Hey everyone,
As you all know - if you have read some previous posts, I just moved into my first house with my boyfriend. I am loving the house and the neighbourhood but not so much liking the very small amount of money in my bank account and the very large amount on my credit card.
This isn't so much a result of the down payment but rather a number of small purchases that have been made at walmart, etc for things like paper towels, and other small household purchases that just seem to have been adding up. I also had a bit of a starbucks/ bridgehead/ amazing bakery on Bank street (Bread and sons) binge that has lasted just over 3 weeks. This may be why I currently have a terrible cold.
I want to get my finances in order pronto so I can relax and start planning for a big trip, joining some activities like ballet or a sports league in the fall and buying some nice things for the house that will last a lifetime ie. art, good quality furniture and finally perhaps taking a university course.
Luckily I haven't been receiving my new salary yet although I started my job just over a month ago so I will also get a back paycheque which should take care of the remaining balance on my credit card.
Anyways - you don't care about the ins and outs of my financial status. But what may interest you is a challenge I am going to embark on; something called spend no money. I haven't run this by my boyfriend so we'll have to figure this out haha. I don't want him just paying for my half of everything - since this will defeat the purpose and may put a dent in our "perfect suburban life".
Anyways - today is Monday - my challenge will be not to spend any money for 1 entire week. This won't be impossible because the fridge is decently stocked right now, we even have some left over crown royal for this coming canada day and we have all we need to live comfortably. Any spending I could do this week would likely be frivolous - but if I don't impose this challenge on myself, I know that tomorrow I will head to bridgehead in the morning for a coffee and then maybe bread in sons in the afternoon for a bun or brownie, then maybe I will decide I need something red for Canada Day, then I will decide to buy a membership to a gym although it is gorgeous out so I should just run outside.
I think the biggest challenge will be food, possibly commuting as well.
I definitely have some good tools to help me get through the week: my bicycle, a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant, lots of canned beans, a decent sized wardrobe, low maintenance family and friends who aren't $$ crazy, Gatineau park with lots of nice hiking trails and beaches.
I'll check back in on Monday and let you know if the week was a success.
Free yourself!
Monday, 27 June 2011
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Goodbye shoulder length hair - Hello armpit length hair!
Hey everyone,
Another post about hair. This time I will discuss everything I know I can do to encourage my hair to get from shoulder length to armpit length. This might sound a little funny to you but essentially arm pit length hair would be when your hair reaches the point where it touches your arm pit crease from behind (see picture for proper explanation haha).
My ultimate goal is waist length - maybe hip length if it is really healthy at waist length.
Anyways - I wanted to share with you everything I know that you can do to speed up hair growth while maintaining beautiful hair.
1 - Vitamin B Supplement
2 - Fish oil supplement
3 - Eat seaweed
4 - Buy a silk or satin pillow case
5 - Use monistat, yes monistat, diluted with oil or water on your scalp
6 - Do not use shampoo
7 - Deep condition your hair weekly
8 - Apply an egg and honey mask to your hair (ensure to rinse with cool water or else you will cook the egg - gross)
9 - Eat a mostly raw food diet
10 - Eat Marmite - I can't find any in Ottawa. HELP ME!
11 - Wear your hair up as much as possible
12 - Do not eat processed food
13 - Take MSM Supplements
14 - Make sure you have enough iron in your diet
15 - Don't get frequent trims (sounds obvious but many of us have a habit of heading to the salon every 2 - 3 months)
16 - Do not colour your hair or use henna instead, or honey (see previous post).
17 - Do yoga
18 - Eat eggs
19 - Eat lots of nuts and seeds
20 - Avoid the bad stuff (alcohol, cigarettes, sugar)
21 - Stay positive
22 - Avoid using elastics - go for clips or scrunchies instead
23 - Braid your hair before bed
24 - Don't wear hair up until it is completely dry
25 - Get enough sleep
26 - Give yourself scalp massages
27 - Eat yogurt
28 - Eat beans
29 - Eat mangoes
30 - Eat bananas
That's all the hair wisdom I can come up with right now. I know some people have fast hair growth despite not really trying that hard - but I think my hair grows quite slowly. I am doing my best to follow all the the items listed above.
I hope to be at arm pit length at some point in the fall. I'll keep you posted.
Let me know if you have anything else you think I should try.
Free yourself!
Another post about hair. This time I will discuss everything I know I can do to encourage my hair to get from shoulder length to armpit length. This might sound a little funny to you but essentially arm pit length hair would be when your hair reaches the point where it touches your arm pit crease from behind (see picture for proper explanation haha).
My ultimate goal is waist length - maybe hip length if it is really healthy at waist length.
