FAQ about Vitamin D

Source: And They Lived Happily Ever After

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Vitamin D:

What is the function of vitamin D?

• Regulation of bone health, calcium, and phosphorus
• Regulation of immune function
• Regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular health
• Regulation of insulin and blood sugar
• Regulation of muscle composition and muscle function
• Prevention of cancer

How is vitamin D made?

It is produced in the body when ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun contact the skin, triggering the creation of vitamin D, called vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements isn’t usable until converted in two separate chemical processes occurring within the body. The first occurs in the liver and converts vitamin D to calcidiol (25-hydroxyvitamin D) and the second occurs primarily in the kidney to form the physiologically active calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D).

Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is formed in fungi like mushrooms and D3 (cholecalciferol) is formed in the skin when contacted by UV light. Vitamin D2 is converted to cholecalciferol (D3) only after UV light strikes it in the skin and is then hydroxylated in the liver to become calcifediol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3). Calcifediol is again hydroxylated in the kidneys becoming calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3), which is the most active hormone form of vitamin D3.

What events can indicate a need for more foods rich in vitamin D?

• Muscle aches and muscle weakness
• Frequent falls, particularly among older persons
• Bone pain, frequent bone fractures, or soft bones
• Stunted growth in children
• Asthma in children (especially severe asthma)
• Impaired cognitive function, especially among older persons
• Lowered immunity
• Chronic low energy and fatigue
• Depression, particularly among older persons
• Presence of any autoimmune disorder
• Lack of exposure to sunlight for any reason, including geography, use of sunscreen, or wearing of protective clothing

Read more>>

Toxic Chemicals in Products We Use Every Day

Posted Sep 8, 2014 by Alesia Lucas in Find Safer Products

You may be new to the toxic chemicals fight. Welcome! We’ve been working hard to get our leaders and retailers to get tough on toxic chemicals found in everyday consumer products. Yes, you read that right, toxic chemicals are lurking in the products we use every single day.

Hard plastic water bottles and soda cans are a common hangout for toxic chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA). Researchers have linked early exposure to BPA with health problems like: abnormal development of the brain, behavioral changes, cancer, early onset of puberty, reproductive harm, insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease. BPA has enjoyed widespread popularity in plastic and canned food linings for decades. But now, due to concerns about leaching and hormone disruption, BPA is flirting with outlaw status.

Do you like to clean?

We’ll take that as a no, but eventually we all come in contact with trichloroethylene(TCE). This heavy-duty industrial solvent can cut through grease, wax, gunk, and even silicones. You will find TCE in industrial solvents, paint removers, correction fluid, rug cleaners, spot removers, and drinking water.

One of the best ways to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in our homes is by dusting frequently, vacuuming with a HEPA filter and removing your shoes at the door (which can track in heavy metals and pesticides).

You may want to avoid nonstick pans too…

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) used to coat non-stick pans appears as fumes when pans are overheated and flakes off as the coating decomposes. The EPA considers PFOA alikely human carcinogen. Scientists have also shown PFOA to alter development of mammary tissue in lab rats. In humans, PFCs including PFOA are also associated withlow sperm counts.

Yikes…

The flame retardant family is full of contradiction and mystery. “Flame retardants” are supposed to slow and prevent fires, but the problem is they don’t actually prevent fires. On the other hand, their widespread presence in everyday items like couches, children’s products and electronics has been linked to cancer and harm to the developing brain.

Researchers estimate that children can ingest up to ten times more toxic chemicals than adults because of their tendency to put their hands and other objects into their mouths, and because they spend time close to the ground.

Formaldehyde has endeared itself to product manufacturers and undertakers because of its uncanny ability to preserve and embalm. Formaldehyde is known to cause upper airway cancer, leukemia, respiratory illness, and asthma.

Shocking, but there’s more

Formaldehyde (and formaldehyde releasing chemicals) can be found in shampoo and lotion, “wrinkle-free” shirts and bedding, composite wood products (like particle board) used to make furniture (including cribs and changing tables), cabinets, countertops, and other building materials.

Toxic chemicals are everywhere. It is very hard to avoid them, but here are some tips to cut down on our exposure to toxic chemicals.

Do you spray tan?

Spray tan mixtures contain a chemical called dihydroxyacetone (DHA). Never heard of it? It was originally used during X-rays, but once people realized it could dye skin, an industry was born. Sunless tanning lotions and sprays had their “magical” ingredient.

