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6 Toxic Ingredients in Baby Products
Are Toxic Ingredients Making Your Baby Sick?
Did you know that our skin is our largest organ? So everything we put on our skin gets absorbed into the bloodstream. Consequently, some ingredients in baby products can have great impacts on your baby’s health in the long term.
Many of us are selective about the products that we use, and when it comes to our babies, we may assume that manufacturers have their best interest at heart. The truth is, that there are toxic ingredients in popular baby products. As a result, these products are doing more harm than good for our little ones.
6 Toxic Ingredients in Baby Products to Watch Out For
It’s hard to believe that the stuff we use to bathe our babies could be harmful, but unfortunately, it’s true. There are plenty of harmful ingredients in mainstream baby products, such as:
Phthalates – These chemicals create a fragrance in products and they’re also endocrine disruptors. This is especially important because it can affect developmental disorders, asthma, allergic reactions, and reproductive malformations. Furthermore, they have been linked to cancer.
Talc – a powdered mineral that is used as a drying agent. Most of all, it’s a known lung irritant and may also be a carcinogenic (source).
Propylene glycol – found in baby wipes AND in wiper fluid, this chemical is quickly absorbed by the skin.
Parabens – these are neurotoxins that are linked to reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, and skin irritation.
1,4-dioxane and ethylated surfactants – this harmful contaminant is in 57% of baby soaps (1,4-dioxane is not often in the ingredients lists).
Formaldehyde – short term formaldehyde can irritate the skin, long term it’s been linked to cancer (source).
Nourishing Ingredients
Here are some nourishing ingredients that you should look for in your baby care products:
Carrier oils (like coconut oil) – replaces petrochemicals
Essential oils – replaces the artificial fragrances and preservatives. It can also help support healthy skin, kill germs, and boost immunity.
Butters and emollients – heals and moisturizes the skin. Look for cocoa, shea mango, or aloe vera.
Antioxidants – help prevent the formation of free radicals (which cause cancer). Look for vitamin E, rosemary extract.
Beeswax
Xanthan gum – this is a thickening agent.
Non-toxic Baby Products
When it comes to the health of your baby, you can’t be too careful of the products that you use daily. That’s why I recommend the dōTERRA Baby Collection. This collection will keep your baby’s delicate skin soothed and moisturized and uses only non-toxic, clean and nourishing ingredients.
Baby Hair & Body Wash
The dōTERRA Baby Hair & Body Wash contains vanilla extract, lavender, and Roman chamomile oils. In addition, the raw East African Muyao shea butter possesses fatty acids that support your baby’s soft skin. My favorite part: this gentle formula is also clinically tested tear-free. For convenience, this wash comes in an easy-to-use pump bottle. Diaper Rash CreamThe active ingredient in the dōTERRA diaper rash cream is non-nano zinc, which is a skin protectant. This is especially important to create a barrier between your baby’s delicate skin and excess moisture. This diaper rash cream is tested and approved for the most sensitive skin. The lavender, carrot seed, and tea tree essential oils work to balance and soothe the skin. Bottom Line
In conclusion, dōTERRA’s conveniently designed baby wash and diaper cream are a safe and effective way to cleanse your baby. Their tear-free wash, combined with the easy-to-use cleanser pump, makes bath time effortless and simple. Together, these limited-time products are a truly impressive baby care collection.
Click here to get your Baby Care Collection and doTERRA wholesale membership.
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6 Essential Oils for Headaches
Treat Headache Pain Naturally
Anyone who has experienced a bad headache knows that it can feel impossible to be productive. While it’s nice to take a nap when a headache comes on, we don’t all have that luxury.
Headaches can affect anyone, anytime. While some turn to over the counter medication as a treatment for headaches, there are natural alternatives available as well.
My secret headache weapon? Essential oils.
Essential oils are plant-based therapeutic compounds that can be used medicinally to combat many health threats. In addition, they are so small molecularly that they are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, this makes them an excellent choice to support pain relief.
Essential oils for headaches: 1. Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is my go-to for most pain, including headaches. Peppermint oil has the ability to relax muscles and improve circulation, which can quickly alleviate any pain you’re feeling. Most of all, studies show that peppermint oil is just as effective as over-the-counter pain relief.
Apply topically to your temples to relieve feelings of tension.
2. Lavender
Among its many health benefits, lavender oil is an analgesic, which means that it has the ability to help relieve pain. Several studies have also been done to show its anti-inflammatory properties (source). Therefore, it’s beneficial in reducing the pain and tension of a headache or migraine.
Apply 1-2 drops on your forehead, temples or back of the neck the next time you have a headache.
3. Rosemary
This herb is known to help in managing stress; and stress is a big factor when it comes to headaches. It’s proven to lower the levels of a hormone called cortisol, which has been associated with stress. Hence, it’s a great essential oil to help relieve tension.
