Xenoestrogenic (estrogen mimicing) material leaches out of polycarbonate plastics, often used in food and cosmetic packaging - even tin cans are thinly lined with this plastic and they leak into their contents. Bisphenol A, (BPA), a hormone-disrupting ingredient in hard, clear polycarbonate plastic, leaches from food and beverage containers under regular use and in greater amounts with age and heat. BPA, which is found in baby bottles, sippy cups, microwave cookware and Nalgene bottles is found in all humans, and in higher levels in placental, fetal tissue and amniotic fluid. There is a slew of information out there just on this chemical. Many people are trying to ban its use, and I understand that San Francisco has recently put in an ordinance to prevent its production in the city. This is a start to a cleaner world, right?
Plastic seems to be impossible to avoid. The U.S. produces more than 1.6 million pounds of BPA annually. Here are a few tips to help out:
1. Don't microwave in plastics. Use heat-resistant glass containers, Corning Ware or ceramics to microwave all your products, even if it is "microwave safe."
2. Cover food with a paper towel rather than plastic wrap in the microwave. Never microwave baggies.
3. Even organic microwavable foods have plastic coverings. Take two minutes to remove the product from its plastic wrapping and put it in a glass or ceramic bowl before cooking.
4. Don’t drink hot liquids through a straw. Not only will you burn your tongue and throat, but the heat will pull the chemicals from the straw into your coffee.
5. Drink water out of glasses or glass bottles
6. Look for BPA free products - check the packaging, many companies are starting to change
In animals amazingly these organochlorines are stored in our fat tissue. This is appalling considering we are at the top of the food chain, creating a higher concentration in our cells because we consume the animal fat stores that we feed on. Plus the use of insecticides and herbicides, and fertilizers in this group is widely spread in this country, and many others. So unless you buy all organic, or know the source of your fruits and vegetables you can't avoid them; and unfortunately not all health conscious consumers can afford to go the organic route all of the time. These estrogen mimickers are not easily metabolized, so they stay in the body forever and accumulate daily.
See the complete Article here.
4.19.2009
Dry Skin Brushing
It is well known that the skin is the largest organ in the body and is responsible for one-fourth of the body's detoxification each day; deeming it one of the most important elimination organs. The skin is known as the 3rd kidney in the natural health realm - rightly so.
We should pay close attention to our skin's role in our overall health, being careful of what we put on our skin, since it is all absorbed eventually. Basically what we put on our skin - chemicals, lotions, make-up, antiperspirants, and soaps should be delicately considered.
A wonderful tool to taking care of your skin is dry skin brushing.
Dry skin brushing has so many benefits - increasing vascular circulation, relieving stress, exfoliating, tonifying, eliminating cellulite, increasing cell renewal, and stimulating the lymphatic system.
To me, it is like a cellular massage for my skin. I think it is stimulating and soothing in many ways. I have been doing it for the past 3 years on a regular basis - at least 3 times a week.
I have a varicose vein that has gotten worse with each baby, and the brushing helps enormously. The strange circulation to that lower limb is not only visible, but very painful for me. In conjunction with leg lifts to increase circulation, the dry brushing is making a difference on the surface level; I can see the capillaries stressing out when I don't do it enough. I have noticeable dryness and red spots on weeks that I may forget to do the brushing. That is my clue that I have not been doing it enough, it is like my body telling me that it needs attention.
I have had a few accidents, starting at 18; so my whole adult life I have been dealing with back problems - herniated discs, torn ligaments/tendons and sciatica. So through the many different types of therapies I have tried, I had a memorable experience with a masseuse whom used a "scratch" technique; I found it fascinating. She said it was a German technique, and I remember it was a bit surprising and aggressive, but effective. She mentioned the idea behind it was to stimulate the skin and connective tissue to help it heal the underlying areas and increase the circulation to them. It made total sense to me - almost intuitive. With that same ideology, I have applied the dry brushing practice to my daily regime. I have noticed the instant stress relief and better circulation to the injured areas, resulting in less chronic pain and more productive days. It is extremely theraputic.
