Seize The Day Blog

Health-Related Articles & Recipes

The Tried & True Formula For Healthy Hair

 

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. 

Deodorant & Antiperspirant Products: Friend or Foe???

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: 

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/

RAW HONEY: The Sweet & Sticky Side of Natural Skincare

Finding a healthy, chemical-free set of skincare products has been an absolute nightmare for me lately! There are so many reputable companies proudly claiming that their products are paraben-free, phlalate-free, and sulfate-free, but the ingredients in their formulas say the exact opposite. Some days I research products for hours without finding any cleansers, toners, serums, or moisturizers that are truly chemical-free.

Not to mention, fad ingredients like Rosehip are becoming widespread amongst the little guys and huge corporations producing skincare products for the face and body. And while Rose hydrosol is an incredibly beneficial ingredient for balancing your overall complexion, its sister ingredient, Rosehip, is an absolute nightmare for your hormones because it naturally increases your estrogen levels. Be careful not to mistake the two ingredients when reading the label of a product because though they do share a similar source, one can benefit your overall body while the other can act as a hormone disruptor.

Little side notes like these are crucial for me when choosing a skincare regime because I’m already fighting against estrogen dominance. I need a product that is going to compliment my health not capitalize on an existing issue. Is this such a grand request to make for the products I put on the most absorbable organ in the human body? We may not always see the pores in our skin, but they’re there just the same and they will absorb the cosmetic products you put atop them.

I’ve gotten to a point where looking to cosmetic companies for products containing clean and healthy ingredients is no longer an option. Honestly, with the large amounts of poor quality ingredients being approved for use these days, finding good-quality skincare products is yet another overwhelming feat to accomplish. It’s seriously almost as difficult as trying to find organic jalapenos at the grocery store. Whenever I do find them, I can’t help but do a little victory dance in the produce section. I may look crazy, but I just found pesticide-free jalapenos…and do you know what that means?? Bacon, Jalapeno, and goat cheese grilled cheese sandwiches! Yum (psst…there’s a link to the recipe included)!

Back to the topic of skincare…

Should we just give up and use the substandard products? Oh how those cosmetic companies would love for you to do this and use their products! But, my answer will always be no! I already have seizures, I’m not exactly looking to add anything else to my medical history. If you’re teetering between using the standard chemical-filled products and truly healthy products, remember this one very important fact: You deserve better! Your body deserves better! And so does your overall self-esteem!

Be better than synthetic-filled products! Living a healthy lifestyle just feels good because it’s good for you! Also, if you’re experiencing problems with acne and breakouts, consider this: are these chemicals helping to clear up your issue or are they contributing to it? Logic tells us that bad ingredients will produce bad results while good ingredients can’t help but improve upon your body. When you put a moisturizer, for example, on your face, the effects are far more than just skin deep, contrary to what you see in the mirror.

I recently took the high road and ditched the commercial skincare products altogether. They weren’t producing the results I was looking for anyway, plus I wasn’t feeding my body nutrients by putting those chemicals onto my skin. In reality, I was actually poisoning my body and getting nothing in return except poor health. No extra soft skin, no perfect pH balance, no clear skin. I’ve reached the point where I’m no longer asking “Which product should I try next?” rather I’m starting to wonder “Why am I choosing to poison my body?” It’s as though I’ve hit a brick wall in the search for the perfect skincare regime. Honestly, now I’m questioning my methods altogether.

Well, the dilemma with this confusion brings us right back to the commercial skincare industry.

Society tells us that we should use these amazing and cutting-edge brands that have not only been promoted by well-known dermatologists, but are advertise incessantly on social media platforms, television, and paper advertisements. We don’t always realize it, but we’re bombarded by this industry on a daily basis to believe their lies…one lie in particular: buy these types of products if you want positive results. So it really shouldn’t come as that much of a shock to discover that everyone and their brother not only uses this particular method, but views it as the normal way (and sometimes the only way) to treat skin issues, as well.

