Are You Really Eating These in Your Supplements? What Are Excipients?

How do you know if an ingredient is synthetic? If you can not recognize it as something you can pick in nature, it is often synthetic. For instance, you can not pick 100mg of Vitamin B-1 in nature. It's usually made in a laboratory. But plants, herbs, algae, grasses, etc... are natural foods rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids.  Routine Contamination - over 60% of the herbs currently used in nutritional products in the U.S. have been either fumigated, irradiated or contain significant pesticide/insecticide residues - including even many organic herbs.

What Are Excipients?

 Excipients are binders, fillers and “glues” that are typically non-nutritive substances in nutritional products. These substances often test toxic.

Would you want to consume anything that is not nutritive?

We believe it is unnecessary to take nutritional products that have questionable, potentially toxic, non-nutritive excipients.

Please note: Tablets ALWAYS contain excipients (that is how they are made; they cannot be made without them); therefore, it is wisest to especially avoid nutritional products as tablets.

Just a few examples of questionable excipients commonly found in nutritional products:

Magnesium stearate -- a cheap lubricating agent; research shows it to be immune-compromising

Methyl paraben -- a benzoate family member; a known cancer-causing agent

Microcrystalline cellulose -- a cheap filler

Silicon dioxide -- a cheap flowing agent (common sand)

Natural flavors -- an AKA for MSG (monosodium glutamate), a well known neurotoxic agent

Methacrylic copolymer -- methacrylic acid, a component of the methacrylic acid copolymer, has been reported to act as a teratogen in rat embryo cultures.

Triethyl citrate -- a plasticizer

Titanium dioxide -- used for color; liver toxic

Corn starch -- typically from cheap GMO corn; can invoke allergic responses

Talcum powder -- a common excipient rarely not listed on product labels; a suspected carcinogen

Other Questionable but Common Tableting and Encapsulating Agents

• D&C red #33
• Propylparaben
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• Hydroxypropyl cellulose
• Polyethylene glycol
• Red ferric oxide-orange shade
• Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
• Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate
• Sodium acetate
• Methylparaben
• Sodium metabisulfite
• Eudragit

Are You Really Eating These in Your Supplements?

Common Tableting and Encapsulating Agents

Povidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone or PVP): PVP is a synthetic polymer used as a dispersing and suspending agent in virtually all encapsulated nutritional supplements; considered to be a potential carcinogen.

Magnesium Stearate: This commonly used excipient can be made from animal or vegetable sources. It is used as a flowing agent and lubricant. It is insoluble in water and may hinder the absorption of nutrients. Research shows it suppresses the immune system.

Maltodextrin: A refined sugar obtained by the hydrolysis of cornstarch. It is used for flavor, as a texturizer and bulking agent. Maltodextrin may contain free glutamate (MSG), which occurs as a result of processing. MSG is a known neurotoxin.

Cellulose Starch: A starch made from plant material that is used as filler, binder and disintegrant. Starches processed from corn contain free glutamate (MSG), resulting from processing. MSG is a known neurotoxin.

Silicon Dioxide: Silica is a transparent, tasteless, powder that is practically insoluble in water. It is the main component of beach sand and is used as an absorbent and flow agent in supplements. It may hinder digestion or the uptake of other nutrients and deplete HCL.

Resin: Resins are used as binders and aid in water resistance. They may be of plant or synthetic origin and are used in lacquers, varnishes, inks, adhesives, synthetic plastics and pharmaceuticals. Synthetic forms include polyvinyl, polystyrene and polyethylene. Toxicity is dependent on the ingredients used in the manufacture of the resin.

Dicalcium Phosphate: A mineral complex of calcium and phosphorous that is commonly used as a tableting aid, filler or bulking agent. Phosphates can induce the same symptoms as MSG in those who are extremely sensitive to MSG.

Polysorbate 80: A non-ionic surfactant that is a polymer containing oleic acid, palmitic acid, sorbitol and ethylene oxide and is formed by microbial fermentation. It is used as an emulsifier, dispersant or stabilizer in foods, cosmetics, supplements and pharmaceuticals.

Titanium Dioxide: This is an inorganic, white, opaque pigment made from anatase (metallic mineral) that is often used in supplements as a whitening agent. Titanium dioxide is a pro-oxidant. It is also used in paints and coatings, plastics, paper, inks, fibers, food and cosmetics.

Polyethylene Glycol 3350: This excipient is used as an emulsifier, binder and surfactant. It improves resistance to moisture and oxidation. Polyethylene is a polymerized ethylene resin and glycol is a dihydric alcohol.

Pharmaceutical Glaze: This is actually shellac used to coat vitamin tablets. Shellac is insoluble in stomach acid and supplements coated with shellac are difficult for the body to break down and assimilate.

Learn more about Premeir Research Labs.  Kasia Organic Salon stands behind PRL's extensive research and known credibility for being the cleanest and best on the market!  Results!  Learn more HERE! 

Reference:  http://www.totalhealthsecrets.com

Health Benefits of Bentonite Clay for Internal Cleansing

I must first say that I have used bentonite clay internally for 3 months, and feel great.  This clay can be used in many ways.  Keep in mind we do stock this at Kasia Organic Salon, so please contact us with any questions!  - Kassandra

 

Bentonite clay is an alternative detoxifying and medicinal cleansing agent derived from the weathering of volcanic ash. Bentonite can be purchased at most health food stores and is available in several forms, including liquid, gel, capsules, and powder. Bentonite powder can easily be mixed into an ingestible solution and is commonly employed for internal use. The powder swells up like a sponge when absorbed in water, attracting and drawing in toxins as the clay passes through the body. The actual clay is not digested: it passes through the body and is eliminated along with the toxins.

