healthy living Archives - Homestead Holly https://homesteadholly.com/tag/healthy-living/ (Wholesome Words of Wisdom from a Witty Warrior Woman) Fri, 31 Jan 2020 08:57:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Removing Everyday Toxins in 2020 (With Holistic Health Professional, Cady Kuhlman) https://homesteadholly.com/removing-everyday-toxins-in-2020-with-holistic-health-professional-cady-kuhlman/ https://homesteadholly.com/removing-everyday-toxins-in-2020-with-holistic-health-professional-cady-kuhlman/#comments Thu, 30 Jan 2020 23:35:29 +0000 https://homesteadholly.com/?p=1810 The older I get, the more I desire a healthy lifestyle.  However, this is not your typical “healthy living” blog post.  I am not going to spend much time on the obvious:  Most of us already know we should exercise

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The older I get, the more I desire a healthy lifestyle.  However, this is not your typical “healthy living” blog post.  I am not going to spend much time on the obvious:  Most of us already know we should exercise regularly, eat our greens, avoid processed foods and treat our bodies well in general.  Unfortunately, these basic health practices are not enough for us to live our healthiest lives possible.  Sadly, seeing the word “organic” isn’t even enough to guarantee we are making the right decision.  

Thankfully, near the end of 2019, I was blessed to meet a new friend…..but not just any friend.  I was introduced to Cady Kuhlman – a true and gracious holistic health professional.  Cady received her formal training with her Masters of Holistic Health through American College of Healthcare Science in Portland, OR. What’s more?  Cady has been living a very health conscious lifestyle since she was a child.  And guess what?  Cady agreed to do a blog post with me!  (Yayyyyyy)!

“My background with holistic health began long before I could even type, maybe before I could even read… But really, I am very fortunate that I was raised in a household where food was considered medicine, sugary cereal was a big no-no & needing to go to a doctor was very far and few between,” writes Cady.

“My father & mother began our family health food store in 1979. We started small but my dad had a very clear vision. Our store has grown a great deal from those initial few years as it now is health food store along with 16 other holistic health practitioners who have their own practice,” she continues. 

The store Cady is speaking of is Nutrition World (located at 6201 Lee HWY Chattanooga, TN 37421).  From supplements, to wellness services to educational resources, Nutrition World is a leader in its industry.  Even if you do not reside in the Chattanooga area, you can order from their online store.

Aside from running her store, Cady is simply devoted to helping others live a toxin-free lifestyle.  Most recently, she created a Facebook group called, Earth Conscious Mama, in which she helps her community make conscious decisions on everything from household cleaning products, to makeup, to supplements, to food….and everything in between.  

Without further ado, let’s hear more from Cady!

“It’s 2020. A new year. But even bigger than that, a new decade.  There is no denying the last decade brought the focus back in check for many of us to realize that being healthy and living a vital life, does not happen by chance. It takes daily intentional steps. As a collective nation, there are so many aspects of our world that have gone under the scrutiny of the public eye. We see a push for less GMO’s.  We see dozens of books pushing us to eat in the outer aisles of a grocery stores so that we shop fresh.  We hear professionals suggesting that exercise does improve a multiple of health conditions – and all of that makes my heart absolutely bubbly, like really bubbly,” shares Cady.

“But, there is one area that I rarely see given any attention. Even worse, an area that nearly “pretends” to be clean, conscious and natural, is sadly one that every single american uses in some form of every single day – if not used multiple times a day.  It’s our everyday household & personal care items,” she adds.

Some examples of the concerning items include, but are not limited to deodorants, face wash, makeup, detergent,toothpaste, shaving cream, dishwashing soap, hand soap, face cream, body lotion and the list goes on.

“Most people use cosmetics, household and personal care items without a second thought, as they truly believe that the government is overseeing the safety of the ingredients. Sadly, this is very far from the truth. The personal care industry uses over 12,500 chemicals -unique chemicals with many of them being classified as known endocrine disruptors, toxic to reproductive health and suspected or known to be carcinogenic.   Now, just to paint this image a little clearer:  In Europe they have started to catch on the potential hazards that could lie within these chemicals, so they have banned 1,328 of them.  Here in the US, we have banned only 30 (ah!),” reveals Cady.

