The air freshener fad is obvious. Our TVs are booming with air freshener commercials and almost every bathroom, dorm room and hospital has it on hand for a daily, if not hourly, refreshing spritz. We readily have these products on hand because they smell good. They accomplish the job of “freshening” the air, but is that all they’re doing?

Most have never even considered what air fresheners are made of. When we spray their contents into the air, we inhale their fumes and our skin absorbs their chemicals. So wouldn’t you like to know what your air freshener is made of and how those ingredients affect your health?

In a recent study, the Natural Resources Defense Council tested 14 air fresheners taken from the shelf of a nation-wide drug store. They found that 12 out of the 14 products contained the hormone-disrupting chemical phthalates. None of the 12 included phthalates in their list of ingredients on their product label. The federal government does not enforce ingredient regulation on air freshener makers and therefore does not require a complete list of ingredients for consumers.

Exposure to phthalates has been known to disrupt reproductive normalities, brain development and even cognitive behavior. Studies show that infants and small children exposed to phthalates significantly increase their risks of developing autism.

Phthalates are only one of the many chemicals emitted by air fresheners. What’s in your air freshener? If you use one of the common off-the-shelf products, there is a good chance you are exposing yourself to chemicals you would otherwise avoid. A better alternative would be to increase air circulation by opening windows or even finding a more natural air freshening solution like quality essential oils.

December 21 2010 | Clean Home

So I wouldn’t call myself a radical anti-fluoridation activist, but I will stand on the side of anti-fluoridation with confidence.  This topic is very much like the topic of vaccinations, I have many clients ask me for my opinion on what they should choose. My advice is always simple; you have to research this topic for yourself and then decide which side of the fence you are on. This is not one I can tell you which way is right for you….dang, no one even tells me what is best on this topic.

I will tell you at our house we do not use fluoride toothpastes, we use a RO system on our water and only drink filtered, non-fluoridated water.  But twice a year, I do allow my children to have a fluoride treatment at the dentist. I know… doesn’t seem to make sense right? Well, besides the fact that our dentist is family and firmly believes in his medical training, and I try to not rock the boat too much when it comes to refusing his recommendations, I also believe that there is a huge difference in a twice a year protection treatment and a daily exposure.  My kids bodies will bounce back from a twice annual poisoning…but it will be a lot more work for their bodies to try to keep up daily.

I also believe that fluoridation is another “backward” treatment offered by the medical community.  Science has no doubts that diet makes all the difference in the world when it comes to dental health. So why don’t we put a little more training in nutrition and health in the dental schools, in the media, in peoples homes? Then we wouldn’t need to mass drug our society in the water supply. If we supported our parents a little more, by not bombarding children from all sides with advertisements of pure junk foods, and we didn’t tell them in every way that we can that healthy food is yucky, then maybe these same parents would have the courage to stand up to their children and make decisions based on the health and well-being of their children instead of what was fast, easy, and likable for kids.

Anyway…I had a friend who is a dentist ask me what my position was on fluoridation the other day. He was very non-confrontational and said he sincerely wanted to understand my position and learn more about what I knew. I realized I didn’t know nearly enough about this topic. My basic philosophy is to keep my body as clear from chemicals as possible on all fronts so naturally I would steer clear of the chemically produced fluoride additives as well… but I clearly needed to read and learn more about this. Then this morning I woke up to a very informative, although I admit very anti-fluoride article by Mike Adams, someone I trust very much although I cringe at his reporting style that can tend to be very sarcastic.

So, I wanted to share that article with you and encourage you to read up more about the topic. There is obviously many pieces of information on the web, but it is not all reputable so beware of “opinion” articles.

Click here to read the article!

Fall is fast approaching!  The kids are in school and cold and flu season are upon us.
Cleansing is a healthy way to give the body an ‘oil change’ to support the immune system and ward off invaders.
NSP’S Tiao He Cleanse and CleanStart programs cleanse the body of toxins and promote healthy immune systems

Autointoxication—A New Angle on Cleansing

Manager Extra  by David Skousen
“Have you ever heard someone say, ‘I feel toxic?’ It’s an old expression and a true one because the person is toxic or poisoned from his or her own body waste.” So say Jennifer Weiss and Vena Burnett in their book, Colon Cleansing—The Best-kept Secret!

The human body is resilient, and it possesses many protective mechanisms that automatically spring into action against poisons in the body. But the constant onslaught of toxic waste can overwhelm even the strongest body.