Health Benefits

A high level of toxins in the body can affect your overall health. Bentonite acts as an intestinal detoxifying agent by cleansing your body of toxins such as heavy metals, free radicals, and pesticides. Health benefits from regular use of bentonite include relief from indigestion, liver detoxification, reduced food sensitivities and allergies, improved blood circulation, and an overall immune system boost.

How to Make a Bentonite Clay Solution

Pour eight ounces of water into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid, add one tablespoon of bentonite, close the lid, and shake well. Remove the lid and allow mixture to sit for 30 minutes. Make sure the powder is fully absorbed, and add more water a little at a time as needed if the mixture is too thick. Drink the mixture and follow with a full glass of water.

Tips

• Mix bentonite with fruit juice instead of water for better flavor.
• Take bentonite on an empty stomach, one hour before or after meals.
• Sprinkle a small amount of bentonite powder on your food for an extra boost.
• Drink at least eight cups of water or more throughout the day when taking bentonite.

Topical Uses for Bentonite Clay

Bentonite can help treat acne, eczema, cellulite, wrinkle reduction, poison ivy, burns, and insect bites when used topically. Simply dab a small amount of liquid bentonite solution onto problem areas. Soak in a clay bath to release toxins from the pores of your skin by adding two cups of bentonite clay to a warm bath. Soak for at least 20 minutes.

From Experience...

• Do not use metal utensils or containers to stir or store Bentonite clay powder. Contact with metal may decrease the clay's potency.
• The internal use of Bentonite clay is an excellent and simple way to do an effective cleanse. Among other benefits, it can reduce body odor, skin blemishes, and digestive track issues of all sorts.
• The clay can be stirred into water, juice or any other beverage of your choice. It can also be sprinkled on foods or encapsulated.
• We keep it on hand, among other items, to use internally and externally in case of snake bites or any other kind of poisoning.
• Bentonite clay can be used to benefit anyone: men, women (including before, during or after pregnancy, and nursing), children, and animals.
• It can be used as often as you would like, and in any way you choose. Just remember to consume LOTS of water while using it internally.

Health Disclaimer

Always consult a physician before taking bentonite clay internally. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing medical conditions or are taking prescription medication. Your physician will be able to advise you if this is a safe and appropriate treatment for you.

Deodorant..Aluminum..it's in the pits! Must Read!

  At Kasia Organic Salon, we were first surprised to see that our Pure-oderant was the second best selling item.  We know it is clean, fresh, and non-toxic - but as we listened to our guests and mail deodorant across the U.S. the reason reveals itself through frustration of trying all the deodorants on the market that ...just don't work. 

Many guests surf the local health food store shelves and find  "crystal" deodorants as a alternative to try, but they again...just don't work.   Not only that,  but crystal deodorants contain Ionic aluminum, which have been found to create oxidative stress on skin and breast tissue. Most people don't realize that they're slathering on aluminum when they use these crystals.  Manufacturers will say that it doesn't contain "harmful aluminums."   Aluminum is aluminum.  It has no benefit or place in the human body, and only creates a state of toxicity within.

What is aluminum?

Aluminum is the world's most abundant metal in the earth's crust.  It is a versatile metal that is lightweight, relatively soft, and durable.  It is a fairly reactive element that combines with negatively charged ions or elements to form compounds such as aluminum oxide or aluminum sulfate.

How does aluminum enter the body?

We're exposed to aluminum in many ways:

• Trace amounts in drinking water
• Baked goods that contain alum-containing baking powder
• Foods with artificial colorants (aluminum lakes, example: yellow 5 aluminum lake)
• Cooking acidic foods in aluminum cookware (the acidity causes the aluminum to leach)
• Over-the-counter medicines such as Maylox and Mylanta
• Vaccines
• Topical products such as deodorants or anti-perspirants

How does aluminum affect our health?

Unlike some other metals such as potassium, sodium, or magnesium, aluminum has no benefit or function in the body.

• Aluminum creates oxidative stress on cells throughout the body, causing damage to DNA and aging on cells.  (Source)
• Aluminum-containing anti-perspirants keep the body from sweating and properly releasing hormones out of the body.  This is a suspected cause of breast and prostate cancer. (Source)
• Aluminum accumulates in bone tissue, thus weakening it.  (Source) It is a suspected cause of osteoporosis.  
• "Once absorbed, Al accumulates in bone, brain, liver and kidney, with bone as the major site for Al deposition in humans." (Source)
• Aluminum robs the body of magnesium, calcium and iron, and accumulates in the brain.  "Trace aluminum levels cross the blood-brain barrier and progressively accumulate in large pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, cortex, and other brain regions vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease. More aluminum enters the brain than leaves, resulting in a net increase in intraneuronal aluminum with advancing age. Aluminum is responsible for two main types of toxic damage in cells. As a pro-oxidant, aluminum causes oxidative damage both on its own and in synergy with iron. Aluminum also competes with, and substitutes for, essential metals-primarily Mg2+, iron and Ca2+ ions-in or on proteins and their co-factors." (Source)
• Aluminum has been found to cause granulomas. (Source)
• Aluminum is toxic to skin and creates oxidative stress (Source)
• Aluminum is absorbed highly by abraided or irritated skin. (Source)
• This study found that ionic aluminum created oxidative stress in breast tissue. (Source)

Informed Beauty -- stay FRESH with Kasia Pure-oderant!

