• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • See What Others Have To Say
    • Media
  • Free Resources
    • Facebook Group
    • The Savvy Girl’s Guide To Looking Younger With Clean Beauty In 10 Easy Steps™
    • Clean Beauty Recommendations
    • Your Guide To Eco Household, Wellness, Clothing, Water Filters & More
    • The Savvy Girl’s Guide to Eco-Friendly Living: Detoxify Your Home in 10 Easy Steps
    • The Savvy Mom’s Top Toxins To Avoid To Welcome Baby Into A Healthy Home
  • Work With Me
    • Speaking Engagements & Workshops
    • Contact
    • Eco Gifts
  • Podcast
    • Clean Beauty Scene Podcast
  • Corporate Wellness
    • Speaking
  • Clean Beauty

Kelly Bonanno

Your soulful coach for wellness, clean beauty & eco lifestyle Savvy | Sexy | Beautiful | Healthy | You

Truth About Toxins

October 17, 2022 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Xenoestrogens: What Are They, How Do They Increase Your Risk Of Breast Cancer & How Do We Avoid Them?

We all know that October is breast cancer awareness month. Awareness is important but I would like to change the conversation to prevention. Lifestyle plays an enormous role in our health and longevity. In fact, your lifestyle habits dictate up to 75% of how you age, how you feel and how healthy you are. When it comes to cancer, lifestyle is 90%; only 10% of cancers have a genetic component.

Yes, you read that correctly, only 10% of all cancers are genetic. Does that shock you? It sure surprised the hell out of me. It also surprised the author of Breasts: The Owner’s Manual, Dr. Kristi Funk. Even breast cancer is not usually caused by a genetic predisposition. A mere 15% of breast cancer patients actually have a family history yet it is the second most common cancer in women. Second only to skin cancer. 5-10% come from an inherited mutation such as BRCA and only 13% of those diagnosed have a first degree relative with the disease.

Are you realizing just how important lifestyle is when it comes to living well and preventing disease? A healthy lifestyle certainly doesn’t guarantee no illness but it absolutely gives you an advantage. One of the most important lifestyle changes you can make is reducing your toxic load. A key step is transitioning to clean beauty, personal care, and household products.

Approximately 20 – 30% of breast cancers recur. The most common places it metastasizes are the bone, lungs, liver and brain. Holley Kitchen worked hard educating people about metastatic breast cancer. May she rest in peace. You can watch her moving video here. 

Two out of three cases of breast cancer are estrogen receptor positive meaning the cancer cells attach to estrogen receptors. This is a huge reason that I am such an enormous advocate for non-toxic living and probably sound like a broken record advising people to use stop using products that contain endocrine disruptors.

Your Endocrine System is a network of glands secreting hormones that help the majority of the processes in your body function properly including

Growth & Metabolism

Sexual Function

Reproductive Processes

Mood Regulation

Tissue Function

Cell Growth

Endocrine glands release more than 20 major hormones into the bloodstream so they can be transported to cells in the body. Major endocrine glands include: Hypothalamus. Pituitary, Thyroid, Parathyroids, Adrenals, Pineal body, Reproductive, Pancreas.

Endocrine disruptors in everyday products that you use are dangerous because they can mess with any of these glands in your body. Endocrine disruptors known as Xenoestrogens mimic estrogen causing estrogen dominance in the body increasing the total amount estrogen. They are linked to breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, infertility, prostate and testicular cancer, endometriosis, early onset puberty, miscarriages. 

I’ve been passionate about helping people avoid harmful toxins like Xenoestrogens for years. A few months ago I got a call from my best friend with news that 10 Xed that passion. She was diagnosed with estrogen dominant breast cancer. She has since undergone a radical double mastectomy and will start chemotherapy in just a few weeks followed by radiation treatment.

Her breast cancer was detected during her mammogram. Please, ladies, do not skip your yearly mammogram. And if you have dense breasts, I hope your doctor is recommending a breast ultrasound as well. If they don’t, ask for one. We must be our own health advocates.

Grab your own free personal cheat sheet so you’ll know which toxins to avoid

 

*Please share this info with the women and men in your life. It’s rare, but men can get breast cancer too*

Along with awareness comes Pinkwashing every October and it pisses me off. It is the height of hypocrisy when companies sell products swirling with ingredients that have been shown to CAUSE BREAST CANCER!

“Pinkwashing – verb 1. the sale of items containing known carcinogens, while marketing these products in support of breast cancer awareness 2. also, capitalizing on the promotion of breast cancer prevention when only concerned about bottom line profit margin.”

