Yep, that's right. Today I'm writing about toilet paper! How fun!
Why is this necessary, you might ask? Well, because like most consumer products today, most toilet paper options are not necessarily gentle or healthy. I don't mean gentle in terms of softness, I mean in terms of how much chlorine is in the paper, which is highly irritating to skin. I've discussed the problems of chlorine in this previous post, so this post isn't about why to avoid it.
This post is about what brands make safe and effective toilet paper.
First and foremost, though, I need to address a big issue with recycled toilet paper, which tends to be free of chlorine: BPA. Yes, the toxic plastic reside is often found in recycled toilet paper. The reason is that the paper products that were recycled and turned into toilet paper often had BPA on them originally, such a receipt paper and newspaper (BPA is in the ink on the newspapers.) This study addresses this issue.
So let's face it:options are limited. White bleached toilet paper is full of chlorine and possibly other additives, which hurt our skin and cause problems, but the alternative, which is recycled toilet paper, tends to have BPA, which is carcinogenic and endocrine disruptive. It's a problem, for sure. That said, I'm a lot less concerned about the BPA in the toilet paper than the chlorine. The concentration of BPA in toilet paper is much lower than that found in many common foods, especially canned foods (the study I linked to above states this.) If we are actively avoiding BPA in our diet, then I wouldn't worry too much about the BPA in toilet paper, though I'd greatly prefer to avoid it entirely.
The best option might just be a bodeau... if you keep it sanitary, and if it actually works well enough. Or perhaps we should use washable cotton clothes? That's awfully disgusting, but women are already washing their reusable menstrual pads, so is it that different? I, for one, am not likely to go either of these routes. Toilet paper it is!
So, let me review some brands that are reasonable options:
1. Seventh Generation
This brand has two options: unbleached and white. Both are recycled, so BPA might be an issue. Their white toilet paper is bleached with hydrogen peroxide, not chlorine. I've tired both and like them both well enough, but this brand is always my back up plan, never my go-to. While these products don't irritate my skin the way chlorine toilet paper does, I worry a bit that there might be additives in the paper since many of their products do have questionable additives and they do use known pesticides in certain products.
The good: It doesn't cause chlorine irritation. Most of the time it's soft and gentle. It's easy to find nationally. The unbleached version, while too expensive, makes a fantastic statement about our paper products not needing to be whitened with bleach. The unbleached version might actually come from a safer source of non-BPA paper, because the paper that was recycled wouldn't have been bleached in the first place.
The not-so-good: It's distributed in plastic wrapping. Each roll tends to have a different consistency, where one roll was refreshingly perfectly soft, the next ripped and crumbled too easily, and the next was too rough.
The questionable: It's recycled, but they don't say what kind of paper they recycle to make into toilet paper. Are there biproducts other than just BPA? Hard to say.
2. Marcal
Marcal toilet paper is probably the most affordable option since it's on an eternal sale on Amazon. This brand also whitens with hydrogen peroxide, not chlorine.
The good: No plastic! Each roll is wrapped in protective paper, and shipped 24 packs in boxes. There's no chlorine. The rolls are consistent in quality, and they are actually soft. They're strong enough too.
The not-so-good: The rolls are small and they get used up quickly.
The questionable: It's recycled, and they claim they recycle from old newspapers and junk mail, both of which are full of BPA from ink. However, their process is detailed out on their website to show how it's cleaned up and made safe. This brand is actually transparent, which I greatly appreciate.
3. Full Circle
This is a store brand for super markets who have natural foods departments. It may not be available everywhere.
The good: It's affordable, does not use chlorine, and is good quality. It's not the softest, but it's strong and doesn't hurt to use. The rolls last longer than most other "green" brands.
The not-so-good: It's distributed in plastic.
The questionable: Again, recycled toilet paper. This brand is not transparent about what it recycles from, and it's hard to learn much about the brand's general practices to know if they're generally safe. I do buy this brand due to the low price, but it's not my first choice because I know so little about it.
4. Caboo
This brand is rather different! This not not a recycled toilet paper, and is not made from trees. It's made from sugar cane and bamboo, both of which are quickly renewable natural resources.
The good: This is the strongest paper I've ever used, to the point where I occasionally have trouble ripping it cleanly from the roll. It's softness is similar to Scott's - it's more functional than comfortable, but isn't rough at all. The rolls last a long time because I need less and there's simply more on each roll. This brand is also using left over sugar cane pulp and bamboo pulp from the production of other products. They found a way to put left overs to great use! Bamboo does not require pesticides to grow, and there's no chlorine in this product, so it has potential to be safer than others.
The not-so-good: They use plastic wrap - THICK plastic wrap.
The questionable: Bamboo can either be a highly sustainable, natural, and clean source for consumer products, or it can be highly toxic. As far as I know, the toxicity is only in viscose and rayon fiber, and the reason is that the bamboo has to be chemically treated to be turned into these fibers. This toilet paper probably does not need to be treated in the way that fiber does, and it's probably safe. But I simply do not know for sure. Also, sugar cane is often heavily sprayed with pesticides, so there's a
potential that there are pesticide residues in this toilet paper, but we
just don't know that for sure.
Brands I have not tried, but are chlorine free:
Green Forest (recycled), Natural Value (recyled), and World Centric (made from wheat, which could be heavy in pesticides).
I hope that I've at least created an awareness with this post. There's no right answer as to which brand you buy. Ideally, fresh virgin pulp non-recylced toilet paper would also be available by major brands like Charmin and Scott's, but to my knowledge that does not exist. While that would mean cutting down more trees, which is potentially an environmental issue, it actually would mean safer toilet paper in that we wouldn't be exposed to BPA and other contaminates through the recycling process.
Showing posts with label chlorine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chlorine. Show all posts
Monday, April 4, 2016
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Toxic Consumerism: Is Voting With Your Dollars Enough?
I am gradually meeting more and more people in person who tell me they suffer reactions from certain synthetic products. I know of someone who only reacts to candles, even unlit candles, and it's enough to give her a migraine and agitation. A stranger told me she can't smell perfume without getting queasy, and she told me this without knowing I have sensitives too. Another man chose me to complain to about cigarette smoke making him feel awful. Someone else even showed me their rash and told me it started after using a cheap heavily scented laundry detergent. I'm happy to be meeting these people, because what it is telling me is that people who don't have MCS are experiencing reactions to many common synthetic products on the market - and they're complaining about it! They're fully aware of which products hurt them.
We are in need of a major cultural change. More and more consumers are choosing non-toxic products for several reasons: their own health, the health of the workers who made the products, fair trade/ ethics, avoiding worsening global warming, or even out of distrust for questionable ingredients in products. Non-toxic products are boasting that they're safer, more sustainable, create less waste, do not pollute our air, and they're more sturdy (better value)... all for only a slightly higher price tag. I see the tide turning, and there are more and more brands producing non-toxic options. The majority of consumers, however, are not conscientious shoppers. Most people are still going to buy cheap plastic disposables made in a sweat shop with child labor, not because they don't care, but because it's normal and most affordable.
Here is where I struggle. As a sales person who is very passionate about and deeply believes in everyone switching to non-toxic products, I have no problem educating customers to convince them to spend the extra money on something safer and more sustainable. I get very irritated when customers are educated and STILL choose to buy the toxic option - what will it take to convince them that they're not just hurting themselves with that choice, but they're hurting the people around them? When I'm not at work, I can quickly and easily become the annoying idealist who comes across as being very judgmental about other people's choices. I struggle with this, because I see it as a moral dilemma. I feel morally obligated to warn people against using toxic products, because I know from personal experience and from reading the scientific studies that and from meeting MANY other people who have been hurt those products hurt people. I fear for the health of my fellow human beings - am I wrong to try and protect others? Well, I can't control other people's choices, and I don't want to. I believe in free choice. I don't blame the consumers. I blame the terrible health regulations in this country and many other countries around the world.
The problem is that companies are allowed to use untested unregulated synthetic (not found in nature) chemicals in their products and then sell them to people who trust that these companies aren't allowed to produce products that hurt people. How do you convince consumers that these products aren't actually safe? They have to want to be convinced - they have to be open to making a change in their own life. Most people don't have the time or energy to research and learn about consumer product safety, if they even know it's an issue. Many consumers who have heard warnings against certain products might fall prey to marketing schemes that make them think they're making a safer, healthier purchase (when in reality that product is not safe.) This is a major issue with BPA-free plastic water bottles. The "BPA-free" sticker makes it sound like it's safe, but the problem is that the BPA alternative in plastic hasn't been proven safe. In fact, there's been studies to show that the alternative is just as endocrine disruptive as the BPA! No, consumers are not to blame.
