Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG was discovered in a Tokyo university in 1908, and since that time is commonly used as a flavour enhancer. Most people have heard of MSG, specifically in Asian takeout dishes. MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a form of glutamate, which is a neurotransmitter that is used in your brain. This means that your brain uses glutamate to talk to other neurons or parts of your brain. Normally this neurotransmitter is present in regulated concentrations in your body, but when MSG is added to foods it is in such high concentrations that is overwhelms your body which can lead to health issues.

I finally have a reason not to pig out on Doritos

Today, MSG is processed by fermenting sugar beet molasses, which creates a crystal that looks similar to sugar and it is added to canned, packaged and processed foods. MSG does not really have any specific taste but it is able to "trick" your brain into thinking the food tastes better then it really does, allowing manufacturers to skimp on quality ingredients.

So why is MSG dangerous?

The Canadian Government has some information about MSG, in terms of labels and general information. It claims that MSG is a safe product although "effects of consuming food containing MSG may include: a burning sensation, facial pressure, headache, nausea and chest pains appearing about 20 minutes after consumption and disappearing about two hours later". This sounds pretty serious if you ask me...
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/msg_qa-qr-eng.php

When reading labels MSG may also be labeled as:
Aspartame
Broth
Casein or Caseinate
Glutamate
Hydrolyzed
Autolyzed Yeast

Additionally, research over the past few decades, specifically animal studies (horrible I know) have demonstrated that MSG is an excitiotoxin, meaning this chemical excites the brain's neurons to death! What does this mean? Russell Blaylock M.D claims that findings from countless studies prove that excitiotoxins including MSG (as well as a list of other food additives) can create health problems such as;
Negative effects on developing brains
Obesity
Juvenile diabetes
Type 2 diabetes and Insulin Resistance
Cardiovascular disease
Fibromyalgia
Endocrine effects (this got my attention!)
Cancer
Eye disease
Degenerative brain disease



Here is a link to a web-site that outlines different research and information that you may find helpful if you're interested in learning more on this topic http://www.msgtruth.org/

Here is a list of recommended foods to avoid from MSGtruth web-site. The web-site also has more detailed lists and facts.

The best advice to anyone visiting a Fast Food establishment (if you have to):

AVOID all CHICKEN items
AVOID all SAUSAGE items
AVOID all PARMESAN items
AVOID all Ranch dressings - stick to oil and vinegar Italian
AVOID Croutons
AVOID KFC altogether - we're not kidding
AVOID Dipping Sauces
AVOID Gravy
AVOID TOMATO AND MUSHROOM soups



Here is a video because I LOVE videos!





This is a great book that I found full of great information:

Health and Nutrition Secrets [Paperback]

Russell L Blaylock MD (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/Health-Nutrition-Secrets-Russell-Blaylock/dp/0929173481


Thank you for your time :)

Angie

Heartwood

To celebrate the end of an insane semester at school myself and a few friends went to one of my favorite restaurants Heartwood! This vegetarian restaurant in located in Halifax and the menu is reasonably priced and beyond delicious! Anna and I would look for any reason to make a trip to try something new on the menu. Here is the web-site for Heartwood check it out. http://www.heartwoodbakerycafe.ca/ P.S They also do take-out.

Anna couldn't wait to chow down on her bean melt !
A generous serving of rich savoury beans, over two slices of Heartwood’s focaccia bread, with a thick layer of melted cheese on top. (Could it get any yummier?)

This is myself (on the left with the bean melt) and Laura with the Avocado and Tomato sandwich, a thick slices of ripe avocado, tomato, lettuce and sprouts, drizzled with olive oil/umeboshi dressing. I have also tried this sandwich in previous visits and it is sooo good, anyone that knows me I love avocado! mmm

Kerri enjoyed Guacamole and Hummous Platter
Heartwood’s famous guacamole and hummous, served with chopped veggies, foccacia and organic corn chips. We all had a few bites and it was delicious!
 

It was a great night of food and celebration as we ended our last full time semester of hard core school work and studying. Great job girls! Yeahhh OT! haha

Makeup , A Girls Best Friend?

