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Category: Towards Better Health

Published on Leave a comment on Chemical Detergents, Dish Soaps, and Depression.

How Cleaning Products Are Messing With Your Mental Health

Interview with Marilee Nelson from Branch Basics

When it comes to our mental and physical health, we often focus on what we should eat, how much we should exercise, and how much we should meditate –  and forget to take a good look at where we spend most of our time: our homes.

Be Kind To Yourself - Nasty Chemicals In Many Cleaning Products Are Worse Than You Think.

In this week’s blog and podcast, I speak with Marilee Nelson, founder of Branch Basics, about how the hidden toxins in our home can affect our mental and physical wellbeing, how to keep our living spaces free of toxic chemicals and products, how to protect our brains and bodies outside of the home and more!

As Marilee points out, products with harmful chemicals like pesticides and artificial fragrances in our homes can harm our health. Even small amounts can affect us, including many of the ingredients in supposedly non-toxic products! There is little regulation regarding cleaning supplies, and many do not even have a full ingredient list. We do not even understand how many of these chemicals affect our health over the short and long term (Marilee describes the impact of these chemicals in detail on the Branch Basics YouTube channel, if you are interested in learning more).   …

Published on Leave a comment on How to Know When And How to Say NO

By Dr. Caroline Leaf And Dr. Henry Cloud
Neuroscientist And Psychologist

It's Alright To Say "NO..."
You Don't Have To Do Everything.

We all know that community is important for mental health, but what happens when people demand too much from us? How do we know when and how to say no before we feel drained and burnout? 

As I discuss in this week’s podcast with Dr. Henry Cloud, acclaimed leadership expert, bestselling author and psychologist, boundaries are as important as community when it comes to our mental health. It is not selfish to say no or give ourselves a break. 

We all need space, or what Dr. Cloud calls “property lines”, in our relationships. These lines set healthy limits in a friendship, and make sure people don’t throw their “trash” into your yard (figuratively speaking) or try control what you do and how you live. These are not walls: they are permeable. Ideally, we open our boundaries to let in good relationships, but we close them to keep out to threats and danger.

But, you may ask, what can you do when you feel obligated to say “yes” all the time and let people in all the time?…

Published on Leave a comment on What Can Happen To Your Body If You Wear High Heels Every Day?

Wearing high heels makes you stand taller and feel prettier, according to experts. But you should not forget that your health is more important than anything, and few centimetres of height by way of heels might cause some serious health issues in the long run.

Those High Heels Cause Back Pain And More

You may develop back pain.

Have you ever found yourself leaning forward after wearing your high heels all day long? This happens because you feel the need to release the pressure on your back. Your back has a C-curve shape in a normal position. When you wear high heels, you change the shape of the spine, and, over time, it can wear off the cartilage on your discs, joints, and ligaments in your back.

You may put extra pressure on your feet.

Your natural balance is distorted when wearing heels. So you might experience extra pressure on the balls of your feet which can affect your walking speed, stride length, and gait.

You may damage your knees.

Because of excessive knee torque (force of rotation) and compression, your knees are more prone to being torn when you wear high heels. The “wear-and-tear arthritis,” known as knee osteoarthritis, happens much more often to women than to men, and wearing high heels is one of the main reasons for this.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Value And Advantages In Having A Hobby/Hobbies

IT'S NICE TO HAVE A HOBBY: SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, SOMETHING LIGHT-HEARTED. EVERYONE "BUSY BUSY" SEEMS TO BE THE WAY OF MODERN CIVILISATION SINCE THE TURN OF THIS CENTUARY, HEY? BUT IS THAT HEALTHY FOR US OR OUR KIDS? NOT REALLY. NO. SOMEONE SAID TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO "SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY LOVE, TO DO IT?" IT'S SO TRUE THAT SOME DON'T KNOW THEIR PASSION, TO PURSUE IT. THERE ARE BENEFITS WHEN YOU DISCOVER WHAT IT IS, LIKE MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR MONTHS OR YEARS. WE HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS JUST DISCOVERED HIS AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE. LIFE SHOULD NOT ALL BE WORK, CHORES AND TV OR SOCIAL MEDIA. TRY AND THINK YOUR WAY AROUND THAT. FEEL FREE TO LOOK FOR IDEAS AND EXPLORE. BE KIND TO YOURSELF, HEY?