Companies Pinkwashing us by claiming to be in support of breast cancer research while using ingredients that are mammary carcinogens, or carcinogenic contaminants that behave as endocrine disrupting compounds in our bodies, causing hormonal imbalance is disgracful. As the Gerson Institute calls it, ‘carcinogens for the cure.’ Yep.

It’s said that Evelyn Lauder’s dream was to end breast cancer. Why doesn’t the company jump off the breast cancer awareness bandwagon and honor her memory by reformulating their products WITHOUT harmful cancer causing ingredients?! L’Oreal, Proctor & Gamble and many others do it too. How do they sleep at night?!

According to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, which is doing amazing work in the name of prevention, “thousands of chemicals linked to breast cancer in scientific studies.”

Avon’s part in all of this is perplexing. They raise millions with their walk, have created a “Center of Excellence” in breast care and claim the mission of the Avon Comprehensive Breast Care Program at San Francisco General Hospital is to ‘provide comprehensive breast care, education and research in a compassionate and culturally sensitive environment.’ Yet, many of Avon’s products contain toxins. Ludacris.  

Women’s Voices For The Earth offers good tips on how to avoid being pinkwashed. Breatcancerfreebies.com, created by breast cancer survivor Bethany Kandell,  is a site that truly helps patients.

Even small lifestyle changes can improve our health and increase longevity. Protect your health and those beautiful bodacious tatas of yours. These tips help prevent other cancers and illnesses as well as breast cancer.

  • Get screened. Early detection is the key. Be sure to conduct monthly self exams and seek proper screening based on your age group and family history. You may need an ultrasound or sonogram in addition to a mammogram. The most effective type of mammography is the Genius 3D which has been found to detect 41% more invasive cancers and is proven to detect cancer 15 months earlier. Tell your doctor you’d like that one, it’s available in every state.
  • You are what you eat. The food you feed your body become the cells & fluid inside you. A whole food, plant based diet feed your your cells are able to fight off cancer
  • Eat the right type of soy. Funk says non GMO soy acts as an anti-estrogen in your body, soy consumers have 60% less breast cancer and those who have 30% less rec and 29% less death
  • Avoid parabens, BPA, dioxans, phathaltes & flame retardants. You know how I feel about these nasty endocrine disrupting substances if you’ve been reading my blog or watching my livestreams for a while. Use household products, cosmetics and sunscreen that are formulated WITHOUT them because they are linked to many cancer, not just breast. Parabens and other endocrine disruptors mimic the body’s natural hormones increasing the risk of breast and other cancers. They are found in 99% of breast cancer tissue samples.
  • Eat less red meat. A study published in the BMJ that followed 89, over a 20 year period revealed that women who had an average of 1.5 servings of red meat each day had a 22% higher chance of breast cancer over women who limited their red meat intake to once a week. With each addition daily serving of red meat, the risk appeared to increase by 13%. If you choose to have meat, eat organic grass fed to avoid the GMOs and Zeranol, the most potent synthetic estrogen. They give it to conventionally raised cows to fatten up them up. Poor Cows.
  • Move your bod. Hit the gym, lace up those running shoes, pop in a work out DVD, power walk with a friend– choose some type of physical activity because just 30 minutes of exercise each day reduces your chance of getting breast cancer. Plus exercise boosts t-cells that help your immune system work at full capacity
  • Stay at a healthy weight. Exercise also helps keep your body fat percentage in check. Too much fat on our bodies creates hormones, particularly estrogen, which has been found to stimulate cancer. Balancing nutrition and blood sugar levels are two of the vital keys to losing and maintaining. I help clients do that will ease. I’m happy to give you a free consultation, you can book it here 
  • Garlic, turmeric and cruciferous vegetables including brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and bok choy are good breast cancer fighters because they bind estrogen in your GI tract
  • A study showed that drinking 3 cups of green tea a day can reduce risk of breast cancer by 50%

Fortunately, survival rates are at an all-time high for those with breast cancer. In the last 20 years, there has been a 30% reduction in mortality and over 90% of breast cancer patients survive after 5 years with early diagnosis.

