3 Natural Ways to Avoid the Side Effects of Statins

 chronic pain, Natural remedies, Pain relief, Prescription drugs, Statin drugs  No Responses »
May 182012
 

Would you like to learn 3 natural ways to avoid the side effects of statins?

If so, you’ll want to watch the video below…but first…

Did you know that just some of the side effects of statins include

  • dementia
  • liver disease
  • optic stroke
  • tremors
  • glaucoma
  • joint pain

 

Do you suffer from any of these symptoms?  If you would like  to avoid the side effects of statins, watch this video.  It’s short, informative and gives you quick and easy ways that can help lower your cholesterol naturally without the use of drugs…which means no more side effects.  Make the simple changes recommended here and then consult your doctor.  Choosing a natural approach can huge dividends in the form of better health and save many dollars at the same time.* Watch now.

 

 

Now that you know the 3 natural ways to avoid the side effects of statins, share this post.

And if you have a story to tell about how you are healthier because you chose a natural approach, share it here.

*Of course consult your doctor before making changes in your medication.

P.S. if you are in the health and wellness business and want to generate more leads, click here.

 

 

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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 1:05 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Electronic Records Help Save Money and Prevent Side Effects of Prescription Drugs

 Cost of Care, Electroic health records, Prescription drugs  No Responses »
Mar 022012
 

When you visit your doctor does he or she show up with a thick manila folder full of paper,

The side effects of prescription drugs cost money

or with a laptop?

One of the best ways to save money on health costs is to convert to electronic health care records. Why is that? An electronic health record is tied into a database that health providers use and update. That means, when a physician pulls your record he or she has their own entries plus those of other doctors. They also see a list of tests and imaging that have been done on your behalf as well as all of your medications. This means when they make a suggestion or prescribe a new medication they are basing their decision on complete data and they won’t waste your time or money on duplicate tests.

The system is also a database of information about medications and their interactions. Side effects of prescription drugs can be dangerous and expensive but with electronic health records, if a particular medication might cause an adverse reaction when taken with something you already use, the doctor can find you a better one. Similarly, if you have allergies to a particular medication the system will alert the doctor to find something else. Thanks to electronic records your chances of an adverse drug reaction or interaction go way down…its a much safer system and costs less because it prevents side effects.

The system will also let your doctor know if there are generic versions of drugs available that will do the job…another cost savings for you.

When a prescription is entered it goes directly to your favorite pharmacy and will be ready for you when you stop by. Since it arrives in a legible form the pharmacist can do an accurate job with fewer mix ups. When its time for a refill the system alerts your doctor saving you more time and energy.

All of this saves a lot of time as well, not only yours but that of your doctor and his or her staff. As a result, your physician and the support staff can put more time in patient care which is a win for everyone.

 

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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 2:14 am  Tagged with: ,

Save Money with These Natural Remedies for Chronic Pain

 Ayurvedic herbs, chronic pain, Cost of Care, Pain relief  No Responses »
Feb 162012
 
If you suffer from chronic pain you have a lot of company.The American Pain Society website reports that in the US as

Save Money with Natural Remedies for Chronic Pain

many as 42% of adults experience pain daily while 89% report experiencing pain at least monthly.  Pain can come in many forms, although arthritis, headaches and lower back pain are major contributors.  At least once a year, half of us experience enough pain to visit our doctors with this as our primary complaint.  The costs of pain treatment are enormous. In a July 8, 2011 article in American Medical News, the authors report that pain costs $635 billion annually in medical care costs and lost productivity.

A common medical approach to pain is to treat it with NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories) which can be over the counter or by prescription.  But all of these meds have side effects.  A 1988 study of medicaid recipients in the American Journal of Medicine found that a third of money spent for pain relief treatment went to costs of treating drug side effects.  Further these same drugs can also contribute to deterioration of cartilage in joints thereby exacerbating the problem they are meant to fix.  So it’s worthwhile to consider the natural remedies out there…many of which can be just as effective as the meds.

