AB has mastered the formulation of nature and science together - a small amount of science to aid in the results. Yesterday someone I do not know commented on my blog following Dr. Wesley's video. Rather than choose to delete it, which of course I could, I chose to address their concerns, or perhaps a better word is "claims".
I always keep in mind motivation and often negativism towards Arbonne comes from those selling competitive products, or perhaps a former employee. I can't say a whole lot about other companies offering natural products - but I can share about my firsthand experiences and results with AB. I can also attest to the number of clients I have with super sensitive skin, that are able to use our products AND achieve the results they are looking for in improved complexion, fewer lines and skin that feels good. I know we have AB consultants that previously used other natural products available in the market, but switched for the benefit of actual results.
AB is endorsed by the Friends of the Environment - this says a lot! No toxic chemicals are used in our products, but we do, however, use science.
Not long ago a friend questioned what some of the ingredients found in our Fizzy Tabs. One she really thought must be "bad" turned out to be a mineral from the earth readily available and used in the food industry as a "hardener". Keep in mind that just because a word cannot be pronounced, it does not necessarily mean they are bad for you. One thing I love about AB is that as a consultant I can look up an ingredient list for any single product and forward it to a client if they wish. The home office is also very prompt at answering questions, and yes, I have asked questions about ingredients because I must have faith and trust in what I am offering my friends.
From my friend's reaction to an ingredients label I decided to investigate some of those hard to pronounce words on the Fizzy Tabs container. Once I looked into each, I was put at ease. I decided to write an article that day, and perhaps I should have shared it on my blog right off. Without further delay, here is my article:
NATURE AND SCIENCE
Questions about ingredients? Why are there words I cannot pronounce? People may ask if Arbonne is natural, why are there words that cannot be pronounced on the ingredient list.
To address this, I took the popular Re9 Advanced Night Cream ingredients listed on the box. Many are easily recognizable as plant compounds, but others might be questioned. It’s important to realize that plant derivatives cannot simply be mixed, placed in a bottle, and be expected to benefit the skin. Science must be added to the plant-based ingredients to create a product that is results-driven and stable.
If one were to look at Arbonne’s web site and ingredient list for each product, they are listed as either plant-based or science. To put minds at ease, I decided to use the internet to research some of mystery ingredients myself. The Natural Institute of Health is a great resource, as is the CIR, which researches ingredients used by the cosmetic industry. To my surprise, I discovered that a number of ingredients at the end of the listing have to do with vitamins, whereas others are organic compounds.
Re9 Advanced Night Cream Ingredients (partial ingredient list):
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is a very stable, oil-soluble Vitamin C ester which has anti-oxidant activity, inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Topical use can mitigate the damaging effects of UV exposure. Studies have shown it to stimulate collagen production as well as clarifying and brightening the skin by inhibiting melanogenesis (the production of pigment) thereby promoting a more even skin tone. Unlike ascorbic acid, it will not exfoliate or irritate skin.
Tocopherol (or TCP) are a class of chemical compounds of which many have vitamin E activity. It is a series of organic compounds consisting of various methylated phenols.
Tocopheryl acetate: also known as vitamin E acetate, is a common vitamin supplement with the molecular formula C31H52O3 (for 'α' form). It is the ester of acetic acid and tocopherol (vitamin E). It is often used in dermatological products such as skin creams.
Ascorbyl palmitate is an ester formed from ascorbic acid and palmitic acid creating a fat-soluble form of vitamin C. In addition to its use as a source of vitamin C, it is also used as an antioxidant food additive.
Thioctic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid, is a natural anti-oxidant which has been used for years in Europe because of it's ability to help maintain or restore liver health. It's strong anti-oxidant capabilities have been used for radiation sickness and diabetes-related neuropathy. It has also been investigated as a possible inhibitor of HIV. The PWA Health Group sells pharmaceutical grade thioctic acid without requiring a prescription.
Polysorbate 60 - Polysorbates are a class of emulsifiers used in some pharmaceuticals and food. Safe as used in cosmetics according to industry panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR)
Carbomer - a generic name for synthetic high molecular weight polymers of acrylic acid used as thickening, dispersing, suspending and emulsifying agents in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide - Palmitoyl oligopeptide is an ingredient of many skin care products including anti-aging creams, lip sticks and eye serums. Peptides are the building blocks, or bonds, between amino acids. Research has shown that peptides in general aid in skin repair and renewal. Palmitoyl oligopeptide is a fairly new peptide and is being researched as the new best thing next to retinol, but without any side effects.
