I tried the gel capsules that taste like strawberry or lemon and they’d agree to that once in a while, but it was never with any enthusiasm. Even I conveniently forgot to take my fish oil pills on most days.

Things have changed though since I found Barlean’s flavored fish oils! They come in many flavors- chocolate raspberry, pina colada, strawberry cream, lemonade, and our personal favorite, mango-peach. Sweetened with xylitol, these creamy oils impart no trace of fish flavor. Since most of us aren’t getting enough vitamin D (and because D is a fat soluble vitamin), I appreciate that 400 IU’s of vitamin D3 are included in each 2 tsp. serving. These oils also come in a convenient squeezable package so no spoons are necessary. Since it’s hard to O.D. on fish oil I just squeeze out a serving into each mouth, being careful not to touch the bottle to any lips or tongues.

Now, when the fish oil bottle comes out (of the fridge- keep refrigerated at all times so the oil doesn’t go rancid), my kids come running. Even my husband gets in line, opening his mouth along with the other little robins begging for a squirt of Barleans Omega Swirl, Mango Peach fish oil.

You’ll find Barleans organic flavored oils in the refrigerated section of your health food store. Super Supplements and Vitamin Life carry it along with some grocery stores. The best price I’ve found, and where I buy mine is online at Pure Formulas.

Be sure to read the labels as many of their oils are flax seed based. I always recommend fish oil based omega-3 supplementation over flax based. Wonder why? Read here

I’m always so glad that I get asked this question. I feel like I steer a lot of people away from ill health and heartache with a very simple response. And the funny thing is, that just about every single person has the same response after I answer, a visible sigh of relief.

If you haven’t heard of the movie, actually it’s a documentary, Forks Over Knives, then you’ve likely heard of the book The China Study, aka the vegan bible. The China Study was written by Dr. T. Colin Campbell,(whom, by the way, is not a medical doctor, but holds a PhD from Cornell in biochemistry, nutrition, and microbiology). The documentary is basically about everything that Dr. Campbell professes in The China Study which include personal interviews throughout of Dr. Campbell himself.

In the documentary we take a trip down memory lane where Dr. Campbell shows us his childhood home. I have to say it looks like a little slice of Heaven to me, but come to find out it’s the root of all evil… a dairy farm. Now defunct, this was once the home of chickens, cows and maybe a pig or two. That’s not the problem though, it’s the eggs, butter, meat, and lard that those animals produced and his family ate. Dr. Campbell feels that these foods cause cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and are to blame for just about everything that ails you.

His research, and that of others backs up Dr. Campbells beliefs quite nicely. The China Study is very persuasive and his research seems to be quite clear- meat=death and disease. Forks Over Knives is a compelling documentary that had me swearing off meat, eggs and butter within the first 30 minutes. Fortunately my mama taught me that there’s two sides to every story…

I didn’t have to go far to find that other side of the story. Denise Minger of RawFoodSOS.com had spent over a year going through all of the same research that Dr. Campbell had used when coming up with his theory/writing the China Study, and what she found was what a lot of people find when they do a little digging- people often pick and choose whichever research supports THEIR theory, not the other way around.

Denise goes through Forks Over Knives with a fine toothed comb. She’s fair and funny, with a dry sense of humor that makes you enjoy reading such an extensive document. If you watch Forks Over Knives it’s only fair to spend the same amount of time reading the other side of the story.

I had the pleasure of hearing Denise speak at the Weston A. Price Foundations annual conference this past November. Her story, the reason why she even went to all of the trouble to dispel The China Study, as well as Forks Over Knives in the first place, is very interesting. I wish I would have written it down word for word but it goes something like this- Denise was one of those people who take eating to the extreme. She was a raw food vegan (hence the name of her blog- Raw Food SOS). It’s pretty stinkin’ difficult to be more of a dietary fascist that of a raw food vegan. Your choices are pretty much fruits and vegetables or vegetables and fruits. Actually that’s not true, you can have nuts too. Within a year she had something ridiculous like 16 cavities, she looked and felt awful and was anything but the picture of health. She was in a very bad accident which caused her to drop out of college and spend the next year and a half in recovery. You and I might have spent that time eating bonbons and catching up on Oprah, but Denise, the child of research scientists (as I recall), decided to go through all of Dr. Campbells research that he had used to come up with The China Study instead.

