Thanks to those who have reached out to me about the status of Sex and the Celery! There are exciting things in the works…please stay tuned! However, until then please check out the other site I’ve been working on: Natural Products Network!

Thanks!

Chelsea

Here are some interesting facts about how water and fluid intake influences our health:

•    75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (This likely applies to half the world population)
•    Even MILD dehydration will slow down ones metabolism as much as 3%.
•    One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
•    Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
•    Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day (half of that coming from food and drinks other than plain water) could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
•    A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
•    Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by up to 45%, the risk of breast cancer by up to 79%, and the risk of bladder cancer by up to 50%!

When you first start drinking the fluids that your body needs, you might experience increased urination as your body is used to utilizing whatever little moisture it receives to flush out toxins. However, keep drinking the 8 to 10 glasses of fluids you should be each day and before long you will notice a striking change in the way you look and feel. You might notice your skin looking brighter and clearer and start to feel better and more focused.

As you continue to drink the appropriate amount of fluids, your body will start to trust that more is coming so it will get rid of any water retention weight in your body. This will encourage weight to drop from problem areas such as the hips, ankles, stomach and thighs.

And don’t think for even a second that you can drink more junky soda to get the right effect. High quality beverages are best.  One great choice is AquaLiv, which utilizes Advanced Water Technology to create water that is the way that nature intended it. The first water purification system of its kind, AquaLiv users have reported numerous health benefits including optimal hydration, improved appearance, weight loss and even less stress. Another wonderful choice is Zola Acai Juice, which features the powerful benefits of the Acai superfruit berry. Carefully harvested from Brazil, Acai (pronounced Ah – sigh-EEE) is rich in antioxidants for increased heart heat, immune system support and anti-aging.

So what does this mean? Obviously, we need to be more mindful of pesticides and how these common chemicals affect our health. But, more so than that, we need to look at our exposure to ALL toxins and how this exposure might be affecting us and our children. In the case of ADHD, there are many potential factors that may be causing the symptoms related to this condition.

Specifically, many of us eat highly dangerous toxins every single day and don’t even know it. These toxins are additives and preservatives called excitotoxins, which can cause a host of problems including headaches, nerve problems, anxiety, hyperactivity, difficulty focusing, depression, mental illness, seizures and brain damage. Check out this amazing book, Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, to find out the truth about the dangers of common preservatives and food additives. What you’ll find is that there is concrete scientific evidence against common substances like MSG found in a variety of foods (not just Chinese Food!!). These harmful substances are put into food to make it taste better and represent a billion dollar business. The problem is that they are also making us sick.

The good news is that we can do something about this by choosing foods that are free of these common chemicals. Check the labels of foods and stay away from packaged foods that contain an abundance of chemicals. Also, be careful because seemingly harmless ingredients such as “enzymes,” “hydrolyzed vegetable protein,” “natural flavors” and “spices” are really MSG in disguise! Two of the biggest culprits that you would never suspect are diet foods and Campbell Soups which are loaded with excitotoxins. Also, just because foods are labeled as “natural” or “organic” does not mean that they are safe! Get informed and take control of your health and the health of your family! Try making wholesome meals at home completely from scratch for a month and see how you feel. My guess is much, much better.

Living in Colorado is amazing, but the dry climate can present challenges when it comes to picking the best makeup. Some of the challenges I’ve come across are finding a makeup that won’t looked caked on the skin or start to look like a runny mess after playing outdoors. Over the years, I’ve tried lots of brands and have not been entirely happy with any of them. Mostly, I’ve felt like they were working against the elements and making my skin dryer and more prone to wrinkles.

That’s why I was really excited when I discovered Mineral Hygienics makeup. Not only is it a great mineral makeup that adheres to skin without clogging pores, it is also one of the purest and long lasting products I’ve tried. I particularly like that it only has 4 ingredients (yes just 4!) and it looks really natural on the skin. Best of all, I like it because it still looks fresh even after a long day in the dry Colorado climate.

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk about the line on the KRON 4 TV morning show in San Francisco and all the peeps on the show also fell in love with the line. In fact, there was a bit of a friendly battle for the samples that I left in the studio. Check out Mineral Hygienics for yourself and make sure to enter the code KRON4 at checkout for an instant discount.

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for great deals on the products that you love. Now, I buy A LOT of natural products (even my pets are organic eaters) so I’m always on the lookout for ways that I can save money on some of my favorite stuff. That is why I love the Natural Products Network page on facebook! All you have to do is become a fan and you get great opportunities to win free stuff  like hip organic clothes, awesome beauty products, cool kids stuff, healthful supplements and much more. The best part about it is that it’s completely free and they never spam. Check it out and tell a friend. I’ve heard a rumor that the more fans they get the more stuff they will be giving out, so the more the merrier! Check it out now and jump on board. You can always de-fan it if you get sick of having opportunities to get free stuff (yeah right!).

