3 Common Myths of Environmental Toxins

October 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment

GMOThere are lots of myths out there about environmental toxins, detoxing, and whether or not it’s even a necessary thing to worry about.

So, let’s jump right in and discuss these, one by one.

 

MYTH #1

My Body Is Designed to Rid Itself of Toxins – Without Any Help From Me

This particular myth is, in part, true.

Your body is designed to detoxify it’s internal environment, and it accomplishes this task through various specific pathways:

In fact, your liver is the powerhouse for the entire detoxification process.

However, it’s also where things can go wrong.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: BREATHE, HEALTH & WELLNESS, LIVE Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Are Your Kids Missing School?

August 29, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Allergy ConceptDid you know that 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.)

That’s a lot!

The likely culprit might surprise you even more –  toxins in the environment.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The rise in asthma has been specifically correlated to 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 might be wondering what that even means.

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

Think of VOC’s in the environment as being the household equivalent to rotten food.

So, just as you wouldn’t eat food that has obviously seen better days (gluten-free, or not) you really don’t want to surround yourself with chemicals that poison the air you breathe.

In fact, we now know that indoor air pollution can actually be 50% worse than outdoor air.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: BREATHE, HEALTH & WELLNESS, LIVE Tagged With: , , , , ,

10 Americans – A Gem Of A Video

March 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Pile of PancakesOK, that image might be a bit misleading, but bear with me here.

(There actually IS a large pancake stack in this wonderful video I’m about to share with you – titled “10 Americans“).

Over the past year, I’ve been working with an Environmental Toxins Expert – learning as much as I can about the home environment in particular and the many little things we can do to create change.

(As a former interior designer, with an eye on Green Design – this was right up my alley!)

That’s why, whenever possible, I like to broaden the conversation – so that we’re not just talking about food sensitivities, but understanding that other environmental factors can also impact our health.

Just to share an example – did you know that the average female consumer uses a dozen personal care products every day (which may, or may not contain gluten)? And that those products alone, contain in the neighborhood of 168 different chemicals?

(Men use about half as many products – containing 85 different chemicals, or so.)

Either way you look at it, that’s a lot!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: BREATHE, HEALTH & WELLNESS, LIVE Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

George Vanderbilt’s #1 Decorating Tip

August 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Biltmore HouseThis week, I’m digressing a bit into one of my other passions – interior design and the environment.

(For anyone who doesn’t know this about me, I’m not only a Health and Wellness coach – but also an Interior Designer, which explains my profound interest in how our environments impact us on a day to day basis!)

So, during this week’s trip to Asheville, NC , I was truly delighted to re-visit the Biltmore Estate, after roughly a 4 year absence.

Biltmore House, in case you didn’t know, is the famous mansion built in 1895 by George Vanderbilt – one of the wealthiest families in our nation at the turn of the 20th century.

(The American equivalent to Downton Abbey, if you will).

For George Vanderbilt, building his mansion was an opportunity to celebrate his passion for Art, Literature & Horticulture.

Even so, his guide to decorating the mansion was quite simple.

He did not have a decorator.

Nor did he have the equivalent of today’s interior designer.

So, what was his secret?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: LIVE Tagged With: , , , , ,

It’s Time For Spring Cleaning!

March 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: BREATHE, EAT, LIVE Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

5 Life Lessons From Downtown Abbey, cont’d

March 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Did you catch last weeks article about Downton Abbey?

If not, you can read about it here.

As you may already know, this hit TV series centers on the Crawley family, their elegant home Downton Abbey, and their fictitious lives.

Yet, despite its’ size, it is still home to a single family – who lives there much as any family would, along with the usual joys and times of sadness that we all endure.

In which respect, they are really no different from you and me – despite their vast wealth.

How does this relate to your own life?

Keep reading to learn more.

 

PAMPER YOURSELF

Unlike the women of Downton Abbey, chances are you don’t have a ladies maid at your disposal.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself.

