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Tag Archives: Clean Living

Why Weight Loss Shouldn’t Be Your New Year’s Goal

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why weight loss shouldn't be your new year's goal

The time is almost here to say goodbye to the past year and say hello to the new!

With the holiday season wrapping up and the new year slowly creeping closer, there is no doubt many of us have already created our long list of life-changing resolutions that we *promise* to keep for the next 365 days. And one of the most popular resolutions to make an annual appearance? Weight loss.

Of course, striving to slim down and live an active lifestyle is a great goal to set for yourself, but the problem can arise when we look at the way people tend to measure this goal. Yep, we’re talking about the scale. It’s no surprise that the number staring back at you has held a lot of weight through the decades, but what if we told you it might not be the best way to track your health into the new year?

Confused? Keep on reading to discover why weight loss shouldn’t be your New Year’s goal, and what resolution you should set instead!

WEIGHT LOSS FOCUSES ON GENERALIZATIONS

Big-picture thinking has its perks, but when it comes to your body, you want to be as detailed as possible. We’ve all probably heard the word “BMI” tossed around in weight loss conversation or back in our high school health class. In fact, this is probably how you got the magic number in your head that you’ve been trying to hit on the scale for years. But do you know the actual science behind it?

Turns out, the methodology behind BMI isn’t as scientifically complex as you might think. Short for Body Mass Index, this long-practiced method aims to determine a “healthy” body based solely on gender, weight and height. And while previously seen as the pillar for weight management, this approach has earned a flawed reputation. By relying on a general ratio between height and weight, BMI cannot truly capture WHAT is contributing to the number on the scale. And because it fails to take into account everything from fat percentage to muscle mass, it can lead to faulty results.

This is because fat mass and muscle mass contribute to weight in very different ways. Fat is essential to survival, but when it is in excess, health issues can arise. In comparison, muscle mass is good for your health, but it also tends to weigh more by volume than the same amount of fat. This means an increase in the number on the scale could be attributed to a gain in muscle mass, even if body fat stays the same or even decreases. And that’s exactly why the limitations of BMI effect the method’s accuracy.

For example, people who are shorter, yet possess high muscle mass, are often classified as “overweight” by BMI standards. This is because their muscle causes them to exceed the recommended weight for their height.  Not to mention, everyone’s body is built differently, and BMI can often fail to consider these beautiful differences.

This is why body composition matters.

BODY COMPOSITION FOCUSES ON DETAILS

Body composition is a newer metric that has taken the fitness industry by storm. This in-depth approach takes a more detailed look at the body by examining the key factors that actually compose your weight. main focus is on fat percentage, but it also breaks down muscle weight, bone mass, and more. Body composition is most accurately measured by your doctor, but it can also be tracked with a body fat caliper or by measuring the circumference of your waist, legs, and arms.

Here is an example of what average body composition may look like:

Body builders are a great group to examine when illustrating the advantages of body composition over BMI. While these athletes may tend to weigh more than the average person in their height/gender class, much of this weight is a result of their impressive muscle mass. From a BMI perspective, they would often be thrown into the “obese” category, whereas their body composition would indicate they actually have a healthy fat percentage.

Because body composition focuses on the details to create a full body picture, it’s a great way to help determine which specific lifestyle habits may be contributing to overall weight and which habits may need adjusting. So, whether your personal goal is to build muscle or lower body fat this New Year, gauging your progress according to body composition will help you lay out a clear path that is easy to visualize and follow—without having to constantly check in with the scale.

