In Remission...Now What?

So you have been through chemo and radiation with success...and are in remission...congratulations!!!

Now what? There will always be the fear of "will it come back"...we cannot shut that switch off in our brain. Yes, we can have a positive attitude... but there will be days. My husband had a morning like this today. Since "our blog" is for his journey, I am going to "talk" to those who have been there, speaking on behalf of your friends and family members asking my opinion of what you can do to ensure your body remains healed. Keep in mind, this is my personal opinion...I am not a doctor or giving medical advice, and by putting my recommendations into action is no guarantee. No one has a guarantee on life..mine can come to end tomorrow just as much as the next person.

I am a book-learned, research driven person...and my recommendations are based on holistic wellness approaches as to what I WOULD DO FOR MYSELF.

For anyone...whether you are in remission, or going through treatment, there is a pretty inexpensive test you can have done that measures the cancer cells in your bloodstream - it is called an HCG test.  Read more about it here, at the Navaroo Medical Clinic. Basically, taken every two months if in a current treatment plan, it will tell you whether or not your treatment is working. For those in remission, I would probably take the test twice a year or as often as you feel comfortable. As long as your number remains constant or goes down...you are on the right path. I am willing to bet your doctor, probably even your oncologist, is not aware of this test.

If this test were done during treatment...it would provide an early on indicator if the chosen path of treatment is successfully working. If not, find a new treatment plan of action.

We just sent away for this test for my husband, and I sent a sample in for myself as well. For $55 I can have peace of mind knowing I have cancer at bay. OR I may get a red alert and will get even more serious about a more healthy eating plan... I know I have sugar too often in one week - I am fueling my cancer cells each time I have a sweet treat.We all have cancer cells once we get past 30 - actually, with today's toxic world I don't doubt my kids have cancer cells as well. However, it is one's ability to switch cancer cells on or off that matter - and fortunately, for many our body is functioning and the off switch is working.

This is what I would do for myself if I were in remission:
- Monitor with the HCG test to measure cancer cell levels
- use pH strips to monitor my acidity to alkaline levels weekly
- eat an 80/20 diet (vegetarian/animal based foods - another way to look at this: alkaline/acidic foods)
- utilize a pure, full spectrum super green food - this will fuel cells with oxygen (more on this Sept 1)
- shop organic as much as possible
- avoid any and all artificial ingredients as well as high glycemic
- use CLEAN and PURE skin care, shampoo, etc
-  avoid chemical cleaners/pesticides in the home, and artificial fragrances (i.e. no artificial candles/plug ins)
- use a full body/organ detox protocol quarterly (look for broken cell chlorella)
- ensure the estradiol to progesterone ratio is in balance if my cancer involved any reproductive organ or breast (ZRT Labs offers test kits)
- monitor vitamin levels, D and magnesium deficiency is prevalent in cancer patients
- support the immune system - diet is key, supplementation often necessary
- utilize infra-red heat or sauna if possible - sweat - turn up the heat, not with strenuous activity, which can weaken the immune, but with heat sourcing products

Truths about cancer:
1. cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment
2. an oxygen deprived cell fuels cancer
3. sugar fuels cancer - if your doctor says you can eat anything you want - DON'T LISTEN!!
4. cancer cells are compromised at temps over 109.4 degrees F

This is what I would do if I were in remission. I would do pretty much the same if I were in a battle with cancer - but would step up the anti-oxidant, oxygen rich food sources.

May healthy be your new happy,
Rita S.

Are Your Genes Controlling Your Health

Nutrigenomics can overcome your genetic predisposition. Diseased cellls are FUELED by the choices you make, and unfortunately, sometimes those choices are made for us. (As an example, a lawn or city park that is sprayed by chemicals that drift into your "intake zone".  

Genetic tendencies, a family tree laden with cancer, does not mean you are assured of getting the disease - unless you continually think about it and as in many areas of our life, including our health "what you think about, you bring about". Fact is, a very small percentage of cancers are actually from genetic make-up - less than 5%. The majority of cancer is caused by environmental exposures.  This is a topic I have written about in great lengths - if any of you have beared with me on those particular posts.

For those concerned about genetic make up and disease - there is GREAT NEWS!  The field of Nutrigenomics has made great strides in recent years.  Holsitc wellness is CURING cancer whereas traditional treatment continues to poison the human body so that it often manifests as another disease, or different cancer, years later - per the holistic and alternative medicine books and newsletters that  I read.  A book I highly recommend is "Cancer is Not a Disease, It's A Survival Mechanism"..

Our genetic mapping begins in the womb, obviously, and it comes in part from the hormones of both parents...a lack thereof of one hormone or another will affect offspring. Some babies already have predispositions to certain traits, such as brain triggers, type 1 diabetes, from birth and early on in their lives.  This is one reason why, as an adult, having hormones tested is a good place to start if you have a concern of family health history.   DNA chains become genes and many many thousands of genes become cells.  

CELLS DIE. CELLS POPULATE.   100 billion red cells, 400 million white cells are produced every hour.

Back to cell death...apoptosis.  This is healthy...we WANT cells to die.  The trouble starts when cells do not die after they do their job.  This happens 94% of the time, because of environmental factors.  Genetics, as I mentioned, accounts for a scant percentage of cancer. In addition to the chemicals in our foods and hygiene products, X-rays, radiation and medication also play a role in contributing to cancer.  It stands to reason that if new cells are generating and "old" cells are dying and excreting from the body - that we can become a new being over and over again, and healthier every day if we cease exposure to environmental toxins and foods.

This article is three years old, and from all that I have read the science of nutrigenomics has advanced. There are nutrients that can flip the switch on a gene "just like that". 

Hormones also play a role - with estrogen producing the Bcl-2 cancer-causing gene, whearas progesterone produces p-53, the cancer-protective gene (1990 Formby and Wiley research published Annals of Clinical Laboratory Science)

Progesterone, a natural hormone made by both men and women, is the only hormone that can counter excess estrogen. Most people are out of balance, with the body containing more estrogen than progesterone.  Women are usually imbalanced by age 35. For one, we tend to use more hygiene products than  men, most of which have endocrine disruptors. 

