Let the Vegan Adventure Begin

I had an "Aha" moment while watching Alicia Silverstone last week on Oprah.  Alicia explained that she had suffered for years with constipation, bloating, allergies, skin issues and all around discomfort.  When she transitioned to a Vegan diet all of these symptoms disappeared.  I could certainly relate to her story since I battle many of those symptoms on a daily basis.  I've been exceedingly frustrated that I've never been able to find relief from these symptoms and had resigned myself to the fact that I was probably going to suffer for the rest of my life.  The thing is I've only really tried taking herbal supplements, eating Ginger and increasing my probiotics, I never thought that dairy could be to blame.  These quick fixes would work for a while and then I'd go right back to square one with the chronic bloating and upset stomachs after nearly every meal.  Alicia's story made me think, "What if what I'm eating is making me sick?"  My husband has been trying to convince me to go Vegan for a couple of years now but I love cheese so much I didn't think there was any way I could ever commit to Veganism.  We eat a very healthy meat free diet and I never thought there was a problem with dairy.  We decided to pick up Alicia's book and give it a try since eliminating dairy was one avenue I hadn't explored yet.  We spent this last weekend buying Vegan cookbooks and testing out recipes.  We also visited a Vegan Cafe.  We're both the dive right in type so we've been approaching this head on with full force and commitment.  We had a great time cooking together in the kitchen, shopping, and trying out new foods.  We both thought this was an exciting adventure we'd undertaken.

It's only been a couple of days since I've eliminated dairy from my diet and I can already see and feel a huge difference in my body.  I have so much energy, I've been sleeping better and I'm not bloated all the time.  The health benefits of this new lifestyle are keeping me motivated.  If you're interested in living and eating healthier I definitely recommend picking up a copy of Alicia's book The Kind Diet  .  Her book will teach you about the health benefits of going Vegan and educate you on the nasty foods to avoid.  It will also describe how your body has trouble digesting meat and dairy and the symptoms this causes in your body.  It's filled with great recipes too.   We've already made one amazing meal from it and we plan on making one of her yummy Vegan desserts for Valentines Day.  The book is designed for everyone, whether you want to flirt with Veganism or go full force and become a Vegan Superhero.  Check out her online community to learn personal stories of how The Kind Life has changed peoples lives and eliminated serious health issues.  www.thekindlife.com

And now to the most exciting experience of the weekend, Native Foods!  My husband and I decided to see if there were any local Vegan restaurants and we found a local Vegan Cafe called Native Foods.  Turns out they have several locations in Southern California and they even offer cooking classes.  I can't say enough good things about Native Foods.  The food was incredibly amazing!  We had a hard time deciding what we wanted to order since everything on the menu was making our mouths water.  The food was so satisfying and delicious.  I had the Scorpion Burger and my husband had the Tijuana Tacos, we also had a side of Sweet Potato Fries.  If you're lucky enough to live close to a Native Foods location I highly recommend you check it out.  After our meal we purchased the Native Foods Cookbook and several menus to plan what we were going to eat on our next trip.  We plan on visiting again this weekend to try out another dish. 

At this point in time we're so new to this that we don't know if it will be a permanent thing or if we're just going to incorporate more Vegan meals into our diet.  We have decided to give it a try for at least a month and see what happens.  I encourage everyone to make a step towards a healthier diet whether it's simply bypassing the fast food restaurant, eating more fruits and veggies, giving up soda or eating less meat.  Knowledge is power and when you learn how powerful eating the right food can be for your overall health and well being you'll be motivated to make a step in a healthier direction.

Green Your Toothpaste

Did you know that most so called green toothpastes still contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?  If you're searching for a green alternative to chemically laden toothpastes you definitely want to avoid SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate).  SLS has been shown to cause Canker Sores.  If you suffer from canker sores you’ll fight an uphill battle trying to heal them while your daily tooth brushing routine is aggravating them.  In addition to it's ability to cause Canker Sores SLS is also a suspected carcinogen.  Children often swallow toothpaste when brushing their teeth so it's vital that they aren't ingesting cancer causing chemicals in their toothpaste.