Overall I have been impressed with the results and I totally think it is worth all the effort to keep it up. I recommend dry skin brushing to anyone that suffers from not only my ailments, but anything relating to the skin or circulation and basic stress relief.
How to do dry skin brushing:
* Buy a long-handled natural, not synthetic, bristle brush.
* Do not wet your skin, since this can stretch it. It is most beneficial to do this after bathing, but once the skin is completely dry. This gives this skin an opportunity to relax and relieve the tension easier.
* Starting at your feet (if you have the time to do your whole body) work your way upwards. This has an enhanced healing effect, since your feet have 150,000 nerve endings collectively.
* Do light strokes over and around each part of your body focusing on points of soreness and/or areas in need of attention.
* On your abdomen do circular, counter-clockwise strokes, because this is the direction of peristaltia.
* After completing your brushing regimen, you can apply your favorite lotion or oil, you will find it is very easily absorbed! Another option is to hop back in the bath or shower for a minute to tighten the skin up a bit.
* Apply the same principles to your face, just using an all cotton washcloth instead.
We should pay close attention to our skin's role in our overall health, being careful of what we put on our skin, since it is all absorbed eventually. Basically what we put on our skin - chemicals, lotions, make-up, antiperspirants, and soaps should be delicately considered.
A wonderful tool to taking care of your skin is dry skin brushing.
Dry skin brushing has so many benefits - increasing vascular circulation, relieving stress, exfoliating, tonifying, eliminating cellulite, increasing cell renewal, and stimulating the lymphatic system.
To me, it is like a cellular massage for my skin. I think it is stimulating and soothing in many ways. I have been doing it for the past 3 years on a regular basis - at least 3 times a week.
I have a varicose vein that has gotten worse with each baby, and the brushing helps enormously. The strange circulation to that lower limb is not only visible, but very painful for me. In conjunction with leg lifts to increase circulation, the dry brushing is making a difference on the surface level; I can see the capillaries stressing out when I don't do it enough. I have noticeable dryness and red spots on weeks that I may forget to do the brushing. That is my clue that I have not been doing it enough, it is like my body telling me that it needs attention.
I have had a few accidents, starting at 18; so my whole adult life I have been dealing with back problems - herniated discs, torn ligaments/tendons and sciatica. So through the many different types of therapies I have tried, I had a memorable experience with a masseuse whom used a "scratch" technique; I found it fascinating. She said it was a German technique, and I remember it was a bit surprising and aggressive, but effective. She mentioned the idea behind it was to stimulate the skin and connective tissue to help it heal the underlying areas and increase the circulation to them. It made total sense to me - almost intuitive. With that same ideology, I have applied the dry brushing practice to my daily regime. I have noticed the instant stress relief and better circulation to the injured areas, resulting in less chronic pain and more productive days. It is extremely theraputic.
Overall I have been impressed with the results and I totally think it is worth all the effort to keep it up. I recommend dry skin brushing to anyone that suffers from not only my ailments, but anything relating to the skin or circulation and basic stress relief.
How to do dry skin brushing:
* Buy a long-handled natural, not synthetic, bristle brush.
* Do not wet your skin, since this can stretch it. It is most beneficial to do this after bathing, but once the skin is completely dry. This gives this skin an opportunity to relax and relieve the tension easier.
* Starting at your feet (if you have the time to do your whole body) work your way upwards. This has an enhanced healing effect, since your feet have 150,000 nerve endings collectively.
* Do light strokes over and around each part of your body focusing on points of soreness and/or areas in need of attention.
* On your abdomen do circular, counter-clockwise strokes, because this is the direction of peristaltia.
* After completing your brushing regimen, you can apply your favorite lotion or oil, you will find it is very easily absorbed! Another option is to hop back in the bath or shower for a minute to tighten the skin up a bit.
* Apply the same principles to your face, just using an all cotton washcloth instead.
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