Drinking plenty (1.5-2L per day) of pure unadulterated water is the simplest and best step you can take to improving your health.
I’ve been researching the best drinking water for more than a year and I’ve finally taken the plunge (groan!) and bought myself a Big Berkey filter.
The water tastes delicious, it’s had up 99.9% of contaminants removed by the huge charcoal filters and its pH is more alkali – win/win/win. I’m very pleased with it and so I’m happy to recommend them. Read the Big Berkey lab results for more information about what is removed. Update February 2019: this independent lab report confirms that Big Berkeys remove 100% of glyphosate (Round-Up). Excellent news!
One of my concerns about charcoal filtering was that the beneficial minerals such as zinc, selenium, etc are also removed. So, I’ve added some Yve-Bio raw mineral and gem stones to the bottom of my Berkey.
UPDATE: Ever concerned about nutrients … I’m adding a few drops of this Electrolyte supplement to my Big Berkey water. This replaces some of the important minerals which are filtered out.
Finally, if you currently use a plastic bottle (or even worse you refill mineral water bottles with tap water), we know that this can leach plastic chemicals (BPAs) into the water – you should consider investing in one that’s stainless steel (or glass but that’s not really practical for carrying). I use this insulated 750ml bottle on the move and a glass Kilner type bottle at home.
I wonder whether the fashion norm of painted finger nails could be involved in increasing breast cancer rates? Nail varnish contains some really nasty chemicals and everything we put on our bodies ends up in our blood stream. When I was doing Aromatherapy training decades ago, I proved this theory by taping a slice of garlic to the sole of my foot. It could be smelled on my breath within minutes.
The breast cancer/nail varnish question came up on a recent training day with my professional association. Chris Astill-Smith mentioned that long-term exposure to low levels of an irritant can be worse for our health than a short, sharp exposure to a larger dose. I also knew this from my Aromatherapy training – and personal experience. I managed to sensitise myself to lemon type essential oils by diffusing the delicious essential oil May Chang day after day. Sensitisation is much longer lasting and potentially more dangerous than an immediate reaction. Chris also said that traces of the chemicals in nail varnish can be found in the lymph nodes in the armpits. This really got me thinking … about a client of mine who has had breast cancer and who always has her nails beautifully manicured and varnished.
A few days later, my lovely stepdaughter was chatting with a friend and I overheard that another of their friends has been diagnosed with breast cancer. All this got me thinking … and googling. It seems there are very definitely strong reasons to NOT have permanently painted finger nails. This article explains why. And this research does too … and this study looked at just one chemical: TPHP.
The picture on the left shows three of the nasty toxins in commercial (ie, non-natural) nail varnish brands. These are all Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals – ie. they interfere with normal hormone function. Breast Cancer UK launched a campaign called Ditch The Junk this year aimed at highlighting the potential cancer-causing toxicity of so-called beauty products. Nail varnish is top of the toxic list. (Another really worrying chemical is Triclosan – found in handwash. It’s almost impossible to find a handwash without it in.)
I think it’s time to think twice before painting your nails! Let’s go back to the natural look please! Rub a little coconut oil into your cuticles and push them back with a cotton bud, then buff up your nails with a soft cloth. Wear your natural nails with pride – and protect yourself against cancer. It’s a win/win.
And if you want to paint your nails for a special occasion, then this Dorset natural nail varnish company make stunning colours WITHOUT the nasties. I recommend investing in the base coat and top coat – my LivOliv painted Summer toe nails last for four weeks without fading or chipping.
Our young cat Sam made my eyes and nose stream when we first rescued him.
Does your pet make you sneeze? Are you missing out on cuddles with your cat? Is grass pollen season a nightmare time for you? Are there foods which give you indigestion or bloating?
If so, there are lots of Kinesiology techniques which can help alleviate or reduce the symptoms of allergies and intolerances. Hay fever, pet allergies, food intolerances … they can all be tested for and symptoms improved with relevant kinesiology techniques. (We can also test for supplements to support your immune system.)