One comment I see very often on Facebook is, "Vote with your dollars!" This means that consumers demonstrate what kind of culture, environment, and standards we want in our country based on what we choose to buy. There's plenty of truth in this statement. This sentiment is why there are more and more companies choosing to produce organic food products. For instance, Hormel saw the success of Applegate (natural and organic packaged meat brand) and choose to buy them. Hormel is seeing that a very large portion of consumers prefer organic and natural products, so they wanted in on the market.
I don't believe that the "Vote with your dollars!" plan is enough. It's tackling the issue from only one side, and the other side of the issue is a bigger problem. The other side of the issue is the total lack of safety regulations and standards for consumer products. Until that changes, too many consumers will keep buying the cheap, toxic products (knowing or unknowingly) - and these people are voting with their dollars too. As it is, more people are voting with their dollars that toxic products are acceptable. We need to fight for better safety regulations, demand third party testing on synthetic chemicals, and demand that companies stop using overseas child labor. We do this by voting, writing our senators and congressmen, and funding more research projects.
The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a great example of something that needs to be voted on. It's being discussed and voted on in many countries, but have you noticed that the media here in the USA is refusing to talk about it? The idea is that is allows faster, more direct trade between countries in order to boost the economy and create better trade relations with these other countries. The problems? It means LESS product safety regulation and fewer products being made in the USA (meaning less jobs too). In a time when China has been caught bleaching garlic that goes for sale in the USA, making fake rice from plastic and mixing it with real rice that gets sold in the USA, processing meat with carbon dioxide so it looks fresh when it's already rotten, and more... why in the world would anyone trust China to ship us more products through the TPP that are SAFE? If anything, it will allow them to get away with even more safety risks since there would be LESS oversight! To my knowledge, Mike Huckabee was the only presidential candidate that actively protested the TPP. He is no longer in the race. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is a major supporter of the TPP. This is NOT a democrat/ republican issue - this is a moral human issue.
I believe in Capitalism. I believe in the right to make any business you want that's legal. I believe in the right of consumers to have free choice on what products and services they buy. I used to believe that less government involvement allowed for a better Capitalistic system. Then I started to learn that people cannot be trusted to make decisions that do not hurt people. I learned that businesses would choose to use toxic products just to make a dollar. I learned that businesses would move overseas, avoiding hiring USA citizens, just to improve income. I learned that businesses don't mind being ethically and morally ambiguous by using child labor in sweat camps and paying them next to nothing. If business leaders could be trusted to have the health, safety, and welfare of humanity at heart, I would still prefer a smaller government with less regulations. But I lost my trust. The only way I can see to hold businesses accountable is through government regulations. ...But what happens when our government can't be trusted to regulate? That's our current problem. The last amendment to the chemical safety law in this country actually made the law worse - we now have FEWER protections. The government is no different from the business. Our leaders are supporting immoral, unethical, poor trade agreements with businesses so they make maximum profits. Let me be clear: I am NOT against corporations. They're not evil, in fact, I think they're a fantastic way to build a business economy. I support many corporations with my dollars, because I like their mission, values, and how they conduct business. This is a matter of trust.
(This is not an endorsement of Bernie Sanders either - yes, he's the only candidate talking about these issues, which I really truly appreciate and respect, but I don't believe in his solutions. I fully understand if you vote for him based on his environmental values.)
If I had the energy, I would love to get into much more detail and give specifics. My energy is running low very quickly.
My dream is for the USA to be thriving on a safe, sustainable, non-toxic, democratic, capitalistic economy. I would love to see the elimination of child labor, sweat camps, meat factories, poor subsidized farming techniques that rely on GMOs and synthetic toxic chemicals, etc. I'm dreaming WAY too big, I know. My idealism is too grand. But as someone with "21st Century Syndrome" who is "allergic" to our modern lifestyle... I think I have very legit reasons to be this idealistic and to dream. I can't participate in this culture without getting sick.
I'd like to acknowledge a business who is actually concerned with product safety and sustainability: Lego! Yes, the plastic toy company! I'm a huge fan of Legos, and it broke my heart when I realized they're made from toxic non-biodegradable petroleum plastic. Apparently, it's bothering them too. They've vowed to switch to a new kind of non-toxic sustainable plastic! Thanks Lego! Continue to be a great example for other businesses and for consumers!
If you would like to do further research on the issue of the toxic consumer products, I encourage you to check out:
- Stink! Documentary
- The Human Experiment
- Toxic Hot Seat
- The Sensitives
- Tox-Sick by Suzanne Somers
- 12,000 Canaries Can't be Wrong by Dr. John Molot
Next time you go shopping, keep in mind that plastic is endocrine-disruptive (estrogen mimicking, insulin producing, and other hormone suppressing), is linked to obesity and diabetes, is not biodegradable, and has much safer alternatives. Consider buying the glass water bottle instead, and pass on the meat wrapped in plastic in favor of paper-wrapped meat from you butcher. Your water and meat will also taste so much better if you do this!
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702426/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3279464/
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/chemicals-plastic-linked-health-problems-study-article-1.2285790
We are in need of a major cultural change. More and more consumers are choosing non-toxic products for several reasons: their own health, the health of the workers who made the products, fair trade/ ethics, avoiding worsening global warming, or even out of distrust for questionable ingredients in products. Non-toxic products are boasting that they're safer, more sustainable, create less waste, do not pollute our air, and they're more sturdy (better value)... all for only a slightly higher price tag. I see the tide turning, and there are more and more brands producing non-toxic options. The majority of consumers, however, are not conscientious shoppers. Most people are still going to buy cheap plastic disposables made in a sweat shop with child labor, not because they don't care, but because it's normal and most affordable.
Here is where I struggle. As a sales person who is very passionate about and deeply believes in everyone switching to non-toxic products, I have no problem educating customers to convince them to spend the extra money on something safer and more sustainable. I get very irritated when customers are educated and STILL choose to buy the toxic option - what will it take to convince them that they're not just hurting themselves with that choice, but they're hurting the people around them? When I'm not at work, I can quickly and easily become the annoying idealist who comes across as being very judgmental about other people's choices. I struggle with this, because I see it as a moral dilemma. I feel morally obligated to warn people against using toxic products, because I know from personal experience and from reading the scientific studies that and from meeting MANY other people who have been hurt those products hurt people. I fear for the health of my fellow human beings - am I wrong to try and protect others? Well, I can't control other people's choices, and I don't want to. I believe in free choice. I don't blame the consumers. I blame the terrible health regulations in this country and many other countries around the world.
The problem is that companies are allowed to use untested unregulated synthetic (not found in nature) chemicals in their products and then sell them to people who trust that these companies aren't allowed to produce products that hurt people. How do you convince consumers that these products aren't actually safe? They have to want to be convinced - they have to be open to making a change in their own life. Most people don't have the time or energy to research and learn about consumer product safety, if they even know it's an issue. Many consumers who have heard warnings against certain products might fall prey to marketing schemes that make them think they're making a safer, healthier purchase (when in reality that product is not safe.) This is a major issue with BPA-free plastic water bottles. The "BPA-free" sticker makes it sound like it's safe, but the problem is that the BPA alternative in plastic hasn't been proven safe. In fact, there's been studies to show that the alternative is just as endocrine disruptive as the BPA! No, consumers are not to blame.
One comment I see very often on Facebook is, "Vote with your dollars!" This means that consumers demonstrate what kind of culture, environment, and standards we want in our country based on what we choose to buy. There's plenty of truth in this statement. This sentiment is why there are more and more companies choosing to produce organic food products. For instance, Hormel saw the success of Applegate (natural and organic packaged meat brand) and choose to buy them. Hormel is seeing that a very large portion of consumers prefer organic and natural products, so they wanted in on the market.
I don't believe that the "Vote with your dollars!" plan is enough. It's tackling the issue from only one side, and the other side of the issue is a bigger problem. The other side of the issue is the total lack of safety regulations and standards for consumer products. Until that changes, too many consumers will keep buying the cheap, toxic products (knowing or unknowingly) - and these people are voting with their dollars too. As it is, more people are voting with their dollars that toxic products are acceptable. We need to fight for better safety regulations, demand third party testing on synthetic chemicals, and demand that companies stop using overseas child labor. We do this by voting, writing our senators and congressmen, and funding more research projects.
The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a great example of something that needs to be voted on. It's being discussed and voted on in many countries, but have you noticed that the media here in the USA is refusing to talk about it? The idea is that is allows faster, more direct trade between countries in order to boost the economy and create better trade relations with these other countries. The problems? It means LESS product safety regulation and fewer products being made in the USA (meaning less jobs too). In a time when China has been caught bleaching garlic that goes for sale in the USA, making fake rice from plastic and mixing it with real rice that gets sold in the USA, processing meat with carbon dioxide so it looks fresh when it's already rotten, and more... why in the world would anyone trust China to ship us more products through the TPP that are SAFE? If anything, it will allow them to get away with even more safety risks since there would be LESS oversight! To my knowledge, Mike Huckabee was the only presidential candidate that actively protested the TPP. He is no longer in the race. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is a major supporter of the TPP. This is NOT a democrat/ republican issue - this is a moral human issue.
