Sodium Laureth and Your Health

What is sodium laureth?
"A common ingredient in personal care products, sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is an additive that allows cleansing products to foam. According to the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, SLS is a "moderate hazard" that has been linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, organ toxicity, skin irritation and endocrine disruption."
https://www.livestrong.com/article/174367-dangers-of-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/

Did you know?
It is a misconception that a cleaning agent cleans better if it foams well.

"So, an important question to ask is, does foam directly relate to how well the product cleans?
The answer is no. The amount of foam has almost no effect on the cleaning ability of the product. Having a lot of foam isn’t vital for actually doing the cleaning, it’s mostly for aesthetic. In fact, in some cases, the presence of foam will reduce the ability to clean."
https://cleanersolutions.net/what-you-need-to-know-about-foam/

Although the risk is moderate for negative health effects. Which would you choose: the risk of nerve damage, organ poisoning, growth and metabolism disruption or a healthy nervous and endocrine system? Remember being comfort-able is the ability to make informed choices to live more comfortably.

Please read the entire articles from the referenced websites.

Winter Weather Comfort. . . Rooibos Tea

As cold weather settles in for the winter months here is another herbal tea to try.

Rooibos tea is also known as red tea or red bush tea. It is a flavorful, caffeine-free alternative to black and green tea.

5 Proven Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy141ijZKhg

Better blood circulation

Healthier and stronger hair

Help for Type 2 Diabetes

Improved skin appearance

Bone and teeth health

Did you know?

South Africa is the only country in the world producing rooibos. Rooibos is for more than just sipping. https://www.teatulia.com/tea-varieties/what-is-rooibos.htm

Rooibos tea contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation and feelings of aches and pains. https://www.cupandleaf.com/blog/rooibos-tea-benefits

 In 1995, Charles Marais, MD, and ARC Infruitec, a South African research company, discovered that rooibos tea had antiviral, antibacterial, anti-allergic, and anti-inflammatory properties.  https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/healthy-rooibos-tea-benefits/

Can you eat too much cinnamon?

Cinnamon is an age old spice. It is enjoyed for it's flavor and health benefits. "It is the second most popular spice, next to black pepper, in the United States and Europe."   https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/260430.php  

Did you know? Yes, you can eat too much cinnamon, which may cause significant health risks. 
There are two types of cinnamon: Cassia and Ceylon. Cassia is the cheaper type and most commonly used. Cassia is also the type that can cause health risks if too much is consumed.

"Because cassia cinnamon contains high content of coumarin, heavy consumption of this spice may result in doses exceeding the tolerable daily intake. The greatest concern appears to be the coumarin in bakery products. Sproll et al. [9] reported that children could reach the tolerable daily intake by consuming 3-4 cinnamon star cookies (reported coumarin level of 88 mg·kg−1) of a typical weight 5 g, while an adult would need to eat approximately 10 cookies to reach the upper limit."

"In 2004, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended a coumarin daily intake limit of 0–0.1 mg·kg−1 body weight per day."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3385612/

"Cassia or “regular” cinnamon is a rich source of coumarin. It contains approximately 5 mg of coumarin per teaspoon (2 grams), while Ceylon cinnamon only contains trace amounts of it. The recommended daily coumarin limit is approximately 0.05 mg/pound (0.1 mg/kg) of body weight, or 5 mg per day for a 130-pound (60-kg) person. This means that just one to one and a half teaspoons of Cassia cinnamon could put you over the daily limit."
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/side-effects-of-cinnamon

 Read the article:  "6 Side Effects of Too Much Cinnamon" to learn about the possible side effects of eating too much Cassia cinnamon.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/side-effects-of-cinnamon

The Good Earth Help for Healing: Magnet Comfort Therapy

Spring has sprung! Time to get outside and enjoy the good earth. A friend asked about magnet therapy. The concept is simple. The magnetic pull helps balance positive and negative charged ions. Healing requires energy, which requires negatively charged electrons. Take a look at the information below. I have used magnetic nuggets for years to ease discomfort while my body heals. Give them a try and let me know what you think. Enjoy the healing energy from the Good Earth!