Men's progesterone levels decrease by age 50 - allowing estrogen to get out of hand. Testosterone alone does not cause prostrate cancer...a common sense statement by Dr. Michael Platt in his book "The Miracle of BioIdentical Hormones", states that if prostrate cancer were caused by too much testosterone we would have an epidemic amongst 17 yr old boys. The first time I read that it was an AHA moment - makes a lot of sense, don't you agree?  I do believe that traditional medicine is finally catching one a little bit, as they give drugs that prohibit estrogen.  It's too bad, in my opinion, that more oncologists and men don't know that bio identical progesterone can do JUST THAT - keep the estrogen levels in check.    One study referenced in a book shows that enlarged prostrate reduces and prostrate cancer cells die when progesterone is added and brought back into balance.

Many auto immune diseases are also caused in large part by hormone imbalance and dietary choices.  A family history of disease does NOT DICTATE a future of the same.  Educate yourself on the particular "disease", or as author Moritz describes, a SYMPTOM you may be prone too.  THEN change your DNA by nutrigenomics.  Find a knowledgeable naturopath, and if one is not available to you - the books certainly are.  Many are found in your local library for FREE.

Take an ATTITUDE CHECK.  If it is "woe is me....I come from a line of XYZ disease so I know I will get it" - YOU WILL.  I encourage you to be an OVERCOMER!!   Take control of your CELLS - yes, you can! Fuel them with anti-oxidants that can overcome the free radicals that mutate cells.  Avod the endocrine disruptors.  Make healthy choices 80% of the time. Use pH strips to monitor your body's acidic vs. alkaline status, and if is on the acidic side - consume more anti oxidants n the form of vegetables to tip the scale towards alkaline.  Disease cannot survive an alkaline state. Which is another topic I will not get into...thanks for reading, I hope that this post gives you HOPE if you feel you have been dealt a deck of diseased. genes. It's how you play those cards that will determine if you WIN and enjoy health!

To your health, 
Rita S.

Gynecomastia - Men and Hormone Imbalance

This evening as I sat down to hop on my laptop, the television is on and another commercial airs over drug side effects and lawsuits pending against the drug companies.  I don't recall the drug name, but the attorneys running the ad were looking for males who had been treated for Gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts in boys and males. Effects of the drug included serious conditions (which seems to be the norm if you read the fine print on prescription drugs doled out on a daily basis).

My ears always perk up when any condition is an obvious result of hormone imbalance. Enlarged breasts in males screams "too much estrogen" in my mind.  Because I study hormone imbalance constantly - it is obvious to me, but may not be obvious to a doctor, or I should clarify that to say, treating the cause with a natural remedy is often not obvious, when training and education focus on prescription drugs to treat symptoms.

Interestingly, drugs prescribed for Gynecomastia are drugs prescribed for heartburn, high blood pressure and even foot fungus. That bit of information makes me scratch my head a bit...

How about looking at the cause of abnormal breast enlargement in males? Now, to be clear, this condition is not the same as fatty tissue deposits from being overweight.  Gynecomastia that occurs during puberty usually resolves without treatment within six months to two years. The condition sometimes develops between ages 10 and 12 years, and most commonly occurs between ages 13 and 14, and is uncommon for the condition to persist beyond age 17.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you may know by now that male and females have the same hormones - of which there are a variety. It is the differences in amounts of a certain hormone that make us men or women. Balance is necessary or we can run into problems, for example, women with excess testosterone might experience hair loss on top of her head, and excess hair growth above and below the lips. 

Gynecomastia can happen when the balance shifts, with an increase in estrogen or decrease in androgens. This can occur because of expected hormonal changes during puberty or aging, or because of the use of certain drugs or herbal products.  Skin care containing lotions with estrogenic properties may contribute to breast enlargement in males - herbs to be aware of include tea tree oil, lavendar and soy, per a report in the 2007 New England Journal of Medicine. 

Note that soy in diet of males, and a host of environmental estrogens (coined as xenoestrogen by Dr. John Lee) should be considered when determing the cause. Males should avoid soy milk, soy based protein shakes, infant males should NOT be fed soy based baby formula, which is banned in England because of its tendencies to create hormonal imbalance in boys. Soy producers and promoters will argue on this point, but if several European countries have mandated a law against soy in infant formula I personally believe there is credibility.

On this topic, Body Logic write, "Breast enlargement in men often occurs after the age of 50 and is frequently associated with andropause. Andropause causes testosterone levels to drop, which leaves less of the hormone available to balance out the estrogen. Increased estrogen production and severe hyperthyroidism can also cause the gynecomastia. Enlarged male breasts are more likely to occur in overweight men due to the effects that obesity has on the body. Furthermore, weight gain is also a symptom of andropause, so it is not uncommon for a man to experience both concurrently."

After reviewing environmental causes (lotions, exposure to pesticides, fertilizers, etc) for estrogen influx in the body, removing them; and diet has been addressed in attempts to bring hormones into balance and reduce enlarged breasts in males, bHRT may be considered.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is the non-drug remedy, and to me, is the common sense approach. The Natural Progesterone Advisory Network provides a list of progesterone creams that the non-biased group has tested to be USP certified, absorbable and provides 20 mgs/dose.  Men over age 50 typically apply 5-10 mg of progesterone per dose. For men,  a USP certified progesterone cream that comes with a pre-metered pump, allows men to quickly apply without having to think too hard about the amount needed.

To your health,
Rita S.

Avoid the DEET and Look to Nature for Bug Repellant!

If you haven’t noticed, the mosquitoes are out in droves this summer. Mainstream repellents are quite toxic not only to the skin, but to the neurological and endocrine systems as well.
Nature is a great place to look for natural ways to thwart the mosquitoes and no-see-ums, that seem to amass in clouds this year. 
Consider Limonene. What? If you have ever peeled an orange, no doubt you have “been exposed” to the organic chemical - limonene.  Scrape an orange peel and smell your fingers... limonene is a chemical released from the peel that produces a very strong citrus smell. Per NakedScientists.com “the reason that fruit, citrus in particular, make the chemical is because it’s also quite nasty for things, other  than humans, who haven’t got fingers to peel an orange.  If you try to borough through the peel of an orange, you’d have to eat the peel and the peel doesn’t taste too good.  Limonene is mildly toxic and being organic and unpleasant tasting as it is, it puts off insects...a way (fruit) tree uses in keeping its fruit in good condition."
Our family stocks up on the all natural citrus scents of AB botanical citrus aromatherapy line during the summer. The mist awakens my senses with key ingredients such as lemon peel, and essential oils from coriander and limonene.
A friend of mine, who is a new mom,  swears by that citrus aromatherapy that is pure and safe (one most know and trust the brands they choose for their family)  found in her summer arsenal of safe baby care products. Although green science botanical products are not going to provide a 10 ft. shield from bugs, and insects may still hover near human skin, my friend stated that her new baby has not been bit once despite the bugs being around in great supply.
Although natural aromatherapy lines arfe not sold or guaranteed as an insect repellant, many find they work. For my daughter, a mist alone repels. I personally prefer to double my defenses, and apply the citrus fragrant body  lotion first, on my skin, whether exposed or not as those “skeeters” have a nasty habit of biting through lightweight summer material. I then follow with the citrus mist, which also serves as a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up or freshener after a work out. I take the mist along to an outing to reapply as needed.
If you have been applying toxic chemicals, because you figure it is a better alternative than perhaps getting Lyme's disease, you may want to study the side effects of Deet and other harmful insect repellant ingredients. All pesticides are endocrine disruptors, and contribute to hormone imbalance with a lean towards estrogen dominance.  Consider purchasing a mosquito net. I did just that this summer!
For more on the harmful effects of sprays containing DEET check out this article, and then consider whether we might learn from nature, and the natural insect repellents of the natural world.