So what does this mean for our bodies?

“Let’s go back to that anatomy and physiology class for just a minute. The skin, simply stated, is our largest organ – that means it is bigger than our lungs, our heart, our kidneys. Our skin is literally the barrier that we have between our internal organs and the world. Between 60-90% of what is placed on our skin goes into our bloodstream! This varies depending on the concentration, size of molecule and location on the body. Basically this is way too many opportunities throughout the day for potential harmful chemicals to enter our body,” explains Kuhlman.

Yikes.  As someone who has applied plenty of lotions and makeup in my lifetime….I never really thought about the products actually going into my bloodstream, prior to talking with Cady.  (I certainly think about it now)!  Now, with that said, we all know that we probably aren’t going to see many immediate effects from these products.  However, that certainly doesn’t mean we should rejoice and assume we are free and clear.

“Does it mean that you are automatically unhealthy by using conventional makeup from the drugstore? No. Does it mean that if you clean your clothes with Tide you will get eczema? No. Does it mean that if you use a body lotion with chemicals that you will get cancer? No. But what it does mean is this: Every chemical that you introduce to your body is adding to your overall body burden. So, if we eat bad foods, live a high stress environment, rarely incorporate movement into our daily life, bathe in chemicals, wash our hair in toxins & slap on aluminium ridden deodorant, we have just severely burdened our entire body. The more our body becomes burdened, the more time our body has to spend detoxing, attempting to function properly around all of the chemicals that are constantly flowing within….and ultimately, our body then has no choice but to use its energy to survive, rather than thrive,” expresses Cady.

“This is where I hope I can educate you to become an awakened consumer. You vote with your dollars, so I hope we can all begin voting with truly natural, clean and conscious companies,” she adds.

Now, with all of that said, Cady realizes we simply cannot create a toxin-free house over night.  She knows the struggle and the ongoing quest to create a healthier environment.  However, she encourages us to start making simple, but important changes, as we can.

To teach, rather than overwhelm, today we are going to provide you with 3 of Cady’s “ditch and switch” suggestions:

  1. Laundry Detergent “Sadly many laundry detergents are greenwashed. This term simply means, the company uses jarnigan, photos and a color scheme that makes the consumer feel as if the product is healthy and clean. Examples of being greenwashed within this category: Seventh Generation, Dreft & Meyers. My number 1 recommendation in this category hands down is Molly’s Suds. It is comprised of 4 ingredients: sodium carbonate sourced from the Green River Basin in Wyoming, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate, unrefined sea salt & peppermint oil. Best part- it performs well too! For extra dirty clothes, I just throw in a big splash of vinegar, plus the detergent – And it works wonders!!” shares Cady.
  2. Lipgloss & Lipstick“Maybe you are one of those women who every now and again, feels extra beautiful with vibrant red lips…..or maybe you are one of those who loves a little color on the daily! I feel you. But sadly, these products fall into the personal care industry where there are over 13,000 unregulated chemicals used! A dismal fact about the lipstick industry and its synthetic color pigments is, lipsticks are notorious for using coal tar which contains heavy metals salts. These can absorb into the skin, deplete the body of oxygen and ultimately give us less overall energy. Numerous studies using the common FD&C pigments have been studied and shown some nasty side effects. These include correlation with tumor growth, organ damage, birth defects and nerve cell damage. This ditch & switch is simple for me –  follow my page, Earth Conscious Mama for all of the details!!” invites Cady. (You can also visit Cady’s Crunchi page to read more and place an order).
  3. Air fresheners“Now, here is a ditch that gets me sweating from desire to share this with the WORLD! Please consider ditching Febreeze. The Environmental Working group did a test for the ingredients within one of the Febreeze air effects and found 87 chemicals in total being used within one product. Yet, the manufacturer, P&G would only disclose 3 ingredients. Thankfully EWG brought to light 11 of the 87 chemicals. I will just highlight the top 5: BHT (neurotoxin), acetaldehyde( potential carcinogen and immunotoxin, fragrance(a slew of scary chemicals!), propylene glycol (increases allergies), 1-2 dicholoro-2 proponal (carcinogen), methyl pyrrolidone (toxin to reproductive system). I have so commonly heard of people who had consistent headaches, brain fog, chronic fatigue & more that felt better once Febreeze exited their house. Now, for a safe switch. There truly are so many. My favorites: houseplants to purify the air, quality essential oils in a spray bottle with witch hazel (yes!), charcoal bags in obscure locations that nobody will see to help deodorize and finally, just a nice, beautiful beeswax candle made with essential oil,” reveals Cady. 

