FUMES THAT HARM

One of the things I advocate is for women to love themselves...this can include anything from a weekly home spa treatment or your visit to your favorite salon for a manicure/pedicure. But before your next visit to the salon you might want to consider the risk in that bottle of nail polish. Scientific studies have shown that chemicals used in many of the nail polish that do wonders for our appearance can be very harmful to our body. Conventional polish contain what has come to be called “the toxic three” - formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl-pthalate (DBP). To give you a perspective of the dangers of these chemicals I am including information obtained from a report “Glossed Over”

Toluene
Toluene is a clear colorless liquid that acts as a solvent. It is found in many nail products, as it helps suspend the pigment throughout the liquid and helps form the smooth finish across the nail. Toluene is volatile and evaporates into the air as nail polish dries. Exposure to toluene can affect the central nervous system with low level symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and fatigue. Toluene is also an irritant to the eyes, nose and throat. At very high exposures, toluene has been found to be toxic to the kidneys and liver, and is a possible reproductive or developmental toxin. Toluene can be transmitted through the placenta to a fetus, and can be transmitted through breast milk. The most common route of exposure to toluene for adults is through inhalation, although dermal exposure is also possible.

Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an odiferous chemical commonly used in resins and as a preservative. It is found in some nail products as a nail hardener and to help create a smooth finish. Formaldehyde is an irritant to the eyes, nose and throat, and exposure can lead to coughing and wheezing. Repeated skin exposure can lead to skin irritation and an allergic rash called dermatitis. It is also a known human carcinogen.5 People are exposed to formaldehyde by breathing it in, although it can also be absorbed through the skin.

Dibutyl Phthalate
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a chemical used in a variety of consumer products as a plasticizers. In personal care products it adds flexibility, a moisturizing sheen and helps dissolve other cosmetic ingredients. It has been commonly found in nail polish. DBP is a possible reproductive or developmental toxin. Phthalate exposure occurs through inhalation, absorption through skin and ingestion in food.

Along with these chemical there is also the harmful effects of other chemical we use in the removal of nail polish (acetone).

Since women are the majority of consumers and workers in the nail industry, it is imperative that we not only are aware of the dangers but take steps to reduce the harmful effects of exposure. With awareness will come change but you can also become your own advocate by buying non-toxic water based polish and remover. It makes no sense in investing in service designed to make you look good only over time to have it possibly contribute to a dis-ease or dis-order. I have read that it takes time and patience to get the swing of the application of the water based polish, so it is best to develop a relationship with your nail technician to ensure they are open to trying the product. Since time is a factor visiting the salon at a low peak time would also be helpful. Currently there are two companies that offer water based products one is a US based company Honeybee Gardens and the Canadian Based company Suncoat

HEALTHY HABITS DON'T JUST HAPPEN..YOU CREATE THEM

Creating healthy habits is in itself an adventure and can be fun if you develop a good attitude about a life of wellness. Far too often people take dis-eases and dis-orders as something that just happens...but far too often they are a direct result of poor lifestyle choices. Wellness does not just incorporate the physical body...wellness is about balance of the mind, the body and the spirit.
The first rule of thumb...the pathway to wellness must be one you take an active participation in and one that YOU choose. There are some things that will make the journey a much easier one but if you don't decide for yourself you want to be well...it won't work...because IT IS WORK.
The flip side of that is once you step on the path, with the proper support, tips and tools...what began as what seemed like a chore will turn into a welcomed habit.
My e-guide, Pathway to a Healthier Lifestyle, is a tool to get you started along your way.
My monthly teleconference, Let's Talk Health, serves as a support platform for group support. Take your time as you go through the guide and visit the links...some provide additional information.
Need a little more help to get started...one on one weekly support by appointment is also available.
Contact me for more details.

BALANCE EQUALS WELLNESS

I have always been one to speak on balance when it comes to wellness. A person who is physically fit but has many things that are weighing heavy on their mind to the point of constant worry will find that if not managed properly will have a profound impact on their health.
Another area that many people don't often consider when they think of wellness is the area of spirituality (note...I said spirituality not religion). We all need to have something that helps keep us centered. For me one of the things that helps keep me centered is to strive everyday to have a positive impact on someone else life. This can be something as small as a friendly greeting to a stranger. Have you found that often people look at you strange when you step into an elevator and show a gesture of a friendly greeting? I find that when I take the focus off me and place it on others often when I have my own life challenges they seem a little easier to tackle.
Check out this article on how to achieve spiritual fitness. Make a firm commitment to yourself in this new year to work on achieving balance in mind/body and spirit.

Spirituality and Medicine

In the temples of Ancient Greece dedicated to Asclepius, the God of Healing, there was the integration of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing. This approach to medicine could also be found in the Indian, Egyptian and Chinese culture as well as the monasteries and convents of Medieval Europe. With the advances of technology in Medicine, the spiritual and mental aspects of healing were put aside. The human body became one only viewed functionally as a mechanical machine. Scientific research once again began to explore the connection between the mind, body and spirituality. It is being shown more and more how prayer and meditation can indeed contribute to the healing process. It is known that negative thoughts set up a friendly environment to harbor diseases. Meditation actually can change the wiring of the brain, creating a more positive frame of mind.
Dr. Christina Puchalski, MD was the pioneer introducing coursework at George Washington University School of Medicine in 1992 on spirituality and health. At that time it was an elective course only only offered by 2% of schools. By 2004 the number increased to 67%. Now for many of the Medical Schools it is a requirement to take at lease one course related to the topic. The goal for such curriculum is to help the student gain an understanding of how to be compassionate participants in their patient's lives.
Many physicians today respect and some actively participate in the patient's need for prayer, meditation and other forms of spirituality.
For more on this topic the book Spirituality and Medicine: Can the Two Walk Together by Dr. Glenda Hodge, MD can help one gain further insight.