To your health,
Rita S.

Purity Bests Organic

Good. Better. Best.  When I worked for a window treatment company we had three grades for our products.  The discount, big box stores bought and sold "good", department stores offered better...but the premium stores and design houses offered the BEST.

As we wrap up 30 days of clean eating in our home I thought I should digress from the clean food topic for a bit, and bring up another subject that affects our health - that would be our skincare.  As I have discussed in my cancer prevention workshops, when it comes to toxic food - thankfully our bodies have a liver to filter the toxins.  When it comes to what we put on the largest organ of our body, our skin, there is no filter.  Everything we put on our skin is absorbed into our system, and per the EPA reaches our bloodstream and organs in less than 30 seconds.  So why should we be concerned about our lotions and shampoos?

Toxins in - does not necessarily mean toxins out (unless you are on some sort of regular detox program).  Toxins store up inside - a little toxin a day multiplied by 365 days a year multiplied by.....  get the picture?  It creates a hormone imbalance, interupts our divinely created endocrine system.  Consider that for a moment...and then - be on guard.  Just because a label states "all natural" or "organic" does not mean it is toxin free.

Truth of the matter is - organic farmers have a hard time keeping their produce pure, in some parts of the world more so than others.  I learned a while back from my chiropractor, Dr. Joe Teff, also a highly respected nutritionist, that the fall out of radiation from Japan has affected organic food crops.  Where, you might ask? Well, California, Hawaii and another friend tells me the fall out has reached much further north. To help the organic farmers of California, the state simply raised the allowance of radiation in order to label a product organic.  If you would like to be your own personal watchdog on this topic - check out www.enviroreporter.com or www.compassnaturalmarketing.com and look for the effects of the Fukushima disaster.  It is affecting much more than I could have imagined.

This is not to say you should not eat organic - you can obtain 40% more nutrients from organic than traditionally grown produce, but for certain -wash it! Small organic farms adjacent to Monsanto's huge, chemical laden farms also fall victim to chemical fall out from their genetically modified crop farm/corporation.

So my point here is the ORGANIC label on skin care.  Unless you are growing it yourself - I feel you need to have a higher standard than organic. 

PURITY bests organic.  For myself and my own family - we look for purity standards, and frankly, the European cosmetic industry has standards that far exceed any skin care products made here in the U.S.  Having said that - watch out for foreign sounding names on your product labels. They may sound French, Swiss, or whatever, but may actually be formulated here in the U.S.  I remember a friend telling me her mother uses a high end French sounding product from a fancy department store...and when I researched the ingredient labels the product contained petrolatum (a derivitive of crude oil) and parabens.  It turns out the product line is simply a more expensive offshoot of the Big L in cosmetics.

Know the company from whom you purchase products.  What is their ingredient policy? Are raw materials tested for purity on a regular batch-tested basis?  Even organic soy beans contain naturally occuring toxins such as formaldehyde and trace metals from the soil.  Just one example of why PURITY is the standard by which skin care products are chosen for our family.

Labeling is what labeling does - MARKET. I think about the irony of products who wash their labels PINK in October to support the Komen foundation...when the products themselves have cancer causing ingredients.  All I am saying is be a WISE consumer, and do your research.

Check out those web sites I offered above, and become a SMART consumer about the truth of the nuclear disaster.  Mainstream's media coverage, or lack of it, is rather disturbing. How would you like to apply a skin lotion made with organic ingredients that contain radiation? Think about that. The thought makes me shudder.

European standards, specifically the European Union Cosmetics Directive and the European chemicals agency known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) are two watch dog agencies that I trust more than any U.S. resource. Therefore, the products we use in our family,  adhere to these European standards - and I feel very very good about the safe approach to skin care that my family is using. The company has been formulating with green science and offering pure and safe products for 33 years, before organic was a popular word.

Many of my readers may be familiar with Safe Cosmetics.org - and I will leave you with a link to their article which points out the level of excellence that is established by the European cosmetics directive: www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=346

May you feel great, look great and live great as you make wise decisions, not only in your food choices, but in your skin care as well!

To your health,

Rita S.

Too Young

This night I post after a long day ...just to reiterate how much I hate cancer. It took the life of a beautiful women today. A childhood friend... a mother, a person who made others smile and feel welcomed. And although I cannot even begin to understand why some are called Home so young...and we humans cannot control such things...  I do know that our health care system is not up to par when compared to the European countries. I know, that may seem like a strange statement, but I am angry about the death of this women and the path of health care given given years ago.
Sometimes traditional medicine is not in our best interest...not because it is intentional, but because doctors may not know any other way...as education comes from the drug companies, per Dr. Stacey Bean, Dr. John Lee, Dr. Joe Mercola, Dr. Russel Blaylock, Platt, Weil...and a host of others who repeat this time and time again in their books, newsletters and other resources. (I'm an avid reader of health and wellness.)
If a young woman has polycystic ovarian syndrome - too often the answer is a hysterectomy. The after affects of this procedure are typically comprised of a form of Hormone Replacement Therapy - aka HRT.  HRT is linked to a multitude of side effects, some may be minor, but others, such as cancer...can be fatal.
I'm speaking to the ladies reading this post.... be on guard for your own health's sake!!  Do NOT take everything your doctor states as truth...it may not be, but it may be all they know. Doctors are busy people...they do not have time to study outside the realm of their practice, other than what drug companies provide on their latest products. Unless, as some do, they take the initiative and sacrifice perhaps family time to read up on the latest information that may not be published in the American Journal of Medicine. Drug companies have a say in what is published in medical journals as well... per Dr. John Lee, they have a hand in keeping natural healing remedies out of these journals...the fact is, natural does not sell Rx.
Only synthetic, drug company derived prescriptions can make their company money - not God's healing medicines of herbs and other botanicals. The Creator has given us a virtual medicine chest...and there are those well versed in botanicals and science that can take plants, combined with science, to make a bio-identical product that mimics what the body produces...when our bodies fail to produce enough.
In case you are not aware, I am talking about BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, or bHRT.  In regards to my friend, it is possible progesterone could have taken care of her problem back in her 20s, vs. the operation at age 32 that may have been the catalyst for what was to come.
I can't do anything about the past, but I can continue to answer the call to educate as many as will listen, or read, about the benefits of progesterone cream.
An excerpt from an article on uterine cancer: "We know now that progesterone deficiency is linked to an increased risk of cancer. Uterine cancer, for example, is known to be caused by unopposed estrogen. That’s why women who have an intact uterus and take estrogen replacement therapy must also be given some form of progesterone to oppose estrogen and reduce this risk. This is generally given in the form of synthetic progestin (that carry health risks) designed to block estrogen effects, but differs considerably from the molecule that is human-identical progesterone."

