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Essential Oils, Aromatherapy, and Holistic Health, Oh My!

Essential oils have been used and experimented with since the age of the Ancient Greece. Hippocrates was the first to experiment with the oils, claiming that aromatic baths were a key component to health. The Bible actually references these fragrances over 180 times throughout the course of its text claiming they had healing powers for the body, mind and spirit. These concentrated aromas didn’t reappear in Western medicine until the 1930s during WWII where a French surgeon had great healing success with essential oils with patients recovering from surgery. At this moment in time, Aromatherapy was born.

This holistic method of treatment has had a lot of success due to their ability to relax a patient. Being in a calm state is key when minor to severe injuries are healing or when trying to recover from an illness. If you are stressed, cortisol will be released and will cover the cells in charge of running your immune system. There reaction to cortisol is to shut down all functions and sends the message to let the system be. Having a calming scent in the room could make the difference in a patient fighting a nasty infection!

Some of these essential oils are more then just crushed flower pedals that smell really good. Melaleuca is a natural disinfectant and can be used to clean anything, from you wounds to your kitchen counter. The best part is, unlike most chemical cleaners like ammonia and disinfectants like alcohol, Melaleuca won’t destroy every cell and will instead target the infection or the bacteria on your kitchen counter.

Don’t be fooled by charlatans peddling their “Therapeutic Grade” oils that are two to three times the price of normal oils. When it comes to aromatherapy and disinfecting your cuts, the only thing that matters about your essential oil is that it is 100% pure! The benefits of each aroma varies on the person and certainly the quality of your oil will be the decider on how well it cleans any abrasion. A perfect example of a high quality product that is cost friendly and 100% pure is PURE Essential Oils. Make sure you do your research before you make any purchases.

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From Liquid To Pods: Does Convenience Come At A Price?

We all know laundry pods are far more convenient than traditional bottled detergent; you just put one in your washing machine and go on about your day. However, parents all over the world are learning the hard way that convenience comes at a very high cost.

In the eyes of a child, they appear as if they might be a tasty treat. They are also more heavily concentrated than traditional detergent. The combination of these two factors has lead to the sickening and even deaths of thousands of children across the United States who end up eating them.

The study on the dangers of laundry pods, published in the journal Pediatrics, discovered that 17,230 children younger than 6 years old, an average of one child every hour, swallowed, inhaled or suffered skin or eye injuries from the pods between 2012 and 2013. Another study conducted by researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, found 769 children in the U.S. were hospitalized and one child died after ingesting a laundry detergent pod. Thirty of the children went into comas and 12 suffered seizures. Consumer safety groups started warning that laundry detergent packets could be easily eaten by children who might mistake them for candy.

In 2013, a 7 month old boy in Florida passed away after eating a packet of All detergent. More than 5,000 children have been sickened by the products since they appeared on the market, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. In response to the injuries, makers of laundry pods tried to make them safer in September 2015, the companies voluntarily agreed on a set of safety standards.

The pods now have a stronger film with an additive that makes them taste repulsive. The containers they come in are no longer see-through and require more skill to open. The product features warning labels and safety information about the dangers of ingesting the pods. The researchers say they’re keeping a close eye on how the new regulations affect the number of exposures.

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Flavored Water: What’s In Your Beverage?

Do you find the taste of water to be bland and gross? Are you guilty of using flavored water enhancers in order to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day? If you are you’ll want to keep reading to see what you’ve been really putting in your body.

Now for those who are unfamiliar with water enhancers, they are usually found as liquids or powders that can be added to water, most commonly water bottles, to change the flavor. Common ingredients in this product are sugar, various flavorings and even artificial flavors. Even though these are approved by the FDA does that consider them as safe? While a lot of those ingredients seem common in most foods you eat there are still other ingredients involved in this process that are most certainly NOT common.

A couple of things that can be found in water enhancers are Propylene glycol, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and artificial colors. Propylene glycol serves as a solvent in items with added colors and flavors. It’s also used in some paints and plastics, which raises some eyebrows about its safety. Sucralose is an artificial sweetener 600 times sweeter than table sugar. Some watchdog groups say “not so fast!” because of reports of negative effects in rodents (leukemia and effects on the thymus gland). Although lots of evidence says sucralose is safe for humans, these animal studies may lead some to prefer to shy away from it. Acesulfame potassium (a.k.a., “Ace-K”), an artificial sweetener that’s 200 times sweeter than sugar, was also approved as safe by the FDA after a review of nearly 100 studies. But, some food safety advocates have pointed out that a lot of those studies were done back in the ‘70s and had some serious design flaws. Artificial colors are used in a huge variety of foods and beverages, and each one ranks differently in terms of safety. A few key points: Blue-1 and Yellow-5 can cause allergic reactions in some people and it’s suspected that some dyes may cause hyperactivity in some children; more research on the safety of the dyes is needed, as they are so commonly used.

