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.

Women NEED to stand up for their own health!!!

Ladies, I cannot stress how important it is to do some reading and research and empower yourself to make decisions for your well-being, on behalf of yourself. Today a friend of mine, thousands of miles from me, shared her experience with her doctor. Before I share that with you...
I want to give my friend credit for reading the book I recommended, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pre-Menopause" by Dr. John Lee and associates. Since reading the book she is more educated about what is going on with her body. Monthly she experiences symptoms some of you may be familiar with: mood swings, severe cramping, sleeplessness, breast tenderness, severe breast pain, depression, etc. Each month the symptoms vary with no predictable pattern, but the symptoms are predictable in that they point towards "estrogen dominance/progesterone deficient".
She had already ordered the Prolief natural progesterone cream, and had it on hand for when it was time to begin. First, however, she set up an appointment with her doctor as she wanted to have her hormone levels checked and develop a baseline. I think this is a great idea. I just received my own saliva testing report back from ZRT labortories and am only a little bit estrogen dominant/progesterone deficient. I have NO PMS or typical symptoms other than weight gain and development of allergies/sinus issues.
My friend shared her concerns and symptoms with her doctor, and the doc is also concerned and sends her to a GYN. The specialist's answer was to yank out her uterus!  She told him he was crazy and told him how important it is for women to keep their womanly parts, and asked him how that would help as she would still have her ovaries. He didn't respond to that question, and suggested a prescription of Zoloft (I am sure he thought this woman on a tirade needed meds to calm her down), and if it did not help - he recommended birth control pills.
I quote my friend, "If a man goes in and says he's having problems down there they test testosterone, why isn't testing for woman's hormones more readily available?  I go off on him about that, and he finally gives me a prescription for testing, mind you when I left and looked it up its mostly for estrogen. So I am leaving and he says "oh if the Zoloft doesn't work we can give you a birth control pill with progesterone in it." I was so angry that all they wanted to do was sell surgery and sell medications instead of listening to the patients. I started the Prolief last night, I'm done with doctors and I am done feeling horrible every month."

Oh my gosh - I could NOT believe that last one! Do NOT be fooled ladies - there is NO progesterone in Birth Control Pills. Conventional doctors readily confuse natural progesterone with synthetic progestin, and the synthetic form is what is found in birth control pills. Progestin is now confirmed as a cause for breast cancer, not to mention other cancers such as ovarian and cervical. This even made headline news in the latter half of October - so how could this doctor not be aware of what he was prescribing?
I am proud of my friend for speaking up and out, and walking out. I applaud her for sticking up for herself, and very thankful she read Dr. Lee's book on pre-menopause so she could go into that appointment with knowledge and truth vs. treatments as taught to doctors by the drug companies.  Doctors get paid for prescribing prescription drugs and performing surgeries. As I said in my "Focus on Prevention" seminar, "take part in your health treatment, don't just be a part."

UPDATE: My friend's story above has a happy finish - she started the Arbonne Prolief bio-identical progesterone cream and in ONE  month's time much of her symptoms alleviated. She is feeling great and so happy she started on the transdermal cream.

Wishing you all happy hormones,
Rita S.

A rose for each survivor friend...