To explain this, I would encourage you to read the entire article offered by one of my go to sources:
http://www.natural-progesterone-advisory-network.com/endometrial-uterine-cancer-and-natural-progesterone/

Please understand I am not bashing the medical profession...doctors do as they are told and educated by those who they must answer to, which is probably the hospital that employs them, and hospitals benefit with Big Pharma "partnerships". If you ever have a chance to talk with someone who USED to be in pharmaceutical sales...you will understand. For many, their hands are simply tied.
You don't have to go to med school to be your own best health advocate, but you do need to read and learn. What are you willing to give up to take charge of your health? A weekly television program, reading "shades of gray"...such things are not life changing past times, correct?  If you take some time to explore the web site I link above - I suspect you will find the time spent life changing, it could even save your life, or certainly improve it.
My passion is educating family, friends, strangers...seriously, I will talk to anyone who will listen about bHRT. It certainly has contributed to my own well being, and I have had so many women share their testimonies about the improvements to their overall well being once they discover bHRT - aka USP certified bio-identical progesterone transdermal cream.  Obviously I cannot convince everyone, especially those in the medical profession. Often there is no interest until cancer hits home. Then, perhaps, this information will be of interest, and unfortunately it can be too late.
Please look into it, contact me if you have questions on this subject and I can probably send you documents, links to articles, etc.  As a reminder, I am not nor do I profess to be a doctor - I simply pass along information from those doctors who HAVE taken the time to study that which is not taugh in med school - bHRT. I may not have MD credentials...but frankly, I know more on this subject than those with credentials. Sadly, it does not qualify me to educate family members of those affected by cancer at a local organization geared toward serving families with cancer...the irony of it all.
Our families deserve us, don't you think? I am doing all I can to be around for my children. No, I cannot control my fate, but I can be proactive and make wisened decisions for my own healthful benefit. I hate cancer and hate that it rips families apart. Please be pro-active in  your own health care.

In honor of heaven's new angel, God's peace,
Rita S.

Cancer "Do Nots"

Recently I learned about an organization called the American Anti-Cancer Institute, as it endorses the skincare and nutrition products that my company offers. I love that…as the anti-cancer perspective IS the greatest reason I got into the business of offering Swiss-formulated, pure, safe and beneficial products.
It is a site worth perusing. I will share a few items from their site. I encourage you to send people who have cancer to this site, and also to support this organization with monetary donations if you are considering year end contributions.
I am glad to note that my family has already taken action towards many of the items on the “avoid these” lists. We have not cut out the microwave completely, but are reducing its use. We bought a teapot for heating water after learning that microwaved water is essentially “dead” water, as the microwaves change the molecular structure. Someday I hope we can afford a filtered water system, but at least we have well water and are not subject to chlorinated city water.
AACI "AVOID THESE" ANTI-CANCER CHECKLIST
1. Stop drinking and bathing in tap water; use a chlorine shower filter
2. Stop using flouride toothpaste
3. Stop using anti-perspirant; (you've got armpits for a reason) Deodorant, OK, if non-aluminum
4. Stop using teflon coated cookware
5. Stop cooking most of your food, go raw as much as possible
6. Cut out TV dinners and microwave cooked food
7. Discard dairy products except for the Budwig protocol (occasional goat milk OK)
8. Stop drinking regular and diet sodas, products with added sugar and/or aspartame, and acid-forming beverages including sports drinks. Stop drinking bottled water. Use filtered water and if possible, ionized water.
9. Cut down red meat consumption -- once per week acceptable, if organic
10. Don't eat farm fed fish, buy it Wild, please

There is MUCH MUCH information to take in on this site. I have only just begun, and downloaded the e-book. I look forward to delving into that as soon as I am done reading The China Study.

To your health!
Rita S.

How To Avoid Faux Estrogens

This evening I am spending some time gathering links to articles and information that can be of benefit to a friend's friend who recently found "a lump" and is scheduled for a biopsy this coming week. In doing so, I came across a new resource that I wish to share with all my readers.
I encourage you to check out the site, and I wish to give this site credit for the information I am sharing below, as it is a direct cut and paste.
It has already been established that if you live in the United States or other industrialized nation, you are exposed to foreign hormones (xenohormones) every day. These can be absorbed into your system by digestion, inhalation, or direct skin contact.
There are simple steps everyone can take to protect themselves from estrogen mimickers found in xenohormones (chemicals) and phytoestrogens (certain foods and plants). I recommend that you:
1. Buy organic foods when at all possible. If you can’t go all the way for any reason, avoid hormone treated meats and poultry at all costs.
2. Drink filtered water. Researchers worldwide have observed fish switching gender due to the high level of effluent estrogen in the water. The problem is attributed to high levels of synthetic hormones excreted by women using synthetic HRT or on birth control pills. Our water treatment facilities are not designed to remove hormonal pollutants.
3. Throw away all pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.
4. Throw away all cosmetics that have toxic ingredients and switch to organic or “clean” cosmetics.
5. Throw away all nail polish and nail polish removers.
6. Use organic soaps and toothpastes.
7. Don’t use fabric softeners as they put petrochemicals right onto your skin.
8. Use only naturally based perfumes. Most perfumes are petrochemically based.
9. Do not drink beverages from plastic bottles. All plastic leaches xenoestrogens into the environment.
10. Do not microwave food in plastic containers and avoid using plastic wrap to cover food for microwaving.
11. Wash your food well to rid it of pesticides.
12. Beware of noxious fumes given off by carpets, copiers and printers, nail & hair salons.

