We’re all very busy and sometimes may not stop to realize that we are using things that are not really healthy, that can be easily replaced by much healthier alternatives.
It all starts with awareness, so let’s get started!
#1 TEFLON – in a spot affecting you personally that you might be surprised to learn about.
Most of us tossed out our Teflon pots and pans years ago. Why? Because we found out that the Teflon leaches PFAS into our food, which we eat! What are PFAS? PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. I know, what in the heck is that? Well, it’s a group of thousands of man-made chemicals used since the 1940s that are called “forever chemicals” because:
- They do not break down
- They accumulate in your body
- They can persist for years or even decades
These PFAS can interfere with thyroid hormones, and can negatively affect our metabolism, growth and reproductive health. If that’s not enough, PFAS can also increase susceptibility to infections and can cause kidney cancer and testicular cancer. In fact, these are classified as carcinogenic or possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
So, I know you agree, we need to avoid PFAS as much as possible.
So where else do you find PFAS in your home? Very likely it is in your DENTAL FLOSS. It was in mine. Most of the typical floss products on the market are coated with TEFLON. Think about that. You are pushing PFAS into your gums (near your brain) and building these chemicals up in your gums over time.
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD?
Thankfully there are many silk flosses and some coated with wax, not Teflon. I was so shocked to learn this myself that I went on Amazon and ordered 6 different non-Teflon coated flosses to test. So far, I like these the best: EZZI Expanding Floss with a wax coating, and Hugging Tree Pure Silk Floss.
#2 VEGETABLE OILS / SEED OILS
Vegetable oils, or seed oils, are ubiquitous. They are used by all the fast-food restaurants and most every nice restaurant too. What’s so bad about them?
Most seed oils are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and are especially high in omega-6 fats, which we already get far too much of. The result is inflammation, inflammation, inflammation. This is the number one culprit for the horrendously high number of chronic diseases. Historically the balance between Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats has been 1:1 up to 4:1. Today it is more like 20:1. All this promotes cardiovascular disease, obesity, and oxidative stress.
Because fast foods unanimously use seed oils, we all need to stay away from all of them. Check out these stats on fast food consumption: Your risk of dying from coronary heart disease increases over 50% just eating fast food 2 to 3 times a week. Eating fast food 4 to 5 times a week increases your risk by 80%.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD?
First, make your own fast food. Get yourself your own lunch box. Put your healthy sandwich, snacks, etc. in it and take it with you to avoid being out and getting “hangry,” which can lead to making rash decisions like buying a fast-food meal.
Secondly, stock your own kitchen with healthy and safe oils like butter, ghee, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil and tallow – all organic please. Never ever use seed oil.
#3 TABLE SALT
There is so much confusion about salt. Do we need it or not? And how much?
I believe the answer lies in the type of salt you consume. Table salt has only 2 minerals: sodium and chloride. We need so much more. Sea Salt has 70 to 90 macro and micro minerals. These provide electrolyte support and hydration support.
There is a study of 181 countries that found the countries with the lower salt consumption have shorter life expectancies. Low salt consumption has been repeatedly linked to tachycardia (and atrial fibrillation). Also, low salt consumption has been shown to cause fatigue and lightheadedness! We do need salt – just the right kind!
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD?
Choose sea salts. Two of my favorites are Vera Salt and Baja Gold Mineral Sea Salt.
Here’s a great suggestion for you to consider: Take a few grains of sea salt and put them under your tongue before you drink that glass of water. Your cells will be more receptive to the hydration and will love you for it! My hubby and I do this every morning (at least he better be!).
#4 STRAWBERRIES
Why in the world would I put juicy delicious strawberries on the list? Because strawberries are the dirtiest food on the planet.
They are sprayed and grown with:
- 8 chemical fungicides, one of which is banned in the EU for toxicity
- 6 different chemical insecticides
- 3 herbicides, including glyphosate, a probable carcinogen
And no, you cannot wash these off. They are part of the strawberry.
Every year EWG.org lists the top “Dirty Dozen” foods based on the chemicals on and in them. Strawberries are at the top of this list. They are THE DIRTIEST.
WHAT TO BUY INSTEAD?
Please ONLY buy organic. Please ONLY eat organic.
#5 LOTS OF SUGAR AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
OK, we all know we should not consume tons of sugar. But do you know the serious dangers of artificial sweeteners? I have friends who actually keep the little pink packets in their purses to pull out every time they order tea or coffee. This is not a good idea. Let me please explain why.
Artificial sweeteners, like sorbitol, saccharin, aspartame and sucralose are actually far worse for you than actual sugar itself. Many people concerned about their weight, think they are avoiding calories by using these, but artificial sweeteners cause weight gain by disrupting your body’s natural hormone balance. In addition, they are linked to cancer and tumors. And importantly, they are all “excitotoxins.”