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY BODY COMPOSITION

  • Work out 3-4x a Week: Exercise is crucial when it comes to developing a healthy body composition. Cardio workouts are ideal for burning calories and lowering body fat while weight training is a great go-to for building muscle and increasing tone. Feel free to mix and match your workout based on your personal fitness goals! Do NOT jump into a 30+ minute intense workout if you haven’t done one in awhile. DO start small, even if its just 5 minutes of stretching properly and build from there. This isn’t a race, it’s taking care of your health so you can get to the lifestyle you desire.
  • Prioritize Nutrition: A healthy body isn’t ALL about cardio and weights. In fact, creating a balanced diet that prioritizes good nutrition is just as essential to reaching optimal body composition. Eating meals high in fruits, veggies and protein—and avoiding those high in sugar and fat—is an excellent way to ensure your body gets proper fuel. Do NOT eat a boring meal plan, you’ll get tired of it and give up. DO find exciting new meals to try that align with your goals.
  • Get Enough Sleep: You might think “just one more episode” late at night won’t hurt…but science says different. Lack of sleep is a sneaky culprit that can contribute to stored body fat, especially in the stomach area. This is because lack of sleep raises cortisol levels (i.e. the stress hormone) causing the body to cling to excess fat. So, if lowering your body fat percentage is at the top of your New Year’s list, make sure to get those zzzs. Do NOT push yourself beyond the point of tired. DO try to recognize your bodies signs it’s time to rest, or slow down…it’s OK to take a nap.
  • Stay Hydrated: Did you know that at least 60% of your body is made up of water? Not only does water act as a building block for our cells, it also helps transport nutrients to the muscles in order to help increase strength and provide energy…something you definitely need when hitting the gym. Do NOT drink those “sports” drinks they are usually packed with so much sodium it will to the opposite and dehydrate you. DO drink water, add things to it like fresh fruit slices, mint or lavender.
  • Take Progress Photos: Because body composition focuses more on a healthy fat percentage than the number on a scale, it is much easier to see results by the way your clothes fit or the way you look in the mirror. To get a better idea for your progress, try taking before and after pictures thorough your fitness journey. This will help you visualize both loss in body fat and increase in muscle tone.
    • Stand in natural light: Natural light is a must when it comes to shooting a clear photo. This lighting will ensure that your picture can be in clear focus and isn’t impacted by shadows, highlights or blur. Even better, make sure the light matches by taking your before and after photos around the same time of the day.
    • Consider the angle: Taking your picture at the right angle is another pro tip. Eye level is the optimal height, as it won’t distort proportions with odd angles. Remember, these shouldn’t be selfies! So, try setting up a tripod or have a friend take the photo for best results.
    • Snap a photo from all sides: Don’t just take a picture facing the camera. Get a full body photo of the front, back and sides of your body. This way you can see all of the changes happening in the different areas.
    • Pick the right outfit: Opt for fitted swimwear or a sports bra with well-fitted shorts. Avoiding baggy clothes will help show off your shape and give you a clear understanding of what is happening on the outside. Also, don’t forget to wear the same outfit in both your before and after photos.
    • Keep the background simple: Less clutter equals a better view of your progress. Try standing in front of a blank wall for minimal distractions.
Examples of good before and after progress photos.

These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. We are not medical advisers, just merely posting research and suggestions. You should always know your own body and seek medical advice from professionals.
Credit: Modere Latest
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265215#Waist-size-linked-to-diabetes-risk,-regardless-of-BMI/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15797686/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6566799/

Avocado Lime Shrimp Salad

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🥑🍤Avocado Lime Shrimp Salad🥗🍅
The perfect lite, refreshing summer dish!
Ingredients:

  • 14 ounces jumbo cooked shrimp, peeled and de-veined, chopped.
  • 1 1/2 cup (9.51 oz) tomato, diced
  • 4 1/2 ounces avocado, diced
  • 1/4 cup (.80 oz) jalapeno, seeds removed, diced fine
  • 1/4 cup (.88 oz) chopped green onion
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tbsp + 2 tsp chopped red onion
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh pepper to taste

Directions: In a small bowl combine green onion, lime juice, olive oil, pinch of salt and pepper. Let them marinate at least 5 minutes to mellow the flavor of the onion.

In a large bowl combine chopped shrimp, avocado, tomato, jalapeno. Combine all the ingredients together, add cilantro and gently toss. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 2 servings

Refreshing Summer Drink Ideas

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Summer is here! Well in Central California at least! Here’s a healthy & tasty way to keep cool!

Cucumbers are very refreshing and hydrating. While they are composed mostly of water, the skin is rich in fiber and contains silica, potassium, and magnesium. A lot of people don’t like the skins of cucumbers, but they are worth eating so you can get those minerals. Make sure you use organic cucumbers if you’re going to eat the skin.

Coconut water is very hydrating and is full of natural electrolytes.