Tart Cherries.. In a 2004 study rats were injected with either a tart cherry solution or an NSAID and exposed to a heated surface or an inflammatory agent.The cherries reduced pain sensitivity and were as effective as the NSAID at high dosages.  In a test tube study, tart cherries were found to be as effective as ibuprofen and a prescription NSAID for inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes which are implicated in inflammation.  However the cherries have no side effects.  The active ingredients are antioxidants called anthocyanins, which also give cherries their red color.  Tart cherries have also been found to be effective for gout, athletic pain and fibromyalgia.

There are a number of herbs from Ayurveda, the traditional healing system of India, that have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and are effective against pain.  These include:
  • Curcumin…There are many benefits of curcumin which is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric that gives curry powder its characteristic yellow color.  In addition to being a powerful anti-inflammatory that can be helpful for arthritis there is good evidence that curcumin can suppress tumor growth and help lower LDL cholesterol.  Use turmeric to spice up your favorite foods (it is best used cooked) or take in capsule form.
  • Boswellia.  Traditional healers have used this herb to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions such as colitis and Crohn’s disease, and arthritis.  It is available in capsule form or as a powder.
  • Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, is available as a tea.  Tulsi is an adaptogen, which means it helps your body adapt to stress with few or no side effects.  It has long been used for headaches, colds, flu and digestive upsets.  Try it for arthritis pain and you may be surprised to find it also helps regulate blood sugar, soothe ulcers and lower cholesterol.  Avoid it if you are pregnant or wanting to conceive.

Mangosteen, available as a juice, is another traditional remedy which research shows has strong anti-inflammatory properties.  If you use mangosteen find a juice that utilizes the entire fruit as most of the beneficial properties are in the skin.  
Do you experience chronic pain?  Share your experience and what you are doing for it.  Sign up to get these posts delivered to your inbox.
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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 1:33 am

Are Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients Making You Fat?

 Skin Care, Weight loss, Women's health  No Responses »
Feb 052012
 

Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients...Are They Making You Fat?

When visiting health conscious friends I am always shocked to discover how many of them are oblivious about their personal care products. On the one hand they spend extra money on organic food and supplements but on the other they are somehow OK with the toxic chemicals in personal care products from drug stores, grocery stores or big box stores.  Don’t they know that whatever you put on your skin goes into your body the same as when you put it in your mouth?  So why are they OK with toxic cosmetic ingredients?

One of many ways that toxic products impact us is by promoting weight gain. In a 2002 article in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine the authors suggest that recent increases in obesity rates may have an environmental component. They point out that while we exercise less, we also eat less than we did 20+ years ago. At the same time though, many people are obese because their natural weight control functions are out of whack and this could be due, at least in part, to exposure to environmental toxins.

Many of the  toxins found in personal care products are considered xenoestrogens.  These are chemicals which mimic the effect of estrogen in our bodies.  Unless you use the best natural skin care products you are likely exposed  to xenoestrogens every day; two of the most common of which are parabens and phthalates.  There are many others. For example, sunscreens are often loaded with xenoestrogens.  While you may not get a lot of exposure in any one product, when you consider the cumulative effect of all the different skin and body care products we use, the numbers can get big…and the toxin load dangerous.

How does this make you fat? One of  estrogen’s major functions is to promote weight gain by converting calories into fat.  This is why it is routinely given to beef cattle to fatten them up. (The synthetic hormones in meat production are yet another source of xenoestrogens in humans.) One of the roles of progesterone, the other major female hormone is to promote weight loss.  When it is sufficient it balances estrogen’s effect, but most women are deficient in progesterone, especially as they near and enter menopause. Consequently, they often suffer from estrogen dominance ( a term coined by the late Dr. John Lee) which causes weight gain.  When you add xenoestrogens to the mix, the tendency towards weight gain is enhanced.

Xenoestrogens are not biodegradable since they are synthetic. Your fat becomes a great storage place for these toxic materials, and of course the more of it you have the more you store….and the more you store the more disrupted is your metabolism further interfering with your ability to lose weight.  Of course these chemicals can have other negative impacts on your body…such as causing cancer.

