Detox Your Kitchen □ Baking powder that does not say non alum has aluminum in it. Non alum baking powder (available at health food stores). □ Canned food (the cans are lined with an epoxy resin that may leach bisphenol A) Instead eat fresh, frozen or dried food. □ Plastic food wrap (may contain bisphenol). Avoid using plastic in your kitchen to store food if at all possible. Plastic is a source of toxic carcinogenic xeno estrogens which can easily leach into your food. Instead cover with wax paper/parchment paper and tape or simply keep your kitchen well stocked with glass containers. Having mason jars of many sizes is the most affordable option. □ Don’t use your microwave (NEVER microwave food in plastic wrap, or plastic containers that are not marked microwave safe). Reheat your food on the stove. □ Produce treated with pesticides. Eat organic food or at least begin by avoiding the Dirty Dozen. □ Avoid non-stick cookware, ceramic glazed cookware (may contain cadmium and lead) and crystal tableware (may contain lead). Instead use cookware made of glass, cast iron, and terra cotta without lead glaze or my favourite, stoneware. □ Remove all aluminum bakeware, Teflon pots, aluminum stovetop espresso machines etc. from your home and replace them with stainless steel, glass versions. There is no need to worry about sticking when you use generous amounts of good fat to line your bake ware. □ Avoid cleaning products with harsh chemical ingredients and synthetic fragrances (often strengthened with phthalates). Instead use fragrance-free and non-toxic biodegradable products and homemade all-purpose cleaner like vinegar and baking soda or clean with water (microfiber cloth). □ Never use antibacterial soaps, dishwashing liquids and other cleaners that contain triclosan. Use regular non-antibacterial soap. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner The Dangers of Microwaving Food Microwaving is not a natural way to cook food. When we tamper with the natural order of things, there is likely to be a consequence, whether it be immediate or later down the road (such as the accumulative effects of low dose radiation exposure). In the case of microwave ovens, the risks far outweigh the benefits when it comes to protecting your family’s health. Here is what the FDA has to say.... “Exposure to high levels of microwaves can cause a painful burn. The lens of the eye is particularly sensitive to intense heat, and exposure to high levels of microwaves can cause cataracts. Likewise, the testes are very sensitive to changes in temperature. Accidental exposure to high levels of microwave energy can alter or kill sperm, producing temporary sterility. But these types of injuries - burns, cataracts, temporary sterility - can only be caused by exposure to large amounts of microwave radiation, much more than the 5mW limit for microwave oven leakage. Less is known about what happens to people exposed to low levels of microwaves. Controlled, long-term studies involving large numbers of people have not been conducted to assess the impact of low level microwave energy on humans. Much research has been done with experimental animals, but it is difficult to translate the effects of microwaves on animals to possible effects on humans. For one thing, there are differences in the way animals and humans absorb microwaves. For another, experimental conditions can't exactly simulate the conditions under which people use microwave ovens. However, these studies do help us better understand the possible effects of radiation.... The fact that many scientific questions about exposure to lowlevels of microwaves are not yet answered requires FDA to continue to enforcement of radiation protection requirements. Consumers should take certain common sense precautions......(such as) don't stand directly against an oven (and don't allow children to do this) for long periods of time while it is operating.” In other words, they are not sure if microwave technology is safe for you or your family. So why be part of the experiment of this unproven to be safe technology then? Especially when a simple toaster oven can replace the use of the microwave oven for reheating leftovers, and liquids can be easily reheated in a pot on the stove (the extra © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner step needed to clean the pot is negligible in terms of the benefit of avoiding being part of the great microwave experiment). Here is the short list of the potential ill effects that microwave radiation has on your food: Destroys and reduces the nutrients in your food that are necessary to sustain life. Alters the chemical structure of food thereby producing toxins Produces carcinogenic compounds that have been shown to lead to cancer The research, from Pediatrics (vol. 89, no. 4, April 1992) on microwaving human breast milk showed: Cuts down on lysozyme activity Reduces key antibodies Promotes potentially dangerous bacteria. Milk heated to 72 degrees lost a full 96% of all immunoglobulin-A antibodies, which fight invading microbes. Ten Reasons not to Use Your Microwave Oven Based on Swiss, Russian and German clinical studies 1. Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term, permanent, brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [depolarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue]. 2. The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in micro-waved food. 3. Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating micro-waved foods. 4. The effects of micro-waved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body. 5. Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all micro-waved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down. 6. The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in a microwave oven. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner 7. Micro-waved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This has been a primary contributor to the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in the United States. 8. The prolonged eating of micro-waved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood. 9. Continual ingestion of micro-waved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations. 10. Eating micro-waved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence. References and Resources: Resources for Your Radiation Emitting Products http://www.fda.gov/RadiationEmittingProducts/ResourcesforYouRadiationEmittingProducts/ucm252762.htm Are Microwaves Ovens Dangerous? http://www.safespaceprotection.com/electrostress-from-microwave-ovens.aspx The Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking http://www.health-science.com/microwave_hazards.html The Proven Dangers of Microwaves http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards2.htm How and Why Microwave Cooking Causes Cancer http://www.naturalnews.com/030651_microwave_cooking_cancer.html Why Did the Russians Ban An Appliance Found in 90% of American Homes? http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/18/microwave-hazards.aspx Do you Microwave Your Food? You’re Zapping Away Nutrients and Risking Your Health http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/11/05/microwave-food.aspx © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner 'Dirty Dozen' Cosmetic Chemicals To Avoid (excerpted from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/dirtydozencosmetic-chemicals/) 1. BHA and BHT Used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer (BHA). Harmful to fish and other wildlife. 2. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as "CI" followed by a five digit number In addition to coal tar dyes, natural and inorganic pigments used in cosmetics are also assigned Colour Index numbers (in the 75000 and 77000 series, respectively). Look for p-phenylenediamine hair dyes and in other products colours listed as "CI" followed by five digits.1 The U.S. colour name may also be listed (e.g. "FD&C Blue No. 1" or "Blue 1"). Potential to cause cancer and may be contaminated with heavy metals toxic to the brain. 3. DEA-related ingredients Used in creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Can react to form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. Look also for related chemicals MEA and TEA. 4. Dibutyl phthalate Used as a plasticizer in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. 5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15. Used in a variety of cosmetics. Slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, which causes cancer. 6. Parabens Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with male reproductive functions. 7. Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance) Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics — even in some products marketed as "unscented." Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma. Some linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. Some harmful to fish and other wildlife. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner 8. PEG compounds Used in many cosmetic cream bases. Can be contaminated with 1.4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Also for related chemicals, propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., polyethylene glycol). 9. Petrolatum Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers. A petroleum product that can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer. 10. Siloxanes Look for ingredients ending in "-siloxane" or "-methicone." Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife. 11. Sodium laureth sulfate Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Look also for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate). http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---sodium-laureth-sulfate/index.php 12. Triclosan Used in antibacterial cosmetics, such as toothpastes, cleansers and antiperspirants. Suspected endocrine disrupter and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner Detoxing Your Bathroom □ Cosmetics, toiletries and perfumes with synthetic fragrances (many contain phthalates and other harmful chemicals). Human skin absorbs most things from the environment very efficiently, in some cases better than our digestive system. Reduce general toxic load by looking at all of the cleaning supplies, cosmetics and personal care products that are in your home and replace them with non-toxic natural products. You can find out just how toxic your products are and which ones are the least toxic @ www.cosmeticsdatabase.com (avoid soap, shower gels and bubble baths whenever possible). Miessence Brand cosmetics is the best because it is Certified Organic to organic FOOD standards, not organic COSMETIC standards (which are lower). □ Deodorant and antiperspirant (contain aluminum and other nasty chemicals). Use deodorant stone, homemade version made with coconut oil & baking soda or Miessence roll on. □ Perfume (petroleum based). Essential oils. □ Anti-bacterial toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwashes that contain triclosan Nonantibacterial products. Miessence Brand. □ Sanitary products bleached with chlorine, or made of pesticide-treated cotton. Use organic cotton and unbleached disposable sanitary products or better yet cloth pads, the Diva cup or sea sponges. □ Vinyl shower curtains, and fabric shower curtains with a water-repellent coating. Hemp shower curtains. □ Chlorine and Fluoride: Avoid bathing, showering or drinking chlorinated or fluoridated water, all of which kills your beneficial microflora. Avoid swimming in pools and instead swim in natural non polluted living waters which are full of life, biological energy from plants and other life forms, minerals, enzymes and many other beneficial substances. Chlorine is a poison, which affects every system in the body, particularly the immune system and the liver. It absorbs very well through the skin (some sources say as much as 10 times better absorption than drinking it!). In addition, a thick layer of chlorine gas floats above the swimming pool and is inhaled unknowingly by swimmers. Ozonated or natural pools are best, since even salt water pools use chlorine. Use water and shower filters. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner Detoxing Your Laundry □ Laundry detergents and fabric softeners with synthetic fragrances. Fragrance-free, biodegradable detergent, soapnuts or other natural homemade washing detergent. □ Chlorine bleach Food Grade H2O2 □ Dry clean only clothes (most dry cleaners use PERC). Purchase machine washable clothes. □ Clothing with stain repellents, wrinkle resistant treatments (they contain formaldehyde), brominated flame retardants or pesticide-treated cottons. Organic, unbleached clothing made of cotton, hemp, linen or wool. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner Simple and Affordable Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality 1) Houseplants: geraniums, ivies, spider plants, aloe vera, focuses, bamboo palm, rubber plant, English ivy, dwarf date palm, boston fern, peace lily, corn plant “massangeana”, Kimberly queen, florist’s mom, gerbera daisy (3 plants per 100 square feet in a home or office will improve air quality (based on research that measured how well a single plant works to clean the air in a sealed chamber of common pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde and benzene by Dr. Wolverton in his book “How to Grow Fresh Air”) The square footage of my home is:____________________ Divided by 100=_____________ x 3=______________ is how many plants needed to detoxify the air in my home. 2) If you use incense, make sure it is natural (not perfume) eg: www.JuniperRidge.com 3) Himalayan Rock Salt Lamps 4) Beeswax Candles 5) Keep your house free of dust and mould (to keep plants free of mould, put a layer of aquarium gravel on the surface of the soil) 6) Purchase gently used clothes, toys and furniture to prevent sometimes years of inhaling off gassing fumes 7) Air out your house regularly and spend a lot of time outdoors in fresh air 8) Air Filtration Systems (not so affordable but worth the investment) © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner How to Choose Quality Water Did you know that we humans are actually 75% water? Drinking clean fresh mineral rich water is a great way to bathe the insides of our body. Not only does proper hydration give us dewy clear skin, but it is very energizing as well. To get a visual of the way hydration can perk us up, think back to a time when you may have neglected to water a plant and how quickly it changes from withered to vibrant in no time with proper hydration! The best kind of water is natural mineral rich water that is bottled at the source from a spring. Be aware though that bottled water may be a source of xenoestrogens (man made estrogen like substances that cause hormonal imbalance in men, women and children). Avoid distilled & reverse osmosis (because they don’t contain any naturally occurring minerals- when water has no minerals, it will leach the minerals from your bones). It is best to use filtered tap water (something that removes chlorine, fluoride, pathogenic bacteria, cysts and parasites entirely and extracts harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, organic solvents, radon 22, trihalomethanes, nitrates, nitrites and unhealthy minerals such as lead and mercury - without removing the beneficial minerals your body needs). Here is an affordable countertop filter that eliminates chlorine and fluoride: http://www.gtawater.com/assets/water-filter-fluoride-removal-toronto-canada.htm Another option is Berkey`` brand if you want a stand alone filtration system: http://www.berkeywaterfiltercanada.com/Royal-Berkey-_p_26.html © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner Xenoestrogens The human body makes three different estrogen hormones - estrase, estrone and estriol. Plants also produce estrogen-like compounds called phytoestrogens. These compounds are not chemically identical to the estrogens produced by the body, but they still attach to estrogen receptor sites and can influence reproductive health. Xenoestrogens are environmental pollutants that have estrogen-like activity. These compounds are a primary cause of reproductive health problems in both women and men because they attach to and over-stimulate estrogen receptor sites. This causes changes in estrogen-sensitive tissues like the breasts, uterus and prostate. Xenoestrogens stimulate abnormal changes in these tissues, causing problems like cysts in the breasts, uterine fibroids, prostate enlargement and cancer. Sources of xenoestrogens include: 1) phthalates in personal care products (make-up and skin care etc.) plus those in cleaning products (household cleaners, laundry soap etc.) 2) PCBs in plastic (food storage and water bottles) 3) DDT (although banned in 1972, DDT, like its breakdown product DDE, is a xenoestrogen which is still present in the environment). 4) Chlorine (showering, bathing, swimming in and drinking chlorinated water). 