The biggest challenge? Socialising. I went to a 30th birthday a bit over a week ago and it was a dinner out. I had to scan the menu carefully to make sure there were things we could eat, then unable to toast the birthday buddy with a glass of champagne felt wrong! To conquer any bad food thoughts, I smelt my friends duck dish (asking someone if they minded if I sniffed their duck seemed really dirty) and then endured the comments of "oh WOW, this is the best chocolate cake EVER!!!" without getting to try it was saddening!
I went to another 30th (tis the season!) last night and had to pass on the large amounts of alcohol and the platters of food being passed around. My beautiful friend made sure there was a plate with carrot and celery sticks so I would be able to eat. Bless you Nara :)
The biggest win? Finding a loophole in what to eat. Raw cocoa is good for you and packed full of antioxidants. Its the sugar and dairy thats added to chocolate which makes it not so good (which is why you should eat dark chocolate over milk chocolate!) So here is no point taking out an antioxidant rich food out of a diet for a detox, right??
There is a chocolate brand that is sold at my uni (also available at the Queen Victoria Market) called Conscious Chocolate (http://consciouschocolate.com.au/) This is vegan chocolate - raw cocoa, organic, handmade, dairy & soy free and no added sugar. This IS the best chocolate I have ever tasted and at $6.00 for a block of 6 squares, it would want to be!!. I would sacrifice a goat for this chocolate, if it asked me to. If you get to try it, I would recommend the orange or the mint flavours. Both have had essential oils added to them and are truly orgasmic. That small block is all you need!! This soul food saw us both through to the end.
I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!
The only thing left now is to make sure I don't REtox my body. Unfortunately, living in 2011, we are exposed to so much crap in our air, food and water.. I learnt recently that DDT (a highly toxic insecticide which has been found to be carcinogenic and linked to conditions including Parkinson's and asthma) has been found in the lungs of polar bears living in the Arctic. Thats just lovely, isn't it?
You would be surprised how many chemicals we are exposed to just by our personal care products and cosmetics. People now check labels of food items in the supermarkets to see what they contain, but do they look at cosmetics? Here is some information I researched in this area on what harmful contaminants can be found in our everyday products...
But I’m not eating these products!
You may not be eating them, but your skin is your largest organ. Some medicinal creams use the process of dermal absorption for its effect – these drugs do not need to be swallowed for their effect. The skin has pores which absorb products placed on it. In a warm shower, your skins acts like a sponge as your pores open up. Using shampoos and shower gels with toxins get absorbed straight into your blood stream.
These products can be quite dangerous and affect your health by poisoning you slowly. The effect of slower poisoning affects everyone differently. Some people have dramatic reactions, such as asthma, or skin rashes, whilst others may suffer from invisible reactions such as unexplained illnesses, degenerative diseases and even brain dysfunction (ie. Confusion and lack of concentration).
Common chemicals found in skin care and cosmetics:
N Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate: These ingredients (commonly known as SLS) are commonly found in toothpastes and other personal care products such as liquid soaps, cleansers and shampoo. They are used as detergents and foaming agents and are so strong they are also used as commercial engine degreasers. It is a well known skin irritant and has been linked with mouth ulcers and canker sores.
N Parabens (methylparaben and ethylparaben): these prevent the growth of bacteria growth, however they kill more than just bacteria. Parabens are known carcinogens and are highly toxic – they are known to be irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.
N Mercury: The preservative thimerosol, found in some mascaras, is a mercury-containing product. Mercury is associated with a number of health concerns, including allergies, skin irritation and neurological damage.
N Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is added to cosmetics as a preservative to maintain shelf life of products and reduce bacteria growth. Studies have connected formaldehyde exposure to conditions such as asthma, skin irritation and hair loss.
N DEA (Diethanolamine): DEA is added to shampoos to help them lather and maintain a rich consistency. By itelf DEA is not considered harmful, however when it reacts with other ingredients in cosmetics it is known to cause nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA). NDEA is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked with stomach, oesophagus, liver and bladder cancers.
N Talc: Talc can be found in eye shadows, foundations, loose bronzing powders and talcum powder. Its biology is similar to asbestos, as small fibers from talc rock mining are inhaled and are difficult to remove from the body. It remains as an unregulated substance to this day, despite the fact it has been linked with both lung and ovarian cancers.
Unfortunately, these products can smell good and feel great to use on your body, but this feeling is mainly due to the chemical ingredients and the toxicity. When switching to a natural alternative product, you may not get the same fragrance or ‘great’ feeling, however your body will get used to the quality of your new product and it may even find it better to use. More importantly – your body will thank you for it long term.
What can you do?
ü Change your personal care products to natural alternatives which are free from chemicals
ü Read the labels on your products.
ü Stay informed about these chemicals and tell your family and friends – you will be rewarded by seeing their long and healthy lives.
ü Look for products which are labelled SLS Free, Paraben Free and importantly, Not Tested on Animals.
Heres some great alternative product brands you can try, which will be a lot nicer to your body. All products listed are SLS free and not tested on animals:
Skin Care:
“ Yes to: http://www.yestocarrots.com/
Cosmetics:
“ DNM Cosmetics: http://www.dnm-cosmetics.com.au/
There are many chemical free products available, it is not limited to the above lists. Check your local health food store, chemist or Priceline store for more products. Always remember to check the label!
There is no way I can stop the current environment toxins from getting into my body (unless I lived in a cave on the Moon). But I will do what I can to minimise my exposure. I would much rather die from old age after living along & fruitful life, rather than getting Alzheimer's thanks to the aluminium in my deodorant, or contracting cancer from a lifetime use of body wash.
For references to this information, please do not hesitate to contact me :)
Thanks for that Laura! Especially for the product websites. I have been eyeing off the sukin because it's not at all very expensive and it's available in Priceline and other chemist/cosmetic shops. I think I'm gona try it sometime soon. :) - J
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