Everyone wants to look and feel their best.

Recently, I was included in a powerful conversation on Linkedin about traditional vs. alternative cancer treatments. (Yes, people have powerful conversations on Linkedin…who knew?) Anyway, in the emotional discussion—which ended up garnering 41 comments to date—people shared diverse opinions on the treatment of cancer and what they felt was the most effective approach.

People spoke of their person experiences, brought up clinical research, mentioned a variety of new approaches and explained what chemotherapy actually does to the body. Many people agreed the most effective approach was to utilize methods that build the immune system as opposed to killing off cells with chemo. One person in the thread brought up an interesting study that showed that  after chemo tumor cells can re-seed and spread throughout the body.

Also, the discussion started a debate on the percentage of people actually killed by chemotherapy as opposed to the cancer that it is meant to treat. Definitely interesting and educational stuff! Read the entire conversation here (you will have to be a Linkedin member) and share your thoughts!

Among the most damning evidence I discovered at that time was that, according to numbers I found at the CDC (after much digging), there was a greater likelihood of a child dying or being severely injured by a vaccine than from dying or being severely injured from the diseases that the vaccines were intended to prevent. I also looked at various charts from researchers that showed that the decline in dangerous childhood diseases was caused by increased sanitation practices and not from vaccines. I came across articles that illustrated how dangerous common vaccines are. I read horrific stories from mothers whose children had suffered reactions to the vaccines and even came across what looked like a classified study linking an inner city immunization program to a “top secret” FBI mission.

Are vaccines the right choice?

In addition, I also read all the pro-vaccine materials that I could get my hands on and spoke repeatedly to both a traditional and holistic doctor (who was still a MD) about my findings. Much to my dismay, my traditional doctor admitted that even though she gave immunizations every day, she had never bothered to read any of the findings related to the negative effects of vaccines. Also, when I reviewed the pro-vaccine information I was given, it lacked current statistics while talking in a vague language about the significant threats that children would face if they were not vaccinated. To me, it simply wasn’t convincing.

However, I realize that this is my opinion formed from my own research. The point of this post is not to convince a parent not to vaccinate their child or prove that I’m correct. Some of my friends and family have vaccinated their children and received flu shots because they thought that was what is best.

What I’m concerned about is the one-sided nature of how vaccine safety is presented in the mainstream media and the traditional doctor’s office. Thus, I want to encourage everyone to look at multiple sources of information in order to make a decision. For instance, parents might want to browse well-constructed sites such as Mothering.com in order to get a more well-rounded view of the issue. There you will find first hand stories and well-researched information about vaccinations that you will not find in mainstream media articles or at a traditional doctor’s office.

Nettle, a member of the Urticaceae family, is a nutrition-packed herb that has been used throughout time to help people rebuild their immune systems and look and feel their best. In fact, way back when, Caesar’s Roman troops gathered Nettle from England and brought it back with them because of its many benefits.

Nettle is rich in chlorophyll, and is a good source vitamins A,C and E, iron, calcium and phosphates. It has been used to help prevent urinary tract infections, combat viruses and bacterial infections and even revitalize the body after childbirth.

When it comes specifically to hair and skin care, Nettle is beneficial to help prevent hair loss – and makes hair feel luxurious and strong. It also helps to soothe irritated skin and has been praised as a natural tonic to help relieve acne and eczema.

The easiest and perhaps best way to consume Nettle is by drinking Nettle tea. You can find it at most health food stores including Whole Foods and Vitamin Cottage. Of course, make sure to consult your health care provider before you add it into your daily routine. If your current health care provider doesn’t know anything about Nettle or its vast benefits (or treats you like an idiot for asking about it), consider finding a health care provider who is more open-minded and educated about the healing benefits of herbs.

Since the 1930s, there has been a stream of studies surrounding retroviruses and their link to human cancers. In fact, throughout the years well-known researchers have explored the possible link between breast cancer and a retrovirus known as the mammary tumor virus (MMTV). In two prominent studies, researchers found the MMTV virus present in breast tumors and also found that the virus can infect human breast cells.

Retroviruses are dangerous because they invade the host DNA and disrupt genes that control cell division, which in turn can cause cancer. Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies that you can use to help combat retroviruses. Olive leaf extract has been found to be a wonderful healing remedy for retroviruses due to its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasiti and antioxidant properties. You can also find an amazing healing tool created by the legendary Hanna Kroeger called the X-40 Kit that was specifically designed to combat retroviruses.