Wellness Wednesday: Is Your Shampoo Making You Fat?

 

That shampoo is going straight to your ass.

At this point I think most of us know that we are what we eat. You can't put crap in your body and expect for your cells and organs to somehow miraculously take that crap and make you into a healthy, lean, and fit person.

Mother nature just doesn't work that way.

So let's just say you've followed what your favorite health guru has told you. Get moderate daily exercise, eat lean meats, minimal dairy, consume healthy fats, very few processed or refined sugars (if any), get your protein, and of course EAT YOUR VEGETABLES! 

You've switched to mostly organic produce, grass-fed meats, free-range eggs, gluten-free grains and read every book with the word paleo  in it.....jeez, I'm exhausted just typing all this!

So now you wait....and wait....but the pounds and that extra roll of flab on your (insert squishy body part) has yet to tighten, your clothes aren't any looser, and let's be honest....you still kinda feel like shit. What is going on?!

I'm going to tell you a little secret that I discovered over the last year that I attribute to losing the extra 20 lbs I didn't even realize was excessive.

Where did all this fat come from?!

I've always been pretty fit. As a kid I was either in dance class or playing a sport. But becoming a mom at 17 changed all that. My focus became my son, school, and work. Physical exercise and nutritional eating weren't even on my radar. Instead, I ate WAY too much fast food and the only exercise I got was hustling up and down the aisles of the restaurant I worked at.

While the constant walking from my job helped keep extra weight at bay, once I become a full-time mom, the scale mysteriously added on 20-30 pounds over my pre-baby weight.

Then I had two more kids. The funny thing was before I had my third son I never thought of myself as "fat" or even overweight. I just thought I was a curvy Black woman. To be honest I thought I looked good, but the reality was I had no idea what my real  body was supposed to look like.

After Nolan was born I began to embrace a more natural lifestyle. I decided that I was going to try and eliminate all the chemicals from my life. That not only meant improving what I ate to avoid pesticides and genetically engineered food, but I also had to look at what I was putting on my body.

I removed all the shampoos, conditioners, hair relaxers and cosmetics from my home that included cancer linked sulfates and other toxic chemicals.What I didn't know was that changing my shampoo could have a profound effect on my weight.

The Dangers of Parabens

Since changing the products we use in combination with eating well, and extended breast feeding I've lost 30 pounds that I didn't even realize were "extra".

Now you are probably wondering how could my hair care products help me gain weight? One word: Parabens.

Since the 1920's parabens have been used in cosmetics to prevent to growth of mold, extending the products shelf-life and of course making companies more money. The most common are methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, isopropyl-, and butylparaben.

Each time we use sunscreens, moisturizers, make-up, body washes, toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners (not to mention artificial birth controls) parabens are being absorbed into the largest organ on our body, our skin.

The problem with parabens is that "laboratory studies indicate that [they] are estrogenic, meaning they can mimic the hormone estrogen, disrupting normal function of the hormone system."

But estrogen is something that occurs naturally in our body, how can it be bad, right? 

The hormone disruptor created by parabens, referred to as xenoestrogens (estrogen mimickers in the form of chemicals) have a totally different effect on the body then what we create. While it is true that naturally occurring estrogen, produced mostly in the ovaries of women, is responsible for the onset of puberty and fertility, xenoestragens have been linked as a cause of cancer, infertility, and you guessed it---weight gain.

One of estrogen's major functions is to promote weight gain by converting calories into fat. Research presented in the American Journal of Physiology indicates that xenoestrogens have the potential to create an enhanced environment for our bodies to store fat and increase or cravings for sugar.

Who knew that when your shampoo label said "may increase volume" it wasn't just talking about your hair!

Since xenoestrogens are not biodegradeable they accumulate in the body over time, are stored in fat cells, and grow larger the more weight you gain. Think about how many times you've just shampooed, conditioned, rinsed and repeated over your life time!

 What to do now?

While we can't avoid everything that contains parabens, we can limit our exposure by choosing skin and hair care products that are made from organic ingredients. Wouldn't you rather use a product that is fresh like your food, rather than one that has been pumped with chemicals to allow it to sit on shelves for years?

There are plenty of products on the market that WON'T make you get estrogen overload. The Environmental Working Group's site can give you the low-down on your favorites to see how safe they really are.

Try making this small change and see if it has any effect on the scale. 

