In Transition

Well, I just got started on Sharretoille, but already it has come to a temporary halt. We just moved from Germany to Denver, Colorado so I haven't had much time to write. Lots more to come, though...so keep checking in!

Product Rave: Seventh Generation Detergent

Put simply, I love this stuff. I'm not sure if it's the fresh scent of blue eucalyptus & lavender or the fact that my clothes aren't tainted with harsh chemicals. My laundry comes out clean without smelling like I doused it in perfume. It's great for cloth diapers. Most laundry detergents/fabric softeners are overflowing with toxic chemicals. Yes, TOXIC. For example, alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanols (try saying that quickly 3 times!) have been implicated in chronic health problems and can, in trace amounts, stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells. And anyone with sensitive skin can tell you that when they break out with a rash, the laundry soap is usually the culprit. Companies are not required to list all the ingredients in laundry products, so the few that you see on the bottle are only the beginning. The fragrance found in most detergents (and many beauty products) is actually carcinogenic and considered hazardous air pollutants. So why use a detergent that is so sketchy about its ingredients? Why even risk damaging your health when there are wonderful all-natural brands on the market these days? Seventh Generation releases all its ingredients and has tons of great stuff--from dish detergent to diapers to tampons. Yep, tampons. They have a great, informative website so feel free to browse:

www.seventhgeneration.com

The Joy of Giving in June

Each month I am going to spotlight one of my favorite charities, as I feel that giving helps one lead a simpler life. It doesn't have to be your money~it can be your time or your possessions. It makes you realize how blessed you really are. There is always someone worse off than yourself, so it's important to really look around yourself and finally feel satisfaction with everything you do have--especially family, friends, and health.

Here is my charity suggestion for the month of June:

PROJECT CUDDLE
www.projectcuddle.org

Project cuddle is an organization that works with desperate pregnant women who are at risk of abandoning their babies. Newborn babies are abandoned on a daily basis in the U.S. It is an extremely devastating discovery when one of these babies is found, unless of course they are rescued before it is too late. Project Cuddle is working to try and prevent newborn abandonment by providing a crisis-line for frightened girls who are about to give birth. They are given free counseling and are given the opportunity to work with a family who wants to adopt the baby. There are many ways to give to PC--monetary donations, cell phone donation, volunteering (hanging up flyers, answering the crisis hotline, etc.) and even becoming a rescue family--a family who wants to adopt one of these babies. Check out their website for more information.

Why Raw Milk?

The milk you buy in stores today is considerably different from natural, raw milk. Raw milk has many health benefits, which are all stripped away once it undergoes pasteurization. Milk straight from the udder was once used as a medicine, and it helped heal all sorts of diseases before the 20th century. That's because it is loaded with all the nutrients a human needs. It is a perfectly-balanced food, and a person could actually live off of it and nothing else!

However, not all raw milk is the same. Healthy raw milk comes from cows that are fed organic green grass--not soy meal or other commercial feeds. Absolutely no pesticides. It does not come from cows that are kept in manure-laden pens and that are part of large dairy farm operations. This is because there is usually not enough open fields of grass to feed all those cows.

What are some of the health benefits? According to www.raw-milk-facts.com, these are some of the major healing attributes of raw milk:

Immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, IgD: Large, complex sugar/protein (glycoprotein) molecules (also known as antibodies) used by the immune system to find and deactivate pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.

Transforming Growth Factor Beta: Stimulates growth and repair of the gastro-intestinal tract.

Epidermal Growth Factor: Biochemically regulates cellular growth, cellular division and cell type. Fosters rapid tissue repair.

Glutathione: Powerful antioxidant that offers protection to cells from free radicals.

Interferons: Specialized proteins that inhibit replication of viruses within cells throughout the body.

Interleukins: A large group of signaling molecules that help regulate the immune system.

Oligosaccharides: Groups of 3-10 sugar molecules that protect against pathogens by competing for binding sites on the intestinal epithelium and provide support to friendly probiotic bacteria.

Proline-rich Polypeptide (PRP) or Colostrinin: Anti-inflammatory hormone that helps regulate immune system activity by stimulating the thymus gland.

Transferrin: Immune system glycoprotein that binds free iron, which, in turn, inhibits bacterial growth

So, where can you get clean, raw milk? Click on this link to find a location near you.

http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html

~NOTE~ Raw milk is not the same as the organic milk you can buy in grocery stores~~~

Oil Cleansing-a best kept secret to beautiful skin?

The Oil Cleansing Method. Slathering oil all over your already oily face. Sounds crazy. But according to http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/, this is exactly what your skin is yearning for. The mantra is "oil absorbs oil". Natural oils are actually protective and healing to your skin. Acne cleansers sold on the market today strip your skin of their natural oils. Because of this, your face will actually go into over-drive and produce excess oil which essentially clogs the pores causing blackheads. Massaging oil into your face will loosen the clogged pores and give your skin the release it has been asking for. According to those who have tried this method, it will leave your skin smooth, clean, clear, and beautiful--actually glowing! It is a cleansing/moisturizer in one, so no need to apply a chemically-laden moisturizer afterward....sounds great to me!

So how does this method work, exactly? You can use many different types of oils, but most people suggest using 2 mixed together--a "cleansing" oil and a "moisturizing" oil. The two best types of cleansing oils are jojoba oil and castor oil. Moisturizing oils include coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, or pretty much any type of plant-based oil. Here are the measurements according to the website, using castor oil and sunflower seed oil:

• Oily Skin: Try a blend of 30% Castor Oil to 70% Sunflower Seed Oil.
• Balanced Skin: Try a blend of 20% Castor Oil to 80% Sunflower Seed Oil.
• Dry Skin: Try a blend of 10% Castor Oil to 90% Sunflower Seed Oil.

You can also add a few drops of essential oil to this mix for a more fragrant experience. When you have your oils ready to go, simply massage the mixture deep into your skin--especially blackhead-prone areas. Then take a hot washcloth and lay it over your face, "steaming" the pores so they will open up. When the cloth cools, repeat as many times as you wish. It is like your own mini-spa experience! Then simply wipe the oil off with the wet cloth. You can do this while in the shower or bath, since your pores are already being steamed. It only needs to be done once a day at first, and then you only need to do it a few times a week after you've been doing it for awhile. For deeper cleansing, you can use witch hazel as an astringent in the morning or evening. For real tough blackheads, dab on a bit of pure lavender oil--which is a great cleansing agent but very potent.

Zac and I have been doing this for a few weeks now, and it feels wonderful. One of the best parts is knowing that I'm not putting tons of ingredients that I can't even pronounce on my skin. Plus, it's cheap and very relaxing. Definitely worth a try.