Six very dear women friends inspired the "Celebrating Women" events I held in October, six pink roses given to me this evening by my Arbonne family. How divinely orchestrated was this?!!
Regional V.P. Rene Huston recognized me this evening at our Arbonne nation meeting (thanks Rene!), for merely doing what I love - which is to educate. This is one reason why I love being an Arbonne consultant ...there is genuine camaraderie and caring amongst those involved. It is not a competition...everyone sets their own pace, and their own goals.
One very important goal, for me, with Arbonne is to help others by teaching them wellness in consumerism. What we don't know CAN hurt us, but sadly, there are so many who do not know...and unbeknownst to them, they are spending their money on personal care and cosmetics that can prove, and are proven, detrimental to their health.
There should be a law against these products being on store shelves, and maybe someday there will be...but until that happens it is up to me and others like me to educate our friends and family. The difficult part about this new role I find myself in, is finding people who will listen... My immediate family gets it, my mother gets it (bless her), and I feel a great sense of peace knowing the petroleum based products are out of our house, as well as those containing carcinogens and parabens. Nothing pleases me more than receiving gratitude from a friend who is hungry and eager to learn about safe products. Please don't hesitate to contact me, or keep checking back on this blog for tidbits on healthy living, and how you can protect your family.
Health and wellness is at the forefront of people's minds right now. Food recalls, cancer causing synthetic ingredients in FDA approved drugs....the general public is beginning to realize that so-called government regulations are not going to protect us, and it is up to each of us to open our minds, learn as much as we can, and make wise choices for the benefit of our own health and that of our family.
During my years in technical college I tutored peers. My instructors wanted me to go on to U.W. Stout and obtain a teaching degree so I could take their place when they retired.  I was offered a job upon graduation to work as a trainer at conferences and trade shows for a major typesetting/print equipment firm. During the time we raised parrots, I researched an uncommon species, discovered how aviculture was inadvertently messing up the gene pool of the species, and wrote an in-depth article which was published, and changed how aviculturists paired up their Jardine parrots around the world. When I took up scrapbooking, I absolutely loved teaching classes and sharing my passion for preserving memories.
So, although I never went on to get my teaching degree, educating has always been a big part of any endeavor I set upon. I am passionate about learning facts, and sharing them with others. What I have learned in these past six months about the cosmetic industry - which is the greatest cause of cancer in the U.S. (yes, more so than smoking) has been astounding to say the least. I won't even get into my feelings of how angry it makes me. If we were not exposing ourselves to such a polluted world every day, through the products we use in our bathrooms...perhaps I would not have six friends who are cancer survivors. I am very happy they are survivors...but had they known about estrogen dominance, carcinogens and xenoestrogens ten, twenty years ago...would their cells have mutated into cancer at all? I can't help but ask myself if I had known two years ago what I know now, and had I shared it with my friend Marv, and had he listened and acted upon the information I shared...would he be alive this day?
I can't turn back time, and indeed, Marv's passing from prostrate cancer, caused by a hormonal imbalance, is what started my in-depth research in the first place. I want to shout it out to my friends, so they can make informed decisions regarding their purchases...but I question, who is ready to step out of their comfort zone and daily routine, to listen? I am willing to teach, are you willing to learn?

Less 30 lbs and counting!

Today I am celebrating - since September 15 I have lost THIRTY POUNDS!!

I am stoked – and bursting to share my great news! I use my mother-in-laws scale because she has one of those doctor type scales. I weighed in tonight while delivering her girl scout cookies, (of which I am not eating until after my official doctor appointment in one week). At first I thought the scale was broken, the balance bar wouldn’t go “kerplunk” and I had to keep moving the weight back. Now mind you, this 30 lbs. has come off since I first officially weighed in because I found time to go use her scale. However, I started focusing on changing my diet in August, little by little, and judging by my clothes - had probably lost 8-10 lbs. more total. I am digging out pants that have been stored for a couple of years- woo hoo! Just feeling the progress and feeling better overall is incentive to keep working at this. My goal was 25 lbs by Xmas, which I have now surpassed. By my birthday in March I would love to be back where I was before I became pregnant with Kyle – and I have no idea how much I weighed, but I need to drop another 1-2 sizes. I did save a favorite red dress, should I ever be able to get back into it.

No Weight Watchers, Atkins, or real strict diet program… basically I read Dr. John Lee’s book, “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer” – learned that cancer cell mutations are more apt to happen in excess cells, excess cells being fat cells. The more fat I have, the greater chance of giving cancer a place to grow – that was a huge realization for me. I also learned quite a bit about how the body processes sugars and carbohydrates from his book. The carb paragraphs were especially enlightening and a huge turn off for eating anything made from white or processed flours. If I am going to eat carbs (of which I have cut back probably 75%) they may as well be whole grain and beneficial to me.

Here is a summary of what I have been eating:
Breakfast – alternate between a protein shake or bowl of oatmeal.
1. Arbonne Vanilla Protein Shake (2 scoops of powder mix to 8-9 ozs. of water as directed on the container)

With it I add in a heaping tablespoon of Arbonne’s Fiber boost powder, 3-4 whole strawberries, ½ cup plain, organic probiotic yogurt, and a T. of honey to sweeten the yogurt.
At times, for variation and if available, I will add either ¼ c. frozen blueberries, a 1/2 banana, or chunks of pineapple. This shake is VERY VERY filling and I have no desire to snack before lunch.

The combined ingredients make approx. a 16 oz. shake, which I take with me to work. This tastes much more like a fruit smoothie than a protein drink!

2. Oatmeal doused generously with cinnamon, and honey (I follow package cooking directions and find no need to add milk).

