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September 12, 2020

Product Insight: What I Use & Why

September 12, 2020

 

Hello Readers,

I have received a few emails over the past couple of months from a few of you containing questions regarding some of the products I use on a daily basis such as shampoo, soap, skincare, etc. It got me thinking that I should just provide an overview of products so that those who may be searching for a different product can see firsthand some of the products that I have come to love and that work well with my body despite my epilepsy.

As an epileptic, my body tends to be extra sensitive to everything, most especially synthetic ingredients. I have searched far and wide for chemical-free products in every area of my life.
I am happy to say that I have found great success in eliminating chemicals from my diet through organic and from-scratch meals. However, the one area that continues to befuddle me is cosmetics.
I even gave organic cosmetic products a try for a short while, completely convinced that I was doing better for my body. I mean, the very term “Organic” automatically means that a product is, without a doubt, better, right? Usually, I have found the answer to this question to be “Yes.”

However, once I discovered that Soy is included in every organic cosmetic company’s definition of “vegetable-derived” ingredients; I had to rethink my “Yes.” In Organic cosmetic products, ingredients like Tocopherol or Vitamin E are most commonly derived from soy instead of synthetic chemicals like you find in non-organic products. Honestly, I’m not sure which is worse for someone like myself who happens to be extremely allergic to soy. To make matters worse, these ingredients (tocopherol and vitamin e) are used in the majority of organic cosmetics. I cannot speak for every organic company, of course, so I still hope that there are products out there despite the fact that I have never found a single one.

My problem with soy is the fact that it is commonly known as a seizure trigger for many epileptics. It has certainly been known to cause issues for me, so overall this is a really bad ingredient choice for the epileptic consumer. It definitely isn’t healthy for the human body! Soy will wreck anyone’s hormones both female and male due to the fact that it is indeed an estrogen inhibitor meaning the consumption of soy will cause the human body’s production of estrogen to increase. See why this particular increase would be detrimental to the balance of your hormones, especially a male’s hormones???

So, long story short is my attempt to cleanse my makeup, skincare, and haircare products resulted in an increase in my seizure activity. Soy-derived ingredients being the primary cause of my increase. This was pretty much the opposite reaction to what I had been expecting and it made me realize that just because a product says “organic” does not make it completely incapable of containing poor quality ingredients. As per usual, you cannot judge a book by its cover therefore more information is always necessary before one can make an informed decision.

 

Based on my experience with both organic and inorganic products, I have come to this conclusion:

 

It is best to use the product that works for you and that does not increase your seizure activity even if it does contain not-so-great ingredients. I am sharing this with you because I’d like to try to explain the logic behind my product choices despite my desire to use clean, healthy products. The products below may not be completely free of synthetic ingredients, but they are free of the ingredients that I know to be seizure triggers for me personally. These are the products that I can use on a daily basis without increasing my seizure activity. The fact of the matter is that I need to wash my hair, my face, my body, I need to moisturize, and I prefer to use makeup. So, here are the cosmetic products and toiletries that work best for me at this moment in time AND have proven to have no effect on my seizure activity.

Every person’s body is different so just because something works for me does not mean it will work successfully for you as well. The truth is, no one knows your body like you do so listen to your gut when trying something new.

I do hope that this list will prove to be helpful for some of my readers. If you happen to have extra questions about any of my product choices, please feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com.

I’m always happy to help! 🙂

Haircare:

Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo & Conditioner

Oribe Dead End Treatment

Oribe Smoothing Blowout Cream

Bumble & Bumble Bb. Strong Finish Hairspray

Body:

Soap – Silver Miracles Colloidal Silver Soap Bar (Unscented)

Body Lotion – Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion

Hand Lotion – Gold Bond Healing Hand Cream

Body/Hand Lotion – Handmade Lotion (from-scratch recipe from Wellness Mama, which you can also find here on the blog)

Sunscreen – Banana Boat Simply Protect Baby Sunscreen (I know it’s for babies, but because of this fact it is extra gentle on adult skin as well so it’s perfect for those with sensitive skin.)

Deodorant – Freedom Natural Deodorant Large Stick (Unscented)

*Side Note: Where body and hand lotion are concerned, I prefer to use my own Homemade Lotion product whenever possible because it is completely free of synthetic ingredients and soy. You can also find the recipe here on the blog. It smells wonderful and moisturizes my skin like no other product. However, it is difficult to travel with so those days require me to use either Lubriderm or Gold Bond. These products are also great at moisturizing and my body is okay with their formulas despite the synthetic ingredients so they have made the list.

 

Skincare:

My morning & evening routine:

Karin Herzog Professional Cleansing Gel (Cleanser)

Karin Herzog Vit-A-Kombi 1 Anti-Aging Cream (Correct)

Karin Herzog Oxygen Face Normalizing Cream (Moisturize)

Skincare Tools: Karin Herzog Small face brush (used with Vit-A-Kombi cream) & Karin Herzog Silk Towel (used with Professional Cleansing Gel)

*Side Note: You have probably noticed that every single product listed above is from Karin Herzog. No, this is not some paid promotional ad, I simply happen to love Karin Herzog’s products. The quality of each (right down to the accompanying beauty tools) is of great quality and every single product delivers noticeable results. My skin always feels fantastic and completely nourished after I’m finished with my daily skincare regimen. Thus my preference for all things Karin Herzog when it comes to my skin…just in case you were wondering 🙂

 

 

Makeup:

Foundation – Becca Ultimate Coverage 24-hour Foundation (liquid)

Concealer – Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer

Eyebrow – Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift Eyebrow Pencil

Mascara – IT Cosmetics Lash Blowout Volumizing Mascara

Setting Powder – Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder

Highlighter – Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter (color: Prismatic Amethyst)

Bronzer – Tom Ford The Ultimate Bronzer (So this product is sold out everywhere, I’m thinking maybe the company isn’t making it anymore…huge bummer, I know! I can’t provide a link to the product I’m currently using, but I can say that I would use other Tom Ford bronzer products in a heartbeat. I’ve heard great things about his Soleil Glow Bronzer so here’s the link for that product instead.)

Blush – Marc Jacobs Air Blush Duo

 

Nail Polish & Remover:

Remover – Cutex Regular Strength Nail Polish Remover

Nail Polish – Nailberry, Butter London, & Smith & Cult

 

Extras:

Toothpaste – Weleda Calendula Toothpaste

Mouth Wash – Listerine Cool Mint Ultraclean Mouthwash

Floss – Glide Pro-Health Original Floss

Contact Solution – Opti-Free Pure Moist Solution

Anti-bacterial Care – Sovereign Silver Colloidal Silver Dropper

Perfume – Gya Labs Vanilla Essential Oil

Well, those are all of the products I can think of right now, but like I said above please feel free to email (katie@seizethedayblog.com) if you have any questions about the products I mentioned as well as products I may not have mentioned. As per usual, I am not a doctor therefore this list should not be considered as medical advice and you should always consult your doctor before making any changes to your daily routine. I am simply sharing with my readers some of the products I like to use in my own daily routine.

Thank you for reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text, and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.

 

Copyright Info:

All images, excluding those included in the web design, posted on [seizethedayblog.com] are taken by the owner. No images from external sources are used on this blog.

Proper credit should be attributed when republishing any material found on [seizethdayblog.com].

 

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles Tagged: advice, allergies, catamenial epilepsy, cosmetics, daily regimen, epilepsy, essential oils, estrogen, good quality, hair care, hormones, ingredient label, ingredients, inorganic, makeup, organic, poor quality, progesterone, seizures, skin care, soy, toiletries

May 1, 2020

Homemade Lotion Recipe

May 1, 2020

When it comes to ingredient labels you want to know as much as possible about each and every ingredient listed in “said” product label so that you can fully comprehend what it is you’re about to eat or slather onto your body. You know what they say about not judging a book by its cover?? Forget it all! 

When it comes to products in the cosmetic arena, the ingredient label is the symbolic cover of your book. Reading the label is going to give you insight, but researching ingredients individually will expose the truth about the quality of any product. This list of ingredients will determine whether or not you want anything to do with a certain product. It could be a food, cosmetic, toiletry, the list goes on and on…and so should your knowledge about the quality of any product you’re about to put in or on your body if you truly want to maintain your good health. 

Personally, I found a very unfortunate pattern begin to develop every time I read a processed product’s label…it was the pattern of disappointment. 

Without fail, I would be extremely disappointed with the poor quality of whichever product was in my hands at the moment. Lotion still remains the one product I was absolutely unsuccessful at finding. I did the “organic products only” for a while, hoping that this would be the solution I was seeking, but I’m sorry to say that things got even worse for me and my seizures. 

I was faced with a huge increase in seizure activity and it is because of the ingredients used in a large majority of the organic lotion products available on today’s market. It turns out that organic companies often use soy as the vegetable source for the Vitamin E or Tocopherol ingredients listed in their product. Soy isn’t used every single time, but your odds of soy being a derivative for an ingredient grow substantially when it comes to organic companies.

First, let’s clarify something about soy…it is NOT healthy for the human body. Contrary to popular belief, soy and soy-related ingredients such as soy lecithin will actually wreak havoc on the human body, especially where hormones are concerned. 

Second, soy is a common seizure trigger for most epileptics, myself included. So when I began using a lotion product that said it only contained Vitamin E or Tocopherol, I was too naive at the time to realize that you have to further research certain ingredients in a label to know for certain that it is actually safe for someone with seizures. In this case, I needed to contact the company to double-check exactly what their source was for the “Tocopherol” listed on their product’s ingredient label. 

While I originally assumed I would have fewer seizures once I began using the organic products, I was sorely disappointed with my actual result of increased seizure activity. I now avoid organic lotion products like the plague because their ingredients just cannot be trusted. I returned to using a generic lotion brand who’s ingredient label was absolutely atrocious, but shockingly did not trigger any extra seizures. I had to pick and choose my battles at this point…do I use an organic product that, on paper, should be healthier for me, but causing my seizure activity to increase or do I use a generic product that contains very poor quality ingredients, but does not cause an increase in my seizures after application?

It is quite a dilemma, but ultimately it is always going to be a Catch 22 type of situation no matter which product I choose. I may win when I do not have any seizures triggered by a product, but I’m losing in the long run when I expose my body to toxic ingredients.

I live in a desert region of Southern California so lotion is definitely a necessity around my house. The thing is, I just couldn’t justify applying carcinogenic ingredients onto the surface of my skin on a daily basis. Nor could I find a product with a clean ingredient label…

So what’s a girl to do??? How do I make this situation a win-win scenario?

I tried doing alternative moisturizers such as coconut oil, but it was just way too greasy for me. I like the healthier aspect, but the coconut oil was inconvenient in the mornings when I would apply it, then basically have to towel most of it off my skin because I wouldn’t be able to get dressed without getting grease all over my clothes. 

Finally, I found a lotion recipe from Wellness Mama and it is fabulous!

The recipe below is completely adapted from her recipe, I simply doubled the ingredients and added vanilla essential oil for the scent. Feel free to adjust the recipe to fit your preferences, swap out the vanilla essence with any other flavor(s). 

Here’s the thing about this lotion: it is nourishing, it absorbs quickly, and it smells great!  

Unlike the straight coconut oil, my skin actually absorbs this lotion and it leaves a sweet smell that lasts all day long. Instead of a greasy texture that only makes me long for a dry washcloth to wipe away the excess coconut oil, I am left with smooth skin. If you’re like me and you prefer soft, nourished skin you might want to give this recipe a try.

The lotion can be stored at room temperature for up to 6 months. I prefer to store mine in a mason jar. Avoid a pump whenever possible, this lotion is best when scooped out of the jar with a spoon due to its thickness. 

