(This Article Was Written In 2015.)
How Do I Get Started With Natural Beauty?
Many of you are getting on board with this whole idea of natural beauty. You are starting to learn more and realize how what we eat, put on our skin, etc. affects our health positively or negatively. But I bet that many of you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. There are so many great suggestions, but they all cost money, time, energy, and change. It can be daunting for many to even begin to make changes because there are so many changes needing to be made!
I am going to suggest seven simple steps you can take that will get you moving in the right direction and help you see noticeable changes that will help you immensely. My request is that you give each of these seven steps one month. Just as in nature, plants take time to grow, so too does our body take time to heal and/or change.
Simple Step #1 Ditch the Sodas and Sugary Drinks!
While it’s best to limit sugar and carbohydrates in general, for some people, that can be a large first step to take towards health. For some people, taking a smaller step, initially, may be a good place to start. Here is that step that YOU CAN achieve!
Ditch the sodas and sugary drinks! Did you know that one regular-sized can of coke has the equivalent of over 9 teaspoons worth of sugar? Watch this video that demonstrates an astounding demonstration of how much sugar (in the form of genetically modified high fructose corn syrup) is inside of each regular can of coke.
Also beware of drinking high quantities of juice—even if it’s organic and not from concentrate—as juice is high in a form of sugar called fructose. Fruit is great and full of antioxidants; however, when it is juiced, try to consume about 2 ounces, which is roughly how much juice one orange will make.
How about diet sodas that are made without sugar? Run away! Unless you’ve found an option that is sweetened with natural sweeteners (such as stevia or honey), most artificial sweeteners are extremely toxic for you. In fact, one researched article in the well-renowned pubmed website states that “sucralose [another name for splenda] is not a biologically inert compound.” 1 And get this… Ironically, this form of synthetic sweeter is associated with weight GAIN! 2
Simple Step #2 Replace Your Toxic Lipsticks
Most conventional makeup and beauty care products contain toxic chemicals. But for many people, the switch to safer alternatives can seem overwhelming and expensive. So here is my challenge to you: start with one switch. Start with lipstick.
Why lipstick? Well, first… why not? You have to start somewhere, so it’s easier to be decisive and just choose one. I also think lipstick is a great place to start because we kiss our babies and loved ones, and when we spread the love, let’s do so safely! Plus, lipstick often gets on our teeth, which gets into our mouths. Finally, generally speaking, lipstick is less expensive than many other beauty products.
What makes conventional lipstick toxic? One huge four letter word to avoid in our bloodstream is l-e-a-d! Did you know that when we apply makeup and beauty products to our skin it seeps into our bloodstream? (Think about steroid cream or nicotine patches… That’s exactly how they work.) So every single time we apply lipstick to our lips, some of its chemical components actually work their way internally into our body.
Let’s look at the example of lead, along with a few other commonly found chemical ingredients in conventional lipstick. (And this includes lipsticks you purchase at the drugstore and high-end lipsticks purchased at the mall.)
Lead
This is scary: In 2010, the FDA conducted a test to see how many brands of lipstick were using lead as an ingredient. “The agency detected lead in all 400 lipsticks tested, ranging from 0.9 to 3.06 ppm — four times higher than the levels observed in the study done by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.”3 However, lead is rarely listed as an ingredient in lipsticks! What is wrong with this picture here?
Other Toxic Heavy Metals
In a recent study done by The University of California, several other toxic heavy metals were found in lipsticks and lip glosses tested. These included: chromium, cadmium, manganese, aluminum, and lead.4
Why Does This Matter?
Even though these toxic heavy metals were found in small quantities, the problem is that most women apply lipstick multiples times per day, almost every day, for most of their lives. So these small amounts of heavy metals build up over time; and over time, they harm the body.
P. S. Cosmetic companies are NOT currently required to label these toxic ingredients.
Simple Step #3: Replace one household cleaner
What I have come to learn, and you may also find interesting, is that we really don’t need all the cleaners we’ve been led to think we need. For instance, I use a multi-purpose solution for my counters in my kitchen, bathroom, and even on my windows and glass. I mix white vinegar with a few drops of essential oils…and voila! I have natural, homemade, inexpensive, and antibacterial spray that is safe—even for babies. HERE is an article I wrote about using lemon in household cleaner sprays, as well as five other amazing ways to use this powerful ingredient. Other awesome essential oils to use are melaleuca, lavender, wild orange, oregano, and lemongrass.
Simple Step #4: Cut Out Gluten
Cut out gluten for ONE MONTH. One month is completely feasible, even for those who are die-hard fans of breads and pastas. Anyone can successfully take on this one month challenge! Why one month? This is not intimidating. Anyone can have discipline to cut out gluten for a short period of time. However, it’s enough time to make a difference in your health. It’s enough time to see noticeable changes in your energy, gut health, weight, and mental clarity. In fact, this challenge was my first step toward the healthy lifestyle I now live!