I certainly fell for these lies! Even after I ditched the chemical skincare products, I was still searching for something similar only healthy. I’m talking about still using the same basic system recommended by the dermatologists. If you look at any supposed “well-rounded” skincare system, it is typically comprised of a cleanser, a toner, possibly a serum (depending on the severity of your acne), and a moisturizer. Some other systems also recommend an eye cream and some sort of spot treatment for stubborn cystic acne. But wait, there’s more! An exfoliant once a week to clean dead skin off the surface of your face is held in high regard by skincare professionals AND on top of all this, a facemask to replenish your skin and make it “glow.” I’ve used plenty of facemasks over the years from a variety of brands and I’m still yet to see my skin “glow.”

If you want to get really complicated, you can also try the Korean method which uses anywhere from 7-15 different products in the routine. I wouldn’t recommend this method to anyone who is typically in a rush in the mornings. Not only is it time-consuming, but it is also complicated. I have tried this method and I have to admit that using 7 products for my regime did produce decent results in my skin, but it was nothing to brag about. In fact, I’ve actually had better results from using only 3-4 products. As you can imagine, this amount of products from a name brand company cost a pretty penny! Worst of all, at the end of the day, the penny was prettier than my skin and I was sick of it!

I then moved on to a more natural form of skin treatment. I found some products by a company called Rawsum Organics that are natural enough to eat. The company called their product raw skincare because not only were their ingredients natural, they were also organic and food grade! Their set consisted of the standard cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and exfoliant. However, instead of a huge ingredient list only found on the packaging because it is literally too long to fit on the product itself, the entire set of skincare printed each ingredient label loud and proud on the very front of each bottle. Why? Probably because the ingredient list for the cleanser only consisted of four ingredients total, the toner 3 ingredients, the moisturizer 3 ingredients, and the exfoliant also 3 ingredients. You could combine the ingredient lists of the all four products and it would still be less than the ingredient list of one commercial product. Who knew this even existed??? I was shocked when I found the set, but more than anything it restored my hope that maybe the cosmetic industry isn’t completely devoid of good quality manufacturers.

I used these edible skincare products for almost two months and never experienced any interference with my epilepsy. Typically, skincare products contain the soy-derived ingredient, Tocopherol, which is a seizure trigger for me, personally. To my great relief, Rawsum did NOT use any soy-derived ingredients. To my great dismay, they did use other ingredients that just did not react well with my skin-type. I have oily skin naturally and although I noticed the Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, and Castor Oil ingredients on the labels, I was desperate for something free of chemicals. As expected, my skin reacted with increased breakouts and an incredibly uneven skin tone. It reached a point that made it absolutely necessary for me to make a change. I still recommend the Rawsum products to anyone with a dry skin complex, but Oily-Combination skin types should be wary. There is no guarantee that your skin will react the same way mine did, but it’s always good to be careful!

When the raw products didn’t work out, I had absolutely no idea what to do next. Finding the Rawsum products was a miracle from God, I knew that trying to find something similar was going to be a long shot. I stopped researching products being sold by other organizations and started researching DIY skincare. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, I do it with food all the time, so why couldn’t I do it with my skin products, too? Plus, if I was able to find a decent recipe for a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, it would be a guarantee that I was finally feeding my skin instead of harming it.

Why hadn’t I thought of this sooner??? Well, I have but other rabbit trails got in the way and my actually pursuing the idea. Part of me probably thought it was going to be too much work and the other part of me still had faith in the skincare industry. I was also skeptical about whether or not I could actually make something that would be beneficial, not just some crazy concoction that pales in comparison to the typical products with the perfect texture being sold today. I failed to look past the outer and focus on the inner because the ingredients of these products are far from perfect.

This time around, I was out of any other ideas, I had already tried the majority of options provided by commercial products, and my skin was NOT looking good.

I was way past the point of “pulling out the big guns” and I had reached the state of desperation where, as anyone who has also been in my shoes knows, anything is possible. And I do mean anything!

My skin had seen better days and I wanted nothing more than to clear it up. The acne on my face and neck confirmed the obvious…my pores were being clogged by my previous choice of skincare and the visible blockage was spreading quickly…I needed a miracle and I needed it yesterday.

