Health

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04/10/2009

Stop verbal pollution!

Posted by Tiko under Anxiety, Depression, Environment, Health, Hopeless, Self-Empowerment, Self-Esteem, Spirit | Tags: , , |
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image from frankfarm

image from frankfarm

Like every other day this week, my alarm has gone off at exactly 6am. My goal is to wake with the sun, lol…and do my yoga and meditation and my morning routine before work. And, like every other day this week…I’ve hit snooze and rolled over. Yes, I still do my yoga and morning routine, but it’s rushed…sigh. I get up and I say, everyday, “I’m just not a morning person.” Aha!! I’m reinforcing the negative belief that I just can’t possibly wake up early and feel good about it!

 

If we could see our words in the physical, our speech would be drastically different. Haphazard speaking, habitual sayings, and the like…would all cease. I look at the problems we have with the environment as a reflection of our problems with our thoughts, our speech, and our actions. The environmental problems are our words manifested. If our negative words were actual trash…we’d find that some of us are have a lot of “trash” all over our homes, in our cars, at work, in our purses, briefcases, etc. And, we wonder why things aren’t improving in our lives! Well, how can any positivity possibly get in when there’s all this negative “clutter” that needs to be cleared out???

We need to start “recycling” our speech. Transmuting it into positive energy…clean, crisp, fresh air we can breathe in deeply to nourish us. This positivity has the power to literally transform our lives! So, I will start with my morning banter that always gets me in the same place every time. I’ll update later with my progress. In the meantime…why don’t you give it a try?

What are you speaking that is holding you back???

 

03/18/2009

Finding Balance…

Posted by Tiko under Health, Just Me, Self-Empowerment, Self-Esteem
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So, I survived the past 3 weeks.  I had a non-stop schedule with hardly any downtime…and I was worried about whether I would get overwhelmed and get off track with new positive habits I'm trying to implement in my daily life.  I'm glad to say that I didn't get off track…in fact, my new habits really helped me to stay focused, relaxed, and feel rested. 

As I mentioned in my last post, the new habits I've been incorporating are a daily yoga practice, morning meditation, nightly journaling, and only sleeping in my bed (no eating or working in bed).  Oh my goodness…yoga is so great!  I'm able to release all the negativity I may be holding onto, I build strength and focus, and I still my mind.  I feel so good afterward…it's definitely something I want to keep doing for a long time.  I can't imagine how I lived without it!  I began with Vinyasa Yoga, and as of this week, I've started doing Ashtanga Yoga.  So far, I've learned the Sun Salutation A.  I did it this morning when I woke up…it was nice…:)

One thing I've learned over the past few weeks is the importance of finding balance…maintaining a beautiful harmony in my life.  Whenever I learn something new, and try to practice it in my life…I find that my first attempt is to be completely rigid and extreme.  Then, I get overwhelmed and relax a bit, and find a way to incorporate new concepts in a way that don't exhaust me and still honors my other intentions and desires.  I've had to find a balance with my diet (originally wanted to be vegan), my sleep schedule (wanted to get those 8 hours everyone talks about), my hair (wanted to go natural), being health conscious, and being earth friendly.  There are many extremes in each of these subjects, but I've had to find ways where I can take what I've learned in each and compare them to my current goals, needs, wants, and desires…then, find a balance.

So, for now (meaning, later on I can still change my mind)…I'm not gonna be vegan.  I will go vegan on occasion when I feel I need to cleanse or give my body a rest.  But, this is not a lifestyle that I want to take on.  I've tried it, but it just doesn't work for me.  It's too much of a struggle, and right now it just doesn't resonate with me.  I've given up pork and beef years ago…so, I mostly just eat chicken, fish, and turkey.  What I will focus on though, is making sure that the meat I do eat is organic.  That is an improvement in and of itself.  It's healthier and it's kinder.

As far as my hair goes…I've been growing my relaxer out since June '08.  My reason was that I really wanted to get away from exposing myself to the chemicals involved in the process.  But, after much, much thought and deliberation…I've decided that a relaxer is the best thing for me AT THIS TIME.  I'm really not ready to sport a tiny weeny afro…my head is big (lol!) and a short hairstyle doesn't look the best on me.  That leaves the option of transitioning.  If I'm honest with myself, I know that with working out everyday…I'm NOT going to wash, blow-dry, press and flat iron my hair everyday.  I can barely keep up with once a week.  That would mean sporting a ponytail everyday with gel and leaving sweat in my hair.  Disgusting and a great recipe for breakage!  Plus, I don't like wearing a ponytail everyday, I enjoy wearing my hair down.  And, I'd hardly get to do that, especially with the summer months coming up.  Lastly, I really just had to be honest with myself, and I really don't care if I catch flack for it, but…I just really like my straight hair!  There, I said it.  I don't care if some say I'm brainwashed…but, I just really like my hair straight and I like the options I have with it.  I like that I can wash and go if I choose to.  I just like how I look with straight hair.  So, that's my decision, and I'm sticking to it.  To go back to my original intent, not to expose myself to those chemicals…I've decided that I won't get a relaxer as often.  I've learned through this experience that I can go a long time without a relaxer and my hair is just fine, no breakage.  So, I will get a relaxer every 3-4 months instead of every 2.  That reduces my exposure quite a bit.  I think that's a great balance!  :)