I would LOVE to hear your feedback or experiences about reducing chemicals and weight loss. Please share in the comments section below!

Keeping Clean (without toxins) in Granolaville,

 

Wellness Wednesday: Overcoming a Natural Living Challenge with...Porn?

Get your mind outta the gutter crunchy peeps! I meant HAIR PORN! LOL!!!

What's the biggest Natural Living Challenge YOU face? Share your crunchy love below!

Feeling Frisky in Granolaville, 

Taste it Tuesday: The BEST Homemade Popcorn, EVA!

My boys LOVE a good movie. But sometimes I think they love the buttery popcorn even more then that flick I paid $10 a pop to see!

We used to buy the mega pack of microwave popcorn at my local big box store. The kids would eat it after school, while cuddling up for family movie night, or anytime they just wanted a quick snack.

Periodically my oldest son would ask me if we could make homemade popcorn. Who the heck to I look like, Martha Stewart? Popcorn from scratch!? 

It only took about 30 seconds of Googling to realize making popcorn is SUPER easy! Not only that, but I also found out how the American tradition of microwave popcorn is ACTUALLY bad for you. I'm not just talking about the steam burn you get for ripping open a hot bag.

Some studies show that ingesting microwaved foods changes perfectly normal molecules into a dangerous free radicals, increasing the risk of cancer. 

Microwave popcorn is also full of trans fats, which help to aid it's long shelf life. The problem with that is trans fats are thick, like an oil sludge. Your body has a really tough time breaking them down, so they can hang around in your cells like a toxic grease.

Do you like to season your popcorn with a delicious side of Perfluorooctanoic acid? No! Well you may not have a choice when it comes to bagged popcorn. Many manufacturers use PFOA in the lining of their bags. The trouble is, not only has it been linked to cancer and infertility, BUT it also can take years to leave your system. That bag you ate 10 years ago could have left PFOA in your body that is still there TODAY!

Lastly, you know that "buttery flavoring" so many of us subconsciously  lick off each finger ( not that I've ever done that)? Well,  the chemical diacetyl, that is used to create artificial butter, has been linked to lung disease in workers at popcorn factories. What's more shocking is that a 53 year old Colorado man nearly died from it after his 2 bag a day habit. "When heated, Diacetyl turns to vapor and enters the lungs as steam fresh from the bag."

Next time you want that movie theater feeling without the hot bag of death, try my no-fail, perfectly delicious homemade popcorn!

The BEST Homemade Popcorn, EVA!


All you Need:

1 Medium sauce pan with lid (the lid is VERY important)
2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil or butter
1/4 cup Organic Popcorn kernels
Salt, Cinnamon, Chili Powder, or Garlic power (optional)

Melt Coconut oil in sauce pan.

Place 2 kernels in the oil. 

Once they POP you know thee oil is ready!

Place the rest of the kernels in the oil and cover it right away! No one wants hot popcorn in their eyes!

Wait about 1 min and watch the magic!

 Add your favorite seasoning.

ENJOY!

Ever made homemade popcorn? Share your recipe below!

Perfectly Popped in Granolaville, 

Wellness Wednesday: Have You Been Duped by Organic Food?

A new study coming out of Stanford University is about to confuse a lot of people who might have been on the fence about the benefits of buying organic foods.

Reported by Food Safety News the research suggests that, "Despite the widespread perception that organically produced foods are more nutritious than conventional alternatives, we did not find robust evidence to support this perception."

Considering the sales of organic food as jumped from 3.7 billion in 1997 to 26.7 billion in 2010, it seems that many people disagree.

I think most people believe that buying organic food is "healthier" than conventionally grown food, and they would be correct in that assumption. However, this study makes you reevaluate what the word healthy means.

In eyes of the scientists involved,HY health is ONLY tied to the nutritional value of the foods we eat. They argued that organically grown food does not have any more nutritional value (ie: vitamins & minerals) than non-organic. While this maybe true, nutrients aren't the only factors to consider when buying your fruits, vegetables and meats. If you are really concerned about the foods you feed your family, you would want to buy products that will contribute positively to their overall health.

The USDA categorizes a product as "organic" when at least 95% of the product was made using an organic process which they define as:

A production system that is managed in accordance with the Act and regulations in this part to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.

No where in that statement allows for the use of a treasure trove of chemicals, pesticides, antibiotics, herbicides, fungicides, or genetically modified organisms that are found in non-organic foods. While the USDA would never publicly admit that putting any of these, much less a combination of them, can have detrimental effects on the health of everyone who grows or eats them...most of us in Granolaville know better.

