Living a Non-Toxic Lifestyle

Welcome!

This blog post is about living a non-toxic lifestyle which is something Greg and I are working on right now. For us, it's an ongoing endeavor. It's not for the faint of heart, for it does require some work and discipline, but the results can be very rewarding.

The word toxic simply means anything that is poisonous or harmful. It's anything that might be detrimental to a living organism. It can refer to the physical or to the mind and emotions, as well.

Our world is full of toxins, and in order to live a healthier life, we need to find ways to deal with those toxins.

Greg and I generally try to eat as healthily as possible.* We've been eating mostly organic and non-GMO food for several months. We're now gradually eliminating all white flour and food containing sugar, which is not an easy task. In fact, in order to do this, I've started using whole grains and natural, low glycemic sugar or fruit for baking. (No artificial sweeteners for us!)

Starting tomorrow (2/29/16), Vani Hari (AKA Food Babe) will be featuring an article about sugar addiction on her website. (Greg and I, and almost everybody else are sugar addicts. Even Food Babe has struggled with sugar addiction.) (Did you know that sugar is more addictive than cocaine?) Vani will be discussing how to overcome it. Her information should prove to be very helpful. ( www.foodbabe.com )

However, this being said, an acupuncturist told us that in order to balance the yin and yang, and to keep from feeling deprived, that it's okay to occasionally indulge in a favorite treat. Hers was ice cream. Greg and I do that. We normally eat out only once a week, and make the healthiest selections we can, and then, on special occasions, we allow ourselves a special treat. (However, if the food we might like to eat is truly harmful, such as one that would cause a severe allergic reaction, we, of course, avoid that food altogether!)

As far as environmental toxins go, we're still working on that one. We do try to avoid all cigarette smoke, and we use all non-toxic cleaning supplies. We especially like using baking soda.

Research on the Internet can be valuable for trying to live a non-toxic lifestyle.

Also, letting go of any toxic people in one's life can be valuable, as well.

"It doesn't matter whether someone is a relative, romantic interest...friend...you don't have to make room for people who cause you pain or make you feel small....if a person disregards your feelings, ignores your boundaries, and 'continues' to treat you in a harmful way, they need to go."
-Daniell Koepke

So, try to surround yourself not only with nice, positive people, but it's also good if you can have your home environment as clean, neat, and organized as possible.

Your home doesn't have to be fancy, just comfortable and enjoyable to be in.

Also, much of the entertainment industry has gradually become more toxic. You might want to switch off that toxic TV show in favor of one of your own DVD's that is truly healthier and more enjoyable.

Being in the great outdoors can often help overcome toxic emotions.

Can you think of anything else that might improve the quality of your life, to make it less toxic?

Happy non-toxic lifestyle!

*Disclaimer: Whatever lifestyle Greg and I lead may be great for us, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily right for anyone else. I am certainly not an expert in the field of health, physical or mental. I am not responsible for any harm that might come to anyone as a result of reading this or any of my other blog posts. (B. A.)

Signs of spring alert!-

Here in Tennessee last week, we noticed daffodils were already blooming!

Also, there were several robins.

Positive thought: "Every moment is a fresh beginning."-T. S. Eliot

Thanks for visiting! Until next Sunday, Becky

A Positive Mixture of Things

Welcome!

Today, I have a positive mixture of different things to share with you.  First of all, I'd like to continue with some more healthy ideas from Patricia, my friend from Tennessee, and some ideas I have incorporated into my life to make things more positive.*

The following is from an email Patricia sent me:
"To promote a healthy, tranquil environment, we think it is important to surround ourselves with nature.  We are completely dependent on the earth and the earth is dependent on us.  From the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, nature is our lifeline...Air is something we must have to stay alive, but in 2,014, the American Lung Association reported that nearly half of all Americans live in counties with unhealthy levels of pollution."  (She went on to say that "NASA did a study and found that houseplants actually clean toxins from our indoor air" and that some are better than others at doing this.  She also cautioned that some plants can be toxic to pets and that some children and adults could be allergic to specific plants.  Therefore, research, etc. would be valuable before obtaining any indoor plants.)

Patricia went on to say, "Scientific studies have proven that being connected with nature is vital to human health.  College students perform better on tests if their dorm rooms view green spaces.  Children with ADHD have fewer symptoms when allowed time in outdoor activities surrounded by trees, grass, and bushes.  Public housing complex residents have better family interactions if they live near trees.

We eventually suffer physical, psychological, and social breakdown if we live in unnatural environments.  It is good to integrate plants, flowers, or a bowl of fruit or vegetables into every room, making our home a more tranquil, beautiful and inviting place to live."

Well stated, Patricia!  Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful insights with us.

I don't know about you, the reader, but after all this talk about nature, Greg and I decided we'd go celebrate Labor Day (tomorrow) in a beautiful park.

Now, I'd like to mention a couple of things that have made a positive difference in my life.