The solution is to be as careful about the ingredients in your personal care products as you are about the food you eat. This means read labels carefully and become familiar with common terms so you know which toxic cosmetic ingredients to avoid.  Be careful also not to buy a product just because it is advertised as “natural.”  Many toxic products have a few so called natural or organic ingredients which sound good, but these products are often loaded with the bad stuff.  Bottom line, study the ingredient list and if you wouldn’t  put it in your mouth, don’t put it on your skin.

Share your experiences with toxic cosmetics and skin care.  And remember, click the button on the sidebar to receive these posts in your inbox.

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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 8:55 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,

One Easy Way to Help Prevent Heart Disease in Women

 Cost of Care, Heart Disease, Sugar, Women's health  No Responses »
Jan 302012
 
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US affecting one in three people.  Annual treatment costs for cardiac

Prevent heart disease with fewer sugary drinks

related illnesses exceed $270 billion and are expected to hit $818 billion over the next 20 years.  At that time as much as 40% of the population is expected to have some form of heart disease due in large part to the aging of our population according to Katherine Harmon in a January 2012 blog post at the Scientific American.  Harmon cited data from a recent article in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.



Clearly there are huge savings to be had from learning how to prevent heart disease and there are many possible approaches.  For example, individuals can choose to eat better, take supplements, handle their stress or exercise more.  There are also medical interventions including surgery and medication.



An easy place to start if you are a woman is to monitor your intake of sugary drinks including fruit drinks, sodas, gourmet coffees and flavored waters.  In a recent study* presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Heart Association,  Christina Shay, PhD, reported that women (but not men) who drink more than two sugary drinks per day had a greater risk of heart disease and diabetes than those who drank less than one of these drinks per day.  The study was based on a 4200 women and men between the ages of 45 and 84, none of whom had heart disease at the start of the research.  Results were based on following up over a five year period to see who developed heart disease or diabetes.



The authors could only speculate on why the results were not the same for men, but suggested that differences in body size and metabolism could be part of the answer.



Fortunately, the study offers an easy way to help prevent heart disease, at least in women….just drink fewer of these sugar sweetened beverages.  Not only will you save money on your health care costs, but you will also be ahead on what you normally spend on the drinks themselves.  Consider the following steps to prevention of heart disease by cutting back on sugary beverages:
  • If you are a coffee fanatic, learn to love black coffee which studies show may actual help prevent diabetes.
  • Better yet switch to green tea which offers a myriad of health benefits including protection against many diseases and chronic conditions such as cancer.
  • Read labels carefully.  Many flavored waters contain added sugar.  Buy plain water instead.
  • Avoid sodas (and anything else) sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
  • If you must have a sweet beverage, look for those sweetened with stevia which has many health benefits.

Ultimately our health and our health care costs are up to us.  We can choose healthy behaviors, or continue in the old familiar ways. Making changes can mean big financial savings as well as a better quality of life.  And if making big changes is too much to deal with, start small…like giving up sugary drinks.



Have you given up sodas and other sugary drinks?  Share your experience.  To receive theses posts in your inbox sign up above.




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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 12:34 am  Tagged with: , ,

The Real Cost of Soft Drink Consumption is Higher Than You Think

 Cost of Care, Sugar, type 2 diabetes, Weight loss  No Responses »
Jan 222012
 

Soda is linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes

Sugary soft drinks taste good and are a staple in many households. In the United States the main sweetener for these beverages is high fructose corn syrup  (HFCS), which was developed by Japanese chemists in 1970. Over the next 20 years, its use increased 1000%, and today it is used in 40% of foods that use non-calorie-free sweeteners and in almost all soft drinks.  Farm subsidies encourage the production of corn at the expense of other more nutritious crops keeping its price and that of HFCS low encouraging the over-consumption of a product which studies say is a big contributor to our obesity crisis.  This means when you consider the high cost of medical care and lost productivity due to obesity related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, the cost of a serving of soda far exceeds the price you pay for it at the grocery store.

Do soft drinks promote obesity?
  •  An article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2006 reviewed 39 years of studies published in 30 different publications on this topic and documented a credible connection between sugary drinks,weight gain, and obesity.
  • A 2009 review article published in the New England Journal of Medicine cited a study of middle school children which found that the risk of obesity increased 60% for every additional serving of a sugary soft drink.
  • A 2004 article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found an association between drinking sugar sweetened soft drinks and the risk of weight gain and development of type 2 diabetes in women.  Results were based on data from over 50,000 women observed over an eight year period.  Researchers suggested that the connection could be due to a combination of the excess calories and large amount of sugars which are also rapidly absorbed by the body.
  • A 2009 article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition based on two studies involving over 30,000 people reported that between 1988 and 2004 the percentage of people drinking sugar sweetened beverages increased from 58% to 63%.  Per capita consumption of calories from these beverages also increased as did the amount of daily consumption. Sugary beverage consumption was greatest amongst those most at risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes.



Do you drink sugar sweetened beverages?  If so, than one way to reduce your health costs is to switch to water instead.  An article published in the New York Times in July of 2011 estimated that a 20% decrease in the consumption of  sugar sweetened drinks could save our economy as much as $30 billion over the next decade due to decreased obesity and type 2 diabetes.  Imagine what you could do with your share of this windfall!



If you are someone who who enjoys these drinks, be careful what you switch to.  Many so-called healthy fruit drinks and flavored water beverages are loaded with sugar. Also, think twice before switching to sugar free drinks.  Most of these have their own set of risks which are just as bad. Your best bet is to drink more water.  Otherwise, read the labels carefully.



Do you have a story to tell about drinking soda?


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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 1:34 am  Tagged with: , , ,

How Fear Keeps Health Costs High

 Cost of Care  No Responses »
Jan 122012
 

Doctor’s offices, emergency rooms and other places we encounter the health care system can be scary.  They are places

Fear Keeps Health Costs High*

we go when we have something wrong with us and we don’t know what it is.  They are also places we go to find out about test results or to pick up prescriptions or get more tests done.  While these kinds of fears are normal, they can also get in the way of us making the best decisions for ourselves and are part of what keeps health costs high.

Fear makes us more vulnerable, and therefore more likely to take medical advice without considering the consequences or exploring the options.  Obviously there are situations which are sufficiently dire that you just do what the doctor says. If you are having a stroke or a heart attack, or your appendix is about to rupture you put yourself in your doctor’s hands and hope for the best.



But what about the other times? What if you have a blood test and your doctor tells you your cholesterol is too high so you need to take statin drugs.  Many people can’t wait to grab the prescription and dash to the nearest pharmacy.  Would you do that?  If you took the time to do some research you would begin to uncover some interesting information.
  • While heart disease may be related to elevated cholesterol, a 2007 study in the journal The Lancet found that statins have very little impact on the overall death rate from cardiovascular events.
  • The same study found that statins had little or no benefit when used for treating women
  • There are side effects of statins which, like lots of other drugs, have many side effects.  If you’ve seen the drug commercials on television you know the lists are long.  Statins are no exception.
  • Guidelines for what are acceptable levels of cholesterol have decreased over the years and those making the recommendations often have ties to pharmaceutical companies who market cholesterol lowering drugs.
  • There are many alternative solutions to lowering your cholesterol which are just as effective as taking the drugs.  All of them are cheaper and safer.
If you are taking statins please don’t flush them down the toilet.  Fear of the drug could be just as dangerous as fear of the disease it is supposed to prevent.  Instead:
  • Do your own research on statins and heart disease
  • Find a physician who practices integrative medicine…that’s one who combines alternative and conventional care…and get a second opinion. Or consult a naturopath or other qualified alternative care specialist.
  • Make appropriate changes in your diet, supplements and exercise program. When you start to look you will find a diet to lower high cholesterol which is just right for you.
  • Make a thoughtful and educated decision about continuing to take your statins
Keep in mind that conventional physicians are well-trained, but not necessarily in alternative protocols and procedures, so don’t expect them to be experts in something about which they know little or nothing. They also have their own fears….lawsuits, censure from their peers and the medical establishment for not toeing the conventional medical line, loss of income.  In the end, though, it is your body and your decision.  Don’t let your decision be based on fear…either yours or your doctor’s.