This recipe usually lasts me about 2 months. A little goes a long way! It is very nourishing (I know I keep saying that, but it is!) so you only need a tiny bit to satisfy your dry skin! As was mentioned on Wellness Mama, “This lotion works great for diaper rash on a baby, eczema, and for preventing stretch marks.” 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! It is a must-have in my house AND it’s healthy! I can also confirm that it has never caused any increased seizure activity. I always count this as a huge win!

 

Homemade Lotion Recipe

Print this recipe
SeizeTheDayBlog
May 1, 2020
by SeizeTheDayBlog
Category Alternatives Articles Epilepsy
Serving Size
1 cup
Cook Time
20 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond oil
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup beeswax
  • 4 TBSP shea butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla essential oil

Instructions

  1. Combine the almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter in a double boiler or a glass bowl on top of a simmering pan of water.
  2. Stir occasionally as the ingredients melt.
  3. When all ingredients are completely melted (this might require some extra stirring), add the vanilla essential oil.
  4. Pour into a glass jar or tin for storage. Small mason jars work perfectly this lotion.
  5. Use as you would a regular lotion product. This lotion can be stored at room temperature. Use within 6 months of making.

Tags

alternative,
catamenial epilepsy,
clean ingredients,
cosmetics,
dry skin,
good quality,
ingredient label,
lotion,
seize the day blog,
seizure activity,
seizures,
soy,
soy lecithin

 

Sources:

Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/3765/homemade-lotion-recipe/

 

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text, and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Alternatives, Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: alternative, catamenial epilepsy, clean ingredients, cosmetics, dry skin, good quality, ingredient label, lotion, seize the day blog, seizure activity, seizures, soy, soy lecithin

September 25, 2018

The Tried & True Formula For Healthy Hair

September 25, 2018

 

We blow dry, we straighten, some of us even use a curling iron, but whether you do one or all of these styling techniques you are seriously damaging your hair by using extreme heat to manipulate the style.

I have straight hair naturally so I, of course, want curly hair and often feel that using a curling iron will make the style so much cuter! My sister has naturally curly hair, but she frequently straightens her hair. 

Funny isn’t it? We always want what we can’t have. In this case, it comes at a high cost…

Dry, damaged hair that doesn’t grow as quickly as it should. 

So, what can you do to fix it? Or at least compensate for the damage being done by hair styling tools using extreme temperatures? Let me ask you one more question…When is the last time you brushed your hair?

Okay, duh, most men and women brush their hair in the morning when they get out of bed, after the shower, during the process of “getting ready” for the day, and multiple other times throughout the rest of the day. However, when is the last time you brushed your hair using 100 gentle and even strokes? 

The majority of people have most likely never extended the effort to actually count out the strokes in one sitting for a multitude of reasons. One very common reason being a lack of time to actually execute such a task. But, contrary to popular belief, brushing your hair 100 times only takes about 10 minutes, 15 at the very most.

This used to be a regular activity for women generations ago especially during the Old Hollywood age, but has been forgotten over the years. Women such as Lauren Bacall, Audrey Hepburn, and Judy Garland would set aside time in the evenings to brush their hair and then braid their long or short tresses before going to bed to prevent long-term damage. Preserving that natural sheen for the camera was like an asset for one’s career in those days!

I only recently began making this a regular evening activity because I have shoulder length hair that I would very much like to see A LOT longer in length very soon!

This is such a healthy habit to develop because it helps to distribute the oils that your hair produces naturally, as well. By brushing from root to tip, you are evenly spreading the natural oils your hair needs and you are giving them a chance to get soaked up into your tresses by braiding your hair or putting it up in a secure bun. 

“Scalp stimulation from both hair brushing and scalp massaging help distribute your natural sebum evenly through the hair. This helps your overall hair health and keeps those shiny locks resilient and strong. In addition, as your hair is coated with sebum you’ll find moisture is restored, and the hair is generally more sheen, smooth, and manageable” (Thank Your Body).

The truth is, our hair gets stripped of those natural vitamins and nutrients throughout the day by environmental factors, but mostly by those cosmetic products we douse our hair with to style and “perfect” the often unruly mane we each posses. We blindly trust so many cosmetic companies to hold the same goal for their products that we also hold for our bodies…to grow and improve the state of our long-term health. I mean, that seems like a pretty natural intention doesn’t it? 

Companies should want to create products that benefit our bodies, but somewhere along the way the concern for our health and the concern for their wallets became flip-flopped. It’s time to face the facts…we, the customer, are no longer the primary concern of any company these days. This is incredibly clear in the ingredient label of any processed product. If you are willing to face the harsh realities of today’s beauty industry you will find that the majority of products are hurting us in the long run. 

I get it, you need certain products, such as shampoo and conditioner, to maintain your hygiene. I’m not saying to give up these products completely, I’m simply saying to compensate these products’ effects by developing healthy habits that will benefit YOU in the long run.

Brushing your hair evenly and consistently has truly become a lost art. If you want healthy hair and you want to aid the spread of natural oils through your hair I highly recommend it! Or, if you just want Really soft hair, brush your tresses 100 times because I guarantee it will do the trick.

I’ve heard both good and bad things about 100 brush strokes, however, the fact of the matter is that brushing your hair stimulates blood flow to the capillaries. 

“The smallest of the body’s blood vessels. Oxygen and glucose pass through capillary walls and enter the cells. Waste Products such as carbon dioxide pass back from the cells into the blood through capillaries.” (PubMed Health)

“About Capillaries and Blood Circulation: The blood circulatory system (cardiovascular system) delivers nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body. It consists of the heart and the blood vessels running through the entire body. 

The arteries carry blood away from the heart; the veins carry it back to the heart. The system of blood vessels resembles a tree: The “trunk,” the main artery (aorta), branches into large arteries, which lead to smaller and smaller vessels. The smallest arteries end in a network of tiny vessels, the capillary network.

There is not only one blood circulatory system in the human body, but two, which are connected: The systemic circulation provides organs, tissues and cells with blood so that they get oxygen and other vital substances. The pulmonary circulation is where the fresh oxygen we breathe in enters the blood…” To read more about the capillary system and its important function in the human body, visit PubMed Health now! (Link provided below)

Hopefully this insight by PubMed Health is enough to capitalize for you just how important keeping the capillary system in good shape is for your total body health! Even though this medical source is incredibly informative, It’s not just the medical industry that tells us healthy blood flow equals a healthy body…common sense capitalizes on this very fact, as well, because it makes sense! It seems very logical to me that healthy blood flow would benefit every bodily function even the condition of your hair! When you say “Hello” to healthy habits like brushing your hair 100 strokes each night you are also saying “Hello” to longer and healthier tresses! 

“Brush bristles work to stimulate your capillaries, thereby increasing blood circulation to your scalp and bringing oxygen and nutrients to the hair stem. Plus, brushing your hair can give you a mini massage…” (All Things Hair)

I have read a multitude of sources on the subject of 100 strokes and I found a variety of opinions. Some people are in favor of this haircare technique while others are strongly opposed. To me, it just seems like common sense…you brush your hair gently on a daily basis, positive results are going to be inevitable. Increased blood circulation, oxygen flow, and nutrient-dispersion is a logical method for healthy hair.

“Brushes act like a second shampoo…It makes sense when you think about it—brushing your hair eliminates built-up product, dry skin, and impurities on your scalp by literally brushing them out” (All Things Hair). 

Before I sided with an opinion in favor or against this technique, I decided to first give it a try myself. Firsthand experience seemed like the best way to discover if this claim about brushing your hair is age-old wisdom lost to the tides of change that are an inevitable part of the passing of time or absolute poppy-cock that society has blown into an overrated myth. 

Wednesday, August 15th, 2018, I brushed my hair from root to tip, gently and smoothly, exactly 100 strokes. August 16th — August 29th (over 2 weeks) I did the same thing, brushing carefully and evenly from my scalp down to the very ends of my hair…And do you know what I discovered?

My hair was softer, it seemed to be more prone to growth and my hair was less oily in the morning (pre-shower).

***Side Note: My hair is usually very oily in the morning, to the point where it is literally too oily to leave unwashed. Therefore, I shampoo my hair everyday, but I am hoping to continue this technique and find that the oil production will become reduced to a more manageable amount.

I continued this nightly routine for two weeks straight before sharing it on the blog, but I knew after one day that it is a technique worth adding to my beauty regimen! Truthfully, my hair was so incredibly soft after that first time of 100 strokes that it was no inconvenience for me to take the time to carefully brush through my hair each night from root to tip. I think the notion of brushing your hair 100 times sounds like A LOT of work and it’s easy to think, “I’m too tired tonight, maybe tomorrow.” But there is nothing like Seizing the Day to make a difference in your long-term health!

To help combat the temptation of skipping those 100 strokes, I like to brush my hair while I’m doing something else, such as reading a book, watching a movie, or even while writing an article such as this one! I like that I can take some leisure activity and still be productive with my time. Not to mention, my hair is on its way to a healthier, softer, and shinier look because of my commitment! And who doesn’t like that??

There is a debate between synthetic hairbrushes and boar bristle brushes. Supposedly, boar bristle brushes are better at spreading the oils through-out your tresses. They are also supposed to be gentler on the individual strands of hair and are appropriate for all hair types, which I like because it takes the complications out of choosing a brush-type. I decided to try both types of brushes. I already owned a Wet Brush (a plastic-based hairbrush), which I happen to really like for my hair already so I purchased the DeVille Boar Bristle Brush from Amazon, as well, to compare. After two full weeks of confident brushing, I noticed that the Boar Bristle Brush dispersed the oils in my hair more thoroughly from root to tip, but the wet brush made my hair feel more soft. So, I think when you’re trying to decide between the two types of brushes it really comes down to personal preference and expectation.

What are you, personally, looking to get out of consistently brushing your hair each day? Soft hair, shiny hair, longer hair, healthier hair? I would establish your goal for your hair before deciding on the tool you use. 

I know this is a haircare technique that many are already very familiar with, but I hope an inside look with some personal experience from yours truly might reveal some helpful tidbits on an age-old beauty trick from a fresh perspective. It is commonly said that everything old becomes new again. Now, this is not always a good thing…no matter how many varieties of the multi-colored striped turtle-neck from the 70’s era of fashion are released, I just can’t get on board with that trend! Some things are much better when they stay in the past, but this hair brushing technique is definitely not one of them!

Audrey Hepburn once said that “To plant a garden is to believe in the future” (Goodreads). Even though we aren’t tending to any greenery when we commit to brushing our hair, I believe we are still tending to our own long-term health thereby having faith in a better, brighter future for our physical bodies. I like having faith in a future that is free of all ailments and I like knowing I can contribute to the possibility of this future becoming a reality.
It is now September 25th 2018 and I have been brushing my hair every evening for over 6 Weeks! I’m still impressed by the results and I still recommend this technique to anyone willing to try it! 

If you have tried this haircare method before or decide to try it soon please comment your experience via Twitter & Instagram (@seizethedayblog) or feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com! Thank you!

 

Article Sources:

All Things Hair: https://www.allthingshair.com/en-us/hair-products/hair-brush/the-benefits-of-brushing-your-hair/

Deville Boar Bristle Brush: https://www.amazon.com/Spornette-342-Straightening-Detangling-Maintenance/dp/B002RL8NGI?th=1

GoodReads (Audrey Hepburn Quote): https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/831377-to-plant-a-garden-is-to-believe-in-tomorrow

PubMed Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072434/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0022018/

Thank Your Body: https://www.thankyourbody.com/surprising-benefits-hair-brushing-kind-brush-matters/

Wet Brush: https://www.amazon.com/Wet-Brush-Rubberized-Detangle-Assorted/dp/B000L596FE?th=1

 

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website. 