Parsley is full of nutrition with a large amount of available vitamin K, C, and A, along with anti-oxidants that help cleanse the blood. Parsley is also a great source of folic acid, which is one of the most important B vitamins. To green smoothies and beverages, parsley adds a mild “green” flavor that is light and refreshing. Because of the high nutritional value of parsley, I’ve started keeping it on hand regularly and I use it in just about everything.

You could add a variety of ingredients to this recipe. Watermelon would be divine. Honeydew would also be a delicious flavor to compliment the cucumber and citrus.

Ingredients

• 2 cups coconut water

• 1 small cucumber, washed and thinly sliced or chopped

• ½ cup fresh lemon juice

• 1 large bunch parsley, chopped fine

• 1 tsp. fresh, grated ginger

• ½ tsp raw honey

• ice

Instructions

There are two ways you can make this – it’s delicious either way:

1. Chop the cucumber and parsley and add to a quart jar. Add the honey, coconut water, lemon juice, and ice. With a tight fitting lid, shake vigorously until combined. Serve immediately. When you get done with the beverage, you’ll have a fresh little salad in the bottom of your glass. Some people might think this is weird – I thought it was tasty.

2. In a blender, add all the ingredients, except the ice and pulse to combine. Pour over ice and serve. If you want it more like a slushee texture, add some ice and blend to desired consistency.

Laundry Hazards

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Lately I’ve noticed a big push in advertising for laundry sanitation products. As a mom it seems like I do hundreds of loads of laundry each week from germ covered kiddos so I figured I’d do some investigation.

After contacting the company I found out a lot about this product.

This product DOES GO in the fabric softener dispenser. It does NOT get added to detergent in the wash cycle. It absolutely CANNOT come into contact with laundry detergents, softeners or any other products.

It needs to go in the final rinse and remain for a minimum of 16 minutes to even be effective!

The warnings listed on the label are scary and the product specialist even stated “to take them 100% seriously.”

So should you have this in your home? Well I’ll tell you no way will it ever come into my home! There’s several ways to safely sanitize your laundry without risking your health or your families safety!

Here’s just some of the fine print on the product….

Product Warnings:

Eyes: Get medical attention immediately. Call a poison center or physician. Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Check for and remove any contact lenses. Continue to rinse for at least 10 minutes. Chemical burns must be treated promptly by a physician.

Inhaled: Get medical attention immediately. Call a poison center or physician. Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. If it is suspected that fumes are still present, the rescuer should wear an appropriate mask or self-contained breathing apparatus. If not breathing, if breathing is irregular or if respiratory arrest occurs, provide artificial respiration or oxygen by trained personnel. It may be dangerous to the person providing aid to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If unconscious, place in recovery position and get medical attention immediately. Maintain an open airway. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.

Skin: Get medical attention immediately. Call a poison center or physician. Wash with plenty of soap and water. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash contaminated clothing thoroughly with water before removing it, or wear gloves. Continue to rinse for at least 10 minutes. Chemical burns must be treated promptly by a physician. In the event of any complaints or symptoms, avoid further exposure. Wash clothing before reuse. Clean shoes thoroughly before reuse.

Ingested: Get medical attention immediately. Call a poison center or physician. Wash out mouth with water. Remove dentures if any. Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. If material has been swallowed and the exposed person is conscious, give small quantities of water to drink. Stop if the exposed person feels sick as vomiting may be dangerous. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. If vomiting occurs, the head should be kept low so that vomit does not enter the lungs. Chemical burns must be treated promptly by a physician. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If unconscious, place in recovery position and get medical attention immediately. Maintain an open airway. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.

Handling Instructions:

Eyes: Safety eyewear complying with an approved standard should be used when a risk assessment indicates this is necessary to avoid exposure to liquid splashes, mists, gases or dusts. If contact is possible, the following protection should be worn, unless the assessment indicates a higher degree of protection: chemical splash goggles and/ or face shield. If inhalation hazards exist, a full-face respirator may be required instead.