Certified Organic

Made with a pure blend of hemp oil, aloe vera and mineral salts that softens skin and eliminates odor-causing bacteria for up to 24 hours!

NO aluminum, alcohol, parabens or proplyene glycol — NO residue.

Scented with organic essential oils.

• Effective using hemp oil and mineral salts that eliminate odor-causing bacteria
• Soothing and healing aloe vera to softens the skin
• No aluminum chlorhydrate and no alcohol
• No tingly irritation and no staining
• We’re sure –  it leaves no white residue
• Hypoallergenic
• No harmful propellants, pit and ozone friendly
• No animal testing, just on hunks
• None pore clogging, breathe!

Aluminum Under Arms? Organic & Chemical-Free Deodorant

One of the most overlooked beauty products, in terms of its affect on your body, is deodorant. Often times, the general public is mislead or simply not informed of the health affects that can come with wearing "mainstream" deodorants.   Pure-odorant, a chemical-free and certified organic line of women's deodora  comes straight from nature with a pure blend of organic hemp oil, aloe vera and mineral salts that soften skin and eliminate odor-causing bacteria for up to 24 hours.

Deodorants have become a part of everyday life for almost all of us. Antiperspirant deodorant is extremely common among women ... and unfortunately, so is breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Most commercial brands of antiperspirants and deodorants contain either aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium. These compounds are very soluble and are readily absorbed by the body. Once in the body, the aluminum portion of the molecule ionizes, forming free radical aluminum, which passes freely across cell membranes and forms a physical plug, that when dissolved is selectively absorbed by the liver, kidney, brain, cartilage and bone marrow.

New evidence to be published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology indicates that parabens, chemicals found in underarm cosmetics and other products, can be detected in human breast tumors. Previous suggestions have been made that certain components of underarm cosmetics may contribute to the rising incidence of breast cancer. Even women that wear no makeup, lip gloss or hair products invariably use deodorant products - body odor is seen as one of the seven deadly sins, whether you’re at the office or out with friends! This 'essential' part of our beauty routines may have serious health consequences for us down the track.

Ingredients to avoid in deodorants...

While aluminium is the main deodorant/antiperspirant ingredient that has been studied for negative health effects, almost all of the common ingredients in supermarket deodorants are harmful to us.

Here are the effects of some of the common underarm 'hygiene' ingredients:

* Aluminium chlorhydrate, aluminium zirconium tetrachlorhydrex gly, and other aluminium salts: We talked about the links between aluminium salts and breast cancer, as well as  Alzheimer's disease. There may be further links to disease that haven't yet been identified.

* Parabens (all types): These are derived from toluene, which can both cause reproductive harm and mimic the effect of estrogen in the body, driving the growth of cancerous cells.

* Triclosan: This ingredient is a common antibacterial which cause contact dermatitis in many people, and is classified as a pesticide by the FDA.

* Talc: Even the humble talcum powder has been regarded with suspicion by cancer researchers. It may contain asbestiform fibers (yes, these are related to asbestos) - the level of asbestiform fibers in talc is unregulated.

* Propylene glycol: According to the NIOSH this is a neurotoxin. The EPA admits that it hasn’t been fully investigated for cancer-causing potential, despite being in almost every personal care product on the market.

* Silica: This skin irritant is often contaminated with crystalline quartz, which is known to cause cancer

* Steareth-n: (Where n is any number) reacts with ethylene oxide in the manufacturing process. Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen.

Best Selling - Kasia Pure-oderant

 

Certified Organic made with a pure blend of hemp oil, aloe vera and mineral salts that softens skin and eliminates odor-causing bacteria for up to 24 hours!

NO aluminum, alcohol, parabens or proplyene glycol — NO residue.  Scented with organic essential oils.

* effective using hemp oil and mineral salts that eliminate odor-causing bacteria

* soothing and healing aloe vera to softens the skin

* no aluminum chlorhydrate; no alcohol

* No tingly irritation and no staining

* We’re sure, it leaves no white residue

* hypoallergenic

* no harmful propellants, pit and ozone friendly

* no animal testing, just on hunks

* no pore clogging, breathe!

The Wheat-free "Movement" to Beautiful Health

Do you wish you could have more energy,relief from gastro discomfort, and melt away fat deposits around your abdomen?

Many of our guests at Kasia Organic Salon have read through our "SCD" and "GAPS" books while processing their fabulous  Ammonia Free Hair Color.   Through putting myself on a specific wheat free diet, I have been able to help bridge that gap for others.  These "diets" have been a great blessing to many due to the vast majority of men, women, and families with gluten sensitivites, gut issues, low energy, and weight gain.   Through research and changed clients, I am very much persuaded of why this nation is falling into a nutritional crises .......lack there of.

Back to a flat stomach.....  According to cardiologist Dr. William Davis, you can achieve it. In his new book, Wheat Belly, Dr. Davis lays out a case for eliminating wheat in the diet to decrease systemic inflammation and weight gain.

