The Natural World

Dear Readers, Wow, long time-no hear from but I'm back!
I have now embarked on a new adventure, the road to eliminating commercial products from my personal care (can you add something like..routine?) personal care routine?
These series of blogs will cover how to replace everything from Shampoo/Conditioners to body lotions to skin scrubs with household natural products.
And why is Roseann doing this?
1. Be healthier by eliminating chemicals 2. Reduce & finally eliminate my dependency on unconscious companies
I try everything before I recommend it, this will give you the best options, should you decide to follow.
I also have two other people trying the recipes, Mellisa and Lupita. This way I can present options because what works on me might not work on everyone. These two ladies have been formulating lotions inspiring me to share the information with you.
I hope you will find these blogs informative and life changing.
To start, for the last 3 months I have not used commercial shampoos or conditioners. First I needed to cleanse my hair from years of commercial products with silicone and other chemicals. I used a mixture of Baking Soda and water:
1 tablespoon of Baking Soda 2 cups of water Shake well, then pour on your head while in the shower. Rinse it with Bragg organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I did this twice, four days apart.
Then after I was able to remove the silicone and other product residue from my hair, I started a different protocol: 2 egg yokes 1/4 cup of organic yogurt 1/2 cup of Bragg organic Apple Cider Vinegar (mixture should be 1/3 Bragg + 2/3 water)
After several different mixtures which include but not limited to Beer, I am now using the yoke of an egg with yogurt. A few times a week I have egg whites for breakfast... It was bothering me that I didn't know what to do with the yoke! Don't like any form of waste! Other days I just have yogurt. So I mix 2 yokes with a 1/4 of a cup of yogurt (organic). I mix it and let it sit on my head for 10 - 20 minutes. I bring the Braggs in the shower and just rinse the mixture out of my hair. I'm not concerned about rinsing the Braggs from my hair, its fine if a little is left behind.
The results are wonderful, my hair is shiny, thick and healthy looking. I now have more "great hair days" then not. I'm able to go 4 to 5 days without having to wash it. It never looks greasy, that's what the silicone and other ingredients were doing to my hair, weighing it down with chemicals. Remember what your hair smelled like when you came out of a club when people were allowed to smoke? The commercial chemicals actually attracted pollutants and smells to your hair.
Let me know if anyone tries this and what your results were. Or if you have another recipe I can post, I love having alternatives to Conscious Health and Beauty..
Until next time....

Natural Beauty

I was reading an article from Better Nutrition Magazine Supplement on line yesterday and came across this information about skin care and remember, I'm not going to give you a lot of "unusable information".


Hopefully you are buying only the best wild Alaskan salmon (not farm raised or Genetically Modified). You seek out organic spinach and blueberries (don't forget you can freeze blueberries without losing any of it's nutritional value). You try to avoid trans fats in your crackers and high-fructose corn syrup in your jam. And you go to great lengths to avoid chemicals of any kind in your food. But if you’re buying cheap cosmetics?

You may still be putting those chemicals in your body every day.

What conventional cosmetic manufacturers don’t want you to know is that their products may contain chemicals that have been linked to increased risk of cancer, developmental disorders, reproductive damage, and other health hazards. Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require health and safety studies or testing of cosmetics, manufacturers may use almost any raw material in formulating a product—and some of them are pretty dirty.

Think about that, the skin is the largest organ of the body and day after day you are washing, scrubbing, steaming and bushing these chemicals on it every day.

“There is no burden placed on manufacturers to be sure a product is safe before it comes to store shelves,” says Leeann Brown, press secretary for the Environmental Working Group (EWG). “There’s no government oversight, no non-biased organization evaluating products for safety. There’s really not much regulation at all of what can and cannot go into personal care products.”

Just do a test and go into any store, grab a few products and read their ingredients. Would you eat what is in that tube? Well you are ingesting through your skin these chemicals. Don't forget, medicine patches are a great way to take a medication without swallowing or injecting it. So what would be the difference?

So if you’re using conventional products, they may contain phthalates, propylene glycol, parabens, and other chemicals that can increase cancer risk, lead to organ system damage, and cause reproductive harm. “It’s a real horror show,” says Bruce Blumberg, PhD, professor of developmental and cell biology at the University of California, Irvine. “All the things we work so hard to avoid in food are used in vast quantities in personal care products.” No question about it—natural and organic is the only way to go.