I believe in Capitalism. I believe in the right to make any business you want that's legal. I believe in the right of consumers to have free choice on what products and services they buy. I used to believe that less government involvement allowed for a better Capitalistic system. Then I started to learn that people cannot be trusted to make decisions that do not hurt people. I learned that businesses would choose to use toxic products just to make a dollar. I learned that businesses would move overseas, avoiding hiring USA citizens, just to improve income. I learned that businesses don't mind being ethically and morally ambiguous by using child labor in sweat camps and paying them next to nothing. If business leaders could be trusted to have the health, safety, and welfare of humanity at heart, I would still prefer a smaller government with less regulations. But I lost my trust. The only way I can see to hold businesses accountable is through government regulations. ...But what happens when our government can't be trusted to regulate? That's our current problem. The last amendment to the chemical safety law in this country actually made the law worse - we now have FEWER protections. The government is no different from the business. Our leaders are supporting immoral, unethical, poor trade agreements with businesses so they make maximum profits. Let me be clear: I am NOT against corporations. They're not evil, in fact, I think they're a fantastic way to build a business economy. I support many corporations with my dollars, because I like their mission, values, and how they conduct business. This is a matter of trust.
(This is not an endorsement of Bernie Sanders either - yes, he's the only candidate talking about these issues, which I really truly appreciate and respect, but I don't believe in his solutions. I fully understand if you vote for him based on his environmental values.)
If I had the energy, I would love to get into much more detail and give specifics. My energy is running low very quickly.
My dream is for the USA to be thriving on a safe, sustainable, non-toxic, democratic, capitalistic economy. I would love to see the elimination of child labor, sweat camps, meat factories, poor subsidized farming techniques that rely on GMOs and synthetic toxic chemicals, etc. I'm dreaming WAY too big, I know. My idealism is too grand. But as someone with "21st Century Syndrome" who is "allergic" to our modern lifestyle... I think I have very legit reasons to be this idealistic and to dream. I can't participate in this culture without getting sick.
I'd like to acknowledge a business who is actually concerned with product safety and sustainability: Lego! Yes, the plastic toy company! I'm a huge fan of Legos, and it broke my heart when I realized they're made from toxic non-biodegradable petroleum plastic. Apparently, it's bothering them too. They've vowed to switch to a new kind of non-toxic sustainable plastic! Thanks Lego! Continue to be a great example for other businesses and for consumers!
If you would like to do further research on the issue of the toxic consumer products, I encourage you to check out:
- Stink! Documentary
- The Human Experiment
- Toxic Hot Seat
- The Sensitives
- Tox-Sick by Suzanne Somers
- 12,000 Canaries Can't be Wrong by Dr. John Molot
Next time you go shopping, keep in mind that plastic is endocrine-disruptive (estrogen mimicking, insulin producing, and other hormone suppressing), is linked to obesity and diabetes, is not biodegradable, and has much safer alternatives. Consider buying the glass water bottle instead, and pass on the meat wrapped in plastic in favor of paper-wrapped meat from you butcher. Your water and meat will also taste so much better if you do this!
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702426/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3279464/
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/chemicals-plastic-linked-health-problems-study-article-1.2285790
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Checking In. A few thoughts while I'm away.
I'm finding myself away from my computer for an extended period of time. This post is very short because I'm typing it on my phone.
I'd like to share a couple of thoughts. I decided to get them out tonight instead of let them swim in my imagination while I try to settle down to sleep. I tend to develop anxiety when my thoughts get trapped.
1. I have a theory that chlorine in tap water causes eczema and acne. Ever since I installed the chlorine filters at home my skin has been soft, free from eczema, and free from excessive acne. I'm in a place now without chlorine filters, and my skin has been very very broken out. It's also been very dry and itchy. I can smell the chlorine with every shower and it's most unpleasant. My skin habits have been the same as at home, only this time coconut oil and avocado oil aren't enough.
2. My doctor told me to get a latex pillow, so I did. For those of you who like memory foam, but don't want the toxic chemical soup under your head all night, I highly recommend it. It smells like rubber. I won't deny that it's stinky. But it's natural with great support. I will be exploring latex mattresses soon.
3. I'm coming to understand how MCS is really such an important underlying cause of my health problems. It isn't just another issue, it's a root issue. I'll expand on this in a new post later, but I feel way way better in my doctor's clinic, which is deliberately low VOC with great filtration. Today I felt like me again for a while - a very exhausted me, but me, because I finally experienced my body being calm. I'm so used to being trapped and limited by my body feeling constantly on edge. That edginess went away for a while today because I wasn't reacting to anything and acupuncture was very very calming. I'm coming to understand how I'm usually in a constant low level reaction. Couldn't be happier to see my doctor!
4. I'm not my body. The person I am is not my body. My body heavily controls who I am because my gut and brain make up why I act the way I do, yes. But who I am is not my body, it's my soul. My soul has been so hindered by my body, but it isn't sick like my body is. I am not a sick person. I'm a healthy person limited by a sick body. I accept this, for now, at least. I am worth being a member of this society. I have value. Just because my body suffers doesn't mean I'm not able to participate in life. I am very much wanting to be a part of this world. I hope you can see me for the person I am and not for my weak body. I may be sick, but I am so so so much more. I'm a person.
5. I miss my hubby. This isn't health related, but I just wanted to say it. I'm not used to being away from him so long!
6. I just battled a nasty flu-like virus. I'm sure I got it from flying, even wearing a mask. I'll review the mask later. Getting sick when I was already feeling weak was scary. I haven't been that hypoglycemic in a while. I wasn't so sure I was going to survive that one. I highly recommend being careful and keeping your immune system strong. There's a lot of viruses going around right now.
I'd like to share a couple of thoughts. I decided to get them out tonight instead of let them swim in my imagination while I try to settle down to sleep. I tend to develop anxiety when my thoughts get trapped.
1. I have a theory that chlorine in tap water causes eczema and acne. Ever since I installed the chlorine filters at home my skin has been soft, free from eczema, and free from excessive acne. I'm in a place now without chlorine filters, and my skin has been very very broken out. It's also been very dry and itchy. I can smell the chlorine with every shower and it's most unpleasant. My skin habits have been the same as at home, only this time coconut oil and avocado oil aren't enough.
2. My doctor told me to get a latex pillow, so I did. For those of you who like memory foam, but don't want the toxic chemical soup under your head all night, I highly recommend it. It smells like rubber. I won't deny that it's stinky. But it's natural with great support. I will be exploring latex mattresses soon.
3. I'm coming to understand how MCS is really such an important underlying cause of my health problems. It isn't just another issue, it's a root issue. I'll expand on this in a new post later, but I feel way way better in my doctor's clinic, which is deliberately low VOC with great filtration. Today I felt like me again for a while - a very exhausted me, but me, because I finally experienced my body being calm. I'm so used to being trapped and limited by my body feeling constantly on edge. That edginess went away for a while today because I wasn't reacting to anything and acupuncture was very very calming. I'm coming to understand how I'm usually in a constant low level reaction. Couldn't be happier to see my doctor!
4. I'm not my body. The person I am is not my body. My body heavily controls who I am because my gut and brain make up why I act the way I do, yes. But who I am is not my body, it's my soul. My soul has been so hindered by my body, but it isn't sick like my body is. I am not a sick person. I'm a healthy person limited by a sick body. I accept this, for now, at least. I am worth being a member of this society. I have value. Just because my body suffers doesn't mean I'm not able to participate in life. I am very much wanting to be a part of this world. I hope you can see me for the person I am and not for my weak body. I may be sick, but I am so so so much more. I'm a person.
5. I miss my hubby. This isn't health related, but I just wanted to say it. I'm not used to being away from him so long!
6. I just battled a nasty flu-like virus. I'm sure I got it from flying, even wearing a mask. I'll review the mask later. Getting sick when I was already feeling weak was scary. I haven't been that hypoglycemic in a while. I wasn't so sure I was going to survive that one. I highly recommend being careful and keeping your immune system strong. There's a lot of viruses going around right now.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Detox Baths
One of my favorite ways to relax is in the bathtub. The heat is soothing, the water is gentle and fresh, and the additives are very beneficial. There are many recipes out there for detox bath, and some work better than others. I'm just going to share with you my favorites, based on ingredients that are easy to get and use. I'm not going to take a bath that requires a lot of work to prepare.