According to Dr. Davis:

“When you remove wheat from the diet, you’ve removed a food that leads to fat deposition in the abdomen. Factor in that the gliadin protein unique to wheat that is degraded to a morphine-like compound that stimulates appetite is now gone and appetite diminishes. The average daily calorie intake drops 400 calories per day–with less hunger, less cravings and food is more satisfying. This all occurs without imposing calorie limits, cutting fat grams, or limiting portion size. It all happens just by eliminating this thing called wheat.”

If you are familiar with the paleo diet, this is the same frame of thought -  that wheat causes a myriad of health problems is something that you have probably heard before. The paleo community advocates eliminating all grains from the diet.  "Wait, haven't we been told by the government that whole grains are the staple of a healthy diet?  Think again...Dr. Davis’s book Wheat Belly specifically addresses the grain wheat.

Wheat is that the wheat of present day is different from the wheat that our ancestors ate.

How specifically does eliminating wheat from your diet help banish belly fat, according to Dr. Davis?

• Wheat raises blood sugar higher than nearly all other foods.
• Wheat contains addictive compounds, leading to overeating and psychological addiction.
• Wheat contains lectins, which are glycoproteins. Glycoproteins cause inflammation by disarming the proteins that line the intestinal tract that regulate which compounds are absorbed into the blood stream and which are not. This causes inflammatory compounds to enter the bloodstream. This process has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, skin diseases like dermatitis herpetiformis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and a variety of other inflammatory diseases, according to Dr. Davis.

Benefits of eliminating wheat:

1) Reduces appetite–”Normal” calorie intake is, on average, 400 calories less per day for the wheatless. The notion that a 50-year old, 150 pound woman needs 1800 calories per day will need to be adjusted . . . downward. 2) Reduces body weight and visceral fat–You might need to shop in the junior dress sizes. Men may find that clothes manufacturers don’t even make trousers for your waist size any more. (Ever try to find 31″ waist pants?) 3) Reduces small LDL particles–Meaning risk for heart attack is dramatically reduced, “need” for statin drugs reduced or eliminated. It means that the fictitious target numbers your doctor treats known as “LDL cholesterol” will need to be readjusted to accommodate the reduction or elimination of the true number one cause for heart disease in the U.S., small LDL particles. 4) Reduces blood sugar–Remove the amylopectin A of wheat and blood sugar drops, HbA1c (reflecting the previous 60-days blood sugar) drops, resistance to insulin drops. 5) Diabetes and pre-diabetes are no longer inevitable–The CDC predicts that 1 in 3 Americans will be diabetic in the coming years, another 1 in 3 pre-diabetic–it is nearly everyone’s fate, according to the numbers. Remove amylopectin A, remove lectin-induced leptin resistance, remove gliadin-induced appetite stimulation, diabetes and pre-diabetes for most go away. 6) Joint and bone health improve–Arthritis, joint pain, and osteoporosis, long considered the inevitable accompaniments of aging, are delayed or simply don’t occur once the acidifying effects of wheat are removed, the inflammatory pus-like properties of visceral fat disappear, and brittle cartilage effects of amylopectin A-induced glycation no longer occur. 7) Glycation comes to a halt–Provided you don’t feast on M&Ms and Coca Cola in place of wheat, irreversible glucose-modification of proteins–that causes hypertension, cataracts, osteoarthritis, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (stiff heart), conduction system disease leading to heart rhythm disorders and pacemakers, nervous system impairment (reduced sensation and coordination), and aging–subsides to its natural slow level.

So should you eliminate all wheat from your diet? If you are having some health issues and you want to get rid of some extra fat, it won’t hurt you to try  eliminating wheat from your diet for just 30 days to see how you do.

What exactly is in wheat that makes it so bad?

1) The gliadin protein of wheat has been modified by geneticists through their work to increase yield. This work, performed mostly in the 1970s, yielded a form of gliadin that is several amino acids different, but increased the appetite-stimulating properties of wheat. Modern wheat, a high-yield, semi-dwarf strain (not the 4 1/2-foot tall “amber waves of grain” everyone thinks of) is now, in effect, an appetite-stimulant that increases calorie intake 400 calories per day. This form of gliadin is also the likely explanation for the surge in behavioral struggles in children with autism and ADHD.

2) The amylopectin A of wheat is the underlying explanation for why two slices of whole wheat bread raise blood sugar higher than 6 teaspoons of table sugar or many candy bars. It is unique and highly digestible by the enzyme amylase. Incredibly, the high glycemic index of whole wheat is simply ignored, despite being listed at the top of all tables of glycemic index.

3) The lectins of wheat may underlie the increase in multiple autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in Americans, especially rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s).

In other words, if someone is not gluten-sensitive, they may still remain sensitive to the many non-gluten aspects of modern high-yield semi-dwarf wheat, such as appetite-stimulation and mental “fog,” joint pains in the hands, leg edema, or the many rashes and skin disorders. This represents one of the most important examples of the widespread unintended effects of modern agricultural genetics and agribusiness.

What can you eat on the diet you advocate? Eat real, natural foods such as eggs, raw nuts, plenty of vegetables, and fish, fowl, and meats. Use healthy oils like olive, walnut, and coconut liberally. Eat occasional fruit and plenty of avocado, olives, and use herbs and spices freely. Eat raw or least cooked whenever possible and certainly do not frequent fast food, processed snacks, or junk foods. While it may sound restrictive, a return to non-grain foods is incredibly rich and varied. Many people’s eyes have been closed to the great variety of foods available to us minus the wheat.