A few drops of water enhancer is UNLIKELY to expose you to enough of these harmful ingredients listed above, however why take the chance when there are safer alternatives out there that don’t run this risk! Making a decision about a water enhancer may come down to weighing the pros and cons of what matters most to you. Our health matters greatly to us and that is why we use Sustain® from Melaleuca to make our water taste delicious! What Makes It Different? Sustain® Sport is the only performance drink with four electrolytes and just 10 calories per serving to help you rehydrate, rebound, and recover. Why Is That Important? Electrolytes are crucial minerals that are lost when you sweat, and water alone can’t put them back. Electrolytes perform three key functions: help maintain proper muscle function, help ensure proper communication between the muscles and brain, and also supports energy and water absorption into the body.

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What Does Bleach Clean Really Mean?

You may think that you’re keeping your child safe by cleaning the counters and floors with bleach so as to kill the germs that could harm your child, meanwhile you’re the one harming them without meaning to. It’s not your fault, most of us are raised to reach for the bleach when cleaning is involved, but do you know what actually resides in that small bottle? We’re not saying bleach doesn’t clean stains like nobody’s business, because it does, but that does not by any means make it safe. Bleach is considered a chlorine-based CORROSIVE substance, and the label doesn’t try to hide that. You would assume with a chemical powerful enough to kill bacteria in it that it would be seen as a danger to anyone exposed to it. WRONG. It is actually one of the most common and most relied on cleaners.

The most obvious danger can be found right on the label as we brought up earlier. It is a heavy corrosive material capable of irritating and potentially burning the eyes, skin, and sometimes even your respiratory tract simply by inhaling the gas when using. It is important to note that as of right now there is no organization like the FDA that regulates the cleaning products you are bringing into your homes. Even diluted bleach can still cause burns. Another common household ingredient found is Ammonia, when combined with bleach the effects could be devastating resulting in nosebleeds, neurological disorders, headaches, shortness of breath and chest pains. Basically every parent’s worst nightmare is sitting underneath your sinks right now.

As helpful as the safety tips can be when using these products, why don’t we just stop using it all together? We are in the 21st century where you can find plenty of healthy alternatives to not only chlorine bleach but many of the other toxic chemicals found in your home as well. Our personal favorite is SOL-U-MEL. Set a bottle of SOL-U-MEL where your old cleaners used to sit and you’ll be getting rid of a lot more than just stains! Here’s a list of things SOL-U-MEL does NOT have in it like other products; NO ammonia, NO chlorine bleach, and NO petroleum distillates. In other words, NO gloves, NO toxic ventilation, and NO toxic ingredients!

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A Dramatic Health Trend

More and more people are using supplements to improve their health. This is a
massive move with the global supplement market expected to reach $60 billion by 2020.
This is a doubling from 2010.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the most commonly reported reasons for
using supplements were to improve or maintain overall health. For instance, over
one-third of women use calcium for bolstering bone health.
Suggested reasons for this increase are greater health awareness, rising medical costs
and the increase in chronic conditions. Geographic issues are a part of the picture, too.
In the U.S., rising medical costs are a major factor. In Asia, there is a growing geriatric
population and Europe is experiencing an increase in chronic disease.
Other interesting statistics show that there is increased usage based upon education;
the more educated the greater the use. Also, the greater the income, the higher the use
of supplements.
50% of Americans take vitamins regularly. Some of this is blind belief, for there is
evidence that many vitamin supplements are not properly absorbed by the body, so the
value of the supplement is reduced or lost.
Your goal should be to make sure your supplements provide the nutritional value you
are paying for. This is not an easy question to answer, for all supplements are not
created equal. The mere ingestion of vitamins and minerals is not enough. The body
must recognize and absorb the nutrients.
One American company has developed a patented process that allows the supplements
to mimic nutrients found in nature. For instance, when plants absorb nutrients from soil,
the vitamins and minerals are naturally integrated into the plant. This allows your body
to naturally absorb the ingredients. Without this, many minerals and nutrients are not properly absorbed and, in
fact, create a build-up of unabsorbed material in the intestinal tract.
In the final analysis, supplement usage is increasing, and everyone should consider it
as food supplies are processed and altered – no longer delivering the nutrition they
once did. But, make sure your supplements are working to give you the benefit you
need and not just passing through your body, not being properly absorbed. Seek supplements that are proven to be effective and body-friendly.

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Supplementation: Is it Healthy or Harmful?

More and more people are using supplements to improve their health. This is a massive move with the global supplement market expected to reach $60 billion by 2020. This is a doubling from 2010.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the most commonly reported reasons for using supplements were to “improve” or “maintain” overall health. For instance, over one-third of women use calcium for bolstering bone health.