Anyways - I wanted to share with you everything I know that you can do to speed up hair growth while maintaining beautiful hair.
1 - Vitamin B Supplement
2 - Fish oil supplement
3 - Eat seaweed
4 - Buy a silk or satin pillow case
5 - Use monistat, yes monistat, diluted with oil or water on your scalp
6 - Do not use shampoo
7 - Deep condition your hair weekly
8 - Apply an egg and honey mask to your hair (ensure to rinse with cool water or else you will cook the egg - gross)
9 - Eat a mostly raw food diet
10 - Eat Marmite - I can't find any in Ottawa. HELP ME!
11 - Wear your hair up as much as possible
12 - Do not eat processed food
13 - Take MSM Supplements
14 - Make sure you have enough iron in your diet
15 - Don't get frequent trims (sounds obvious but many of us have a habit of heading to the salon every 2 - 3 months)
16 - Do not colour your hair or use henna instead, or honey (see previous post).
17 - Do yoga
18 - Eat eggs
19 - Eat lots of nuts and seeds
20 - Avoid the bad stuff (alcohol, cigarettes, sugar)
21 - Stay positive
22 - Avoid using elastics - go for clips or scrunchies instead
23 - Braid your hair before bed
24 - Don't wear hair up until it is completely dry
25 - Get enough sleep
26 - Give yourself scalp massages
27 - Eat yogurt
28 - Eat beans
29 - Eat mangoes
30 - Eat bananas
That's all the hair wisdom I can come up with right now. I know some people have fast hair growth despite not really trying that hard - but I think my hair grows quite slowly. I am doing my best to follow all the the items listed above.
I hope to be at arm pit length at some point in the fall. I'll keep you posted.
Let me know if you have anything else you think I should try.
Free yourself!
Monday, 6 June 2011
Goodbye bleach - Hello honey!
Hey everyone,
Again - this is probably a post that will mostly interest women. I have recently been absolutely obsessed with this website called the Long Hair Community. I am doing my best to quickly grow out my hair - so I am just eating up all the information on this great site.
Because I had been hoping to grow my hair out I had completely given up on the thought of ever highlighting my hair again. I have naturally dirty blond hair which I haven't coloured in over two years.
But... today I was intrigued by a link to a post on using honey to lighten your hair. Apparently it works on blond, red and brown hair. I am not sure if it works on black hair. The results are significant for some of the women who have tried this method. The results appear to be more effective for people who have naturally lighter hair.
For those of you who are interested in a less damaging way of highlighting your hair for the summer - I would suggest you give this a try.
You will need to buy some honey - preferably dark honey - they recommend jarrah honey.
You will need distilled water.
And you will need to ground cardamom as well as extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil.
Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 3/4 cup of distilled water. The ladies on the forum also recommend adding some extra virgin olive oil and cardamom. You need to let the mix sit at room temperature (do not heat) for 1 hour. This will allow the honey to produce peroxide through a chemical reaction.
You then soak your head with water. You have to make sure your hair is very wet when you apply the honey mixture. Then you should apply the mix to your head using a brush or bottle. After applying you need to wrap your head using saran (because you want your hair to stay very wet) and then put a swim cap on top of the saran. The mixture will be less effective and may dry out your hair if your hair doesn't stay moist for the hour of application.
You should not go in the sun or get too warm while the mixture is on your hair for the next hour since heat breaks down peroxide.
It is not clear how you would remove the honey after the hour. I think I will try to rinse it out using conditioner. FYI - I bought this Olive Oil conditioner so I can do deep conditioning treatments once a week. I bought it in the section of the store with relaxers and other products for black hair. I am very interested in using some products that black women use since my hair is also delicate and prone to breakage.
Most women who have seen dramatic results have used this treatment a few times to get their impressive results.
I have a bad habit of posting on things I haven't tried out.
I just get so excited and want to tell you all about it.
I will definitely do the honey treatment in the next month and report back.
I personally think highlighting your hair is overrated - I just thought naturally highlighting my hair would be a fun change for the summer given that I will not be cutting it. I really can't believe how much women spend on highlights. I haven't been to the salon for a full do recently, but a couple years ago the cost was about $180 for a cut, highlights, wash and blow dry. Luckily my hair was growing at a snails place and my hair is naturally light so I didn't really get it done more than once a year.
I would also like to say that I really think people with dark brown or black hair look best with dark brown or black hair. It is the people who have the sort of darkish blond hair who sometimes need a little pizazz. My hair is starting to fall into this category.
The most important reason to just let your hair be or consider a honey treatment is because of the harmful effects of conventional hair dyes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that hair dressers were more likely to get bladder cancer because of their daily exposure to the harmful, toxic ingredients found in hair dye.
