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!

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Favorite Fall Posts

 

Fall Allergies — Dairy, Apples, Honey and Neti Pots, Oh My!

While autumn signals the beginning of allergies for some folks, others tend to suffer year round. Ragweed is the main irritant for my husband during the fall, starting in early August and running through mid-October. I’m one of the lucky ones who have year round sensitivities to dust and mold. Either way, allergies can leave one feeling tired, and just plain miserable. Click here for more!

 

Foods for Lung Health

This summer, wildfire smoke has made its way across the country to Maine due to the jet streams. Add to that, COVID 19 which attacks the respiratory system. Add to that, seasonal allergies. Add to that, the high humidity in parts of the country, especially after the recent hurricanes. 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!

 

Foods That Can Cause or Worsen Congestion

Hi all! Spring is here and we’re all delighting in the warmer weather and the popping of leaves and plant life again! For many of us however, the delights of Spring often bring pollen and allergies. Did you know that while you may be eating healthy, some of those foods may be causing histamines, worsening your allergies and congestion? And for those of you who suffer from regular sinusitis (inflammation or swelling of the tissues lining the sinuses), there’s some good info here that might at least help bring you relief! Click here for more!

 

Bedtime Rituals for Better Sleep

So here we are, soon returning to Standard Time again.  While we all love that extra hour of sleep, these twice-a-year “adjustments” tend to affect many of us by disrupting our circadian rhythms. According to Psychology Today, circadian rhythm is often referred to as the “body clock.” The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle that tells our bodies when to sleep and regulates many other physiological processes. Click here for more!

 

Magnesium Matters!

In the past few months, several friends have commented on their insomnia, night leg cramps, depression, migraines and brain fog. Did you know that these can often be symptoms of magnesium deficiency? Did you know that magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body? It truly plays a big part in the health of one’s body. Even when we think we’re getting enough nutrients through our food, we may actually be deficient. Click here for more!

 

Sleep on This – Cherries!

For many of us, we’re just leaving summer season 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!

 

How Healthy Is Your Self-Cleaning Oven?

Okay, so as the days turn darker earlier and we get ready to hunker in for the holidays and winter to come, I don’t know about you but I’m getting in baking mode. Let the baking begin! My friend Karen’s pumpkin bread is first on the list! However, as I open my oven after many months of non-use, I am reminded that it’s time for a good cleaning. Many of us have self-cleaning ovens, but wait, what’s that nasty smell that comes with burning throat and itchy eyes that comes with that convenience? Click here for more!

 

Top 10 Travel Tips for Staying Healthy

“Let the games begin!” We all have heard that Thanksgiving and Christmas are the busiest travel times of the year. While the beginning of the holiday season brings us together for joyful times with family and friends, we are also at a higher risk for getting sick when we jump on an airplane to visit them. In the spirit of recognizing how busy we all are, and wanting to simplify this post, here are my Top 10 Travel Tips for staying healthy while flying this year. 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.” Read on.Click here for more!

 

Soup’s On – A Flu Fighter and More!

We’re well into winter, some places more so than others, and nothing says comfort like a good, healthy, steaming bowl of soup when it’s cold outside! Today, I’m sharing one of my favorite and relatively easy to make recipes: Mushroom-Spinach Soup with Cinnamon, Coriander and Cumin! Did you know that one needs to cook mushrooms to get the nutritional benefits from them? I used to throw them raw on my salads but now I know better. The Asian culture has been using mushrooms for healing for hundreds of years. Click here for more!

 

Powerhouse Pumpkins!

It’s officially autumn and with this season I always think of pumpkins! We carve them, decorate with them and best of all, we eat pumpkin in many delicious ways! Loaded with vitamins and minerals, pumpkin is low in calories, so indulge! In today’s post, I’m going to share the health benefits of eating real pumpkin (not to be confused with artificial seasonings) along with one of my favorite recipes and links to beautiful, easy-to-make table centerpieces! Click here for more!

 

Bone Broth, Beans and Greens… Oh My!

From time to time I’m going to turn my blog over to a friend or colleague who is really “the pro” in their respective area of healthy living. This week I’m pleased to announce my first guest blogger, Natalie Oliva, a bright, young foodie, with a degree from the French Culinary Institute in New York. She has a passion for fresh, healthy foods that incorporate seasonal ingredients. When you hear, “Baby, it’s Cold Outside,” there’s nothing better than a steaming bowl of hot soup! Click here for more!