  • Steer clear of Bisphenol A. I have written about the dangers of BPA in several posts. It’s found in everything from plastic containers to the lining of canned foods to cash register reciepts. BPA is problematic because it imitates estrogen so it disrupts our endocrine system and messes with hormones. It’s been associated with many cancers including breast cancer
  • Choose lean protein. Replace those red meat meals with nuts, beans, organic chicken and low mercury fish such as wild caught salmon. Sufficient protein and fiber are 2 other vital keys to losing and maintaining weight, you can read why and how here
  • Know your family history. While only 15% of breast cancer patients  have a family history, if you do, your risk is higher so you need to know and take precautions and get genetic testing if your physician recommends it
  • Stay away from pesticides. They can also affect the way your hormones react so buy organic when possible, use green cleaning products and stay away from hand sanitizers & soaps containing the endocrine disruptor triclosan. This cousin to agent orange is classified as a pesticide
  • Ask your doctor about taking the active form of vitamin D3 with K, 1000 iu’s a day may slash your risk of breast cancer up to 50%. Taking D with vitamin K is important for helping prevent calcification
  • HER-2 is a rare but aggressive form of the disease. Another study found that eating lots of raw salad veggies dropped the risk of developing it by close to 35%
  • Curb your alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day. Studies show that over imbibing on a regular basis increases the risk factor. I love my wine, I’m not suggesting anyone stop enjoying it but, as with most things, moderation.
  • Breastfeed. It’s been shown to lower risk and it boosts infants health and immune system
  • This is a bonus tip but perhaps one of the most important: DITCH THE TOXIC DEODORANT & ANTIPERSPIRANT! Seriously, that shit is toxic. Parabens and Aluminum have been found in breast cancer tissue. Aluminum is also associated with Alzheimer’s. A new brain develops Alzheimer’s every 66 seconds and two thirds of those people are women. It’s in your brain for about 20 years before you even shows signs. Want a safe, healthy alternative that actually works? Try Schmidt’s, Pure Haven (my favorite) or Ursa Major.

A votre sante!

xo ~ Kelly

Grab your free healthy eating on the go cheat sheet

May 29, 2021 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Clean Beauty Scene Podcast

Welcome to Clean Beauty Scene, the podcast for clean beauty, eco friendly living, and wellness!

Join me each week as I cover topics to help you green your beauty routine without giving up glamour. We’ll talk about all the latest clean beauty trends, tips, methods, and products to keep you looking gorgeous and at your ideal weight while treating the planet with little more kindness.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST & PAST EPISODES

I’m your host, Kelly Bonanno former network television manager turned Eco Friendly Lifestyle and Wellness Coach and mom of 2 teenage boys on a mission to make your cosmetic drawer and the planet a healthier, greener place. 

The green movement is growing. More and more women are realizing that toxins can harm their health but with all the misleading information out there it can be overwhelming and confusing, right? I get it, I’ve been there.

Is clean beauty avoiding toxins and using environmentally conscious products? Absolutely but it’s more than what you’re putting on your body. It’s a lifestyle; beauty from the inside out.

I am a firm believer that when you look better you feel better. On Clean Beauty Scene we delve into every aspect of wellness and holistic beauty.

If you want to live a healthier, more eco friendly lifestyle and avoid being greenwashed without overwhelm this podcast is for you. Listen in for practical tips and methods to reduce your toxic load without going eco freako as my son calls it. Clean beauty and wellness for the real world.

I bring you exclusive interviews with industry leaders, inspiring trendsetters and wellness experts sharing skincare secrets, wellness methods, realistic weight loss, intermittent fasting and nutrition advice as well as quality clean beauty recommendations for all skin types at every price point.

I take a very holistic approach. We’ll illuminate a variety of beauty and wellness topics helping you green your beauty routine, manage stress and anxiety, improve nutrition, lose weight, optimize your well-being and live your healthiest life while being environmentally conscious.

You’ll discover what works for those of us in our 40s, 50s and beyond. 

You have more control over your health and longevity than you can imagine. Let’s go clean, green, and healthy together. Be part of the global green beauty movement.

Subscribe and tune in every Tuesday. You can find Clean Beauty Scene on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or any of your favorite podcast apps. You’ll glean helpful takeaways from each episode.  

Be sure to join my free Facebook group, Savvy Girls Organic World for more news, tips, and recommendations.

Have questions or ideas for episode topics? Comment or tag me on Instagram with  #cleanbeautyscenepodcast and… Talk clean to me baby 


>>> Click here for all episodes <<<

Available on…  Apple Podcasts   Spotify  Stitcher   Google Podcasts  RSS Feed         

  Anchor FM   Pandora   Podcast Addict    CastBox    Listen Notes    Deezer

& all of your favorite podcast apps!

Click here to apply to be on a guest on Clean Beauty Scene  

January 18, 2021 By Kelly

Clean Your Beauty Routine & Boost Your Metabolism

Are you overwhelmed and confused by all the conflicting and misleading information out there about what to eat and what products are truly clean and green? I get it. I’ve been there and I can help.

