcinogen is benzene, which can be found in the exhaust produced by automobiles. Other carcinogens include lead, cadmium, and mercury. Everyone is exposed to these chemicals when they venture outdoors, but over exposure will call for a higher demand of glutathione.

Increasing Your Glutathione Levels

If you intend to perform a glutathione detox, you will need to learn how to increase your levels of this incredibly important antioxidant. While it is possible to purchase glutathione supplements, it should be known that these products are not entirely effective on their own. At the same time, the glutathione consumed in your diet might not be enough to help stimulate the detoxification process. If you visit the hospital and need more glutathione, the doctor will actually give you NAC or N-acetylcysteine. This is another amino acid, which can help your body produce more glutathione on its own. Elderly individuals can consume NAC supplements to increase their glutathione levels to the norm.

Ways to Boost Your Body’s Level of Glutathione

Exercise More

It should be no surprise that working out and exercising can be enormously beneficial. Exercise is important for various reasons, with increased glutathione levels being one provided benefit. A recent study examined the impact of cardio, weight training, and a combination of each. It was determined that patients who performed a combination of cardio and weight training, were able to increase their glutathione levels more than others. If you’re interested in performing a glutathione detox, you will definitely want to add a little cardio and weight training to your daily schedule.

Increase Sulfur Intake

There are certain chemicals, which can help the body produce more glutathione. Sulfur just happens to be one of the most notable precursors to glutathione. By increasing your intake of sulfur, you will also be able to increase the amount of glutathione that your body produces. With this in mind, you will want to begin eating foods that are high in sulfur. Onions and garlic are two good choices. By adding one of these foods to your daily intake, you will be able to ensure you’re not suffering from a glutathione deficiency.

Try a Ketogenic Diet

A great deal of research has been conducted regarding the impact of a ketogenic diet. Recently, it was discovered that a ketogenic diet could actually increase the levels of glutathione in rats. It is unknown how this could translate to humans. If you’re interested in switching to a ketogenic diet, you should be prepared to increase your intake of fat while lowing your carbohydrate consumption. A ketogenic diet will offer an abundance of different benefits, including combating cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. More importantly, a ketogenic diet could help your body produce extra glutathione and that can prove to be helpful for inducing a glutathione detoxification.

Increase Diary Intake

If you’re a fan of milk, you will have a very easy time gaining more of the most powerful antioxidant. In fact, you will not need to change anything at all. It has been widely circulated that cow’s milk can help the body produce a greater amount of glutathione. Remember that glutathione is comprised of three amino acids. This includes glycine, glutamate, and cysteine. Unfortunately, cysteine and L-cysteine are often destroyed by the pepsins and enzymes found in the gut. When the cysteine is bonded, it can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.

There are several sources of bonded cysteine. Children who are breastfed will receive more because bonded cysteine can be found in breastmilk. Also, it is possible to obtain a suitable replica in the form of undenatured whey protein from raw cow’s milk. Pasturized milk will not offer the benefits.

Benefits Of A Glutathione Detox

So, why would anyone be interested in performing a glutathione detox anyway? The truth of the matter is that there are an abundance of reasons. Performing any type of detox can be a great way to remove harmful toxins from the body. However, by incorporating the glutathione antioxidant, you will receive even more benefits.

Protects From Free Radicals

First and foremost, you should realize that glutathione is an antioxidant and is capable of fighting off free radicals. By increasing your body’s glutathione content, you will be able to stop free radicals from damaging your cells and making you sick. Without a sufficient amount of glutathione, the body would not be able to protect itself from infections and diseases.

Fights Liver Cancer

While you’re at it, you should realize that glutathione usually works inside of the liver. It plays an important role in detoxing the life and protecting it from disease. Recent animal studies have proven that glutathione can help fight off liver cancer. At the same time, this antioxidant may be able to help cancer patients, who are undergoing chemotherapy. It is also believed that it can help maintain kidney function in patients that are forced to undergo bypass surgery.

Combats The Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease can be devastating and downright debilitating. Today, there are very few effective treatments for Parkinson’s. Nonetheless, it is believed that injecting glutathione intravenously may help alleviate the disease’s symptoms to some degree because Parkinson’s is generally associated with a decrease in the body’s level of dopamine. On the flip side, glutathione is capable of increasing the patient’s sensitivity to dopamine. This can effectively decrease the impact of Parkinson’s.

It is also believed that glutathione can fight off neurotoxins, which may be linked to the disease. While further research is essential, it is safe to say that glutathione may prove to be an effective way to combat Parkinson’s, while also diminishing the disease’s symptoms.

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