Try adding 8 drops of rosemary oil with 8 drops of lavender oil to a 10 ml roller bottle and top off with fractionated coconut oil. This is the perfect blend of essential oils for headaches.
4. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil helps to lessen feelings of tension, while promoting feelings of relaxation. It also helps the blood flow more freely through your veins, which helps ease any pain in your muscles.
I like to place one to two drops Eucalyptus in the palms of my hands, rub them together, and inhale deeply.
5. Frankincense
Frankincense is one of the most valuable essential oils due to its extensive health benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which is great for all types of headaches. In addition, frankincense can help reduce the swelling of the blood vessels and reduce pain.
Add 15 drops of Frankincense essential oil to a 10 ml roller bottle and top off with fractionated coconut oil to support pain reduction.
6. Grapefruit
Sourced from the peel of the citrus paradisi fruit, studies have tested the aromatherapeutic power of grapefruit oil. The sparkling aroma of grapefruit is uplifting and energizing. As a result it’s perfect for when you have a headache.
Need help? I’d be happy to give you a complimentary essential oil consult. You can schedule it here.
Ready to get started with certified pure therapeutic essential oils? Go here to get your wholesale account and all my freebies!
Which essential oils for headaches do you recommend? Let me know in the comments.
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Natural Remedies for High Cholesterol
Lower Your Cholesterol With These Natural Solutions.
September is National Cholesterol Education Month. While you may not be throwing a party for this celebration, it is important because more than 102 million Americans have high cholesterol which increases risk for heart disease and can put you on a path to a stroke or heart attack.
What is Cholesterol?
First, let’s start with the basics. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your body. Now while it sounds harmful, your body actually needs cholesterol and it makes its own. “Cholesterol is found in your bloodstream and in every cell in your body, where it helps produce cell membranes, vitamin D, and bile acids, and enhances neurological function and the formation of your memories” (source).
We also get cholesterol from the foods we eat. Unfortunately our body makes what we need; so when we eat foods that are high in hydrogenated fats and refined carbohydrates, this disrupts the balance and leads to increased cholesterol levels.
Why High Cholesterol is Dangerous
When excess cholesterol builds up, it forms a fatty plaque on the walls of your arteries. This is dangerous because it slows down your blood flow and if it continues to build up, you’ll be at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It’s important to remember that not all cholesterol is bad, HDL cholesterol works by removing harmful cholesterol from the arteries.
Here are the levels that are optimal for adults:
Total cholesterol: less than 70 mg/dL
Low LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: less than 110 mg/dL
High HDL (“good”) cholesterol: 35 mg/dL or higher
Triglycerides: less than 150 mg/dL
Traditional Treatments
Typically, if you have high cholesterol, your doctor will prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication, known as a statin.
Statins are a lifelong commitment and have numerous undesirable side effects:
Headaches
Nausea
Muscle and joint aches
Increased blood sugar
Muscle cell damage
Liver damage
Cognitive problems
Natural Remedies for High Cholesterol
Here are the ways I recommend to try to lower your cholesterol naturally before resorting to a pharmaceutical drug:
Nutrition
There are foods that are can help raise and lower cholesterol. Let’s start with the harmful foods that will negatively impact your cholesterol levels:
Sugar and refined carbohydrates
Alcohol
Trans fats
Consider incorporating these healthy options:
Olive oil – use extra-virgin to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and prevent against cardiovascular disease (source).
Nuts – rich in fiber and healthy fats to help lower cholesterol levels.
Seeds – some seeds, like flaxseed has been shown to reduce total and LDL cholesterol (source).
Vegetables – veggies are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals; all which support heart health.
Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel) – like fish oil, fatty fish are beneficial for your health because they’re packed with omega-3s.
Turmeric – contains a powerful compound, curcumin which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Garlic – shown to lower both cholesterol levels and blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Beans and legumes – lentils, beans, peas, etc are linked to lower cholesterol levels.
Green tea – contains powerful antioxidants and catechins, which can decrease total and LDL cholesterol (source).
Avocados – high in fiber, potassium and healthy fats, all which help keep cholesterol levels within healthy range.
Supplements
While food should always be a first course of action for any health goal, daily supplements can also be powerful. Here are some recommendations:
Fish oil – take 1,000-2,000mg daily to fight inflammation and reduce blood pressure. Studies show that fish oil supplements can help lower triglyceride levels.
CoQ10 – researchers report that CoQ10 may reduce risk of heart attacks by lowering high blood pressure (source). Take 200-300mg/day.
Niacin – when you take 1,500mg, you can increase your HDL (good) cholesterol and remove LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Red yeast rice – red yeast rice extract naturally contains lovastatin, which keeps the body from making cholesterol (source). Take 2,400mg daily.
