Detoxing to Heal Eczema

If you’re one of the three percent of adults that has to deal with eczema, you know what frustration feels like.  You’ve probably tried all kinds of pills, creams, and seemingly ridiculous regimens with very little luck.  Well, all these chemicals you’re adding may just be part of the cause of your problem.

A patch of eczema that has been scratched (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As we go through our day, toxic chemicals are continually entering our body; they’re in the food we eat, the products we put on our skin, and even in the air we breathe.  While a little bit of these chemicals is fine for most people, after a few years, they build up in our bodies, slow us down and can even lead to negative health effects.  Eczema is one of the negative effects many people believe is caused by these chemicals. 

The good news?  This means that if you periodically flush these chemicals out of your body through detox, you may see your symptoms decrease almost immediately.  Plus, you’ll probably feel better and lose some weight, too.

So, you know why to detox - the next step is the how.  The truth is, there’s no one way that has been proven best for detoxing.  A juice fast is often recommended, but a cleanse that can work great for eczema is an apple diet.  Simply eat fresh, organic apples for several days.  Any variety works, in fact, you’ll probably prefer getting a few different kinds to liven it up a bit.  There are also various fruit and vegetable juice cleanses you can try.  Just remember to use freshly squeezed juice and not bottled to ensure you get all the vitamins and active enzymes.

You can also try a fresh foods cleanse diet, such as the Total Wellness Cleanse, which is very gentle on your body and very effective - but it may take several weeks.

There are many companies that will sell herbal complexes you can take to help cleanse your system.  While this is a great way to detox, always take great care when using these products.  You always want to research what products you try and consult an expert and a doctor before taking anything, as many herbs can have interactions and side effects.  Also, there is no regulating body like the FDA to regulate what goes into these products.

(Photo credit: epSos.de)

Once you’ve detoxed your body and seen symptoms improve, don't stop there.  While periodically detoxifying your system will flush the chemicals out of your body, it’s best if they never get there in the first place.  Try eating less processed and more fresh organic food and using natural skin, hair, and other personal products.  Many people have benefited from increasing their fatty acid intake as well.  This will keep you looking and feeling better between cleanses.

If you try a detox and see results, but symptoms immediately return when you return to a normal diet, your symptoms may be from a food allergy.  Try recording what foods you eat, along with severity of symptoms.  Review your records every so often to see if a specific food is triggering your symptoms.  You may need to avoid certain types of food like dairy or gluten.

For many people, a detox diet alone is still not enough.  For full treatment, you will likely need to use the topical treatments provided to you by your doctor.  You should also let them know of any herbs or special diets you use in case it interacts with your other medication.

But for some, switching to a clean, healthy diet of fresh, whole, unprocessed foods may be all you need to relieve your eczema and return to full health.

Green Gift Ideas for Everyone This Christmas

Gifts are a huge part of Christmas and, as such, coming up with green gift ideas can have a huge impact on your carbon emissions every year. You really aren't limited in this area: there are literally hundreds of possible eco-friendly gifts you could choose for family and friends this year.

Here are a few quick green gift ideas to get you started:

Fair Trade (Photo credit: flydown)

* When you buy wooden gifts, ensure that the wood is taken from a sustainable source,

* Gifts made from recycled waste materials (such as recycled metals or plastic) are a good choice,

* When buying beauty products, opt for organic products wherever you can,

* Buy gifts that encourage people to grow food, such as a starter kit for kitchen herbs,

* Instead of cut flowers, choose potted flowers and plants.

Fair Trade Gifts

Buying fair trade is an ethical choice for Christmas gifts, and any other products you may usually buy. The fair trade system ensures that the producers of the products, all around the world, are treated fairly in their prices and business practices. Although fair trade gifts are not the same as eco-friendly gifts, they are a great way to ensure you're doing something good with your money. Make sure you look for the fair trade logo when buying your presents.

Baked Gifts

If you're short on cash or ideas, then why not bake some gifts for Christmas this year? If you choose organic, local ingredients then your cooking will not only be more eco-friendly, it'll also be healthier for anyone who eats it. What's more, this is a fantastic personalized Christmas gift choice!

