Shampoo

This is from a Mercola article which he introduces a healthy shampoo. (See below for an alternative to his):

For example, your shampoo may not be as benign as you thought. The majority of commercial shampoos have several chemicals you don’t want on your body or in your water supply.

• Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) SLS (and its cousin SLES) is often contaminated, via the manufacturing process (ethoxylation), with 1,4-dioxane (see #3).Another problem with SLS is that it combines with TEA (triethanolamine, a detergent commonly used in shampoos) to produce a nitrosamine called NDELA, a recognized carcinogen.
  SLS is used in automobile shops as a degreasing agent... do you really want it in your hair?

• Ethylene oxide (which is what the “E” in SLES stands for)
• 1,4-Dioxane1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of ethylene oxide, which is believed to be carcinogenic to humans, toxic to your brain and central nervous system, kidneys and liver. It’s also a leading groundwater contaminant.
  Dioxane has been a known carcinogen since 1978. A 2008 study by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) found that many brands of shampoos, body washes and lotions contained 1,4-dioxane, including so-called “natural” and “organic” brands.
  Dioxane is an increasing threat to water supplies across the country and is of growing concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to the fact that it can’t be filtered out, and it doesn’t biodegrade.

• MSGDid you know that MSG (monosodium glutamate) is as likely to be in your shampoo as in your chow mein? It might not be obvious since it masquerades under aliases like amino acids, yeast extract, nayad, glutamic acid or glutamates.

• Propylene glycolPropylene glycol is another very common ingredient in personal care products.
  Despite the fact the material safety data sheet warns users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as it is a strong skin irritant and can also cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage, it’smore than likely a component of your shampoo.

• ParabensParabens have been shown to mimic the action of estrogen, which may encourage the growth of breast tumors.

• Diethanolamine (DEA)DEA can react with other ingredients to form a potent carcinogen called NDEA (N-nitrosodiethanolamine), which is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked with cancers of the stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder.

[For a pure shampoo bar go to http://www.phchnaturalsoap.com/]

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Going Barefoot

I had heard going barefoot is supposedly good for you. Here is some info that seems to explain why. 

From the book Earthing(?) :

“All you’ve got to do is take your shoes off, go for a walk in your own two bare feet, and you will discover the power of the barefoot connection.”

Electrically speaking, electrons have a negative charge, while free radicals have a positive charge. Free radicals also are constantly in search of negatively charged electrons to which they can attach themselves. What makes free radicals dangerous is that they will strip electrons from molecules in healthy tissue if necessary. But reconnecting to the Earth allows for the transfer of free electrons into the body where they can neutralize the positively charged free radicals that cause inflammation. The end result, as our observations and research show, is that Earthing can prevent or reduce chronic inflammation. This is exceptional news for those of you with cardiovascular concerns who need to keep inflammation in check in order to prevent further arterial damage. It’s also good news for people who regularly deal with pain (which is often accompanied or aggravated by inflammation), or are looking for a speedier recovery from injuries.

From a book review at Amazon: The Earth is full of electrons and these electrons work like antioxidants, disarming the free radicals that age us. Some of the benefits of "earthing" include weight loss, diminishing pain, healing of injuries, eliminating jet lag, reduction of muscle loss with aging, enhanced immune system and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.  

cruciferous vegetables

Article Summary

The use of cruciferous vegetables—those in the cabbage family—began 7,000 years ago in China and spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. The oldest writings emphasize the medicinal utility of crucifers, but these vegetables have now gained culinary importance worldwide.
When raw crucifers are chewed, or when microwaved and steamed crucifers are digested by intestinal bacteria, they release substances called goitrogens that increase the need for iodine when consumed in small amounts and can damage the thyroid gland when consumed in large amounts.
These goitrogens also inhibit the transfer of iodine into mother's milk.
Steaming crucifers until they are fully cooked reduces the goitrogens to one-third the original value on average. Since release of the goitrogens from steamed crucifers depends on intestinal bacteria, however, the amount released varies from person to person.
Boiling crucifers for thirty minutes reliably destroys 90 percent of the goitrogens.
Fermentation does not neutralize the goitrogens in crucifers. When foods like sauerkraut are consumed as condiments, however, the small amount of goitrogens within them is not harmful if one's diet is adequate in iodine.
An increased dietary intake of iodine compensates for the consumption of moderate amounts of crucifers but cannot reverse the effects of large amounts of crucifers.
Paradoxically, the goitrogens found in crucifers may offer some protection against cancer. The jury is still out on whether or not this is true.
The use of sauerkraut as a condiment and several servings of steamed crucifers per week is probably beneficial. People who consume more than this amount, especially lactating mothers, should be sure to obtain extra iodine in their diet from seafood. People who make liberal use of crucifers on a daily basis should boil a portion of them to avoid excessive exposure to goitrogens.
The safety of concentrated sources of crucifer-related chemicals such as broccoli sprouts or supplements containing indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3-3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) is questionable. These supplements should be avoided until continuing research can further elucidate their risks and benefits.

This article is from Weston A Price site. Click on the title of this post for a link to read the whole article.