Keep in mind that tap water can contain toxins such as chlorine, fluoride, prescription drug residue, and heavy metals. Beyond the problem of toxins, tap water can be rough on your skin because chlorine is very drying. I recommend using a water softener to help filter the water. If you're like me and you can't afford one or are unable to install one in your home, I suggest this bath filter. It's been on sale on Amazon for many months now. It isn't perfect, but it does help. Since using it, my bathwater doesn't smell as strongly of chlorine, doesn't leave pink hard water stains in the tub, and doesn't dry out my skin.
Salt and Clay Bath:
This one is easy. I mix a cup of Redmond Bath Salt Plus. in the bathwater and soak for 30+ minutes. It is important to use this in water as warm as you can tolerate it in order to open up your pores and sweat. The site I linked to has sold these on a sale of $10 in the past - very cheap! This container lasts for most of a year.
Benefits:
This is great stuff - the best bath salts I've ever used! It's unrefined salt and clay collected from a dead sea. The heat from the bath opens up your pores and helps you sweat, and the salt collects toxins from your body. The clay and salt are loaded with trace minerals that absorb into your body through your skin. The mineral of note is magnesium, which strengths your bones, calms your muscles, and reduces inflammation. This is my favorite bath for when my muscles are overly tense (to the degree that massage doesn't help enough.)
Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar Bath:
This one is also very easy, but the smell can bother some people. Just pour 2-3 cups of raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in the tub and soak for 20+ minutes. It does not matter what temperature the water is at, but I prefer a nice hot bath. It's very important that it's raw, organic, and unfiltered. The cheap filtered kind was filtered, meaning it has no nutrition left. It is just a flavor. You need the nutrients in the vinegar for this bath to be effective.
I use Bragg's, and buy it in a gallon. I used to be able to buy this for $20, but the price has increased. A cheaper alternative would be to buy the smaller bottles at this discounted price on this discount site.
Benefits:
Apple cider vinegar balances the ph of your skin perfectly. It moisturizes, softens, cleans, kills germs and bad bacteria, heals acne and scars, and feeds your skin necessary nutrients. It is a great hair cleaner and conditioner too! If you don't mind the smell (which will fade soon after the bath,) soak your hair in the water too. Don't rinse! Pat your hair dry with a towel and let it air dry. It strips excess oil from your hair, but doesn't remove the essential oils that keep your hair strong. It makes your hair shine and look much healthier because it provides a lot of nutrients!
Kelp Bath:
Kelp baths are just plain awesome. I add a half cup of organic kelp powder to very hot bathwater and soak for 40+ minutes. This works well, but I've found that I prefer this bath when I add a 1/8th a cup of ginger and cayenne powder. You need to be hot to get the full benefit from the kelp, and the ginger and cayenne create heat. Test the spices on your skin first - they can burn you if they are too strong. You may prefer to just use ginger powder, which is less likely to burn your skin.
If you live along the ocean, the best way to take a kelp bath is to actually go to the beach, find kelp, and bring it home with you. Cut it up and soak with it in the tub. The gels and ooze in the kelp are loaded with essential nutrients, including iodine. The kelp can be reused a couple of times. Though I used to live right along the ocean, I have never tried this method, but it has been recommended to me.
Benefits:
This article explains the benefits in great detail. Kelp is highly concentrated with minerals and nutrients that we need. It's not only soothing and moisturizing, but the salt in the kelp absorbs toxins and our skin drinks in the nutrients, notably potassium and iodine. This is a fantastic bath for sore, aching muscles.
Hydrogen Peroxide Bath:
This is essentially an oxygen bath. Use no more than 3/4ths cup of food grade (35%) hydrogen peroxide or 9 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide (the common kind in the brown bottles) in warm to hot water. Add a 1/4th a cup (or more) bath salts. Soak for 20+ minutes.
Please please please be careful with hydrogen peroxide. Food grade hydrogen peroxide can burn you skin, bleach your clothes, and lighten your hair color. Do get get it in your eyes! When mixed with the bathwater it's diluted enough so that you'll be able to enjoy the benefits without the harm.
Benefits:
Hydrogen peroxide is powerful stuff. It doesn't absorb toxins from your like salts do, it kills toxins (trying using it on mold and mildew!) It will strip the residue of soap and lotions off your skin. It will kill infections and clean cuts and wounds. It will help bring a lot of oxygen into your skin, which will reduce inflammation and increase circulation.
My favorite mixed bath:
Add 1/2 cup of Redmond Bath Salts plus (or 3/4ths cup regular Epsom salt,) 1/2 cup kelp powder, 1/8th cup ginger powder (fresh grated ginger works best,) and 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar. Rinse off after this bath, especially if you soak your hair. None of the benefits will be as strong as the individual baths, but I find that this bath is very relaxing. It works the fastest for bringing relief to my tense muscles and for reducing general anxiety. This bath makes me sleepy, in a peaceful relaxed way. Soak for 30+ minutes.
During and After the Bath:Stay hydrated!! I recommend drinking ginger lemon tea. It will aid with the detoxing by keeping you warm and cleaning toxins from you from the inside out. Ginger calms the stomach, aids digestion, and helps to "get things moving" in the gut.
Avoid sugar, alcohol, and dairy. They all cause inflammation and make your body acidic, which will undo some of the benefits from the bath.
Stretch your muscles. During the bath, sit up and stretch your legs and arms in the water every so often. Rub a cloth against your skin in circular motions towards your heart. This will help to calm your muscles and increase circulation. After the bath, do some full body stretches to help keep your circulation strong, because your circulation can slow down as you cool off. This also prevents your muscles from going cold and stiff again.
Enjoy!
Keep in mind that tap water can contain toxins such as chlorine, fluoride, prescription drug residue, and heavy metals. Beyond the problem of toxins, tap water can be rough on your skin because chlorine is very drying. I recommend using a water softener to help filter the water. If you're like me and you can't afford one or are unable to install one in your home, I suggest this bath filter. It's been on sale on Amazon for many months now. It isn't perfect, but it does help. Since using it, my bathwater doesn't smell as strongly of chlorine, doesn't leave pink hard water stains in the tub, and doesn't dry out my skin.
Salt and Clay Bath:
This one is easy. I mix a cup of Redmond Bath Salt Plus. in the bathwater and soak for 30+ minutes. It is important to use this in water as warm as you can tolerate it in order to open up your pores and sweat. The site I linked to has sold these on a sale of $10 in the past - very cheap! This container lasts for most of a year.
Benefits:
This is great stuff - the best bath salts I've ever used! It's unrefined salt and clay collected from a dead sea. The heat from the bath opens up your pores and helps you sweat, and the salt collects toxins from your body. The clay and salt are loaded with trace minerals that absorb into your body through your skin. The mineral of note is magnesium, which strengths your bones, calms your muscles, and reduces inflammation. This is my favorite bath for when my muscles are overly tense (to the degree that massage doesn't help enough.)
Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar Bath:
This one is also very easy, but the smell can bother some people. Just pour 2-3 cups of raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in the tub and soak for 20+ minutes. It does not matter what temperature the water is at, but I prefer a nice hot bath. It's very important that it's raw, organic, and unfiltered. The cheap filtered kind was filtered, meaning it has no nutrition left. It is just a flavor. You need the nutrients in the vinegar for this bath to be effective.
I use Bragg's, and buy it in a gallon. I used to be able to buy this for $20, but the price has increased. A cheaper alternative would be to buy the smaller bottles at this discounted price on this discount site.
Benefits:
Apple cider vinegar balances the ph of your skin perfectly. It moisturizes, softens, cleans, kills germs and bad bacteria, heals acne and scars, and feeds your skin necessary nutrients. It is a great hair cleaner and conditioner too! If you don't mind the smell (which will fade soon after the bath,) soak your hair in the water too. Don't rinse! Pat your hair dry with a towel and let it air dry. It strips excess oil from your hair, but doesn't remove the essential oils that keep your hair strong. It makes your hair shine and look much healthier because it provides a lot of nutrients!
Kelp Bath:
Kelp baths are just plain awesome. I add a half cup of organic kelp powder to very hot bathwater and soak for 40+ minutes. This works well, but I've found that I prefer this bath when I add a 1/8th a cup of ginger and cayenne powder. You need to be hot to get the full benefit from the kelp, and the ginger and cayenne create heat. Test the spices on your skin first - they can burn you if they are too strong. You may prefer to just use ginger powder, which is less likely to burn your skin.
If you live along the ocean, the best way to take a kelp bath is to actually go to the beach, find kelp, and bring it home with you. Cut it up and soak with it in the tub. The gels and ooze in the kelp are loaded with essential nutrients, including iodine. The kelp can be reused a couple of times. Though I used to live right along the ocean, I have never tried this method, but it has been recommended to me.