Shopping locally helps the environment and the community. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Local Gifts

Whether you're buying food or other products, buying items that were produced locally can help to reduce their environmental impact. Not only this, but you'll be doing your part to help out businesses and individuals in your community.

The Gift Of Time

Not all the gifts you can give have to be physical products. Why not give someone your time? Perhaps you know someone who needs help redecorating their home, or clearing out the weeds in their garden this winter?

You can also buy loved ones activities such as a day out, pampering in a day spa, a meal in a restaurant and much more. These green gift ideas don't need wrapping, but they provide a fun experience the recipient will never forget!

Your Gifts Make a Difference This Holiday Season

When the holidays come around it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.  You want to show your appreciation to your clients and business associates, but the commercialism and potential for waste can leave you with a sense of guilt.  There’s a solution!  You can give gifts that make a difference in the world. 

Giving gifts that make a difference is a great way to not only feel good about what you’re giving, but also to spread awareness for your cause and potentially earn more respect in the eyes of your associates and clients. 

Here are just a few ideas on how to make a difference with holiday gifts - keep these in mind for Black Friday tomorrow, and the rest of your holiday shopping this year!

WFTO Fair Trade Organization Mark (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Give Fair Trade Gifts

Fair trade is a global initiative that works to ensure all people, artisans, farmers and locally-owned businesses around the world are treated fairly. That means pricing and production are fair as well as environmentally sustainable.  Fair trade products are labeled by the Fair Trade organization and can include items like:

* Coffee
* Chocolate
* Wine
* Artwork
* Textiles and things made from textiles including bags, blankets and so on

Give Recycled Gifts

No, we don’t mean re-gifting!  Recycled gifts are gifts made from recycled materials.  Some examples include:

* Desk accessories
* Bags, totes and portfolios
* Artwork

Give Environmentally-Conscious Gifts

Many products are now created with the environment in mind, for example solar lights, bags and accessories.  Plants are also a great environmentally-conscious gift to give, or shares in a farm or CSA program.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Give Gifts that Give Back

If you have a charity that you strongly believe in or a cause you promote, sometimes giving a gift that supports that cause or charity is a great way to share your passion.  Additionally, if your client or business associate is passionate about something, then contributing to that charity or participating in the cause may also be a great way to give a gift that makes a difference.

Giving a gift that makes a difference is a little more complicated than simply ordering a bunch of pens from the local marketing business.  However, you’ll feel good about your efforts and you’ll make a great impression.  Spend a little time, thought, and effort this holiday season and find a gift that makes everyone feel good! 

Save Paper & Money With E-Vites and E-Cards

E-vites and E-cards are electronic cards which have been available for several years now. They can be a great way to reduce paper waste, and they can also save you money as well.  As more people become more environmentally conscious, electronic invitations and cards are growing in popularity. 

Here are a few benefits to e-vites and e-cards:

Wedding invitations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#1.  Less paper.  It is estimated that if everyone sent electronic cards and invitations instead of paper cards and invitations we’d save more than 200,000 trees each year.

#2.  You don’t have to spend money on stamps to send your invitations and cards, which quite often require additional postage.

#3.  They reduce the environmental cost of producing paper.  Paper not only means cutting down trees which are valuable to our environment, the production of paper also uses tremendous amounts of energy and resources - all of which contribute to our carbon footprint.  Cut back on greenhouse gases and use e-cards and e-invites.

#4.  No ink.  Unless your paper cards are printed with earth friendly and non-toxic ink, you’re much better off using an electronic option.  In addition, you don’t have to personally sign each card, once again saving ink.

#5.  There are no delivery costs.  When it comes to ordering invitations or buying cards, it takes a delivery truck and/or airplane to get them to you - whether they’re being shipped to the store where you buy them or you order them and they’re being shipped to you. Electronic cards do not need to be shipped anywhere.  This means you save fuel costs and emissions. 

E-Card Drawbacks?