Lunch - almost always a salad, of which I will include my dressing below.

If I run out of greens in the house I grab an apple and have an Arbonne “on-the-go” vanilla protein shake. (I keep these stocked in the frig at work.)

Once in a great while I will have a sub from Subway, a yogurt/fruit parfait at Crossroads, or a salad at Culver’s – I figure I am saving lots of money by not eating out, so that’s a bonus, but it is nice to get together with a girlfriend once in a while.

The protein and fiber does a great job of keeping me feel full. If I get bored at work I will have an Arbonne weight loss chew – and that is just to keep my jaw moving because, again, I am not hungry – just in need of a pick me up.

Dinner – whatever the family is having less the carbs, or smaller portions (at least I have them converted to whole wheat pasta), I focus on eating the protein. I am trying to get Jesse to understand what I will and will not eat, since he is home much earlier and starts dinner most days.
I still snack on popcorn 1-2 eves a week, splitting a bag. I continue to have a Crossroads latte on Friday mornings, and maybe a baked good as well. I continue to drink plain water throughout the day, as I have always done. I do find I drink MORE water when I add an Arbonne pomegranate fizzy tab to it – it simply tastes great, plus the fizzy tab gives a boost of energy and suppresses appetite.

Today I began the 7 day detox from Arbonne’s SeaSource line. Now, I’ll be honest – if you have ever done a deep cleanse detox – that stuff is not exactly a Culver’s shake! As I poured today’s little bottle into my 32 oz water bottle, it reminded me of puree’d mud. (LOL) I had taken a friend’s advice to use a Pomegranite fizzy tab in the water as well, to be honest, without the pomengranite flavor in my detox concoction – I would have had a hard time drinking it. After a few gulps through the morning (toasting silently “to my health and weight loss!!”) – it was soon lunch time. I realized my balsamic vinegar/olive oil dressing really took care of the aftertaste of the detox drink mixture. Fortunately, one does not need to fast with Arbonne’s detox program – and my salad is quite healthy. I would take a long drink of the detox, and take a bite of salad. Reading a book as I had lunch, I was pleased to have my detox all drank in about 45 min., combining it with salad to offset the taste. It was refreshing to have my plain, tasty water for the rest of the afternoon.
The detox program continues tomorrow. I know it is a great way to jump start ones diet, but since I have been taking the colon cleanse supplement since August and have already lost weight – I am not sure I will lose the 5-7 lb loss one typically would experience from doing the 7-day detox. I figure this will be my last concentrated effort in shedding a few before I have to get on the doctor’s scale.
Thank you for coming by. If you are wanting to lose some weight I encourage you to try some of the great products AB offers. Let me know if you have any questions about my experience.

To your health!
Rita

Mom's AWESOME Salad Dressing - Altered

My mother always made the best vinegrette/oil salad dressing - people rave about it. When she shared it with me, I immediately changed it up a bit - substituting balsamic vinegar for the white, and extra virgin olive oil for the canola. Yes, I feel I have improved upon my mother's famous dressing. A number of friends have asked me for the recipe, and today I thought I would share it.

The recipe is pretty basic:

- 2 parts Balsamic vinegar to one part...

- extra virgin olive oil (get a good brand – the generic brand of olive oil, especially, made a notable difference in my dressing when Jesse bought the local grocery store brand olive oil)

- Pampered Cheff Sun Dried Tomato spice blend

- Honey dijon mustard squirt or two

- Natural sweetener (honey, raw sugar, Stevia or other natural sweetener to taste)

Keep in mind that once the dressing is on greens, etc., it is not so sour – I caution not to overdose on sugar/sweetener.  

The dressing keeps well – if you refrigerate it set it out an hour or so before planning to use it so the olive oil can liquify again.  It is an awesome marinade over grilled chicken, in my opinion.

Right now my favorite salad mix is:

Organic spinach greens

Chunks of grilled, organic chicken

Fresh sliced strawberries, or Craisins

Almond slivers

Sunflower seeds – roasted, unsalted
A bit of fresh Parmesan or Feta cheese
Vinegar/oil dressing



Sometimes I add tomatoes and mushrooms if we have them – but is amazing how great that salad combo tastes on its own. The nuts and seeds really add to the flavor, as does the fruit... OR I will give it a southwestern flare and use black beans and grilled bell pepper slices in lieu of the nuts, almonds and parmesan, with a few crushed, baked, organic corn chips sprinkled on top.

Happy green eating!
Rita S.

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