If you are interested, please look at this explanation from the Shaklee website. Read especially the part titled, "UNSURPASSED PRODUCT STANDARDS; TESTING THE LIMITS OF TESTING..." You can find the whole article HERE.
Scientific Testing done by Shaklee
I recently was in dialogue with someone who pushed me to prove why Shaklee products are worthwhile. How do we know for sure they are "naturally safe and proven effective"? What makes them different from any other company?
"Babies are born pre-polluted..." Once again, are you kidding me?
According to the Environmental Working Group, babies can enter the world with as many as 300 chemicals in their bodies. WHAT?! This must be a joke, I thought. A very bad joke. But, in reading and listening to what they had to say, things started adding up. While before the placenta was thought to act as a kind of Super-Guard against toxins getting into the baby's system, that is now known to be only partially true. Yes, the placenta is a great barrier, but certain things get past it, and into the baby's system. Which means the baby is exposed to whatever we, as the mom, is exposed to.
This video is about 22 minutes long. They explain their study and how and why they did it. And their results are very interesting. Please watch this when you get a chance. It's VERY worth watching. It will open your eyes to a LOT.
A condensed version of their results from their website:
"The nation’s toxic chemical regulatory law, the Toxic Substances Control Act, is in drastic need of reform. Passed in 1976 and never amended since, TSCA is widely regarded as the weakest of all major environmental laws on the books today.When passed, the Act declared safe some 62,000 chemicals already on the market, even though there were little or no data to support this policy. Since that time another 20,000 chemicals have been put into commerce in the United States, also with little or no data to support their safety.Testing by Environmental Working Group has identified 455 chemicals in people, and again, no one has any idea if these exposures are safe.We are at a tipping point, where the pollution in people is increasingly associated with a range of serious diseases and conditions from childhood cancer, to autism, ADHD, learning deficits, infertility, and birth defects. Yet even as our knowledge about the link between chemical exposure and human disease grows, the government has almost no authority to protect people from even the most hazardous chemicals on the market."For the whole article, go HERE.So what can we do? If this inspires you to change your lifestyle at all - I'm with you. We can start with cleaning products, food, water, take a look at your cosmetics... contact me if you have questions. Once again, I HIGHLY recommend taking a look HERE, and see what you find.
Organic Lifestyle - Are You Kidding Me?
www.Enviroblog.org is proving to be a GREAT resource for the healthy lifestyle, and give timely "heads-up" information on what is out there, and what you should try to avoid. They post articles on all sorts of issues, and seem to have a good base for their research and for what they say. One such article I just found is on the importance of eating healthy during pregnancy. But they go farther and assert that organic are not just a nice option, but really an important lifestyle choice.
Now, let me say, when I first heard all this, a few things went through my mind:
-Organic? Where am I gonna find that? Why would I bother?
-Pay what? Are you kidding me? I'm doing fine with what I've already been doing.
-This is more of a 'healthy fanatic' viewpoint. I'm gonna stay 'middle-of-the-road' and not freak out about it.
Well, I've got to admit, the more I read and researched, the more interested I became. And slowly I started understanding the whys and hows, as well as the HUGE benefits of changing certain routines I had. And that's the hardest part, believe it or not. We are each used to a certain way, and to change that is to admit that somehow we were wrong or not well-informed in the first place. That's hard. I didn't like it. But... to be able to let go of habits simply because they are habits and change things up a little for the sake of our health and the health of those around us - doesn't turn out to be that hard...
Cloth or disposable diapers: Results!
Thank you so much for all the great responses to the cloth vs. disposable diaper post. It was interesting to see the varied answers I got via this blog, email, and Facebook. Let me summarize:
Disposable Advantages:
-Easy
-Convenient
-Fast
-Cheap
Disposable disadvantages:
-Child's exposure to chemicals and toxins
-Bad on the environment
Cloth Advantage:
-Little to no toxic/chemical exposure for baby.
-Less expensive in the long run.
-Great for the environment
-With new options over the past few years, less rashes for babies
-Really cute! ;-D
Cloth Disadvantage:
-Learning curve
-Need to launder them with natural detergent (which may not actually be a bad switch!) This takes a little more time.
-Money investment at the beginning, though less and less as time goes on. (And even less than that with more babies)
Here are some comments I received. I will keep them all anonymous.