As hay fever season is well and truly upon us, I’m offering a 55-minute “allergy” appointment for £25 during June 2017. You will need to bring a small amount of whatever gives you symptoms – grass seeds, pollen, pet fur, foods, etc etc. This price is for existing clients only – all new clients will need to have an initial assessment appointment first (1.5 hours at £50).
I used to get awful hay fever type symptoms from just about everything and kinesiology has really helped me. I hardly suffer at all now and never need to take an anti-histamine – thank goodness. However, when we rescued our little cat Sam last summer, my eyes and nose were streaming within days. I went to see my kinesiologist with some fur from his brush. We established that the Energy Mismatch technique was relevant (my body was confused and treated him as an enemy of my immune system). She did a fix there and then and I repeated it for homework, along with cross-crawling with the little packet of fur on me. Within a week I had no more symptoms and I can now give him all the cuddles he deserves!
Contact me ASAP to book in for June – let’s see how kinesiology can help alleviate your symptoms!
Happy New Year! Wishing you a happy and very healthy 2017!
If you’ve woken up this morning with a groan … and you’re thinking you must do a ‘detox’ this month, here are my thoughts and tips. This is the first article of five I will write. You could take them as a step-by-step approach to a cleaner, brighter, fresher and healthier new year.
What I mean by ‘detox’ in this article, is giving your body’s systems and organs a rest – a break from rich food & drink – so that your cells can regenerate fresher and fitter than ever. This puts a sparkle in your eyes and a spring in your step – you’ll have more energy, better immunity … and looks.
The digestive system
The liver is our powerhouse of detoxification – it filters our blood at the rate of about 3 pints per minute – removing dead and faulty cells, bugs, inorganic chemicals, fat globules, etc. It then detoxifies these by using enzymes to convert them from fat soluble to water soluble – so they can be eliminated from our bodies via urine, sweat and faeces.
So, the first step in giving your liver a helping hand is to help clear the elimination pathways. There are four main exit routes from our bodies:
large intestine (bowel, colon) – faeces
kidneys & bladder – urine
skin – sweat
lungs – respiration (breathing)
All four of these eliminatory organs/systems have one fundamental requirement in order to function – WATER. The lungs require a litre of water at all times in order to exchange gases in and out of the blood (the purpose of respiration). When exercising or in warm weather, our skin can sweat out a litre per hour. Urine is the most obvious watery route and is a good indicator of dehydration – it should be pale, light yellow – almost clear. If it’s yellow, orange or dark and cloudy – you urgently need to drink more water! Few of us meet our body’s requirements of 6-8 glasses (1.5-2 litres) per day of pure water. It’s such a simple yet powerful step towards better health. Read why in my article here.
STEP ONE – your homework today is to drink more plain, pure water – today and every day from now on. Here are a few tips on drinking water:
Like a pot plant that hasn’t been watered for some time, if you drink 8 glasses today it will just go straight through you – you will probably spend most of the day on the toilet. Increase water intake slowly – if you don’t currently drink any water each day, drink one tall glass today, two tomorrow and the next day, then three, etc etc.
Sip water over the course of the day – don’t down whole glasses at a time (think pot plant).
Don’t drink within 20 minutes of a meal – especially before, as this can dilute digestive juices.
Choose bottled mineral or filtered water to avoid added chemicals. I like the taste of the water from these Wellness Carafes which I also sell in my clinic.
Herbal teas count as water. Your liver loves herbs – especially bitter tasting ones such as dandelion, nettle, mint and green tea. Don’t overdo any of them though – vary them throughout the day. You could also drink hot water with a small slice of lemon (if you like the taste – try removing the outer skin if it’s too bitter).
TOMORROW – I’ll be writing about how you can support elimination through your skin. You’ll be amazed by this vital organ – it’s literally the frontline of your body!
Drinking plenty (1.5-2L per day) of pure unadulterated water is the simplest and best step you can take to improving your health.
UPDATE: Ever concerned about nutrients … I’m adding a few drops of this Electrolyte supplement to my Big Berkey water. This replaces some of the important minerals which are filtered out.
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