What Denise found has made her famous. Every vegan hates her, and every carnivore worships the ground she walks on.

So here’s my response to the people who ask me about Forks Over Knives. “Watch the movie but do yourself a favor and read Denise Minger’s rebuttal.”

If chemicals like these were used just once a year the effects wouldn’t be so devastating. Instead, we are constantly exposed to bathroom cleaners, kitchen cleaners, car cleaners, air fresheners, detergents, hand sanitizers and the list goes on.

There are so many toxic chemicals that we expose ourselves and our families to in the name of looking and smelling clean. Our cleanliness may actually be killing us.

What are some of the effects that chemicals have on our health?

All of the chemicals that we’re going to take a look at affect the Endocrine system. So let’s quickly review what the endocrine system is and why we want to do everything in our power to keep it running smoothly.

Endocrine System- The endocrine system is made up of glands (such as the thyroid, pituitary, pancreas) that produce and secrete hormones. These hormones regulate the body’s growth, metabolism, and sexual development and function.

3 Ingredients to Steer Clear Of

Antibacterial Soaps contain Triclosan, a hormone disrupting pesticide, that “may be toxic to the developing fetus and child, and pollutes mothers’ breast milk and may be a potent disruptor of the thyroid system at low levels” (EWG). Triclosan is the main ingredient in antibacterial soaps as well as toothpaste, detergents and children’s toys.

The American Medical Association, a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee, and dozens of academic researchers have determined that “antimicrobial soap does not work any better than plain soap and water at preventing the spread of infections or reducing bacteria on the skin.”

To add insult to injury, antibacterial soaps may actually weaken our immune systems. Being exposed to the cure for when bad bacteria takes over, but never actually being exposed to the bad bacteria removes the opportunity to build up our immune systems. At the same time it may be actually weakening the effects that the cure (antibiotics) would have should we use antibacterials sparingly (by encouraging bacterial resistance to antibiotics).

Notice the word “may” is used a lot in reports. That’s because the jury’s still out on this. Unfortunately, we are the lab rats in this experiment.

Pthalates

Pthalates are also known as “Plasticizers” they’re found in everything from personal care products to PVC pipes, to detergents and the list goes on.

Pthalates are of particular concern because they disrupt the endocrine system.

“According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s 2005 National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals several phthalate compounds have caused reduced sperm counts, testicular atrophy and structural abnormalities in the reproductive systems of male test animals, and some studies also link phthalates to liver cancer.” (EWG)

Anything, whether it’s food, plastics, personal care products or cleaners that impacts the endocrine system, is worth paying attention to and avoiding.

Fragrance-

Fragrance is BIG business, in fact it’s an 8 billion $ industry!

Because of proprietary issues companies are not required to disclose what ingredients the fragrance contains. Many are made up of phthalates and other toxic chemicals, which are especially potent in combination.

I still remember a few years back when my son was given some clothes from a friend. My friend, the bigger boys mom, had diligently washed and dried the hand-me-downs. I brought in the bag of clothes and put them in my sons room. My husband (who LOVES the smell of “clean”) came up the stairs and said “what smells so good?” My son said “It’s the clothes I got today. They smell SO good!” And I remembered that my dear friend had told me “I buy the smelliest laundry stuff I can find. I just love it!”

My son wore the clothes and I washed them once. The smell was still just as potent. He wore them another 3 times, with me washing and drying them using no fragrance in between each wear. It took a total of 4 washes and dries without fragrance for those clothes to lose their smell.

We wonder why there’s such a huge increase in asthma and respiratory issues but when you look at the amount of chemicals that we are exposed to on a daily basis it begins to make sense.

There’s nothing wrong with being clean. Cleanliness is next to Godliness after all. However, it’s unnecessary to poison ourselves and our loved ones in the process.

Less toxic ways to achieve cleanliness

Heat

What is the #1 dirtiest most germ infested place in our house? I’ll give you a clue. It’s not the bathroom. It’s the kitchen sponge!