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles Tagged: blood flow, brain health, capillaries, hairbrush, haircare, healthy hair, ingredient label, natural, sebum, seize the day blog, synthetic

May 11, 2018

Feeding Your Infant: Tips & Tricks for the First Six Months

May 11, 2018

 

Parenting is…
I’m going to let you “fill in the blank” with this sentence because it seems that every parent has an individual and usually quite distinct version of the “correct” answer. It does make sense for each parent to receive a different parenting experience because no child is the same. However, this in no way means that the basic process of child-rearing should be restricted to a single method. Nowadays, many new parents are faced with the dilemma of whether they should breastfeed or use baby formula. If you’re one of these parents, let me point out one small, but very monumental fact…babies are expensive. Therefore, why extend the extra money each month for synthetic baby formula when natural breast milk surpasses all products available in every single category?

It used to be commonplace for parents to feed their children natural and unprocessed foods during every stage of life. Unfortunately, we have reached a point where society has simplified food products to such an extreme level that many processed foods now contain more synthetic ingredients than they do real ingredients.

“The process of modifying cow milk for large-scale production in the 1920s represented the birth of the infant formula industry. Since then new ingredients have been added for a variety of reasons. For example, iron was added in 1959 to reduce the risk of iron deficiency in formula-fed infants (Fomon, 1993), and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) were recently added in an effort to improve infant visual and cognitive development…When considering new ingredients, manufacturers analyze every step in the production process, including materials (availability, source, and purity), processing methods, packaging, storage conditions and shelf life, methods of home preparation, and potential for misuse…These considerations continue today as manufacturers attempt to alter infant formulas to imitate human milk in either composition or performance and to address the nutritional needs of specific infant populations (e.g., those with cow-milk allergy, metabolic abnormalities, and prematurity) (Benson and Masor, 1994)” (Institute of Medicine (US); ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). For all source information, please see the end of the article for a detailed list.

Translation: You may be consuming more chemicals on a daily basis than you are real food ingredients. Frightening, I know. For new parents, this disturbing reality is enough to spark a minor panic attack in even the least informed moms and dads. It is scary to think that all of the effort you’ve already extended may not be benefitting your child’s growth and development as much as you had previously hoped.

I get it, this is a new chapter in your life and caring for a fragile human being is no easy feat! Plus, you’re probably seriously sleep deprived so extending any extra effort in your daily routine is going to sound impossible. However, whether you are an experienced parent with multiple children or a complete novice with baby number one, your child’s nutritional standard should never be sacrificed for the sake of convenience in the kitchen. This applies to every stage of your child’s life, of course, but in this article I am going to focus specifically on the first six months of a baby’s diet regimen.

Step One: the milk phase. A hundred years ago, this phase was pretty cut and dry. Breast milk was your only option and because the female human body is well equipped to create the best quality breast milk for a new born baby, it has always remained the perfect option.

That is, until baby formula was created to bring convenience and simplicity to the average parent’s method for adequately caring for their child. Whenever I’m at the grocery store and I see a Mom or Dad purchasing this product, I cringe inside because I have read the ingredient labels for every brand. Even though the appearance of each label displays a multitude of differences, every product is composed of the same synthetically derived ingredients.

Baby formula is essentially designed to fill the void that human breast milk is supposed to satisfy. Therefore, it is filled with an impressive list of synthetically derived vitamins meant to promote healthy growth during the stage where the human body needs it most. If I didn’t know any better I would probably think, “Wow, my kid is getting some great nutrients from this stuff! Who knew powdered milk could be so beneficial?!” Obviously, this thought has never and will never enter my mind! But it has entered the minds of many other parents who are simply trying to care for their children, but are unaware of the true damage this product will cause.

Society has kept a large portion of the population in the dark on what should constitute a healthy ingredient. Newton’s Third Law states, “For every action, there is an equal opposite reaction” (The Physics Classroom). Society acted by promoting the idea that synthetically derived foods can be healthy if containing the right synthetic ingredients and we reacted by wholeheartedly believing these lies, purchasing synthetically derived foods more often than naturally derived foods, and began the depletion of our total-body health without even realizing it. I was never great at physics, but WOW did we fall for their false propaganda or what??? And now our reaction is creating an abundance of problems in every area of life, most especially our understanding of healthy and unhealthy products.

“Historically one approach to match human-milk composition is to add new ingredients (see Appendix B for the composition of formulas and human milk). This turns out to be a quixotic quest since human milk is a complex body fluid that is variable not only among individuals, but within an individual over time. In addition, it contains components, such as live cells and bioactive compounds, that either cannot be added to formulas or cannot survive a shelf life. Finally, not all human-milk constituents are essential; some, like LC-PUFAs, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (ARA), can be synthesized by term and preterm infants born at 33 weeks gestation (Uauy et al., 2000)” (Institute of Medicine (US); ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

Take, for example, our understanding of the concept of good and bad vitamins. Some people don’t realize that synthetically derived vitamins do NOT help bodily function; they act as interrupting factors because the human body is not supposed to consume synthetic vitamin sources when naturally derived sources are available. It can be the most expensive synthetic vitamin available on the market; it will not make a difference because, at the end of the day, the product was composed in a laboratory from chemicals. Once ingested, your body begins a process of sending this foreign element to a variety of different places, but it is always rejected.

“Manufacturers who wish to add some, but not all ingredients found in human milk may defeat the purpose of the added nutrients or may potentiate negative interactions. Examples include the deleterious effect on growth when eicosapentaenoic acid is added without adequate DHA (Carlson et al., 1996) and the potential negative effect of adding polyunsaturated fats and large amounts of iron without adding adequate antioxidants (Halliwell and Chirico, 1993; McCord, 1996)…For many nutrients that do not interact chemically or compete for enzymatic or receptor binding sites, the relative amounts may not be important. However in situations where there is competition for enzymes (e.g., among n-3 and n-6 PUFAs) (Brenner, 1974) or receptor binding sites in the intestine (e.g., for zinc, iron, and copper), the relative proportions may have biological significance” (Institute of Medicine (US); ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

What happens next? Well, sometimes your body just rejects it altogether through your urine, stool, sweat, pores, etc. In some cases, your body will decide to hold onto the foreigner travelling around in your system. Heavy metals are an excellent example of those bad elements that your body will accumulate instead of rejecting. I don’t know why this happens, but the accumulation of heavy metals within your cells is something that can take place for years without you even realizing that it is happening. Sooner or later though, you will begin to notice the presence of heavy metals usually in the form of an illness. Epilepsy, for example, is commonly caused by an over abundance of heavy metals. As you’ve probably already realized, you do not want to wait until later to discover if you are indeed ill. I speak from experience here and I guarantee that your moment of discovery will be neither convenient nor will it be ideal for you, because that is the way life always seems to work when it comes to the unveiling of a serious medical condition. I was fifteen years old, in the middle of my spring break, and sleeping over at a friend’s house when my first seizure took place…not exactly opportune for something like that to occur and I would say that I am very lucky I was not injured due to the circumstances.

My point here is that synthetically derived vitamins are what your baby will be consuming if you choose the formula route. Who wants the substitute product for their child if the original is available??? Don’t settle for second best.

Breast feeding or using a breast pump may require more effort than mixing a scoop of powdered formula with some water, but it is ultimately the best decision you will ever make for your child’s long-term health. For starters, during the pregnancy stage the female human body spends nine months (give or take a few weeks) preparing milk that is packed full of natural vitamins, nutrients, anti-bodies, probiotics, and other helpful elements that will help nurture a newborn baby through those first couple of months by laying a superior foundation necessary for proper function throughout his or her entire life.

Breastfeeding isn’t simply a preference for how to feed your baby, it is a crucial first step in preparing your baby’s body for the rest of his or her life. So many parents are concerned about buying the right stroller and choosing the safest toys, but the best way to protect your baby begins with the diet you choose for him or her.
I understand that certain circumstances can prevent some parents from feeding their babies milk. A dairy allergy, for example, will make any mom reach for the soy-based baby formula as quickly as she can. However, there are still better alternatives to breast milk and cow’s milk than baby formula!

In most cases, health experts will recommend a “nutrient-dense” baby formula as an ideal alternative to breast milk. However, I disagree. Baby formula will only appear to be the next best option from a superficial perspective. As long as one does not delve too deep into the foundational details of a formula product, s/he will be easily fooled by the “healthy” façade. Ignorance is not bliss in this situation, therefore, I highly recommend every parent remove their rose-colored glasses and see this product for what it truly is…a very poor substitute for breast milk.

Take the impressive list of vitamins and minerals found on nearly every canister of the majority of brands of baby formula. Potassium, Manganese, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc, and Selenium are just a few of the names you’ll find included in this list. When derived from natural sources, these vitamins and minerals can be very beneficial for the human body. If you ask any baby formula brand if their product’s nutritional qualities have been derived from natural sources, the answer is most likely going to be “No” because synthetic sources are a heck of a whole lot cheaper and easier to attain!

The focus on quality has been lost over the years…the concern is no longer for the well-being of the consumer, it is for the well-being of the manufacturer. Even corporations that are willing to spend a bit more for a healthier, organic product still remain prone to choosing synthetic ingredients over natural ingredients.

At the end of the day, the only “green” they care about is going into their pockets instead of their product. And we, the consumer, are the ones suffering from these decisions concerning product quality. So, even though formula may be the easier choice in the moment, it will always fail to help build the crucial nutritional foundation your baby desperately needs in order to function properly as a toddler, a young adult, and (eventually) as a grown adult.

This perspective changes things a bit, doesn’t it? My hope is that it helps all of you parents out there to think twice before automatically supporting the formula industry. Truthfully, we’ve all been there, but whether you’re wearing the title of “Mom” or “Dad” (maybe both for all of the single parents out there) just put the formula canister back where you got it from and back away slowly. This is literally the best advice I can give to any parent debating using formula as an alternative to breast milk.

The unfortunate reality of those months of preparation is that things don’t always go according to the plans we make. For example, a mother’s milk may not “come in” completely, leaving any parent with a stressful dilemma: a hungry baby. And like most adults, hunger makes for a very grumpy little human being. An ideal solution for this problem in the past was a wet nurse. You could hire someone with the proper resources to come in and feed your baby for you…on paper this is a simple solution. However, babies are already expensive enough on their own and hiring a wet nurse is not an option for the majority of parents.

Plus, I feel like using another person to feed your baby takes away from the special emotional bond that will form during the time you spend personally feeding your child. Whether it is Mom breast-feeding or Dad bottle-feeding, the intimacy of these moments will have a large impact upon the type of relationship you develop with your child. It is important not to dismiss this time as a waste of your own time, nothing can be more important than the attention and time you devote to your little ones.
So, since wet nurses are too expensive an option, detract from your relationship with your child, and no longer serve as a practical option…What do you do instead to avoid baby formula?

If you’ve read my blog before than you know how much I love the natural route of just about everything, especially food. Baby food is no exception! Babies are at a crucial step in their development process during the milk phase, therefore, choosing the right breast milk substitute is incredibly important and has a lot of potential to be either beneficial or detrimental to your child’s future health.

Here’s why: Dairy products are a prominent food group that is frequently prone to synthetic additives such as hormones and antibiotics, which is why finding a healthy product at the local grocery store can be such a challenge. Sometimes we may not even realize we’re purchasing an unhealthy product.

Take the “Vitamin D Additive” found in many milk products, it’s not a beneficial characteristic at all! It’s actually a synthetic additive that, once ingested, only creates problems for the human body. Most synthetically derived ingredients have been chemically engineered in a lab rather than collected from natural sources within nature. Because of this, our bodies aren’t sure what to do with these ingredients or where to send them. There is no appropriate location for these imposter ingredients because, truth be told, no human being should ever consume this kind of garbage.