Skin: Chemical-resistant, impervious gloves complying with an approved standard should be worn at all times when handling chemical products if a risk assessment indicates this is necessary. Considering the parameters specified by the glove manufacturer, check during use that the gloves are still retaining their protective properties. It should be noted that the time to breakthrough for any glove material may be different for different glove manufacturers. In the case of mixtures, consisting of several substances, the protection time of the gloves cannot be accurately estimated.

Body: Personal protective equipment for the body should be selected based on the task being performed and the risks involved and should be approved by a specialist before handling this product.

Respiratory: Use a properly fitted, air-purifying or air-fed respirator complying with an approved standard if a risk assessment indicates this is necessary. Respirator selection must be based on known or anticipated exposure levels, the hazards of the product and the safe working limits of the selected respirator.

Then if that’s not enough information for you… here’s the statement that sealed my decision:

Potential chronic health effects:

Once sensitized, a severe allergic reaction may occur when subsequently exposed to very low levels.

Other information:

They openly state their product was tested on animals. Specifically rats, rabbits & guinea pigs.

Here’s the real dirt on laundry:

Fresh clothes are dirtier than you’d think and you have no idea about it. It just not hygiene, there are plenty of issues that make clothes dirty even after washing. Here are few reasons:

The first reason is that washing machines are generally teaming up with microbes.

Even if you sanitize washing machines, you’ll end up washing mixed loads. So by the time wash cycle is complete, the clothes would still be dirty.

Ordinary detergents just remove dirt from the top layer. The deeper layers and clothe fiber remains home to pathogens even after washing.

The use of natural laundry sanitizer or some home remedies can ensure that clothes not only sparkle, but become really clean inside out.

Listed below are some options which you can consider for disinfecting laundry:

1. Lavender – This aromatic herb is used for variety of issues, in form of essence and oil. The most basic use is of its aroma. It is also used for improving immune system, getting relief from allergies and relaxing. But where can it be used as fabric sanitizer?

By just adding 1- 2 drops along with unscented detergent will render clothes pleasant smell, and disinfect them. Lavender has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

2. Tea Tree oil –Another good and natural solution to disinfect laundry. Tea Tree essential oil has been noted for its antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. This is why it is an important ingredient base for most cosmetics, detergent etc. Putting 2-3 drops of Tea Tree oil in the washing machine, with preferably unscented detergent sanitizes laundry. Besides, it gives a tinge of good smell to clothes.

3. Vinegar and Baking Soda – This combination not only works for white clothes, but has many uses for laundry care. Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener. A drop of essential oils like Lavender, Pine, Tea Tree Oil, spruce, pine, orange etc can be added to give clothes a pleasant smell. This mixture can be added during the rinse cycle.

If you use vinegar and baking soda together it will work brilliantly to remove hardest stains and help keep white clothes white. Vinegar also acts as natural disinfectant, killing germs, bacteria or mold present in the laundry, and removing soap residue as well. The backing soda acts as a natural cleaners and scrub.

Use 5 to 6 cups of vinegar, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of baking soda and 12 and 15 drops of your favorite essential oil. For a super fresh smell, lemongrass, orange, lime or lemon are good choices. Combine all the ingredients in a plastic container and use 1 cup per load as you choose

Another easy fabric softener blend is…

• 6 cups Vinegar

• 1 cup Water

• 15 drops Lemon, Orange, Lime, or Lemongrass oil

Combine all ingredients in a heavy-duty plastic container. Add 1 cup to rinse cycle for each load. You can also choose a spice oil or spice blend for the essential oil(s).

4. Grapefruit Seed Extract – With 10 percent extract in 90 percent water you can create a great disinfecting liquid and dip laundry one by one in it. Or you can run the grapefruit extract in between the rinse cycle to make your laundry hygienic.

5. Some Other Important Tips:

• Try washing clothes with hot water. Often cold water is used to save electricity.

• Avoid mixed loads. If not this, then at least exclude undergarments. Wash them separately.

• Clean washing machines regularly with hot water and detergent.

• Use a good laundry sanitizer disinfectant to ensure clean clothes.

• Soak kitchen towels and rugs in  a few drops of Tea Tree oil, Eucalyptus oil or Lavender in water before washing them in the machines.