Natural and organic beauty items are free of toxins and high in nutrients—just like your organic peanut butter and pomegranates. Confused about what to buy?

I found this line, sold only through doctors and Med Spas.
www.rejuva.com
I put the eye cream on my eyes and lips (moisturized) every day and yes I end up ingesting this product every day. They have taken out the Parabens, Gluten, Petroleum and scary preservatives.. and this skin care is luxurious.

Get on line to find a local MD that carries the line, they also offer discounts with 'on line' orders.

Skin and the Aging Process

Your Skin and the Aging Process
Zits. Brown spots. Sagging.
Forget PMS--now you can blame your hormones for bad skin, too.

Up until your 30th birthday, you lose about a million skin cells every 40 minutes. Sounds gross, but this desirable sloughing is actually what gives you the dewy skin that radiates youth, it's the reason young children reflect the light differently then older people. "For the first few decades, your epidermis renews itself every 30 days, but by the time you're 40, it takes about 45 days," says Dr. Kathy Fields, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCSF. Unfortunately, this shedding slowdown is a reflection of your body's gradual aging process. Long before menopause, the same hormonal production shifts that sap your fertility will start showing their signs on your face. But before you start stockpiling your pantry with soy and estrogen supplements (which may raise your risk of breast cancer because of their systemic effects), try treating your hormonal skin issues safely, from the outside in.

Breakout Role
Just as you may see a little thinning in your hairline or the slight shadow of a moustache, more blackheads and blemishes are a sign of aging. "About a third of women will get adult acne, usually in their early 30s, even if they didn't have breakouts when they were younger," says Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Stuart Kaplan. "Starting in your late 20s, estrogen levels decline faster than testosterone." Because testosterone is an androgenic hormone, it increases masculine qualities (hence the new facial hair) and boosts oil production, plugging your pores and causing blemishes. The difference between adult acne and the teenage type? Small red bumps (not painful, cystic pimples) are more common when you're older, according to Kaplan, and acne along the jawline or around the mouth are a telltale sign that you're dealing with a hormonal breakout. Going on the birth-control pill or spironolactone (a diuretic with antiandrogenic effects) will balance hormone levels and reduce breakouts. For a nonprescription approach, try combination acne-and-wrinkle-fighting formulas that gently keep skin clear without over-stripping.

Seeing Spots
Even if you haven't had a baby, brown, patchy melasma (aka the pregnancy mask) can appear if you take birth-control pills. "Estrogen turns on melanin pigment production, so being on the Pill can be a trigger," explains Fields. "If you're genetically prone to melasma, you'll have brown spots, even if you stop taking the Pill." Since pigment problems are notoriously difficult to treat, Fields recommends strict sun avoidance and a cocktail of antioxidants and sunscreen to keep dark dots at bay.

Dry Spell
Thyroid function naturally peters out over time, which means less hormone production overall. But many women are diagnosed as hypothyroid during or after pregnancy. "When your thyroid function is low, skin becomes dry and scaly," explains Miami dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt. He also notes that the epidermis starts losing moisturizing hyaluronic acid when you hit your late 20s. Since estrogen enhances hyaluronic acid production, declining estrogen levels mean less moisture. Kaplan describes the result: "Your skin becomes leathery and starts to crack like an old raincoat. The purpose of skin is to act like a barrier. As your face gets drier, it also gets more sensitive." The good news is that you can replenish hyaluronic acid topically. Sealing in serums with a cream will protect against irritation and further moisture loss.

Not to sound like a commercial for Sun:Soul, this product helps in more then just protecting your skin from UV rays.. But you now have to put on less chemical sunscreens and in turn reduce the outbreaks and dry skin issues.

I can give you plenty of reasons you should wear Sun:Soul, but one stands out more then all the others.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN, YOU WILL MISS IT WHEN IT'S NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION ANYMORE.

www.sunscreenwear.com


Portions of this article was found on WebMD
Feature from "Marie Claire" Magazine ~ By Ning Chao

SunScreen, the Myth

Part 1
After reading a ton of information on the subject I would like to pass a little ‘usable’ information to my readers.

The idea that sunscreen prevents cancer is a myth. It's a myth promoted by a profit-seeking tag-team effort between the cancer industry and the sunscreen industry. The sunscreen industry makes money by selling lotion products that actually contain cancer-causing chemicals. It then donates a portion of that money to the cancer industry through non-profit groups like the American Cancer Society which, in turn, run heart-breaking public service ads urging people to use sunscreen to "prevent cancer."