Benefits:
This article explains the benefits in great detail. Kelp is highly concentrated with minerals and nutrients that we need. It's not only soothing and moisturizing, but the salt in the kelp absorbs toxins and our skin drinks in the nutrients, notably potassium and iodine. This is a fantastic bath for sore, aching muscles.
Hydrogen Peroxide Bath:
This is essentially an oxygen bath. Use no more than 3/4ths cup of food grade (35%) hydrogen peroxide or 9 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide (the common kind in the brown bottles) in warm to hot water. Add a 1/4th a cup (or more) bath salts. Soak for 20+ minutes.
Please please please be careful with hydrogen peroxide. Food grade hydrogen peroxide can burn you skin, bleach your clothes, and lighten your hair color. Do get get it in your eyes! When mixed with the bathwater it's diluted enough so that you'll be able to enjoy the benefits without the harm.
Benefits:
Hydrogen peroxide is powerful stuff. It doesn't absorb toxins from your like salts do, it kills toxins (trying using it on mold and mildew!) It will strip the residue of soap and lotions off your skin. It will kill infections and clean cuts and wounds. It will help bring a lot of oxygen into your skin, which will reduce inflammation and increase circulation.
My favorite mixed bath:
Add 1/2 cup of Redmond Bath Salts plus (or 3/4ths cup regular Epsom salt,) 1/2 cup kelp powder, 1/8th cup ginger powder (fresh grated ginger works best,) and 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar. Rinse off after this bath, especially if you soak your hair. None of the benefits will be as strong as the individual baths, but I find that this bath is very relaxing. It works the fastest for bringing relief to my tense muscles and for reducing general anxiety. This bath makes me sleepy, in a peaceful relaxed way. Soak for 30+ minutes.
During and After the Bath:Stay hydrated!! I recommend drinking ginger lemon tea. It will aid with the detoxing by keeping you warm and cleaning toxins from you from the inside out. Ginger calms the stomach, aids digestion, and helps to "get things moving" in the gut.
Avoid sugar, alcohol, and dairy. They all cause inflammation and make your body acidic, which will undo some of the benefits from the bath.
Stretch your muscles. During the bath, sit up and stretch your legs and arms in the water every so often. Rub a cloth against your skin in circular motions towards your heart. This will help to calm your muscles and increase circulation. After the bath, do some full body stretches to help keep your circulation strong, because your circulation can slow down as you cool off. This also prevents your muscles from going cold and stiff again.
Enjoy!
Friday, November 21, 2014
Menstural Solutions Part 1
Men, you don't need to read this one. This one is for the ladies. If, for some reason, you actually make it through this post (even though it has nothing to do with you,) I encourage you to please talk to your wife, girlfriend, sister, mother - any women you know about this issue. If you read this post, clearly you care enough about this strictly feminine issue!
Menstrual pain is hell. It shouldn't be hell, but for me and many other women out there, it's worst pain we'll experience in our lives. And it happens every month. It should for a normal woman, anyway.
Background:
I want to get into one particular topic in this post, but let me start with a bit of history. It's important to understand my background on the issue because my suggestions could seem a little extreme otherwise. My monthly cycle wasn't always the worst thing in the world for me, this is a problem that slowly developed over time. During my teenage years I was rarely ever stopped by my period. I didn't have to put life on hold because it - it was just an inconvenience that was mildly painful at times. The older I got, however, the more the pain and the amount of flow increased. I had my first episode of severe menstrual pain when I was 17. The pain woke me up early in the morning, and soon enough I was screaming from the torture. Every time I moved even my toe the pain amplified. I couldn't find a position that was comfortable, but I couldn't tolerate moving around to try new positions. I thought I needed to go to the ER, because the pain was so intense that I couldn't believe it was something was normal. My mom figured it out quickly. She gave me pain killers instead of taking me to the hospital. The pain killers kicked in and I fell back asleep. My periods after that were all moderately painful and heavy, but they weren't at that level of intensity again until my 20th birthday. I had just gotten married the month before, and I was so embarrassed to go through my first cycle after marriage. It may have been my anxiety that caused the pain, but it was worse than I remember that day when I was 17 being. Once again, I was screaming and whimpering in pain. I couldn't move a toe without sharp pain shooting all over my body. This time, I drank quite a bit of NyQuil to knock me out. I was afraid painkillers couldn't do enough, and I wanted to be unconscious until the pain quit. It worked - I slept 8 hours that birthday, blissfully ignoring my body's extreme pain. Ever since then, my periods have usually been bad each time.
For the last 7 years, I've accepted that once a month, on the first day of my cycle, I would need to take 12 or my ibuprofen just to survive the pain. I had to let employers know that it would be a reason I may call in sick - how embarrassing is that? I have had to arrange all my plans, especially travel plans, around the first day or two of my period. It was impossible to function on those days. My whole body would become overly weak and tired to the point of hardly staying awake. My flow would be so heavy that I had to visit the bathroom at least once an hour to replace my ultra tampons (later on, Diva Cup - but I'll get to that switch soon.) The pain was so intense that no amount of pain killers could comfort me, and the pain forced me into bed all day, crying most of the time. This became normal to me.
Did I ever see doctors about the issue? Yes. The results boil down to this: I was told I should get a laparoscopy, because the intensity of my periods, as I described them, was not normal. Because nothing appeared to be obviously wrong on the outside (even my hormone levels were "normal" - but I'll get to that later,) this invasive surgery to cut upon my stomach and send a camera into my reproductive organs was the only way to know for sure what was going on. My very experienced and highly regarded (by others) gynecologist was fairly confident I had endometreosis, a condition in which the menstrual blood grows on the outside of the reproductive organs and has no where to go when it sheds with my monthly cycle. The laparoscopy would confirm this diagnosis, but would not heal me. At best, while they had me cut open, they could cut off the blood on the outside of my organs. The problem is, the blood would just grow back, and in a few years I would need the surgery again. I seriously considered the procedure. At the very least, it would provide answers. The main reason I kept stalling on doing it, though, was the cost. Insurance wasn't likely to cover it (of course,) and it would be $2,000 out-of-pocket. I really couldn't afford $2,000 for just answers and no relief.
I was also told to use birth control pills. This is a topic unto itself, but long story short, I refused. They are not a solution, they're a band-aid that do damage and no actual good (just perceived "good" in those that experience relief.) I wanted a solution, not a highly questionable pill or injection that would only address the symptoms, not the root cause. I was also greatly confused by why my doctors told me my hormone levels were normal, but I should be on a pill that improves my hormone levels... Did my doctors even know what birth control pills did, or did they just know that many women experience relief with them without understanding how or why? This is one area of health care where I'm extremely cynical, mainly because I've had more doctors than I can count try to push birth control pills on me without knowing much of anything about me.
I did get help, though! My last 3 periods have been shockingly easy to deal with. They've been getting more and more bearable over the last year, slowly but surely. The last 3, however, are proof that we've found the solutions, and have given me a lot of hope in never needing to feel extreme menstrual pain again. I'll explain the solutions in a few different posts. There's too much to say.
Solutions, Part 1: Ditch your tampons and pads immediately.Tampons and pads could easily be the #1 cause of your pain and discomfort. Have you ever read all the warnings on a tampon box? The main warning is that tampons cause "toxic shock syndrome." As bad as TSS is, it's not your main concern, because other problems will happen first.
First of all, you should understand that conventional tampons and pads are made from cotton and rayon blends and then soaked in chlorine to be made sanitary. Chlorine alone is a major irritant, which I dug into in a previous post. It makes your skin sensitive, itchy, overly dry, and irritable. The other major problem is that cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. 55 million pounds of pesticides are sprayed on cotton crops each year in the USA. One of those pesticides is diuron, a known carcinogen that the EPA has linked to birth defects. You should know that your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you put on it. In other words, every time you insert a tampon or wear a pad, you're exposing some of your most sensitive skin to known toxins and carcinogens. Yes, ladies, this is scary.
I didn't know all of this when I switched to using a Diva Cup about 6 years ago. The reason I switched was because someone told me that tampons absorb more than blood: they absorb the natural necessarily lubricant your vagina makes to stay healthy. They told me this is part of the reason why tampons make the skin in the vagina so sensitive and painful. I was also told that menstrual cups hold more than ultra tampons, which appealed to my needs. The Diva Cup took some getting used to. I had to practice using it outside of my periods before I got it right, but now it's so second-nature to me that I get it right every time I insert it. Don't let the learning curve turn you away - this cup is absolutely amazing.