Urea - A nitrogen-containing substance normally cleared from the blood by the kidney into the urine. Urea used in cosmetics is synthetically produced. Urea minimizes the change in the acid/base balance of a product when other ingredients are added to that product. It also slows the loss of moisture from a product during use. When used in the formulation of skin care products, Urea increases the water content of the top layers of the skin. The safety of Urea has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Urea was safe as used in cosmetics and personal care products.
Hydrogenated Leicthin - Lecithin is one of the most important components of cells and plays an important role on its metabolism, especially on its constituency and membrane penetration. It has also been used as a bio-surfactant in cosmetics for a long time. However, its application to cosmetics was limited because of its oxidation and instability against heat. Hydrogenated Lecithin has all the good qualities of natural lecithin, yet its stability is greatly improved.
Stearamine - Conditioning and thickening agent.
Tromethamine - A weakly basic compound used as an alkalizing agent and as a buffer in enzymatic reactions.
Phenoxyethanol is an organic chemical compound, a glycol ether often used in dermatological products such as skin creams and sunscreen. It is a colorless oily liquid. It is a bactericide (usually used in conjunction with quaternary ammonium compounds), often used in place of sodium azide in biological buffers as 2-phenoxyethanol is less toxic and non-reactive with copper and lead. It is used in many applications such as cosmetics, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals as a preservative.
The US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed the safety of Phenoxyethanol and approved its use as an indirect food additive. The Citywide Immunization Registry Expert Panel reviewed the safety of Phenoxyethanol, and concluded that it is safe for use as a cosmetic ingredient. Their study further noted that it was nontoxic via oral and skin administration. This was confirmed in their panel review in 2007, as part of their annual evaluation of ingredients. I located another research article, which explains how important this chemical compound is as a preservative, preventing oxidization and formation of free radicals.
AB continues to monitor how science and natural change so they know if a product ingredient needs to be "changed". I know that AB has some of the top scientists in the world, working on Swiss-formulations - which means our products have to pass European standards, which are so much higher than what we have here in the U.S.
Arbonne is endorsed by not only the Friends of the Environment, but by many other reputable sources that monitor the industry. I came across a website recently where it rated personal care products on toxicity. Arbonne rated from 0-3. Clinique, Lancomb, Suave, Mary Kay, Olay (all the names we are most familiar with ) rated 6-10 with 10 being the highest.
So some may claim AB has "toxic" ingredients in our products - we don't. I think hand soap in public restrooms have worse ingredients in them then our products. In fact, looking at the labels on soaps in public restrooms, I know this to be true. I also have to have faith in the doctors, plastic surgeons, chiropractors and naturopaths that are endorsing AB and incorporating it into their practice. No doubt they scrutinized the ingredients before incorporating our products into their practice. Their name and their practice is on the line, and therefore I believe that our products truly are pure, safe and beneficial.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Doc Gives Overview of Protein Shake
I came across this video on YouTube - this doctor taught me something about the protein shake I enjoy each morning. She explains an ingredient that helps prevent sugar craving. It sure explains why I haven't been getting hungry or having a desire to snack and eat sweets when I follow my morning routine of protein shake and healthy salad for lunch!
One day this week I took a sub to work for lunch - Jesse had a meeting Tuesday night and they sent some remaining subs home with him. That morning I had oatmeal (which is good for me) and by mid-morning I was feeling hungry. When I have a protein shake I can often go until 1 pm before I feel hungry. The day I had that sub for lunch ...I felt like I was starving when I left work that day and I know I ate a larger portion of food for dinner that night. Wednesday was not a good day.
Without further ado...Dr. Wesley shares her experience with AB products.
One day this week I took a sub to work for lunch - Jesse had a meeting Tuesday night and they sent some remaining subs home with him. That morning I had oatmeal (which is good for me) and by mid-morning I was feeling hungry. When I have a protein shake I can often go until 1 pm before I feel hungry. The day I had that sub for lunch ...I felt like I was starving when I left work that day and I know I ate a larger portion of food for dinner that night. Wednesday was not a good day.
