Are Your Kids Missing School?

Allergy ConceptNot too long ago, a friend of mine mentioned that her two-year old grandson had been extremely sick over the past few months.

The poor little guy had been in and out of our local Children’s Hospital, subjected to one test after another.

But there was still no clear diagnosis.

Eventually, his doctors began to suspect that the real culprit was the new carpet recently installed in the family’s home.

As shocking as this might seem, the truth is things like this happen all the time.

Here’s something else that might surprise you:

Asthma in children is on the rise, resulting in a lot of missed school days. (According to the latest statistics, more than 25 million people are affected!)

The culprit?

Once again, these statistics can be traced directly to toxins in the environment, in this case a group of chemicals commonly referred to as VOC’s.

That stands for Volatile Organic Compounds  – even the word volatile sounds scary, doesn’t it?

You know how, when food has gone bad, it typically has a rather awful smell?

Well, think of VOC’s as being the household equivalent to rotten food.

Just as you wouldn’t eat food that has obviously seen better days – you really don’t want to surround yourself with toxins that poison the air you breathe, do you?

(According to recent studies, indoor air pollution can actually be 50% worse than outdoor air).

That’s why paying attention to your child’s sleep environment is such a great place to start!

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How To Travel Green

TravelAh, the joys of travel.

Not only do we have to deal with the hassles of flying, but our normally healthy habits as far as diet and exercise often fly out the window, adding to our level of frustration and fatigue.

When you add a gluten-free, allergen-free diet to the mix, it gets even more interesting!

Here’s another thing I know to be true:

If you’re an eco-friendly sort of person, it can be very hard to maintain your eco-friendly ways while on the road.

After all, when we’re tired and hungry, and far from home it’s much easier to opt for convenience – especially when crunched for time.

Still, it is possible, and needn’t take too much effort.

So here are my tips on How to Travel Green.

 

Stay Hydrated

While it’s definitely important to stay hydrated while traveling, I think it’s equally important to consider the type of bottle you’re drinking out of.

Yet, how does one maintain proper fluid intake without going through gallons of water packaged in plastic bottles?

My method isn’t foolproof, but here it is:  I travel with a stainless steel water bottle.

I empty it prior to passing through airport security, then promptly request a refill at the nearest Starbucks.

A friend of mine gave me this tip a few years ago, and it really works!

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Does Your Kitchen Need A Makeover?

fried eggDoes this sound like you?

You’ve recently eliminated all gluten from your diet, and you’re feeling so much better.

You want that great feeling to last – well, forever.

A clean, healthy diet is certainly the easiest and quickest way to support your health.

So, kudos to you for coming this far!

What you may not realize is that there are other ways your kitchen could be undermining your best efforts.

Yes, this goes beyond food and what you might be eating on a daily basis.

Here’s another way of looking at it.

There are actually three different ways that foreign substances enter our bodies:

  • We ingest them
  • We breathe them
  • We accumulate them on our skin

 So, why should you be concerned?

Well, if you’re dealing with any health issues whatsoever – in addition to your food sensitivities – then this is definitely something you want to consider.

For example:

  • Weight Gain
  • Behavioral problems in children
  • Anxiety or Depression

Truth be told, there are numerous household and environmental chemicals that we’re exposed to every day.

(If you’ve already downloaded your copy of the HEALTHY AGING TOOLKIT, you’re already a step ahead – good for you!)

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It’s Time For Spring Cleaning!

CleanersiStock_000009262565XSmallSpring has finally arrived!

How did you mark the occasion?

Do you have an annual tradition for celebrating the first day of Spring?

(Me – I went skiing, which – last time I checked – is generally not considered a Springtime activity).

It’s no accident, by the way, that Spring is considered a time of renewal.

In fact, in ancient Chinese art, the plum blossom is a symbol of Springtime – because it blooms early in the season, signifying new life ahead.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Spring is the also the season for cleansing.

It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that more people participate in detoxes of every kind during this time of year.

With this in mind, here are three simple ways you can welcome Springtime into your own home, and your life.

 

Cleanse Your Cupboards

You may have already cleared your cupboards, fridge and freezer of gluten-containing foods, along with your other allergens.

But why not go a step further?

This is the perfect time to thoroughly clean out your kitchen, and release any foods that don’t truly support your health.

So – out with the tired spices, white flours and processed junk food!

In with whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat and gluten-free oats.

Bring on the whole grain crackers, and minimally processed staples like pasta and whole grain flours for baking.

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Introducing ‘Arbonne’!

On the heels of recommending several ways you can fine-tune your ingredients, I came across a list of foods & additives to avoid when eating gluten-free – a list that extends to beauty products and toiletries.

I thought this was rather fortuitous.

I picked this particular flyer up some time ago at Whole Foods – another very helpful resource, by the way, for a variety of special diets.

Here are some of the items on the list:

  • Binders
  • Caramel Coloring
  • Coatings (i.e. anything breaded)
  • Dextrins
  • Dispersing Agents
  • Emulsifiers
  • Fillers
  • Flavorings
  • Grain Alcohol (beer, ale, rye, scotch, etc.)
  • Homeopathic Remedies
  • Hydrolyzed Protein
  • Malt or Malt Flavoring
  • Modified Food Starch
  • Mono & Di-Glycerides
  • Preservatives
  • Soy Sauce
  • Spices (if anti-caking agents are used)
  • Vegetable Gum (when made from oats)

Pretty daunting, huh?

As if this list isn’t long enough, it’s equally smart to consider your toiletries and beauty products.

That’s right – along with over the counter and prescription medications, everything from toothpaste and other non- ingested products also need to be taken into consideration.

Which is why I’m excited to share with you a product line you may not be familiar with – Arbonne!

While I’m not in the business of selling beauty products, per se, I believe this particular company is another fabulous resource for anyone on a gluten-free or vegan diet.

Arbone products use botanically based formulas that are formulated WITHOUT gluten or animal products.

In fact, they are certified vegan, which means they also don’t use animals for testing.

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