The scientific evidence, however, shows quite clearly that chemicals in sunscreen actually promotes cancer by blocking the body's absorption of ultraviolet radiation, which produces vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D, as recent studies have shown, prevents up to 77 of ALL cancers in women (breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors, multiple myeloma... you name it). Meanwhile, the toxic chemical ingredients used in most sunscreen products are actually carcinogenic and have never been safety tested or safety approved by the FDA. They get absorbed right through the skin (a porous organ that absorbs most substances it comes into contact with) and enter the bloodstream.

Ok so what are we going to do with this information?

1. Stop wearing sunscreen: Yes and no. you need to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation so yes, stop using the non-organic sun protection. Switch to natural, organic and or Blocks. Remember blocks don’t penetrate your skin so you don’t absorb them.

2. Start wearing sun protection clothing: www.sunscreenwear.com
There are other companies offering SPF clothing, please make sure they are FDA approved protection like Sun Soul is.

It’s up to you what happens to your skin, not the medical community or the big companies. Every day you put on or in your body various forms of poisons, be conscious of how you are reduce your risk.

Skin Cancer, Prevention

Overview: Skin Cancer - Melanoma
Can Melanoma Skin Cancer Be Prevented?

Not all melanomas can be prevented, but there are ways to reduce your risk.

Limit UV exposure

The best way to lower the risk of melanoma is to avoid too much exposure to the sun and other sources of UV light. Avoid being outdoors in sunlight too long, especially in the middle of the day when UV light is most intense. Be "sun safe" when you are outdoors. "Slip! Slop! Slap! … and Wrap" is a catch phrase to remind you of the 4 key ways you can protect yourself from UV light. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and the skin around them. These things can help you prevent skin cancer:

Protect your skin with clothing: www.sunscreenwear.com
Ok I just made a shameless plug for my site
you may think I'm just trying to sell you something and you would be right, I'm trying to sell you something that will protect and heal you. No fun watching my friends & family get sections of their skin removed... Please pay attention.

Clothes vary in how much they can protect you. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, or long skirts are the most protective. Dark colors are better than light colors. A tightly woven fabric protects better than loosely woven clothing. And dry clothing is better than wet clothing.

Some clothing is made with built-in UV protection. There are also newer products that can increase the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value of clothes you already own. Used like laundry detergents, they add a layer of UV protection to your clothes without changing the color or texture.

Wear a hat

A hat with at least a 2- to 3-inch brim all around is good because it protects the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. A shade cap (which looks like a baseball cap with about 7 inches of fabric draping down the sides and back) is also good.(or you might not want to look like you are exploring Africa all the time so put sunblock on the areas that are exposed) These are often sold in sports and outdoor supply stores.

A baseball cap can protect the front and top of the head, but not the back of the neck or the ears. Straw hats are not a good choice unless they are tightly woven.
AND still wear sun block on the areas that are covered, reflection is just as potent)

IF you are wearing a baseball cap, very important to apply sunblock to the back of your neck. Look around at the back of people's neck, it will become blairingly clear you need to remember that.

Use sunscreen/sunblock

Use sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Be sure to use enough--a palmful for your whole body. And put it on again every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days. For it to work best, sunscreen should be put on before you go outside.

and when you can, use SunBlock
As you read this blog understand I do my research and then share it. I do interject when the article does not cover everything or doesn't hit you over the head with specific instructions vs. some vague information.

I think you need at least 30 block both uva/uvb to really protect yourself. I put it on under my mineral make-up, light and not smothering.

OK, back to the Article:

Don't make the mistake of thinking that because you're using sunscreen, you can stay out in the sun longer. Staying out longer because you're using sunscreen just means you'll end up getting the same amount of UV light as you would otherwise. You won’t reduce your melanoma risk that way.

If you want the look of a tan you can use "sunless" tanning lotion. These help you look tan, without the danger of UV damage. You do not have to go out in the sun for these to work. The color tends to wear off after a few days.
Don't forget to look for ones with Organic ingredient, Stop poisoning yourself.

Wear sunglasses

Wrap-around sunglasses with at least 99% UV absorption give the best protection to your eyes and the skin around your eyes. Look for sunglasses labeled as blocking UVA and UVB light.