"disposable....they grow up WAY too fast to spend your short time they are in diapers cleaning them.""In the long run, cloth are less expensive (I believe) and probably better for the environment -- disposable diapers never seem to decompose.""Cloth is amazing :) No rashes, amazing for the environment, healthy for baby, not any messier than disposables (and a lot fewer diaper blowouts) and really really cute. :)""I looked into cloth and they were really interesting to me. But I never got the funds to buy them up front. If I could I would use cloth. Disposable is less work, but cloth seems worth the extra work...""both - cloth for home & disposable for travel (& during early weeks)."
And the following was one of the best explanations. She knows and believes in all the reasons for cloth :
"Cloth is better for the environment -- less trash, less crude oil used, which is needed in the making of a disposable. The average disposable contains dyes, fragrance, xylene, ethylbenzene, and sodium polyacrylate which can trigger allergic reactions. Some studies show these diapers release VOC's. When you feel you must use disposables try non chemical disposables carried online in bulk, at certain stores, and Target has a new brand of chemical free disposable. Cloth can be purchsed from Dy-Dee Diaper Service and you launder every 3 days. Dy-dee can wash them for you, you can purchase all-in-one diapers like Fuzzibunz and Bum Genius, Nickis Diapers (there are so many on the market).
We experienced far less diaper rash with cloth and cloth is more breathable. You can check out the gdiaper and even try a cloth diaper inside the gdiaper cover. Babies wear diapers for 2 years on average and don't need to sit in chemicals 24/7. Do a cost comparison sometime and compare the savings of re-using some sort of cloth diaper vs the cost of disposables. And if you are not sure what you want to do, try Dy-Dee Service for one month while you are in postpartum and then experiment to figure out which path is best for you. There are resources where bundles of diapers can be put together and there are websites such as --"
www.kellyscloset.com
www.nickisdiapers.com
www.gdiapers.com
www.dy-dee.com
All I've ever known is disposable, and that's all I've ever used - when baby-sitting, helping other moms, etc. So I know their convenience and ease. But, as I look more and more into the alternatives, and the reasons for the alternatives, I'm intrigued by what is out there. One note stated above is really sticking with me: "Babies wear diapers for 2 years on average and don't need to sit in chemicals 24/7..." That's something to think about.
So... have at it! Take a look at what there is, and decide from there. I've still got a few months, but it's better to find out now than later. The websites above seem to be really good. And check out this one, too, whenever you've got time.
PS: Here's an experienced Mom who gave me some real pointers. I really appreciated her time to share with me. Here's what she had to say:
"And you had asked about the ick factor. It's really not bad at all. Either way you'll have to deal with the poop :-).
Here's my routine and set-up. I have a cheap $5 garbage pail from walmart with a flip-top lid. I have 2 pail linershttp://www.facebook.com/l/;swaddlebees.com/products/Diaper-Accessories/bagprints) that I put in the pail and rotate during washes. I just throw the diapers in the pail (remove the solids if you need to, don't worry about it if you're breastfeeding). I do laundry every 2 days, but you can wait 3. Just throw all the diapers in the wash, the bag included. I do a cold rinse (to rinse out any extra poop), a hot wash, and a cold rinse (this extra rinse makes sure to get out all detergent since detergent can equal rashes and stink).
Line dry the diapers in the sun to get out any stains (the sun will stain out any organic stains on diapers or clothing! Add lemon juice for tougher stains. It's amazing!) Or just run them through the dryer! It's really simple once you get in the routine."
Thank you to all you Moms who shared your experiences with me! Please keep the wisdom coming!
Cloth or disposable diapers?
Dear Moms and Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas, Big sisters and brothers,
I am looking into cloth vs. disposable diapers. I want to know what you think and what your experience has been. Please comment!
Your skin!
I just read this, and I had to pass it on...
"Most people underestimate the ability of the skin to absorb all with which it comes in contact. There is a reason pharmacologists created a birth control patch that adheres to your skin and releases chemicals that alter the hormonal functions of your internal system: Your skin is like a sponge."
The skin is the largest organ of the body - and it absorbs what is around and on it.
That's why we get poison ivy from brushing up against it.
I'm sure this has something to do with tattoos.
That's why lotions and soaps, etc., get under our skin and into our bodies.
That's why laundry detergent is a big deal.
In fact, I heard about one lady who had some tests done, and they found BLUE DYE in her system, because she had been using Tide as her laundry detergent for so many years.
Our skin sucks up the qualities of what surrounds it - which most of the time is clothing and bedsheets - filled with the fragrances and chemicals and toxins we clean them with. Which means, our skin is absorbing all the chemicals, toxins and fragrances we use to keep ourselves clean. And it causes adverse effects and reactions in our bodies. Does this sound crazy to anyone else? Cause it sure sounded crazy to me when I first heard it.
Consider what you are using, what your spouse is using, what you are lathering on your baby. What you are sleeping in. What you wear all day long. The toxin world just got a whole lot closer...
Want some options? Look here.
Losing weight and feeling great!
Think back... way back. To the time when you first decided to lose some weight and go on a diet. What you decided to do, what to eat, what not to eat, how much to work-out, and how much you lost. And remember... how long that lasted. Then think back to how many times you've done the same thing over again.
For me? Resolutions hit all the time. I get a wave of motivation and I commit myself to the Plan. But then a few days goes by and I slip. And I slip again. And I get so frustrated I no longer want to stick with it. That's me. Well-intentioned, but not a 'long-term committer' when it comes to the diet arena.
Then there are those who try everything in the book, and it works for awhile, but inevitably the pounds find them again.
There are, of course, the amazing ones who work-out, stay fit, eat healthy, and don't need to lose another pound! Hey, whoever you are, wherever you are, you've got my admiration, for sure.
Well, if you want an alternative approach to the "yo-yo" method of dieting, this might be something for you to consider. It definitely worked for me, 'til I it was time to give in to the 'baby' weight. But I'm looking forward to doing the program after the baby arrives. Here's what the experts on it have to say... (and I don't mean expert doctors and nurses and physical trainers. I mean the people who struggled with weight gain, tried this after everything else, and it worked! So... back to the experts...)
Dear Pregnant Moms...
Over the weekend, I heard again about the warnings on fish - how they are great sources of omega 3s and DHAs and all sorts of healthy stuff, but are so contaminated with mercury they become more bad than good - while at the same time learning the benefits that these exact nutrients provide for pregnant moms and their babies.
"Omega-3 fatty acids are required nutrients for prenatal development. While a baby will derive his or her nutrition from the mother's body, a pregnant woman should consume enough Omega-3 fatty acids to satisfy both her and her baby's requirements. The most critical Omega-3 fatty acid is DHA(Docosahexaenoic acid). Found throughout the body, it is a key structural fat and is integral in the development of the retina, the brain, and the heart. In fact, approximately 97% of all omega-3 fatty acids found in the brain is DHA as well as 93% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the eyes is DHA."
"The fact is, recent scientific literature suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids play a key part in pregnancy health -and in the healthy development of your baby. The benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are clear. To summarize recent research conclusions, Omega-3s...
- Offer critical nutrients for the neurological development of your baby.
- Promote the development of your baby's cardiac and respiratory systems.
- Support the development of your baby's brain and eyes (development of visual centers).
- Have been shown to increase the learning and cognitive function of your child, with effects measurable to age four.
- Increase the attention span of your child (a measurable component of intelligence early in life)
- Support the pregnancy health of the mother, possibly reducing chances of toxemia (or pre-eclampsia).
- May help prevent pre-term labor and premature delivery.
And they go on...
"Eating more seafood is one very simple solution, with one large caveat: increased pollution, contaminants, and mercury levels in many species of fish (particularly some types of tuna, swordfish, and larger predatory fish). For a pregnancy diet, the FDA has even suggested limits on how much and what kinds of fish a woman can safely consume on a weekly basis. Mercury, in particular, is a neural toxin which can hurt a baby's developing brain or cause birth defects. High levels of PCBs (or polychlorinated byphenols), which may be found in farmed salmon, have also been linked to birth defects. Raw or undercooked fish is, of course, a no-no for other reasons.
The other good news is that, in addition to some types of safer seafoods (moderate amounts of salmon, pacific cod, and canned tuna), there are dietary sources of Omega-3 fatty acids that do not contain pollutants or mercury. Indeed, newer dietary supplements offer purified (contaminant free) Omega-3s - some from seafood sources and some from flaxseed oil, etc. A supplement like Prenatal Pure Omega-3 is specifically designed for pregnancy, and is certified mercury-free. For nursing mothers, Prenatal Pure Omega-3 (or other pure sources of Omega-3s) are highly advised because fatty acid nutrients pass directly from mother to child via breast milk."
This news is becoming more and more wide-spread, as more and more mothers are becoming aware of the facts. There is so much information out there. Here are just a few more I found. It's easy to google if you want more...