The Source of Toxins
We all know environmental toxins such as heavy metals and caustic air pollutants surround us. Some of these also pollute our food in the form of pesticides, herbicides and additives. Most people do not realize that in addition to these threats, everyone has the potential of generating his own toxins from natural biological processes. In fact, even the most highly nutritious food must be digested properly or the body may become autointoxicated (self-poisoned). When toxins get into the blood, doctors called this toxemia.

autointoxication  \o-to-in-täk-se-‘ka-shen\ n : a state of being poisoned by toxic substances produced within the body.

Toxins Can Take You Down
The digestive system acts as a miniature chemical factory, extracting nutrients from food. Nutrients are inspected by the liver before being allowed into the bloodstream. Ideally, the liver will also neutralize toxins eaten inadvertently. Thereafter, each cell can easily and safely absorb what it needs.

Several digestive compounds (saliva, enzymes, secretions) work in stages to efficiently break down food particles. But when these digestive elements are in short supply, they cannot properly process a meal, and even the best entrees can ferment and putrefy.

Improperly digested food or backed-up colon waste will continue to break down by means of billions of bacteria waiting to feed on toxic waste. This process creates potent chemicals that irritate the colon and, even worse, enter the bloodstream where they become a hazard to every cell in the body.

To defend itself, the body’s immune system quickly attempts to neutralize these toxic compounds. Other body systems become alert to the danger, adding stress to the kidneys, liver and the lymph system. In some cases, the body may generate a fever, perspiration, vomiting or diarrhea to rid itself of a meal gone bad.

If these toxins are not properly removed, they can wear down the body over time, causing immunity to drop. Various symptoms of toxic overload may appear, including:

· Allergies
· Arthritis
· Asthma
· Bad breath
· Constipation
· Depression
· Fatigue
· Headaches
· Hemorrhoids
· High blood pressure
· Indigestion
· Insomnia
· Nervousness
· Obesity
· Parasites
· Prostate problems
· Rash
· Sinus congestion
· Skin problems
· Varicose veins

Avoiding Autointoxication
Autointoxication due to improper digestion may be safely diffused by making simple changes.
1. Improve your diet to strengthen all of the body’s systems.
2. Reduce stress.
3. Cleanse the intestinal system gently but thoroughly.
4. Rebuild digestive strength with natural supplements to help the body process food more thoroughly.
5. Increase your intake of pure water to help dissolve and flush out toxins.

A recent study carried out at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Wash., revealed that women who drink at least five glasses of water daily were able to lower their risk of colon cancer by 45 percent!

Following this outline can strengthen every cell and benefit the immune, lymph, respiratory and other body systems.

Give Yourself a CleanStart
In addition to improving your lifestyle and eating better, try using the convenient, effective 14-day CleanStart program to safely clear out toxic waste buildup. This remarkable program has already helped thousands to feel the relief of purging hidden colon waste, the seedbed of disease.

Keeping on Keeping On
UltimateBuild is a comprehensive daily program of vitamins, minerals, herbs, antioxidants and fiber. It makes an excellent companion to CleanStart as it helps to minimize further toxic buildup and revitalize the digestive organs. Everyone can benefit by using this daily program regularly.

Benefits of the CleanStart/UltimateBuild Program
• Promotes normal bowel evacuation.
• Benefits the urinary system (another cleansing feature).
• Supports digestion.
• Supports gallbladder function.
• Encourages friendly flora.
• Performs consistently and safely.
• May increase a feeling of wellbeing.
• Increases ability and efficiency of the body’s cells to generate energy.
• Supplies 10 g fiber daily to help reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.

When preparing the CleanStart or UltimateBuild drink mix, use a shaker for best results. A hand-held electric blender also works well. Or, simply pour the powder and juice into a large empty herb bottle with a tight-fitting lid and shake for several seconds.

Diet during the cleanse: No red meat, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, fried food or fast food, no artificial sweetners (stevia is okay). NSP stevia now comes in packets just like the “pink and blue stuff” stock #1381-6).  Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken, fish and turkey, whole grains, rice, beans, eggs are okay too if you like them.  Drink lots of water.  A good rule of thumb is 1/2 of your body weight in ounces of water. To replace coffee try the NSP Herbal beverage stock #1600-1.

Cleansing Options:
*Clean Start 14-day Program-Stock # 3993-8-Wild Berry  flavor or Apple/Cinnamon flavor stock #3992-6.
Tiao He 10-day Chinese Cleanse-stock #3050-5
Para-Cleanse with Paw Paw for Targeting Parasites-stock #4115-7
Liquid Cleanse #3193-1
Candida Clear #958-7

(to purchase any supplements mentioned above, click on the supplements link to the right)