When searching for a green toothpaste look out for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Artifical Colors and Sweeteners as well as Flouride.  All of these chemicals are hazardous to your health and are also completely unnecessary.  If a toothpaste contains these ingredients it should be avoided at all costs.  I challenge you to read the label next time you reach for a toothpaste at the grocery store.  I am willing to bet that you won't be able to recognize or pronounce the names of the chemicals contained in it.  What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in them.  In order to live your healthiest life you need to be conscious of the choices you make and how they affect your health.  I know this can seem overwhelming, it seems like every day we're bombarded with a new chemical to avoid.  The key is to become educated.  Once you know what to look out for you will be able to make healthier choices.  The good news is that there are some fabulous companies out there making great green toothpastes that are free from all of the hazardous chemicals without sacrificing performance. 

Check out my recommendations for adults and kids and switch to a green toothpaste today!

http://www.green4yoursoul.com/products/kiss-my-face-organic-whitening-aloe-vera-toothpaste.html

 http://www.green4yoursoul.com/products/kiss-my-face-berry-smart-toothpaste.html

Green Your Nail Polish

Toxic Chemicals in Nail Polish:
Did you ever wonder why your manicurist wears a respirator? Commercial nail polishes contain dangerous chemicals that have been linked to cancer as well as birth defects.  Three of the most hazardous chemicals are Dibutylphtalate (DBP), Formaldehyde and Toluene.   Nearly every commercial nail polish contains these chemicals.  Many people are also allergic to Formaldehyde and suffer adverse reactions from nail polish containing Formaldehyde.  Here is what the EPA says about Formaldehyde: "Formaldehyde can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing. High concentrations may trigger attacks in people with asthma. There is evidence that some people can develop a sensitivity to formaldehyde. It has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. Health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions."

Green Nail Salons:
Many consumers are becoming aware of these hazards and are seeking healthier alternatives.  Although they are still something of a rarity Green Nail Salons are beginning to emerge.  Green Nail Salons benefit both the employees and the customers.  Traditional nail salons have very poor indoor air quality due to the high levels of chemicals used in nail polishes, removers and the application of acrylic nails.  These chemicals can lead to skin irritations, respiratory problems and even birth defects for the employees who work daily under these conditions.  If you frequent nail salons your exposure to these chemicals is also cause for concern, espeically if you are pregnant.  Green Nail Salons use non toxic nail polishes, removers and products and most refuse to do acrylic nails so the indoor air quality is much healthier.

How to Green Your Nail Care:

1. Choose a Green Nail Salon for your next nail appointment.
   
2. If you don't have a green nail salon in your area start bringing your own green nail polish to your mani-pedi appointments.  Zoya is a Green 4 Your Soul favorite and comes in all of the seasons hottest shades.
3. If you do your own nails always choose a green nail polish that is free from harmful chemicals and only use Acetone free nail polish removers. 

A Natural Way to Freshen Funky Carpet

Does your carpet have a funky smell?  I've got two dogs who love to roll around and lay on the carpet, often leaving it smelling a little less than fresh.  I'm also something of a clean freak so this drives me crazy, especially when I'm doing Yoga and my face is buried in the funk.  Since going green I haven't used any carpet fresheners for fear of exposing my pups to the toxic chemicals contained in them.  Since I've never seen a natural alternative at the store I decided to do a little digging.  Making your own natural carpet powder is easy, inexpensive and best of all it works!

Natural Carpet Freshening Powder Recipe:
1 cup of Baking Soda
10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil (Adjust the amount depending on the strength of the scent you choose) 
Mix well to blend oils into powder

Essential Oils can easily be found at your local health food store or purchased on one of my favorite websites:
Mountain Rose Herbs

Directions for Use:
Sprinkle powder on carpet and keep dogs and children away for at least 15 minutes
Vacuum up and enjoy your fresh carpet


Since Baking Soda is a natural deodorizer this powder will absorb the smell instead of just masking it.  I also like to make my own linen spray by filling a spray bottle with water and mixing essential oils.  You can have fun mixing up different scent combinations. One of my favorite combinations is Vanilla, Peppermint & Lavender.  The linen spray can be used to freshen drapes, bedding and throw pillows. 

Are your candles sucking the life out of you?

Did you know that according to the American Lung Association candles are becoming the most common cause of poor indoor air quality? Many candles are made with paraffin wax and lead wicks. Burning several paraffin candles in your home could create poor indoor air quality in your home that rivals large cities like Los Angeles! The EPA has discovered that paraffin candles and the smoke and soot they give off contain several hazardous chemicals that are probable carcinogens, neurotoxins and reproductive toxins. Acetone, Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Trichloroethane, Toluene, Mercury and Lead have all been found in paraffin candles. Worst of all the candle industry is not required to inform consumers of the ingredients they use in their candles, even if their candles contain lead wicks!  

