At Nutrish'N on a Mission, it is my personal mission to guide those who seek the rewards of living a more conscious life.  This type of lifestyle involves breathing mindfulness into our daily decisions.  This includes being cognizant of how we nourish our bodies, spirits and our contribution to the world. 

Do you have a burning desire to live a life you have always imagined, but feel stuck in your current situation?  Are you working at a job that brings you stress on a daily basis?  Are you making dietary and lifestyle choices that are negatively affecting your well-being, yet you continue to do so?  Better yet, do you have the energy or willpower to honor the desires of your heart?

The truth is we intuitively know what our body and mind needs, yet we somehow enter cycles of self-sabotage.  Living consciously replaces this sabotage with action... towards heart-filled goals and a life that you have always desired.  It is not always easy to take such control in our life.  It will require constant faith, action and effort to fulfill your desires but let me tell you, oh boy is it worth it! 

We cannot think or act from a heart-centered place if our bodies are toxic.  Period. This is why we have continuously heard the saying 'your body is your temple'.  Oh the wisdom in this statement!  If your house is full of mold and termites, it would be safe to assume that the foundation would not last.  There is no difference with our bodies, except that our bodies are miraculous structures.  Our hearts' beat without command. All of our cells are constantly seeking balance, or homeostasis.  Give your body half of a chance to heal and it will get to work.  I believe that nutrition is an extremely personal love affair, what's good for the goose is NOT always good for the gander.  We must call upon our greater wisdom to help guide us to a more conscious state in which we will no longer to desire to make these decisions that do not support our higher purpose. 

There is no better explanation for living consciously than being fully present in the moment.  When we are living in the present moment, we are mindful, or aware, of the reality of NOW.  Mindfulness is a state of mind which requires consistent practice to cultivate.  Meditation, clean eating, and each aspect of 'Conscious Living with Danae' strengthens the practice of mindfulness.  We experience being mindful in many forms; through our five senses, emotions, body language, intuition, and interactions with others. Instead of REacting in a situation, mindfulness allows us to discern the message and decide what is important and real...everything else is an illusion.  Mindfulness will also help reduce symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, OCD and addictive patterns.  

For the month of February I want to shed light on the harmful, addictive chemical-laden ingredients that are keeping your mind and body from living more consciously. First, let me share some unexplained symptoms that may be associated with an over burdened immune system caused by ingesting harsh chemicals.

-         Fatigue                                                  -  sluggish elimination

-         Irritated skin                                          -  allergies

-         Low-grade infections                             -  mental confusion

-         Menstrual difficulties                              -  bags under the eyes

-         Distended stomach                                -  constipation/diarrhea

As you can see there are many symptoms associated with an overburdened system, which is why it is so necessary to participate in regular detoxification.  According to a study by the Environmental Working Group, blood samples from newborns contained an average of 287 toxins, including mercury, fire retardants and pesticides.  It is my logic that if unborn life form is already subjected to this astronomical number of toxins, what would the toxin load of the average adult look like? 

The additives put into processed foods to make them look and taste better include unhealthy amounts of salt, fat and sugar - and those are the ones you can pronounce. These additives, however, have a price that may include side effects, food allergies, increased waistlines, decreased absorption of minerals and vitamins, cancer and more.  Here are some of the worst offenders of food sourced toxins in no particular order.  

Refined Sugar: People in the US consume 150 to 175 pounds of sugar per year. In other words, people are consuming half a cup of sugar a day and most aren't even aware of it. Due to its insidious nature and the fact that it can be found in virtually all processed foods, unless they say "sugar-free," we subsist on sugar. High consumption of sugar and the corresponding elevated insulin levels can cause weight gain, bloating, fatigue, arthritis, migraines, lowered immune function, obesity, cavities and cardiovascular disease. It can also disrupt absorption of nutrients, possibly leading to osteoporosis, depression, PMS symptoms and stress.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG):  MSG is an excitotoxin used to bring out the flavor in foods. Excitotoxins are toxins that bind to certain receptors (e.g., certain glutamate receptors). According to Dr. Russell Blaylock, an author and neurosurgeon, excitotoxins can cause sensitive neurons to die. Many people experience a host of other side effects like headaches, itchy skin, dizziness and respiratory, digestive, circulatory and coronary concerns.

Artificial Colors:  Artificial colors are synthetic chemicals that do not occur in nature. Most are derived from coal tar and can contain up to 10 parts per million of lead and arsenic and still be generally recognized as safe by the FDA. Artificial colors can cause allergic reactions and hyperactivity and ADD in children, and may contribute to visual and learning disorders or cause nerve damage.

BHA and BHT:  BHA and BHT block the process of oil rancidity. These additives seem to affect sleep and appetite, and have been associated with liver and kidney damage, hair loss, behavioral problems, cancer, fetal abnormalities and growth retardation.

Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite:  Sodium nitrate and nitrite are preservatives that are added to processed meat products. These compounds transform into cancer-causing agents called nitrosamines in the stomach. Noticeable side effects include headaches, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. © Integrative Nutrition

Caffeine:  Caffeine is an addictive stimulant found in soft drinks, gum, diet pills and pain relievers; it naturally occurs in coffee, cocoa and tea. Caffeine causes calcium to be excreted from the bones, which can lead to osteoporosis and increase infertility.

Olestra (Olean): Olestra is a calorie-free fat substitute used as an ingredient in snacks and chips. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. It can also cause diarrhea and anal leakage.

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO): Brominated vegetable oil is used to keep flavor oils in soft drinks in suspension. When consumed, it is stored in fat and over time can accumulate. This additive can lead to reproductive interference and birth defects. It has been banned in 100 countries.

Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil: Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is made by reacting vegetable oil with hydrogen. When this occurs, the level of polyunsaturated oils (good fat) is reduced and trans fats are created. They are associated with heart disease, breast and colon cancer, atherosclerosis and elevated cholesterol.

Pesticides:  Every year more than two billion pounds of pesticides are added to our food supply. That's about 10 pounds per person per year. Many of the pesticides used throughout the world are carcinogenic. Pesticide accumulation also undermines our ability to resist infectious organisms, may impair fertility and contributes to miscarriages and birth defects.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs):  GMOs are plants or animals that have had their DNA modified. In the US, the majority of the corn, soybean, cotton and canola crops are now genetically modified, and one or more of these can be found in nearly every processed food. GMOs have not been proven to be safe and some studies show GMO's may decrease immunity to diseases in plants as well as humans, may cause resistance to antibiotics and may have a negative impact on genetic function. Plants that are genetically modified to be resistant to disease, pesticides and insecticides could diminish the need to use these strong chemicals, or adversely, may build up a resistance and therefore require even larger amounts of chemicals than before. It is still too soon to tell: there is no long-term supporting evidence at this time.

Excerpted from a post in the January 2008 issue fooddemocracy.com by Kelly Scotti, and supplemented with information by the Center for Science in the Public Interest http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.html

Beyond the food we ingest there lies many culprits of toxic chemicals in our everyday lives.  Becoming mindful of what you put on your body and what you are subjected to on a daily basis in your home.  Adding green plants to your home helps increase the oxygen supply in your home.  Try finding cosmetics, body products, cooking & cleaning supplies that reduce their carbon footprint and chemical load.  A good rule of thumb is if you cannot pronounce it you probably should'nt be having it in our around your body!  There are GREAT natural alternatives to experiment with and essential oils provide a multitude of benefits.  Be open to new products and be the change you wish to see!