11 Sleep Tips

Hi, I was recently invited to contribute to an article on getting a better sleep. There are eleven people who participated in this effort, each with a very different tip on how to fall asleep or stay asleep! Below is my tip - by far the most esoteric! I encourage you to use this link and read the other 10 tips so you can get that all important 7-8 hours sleep (by the way research shows we all need that much sleep to function at our best so don't kid yourself!).

Tip #11: Explore And Uncover What You Are Avoiding Addressing In Your Life

I find that people often either can’t fall asleep or wake up in the night and can’t get back to sleep. If this is what you are experiencing, you may want to ask yourself 'what you are hiding from?' A frequent cause of this type of insomnia is an overactive mind that is pre-occupied with something.

When you go to sleep at night everything gets quiet. This gives your sub-conscious mind (or your soul) a chance to be heard, that whisper that says ‘you don’t like your job, why are you staying?’ or ‘you are unhappy in your current relationship, you need to express yourself and get help’. Your soul speaks through silence but your ego can get annoyed with these whispers so it keeps you busy all day and encourages you to stay up late so that you are so tired you almost just drop off to sleep.

Well unfortunately, your soul or inner guidance is tenacious. It really wants what is best for you and it wants to be heard so it will keep trying – for instance through dreams or waking you up in the night with its persistent whispers.

My tip is therefore to start to explore and uncover what you may be avoiding addressing in your life – here are some ideas to get you started:

• Start a journal. Write whatever comes up for you, the messages from your soul and the often resistant or stubborn paroles of your ego.

• Keep a journal next to your bed so you can write down thoughts, insights or concerns when they arise – that way they stop ruminating in your mind.

• Take time to get quiet during the day, maybe at the end of a meditation and simply ask your soul what message it has for you. Write it down because if your ego does not agree or feels threatened by the message it will help you forget it!

• Once you get some clarity around what needs addressing in your life and what the concerns of your ego are, then you need to move towards resolution. Get help if you need it, friends, family, a coach or therapist – there are people out there who are there for you!

Bonne nuit!

Is your sunscreen helping or hurting you?

You likely know that there are potentially hazardous chemicals in brand name personal care products and sunscreens are no exception. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your sunscreen.

In general, the mineral-based ingredients like Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are good bets because they actually block or reflect the sun's rays. The main disadvantage is that they are often thick and white and don't absorb easily into the skin (which is also why the work well!)!

I went to the database called Skin Deep and did some research on a naturally postitioned drugstore brand - Aveeno. I looked at several products (for example - Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant CC Cream, Medium, SPF 30) and often the scores were 7 or 8 out of 10 in terms of toxicity. Here are the two ingredients that always scored the highest:

FRAGRANCE Score: 8/10
Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology
OXYBENZONE Score 8/10
(Active Ingredient) Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Use restrictions, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

So I would recommend looking for mineral-based products and if you don't like the way they apply, try to at least stay away with products containing fragrances and Oxybenzone. Please remember that just because the product is expensive or marketed under a cosmetic brand, it does not guarantee good quality ingredients.

Here is some other sunscreen information from the EWG's website https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/executive-sum....

They also have a Healthy Living app that allows you to scan products in-store and get an immediate toxicity score. I have not tried it yet but intend to - you can find the link on their site.

I hope this helps you find a safe and effective product this summer. To search for your brand click here: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreen...

Jackie

Toxins - how to reduce your exposure

This is a guest post from the Mesothelioma Prognosis Network, an advocacy group that offera free services and information on the illnesses caused by asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma cancer. 

 

Cancer Causing Toxins

Environmental toxins are all around us. They are in the air we breathe, the water we use and the food we eat, virtually inescapable in our daily lives.

We rarely see, smell or feel many of them until the damage is done. So to protect yourself as best you can, vigilance is key.

Asbestos is one of the sneakiest and most threatening of the toxins, a naturally occurring mineral that once was used extensively throughout much of the 20th century. It was mined, processed and mixed with hundreds of everyday products used in the building of America.  It was versatile, affordable and lauded for its ability to strengthen, insulate and fireproof most anything — a seemingly wondrous resource.

Unfortunately, it also was toxic. A fact that slowly came to light, leaving behind an endless trail of serious health problems for those who worked with it, lived near it and played with it.

Although the use of asbestos has dropped significantly in recent decades, it remains throughout our society today, a danger still lurking in the shadows. The longer it ages, the more dangerous it becomes, causing a myriad of problems, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Asbestos is just one example of the dozens of environmental toxins among us.

Some are a byproduct of the industrialized world in which we live. Others come naturally. Together, they have been linked to a wide variety of cancers, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, respiratory illnesses, allergies, body rashes, cognitive impairment, sensory and motor dysfunction.

In The Water:

Traces of pesticides, herbicides and refrigerants found in chlorinated drinking water are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Cyanobacterial toxins in city water cause a variety of health issues. Chloroform, arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium are found in water we drink, but often we never know.

In The Air:

Airborne toxins can travel great distances. Power plants spew nitrates, sulfates and mercury. Volatile organic compounds, which are in many household products, make indoor air much more dangerous than being outside.

In the Food:

Toxins work their way into the food chain. Freshwater fish, produce, beef, pork and chicken are known to contain traces of dioxins, which are chemical compounds formed from waste disposal. Pesticides from runoffs often find their way into commercially raised meat.

Humans can deal with low levels of toxins naturally and effectively, but when the levels are too high, they become absorbed, and problems arise. The trick is limiting exposure as much as possible.

A Few Tips to Follow:

• Have your tap water tested, and if needed, install an appropriate water filter.
• Avoid artificial food additives and processed foods. Eat organic produce and free-range meat.
• Avoid artificial air fresheners or synthetic fragrances that pollute the air. Switch to natural toiletry items like toothpaste, perfumes and shampoo.
• Older home renovations should be done only with proper respiratory protection that avoids inhalation of toxic asbestos fibers.
• Breathe clean air whenever possible, avoid smokers and open the windows, visit parks and go to the country whenever possible.

For more information about asbestos and mesothelioma and the services we offer, please feel free to visit us at: https://www.mesotheliomaprognosis.com

Also, if you have mesothelioma cancer and need financial assistance please use this link: https://www.mesotheliomafund.com/

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