 

Breast Cancer: Recovery and Creation

Trust me when I say that when going through any cancer treatment, there are multiple doctor’s appointments, treatment plans, test results, medications, medication changes, surgery and treatment dates, questions, answers, notes upon notes that you take and it’s critical to keep track of this information. I know – I went through this 12 years ago. For the cancer patient, treatment brings emotional ups and downs along with fatigue and mental fogginess. It’s an added burden to try to remember and log this very important information in one place. Click here for more!

 

The Perfect Storm Theory of Breast Cancer and Iodine Deficiency

Okay, so how many conversations do you hear about this topic? Believe me when I say it’s important!  In Lynne Farrow’s book The Iodine Crisis I recently read that thyroid and breast disease “skyrocketed between 1970 and 2000.” Why would that be, I thought? I continued reading. Apparently iodine was looked at as a “universal medicine” going back thousands of years, and used primarily in it’s earlier form as seaweed. Click here for more!

 

Prevention, Healing and Tips!

As we all know, this is Breast Cancer Awareness month. There is a ton of information out there and we are being brought to further awareness each and every day, especially this month. The onslaught of information to help and comfort, while well intentioned, can also bring feelings of fear, helplessness, memories of lost loved ones, and other emotions. I know – I’ve been there. 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!

 

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!

 

Acid Relief Coming Your Way!

Did you know that an estimated 15 million Americans use some form of acid-blocking drug such as Nexium, Prilosec or Prevacid? That includes me. I’m doing my darndest to get off Prilosec. Their job is to block the production of stomach acid, but actually we need stomach acid to digest food.  Reducing stomach acid leaves us open and vulnerable to other not-so-great issues. My esophagus was damaged during chemotherapy (radiation?) 13 years ago, which has resulted in occasional acid reflux, particularly with tomato sauce and eating late in the evening. 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!

 

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!

 

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. 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

It seems like you can’t turn around these days without hearing something about probiotics. Haven’t we all seen Jamie Lee Curtis in a magazine or on television touting the benefits of Activa and the probiotics contained therein? But what are probiotics, really, and why should we care? Twelve years ago when I started taking probiotics, not many people were familiar with them. Certainly it was new for me. Click here for more!

How did I get PERC on my Party Dress?

“Tis the season…” of holiday parties and getting dressed in our finest clothes, often clothes that can’t or shouldn’t be just tossed in the washer and dryer. Is traditional dry cleaning safe? I don’t think so. Heard of PERC? It’s an acronym for tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene. (If you can pronounce these you’re a rock star!) PERC is the primary solvent used in 85 percent of the approximately 35,000 dry cleaners in the U.S. (Green American) Click here for more!

 

Healthy Organic Wine Choices for the Holidays!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, how about trying an organic wine in lieu of a non-organic one this year? “Why?” you may ask. Here’s my thinking: As we’ve read multiple times, and as posted in my blog of the “Dirty Dozen” list, grapes are high on the list of fruits and vegetables that get hit with the most pesticides. When you take a sip of that delicious non-organic wine, guess what you’re also ingesting? But guess what? There are some wonderful organic wines to choose from. Click here for more!

 

How to Have MORE money, LESS Stress and MORE Fun this Holiday Season!

Yesterday, I was sitting next to a lovely thirty-something mother at the nail salon. The conversation turned to the holidays; with a sigh and slumped shoulders, she proceeded to lament the burden of holiday shopping. Her annual shopping experience that not only includes her family also includes her circle of friends, all of whom she adores. I suggested that perhaps her group of girlfriends might celebrate their friendship AND the holidays together at a favorite restaurant instead of buying material gifts. 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 Perils of Parabens!

It is a fact that 60 percent of whatever we put on our skin goes into our bloodstream. 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! 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!

 

Two Books I Read from Everyday!

Yep, I look at these two books every morning! And when I say “read” I mean I turn to a random page each day and am beautifully reminded of the abundance of living simply and with gratitude. I’ve had these books for three years and never tire of reading these gems of wisdom from the author, Mina Parker. She interjects her thoughts with quotes including Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Gertrude Stein and others. Not only do I pause with each bit of daily wisdom, but the gorgeous photos, contributed by photographer Daniel Talbott serve to enhance the daily message in so many ways. I’m always smiling. 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!

 

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!

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