Today's Natural Medicine Update about chemicals found in our bodies reminded me of a theme/goal I've had for some time...that goal is the absence of fragrance. It's partly out of necessity, I don't tolerate perfumes well. I've discovered that most homes and people are a collection of artificial fragrances, one layer on top of another. It is a challenge to keep my home and myself unscented.

1. The first challenge is to have no unpleasant smells to cover up, you know, doing dishes often, cleaning, taking out the garbage/diapers, putting wet laundry in the dryer soon enough, venting cooking smells, etc. etc. Aside from general hygeine, the diet helps me with Body odor, and I've heard similar experiences from other types as well.

2. The next step is finding unscented products. This is getting easier than it used to be: laundry detergent, dryer sheets (or better, unscented liquid fabric softener, and I don't even tolerate that so I skip it entirely), body soaps, facial soaps, shampoos (that's still a challenge), hair styling products (do unscented versions exist? I just let my hair flop like it was born to), deodorant (there are some naturally fragranced types that are nice, usually the only 'scent' I wear), then there is the fragrance in cleaning chemicals, where the options are Health Food Store products or homemade, but I'm no expert on that one yet. I do recommend DHC skincare products, almost all of their products are unscented, other than the natural fragrances of the ingredients, and they work better than most natural brands I have tried. www.dhccare.com I'm not an expert on the chemicals in skincare products, I just know what works for me, and my body speaks to me very assertively in most cases! Their shampoos and conditioners are a godsend for my sensitive scalp, and the only type I have tried that consistently gives good results, like a salon brand, but without the irritation. And believe me, I've tried a boat-load of shampoos. Their Acerola Lotion (toner) is also a favorite of mine, my skin just drinks it up like I drink my pineapple juice.

3. The third step, once you've learned to appreciate a freedom from fragrances, is to learn to tolerate other's bondage to them I'm still learning this one, and as I become healthier, it doesn't bother me so much to be around layers of fragrance...as long as there's good ventilation! My family has been good to avoid using scented candles when I visit, as those really get to me. I used to use them myself, then I learned that I breathe much better without them lit. I also recently heard a warning about fire safety with little plug in air fresheners, so keep that in mind if you use those.

There are a number of natural fragrances to choose from, as well. Essential oils are a healthy way to enjoy your need for aromatherapy. I'm not an expert in their use, but do enjoy them from time to time, as they relax and clear my mind, whereas the artificial stuff does the opposite.

My question is, will wearing make-up ever go out of fashion? I probably wear it 2 or 3 times a year, and just a little at that. I never paint my nails, as it seemed to make them soft and wimpy. I don't suppose that will ever catch on, but I can always hope!

Reasons to avoid sugar, particularly applicable to non-secretors:

1. Avoiding sugar strengthens the immune system, particularly important for children as it is the safest way to boost their immune systems. Also particulary important for non-secretors who are more susceptible to many infections due to the lack of decoys (blood type antigens that germs will bind onto instead).

2. Sugar feeds candida/yeast problems. All anti-candida diets remove sugar.

3. Sugar promotes tooth decay, and non-secretors are more prone to tooth decay.

4. Sugar is concentrated carbohydrate, and carbohydrates are the enemy, especially for an O's metabolism.

Reasons to avoid artificial sweeteners:

1. Most artificial sweeteners are designed to not be digestible. Since Olestra, I tend to avoid foods that are designed to be undigestible.

2. Most artificial sweeteners break down into chemical waste in the body, some (saccharine) are probably carcinogens.

3. They may not even help weight loss. Here's an article that came out recently about that...

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/89/100381.htm

So where does that leave us?

Vegetable Glycerine! Despite it's artificial-sounding name, and the fact that I can only find it in the soap section of my Health Food store, it is not artificial. (Not to be confused with petroleum glycerine, vegetable glycerine is derived from edible vegetable oils) It is naturally occuring in the body, and almost always listed in the ingredient lists of granola bars, and protein bars. It is digestible, does have some calories, but doesn't cause blood sugar problems. It's been debated whether it is a carbohydrate or a fat, and is currently classified as a carbohydrate on food labelling, though that is still under debate. It tastes great, is twice as sweet as sugar, and works well in everything I've used it for. In moderation, of course!