During the digestion process, these synthetic ingredients really do get lost in translation because they are essentially composed of a foreign language breed of ingredients that have no proper place of “belonging” in the body. Unfortunately, these foreign ingredients are occasionally stored in the cells of our bodies when consumed. This is only one of the many reasons why they should be avoided in every stage of life, but most especially in the early years when key development is occurring on a daily basis. You can read more about ingredients and ingredient labels here.

So how do we avoid synthetic ingredients in the foods we feed our children when the majority of products being sold by our local grocers are full to the brim with these exact ingredients? We’re living in an age when reading an ingredient label is necessary to determine the true quality of a product. Personally, I’ve reached a point where I no longer buy the majority of my dairy products from a commercial vendor. Instead, I purchase Raw Dairy Products from a private farm where every product is guaranteed to be Organic, free from all additives, and derived from grass-fed animals (a very important detail for those of you with soy allergies and looking to avoid the soy feed commonly used as the “healthier” option by many companies).

***Side Note about Soy: “Soy-based formulas were developed for infants perceived to be intolerant of cow-milk protein. The first soy formulas were commercially available in 1929 (Abt, 1965). These formulas were made with soy flour and were not well accepted by parents, who complained of loose, malodorous stools, diaper rash, and stained clothing. In the mid-1960s isolated soy protein was introduced into formulas. These formulas were much more like milk-based formulas in appearance and acceptance. However the preparation of isolated soy protein resulted in the elimination of most of the vitamin K in the soy, and a few cases of vitamin K deficiency were reported. The occurrence of nutrient deficiencies in infants fed milk-free formulas contributed to the development of federal regulations concerning the nutrient content of formulas (Fomon, 1993). Soy formulas now account for about 40 percent of formula sales in the United States…Manufacturers who wish to add some, but not all, ingredients found in human milk may defeat the purpose of the added nutrients or may potentiate negative interactions. Examples include the deleterious effect on growth when eicosapentaenoic acid is added without adequate DHA (Carlson et al., 1996) and the potential negative effect of adding polyunsaturated fats and large amounts of iron without adding adequate antioxidants (Halliwell and Chirico, 1993; McCord, 1996)” (Institute of Medicine (US); ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

If you are interested in the private farm I mentioned above, please email me directly at Katie@seizethedayblog.com for more information.
Raw dairy products are, hands down, the best alternative to natural breast milk. Raw goat’s milk is the real hidden gem in this situation. The goat’s stomach and overall digestive system are the most similar to a human being’s. Therefore, their milk is easiest to digest.

“According to the Journal of American Medicine, ‘Goat’s milk is the most complete food known.’ It contains vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, trace elements, enzymes, protein, and fatty acids that are utilized by your body with ease. In fact, your body can digest goat’s milk in just 20 minutes. It takes 2-3 hours to digest cow’s milk” (ROSEOFSHARONACRES.COM).

Researchers have actually found that people who struggle to digest cow’s milk have slim to no trouble during the digestion process when consuming goat’s milk. This same difference also applies to babies and young children, as well. Cows do have four stomachs, after all, making cow’s milk quite the challenge to digest. The best way to describe goat’s milk is as the gentle alternative. Goat’s milk is both under-rated and under-appreciated because our society is so used to considering cows as the primary source and societal “norm” for dairy products.

“Americans have been ‘culturized & advertised’ into associating milk with cows when in fact, goat milk is far more healthy for humans” (Roseofsharonacres.com).

You can never completely plan for the future in a way that will make you fully equipped for every unexpected twist and turn that is “Life.” If this was possible, maybe I would have gotten a clue a whole lot sooner when I was first diagnosed with epilepsy instead of wasting my time going down numerous rabbit trails that weren’t helpful or healthy for my long-term state of health. Hindsight is always 20/20 and I am 100% sure that although I have learned a lot from my experience with epilepsy, I also have a lot of regret in my past. Whether it is the way I handled certain situations or the approach I chose to manage the challenges I faced thanks to my health there is and always will be a part of me that wishes I did “this” or “that” differently. One of these wishes is that I tried the holistic path immediately. I constantly wonder where I would be at this point in my life if I had. I am confident in the fact that I am exactly where I am meant to be, but I also do not want to see this same regret I have acquired to be a part of your journey as a parent.

It makes sense to feed your children foods that are from-scratch, Organic, and Non-GMO. Skip the baby food aisle altogether and visit the produce section instead. In this way, you can try and become equipped for some of the challenges that are parenthood in a nutshell. Take the milk problem, for example. It is excellent to have a “Plan B” in the back of your mind so that you aren’t scrambling to handle another challenging, but totally worth it, moment of parenthood.

Goat’s milk is your alternative to formula, but what about when your baby graduates to the soft food stage? Do you turn to jarred foods that are filled with preservatives, additives, and many other synthetic ingredients? Of course not!!!!
You get to know your basic fruits and vegetables again! By steaming or boiling veggies, you can easily reach a texture that is appropriate for babies. You can safely begin this stage after your child reaches 6 months of age. Prior to 6 months, it is recommended by health experts that your baby maintain a strict diet of milk.

Creating healthy, from-scratch meals for your baby can often seem like a daunting task. However, these meals are actually going to be considerably easier than the meals you cook for the rest of your family. You are going to be cooking a lot of steamed veggies, which means meal prep is going to be a breeze! You are definitely going to want to take advantage of the perk of meal prep.
Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, steamed carrots, steamed broccoli, bananas, and many other fruits and veggies are excellent options for homemade baby food.

I would even try to coordinate meals so that you’re not making what feels like 2 separate meals. For example, try planning side dishes like mashed potatoes or steamed carrots, maybe both for a more balanced meal if you happen to be serving a main dish such as chicken or another healthy protein. Though your baby may not yet be able to chew a more solid dish like chicken, if he or she is 6 months old your little one can certainly be fed the mashed potatoes and steamed carrots (mashed). This way you only have one meal to prepare instead of two. This is hands down the best part about moving on to the soft food stage…you no longer have to feed your baby a completely separate meal.

So what are you waiting for? Simplify already! The majority of what you eat, your baby can eat too, so long as it is properly prepared. Think minimal seasonings when you’re preparing those potatoes, carrots, or any other side dish.

“Cinnamon is generally regarded as safe to give to your baby in small amounts after they turn 6 months of age. Cinnamon doesn’t commonly cause an allergic reaction in children or adults. Heavy exposure to cinnamon can cause stomach upset, skin or mouth irritation, and possibly problems with bleeding due to decreased blood clotting. But a sprinkle of cinnamon on your baby’s food probably won’t cause a problem.
If your baby appears to have an allergic reaction to foods containing cinnamon, or they appear fussy and agitated after consuming cinnamon, call your doctor right away” (Healthline.com).

Being aware of those seasonings, such as cinnamon, is imperative for your child’s health, but the good news is there are few seasonings as inflammatory as cinnamon. Usually you can just going the minimalist route and simply sprinkle a little pink Himalayan salt for flavor. Your baby will probably prefer less seasoning anyway since a newborn’s palette is undeveloped. Basically, I’m trying to promote the convenience that is this form of baby food…it will always be the ideal route because it is simple and healthy. You can make a healthy, no-fuss meal for your baby that is 100% free of synthetic additives and it can be made using real ingredients. This is clean-eating at its finest. And the earlier you introduce clean foods into your baby’s diet, the better it is for his or her ability to develop that foundation, which will serve as a key component during the critical stage of growth that is the first six months and, if we’re being really honest with ourselves, the first twelve months.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.

SOURCES:

1. Enfamil Premium Infant Formula Powder – 12.5 oz: https://www.target.com/p/enfamil-premium-infant-formula-powder-12-5-oz/-/A-12849663?sid=1958S&ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Baby+Shopping_Local&adgroup=SC_Baby&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=1013549&gclid=CjwKCAjw4sLVBRAlEiwASblR-xSmAL2MNop2_N3IiYHWl2pxOqAShHgjDO_zEJRaBVcKnQoGJAsvuhoC_gkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
2. Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/can-babies-have-cinnamon
3. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Evaluation of the Addition of Ingredients New to Infant Formula. Infant Formula: Evaluating the Safety of New Ingredients. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2004. 3, Comparing Infant Formulas with Human Milk.Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK215837/
4. Livestrong: https://www.livestrong.com/article/536769-when-do-babies-stop-jar-food/
5. The Physics Classroom (Newton’s Third Law): http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-4/Newton-s-Third-Law
6. Rose of Sharon Acres: https://www.roseofsharonacres.com/raw_goat_milk_benefits

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged: antioxidants, baby formula, bottle-feeding, breastfeeding, chemical food ingredients, cinnamon, clean eating, cow milk, diet, epilepsy, first six months, first year, from scratch, goat milk, infancy, infant, ingredient label, ingredient labels, long term health, milk, minerals, minimal ingredients, non-GMO, organic, Polyunsaturated Fats, probiotics, raw dairy products, seize the day, seize the day blog, seizethedayblog, soy formula, synthetically derived ingredients, unhealthy products, vitamin deficiency, vitamins

November 5, 2017

Deodorant & Antiperspirant Products: Friend or Foe???

November 5, 2017

Deodorant. Now here’s a product that we all use and, if we’re being honest, that we all need, as well. There’s no refuting this one, deodorant is a must for every person’s list of required personal care products. Male or female, the human body requires some form of deodorant or antiperspirant in order to prevent the smelly consequences that will arise without this product.

All humor aside, deodorant is without a doubt one of the most important products used worldwide by both genders. Though the brands may vary from country to country, the formula for the actual product tends to remain incredibly similar. One ingredient, in particular, tends to pop up in the majority of commercial deodorants. The cheap, generic products that typically cause nothing but trouble for the human body are likely to contain this mystery ingredient, as well. When browsing any personal care product section, it is near impossible to find a product without this toxic ingredient. The ingredient I’m referring to is Aluminum…both a heavy metal and a carcinogen (cancer-causing ingredient).

Now you tell me, is that the kind of ingredient you want in your deodorant? We’re talking about a product one applies in a heavily absorbable and porous area of the body. In other words, once you apply the deodorant to your armpit, every ingredient is absorbed into your body, your cells, and your bloodstream where it is processed and absorbed further internally.

The thing about heavy metals is that they take a very long time to be processed out of the human body once they’ve been absorbed. I’m talking years, decades even because these types of materials often become cellular debris. To cleanse each individual cell is no simple task, especially if you’re constantly pouring more of the same, toxic ingredient into your body on a daily basis. My best advice is to avoid aluminum-filled deodorants at all cost!

But how does one do this in a world where processed products have become the majority???

Lucky for those of us interested in all-natural products, other companies creating personal care products such as deodorant are too! One company, in particular, has actually created a guide for finding healthy, aluminum-free deodorant products. Reviews.com is a fantastic source for deodorant products that are both aluminum-free and beneficial for your body. I highly recommend checking them out if you’re in the market for a new aluminum-free deodorant, but aren’t sure where to begin.

Not only does Reviews.com provide awesome products to choose from, they also provide detailed information for each just in case you are interested in learning a bit more about a product before you actually buy it. Personally, I make it a rule to read the ingredient label before I even consider adding the product to my shopping cart! It may be the grocery store or it may be a cosmetic store…food, makeup, and personal care products all become absorbed into your body whether it is through the pores on your skin or the digestive tract in your stomach. Therefore, it is always wise to exercise caution when choosing any of these products and the best way to do this is by paying more attention to those ingredient labels. Though it may seem like a different language at first, the Internet is your best friend when it comes to decoding and understanding the confusing terms.