DHA has been linked to cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. So, you may want to think twice before entering the spray tan room.

Our next chemical is one you’ve surely heard about before–lead. Lead is a notorious neurotoxin from way back, causing brain damage since ancient times.

Many believe it was the ancient Romans’ indiscriminate use of lead in food vessels, wine, and makeup that led to their downfall. You’d think we would have learned this lesson by now.

Lead is linked to brain, kidney, and heart damage in both adults and children. Even in small amounts, lead can lower a child’s IQ, shorten his or her attention span, and increase their levels of hyperactivity and aggressive behavior…

Lead loves to keep us guessing by popping up in inappropriate places. Researchers have discovered lead lurking in juice boxes and children’s jewelry.

We’re putting a stop to this!

By following these tips you can limit your exposure to toxic chemicals a great deal so don’t worry.

Avoiding chemicals is easier than you think, but we still need leadership from Congress and retailers to make sure chemicals are safe before they end up in our homes, products, environment and communities. Join our movement now!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates on the campaign. While you’re at it join our email list too! http://saferchemicals.org/ 

Free Online Guided Meditations

Free Online Guided Meditations  
By Chad Foreman

(1) Introduction & Mindful Breathing

2) Chakra Meditation

3) Recognising Awareness and its True Nature

4) Awakening Meditation

www.thewayofmeditation.com.au/guided-meditations.html 

Unacceptable Levels Trailer

How the sun sees you

Thomas Leveritt

Published on Aug 12, 2014

We showed people what they looked like in ultraviolet, & wondered aloud if they wanted to put on some damn sunscreen already.
https://twitter.com/thomasleveritt

This was pretty cool. But not all sunscreens are safe. Here's what I learned from http://draxe.com/75-of-sunscreens-are-toxic-what-to-do-instead

The common sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone, methoxycinnamate, and PABA are estrogenic chemicals linked to cancer.

List of Unsafe, Toxic Chemicals in Sunscreen:

Para amino benzoic acid
Octyl salicyclate
Oxybenzone
Cinoxate
Dioxybenzone
Phenylbenzimidazole
Homosalate
Menthyl anthranilate
Octocrylene
Methoxycinnamate
Parabens

There are two types of sunscreens: non-mineral and mineral. And some that combine both.

Non-mineral sunscreens penetrate the skin, are potentially disruptive to hormones, are allergenic, and like I mentioned earlier, can release free radicals when they break down. Oxybenzone is the most common ingredient found in sunscreens. Scientists recommend not using sunscreens containing oxybenzone on children because of this hormone disruption.

Mineral sunscreens are ones containing zinc, or titanium. These do not breakdown in sunlight, are not usually absorbed ( so do not disrupt the body’s hormones), are not allergenic and are more effective at blocking UVA rays than non-minerals. These sunscreens are a good choice for children and according to EWG have the best safety profiles of the choices in the United States.

What I Use

Kiss My Face SPF 30

What Natural Sunscreens to Buy

The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt. No chemicals for the skin to absorb, no questions about whether the product works and no bogus claims like “sunblock.” (No conventional product blocks out all rays. Which is why the FDA is trying to ban the term.)

When buying sunscreen I’d first check the EWG database. Here are my top 3 recommended brands of the top natural sunscreens:
1. Kiss My Face SPF 30

2. 100% Pure Hydration Organic Pomegranate

3. Aubrey Organics SPF 30 Children’s Unscented Sensitive Skin

These healthier sunscreens contain Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as a more natural form of sunblock. However even these ingredients aren’t flawless as you’ll see in the EWG ratings system.

Foods and Supplements that Protect Your Skin
According to the American Cancer Society, oxidative damage can increase your cancer risk, so I recommend eating a diet high in certain foods which can potentially decrease your risk.

List of the best foods and supplements to protect your skin

Resveratrol (red wine, blueberries and red grapes)
Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon and fish oil)
Astaxanthin (salmon and fish oil)
Catechins (green and white tea)
Vitamin E (pumpkin seeds, almonds, and asparagus)
Beta-carotene (carrots and red bell peppers)
For a more extensive list, check out my article on fighting skin cancer with food.

Read more: http://draxe.com/75-of-sunscreens-are-toxic-what-to-do-instead

51 Amazing Uses For Baking Soda

Melissa Breyer - Wake Up World | I don’t mean to sound seditious here, but I have a rebellious plan to combat the ills that many corporations are perpetrating in the name of fighting grime and germs.