 

What are your experiences with medical advice and fear?

 

*Photo Courtesy of Dani Simmonds
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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 2:31 am  Tagged with: , , ,

Weight Loss: How to Achieve One of the Most Popular New Years Resolutions

 Weight loss  No Responses »
Jan 032012
 

Every year some of the most popular New Years resolutions have to do with health and weight

To be healthy is a choice*

loss. As we become more sophisticated so do our resolutions which today may focus on weight loss and sugar, glycemic index and weight loss, resolving to maintain weight loss, and so on. Whatever our resolutions, they all seem so obvious and so doable on New Year’s day and we tell ourselves we’ll enjoy ourselves one last time and then tomorrow we’ll get healthy. Sound familiar? Unfortunately most of us don’t succeed, and next year we try again….with more to lose. Sigh!

Part of the issue is that we tend to focus on the weight and on the narrow definition of weight gain which is calories. Just cut back a little we tell ourselves. I once had a good friend who was very excited about a new weight loss plan she read about. You can eat whatever you want, she said. You just figure what you would normally eat and then eat half that much. So, sitting in front of a plate of cookies she would announce that since normally she would have eaten two cookies, on her new diet she would just enjoy one. Until that one was gone, and she would suddenly remember that actually her old pattern was probably to eat 4 cookies, so she could feel OK helping herself to two…and so on.

My friend was well intentioned, but not very honest with herself. She wanted to lose weight, but her desire and her mind weren’t on the same page. To be healthy is a choice and one of the first steps to getting there is to realize you are more than a physical body. You also have a mind and emotions and they all have to work together or you won’t get there.

Yes we are physical, and calories do count. However, our minds and how we think have a big influence on how we are physically. If you want to be healthier, whether or not that involves weight loss, first be clear on where you are with the process and be truthful with yourself. If conventional dieting has never worked for you, find a different way. There are no shortages of books and experts on weight loss. Not every system works for everyone, so find what works for you and make a commitment you can keep. Then find the support you need to stick with the program whether it’s a friend, a family member or an organized group. When my friend kept rationalizing how many cookies she could eat it got to be a bit of a joke which we all enjoyed. Would it have been different if she had genuinely asked for our support? The answer is definitely yes….but she didn’t and she is still weight challenged.

Emotional issues obviously also have a big part to play in weight loss and our ability to keep it off. A simple example is coffee drinking. Lots of us drink coffee, and for some people it is a way to keep going when they feel tired, depressed or anxious. If caffeine is your drug of choice be aware that it can cause your body to secrete excess cortisol which affects blood sugar levels and causes you to feel hungry. If food is readily available you may find yourself snacking despite your best intentions. Again, the calories and excess eating follow the emotional and mental state of the individual…and their choices.

Obviously losing weight is a great way to be healthier and spend less time with your doctor. Start with recognizing you are more than just a physical body, take stock of where you are and what works best for you, and ask for help. Your chances of success will go way up.

Share some of your experiences with weight, dieting and friends. What works for you?

*Photograph by Charles M. Wrenn III

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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 2:55 am  Tagged with: , , ,

Alkaline Diet Reduces Risk of Diabetes

 Uncategorized  1 Response »
Dec 232011
 

If you keep up with health news you know that the number of people living with type 2 diabetes is growing. Not only that, diabetes is a costly disease which impacts all of us. It eats up at least 10% of our entire health care budget, and if you are an individual with diabetes you pay more than twice as much for medical care as people who don’t have this condition. If you own a business and have employees you pay for diabetes in the form of lost productivity and higher health insurance premiums.  If we could get a handle on this one condition it would make a huge dent in the cost of care.

When an individual is diagnosed with diabetes the focus of the treatment is on lowering blood sugar.  Solutions include changes in diet and increased exercise to start, but if that doesn’t work, medication is prescribed.  Of course it goes without saying that the meds come with big side effects, for example kidney problems, stroke and heart disease to name just a few.  What are the holistic alternatives?