Diet Resources:  GAPS Diet

Reference: William Davis, MD Dr. Davis is a preventative cardiologist by training. He is a 1985 graduate of the St. Louis University School of Medicine and the Ohio State University Hospitals for training in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases. Practicing and writing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Davis is also the medical director of Track Your Plaque, an online heart disease prevention program.

How to Support Natural Body Detoxification

Over time, our bodies can start to be brought down by the toxins, chemicals, and waste that build up in our systems. Whether it is from external, environmental factors (like pollution or natural exposure to toxins) or something wrong internally (such as a poor diet ofunhealthy foods), it’s important to maintain your health by ridding these built up toxins.

The topic of "detox" is overwhelming and you will come across nearly 56 million webpages. Let’s skip the sales pitch and find out some simple principles of detoxing, shall we

Natural detox: your body knows how

Your body is detoxifying all the time. The natural processes of metabolism create streams of waste, and we’re also ingesting, inhaling, and absorbing pathogens, chemicals, allergens, and other toxins. Our bodies work continually to deactivate and eliminate these harmful substances.

Natural detox is a collection of responses that occur throughout your body, literally without pause. And the human body is remarkably successful at disassembling and removing the majority of toxic substances and metabolic wastes.

What is the source of body toxicity?

In addition to the old-school toxins we’ve encountered for years, we now have an array of allergens, by-products, wastes, chemicals, and organisms that our bodies simply do not know how to process. It’s true that the human body is amazingly adaptable, but our systems have not yet adjusted to these diverse “foreigners to life,” or xenobiotics. Instead, these outsiders become part of an enormous “toxic load” we carry indefinitely.

Where are all these toxins — old and new — coming from? They’re all around us — in the air, water, food, and environment, and they may be disguised in some clever camouflage:

• Air, water, and environmental pollutants (including jet fuel residue)
• Food contaminants, such as pathogens and by-products of certain industrialization processes
• Chemicals we absorb, inhale, or ingest (from construction materials, furniture and flooring, clothing, cleaning supplies, personal care products, and more)
• Pharmaceutical medications (antibiotics, HRT, NSAID’s, etc.), recreational drugs, second-hand smoke, and alcohol
• Radiation and electromagnetic fields
• Heavy metals, aluminum, and toxic halides
• Hormones and endocrine disruptors
• Mold, mildew, and “superbug” pathogens
• Free radicals

In addition, problems with detoxification can occur right inside us. Because the gastrointestinal tract is your body’s initial interface with a large percentage of the toxins it encounters, any chronic digestive issue can interfere with detox. If you have IBS, for example, you may have trouble detoxifying — but an imbalance in your gut flora can also limit your gut’s natural detox function.

What’s surprising is that we ourselves generate some of the strongest, or most reactive, poisons and toxins. Many lifestyle factors have a grave impact on health, including poor diet, low water intake, lack of exercise, and inadequate rest. But emotions can be poisonous, too. Stress, anxiety, depression, and even “toxic” relationships affect you physically and add heavily to the load your body is trying to detoxify.

Some people have innate limitations in their ability to detoxify. In some cases, these factors can be “pathological” (leading to disease) when left unaddressed. Either they’re born with genetic traits that interfere with healthy liver function (such as a GSTM 1 polymorphism) or normal metabolism of nutrients (for example, an MTHFR polymorphism), or they develop detox issues as a result of lifestyle influences or hormone imbalance during perimenopause.

Even under such challenging conditions, toxicity is not your destiny. There is a tremendous amount you can do — right away — to limit and offset the effects of toxins. And of course, stopping poisonous substances from entering your system in the first place should be a top priority.

Natural detoxification systems — the whole-body concept

Detoxification is accomplished by many internal systems and organs working in unison to identify, deactivate, and eliminate toxic substances. These mundane reactions help clear out toxins and purify your internal environment.

• Respiration: breathing (gas exchange), coughing, sneezing, clearing mucus
• Skin: sweating, sebaceous (oil) gland secretion, tears
• GI system: liver function, intestinal tract function (our “first line” defense), including stool excretion
• Kidneys: acid/alkaline balancing, urination
• Circulation and lymph systems: blood flow, lymph circulation, node function

Because all these systems cooperate for whole body detoxification, problems in any one can allow toxins to accumulate, or interferes with the removal of highly reactive compounds, which can then move in and camp out in your organs and tissues.

Let’s take a closer look at how the job of detoxification is divided up.

Liver

The liver is the powerhouse of detoxification, since one of its primary functions is to isolate and biotransform toxic molecules so they can be eliminated. With its ability to create various enzymes and chemicals, the liver quickly deactivates most poisons you take in or create. Our special page on liver function shows how you can provide support to keep this critically important organ functioning well.

Kidneys

Your kidneys act as an advance filtering system to catch wastes and toxins circulating in your blood and eliminate them through urination. If this process becomes sluggish or begins to fail, poisonous substances build up, and your health can deteriorate rapidly. Supporting kidney function involves eating an alkalizing diet, with mineral-rich fruits and vegetables, and drinking plenty of pure water (distilled, filtered, or spring). Alcohol, particularly in excess, can be very hard on the kidneys.

GI tract

When the gut isn’t healthy...