6 Reasons To Get A Hobby

By Jaime Kurtz, Ph.D., PsychologyToday.Com

You're Really Not Too Busy.

Over a couple of generations, we have somehow misplaced their free time.

Various things contribute to this, but for many of us, being legitimately busy simply isn't one of them. Instead, we habitually waste time, creating the illusion of busyness.…

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Published on 2 Comments on Children Learn From Growing Things – Let Them Explore, Hey? It’s Good For Them.

I FOUND SOME GOOD FAMILY RELATED MATERIAL ON THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT WEBSITE THAT'S REALLY GREAT. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING NATURE A LOT - OUR NEED FOR REGULAR EXPOSURE TO IT SOME WAY/WAYS THROUGH THE WEEK.

Children Love To Learn How To Grow Plants - Why Not Let Them Try? You May Be Surprised!

IN MY PRETEENS, I WAS FASCINATED BY PEAS AND BEANS EMMERGING THROUGH THE SOIL, WHEN MY MUM WAS TENDING HER VEGGIE GARDEN AND WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE A FEW PLANTS OF MY OWN TO GROW. MY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS WERE NOT VOICED UNTIL I MENTIONED IT TO HER LATER IN LIFE (MY 40'S OR 50'S).

IN RESPONSE, SHE SAID "Oh Janet, you never said anything about it. I would have been happy to share some with you - I didn't think you were interested." I WAS ACTUALLY INTRIGUED. IT'S A GREAT INTEREST FOR KIDS OF DIFFERENT AGES, FROM LITTLE TO TEENS and A GOOD CONTRAST TO THEIR TECH INTERESTS - HELPING TO PROVIDE A BALANCE FOR THEM, HEY? AND HEALTH BENEFITS TO BE GAINED TOO, A WIN WIN!

The Government Says:

People of all ages can enjoy gardening, but children in particular will have lots of fun and gain special benefits. …

Published on Leave a comment on Are Dirt And Germs As Bad As We Think? Learn About GOOD Germs – Say NO To Ignorance!

By Uzma Muneer, D.O.

I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A COUNTRY TOWNSHIP NOT FAR FROM THE BEACH AND PLAYED OUTSIDE A LOT. MANY KIDS ARE BROUGHT UP HAVING CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE SOIL BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY HAS A VEGGIE GARDEN OR THEY LIVE ON A FARM. HEALTH SCIENTISTS ARE SAYING THIS GIVES CHILDREN A GOOD HEALTHY START IN LIFE AND BENEFITS THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM. THEY’RE ALSO SAYING THAT KEEPING YOUR CHILDREN AND HOUSE SO CLEAN AND OVERUSE OF DISINFECTANTS IS NOT GOOD FOR THEIR HEALTH.

Are You Overly Careful How Your Kids Play?

Some Thoughtful Considerations.

Dr. Muneer specializes in Pediatrics, lets see what she has to say.

Picture this: A baby’s pacifier falls to the ground. A first-time mom sterilizes it thoroughly before giving it back. With her second baby, she quickly runs it under some water first. By her third child, the mom brushes it off and pops it right back into her baby’s mouth. Was her third child any worse for the wear?

We spend a lot of time and energy protecting our babies and kids from germs. But some germs could actually help protect them.

Our health is influenced by all the microorganisms inside our bodies and the surrounding environment.…

Published on Leave a comment on California Communities Learn To Become Self-Sufficient With Mini Gardens

By Virgilio Marin

I LIKE THIS STORY, IT SPEAKS ABOUT MORE THINGS THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT. THE VISIONARY CONCEPTS HERE ARE REALLY INSPIRING.........YOU SHOULD READ ABOUT HOW THEY IMPLIMENTED THINGS. THEY DIDN'T JUST GIVE PEOPLE A BOX OF SMALL SEEDLINGS. AND YOU SHOULD READ ABOUT WHAT THEY DO WITH FRUIT TREES. YES, THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THIS CO-OP ARE GENEROUS KIND VISIONARIES. WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS KIND OF THING WIDESPREAD - MAYBE IN SOME COMMUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA. WELL DONE!

Cooperation Humboldt, a transition initiative in Humboldt County in California, is providing mini-gardens for free to help communities in the state’s North Coast become self-sufficient and achieve food independence.