When it comes to e-cards, the only real drawback is that while the majority of people use their email on an almost daily basis, not everyone is on email. If you’re sending out wedding invitations for example, there is a very good chance your older relatives do not have email addresses. And even if they do, sometimes your card may get caught in someone's spam filter and they may never see it.  However, in many cases you can pick a few people you would want to receive paper invitations and send the bulk of your list an email invite, dramatically cutting back on costs and saving resources.

So where do you get e-cards and invitations?

E-cards and e-invites can all be found online.  There are generally a few basic options:

Halloween-E-Card (Photo credit: brookeduckart)

* Membership sites where you register for free and can then send cards and invites.  Some cards may even be available for free.  And there are customization options so you can change the design, wording and information to reflect your needs.

* Freebie sites that don’t require registration.  These sites are great for the occasional e-card.  However, they typically do not allow for much customization.

* Paid sites requiring a subscription. Generally, the subscription is an annual one, it’s relatively low cost and you do receive a good degree of customization options.

E-cards and e-vites are growing in popularity, not only because of their convenience but also because they’re a very sustainable practice, and they save money.  When you combine these three benefits, and the wide variety of card and invitation options, it’s easy to choose the electronic option and reduce your paper waste as well as cost. 
   

Video - Choosing Supplements Wisely

This is a short but excellent video on the importance of choosing the right supplement for you, and how and why supplements can offer important benefits to your health. Her emphasis on getting your nutrition mostly from food is especially important, and if you do take supplements, a "whole food" form (such as Standard Process or Garden of Life) can be much more effective and impactful for your health.

Choosing Supplements Wisely
Americans spend about $14 billion each year on supplements in an effort to correct less than perfect diets, lose weight, or address specific health issues. H...


Examples of Whole Food Supplements: 
   

Video: The Importance of Probiotics for Digestive Health

This short video gives a great introduction to probiotics and how and why they are so helpful for promoting good digestive health and immune function. A vast portion of our immune system is located in our gut, so a properly functioning digestive system, colonized with the right bacteria, is essential for overall health - and is something that is sadly lacking in many Westerners on a modern diet. Some have even surmised that unhealthy gut flora is the cause for many of our modern diseases and ailments.

Check out the video to learn more about probiotics and how they work, and why they are so important - and see below for some of the resources mentioned in the video.

Use Probiotics For Better Immune Function, Digestive Health & Less Gas - Dr. Agrios, ND
www.DrAngelaAgrios.com - Probiotics are friendly bacteria that reside in the gut, and they are essential for optimum gut health and immune function. Lack of friendly bacteria in the gut can lead to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, and once that ...


More Helpful Resources:

  

Video - Reduce Exposure to Toxins in 5 Areas

This video provides succinct guidelines for reducing the toxins entering your body through cleaner air, water, and food choices. From choosing a good air filter, to filtering your water, to finding and identifying organic foods that are affordable, to choosing natural cleaning and personal care products, she offers a number of tips that can help reduce toxins in your daily environment. Tips such avoiding dry cleaning, and choosing natural methods of pest control in your home and garden. She also lists ingredients to avoid when shopping for personal care products, and reviews the "Dirty Dozen" list - produce which is most contaminated through conventional farming, and is most important to buy organic.

Check out this informative video to learn more about how you can reduce toxins in your home and lower your toxic load naturally.

Brenda Watson's Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps - Reduce Exposure
Excerpt from Brenda Watson's Detox Strategy (PBS Special) where Brenda Watson, CNC explains that the "R" in RENEW is for Reduce. She gives you some easy ways to reduce exposure to toxins in your life.


For more helpful tips on reducing your toxic load, as well as where to find cleaner, healthier products, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.

Review - Benefect Natural Hand Sanitizer

Several recent studies have shown that hot water and soap are the best way to keep your hands clean and to keep you safe from bacteria. But sometimes, especially when traveling, you might need an alternative to soap and water, such as a hand sanitizer. However, most hand sanitizers are pretty harsh on your skin. They contain chemicals and alcohol that kill germs but, at the same time, dry out your skin and might cause irritation.