Garlic – 500mg/day has been shown to lower both cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Exercise
Exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight can make a big impact on your health. And when it comes to lowering your cholesterol levels, moderate exercise can help raise HLD levels. Here are the exercises I recommend:
Walking
Bike riding
Rebounding (check out this rebounder for your home)
Essential oils
Essential oils are plant-based compounds that have been used medicinally for thousands of years. They have hundreds of uses for health benefits. Here are a few that could support heart health.
Lavender – not only is lavender known for its ability to decrease stress and cortisol levels, it also has qualities that support the heart and cardiovascular system (source).
Rosemary – due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, rosemary oil is great for supporting your heart health (source).
Clove – the eugenol in clove oil may be able to dilate major arteries in the body while also reducing systemic blood pressure. Eugenol also prevents platelets in the blood from clumping together. All this can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (source).
Cypress – known to reduce stress and and boost heart health.
Lemongrass – has powerful anti-inflammatory abilities that promote healthy blood circulation by keeping blood vessels dilated (source).
Clary sage – “the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of clary sage oil are cardio-protective and help lower cholesterol naturally. Clary sage oil also decreases emotional stress and improves circulation” (source).
Helichrysum – used to lower triglycerides, helichrysum is a great oil for blood circulation. Its anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties can help break cholesterol down. It’s also used to manage high blood pressure (source).
Dill – one study found that dill seed essential oil decreased both triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in rats in just two weeks (source).
Simple Cholesterol Essential Oil Blend
Add the following to a 10 mL roller bottle:
5 drops lemongrass
3 drops rosemary
2 drops cypress
2 tbs fractionated coconut oil
Rub over stomach and bottoms of feet daily.
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6 Benefits of Copaiba Essential Oil
Ease Anxiety With Copaiba Essential Oil.
Does anyone in your family experience anxious feelings? The woody scent of dōTERRA’s copaiba essential oil can help calm any anxiety you may be experiencing. I like to diffuse it when the kids are getting ready for school, so we have a smooth morning.
Derived from the resin of the Copaiba tree, native Brazilians used it in traditional health practices. Copaiba oil can support many body systems including, the cardiovascular, immune, digestive, nervous and immune systems.
What is Copaiba Essential Oil?
Copaiba oil is steam distilled from the copaiba oleoresin, a substance made up of resin and essential oils. The collection process of the oleoresin is unique among essential oils. It is tapped from the tree in a similar way to how maple trees are for their syrup. The oleoresin is then steam distilled to produce the essential oil.
Here are ways I recommend using copaiba essential oil:
1. To Support Your Overall Health
The chemical composition of copaiba oil has been found to be an anti-inflammatory (source). It’s important to remember that significant evidence shows that inflammation not only causes, but also advances, many diseases. Hence, copaiba oil is known to support your heart health, as well as your immune, digestive, nervous and immune systems.
To use: add 1-2 drops of Copaiba oil to any beverage to support your overall health.
2. To Protect and Support Your Cells
Copaiba’s main chemical component is beta-caryophyllene; a chemical similar to cannabinoids found in cannabis. This, in addition to the diterpenes uniquely found in Copaiba, may protect nerve cells. As a result, the cardiovascular and immune systems benefit.
To use: take 1-2 drops in a veggie capsule to take advantage of its antioxidants.
3. As a Pain Reliever
One study found that copaiba oil exhibits antinociceptive properties; meaning it has the ability to block pain (source). Therefore, it can be great for those with chronic pain, like arthritis.
To use: dilute with fractionated coconut oil and apply topically to areas of pain.
Click here to get your copaiba essential oil bundle (and wholesale membership).
4. For Clear Skin
Due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, copaiba is a great natural acne treatment. I recommend incorporating the oil into your skin care routine to reduce the appearance of blemishes.
To use: add a drop of copaiba essential oil to your toner or moisturizer.
5. To Calm Down
Copaiba oil has a calming effect when diffused because of its combination of a sweet and woody smell. Many people use it to lighten the mood in the room. Hence, it’s perfect for the office or classroom.
To use: diffuse in your favorite diffuser or add 2-3 drops to your bath.
Click here to get your copaiba essential oil bundle (and wholesale membership).
6. For Oral Care
A 2016 study published in The Open Dentistry Journal revealed that copaiba essential oil is effective against all strains of Streptococcus (source). Streptococcus is a type of bacteria known to cause tooth decay and cavities.
To use: add a drop of copaiba oil to your oil pulling mixture.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.
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Quercetin and Cancer
Can This Supplement Help Prevent Cancer?
Approximately 38.4% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes (source). Cancer treatments can come in many different forms; and part of my job is to find natural solutions to prevent and treat cancer. So today we’re going to discuss the supplement, quercetin and cancer.
What is Quercetin?