If you have any questions about a specific ingredient please comment below or feel free to email me at Katie@seizethedayblog.com. I’m more than happy to help decode any terms.

So, you may be wondering, “How on earth did such an unhealthy ingredient find its way into the formula of a product so highly related to the beauty / personal care industry?”

It’s a fair question since deodorant is a product that is supposed to actually help rather than hurt us! Well, we should probably start at the very beginning of the story…let’s discuss the difference between an antiperspirant and a deodorant. Although they look pretty much identical to one another, the purpose of each is actually quite different.

An antiperspirant is designed to keep you smelling good by completely blocking the pores in your underarm, thereby blocking the sweat (and the smell) from exiting your body.

Talk about cutting a problem off at the knees! Sweat became an issue and companies said, “No problem! We’ll just prevent you from sweating altogether!” Here’s my issue with this so-called “solution” to body odor: your body isn’t sweating just for fun or to make life more difficult for you, you are sweating for a very important reason! And that reason is so that you can easily clear your body of toxin buildup occurring within your cells, organs, tissues, and your entire body, basically. Here’s another little fact about sweat: Body odor (B.O.) is stinky because it is essentially bacteria from the inside of your body being excreted through your pores in an efficient manner. Mystery solved as to why nobody’s B.O. smells like a field of flowers!

Sweat may stink, but this bodily function is actually a process that is very healthy for you! Also, most commercial deodorant brands have chosen to use the heavy metal, Aluminum, as the pore-clogger. So, not only are you preventing the release of bodily toxins when you use an antiperspirant, you are also flooding your body with even more toxins from the Aluminum. Any way you look at it, antiperspirants are a lose-lose product for you and your own personal well-being.

I used to wonder if the ingredient, Aluminum, was chosen because it was the cheaper option, but as it turns out this heavy metal has a special talent that most people do not know about…it attaches easily to the hair follicle located within each pore in a person’s underarm thereby guaranteeing full blockage for a temporary amount of time. Whatever the motivation behind any company’s choice to exploit this ingredient may be, I don’t believe they were doing so with a big picture perspective. For example, the effect of a heavy metal on the human body never seemed to be taken into consideration.

Although more research is STILL required before a direct connection between aluminum and cancer can be made, Time magazine has reported that Aluminum, “can cause ‘gene instability’ in breast tissue…This instability can cause changes that may promote the growth of tumors or cancer cells, ‘over 50% of breast cancers start in the upper outer quadrant of the breast local to the underarm region.’ While that’s not proof aluminum is to blame, breast cancer incidence tends to align with use of products that contain the metal” (Markham Heid, Time.com).

The underarm is where your lymphnodes are located, making it an incredibly sensitive area. Like I’ve mentioned before, the large pores in your underarm make it a highly absorbable area, as well. When you smear an antiperspirant across the underarm, it is going to be absorbed through the pores and released into your body. Since this absorption process happening through your pores is different from the absorption processes taking place within your digestive tract, all ingredients within antiperspirants and deodorants can be released into the bloodstream before they are properly metabolized. The consequence of this unfortunate fact means toxic ingredients, such as aluminum, being stored within the cells and tissues throughout your body.

As if all of this information about aluminum isn’t bad enough, you should also know that once your body absorbs heavy metals of any kind, it could take years before your body will properly dispel of the toxic ingredient. That means you will have toxins just sitting in your body for an extended period of time. Hence, the link between diseases, such as cancer, and heavy metals like aluminum. Mercury is another heavy metal that should be actively avoided, but that’s for another article.

I mean, if you’re putting harmful ingredients onto and into your body the logical consequence would be poor health. Harm will come from poor-quality ingredients, which is why it is imperative you think twice the next time you apply any product to your body, especially your underarms!

The worst part is that aluminum has also made its way into deodorants, as well. Despite the purpose of deodorant relating more to the cleansing and deodorizing of the underarm area so that the smell is controlled, many commercial deodorant companies have still chosen to add aluminum as an ingredient.

Here’s my question for the deodorant companies choosing this type of product composition: If the pore doesn’t need to be clogged, then why include the aluminum ingredient?

Truthfully, I do not know the answer to this question. I have extensively researched this subject and I still cannot find a single logical reason as to why this ingredient is included in deodorant. It’s during times like these when I can’t help but wonder, “Are the companies producing these aluminum filled products trying to poison us?” Once again, I don’t know the answer to this question (although evidence would suggest a “Yes” answer). And I highly doubt I am going to get a concrete answer any time soon so instead of spouting crazy ideas that may sound more like conspiracy theories, I am going to look at the facts…the ingredient label for any antiperspirant and/or deodorant product is available online at the brand website. So, all food for thought conversation aside, let’s review the evidence provided by the product companies…

 

Women’s Secret Clinical Strength Smooth Solid Deodorant (Sensitive Unscented):

Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Gly (20%), Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Trivehenin, Petrolatum, Cyclodextrin, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Fragrance, Ppg-14 Butyl Ether

 

Women’s Dove Advanced Care Original Clean Deodorant:

Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrez Gly (15.2%), Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-8, Fragrance (Parfum), Dimethicone, Silica, Polyethylene, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Steareth-100, BHT, Hydroxyethyl Urea

 

Women’s Degree Ultra Clear Black & White Antiperspirant:

Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly (11.4%), Cyclopentasiloxane, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Plyethylene, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-8 Distearate, Fragrance (Parfum), Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrated Silica, Maltodextrin, Gelatin Crosspolymer, Hydrolized Corn Starch, BHT, Cellulose Gum

 

Dove Men + Care Clean Comfort Antiperspirant Deodorant:

Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly (15.2%), Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Steareth-100, BHT, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate)

As you probably already guessed, the ingredient called “Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly” is the heavy metal component of each deodorant and/or antiperspirant product listed above. What you may not have realized is that it isn’t the only toxin present in each of the product examples I provided and the majority of processed products currently available in store or online.

If you read over each ingredient label, you may have noticed that almost every ingredient is nearly impossible to pronounce correctly and probably very unfamiliar to you. Honestly, the majority of ingredient labels in the cosmetic industry have become like this these days. The only positive aspect of this reality is that this very complicated “other language” most labels tend to use makes it very easy to distinguish between synthetic and real ingredients. A good rule of thumb when reading the label of any product is to assume it’s synthetic if:

  1. You don’t recognize the term
  2. It sounds like it was invented in a lab
  3. It could also be found in the textbook from your high school Chemistry class

These toxic ingredients are exactly what we should be avoiding in our food, cosmetics, and personal care products. Let me provide you with an example of an ingredient label for a natural, Aluminum-free deodorant product so that you can see firsthand the drastic difference between the composition of these products compared to the synthetic products.

You will find a fantastic list of all-natural and Aluminum-free deodorants at the Reviews.com link I provided earlier in this article, but my personal favorite aluminum-free deodorant product happens to be one that is not included in the list on Reviews.com. Since it’s a good-quality product, I couldn’t not provide you with the details! The company is called Free Brands Inc. and their product is called Freedom Deodorant. Because of my extreme sensitivities to scented products, I prefer their Sensitive Unscented flavor. However, for those of you less sensitive to these types of ingredients, the brand has Lavender Citrus, Bergamot Mint, Frankincence Peach, and Amber scents, as well.

Previous to my diagnosis with epilepsy in 2009, I was a die-hard fan of Secret deodorant. They had so many scents to choose from and their products definitely kept all unwanted body odor away. So if I’m being completely honest, I had my doubts about using an all-natural deodorant product. I didn’t think there was any way a natural product would ever work better than the commercial products being sold at the chain-stores. I figured, if they weren’t being advertised on TV or sold in the local cosmetic stores, they weren’t worth my time. Boy, was I wrong!

Societal protocol taught me to trust the intentions of companies such as Secret, Dove, and Degree. Therefore, I didn’t question the ingredient labels, I didn’t even read them pre-epilepsy. Realizing the true quality of the majority of my personal care products was a rude awakening, but it helped me to abandon that naïve mindset I so wholeheartedly embraced for 15 years prior to my diagnosis. This rude awakening was the push I needed to open myself up to the changes only I could make.

I understand that this might come off as a marketing technique for Free Brands Inc., but I would like all of my readers to know that I am not connected with this company in any way nor am I receiving any kind of compensation for mentioning their product. Freedom deodorant happens to be one of my favorite natural products I am currently using and I only want to share the goodness with as many people as I can. This is no advertisement, it is simply a recommendation I feel could benefit everyone! Although I am recommending this product, please remember that I am not a medical professional therefore any recommendation I do make here on Seize the Day Blog is not medical advice, it is my own personal opinion and that is all. You always want to consult your doctor before making ANY changes to your daily routine.

Okay, let’s finally take a look at that natural deodorant ingredient label I promised earlier! I can express my opinion all day long here on this blog, but the absolute best way to convince any one about the quality of a product is to provide the facts…

Freedom Deodorant (Sensitive Unscented):

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Butyrospermim Parkii (Shea Butter), Maranta Arundinacea (Arrowroot Flower), Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda), Cera Alba (Beeswax), Kaolin (Kaolin Clay)

Does anyone see “Aluminum” or Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly in that ingredient label?

Look for as long as you like, you won’t find it! And guess what…this product works great! I wear it everywhere…shopping on the weekends with my family (lately this has been 90 degree weather, the Summer heat is still holding on even though it’s technically Autumn!), to the gym, when I take my doggy, Dash, for a walk, to Disneyland, and it always lasts all day long! It is a tried and true product that deodorizes your underarms without blocking your pores, without filling your body with heavy metals, and uses only natural ingredients!

If you’re skeptical like I was at first, take a moment to re-prioritize how you view the opinion of society because even though Freedom Deodorant isn’t sold in stores or advertised on TV, it is a deodorant product that does work and is beneficial for your long-term health. How many deodorant or antiperspirant products can you say that about??? Forget social norms and embrace products that are healthy.

Between the natural and artificial sources existing today, our battle with heavy metals is a daily struggle. Why purposefully feed this toxic ingredient to your body, thereby contributing to your daily exposure with aluminum? Only you can make the change from aluminum-filled deodorant to an all-natural and aluminum-free product? The sooner you switch the healthier you’ll be…so what are you waiting for? Find yourself a deodorant product you can proudly call your friend and toss that “foe” of a product in the trash where it belongs!

 

**Side Note: When you begin using an all-natural deodorant, your body will go through a minor detox period that will last for about 2 weeks. During these 14 days, you might feel like your body odor is smellier than usual. You might even feel like your new deodorant isn’t working and therefore may be tempted to revert back to your aluminum-filled deodorant. Don’t give in to temptation!

You see, your body isn’t being filled with those toxins from your old deodorant product anymore. Because of this, your body actually has the chance to dispel of some of these horribly toxic ingredients. And trust me when I say, your body is going to take full advantage of this opportunity.

Once you get past the detox period, you’ll find the deodorant doing its job effectively and minimizing odor successfully. My sister and I went through this detox period and though it may be a bit inconvenient every once in a while; at the end of the day, it was the best thing possible for our health and it will be for yours, as well! Personally, I have found it beneficial to be aware of this minor side effect before you begin using a new deodorant product so that you can fairly judge the quality and effectiveness.

 

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.