Please check out http://hormonewell.com

To your health,

Rita S.

My Purpose Driven Life

This morning as I read scripture from 1 Peter I had a realization. Verses from chapter 5:1-3 read: "Be shepherd's of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve."
Servitude ...that is truly what my business comes down to. People say to me, "I could never sell." And I think, "well gosh, neither can I!" I have this horrible fear of rejection deep inside. I am sure you can all relate to the fear of rejection, whether it be rejected love, job search rejection, peer rejection...sometimes rejection can consume us.
But there is another entity that can consume us in a powerful way, and that is PASSION and PURPOSE. For most of my life I felt I was searching for this, indeed - I had felt something was "missing". A little more than a year ago a friend offered me the gift of Arbonne. I had no idea what it truly was, and just thought it a great product to get rid of skin tags. But at the same time, a dear friend was dying of prostrate cancer, and both had a commonality - "hormone imbalance". God opened my eyes so I could make the connection.
Knowledge can be powerful...and I set out to learn. I consumed books about hormone imbalance, health and well-being, toxins, physiology - all this "stuff"! What is surprising is that it sinks in to my head, and what's more - it stays there, which is mind-boggling in that I'm pushing 50, and absorbing all this new material as if I were 20 gain. I was never the biology brain in high school, and am certain God has His hand working on my behalf.
God made each of us through divine creation, with machinery inside that is so intricate and connected that it would blow our minds if we truly understood. The miracle that we are was not designed to run on toxic fuel, but on pure and good things from the earth that our Creator has provided. We are humans - we mess things up! In the name of "progress" we are messed up! We make choices, not that different from the "poisonous apple" in the center of the Garden.
It is amazing how God puts people in my path that tell me of their symptoms, or that of a parent, or grandparent. (My husband finds that amazing as well!) My fear tells me to offer sympathy and understanding, and zip my lip. I have to muster my passion to tell them what I have learned that can actually help them, or their loved one, possibly improve their well-being and feel better.
I strongly feel my Purpose is to educate and suggest products and books that can help people feel take control of their health (check the sidebar on the right for helpful links)...the products do not have to come from my company. I can teach people how to shop, and research ingredient labels to watch for the hidden dangers. Some prefer the convenience that my company has done the research for the past 32 years, and I have double checked their work. (LOL) Others become confident in their own ability to read labels - which means I have educated well!
I can only discern that I have, at last, found my life's purpose - to educate and help and serve so that other's do not have to experience what my dearest friend's family went through with cancer. I am not in the business to convince people and sell them on product, but to inform and let them make their own decisions. What it comes down to is that it is not about me, but about them.
Everyone has a RIGHT to go through life feeling great... without prescription drugs and having their insides yanked out. I feel God has taken me on a journey. One that has allowed me to completey turn the clock back and regain my health, and in turn I can teach, help others prevent from going where I was headed, and live life fully as God intended.

To your health, your own journey, and your purpose - God speed!
Rita S.

Alternatives to Chemical Mosquito & Insect Repellents

I am sure almost everyone is aware of the dangers of DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), especially when it comes to children, who are particularly sensitive to the chemicals in this “deep woods mosquito repellent”. The Hazardous Substance Data Bank reports, “toxicity to be primarily neurologic (i.e. seizures, movement disorders, coma)…children suffer from confusion, ataxia, hypertonicity and clonic jerking progressing to coma and seizures may occur after acute oral or chronic dermal exposure.”
Yikes! The EPA states that 60% of what you put on your skin enters your bloodstream and every organ in 26 seconds – think about that! Doesn’t it make you want to think twice, or even 3X or more about what you put on your skin, and especially that of your children? I came across an article today that certainly made me put my thinking cap on. I thought of my friend who is greatly bothered by deer flies when she runs, and she resorted to DEET. I don’t know if natural remedies will deter deer flies, but I would want to try!
Since my family shares our home with a parrot, we are always careful about what fumes we generate from cleaning products, and went “green” years ago when we raised parrots. For instance, a couple weeks ago I needed an ant killer, but I did not want to subject myself to the xenoestrogens rampant in pesticides. (See the sidebar for several articles on xenoestrogens and how they affect our bodies.) I searched the internet and found that I could add some typical household borax to sugar water, and set it out for the ants to drink. They then carry this back to the nest – borax will dry an insect from the inside out. Some sugar ants had found some candy for clients on my desk at work…this concoction seemed to work, although a number of the tiny ants drowned in the solution as well.
If we know we are going to spend an evening outside, I recommend we have a lunch with garlic generously added to our meal. I know that garlic can seep through your skin and mosquitos don’t care for it.
Citrus has always been recommended for repelling bugs and mosquitoes. Lemon thyme, lemon geranium and such make good plants to put near an outside door or around the yard. I used to plant tansy and basil and rub the leaves on my arms, but have not planted those particulars in years.
A couple weeks ago I received a newsletter report from “one of the docs” which stated that 100 mcg Vitamin B1 (thiamin) repels mosquitoes – I am not sure about this idea, but noted that the vitamin supplement we take in our home has 5 times the B1, and with an absorption rate of 10,000 ORAC – the vitamin is actually absorbed and can transmit an odor mosquitoes apparently do not like through the skin vs. going in the toilet.
You can plant citrus smelling perennials and run the leaves on your skin. I used to do that. I found that a citrus smelling mist called Awaken can help thwart mosquitoes – I mist our hair and face (having my daughter cover her eyes) as well. Everyone’s body chemistry is different, however, and citrus mists and oils may not work for everyone.
I certainly don’t have the natural repelling answer, if I did, I would be rich! Basically, if we know we are going to be in ‘skeeter infested outdoors, it is smart to wear jeans, closed toe shoes, loose fitting long sleeve cotton shirt (no matter how hot), and give the bugs as little skin to get a hold of you as possible.
Dr. Lee recommends a product health food stores may carry called Herbal Armor Spray and Lotion. (I also found it on amazon.com) Reviews on Herbal Armor are even positive regarding deer flies and those annoying gnats!
Don’t use flowery smelling shampoos or the bees might be attracted to you as they will try to find the source of the smell in your hair. A favorite web site of mine, and Dr. Lee’s, is http://www.gardensalive.com/ Their catalog is very informational, and the site even more so. Good luck outrunning the insects this summer, and finding a less toxic way than DEET to repel them.