So, outside of these 3 everyday switches, how can we begin our toxin-free journeys?  How will we know what to buy?  Remember, the answer is not as simple as trusting fancy labels that simply say, “organic” or “natural.”  In addition to joining Cady’s Earth Conscious Mama Facebook page, there are also some helpful free apps you may want to consider downloading.  Cady recently told our Earth Conscious Mama group about “Think Dirty.”  It features a great deal of every day products, and all you have to do is scan the item to find a profile and a grade for it.  When you find out your go-to product isn’t what you hoped for, you can click for alternatives.  “Healthy Living” and “Fooducate” are also helpful and work in a very similar manner.  

Cady closes with, “So, yes.  2020 is here. Resolutions are here. My absolute goal for you is for you to make this decade your absolute most vital one yet. We can do that together as we begin removing toxins from your body so that there is more freed energy to feel well & fully ALIVE.”

Have you made any product changes lately?  Share your thoughts, favorite products and resources in the comment section below!

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10 Simple Reasons Your 30’s Are Better Than Your 20’s https://homesteadholly.com/10-simple-reasons-30s-better-20s/ https://homesteadholly.com/10-simple-reasons-30s-better-20s/#respond Fri, 24 Nov 2017 20:03:20 +0000 https://homesteadholly.com/?p=770 I was once terrified of the big 3-0.  Terrified.  Believe me when I say, I have since gotten over that. Maybe you’re an amazingly satisfied 20-something-old who has just clicked on my post for humor.  Maybe you’re thinking you can’t

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I was once terrified of the big 3-0.  Terrified.  Believe me when I say, I have since gotten over that.

Maybe you’re an amazingly satisfied 20-something-old who has just clicked on my post for humor.  Maybe you’re thinking you can’t possibly be convinced that 30 is better.  Well…give me a few minutes to at least try.  First of all, don’t be mad at me.  I’m not telling you that your present isn’t awesome.  I’m simply telling you your future can be even better.  I’m telling you to be excited and optimistic for what’s ahead.

I was once you.  Believe it or not, I was you just a few years ago.  Now, I’m not just 30.  I’ve been a member of the 30’s club for over 3 years now.  In 2 years, I’m going to be halfway through this age bracket.

It’s funny how much I love the very time period in my life I was once so afraid of.  It’s funny how I thought I was losing something.  Little did I know, when I let go of one decade, I was letting go to gain something greater.

Some may look at my social life from 5-10 years ago and say….”But, Holly!  Your life used to be SO much more eventful!”

To them I would say, “You’re right….and that’s why I don’t really miss that time in my life.”

Did I have some incredible times in my 20’s?  YES!  I have stories galore, and I could go on and on and on…..  I would never take back those years, but here are some standard reasons why I have come to believe that 30’s are even better.