As I researched recipes for a healthy cleanser, one ingredient kept popping up in a majority of the recipes. It was Raw Honey. Huh…so simple. Was it actually possible with its natural sucrose structure to improve my acne rather than add to the existing problem? The answer is yes. Honey is famous for being anti-bacterial and healing to the skin. Though we mostly use honey for eating purposes these days, this delicious nature given product was commonly used amongst medical professionals as a disinfectant to treat burns, cuts, and other minor injuries. As it turns out, honey has been used to heal the skin for generations…we just forgot this helpful information thanks to all of the commercial products that have been created over the years to replace it (although not one of them has ever been able to compete with the natural abilities of raw honey). You can’t create God-given abilities in a lab, no matter how hard those scientists try! I’m sorry to burst those scientists’ bubble (actually, I’m not), but Honey is one of a kind! I just like to give a shout out to those hard working bees across the globe…thanks for doing what you little guys do day in and day out!

Right now, I don’t know what I would do without raw honey and I hate to think about what my skin might look like if this simple product wasn’t the beneficial powerhouse history has proven it to be!

I decided to skip a DIY recipe and go back to the basics instead. I started using just straight up organic raw honey (I prefer Tropical Traditions, you can’t beat the quality of their product!) on my face instead. After I get out of the shower, I spread an even layer of honey on my face and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. I usually leave it on my face for the full ten minutes just so that the honey has plenty of time to really get into my pores and clear out the bacteria causing my breakouts. After ten minutes, I wet my hands with warm water, not hot water! Hot water will kill the beneficial elements in the honey that not only clean your skin, but naturally balance the pH levels in your skin, as well. Bye, bye red blotchy skin when you use raw honey as your cleanser and toner!

Once your hands are wet, take some time to thoroughly rub the honey into your skin. Think of it as working the honey even deeper into those pores. In this way, you will also incorporate water into the honey mask, loosening the sticky layer, and making it much easier to wash off.

Once the honey is completely removed, I like to pat dry my skin using a washcloth. Instead of rubbing the cloth across your face, pat your skin so that you are not wiping away any honey residue that might be left. When I say residue, I mean the good stuff that is happily soaked into your skin already, not the leftover sticky substance that was missed while washing. I’m not expecting you to leave any honey on your face all day, that would be inconvenient for anyone. By all means, wet your washcloth and wipe that honey off!

The pat dry method helps to further work the honey soaked into your pores further into your skin. You definitely want this on your skin all day, which is why I have chosen not to use a toner afterward.

The toner is a potent cleansing device that will wipe away anything on the surface of the skin. It does not discriminate, therefore, it will wipe away the beneficial matter in addition to the detrimental matter. Using a toner means removing the healthy leftover honey in your pores, you do not want to do this nor do you need to! The honey is already attending to this issue.

The toner is also created to help restore balance in your skin’s pH levels, but the honey takes care of this issue too (and much more successfully than any other product I’ve used in the past). So I have found it to be irrelevant in my honey based skincare routine.

I do, however, still follow up the honey with my moisturizer despite the fact that I am yet to find a chemical-free commercial moisturizer product or a decent diy recipe for this particular product. I’m still on the lookout and once I find one I will be sure to announce it here on Seize the Day Blog. Until then, I’m stuck with what I have. I tried only using the honey and not following it up with anything, but my skin felt shriveled, tight, and like it needed a serious drink of water. If you have any suggestions for a natural and chemical free moisturizer, please comment!

I apologize that I do not have a healthy moisturizer to recommend in combination with the Raw Honey. However, if you are interested in the moisturizer I am currently using and which I have found to be the best yet in accordance with all skin types, I can most definitely share that info!

The brand is Karin Herzog and it is called Oxygen Face. For a more intense moisture delivery I recommend the brand’s Vitamin H Cream. My mom uses this one and she loves it! Both products ship the fastest from amazon if you are interested in trying them out (there is a link with the product name above and in the sources list below). The ingredient list isn’t perfect, but it is free of soy-derived ingredients and I do not have a seizure when I use it! This is a huge benefit for me and also says something for the overall quality of the moisturizer despite the chemicals.