The Stanford scientists even admitted they've never done a long-term study concerning the health benefits of "people who eat primarily organic food versus those who eat primarily conventional."

So how can they really make the claim that organic food is not better for your health?

For me, it's a no-brainer to see why I would rather up my grocery budget than buy foods that have been manipulated or poisoned. And while the Internet is all a buzz about the news of this study I urge you to remember at the end of the day only WE are responsible for our health.

Check out this great infographic highlighting all the reasons why the production, cultivation, and consumption of organic foods are better for the health of everyone involved (except maybe those who make money off of mass-producing "Frankenfood").

A leader in the "real food movement and author of The Omivore's Dilemma,  Michael Pollen, urges:

"I would just encourage people to educate themselves and not take headlines at face value. It's a complicated question, and we need to a do a lot more science," he said. "The absence of proof means that we either haven't studied it or we haven't found it yet, it doesn't mean we won't. In the meantime, there's a precautionary principle: even though the case isn't closed on low levels of pesticides in our diet, there are very good reasons to minimize them."

 Does this study change your mind about the benefits of organic food?

Not Buying the Hype in Granolaville, 

 

Wellness Wednesday: Top 5 Toxic Household Cleaners

I think most of us embarking on a Super Crunchy journey...or just taking a vacation in Granolaville, would prefer not inhaling, ingesting, or putting toxic chemicals in, or on our body.

You can research the internet until your fingers bleed trying to gather information on which products are safest, and which require a HAZMAT suit. Here's what I've learned: Never Trust Marketing.

Let's face it, companies spend millions, if not BILLIONS of dollars to convince you that THEIR product is the best. At a time when most people have become conscious of the "buzz" words like green, all natural, non-toxic and of course organic those same companies believe that if they put anyone of those words on their product it will appeal to crunchy folks like you and me.

Here's the thing....they are 100% RIGHT!

They know exactly how to suck us in and dig into our wallets. Most of us realize that if something on our food label is hard to pronounce or looks like a word a 4 year old made up, we probably shouldn't eat it.

But what about other products like make-up or household cleaners?  Even the savviest of consumers can't sift through the scientific mumbo jumbo that's printed on those labels. Nor really consider what the product warning is really telling us.

A few weeks ago we talked about making your own eco-friendly cleaning spray, instead of buying the chemical-laden ones lining grocery store shelves. Homemade, natural cleaning products are usually more cost effective and safer.

Chemical combinations that other countries have banned have turned up in our name brand products; causing everything from skin irritation or burns, to asthma attacks from inhaling their fumes. What we expose ourselves and our children to is a serious matter, that shouldn't be based on whether it smells like lavender scented freshly hung laundry on Summer's day when the moon is full (though I DO love the smell of lavender).

We deserve to know what we are buying.

For those of you who might have been duped by a fancy green label with a tree, singing birds, and peace signs check out the WORST offenders in the Environmental Working Group's Cleaner Hall of Shame:

#1 Simple Green Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner

This popular cleaning product claims to be non-toxic, however it contains 2-butoxyethanol, a solvent that soaks through the skin and damages red blood cells. Though the directions clearly say to dilute it even when using for heavy cleaning, it is sold in a ready-to-use spray bottle.

#2 Mop & Glo Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner 

This floor cleaner contains high concentrations of methoxydiglycol, a substance that the United Nations says is "suspected of damaging an unborn child" and are 15x times higher than allowed in Europe.

#3 Tarn-X

A household tarnish remover contains up to 7 % thiourea, which is categorized as a carcinogen by the state of California.

#4 Target's Up and Up (say it ain't so Tar-ge!) & Wal-mart's Great Value

These popular items contain "mystery ingredients" offering little to no information on the back label.

#5 Citra-Solv Cleaner & Degreaser

Oranges may seem natural, but these sprays contain d-limonene, which can react with ozone in the air to form tiny harmful lung-penetrating particles and the known carcinogen, formaldehyde.

For the complete list of cleaning products to avoid take a peek at the EWG's Hall of Shame. 

Don't worry I won't tell...but do you have any of these in your home?

 Cleaning Chemical-free in Granolaville,

Thoughtful Thursday: I'm a Crunchy Black Girl With an Addiction

I have an addiction, and there's no way in Hell I'll ever kick it.