From the time that we are wee girls we are marketed to buy makeup. All the pretty girls wear it and we need it to look beautiful. I'm not going to lie makeup does work and I do wear it, but over the past few years I have been looking a makeup in a whole new light. (check out my earlier post on the story of cosmetics for more info).

I remember hearing about bugs in makeup and the Victorians wearing makeup with lead in it, that could make them sick. I found this shocking..but I found it even more shocking that we are doing the same thing! Our makeup is chemicals...and we put it on our skin, on our lips and around our eyes. Doing this daily for years adds up to alot of chemical exposure and potential health issues. So what am I doing about it? Well there are some great makeup alternatives out there and you don't need to sacrifice your sexy self to make a difference. Here a a couple of products that I use and love!

I use Ecco Bella concealer and Aubrey power..both which are made with natural ingredients. I got the power from Pete's Frootique for $30 CAD and the concealer from the White Lotus (although she stopped selling because there wasn't enough demand).

http://www.eccobella.com/cosmetics/cosmetics

http://www.aubrey-organics.com/

Another great place to get makeup is http://www.purebodysolutions.com/ they are stringent with what makeup they make available and only the cleanest and purest cosmetics make it to this on-line store. I had a mascara off this site produced by real purity and I LOVED it! It smelled great and it had no chemicals, and best of all it worked just as well as "normal" mascara. I am going to order a few next time because shipping can be expensive. I also have ecco bella eye shadow and blush which I also love. Remember that just because a makeup claims it is organic does not mean it is chemical free. The best way to make sure your purchasing what you want is to check the Environmental Working Groups( EWG) chemical index. I hope this helps and happy shopping!

Natural Healing


Hearing people say "my Naturopath" is becoming an increasingly familiar phrase, but for those of you who aren't familiar with with title, welcome to the wonderful and natural way of healing!

I can't exactly remember the first time I heard about a Naturopath, but I know over the last three years I would meet people who would make comments like "I am avoiding _____ food because my Naturopath has me on a diet" or "since going to my Naturopath I have lost 30lbs and feel great". All I could say is "what is a Naturopath? Please tell me more!"

The following information has been taken from: The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (http://www.cand.ca/index.php?51&L=0 ).

Naturopathic History

The idea of natural healing has been around since the beginning of time.. we all heard about shaman and medicine men/ woman. Well 2400 years ago, a Greek Physician Hippocrates first formulated the concept of "the healing power of nature". This concept is recognized world wide and is the foundation for Naturopathic medicine.

In North America, naturopathic medicine traces its origins to Dr. Benedict Lust who not only used the term Naturopathic medicine to explain several areas of clinical practice, he founded the American School of Naturopathic medicine, which graduated its first class in 1902. By 1920, Naturopathic medicine had made its way to Canada. (yeahh Canada!)

Once the Second World War came to an end health care was changing based on the advances in surgical techniques, the introduction of antibiotics and growth of the pharmaceutical industries. The more traditional healing practices lost ground. This was an era of scientific reductionism and an almost blind faith in the medical 'miracle'. This approach continued through the 1950s.

Over the last several decades individuals have been learning the truth.. that current medical practices are missing a component of the picture, a holistic approach to health. Currently, we look at the body as parts, separate from each component. Why do you think we have separate doctors for each aliment? I'm not saying that modern medicine is "bad" or "wrong", every healing practice has its place and modern medicine has allowed for many miracles to happen since its inception. I am saying however, that I am open to the idea that the body is its own healer and that we have the ability to heal  ourselves.

So after many years of interest in Naturopathic medicine, I found myself a Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Rosalyn Hayman. I choose her specifically because she has a focus on hormones, perfect for me. Before even meeting her I had to fill out and drop off a few sheets (3 days before your appointment) covering every aspect of my life, you even write down everything you ate for the past three days, and when you poop! Instantly, you notice Naturopathic doctors take a Holistic approach, looking at your body as a whole.

When I first met with Doctor Hayman, we met for an hour and a half and she listening to my health history and what brought me to her that very day. The most interesting and eye opening aspect of that visit was she asked me "have you accepted your tumor?" (for those who didn't read the first post I have a pituitary tumor..don't worry its not cancerous). This stumped me..who thinks about accepting tumors? I thought about this question and realized I didn't.. consciously I tried to convince myself I did, but deep down I didn't. I didn't want to think about it, I hardly told anyone only my parents and a few close friends that I had a tumor and I only really brought it up when I had a few too many to drink (classic denial).