Benefect Natural Hand Sanitizer is a gentle and non-alcoholic natural sanitizer that kills 99.9% of common bacteria, such as MRSA, Staph, E. coli and Salmonella. This very effective formula contains natural thyme, an anti-bacterial ingredient. Another great fact about this hand sanitizer is that it keeps your skin soft and healthy and should not cause any allergies.

In my opinion, it is always good to carry a hand sanitizer with you in your purse in case you need it, especially when out and about with children. It keeps your family's hands germ-free and therefore keeps bacteria-induced illnesses at bay while traveling.

Where to buy: http://www.Amazon.com

Video - Introduction to the Total Wellness Cleanse

This quick video gives a 3-minute overview of what is, in my opinion, one of the best detox cleanse programs out there. It works with real, whole, natural foods to enhance and support your body's natural detoxification processes. This is more effective and puts a lot less stress on your bodily systems than a lot of the juice cleanse or supplement "detoxes" out there, and it's also easier to maintain and help eliminate cravings along the way.

Watch the short video below, and click the link below the video if you are interested in learning more.

Detox Diet: Total Wellness Cleanse
Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK, RHN & Amy Coates, RHN, BSc. Cleansing your body does not require fancy pills or s...
 

Click Here to Learn More About The Total Wellness Cleanse...

 

Video - How To Make Your Own Natural Perfume

Here is a short video of an actual class on making your own natural perfumes. This class gives a basic though somewhat technical overview of the different types of scent you will need to make your own perfume, and an understanding of top, middle, and base notes, and how to combine them into the proper balance. So check this out, and try making your own perfume - feel free to share your own recipes below!

ACHS.edu Making Natural Perfumes
Join Dorene Petersen, President of Australasian College of Health Sciences, as she introduces the easy and fun methods to create your own natural perfumes with essential oils. A free download of the class brochure is available at www.apothecary-shopp...


Essential Oils For Making Perfumes:
   

Video - Natural Mosquito Repellent Options

Here's a great short video covering a wide variety of natural methods for repelling and controlling mosquitoes in  your garden, and on your family!  From sprays that you apply to your skin, to natural products you can use in your garden, or even plants you can grow that help repel mosquitoes from the area. You don't need to spray yourself or your environment with harmful chemicals to get rid of mosquitoes - there are lots of natural options out there - and this video shows you quite a few good ones to try. (Links to a few of these can be found below the video.)

John Dromgoole mosquitoes: Central Texas Gardener
Repel mosquitoes in the garden or on you with John Dromgooles tips for natural control. Along with organic products, he shows how to make your own topical mosquito repellent. Then, ornament the garden or patio with mosquito-repellent plants like scen...


Natural Mosquito Repellents: 
   

Review - The Earth Day Book

The Earth Day book is part of the popular Rookie Books series, which gives young children a basic introduction to various holidays that are celebrated. The books of this series are at a level that encourages children with independent reading. The Earth Day book explains in easy written and interesting language the story of Earth Day, traditions, actions children can take, craft, activities and food ideas.

The book comes with lovely bright illustrations and photographs to grab your child's attention. Reading this book will not only improve your child's reading skills, but also teaches them all about Earth Day and instils in them the importance of protecting our environment.

I would certainly recommend Earth Day and the Rookie Books series in general as engaging teaching tools for your children and a way to give them a better understanding of our traditions and holidays. These books would make a nice present to any young elementary child with an interest in learning about the world. Parents can use this book and any book in the series to spend time together with their child reading and learning.

Where to Buy: www.amazon.com

Last Minute Healthy Holiday Gifts

This quick video (it's from 2010, but good gift ideas never go out of style!) gives some holiday gift ideas for the healthy people in your life (which is hopefully most of them) :-)  If you're a last-minute shopper, you can find most of these at local stores, and Amazon still has 2-day shipping so you can get your stuff in time for Christmas! From exercise gifts and gadgets to cooking from scratch, these gifts will help encourage your loved ones to get and stay healthy.