2. This one uses charts and graphs and offers a really amazing presentation of information: MedScape CME.
And as I've written about before, if you go out and choose which supplement is be best for you - if that's the route you've chosen - make sure you know where the ingredients came from... be sure you can trust the company and that their products aren't as contaminated as the fish we are avoiding! And just to have a high standard to compare it to, check this one out as well.
Mercury levels in fish.
We want to eat fish - they are a healthy, nutritious, and full of good stuff for our bodies. Plus, they provide omega-3s and other such vitamins. But our streams are getting contaminated, and our fish farms are using un-natural means of growing fish... And along with all the healthy benefits of seafood, there are some problems with them as well.
The Test:
"After testing mercury levels in more than 1,000 fish over seven years, the USGS is warning Americans to limit the amount of large, predator freshwater fish they eat, such as large-mouth bass, pickerel, walleye and some catfish."
WHY? Harmful Effects of Mercury:
"Mercury is both formed naturally in the environment and is also caused by industrial pollution releasing it into the air. It is a heavy metal and toxic to the brain and tissues in the body. Mercury then gathers in streams and oceans and forms methylmercury in the water. When fish feed, they absorb the methylmercury, which is the type of mercury that is harmful, according to the EPA. Too much methylmercury could damage the nervous system and impair mental functioning. It is most harmful to children and pregnant women. Mercury poisoning has usually been associated with large ocean fish, such as the tuna used in sushi."
So, if we listen to these warnings and limit our fish intake, we may want to supplement with vitamins that will replace what we are not getting from a fish diet. But... remember... those "supplements" are made from fish. If the fish are contaminated, then so are your vitamins. Do the research to see if your omega-3s are pure, and how pure they are. It doesn't do much good to go through all the trouble of avoiding fish then popping supplements that are no cleaner. I'd recommend taking a look at the standards proposed by these guys, and check to see how other vitamin companies compare.
Adults and Supplementation
Ultimately, you want to get nutrients from whole foods - that is the best source. But do our diets do enough?
- Dr. Decuypere gives a list for suggested vitamin intake.
- An overview of vitamin and mineral supplements from British Columbia.
- What Shaklee has to say:
"A diet rich in calcium from foods and supplements was associated with a lower risk of developing cancers of the digestive system, including colon cancer. In fact, men and women with the highest calcium intakes had a 16 and 23% lower risk respectively for digestive system cancers compared to those with the lowest calcium intakes."
"Need help battling colds this winter? Maybe you should make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D. Intrigued by the recent studies suggesting vitamin D is a key immune system player, NIH researchers examined blood vitamin D levels in the US population to see if there was any relationship to frequency of colds. Sure enough, the higher the blood level of vitamin D, the lower the frequency of reported upper respiratory tract infections. Those with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 36% increased risk of catching a cold when compared to those with the highest levels. The link was even stronger in those with existing respiratory conditions. For example, asthmatics with the lowest vitamin D status were nearly six times as vulnerable to colds as those with the highest vitamin D blood levels."
To see more, click HERE.
The Shaklee Landmark Study found that: "Long-term dietary supplement use was consistently associated with more favorable blood levels of important nutrients and key heart health biomarkers. More importantly, long-term users of multiple dietary supplements generally reported lower prevalence of disease in self reported health conditions including elevated blood pressure and diabetes, when compared to single multivitamin users and nonusers." To see the detailed conclusion, read THIS.
The General Public has a lot of opinions when it comes to adults and supplements. So do those in the medical and research fields. What do you think?
Crunch these numbers...
The numbers don't lie!
- The average home generates 25 pounds of toxic waste each year.
- EPA reports: Only a fraction of chemicals have been tested for health concerns.
- 9 out of 10 poison exposures happen at home.
- Women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work outside the home... a direct result of the increased exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which are found in common household products.
Natural vs. Synthetic
Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamins. Is there a significant difference? Outside of how much you pay for these supplements, is there a health benefit to 'natural' or will the 'synthetic' be just as beneficial? Because if there is no difference, why not buy our vitamins and supplements from a cheap(er) store/company? Why not buy Wal-Mart brands, Dollar General brands? [I thought this was interesting: one site said at least 90% of all vitamins sold in the U.S. are synthetic.]
Well, I've been doing a lot of research on this topic, and surprisingly opinions vary greatly. Some claim synthetic vitamins are just as effective as natural vitamins, for a fraction of the cost. While others say, "No way! You get what you pay for." Synthetic vitamins are not complete, they don't absorb into the system, and in a few cases, can actually cause more harm than good. 'Naturals' come from food and plant sources, 'synthetics' come from chemical sources. Naturals are found in nature, and synthetics are born in a science lab.