My main gripe is about the environmental pollutants from cleaning and personal care products that we wash down our drains and into our water systems, resulting in situations like the chemical triclosan (a pesticide added to many products as an antibacterial agent) being found in dolphins.

So the simple plan is to encourage everyone to use baking soda in any of these 51 applications. Besides showing kindness to aquatic life, we can also protect ourselves from the array of toxins in household cleaning products. Conventional cleansers can expose us to multiple chemicals linked to asthma, cancer, and other documented health problems. 

Baking soda also makes a perfect stand-in for many personal care products, which are adding their own twist to the toxic tangle of pollutants and personal health (mainly in the form of synthetic fragrance (and it’s almost all synthetic), sodium laurel sulfate, and parabens).

So exactly how does baking soda fit into my scheme to make the world a better place? Baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate,  helps regulate pH—keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, it’s natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering. This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent’s power). It’s a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks. And so without further ado, I’ll remove my scientist cap, put on my rebellious housekeeper’s cap, and get this folk-wisdom revolution rolling…

Personal Care

1. Make Toothpaste

A paste made from Baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. (Or here’s a formula for a minty version.) You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost.

2. Freshen Your Mouth

Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit and rinse. Odors are neutralized, not just covered up.

3. Soak Oral Appliance

Soak oral appliances, like retainers, mouthpieces, and dentures, in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water. The baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.

4. Use as a Facial Scrub and Body Exfoliant

Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use. (For a stronger exfoliant, try one of these great 5 Homemade Sugar Scrubs.)

5. Skip Harsh Deodorant

Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.

6. Use as an Antacid

Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions.

7. Treat Insect Bites & Itchy Skin

For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower. For specific tips on bee stings, see Bee Stings: Prevention and Treatment.

8. Make a Hand Cleanser and Softener

Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, or 3 parts baking soda to gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean. You can try this honey and cornmeal scrub for hands too.

9. Help Your Hair

Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly–baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

10. Clean Brushes and Combs

For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.

11. Make a Bath Soak

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration, it also makes your skin feel very soft. Epsom salts are pretty miraculous for the bath too, read about the health benefits of epsom salt baths.

12. Soothe Your Feet

Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub. You can also make a spa soak for your feet.

Cleaning

13. Make a Surface Soft Scrub

For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile and sinks–even fiberglass and glossy tiles–sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with baking soda, course salt and liquid dish soap—let it sit then scour off.

14. Handwash Dishes and Pots & Pans

Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratchless scouring powder. Using a dishwasher? Try these energy saving tips.

15. Freshen Sponges

Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). For more thorough disinfecting, use the microwave.

16. Clean the Microwave

Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.

17. Polish Silver Flatware

Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.

18. Clean Coffee and Tea Pots

Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.

19. Clean the Oven

Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.

20. Clean Floors

Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water–mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse. Read Natural Floor Cleaning for more tips on avoiding toxic floor cleaners.

21. Clean Furniture

You can make a homemade lemon furniture polish, or you can clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.

22. Clean Shower Curtains

Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.

23. Boost Your Liquid Laundry Detergent

Give your laundry a boost by adding ½ cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter.

24. Gently Clean Baby Clothes

Baby skin requires the most gentle of cleansers, which are increasingly available, but odor and stain fighters are often harsh. For tough stains add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your liquid laundry detergent, or a 1/2 cup in the rinse cycle for deodorization.

25. Clean Cloth Diapers

Dissolve ½ cup of baking soda in 2 quarts of water and soak diapers thoroughly.

26. Clean and Freshen Sports Gear

Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons Baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf bags and gym bags to deodorize, clean golf irons (without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts Baking sodato 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.

27. Remove Oil and Grease Stains

Use Baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.

28. Clean Batteries

Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc. because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and re-connecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery–they contain a strong acid.

29. Clean Cars

Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs, and tar. For stubborn stains use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Here’s how Sustainable Dave washes his car.

Deodorizing

30. Deodorize Your Refrigerator

Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.

31. Deodorize the Cutting Board

Sprinkle the cutting board with baking soda, scrub, rinse. For how to more thoroughly clean your cutting board, see How To Clean Your Cutting Boards.

32. Deodorize Trashcans

Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay.

33. Deodorize Recyclables

Sprinkle baking soda on top as you add to the container. Also, clean your recyclable container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Learn about how to recycle everything.