"Basic research shows that when a magnet is placed on the skin, capillary walls relax, allowing for increased blood flow and oxygenation and removal of accumulated pain-producing prostaglandins. Theoretically, these actions relieve muscle spasms and, subsequently, pain.4 Since pain transmission requires the electrical activity found in nerve and muscle cells, properly aligned magnets could either block that action or, in cases of injury, promote healing.5 Magnets can be used in a constant, uninterrupted application (static therapy) or with manipulation of the magnetic field (pulsed therapy)"

https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/home/features/alternative-meds-update/magnet-therapy-for-pain-and-muscle-spasms/

"Magnet therapy uses “static” magnets, which are called static because the resulting magnetic field is unchanging. (Please do not confuse these with electromagnets, which produce magnetic fields when an electric current is applied and really shouldn’t be used on your own.) 

To use static magnets for pain relief, you must find a magnet of sufficient strength to provide a benefit. You can test this out yourself by placing the magnet next to a piece of clothing or sock, then placing a paper clip on the other side. If the magnet is not strong enough to hold the paper clip through your sock, then it will not penetrate your body either.
Alternatively, you should check out the strength of the magnet before you buy it. They are typically measured in units called gauss (G). Simple refrigerator magnets range from 35 to 200 G, but the magnets that may treat your pain range from 300 to 5,000 G." 

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/22/the-healing-power-of-magnets.aspx

https://www.unitconverters.net/magnetic-flux-density/gauss-to-tesla.ht

L-theanine as a health supplement for improved wellness

Spring is a time of awakening. Trees begin to bud, grass gets greener, flowers bloom and plants grow. Our body's biorhythms are affected by seasonal changes.

Learn more about biological rhythms:
https://www.encyclopedia.com/science-and-technology/biology-and-genetics/biology-general/biorhythms

"L-theanine is an amino acid. The human body does not produce this compound, and it is not essential for humans. Green tea, black tea, and certain types of mushroom naturally contain L-theanine. L-theanine may affect the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These include serotonin and dopamine, which influence mood, sleep, and emotion, and cortisol, which helps the body deal with stress."  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324120.php

L-theanine can help your body, mind and spirit gently transition from one season to the next. L-theanine as a health supplement for improved wellness can bring comfort to your well-being.

Learn more about the health benefits of L-theanine. Read all of section 8.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169117308420

The Difference Between Rest and Sleep

Find out the difference between the two.

There are times when you’re tired, but napping just isn’t an option. During these moments, you might wonder whether taking a quick rest—closing your eyes, putting your feet up, and clearing your mind for a couple of minutes—would be as beneficial. The short answer: not quite. But it’s a good second choice.

The Perks of a Rest

Sometimes referred to as quiet wakefulness, resting with your eyes closed can calm your mind, give at least some of your neurons a break (since you’re not actively thinking or concentrating on something), and let your muscles and organs relax. It can also reduce stress, improve your mood, and increase alertness, mental clarity, creativity, and motivation. All of these changes can enhance your productivity.

The Shortcomings

It’s only in the deeper stages of slumber that you get a substantial cognitive boost—resting won’t increase your ability to remember new information. It also won’t help your cells repair or regenerate themselves, and you won’t get some of the other physiological benefits—such as the release of growth hormone and other hormones (including those that regulate appetite and satiety)—of true snooze time.

The Bottom Line

Your body needs both sleep and rest. Think of taking a rest as giving yourself a break or time-out from the hectic pace and pressure of daily life. Resting doesn’t even have to be done lying down. You can do it while seated, by meditating or engaging in visualization or deep-breathing exercises. The important thing is to give your mind and body a chance to recover and recharge when you’re feeling out of steam.

https://www.sleep.org/articles/resting-vs-sleeping/