We have two parts to our autonomic nervous system. There is the parasympathetic which is rest and digest and there is the sympathetic which can be described as fight, flight or freeze. When we eat we always want to be in the parasympathetic system. We want our bodies to be resting and calm so that the digestive process has all the energy it needs to digest. After the work of making a meal for the family we may not be in a calm state. Taking a few minutes to breathe deeply or express gratitude and really feel it, will calm our bodies down and get our body into the rest and digest system before we consume.
Let’s talk next about water. Every step of the digestive process needs water, the saliva needs water, our gastric juices need water to create the enzymes we need for digestion, our stomachs need water to produce the mucus for the lining, our intestines definitely need water their process flora and of course if you have ever been constipated you know your bowels need water.
We need about half of our body weight in ounces of water daily. So if you are 150 pounds you need 75 ounces of water.
And also it is good to drink the water between meals to keep your stomach acid strong. Ideally a half an hour before a meal and then up to two hours after a meal you would avoid drinking. So this goes back to the rule that everyone tells you, when you first get up in the morning drink a big glass of water. How else are you going to get those 75 ounces in? But if you start with a nice 8 ounce glass of water right away and then maybe get another one or two in before your first meal you could ideally be a third of the way there.
ahealthynana
Beauty is not just skin deep, it is cell deep. “Health IS beauty.”
Everything we put on and ultimately in our bodies either ages us or sustains us. Why? Because our bodies absorb everything - whether we eat it, lather it, stick it or stamp it on.
Common sense says that if something is toxic to the environment and a known potential endocrine disrupter or carcinogen then we should not consume that product. Right?
So why have the majority of skincare and cosmetic companies on the market, who claim to be selling beauty, only gone skin deep and allowed for the cell part of our existence to consume as much nonsense as they care to substitute. It appears they are willing to cut costs and make more money off of us aging rather than sustaining. The answer as to why appears to be: Because they can. The laws on cosmetics and chemicals allowed in those cosmetics haven’t been updated since the 1970s in the US (Europe has recently made some important changes) and in truth still have standards carried over from the 1930s. This is the kind of stuff that has kept me up late at night researching to better understand why and how we got to a place where beauty had nothing to do with keeping us youthful and everything to do with keeping up appearances, and making us sick along the way.
Ok so what are some of these toxins that companies have gotten away with loading our lotion, moisturizer, foundations, blush, eyeshadow and more with?
Mineral Oil – made from petroleum, comedogenic (clogs pores), may cause breakouts, premature aging, negative hormone effects, negative immunity effect. Most commonly used in lotions, creams, ointments and cosmetics.
Talc – skin irritant, carcinogen, organ system toxicity (lungs, ovaries), may contain asbestos. A mineral commonly found in eye shadow, blush, foundation, face powder, and baby powder.
Bismuth – skin irritant. A synthetic filler commonly found in eye shadow, blush, bronzer, and nail polish.
Phthalates- endocrine disruptor, hormone disruptor, carcinogen, developmental toxin, reproductive toxin. A plasticizer commonly used as a fixative in color cosmetics, skin care, lip balm, and nail polish. Sometimes listed as DEP, DBP, DEHP and fragrance.
Parabens- carcinogen, linked to skin cancer, developmental issues, reproductive issues, endocrine disruptor. A preservative commonly found in facial cleanser, lotions, moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup.
Young Living skincare is always on the cutting edge - formulating all new products without gluten, and often reformulating legacy products as new science and ingredients emerge. This is one of the reasons I just love using their skincare products!
