miessence

If you are not already using certified organic miessence® products , here are some tips on finding out that toxic ingredients are being used in many cosmetics and skin care products. Keep this guide in your purse for future reference! This guide is taken from Narelle Chenery’s presentation on ‘Dirty Secrets of the Cosmetic Industry’.

Dimethicone (silica): Harmful by skin absorption, Eye irritant, Skin irritant. Causes TUMORS in
lungs, thorax & endocrine system. Toxicological properties have NOT been thoroughly investigated.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (coconut): Composed of 4 known carcinogens: Formaldehyde, Dioxane,
Ethylene Oxide, Acetaldehyde

Cocoamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine: Causes redness and stinging of skin & eyes. Toxicological
properties have NOT been investigated at all

Triethanolamine (TEA): Severely irritating to body tissues, Corrosive to the eyes. Reacts with
nitrosating agents to form nitrosamines, which are Carcinogenic

Methylchloroisothiazolinone: Harmful by skin absorption. Corrosion and burning of eyes & skin. Permanent irreversible eye damage. Nitrosating agent

I recently reconnected with an old friend on Facebook who asked,

You’re into organic foods, etc.? I am not especially, but I am always looking for little ways to improve overall health. If you could give me a single bit of specific advice re: food (not, “Eat organic,” I mean, because that’s too obvious) what would you recommend?

I can’t even count how many times I have been asked this question over the past 2+ years, so I thought I would share my response with you all.

My response:

Hmmm, one single bit of advice is to find one nasty food ingredient and remove it from your diet completely. Once you master that move onto another nasty food ingredient. It is all about baby steps. Now which ingredient to eliminate you ask? High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

I don’t always buy organic foods, however I have a list of ingredients I have eliminated from our foods (although when we are out of our house it is harder to control so we probably maintain this 80% of the time.) I purchase local foods from the farmers market over grocery store organic foods that have been shipped from across the U.S. I have gotten to know my local farmers and although they are not certified organic, I know their farming process well enough for it to be satisfactory.

As for organic products I put on my body, I use Miessence (which I have been marketing for the past 2 years.) I have gotten to know the creator of the products and know they are pure, potent and beneficial so I just stick with them and I don’t have to be a label detective on my personal care products any longer.

So have fun and I am sure you can find a local farmers market…they have loads of yummy goodies!

I hope this gives you some motivation to become a label detective yourselves. Enjoy the adventure!

P.S. My blogroll includes a number of great resources to healthy living too.

I must admit a quick run thru McDonald’s was a frequent event about one year ago when I over scheduled the day and realized the kids needed lunch.  I knew in my heart this was not good nutritional teaching to my then 3 and 2 year old.  After reading the ingredients list on what chicken nuggets actually are, well it really grossed me out!  I did find a great homemade nugget recipe that the kids love just as much.

Food Matters.tv has a great artilce on why we should avoid those 4 for a $1 chunks of –chicken?

Happy eating!

High Fructose Corn Syrup came up on my “radar” almost 2 years ago.  I don’t remember exactly why or who may have suggested to me that HFCS was not the best for our health, but it became one of the first ingredients I sought out on labels as our family began its journey to healthier eating habits.  Needless to say I was floored to find HFCS as one of the top 3 ingredients in the ketchup my children dipped their chicken, meatloaf, and yes- broccoli into.  I have also been trying to cut back on the consumption of processed white sugar in our household.  The addition of local honey and Agave nectar to our diet has proven just as tasty as the over-processed “white stuff”.  I came across a great article today from another blog I like to read, called The Good Human.  Here is the article link.    Article: High Fructose Corn Syrup Vs. Pure Sugar – Is One Worse Than The Other? Hopefully it will shed a little more light on what many of our grocery store foods contain in regards to sugar.