Suggested reasons for this increase are greater health awareness, rising medical costs and the increase in chronic conditions. Geographic issues are a part of the picture, too. In the U.S., rising medical costs are a major factor. In Asia, there is a growing geriatric population and Europe is experiencing an increase in chronic disease.

Other interesting statistics show that there is increased usage based upon education; the more educated the greater the use. Also, the greater the income, the higher the use of supplements.

50% of Americans take vitamins regularly. Some of this is blind belief, for there is evidence that many vitamin supplements are not properly absorbed by the body, so the value of the supplement is reduced or lost.

Your goal should be to make sure your supplements provide the nutritional value you are paying for. This is not an easy question to answer, for all supplements are not created equal. The mere ingestion of vitamins and minerals is not enough. The body must recognize and absorb the nutrients.

One American company has developed a patented process that allows the supplements to mimic nutrients found in nature. For instance, when plants absorb nutrients from soil, the vitamins and minerals are naturally integrated into the plant. This allows your body to naturally absorb the ingredients. Without this, many ‘pills’ are not absorbed and, in fact, create a build-up of unabsorbed material in the intestinal tract.

In the final analysis, supplement usage is increasing, and everyone should consider it as food supplies are processed and altered – no longer delivering the nutrition they once did. But, make sure your supplements are working to give you the benefit you need and not just passing through your body, not being properly absorbed.

Seek supplements that are proven to be effective and body-friendly.

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The Real Consequences of Sugar

Did you know you have about 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar in your 6 quarts of blood? If you drink a sweetened soda or juice with about 8 teaspoons of sugar and all that sugar went into your bloodstream, you could go into shock, a coma, and possibly die.

Fortunately, your body has protection devices. Your pancreas injects insulin into your blood to counteract the sugar. If it only happened occasionally it would be no big deal. However, with the diets that most of us now consume, our insulin levels are generally elevated.

Today’s diet is overloaded in both salt and sugar. We are addicted to sugar. In fact, the gut develops microbes that crave sugar and makes the urges to consume it even greater.

Insulin lets cells take in the sugar, but with too much sugar the excess gets converted to fat. The increased insulin levels also lead to higher cholesterol, higher blood pressure and a thickening of your arteries. This is what is called “fat-storage mode.” As blood sugar rises, the insulin tells your body to store fat, instead of using it. Hence, losing weight is even more difficult.

Also, your pancreas was not meant to produce this constant high level of insulin. It can wear out with heavy use and cannot make insulin fast enough to handle all the sugar. And when the sugar stays in the blood for too long it can bind with cell proteins and damage them.

In the final analysis, sugar increases insulin production which contributes to both obesity and diabetes.

Of course, the goal is to remain in “fat-reduction mode.” By keeping your blood sugar levels balanced, you promote a healthy insulin response. As a result, your body uses up fat rather than storing it. Any efforts to lose weight are optimized and easier to achieve.

Great. Now, how do you do it?

The answers are simple, but not necessarily easy, since sugar is an addiction. Besides the obvious reduction of sugar intake, there is a remarkable product that helps to regulate blood sugar. That product, made by an American green manufacturing company, is called GC Control. The “GC” is short for glucose. This outstanding formulation provides natural blood sugar support, by helping your body remain in an optimal calorie-burning range by controlling carb and sugar cravings.

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Metabolic Syndrome: Are You at Risk?

This little known and non-symptomatic condition is a growing threat to your health.
While not a disease, metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors that may
predict serious health issues.
Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart
disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.
The term metabolic refers to the biochemical processes involved in the body’s normal
functioning. Risk factors are traits, conditions, or habits that increase your chance of
developing a disease.
This condition is so common that one in three adults in the U.S. is at risk. If you are over
50 years old, it is more likely one in every two meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.
If not you, then someone you know is likely affected. And, like high blood pressure,
there are no perceived side effects – until they manifest. Then it may be too late to fully
correct.
Now let’s get into the details – these indicators are extremely important. You will likely
need your doctor to order blood work to get the info you need.
 Body Mass Index: also known as BMI can be measured. If it is 30+, then you are
at risk. Another guideline is midsection dimension. Over 35 inches for women
and over 40 inches for men is an indicator.
 Triglycerides: over 150 mg/dL
 HDL Cholesterol: less than 50 mg/dL for females and less than 40mg/dL for
males.
 Blood Pressure: Find out if you are over 130/85
 Blood Sugar: The big one – look into if over 100 mg/dL
These are meaningless numbers for many, but important to assess. Yes, you need a
medical consult to get and understand your individual situation. If you have three or
more of these indicators, you likely have metabolic syndrome.
While this is a bit deep in the weeds, you can see the importance of getting on top of
this issue. There is hope. Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors
that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and
stroke.
There are specific ways to deal with this condition. There is one natural blood sugar
support – called GC Control. Plus, there are other nutritional and weight management
techniques to consider. The important thing is to check your numbers and get started
before it becomes more serious.