After meeting Dr. Hayman that day my life forever changed! I was put on a strict diet (no sugar) for 4 weeks and I learned about nutrition and my body for the first time in 25 years. Over the past 8 months I have come to accept the tumor and since that time my health has been improving! But the most important gift that Dr. Hayman gave me was hope! In Occupational Therapy School (which I am currently in), we learn about the importance of hope for clients and that you should NEVER take away someones hope. I now appreciate that on so many levels, as I optimistically asked Doctor Hayman if my body could heal itself through natural means, resolving the tumor; she said "most definitely". Thank you Dr. Hayman!

As Naturopathic medicine becomes increasingly important to Canadians many insurers are providing coverage for these services. However, you still need to pay some cash. My first appointment was around $120.00 CAD, but I am lucky that I had the financial means make an appointment. My wish is that someday everyone will have equal access to such wonderful services. I am also happy to announce that some towns and cities hold weekend clinics for individuals who may benefit from such services but cannot incur that financial cost. There is a clinic in Halifax and it has been excitedly embraced by the Halifax community here is the link   http://www.saturdayfreeclinic.blogspot.com/







Thank you for stopping by to check out my blog and if you have have the opportunity to go to a Naturopath I highly recommend it.

Cheers,

Angie

FOOD MATTERS

I am a lover of documentaries..especially ones that challange the belief systems that are ingrained in our society as "truths". One documentary that I watched about a month ago is Food Matters. This documentary really turns the pharmaceuticals claims upside down and helps you to view food as more than a tasty meal but as natures medicine. Here is the trailer of the video, I watched the full video on the official web-site .http://www.foodmatters.tv/ (you have to pay 4 something but its worth it). This video is especially eye opening if you or a loved one has cancer as it talks alot about the importance of diet for individuals diagnosed with cancer.

As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself.

Adelle Davis (1904 - 1974)

Getting Nutty

A stumbled across this magical berry or nut as it is often referred to the soap nut. Don't worry its not for eating! Its for cleaning..and it seems this little berry has many great and wonderful uses.

A deciduous tree found wild in north India, the Sapindus Mukorossi tree is one of several that bear fruits that are commonly referred to as soap nuts. Soapnuts are so good at cleaning because they have a high saponin content (cleaning power).

In the Western world soap nuts have been used but we dump chemical additives, which don't help the actual washing process and are damaging to the user as well as our environment. Soapnuts are becoming a very popular environmentally friendly alternative to these manufactured chemical detergents.



Here are some of the wonderful uses of soapnuts (taken from the web-site http://www.sapindusmukorossi.com/).
 
DISH WASHER


Use soapnut liquid for washing your glasses, dishes, cutlery and pans as usual. Don’t be deceived by the lack of bubbles on the effectiveness of the cleaning. There are no artificial foaming agents so there will be very few if any lasting bubbles. Alternatively, just put 3 shells in the bottom of the cutlery holder and some vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser and your dishes will come out sparkling clean. (for more info see soapnut liquid making instructions below)



CLEANING & DETOXIFYING FOOD

Soak your fruit and vegetables for approximately 10-15 minutes in the soapnut liquid. Rinse off and enjoy this food free from harmful chemicals and residue. This soap nut solution can then be reused for household cleaning



CLEANING JEWELRY

Soap nuts are commonly used in Indian households for cleaning and shining jewelry. Jewelry is soaked in soap nut liquid and then rubbed with a cloth to give it a shine.



NATURAL PESTICIDE

Using soap nuts is an effective and natural alternative to repel insects off your plants and around the house. This easily replaces chemicals. This is a great use for left over soap nut liquid from washing or laundry.



SHAMPOO

Simply use soap nut liquid in place of your regular shampoo! Since soap nut liquid does not foam like regular shampoo its easy to use to much liquid. If you find your hair is feeling dry or greasy you probably used to much. For best results reuse a shampoo bottle with a pump to help determine how much you need. It will naturally help prevent dandruff and keep your hair soft and strong. When using to treat dandruff apply the liquid soap nut on your scalp and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Make sure the liquid does not get into the eye as it will burn. Rinse hair with water. Also works well as a body wash!