At first, it was extremely painful to use the Diva Cup. I was so highly sensitive that it was almost intolerable to insert. I held on to the promise that the issue would clear up after avoiding tampons for a while. It was true. After several months, using the Diva Cup regularly was no problem at all. My sensitivity went away! It has been 6 years since I've had any issues with sensitivity, and it's wonderful! It confirmed that tampons were causing my sensitivity issues.
The Diva Cup also allowed me to measure how heavy I really was. I did a bit of research and found that the average women only loses about 1 ounce during her entire cycle, but many women lost up to 2 ounces. The Diva Cup holds exactly one ounce. I found out that I was losing 5-6 ounces on the first day. I usually lost an additional 2-3 ounces on the second day. Days 3-7 (yes, my period usually lasted up to a week, were lighter in that I lost 1-2 ounces during the rest of the days.) I confirmed the fact that I was indeed abnormally heavy. I did take this information to the gynecologist, who said it's yet another symptom of endometreosis. A funny thing happened, however. Over the years of sticking to my Diva Cup, I the amount of flow I experienced did gradually lessen by about an ounce. My periods were also shorter by about 2 days. I also spotted less during the month, when spotting used to be a regular problem for me. The pain was still highly intense and extreme, but at least I was a little lighter and my sensitivity issues had entirely cleared up!
The Diva Cup is supposed to leak-proof. I say "supposed to be," because I'm sure it actually is for people with a normal flow. When you're as heavy as me, however, it does eventually leak if I don't empty it regularly enough. So I've needed back up. This is when I discovered Seventh Generation Pads. They are chlorine free and about as safe as I could find. While they didn't use organic cotton, I wasn't aware of the need to only use organic cotton pads until more recently. The problem is, I have yet to find an organic cotton pad that actually works well. I've tried many brands of organic cotton pads, but I keep coming back to Seventh Generation because it's very reliable, doesn't make noise when I walk around, and doesn't irritate my skin. Seventh Generation and Natracare do, however, make tampons with organic cotton that are great. I use them as a back-up when I won't have access to a good, clean bathroom to empty my Diva Cup in. There is another alternative: reusable cloth pads. Not only are these the safest option, they are the most environmentally friendly. Think of all the pads that go to our land fills every day! It's too much! My real issue with these reusable cloth pads, however, are that they never fit my preferred style of underwear. I also don't feel comfortable carrying a used pad with me if I have to change it in public. If you can make them work for you, though, please do!
This is just part one of many solutions. Switching to organic cotton and/ or menstrual cups and/ or reusable pads is the first step. This will eliminate irritation causing extra pain and discomfort. It will also reduce your intake of toxins - always keep in mind that your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you put on it!
I challenge you to make the switch, and please let me know your results!
Menstrual pain is hell. It shouldn't be hell, but for me and many other women out there, it's worst pain we'll experience in our lives. And it happens every month. It should for a normal woman, anyway.
Background:
I want to get into one particular topic in this post, but let me start with a bit of history. It's important to understand my background on the issue because my suggestions could seem a little extreme otherwise. My monthly cycle wasn't always the worst thing in the world for me, this is a problem that slowly developed over time. During my teenage years I was rarely ever stopped by my period. I didn't have to put life on hold because it - it was just an inconvenience that was mildly painful at times. The older I got, however, the more the pain and the amount of flow increased. I had my first episode of severe menstrual pain when I was 17. The pain woke me up early in the morning, and soon enough I was screaming from the torture. Every time I moved even my toe the pain amplified. I couldn't find a position that was comfortable, but I couldn't tolerate moving around to try new positions. I thought I needed to go to the ER, because the pain was so intense that I couldn't believe it was something was normal. My mom figured it out quickly. She gave me pain killers instead of taking me to the hospital. The pain killers kicked in and I fell back asleep. My periods after that were all moderately painful and heavy, but they weren't at that level of intensity again until my 20th birthday. I had just gotten married the month before, and I was so embarrassed to go through my first cycle after marriage. It may have been my anxiety that caused the pain, but it was worse than I remember that day when I was 17 being. Once again, I was screaming and whimpering in pain. I couldn't move a toe without sharp pain shooting all over my body. This time, I drank quite a bit of NyQuil to knock me out. I was afraid painkillers couldn't do enough, and I wanted to be unconscious until the pain quit. It worked - I slept 8 hours that birthday, blissfully ignoring my body's extreme pain. Ever since then, my periods have usually been bad each time.
For the last 7 years, I've accepted that once a month, on the first day of my cycle, I would need to take 12 or my ibuprofen just to survive the pain. I had to let employers know that it would be a reason I may call in sick - how embarrassing is that? I have had to arrange all my plans, especially travel plans, around the first day or two of my period. It was impossible to function on those days. My whole body would become overly weak and tired to the point of hardly staying awake. My flow would be so heavy that I had to visit the bathroom at least once an hour to replace my ultra tampons (later on, Diva Cup - but I'll get to that switch soon.) The pain was so intense that no amount of pain killers could comfort me, and the pain forced me into bed all day, crying most of the time. This became normal to me.
Did I ever see doctors about the issue? Yes. The results boil down to this: I was told I should get a laparoscopy, because the intensity of my periods, as I described them, was not normal. Because nothing appeared to be obviously wrong on the outside (even my hormone levels were "normal" - but I'll get to that later,) this invasive surgery to cut upon my stomach and send a camera into my reproductive organs was the only way to know for sure what was going on. My very experienced and highly regarded (by others) gynecologist was fairly confident I had endometreosis, a condition in which the menstrual blood grows on the outside of the reproductive organs and has no where to go when it sheds with my monthly cycle. The laparoscopy would confirm this diagnosis, but would not heal me. At best, while they had me cut open, they could cut off the blood on the outside of my organs. The problem is, the blood would just grow back, and in a few years I would need the surgery again. I seriously considered the procedure. At the very least, it would provide answers. The main reason I kept stalling on doing it, though, was the cost. Insurance wasn't likely to cover it (of course,) and it would be $2,000 out-of-pocket. I really couldn't afford $2,000 for just answers and no relief.
I was also told to use birth control pills. This is a topic unto itself, but long story short, I refused. They are not a solution, they're a band-aid that do damage and no actual good (just perceived "good" in those that experience relief.) I wanted a solution, not a highly questionable pill or injection that would only address the symptoms, not the root cause. I was also greatly confused by why my doctors told me my hormone levels were normal, but I should be on a pill that improves my hormone levels... Did my doctors even know what birth control pills did, or did they just know that many women experience relief with them without understanding how or why? This is one area of health care where I'm extremely cynical, mainly because I've had more doctors than I can count try to push birth control pills on me without knowing much of anything about me.
I did get help, though! My last 3 periods have been shockingly easy to deal with. They've been getting more and more bearable over the last year, slowly but surely. The last 3, however, are proof that we've found the solutions, and have given me a lot of hope in never needing to feel extreme menstrual pain again. I'll explain the solutions in a few different posts. There's too much to say.
Solutions, Part 1: Ditch your tampons and pads immediately.Tampons and pads could easily be the #1 cause of your pain and discomfort. Have you ever read all the warnings on a tampon box? The main warning is that tampons cause "toxic shock syndrome." As bad as TSS is, it's not your main concern, because other problems will happen first.
First of all, you should understand that conventional tampons and pads are made from cotton and rayon blends and then soaked in chlorine to be made sanitary. Chlorine alone is a major irritant, which I dug into in a previous post. It makes your skin sensitive, itchy, overly dry, and irritable. The other major problem is that cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. 55 million pounds of pesticides are sprayed on cotton crops each year in the USA. One of those pesticides is diuron, a known carcinogen that the EPA has linked to birth defects. You should know that your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you put on it. In other words, every time you insert a tampon or wear a pad, you're exposing some of your most sensitive skin to known toxins and carcinogens. Yes, ladies, this is scary.
I didn't know all of this when I switched to using a Diva Cup about 6 years ago. The reason I switched was because someone told me that tampons absorb more than blood: they absorb the natural necessarily lubricant your vagina makes to stay healthy. They told me this is part of the reason why tampons make the skin in the vagina so sensitive and painful. I was also told that menstrual cups hold more than ultra tampons, which appealed to my needs. The Diva Cup took some getting used to. I had to practice using it outside of my periods before I got it right, but now it's so second-nature to me that I get it right every time I insert it. Don't let the learning curve turn you away - this cup is absolutely amazing.
At first, it was extremely painful to use the Diva Cup. I was so highly sensitive that it was almost intolerable to insert. I held on to the promise that the issue would clear up after avoiding tampons for a while. It was true. After several months, using the Diva Cup regularly was no problem at all. My sensitivity went away! It has been 6 years since I've had any issues with sensitivity, and it's wonderful! It confirmed that tampons were causing my sensitivity issues.
