The SLN Blog

Fall is the perfect time for bath soaking as the air gets drier and skin cries out for exfoliation and hydration. I love taking baths albeit sparingly given the amount of water needed, so when I do make the effort I want to give my mind and body a memorable experience. When my kids were little, bath time was such a special time and I would notice how their challenging days would float away with the bath water. Moods would be completely shifted with new attitudes of calm and relaxation. Although I never found time in my earlier years to use this resetting practice, I now can't imagine not having bath time.  It has become a healthy practice that I look forward to twice a month. Aromatherapy, also referred to as Essential Oil (EO) therapy, is the use of naturally...

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“Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment.”~Thich Nhat Hahn, Being Peace The widespread practice of meditation has gotten a lot of hype over the last few years because of its ability to increase mindfulness, calmness, physical relaxation, psychological balance, and enhancing overall health and well-being. Meditation is a mind and body practice that focuses on the interactions among the brain, mind, and body. Some research suggests that meditation may physically change the brain and body and could potentially help to improve many health problems and promote healthy behaviors. There are many types of meditation, but most have four elements in common: 1. Being in a quiet location with as few distractions as possible 2. Comfortable posture (sitting, lying down, walking) 3. A focus of attention (a...

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"In 1983, world renowned epidemiologist, Dr. Daniel Cramer, linked Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder to ovarian cancer. Since the 1960’s, J&J allegedly knew the risks and did nothing. In 2004, Dr. Phillipa Darbre, a UK scientist, found parabens, a chemical preservative in many cosmetics, in breast tissue. In 2018, the National Institute of Health’s sister study linked breast cancer to personal care product use." 'Toxic Beauty' is a documentary film that highlights products marketed throughout the past century that have significantly impacted health. The film discusses the frustrating reality that regulations haven't been updated since the 1930s, and follows the class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and the women affected who are seeking justice while fighting ovarian cancer. The film also includes dialogue on toxic body burden experienced by all of us, and features Boston University medical student, Mymy Nguyen, who measures her...

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As healthcare is experiencing a technology crossover, the industry is poised to start addressing ecological sustainability. This is a burgeoning area that will require early adopters to lead the way. The environmental non-profit Health Care Without Harm estimates that the world’s healthcare industry contributes just over four percent of the world’s emissions. Most of this stems from round-the-clock heating and cooling. That’s the same level of emissions produced by more than five coal-fired power plants in a year!! The single-use nature of plastics used in clinical settings is the first area to tackle however,"Increasingly, say medical care providers, the unfettered use of plastic is conflicting with a doctor’s promise to do no harm, but in facilities awash in blood and pathogens, is avoiding plastic even possible?" Read More Here: Can medical care exist without plastic?

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A federal study focused on "human biomonitoring" published in Der Spiegel, the German weekly magazine, has found that many children between the ages of 3 and 17 have alarmingly high levels of plastic in their bodies. The study was commissioned by the German Environment Ministry and the Robert Koch Institute, and measured the amount of plastic byproducts in urine samples of 2,500 children between 2014 and 2017. An alarming 97% of the samples tested positive for plastic byproducts, and traces of 11 out of 15 plastic ingredients were detected. Outcomes of the study show that our bodies mimic our environment. As plastic production increases, chemicals also show up at an increasing rate in the body. Of particular concern are the high levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that were found in the study. PFOA is an extremely toxic chemical found in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing,...

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Did you know that 70% of make-up uses palm oil? You may be thinking, is palm oil really that bad??? The answer is NO. How palm oil is sourced is the issue. The two main concerns are deforestation and the effects palm oil production is having on families making a living via the industry. Curiosity led this make-up artist to the largest palm oil plantation in the world. This video supports efforts for sustainable palm oil production. When you know better, you do better.  Please share this with all who care about our planet and the people who inhabit it. 

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Weird title, I know. Today at 11am, a petition was delivered to Kraft-Heinz's Pittsburgh headquarters calling for immediate action to find and remove any and all sources of phthalates from their supply chain. While Phthalates have many exposure routes, food such as dairy and fatty and processed cheeses, including boxed mac & cheese, may be the most dangerous source of phthalates. Kraft-Heinz is a leading producer of such products. "Phthalate concentrations in Kraft products like mac and cheese powder and processed cheese range from 0.2mg/kg (or parts per million, ppm) to 2.5 ppm. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a safe dose for phthalates is between 0.1 and 0.01 ppm, although many scientific experts think the EPA's safe dose is too lenient." Phthalates are toxic because of their endocrine disrupting properties, meaning they interfere with hormonal processes and it is well known...

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  For those that don't know me, I have suffered from chronic neck pain over the last 11 years after a biking accident in San Diego requiring stitches and a long night in the ER. Shortly after the accident I started to notice frequent neck pain that over the years intensified in frequency and length of pain days. I have seen every type of practitioner including primary care physicians, osteopathic doctors, neurologists, physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, reiki practitioners, and chiropractors. I should also mention during this time I was diagnosed with a herniated disc on my C7 cervical vertebra. I've received cortisone shots and have been on pain management yet still experienced pain flares that occurred 3-4 times a month lasting 3 days at a time. This means I have been in serious pain 9-12 days a month with...

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(Paleo friends, I know you can relate to this)Recently, my lips took a turn for the worse. I have been suffering from extremeIy chapped and cracking lips that are painful and unsightly. I know, I know, many of you are thinking it is probably due to the season change, I did too. But when my condition did not improve after a week of continuous moisturizing with natural lip care, I started to investigate other causes. What I found was a ton of information on chapped lips and low carb diets. Yes, you heard that right. Low carb diets may be depleting your body from the nutrition it needs. This can cause vitamin deficiencies that create unwanted symptoms like chapped lips. Although I don’t “follow” a low carb diet, I do eat a strict plant based diet and haven’t been consuming...

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Using the healthiest brands of cookware can sometimes be an afterthought as people tend to put more emphasis on eating healthier foods over what their food is being prepared on.  Brands of cookware that are non-stick or aluminum have the potential to be harmful if chemicals like Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) get into the body. PFOA is used to coat nonstick cookware and has been linked to male infertility, pregnancy difficulties, high cholesterol, thyroid problems, and even certain cancers. Aluminum cookware has also been linked to health issues including Alzheimer’s. The real concern with brands of cookware that are nonstick is in the original manufacturing where PFOA is used to coat the cookware. Although PFOA is burned off during the process, small amounts may be present in the final product and has the potential to be harmful if it gets into the body....

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