Without further ado...Dr. Wesley shares her experience with AB products.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
What should NOT be in your protein shake?
Every God given day is another day to learn...and I continue on a journey to regain wellness in my life. In the past 24 hours I have learned about protein shakes, and prostrate cancer.
First, let me share a link to an article about protein shakes.
I have made AB's Figure 8 products a part of my weight loss plan. Particularly, the Colon Cleanse, Figure 8 Go Easy! Vanilla protein powder, Fiber Booster, and the On The Go! Protein shakes when life is hectic and I don't have time to put a lunch together. In addition, I am making life changes in my eating habits.
Because of my success in losing 40 lbs., others are interested in how I have done so. My morning usually begins with a protein shake, made from the vanilla powder, which contains no artificial sweeteners, coloring/dyes.
I do want to be sure you all are aware that not all protein shakes are alike. My chiropractor tested many brands in the market place, Slimfast, GNC, etc., and he only found two brands that did not contain heavy metals (Consumer Reports had an article documenting findings of arsenic, lead and cadmium in protein powders). My chiropractor sells a brand called "Dream Protein", a whey based powder, which he sells for substantially more than the retail price of AB Figure 8 Go Easy! for the same size container. In a side by side comparison, our son Kyle and I both agreed that the Figure 8 Go Easy! tasted much better. When I mentioned our palatability test to my doc, he said usually when protein powders taste good there are lots of artificial sweeteners, etc. added. Not Arbonne! Our protein powder includes Stevia, a natural plant-based sweetener.
If you read the link to the article above, great! You can skip this part if you like. To recap, here are some things to be wary of when selecting a protein powder. Let me rephrase that, here are some things the AB Figure 8 Go Easy! protein powders/shakes do not have...
NO soy proteins - in an article by Dr. John Lee, "A recent study of women with vasomotor symptoms at the Mayo Clinic showed no benefits from soy protein isolates, which have high levels of phytoestrogens....Soy phytoestrogens do have the estrogenic effect of stimulating the growth of breast cancer cells in tissue cultures. Several studies presented at a recent soy symposium showed that soy protein isolates stimulate the growth of normal breast cells much the way that natural estrogens do, and of course this would add to breast cancer risk if progesterone is not present or low.
NO whey proteins - which isn't beneficial for anyone who is lactose intolerant; also whey can tax the liver, and a well functioning liver is critical in order for our bodies to detoxify from "the plastics, pesticides, chemical fragrances, toxin-laden cosmetics and lotions, prescription and over-the-counter drugs and alcohol." A consultant shared at a training session, how good friends lost their son, who died of kidney failure - he drank many whey based protein shakes. Aside from that...whey is an animal by-product. Unless you can be sure that the whey used in the powder is from cows that are pasture fed and deemed organic, what might there be in the whey protein? Remember, than an animal is what it eats.
NO amino acids - from the above article, I quote, "As Dr. Russell Blaylock likes to point out, individual amino acids behave very differently in the body than whole proteins, and in excess, some can be toxic to the brain. Dr. Blaylock singles out soy protein isolates, frequently found in protein powders, as being especially villainous when it comes to tweaking the brain."
Doesn't that last statement scare you the least bit? To think that such protein powders are even being sold, where the effects could be mind altering, is absolutely crazy! (no pun intended)
Watch the fructose levels! Often protein shakes are pumped with fructose to be made to taste good, which is natural, but there can be a lot of it. In our Go Easy Protein Shakes, the amount of sugar in and of itself is still considered to be, in general, a low amount of sugar - around the same amount of sugar that is in an apple. Additionally, the level of sugar is very competitive when compared to competitor products and in most cases is equal to or lower than competitor products. Finally, it should be noted that nearly all competitors use sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners to sweeten their products; none of which AB uses.
In Arbonne's protein shakes you will also NOT find:
After everything I have read about protein shakes/drinks I am so glad the scientists at AB chose to extract proteins from peas, cranberries and rice. As I continue to study research papers on prostrate cancer, diabetes and more - I am continually impressed that I find the supplements, minerals, vitamins and herbs recommended by doctors for various ailments, included in AB's health and nutrition line. Thank you Dr. Peter Matravers and all your wonderful staff!
First, let me share a link to an article about protein shakes.