The Diva Cup also allowed me to measure how heavy I really was. I did a bit of research and found that the average women only loses about 1 ounce during her entire cycle, but many women lost up to 2 ounces. The Diva Cup holds exactly one ounce. I found out that I was losing 5-6 ounces on the first day. I usually lost an additional 2-3 ounces on the second day. Days 3-7 (yes, my period usually lasted up to a week, were lighter in that I lost 1-2 ounces during the rest of the days.) I confirmed the fact that I was indeed abnormally heavy. I did take this information to the gynecologist, who said it's yet another symptom of endometreosis. A funny thing happened, however. Over the years of sticking to my Diva Cup, I the amount of flow I experienced did gradually lessen by about an ounce. My periods were also shorter by about 2 days. I also spotted less during the month, when spotting used to be a regular problem for me. The pain was still highly intense and extreme, but at least I was a little lighter and my sensitivity issues had entirely cleared up!
The Diva Cup is supposed to leak-proof. I say "supposed to be," because I'm sure it actually is for people with a normal flow. When you're as heavy as me, however, it does eventually leak if I don't empty it regularly enough. So I've needed back up. This is when I discovered Seventh Generation Pads. They are chlorine free and about as safe as I could find. While they didn't use organic cotton, I wasn't aware of the need to only use organic cotton pads until more recently. The problem is, I have yet to find an organic cotton pad that actually works well. I've tried many brands of organic cotton pads, but I keep coming back to Seventh Generation because it's very reliable, doesn't make noise when I walk around, and doesn't irritate my skin. Seventh Generation and Natracare do, however, make tampons with organic cotton that are great. I use them as a back-up when I won't have access to a good, clean bathroom to empty my Diva Cup in. There is another alternative: reusable cloth pads. Not only are these the safest option, they are the most environmentally friendly. Think of all the pads that go to our land fills every day! It's too much! My real issue with these reusable cloth pads, however, are that they never fit my preferred style of underwear. I also don't feel comfortable carrying a used pad with me if I have to change it in public. If you can make them work for you, though, please do!
This is just part one of many solutions. Switching to organic cotton and/ or menstrual cups and/ or reusable pads is the first step. This will eliminate irritation causing extra pain and discomfort. It will also reduce your intake of toxins - always keep in mind that your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you put on it!
I challenge you to make the switch, and please let me know your results!
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Chlorine, otherwise known as bleach
Chlorine is one of my worst offenders. I didn't realize how much it was affecting me until I started to avoid it, then I noticed some of my symptoms clearing up. I always thought I could tolerate it in small amounts, and that I wasn't actually around it all that often. I assumed that I wasn't exposed to it unless I was swimming or drinking too much unfiltered tap water. I've slowly come to realize just how wrong I was. Chlorine is something we're overexposed to, and it's in a lot more than I realized until recently.
Tap water:
You're probably aware that there is chlorine, fluoride, and arsenic in our tap water. The city you live in is required to tell you the tested levels of all water contaminates or additives in the tap water. They are not shy to say that there is chlorine in the water, because it is supposed to keep the water sanitary. In theory, that's a comforting thought. It's nice to know that all sorts of toxins, bacteria, parasites, fecal matter and other microscopic hazardous "things" are getting killed by an additive to our tap water, right? Well, the problem is that chlorine is also a toxin! And we don't just drink it. We shower in it, bathe in it, wash dishes with it, cook with it - we're exposed to chlorine every time we turn the tap water on.
Swimming pools:
I love to swim. It's my favorite way to work out - always has been. As a kid, I can't remember a year that I wasn't in swimming lessons, and earlier this year I bought a membership to the YMCA primarily due to their heated swimming pools, and started swimming at least once a week for a few months. That's when I started to figure out my sensitivity to chlorine.
Paper products, like toilet paper:
There are a couple methods of making paper stark white, but can you guess what the most popular method is? Bleach. Your basic printing paper or note paper isn't my main concern, though. Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, and tissue paper are the worst offenders because we rub them against our skin several times throughout the day. The paper can be rough on our skin as it is, but the chlorine makes it even more harsh. It causes dryness, irritation, rashes, peeling skin, and itchiness that the paper alone can't do.
Feminine hygiene products:
This deserves a post of its own - it's a huge topic! It's also one of the scariest. It's easy to assume that a tampon or pad is just some formed cotton with a little bit of plastic - harmless and necessary for the job. The problem is, the cotton needs to be sanitized to be made safe. Tampons and pads are heavily treated in chlorine, because they're meant to be used in or near a woman's most sensitive, exposed skin. They need to be very sanitary to avoid infections. (There is an additional issue with these products: cotton is one of most heavily sprayed crops, meaning it's covered in pesticides. I'll get into this in a later post.)
Cotton balls and other cotton products:
When I look at a cotton ball these days all I see is a ball of bleach and pesticides that we routinely rub against our skin or cover a wound with. I cannot emphasis enough how many pesticides are in cotton.
Clothing:
Cotton clothing is often contaminated with bleach in the manufacturing process as a way to sanitize and whiten the clothes for sale. It's also very likely that you, or your mom (whoever does your laundry,) adds bleach to the detergent in order to fight stains and brighten the colors.
Cleaning detergents:
Because of chlorine's amazing ability to kill mold and mildew as well as sanitize anything, it's a very common ingredient in many household cleaners.
Dishes:
If you have ever worked in a place that serves food (in my case, I worked in a movie theater for about 4 years,) then you're probably familiar with the 3-sink dish washing method: soapy water, rinse water,
sanitizing water. We had to put a cap full of bleach in the 3rd sink, and all dishes had to go through that water before getting placed on the drying rack. In other words, the intent is to coat the dishes in bleach to keep it "sanitary."
An ingredient in other household products:
Did you know that chlorine is used to make pesticides and rubber? (Click for source.)
I'm sure I'm missing places where you can find chlorine, because it really is just that common. I still haven't explained the harm that chlorine causes, though. For me, personally, it cases a few noticeable issues. If I drink water with chlorine, I notice that I have to pee much more often in greater volume than what I drank. It irritates my bladder too, making me feel like I can't hold the tiny amount in my bladder and that that tiny amount is going to leak out. (There is a second cause for this problem, which I'll explain in another post.) When I shower or bathe in unfiltered tap water my skin and hair dry out. I feel brittle, and my skin is usually a bit red and irritated. I didn't realize this was an issue until I showered and bathed in filtered water. When I use bleached toilet paper, it leaves me feeling dry, rough, itchy, and sensitive. When I swim in chlorine, I struggle to breathe for the next day or two and it takes up to a week to repair my hair and skin. It also causes heart palpitations and headaches.
Don't just take my word for it. Even the CDC issues warnings about it. Studies have shown that too much chlorine exposure is linked to asthma. It is known to cause dental erosion. It's also linked to bladder cancer.
Detoxing from chlorine has made a great difference for me. I'm breathing better, have healthier skin, my bladder isn't irritated as easily, and dryness and skin irritation from paper products are no longer an issue. I am aware that I'm hyper sensitive to chemicals, but you're probably reading this because you are too.
My Suggestions
Water filter:
They really do work! I've personally only used the Brita pitchers and faucet filters. Both of these products have filtered chlorine out of tap water effectively. Tap water tastes much better and doesn't irritate me as much after it's filtered!
Shower filter:
I recently bought a Culligan shower head with a filter. It works very well! The shower water doesn't smell anymore, it's much softer, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed instead of irritated and dry. I highly recommend this!
Paper products:
I'm a big fan of Seventh Generation, because they specialize in unbleached paper and cotton household products. I really like their whitened toilet paper, but I love their brown toilet paper. I also love their paper towels. They are a little on the expensive side, but thankfully I've been able to find store brands that sell unbleached toilet paper and paper towels. Full Circle and Whole Food's 360 brand are both cheaper and just as good, but because they are store brands, you cannot buy them online (as far as I've seen, anyway.)
Feminine Hygiene:
There are a few of options here, and my favorite suggestion is to switch to menstrual cup. There are several brands out there, all a little different in their shapes and sizes, so I encourage you to shop around to find the brand that works best for you. I am madly in love with my Diva Cup. It is 100% silicone - the same material used in breast implants. I'll explain the benefits of the cup in another post that focuses on female issues (another huge topic for me,) but this is the ultimate solution to reduce chlorine.
Another option is to switch to unbleached organic cotton tampons and pads. This is the more expensive and more wasteful option, but if you're reliant on tampons or pads then you need to make the switch. There are a couple of brands that offer these products, but I'll link you to my favorites. I greatly prefer Seventh Generation pads and pantyliners over any other brand, because they actually stay in place and don't fall apart after a few hours like other brands I've tried. As for tampons, Seventh Generation is great because they offer a version with applicators, but I prefer Natracare.