34. Deodorize Drains

To deodorize your sink and tub drains, and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water–it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. (This a good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your refrigerator.) Do you know what you’re not supposed to put down your drains?

35. Deodorize and Clean Dishwashers

Use Baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser in the wash cycle.

36. Deodorize Garbage Disposals

To deodorize your disposal, and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water. Baking Soda will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain.

37. Deodorize Lunch Boxes

Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to absorb lingering odors. Read bout safe lunch boxes here.

38. Remove Odor From Carpets

Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight, or as long as possible (the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest. (Note that your vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.)

39. Remove Odor From Vacuum Cleaners

By using the method above for carpets, you will also deodorize your vacuum cleaner.

40. Freshen Closets

Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh, then follow these tips to organize your closet in an eco-friendly way.

41. Deodorizing Cars

Odors settle into car upholstery and carpet, so each time you step in and sit down, they are released into the air all over again. Eliminate these odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum up the baking soda.

42. Deodorize the Cat Box

Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter. To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a thorough cleaning. You can also use green tea for this purpose!

43. Deodorize Pet Bedding

Eliminate odors from your pets bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up.

44. Deodorize Sneakers

Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when not in use. Shake out before wearing. When they’re no longer wearable, make sure to  donate your old sneakers.

45. Freshen Linens

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels. You can also make homemade lavender linen water with this formula.

46. Deodorize Your Wash

Gym clothes of other odoriferous clothing can be neutralized with a ½ cup of baking soda in the rinse cycle.

47. Freshen Stuffed Animals

Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off.

Miscellaneous

48. Camping Cure-all

Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. Its a dish washer, pot scrubber, hand cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste,f ire extinguisher and many other uses.

49. Extinguish Fires

Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide, which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans, broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire–and call the Fire Department just to be safe. (And, you should have a fire entinguisher on hand anyway, here’s why.

50. Septic Care

Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system flowing freely.  1 cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank.

51. Fruit and Vegetable Scrub

Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. Here’s another way to clean your vegetables as well.

OK, so there are my 51 suggestions (with a little help from the Arm & Hammond baking soda site, thank you). Do you have any tips or tricks that I missed? Please share in the comments.

About the Author

Melissa Breyer is a writer and editor with a background in sustainable living, specializing in food, science and design. She is the co-author of True Food (National Geographic) and has edited and written for regional and international books and periodicals, including The New York Times Magazine. Melissa lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Article Source - care2.com

Updated August 2014

15 Ways To Detox Your Home & Your Life

15 Ways To Detox Your Home & Your Life by Kirsten McCulloch
mindbodygreen.com

There are around 100,000 synthetic chemicals available on the market today, in everything from shampoo to cleaning products, toys to baby bottles, furniture, carpet and even clothes. But did you know that most of them have not been tested for human and environmental toxicity? Of those that have been, they contain many known and suspected carcinogens, allergens and endocrine disrupters—even in products you put on your skin.

In fact, one in three personal care products contains ingredients identified as possible human carcinogens, approximately one in five contains ingredients commonly contaminated with known carcinogens, and almost one in two products contains ingredients that could be damaging to your reproductive health or your baby’s development.

The good news is there are many simple things you can do to reduce your exposure to nasty chemicals. Here are 15 tips:

1. Keep some house plants in every room of your house. The soil bacteria helps to reduce the volatile organic compounds (like formaldehyde) in the air.

2. Take your outdoor shoes off at the door. That way you'll avoid bringing in dust, lead and pesticides.

3. Stop using air fresheners and other synthetic fragrances. You'll reduce your exposure to phthalates.

Read more>>

How Toxic Are You?

Autism Explained: Synergistic Poisoning from Aluminum and Glyphosate - Stephanie Seneff 

The number of children diagnosed with autism in America has risen alarmingly over the past fifteen years, in exact step with the rise in the use of glyphosate (Roundup) on corn and soy crops. Coincidence? I think not. In parallel, children in the United States have been burdened with an increased aluminum load from the world's most comprehensive vaccination schedule. Glyphosate has a number of known biological effects that align with the known pathologies associated with autism. Glyphosate also likely promotes aluminum uptake into the tissues. Aluminum, a well-documented neurotoxin, is the established cause of dialysis dementia. I propose that aluminum accumulation in the brain, synergistically promoted by glyphosate, is the principal cause of autism in the US.