The organization initially provided free lawn conversions but decided to shift its focus later on. Tamara McFarland, a leader within the cooperation, was concerned that the lawn conversion project failed to reach individuals who would benefit the most from growing their own food. Most of the people applying for lawn conversions were long-term renters and homeowners with a stable income and the privilege of starting a backyard garden.

When the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit, the organization became even more motivated to move away from its lawn-conversion model, which required a number of volunteers working side-by-side for long stretches of time.…

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Published on 1 Comment on Preservative In Thousands Of Children’s Food Products Found To Damage Immune System

By Ethan Huff - Health Reporter

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) published a paper recently that exposes a common food preservative for damaging the immune system.

Tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, is added to more than 1,250 food products, many of them marketed for children. The latest data shows that it suppresses immunity, which is especially concerning during a global “pandemic.”
Grandparents may like to make these for Grandkids with "busy parents"

Try Safer Treats For Kids - They're Only Young Once! Clean Food Crush Website HERE

Published on March 24 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the study used data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxicity Forecaster, also known as ToxCast.

Based on this data, EWG concluded that TBHQ damages immunity both in humans and animals.

“The pandemic has focused public and scientific attention on environmental factors that can impact the immune system,” says Olga Naidenko, PhD, EWG’s vice president for science investigations and lead author of the paper.

“Before the pandemic, chemicals that may harm the immune system’s defense against infection or cancer did not receive sufficient attention from public health agencies. To protect public health, this must change.”

As it turns out, TBHQ has been used in processed foods for decades.…

Published on Leave a comment on Fit Legs Are A Key To Our Brain Health, Science Says. New Discovery!

From Brightside.Me

THIS IS A TOO GOOD TO MISS ARTICLE THAT MOST OF US HAVE FOR SOME REASON. THIS IS A POSITIVE DISCOVERY THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE AND IS A VITAL OVERLOOKED ASPECT OF OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FITNESS BECAUSE MOST OF US WEREN'T AWARE OF IT BEFORE - NOW DISCOVERED BY HEALTH SCIENTISTS FOR OUR BENEFIT, GIVING US MORE GOOD REASONS TO GO FOR WALKS EACH DAY OR WEEK, AND ALSO SHEDS LIGHT ON WHY WALKING UP STEPS PROVES BENEFICIAL. IT'S A FITNESS THING SOME PEOPLE ENGAGE IN, IT SO TURNS OUT, IS GOOD FOR US NEUROLOGICALLY. WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD TO FIND OUT WHY WALKING BENEFITS MORE THAN OUR HEART WHEN WE ARE GETTING UP IN YEARS TOO? LETS CALL IT A GOOD FORM OF PRACTICLE HEALTH INSURANCE WE ALL CAN AFFORD.

Running is one of the most popular sports worldwide, statistics say. And weight concerns are usually the main reason people practice it. However, it poses another big bonus: leg exercises have a great effect on our brain health too.

We at Bright Side consider scientific discoveries vital and even practical for our everyday lives, so here are some proven reasons to start exercising right away.

It Slows Down Brain Aging.

Research has shown that people who are unable to actively use their legs, like bed-ridden hospital patients or even astronauts on extended travel, have altered body chemistry.…

Published on Leave a comment on Something We Can Do For A Healthy Gut And Overall Health – Guess What It Is?

I'VE PLACED AN ARTICLE IN MY BLOG ABOUT THE MICROBIOME WE HAVE IN OUR BODY THAT RELATES VERY CLOSELY TO GUT HEALTH RECENTLY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS. DID YOU KNOW THAT HAVING A HEALTHY GUT HELPS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND OVERALL HEALTH? YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE A MISSING PART TO THE HEALTH PUZZLE FOR MANY - EVEN SOME PEOPLE WHO GO TO GYMS AND TAKE SUPPLEMENTS - SOMETHING THAT IS VERY UNDERATED BY MOST PEOPLE AND EASILY MISSED. IT STRENGTHENS YOUR GUT AND IT'S GREAT FOR YOUR HEALTH...... IT'S ALSO FREE...... CAN YOU GUESS NOW?

The One Thing You Should Do For A Healthier Gut

By Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum – CleanPlates.Com

Stopping to admire a bed of flowers, strolling alongside a river, or sitting on a park bench — chances are, at least one of those scenarios, if not all of them, sounds peaceful and uplifting to you. But time spent in nature benefits more than just your spirits: It can lower stress levels, boost your immune system, improve your heart health, alleviate depression and anxiety, and lead to a healthier gut.…