People are desperate. They go to the doctors only to be given more medication upon medication. While there are worthwhile treatments people continue to feel exhausted, headachey, fuzzy-minded, anxious, and depressed.
If you are wondering what is going on and why you and others never feel good anymore there is some good news. This article is a departure from my usual Christian subjects, but I had an answer to prayer here and wanted share this information.
First let me say that I noticed, really back in the early 90’s, when I was working with a group of women that half of us suffered from headaches and fatigue. It is really epidemic now, but even back then I knew that our food and our environment was making us all sick. But life goes on, so you try different medications, lifestyles, exercises, food regimes, supplements to try to find ease of symptoms.
After being prescribed a double dose of anti-depressants I was angry and still am with the pharmeucetical industry and the prescribers. I was coaxed by my doctor to try Celexa when starting menopause. Okay I thought, this wasn’t too bad and it actually worked for awhile. But when this caused pain in my stomach, I was given another drug. This also was another anti-depressant…given for PAIN. These drugs caused many problems and I weaned myself of them, and my hormones. I am much improved.
But still there are problems. I noticed that when I ate dairy products I had extreme hot flashes. Milk? Cottage Cheese? The source of menopausal symptoms? I began to really research dairy products and found that hormones and antibiotics inserted into cattle find there way into our systems. Not only by the dairy but the meat itself is tainted.
This only started a week of research into additives. Food, drinks, cosmetics, and toiletries.
Here is how that week went.
Additives? Huh? So what is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)? Hmmm…it seems it is a cleanser that is used for cleaning, WHAT?, engines, floors and cars. This from wikipedia…..
Sodium lauryl sulfate is used in industrial products including engine degreasers, floor cleaners, and car wash soaps; as well as in household products such as toothpastes, shampoos, shaving foams, some dissolvable aspirins, fiber therapy caplets, and bubble baths for its thickening effect and its ability to create a lather.
I ran to my bathroom and opened the cabinets. Let’s look. My shampoo, oh yes, SLS. Great! I have been anointing my scalp every morning with engine degreaser. Okay, let’s look at my bath gel…..Oh no…here too. Full of the stuff. So not only am I washing my scalp with the stuff, I have rubbing it all over my body in the shower. Wonderful!
Toothpaste, yep its there. Hand soap….Uh huh…. So now I am totally discouraged at what my skin has been absorbing all this time. The skin is the bodies largest organ and I read that it easily absorbs the chemicals applied to it.
Next, back on the computer, I took a look at body lotions. Well! It seems that mineral oil is a “petroleum problem”.
Read this from:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/w-moc112408.php
From a quantitative standpoint, mineral oil is probably the largest contaminant of our body. That this contaminant can be tolerated without health concerns in humans has not been proven convincingly. The current Editorial of the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology reflects on this and concludes that this proof either has to be provided or we have to take measures to reduce our exposure – from all sources, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and the environmental contamination.
So again I rush to the bathroom to check out my lotions. I couldn’t believe it!!! Not only was I applying SLS on my body in the shower, after drying myself, I was slathering on a petroleum product. Three of the bottles I had, and they are all well-known, had mineral oil. And what made me so angry was that I thought I was taking care of myself.
I looked at a moisturizer I had purchased through Mary Kay. It was a heavy night cream. Mineral Oil. Now it made sense. I had used this product extensively during the summer and noticed how dry my skin was becoming and all of a sudden it was though I was aging overnight. It was the cream. What was meant for good was actually harming my body and making me worse thinking that I indeed, needed even more of this putrid goo.
Actually, I had to just sit back, contemplate and wonder how this could happen. Is there no one out there in the industries watching out for the consumer? I guess the answer is NO. We are on our own. Greed has taken over all the markets and we have to research everything for ourselves for safety.
Dare I go on?
I have known for 20 years that I am not able to eat corn products. Especially corn starch and corn syrup. These items are in everything of course. What I didn’t know was why I couldn’t eat these products. While researching high fructose corn syrup, I discovered how this product was making many people sick.
Read some of the comments here:
http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php/2005/06/09/foods_and_products_containing_high_fruct
Most of the corn grown in the US is genetically modified and it is really is not food anymore. So is the soy crop. Stay away from these grains. Of course cattle and chickens are fed this altered corn, so when we eat these products….where will it end? In the US I guess. Most other countries have out-lawed GMO grains, but no, here in our great country, the almighty dollar is the determining factor.
We are switching to organic meats. This means that the cattle must be grass-fed and not be injected with hormones. Still you must check to make sure you are really getting the good stuff.
So there are poisons in everything. In our food, water (flouride was given to the prisoners during the holocaust), deodorant (aluminum) cosmetics, toothpaste and lotions. Oh and soft drinks. I haven’t gone there yet.
Please do not drink anything with the advertised sugar-free products. They will make you sick. They will make you fat. Sodas, chewing, candy, ice cream, all of it. Sugar is better for you if you use some it. Stevia is ok but you don’t hear about it because it does not harm you.
http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-information.html
http://www.splendaexposed.com/
So, you can see where this is going…..
Not feeling well???? Let me ask….
Do you drink milk, eat meat, consume diet products, wash your hair, eat corn chips, corn cereals, take a shower or bath, use lotions, wash your hands, brush your teeth, shave, use deodorants, polish your fingernails (toluene and formaldehyde), eat cheese, buy processed foods that have high-fructose corn syrup, like crackers, canned goods, cookies, candies, chocolate, cakes, pies, and fuit juices? All these common products are suspect and are harming you.