 

Sources: 

Aluminum vs Stainless Steel Cookware: https://www.twokitchenjunkies.com/aluminum-vs-stainless-steel-cookware/

Cyclodextrins: http://www.eurocdsoc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67:what-are-cyclodextrins&catid=37:article

Cycopentasiloxane: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702011/DIMETHICONE/#.Wf49dky-Ich

Degree Ultra Clear Black + White Antiperspirant: https://www.target.com/p/degree-ultra-clear-black-white-antiperspirant-and-deodorant-2-6-oz/-/A-50032409#lnk=sametab

Dimethicone: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702011/DIMETHICONE/#.Wf49dky-Ich

Dove Advanced Care Original Clean Deodorant: https://www.target.com/p/dove-advanced-care-original-clean-deodorant-2-6oz/-/A-16640062#lnk=sametab

Dr. Mercola: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/07/20/dangerous-deodorant-antiperspirant-ingredients.aspx

Fragrance: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702512/FRAGRANCE/#.Wf49HEy-Ich

Freedom Deodorant: https://freebrandsinc.com

Lady Speed Power Shower Fresh Stick Antiperspirant Deodorant: https://www.target.com/p/lady-speed-power-shower-fresh-stick-antiperspirant-deodorant-2-3oz-2pk/-/A-14384069#lnk=sametab

MightyNest.com: https://mightynest.com/learn/getting-started/easiest-changes/concerning-chemicals-in-deodorants

Organics.org: https://www.organics.org/7-harmful-ingredients-in-your-deodorant/

Pop Sugar Beauty: https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/Aluminum-Free-Deodorants-37189079

PPG-14 Butyl Ether: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705247/PPG-14_BUTYL_ETHER/#.Wf482ky-Ich

Secret Clinical Strength Smooth Solid Deodorant: https://www.secret.com/en-us/clinical-strength-smooth-solid

Time Magazine: http://time.com/4394051/deodorant-antiperspirant-toxic/

Tribehenin: https://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/tribehenin

Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/91772/aluminum-safe/

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Alternatives, Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: aluminum, aluminum-free, antiperspirant, carcinogen, chemicals, deodorant, healthy, healthy living, ingredient label, natural ingredients, natural products, personal care products, seize the day blog, seizetheday, seizethedayblog, synthetic, unhealthy

May 23, 2017

3 Seizure Triggers Every Epileptic Should Be Aware Of: Caffeine, Alcohol, & Processed Sugar

May 23, 2017

 

After posting “6 Common Seizure Triggers That May Be Lurking in Your Kitchen Cabinets,” I have received an abundance of requests for another article on the subject of seizure triggers. Seeing as though the majority of doctors fail to mention the possibility of all-natural food or lifestyle products acting as sources of seizure activity, I thought it would be incredibly appropriate and relatable for epileptics everywhere.

I can still remember when I was first diagnosed with epilepsy and the fear I had of the future while I sat in the doctor’s office. Epilepsy is a serious condition to be diagnosed with, but I think the majority of my fear stemmed from a lack of knowledge on the subject of seizures. My parents and I had so many questions, but it was clear that the only answer my neurologist was willing to give me as he herded patients in and out of his office like cattle was, “Go live your life.”

Hmm…umm yeah that’s what I’m trying to do if you would just tell me how! Anyone with a medical condition knows that this simple statement is easier said than done. If you’re also struggling with epilepsy, it is probably best to know what you’re up against and how to protect yourself if or when these encounters with seizure triggers occur.

In my first article, I discussed herbs and spices such as Rosemary, Nutmeg, Allspice, Cloves, Tarragon, and Sage. With this next article, I would like to bypass the spice rack and address three products that have become increasingly popular in today’s society instead. In all honesty, each of these three products has become much too popular in the everyday diet of the majority of people.

It may come as a bit of a shock, but the products I am referring to are Caffeine, Alcohol, and Processed Sugar. Nowadays, the danger isn’t just lurking in your kitchen cabinets, it exists in every coffee shop you visit, every restaurant you eat at, any bar or club you go to, and in every establishment offering dessert products.

With the popularity of all three of these products in the daily lives of the majority of people, my question for every neurologist is “How can you not inform epileptics of the potential excitotoxic effect these products tend to have on the brain and the dangers that occur when they’re mixed with anti-epileptic medication?” I am yet to receive an answer to this question. Unfortunately, when I first began my journey with epilepsy, I had to find out about seizure triggers through yet another process of trial and error. Personal experience is the best experience and most educational, but at 16 years old, having a seizure in the middle of a crowded restaurant due to an excitotoxin/seizure trigger is traumatic and (even though I’m pretty out of it due to the seizure) embarrassing. My hope for all of my readers also living with epilepsy is that this article saves each of you from unnecessary seizure activity.

Excitotoxins are literally everywhere in our environment…the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we use on a daily basis. Dump addictive stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, and processed sugar and do your entire body a huge favor, calm down! To learn more about excitotoxins in everyday products and how to avoid them, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of my mini-series on Petroleum.

It is clear that caffeine, alcohol, and processed sugar aren’t exactly beneficial products for the human body, in general. But, do you know the risks that exist for an epileptic when s/he is exposed to these products??? Regardless of your answer to this question, read on to learn more about the prevalent dirty little secret each of these products possess.

Caffeine: What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “caffeine”? Probably, coffee, right? This does seem to be the most popular caffeinated product on the market at this point in time, but caffeine is actually found in a large variety of foods and beverages. Coffee, chocolate, green tea, black tea, soda, even juice are just a few of the products that can contain caffeine.

Did you know that caffeine interacts very poorly with the majority of anti-epileptic prescription medications? Most people are unaware of this fact because it is listed at the very end of the “Warnings” list provided by the pharmacy. You know, the very thick packet that comes with your medication, but more often than not ends up in the trash without ever being read. Who knew it was actually informative? This is why neurologists should inform epileptics of these types of issues! Consuming caffeinated products while taking prescription anti-epileptic medications can cause anaphylaxis reactions. It depends on the person and their level of tolerance, but the reaction can be as minor as difficulty swallowing or as extreme as a closed throat.

I actually experienced this effect firsthand when I ate a chocolate cupcake (maybe 3, if I’m being completely honest) and my throat swelled up a bit, making it difficult for me to swallow. After doing some research and talking to a family friend with epilepsy, I learned that this is a common reaction for anyone on anti-seizure meds. It would have been nice if my neurologist had informed me of this apparently common-knowledge fact, but that would mean he’s actually being helpful and I’m pretty sure that is impossible for this neurologist, in particular.

I make it a priority in my daily routine to avoid coffee, chocolate, caffeinated teas, etc. If you are living with epilepsy, caffeine is a great ingredient to avoid completely.

Alcohol: Whether you think of wine, beer, cocktails, or hard liquor, this product in particular does not mix well with prescription medications of any kind nor does it have the most beneficial effect on your long-term brain health. The main problem alcohol poses for the majority of people is that strange inclination for the product no matter what form it may be in. I can think of a number of people who would say that this particular product makes or breaks a Friday night. But, the fact of the matter is, alcohol is NOT a prerequisite nor is it a primary requirement in order for an evening to be classified as “fun.” Contrary to popular belief, alcohol is more of a recipe for disaster than it is a recipe for fun.

Whatever happened to ordering water, tea, lemonade, or some other non-alcoholic drink? Let me just say what most other people will not these days…it is perfectly acceptable to order a non-alcoholic beverage. Worried about being “un-cool” in the eyes of your peers? Well, if you are epileptic, I would think having a seizure in the middle of a restaurant is much more un-cool than ordering an iced water. And I would know, because it has happened a number of times. If you are truly concerned about your brain health, you need to stop worrying about peer pressure and start considering the long-term effect it could be having on your body.

Alcohol is an excitotoxin; therefore your brain activity is going to be altered whenever you drink an alcoholic beverage. It’s the way alcohol has and always will affect the brain. I guess you could say that seizure activity is inevitable when you consume this product. Not to mention, the main side effect of your anti-seizure meds when mixed with alcohol is increased seizure activity. Basically, alcohol defeats the purpose of your medication altogether. If you want to decrease your seizure activity, skip the alcohol.

Processed Sugar: The ingredient that is found in practically every processed food product on supermarket shelves these days. I specified processed sugar because unrefined organic sugar is actually very beneficial for your body and your brain when consumed in moderation. A good amount of sugar will also help to chelate heavy metals from your cells and body tissue.

Processed sugar, on the other hand, is derived from synthetic sources and also acts as an excitotoxin in children and adults. Processed sugar is found in the majority of snack food and beverage ingredient labels under code-names such as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maltodextrin, carrageenan, and monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Remember those days as a kid when your parents would limit your daily sugar intake to prevent a sugar rush? Well that sugar rush still poses a valid threat to your brain health. Those bursts of energy created by the sugar-y products in your brain are exactly what we’re trying to avoid on a daily basis if we’re ever going to achieve stable brain activity. In fact, it is these random “bursts” that make processed sugar such a threatening excitotoxin. It is best to completely avoid processed and artificial sugars because, like caffeine and alcohol, this product will also increase seizure activity.

This is why I have found it best to completely avoid all processed food products. If I’m eating something with sugar, you can guarantee it is unrefined and I made the food entirely from scratch in my own kitchen. I figure, why take the risk with processed foods when I can know exactly which ingredients were used in the recipe I prepared myself?

Like I mentioned in the introduction, these are not easily avoided ingredients in the average person’s daily routine. With coffee shops on every corner and full bars in nearly every restaurant it is almost impossible to avoid these products completely. This means you will still be faced with the temptation to choose caffeine, alcohol, and processed sugar. This decision is yours to make, however, just remember that it is what you do with these moments of temptation that determine what kind of brain health you are ultimately striving for. When life hands you lemons (or caffeine, alcohol & sugar) I hope you choose the option that is best for your overall long-term health; in other words I hope you choose lemonade. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

With summer only a few short weeks away, homemade Snickerdoodles have become a very popular snack in my house. You can never go wrong with that perfect mix of cinnamon and sugar. Keep an eye out for my own personal recipe on the blog very soon!

 

Sources:

My own personal experience was used entirely as the source for this particular article. If you have any further questions regarding this subject, feel free to email me at Katie@seizethedayblog.com. Please remember that I am not a medical professional, therefore, my answers should be viewed as my own personal opinion on the matter not actual medicinal advice. Please consult a doctor before making any changes to your daily routine. Thank you for understanding.

 

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.

 

Copyright Info:

All images, excluding those included in the web design, posted on [seizethedayblog.com] are taken by the owner. No images from external sources are used on this blog.

Proper credit should be attributed when republishing any material found on [seizethdayblog.com].

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Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: alcohol, caffeine, catamenial epilepsy, diet, epilepsy, excitotoxin, from my recipe box to yours, health & wellness, ingredient label, long term health, nutrition, processed sugar, recipe, seize the day, seize the day blog, seizethedayblog, seizure activity, seizure triggers, snickerdoodles

January 30, 2016

Ingredients & Ingredient Labels: Be Sure to Read the Fine Print!

January 30, 2016

What is your typical routine when you make a trip to the grocery store? Do you try to only purchase foods that work with your new diet? Or do you shop based on what sounds good to you while you’re browsing the store aisle by aisle? I’m only asking because I really want you to stop and consider exactly how big of a role the ingredient label on foods plays in your daily life.

Seven years ago, if someone asked me about the ingredient label I would have laughed and said, “What ingredient label???” I never stopped to consider the possibility that maybe not everything listed on the ingredient label of a food is necessarily “good” for me. Instead, I ate whatever I wanted whenever I wanted to, and never stopped to consider the consequences. That is until my health took a turn for the worst…I was having seizures for unknown reasons, my hormones were severely imbalanced, and no neurologist seemed to have any solution for my problem outside the sphere of medication.

So, I tried the alternative route, I kept taking my medication, but I began looking at solutions outside of modern medicine. This led me to discover the very important role nutrition plays in every person’s overall state of health.