“Leaky gut syndrome” occurs when the lining of the GI tract becomes porous, allowing food particles to directly enter the bloodstream. Such particles are considered toxins by the immune system, so leaky gut can be the starting point for some food allergies and systemic inflammation.

For natural detoxification, there is nothing more important than good digestive health. Your gut is the gateway for most pathogens, but it is also your initial defense against toxins, germs, and unwanted substances. Taking care of the GI tract starts with choosing non-toxifying foods, and results in better elimination — the prime vehicle for toxin removal.

Your GI tract is lined with a mucous membrane that, when healthy, forms an “intelligent” barrier that helps prevent toxins from entering your bloodstream and allows escaped xenobiotics to pass back into the intestines for elimination (called “antiporter” detox). Good GI health through proper diet can help keep this membrane intact and functioning well. A healthy supply of “friendly bacteria” in the gut helps you handle the food you eat and wards off any pathogens lurking in your food. Gut flora can also stop pathogens from re-entering your system until your body can dispose of the intruders.

Fluidity is Key

First things first: fluidity is key! When it comes to detoxifying the body, you want to provide the body with a simple, seamless route for excavation. By and large, removing the waste and toxicity through fluids is the most promising. (Some argue in favor of “sweating it out”, but this will require keeping hydration levels high as well!). Keep these things in mind:

• Eight 8-oz glasses/day – The normal recommendation is to drink up to eight 8-oz glasses per day. This is quite a bit of water, but it provides the body with just its basic needs for growth, maintenance, and proper health. When detoxing, it’s important to get this and more!
• Be Strategic – When it come to getting enough fluids, be strategic in your approach. Keep water where you send most of your time, mix up your intakes sources (juice, iced tea, coconut water), and consider setting a timer to get you drinking every few hours.
• Hydrate through Foods – Of course, you also want to get plenty of water from your foods. Foods like celery are great for getting nutrition along with hydration – make them a part of your hydrating regimen! Check out the citruses and apples in mind, too!

Sustaining a Healthy Body

When it comes to detoxing, be sure to keep in mind that you are what you eat. It’s actually quite likely you’re feeling groggy, weakened, and frustrated because of the food you’ve been eating. That being said, the next time in detoxing naturally is to supply yourself with the nutrients you need to get full nourishment. Follow these simple tips for better eating:

• Quit the Bad – To start, stop eating the bad foods you’re eating right now! Ward yourself away from processed, refined foods and sugary, non-nutritious ‘meals’ that so often stock the shelves at our local stores. This is also your chance to do some digging with your favorite brands and find out if that snack of yours is contributing to your poor feelings.
• Eat Whole – In replacement of these incomplete foods, start supplying yourself with whole, nutritious foods. Going organic is also the best choice, as the pesticides and chemicals found in artificial fertilizers may be contributing your poor health. Also, avoid GMO foods altogether. With the considerably controversy behind these foods, as well as the adamant stance of companies to not allow testing or labeling, GMO foods cannot be considered safe.
• Increase the Raw – Eating more raw food can also be your ticket to better health. As they say, if you cook it, you kill it. Raw foods are more nutritious, have fewer carcinogens, and can help you push out the toxins currently in your body.
• More Greens – Finally, eat more greens! Getting a few extra servings of fruits and veggies is probably something you need to do anyways, so take your detox as the first opportunity to really implement this change.
• Stretch it out – With simple stretches, you can improve your digestion system, circulation, and energy level. Take time everyday to sit down, relax, and stretch out the bad that has been building up.

I'ts a Lifestyle

Having a healthy, whole body does not need to be hard- make it simple and make it successful.

Reference:  Womentowomen.com

Osteoporosis: Not Just For Your Mother

  Who thinks osteoporosis is a disease that only affects elderly woman because they have fragile little bones due to loss of calcium? Let’s see a show of hands. Whoever has their hands up out there, you’re wrong – possibly dead wrong.

While it’s true that osteoporosis affects more women than men (1 in 4 women versus 1 in 8 men to be exact), when it comes to this disease age is nothing but a number. Bone mass should be at an all time high between ages 27 – 33. While this is well and good, the problem lies with the facts. Cold hard facts and one has proven that most of us don’t start taking bone-building supplements until we’re already past our “prime” and miss out on early preventative measures. Couple that with the sad statistics that 53% of young adults are already so unhappy with their bodies that they take extreme measure to lose weight (particularly the 1% that is anorexic), that a sad 38% of teens and young adults don’t get enough exercise, and that diets are the poorest they’ve ever been (high in sugar and caffeine, low in beneficial nutrients) and you’ve got more people losing bone mass in their early 20’s now than ever before.

And even if you are a pretty young thing, don’t even think osteoporosis cannot lead to death. A very small portion of the public knows that 20% of those with hip fractures die and another 20% will never get out of long term care facilities – no matter what their age.

Osteoporosis Myth Busters

So enough scaring you with the strtling but very honest truth.  The real reason we’re here is to free you from the myths you might’ve heard about osteoporosis and fill you in on more of the facts. Let’s take a look at the top myths surrounding this sometimes lethal disease.

Myth 1: Age Brings on Osteoporosis

This is absolutely false. A strong, healthy woman’s body – regardless of her age – will be able to withstand the day to day stresses her body faces. After menopause, it’s true that bone loss does start to decline but in a very natural way that still allows the bones to renew and mend with ease. As you learned above, age is nothing but a number when it comes to osteoporosis.