See links below video for some great gifts to check out:

Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2010
www.diet.com Give the gift of health that will last all year long to your friends and family this year. Check out Diet.com Video Producer Sarah Dussault's favorite gifts to give for anyone on your list. All gifts are under $85 and most are less than ...


Click Here for Fun Exercise Gift Ideas

Hot Gifts for the From-Scratch Cook

Click Here for Great Gifts for Gardeners

Detoxing: What Is Is It, And Is It Right For You?

You may have heard a lot about detoxing or detox diets. In fact, many celebrities swear by detox diets to lose weight. However, detoxing offers many more benefits than losing weight. If you’re curious about detoxing or interested in improving your health we may be able to help answer your questions.

pHion Cleanze and D-tox Pack - Capsules.

What is Detoxing?

Detoxing is the process of eliminating toxins from your body. There are many ways that toxins are naturally removed from your body. For example, if you are sweating toxins are removed from your body in your sweat. You urinate toxins and they are also eliminated in your stools. Additionally you can take a bath in Epsom salts or sea salts and remove toxins from your body.

Toxins can be stored in your fat cells, muscles, blood and organs. Many of these toxins enter your body from every day exposure to chemicals. For example, car exhaust is inhaled. Second hand smoke is a toxin. You also ingest pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers and other chemicals when you eat. If you drink alcohol then you want to help get toxins out of your body. And if you eat junk food or processed food then you also consume chemicals in the form of artificial sweeteners, preservatives and flavorings and colorings. All these poisons accumulate in your body to make up what is called your "toxic load."

Image via WikipediaHow Does Detoxing Work?

A detox diet or detox plan helps lessen your toxic load by getting the toxins out of your body quickly. Most basic detox diets work by eliminating any chemicals from being consumed. For example, you might drink only organic juices for five days. This gets all of the toxins out of your body and doesn’t add any into your body. If you add sweating, massage and salt baths to the process then you detoxify even faster.

Why Detox?

If you’re feeling particularly run down you might want to detox. Getting the toxins out of your body can help restore health. If you’re considering going on a diet or fitness plan then a detox diet can help you start on the right foot. Additionally, if you want to lose weight then you might detox.

Detoxing Risks and Side Effects

Detoxing isn’t for everyone and it’s not without risks. You will likely experience a few withdrawal symptoms if you are on a detox diet. This is because your body is used to sugars and other chemicals. When you stop eating them, your body will need time to adjust. You might experience headaches, a bit of insomnia and some stomach distress. These side effects pass quickly. Once you’ve made it through the withdrawal symptoms you’ll feel great. You’ll likely have more energy. Your complexion may improve and your digestion and mental clarity will improve too.

Before you detox, talk to your doctor or an alternative healthcare professional. Pay close attention to your body during your detoxing experience. Detox too fast and you may become ill as toxins are released from your muscles into your bloodstream. You can always slow down the detox process.

Your health is important. Detoxing can improve it. Detox carefully and with careful attention to your body.

Here Are Some High Quality Detoxing Products:

   

Video - Super Foods You Should Know About

Here is a great video on super foods...but these aren't your typical super foods you may have heard of, like beans and broccoli. These include some really cool foods from around the world that have amazing benefits for boosting your immune system, removing toxins from your body, and providing great amounts of nutrients. You may have seen the names of some of these before, but not been quite sure what they were. This video explains them for you, as well as where they come from, and what they can do for your health. Yummy and amazing for your body, these may sound a bit foreign, but they are easier to find than ever.

Check 'em out!

Super Foods! - Nutrition by Natalie
Be My Friend - www.myspace.com Nutrition by Natalie Super Foods In this video Natalie talks you around the world to learn about some of the most nutrition foods that exist. Some of these were actually discovered in region where the inhabitants have e...



You Can Even Find Some of These Super Foods on Amazon.com:
    

Product Review: West Paw Design Eco Drop Pet Beds

Eco-friendly dog beds might sound like a bit of a luxury, but if you believe in sustainability and eco-friendliness and want to treat your dog to a soft, comfortable, chemical-free bed, the West Paw Design Eco Drop Pet Bed is fantastic. They come in several different sizes, so you can get the one that will work for the size of your dog. The material of the bed is made from a fleecy 85% recycled fabric, the filling is 100% recycled, from soda bottles.