To your health!
Rita S.

A Helpful Site to Share

The other day I came across a very informative site regarding natural hormone therapy and it is a must share with my readers. It is called the Natural Progesterone Advisory Network - a site by woman who have first hand experience and testimonies to share regarding natural hormone replacement therapy, with a passion to empower women to make informed decisions.
The link I provided takes you directly to a list or symptoms and concerns. You can find the ones that relate to you, click and read what is to be said.  I was specifically looking up thyroid information for a friend, and will share with you directly from the site:

Will progesterone help improve thyroid function?
A good number of women who approach the Natural Progesterone Advisory Network.com website present with symptoms that indicate possible thyroid dysfunction and yet, according the info provided, thyroid tested results are all clear. A few months on progesterone cream and, remarkably, all their apparent thyroid symptoms appear resolved.
Evidently estrogen dominance not only contributes to lethargy, fluid retention and weight gain, it has a negative impact on thyroid performance. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, are on thyroid medication and now want to incorporate natural progesterone into your regime, there’s no reason why you can’t, providing you do so under the strict supervision of your treating physician.
Your thyroid medication, however, may require regular adjustment as progesterone cream exerts an influence upon the thyroid gland.
Thyroid function can be improved with supplements of trace minerals such as selenium, iodine, zinc and manganese. Selenium particularly has been known to “enhance” thyroid medication.
Therefore, if you are unsure whether your thyroid is functioning optimally (this can be characterized by the inability to lose weight, puffy and swollen body appearance, lethargy, muscle weakness, dry skin, hair loss and constipation) you might well be advised to ask your doctor to order the appropriate tests. This includes blood profile to measure the levels of both thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, and also TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). A shortage of T4 would be administered in the form of thryoxine tablets. In the U.S. thyroid replacement therapy is available in cream form by way of natural thyroid hormone replacement using bio-identical hormones.

Hormone imbalance is truly the cause for so many things wrong with our bodies. We can avoid surgery by using natural supplements, such as progesterone cream applied to skin 1-2x daily. Who would not rather apply a cream than have your innards yanked out? Or take drugs with side effects that make one naueseous. Oh, and I learned from a friend that they make drugs to help reduce the nausea caused by the drugs taken. It is definitely a viscious cycle, and one that I hope and intend to avoid...always!

To your health!
Rita S.

Produce Clean Up from Pesticides

Unless you are growing your own produce, you can pretty figure your food has pesticide residue. Dr. Oz recently took a look at fresh produce, vegetable and fruits, and shared the bad news on some of our most favorite produce.

Strawberries can have over 50 pesticides  -he recommended  soaking for 2 min BEFORE rinsing.

Apples – 40 pesticide residues on apples Oz said to make sure you can smell the fruit you’re eating.

Spinach – USDA found 40 pesticide residues on spinach – it's difficult to wash, so Oz recommended buying organic.

Peaches – 60 pesticide residues on peaches, and because they are soft skinned they are difficult to clean.

Of course these are just a few examples, but please be aware that produce should never be purchased from the store and eaten without washing. Can you imagine being one of those people who pop a grape in their mouth at the produce stand? I wonder how much pesticide they consume when they do that?

Vegetable washes are available for purchase, but you can make your own with common house hold ingredients. As several of you have requested it, I thought i would share the recipe.

Homemade Recipe for Produce Cleaner

1 c water

1 c vinegar

Little baking soda

Juice from ½ lemon

Pour ingredients into spray bottle. The vinegar has anti-bacterial properties and lemon juice acts as an astringent.

Spray on produce and let it sit for 5 min. and rinse.

When we purchase strawberries we fill a large bowl with water, dump in a good amount of white vinegar, squeeze in some lemon juice and sprinkle a litlte baking soda. I don't measure, but I figure putting these ingredients together as a soak is better than water on its own. We let the berries soak about 30 min. and rinse thoroughly. the first time we did this it really was surprising how much dirt, etc. we found in the bowl. So please, wash your fruit and vegetables!


For more information check out the site of the Environmental Working Group.

Parabens in the news...

Thought I would quickly post some links that safecosmetics.org had up on facebook, in case you missed it...and addition links from the links - lots of interesting reading here - for your health!!

Parabens and breast cancer

cancer survivor encourages wise shopping

THIS may be a great breast cancer research study to fund

The Washingtong Post - article on harmful chemicals kept secret

Cosmetic chemicals affect men, too!

"Dirty Dozen" Toxic Chemicals

If you check any of these out, let me know what you think!

Seeking to live purely,
Rita

Must Know Health News Releases

Hi everyone - I had a chance to edit my "Focus on Prevention" powerpoint presentation yesterday. For those of you who attended last Tuesday evening, when we had to speed through it, I will be sending it to you shortly. I decided I should remove my first person comments from the notes as it may be confusing, since I am not actually presenting the talk to you in person.

One person asked if I would be publishing the information on my blog - I have considered this. It would require me posting it in sections, and I would have to post successively for it to be most helpful to readers. It will take some time to get this worked out, so it reads well in blog format and makes sense. I may not get to it until after Christmas.

Meanwhile - please keep educating yourself. Here is a link to several new health watch articles released today - one by Dr. Zava that helps those confused by the claim that progesterone causes cancer - when in fact it is the synthetic progestin. Today I was on the Susan G Komen site and from some of the information I read on the science and research link - I am not sure they are even aware of the media mixing up progestin with natural progesterone. This concerns me. 
Komen also do not seem to be concerned, or aware of, xenoestrogens...found in our hygiene products. The article states parabens do not cause cancer. Perhaps, in itself, parabens, petro-chemicals and other chemicals in our skin care products do not - but they are endocrine disruptors, and all are xenoestrogens according to Dr. Lee which means they are estrogen hormone imposters...and the body can't tell the difference between the imposters and the real thing...they come together inside a cell and it spells trouble!  I pray that Komen for the Cure is putting some of their cancer research donations into hormone imbalance as a cancer cause....oh wait, that's been done - so I hope they communicate with all the research and case studies already cited in Dr. John Lee's book, and come up to date. Cancer cure IS already available.
The foundation is receiving money from our events, and I plan to include a letter in this regard.  I would like to think that they are not funding research solely being conducted by those that produce drugs and make lots of money doing so. I have some issues with that. I was very glad to hear that Susan G Komen helps women who cannot afford screening or treatment receive aid for the services - and in my donation envelope I would like to designate the funds be used for that purpose. I wonder if one can do that....