So…this has been my experience with finding balance in my life over the past three weeks.  The bottom line with everything is to learn to just relax and do my best!  I'm not taking myself so seriously anymore.  That's all we can do anyway.  No one on this earth is perfect…everyone has SOMETHING they're trying to improve upon.  Life is to be enjoyed.  It's not meant for us to be SLAVES to rigid concepts and theories with no room for FREEDOM.  And freedom looks and feels different for everyone.  We have to get to a point where we let other people live their lives too…and not judge.  Everyone is doing their best, really.

I must say that I feel good!  I'm really excited about things I have lined up to begin over the spring and summer months.  I'll keep you posted on those.  Let's just say, I'm getting back into my music, I'll be in the beginning stages of school to become a spiritual life coach, and I'll be incorporating more environmental work into my current career.  I can't wait for spring!!  :-)

 

08/14/2008

10 common ingredients to avoid putting in your hair

Posted by Tiko under Health
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I'm currently in the process, or should I say transition, to becoming a vegetarian.  Eventually, I want to be vegan.  But, I'm trying to be realistic and take it slow…lol…;-)  Anyways, on my quest to become a healthier person, I've been doing a lot of reading on what is good and not so good for my body.  As you know, you are what you eat.  And your diet plays a very significant role in your well-being, and your quest to a more peaceful and productive life.

Not only am I eliminating certain foods, but I'm also eliminating certain chemicals that I expose my body to.  We don't realize it, but the lotions, oils, makeup, nair, and hair products don't just affect our skin and hair.  But, they are actually ingested and enter our blood systems.  If you can't eat what you're putting on your body, news is…you actually are.  (And for those that know me may be wondering…yes, I'm growing my perm out…)

So, this all leads to me sharing the following article that I found on Nappturality: African-American, Black Natural Health Care.  Now, you don't have to be black to benefit from this article…lol…so please read on and be advised…

Check the ingredients on your favorite products and see if any of the following are listed.  Thank God there are many all natural alternatives available…:)

10 INGREDIENTS TO AVOID PUTTING ON YOUR HAIR!.
Most of the commercially available hair care products today use harmful, potentially carcinogenic ingredients.In the interest of good napptural health, I list below, what are in my opinion, the 10 worstcommonly found product ingredients thngs you can put on your hair (and body). Check the list of ingredients on your hair products. The more of a particular ingredient you have in a product, the closer it is to the top of the list of ingredients on the bottle:

1. ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL:This is a solvent and denaturant (poisonous substance that changes another substances natural qualities). Isopropyl alcohol is found in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotions, after-shave lotions, fragrancesand many other cosmetics. This petroleum-derived substance is also used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac. Napptural hair reacts very badly to isoalcohol and this ingredient should be avoided at ALL costs. It will dry your hair out and break it off. According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, inhalation or ingestion of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis and even coma. 

2. MINERAL OIL & PETROLATUM: The best baby oil is made from almonds. But the oil which being sold as baby oil is 100% mineral oil. Mineral oil is a derivative of crude oil (petroleum) that is used industrially as a cutting fluid and lubricating oil. This commonly used petroleum ingredient coats the skin and hair just like plastic wrap. The skin's natural barrier is disrupted as this plastic coating inhibits its ability to breathe and absorb the Natural Moisture Factor (moisture and nutrition). The skin's ability to release toxins and wastes is impossible through this "plastic wrap," which can promote acne and other disorders. It further hinders normal skin respiration/transpiration by keeping oxygen out. This process slows down skin function and normal cell development causing the skin to prematurely age. Holding in large a mounts of moisture in the skin can "flood" the biology and may result in immature, unhealthy, sensitive skin that dries out easily. Petrolatum – A petroleum-based grease that is used industrially as a grease component. Petrolatum exhibits many of the same potentially harmful properties as mineral oil.
Honestly, this stuff belongs in your engine, not on your hair. Regardless of "Well, my Grandma used vaseline on her hair and it grew ", the bottom line is this stuff is bad. It was bad for Grandma and it is bad for you. Period.

3. PEG: This is an abbreviation for polyethylene glycol that is used in making cleansers to dissolve oil and grease as well as thicken products. Because of their effectiveness, PEG's are often used in caustic spray on oven cleaners and yet are found in many personal care products. PEG's contribute to stripping the Natural Moisture Factor, leaving the immune system vulnerable. They are also potentially carcinogenic. 

4. PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG): As a "surfactant" or wetting agent and solvent, this ingredient is actually the active component in antifreeze. There is no difference between the PG used in industry and the PG used in personal care products. It is used in industry to break down protein and cellular structure (what the skin is made of) yet is found in most forms of make-up, hair products, lotions, after-shave, deodorants, mouthwashes and toothpaste. It is also used in food processing. Because of its ability to quickly penetrate the skin, the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with this toxic substance. The Material Safety Data Sheets warn against skin contact, as PG has systemic consequences such as brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. Consumers are not protected nor is there a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than that in most industrial applications.

5. SODIUM LAURYL SUFATE (SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES): SLS is used in testing labs as the standard ingredient to irritate skin. Used as detergentsand surfactants, these closely related compounds are found in car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Yet both SLS and SLES are used more widely as one of the major ingredients in cosmetics, toothpaste, hair conditioner and about 90% of all shampoos and products that foam. They are used in personal-care products because they are cheap. A small amount generates a large amount of foam, and when salt is added it thicken to give the illusion of being thick and concentrated. (SOME OF THE NITROSATING AGENTS ARE: SLS, SLES, DEA, TEA, MEA). Shampooing the hair with a product contaminated with these substances can lead to its absorption into the body at levels much higher than eating nitrite-contaminated foods.
Mark Fearer in an article, Dangerous Beauty, says, "…in tests, animals that were exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, along with depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation and corrosion and death." According to the American Collegeof Toxicology states both SLS and SLES can cause malformation in children's eyes. Other research has indicated SLS may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties. It is possibly the most dangerous of ad ingredients in personal care products. Research has shown that SLS when combined with other chemicals can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens, which causes the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels than eating nitrate contaminated food." According to the American College of Toxicity report,"SLS stays in the body for up to five days…" Other studies have indicated that SLS easily penetrates through the skin and enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain. This poses serious questions regarding its potential health threat through its use in shampoos, cleansers and toothpaste," 
Studies show its danger potential to be great when used in personal-care products. Toxicity- A serious problem with these chemicals is that they may be contaminated with NDELA (N-nitrosodiethanolamine), one of the nitrosamines and a potent carcinogen, according to a 1978 FDA report.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) - SLES is the alcohol form (ethoxylated) of SLS. It is slightly less irritating than SLS, but may be more drying. Both SLS and SLES can enter the blood stream.They may cause potentially carcinogenic formations of nitrates and dioxins to form in shampoos and cleansers by reacting with other product ingredients. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing. Contains ether.

6. CHLORINE:According to Doris J. Rapp, M.D., author of Is This your Child's World? exposure to chlorine in tap water, Showers, pool, laundry products, cleaning agents, food processing, sewage systems and many others, can effect health by contributing to asthma, hay fever, anemia, bronchitis, circulatory collapse, confusion, delirium diabetes, dizziness, irritation of the eye, mouth, nose throat, lung, skin and stomach, heart disease, high blood pressure and nausea. It is also a possible cause of cancer. Even though you will not see Chlorine on personal care product labels, it is important for you to be aware of the need to protect your skin when bathing and washing your hair. 

7. DEA (diethanolamine) MEA (momoethnanolamine) TEA (triethanolamine):DEA and MEA are usual listed on the ingredients label in conjunction with the compound being neutralized. Thus look for names like Cocamide DEA or MES, Lauramide DEA, etc. These are hormone disrupting chemicalsand are known to form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. . These are commonly found in most personal care products that foam, including bubble baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps and facial cleansers. On the show, CBS This Morning, Roberta Baskin revealed that a recent government report shows DEA and MEA are readily absorbed in the skin. Dr. Samuel Epstein, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois said "repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of two cancers – liver and kidney cancers." John Bailey, who oversees the cosmetic division for the FDA said the new study is especial important since "the risk equation changes significantly for children." 

8. FD & C Color PIGMENTS:Many color pigments cause skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and even death according to A Consumer's dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Debra Lynn Dadd says in Home Safe Home: "Colors that can be used in foods, drug, and cosmetics are made from coal tar. There is a great deal of controversy about their use, because animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic." 

9. FRAGRANCE: Fragrance is present in most deodorants shampoos, sunscreens, skin care, body care and baby products. Many of the compounds in fragrance are carcinogenic or otherwise toxic. "Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. Most or all of them are synthetic. Symptoms reported to the FDA have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation. Clinical observation by medical doctors have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes," (Home Safe Home). 
For better health try purchasing unscented products and for fragrance, adding a natural essential oil.

10. IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA and DMDM HYDANTOIN: These are just two of the many preservatives that release formaldehyde (formaldehyde-donors). According to the Mayo clinic, formaldehyde can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reactions and trigger heart palpitations. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, Chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. It can also aggravate coughs and colds and trigger asthma. Serious side effects include weakening of the immune system and cancer. Nearly all brands of skin, body and hair care, antiperspirants and nail polish found in stores contain formaldehyde-releasing ingredients.