Who knew that something as well-known as honey, could be so beneficial for human skin? It took about three days to begin seeing serious changes in the amount of acne on my face, but it only took one use to begin seeing healing. I honestly could not believe my skin when I looked in the mirror after rinsing off the honey mask for the first time. Not only that, it felt good to put something on my skin that I knew was healthy for it, truly healthy. I haven’t been able to say that about my skincare in a long time! Finally, an affordable product that will treat your skin at a miraculous rate! Honey is fed to people from all walks of life on a daily basis, so why not feed it to your skin too???

 

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:

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/estrogen-in-moisturizers-may-worsen.html

https://www.dermstore.com/product_Vitamin+H+Cream_13414.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnubLBRC_ARIsAASsNNlo1amiPsI9WPx5u52-alnzf63GxCphbxHxqwaUxAmBVrc1bOThXc4aAmIHEALw_wcB&scid=scplp13414&sc_intid=13414&utm_source=fro&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_term=skin+care&utm_campaign=500686

https://www.amazon.com/Karin-Herzog-Oxygen-Face-Ounce/dp/B0002Y5JC8

https://us.karinherzog.com/en/about-us

https://healthytraditions.com/organic-raw-honey-17-6-oz-glass-jar.html

http://www.rawsumorganics.com/mini-kit.html

http://www.rawsumorganics.com

Rosewater

https://wellnessmama.com/13344/homemade-honey-face-wash/

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

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 amount 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)! Which 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! Which 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 the 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.

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!

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 sold 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 meets 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 with in 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.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): The Ingredient That Should Come with a Warning Label

IMG_2778

In my previous post on Catamenial Epilepsy, I touched briefly on the topic of Monosodium Glutamate, a food ingredient more popularly known as MSG. Many restaurants and food companies pride themselves on the exclusion of this ingredient in their products. Why do they do this? I know that whenever I hear anyone mention MSG it is usually because they are trying to avoid it. Over the last few years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has supposedly been making an “effort” to keep it out of our foods (whether this is actually true or not will be discussed below). So, why is this ingredient so bad? Judging by the many restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores (like Trader Joe’s, for example) that have made a serious effort to advertise the lack of MSG within their products, I think it’s safe to say that society in general knows this ingredient is bad.

However, most people don’t know why it’s bad or even the extent to which it can harm the human body. These important details aren’t discussed like they should be. You have the right to know what you’re putting into your body, so keep on reading because you won’t find anything sugar coated in this blog post.

What is Monosodium Glutamate?

A good start to understanding MSG and its harmful effects is to first understand what it is. By breaking down the intimidating “Monosodium Glutamate,” you will find nothing more than a man made chemical. That’s right; MSG isn’t even a naturally occurring ingredient that we have been eating by mistake all these years. No, it is a man made chemical that has been purposely added to many foods and products. You’re probably thing right about now, ‘Why on Earth would anyone do something so idiotic?’ The answer is money.

This synthetic substance is cheap to make and it enhances real food flavors to be more fresh, savory, and heartier than they actually are. Many times this “enhancement” of flavor is also disguising the true poor quality of a food. It originates in Asia and has made its way around the world and into most of our processed foods. The fact that MSG is dominantly found in processed food presents an even bigger issue due to the fact that a typical American diet is filled with these food products.

Dr. Mercola gives an excellent description of the actual makeup of MSG in his amusing, yet appropriately named article MSG: Is this Silent Killer Lurking in Your Kitchen Cabinets: “It’s a misconception that MSG is a flavor or “meat tenderizer.” In reality, MSG has very little taste at all, yet when you eat MSG, you think the food you’re eating has more protein and tastes better. It does this by tricking your tongue, using a little-known fifth basic taste: umami. Umami is the taste of glutamate, which is a savory flavor found in many Japanese foods, bacon, and also in the toxic food additive MSG.”1

How does Monosodium Glutamate affect our bodies?