Quercetin is a type of flavonoid antioxidant, found in foods like:
Leafy green
Tomatoes
Berries
Broccoli
Apples
Capers
Peppers
Black and green tea
Beans and legumes
Olive oil
Cocoa
Red wine
Because of Quercetin’s antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties, it has been linked to health benefits, such as:
Increased longevity
Better heart health
Increased endurance
Strong immune system
Quercetin can also help manage symptoms of allergies, infections, chronic fatigue and autoimmune conditions.
Quercetin and Your Health
“Quercetin plays a role in regulating the immune system’s response to outside stressors through cell signaling pathways called kinases and phosphatases, two types of enzyme and membrane proteins needed for proper cellular function” (source).
My favorite way to describe quecetin comes from The Truth About Cancer:
Quercetin, in particular, has a very low reactivity rate and has a strong desire to donate its spare electron to protect the body. This is similar to a peaceful child who freely gives up one of his or her own toys in order to satisfy the demands of another child who is throwing a fit because he wants a toy. Because of this act, the classroom of children remains calm and is able to avoid or reduce a major disturbance or quiet down a disturbance that had started.
Some studies have demonstrated that quercetin can help reduce this neuropathic damage and the unwanted side effects that come with it (source).
Flavonoids, including quercetin, are very important antioxidants that quench oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and protect the body from the development of chronic disease and cancer.
Quercetin’s Antiviral Properties
Research shows that quercetin exhibits antiviral properties. This means it can protect the body against infections, especially viruses. One study showed that quercetin “caused a concentration-dependent reduction in the infectivity” of several viruses (source).
A virus is an infectious agent that enters your body’s cells and reproduces. When this happens, the virus inserts their DNA into the host. This is the same way cancer cells work. Click here to read more about silent infections and their connection to cancer.
Quercetin and Cancer
A study done by the Boston University School of Medicine found a link between quercetin and a lower risk of cancer (source).
According to the study, “Quercetin has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and prevents cancer. Quercetin inhibits the growth of certain malignant cells in vitro, and histamine and most cyclin-dependent kinases and also displays unique anticancer properties. Quercetin is a natural compound that blocks substances involved in allergies and is able to act as an inhibitor of mast cell secretion, causes a decrease in the release of tryptase, MCP-1 and IL-6 and the down-regulation of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) mRNA from few mast cell lines. Quercetin is a safe, natural therapy that may be used as primary therapy or in conjunction with conventional methods.”
Other studies suggest that quercetin (and other flavonoids) can stop cancer cell mutation and tumor growth, as well as help with symptoms from chemotherapy and radiation.
Cancers Affected by Quercetin
Cancers that have shown to react positively to quercetin are:
Leukemia – quercetin has been shown to induce cell death in leukemia (source).
Lung cancer – researchers found that lung cancer cell growth was suppressed by quercetin (source).
Breast cancer – cell growth activity was reduced and proliferation was inhibited when breast cancer cells were treated with quercetin (source).
Neuroblastoma – one study investigated the effects of quercetin on neuroblastoma cells and found it can induce apotosis (cell death). This “suggests that quercetin can be used as a potent anti-cancer drug in future” (source).
Colon cancer – “study suggests that quercetin can affect growth of DLD-1 cells by both decreasing polyamine biosynthesis and inducing apoptosis” (source).
Ovarian cancer – findings of one study “reported that quercetin inhibits ovarian cancer by its anti-inflammatory, pro-oxidative, anti-proliferation, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle arrest induction activities” (source).
Endometrial cancer – one study suggests a reduction in endometrial cancer risk with quercetin intake (source).
Many believe that too much iron contributes to cancer cell growth, and quercetin protects your body from absorbing too much iron.
How Much Quercetin Should You Take?
The amount of quercetin you get from food is about 5-40 milligrams, but only 30-50% of that gets absorbed into your bloodstream.
The recommended dose is 400 mg per day.
Neurologist Russell Blaylock recommends 3 grams of quercetin, along with curcumin to minimize side effects from chemotherapy. Quercetin plus curcumin are actually considered the “dynamic duo of anti-cancer flavonoids” (source).
dōTERRA Alpha CRS+
One way to do get quercetin, plus other powerful antioxidants for cellular health, is to take dōTERRA’s Alpha CRS+. It’s a proprietary formula combining potent levels of natural botanical extracts. Alpha CRS+ supports healthy cell function with important metabolic factors of cellular energy.
Here are some primary benefits:
Supports healthy cell function by reducing oxidative stress to DNA and other critical cell structures
Supports healthy response to oxidative stress in cells
Supports cellular energy by supporting healthy mitochondria and by supplying metabolic factors of energy production
Supports healthy cellular immune function
Supports mental clarity and brain function
Contains a proprietary antioxidant cellular longevity blend that includes potent amounts of powerful polyphenols to help support healthy cell function
Includes tummy tamer botanical extract blend to prevent stomach upset
Get your wholesale account and 25% off of Alpha CRS+ here.
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