Sunday, January 30, 2011

All Natural or is it Un- Natural?

It seems it will be a lesson on vocabulary and definitions vs the history lesson of the previous blog, as we have become label readers from long ago. It has recently been brought to our attention lately as people ask us about our products and the "all natural " approach and what they have been taught that is "all natural" based on what they have read from an ALL NATURAL label, instead of taking the dictionary or a MSDS sheet with them as they read the list of ingredients. I want to share with you a recent conversation....



We had some one contact us and ask us what our ingredients were and the conversation went something like this <consumer> "I'm very allergic to a lot of stuff, even natural", <Healthy Options> " Depending on what your allergic to, I could tell you what you may want to avoid" we were discussing various types of soaps, and this is our frustration, as the conversation continues, <consumer>"I'm allergic to artificial coloring, and most harsh ingredients in soap (like antibacterial, stuff added for extra cleaning like detergents) are too harsh on my skin" and lastly, <Healthy Options> As we are scratching our heads, all natural labels that claims its stake to artificial coloring and extra stuff? We are not understanding but anyway, on with the conversation! "We add NO, artificial scents/ fragrances, oils or colors to our soaps, or any of our products. These companies that tout to be all natural, and yet the ingredients list things you cannot pronounce or have hidden preservatives. I totally understand your concerns, and I am glad your concerned enough to ask, most people do not care."
So off on my soap box, really!  So where might this be going, per Websters online dictionary natural is defined as "being in accordance with or determined by nature; having or constituting a classification based on features existing in nature." and moreover, Unnatural is being defined as "not being in accordance with nature or consistent with a normal course of events; inconsistent with what is reasonable or expected." 
Fragranced oil, preservatives (not of natural source) and all that other fluff that gets added to soaps, bath and beauty products such as Sodium Laurel Sulphates, Parabens, Phalathates & Petrochemicals is not needed or necessary, is also not so natural, yet big commercial producers of "all natural " products use at least one of these products in the ingredients list!. I will write later on these terrible additives, but in the meantime..... 



Be proactive, be a label reader! 
Check us out at http://www.healthyoptionsofdaysgoneby.com

Thursday, January 20, 2011

That white sweet stuff, isn't so sweet!

                                         THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF ASPARTAME
You all know what white stuff I am referring to, we all have used it at one time or another! We have consumed this poison some times with intention, other without ever knowing it crossed our lips. Why is that, why would we have consumed something so safe and yet this person (actually lots of persons) on blogs or website pages are saying this stuff is poison?
The government starting at the top, G. D. Searle, Donald Rumsfeld, Ronald Reagan and the FDA, says it is safe, so it must be safe, right?
This is one topic, I am VERY passionate about! The government says it is safe, it spreads like wildfire through supermarkets and commercially manufactured products, and BOOM, we have aspartame laden everything. Suddenly after 20-30 something years later we have an increase in cancer, dementia, and this list could go on and consume my entire day. This just happens to be the 2 most common diseases that interest me most, because we are seeing these 2 disease processes earlier and earlier than ever before. WHY? We could have been pregnant and trying to eat healthy? While consuming little calories, for fear of getting too fat? Oh, no it was the 12 pack of coke zero we consumed after baby was born, yet we are still breastfeeding? Nope, that wasn't it either. It was the children's sugar free Tylenol, or Motrin we give due to them teething. HUUMM, still not sure?
Everything, everywhere.. says, SUGAR FREE, LOW CALORIE, NO CALORIES. Please do not believe all that garbage. That is where they get you, it may (benefit) you now, because your losing weight or trying to stay looking healthy. That is not a (benefit) for later, we you have declining health or don't remember your husbands name, how sexy is that!
So I know you all didn't sign up for a history lesson, but I have to tell you how this super white sweet stuff got here, and how you can do your part to protect yourself and your family! I will try not to bore you terribly.
The GD Searle Company (no known as Pfizer) employed a scientist named, James Schlatter, while Schlatter was working on an anti ulcer drug, POOF came the poison we know as aspartame later patented as (Nutra Sweet) this all happened back in 1965ish. While Searle was working with the FDA to get their products approved for the market, and we all know, this was a HUGE breakthrough! In 1974, the FDA "approved " this as a food additive. Well as history goes and some companies integrity's, this part gets really interesting in how our "leaders" help to mold this country. Also in 1974, the FDA set up a task force to actually test this product that was labeled as "approved", in 1976 the FDA was scratching their heads at Searles testing procedures. The final report from the FDA, to Searle was something like they reported faulty and fraudulent testing on their products.In 1977, the Bressler Report summed up the lies and the truth.  So this doesn't sound like the works of the government? Well there is more behind the scenes (as usually the case). Donald Rumsfeld (yes you know the one) was elected Chairman of Searle, and was instructed to "mend fences" with the FDA and get this approved. Rumsfeld was furious over the truth being brought to light, and he declared in one way or another, he would get this approved! Well guess what, after the FDA's own  Senior toxicologist Adrian Goss once told Congress, “beyond a shadow of a doubt aspartame triggers brain tumors.” So you ask if it was determined to be so detrimental to human life, how is it we consume it virtually everyday. This is the other part where I tell you about how power is used in a not so healthy way. In January 1981, the world announces a new leader of this great nation.. (drum roll please). President Ronald Reagan, I am not knocking his role as a great president, but like most, he made a few mistakes.. HUGE mistakes. Reagan appointed Hayes as FDA's new commissioner and as the story would go, the rest is history.. but I can't leave you hanging, so Hayes as the new commissioner appointed by Reagan, overrules the previous decisions and hands down the ruling that aspartame is GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for consumption.
Just because this country is full of dirty politicians and companies that lack integrity, doesn't mean you cannot be your own health care advocate, and do the hard work and look on product labels and refuse to consume poisons such as aspartame and "other words" such as contains phenylalanine. These products are not safe.
So do a little research, go search MSDS (material safety data sheets) and look for aspartame. The warning under swallowed "harmful if swallowed". Here is a link! http://www.wnho.net/aspartame_msds_1.htm