Stay in the shade

Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day, between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun's rays are strongest. Keep in mind that sunlight (and UV rays) can come through clouds, can reflect off water, sand, concrete, and snow, and can reach below the water's surface.

Protect children
We should say this to ourselves over and over again

Be especially careful about sun protection for children. Children tend to spend more time outdoors and they burn more easily. Teach them to protect themselves from the sun as they get older.

Avoid other sources of UV light

Tanning beds and sun lamps are dangerous because they can damage your skin. Most skin doctors say not to use tanning beds and sun lamps. There is growing evidence that they may increase your risk of getting melanoma. This is an area of active research.

For more information on how to protect yourself and your family, see the American Cancer Society Document, Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, YOU ARE GOING TO MISS YOUR SKIN WHEN IT'S GONE!
this information comes from the American Cancer web site.org

Healthy Habits for Weight Loss

Healthy Habits for Weight Loss
Losing weight is not just about dieting. More important are making lifestyle changes that can be helpful for losing weight and keeping the weight off. Here are some simple strategies.

Losing weight and keeping it off is a matter of cutting back what you eat and increasing your amount of exercise which could be as simple was walking 40 minutes a day. "The simplest equation in the world, calories in and calories out, determines your weight loss," says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, of Sarasota, Fla., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Meaning everything you eat counts, and the combination and time of day also is added into the equation.
But if that's all you do, you may find yourself ultimately regaining the weight you worked so hard to lose. The reason: Weight loss is a matter of lifestyle and, if you don't adopt the healthy habits necessary to sustain your optimum weight, you could backslide into overweight and obesity.
Here are some tips aimed at helping you create a healthy lifestyle that will improve your chances for success. They might seem like common sense, but many people committed to losing weight neglect these healthy habits and end up struggling to succeed.
Do yourself a favor and remove or don’t replace process food now in your kitchen such as Cookies, Candy, Crackers. Food Stuff you buy in a package/box, they are really the enemy. Most don’t have any nutritional value so you eat them but feel hungry in a few minutes.

Watch Your Portions
Portion control is a key challenge to Americans pursuing weight loss. "The best way to control the calories is to go with portion control," says Dr. Gerbstadt. Piling food onto your plate can make you feel pressured to eat it all. Start with small portions; you can always go back for (a little) more if you're still hungry. Keep in mind that your stomach will grumble early on, until it has shrunk to adapt to the smaller meals you are now eating.

Eat Slowly
It takes a little while for your body to realize that you've eaten and to stop sending signals of hunger. If you slow down and savor your food, you probably will eat less before your body acknowledges that you're full.

Eat Your Vegetables First
Vegetables contain plenty of fiber and bulk but few calories. By eating them first, you might eat less of any fatty or high-calorie items on your plate.

Don't Skip Meals
Skipping meals sounds like a good idea, but it actually undermines your weight-loss plan. Your body thinks it is being starved and starts building body fat in an attempt to store energy away for later. On top of that, you're likely to be even hungrier for your next meal and eat far more than you would have otherwise. The best course is to eat three small meals, with two small snacks in between in the beginning. Once your body has food coming in on a regular basis, it will not be as hungry as many times during the day.

Drink Plenty of Water
Water helps you feel full throughout your day, aiding your weight-loss efforts. Water also provides innumerable health benefits to your skin and your digestive and circulatory systems. More then most you are not really hungry but just dehydrated.

Switch to Healthy Snacks
Swap out the high-calorie or high-fat snacks in your diet for healthier alternatives. Fruits, low-fat string cheese, peanut butter, and whole-grain crackers are some good options (try to minimize the processed food). Create snacks that combine carbohydrates and proteins, like peanut butter on apple slices, as they will make you feel full longer.
Burning calories through physical activity is essential to weight loss. If you don't burn more calories than you eat, you won't lose weight. "People think they're too busy to walk 20 to 40 minutes a day or do a little weight training or ride a bike, and then they wonder why they can't lose weight," Gerbstadt says. "If you try to diet without exercise, it just takes that much more effort." Any physical activity, even long walks, will help.

Keep a Record
Food diaries are a proven aid to people pursing weight loss. Keep track of what you've eaten and how many calories the food contained. If you also keep a record of your exercise, you can compare how many calories you're burning to how many calories you're consuming.