It is time we all started thinking about alternatives to things we always suspected were a little toxic. I think anyone who has smelt hair dye must realize it is going to do bad things to your body.
Until next time, Free yourself!
Again - this is probably a post that will mostly interest women. I have recently been absolutely obsessed with this website called the Long Hair Community. I am doing my best to quickly grow out my hair - so I am just eating up all the information on this great site.
Because I had been hoping to grow my hair out I had completely given up on the thought of ever highlighting my hair again. I have naturally dirty blond hair which I haven't coloured in over two years.
But... today I was intrigued by a link to a post on using honey to lighten your hair. Apparently it works on blond, red and brown hair. I am not sure if it works on black hair. The results are significant for some of the women who have tried this method. The results appear to be more effective for people who have naturally lighter hair.
For those of you who are interested in a less damaging way of highlighting your hair for the summer - I would suggest you give this a try.
You will need to buy some honey - preferably dark honey - they recommend jarrah honey.
You will need distilled water.
And you will need to ground cardamom as well as extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil.
Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 3/4 cup of distilled water. The ladies on the forum also recommend adding some extra virgin olive oil and cardamom. You need to let the mix sit at room temperature (do not heat) for 1 hour. This will allow the honey to produce peroxide through a chemical reaction.
You then soak your head with water. You have to make sure your hair is very wet when you apply the honey mixture. Then you should apply the mix to your head using a brush or bottle. After applying you need to wrap your head using saran (because you want your hair to stay very wet) and then put a swim cap on top of the saran. The mixture will be less effective and may dry out your hair if your hair doesn't stay moist for the hour of application.
You should not go in the sun or get too warm while the mixture is on your hair for the next hour since heat breaks down peroxide.
It is not clear how you would remove the honey after the hour. I think I will try to rinse it out using conditioner. FYI - I bought this Olive Oil conditioner so I can do deep conditioning treatments once a week. I bought it in the section of the store with relaxers and other products for black hair. I am very interested in using some products that black women use since my hair is also delicate and prone to breakage.
Most women who have seen dramatic results have used this treatment a few times to get their impressive results.
I have a bad habit of posting on things I haven't tried out.
I just get so excited and want to tell you all about it.
I will definitely do the honey treatment in the next month and report back.
I personally think highlighting your hair is overrated - I just thought naturally highlighting my hair would be a fun change for the summer given that I will not be cutting it. I really can't believe how much women spend on highlights. I haven't been to the salon for a full do recently, but a couple years ago the cost was about $180 for a cut, highlights, wash and blow dry. Luckily my hair was growing at a snails place and my hair is naturally light so I didn't really get it done more than once a year.
I would also like to say that I really think people with dark brown or black hair look best with dark brown or black hair. It is the people who have the sort of darkish blond hair who sometimes need a little pizazz. My hair is starting to fall into this category.
The most important reason to just let your hair be or consider a honey treatment is because of the harmful effects of conventional hair dyes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that hair dressers were more likely to get bladder cancer because of their daily exposure to the harmful, toxic ingredients found in hair dye.
It is time we all started thinking about alternatives to things we always suspected were a little toxic. I think anyone who has smelt hair dye must realize it is going to do bad things to your body.
Until next time, Free yourself!
Monday, 30 May 2011
Goodbye sanitary pads - Hello Mooncup!
Hey everyone,
If you are male you will probably want to skip today's post.
Ok - for the ladies:
I was planning some summer vacations tonight with my boyfriend and we are thinking of going on a multiple day kayak and backpacking trip. Of course my period would fall at the end of when we are planning our trip. I feel like this always happens.
I am going to try and get another week off work but I thought it might be worth doing some research into products/ tricks I could use while camping.
I did a search and it looks like many people recommend using a menstrual cup. There are several brands out there. I am hearing good things about the Mooncup. The Mooncup is the newer silicone version of the original menstrual cup called the Keeper made of latex. You should purchase a size A if you have given birth or size B if you have not or had a C-section.
I am thinking of purchasing one of these (I am thinking the Mooncup). I definitely have some questions and concerns - I'm a little concerned that it will be too big and make my vagina bigger or not big enough and then there will be some leakage. Yikes!
This is a photo of the Mooncup.
READERS: I am hoping that those of you who may have experimented with menstrual cups can post (anonymously if you wish) your reviews.
This is definitely something that is very intriguing - it's like a tampon in that it is completed inserted inside you so you can use it for the beach etc. Apparently if it is inserted properly you won't feel it. Amazing!
And - there is no risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome since it is not made of absorptive material like tampons.
It looks like it will cost with tax about $45 and will only need to be replaced every 10 years. Amazing!
I think this past cycle I spent almost $15 on pads. Ridiculous!
Also - the cup only needs to be emptied every 8 to 12 hours. Amazing!
Ok - I will definitely purchase one of these cups before my next period and test it out. In the meantime I will conduct some more research to find out which type is best for me. I'll let you know the results after my next cycle.
I think one of the major major benefits of using a menstrual cup is the amount of waste produced by other forms of protection.
This is something that I think you may want to consider for your own comfort and for mother earth.
Free yourself!
If you are male you will probably want to skip today's post.
Ok - for the ladies:
I was planning some summer vacations tonight with my boyfriend and we are thinking of going on a multiple day kayak and backpacking trip. Of course my period would fall at the end of when we are planning our trip. I feel like this always happens.
I am going to try and get another week off work but I thought it might be worth doing some research into products/ tricks I could use while camping.
I did a search and it looks like many people recommend using a menstrual cup. There are several brands out there. I am hearing good things about the Mooncup. The Mooncup is the newer silicone version of the original menstrual cup called the Keeper made of latex. You should purchase a size A if you have given birth or size B if you have not or had a C-section.
I am thinking of purchasing one of these (I am thinking the Mooncup). I definitely have some questions and concerns - I'm a little concerned that it will be too big and make my vagina bigger or not big enough and then there will be some leakage. Yikes!
This is a photo of the Mooncup.READERS: I am hoping that those of you who may have experimented with menstrual cups can post (anonymously if you wish) your reviews.
This is definitely something that is very intriguing - it's like a tampon in that it is completed inserted inside you so you can use it for the beach etc. Apparently if it is inserted properly you won't feel it. Amazing!
And - there is no risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome since it is not made of absorptive material like tampons.
It looks like it will cost with tax about $45 and will only need to be replaced every 10 years. Amazing!
I think this past cycle I spent almost $15 on pads. Ridiculous!
Also - the cup only needs to be emptied every 8 to 12 hours. Amazing!
Ok - I will definitely purchase one of these cups before my next period and test it out. In the meantime I will conduct some more research to find out which type is best for me. I'll let you know the results after my next cycle.
I think one of the major major benefits of using a menstrual cup is the amount of waste produced by other forms of protection.
This is something that I think you may want to consider for your own comfort and for mother earth.
Free yourself!
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Goodbye all or nothing mentality - Hello moderation!
Hey everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted in a little while. I started a new job, ran a half marathon today and am moving into a new house in just a couple of weeks so life has been busy. I think all of these new developments in my life have definitely resulted in me failing a few challenges or commitments I had made in previous posts (i.e.; the coffee and chocolate situation - who didn't see that coming?). Is this a big deal? Sort of - the main reason I was adopting a lot of these things was for health reasons - so I definitely want to do my best to follow the advice I have been dishing out. But sometimes I found these little challenges a little stressful - and stress is also a killer. So.... moderation is key. My mom is somebody who has always been good with moderation. She eats really well - but indulges in a small dessert after dinner most nights, she is very careful with her money - but occasionally buys expensive clothing or paintings, she wears make-up and uses skin products - but only high end products that are less likely to contain harmful chemicals.
I wanted to come clean and provide you with an update on where I stand in each of my commitments:
Goodbye shampoo? Yes - still no shampoo. My dandruff has suddenly reappeared in the last week but I think this is a result of stress associated with starting a new job. If I switch up my no shampoo routine you will be the first to know.
Goodbye nail polish? I am wearing nail polish right now. It's sandal season. Not sure how I feel about this.
Goodbye deodorant? This one is sooooo easy. My boyfriend has also ditched the stick. He is someone who is always hot- and he smells fantastic.
Goodbye diabetes? Well I don't have diabetes, but I think I could definitely cut back on the sugar.
Goodbye car? I have been riding my bike alot.
Goodbye cineplex? I went to the World Exchange theatre downtown - which feels less corporate and didn't purchase any snacks so.... success.
Goodbye blind trust? Yeah - I guess I have been doing more research before trying homemade recipes and tricks.
Goodbye sweet tooth? ( this post was on toothpaste). I have been using toothpaste mostly rather than salt or baking soda. I have been eating a lot of chocolate lately so I felt I really needed to use toothpaste for the fluoride in order to protect my teeth from cavities.
Goodbye mask? I haven't been wearing makeup to work however I have been wearing some good quality mascara (Marcelle) and eye shadow out on the weekends. I have been using coconut oil for lip gloss.
Goodbye stale air? Well it's finally summer in Ottawa so I have been outside quite a bit but I still haven't started going for walks at lunch time. Maybe this week! This is really important - I just read a NY times article on how sitting for long periods of time everyday will kill you. AND...Working out after a day in the cubicle doesn't cut it (Yikes!). I think I'm going to start standing at work while I read my e-mails.
Goodbye sleeping pills? This was never really an issue however I had a lot of trouble sleeping last week - I think nerves associated with the new job. I realized my advice about getting up and getting stuff done if you can't sleep was kind of useless. I still felt too tired to accomplish things and didn't want to wake up my roomates.
Goodbye oblivion? Yep - I've got people from all across Canada, the United States and even far places like India and Malta reading my blog. Hello!!!
Goodbye hot hot showers? Sort of. I've been trying to end my showers off as cold as I can handle. Some days I can make the shower ice cold and hang out for a few minutes - other days - especially late at night, I don't do this at all.
Goodbye calorie restriction? No - I have been really hungry all of the time - I think from training for the half marathon. Hopefully my crazy hunger will subside now that I am taking a little break from the running.
Goodbye cravings? Yeah, no.
Goodbye race? I think I have been doing better about just enjoying life. I was really nervous about my job but I tried to just embrace it.
Goodbye Mona Lisa smile? Haha - hmmm I think my teeth have been whitter but I am not sure why.
Goodbye scented? This one is easy - I just don't wear any perfume.
Goodbye impulsive hair chopping? So far so good. I told my roomate I wouldn't get a trim until November. I am convinced my hair grows at a snails pace but she thinks I just get too many trims. I am also taking some MSM and biotin supplements. I have to do more research on these supplements. I have a feeling they might have some questionable ingredients or not be very effective but I'd like to give it a shot. My friend from Taiwan suggested eating seaweed to speed up hair growth. I will purchase this next time I head to Herb and Spice. I have also started sleeping with my hair in a scrunchie at night to protect it from all my tossing and turning and my friend also suggested brushing my hair with my head upside down in the morning so I will do this too!
Goodbye sunscreen? So far so good - although it rained all week.
Goodbye chocolate and coffee? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
I look forward to hearing how you are all doing on freeing yourself from big pharma!!
I think it's important to maintain a positive attitude and experiment with different things! Until next time... Free yourself!
Sorry I haven't posted in a little while. I started a new job, ran a half marathon today and am moving into a new house in just a couple of weeks so life has been busy. I think all of these new developments in my life have definitely resulted in me failing a few challenges or commitments I had made in previous posts (i.e.; the coffee and chocolate situation - who didn't see that coming?). Is this a big deal? Sort of - the main reason I was adopting a lot of these things was for health reasons - so I definitely want to do my best to follow the advice I have been dishing out. But sometimes I found these little challenges a little stressful - and stress is also a killer. So.... moderation is key. My mom is somebody who has always been good with moderation. She eats really well - but indulges in a small dessert after dinner most nights, she is very careful with her money - but occasionally buys expensive clothing or paintings, she wears make-up and uses skin products - but only high end products that are less likely to contain harmful chemicals.
I wanted to come clean and provide you with an update on where I stand in each of my commitments:
Goodbye shampoo? Yes - still no shampoo. My dandruff has suddenly reappeared in the last week but I think this is a result of stress associated with starting a new job. If I switch up my no shampoo routine you will be the first to know.
Goodbye nail polish? I am wearing nail polish right now. It's sandal season. Not sure how I feel about this.
Goodbye deodorant? This one is sooooo easy. My boyfriend has also ditched the stick. He is someone who is always hot- and he smells fantastic.
Goodbye diabetes? Well I don't have diabetes, but I think I could definitely cut back on the sugar.
Goodbye car? I have been riding my bike alot.
Goodbye cineplex? I went to the World Exchange theatre downtown - which feels less corporate and didn't purchase any snacks so.... success.
Goodbye blind trust? Yeah - I guess I have been doing more research before trying homemade recipes and tricks.
Goodbye sweet tooth? ( this post was on toothpaste). I have been using toothpaste mostly rather than salt or baking soda. I have been eating a lot of chocolate lately so I felt I really needed to use toothpaste for the fluoride in order to protect my teeth from cavities.
Goodbye mask? I haven't been wearing makeup to work however I have been wearing some good quality mascara (Marcelle) and eye shadow out on the weekends. I have been using coconut oil for lip gloss.
Goodbye stale air? Well it's finally summer in Ottawa so I have been outside quite a bit but I still haven't started going for walks at lunch time. Maybe this week! This is really important - I just read a NY times article on how sitting for long periods of time everyday will kill you. AND...Working out after a day in the cubicle doesn't cut it (Yikes!). I think I'm going to start standing at work while I read my e-mails.
Goodbye sleeping pills? This was never really an issue however I had a lot of trouble sleeping last week - I think nerves associated with the new job. I realized my advice about getting up and getting stuff done if you can't sleep was kind of useless. I still felt too tired to accomplish things and didn't want to wake up my roomates.
Goodbye oblivion? Yep - I've got people from all across Canada, the United States and even far places like India and Malta reading my blog. Hello!!!
Goodbye hot hot showers? Sort of. I've been trying to end my showers off as cold as I can handle. Some days I can make the shower ice cold and hang out for a few minutes - other days - especially late at night, I don't do this at all.
Goodbye calorie restriction? No - I have been really hungry all of the time - I think from training for the half marathon. Hopefully my crazy hunger will subside now that I am taking a little break from the running.
Goodbye cravings? Yeah, no.
Goodbye race? I think I have been doing better about just enjoying life. I was really nervous about my job but I tried to just embrace it.
Goodbye Mona Lisa smile? Haha - hmmm I think my teeth have been whitter but I am not sure why.
Goodbye scented? This one is easy - I just don't wear any perfume.
Goodbye impulsive hair chopping? So far so good. I told my roomate I wouldn't get a trim until November. I am convinced my hair grows at a snails pace but she thinks I just get too many trims. I am also taking some MSM and biotin supplements. I have to do more research on these supplements. I have a feeling they might have some questionable ingredients or not be very effective but I'd like to give it a shot. My friend from Taiwan suggested eating seaweed to speed up hair growth. I will purchase this next time I head to Herb and Spice. I have also started sleeping with my hair in a scrunchie at night to protect it from all my tossing and turning and my friend also suggested brushing my hair with my head upside down in the morning so I will do this too!
Goodbye sunscreen? So far so good - although it rained all week.
Goodbye chocolate and coffee? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
I look forward to hearing how you are all doing on freeing yourself from big pharma!!
I think it's important to maintain a positive attitude and experiment with different things! Until next time... Free yourself!
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Goodbye chocolate and coffee - Hello good riddance!
Hey everyone,
As you all know I am in love with chocolate and coffee. But I've decided to give it up. I will make exceptions for birthday cakes and holidays but otherwise I think it's time I kicked the habit. I feel like I'm really striving to be clean and yet I regularly consume packaged chocolate bars. I think quitting chocolate and coffee is one of the last major changes I need to make in order to achieve a high level of health. And I think I need to quit both at once.
Chocolate pros:
It is true that pure dark chocolate has many health benefits including high iron levels, high antioxidant levels, metabolism boosting and heart health boosting properties. But the reality is most of the time I am not consuming $5 dark chocolate bars.
Chocolate cons:
Most of the time I am consuming processed milk chocolate with lots of saturated fats, corn syrup, refined sugar and preservatives.
Coffee pros:
Coffee drinkers have less Parkinson's, dementia, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. However, this could just be due to the common characteristics of coffee drinkers. I have noticed that many people who do not drink coffee substitute with soft drinks like Coke and tend to be of a lower socio economic background and therefore, more prone to some of the above noted diseases.
Coffee cons:
And... coffee has some known negative effects, mostly as a result of its dehydrating properties. Caffeing found in coffee pulls water out of the body (which is why you have to urinate so much when you drink a big cup in the morning). This water is coming from your skin (which results in wrinkles), your mouth (which results in tooth decay) and other parts of your body. Most Asian people I know do not drink coffee - they tend to drink herbal teas instead - and these Asian people look very young for their age.
Another benefit to quitting coffee and chocolate is that my bones will be stronger. I have very small bones to start with so I really can't afford to losing any more bone density. Caffeine inhibits calcium absorption and therefore prevents the remineralization of bones. Essentially caffeine is one factor that can cause bones to become this and brittle and fracture in old age. (Side note - do not take osteoporosis medication - it has been shown to cause hip fractures in long time users). See link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-03-11-bones11_st_N.htm
Results:
I have noticed that since giving up chocolate and coffee my hunger levels have stabilized. I used to have terrible cravings and I always felt hungry. Now my blood sugar levels are normalizing and everything from my mood to my sleep is feeling more steady.
Need some other reasons:
Coffee can cause weight gain. Coffee increases cortisol levels. Your body naturally produces cortisol when you are stressed so coffee is mimicking this. When you are stressed your body will store as much fat as possible because it is prepping you for going for a long period of time without food. Think hunter gatherer days.
Doubts:
The only thing that is making me a little weary about all of this is that there are some studies that show that coffee may prevent baldness and encourage hair growth.
I think I really need to quit both coffee and chocolate at once. If I keep consuming one, my blood sugar and cortisol levels will become destabilized and I will crave the other.
I think the benefits outweigh the potential negatives so I'm going for it.
Free yourself!
As you all know I am in love with chocolate and coffee. But I've decided to give it up. I will make exceptions for birthday cakes and holidays but otherwise I think it's time I kicked the habit. I feel like I'm really striving to be clean and yet I regularly consume packaged chocolate bars. I think quitting chocolate and coffee is one of the last major changes I need to make in order to achieve a high level of health. And I think I need to quit both at once.
Chocolate pros:
It is true that pure dark chocolate has many health benefits including high iron levels, high antioxidant levels, metabolism boosting and heart health boosting properties. But the reality is most of the time I am not consuming $5 dark chocolate bars.
Chocolate cons:
Most of the time I am consuming processed milk chocolate with lots of saturated fats, corn syrup, refined sugar and preservatives.
Coffee pros:
Coffee drinkers have less Parkinson's, dementia, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. However, this could just be due to the common characteristics of coffee drinkers. I have noticed that many people who do not drink coffee substitute with soft drinks like Coke and tend to be of a lower socio economic background and therefore, more prone to some of the above noted diseases.
Coffee cons:
And... coffee has some known negative effects, mostly as a result of its dehydrating properties. Caffeing found in coffee pulls water out of the body (which is why you have to urinate so much when you drink a big cup in the morning). This water is coming from your skin (which results in wrinkles), your mouth (which results in tooth decay) and other parts of your body. Most Asian people I know do not drink coffee - they tend to drink herbal teas instead - and these Asian people look very young for their age.
Another benefit to quitting coffee and chocolate is that my bones will be stronger. I have very small bones to start with so I really can't afford to losing any more bone density. Caffeine inhibits calcium absorption and therefore prevents the remineralization of bones. Essentially caffeine is one factor that can cause bones to become this and brittle and fracture in old age. (Side note - do not take osteoporosis medication - it has been shown to cause hip fractures in long time users). See link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-03-11-bones11_st_N.htm
Results:
I have noticed that since giving up chocolate and coffee my hunger levels have stabilized. I used to have terrible cravings and I always felt hungry. Now my blood sugar levels are normalizing and everything from my mood to my sleep is feeling more steady.
Need some other reasons:
Coffee can cause weight gain. Coffee increases cortisol levels. Your body naturally produces cortisol when you are stressed so coffee is mimicking this. When you are stressed your body will store as much fat as possible because it is prepping you for going for a long period of time without food. Think hunter gatherer days.
Doubts:
The only thing that is making me a little weary about all of this is that there are some studies that show that coffee may prevent baldness and encourage hair growth.
I think I really need to quit both coffee and chocolate at once. If I keep consuming one, my blood sugar and cortisol levels will become destabilized and I will crave the other.
I think the benefits outweigh the potential negatives so I'm going for it.
Free yourself!
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Goodbye sunscreen - Hello shade!
Hey everyone,
I am quite fair and burn relatively easily. Last summer I was pretty vigilant about wearing sunscreen, even on weekdays - when my only sun exposure was at 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. At the end of the summer - I was still white as a ghost however I felt that I had done the right thing. Well - it turns out maybe I hadn't.
Some recent studies suggest that sunscreen may accelerate or promote skin cancer. Why? Here's a few reasons:
1) Vitamin A - which is found in many high-end facial moisturizers/sunscreen is photocarcinogenic. This means that when it is exposed to the sun it can cause cancerous tumours. Vitamin A, often in the form of retinol, is often added to sunscreen because of its antioxidant properties. It is also believed to reverse skin aging. But it turns out it this "anti aging favourite" becomes nasty when it reacts with sunlight. For more info: http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/24/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/
2) Many of the ingredients found in sunscreen lotion are absorbed into your skin and are often hormone disrupting and adversely affect the immune system.
3) Even weak sunscreens will block UVB rays from reaching your skin surface and will consequently reduce the production of Vitamin D by 95%. Vitamin D is important for healthy bones as well as a healthy immune system, preventing multiple sclerosis and certain forms of cancer. I think it is important to note that many fatty fish are also a good source of Vitamin D.
4) Sunscreens often contain oxybenzone, a chemical that absorbs UVA and UVB rays. Oxybenzone produces free radicals when it reacts with sunlight. Free radical damage can lead to cancer.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested 500 sunscreens and found that only 39 were up to par. I would recommend you check out the EWG's full ranking of sunscreens.
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/
Another thing that is pretty shocking is that even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other national cancer research and dermatology institutes don't believe that sunscreen is very effective in preventing skin cancer, if at all. In 2009, the National Cancer Institute stated: “It is not known if protecting skin from sunlight and other UV radiation decreases the risk of skin cancer. It is not known if non-melanoma skin cancer risk is decreased by staying out of the sun, using sunscreens, or wearing long sleeve shirts, long pants, sun hats and sunglasses when outdoors”.
Check out the link below for more information.
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/full-report/health-agencies-question-sunscreen-efficacy/
Why is everybody wearing sunscreen when the leading institutions do not even know if it is effective?
Here is what I am going to do with this information. For this one - I am not going to try and tell you what to do because the stakes are high.
1 - I will not wear sunscreen.
2 - I will wear a hat, bring an umbrella to the beach, use a t-shirt etc. when I am in the sun between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - I think the umbrella at the beach is really key for being able to comfortably read. I can't lie on my back - even with sunshades and read a book comfortably.
3 - I will not be afraid of getting a little bit of natural sunlight, HOWEVER, - I will not get one burn this summer. I promise.
4 - I will continue to eat a diet rich in Vitamin D food (ex. salmon, vitamin D enriched milk).
5- I will do regular skin checks to make sure that I don't have any new odd looking moles. See the attached link for a guide on what to look out for: http://www.golfdigest.com/images/magazine/2008/07/maar02_skin.gif
I hope you keep your eyes and ears open for information on the best way to protect yourself from skin cancer. Please share any additional knowledge on skin cancer below. Free yourself!
I am quite fair and burn relatively easily. Last summer I was pretty vigilant about wearing sunscreen, even on weekdays - when my only sun exposure was at 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. At the end of the summer - I was still white as a ghost however I felt that I had done the right thing. Well - it turns out maybe I hadn't.
Some recent studies suggest that sunscreen may accelerate or promote skin cancer. Why? Here's a few reasons:
1) Vitamin A - which is found in many high-end facial moisturizers/sunscreen is photocarcinogenic. This means that when it is exposed to the sun it can cause cancerous tumours. Vitamin A, often in the form of retinol, is often added to sunscreen because of its antioxidant properties. It is also believed to reverse skin aging. But it turns out it this "anti aging favourite" becomes nasty when it reacts with sunlight. For more info: http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/24/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/
2) Many of the ingredients found in sunscreen lotion are absorbed into your skin and are often hormone disrupting and adversely affect the immune system.
3) Even weak sunscreens will block UVB rays from reaching your skin surface and will consequently reduce the production of Vitamin D by 95%. Vitamin D is important for healthy bones as well as a healthy immune system, preventing multiple sclerosis and certain forms of cancer. I think it is important to note that many fatty fish are also a good source of Vitamin D.
4) Sunscreens often contain oxybenzone, a chemical that absorbs UVA and UVB rays. Oxybenzone produces free radicals when it reacts with sunlight. Free radical damage can lead to cancer.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested 500 sunscreens and found that only 39 were up to par. I would recommend you check out the EWG's full ranking of sunscreens.
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/
Another thing that is pretty shocking is that even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other national cancer research and dermatology institutes don't believe that sunscreen is very effective in preventing skin cancer, if at all. In 2009, the National Cancer Institute stated: “It is not known if protecting skin from sunlight and other UV radiation decreases the risk of skin cancer. It is not known if non-melanoma skin cancer risk is decreased by staying out of the sun, using sunscreens, or wearing long sleeve shirts, long pants, sun hats and sunglasses when outdoors”.
Check out the link below for more information.
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/full-report/health-agencies-question-sunscreen-efficacy/
Why is everybody wearing sunscreen when the leading institutions do not even know if it is effective?
Here is what I am going to do with this information. For this one - I am not going to try and tell you what to do because the stakes are high.
1 - I will not wear sunscreen.
2 - I will wear a hat, bring an umbrella to the beach, use a t-shirt etc. when I am in the sun between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - I think the umbrella at the beach is really key for being able to comfortably read. I can't lie on my back - even with sunshades and read a book comfortably.
3 - I will not be afraid of getting a little bit of natural sunlight, HOWEVER, - I will not get one burn this summer. I promise.
4 - I will continue to eat a diet rich in Vitamin D food (ex. salmon, vitamin D enriched milk).
5- I will do regular skin checks to make sure that I don't have any new odd looking moles. See the attached link for a guide on what to look out for: http://www.golfdigest.com/images/magazine/2008/07/maar02_skin.gif
I hope you keep your eyes and ears open for information on the best way to protect yourself from skin cancer. Please share any additional knowledge on skin cancer below. Free yourself!
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