Here's a previous blog on the subject:


New To Glycerine

Things are going well! Despite a few avoids, I'm still losing weight. Despite a setback with my back, I'm still feeling good. I seem to be doing well with taking less thyroid hormone as well. I haven't weighed on a really accurate scale for a few weeks, but from what I can figure, I've lost at least 30 pounds since January. (I won't add what I lost before January, and after baby, since that wasn't entirely BTD, it was mostly just what naturally falls away after having a baby.)

For breakfast today we were out of eggs, but I had some organic turkey sausage in the freezer, so I had that and some fresh blueberries to neutralize the polyamines, and some almonds for crunch. Good breakfast!

Thanks to all who have written in with their comments and encouragement.

As far as avoids go, I'm fortunate in my weight-loss efforts that those avoids that I react most to are the same avoids that hinder my weight loss the most. Makes them easier to avoid: wheat and corn are the biggies of course, with potatoes and dairy coming in close behind. This is the first effort I've made to totally avoid dairy, and when I mess up on that, I learn something every time. I'm starting to think I may even be lactose intolerant, which is something I never thought could be the case (I come from a family of Bs, and grew up on milk). I guess you don't know what a food does to you until you try to stop eating it. I remember coming home from school most every day, drinking a big glass of milk, and taking a nap. I thought the milk was soothing, but maybe it was just sedating...

I'm looking forward to a walk, once it cools down tonight. It's above 100 degrees F today! If it doesn't cool down, I'll go the the indoor track (and step on their scales while I'm there).

My back still feels pretty lousy, but I have to keep moving even though every muscle feels tired. If I rest too long, it tightens up again. I'm afraid jogging doesn't agree with my spine. I was careful to do my stretching and ab strengthening, and haven't been jogging more than once since I tweaked my back about a month ago, yet the jogging is still a prime suspect. About 5 years ago I really injured my back and was laid up for a couple weeks...also not long after starting a jogging regimen. At the time I got passed between many doctors and didn't feel like any of them really understood it, but the radiologist recommended that I don't jog. I was 20 pounds heavier then and thought that would make a difference this time, but I thought wrong.

There are other contributing factors, genetics is a big one. My grandma on my mom's side, who died years before I was born, had the same back problems I do. She said it was arthritis in her back, and it started in her 30s. She treated it with a remedy that included grapefruit juice and nobody remembers what else, and daily back exercises similar to the ones I'm supposed to do every day. I inherited a lot from her, I even look very much like her, other than I have lighter coloring. When it was bad, it would throw her back and hips noticeably out of alignment, same as with me.

Diet is also a factor, with a trail of avoids before each incident. Hormones are a factor as well, as it always starts in PMS time, and goes away completely when I'm pregnant and nursing. I, for one, wish gestation lasted 2 years instead of just 9 months; I feel better pregnant than not. That also makes me suspect an immunity link...but as an O, autoimmunity and inflammation are always a problem.

Anyway, the bad news is I'm giving up jogging, I'll miss it as it saved my sanity a few times. The good news is, today is the first day of my walking regimen (that radiologist and the surgeon he worked with also ordered me to walk 3 miles a day). And from this day forward I WILL do my back exercises every day.

Time to learn from history. It's much like being allergic to a beneficial, just an individual thing. I still highly recommend jogging for Os, just not for me.

So, first I had a vacation to dietary sin city, it was great, I ate foods I shouldn't have, but survived because I walked my tail off. Then went to the funeral, in the land of milk and honey. Ate foods I shouldn't have again. Then I promptly tweaked my back. I only do that when I'm eating wrong, and always regret it. So today I've been back on the regimen. Eggs for breakfast, very good fish and veggies for late lunch/dinner, bromelain, deflect, etc. often.

My back is already on the mend, but I have to keep moving and walking to keep it from tightening up. Should do my back exercises more often, that also helps prevent problems.

Last night I had some wonderful grilled salmon, grilled pineapple and grilled asparagus. My family is skipping some of the bread and potatoes along with me since we have so much else to eat!

I'll be getting back into the swing of things soon, and I'll finalize my nonnie brownies and a few other recipes for y'all. Later taters!