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One of the more unpleasant aspects of cleaning house is coming into contact with abrasive cleansers or inhaling fumes from powerful chemicals. Not only are natural substances kinder to the environment, but they have less impact on your wallet, as well. Many eco-friendly substitutes can be easily found at any store—and for a lot less than mass-market household cleaners.
Another benefit of using natural alternatives for cleaning is that these products are gentler on the skin—in fact, some can double as cleansers for your hair and body. Here are a few of the most versatile and effective natural cleaners for the home.
1. Vinegar
You probably already have a bottle or two of vinegar in your cupboard already, but distilled white vinegar sold in jugs are the ideal household all...
May 28, 2013
Erectile dysfunction is an unfortunate condition that affects an estimated 30 million American men with regularity, and, in fact, most men are likely to experience some form of erectile dysfunction at some point over the course of their lives. Erectile dysfunction can lead to more significant psychological issues—as well as plain old embarrassment—so the men that experience this condition are looking for effective ways to solve their problem. Here are a few ways to combat erectile dysfunction without having to turn to medication or medical procedures.
Better Diet
Diet is one of the most important considerations when it comes to erectile dysfunction. Diet and exercise are the keys to good health, in general, and studies indicate that those who maintain a quality, balanced diet...
May 02, 2013
Western medicine has migrated toward specialization and prescriptions drugs—this leads us to missing the forest for the trees. omen’s medicine is full of “symptom masking and medicine stacking.” Statin use to lower cholesterol is just one more example of this less-than-ideal approach to women’s healthcare.
The question needs to be “what is the root cause of a particular woman’s elevated cholesterol?” What are her other symptoms? Does she have fatigue, easy weight gain, frequent infections, food intolerances, or feel cold all the time? Low thyroid function and chronic stress could be the underlying causes. Does she struggle with cyclical headaches, depression, irritability, insomnia, and painful...
March 04, 2013
A few years ago, I was drinking about 4 to 6 cans of diet soda on a daily basis. That was after I’d finished my 2 to 3 cups of fake, sweetener-laden coffee in the morning. I actually thought it was helping keep my weight in check, but the extra pounds only started coming off AFTER I ditched the diet soda and the fake stuff in my coffee.
I totally went cold turkey on the diet soda. I was away at a spa for the week, and there was none to be found. I was surprised that I didn’t miss it, and I truly had no desire to start drinking it again once access was restored.
Avoid artificial sweeteners. They make you crave more sweets! It took a little longer to stop artificially sweetening my coffee. It wasn’t until after I read about how...
January 14, 2013
Aging is inevitable, but looking old is optional. There are some very exciting ingredients available in anti-aging skincare today, and peptides are at the top of the list.
Simply put, peptides are made up of long chains of amino acids that communicate with cells in the body. As the body ages, the communication between cells is disrupted. Peptides help increase the communication, which results in dramatically healthier skin.
There are three major peptides used in skincare products today: pentapeptides, copper peptides, and neuropeptides. Pentapeptides help reduce wrinkles while copper peptides are useful in healing damaged skin. Neuropeptides work as an anti-wrinkle agent. As we age, the skin produces less collagen and fewer of these peptides are produced. To help offset this negative...
December 11, 2012
In years past, hydroquinone was the standard ingredient for skin-lightening treatments. It was thought to be the safest and most effective treatment for hyperpigmentation, age spots, melasma, and sun damage. However, new research suggests that there may be serious side effects associated with long-term use of synthetic hydroquinone (including recent research showing that it is a neurotoxin) and show links to developmental and reproductive toxicity. When applied topically, hydroquinone may cause an allergic reaction on the skin, and recent studies have suggested that hydroquinone may be a carcinogen, with long-term use of this potent chemical increasing the risk of skin cancer.
Fortunately, there are some effective botanical ingredients that mimic the skin lightening properties of...
October 03, 2012
People often ask me questions about all the different ways to resurface the skin and repair the damage done by "too much fun in the sun," poor skin care, and photo-aging. There are many options available today that address skin problems, but it can be a bewildering experience to sort though them all.
Skin peels, when used correctly, can create dramatic changes quickly. But how do you know what to choose or where to go? Professional skin resurfacing treatments can include chemical peels and laser treatments, but the expense and down time can be a real issue. And there has to be a better way to slow aging than throwing acidic chemicals onto damaged skin.
Are there any effective natural alternatives available? Are home peels effective? Do they work, and do I even...
August 01, 2012
The key to living a healthy, balanced life is practicing prevention. Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
If you are not already well-versed in your family medical history, I cannot stress the importance of having those conversations. If someone in your immediate family has a chronic illness like heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a history of cancer, this is something both you and your doctor should be aware of.
There are basically two types of inherited disease: single gene inheritance and multifactorial (or complex) inheritance. Examples of single gene inheritance are diseases like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. In those instances, there are no changes that you can make to your environment or you lifestyle to...
July 26, 2012
One of the most important tools for achieving optimal wellness and aging gracefully is building and maintaining muscle. Muscle burns calories exponentially more efficiently than fat, and of course, it keeps us strong, active, and balanced. It is also part of the package that promotes a more youthful appearance.
Beginning in our late 30s or early 40s, we all begin to lose muscle, through some undetermined combination of aging, nutritional deficiencies, and inactivity. According to Nutrition Action Health Letter, April 2011, this translates into approximately a quarter of a pound of muscle loss per year for the average person. If left unchecked, the progressive loss, called sarcopenia, can profoundly affect our health and our appearance. Lost muscle can be replaced with unhealthy fat that...
July 05, 2012
The skin (our faces in particular) is the only part of our body that doesn’t wear clothes… just think about that! In the US, we go to great lengths to camouflage discolored skin and make pores look smaller. The appearance of our skin is a huge factor in our overall self-confidence and in how we are perceived by others.
In our western culture, we have been conditioned to cover up, correct, and conceal less-than- perfect skin with corrective cosmetics to “hide” skin flaws. This is done without any understanding of why those flaws exist in the first place, much less how to make them go away (permanently) so that those cosmetic “cover ups” are no longer necessary. In Europe, proper skin care is introduced at a very early age, and as a result, the...
May 23, 2012