Here’s the biggest problem lying within the chemical makeup of MSG: glutamate. This ingredient also happens to be a naturally occurring amino acid within the human body that multiple organs, like the brain and nervous system, use as a neurotransmitter to carry out certain bodily functions (Dr. Mercola). Consuming MSG results in the elevation of glutamate levels within the body, thereby interfering with the stability of neurotransmissions between organs.   

MSG is also considered an excitotoxin, “which means it overexcites your cells to the point of damage or death, causing brain damage to varying degrees — and potentially even triggering or worsening learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease and more” (Dr. Mercola). Dr. Mercola has a lot of great information on MSG, the dangers of this ingredient and how to avoid it. I strongly encourage everyone to read his article (link provided above); I guarantee you will gain some vital insight into the silent killer known as MSG.

Due to the fact that processed foods are such a large part of the average American’s diet, men, women, and children are flooding their bodies with glutamate. Companies using this ingredient are choosing to jeopardize our health in order to save a few extra bucks in production costs.

Although the FDA has made some efforts at getting “Monosodium Glutamate” off the ingredient list of many foods, the organization has made an even greater effort in creating code names for MSG. The fact of the matter is you can no longer assume that just because “Monosodium Glutamate” isn’t listed, MSG is not present within a food or product. This is why avoiding MSG completely can be such a challenge. Some code names for MSG are Natural Flavors, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Soy, and Carrageenan. There are over 40 different hidden ingredients containing MSG, click here to read a full list. Be sure to also read the “Reminders” section found below the list of ingredients, the site gives some really great tips on how to avoid MSG in common foods.

How MSG impacts my body

MSG has certainly had quite the impact on my state of health since I was first diagnosed with Catamenial Epilepsy in 2009. Many people can eat MSG without having an extreme reaction to it, but, unfortunately for me, I am not one of those people. No, MSG has long been an enemy of mine. Shortly after my diagnosis, I discovered that I had also developed an allergy to the ingredient. My allergic reaction came in the form of grand mal seizures and was caused by the weakening of my Blood Brain Barrier. (To learn more about the Blood Brain Barrier, click here, and scroll down to the bottom of the post.)

Due to my extreme allergy, I was forced to cut MSG out of my diet completely. Now, I avoid processed foods at all cost. I try to eat 100% Organic (sometimes there are certain foods that are absolutely impossible to find Organic), and all of my meals are cooked from scratch using recipes. I have found that from scratch baking is the best way to keep MSG out of my diet. At 16 years old it was hard to give up processed foods like Oreos and Cheetos Puffs, but today, as a 22-year-old woman, I have realized that it was the best thing I could have done for my body.

Ready to cut MSG out of your diet?

Did you know that MSG makes you want to keep eating even when you’re full? It’s like an addictive ingredient that tricks your body into thinking it needs more food when, in actuality, it needs less. With food additives like this, it’s no mystery why obesity has become such a large issue in America. Cutting MSG filled foods from my diet allowed me to rid my body of synthetic ingredients by replacing them with naturally healthy foods. No chemicals, just vitamins…a very beneficial change!

If you are experiencing health problems, I sincerely recommend evaluating your diet. It made a world of difference in the stability of my epilepsy and the overall quality of my life. It can be so easy to rely on medications to fix the problems we experience, rather than becoming proactive in alternative ways. Sometimes you are the only source capable of healing not only the symptoms, but the cause of your health issues, as well. I understand that overcoming any problem is a challenge, which is why I like to think of my health as an elephant. How do you swallow an elephant? One bite at a time. By thinking of it as a step-by-step process, everything becomes less overwhelming. So, seize the day, take control of your health and let your first bite of whatever your elephant is be your diet.

 

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

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:

1Dr. Mercola. “MSG: Is this Silent Killer Lurking in Your Kitchen Cabinets.” Accessed on July 28, 2015.

<articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/21/msg-is-this-silent-killer-lurking-in-your-kitchen-cabinets.aspx>