Energy Drinks Truth & Lies

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In the US, the energy drink and shot industry grew 60% between 2008-2012 and was worth $12.5 billion in 2012. Sales are projected to reach $21.5 billion by 2017. These enormous sales numbers are due to the effective marketing strategies geared toward adolescents. Companies use different strategies to attract the young consumer. Cans and bottles usually consist of colorful graphics and catchy names. Commercials are placed on television networks including MTV, MTV2, Adult Swim and Comedy Central that are predominantly viewed by adolescents. Extreme sports competitions such as the X Games are mostly watched by the young population and therefore are heavily sponsored by energy drink companies. These companies also sponsor the athletes. Young consumers see their favorite athlete drinking and promoting an energy drink and want to imitate their favorite superstar athletes by acting, dressing and drinking just like their idol. They do this to try to live their idol’s lifestyle and maybe one day walk in their shoes. A recent study showed that in 2010 adolescents saw an average of 124 television ads for energy drinks/shots and 122 soda ads. The same study also showed that children between the ages of 2-11 saw almost the same amount of 5-Hour Energy commercials as they saw Capri Sun fruit drink commercials.

Many health risks arise from the consumption of energy drinks, especially for the young consumer. The main issue is due to the large amount of caffeine in these drinks. In 2007, there were 5,488 cases of caffeine overdose in the US. Forty-six percent of those cases occurred in individuals under 19 years of age. Drinking too much caffeine, especially if the individual does not consume large amounts of caffeine on a regular basis, can have rapid cardiovascular effects. Caffeine causes heart rate and blood pressure to increase. This in turn can lead to irregular heart activity, seizures, diabetes, mood and behavioral disorders, sleep disturbances, caffeine dependence and withdrawal. Genetic factors also determine if an individual is at a greater risk for complications with the consumption of caffeine. Caffeine is also a diuretic and may lead to dehydration. It is important to stay well hydrated and not consume large amounts of caffeine before or during exercise. The combination of altered cardiovascular activity along with dehydration may lead to many complications and even death. It is also important not to mix energy drinks/shots with medications or alcohol.

Sugar in energy drinks can lead to a variety of health problems. A diet high in sugar can overwork the pancreas, which generates insulin to balance sugar intake, and makes the individual more susceptible to diabetes. Sugar also makes blood very thick and sticky, preventing it from flowing in small capillaries that supply the gums and teeth with nutrients. Teens consuming about 2,000 daily calories should limit their daily sugar intake to 20-32 grams (5-8 teaspoons). It is important to consume natural sugars found in fruits, vegetables and dairy, while avoiding added sugars found in foods such as desserts, sodas and energy drinks. Main complications from energy drink consumption develop because of the high concentration of different ingredients that act to stimulate the body and mind.

The ingredients in energy drinks all have specific effects and can affect a person differently, depending on their characteristics. Focus on trying to get enough sleep, proper nutrition and exercise regularly to keep your energy level up.

What to do if you REALLY need an extra boost???

There’s no doubt that life in general – and modern life in particular, places incredible demands on our individual resources. Let’s face it, life can be exhausting! Plus when you’re parenting 4 tiny humans you can bet your lucky stars momma needs some extra energy!

When it comes time for an energy boost, it’s most likely the best solution isn’t a “pick me up” that is full of synthetic ingredients and refined sugar, that gives you a quick buzz then causes you to crash.

However there IS a natural way to get more energy. Modere’s Energy Shot has only natural ingredients, with none of the junk! One 90ml bottle a day:

• promotes a natural energy boost

• promotes alertness and concentration

• delays fatigue

• naturally stimulating

• revitalizes mind and body

• helps you meet mental and physical challenges

It contains natural caffeine from Guarana and Green Tea, acai berries and B1 vitamins, and a range of other fruit extracts with NO artificial colors or other junk ingredients!! They are the perfect replacement for mainstream energy drinks or coffee.

Other natural ways to boost your energy

• Stay hydrated – regularly drink filtered alkaline water

• Consume protein with every meal (snack on nuts and low GI fruit)

• When working from a desk, get up every half hour for fresh air and stretch your legs

Give it a try! Use this link & get $10.00 OFF your first purchase: CLICK HERE

Mediterranean Chicken

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Put dinner on the table in minutes with this Healthy Instant Pot Mediterranean Chicken recipe. It has traditional Greek flavors using tomatoes, kalamata olives and oregano. So tasty and so simple to prepare. 

