Why I Don’t Take Tylenol
(or Any Pain Relievers)
I always intend to have one day a week on which I write some sort of post about natural health care… And then the week gets away from me and so I rush to get out what people really want: recipes! But in the past few weeks I’ve had numerous conversations about over-the-counter pain relievers and their effect on the body. Here is a high-level synopsis of why we choose to avoid these. Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care:
Feminine Products
To my much-appreciated male readers: This may go into a bit too much detail for you. But please consider passing it on to the women you love: wives, girlfriends, sisters…
I’m actually really excited about this topic. Which seems weird, I know. But I’ve recently received a few questions on this subject, and I love when I not only have an answer, but a really good solution! But first, let’s start with the problem. Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care:
Deodorant You Could Eat
Yesterday we talked about the dangers of conventional antiperspirants and deodorants, and I shared my reviews of some more natural brands. Today I’m going to tell you how to make your own deodorant. It really is easy, but of course the process of figuring it all out couldn’t possibly be…
The Original Recipe
After gobs of research, I settled on these ingredients: Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care:
Raise Your Hand if You’re Sure…
…that you’re free from toxins! That’s right, today we’re going to discuss non-toxic deodorant options.
Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant
The first major distinction we need to make is between products that control odor (deodorants) and products that control wetness (antiperspirants). You’ve probably seen the emails from years ago talking about how antiperspirants are a leading cause of breast cancer. And, like me, you probably went right to Snopes and then decided they were probably OK and forgot all about it.
But here’s the thing: Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care:
Haircare, Part DONE!
Here we are, in the home stretch. Today we’ll cover all that’s left in my tiny brain regarding non-toxic hair care.
Remember I mentioned that I’m a hair-idiot? Because of this, I keep it simple and have never really used many products in my hair. In fact, the only product I now own is an all-natural hairspray (see below) that I use quite infrequently. And so, I’m very thankful to my tester who tried various concoctions for me. I won’t reveal my tester’s identity, but he’s very cute… 
Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care:
Haircare, Part Three
Whew! Happy Memorial Day, everyone! Let’s see if we can get closer to getting this wrapped up.
So far, we’ve talked about why we need to pay attention to what we use in our hair and on our scalp, and how to go No ‘Poo.
Why I Love No ‘Poo
Besides the obvious (knowing that I’m not damaging my, or my family’s, health by using toxic products), I love it because it works. Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care:
Haircare, Part Two
Yesterday we touched on why it’s so important to make sure that what we slather on our scalp is not toxic to our bodies. My husband commented that I really didn’t stress the danger enough, and that no one was going to click through the links of all the chemical names. So, let me paint a quick picture. Of the chemicals I warned against yesterday:
*At least 11 are immune system toxicants,
*At least 9 are suspected/ probable carcinogens/ mutagenics, and
*At least 3 are endocrine disrupters.
And that’s just the tip of the iceburg. Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care:
Haircare, Part One
Ooooooooh, boy. I really hope you’ll stick with me through this, because I’m going to sound like a loony-toon.
I decided to stop using shampoo. (This was right about the time I also stopped using deodorant, shower gel and toothpaste, AND starting showering less frequently. And my husband still loves me; isn’t he the BEST?!)
Common Problems with Shampoo
Shampoos (and conditioners) are often a cocktail of dangerous ingredients. This has particular impact when we’re discussing shampoo because your scalp is so absorbent (and absorbency is aided by the steam of the shower). See how many of these toxins you can find on your shampoo’s label: Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care: Dental Floss,
and a Discount and Giveaway!
Yesterday, we focused primarily on replacing our toxic toothpaste.
Today, before we get to the good stuff (discounts and free things), I’d like to focus briefly on dental floss.
I know, I know. What could possibly be bad about any kind of dental floss?!?! But don’t hate the messenger! The fact is that manufacturers often use petrochemical ingredients for both the floss itself and the coating. (This is significant for our health and for the environment. Did you know that so much dental floss is sold in the U.S. each year that it could reach to the moon and back FOUR TIMES?!) Read the rest of this entry »
Non-Toxic Personal Care:
Washing My Mouth Out with Soap
I wash my mouth out with soap every day. (Twice, actually.)
No, it’s not a self-imposed punishment for being a potty-mouth. It’s because we’ve decided one way to improve our dental - and overall – health is to STOP using toothpaste.
We need to be concerned with the safety of our toothpaste ingredients because they enter our systems through our incredibly absorbent gums and other mouth tissue. If you doubt this, try rubbing some vodka on your gums, or tucking some tobacco in your cheek… See? Read the rest of this entry »
Please support my affiliates!