Here are the soap nuts that I bought from http://www.purebodysolutions.com/  (from the states, they were cheap but shipping can cost a pretty penny).
If you are interested in trying them i would contact local health and Eco conscious stores. I have since seen them at P'lovers in Halifax.

So overall, I give these nuts two thumbs up! The clothes come out fresh and clean and if your worried about not having that wonderful chemical smell on all your clothes you can add a few drops of essential oils to the cotton bag. I have yet to try the nuts for some of the other suggestions, I'll let you know how that goes. Here is a little video showing how to use the soap nuts..enjoy!

 

Back to Bloggin'

The past few months I haven't been updating my blog because I have been insanely busy with school. Well, the semester finally came to an end and I am spilling over with lots of great information, questions and insights that I am excited to share!

This is a picture of my cat Chico having a nap on my books (totally how I feel after exams!). My favorite part is behind her on the cork board there is a quote "The point of power is always in the present moment." How fitting.

I hope everyone has a great Holiday and is able to get some time to spend with family and friends.

Cheers,

To family, friends, health and a fabulous New Year!

Angie

Endocrine Disrupters

Since discovering my hormone balance is wonky, my eyes have been opened to how delicate and wonderful our body works. Often we are so detached to how our daily choices affect the biology of our bodies, but everything you eat, think and put on your body affects you on a cellular level! At first I was freaked out by this..I felt powerless. How can I do that?

Well the resources are endless and there is a growing body of people who are becoming educated about endocrine disruptors. This is important for our health, the health of our children and for all the animals and living creatures on the planet, including mother nature!


Here is a quick video clip called the Male Predicament







To watch the whole video which is about 30 mins long click on the following link :)

http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/endocrine.videoplayer.php

P.S At one point in the video she makes a comment about animal studies. It really bothers me that animals are tortured..I cringe every time I hear or read about it. I just wanted you all to know that I do not support these studies.

Thanks for reading everyone! Have a wonderful day :)

Angie

Pink washing

Almost everyone you know has been directly or indirectly touched by breast cancer...so naturally we want to support companies that offer pink products that help raise funds for breast cancer research. Ironically, some of the products that have the pink ribbon have been linked to cancers (including breast cancers). Who would have thought?
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has tried to get Avon, Estee Lauder and Revlon to pledge to remove the dangerous chemicals in their products. Unfortunately, these companies who are the biggest users of the pink ribbon have not agreed to remove the chemicals.

Cosmetics Chemicals (here is a list of some chemicals found in cosmetics taken from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics web-site)

Parabens: preservatives used in lotions, shampoo and other cosmetics. Some parabens are classified as endocrine disruptors because they mimic estrogen in the body. Higher estrogen exposures are linked to higher risk of breast cancer.

Phthalates: plasticizers found in nail polish, synthetic fragrance and plastic packaging. These hormone-disrupting chemicals have been linked to early puberty in girls, a risk factor for later-life breast cancer. Some phthalates also act as weak estrogens in cell culture systems.
Fragrance: secret mixtures of chemicals used in both perfumes and scented cosmetics. "Fragrance" may include phthalates, synthetic musks (which may disrupt hormones) and ethylene oxide (a mammary carcinogen). The companies are not required to list these chemicals on product labels.

Nonylphenols: used in some cleansers. They have been shown to disrupt hormones.

Sunscreen chemicals: some behave like estrogens and have been shown to make some breast cancer cells proliferate.

Isobutane: a propellant used in spray-on hair spray, gel, mousse, shaving cream and anti-fungal treatment. It can be contaminated with 1,3-butadiene, a probable human carcinogen and a mammary carcinogen.

Ethoxylated compounds: dimethicone, PEG-40, ceteareth-12 and other compounds with the syllables “eth” or “PEG” in them are used in a wide variety of cosmetics. These compounds are formed by processing with ethylene oxide, a mammary carcinogen, and can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, also a mammary carcinogen.