In Dr. Russell Blaylock’s book, EXCITOTOXINS, The Taste That Kills, he explains clearly how excitotoxins work. When neurons are exposed to these, they become very excited and fire their impulses rapidly until they reach a state of extreme exhaustion. Several hours later, these neurons actually die. You just lost brain cells!
More and more diseases of the nervous system are being linked to excitotoxin build-up in the brain: strokes, brain injury, hypoglycemic brain damage, seizures, migraine headaches, hypoxic brain damage and even AIDS dementia. So, knowing this, please consider substituting these killer sweeteners with healthy alternatives.
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD?
Thankfully, there are great choices today for healthy sweeteners. I would suggest that we all (me included) use any and all of these sparingly. I do have a sweet tooth, and I can go crazy creating sweets with these sweeteners, but I do try to control it. My 80-20 rule comes into play here. I’m really good 80% of the time, but 20% of the time I allow myself some grace. You can too.
Here are great non-chemical alternatives:
- Stevia
This is from stevia rebaudiana leaf – yes, from nature. It is much sweeter than sugar and has zero calories. It comes in many forms. One of my favorites is the liquid vanilla stevia. I often add it to my unsweetened plain yogurts. - Monk Fruit (without any erythritol)
This is from a small melon native to China – again, yes from nature – and has zero calories. This is my favorite for cooking with and even for making homemade ice cream and banana pudding. I think this is one of the best options as long as it does not have any erythritol with it, which often it does. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that can really mess up your GI tract and can cause bloating and pain. Plus, it’s been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Please stay away from that. - Allulose
This is a newer product that I have not had much experience with. It is from the sugar found naturally in figs and raisins. It is about 70% as sweet as sugar, with almost no calories (0.2–0.4 cal/g). It does taste similar to sugar. However, in high doses it is known to possibly cause GI upset.
#6 FACE MASKS
I just ran across a drawer in my bureau that had several face masks left over from the COVID years. Oh my, aren’t we all glad those days are behind us! So, if you have a stack of them in your home, you may want to consider trashing them. On this topic, I do have GREAT news for you. But first please know the facts about these common face masks.
There are hidden risks in wearing a face mask. You build up bacteria under the mask, which can cause rashes and worse. Children experienced this a lot. Also, wearing one does restrict oxygen flow. In fact, Dr. Blaylock tells us that this “induces a state of hypoxia, which can make cancers grow much faster and be more invasive.” Ugh, not good.
But worst of all, wearing face masks gives people a false sense of security. Viruses are so small they can go right through the masks unless they happen to be in a moisture bubble, like from a sneeze. They simply do not do the job of protecting us well.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD?
Well, I promise you, this is a GAME CHANGER for us all.
You know that feeling in your throat you get right before you actually have a sore throat? You know, you feel like your throat is getting tight and a little swollen? You feel that and you KNOW you’re on the way to getting sick, right? Well, when that happens, the virus you breathed in to cause that feeling has been in your sinuses for two or three days or longer, just replicating away! So, what if you stopped that the day you breathed it in?
When I heard Dr. McCullough and Dr. Malone talking about this, I about fell over. What a logical preventative solution! Just spray your sinuses every day with something to zap those bugs! I like Argentyn Silver spray (my favorite) and Xlear. My husband and I make it a practice to spray our nostrils every day, usually twice a day, like when we brush our teeth.
When I had to go through airports multiple times in the COVID years, I kept my nose spray in my purse and used it many times a day. I never got COVID or anything else, thankfully. (I did also take ivermectin prophylactically.)
What if you did this with your children? The toddlers would not be getting sick from every bug going around the daycare; your older children could be zapping viruses and more every day, keeping them well too.
AND ON THIS TOPIC of staying well, please read my article, “Vitamin D – Your Sunshine Vitamin.” I think you’ll be very surprised at many of the facts revealed in this article about your immune system. Read it here.
#7 ACETAMINOPHEN – TYLENOL
Tylenol is over the counter and is widely thought of as safe and effective. But what if it is NOT safe? Please review the following and you decide.
Acetaminophen is the number one reason for liver failure. Taking too much can cause liver failure and death. This is an important danger to be aware of because acetaminophen is found in literally hundreds of over the counter and prescription drugs, so people can inadvertently take too much by using more than one product at a time. This is the exact scenario that happened to a 6-year-old girl living in South Carolina, whom one of my good friends knows personally.
This young normally healthy girl was sick with a flu, and her mom had given her Tylenol for the fever. She took her to the ER, and the next day took her to her pediatrician, who prescribed a cold medicine for her. It contained more acetaminophen, which no one noticed. The young girl experienced liver failure and died. Yes, she died. A healthy young 6-year-old girl died from liver failure due to Tylenol.