Which, also eventually lead to a drastic diet change for me. My grocery store routine went from grabbing anything that sounded good to reading every ingredient label before purchasing a product. It sounds time-consuming, but it is completely worth it! By eliminating ingredients like MSG, soy, and basically anything synthetic, my mental health greatly improved. I saw a decrease in the number of seizures I was having each month, something that seemed impossible at one time. In addition to avoiding poor quality ingredients, I also made the switch to organic foods.

I have found that specialty health-oriented grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s, Sprout’s Market, and Whole Foods Market (for those of you in the Southern California area) are always the better option for finding good quality, organic groceries free of synthetic ingredients.

What do I primarily look for in a food product? Simple and real ingredients. As long as the ingredient label contains only natural ingredients (sugar, salt, butter, flour, etc.) and is free of chemical and/or synthetic ingredients (Xanthan Gum, Soy Lecithin, Guar Gum, etc.), I know the product is okay!

To give you an example of what a good ingredient label and a bad ingredient label look like, I’m going to breakdown the ingredient label of a snack product commonly found in the pantry of many people’s kitchens…Ritz Crackers. I don’t know about you, but this is a product that most people I know consider to be a snacking favorite. If you look on the side of the box, you will find an ingredient label containing the following information…

Ingredients: Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, Folic Acid, Vegetable Oil (Soybean Oil and/or Canola and/or Palm and/or Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil), Sugar, Salt, Leavening (Baking Soda and/or Calcium Phosphate), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Soy Lecithin, Malted Barley Flour, Natural Flavor.

Let’s just dive right in, shall we?

Unbleached Enriched Flour—“flour in which most of the natural vitamins and minerals have been extracted. This is done in order to give the bread a finer texture and increase shelf life. When the bran and germ (the parts of wheat that contain fiber and nutrients) are removed, your body absorbs wheat differently” (ahealthiermichigan.org). So, instead of acting as an energy source for your body, which is what flour should do, this ingredient causes your body to store it as fat (ahealthiermichigan.org)! This is exactly the reason why many people find that cutting bread from their diet can greatly facilitate weight loss! However, in order to lose weight, you don’t necessarily have to cut bread out of your diet completely. You simply need to find the right kind of bread that is made with ingredients meant to help energize you, rather than fatten you up like a Thanksgiving turkey! To learn more about Unbleached Enriched Flour and the role it plays in the food industry, What’s in Your Food? Enriched Flour Tops List of Unhealthy Ingredients by Jodi Davis, is a must-read.

Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}—“Thiamine Mononitrate is the synthetic form of Vitamin B1” (livestrong.com). So, an ingredient that gives the illusion of being healthy by pretending to be the true, blue natural version of Vitamin B1 is actually toxic to the human body! We see the term “Vitamin” and assume it must be healthy, but in actuality, it is furthest from the impression it gives and actually can cause a lot of negative side effects for our health. Not to mention, it is also very difficult for the body to digest due to its synthetic and chemical form. Read more about Thiamine Mononitrate, here: The Side Effects of Thiamine Mononitrate by Elizabeth Thatcher.

Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}—This synthetic ingredient acts in the same stealthy way as Thiamine Mononitrate! It sits there in the Ritz Crackers ingredient label pretending to be healthy and posing as a natural vitamin that will be beneficial to our health, but riddle me this…what is healthy about a chemical created to be a synthetic form of the real, whole-food version of an ingredient or, in this case, a vitamin??? Absolutely nothing! It’s fake! This means that just like the Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate) also found in Ritz Crackers, it too is hard for the body to digest. Let’s think about this from the long-term perspective for a moment…if you consistently fill your stomach with lots of synthetic ingredients (a.k.a. hard-to-digest foods) you’re going to start experiencing problems with your digestive system. And guess what? Most processed foods are filled with these synthetic ingredients! An all-time low for the food industry, if you ask me.

Seeing as how synthetic Riboflavin {Vitamin B2} is a completely unnatural ingredient, it only makes sense for there to be more than one health issue! This brings us to problem #2 with this specific type of Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}…this ingredient required only by our bodies in small doses (in its real, whole food form), is found in the majority of our popular processed foods in its synthetic form. Please note that only the whole food form of Riboflavin is recommended as a healthy supplement for the human body. The synthetic form of Riboflavin should be avoided at ALL costs!

To make matters worse, thanks to synthetic Riboflavin, you might want to rethink the vitamin supplement you’re currently taking. Excessive amounts of Riboflavin can be found in commonly used dietary supplements. That’s right, not even the vitamin aisle is safe anymore! Gummy vitamins might be a fun concept (who doesn’t love for their vitamin to be in the shape of a tiny bear?), but I’m sorry to say that nothing is healthy about vitamins such as these.

Our bodies should only be getting about 2 milligrams (mg) of Riboflavin a day from dietary sources. If you’re taking a dietary vitamin supplement of some sort, check the ingredient label before taking it again because you just might be getting “10s or 100s of milligrams” (smart-publications.com) without even knowing it!

If we add both of these problems together, we get one gigantic health concern as a result: excessive Riboflavin. Because this ingredient is so prevalent in most of today’s staple food and dietary supplement products we basically get a double whammy when it comes to our Riboflavin intake. The result? An incredibly toxic combination. When the excessive Riboflavin spreads to our body tissue it mixes with our sunlight exposure and begins causing problems for our eyes, as well as our liver health. To read more about the toxic side effects of excessive Riboflavin, click here: Excessive Vitamin B2 – Riboflavin Can Be Toxic!

Folic Acid—“Oxidized synthetic compound used in dietary supplements and food fortification” (chriskresser.com). Here’s the biggest issue I have with Folic Acid: it’s an oxidized synthetic compound. Once again, Ritz has chosen to include a synthetic compound rather than using the whole food, nutrient-rich version of the ingredient. In this case, the well-known food company has chosen Folic Acid rather than Folate, which is “the general term for a group of water-soluble b-vitamins, and is also known as B9…” furthermore, as opposed to Folic Acid, Folate “…refers to the various tetrahydrofolate derivatives naturally found in food” (chriskresser.com).

If you examine Ritz’s ingredient choice from a logical standpoint, their decisions so far seem completely irrational. I mean, after examining only 4 ingredients, we have discovered that Ritz Crackers are only composed of synthetic ingredients. Hmm…not exactly something I want to be giving to my body in large doses. Read more about Folate and Folic Acid, here: The Little Known Difference Between Folate and Folic Acid by Chris Kresser. (Click here to read a brief, but thorough overview of the entire Ritz Cracker Ingredient Label)

So why do they do it? When an ingredient like “Folate” exists, why does the Ritz Company knowingly choose synthetic over naturally occurring? Because it’s cheaper and synthetic additives give the product an unnaturally long shelf life (Yuck!).

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the processed foods industry in a nutshell. When it comes to their choice of ingredients, the deciding factor for Big Wig food companies (like Ritz Crackers) clearly no longer includes the state of our health.

However, do not be discouraged by the extremely poor quality of ingredients found in Ritz Crackers because other companies (you know, the ones that are actually concerned about whether we live or die after eating their product) do exist and they have created products free of synthetics! Take, for example, the Late July Organic Classic Rich Crackers or as I like to call them the healthy version of Ritz. We picked apart the Ritz Cracker ingredient label, now let’s do the same to Late July’s ingredient label and see if we find any minor and/or major differences. For starters, let me just say that they print on the front of their packaging these important details (something the Ritz packaging and product appears to be lacking): Produced without Synthetic Pesticides, Non-GMO, No Artificial Flavors, Colors, or Preservatives. Although I would rather it said “Produced without any Pesticides,” the fact that they’re both acknowledging the presence of these characteristics in typical processed foods and choosing to exclude them is HUGE! All in all, I would say they’re off to a pretty good start. Now for the ingredient label…

Late July Organic Classic Rich Crackers Ingredients: Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar, Organic Expeller Pressed Sunflower Oil and/or Organic Expeller Pressed Safflower Oil, Organic Palm Oil, Sea Salt, Leavening (Baking Soda, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar).

Organic Wheat Flour—Nutritional value alone is enough to give Red July a round of applause for choosing this flour ingredient over white flour. Although I do use white flour when baking, I never realized the great difference between the two types of flours. “White flour is made from heavily refined and processed wheat grains, while whole-wheat flour is made from grains that have not undergone heavy processing. Whole-wheat and white flour differ in their nutritional value” (healthyeating.sfgate.com). If you examine both flour’s fiber and vitamin contents, you will discover the drastic difference between each flour’s nutritional value. Read more about this difference here: Healthy Facts About Whole-Wheat Flour Vs. White by Sylvie Tremblay. Also, check out a variety of healthy flours here: 5 Healthy Flour Substitutes Vegans Need to Know About

Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar—Okay, so this type of sugar may not contain as many vitamins, minerals, or nutrients as the organic sugar cane in its natural form, but it’s most definitely a much better quality form of sugar compared to the typical “Sugar” ingredient found in many processed foods. For starters, it’s Organic and still contains a multitude of nutrients that haven’t been tainted by pesticides. Furthermore, it does not go through the same process as refined sugar, which means it will be easier to digest and healthy for your body to absorb. “Raw natural sugar has a balance of sucrose, glucose, and fructose, whereas refined sugars are almost exclusively sucrose (the fructose and glucose have been washed out). The more sucrose, the more it raises your blood sugar” (processedfreeamerica.org). It is very refreshing, for me, to see a company choose the healthier ingredient over the cheaper ingredient. As I continue to examine Red July’s ingredient label, you too will soon discover that not every processed food product falls under the stereotype of being “bad” for you.

Organic Expeller Pressed Sunflower and/or Safflower Oil —First, let me just point out that this ingredient (like the previous three) is Organic. So, right away you’re getting (or at least you should be getting) zero pesticides from the oil used in this product! Now, although Sunflower and Safflower aren’t typically known as “healthier” oils, I need to put a special emphasis on 2 extra details that set this oil apart from your everyday vegetable oils: Organic and Expeller Pressed. Expeller pressed is an old-fashioned process that uses a screw press to mechanically extract oil from the seed, nut, or grain. It is less common because it costs more and produces less oil than other known processes, but it is known to produce the best quality oil (foodbabe.com). This is mostly due to the fact that, unlike other processes, the oil is not extracted using methods involving toxic chemicals (such as Hexane) or unnecessary refinement. By the time companies have their finished product, it is so synthetic it honestly should not be considered edible nor should it be consumed! In essence, the extra money and time required for this process are most definitely worth it!

***Side Note: Where cooking oils are concerned ignorance is NOT bliss! It is best to be extra careful because every oil is different, therefore each is going to have its own unique characteristics. For example, did you know that olive oil can actually become unhealthy for you if it is cooked at too high of a temperature? It is best to arm yourself with knowledge about the ingredients you use whenever you cook. Because Olive Oil is such a popular cooking oil (I know it’s one of my favorites!), here is a fantastic article from Kitchen Ambition where the author, David Lewis, answers a simple, yet necessary question…“Does Olive Oil Go Bad?” Take it from me on this one when I say the information he provides is more than just food for thought!

Palm Oil (a.k.a. Palm Fruit Palm or Palm Kernel Oil)—Actually one of the few healthy oils used in foods. Although I prefer to use coconut oil whenever it comes to cooking, Palm oil is definitely my 2nd choice! It isn’t hydrogenated (a process involving turning a liquid unsaturated fat into a solid fat by adding hydrogen (healthline.com)), which is excellent for avoiding trans fats and poor heart health in the future. “Fortunately, there is a healthy fat that can be used in processed foods in place of those nasty polyunsaturated vegetable oils that meet the profit demands of food company shareholders and also satisfies the ever-growing consumer clamor for a healthy, traditional fat. That fat is palm oil” (thehealthyhomeeconomist.com). Once again, we see Red July choosing the healthier ingredient over the cheap ingredient. An action not many inorganic processed food companies are making just yet.

Sea Salt—It’s all-natural, the flavor is 10x better than iodized salt, and it has a much more beneficial mineral/nutrient content. Common table salt is typically stripped of most of its nutrients while it goes through the commercial process that takes it from its place of origin to your kitchen table. “Sea salt is obtained directly through the evaporation of seawater. It is usually not processed, or undergoes minimal processing, and therefore retains trace levels of minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and other nutrients. Table salt, on the other hand, is mined from salt deposits and then processed to give it a fine texture so it’s easier to mix and use in recipes. Processing strips table salt of any minerals it may have contained, and additives are also usually added to prevent clumping or caking” (sodiumbreakup.heart.org). Many people and health experts constantly say that there “are no real health advantages of most sea salts” (sodiumbreakup.heart.org).

HA! (<– This is Me scoffing at that statement!) How can there be no health advantages when sea salt is an unprocessed, mineral-filled product as opposed to table salt, which is intensely processed and altered by synthetic additives? Let me answer this question with a question…which salt would you rather feed to your family?

The last and final ingredient found in Late July Crackers is Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Bicarbonate, and Cream of Tartar)—When it comes to the leavening agent typically used in most processed food products, it is composed of Baking Soda and Sodium Phosphate. In other words (a.k.a. the truth), the leavening agent is probably 30% baking soda and 70% chemical phosphates. The recurring problem with too large amounts of synthetic ingredients does NOT strike again with these Red July Crackers! On the all too rare occasion, we find that instead of phosphates these crackers have Sodium Bicarbonate, which is “…commonly called baking soda, is a natural substance used in the human body within the bloodstream to regulate pH as a counterbalance to acid build-up, which is critical to life. It affects the pH of cells and tissues, balances cell voltage, and increases CO2 which helps with oxygenation” (drsircus.com). Let’s emphasize the HUGE difference between these two components: one is natural (Sodium Bicarbonate) and one is chemical (Sodium Phosphate). Although these two ingredients begin with the same word in their name, they are about as different as night and day! Lastly, we have Cream of Tartar; a better alternative to the chemical leavening agent as far as the stabilizing job is concerned. It is a naturally occurring substance produced during the process of fermenting wine. It is then sent through a purification process and Voilà! You get the white powdery substance commonly used in numerous baked goods (thekitchn.com).

At face value, the only difference between these two products seems to be the brand name printed quite distinctly on each of the cracker’s packaging. Amazing, isn’t it, the striking difference that actually exists, causing these products to be, in reality, polar opposites? Now that you’ve seen firsthand the types of ingredients commonly used in the majority of processed foods, are you motivated to investigate that ingredient label a little more closely the next time you’re in the grocery store? I certainly hope so!

Trust me when I say that the truth about some ingredients can be a tad frightening to discover. It is shocking what the FDA has approved as “suitable” sources for ingredients. Let’s just say, this administration no longer gives me comfort about the quality of foods being sold in grocery stores or restaurants. But, please do NOT let this stop you from getting the better of those food companies! You deserve the right to know exactly what you’re feeding your body! So, Seize the Day for your knowledge because ignorance is not bliss when it comes to nutrition. Take advantage of technology and the vast amount of knowledge available through the Internet! You’d be amazed at what you will find!

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2011/07/26/whats-in-your-food-enriched-flour-tops-list-of-unhealthy-ingredients/
  2. www.livestrong.com/article/313249-the-side-effects-of-thiamine-mononitrate/
  3. www.smart-publications.com/articles/excess-vitamin-B2-riboflavin-can-be-toxic
  4. www.chriskresser.com/folate-vs-folic-acid/
  5. www.healthyeating.sfgate.com/healthy-wholewheat-flour-vs-white-3305.html
  6. www.processedfreeamerica.org/resources/health-news/405-the-truth-about-evaporated-cane-juice/
  7. www.foodbabe.com/2015/02/04/cooking-oils/
  8. http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/ways-to-avoid-hydrogenated-oil
  9. http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/the-many-shades-of-palm-oil/
  10. sodiumbreakup.heart.org/sodium-411/sea-salt-vs-table-salt/
  11. http://www.thekitchn.com/food-science-what-is-cream-of-72125
  12. drsircus.com/medicine/sodium-bicarbonate-baking-soda/

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles Tagged: chemical additives, clean eating, diet, food additives, healthy, ingredient label, ingredients, Late July Ingredient Label Overview, nutrition, organic, Ritz Crackers Ingredient Label Overview, seize the day, seize the day blog, synthetic, unbleached enriched flour, whole food

January 30, 2016

Ritz Crackers Ingredient Label Overview

January 30, 2016

~Ritz Crackers Ingredient Label Overview~

To read the complete article on ingredients, labels, chemical additives, and which to avoid…click here: Ingredients and Ingredient Labels: Be Sure to Read the Fine Print!

Ingredients: Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron), Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, Folic Acid, Vegetable Oil (Soybean and/or Canola and/or Palm and/or Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil), Sugar, Salt, Leavening (Baking Soda and/or Calcium Phosphate), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Soy Lecithin, Malted Barley Flour, Natural Flavor.

Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron)—this type of flour is heavily processed in a way that makes it extremely unhealthy for us to eat. In fact, ingredients like this one are what started the gluten-free trend. People began believing the myth that gluten is the culprit behind their weight gain thus kick starting an entire million-dollar industry. Never once, do they stop to consider the role other ingredients could be playing. If they did, people would soon realize that gluten isn’t the real culprit, ingredients that actually cause the body to store bread as fat (like Unbleached Enriched Flour) rather than energy are (ahealthiermichigan.org).

Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}—an ingredient that gives the impression of being the true, blue natural version of Vitamin B1 (and, therefore, healthy), but is actually a synthetic and chemical form of “Vitamin B1.” Your digestive system will thank you for avoiding this ingredient!

Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}—it acts in the same stealthy way as Thiamine Mononitrate where it both poses to be something healthy and realistically is composed of synthetic/chemical compounds. If you consume too much of this ingredient, which is easy to do due to the fact that it is found abundantly in processed foods and common dietary supplements, your liver could be in danger (smart-publications.com).

Folic Acid—an oxidized synthetic compound that is neither whole food nor is it nutrient rich in any way. It is used to fortify foods, in other words, it strengthens and protects certain products so that they will have a longer shelf life, therefore, increasing sales for the given food company. An ingredient that has the sole purpose of “strengthening” and “protecting” food may sound like a good thing, but by digging a little deeper you will discover that it is completely synthetic, formed through chemical processes, and through the conduction of scientific studies it has been found to cause cancer (chriskresser.com).

Vegetable Oils (Soybean/Canola/Palm/Cottonseed)—Unnatural production process using many synthetic and toxic chemicals (authoritynutrition.com).

Sugar—most likely refined sugar and, therefore, overly processed and stripped of any natural nutrients it may have contained pre-refinement process (globalhealingcenter.com).

Salt—iodized salt (not sea salt) is also known as a leeching agent, meaning it sucks all of the nutrients and minerals out of your body similar to the way an actual leech will suck the blood from its host (Gross, I know).

Leavening (Baking Soda & Sodium Phosphate)—preservative and stabilizer, linked to kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure. “Scientists in Vienna found that large amounts of phosphates can kick start the production of a hormone called FGF23 in the bones, which puts strain on the heart and can lead to h.b.p.” (huffingtonpost.ca).

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)—the worst kind of sugar out there for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because it is linked to many other health problems beyond obesity. “Through massive advertising campaigns by the Corn Refiner’s Association’s attempt to dispel the myth that HFCS is harmful and no different than cane sugar. It is a “natural” product that is a healthy part of our diet when used in moderation. Except for one problem. When used in moderation it is a major cause of heart disease, obesity, cancer, dementia, liver failure, tooth decay, and more” (drhyman.com)

Soy Lecithin—most do not know that soy or soy byproducts (such as soy lecithin) are actually code names for MSG (you know, that horrible ingredient found in the majority of processed foods. I mean, who’s idea was it to add an ingredient to food that is literally “worse for your health than alcohol, nicotine and many drugs” (articles.mercola.com)?) Someone who cares more about the money in their pocket than the state of our health, that’s who! Soy Lecithin, like most of the other ingredients found in Ritz Crackers, is highly processed and contains many toxic chemicals due to this process. Read more about Soy Lecithin and why you should avoid it here.

Malted Barley Flour—codename for MSG and contains enough MSG to cause anyone with a sensitivity to this ingredient to have a mild-severe reaction depending on the person. “This is sprouted barley…it is only added to flour when the wheat quality that season is poor…it does contain some MSG, but the problem is that the enzymes released in sprouting begin to break down the protein of the wheat flour it is added to, creating more MSG” (naturalnews.com). Fantastic, a product that not only contains MSG but produces it, as well! Here’s my advice, even if you do not have a sensitivity to MSG (like myself, for example) avoid it like the plague!

Natural Flavor—another codename for MSG, may contain up to 20% MSG, not even Organic products containing this ingredient are safe! “MSG, Aspartame and bugs in your food are all considered “natural flavors” and “natural colors”…the line of distinction between foods labeled “all natural” and cancer causing food is not only blurred, it barely exists…regulations for the word ‘natural’ only apply to flavors; anywhere else you find it on food packaging means absolutely nothing regarding quality. Secondly, the FDA definition of ‘natural flavors’ and ‘natural flavoring’ allows for the substance to be extracted from plant or animal ‘matter.’ So when you buy something organic, vegetarian, or vegan, and it has ‘natural flavoring,’ you could be eating a pig, cow, turkey, chicken, or lamb which was shot up with growth hormones, fed GMO pesticide-laden corn and grain – probably mixed with other animals of it’s same breed, then shot up with antibiotics due to infections and diseases from living in confined quarters on slats covered in feces” (naturalnews.com). Some people might consider this quote to be “TMI,” but people need to know the truth about ingredients like Natural Flavoring because the sooner you make the decision to cut it completely from your diet, the closer you will be to getting healthy from the inside out.

 

Sources:

1) https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2011/07/26/whats-in-your-food-enriched-flour-tops-list-of-unhealthy-ingredients/

2) www.livestrong.com/article/313249-the-side-effects-of-thiamine-mononitrate/

3) www.smart-publications.com/articles/excess-vitamin-B2-riboflavin-can-be-toxic/

4) http://chriskresser.com/folate-vs-folic-acid/

5) http://www.authoritynutrition.com/6-reasons-why-vegetable-oils-are-toxic/

6) http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/sugar-problem/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all

7) http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/05/07/unhealthy-ingredients-phosphates_n_5280250.html

8) http://drhyman.com/blog/2011/05/13/5-reasons-high-fructose-corn-syrup-will-kill-you/

9) http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/18/soy-can-damage-your-health.aspx

10) http://chriskresser.com/harmful-or-harmless-soy-lecithin/

11) http://www.naturalnews.com/039109_MSG_hidden_ingredients_taste_enhancer.html

12) http://www.naturalnews.com/036308_natural_flavors_MSG_aspartame.html

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged: chemical additives, chemical food ingredients, ingredient label, MSG, natural flavoring, processed ingredient, Ritz Crackers Ingredient Label Overview, seize the day, seize the day blog

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About Me

Hi, I'm Katie! I was diagnosed with Catamenial Epilepsy when I was 16 years old. What started out to be an impossible struggle has now become a journey toward healing thanks to natural/Holistic methods.
For the last 6 years, I have continuously gone through a trial and error period where I have been discovering for myself the true quality of various foods, products, and lifestyles.
I am going to share everything I have learned with the hope that it will help you to begin your healthy lifestyle that much faster. Read More…

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