What does bring on osteoporosis are some of the aforementioned factors including unhealthy diets, little to no exercise, hormonal imbalances, internal inflammation, unbalanced PH levels, low Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Magnesium levels, chronic stress, and the use of prescription meds.

Myth 2: Low Calcium Intake Causes Osteoporosis

Two of the biggest contributors to low calcium are Vitamin D and Magnesium deficiency. Nearly 68% of us do not get our daily dose of magnesium and with the recent “sun care scare” so many people are coating themselves with so much sunscreen that America is highly deficient in Vitamin D.

Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin” is derived from, you guessed it, the sun. While those who are obese, dark skinned, or those who don’t get outdoors enough are obviously at high risk of deficiency, a new crop of people at risk are those who think they’re doing the right thing by listening to their dermatologist. While sun care is certainly preventative of skin cancer and wrinkles, a certain amount of sunshine is a necessity to healthy Vitamin D intake. Even if your body has the right amount of calcium present, if there isn’t enough D around, only 10-15% of the calcium will be absorbed. Those who get the right amount of the vitamin often increase intake by 30-40% and, in these same individuals, osteoporosis prevention rates soar.

While Magnesium can certainly help the body intake calcium, its biggest role is bone formation. It is the co-factor, along with partner calcium, in all bone turnover. Even our buddy Vitamin D needs Magnesium. We now know that Vitamin D is needed for proper absorption but Magnesium is needed in order for the liver to turn the D over into its active form, called calcitriol. If this activation does not occur, the body will have a Vitamin D resistance which will lead to facts we learned about previously; only 10-15% calcium absorption – a leading factor in osteoporosis.

Calcium, magnesium, and Vitamin D come full circle in the fight against osteoporosis. You simply can’t have one without the other or the cycle doesn’t complete itself. Aside from supplements, you can get these vitamins from foods like dairy, fruits, veggies, and of course, some SPF free sun time (just don’t go crazy here – 15-20 minutes three times per week will do.)

Myth 3: Osteoporosis is Due to Faulty Bones

For healthy individuals osteoporosis is actually a miraculous response that proves just how intelligent our bodies are. We are all made up with extra bone mass. Thus if mineral loss occurs the body can pull from those additional masses to make up for the lost resources and keep many internal functions, including all important PH balance, in line. And contrary to popular believe, our body can then reproduce bone matter in a just a few weeks to repair the losses.

Unfortunately many individuals fall prey to “doctors orders” when it comes to osteoporosis. Instead of taking a healthier, natural approach, they load up on prescription meds like Fosamax. As you learned earlier, meds can actually begin to deplete the body of calcium for one. Secondly, many of these “bone building” drugs actually stop the natural bone breakdown/buildup process that helps maintain strong bones. Instead a drug like Fosamax will simply harden the existing bone. Although it may look like it is increasing density, many radiographic techniques can’t pick up on the fact that it isn’t new bone but rather the old bones hardened.

Prevention is Key

Early prevention is key. Don’t wait until the osteoporosis has begun to form. Instead, get to know both the risk and beneficial factors and put them to good use as soon as possible.

Start now by cutting out the enemies – refined sugar, caffeine, and smoking. Not only does this trio zap calcium they can also cause weight gain, acne, collagen loss, addiction, PCOS, and other extreme disadvantages within the structure of the body that will begin to show themselves only over time; when you are just too late for early prevention. While you’re at it, quite drinking alcohol and taking antiacids and prescription drugs (if you can). This is a key step in regaining your natural calcium balance.

Your body needs more than calcium alone to restore the skeletal system. It also needs many other minerals and vitamins that help your body absorb calcium and maintain healthy collagen levels. (Note: Collagen isn’t just in the skin – another misinformed public myth. It is like the “glue” that holds our entire skeletal system together.) Magnesium is one of the most important of them all since it helps the bones absorb calcium. Facts lead docs to believe most women with osteoporosis actually have a magnesium deficiency, not a calcium one. Zinc, copper, beta carotene, and vitamins C and E are also particularly important to collagen reproduction.

Add to that a balanced diet. Avoid items like sugary calcium drinks or antacids with calcium. And although supplements are beneficial in aiding bone renewal, getting the right minerals and vitamins shouldn’t be left to supplements alone. Get the real thing from calcium rich resources like snow peas, broccoli, leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, beet and turnip greens; almonds, figs, beans,  yogurt and cottage cheese. Get your dose of calcium helper, magnesium, from whole gains, wheat bran, leafy green veggies, nuts (especially yummy almonds), beans, bananas, and apricots.

Finally, add some exercise into your routine. Whether it’s for fifteen minutes daily or an hour three times per week, fit in a brisk walk followed up by some repetitive weight lifting exercises. Not only will these help increase your bone density, extra weight exercise will help you build lean muscle masses and shed a few extra pounds as a bonus to all of your healthy, hard work.

The bottom line is that our bodies require micronutrients and minerals to carry out their daily functions. Our bones are built on these minerals. They’re also maintained by the vitamin D we make from sunshine and by the stimulation of regular movement. If you stop and listen to the wisdom of your body, you’ll see that many of the factors that promote strong bones come instinctually. Just as a plant knows to take water into its roots or open its leaves for the sun, you too have Nature’s prescription for bone health written in your genes. Forget the myths and listen to your body.