The other option to to either make or buy reusable pads. I personally have never been able to get these to work well for me, simply because my cycles are too demanding. They also don't fit my underwear well. I know other women have had great success with them, though!
Household cleaning and mold killing:
White vinegar is just as effective at cleaning and killing mold as bleach. White vinegar might hurt your nose, but at least the fumes aren't toxic! Vinegar also sanitizes just as effectively. There is no reason to use bleach instead of vinegar. In fact, white vinegar is highly effective at most cleaning jobs, and can replace most of your cleaners. It will clean windows without streaking, kill germs on baby toys, sanitize the kitchen counter, soften and clean your clothes in washing machine, and clean the floor with your mop.
Swimming:
This one is the hardest. Ideally, I'd say go swim in a lake. Since that isn't a possibility for most people (or if it is, the water is too cold,) then the alternative is to seek out a salt water pool.
Cotton products:
There are a few brands these days that sell organic unbleached cotton balls. I personally like cotton rounds the best.
Clothing:
Where there are many organic cotton clothing companies out there, what I'm not sure about at this time is whether or not they use bleach. I cannot, at this time, offer advice on avoiding bleach in clothing, except that I recommend avoiding using bleach on your clothing when you wash.
That's it for my suggestions for now. I would LOVE to hear your chlorine story and your avoidance suggestions too!
Tap water:
You're probably aware that there is chlorine, fluoride, and arsenic in our tap water. The city you live in is required to tell you the tested levels of all water contaminates or additives in the tap water. They are not shy to say that there is chlorine in the water, because it is supposed to keep the water sanitary. In theory, that's a comforting thought. It's nice to know that all sorts of toxins, bacteria, parasites, fecal matter and other microscopic hazardous "things" are getting killed by an additive to our tap water, right? Well, the problem is that chlorine is also a toxin! And we don't just drink it. We shower in it, bathe in it, wash dishes with it, cook with it - we're exposed to chlorine every time we turn the tap water on.
Swimming pools:
I love to swim. It's my favorite way to work out - always has been. As a kid, I can't remember a year that I wasn't in swimming lessons, and earlier this year I bought a membership to the YMCA primarily due to their heated swimming pools, and started swimming at least once a week for a few months. That's when I started to figure out my sensitivity to chlorine.
Paper products, like toilet paper:
There are a couple methods of making paper stark white, but can you guess what the most popular method is? Bleach. Your basic printing paper or note paper isn't my main concern, though. Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, and tissue paper are the worst offenders because we rub them against our skin several times throughout the day. The paper can be rough on our skin as it is, but the chlorine makes it even more harsh. It causes dryness, irritation, rashes, peeling skin, and itchiness that the paper alone can't do.
Feminine hygiene products:
This deserves a post of its own - it's a huge topic! It's also one of the scariest. It's easy to assume that a tampon or pad is just some formed cotton with a little bit of plastic - harmless and necessary for the job. The problem is, the cotton needs to be sanitized to be made safe. Tampons and pads are heavily treated in chlorine, because they're meant to be used in or near a woman's most sensitive, exposed skin. They need to be very sanitary to avoid infections. (There is an additional issue with these products: cotton is one of most heavily sprayed crops, meaning it's covered in pesticides. I'll get into this in a later post.)
Cotton balls and other cotton products:
When I look at a cotton ball these days all I see is a ball of bleach and pesticides that we routinely rub against our skin or cover a wound with. I cannot emphasis enough how many pesticides are in cotton.
Clothing:
Cotton clothing is often contaminated with bleach in the manufacturing process as a way to sanitize and whiten the clothes for sale. It's also very likely that you, or your mom (whoever does your laundry,) adds bleach to the detergent in order to fight stains and brighten the colors.
Cleaning detergents:
Because of chlorine's amazing ability to kill mold and mildew as well as sanitize anything, it's a very common ingredient in many household cleaners.
Dishes:
If you have ever worked in a place that serves food (in my case, I worked in a movie theater for about 4 years,) then you're probably familiar with the 3-sink dish washing method: soapy water, rinse water,
sanitizing water. We had to put a cap full of bleach in the 3rd sink, and all dishes had to go through that water before getting placed on the drying rack. In other words, the intent is to coat the dishes in bleach to keep it "sanitary."
An ingredient in other household products:
Did you know that chlorine is used to make pesticides and rubber? (Click for source.)
I'm sure I'm missing places where you can find chlorine, because it really is just that common. I still haven't explained the harm that chlorine causes, though. For me, personally, it cases a few noticeable issues. If I drink water with chlorine, I notice that I have to pee much more often in greater volume than what I drank. It irritates my bladder too, making me feel like I can't hold the tiny amount in my bladder and that that tiny amount is going to leak out. (There is a second cause for this problem, which I'll explain in another post.) When I shower or bathe in unfiltered tap water my skin and hair dry out. I feel brittle, and my skin is usually a bit red and irritated. I didn't realize this was an issue until I showered and bathed in filtered water. When I use bleached toilet paper, it leaves me feeling dry, rough, itchy, and sensitive. When I swim in chlorine, I struggle to breathe for the next day or two and it takes up to a week to repair my hair and skin. It also causes heart palpitations and headaches.
Don't just take my word for it. Even the CDC issues warnings about it. Studies have shown that too much chlorine exposure is linked to asthma. It is known to cause dental erosion. It's also linked to bladder cancer.
Detoxing from chlorine has made a great difference for me. I'm breathing better, have healthier skin, my bladder isn't irritated as easily, and dryness and skin irritation from paper products are no longer an issue. I am aware that I'm hyper sensitive to chemicals, but you're probably reading this because you are too.
My Suggestions
Water filter:
They really do work! I've personally only used the Brita pitchers and faucet filters. Both of these products have filtered chlorine out of tap water effectively. Tap water tastes much better and doesn't irritate me as much after it's filtered!
Shower filter:
I recently bought a Culligan shower head with a filter. It works very well! The shower water doesn't smell anymore, it's much softer, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed instead of irritated and dry. I highly recommend this!
Paper products:
I'm a big fan of Seventh Generation, because they specialize in unbleached paper and cotton household products. I really like their whitened toilet paper, but I love their brown toilet paper. I also love their paper towels. They are a little on the expensive side, but thankfully I've been able to find store brands that sell unbleached toilet paper and paper towels. Full Circle and Whole Food's 360 brand are both cheaper and just as good, but because they are store brands, you cannot buy them online (as far as I've seen, anyway.)
Feminine Hygiene:
There are a few of options here, and my favorite suggestion is to switch to menstrual cup. There are several brands out there, all a little different in their shapes and sizes, so I encourage you to shop around to find the brand that works best for you. I am madly in love with my Diva Cup. It is 100% silicone - the same material used in breast implants. I'll explain the benefits of the cup in another post that focuses on female issues (another huge topic for me,) but this is the ultimate solution to reduce chlorine.
Another option is to switch to unbleached organic cotton tampons and pads. This is the more expensive and more wasteful option, but if you're reliant on tampons or pads then you need to make the switch. There are a couple of brands that offer these products, but I'll link you to my favorites. I greatly prefer Seventh Generation pads and pantyliners over any other brand, because they actually stay in place and don't fall apart after a few hours like other brands I've tried. As for tampons, Seventh Generation is great because they offer a version with applicators, but I prefer Natracare.
The other option to to either make or buy reusable pads. I personally have never been able to get these to work well for me, simply because my cycles are too demanding. They also don't fit my underwear well. I know other women have had great success with them, though!
Household cleaning and mold killing:
White vinegar is just as effective at cleaning and killing mold as bleach. White vinegar might hurt your nose, but at least the fumes aren't toxic! Vinegar also sanitizes just as effectively. There is no reason to use bleach instead of vinegar. In fact, white vinegar is highly effective at most cleaning jobs, and can replace most of your cleaners. It will clean windows without streaking, kill germs on baby toys, sanitize the kitchen counter, soften and clean your clothes in washing machine, and clean the floor with your mop.
Swimming:
This one is the hardest. Ideally, I'd say go swim in a lake. Since that isn't a possibility for most people (or if it is, the water is too cold,) then the alternative is to seek out a salt water pool.
Cotton products:
There are a few brands these days that sell organic unbleached cotton balls. I personally like cotton rounds the best.
Clothing:
Where there are many organic cotton clothing companies out there, what I'm not sure about at this time is whether or not they use bleach. I cannot, at this time, offer advice on avoiding bleach in clothing, except that I recommend avoiding using bleach on your clothing when you wash.
That's it for my suggestions for now. I would LOVE to hear your chlorine story and your avoidance suggestions too!
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