Is it any wonder? How many of you have husbands like mine that leave it in the sink with food particles all over it?

You could soak in bleach, but just 2 minutes in the microwave kills off all of those little beasties that live in all of those moist nooks and crannies that make sponges so absorbent and the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Do this frequently and with your dish rags as well.

Hydrogen peroxide- is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-mold and anti-mildew.

It’s my absolute favorite cleaner. I simply buy a two pack from Costco, screw on a spray top and I’ve got myself a non-toxic, multi-purpose cleaner that is almost as cheap as elbow grease!

I use it to clean my kitchen sink, cutting boards, fruits and veggies, and counter tops. It is especially exciting to watch when it’s sprayed on raw meat drippings. It fizzes and bubbles and makes you feel like it’s killing every bacteria in site. It’s very satisfying!

There are different types of hydrogen peroxide. I use food grade hydrogen peroxide, in general, for everything. It’s 3%. You’ll find hydrogen peroxide in the pharmacy area by the band aids and isopropryl alcohol. If you buy it at Costco it’s also in the pharmacy area.

Vinegar- by itself vinegar is not a disinfectant. But when combined with hydrogen peroxide it is shown to be more effective than bleach!

Make sure not to combine vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in one bottle as it can create a noxious gas.

Alone, vinegar is a great rinse aid in the dishwasher and gets rid of smells in laundry. Apple cider vinegar is the best hard wood floor cleaner money can buy.

In comparison: When tested, the well-known cleaner Simple Green, which claims to be “non-toxic,” gave off 93 different air contaminants.

Borax- is best known for its use in the laundry room. Because it is a water softener it works well as a stain remover. I use it most in the bathtub though. It’s a lot like baking soda as it has a bit of abrasion that makes it work Comet on tubs and tile. I like it better than baking soda because I have to work really hard to get the film off of the tub that baking soda leaves. Borax is inexpensive and a little goes a long way. You’ll find it in the cleaning isle.

In comparison: When tested  Comet Disinfectant Powder Cleanser emitted 146 distinct chemicals into the air.

Baking Soda- Baking soda can be combined with vinegar and/or lemon to clean just about anything. I like this combination to clean stains off of my cutting boards but it’s great for tubs and sinks as well. I especially like it for absorbing odors. If the dog throws up (after cleaning it up) I will pour a large mound of baking soda on the aftermath to absorb any odors, let it dry and suck it all up with the vacuum. It’s also great in boys stinky shoes.

Soap is soap is soap- I bought some “green” dishwasher detergent that doesn’t actually clean my dishes. However, it works great in combination with hydrogen peroxide and vinegar to clean my bath tubs as it doesn’t lather much and rinses away quickly. Environmentally friendly (usually soy and ethanol (corn) based dish soap like you’ll find at Costco, Target or Trader Joe’s) are great and inexpensive.

Hand soap- There are many good, non anti-bacterial choices available. Just read the label and make sure it does not say “anti-bacterial.” We use Methods fragrance free refillable hand soap at our house. Dr. Bronners, and other castille soaps work well but leave kind of a film behind that I don’t care for. Watch out, even Method carries an “anti-bacterial” soap.

I encourage you to let go of any guilt that you may be feeling right now if you’ve been using these cleaners. Guilt is toxic and paralyzes us. Let it go and move forward. Buy some hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar, put the cleaners that you’ve been using forever in a hard to reach spot and see if you can’t wean yourself from them. Take it one step at a time and remember that it doesn’t have to be antibacterial to get it clean.

Resources:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/myths/question692.htm

EWG’s Guide to Triclosan (print out)- http://www.ewg.org/files/EWG_triclosanguide.pdf

Great explanation of a surfactant http://www.scienceinthebox.com/en_UK/glossary/surfactants_en.html

Homemade laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent

http://www.diynatural.com/simple-easy-fast-effective-jabs-homemade-laundry-detergent/

http://www.diynatural.com/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/08/16/homemade-dish-soap-recipes-put-to-test/

http://www.ewg.org/schoolcleaningsupplies/classroomcleaningfindings

http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/using-hydrogen-peroxide-for-cleaning.html

But alas my plans for living the good life have been foiled!