• Prep Time: 5 minutes

• Cook Time: 15 minutes

• Total Time: 20 minutes

• 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 3-4 Skinless boneless chicken breasts

• 1 can no salt diced tomatoes

• 1/2 onion diced

• 2 TBS minced garlic

• 20-25 pitted Kalamata olives

• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

• 2 TBS All Purpose Greek Seasonings

• 1 TBS dried oregano

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut each chicken breast into 4-5 large pieces.

2. Turn Instant Pot on Saute

3. Add oil, diced onions, and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes.

4. Sprinkle both sides of chicken pieces with Greek seasoning.

5. Place 1/2 of the chicken breasts into the Instant Pot and brown on both sides (this will take about 3 minutes per side). Working in batches, remove and set aside the first batch and add the second batch. Remove all of the chicken once browned.

6. Add the canned tomatoes, olives and dried oregano.

7. Using a wooden spoon scrape up all of the brown bits stuck to the bottom of the Instant Pot.

8. Arrange the chicken breasts into the tomato-olive mixture.

9. Set the Instant Pot on Manual/High for 15 minutes.

10. Allow it to self-release for 10 minutes, then pressure release until all of the steam has escaped.

11. Serve over a bed of fresh mixed greens!

Gluten Free Gingerbread

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Gluten Free & Vegan Gingerbread This recipe makes moist and cake-like gingerbread that packs a sneaky serving of black beans in each bite. They are loaded with protein, fiber, and nutrients for a healthier treat. (I’ll be adding another more crisp option)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans , or 1 (15 oz.) can drained and rinsed

• 1/2 cup gluten-free flour blend

• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil

• 3/4 cup coconut sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses

• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon coarse granulated sugar , for topping (optional)

Instructions

1 Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. In the bowl of a large food processor fitted with an “S” blade, combine the black beans, flour, oil, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, baking soda, vanilla, molasses, and vinegar. Process until a smooth batter is formed.

2 Pour the batter into the lined baking dish and sprinkle the top with the tablespoon of coarse sugar, if desired. Bake until the top feels firm to a light touch, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before removing the bars from the pan and slicing.

3 These bars will keep well at room temperature for up to 48 hours tightly covered, but for best shelf life keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Cucumber Greek Salad

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This Cucumber Greek Salad is light and refreshing, and full of healthy ingredients. With minimal prep, it makes an easy side dish for any meal!
🕑10 minutes

Ingredients: Vegetarian, Gluten free
∙ Serves 8

Produce

2 Cucumbers
2 tsp Oregano, dried
1/2 Red onion
4 Roma tomatoes

Condiments

1 Black olives, pitted and sliced
1 1/2 tbsp Lemon juice

Spices

1 Salt and pepper

Oils & Vinegars

1/4 cup Olive oil

Dairy

1/2 cup Feta cheese

Beauty Counter Foundation

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What initially drew my eye: Beautycounter’s commitment to products with safe ingredients. They have a list of over 1,500 ingredients that they promise to never use. They regularly pour over all sorts of studies and even commission some of their own to examine ingredients for toxicity. That’s awesome. But that’s not the whole story.

They don’t claim to be all-natural, “Over 80% of the ingredients in our products are organic, natural or plant derived. The others are synthetic…but that doesn’t mean that they are unsafe.” I get it. To mass-produce things economically and safely, you often have to include synthetic preservatives to make sure your products don’t spoil and kill someone. That is always my answer when a reader asks why I don’t sell my own products. And I’ve said time and again that natural skincare is not an all or nothing process. Any little step helps in the journey towards a healthier life. To foster transparency, Beautycounter even provides a complete glossary of their ingredients.

I’ve tried a lot of safer make-up brands but have yet to fall in love with the whole line. I have been on the hunt for a safer foundation so my awesome friend Stephanie invited me to try Beautycounter foundation. I decided to give it a try, so I bought the Tint Skin Foundation for $41 +tax & shipping. The price doesn’t really bother me cause before switching to safer brands I still bought high end products. I am extremely fair skinned so I purchased the porcelain shade which turned out to be a perfect match.