One of the pioneers in alternative solutions for diabetes is Robert O. Young, PhD. Instead of defining diabetes as a condition of the cells, he takes a step back and looks at the bigger picture defining it as a condition of the environment of the cells.  This takes the focus off of lowering blood sugar and places it on creating a different body chemistry. Dr. Young’s research shows that when you change the relationship between acid and alkaline foods in your body you reduce your risk of diabetes.

Start by testing your acid/alkaline or pH balance.  You can do this using test strips available at health food stores and some drug stores. Insert one in your urine stream and compare the resulting color with a chart provided with your strips.  You want it to be in the nice blue green range with a score close to 7.  If you are too acid your strip will be more yellow.  Then learn which foods are more alkaline and which more acid.  Most vegetables (except the starchy ones) are in the alkaline range as are some fruits such as lemons, avocados and tomatoes.  Almonds are a great alkaline treat so switch from peanut butter to almond butter, and give up coffee and black tea which are very acid in favor of green tea.  Acid foods include sugar, alcohol, and wheat flour products along with animal proteins such as meat and dairy.

People who followed Dr. Young’s program (read about it in his book: pH Miracle for Diabetes) for three months were able to shift their pH balance and enjoy better health. After three months many of the diabetics were able to reduce the amount of insulin they used and some were able to give it up completely.  Some of these individuals also shed excess pounds and enjoyed lower cholesterol and blood sugar as a result of shifting their pH into the more alkaline range.

A more alkaline pH balance can have a huge impact on your health and reducing the risk of diabetes is just the beginning.  Watch for more posts on this topic….and do share your experiences.

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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 2:01 am

Holistic Means Using the Best Natural Skin Care Products

 Skin Care  No Responses »
Dec 212011
 

Healthy Means Using the Best Natural Skin Care

Did your doctor ever ask you about about your skin care products? If you go to a holistic practitioner they may include a question or two, but most conventional physicians wouldn’t even consider asking. Why would they? They are trained to look at narrow cause and effect rather than at the whole body. And yet a holistic approach reveals that good skin care can be critical to good health. This is because anything which goes on your skin goes into your bloodstream and circulates around your body hitting all of your organs and systems. If your hand lotion is loaded with chemicals, they will eventually reach your eyes, your heart and your brain where they can do some serious damage…like cause cancer, weight gain or skin irritations. So part of lowering your health costs is choosing the best natural skin care products.

Read Labels Carefully

It helps to become familiar with what to avoid. While it is a good idea to avoid any chemical ingredients in skin and hair care products, some of the most common and dangerous are:

* Parabens and phthalates are common in skin care products and cosmetics. Both are considered to be xenoestorgens, products which mimic the effect of estrogen in your body. Estrogen promotes weight gain through conversion of calories into fat which means your skin care products could be contributing to weight gain. Estrogen is also implicated in cancer.
* Sodium laurel sulfate. This is a sudsing agent and emulsifier which is very common in skin and hair care products. If you buy your products at a grocery store, drug store or big box store its presence is practically guaranteed. Sodium laurel sulfate may cause eye damage and promote skin cancer.
* Propylene glycol. Used as an anti-freeze for jobs like de-icing planes in the wintertime, propylene glycol is also found in many skin care products to help retain moisture. Unfortunately it can also cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage as well as skin and eye irritations…which makes you wonder why it is also common in wetting and soaking solutions for contact lenses.
* Mineral oil. Used to enhance skin moisture, mineral oil clogs your pores and makes it more difficult for your skin to release toxins resulting in irritated skin and development of allergies.
* Synthetic colors and fragrances

Buy Your Products from Reputable Companies

If you want to avoid putting chemicals on your skin, look for companies with a genuine commitment to healthy products. A good place to start your research is at the Environmental Working Group’s website where they have a list of the best companies, all of which have not only jumped through some hoops to get there but continue to update this organization with new information about their products. Click here for a list of companies they consider to be Cosmetics Champions.

How have skin care products affected your health?  Let us know.

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 Posted by Celeste Smucker at 2:19 am  Tagged with: , ,
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