I am sure your dog will love to curl up and snuggle into the soft cushions, so if you're in the mood to give your pet a treat that lasts for the next holiday, this one is a winner. The color choice of the dog bed is Ember Glow, Porcelain or Pearl with a grey-colored bottom. And as dog beds get easily dirty and hairy, the cover of the bed is machine washable and dryer safe.

Overall, these eco beds are earth friendly and natural and create a lovely hang-out for your dog. They are strong and very durable and constructed to a very high standard. If you are looking to invest in a dog bed that is designed with Mother Nature in mind, you won't be disappointed with the West Paw Design Eco Drop Pet Beds.

Where to buy: www.amazon.com (Large, Medium, and Small sizes shown below).

West Paw Design Eco Drop Pet Beds:
    

What to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier

Are you a smoker? What about a pet owner?  Do you keep all your doors and windows closed most of the time? If so, there is a good chance that the air inside your home isn’t as healthy as it could or should be. That is why you may want to think about purchasing an air purifier.  Air purifiers are electronic machines that work to clean up the air. They do this by trapping, and often eliminating, harmful bacteria and air particles, and other toxins in your home. In fact, you don’t even have to be a pet owner or a smoker to benefit from the use of an air purifier; anyone can.

Image via WikipediaIf you are like most other Americans, when it comes to purchasing an air purifier, you may make the decision to purchase one and then go right out and buy one.  Although it is nice to get a product right away when you want it, there are disadvantages to doing so.  Essentially, you may be purchasing a product that is poor in quality. Without the proper amount of research, you will never know.

As mentioned above, it is important that you examine the quality of an air purifier before purchasing it. You can easily do this online. A large number of online websites allow internet users to comment, rate, or write reviews on a product that they have purchased. These products also include air purifiers.  If you know of anyone who uses an air purifier in their home, you may also want to think about asking them for suggestions.  Feedback from those who own the same product is the best way to learn about the quality of it. 

In addition to the quality of the product, it is also important that you examine the size of the air purifier you are interested in buying. When it comes to the size of an air purifier, you do not necessarily need to focus on the size of the actual machine, but you should focus on the size of the space that it is designed for. With cheaper, low-cost air purifiers, you will find that they only tend to treat the air in small rooms. These rooms commonly have a square footage of about 250-350 feet.  If you are looking to treat the air inside a larger room, you may need to spend more money on a larger air purifier. 

Image via WikipediaIt is also important to consider the cost of an air purifier.  Many individuals, regrettably, make a mistake when doing this. That mistake is believing that the purchase price is the only cost that they need to worry about. While there are some air purifiers that are filter-less, not all are. Many of these air purifiers, the ones that require filters, need to have their filters changed every so often. This can be as little as once every couple of years or as much as a couple of months.  It is important that you keep the cost of replacement parts, including filters, in mind.  When doing this, you may find that an otherwise low-cost air purifier turns into one that is too expensive for you to afford.

Since, in many cases, air purifiers are considered expensive, you are advised to look for air purifiers that come with warranties.  In most cases, you will find that many air purifiers have a manufacturer’s warranty. That warranty typically tends to last about a year.  If you are spending more than $400 on an air purifier, you may want to think about getting an extended warranty.  If you purchase your next air purifier from a retail store, you may need to pay for the warranty.  Despite possibly having to pay for an extended warranty, you will find that it is worth the cost. Should anything happen to your expensive air purifier, a warranty would, in most cases, prevent you from being out of luck.

The above mentioned points are just a few of the many that you need to take into consideration, when buying an air purifier. As previously mentioned, an air purifier can be a large purchase. That is why you are advised to fully research and examine all aspects of that purchase before making a final decision. It is the only way to make sure that you are not wasting your money.

A Few Examples of Air Purifiers: