Welcome to Christy's Non Toxic Lifestyle. We’re all so busy managing: families, careers, households, relationships and even technology. At some point, something has to give — and eventually it will — unless we all “slow down” and start giving more attention to our health and the one body we’ve been given. Empower yourself! You can live a non toxic lifestyle!
Note: After 10 years, I just wanted to thank you, my readers for helping me to make this a better site. We're all in this together. I'm continually looking to improve the process and quality of this site for me AND for you. So grateful for all of your emails to me but I would love it if you’d share your thoughts in the “comments” section of my site, too, so others can contribute and benefit from each other’s feedback. Thank you!
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Favorite Summer Posts
Is Your Car Making You Sick?
I recently learned that the temperature inside a car on a hot July day can be 40 degrees hotter than the temperature outside. So, if it’s 90 degrees outside when I jump in the car, inside it’s a raging 130 degrees! Of course it’s hot and most everyone’s first move is to turn on the A/C to cool down. Not so fast, everyone! We’ve all heard how it’s not healthy to leave a water bottle out in the sun. The plastic, when heated, releases toxins into the water. Well, the same thing is happening when we jump into our steaming, hot cars. Click here for more!
The Perils of Parabens
Sixteen years ago, following nine months of breast cancer treatment, I attended a weekend retreat sponsored by Natural Health Magazine. That began my journey into the “non-toxic” world of new choices and options that I would embrace and share with my friends and anyone who wanted to know. My biggest “AHA” moment came from learning about parabens, which I had been slathering most generously on my body for most of my life! These products smelled wonderful and they made my skin soft, but little did I realize how toxic they were. Click here for more!
The ABCs of VOCs!
VOC? What does that mean? The Minnesota Department of Health states that Volatile Organic Compounds are “a large group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. While most people can smell high levels of some VOCs, other VOCs have no odor. Odor does NOT indicate the level of risk from inhalation of this group of chemicals.” Click here for more!
Do Flip Flops = Foot Health?
I confess. I have a pair of flip-flops that I jump into first thing in the morning to go out and water plants. They’re easy and convenient, right?! They offer coolness on these hot days and I think just about everyone I know, owns a pair. Does that make them good for us, our feet, our bodies? Our feet have 8000 nerves in them, and the average person takes between 8,000 -10,000 steps per day. The human foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and tendons. Your feet mirror your general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet. Click here for more!
My Update to Non Toxic Toes for Spring and Summer!
Don’t you love that almost everywhere we women are getting ready to don our favorite sandals and flip flops! Time to really scrub up and get our feet polished up and pretty. Ever notice the chemical odors when applying nail polish? The Environmental Working Group and Women’s Voices for the Earth deem these smells the “toxic trio.” And each of these “toxic trio” chemicals have been classified as the most toxic by the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database that I mentioned in my article, the “Perils of Parabens.” Click here for more!
Happy Feet: The Health Benefits of Foot Reflexology!
Did you know that the human foot and ankle contains 26 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 ligaments, muscles and tendons? The bones in both of your feet added together make up about 25 percent of all the bones in your body. Our feet carry an incredible load everyday and yet are typically the least pampered parts of our bodies. Many cultures have practiced foot massages for years as an alternative to medicine in promoting good health and wellness. And WHO doesn’t enjoy a good foot rub? Click here for more!
Summer Fruit – How Much Sugar?
It’s Summer time and the fruits and veggies are coming into abundance. Each summer I can hardly wait for those big, ripe, juicy organic cherries and grapes to arrive at the markets. Sadly, but honestly, I admit to gorging on more than a few in any one sitting. It’s healthy fruit, right? Well, while they’re healthy, they do contain natural sugars, so it’s important to be mindful in keeping helpings to a palm sized serving. Click here for more!
Top 15 Healthy Grilling Tips!
Many of us will be enjoying our grills this summer season, whether your food of choice be meat or veggies. No one wants salmonella from uncooked meat, poultry, or seafood, but let’s also make sure we aren’t ingesting toxins from overcooked, burnt food or inhaling carcinogenic smoke either. Did you know the smoke from our grills contains toxic chemicals that we inhale when we’re standing over our grills? Not fun news to hear, especially given that roughly 80 percent of all U.S. households grill at least 1-2 times each week during the summer. Click here for more!
Foods for Lung Health
A few years ago, Portland, Oregon, registered the poorest air quality in the world due to the raging fires in their state. Read that again… In. The. World. Anyone who spent that particular day outside in Portland had inhaled the equivalent of 15 cigarettes according to an Oregon news source. Add to that, COVID 19 which attacks the respiratory system. Add to that, seasonal allergies. Add to that, lots of folks who try to manage their chronic asthma. Right now, more than ever, we all need to be doing all we can to protect our lungs. The good news is that we CAN! Read on.Click here for more!
Eight Awesome Anti-Aging Tips for Summer
One – Eat Well: Olive oil, yogurt, fish, chocolate, nuts, red wine and blueberries. These foods, many or which are part of the Mediterranean diet, all offer heart health benefits along with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Click here to read my blog post on the Mediterranean diet. And, click here for more!
Sunscreens: UVA, UVB, SPF – What Do They All Mean?
I am of the baby boomer generation that didn’t use sunscreen growing up. The “in” thing was slathering baby oil all over our bodies to enhance the tanning effects of the sun. I’ll spare you the details of my sun-spotted arms and hands, but I certainly wish I knew then what I know now! When my kids came along, I thought I was being a diligent parent when it came to applying sunscreen. However, little did I know that those sunscreens, as well as many on the market today are full of toxic chemicals. And I was using them on myself as well. Click here for more!
Non Toxic Insect Repellents to the Rescue!
Summertime and the living is easy, except when the flies, gnats and mosquitoes join the party. I can’t tell you how many toxic sprays and creams I covered myself with many years ago without knowing the chemical dangers. The most well-known chemical in insect repellents is DEET. Did you know that it melts plastic and fishing line? Of course it’s effective and insects are smart enough to stay away, but do we want to be putting that stuff on our skin? Not me! Remember that most chemicals are more toxic to children than adults. Click here for more!
Lemon Balm Wild Blueberry Iced Tea
During these hot days of summer, here’s one of my go-to ice teas. Not that they weren’t refreshing last month, or any month, but many of us are experiencing temperatures over 90 degrees! I love this recipe because it’s easy, healthy and delicious, especially when paired with lemon balm tea. I can easily make a pitcher a day when the grand-kids are visiting! And if you don’t know much about the health benefits of wild blueberries, read on! Click here for more!
Scrumptious Summer Salads!
I love salads! With summer in full swing and having so many choices in fruits and veggies, it’s the best time to be creative and experiment. It’s great fun putting the basics together, then grabbing leftover meat, chicken and fish, blueberries and strawberries, then raiding the pantry for nuts and seeds! I have a few favorite salads I make every summer, but every year I think most of us like trying some new, easy and healthy recipes. Click here for more!
Delicious Summer Beverages – Hold the Processed Sugar
Someone recently told me that June is National Fruits and Vegetables month! And with the abundance of these food items in our stores and at our farmers markets, we can create some delicious, thirst quenching summer beverages without the use of sugar. And these can certainly carry into July and August! I’m always on the quest for creative drinks that everyone loves (including me) and that are so much healthier. This week, I’m listing a few of my favorites along with some newly discovered drinks that I’m going to try myself! Click here for more!
Why are Autoimmune Disorders Rising for Women?
Did you know that 80% of people with autoimmune disorders are female? Did you know that digestive issues, headaches, low energy and even eczema can be early signs of an autoimmune disorder? What’s that, you say? According to Dr. Robin Berzin, an autoimmune disease is “when the immune system, which is supposed to attack outside invaders, starts attacking the cells in your body.” She also notes that autoimmune disorders are on the rise at an “alarming rate.” Click here for more!
Women’s Hormones: A Delicate Balancing Act
This is the first of a two-part series on Women’s Hormones, for Part 2, click here. Show me a woman who sleeps soundly eight hours every night, has a high libido, hasn’t gained weight in years (with proper diet), is emotionally stable 24/7/365, doesn’t experience bloating or any mild depression and whose brain is as sharp as a tack, and I’ll show you a woman with perfectly balanced hormones. (And, I’ll sell you some swampland in Florida!) Click here for more!
The Super Power of Women’s Hormones!
Did you know that with hormone support we have the ability to minimize the damages done by aging? Did you know that with appropriate hormone support we have the ability to stay at or near our optimal weights, recover from illnesses more quickly, and protect our bones, hearts and brains from deteriorating? Best of all, did you know that with hormone support we can actually age gracefully AND feel great? Click here for more!
Canola Oil Caution
This article is particularly close to my heart because it’s been an 18-year journey with huge implications in what I eat. As we all know, one can develop allergies at any point in one’s life. Following chemotherapy and all of my cancer treatment 18 years ago, I suspected that the chemical treatments had left me with huge cooked tomato sauce allergies. Chemo can alter all sorts of things. Every time I would even try a little lasagna, chili or tomato-based soup, I would get violently ill within an hour. However, in the last few months, I discovered the real culprit. Canola Oil! Click here for more!
Sleep on This – Cherries!
For many of us, this is the best time of the year when fruits and vegetables are plentiful! One of my very favorite fruits are cherries. I just can’t get enough of them in July, when they’re in season. Not surprising is that my favorite pie flavor is cherry, too. In addition to the fact that they’re plump and juicy and just taste amazing, they actually can help with sleep. No kidding! Read on and I’ll tell you how. Click here for more!
Kale: Caped Crusader or Thyroid Threat?
While Kale is the current superhero of the veggie world, offering a myriad of health benefits, did you know that it could potentially have a negative impact on your thyroid? How can that be, you might ask? Virtually every restaurant now offers a kale salad or other side dish with this media darling of the veggie world in it. We’re even encouraged to throw kale into soups and our home-made juices. So back to the kale and thyroid connection… Click here for more!
Be Aware – The Dirty Dozen
For the past few years, strawberries have topped the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) list of The Dirty Dozen. The Dirty Dozen refers to the list of fresh fruits and vegetables that are likely to contain the most pesticides. I rinse all of my fresh fruits and vegetables before I eat or cook with them, especially those with skins you are intended to eat. I pay close attention to the EWG’s annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, and make sure to wash these 12 + 2 extra thoroughly. Click here for more!
The Spoils of Oils!
I use them when I bathe and shower, as room fresheners in diffusers, and as daily uplifting or calming modalities. Lots of us also love their fragrances in potpourri. They are wonderful as part of natural cleaning products. I also use them in my Reiki practice, and I’ll bet many of you who practice yoga have experienced them in class in one fashion or another. Many of us enjoy them in herbal teas too! Essential oils offer so much. Click here for more!
The Clean 15
Avocados are not only an exceptionally nutritious super-food, they have topped the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) – The Clean 15. According to EWG, fruits and vegetables on the list had the lowest pesticide load, and consequently are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume from the standpoint of pesticide contamination. Click here for more!
Where to Begin?
I can’t tell you how many times my readers tell me that they really want to live a more “non-toxic” lifestyle but they don’t know where to begin. They also express concerns about doing this in an affordable way. Believe me, I know. I started this journey 15 years ago. I admit it can be overwhelming, but I do have a few suggestions for making the transition easier! I’d like to add that it’s important to give yourself a high five for EVERY change you make, even if it’s one thing a month. Click here for more!
The Art of Doing Nothing
Could this period of “social distancing” actually be considered both physical AND mental health gifts during these challenging days and those ahead? While many of us are working from home in our attempts to ease the spread and the risks of contracting this nasty virus, I am going to be bold and present a few of the gifts in this period. Click here for more!
These 6 Things: An Experiment
I think I can speak for many of us when I say the world is moving fast and some days it’s just plain overwhelming, right? I don’t know about you but I have mixed feelings about social media. I love that I can see what friends and family are doing but there’s no real “connection.” I learn so much from what is shared, but then I find myself in information-overload and I’ve just given away two hours of my life in front of a screen. Click here for more!
Let the Sunshine In: The Importance of Vitamin D!
I recently read that an estimated 85 percent of the people in the United States are Vitamin D deficient. I never knew that Vitamin D, which many call the “Sunshine Vitamin,” influences more than 10 percent of our genes. According to Mercola.com there are more than 40,000 medical papers on Vitamin D. This veritable mountain of research indicates that Vitamin D has far-reaching benefits to our physical and mental health. With proper amounts, many health issues could be prevented or symptoms alleviated. Click here for more!
Posture Alignment to the Rescue!
Did you know that many of one’s “aches and pains” can be attributed to poor postural alignment? Believe it or not, foot, knees, hip, back, shoulder and neck pain can all be attributed to walking incorrectly and leaning to one side or the other without even knowing it. The good news, and I speak from personal experience, is that MOST of these issues can be treated successfully without analgesics and/or surgery. More good news, you can get help with a personalized session from a certified postural alignment therapist on zoom in the comfort of your home. Interested? Click here for more!
My Updated Research is in on Non-Toxic Yoga Mats!
Okay yoga friends, I continue to get questions on which yoga mats are the least toxic and healthiest to use. I’ve had some great comments from many of you and I have done more research. I’m happy to report that my latest research shows that a couple of the mats I recommended in my first post are still on the list! I’ve also learned of some others definitely worth checking out. Criteria were based on possible harmful chemicals used, environmental kindness, comfort and smell since no one wants to be cringing in downward dog, right? Click here for more!
The Healing Power of Reiki
It’s an understatement when I say I had the good fortune of being introduced to Reiki nearly 12 years ago! I had been diagnosed with cancer and was looking for anything to help me heal. I am so grateful that I am open to trying new things, especially healing modalities, as long as it doesn’t involve pain! I’ve learned that the world is abundant in healing resources. We just have to know how to tap into them. I’m always a little curious why a person wouldn’t want to try another form of healing, especially if it worked and was without the side effects of western medication? Click here for more!
On Pins and Needles – Acupuncture 101
After decades of being prescribed antibiotics by my doctor for my chronic and frequent sinus infections, I tried my first acupuncture treatment 25 years ago. It was time to to try something different, and I was delighted that I could breathe so much better after my first treatment! I learned that regular treatments could help me manage my allergies and build and maintain my immune system. Click here for more!
Probiotics 101
Did you know that 70 percent of your immune system “lives” in your digestive tract? That’s right, the digestive tract, which I affectionately refer to as “the gut.” It is your body’s front-line defense system against viruses, rogue cells and bacterial infections. When poor eating habits, stress, chemicals, environmental toxins, and heavy metals compromise your digestive system; your whole body is at risk. Click here for more!
Highlights From Christy’s Non Toxic Lifestyle
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