  1.  You worry less about what people think.  Do I still care a LITTLE sometimes?  Sure, but not NEARLY as much as I did as a 20-something-year-old.  As long as I’m being a good representative for Christ, I’m pretty much good with whatever people think, whether it’s that I gained a few pounds, or that I have a few more wrinkles than I used to.  They can even think I’m weird or speculate about my personal life while they’re at it for all I care. Unless they’re paying my bills or determining my future in any big way…..I’m not losing a wink of sleep at night.
  2. You’re simply more secure in your own skin.  While I still believe in looking my overall best (and I’m not suggesting you don’t), there comes a point when you realize there is so much more to life than outer beauty.  Maybe you’re younger than 30 and already there, but for me, I feel like the huge earth-shaking revelation came in my 30’s.  It’s what going on inside that matters most, and if I’m secure with my inside and secure in Christ….I’m secure in general.  Enough said.
  3. You become better at picking and choosing your battles.  There comes a time when you realize what matters and what doesn’t…..what will matter five years from now and what won’t.  You grow to discover that not every battle is yours to fight.  Let the Lord fight your battles for you.  (Exodus 14:14)
  4. Better financial situation.  Now, maybe this doesn’t apply to everyone.  This of course depends on what you take on and when.  However, by their 30’s, the average person is at least seeing their college loans on the decrease (if of course they’ve been consistently paying since their 20’s).  Though the light at the end of the tunnel may still be dim….it’s now a light, nonetheless. They’re also getting rid of credit card debt and working on that credit score.  We typically grow into better jobs and pay scales at this time in our lives, or at least have the confidence to begin the transition from unhappy situations.  We’ve had some time to prove ourselves and time to build experience. It’s a good time to be an even stronger professional than ever before.
  5. You know who you are or are almost there.  At this point, you’ve likely at least figured out who you’re not, even if you’re still working “that job.”  You are more self-aware.  You are aware of your likes, your dislikes, your hopes, your dreams…..and the fact that you can’t stay up until 2 am or handle spicy foods like you used to.  😉
  6. Maturity in the relationship department.  Okay, so maybe it’s just me, but my 30’s REALLY changed my approach to relationships.  By your 30’s, you’ve hopefully figured out your worth if you didn’t in your 20’s.  For me, I met every kind of guy in my 20’s.  It was a time of lesson learning.  Certain career pursuits didn’t match up well with my life.  I learned how important it was to be on the “same page.” By my 30’s, I really knew what I was looking for and what I wasn’t.  I could quickly discern who was serious and who wasn’t. I decided what my red lights and green lights were….and I knew what I was willing to compromise on and what I wasn’t.  Consequently, I tied the knot at 33.  I still have a lot of unmarried friends in their 30’s, but I can guarantee, like me, they didn’t come this far to settle on anything less than what they deserve.  When I got to my 30’s, I decided I was only going to get married if I felt that person added a lot of value and smiles to my already fabulous/comfortable life.  I decided my now husband did….and does.
  7. 30’s are a wiser time….yet you’re still young.  It’s like having the best of both worlds.  Though you feel a little more seasoned and experienced in your 30’s….you still look young and are considered young.  You may not be able to stay out or up all night like you used to….but you’re still young.  The only person who thinks you’re even remotely old is a teenager, and who cares what they think about “age” anyways? Are they paying your bills?  (Refer back to #1) 😉
  8. You begin to enjoy and appreciate the little things more.  I’m now entertained by things I never would have been entertained by 10 years ago.  I love simplicity now and it’s a beautiful thing.  I like listening to the rain while cuddled up under the covers, and I actually notice the fall colors more now.  Years back, I was way too busy to notice or to enjoy anything.  I actually get excited when I get a drawer organized, or receive some great new kitchen supplies.  I hated history as a kid, but I love it now.  I enjoy visiting with the elderly and inspiring the young.  I officially realize how blessed I really am for everyone and everything I have.
  9. If you haven’t figured out who your friends are and who they’re not….you’re just about there.  By the time you hit 30, high school is a distant memory.  Even college mostly becomes a distant memory.  By this time in your life, you’ve likely figured out who is who in your life:  Who is meant to stay in your boat, and who is meant to be only an acquaintance from here on out.  By now, you’ve had enough time to figure out loyalty and trust levels.  You also have had enough time to know who is like-minded and who isn’t….who encourages you and who brings you down.  Since 30’s are that time where you care less….quality becomes so much more important than quantity.  If you’re in 30’s and your life is still full of drama brought on by your friends….you’re doing it wrong.
  10. The value of life becomes even more clear.  As you notice time flying by, you become more aware of the value of life.  You realize it’s moving fast, that everyone around you is getting older, and you’ve finally grasped that life really is short.  As a result, all of the above ^^^^ takes place….and somehow, worrying about unimportant things becomes less important.

If you’re in your 30’s and you disagree with this list, well, now is a good time to start enjoying your best life.  Maybe you’re older than 30 and these things took you longer.  That’s okay too.  It varies for everyone, but this has been my general experience and the experience of many around me.

The bottom line is…  Laugh more, worry less, stay open to love if you haven’t yet found it, let go of the past, set new goals and remember HE will direct your path.  (Proverbs 3:5-6).  If you’re a teen or in your 20’s……you’re welcome in advance.  Your best days are still ahead of you.  🙂

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