To keep your indoor air quality pure and protect your family's health always look for Soy or Vegetable wax Candles with Lead Free Wicks.  If the candle doesn't state that the wick is lead free it probably isn't.  Also try and buy candles that are scented with essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances.  Synthetic fragrances can often aggravate respiratory problems.  Read the labels before you bring anything new in to your home to ensure that you are not contaminating your environment with toxic chemicals.  Luckily there are many companies out there that are producing safe and natural candles so it's not a matter of avoiding candles all together but rather making a healthier choice. 

Waterless Car Washing Products

Did you know that washing your car at home uses more than 100 gallons of water? It's estimated that 800 million gallons of water are used per day in the US to wash cars. Only 1% of the world's freshwater is safe for drinking and nearly 1 Billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. In addition 1.4 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water.  We need to protect this precious resource and look for ways to conserve it rather than waste it.

At home car washing contributes to pollution as well. When you wash your car at home the oil, grease, metals and soap run off of your car and into the storm drains polluting our rivers, lakes, streams and oceans. Ecolo Green Car Wash is an amazing California based company dedicated to educating consumers on the importance of protecting and conserving water. As the population grows and our climate heats up we need water more than ever. In the next 20 years it's estimated that humans will need 40% more water than they do now.  If we continue to waste water at the current rates where will this water come from?

Ecolo Green Car Wash products allow you to keep your car sparkling clean while conserving water and protecting the planet.  Ecolo Green Car Wash products give you all the performance of a traditional car wash product without the wasted water or polluting chemicals. Did we mention that they’re 100% Biodegradable too? Ditch the hose, buckets and toxic car washing products and reach for a bottle of Ecolo Car Wash instead. You'll feel good in knowing that you're doing your part to conserve water and protect the planet. Ecolo makes a great gift for green guys too!

Teen Girls Exposure to Cosmetic Chemicals

A recent study by the Environmental Working Group has revealed that teen girls bodies are more contaminated with chemicals from cosmetics than adult women. On average an adult woman uses 12 beauty products per day, however teen girls use an average of 17 beauty products per day. The study included 20 teen girls ages 14-19 and revealed that every teen had parabens in her blood and urine samples. 16 other hazardous chemicals were also detected in the girls. Adolescence is a time of critical development and many of these chemicals such as parabens are disrupting our teens natural hormone levels. Parabens and Phthalates are both hormone mimicking chemicals that disrupt our natural hormone levels and pollute our bodies with synthetic "mimicking" hormones. Phthalates have been linked to endocrine and reproductive system problems. Babies who are cared for with phthalate-laced products have shown developmental problems, especially in the reproductive development of male children. If you don't read the ingredients labels on your cosmetics you are unknowingly exposing yourself to these chemicals on a daily basis. Parabens and Phthalates are in everything from shampoo, foundation, deodorant and perfume.

I hear stories daily about women in their early 20s being diagnosed with breast cancer, I even saw a news story about a 13 year old who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Is this a coincidence? I don't think so. The cosmetic industry has no regulation and companies are free to put whatever chemicals they want into products. There's some government group that regulates the cosmetic industry right? Wrong! Our bodies, our children, our waterways and our aquatic life are all being affected by the hormone disrupting chemicals in our cosmetics products.

I encourage everyone to start reading labels. Resist the temptation to buy your teen the latest beauty products from the fashion mags. Get on board with green products and show her that you can still stay on trend while using products that are safe for your health. Green is hot and many commercial companies are jumping on the band wagon. A great drug store brand eco line is Physcians Formula Organic Wear. Buyer beware, even if a product is being marketed as green make sure you still read the labels. Many companies are taking advantage of the fact that consumers want green products and are marketing their products as "safe and natural" when they are anything but. Surprise, Surprise there isn't anyone regulating what is "natural" either so "Green Washing" is becoming a challenge for consumers. A good rule of thumb is if the ingredients aren't listed, don't buy the product. Not to fear there are some amazing companies out there that are producing fabulous green products free from all of the harmful chemicals we've discussed. Check out my website for recommendations, to read product reviews, get educated and read the ingredient listings on every product.