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader in, and advocate for, natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia natural line of skin care and stylist for Kasia Organic Salon, Kassie combines her experience as a nutrition coach with her ongoing Functional Medicine research to apply a whole of body “Beautiful Health’ approach to hair care and styling. She can be found at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

Your Digestive System -The TRUE ANSWER for Glowing Beauty

Radiant Skin, Both Inside and OUT!  The TRUE ANSWER for Glowing Beauty and Health

Kasia stands behind lifestyle decisions that feel right and create "beautiful health."  Our beauty and health then evolved to achieving RADIANT beauty!

The truth is that your external beauty is a direct reflection of your internal health and therefore, when you clean up and heal the body on the inside, the outside of your body will glow and shine!   Providing external products and services is one part of the equation.  If you do not have a healthy inside, even the most advanced skin care treatments will be fruitless.   Natural health, Functional Medicine, and other modalities help one's ability to get to the root of their inside - out beauty.  The first recommendation to starting this inside-out result, is to achieve a beautiful internal skin and cell cycle.  Where do you start?  The digestive system!

Cleansing the digestion system is one, if not the most important aspect of regaining your health and setting yourself up for radiant health.

This is because you are what you absorb.

Studies have now concluded that the majority of patients with chronic disorders - even when the disorders cause symptoms with no apparent connection to the digestive tract - have digestive and absorptive imbalances.

This is a huge breakthrough because it reveals the vital role that your digestive system plays in almost every aspect of your health. In fact, most people find that once they cleanse and heal their GI tract, the majority, if not all, or their chronic and acute health symptoms and complaints are taken care of.

Therefore, we here at Kasia Organic Salon promote utilizing  Premier Research Labs, a top of the line supplemental digestive support aid that also benefits the hair, skin, and psychological/emotion for anyone looking to achieve their best health ever.  

For additional "Informed Beauty" information how to best approach a healthier digestive track, learn more about ....

THE 5-R PROGRAM

A properly functioning digestive system is critical to good health. In functional medicine we use a program that goes by the simple acronym of the ‘5Rs’: remove, replace, reinoculate, repair and rebalance. When applied to various chronic problems, the 5R program can cause dramatic improvement in symptoms, and sometimes even complete resolution of the problem.

This cuts to the core of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.   It is becoming increasingly recognized that disturbances in the function of the GI tract can result in a number of symptoms and conditions. These range from symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, and headaches, to medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, asthma, autism, ADHD, and chronic skin conditions. It is this association between GI function and ill health that the 5-R Program is intended to address.

The goal of the 5-R Program is to accomplish the following:

1.     To address dietary and lifestyle issues, and to begin the process of dietary education and change.

2.     To normalize digestion and absorption.

3.     To normalize the balance of gastrointestinal bacteria.

4.     To promote a balanced system of detoxification.

5.     To promote gastrointestinal healing.

A full 5-R Program takes approximately three to six months to complete. It is very important that you are prepared to implement the somewhat demanding dietary changes of the program, as without the dietary component you can not achieve anywhere near the maximum therapeutic benefit.

The elements of the 5R program are described briefly below.

1.    Remove Remove stressors: get rid of things that negatively affect the environment of the GI tract including allergic foods, parasites or other bad bugs such as bacteria or yeast. This might involve using an allergy “elimination diet” to find out what foods are causing GI symptoms or it may involve taking drugs or herbs to eradicate a particular bug.

2.    Replace Replace digestive secretions: add back things like digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid and bile acids that are required for proper digestion and that may be compromised by diet, drugs, diseases, aging, or other factors.

3.    Reinoculate Help beneficial bacteria flourish by taking in probiotic foods or supplements that contain the so-called “good” bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacillus species, and by consuming the high soluble fiber foods that good bugs like to eat, called “prebiotics.”

4.    Repair Help the lining of the GI tract repair itself by supplying key nutrients that can often be in short supply in a disease state, such as zinc, antioxidants (e.g. vitamins A, C, and E), fish oil, and the amino acid glutamine.

5.    Rebalance Pay attention to lifestyle choices – sleep, exercise and stress can all affect the GI tract.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT You have heard it said "you are what you eat."    In Functional Medicine, we take it a step further in our belief that "you are what you eat, and then absorb, and then what you do or do not detoxify."

·       DIGESTION- This is the process whereby our food is broken down into smaller portions that are more easily absorbed by the intestines.

·       ABSORPTION- This is the process whereby the digested food is taken up by the intestine and delivered to the body for utilization as energy, nutrition, and other cellular functions.

·       EXCLUSION- This refers to the barrier function performed by the GI tract as it appropriately excludes substances from entering the body.

·       DETOXIFICATION- This is the complex process involving the liver and GI tract whereby toxins are metabolized for elimination from the body. Toxins include such things as medication we take that must be metabolized, to pesticides, preservatives, dyes, and flavor-enhancers we ingest knowingly in our food, as well as the over 4 million chemicals present in our environment not intended for use in our bodies.

·       ELIMINATION- After digestion has occurred, and the metabolic phase of detoxification is complete, the GI tract must then eliminate the digestive and metabolic wastes of these processes. Some refer to this as excretion.

Good Luck Informed Beauty!  Contact Kassaandra with any questions you may have at 612 824 7611 or kassie@kasiaorganicsalon.com