After going on the Elimination Diet and getting profoundly sick the day I tested dairy, staying sick for two weeks after, and then getting laryngitis when I went back to eating even small amounts of dairy full time, I have determined that dairy may be a problem for me. However, because I’m a bit stubborn and admitting that one of my very favorite foods is something that I should cut out of my life, I again eliminated dairy and re-tested.

After making myself so bloated and sick that I couldn’t even look at a bite of dairy without becoming nauseous, I admitted defeat. Dairy and I had a long “It’s not you, it’s me” talk and we are officially through. That is for three months….

One thing I know for sure is that we can all heal from gut imbalances. Allergies are not a lifetime sentence. They are a warning that something is amiss. Getting to the root of the problem is the hardest part.

In addition to taking probiotics and drinking nourishing bone broth soups, I’m taking homeopathic drops over the next 3 months that are supposed to help my body tolerate milk again. These drops actually contain minute amounts of dairy (the ingredients list all of the things I’d like to eat: brie cheese, ricotta, parmesan, cream) that will help my body quit creating antibodies to milk.

Biker Bars and Your Gut

You see, when your body decides that something is toxic (could be bacteria, mold, or something we eat) it has a system in place to get rid of that toxicity. The immune system produces something called antigens to guard the cell wall. Think of antigens as basically a bouncer at a club. An antibody sidles up to the bar and starts slipping ruphies in your drink. The Antigen says “Not so fast sucka!” and snatches that derelict antibody up and escorts it to the door.

You can imagine that if the club were filled up with all sorts of antigens and antibodies that no one would be dancing. Pretty soon the club would be so filled with antigens and antibodies that the customers would all disappear and the once brightly lit, thumping hum would turn into one of those dank biker bars that only ex-cons and loose women associate themselves with.

This is your gut, on dairy, eggs, gluten- whatever it is that your body sees as toxic (and for many of you this may be nothing).

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Giving up cheese is not difficult. I’d love to have a little parmesan cheese on my salads here and there but it’s not a deal breaker. Butter is something I dearly love, but after having substituted coconut oil for butter for the last 2 months, I actually prefer coconut oil. It’s weird but butter has almost lost it’s flavor for me. It just doesn’t taste like it used to.

Ice cream isn’t hard to give up because it makes me sick so fast that I no longer even want it. Plus, the vegan frozen chocolate banana ice cream has that same creamy texture that satisfies any cravings for ice cream.

Yogurt and cottage cheese are foods I miss. These are fast foods for me. I can eat a quarter cup of cottage cheese and be filled up for a good two hours. Yogurt is the same. Plus, they go great in smoothies.

What I miss the most is cream. I don’t mean whipping cream, I mean cream in my coffee. I have tried everything and nothing tastes like cream in coffee. Soy is the closest I can get and it’s really not good for you. Especially the kind with added sugar and Vitamin A Palmitate (the synthetic version of vitamin A). Plus, I’m not fond of the taste. I’ve tried almond milk, rice milk, coconut milk, I’ve even tried non-dairy creamers in desperation.  The coconut, almond and cashew creamers all contain some starch to thicken them (oh, did I forget to mention I’m off grains too?). None of them are even in the same realm as cream.

More Dairy Free Recipes Posted!

The good news for all of you is that I’ll be posting more dairy free recipes. You’ll know when I’m struggling if you see a cheesecake recipe pop up. If, and when this happens, I will be expecting you all to send me your favorite dairy free recipes to bolster my spirits.

I would love to hear from any of you that have gone through a similar protocol where you eliminate something and can eat that food later.

I’ll let you all know how it progresses. Oh, and FYI, I just figured out that I’ll be done with the 3 months the day before my birthday. I have a feeling that cheesecake will be on the menu (just not for breakfast, lunch and dinner)!

Let’s start at the beginning. In this video I show you what exactly whey is and then talk about the difference between whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate. Once you determine whether you’re an isolate or a concentrate type of person you’ll be able to move on to my upcoming video where I review various protein powders on the market.