Healthy and sustainable weight loss does not occur overnight, despite the promises of fad diets. Losing a pound or two a week is normal, and shows that you are adopting weight-loss habits as a part of your lifestyle.
There are weight loss programs out there, do your homework. Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers are not Medical programs. The Center for Medical Weight Loss was created by a Bariatric surgeon. The pre-measured food has been cleared by the FDA for the optimal amount of supplements and nutrition. 99% of all patients lose the weight, 97% keep it off. These stats are based on a stratified sample of 349 patients over a six-year period.
http://centerformedicalweightloss.com/whole_new_me

Resources:
By Dennis Thompson, Jr.
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH
Some information was taken from EverydayHealth.com.

It doesn’t matter how big or small your kitchen is, the way to Conscious Health is through your Kitchen. And why am I putting so much emphasis on the kitchen? (Besides the fact I am Italian and food is all we think about)
Realize that 85% of our health comes from what we put or don’t put in our mouth. Every nutritionist and body builder will confirm the statement to be 100% true.
It is imperative you control what you eat everyday. It is important you also choice health ingredients but also infuse the positive energy you require to flourish. Anyone can just subsist; they are using the drive-in window at McDonald’s. To live and grow in every sense needs positive energy and nourishing food.

Please let those two statements sit and resonate (marinate) in your consciousness. Once you truly understand.. And not only understand but truly take this as part of your being from here forward, will you truly find Healthy Living. There are no substitutes; you are responsible to provide yourself with what you truly need.

My kitchen is small but clean, with minimal space for storage so I keep it simple.
I have minimal Process Food items which means no cookies, crackers, cans of creamed something. The only thing you can find is a few bags of pasta and an occasional loaf of multi-grain bread or pita.

My Cabinets:
I have beans, rice, grains, nuts, olives, tomatoes sauces, a few bags of pasta, cans of tuna and spices. In another cabinet I have Oils and Vinegars, assorted with several varieties.

My refrigerator:
Juice, eggs, butter, natural plain yogurt, feta goat cheese, condiments (no sugars, starches, preservatives) and that is the same everything in my refrigerator.

Vegetable bin: Spinach, carrots, broccoli, beets, assorted salad and or bok choy or corn on the cob, asparagus, and green beans. You can buy any vegetables you like and familiar with.

It’s 6pm, I return home from work with no meal plan:
I open my refrigerator, what to do, what to have?

Salad with items I have in my refrigerator and/or my cabinets.

Spinach, beets, beans, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, feta cheese, olives, nuts and berries with a little dressing.

If you have to push it a little (add more people) prepare a ½ pound of pasta. You can add tuna, grilled chicken (which takes only minutes to cook) or other protein to the mix. You can eat this meal a few nights a week and not get tired of it, just change a few of the ingredients. Or stir-fry the ingredients with butter; try not to heat up any with anything else. I use Oils cold (cold pressed) for my salads, dressings, preparing sauces, hummus and other condiments (Spanish Olive Oil is the best)

Other nights I stop for a piece of fish on the way home (substitute what ever protein you prefer) Maybe prepare rice and a steamed vegetable. There are so many different variations of the same, clean, healthy meal you can prepare under 30 minutes.
It’s as long as it would take you to find a parking spot near a restaurant, get seated and order your meal, You would be eating just about the same time and it would cost you a fraction.

When I stopped at the fish store I order more then enough, that means the leftovers are lunch the next day or dinner. If you are in the habit of preparing small, healthy meals, you will always have something available in your refrigerator.

I try not to eat after 7pm. Not to say I would ever turn down dinner invitations at 8pm, but that’s not my everyday routine. However if I eat a meal at 3pm, I might be a little hungry at 8. I put together a little hummus, olives, pita bread, cheese and almonds. Perfect for a late-night snack and again, we are not looking for a ‘full’ feeling. Just enough food to silence the growling stomach.

Around an ‘outdoor’ concrete and tile table you will find fruit and vegetables ripening. Flowers and plants on the side, this is all about energy. When you have nature surrounding you, you are at peace; this is positive energy manifestation by you and your Conscious self. Wake up! These are the feelings you originally were devoted to. I promise you; manifesting positive energy will easily replace the addictions we are in conflict with. Use food to heal and nourish you, I promise your relationship with it will change.

“When you change the way you look at things - the things you look at change.”
Expect a miracle