Metals: found in a variety of cosmetics as colorants, sunscreens or contaminants. Iron, nickel, chromium, zinc, cadmium, mercury and lead have been found in higher levels in women with breast cancer than in women without breast cancer. Nickel, chromium, cadmium, mercury, lead, copper, cobalt and tin also have estrogenic effects on breast cancer cells in the lab.

Petrolatum: a derivative of petroleum used in lip products and lotions. It can be contaminated with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are both endocrine disruptors and carcinogens.

Toluene: used in some nail products. Can be contaminated with benzene, a known carcinogen.

Triclosan: commonly used in anti-microbial soaps. More research is needed to understand how triclosan relates to breast cancer, but evidence suggests it affects male and female hormones as well as thyroid hormone, which effects weight and metabolism.

So what can I do?

1. Asking these companies to change there ways is one great step that you can take. Here is a link to tell Estee Lauder that you would appriciate it if they made products without all the nasty chemicals.

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5500/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4423
 
 2. Educate yourself by visiting the Breast Cancer Fund website which has great info and tips on how to make better cosmetic purchases.
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/reduce-your-risk/tips/choose-safe-cosmetics

3. Check out the website Think Before You Pink, which talks about the history of the pink ribbon and other interesting facts and info. 
http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/
 


Remember that the pink ribbon has been a great tool for raising breast cancer awareness and raising funds but companies should not abuse such a great symbol by using it on products that have been linked to cancers.  Thanks for your interest  :)

Slow Food Movement

The Slow Food movement is a global grassroots movement that began in 1989 in Rome as a protest against the opening of McDonald's. The idea of slow food quite simple and really self-explanatory..its food selected with care, cooked with love and savored with good company. The concept of slow food is related to chemicals because.. when you choose your food with care and have a relationship with your food you grow to respect food and the process of growing even if it does cost you an extra dollar.

Check out the slow movement web-site for some more great information  http://www.slowfood.com/

I was even excited to learn that there is a slow movement group here in Nova Scotia! http://slowfoodns.blogspot.com/

Here is a great video by the famous chef Jamie Oliver talking about the importance of a healthy diet

Plastic Planet

We are consuming plastic at an alarming rate..just think how often you use plastic everyday...grocery bags, food packaging, plastic water bottles, bread bags....the list is endless!

So its not the first time you heard that plastic is bad for the environment, but did you know it was bad for your health? Plastics leach into our food and water and can cause hormone havoc and toxic buildup, which can eventually lead to an array of health problems.

Most of us have heard of BPA in baby bottles and water bottles, this chemical can act as estrogen in your body. Dr. Frederick vom Saal at the University of Missouri-Columbia reports "studies of laboratory animals, BPA changes play behaviour, weakens gender differences, decreases sperm count, stimulates prostate cancer, and causes symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder" (pg. 61).  BPA is not the only chemical in plastic that has health affects..so your best bet is to reduce your exposure to plastics as much as possible. Here is a cute cartoon video that gives you another perspective on plastics






Here are some tips to reduce your exposure to chemicals in plastics
1. Use a stainless steel water bottle
2. Use glass to store foods (you can replace plastic food containers with glass ones or if your on a budget like me just recycle glass containers to store food (e.g use an glass salsa container to store left over chili etc.)
3. Buy glass options when available ( foods, pop etc.)
4. If you use plastic never use it in the microwave- the heat breaks the plastic down and you end up eating it.
5. Use recyclable bags at grocery stores
6. Try and select produce with no or minimal packaging
7. Learn the numbers on plastic and what each means
8. Try and buy can food options that don't use plastics to line the cans (did you know can e.g. soup use plastic to line the cans?) This can leech into your food..tomatoes are the worst because the acidic tomatoes break down the plastic..who knew?
9. Recycle the plastics you use

Check out this web-site for information on what  each of the plastic numbers mean : http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321


Here's another great 5min video that outlines some great facts, resources and what you can do to make a difference! P.S It has some great tunes!





Check out "No Impact Mans" Blog

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/

I can't wait to read this book and watch the documentary!

Remember.... "the power is yours!" ha ha Remember Captain Planet? Favorite show as a kid..no surprises there.

Eat your Veggies...and pesticides!