Another important note is that one specific vitamin cannot heal anything nor can it work alone. In nature, they are found in families, and need to work together and be available to each other to be able to fully absorbed and used in someone's body. Imagine building a clock with a nice-looking frame but without all the nuts and bolts and gadgets needed to turn the hands around. From the outside, it might look like it should work, but it will never will without all the right pieces. That's kind of how our bodies are. We need all the right pieces - and good, quality pieces - to allow us to function at our highest.
Below are some snippets of what I found. Click on the titles to go to the original articles.
#1: Did you know...
- that the vitamins you are now using are very likely synthetic?
- that synthetic vitamins have only one component out of a whole family of micro-nutrients that accompany them in their natural state?
- that only 50% of a synthetic vitamin can be utilized somewhat efficiently?
- that some sensitive people may actually have an adverse reaction to the synthetic vitamins?
- that scientists can chemically reproduce sea water but when you put fish in this synthetic sea water they die?
Many synthetics are made from coal tar derivatives. That's the same stuff that causes throat cancer for tobacco smokers... Synthetics are not efficiently utilized in the body as natural supplements due to the "dl" factor and the lack of complete families which include all surrounding micro-nutrients.
[This was an awesome site. Read through it if you have time.]
most of the vitamin supplements at your local vitamin store:
- The majority of commercial vitamin supplements are made up of synthetic vitamins
- Synthetic vitamins do not perform the same functions in your body as vitamins found naturally in whole food
- Many synthetic vitamins deplete your body of other nutrients and tax your kidneys before being excreted through your urine
Yes. Some vitamins are water soluble, so the flush out of the body quite easily. Other vitamins are fat soluble. The fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K. Because they are soluble in fat (lipids), these vitamins tend to build-up in the body's fat tissues, fat deposits, and liver. This storage capability makes the fat-soluble vitamins potentially toxic when consuming high-dose synthetic versions of these vitamins, rather than food-based vitamins that the body knows how to metabolize. Care should be exercised when taking the fat-soluble vitamins, and it is recommended that you avoid the synthetic forms of these vitamins whenever possible.
Also many people are allergic to the chemicals used as a base for synthetic vitamins. Some are toxic, including nicotine, coal tars and alloxal. Avoid toxic ingredients such as magnesium stearate or stearic acid (toxic flowing agents), silicon dioxide (common sand used as an expensive filler that makes the bottle weigh more with the hope that the uneducated consumer will equate weight with higher quality), natural flavors (a common term for toxic MSG used to disguise bland tastes), methylcellulose, carnauba wax, titanium dioxide, and many more. If you are not sure of what you are taking, do not take it! These toxic chemical agents can create significant health problems when consumed over time. The OCA will be posting a detailed list of some of the most problematic ingredients.
#4: Synthetic Vitamin Supplements are far more common than their natural counterparts.
These are the over-the-counter daily vitamins you see in your corner grocery or drug store. They are made in laboratories by chemists who are desperately trying to duplicate the types of vitamins found in natural food sources. These are "vitamin simulations" that just don't measure up. Our bodies don't recognize these chemicals as vitamins, but as intruders. As if we don't have enough troubles on our own, now our cells have to work like crazy to eliminate these chemicals, along with the crushed-up rocks that are marketed as "minerals." Evidence of this can be found in our urine, which often turns a bright fluorescent green. "Vitamin burps," heartburn, and the jitters are further evidence that this stuff is fake, and that our bodies want no part of it.
There is so much research out there. Go out and find the facts for yourself. I experimented for months with different brands, but could never figure out why they weren't working for me. I was doing just what the doctor said, but my body couldn't process or utilize the synthetic brands I was using. And let me tell you - that was frustrating.
Then I heard about a natural company, who does hundreds of tests on the raw product, making sure the ingredients are pure and as organic as possible - before they ever hit pill form. They take great pride in their strict policies, and will discontinue a product if it does not meet their standards. They are backed by so many tests, reviews, published reports... so i tried them. And within TEN DAYS - I was getting results. That's when I said "good-bye!" to synthetic vitamins! To see their results, go HERE and click on anything within "Healthy Science Downloads." For graphs, facts, and stats, go HERE and click on "Landmark Dietary Supplement Study."
But don't take my word for it - I'm just one person, with no formal medical or pharmaceutical training. That said, I am a consumer, and someone who can read and research and find answers. And I have the personal experience of feeling the physical difference of effective and not effective vitamins. Tell me your thoughts!
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