One thing is a new website I discovered, and that is Nuts.com. (www.nuts.com)  They sell bulk nuts, dried fruit, snacks, etc. by the pound.  The item I ordered was of good quality, and it arrived in only a couple of days.  They have some organic and gluten-free products.  The people who own the company have a great sense of humor, and their clever packaging proves it!  I smile every time I look at the package I ordered.  Things like that make life so much more enjoyable.

Also, I tend to be the world's number one procrastinator on things I must do, but don't really want to do.  I should correct that and say that I used to be a procrastinator, because I now have something that motivates me to do things I should be doing, and I'm actually doing them.  How?  It's a simple idea, but it works for me.  I'm really impressed with the Home Depot ad on TV that shows a bucket with "LET'S DO THIS." on it, so I wrote the words down and put them in a prominent place that I see often.  It's a visual cue that puts and keeps me on track, and I love it!  Whatever works!

Please click on the link below to see our latest photos on iStock:
www.istockphoto.com

*Disclaimer: As always, I want to say that I am not a health expert.  The ideas, etc. presented on my blogs may be right for me, but I'm not responsible for the results of anything anyone tries as a result of reading my posts.

Positive thought: Have a happy Labor Day!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday (or before or after), Becky

Helpful Healthy Resources

Welcome!

For those of you who are interested in living a non-toxic, organic life, I have some really great info for you today!  (Disclaimer-I am not a health expert, just a person who wants to share with others what I have become aware of, in trying to live a healthier life.  I am not responsible for anything anyone tries from reading this or any of my blog posts.)

"Take care of your body.  It's the only place you have to live."
-Jim Rohn

In a couple of my recent blog posts, on 7/11/14 ("One Way to Be Happier and More Positive") and 7/20/14 ("Positive Odds and Ends"), I mentioned several things that Greg and I had been doing to try to be healthier.  One of my loyal readers and friend, Patricia from Tennessee, as a followup to my healthier-living posts, sent me several great resources that she and her husband use that help them live healthier lives.

Patricia sent a lot of wonderful info, some of which I'll share with you today.  The rest, I'll gradually put on some of my future blog posts as a special feature.

Patricia says that they now use:

"-Organic Foods
-Organic / Natural Ingredients - body lotions, shave cream, deodorant, soap, moisturizers, make-up
-Organic  /Natural Fibers - 100% linen, organic cotton, wool, or silk for all clothing, sheets, towels, dryer balls, etc.
-Natural Fiber - rugs, pillows, upholstery, etc. (wool, linen, organic cotton, soy, hemp, etc. )
- Solid Wood - furniture, cabinets (no veneers, plastics, etc. )"

She sent some website addresses that they use:  (Most of these I checked out, and they look great!)

For natural, organic personal-care products:
www.juicebeauty.com
www.desertessence.com
www.kissmyface.com  (I already use several Kiss My Face products.)

(Also, I make my own natural face lotion/mask which I apply once a week.  "Woman's World" always has natural recipes for a healthier you in every issue.  I'm toying with the idea of making my own "hippie hairspray" which consists of sugar and water, but I haven't been brave enough to try that one yet!)

For non-toxic housecleaning products that you can make yourself, check out this website Patrcia recommends:
www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/make-your-own-housecleaning-products

For an all-around terrific website that has "Inspiration and information to help you thrive in our toxic world," be sure and see:
www.debralynndadd.com (which has a free newsletter, toxic free talk radio, and lots of links to things non-toxic).

Patricia said that their change to a healthier lifestyle has been over a six-year period.  I can see why, because even though a lot of us would like to throw out all the toxic stuff and start over, that's not a feasible option for most of us.  Even changing over to a healthier diet has taken Greg and me several weeks, to find the organic stuff, and to gradually phase it into our diets.  Now, thankfully, almost every meal that we eat is totally non-GMO/organic.  There are still a few herbs and spices that we're replacing with the organic ones as the old ones run out.

Thanks to local health food stores, farmers markets, and some chain grocery stores, we have found fresh, frozen, packaged, and even non-BPA canned food that has helped us have a healthier diet.  One of our recent meals consisted of cheese, boiled potatoes with butter, corn on the cob, broccoli, and toast, all of which were totally organic, and it was all delicious, and not because I'm any great gourmet chef!

I really appreciate Patricia for all the work she put into sending all of this valuable, healthy info and for helping to make this blog post possible.  People like Patricia make life so much more enjoyable, happier, and more positive for the rest of us.  Thank you so much, Patricia, for sharing!

Be sure and check out my next few blog posts on various topics, along with more informative tidbits from Patricia!

Also, Judy Samples, president of the June Tolliver House in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, wanted several of us to make a special announcement about wine tasting with wine from the Mountainrose Winery at the Tolliver House on August 23 (the last night of "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" outdoor drama for this year).  Judy said to "Come and share a glass of wine with friends and neighbors, then see the show!"

F.Y.I.
June Tolliver House
www.junetolliverhouse.com

To see Greg's and my latest photos on iStock, just click the link below.
www.istockphoto.com

Positive thought:  "Our bodies are our gardens to which our wills are gardeners." -William Shakespeare

Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky