Our Environment - Indoor Concerns

What’s in the air indoors definitely has an effect on our overall health and because health (good or bad) begins inside our bodies, it affects the quality of our skin.

We know that many floor coverings contain formaldehyde, a naturally occurring and man-made substance, such as carpet, padding and adhesives.

But did you know that formaldehyde is also used in furniture, paper products, cosmetics, deodorants, shampoos, fabric dyes and permanent-press fabrics, inks, disinfectants, air deodorizers and carpet deodorizers?

Then there are the effects of cell phones and electrical appliances, chemicals in our water supply, poison in commercial brands of toothpaste, and the list goes on and on.

That is why so many products have the word “natural” in them, in a determined effort to get away, as much as possible, from harmful chemicals. Although I do need to point out that adding the word “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it is healthy for you. (More on that in another article.)

An indoor-air purifier will help, and there are many things we can do to eliminate much of this indoor poison, such as replacing whatever harmful products we can, a little at a time, as we can afford it

There will never be a time that you can say your home is “perfectly natural”, but as in most of life, what counts is the direction we are moving in, and we always want to be moving in the direction of good health.

Winter is fast approaching here in upstate New York, and our indoor heating , whether from gas, propane, or wood will dry out our skin, unless we add a humidifier to help combat it.

We need to make sure we are taking in enough pure water, preferably through organic fruits and vegetables, since our bodies are made up of mostly water.

And you want to make sure you have a really good quality skin care product line that is effective in helping protect your delicate facial skin.

If you are interested in learning about L'Bri, a wonderful and highly effective, natural skin care product that will help protect your skin, or would like some samples, please feel free to email me and I’ll be happy to help you.

Phyllis Towse

"Green" or just Goofy?

Every day we hear something to do with the “green” movement.

A lot of what is said under that broad umbrella is sincere and helpful.

Some (such as replacing all our lightbulbs with low wattage - read "useless" - compact fluorescent light bulbs that contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin, for heaven’s sake) is just ridiculous, downright harmful, and one of my pet peeves.

Here’s what John Skinner, executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the trade group for the people who handle trash and recycling, had to say about these light bulbs in a February 15, 2007 article in “All Things Considered” on the NPR website:

“… the companies and federal government haven't come up with effective ways to get Americans to recycle them.

"The problem with the bulbs is that they'll break before they get to the landfill. They'll break in containers, or they'll break in a dumpster or they'll break in the trucks. Workers may be exposed to very high levels of mercury when that happens."

Skinner says when bulbs break near homes, they can contaminate the soil.

“Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, and it's especially dangerous for children and fetuses. Most exposure to mercury comes from eating fish contaminated with mercury, (sic)

Some states, cities and counties have outlawed putting CFL bulbs in the trash, but in most states the practice is legal.”

Some people insist that they pose no danger. If that is true, why the strict instructions on handling and disposal of said compact fluorescent light bulbs?

I don’t know about you, but I plan on sticking with regular light bulbs for as long as I can!

Next time we’ll look at more threats to our health from our environment.

Have a great and illuminating day!

Phyllis Towse

What Qualifies as Exercise? Part 2

Last time we talked about a few ideas for getting exercise in less formal settings that are easier on the pocketbook but just as effective, and if they are done outdoors, there is the added benefit of getting necessary fresh air.

Here are some more:

Get out your old bike that’s been collecting dust in the garage, or get a new one (or used) and go for a scenic ride around your neighborhood or local bike trail. This is great fun, especially if you do it with a friend or your spouse. You will find yourself getting to know your neighborhood better, and making new friends.

If you’re a mom with young children, trust me, you are already doing exercise daily! But if you want more, set aside a little time during your day or evening for a special time of working out.

It can become a fun time, a great way to release stress, and then there are those great endorphins that kick in for that wonderfully relaxed feeling after you are all done. It can help you sleep much better, too.

We tend to think that doing exercise gives us more energy, but strictly speaking that is not true. Exercise takes energy - that’s a fact.

What does happen is that we gain strength and endurance, so that our activities take less energy than before, and so it feels like we have more energy. We still have the same amount as before, but we have more available, or left over.

Swimming in a pool (hopefully one with very little or no chlorine in it) is great, and so much better on your joint than running orjogging.

If your knees are in good shape, you can make a routine of running up and down the stairs either in your office building at lunchtime or in your home – that’s a tough one but it’s great for those legs!

Lots of people start out intending to exercise faithfully, but don’t keep it up, whether through lack of real commitment or from a change in circumstances, whatever.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, but do keep trying! Always keep in mind the reason you are doing it – to be healthy, and to feel and look great.

Keep at it and reap the benefits for years to come, both for you and your loved ones.