We have all heard about pesticides sprayed on our veggies but its no biggie.. right? Just buy some of that veggie wash or stick your cucumber under some water. I mean how could a few pesticides really hurt us?

Currently in Canada over a thousand chemicals are available for use on countless food products. So over the course of a day all these pesticides can really begin to add up.

Adria Vasil from the book Ecoholic is right to say that pesticides are "Kind of scary when you consider the hormone-mimicking neurotoxin, reproduction-impairing properties..According to a parliamentary report, about 60% of pesticides currently being used are hormone disruptor's".

Additionally, the David Suzuki Foundation points out that 58 of the pesticides used in Canada today are banned in other countries because of ties to cancers, reproductive disorders and acute toxicity.

So its not rocket science that pesticides are not one of mankind's greatest inventions but what does this all mean?

• Approximately 2000,000 people die every year from pesticide poisoning
• 90-100% of Canadians have pesticides in our tissues
• Chemicals indirectly kill animals (grasshoppers+pesticides =dead birds)
• Pesticides pollute our environment (air, water)

"For the health of our children, our wildlife and ourselves, synthetic pesticides should be abandoned. Period."

                                                                       -The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

So now what?

Knowing the truth about pesticides allows us to discover what kinds of foods we want on our plates as well as the importance of preserving our health and the environment for future generations.

Here is a quick video clip developed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) it shares some info and tips on reducing pesticides exposure on the foods that you eat.



 You can check out some more great information and get a free downloadable PDF from the web-site http://www.foodnews.org/

So I want to end this blog on a positive note with a creative little video I stumbled across call "Grocery Store Wars"...I hope you enjoy :)

The White Lotus

I just wanted to share a Nova Scotia gem with you all, the White Lotus. This is my favorite shop and it is located in downtown New Glasgow. This past weekend my mother, grandmother and I swung by the White Lotus and we all walked away with a bag full of goodies.

This is the store owner Cindy and myself

 As soon as you walk though the door you instantly feel calm as you hear the soft music playing in the background and you smell the faint aroma of herbs and oils. Cindy, the store owner is knowledgeable about all the merchandise she carries and she is more than happy to help you select the perfect product.

This shelf is an example of some of the products that you can find at the White Lotus, and most importantly they are all chemical free!

 In talking with Cindy I quickly learned that she shares the same passion that I do, educating people about the harmful chemicals in products. Not only was I excited about all the options I had to choose from but I was excited to see that there were new product lines including Bezan, which in made right here in Nova Scotia! Check out their web-site  http://www.bezan.ca/ they even have a web-store for people who aren't living close by.

This is the Bezan Shampoo and Body Lotion that I bought and they are both made from Green Seaweed as it is extremely nourishing and replenishing

I also bought a Bezan Coconut Cream soap, which is like dessert for your skin  (vegetable oils, purified water, coconut fragrance oil, coconut milk and milk proteins, beeswax, titanium dioxide natural mineral. Another goodie I bought is called "Natural Edge" deodorant cream, also made locally and it is made from baking soda, glycerin and oils. I use this cream to supplement the deodorant stone I use. Lastly, I bought "Skin Food" which is made with wheat germ, jojoba, sweet almond, apricot and vitamin E. As you can tell from the ingredients they are quite different then what you will find on the label of most products, as well most of the products are in glass containers instead of the typical plastic bottle. The reason for this is that plastics are full of bad chemicals that can leach into products and contaminate them.  So overall it was a successful day filled with natural goodness and I just can't wait to go back to the White Lotus again!

Did you get your daily dose of...chemicals?

From the minute we wake up in the morning we start piling on the chemicals to our skin. In the beginning I thought  "whats the big deal?".."It's not like I'm eating it". Boy was I wrong! Our skin is our biggest organ and it is more permeable then I once thought. Just think about it, when you put alot of cream on..where does it go? It doesn't evaporate it goes into your body. When you first hear this it can be a tad overwhelming as you realize that you put cream on, make-up, sunscreen...even shampoo's, hair gels, dyes and nail polish all get absorbed into your body.