You see – it doesn’t matter whether your home is a two-bedroom cottage, or a chateau high up on a hill.

Find time to enjoy more of what you love – whether it’s the things you do for fun, the occasional splurge, or the things you buy on a regular basis.

It’s another form of pampering, for sure!

How you spend your money or your time, matters.

Period.

So let the pampering begin!

No ladies maid required.

 

LOOK TO THE PAST

A show like Downton Abbey is, of course, steeped in history.

We see it in the historic portraits gracing the walls, the antique furnishings – mixed with a bit of 1920’s modern, I might add – and the cultural mores of the times.

In the same way, your home reflects all the different stages of your life.

It’s what made you who you are today.

Whether or not you’re aware of it, memories of your immediate past follow you wherever you go.

The secret is to delve into those memories and recapture moments from your past that complement how you live today.

Savor the best ones, for sure!

And if something no longer serves you – remove it.

That includes your furnishings, yes – but don’t stop there.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, LIVE Tagged With: , , , , ,

5 Life Lessons From Downton Abbey

February 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Did you catch the last episode of Downton Abbey?

There have been a lot of comments circulating this week, as another of our favorite characters met his demise.

(Some of us are still hoping for a miracle – an extend hospital stay, perhaps, or waking up to realize it was all a dream).

Others have dubbed the show “Downer Abbey”.

Which side are you on?

Recently, I  mentioned to my husband that it would be a great thing indeed, if Highclere Castle – the British mansion made famous on this hit television series – had public tours for viewing the premises.

So, imagine my surprise to read in our local paper, that the mansion IS in fact open for tours – for 70 days each year!

Yup – time to plan our next trip

All kidding aside, here’s what I really enjoy about the show:

  • I love seeing history unfold in the moment & learning what life was like “back then”.
  • I love the interior décor of this mansion – what this family calls home – studded as it is with antiques and old master paintings gracing the walls.
  • And, of course, I’m immersed in the characters themselves, and their privileged, fictitious lives.

 

So, what can the average person like you or I glean from a TV series like Downton Abbey – as it relates to our own lives?

Quite a lot, as it turns out!

Keep reading, as I share how you can bring a bit of Downton Abbey into your own home.

 

CELEBRATE YOUR KITCHEN

At Downton Abbey, the kitchen is the hub of the home.

In fact, most of the ‘downstairs’ scenes take place in the kitchen – not too surprising since Mrs. Pattmore  and Daisy are hard at work from the crack of dawn preparing meals for the entire household.

You may have a similar responsibility in your own home – with the added bonus of many modern conveniences!

Yet, how much time do you spend in your kitchen?

If you’ve just learned you suffer from food sensitivities – the kitchen is even more important – it’s truly the foundation for a healthy lifestyle and the key to making smart, informed decisions for designing a life you can embrace and love!

Why not make your kitchen the star of your home?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, LIVE Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Are Your Holidays “Green” ?

December 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

‘Green’ has become quite the buzz-word of late.

First and foremost, it’s the color we associate with Nature. 

It’s soothing and reliable like the dark green of a forest, or the brilliant green of summer grasses.

More and more, we also associate the color Green with a safe,  eco-friendly lifestyle.

And “greening” your holidaysoffers one more opportunity to up the ante, so to speak – and update your decor with eco-safe options.

Of course, along with the mantra to  “Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle” there’s also the recommendation to eat your Greens.

For some of us, this might be the most challenging of all!

However, relying on lots of leafy greens and vegetables as a mainstay of your diet, is a sure fire way to boost your health.

There are lots of ways to sneak extra greens into your daily meals, whether adding a handful to a smoothie (it really doesn’t affect the taste, I promise) – or relying on oversized leaves as a wrap, in lieu of bread.

So – just in time for the holidays – here’s another idea for incorporating greens into your diet.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: LIVE Tagged With: , , , , ,