5) Hormone residues in meats and dairy products as well as pesticides (conventionally grown and raised food) also have estrogenic effects. Avoiding all of the above is essential, but even more so if you have symptoms of estrogens dominance and you are ready to recover from them. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner How To Avoid Estrogens Avoid all pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Wash your food well to rid the pesticides. Bathe the washed food in a produce wash or ozonated water for 20 minutes before cooking. Have a good water filter for your source of water. Use only organic based whole foods when you can. Buy hormone free meats and dairy products where possible. Avoid plastic goods - they leach into the environment. Do not microwave food in plastic containers, and especially avoid the use of plastic wrap to cover food for microwaving. Use glass or ceramics whenever possible to store food. Do not leave plastic containers, especially your drinking water, in the sun. If a plastic water container has heated up significantly, throw it away - do not drink the water either. Don't use fabric softeners as it puts petrochemicals right on your skin. Use a simple laundry and dish detergent with less chemicals. Use organic soaps and toothpastes. Avoid fluoride. Avoid creams and cosmetics that have toxic chemicals and estrogenic ingredients such as parabens and stearal konium chloride. Switch to more natural products. Cheap brands usually have more toxic ingredients. Avoid nail polish and nail polish removers. Use only naturally based perfumes. Most perfumes are petrochemically based. Avoid surfactants found in many condoms and diaphragm gels. Avoid new carpet - it can give off noxious fumes. Avoid X-rays as much as possible. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner Be aware of noxious gas such as that from copiers and printers, carpets, fiberboards, etc. Computer monitors can emit a high level of electromagnetic force (EMF). Read about the Aulterra Neutralizer for preventing EMF damage. Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamins Most people are not aware that all vitamins are not created equally, and that 95% of all vitamins on the market are actually synthetic. Organic Consumers (www.organicconsumers.org) warns people against synthetic vitamins particularly; fat-soluble ones as these build up in the fat tissues, fat deposits and the liver. In addition, they warn that the base of the synthetics can consist of petrochemical derivatives, nicotine and coal tars (by-products of coal). How to Upgrade from Synthetic Vitamins to Superfoods Multivitamin green smoothies, green superfoods Vitamin C amla c, acerola, camu camu B Vitamins nutritional yeast, cultured foods & bee pollen Probiotics cultured foods Iron liver Glucosamine/chondroitin gelatin Vit A & D fermented cod liver oil Enzymes cultured food Protein Vital Whey, hemp Minerals Mineral Matrix by St. Francis Herbs Potassium Teecino © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner Anti inflammatory evening primrose oil Essential Oil Scented Epsom Salt Baths This fast, easy craft is sure to tantalize the senses of both moms and kids! It is the perfect alternative to bubble bath which is toxic (even the so called natural brands) and increase susceptibility to vaginal yeast infections. Read on to learn how and why to make your own both nourishing and detoxifying bath salts at home. Why do it: 1) It is a simple, fast, rewarding, sensory and health enriching activity that your kids will love! 2) It will nourish the whole family (many of us are actually deficient in magnesium, plus magnesium helps us absorb calcium). Magnesium is also way better absorbed through the skin, than through digestion. 3) It is a gentle detoxifier that is safe for the whole family. 4) Reduces inflammation and muscle pain. 5) Helps relieve stress by nourishing the adrenals, as well as sedating and toning the nervous system. 6) It makes bath time luxurious and fun! 7) According to the Epsom Salt Industry Council, it has all the same benefits associated with magnesium supplementation (improves the body’s ability to use insulin, increases heart and circulatory health, reduces irregular heartbeats, prevents hardening of the arteries, reduces blood clots and lowers blood pressure, prevents migraines, improves mood, concentration and digestion all the while helping you sleep better). © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner 8) Sulphate triggers the pancreas to release digestive enzymes, helps form proteins in joints, brain tissue and mucin proteins (the cells that secrete mucous along the digestive tract). How to make it: Step 1: Put 2 cups of magnesium sulphate in a bowl. Step 2: Add 10-20 drops of your favourite essential oil that is safe for skin application. Step 3: Mix with a wooden spoon. Step 4: Put in a half quart canning jar and store in an easily accessible place in the bathroom. How to use it: Dissolve 2 cups epsom salts in a bath (only 1 cup or less for children) that is as hot as you can tolerate. Soak for a minimum of 12 minutes. Do this up to 3 times per week to replenish magnesium or to detoxify. Since magnesium is so well absorbed through the skin, please do not exceed this amount excess magnesium can be fatal. Do not let children drink the bathwater as magnesium sulphate is a laxative when taken internally. Alternatives: If you prefer not to use the synthesized form of magnesium, you can use the magnesium derived from the sea although it is more costly and less accessible. © 2013 Nourish Mama. All rights reserved. Certified Nutritional Wisdom for the Childbearing Years® Practitioner