toxins

The Window Screen In Your Gut

January 23, 2015 By Karen Leave a Comment

Does this sound familiar?

You’ve recently eliminated several foods from your diet – such as gluten or dairy – knowing that you’re sensitive to them.

And you’re eating other foods instead.

Maybe you’re even eating a lot of these other foods – they’re ‘safe’ after all.

And the next thing you know, you’ve become sensitive to those foods.

What the heck is going on?

Is this just a part of getting older? Or is there a better explanation?

Well, here’s an analogy I think you’ll like.

If you think of your average window screen, its job is to keep bugs and gnats out of your home – letting in only the good stuff.

The good stuff being fresh air!

However, what happens if there are holes in that window screen?

Next thing you know, a mosquito or two will be buzzing about your head or maybe even a larger insect.

Now compare this to what might be going on your digestive tract.

Is Detox A 4-Letter Word?

January 9, 2015 By Karen Leave a Comment

We’re just a few days into the New Year, and hardly a day goes by that I don’t come across an email or Facebook post advocating a full body Detox or Cleanse.

The general idea is to undo the damage from all the holiday indulgence.

(I even offer an Extreme Kitchen Makeover – not quite the same thing, but a detox just the same.)

So, what’s the point of a Detox, anyway?

Is this just some “new agey” thing?

Why would the human body even need to detox? And what exactly are you detoxing from?

A Sugar-Free Christmas? Bah Humbug!

November 28, 2014 By Karen Leave a Comment

A couple of years ago, I decided to cut back on my intake of refined sugar.

And I’ve shared my various successes baking with alternate sweeteners here and here.

Of course, there are lots of reasons why you might want to consume less sugar than the Standard American Diet (aka SAD).

However, if you’re experiencing any kind of digestive distress, or chronic illness, then sugar is one of the first things I’d recommend you eliminate.

After gluten, of course!

(Both gluten and sugar, along with dairy, are considered the top three most inflammatory foods).

So, that’s reason #1.

Here’s another reason to eliminate sugar: a yeast or bacterial overgrowth, such as Candida or SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth).

Is Gluten Toxic?

August 15, 2014 By Karen Leave a Comment

The bigger question, of course, is “Do you have Celiac Disease?”

Or, “Do you have a gluten-related disorder, most often referred to as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity – or Gluten Intolerance?”

Did you answer “yes” to either question?

In that case, gluten certainly is a toxin, at least to you.

If you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn’t appear to have a sensitivity to gluten – that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re completely off the hook.

According to Dr. Tom O-Bryan, who refers to himself as the Gluten-Free Doc, “Everyone should be checked for a gluten sensitivity. And if you have the celiac gene, you definitely want to be checked every two years or so. You might be fine now, but at some point you will likely cross the line.”

Why is that?

Ready For a Little Spring Cleaning?

May 9, 2014 By Karen Leave a Comment

Now that Spring has sprung, I thought a little Spring cleaning might be order.

No worries – what I have in mind doesn’t require any special cleaning equipment. (Definitely no vacuums, dusting cloths or spray bottles).

(Unless, of course, you choose to).

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 treasured symbol of Springtime – since it blooms early in the season, thus signifying new life ahead.

And in traditional Chinese medicine, Spring is also the season for cleansing – making this the perfect time of year to cleanse your home, body, and even your mind.

But here’s the most important thing you need to know:

In traditional cleanses, there is often one critical piece that’s missing!

Want to know what it is?

Keep reading and I’ll share with you exactly what I mean.

Is This Your New Normal?

April 11, 2014 By Karen Leave a Comment

Have you felt some resistance accepting the reality of your food sensitivities?

Perhaps you’ve fought the urge to cheat a little bit – just this once?

After all, you probably want to be just like everyone else, especially in social situations, or when dining out.

You want what they’re having.

Today, I thought I’d share with you a little story.

If you’ve been following my blog lately, or reading my newsletter, then you already know that my eighty-nine year old mother recently went gluten-free.

(And also dairy-free.)

This was the result of a visit to my naturopath.

(And yes, even though I knew in my gut that taking my mother to see a naturopath was a good idea, I started to question my decision soon after – wondering if I was doing the right thing).

Was it fair to put an 89-year-old woman through this, and change her diet after a lifetime of eating a certain way?

Are Your Kids Missing School?

September 13, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Not 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!

Does Your Kitchen Need A Makeover?

June 21, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Does 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!)

THE FABRIC OF OUR LIVES

March 11, 2011 By Karen Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago, I attended an innovative & enjoyable interior design event, held at the Theo Chocolate factory in Seattle.

If you’re wondering what chocolate has to do with design, this struck me as such a fun concept I couldn’t resist the opportunity to learn more.

As it happened, the chocolate fest was held in tandem with the viewing of a locally owned fabric collection from O’Ecotextiles.

What these two companies – and their products – have in common is an environmentally conscious footprint. In other words, from start to finish, both the chocolate, and the fabrics, are sustainably manufactured!

On their website, Theo’s Chocolates boasts they are “the ONLY Organic, Fair-Trade, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Factory in the United States!”

O’Ecotextiles describes their fabrics as “Opulent, Yet Organic” and “Sensuous, yet Sustainable”.

Tempting, yes?

Well, I’d like to share some sobering statistics about the many fabrics, luscious and otherwise, that we surround ourselves with on a daily basis.

What most of us don’t realize, is that there are over 2000 chemicals used in fabric production.

That’s right – 2000!

You can be sure that most of them are highly toxic, and harmful to both your health and the environment.

Yet the average person has no idea.

The Window Screen In Your Gut

Is Detox A 4-Letter Word?

A Sugar-Free Christmas? Bah Humbug!

Is Gluten Toxic?

Ready For a Little Spring Cleaning?

Is This Your New Normal?

Are Your Kids Missing School?

Does Your Kitchen Need A Makeover?

THE FABRIC OF OUR LIVES

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