Please take time to read some of these latest articles...I have to go back and read the one on the elderly and medicine, since I saw the word diabetes mentioned, and it affects my mother and therefore my family.

Focus on purely living,
Rita

Calling Out Dr. Oz

I am almost finished with the book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer".  Don't let the title fool you,  this book provides information about a whole lote more than breast cancer. As examples:
page 186 -thyroid
page 187 - osteoporosis
page 188 - epilepsy
page 189 - fibrocystic breasts

Pre-menstrual migraines, uterine cancer, anxiety, depression, insomnia, endometrial cancer, prostrate cancer - these and SO MUCH more are all related to hormone imbalance.  Studies have been in existence for 20 years, case studies conducted - there is so much proof out there -articles written in medical journals, magazines - it makes one question why hormone balance is not the very first thing a medical doctor looks at when examinng a patient exhibiting symptoms. Truth is, most doctors are not aware. Drug companies do not make NATURAL hormone creams (not to be confused by synthetic HRT containing progestins - i.e. Premarin, Provera, Tomoxifen, etc.) If drug companies don't make it, hospitals don't make money off it, and doctors are not educated about it. Unless a medical doctor is moved of their own accord to study, as did Dr. Jesse Hanley (co-author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pre-Menopause") after having so many womanly issues and not finding results for her symptoms. She explored natural hormone replacement therapy and was herself, a positive case study for the results of using natural hormone creams.

Case in point - I question why Dr. Oz is so quick to recommend drugs to the viewers who come up on stage. Perhaps the answer lies in what airs during commercial breaks - drug company ads. Ads pay for television shows - that's a no brainer.  I started watching the show after a couple of friends  proclaimed how good it was. Often I find myself getting frustrated -waiting for some mention of natural remedy or treatment versus drugs, drugs, drugs.
Last week, for example, Dr. Oz prescribed birth control pills to a women who looked to be of pre-menopausal age - for unwanted hair growth! Birth control pills are bad news...adding synthetic hormones into our bodies, including progestin and estrogen. You may be familiar with safety issues of progestin, as it was used in Premarin, a highly-publicized drug the FDA orginally approved and later banned after women developed heart disease, strokes and even death. The "nasty" estrogen hormones (estradiol and estrone), also contained in oral contraceptives, do things inside our bodies, such as proliferate cell growth, promote abnormalites and you guessed it - cancer!
I know, I know...he is Dr. Oz and just like we humans tend to do to anyone with celebrity status - we put them up on a pedastel. Still, they are human. I am human, and granted, I don't have years of medical school behind me, but I am reading the the works of  M.D.s, PhDs - those that do have the knowledge. It resonates with me because I have so many friends with illnesses that scream hormone imbalance once you learn the symptoms: breast cancer, prostrate cancer, depression, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis...I could go on, but who am I really talking to, anyhow? Probably myself. (LOL)
Per the Virginia Hopkins Health Watch site (Hopkins is a co-author on a number of Dr. Lee's books), excess facial hair is caused by:
Excess androgens (male hormones): This is most often caused by too much sugar and simple carbohydrates in the diet and is often found in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

You can take an on line test to see how your hormones are adding up - too much, or too little? Find out here.
Women: http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/womentest.html
Men: http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/mentest.html

Men? Yes folks, men have hormones too. An imbalance of hormones is actually one of the causes of prostrate cancer. A newer book has been released and is available on the Virginia Hopkins web site to purchase or download.
Once you have checked your symptoms you can click a link to find the possible hormone cause. Excess hair growth fell into group 5.
The book covers a lot more than the hormone imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. It explains how the body works and how everything functions together - in a way that I can understand (although I had to seriously concentrate a few times!). Bottom line - drug companies pay hospitals and clinics to sell their drugs, and who pays the doctors? You guessed it - the hospitals!
I reviewed Dr. Oz's web site to see what was written about natural hormone replacement therapy. I find a response on his site that is rather disturbing, but seeing that it is provided by a clinic (ie. one paid by drug companies) it is not the least surprising.
No one is being hoodwinked when the positive results of natural hormone replacement therapy have been proven time and time again. A study by French scientists indicated that natural progesterone cream had positive effects on women with fibrocystic breasts. All women with the fibrous tissue had elevated levels of estrogen and lab tests also showed a deficiency in progesterone, as compared to the women with non-lumpy breasts. Next, two groups of women with fibrous breast tissue were treated, one with a placebo and another group with natural progesterone cream, applied directly to the skin for three months. The group of women using the real progesterone cream had greatly reduced to no lumpy breast tissue at the end of three months. So, the Cleveland Clinic claims these natural creams have no bearing because the FDA does not regulate them, right - did you catch that? Despite what proven results are showing...
Yet, the FDA approved Premarin for use in post-cancer treatment of breast cancer patients, only to come back and ban it years later after women died from side effects of the very diseases it was said to prevent. Personally, I am not very confident in the FDA - there is great lack of regulation on the products it does regulate, and I would put my health on a natural remedy, anyday, that is consistently proving itself.
I posed a question to Dr. Oz's site this eveningk, asking why he is so quick to prescribe a drug but doesn't bring up the natural alternatives. I am certain my question will never be aired, but I do hope he takes my suggestion and brings Dr. David Zava on as a guest sometime, since the pioneer in women's alternative medicine, Dr. Lee, has since passed. May he rest in peace, knowing he left a legacy behind and paved the way for women to take charge of their own health.

Dr. Oz or Dr. Lee??

After today's Dr. Oz show - I vote Dr. Lee. Today was an eye opener. After hearing Dr. Oz prescribe birth control pills for excess hair growth, I will say I was shocked. Birth control pills DO mess up women's hormones - it's a synthetic estrogen.  If I had read Dr. John Lee's book, "What Your Doctor MAY Not Tell You About Pre-Menopause" I would have likely found a different source for birth control other than The Pill.
Listening to Dr. Oz it makes me wonder if he has even heard of, or read up on, natural hormone creams. You don't have to live with excess hair in unwanted places - you just need to get your hormones in balance, and it can be done with NATURAL treatments.
I did note the advertisers for his show - Walgreens and other drug pushing companies - of course he is going to prescribe products that pay for his show. I am beginning to think the pharmeceutical companies are the ones who are really RUNNING this country.
Oh how I would love to see a NATUROPATH versioin of the Dr. Oz show!
Ok - I am allowed to my own personal opinion. I know people LOVE Dr. Oz. I do enjoy Dr. Oz - most of the time he has very good advice. I simply don't agree that drugs are the answer to everything - especially after reading Dr. Lee's book.
Want to know more about that natural treatment for unwanted hair? email me.