I can' scream enough to tell people to do your own research for the safety of your own lives, and well being of your future! I can however, offer up a suggestion. You may be asking, how to avoid everything that contains aspartame and what are your options. Luckily, the anti- aspartame movement has caught on more over the last several years, so now even your local Wal-Mart sells the herb Stevia or also known as rebaudiana, it is also white, sweet and no calories, it is naturally occurring in the wild, as a plant. Other countries have recognized it and used it before we did. It has no harmful side effects and it is relatively inexpensive. It comes in a GREEN box, and it is sold in the herb section of most Wal Marts, however, probably all herb stores carry is as well. It comes packaged in many forms, in its natural state it is actually a green powder, no one wants a green powder floating in their sweet tea, so it also comes in convenient little package that contain the refined white powder and also in a liquid tincture dropper style bottle. I am no way the "endorser" of Truvia, but it is a Stevia based product also, that contains Stevia and erythritol, both are great alternatives to aspartame and the health benefits are not hazardous to your health. Actually the Truvia ingredient label reads: "erythritol, rebiana, natural flavors". What I am saying is please, please read labels! Another group jumping on the stevia bandwagon is Crystal Light, some Vitamin Waters has started using "rebiana" in their products and it states on labels.!
Be aware! Be Proactive, and become a label reader!

Monday, January 10, 2011

To Talc, or Not to Talc

Everyone knows about Talc, the silky fine white powder that we sprinkle on our babies behinds, put in our shoes, under our arms and in our panties for that fresh, dry, just showered feeling (sometimes just when you really need it) or just because Shower to Shower, makes your favorite scent. Most people would know this is body powder or baby powder or even foot powder! Besides in powder, talc is lurking in other everyday places of your home as well, such as in antacids, garden pesticides, pet flea repellents, in smaller quantities as chalk, crayons, soap and textiles.

Some would argue and say, well isn't talc a ground rock or mineral? So that makes it all natural, and isn't all natural healthy?  Most of the time, we would say YES, but before going all out NATURAL, do a little research to find out WHO, says WHAT about all natural and what is healthy. Be informed about your decisions, most importantly be your own health care advocate!

So whats the big deal then, Talc is a crushed mineral that has very good qualities as moisture control, which is why we LOVE powder!, but Talc comes with a few small issues ( not really small) while the rock/ mineral is crushed an sifted and the usable talc as soft as it is has become a very inexpensive alternative to remaining fresh and dry. The tiny micro fibers cannot be sifted and are very similar to asbestos, we all know the trouble asbestos has caused! Talc is VERY closely related to asbestos, so close it causes some of the same types of problems as asbestos, such as respiratory illnesses. For nearly 30 years, scientific studies have concluded that talc closely resembles the qualities of asbestos and contains dangerous similarities. In regards to this the FDA has not stepped up and demanded this be removed, but enacted the use of COSMETIC GRADE TALC, in short it is still TALC, it just has a smaller quantity of asbestos like fibers. In 1993 a National Toxicology program  concluded "Clearly with or without asbestos-like fibers, cosmetic grade talcum powder is a carcinogen".

Talc has been found to the considered source of ovarian cancer in women as research has shown the increased risk is greater by women of use in talc in genital area, as the talc particles have been found embedded in the lining of the ovaries. Am I pointing fingers, well maybe! But what I am really saying is to BE informed, do the necessary research and be proactive.

Google, Yahoo or Bing research the dangers of TALC and see for yourself! While your at it, with the same search engine research the Dangers of Cornstarch or Arrowroot, and most you will find it that if you use too much, your gravy will be too thick, but used as a powder, antiperspirant or deodorant, you will be ok, no implications of cancer are noted!

For all natural, safe TALC free products visit us at http://www.healthyoptionsofdaysgoneby.com or drop us an email  at corriveau@healthyoptionsofdaysgoneby.com to share how your staying all natural, who knows you may see some of your ideas posted on our website! Thanks for viewing and enjoy your visit!