I've tried numerous times. OK, I've tried once. But it was SO hard that after a few weeks on the wagon, I jumped back on that chemically fueled bitch and haven't looked back since.

Every once and a while I'll see other people who have broken free from the shackles of this demon and envy their perseverance. But then I think of all the hard work and time that they put into being "chemical free" and I'm back to my dealer picking up a new supply.

It sucks because for the past few years I've been slowly  making this shift towards living a more natural and holistic life. My family and I have changed the way we eat, I've cleaned out toxic products from our home, and have even started this site to share what I've learned from awesome women, like those in the Holistic Moms Network.

I really am dedicated to making small changes that will, over time, transform my life into something more simple. The trouble is, making this change scares the shit out of me.

You see I've been using since I was about 9 years old. My babysitter helped me try it for the first time. It felt so good and really boosted my confidence. I've gone to professionals in the past, but now I save time and money by getting it myself.

I know it's harmful to me and my body, but that doesn't seem to stop the vicious cycle from continuing...I'm addicted to what many Black women refer to as "the creamy crack" aka hair relaxer!

What did you think I was talking about???

OK lets get down to it! For those of you in Granolaville who are unfamiliar, chemical hair relaxers are used by 80% of Black women to transform their hair into something that closely resembles the texture and softness of Caucasian hair.

Not me, and not her real hair, but you get the idea.

We've gone from Afro puffs to silky straight hair, and all we had to do is slather our locks with a cocktail of chemicals to fit into a European standard of beauty. For me, its a mixture of wanting manageable hair like my white friends, saving time...and a little about vanity.

Don't ALL little girls want to look like her?

The first thing you need to know is chemical relaxers permanently manipulates the structure of the hair.

Hair has two bonds, a physical bond and a chemical bond, referred to as the S and H bonds. These bonds create the S-shaped kink or curl in African-American hair. Chemically processing the hair changes the molecular structure by breaking down these bonds... thereby damaging the hair.  Once the bonds are broken, the hair loses its natural shape and elasticity, and can then be manually formed into straight hair. The changed S-shape bond can never be returned to its original healthy form.  

So there are only two way to get rid of a relaxer: Let your hair "grow out", which would mean the top part of the hair would look like the girl on the left, while the ends would look like the girl on the right. Not cute AT ALL. OR you can do what they call "The Big Chop" and cut OFF ALL OF YOUR HAIR , getting rid of the processed ends.

Either way I choose, putting my hair back into its "natural state" would be a 1-2 year process, and once complete means I can't just whip into a ponytail when I'm rushing around with 3 kids. 

I'm sorry but I am not confident enough to rock a buzz cut, although I applaud those beautiful women who do.

Solange Knowles rockin something Beyonce would never dare.

I admit it, I'm a little obsessed when it comes to how my hair looks (please tell me I'm not the only one!) There is a reason why all women and some men fear having a "bad hair day".

I used to wish, when I was younger, that my tresses could be long and luxurious like my girl friends in school. I was too young to realize that I needed to embrace my differences and not cause irreparable damage to my hair.

Here's the truth about chemical relaxers as documented in Chris Rock's movie Good Hair (a must see for my Caucasian husband):

• The principal ingredient in "Lye Relaxers" is Sodium Hydroxide which is a long-lasting chemical agent also found in commercial drain cleaner, floor stripping products and cements. If inhaled or ingested can lead to throat swelling, loss of vision, vomiting, collapse, or Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues
• Most women use "No-Lye Relaxers" which instead contain Calcium Hydroxide. A less caustic chemical alternative that still has the ability to melt metal and your scalp, if left on too long.

Side effects of over-processing your hair with chemical relaxers include: 

• Changing the level of cystine – a protein responsible for strengthening the hair.
• Male patterned baldness
• Chemical burns
• Using a Ph level near 13---the same PH used to break down hair in your drain with Liquid Drano 
• Dry, brittle hair that breaks very easily
• Exposure to carcinogens that are absorbed through the skin, tissue, cells and blood stream

Here is an AWESOME list of chemicals we should all stay away from, no matter what your ethnicity.

So what's a Granolaville Mom to do?

I guess start figuring out a way to cut my addiction and find a more natural alternative that won't have me looking like Golum or Miss Celie from The Color Purple.

What's been the hardest thing you've had to give up for a holistic lifestyle?

Detoxing in Granolaville,