Please…take a few minutes to research these products and begin to eliminate whatever you can. I went to the health food store and the natural sections in the grocery store and found quite a few products without the additives. You still have to read the labels. For instance at the health food store, there were six different toothpastes but only one brand had neither flouride or the SLS. So check those labels.
You see, I prayed….”Lord help me. I don’t feel good anymore…my head hurts, my thinking is fuzzy, my legs are always weak and tired. What is wrong? Will you show me?”
8 comments
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January 23, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Shane
I applaud you. I too have been led by God to take a look at what i was putting on my body and how those choices impact my health and even the health of our environment. Please click on my name for a link to a blog that contaions tons of information about our consumer choices and their impact on our lives and world. You can also check out all of the links for green personal care products. Keep up the good work! And may God Bless us all and our quest to save his world.
January 23, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Mary B
Kim,
Are you feeling better now? I am going to do some changes. Where do you shop for soap, shampoo? Is it expensive? I have been tightening our budget, but somethings I guess you need to to spend alitle more on?
January 23, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Kim
Hey Hi Mary….
Yes, It has only been 10 days and I am really feeling the difference. I went to the health food store in town and found what I needed but I had to still read the labels. Then I went to the higher-end grocery store and i was surprised to find a good selection. Still not all the stuff was good.
There are large stores that specialize in foods, cosmetics, breads, etc.
There seems to be a good selection on-line. You just have to find sites that list the ingredients. I like this site and know two people who use products from this line.
http://shop.weleda.com/SearchByCategory.aspx?CategoryCode=PersonalCare
But this is what i bought in my neighborhood stores.
Nature’s Gate Skin Therapy Lotion (No Mineral Oil) 9.95
Now Toothpaste (No SLS or flouride) 4.98
Avalon Organics Shampoo ( No SLS )8.99
Dr. Bonner’s Pure Castile Soap for Shower and Hand Wash (No SLS) 8.99
Tom’s Lavender Deodorant
Burts Bees Beeswax Moisturizing Creme for face 6.99
Here is what i threw away:
Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream ( Petrolatum, Mineral Oil)
Petroleum Jelly
Suave Powder Fresh Moisturizer
Suave Shampoo
3 Bottles of Herbal Essences Shampoo
TreSemme’ Shampoo
2 Bottles of Nivea
Large Bottle of Soft-Soap for hand washing
I still have these items in the garage and may donate the unopened bottles. This conflicts me, but i know that some cannot afford anything right now, and would they buy them anyway?
Here is something i kept that i have been using for years
Estee Lauder Swiss Performing Extract – my fav
I would rather use smaller amounts of the good products than use the cheaper brands.
A friend gave me this list for cleaning items.
Borax
Baking Soda
Vinegar
Apple Cider
If anyone has some favorite safe natural products, I would like to hear about them.
January 23, 2009 at 7:05 pm
mbaker
Wow, Kim, you sound like me! Thanks for the tips.
i was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, which destroys your small intestine because of gluten from wheat, barley, rye and oats. It is much more than just an allergy.
The only reason it became an issue was that I was having 2-3 asthma attacks a day, and terrible GERD sypmtoms, despite incresaing my intake of whole wheat grains, which are supposed to be ‘good’ for you, according to the FDA’s food pyramid.
And we thought we were eating a healthy diet. Wrong! So I would recommend checking your diet as well, if you are having chronic health problems that are not responding to other things that are considered by most to be ‘healthy’.
God bless, and I’m glad you are feeling better.
January 23, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Kim
hey thanks,
I am “intolerant” to wheat. It makes me very tired. Heavy legs.
I had to look up GERD which is acid reflux? What an awful combination. Asthma attacks and GERD…
I would say at least half of those around me that are 50 or over are having colon, gastric, stomach, digestion issues.
You must have had to a lot of research especially if you have to find and use gluten-free products. Hey, i have some rice english muffins that i bought at the health food store…..uh….they are very odd.
January 23, 2009 at 9:17 pm
mbaker
Odd is the word for some of these wheat free products. Most gluten free bread is like eating stone.
And not only are gluten free products way more expensive than non, they are not enriched with vitamins as wheat products are. Lots of expensive, mostly empty calories in their gluten free bread products unfortunately, as well as being very unpalatable.
Still praying for a good (and good for us) alternative. The Lord must surely have some.
January 24, 2009 at 4:53 am
JesusChristisLord
Hi Kim,
I’m glad you are feeling better. I recommend all women to stop using anit-perspirants immediately as your skin is the largest organ of your body.
Our bodies have many lymph nodes under our arm pits and it is not natural or healthy to suppress perspiration with chemicals.
I have found a product sold affordably at GNC, “Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal” Roll-On, to be an effective product, and it will not harm you in any way. You may have to adjust to feeling some moisture but I found my body adjusted and I live in a very warm climate most of the year!
Secondly, wear under-wire bras as little as necessary, as they restrict the flow of the lymphatic system as well.
Both these suggestions work toward breast health specifically and overall health as well.
God Bless!
January 24, 2009 at 6:42 am
Kim
JesusChristisLord,
Thank you for your advice and giving us a specific product that we can purchase without qualm.