I have made AB's Figure 8 products a part of my weight loss plan. Particularly, the Colon Cleanse, Figure 8 Go Easy! Vanilla protein powder, Fiber Booster, and the On The Go! Protein shakes when life is hectic and I don't have time to put a lunch together. In addition, I am making life changes in my eating habits.
Because of my success in losing 40 lbs., others are interested in how I have done so. My morning usually begins with a protein shake, made from the vanilla powder, which contains no artificial sweeteners, coloring/dyes.
I do want to be sure you all are aware that not all protein shakes are alike. My chiropractor tested many brands in the market place, Slimfast, GNC, etc., and he only found two brands that did not contain heavy metals (Consumer Reports had an article documenting findings of arsenic, lead and cadmium in protein powders). My chiropractor sells a brand called "Dream Protein", a whey based powder, which he sells for substantially more than the retail price of AB Figure 8 Go Easy! for the same size container. In a side by side comparison, our son Kyle and I both agreed that the Figure 8 Go Easy! tasted much better. When I mentioned our palatability test to my doc, he said usually when protein powders taste good there are lots of artificial sweeteners, etc. added. Not Arbonne! Our protein powder includes Stevia, a natural plant-based sweetener.
If you read the link to the article above, great! You can skip this part if you like. To recap, here are some things to be wary of when selecting a protein powder. Let me rephrase that, here are some things the AB Figure 8 Go Easy! protein powders/shakes do not have...
NO soy proteins - in an article by Dr. John Lee, "A recent study of women with vasomotor symptoms at the Mayo Clinic showed no benefits from soy protein isolates, which have high levels of phytoestrogens....Soy phytoestrogens do have the estrogenic effect of stimulating the growth of breast cancer cells in tissue cultures. Several studies presented at a recent soy symposium showed that soy protein isolates stimulate the growth of normal breast cells much the way that natural estrogens do, and of course this would add to breast cancer risk if progesterone is not present or low.
NO whey proteins - which isn't beneficial for anyone who is lactose intolerant; also whey can tax the liver, and a well functioning liver is critical in order for our bodies to detoxify from "the plastics, pesticides, chemical fragrances, toxin-laden cosmetics and lotions, prescription and over-the-counter drugs and alcohol." A consultant shared at a training session, how good friends lost their son, who died of kidney failure - he drank many whey based protein shakes. Aside from that...whey is an animal by-product. Unless you can be sure that the whey used in the powder is from cows that are pasture fed and deemed organic, what might there be in the whey protein? Remember, than an animal is what it eats.
NO amino acids - from the above article, I quote, "As Dr. Russell Blaylock likes to point out, individual amino acids behave very differently in the body than whole proteins, and in excess, some can be toxic to the brain. Dr. Blaylock singles out soy protein isolates, frequently found in protein powders, as being especially villainous when it comes to tweaking the brain."
Doesn't that last statement scare you the least bit? To think that such protein powders are even being sold, where the effects could be mind altering, is absolutely crazy! (no pun intended)
Watch the fructose levels! Often protein shakes are pumped with fructose to be made to taste good, which is natural, but there can be a lot of it. In our Go Easy Protein Shakes, the amount of sugar in and of itself is still considered to be, in general, a low amount of sugar - around the same amount of sugar that is in an apple. Additionally, the level of sugar is very competitive when compared to competitor products and in most cases is equal to or lower than competitor products. Finally, it should be noted that nearly all competitors use sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners to sweeten their products; none of which AB uses.
In Arbonne's protein shakes you will also NOT find:
- artificial flavors and colors
- stabilizers and preservatives
- artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, corn syrup and hydrogenated oils
After everything I have read about protein shakes/drinks I am so glad the scientists at AB chose to extract proteins from peas, cranberries and rice. As I continue to study research papers on prostrate cancer, diabetes and more - I am continually impressed that I find the supplements, minerals, vitamins and herbs recommended by doctors for various ailments, included in AB's health and nutrition line. Thank you Dr. Peter Matravers and all your wonderful staff!
Monday, November 15, 2010
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.
For more information check out the site of the Environmental Working Group.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
A rose for each survivor friend...
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?
Monday, November 8, 2010
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
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:
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.
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.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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
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
Monday, November 1, 2010
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
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
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