Tylenol is probably not a good idea to use in pregnancy because it crosses the placenta and causes liver cells to die in the unborn fetus. This has been shown statistically to lead to asthma in those children by age 5.
It is important to understand that acetaminophen causes depletion of your glutathione stores. This is actually dose dependent, meaning the more you take the worse this damage is. Even more, it undermines your ability to replenish your glutathione.
Are you wondering what glutathione is? I think you’ll agree it is really important. It is your body’s master antioxidant! Here is a handful of the great things glutathione does for you:
- Increases your energy
- Slows down your aging process
- Protects your immune system
- Detoxifies your liver
- Improves your mental focus and clarity
- Aids in managing autism
- Reduces the effects of stress on you
- Improves your skin, even helps treat psoriasis
- Assists athletic performance and recovery
Does this sound like anything you want LESS of? I don’t think so.
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD?
There are many available options to help with pain and fever.
Natural / Non-Medication Options:
- Willow Bark (what aspirin was developed from!) – This is my favorite.
- Ginger Root (natural anti-inflammatory properties)
- Curcumin / Turmeric (natural anti-inflammatory properties; works best with black pepper and fat)
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids (reduces inflammation – this takes weeks to months to build up but does work)
- Peppermint (known for its cooling effect – apply topically or as tea; can help with headaches)
- Cloves (a natural analgesic, especially helpful for toothaches)
- Magnesium (can help with muscle pain and headaches)
- Heat/Cold Therapy (ice packs for acute injuries and inflammation; heat for muscle tension and chronic pain)
- Acupuncture (can help with chronic pain management)
- Rest & Hydration (allows your immune system to work; staying hydrated supports the body’s natural cooling process in fevers)
Over-the-Counter Options:
- Ibuprofen – Advil, Motrin (NSAID that reduces fever and inflammation)
- Aspirin (NSAID good for pain and fever in adults. Never give to children due to risk of Reye’s syndrome)
- Naproxen – Aleve (longer lasting NSAID, good for muscle pain and inflammation)
AND ON THIS TOPIC of reducing fevers and pain, please learn why FEVERS can be GREAT and so essential to healing. Please read my article, “FEVERS: Friend or Foe?” Read it here.
BONUS! CHEESE
Why do I always try to buy non-US or European cheeses? There are two big reasons.
1) RENNET – animal produced or genetically modified?
It takes 4 ingredients to make cheese: milk, salt, starter culture (good bacteria), and rennet.
What is rennet? It’s the complex set of enzymes from the stomachs of cows, sheep, goats, or other ruminant animals that separates milk into solid curds and whey, and it is the coagulant used to curdle the milk into cheese.
In 1990, Pfizer created and registered with the FDA an artificially produced enzyme to replace animal rennet.
Animal rennet, on the other hand, is the oldest and most natural form and it produces superior flavor because it is a complex set of enzymes, rather than a single isolated enzyme made in a lab. The result is a more enhanced taste in the final cheese.
Personally, I prefer the original animal source for rennet.
2) PUS. Yes, pus.
The measure of white blood cells in milk is an indicator of milk quality and the cow’s udder health, which is too often terrible.
- The US legal maximum limit for Grade A milk products is 750,000 cells per milliliter.
- The European maximum limit is 400,000 white blood cells per milliliter.
So, the US allows nearly TWICE as many white blood cells in its milk products as the EU does. The higher US limit has been a point of criticism and a trade barrier.
Well, it’s a trade barrier in our home because I intentionally purchase cheese products from European countries as much as possible and suggest you consider this too. The good news is that there are fabulous tasting European cheeses in most grocery stores!
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you’ve made it this far, first of all – thank you! I hope your eyes are a little wider and your mind is a little more curious about the everyday things surrounding you. Knowledge truly is power, and the power to protect your health is in your hands.
I want to be clear: I’m not asking you to overhaul your entire life overnight. Remember my 80-20 rule. Start with one swap. Maybe it’s your dental floss. Maybe it’s finally tossing that bottle of canola oil. Maybe it’s sprinkling a few grains of Baja Gold sea salt under your tongue before your next glass of water. Small changes, made consistently, add up to a very big difference over time.
Your body is working incredibly hard for you every single day. The least we can do is stop quietly working against it.
As always, I am not a doctor and nothing here is intended as medical advice. I am simply a fellow traveler on this road to better health, sharing what I’ve learned along the way. Please do your own research, talk to a trusted healthcare provider, and most importantly – trust your instincts. You know your body better than anyone.
Here’s to your health – all of it. 🌿
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