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(All things hormones, birth control, toxic-free living, and self advocacy)

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Toxins Impacting the Brain

Toxins Impacting the Brain
Happy Friday! :) I can't believe September is almost over. It feels like the year has just FLOWN by!! I wanted to do a short post on some of the toxins in our everyday products that can impact our brains. Your brain literally controls everything in your body from autonomous breathing to remembering the directions to your friend's house. It's super important to keep the brain healthy. We've heard of certain foods to boost brain function, such as salmon and leafy greens. But if you're using everyday products with toxic ingredients in them, you still risk impaired brain function. Here are a couple common toxic ingredients that can contribute to neurotoxicity (aka damage to the brain).
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Toxic Free Tuesday: Toxins in Plastics

Toxic Free Tuesday: Toxins in Plastics
Plastic is everywhere!! It's likely you already know you need to reduce it and you've heard of companies pledging to go plastic free in the near future. But what about the plastics is so dangerous? Turns out, a lot of things! And it's not just you to worry about. Plastic is really bad for the environment as well.
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Fun Fact Friday: Toxins Impact the Environment Too!

Fun Fact Friday: Toxins Impact the Environment Too!
Toxins don't just affect humans. We continually hear all of the bad ways that toxins affect us, from increasing our risk of cancer to reproductive harm to skin issues. But, they also have some pretty significant effects on the environment as well.  Although research is still ongoing regarding how toxins affect the environment, there are some pretty extensive studies out there already talking about plants and animals and how they are negatively impacted by toxins in the everyday products we use. I'll break it down into a few of the more common toxins.
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Toxic Free Tuesday: Dishwashing Detergents and Powders

Toxic Free Tuesday: Dishwashing Detergents and Powders
f you're lucky enough to have a dishwasher, you're familiar with the genius appliance that gives you sparkly clean dishes and glasses. But, that shine can come at a cost since most detergents and powders are made with toxic ingredients. In 2016, approximately 18,000 instances of dishwasher detergent cases were reported to poison control centers in the United States. Most of these cases were involving toddlers ingesting the powders or pods. Don't eat any pods, friends!! 
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My Favorite Non-Toxic Self Tanner

My Favorite Non-Toxic Self Tanner

Alright guys.. Self tanner and I have NEVER had a good relationship. I started experimenting with self tanner when I was in high school. I loved how tan I was in the summer, and wanted the same color in the winter but I had heard of the dangers of using tanning beds. What better product to have than a quick and easy way to get a fake bake?? I thought it was genius!

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I Felt Out of Balance

 

It all started with small rashes under my armpits. They grew bigger. They were fiery red. They burned. I couldn’t itch them since they burned so bad. They flaked. They were embarrassing. I didn’t know what they were. Then they showed up on the crook of my elbow and on the top of my right hand. I thought it might be due to a gluten or dairy intolerance, so I changed my diet. It helped temporarily and my rashes didn’t hurt as bad and weren’t as red. But diet changes weren’t enough. I was devastated. My rashes remained for MONTHS!

Then the "fluff" showed up around my belly and hips. Maybe the start of winter contributed as well; either way I swear my pants used to fit me way better…

My hair started falling out. In chunks! I’d always had some hairs come out when I washed my hair, so I was used to it. But not to this extent. I knew something was going on.

My acne became out of control, almost to the extent when I was in high school. Red, painful, cysts that I just couldn’t resist picking. And here I had spent all these years at the dermatologist “healing” my acne for it all to come back with a vengeance.

I was in tears at least once a week. I felt hopeless. I felt so alone. No one could relate besides one girl I followed on Instagram. My boyfriend was supportive, but how could he understand though? He had no idea what I was going through.

I took a deep breath, wiped my tears and trucked on. Then the next week would start all over again with a meltdown because I was fat, my hair was falling out, my acne was returning, and my rashes burned SO. FREAKING. BAD. I was angry, frustrated, confused & hopeless. 

I had heard that stopping birth control could come with some pretty gnarly symptoms. And I thought I was ready for whatever would happen. But I didn’t realize how mentally and emotionally challenging these symptoms would be.

Like many people, I started taking birth control in high school. I took it mostly for my acne, but pregnancy prevention was nice too. My hormones were manipulated for over 7 years. The birth control was prescribed by my doctor, so why would I ever question how it was affecting my body?

Turns out, I had NO idea just how much it affected me. All of me. It wasn’t until I read this book that I understood how much my body was impacted by these synthetic hormones that I didn't even realize were synthetic at the time. How hormonal birth control can be prescribed to “treat” certain conditions, yet it’s really only a bandaid fix. I didn’t want that bandaid fix anymore and I wanted to heal myself naturally. So I took the leap and ditched my birth control.

Aside from some of the challenges of getting off birth control, I noticed a whole new world of positives that came from it. For the first time in my life, I actually had energy! I no longer needed to sleep half the day away. The mental fog was gone! My mood increased, as well as my libido, which I swear was gone for good. I finally felt like I was in control of my health for the first time. Truly healthy and truly better.

My goal is to be that shining beacon of light for you if you are struggling with the decision to finally get off hormonal birth control. You are not alone in worrying how your body will react. You are not alone in this transition and your experiences. It might be challenging. But we are strong. We are healers. We are self-advocates. And only we know what’s best for our bodies.

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