I applied with a brush. It went on smoothly and evenly. A little bit of product went a long way. It is a very light weight foundation so I used about a dime sized amount to get a full coverage. I tend to have oily skin and found that this did not add to my oiliness nor did it dry me out. It stayed in place well over 14 hours of rigorous mom life of 4 kids ages 1-10! When it was time to hit the hay I usually notice that when removing my make-up my skin will feel dry or even flakey, but not with this foundation. My skin felt soft and plump!

Overall thoughts
I applaud Beautycounter for their mission. I believe in it, I support it, and I want to do everything I can to bring awareness to the brand in the hope that more and more women will recognize the chemicals in their products and start choosing safer alternatives.

That said, from trying out their face products, I get the impression that these are designed more for the woman who doesn’t like to wear a lot of makeup, prefers a very natural look when she does wear makeup or for a woman that already has beautiful skin. These products are formulated to enhance what you already have, but if you’re looking for something with the ability to transform, hide or cover, these products are probably not the best choice for you. I would love to see Beautycounter come out with a face line that provides a broader range of coverage options, but understand that they’re bound by their ability to do so while sourcing from ingredients that are healthy and sustainable.

Are You Consuming Fake Sugar?

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As few as one diet soda daily may increase the risk for leukemia in men and women, and for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in men, according to new results from the longest-ever running study on aspartame as a carcinogen in humans. Importantly, this is the most comprehensive, long-term study ever completed on this topic, so it holds more weight than other past studies which appeared to show no risk. And disturbingly, it may also open the door for further similar findings on other cancers in future studies.

 

The most thorough study yet on aspartame done, on over two million people, in years

For this study, researchers prospectively analyzed data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study for a 22-year period. A total of 77,218 women and 47,810 men were included in the analysis, for a total of 2,278,396 person-years of data. Apart from sheer size, what makes this study superior to other past studies is the thoroughness with which aspartame intake was assessed. Every two years, participants were given a detailed dietary questionnaire, and their diets were reassessed every four years. Previous studies which found no link to cancer only ever assessed participants’ aspartame intake at one point in time, which could be a major weakness affecting their accuracy.

 

One diet soda a day increases leukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas

The combined results of this new study showed that just one 12-fl oz. can (355 ml) of diet soda daily leads to:

– 42 percent higher leukemia risk in men and women (pooled analysis)
– 102 percent higher multiple myeloma risk (in men only)
– 31 percent higher non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk (in men only)

These results were based on multi-variable relative risk models, all in comparison to participants who drank no diet soda. It is unknown why only men drinking higher amounts of diet soda showed increased risk for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Note that diet soda is the largest dietary source of aspartame (by far) in the U.S. Every year, Americans consume about 5,250 tons of aspartame in total, of which about 86 percent (4,500 tons) is found in diet sodas.

 

Confirmation of previous high quality research on animals

This new study shows the importance of the quality of research. Most of the past studies showing no link between aspartame and cancer have been criticized for being too short in duration and too inaccurate in assessing long-term aspartame intake. This new study solves both of those issues. The fact that it also shows a positive link to cancer should come as no surprise, because a previous best-in-class research study done on animals (900 rats over their entire natural lifetimes) showed strikingly similar results back in 2006: aspartame significantly increased the risk for lymphomas and leukemia in both males and females. More worrying is the follow on mega-study, which started aspartame exposure of the rats at the fetal stage. Increased lymphoma and leukemia risks were confirmed, and this time the female rats also showed significantly increased breast (mammary) cancer rates. This raises a critical question: will future, high-quality studies uncover links to the other cancers in which aspartame has been implicated (brain, breast, prostate, etc.)?

There is now more reason than ever to completely avoid aspartame in our daily diet. For those who are tempted to go back to sugary sodas as a “healthy” alternative, this study had a surprise finding: men consuming one or more sugar-sweetened sodas daily saw a 66 percent increase in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (even worse than for diet soda). Clearly the healthiest soda is no soda at all.

Here’s just a few of the other possible side effects:

We need to stop looking for quick easy fixes and get back to enjoying real food and real activities. We can’t expect great health and an enjoyable life when we don’t fuel our bodies right.