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Coffee: Is It Really Good to the Last Drop?

Coffee in the morning is a ritual for many – the aroma of a fresh brew, the warmth on a chilly morning
and a chance to wake up at your own pace. This is the face of coffee as seen in television and online
ads. But, wait a minute. It is really that rosy?
For you it is. Coffee is a great source of anti-oxidants, provides stimulation and alertness and helps us
get off to a good start to the day. But this is not the complete picture.
Coffee is an industry with a dark under-belly. Large plantations are known for exploitative labor
practices. It is hot, back-breaking work for less than minimum wage. In fact, the quotas are so high that
many workers in third-work countries bring their children to work – off the payroll. These children are
subject to intense heat, heavy loads, sharp tools and exposure to pesticides. They are also denied their
education and a chance to just be children.
Further, farming practices are not good for the environment. Forests are cleared; soils are not
protected. Harsh chemicals, pesticides and herbicides use is rampant and little concern is given to long-
term sustainability.
But, there is good news. A new brand of coffee, Mountain Cabin Premium Coffee, has overcome these
undesirable practices. Mountain Cabin relies on small batch coffees using 100% arabica beans (the best
available). These small farms are located at high altitudes (at least one-mile above sea level) to ensure
better quality. Fair labor practices are demanded and sustainable farming methods are used. It
provides a variety of blends, both in bags and single serving cups. It also uses water-cooled, roller-milled
grinders to ensure taste, aroma and freshness is maintained during production.
Next time, you visit the grocery store, look at the coffee you are buying. Make sure it comes from
sustainable farms and uses fair labor practices. If you are not sure, then check out Mountain Cabin
coffees, available online for your convenience.

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The Facts About Disinfectant Cleaners

Everyone uses disinfectant cleaners in the home. But have you checked the ingredients? First, you can’t
pronounce them. Then, you have few clues as to what most of them are. If you are at all concerned
about the health and safety of your family, you need to pay attention.
Cleaning products contain chemicals that cause asthma, lung inflammation, asthma-like symptoms and
other respiratory problems. They also contain endocrine disrupting chemicals. Plus, many of the
ingredients in cleaning products evaporate easily, polluting your indoor air.
Most of the time, however, you don't really know the specific chemicals in your cleaners. That's because
manufacturers aren't required to list the ingredients on the labels. Sometimes they'll list vague
categories like surfactants and fragrance that could be any of hundreds of different chemicals.
Most of what is known about the chemicals in cleaning products comes from researchers. For example,
a 2014 study found 132 chemicals in the 105 cleaning products that were tested. The main groups of
chemicals that were identified in the cleaners included fragrance, glycol ethers, surfactants and
disinfectants.
Each of these chemical groups exposes you to toxins when you inhale them while you’re cleaning your
home and for hours afterwards. They can also enter your body through your skin.  Is this crazy or what? Here are a few, but not all, of the chemicals to look out for:

Ammonia

Vapors may irritate the skin, eyes, throat, and lungs. People with asthma may be particularly sensitive to
the effects of breathing ammonia. Ammonia may also cause kidney and liver damage. If ammonia is
mixed with products containing chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite), highly poisonous chloramine gas
is formed.
Coal tar dyes

Derived from petrochemicals and may be contaminated with trace amounts of heavy metals like arsenic,
cadmium and lead. There is concern that synthetic dyes may cause cancer and that heavy metals can
harm the nervous system and cause other adverse health effects. They are completely unnecessary to
the cleaning function of the product.

Phosphates

Function as a fertilizer in water. High concentrations of phosphates in bodies of water can promote
harmful algal blooms and increase weed growth. New regulations took effect in 2010 that limit
phosphorus concentration in household cleaning products to 0.5 per cent — a big improvement.

 

Phthalates

They are found in many fragranced household products, such as air fresheners, dish soap, even toilet
paper. Because of proprietary laws, companies don’t have to disclose what’s in their scents. Phthalates
are known endocrine disruptors. Men with higher phthalate compounds in their blood had
correspondingly reduced sperm counts, according to a 2003 study conducted by researchers from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health.
This is not a complete list, so beware. One great way to avoid chemicals and other toxic substances in
your home is to use a clean, green, non-toxic cleaner. One such is a product called Sol-U- Guard, a
disinfectant made by an American green manufacturing company. This product has citric acid and
thyme oil as active ingredients, which are both safe and pure.