Another cancer diagnosis...no longer surprising...

Sad, but true. As of late it seems not a month goes by where I do not learn of three people receiving a diagnosis of cancer. It may not be someone I know personally, but a friend of a relative or of one my friends.
My self-education efforts to learn more about hormone imbalance and the effects it has on our bodies has been revealing, to say the least. I have been shocked, disgruntled and just plain angry. We live in such an advanced society, yet there is little effort to study the effects of the industrialized nation and the environment we live in. I am convinced that the reason for this is $$$$$ and greed.  U.S. industries thrive on putting chemicals and xenohormones into our environment. We clean with them, put them on our bodies, inhale them, and even eat them when commercialized growers and farmers spray their produce and feed hormones to their animals, which we subsequently ingest.
*"All xenohormones should be considered toxic; the majority of them  have estrogenic effects on both male and female bodies."
I am convinced that cancer runs amuck because we subject ourselves to more chemicals. Although cancer cells can be genetic, the number of environmentally induced cancers has been steadily on the rise. A pesticide derivative (Triclosan) is an active ingredient in many popular pretty smelling soaps - this past week alone I found this active ingredient in handsoaps found in bathrooms of a best friend and of two relatives.
Pharmaceutical companies are doling out one nasty side effect after another, with the help of our doctors. We are essentially bathing ourselves in xenohormones. I am no longer surprised when I hear of yet another friend or acquaintance having cancer diagnosed, it is frustrating. But I also get angry - because if we were educated on this, I feel we would all be more careful of how we live and how we take care of our bodies. Of course the costs to clean up our industries producing and using hormonally active chemicals would be huge, not to mention these same companies are investing a lot of money to keep the information "quiet".
When I first learned about AB I wasn't sure my family could afford it, but the more I learned, the more I researched about the fillers and ingredients used in over the counter, drugstore, and department store products - my thought process was no longer, "how can we afford it? but HOW CAN WE AFFORD NOT TO?"  I vowed to provide my family with safe products. I am fully aware of what we are exposed to and what we  had been putting into our bodies, so how could I, with good conscience, continue to use such products? I could not. The risks are too great, in my personal opinion.
We made a choice.  The products my family now uses are products we were buying anyhow - we redirected our buying focus to safe products from a company that has been around for 30 years with a philosophy focus of pure, safe and beneficial. The products are Swiss formulated, and subject to higher standards and European regulations, which are much different from the U.S.
What do "safe choices" mean for our family financially? It means fewer trips to Culvers, reevaluating our needs from our wants - do we need another music CD or movie DVD? How necessary is the latest iPhone? Are the latest in electronic toys necessary to our survival? We have talked about this in my family, and we all can agree that we want to use safe products. As a parent, I feel it is my responsibility.
I am reminded in this scripture from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," that we are responsible for our own bodies and how we treat it.
If the FDA were to take an active role in cosmetic industry, and actually focus on testing chemicals, and if consumers were to redirect their purchasing power to safe products, and leave those with carcinogens on the store shelves...things would change. There is power in the people, words are spoken through action and our buying power - I firmly believe that. Maybe someday, safe products will be the norm and not an exception.

Here are some facts to "chew on".

• The average person has 148 synthetic chemicals in their bodies.
• Experts estimate that 40 million pounds of hormonally active chemicals are produced in this country per annum, with 2000 new varieties introduced to market each year.
• Chemical hormones do NOT show up in a blood test.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency 60% of what you put on your skin enters you blood stream and every organ in your body in 26 seconds.
  
  Curious about that last one?  Try this at home - take a clove of peeled garlic and place it between your big toe and second toe and hold it there. Start counting, and see how long it takes before you taste garlic in your mouth.  The human body is an amazing piece of equipment - to say God put a lot of thought into it is an understatement. We are called to take care of our bodies so that the Spirit can live well within us.

Pardon if today's post has me on my soapbox....I know I am. This week alone I received news of two people diagnosed with cancer. I am just plain sick of it - I hate cancer. It has robbed me of people I love, and I cannot help but wonder why, and what if...

Resources:
*Dr. John Lee, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pre-Menopause", pg. 81

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

HOT NEWS THIS WEEK!!!
Finally, there is a trio of legislators actually proposing a bill that would give the FDA power to actually enforce the American cosmetics industry to STOP putting carcinogens and other toxics in the personal care products we use. I was quite please to see Representative Tammy Baldwin, from Wisconsin, to be among those introducing this piece of legislation.
Click here to read the full article.

Friends, I care about you, which is why I URGE you to watch the You Tube video at right. Please consider what you are putting in your bodies, and that of your children. Of course it all affects our planet as well, as we wash the bubbles and suds down the drain.

After watching this you may wonder why these companies are including toxic ingredients in their product...bottom line...it's CHEAP. Which is why safe and pure personal care products cost more money. It takes a whole lot more research to make sure the ingredients are safe, and quality ingredients cost more. You need to make a choice for you and your family.

My family is probably one of the last few in the U.S. that does not own a cell phone. Simply, it is not in our budget. But WE ARE investing in healthy, safe products for our family. I feel good knowing that I am not shampooing my 7 yr old in a carcinogen.  I hope that by changing my personal care products now, that I can reverse the harm already done inside my body. One thing I am fully aware of from watching the video above - using AB's 7-day detox program on my body twice a year is very necessary in the world in which we live.

If you want to put your money into the latest and greatest iPhone, audio system, or high fashion clothing, I say go for it. But I urge you to consider the ramifications of putting products on your skin day after day that promote excess estrogen growth, that contain carcinogens (cancer causing substances) and other known toxins. If budget restricts spending...choose wisely, and I would recommend, for the benefit of your family's health.  Our bodies are a temple to God - please take care of it.
From the site of http://www.safecosmetics.org/
What are all those chemicals in your lipstick? your aftershave? your child's shampoo? Some of them are linked to cancer, birth defects, infertility and other health problems. But right now we have an unprecedented opportunity to clean up our cosmetics - and we need your help!
The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky with Rep. Edward Markey and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, is a huge moment for consumers, parents and environmental health advocates: for the first time in 70 years, we have a real chance to pass national legislation that would eliminate harmful chemicals from the products women, men and children put on their bodies every day.
Now Congress needs to hear from us. Please tell your elected officials this common-sense legislation is important to you!
To send a message to your congressman please visit this link.