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How to Lessen Your Exposure to Toxic Chemicals- Head’s Up Pregnant Ladies!

By Healthy Darling · Comments (1) · December 4th, 2012

According to this alarming article by Dr. Mercola, 99% of women in the U.S. test positive for multiple chemicals- including banned ones. For the first time, a new study has counted all the chemicals to which a pregnant women is exposed. Turns out, more than 160 chemicals are showing up in 99-100 percent of pregnant women.

Below are Dr. Mercola’s tips to lower this toxic exposure:

How Can You Best Lower Your Toxic Load?

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you will want to pay particular attention to reducing your chemical exposure as much as possible. Here’s a starter list of practical measures you can take to protect yourself and your children from common toxic substances:

Store your food in glass containers whenever possible, as it is the most inert container you can use.

Only use natural cleaning products in your home. Most health food stores will have these available or you can search online for them.

Buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic foods to reduce your exposure to pesticides, GMOs and fertilizers. This also applies to milk, which is frequently contaminated with bovine growth hormone.

Avoid conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury. Instead, supplement with a high-quality krill oil to get your beneficial omega-3 fats.

Avoid processed foods, and artificial food additives of all kinds, including artificial sweeteners and MSG.

Throw out your Teflon pots and pans and instead use safer materials like ceramic and glass.

Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate water filter on all your faucets (including those in your shower or bath).

Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.

Switch to natural brands of toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. Skin care products are notorious for containing a slew of dangerous chemicals, which was the major reason for creating my own USDA Certified Organic skin care line.

When redoing your home, look for “green,” toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings.

Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric or install glass shower doors.

Limit your use of drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) as much as possible. Drugs are chemicals too, and they will leave residues and accumulate in your body over time.

Avoid spraying pesticides around your home or insect repellants that contain DEET on your body. There are safe, effective and natural alternatives out there.

Finally, I encourage everyone with children or grandchildren to review Theo Colburn’s Our Stolen Future, which is one of the BEST resources on this topic.

To see the whole article by Dr.Mercola with info on each toxin, click here.

Comments (1)

Health Risks of GMOs & Yes for the CA Right to Know- Prop 37

By Healthy Darling · Comments (7) · October 25th, 2012

The NY Doctor:

Dr. Frank Lipman is a well respected doctor in New York whose books and blog I adore. His most recent post, Hell No; GMO clearly delineates my concerns about genetically engineered “foods.”

His most interesting points (italics mine):

“Many scientists believe there’s a direct correlation between eating GM foods and the rapid rise in rates of severe food allergies, gut disorders, neurological problems, reproductive issues and many other diseases.”
“Equally alarming is a growing mountain of scientific evidence demonstrating that GMOs have killed animals in numerous feeding studies, and sickened others by triggering reproductive problems, weakened immunity and shortening life expectancies.”

The Midwest Farmer:

Aside from Dr.Lipman’s article, here’s a farmer who sold, promoted, and used Genetically Engineered seeds on his farm. The result? 80% of his pigs became infertile from the corn.

The European Study:

The first and ONLY long term study ever conducted on GE corn was recently done in France. Food and Water Watch summarized the results (italics mine):

Female rats fed Roundup ready GE corn developed mammary tumors caused by the disruptive effects of Roundup on the female reproductive hormone, estrogen.
Both male and female rats fed GE feed had severe liver and kidney damage, and the damage was not necessarily dose dependent. The symptoms were similar for animals fed high and low diets of GE corn.
50 percent of males and 70 percent of females died prematurely compared with 30 percent and 20 percent of the control group (rats fed a non-GE diet).
In groups treated with trace Roundup levels in their water, 70 to 80 percent of the rats had 1.4-2.4 times more abnormalities in their pituitary glands than the controls. The pituitary gland is a vital hormone-producing part of the brain responsible or controlling signals for growth, metabolism, stress and fertility.
The first detectable tumors occurred 4-7 months into the study, which shows the need for feeding studies longer than just 90 days!

The Uniformed American Public:

Yikes- you can either avoid eating GMOs in the dark (list of top GE foods here- good luck!) OR, you can demand that companies LABEL foods with GMOs in them like they do in nearly 60 other nations, China included!!! If you’re in California, you have the opportunity to vote YES on PROP 37 to make change happen. Unknowing families and innocent children should not be guinea pigs for these scientific experiments.

To learn more, check out the California Right to Know Facebook page (here) and scroll down to see a host of articles and information.

From someone who LOOOOOOVES to eat, and wants to stay healthy doing it: Thank You.

Comments (7)

Miracles Everywhere and THANK YOU DR. BERGER!

By Healthy Darling · Comments (55) · October 1st, 2012

It’s a Ganglioglioma!

Dearest Everyone- THANK YOU so much for your incredible support throughout this totally bizarre tangent in my life. In case you missed it, I incidentally found out this summer that I had a brain tumor lodged in a very delicate part of my brain (post here). Less than two weeks ago I had brain surgery at UCSF.

The final pathology report revealed the tumor to be a Ganglioglioma. Meaning?? Meaning that my special brand of Magical Thinking continues to work for me.. Only ONE. PERCENT of brain tumors are Gangliogliomas- the best case scenario for a brain tumor. AMAZING!!! In addition to this incredible report, I am now completely tumor free and writing to tell the tale! This ability to read, write, and comprehend language (with nearly a full head of hair at that!) is all THANKS to my incredible surgeon, Dr. Mitchel Berger.

Thank You Dr. Mitchel Berger

Aw, Dr. Berger. I mean, just look at him, how is he not The MAN?!

When I think of the fact that I almost had a totally unnecessary biopsy with no brain mapping in Los Angeles, my stomach does a flip flop. THANK GOD I met Doctor Berger when I did and he so confidently and swiftly diagnosed the scenario, delineating the proper course of action. Thanks to Dr. Berger for so elegantly and skillfully mapping my brain, testing me three separate times during surgery to preserve my mental capabilities. Words can’t quite express the feelings that I have for this man, who I’ve only met a few times, but who literally saved my brain. I will try though.

If you took Santa Clause, Sir Isaac Newton, Joe Montana, and a Pegasus.. then you kinda get how I feel about Dr. Mitchel Berger.

What’s Next!?

Maybe it’s the now waning steroids, but (when I’m not groggy from meds) I’m buzzing with an electric gratitude and joy. I have already been blessed on so many levels of this journey, I can’t help but feel that there is something bigger on the horizon. I am honored when you say I inspire you, and honored to have your support and strength sail me through this episode so effortlessly. Angels abound everywhere and my hope for you, whoever you are reading this now, is that you see the positive light in every seemingly dark obstacle. There are great fortunes and lessons to mine from those challenges, and with some magical thinking, you will always be just fine.{:-)