When I was still dating Dr. Jockers, he encouraged me to take on this challenge. I’ll admit that I thought it was tough. I prepped myself and gave myself a week before I would officially begin. The first week was tough. But then it seemed to get easier and easier. My cravings seemed to shift. And I noticed myself losing some weight and focusing better. Plus, there are so many yummy gluten-free options that are now in the marketplace. You can do this, just like I could!
Simple Step #5: STOP Using Sunscreen
Yes, you did read that correctly; I did intentionally say to stop using sunscreen. However, let me finish the sentence: Stop using sunscreen all the time, and stop using sunscreen that has toxic ingredients!
See, our bodies thrive off of sunlight and the vitamin D it gifts us with. Vitamin D is critical to our health! What happens when our whole skin organ is slathered up with sunscreen at all times is our skin is hindered from being able to absorb healthy doses of sunshine and the vitamin D it provides.
A healthier choice would be to limit your sun exposure and never let yourself burn. So for instance, with my babies, I will let them go in the sunshine for 10-15 minutes per day, depending on the heat and sun’s intensity at the time. During the summer (especially during midday), I am more quick to apply sunscreen, though. There is a fine line: you need the vitamin D, but we do not want fair, sensitive, or baby skin to burn!
So when it is time to apply that sunscreen, we want to make sure we are using a safe option. Did you know that many top sunscreens actually contain carcinogenic chemicals? That’s right. Many top leading sunscreens promote skin cancer by adding cancer-causing chemicals to their ingredients.
Look out for oxybenzone. Though it does effectively absorb the sunlight, it also gets absorbed by your skin and into your bloodstream, and the Environmental Working Group, along with other “toxicology experts believe that oxybenzone is linked to hormone disruption and potentially to cell damage that may lead to skin cancer.”6 Is this truly worth the potential risk when there are safe and effective options also available? Also look out for sunscreens containing these chemicals: avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. 7 It is so important to find a natural safe and effective sunscreen!
Simple Step #6: Prioritize Sleep
We each have the same amount of time every day, and we each have to make choices according to what we prioritize. In my opinion, sleep is not emphasized as a priority that is esteemed in our culture. I think we are more quick to esteem those who stay the most busy. I admire those who work hard; but I also believe that nothing that is within our own control should compete with us getting a healthy amount of sleep.
I will simplify and leave out the science for the sake of this article. But to learn more about the science to sleep and why it’s so important, read THIS article my wise husband wrote on the topic. Also check out this practical article if you find getting to sleep challenging, THIS article offers great tips.
The summary of what these articles presents is that sleep effects our metabolism, cognitive abilities, processing and memory, emotional stability, and our overall physical and mental performance. My challenge to you is to do all within your power to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. I realize some of us can’t. My boys don’t sleep through the nights yet, so my husband and I do not have this luxury. But we do get ready for bed every day at 10pm and do our best to get the best sleep possible because we value our health and performance.
Simple Step #7: Become Conscientious
I understand it is difficult to make changes overnight. And even if you apply each of these six strategies in one day, there are still so many more steps to take in the process toward pursuing healthiness. So here is my seventh simple step I want to challenge each of you to take, which I know you can do! This seventh step is the most important: start becoming conscientious of your choices.
Every time you use a household cleaner that is not natural, deliberately be aware that you are inhaling or touching toxic chemicals. Do not feel guilty. Just become aware.
Every time you place lotion, face soap, or shampoo, and all other skin and body care products on you or your child’s body, be aware of the fact that unless they are marketed otherwise, they most likely contain carcinogens and hormone disruptors.
Every time you apply cosmetics, be aware of the fact that you are likely applying toxic heavy metals, harmful preservatives, and chemicals that affect hormones (and therefore, fertility).
Every time you stay up late and fail to get adequate sleep, become aware of the fact that your choice is hindering your optimal performance and health.
Every time you eat processed foods or high sugary foods, be conscientious of the fact that sugar feeds cancer cells, hurts the immune system, causes high blood sugar, and it causes weight gain.
The goal here is to start thinking through your choices with intentionality. The goal is not to obsess or feel paranoid or guilty. But just become more aware of how your choices are affecting your well-being. This will prompt you to want to continue moving in a direction toward change and living a more healthy lifestyle.
Find a friend and take on this 30 day challenge together. It is so much easier to change when you are taking the journey with someone else with similar goals and values. If you have no one else in your life that would encourage you in this way, feel free to email me! I can be your accountability partner during this next 30 days! And I bet I can also help connect you with someone!
I want you to feel capable of living the abundant life God desires for each of us! Living healthily enables us to reach our full potential of all the great things God has in store for us!