The great news is that for the first time EVER people are becoming educated on this issue and as a consumer focused society..what the people want- they get. As more people are choosing natural and organic options more are being created. However, you do need to become familiar with "greenwashing" this means that not all companies are honest in their claims. You need to become a little bit of a chemist- don't worry nothing to intense.

I often tell friends to avoid:

•  Parabens (methyl,ethyl, butyl, and the estranged cousin propyl) These are the nasty chemicals that act like bad estrogen and are linked to many diseases such as breast cancers
• Phthalates (dibutyl phalate (DBP), fragrance) These chemicals make plastics soft = bad for your health
• Parfum aka a nice word that allows companies to sneak in more hidden chemicals

So the key message is there are sooo many chemicals I can't keep track of them all. I just remember the three  I listed and consult the David Suzuki web-site which has a dirty dozen list. A great rule of thumb is if you can't pronounce the word in one breath- chances are its not good for you.

Here is a great video " The Story of Cosmetics" developed by the Story of Stuff and the Campaign for safe Cosmetics. I recommend you pass the video along to your friends and family so everyone can begin to shop safely.

Take Action!

Tell Canadian Government that you want stricter regulations for chemicals in cosmetics. Click on the link which will bring you to the David Suzuki Foundation web-site. You will see the same picture (kid in bubbles), just below is a link that allows you to fill out a petition..it takes 2.3 seconds. Please take the time to make a difference.

Click Here :)

Thanks for your time everyone!

I am only one,

But still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something;

And because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

- Edward Everett Hale

The Facts

Most people do not know the truth about chemicals and toxins in countless products that we trust and use daily. Sadly, we often don't care unless we get sick and are desperate in getting better. In trying to inform you on the topic I figured the documentary "The Disappearing Male" aired on CBC would be beneficial. I must warn you that the truth is somewhat scary and disturbing, just remember any change is better then no change. Here is the link, I hope you learn lots!

Synopsis of Video

"We are conducting a vast toxicological experiment in which our children and our children's children are the experimental subjects." Dr. Herbert Needleman


The Disappearing Male is about one of the most important, and least publicized, issues facing the human species: the toxic threat to the male reproductive system.

The last few decades have seen steady and dramatic increases in the incidence of boys and young men suffering from genital deformities, low sperm count, sperm abnormalities and testicular cancer.
Some researchers say that declining male fertility rates could be the first sign of extinction.

At the same time, boys are now far more at risk of suffering from ADHD, autism, Tourette's syndrome, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia.
The Disappearing Male takes a close and disturbing look at what many doctors and researchers now suspect are responsible for many of these problems: a class of common chemicals that are ubiquitous in our world.
Found in everything from shampoo, sunglasses, meat and dairy products, carpet, cosmetics and baby bottles, they are called "hormone mimicking" or "endocrine disrupting" chemicals and they may be starting to damage the most basic building blocks of human development.






The Disappearing Male (link to CBC documentary..better quality)


Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.

Dean Acheson

How it all began!

This blog began as I was inspired by my cousin Jenna who had recently developed her own blog titled “Living a Vegan Life”. In talking with Jenna I realized a blog would allow me to share my adventures in navigating the complex chemical soup that we all live in!

A year and a half ago at the ripe age of 23 I developed my own hormone issues. My prolactin (pregnancy hormone) was higher than a pregnant woman and I wasn’t even pregnant!! Yikes! It turned out that I had a prolactinoma, a tiny beguine tumor on my pituitary gland. Additionally, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism several years prior. So what could possibly caused all this hormone chaos at such a young age? genetics? the environment? stress?

In conducting my own research on the matter I stumbled upon the book “Sexy Hormones” by Lorna R. Vanderhaeghe. This book empowered me as it opened my eyes to the outrageous amount of chemicals that are added to our foods, personal products and environment. More interestingly I learned how these chemicals influence our hormones and health! I must be clear that I am not stating that these products caused my hormones to become out of balance but I do feel that in reducing our exposure to harmful chemicals that our health can only improve.

So I expect that most of you do not have hormone concerns, unless you are all middle aged women experiencing menopause. However, the information I hope to share is beneficial for anyone’s health, the environment and will hopefully help you develop awareness around this hidden issue. As well I am hoping that I can not only provide some information, but learn from others and any information they may have.

Angie