Minimizing your body’s toxic burden is crucial for overall health, it’s also important when it comes to managing your weight.

Would it shock you to hear that your makeup and personal care products could be one of the reasons you’re struggling to lose weight? It’s true. Certain toxins commonly found in conventional products can alter your metabolism and the way your body stores fat.

These type of toxins in your beauty & personal care products can lead to:

Bloating

Weight gain

Inflammation

Brain fog

Cancer

Autoimmune disease

& other adverse effects

I created this free time saving clean beauty quickstart toolkit to help you ditch toxins that mess with your health and metabolism and cause dreaded weight fluctuations.

This tool kit will give you the proven steps to reduce toxic load and clean your beauty routine so you can avoid toxins that impair your metabolism and your immune system.

>>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE TOOLKIT <<<

June 15, 2020 By Kelly Leave a Comment

5 Powerful Ways To Strengthen Your Immune System During This Pandemic

How are you holding up? It’s been a crazy few weeks. Very difficult for some. Confusing, frightening and downright strange for most of us. The fear, uncertainty and conflicting information being circulated have caused anxiety in just about everyone. My heart goes out to you if you or a loved one are suffering from coronavirus, sending you healing thoughts and love.

In light of these incredibly unprecedented times while we are staying home, trying to stay healthy, flatten the curve, keep coronavirus from attacking us and from spreading, it is more critical than ever that you strengthen your immune system as much as possible. 

It’s surreal. Normal life is on hold which feels strange an uneasy. I think everyone is experiencing a myriad of feelings and emotions over this, I know I am. It’s completely normal and we need to give ourselves space and grace.

Social distancing and isolation is uncomfortable and inconvenient but important for public health. It’s devastating how many are fighting for their lives, how many have lost their lives and the number of people who may face financial ruin.

A weak immune system decreases the body’s ability to fight off foreign bacteria, viruses, and other illnesses. Panic and fear suppress the immune system too. Here are 5 powerful things you can do that bolster your immune system.

That being said, for those who are suffering from coronavirus, treating the immune system depends on the potential cytokine storm. This is the case with other illnesses as well. Dr. Marc Milstein offers helpful insights in his video: Why Some Get Very Sick with COVID-19 and Insights Into New Treatments. You’ll find more information on cytokine storms in this study: Consider cytokine storm syndromes and immunosuppression.

Gut health  We know that proper nutrition boosts your immune system in a huge way. Food really is medicine but the wrong foods break down your immune system and threaten your health. The foods we eat have a huge impact on how well our immune system functions.

Our diet is a major component of hormone function, energy levels, of course, weight and digestive health, but also on our mental state, brain health and more.

I coach certain clients through a nutrition program that helps them achieve optimal health but some of the basic tenents to follow: eat whole non-GMO, low glycemic foods, avoid processed foods, get at least 5 servings of produce each day, pile your plate with foods, known to boost your immune system including:

⦿ Citrus fruits          ⦿ Broccoli          ⦿ Wild caught salmon          ⦿ Garlic          ⦿ Ginger

⦿ Almonds               ⦿ Berries            ⦿ Sweet potatoes                  ⦿ Tumeric      ⦿ Green tea

⦿ Pomegranates      ⦿ Papaya             ⦿ Sunflower seeds                ⦿ Miso           ⦿ Green veggies

“All disease begins in the gut” – Hippocrates

Chew on this: The digestion process starts in our saliva. Amylase, an enzyme in saliva helps to begin breaking down starch into simple sugars. Aim to chew each bite 20 times. This will get the digestive juices flowing and make you a more mindful eater.

My latest favorite green tea, by the way, is Pique Tea. They offer a wide variety of delicious teas with powerful plant polyphenols to build up your body’s defense during this critical time including green tea. They’ll deliver right to your door, no need to brave the germ laden grocery store. I’m sipping Earl Grey as I write this!

Sleep This is absolutely essential for your immune system. Along with making us look like crap, sleep deprivation is linked to more health problems than just about anything, including a weakened immune system.

Sleep scientist Matt Walker calls sleep ‘the most powerful elixir of life’ that is critical in order for our immune system to protect us. After only one night of 4 hours of sleep, we experience a 70% reduction in immune cells known as Natural Killer Cells, a type of white blood cell that is a key player in combating viruses and infections, and crucial for disease protection and detection, including cancer. 

Hydration What are the two things you every doctor says to do when you’re sick? Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. Listen to your grandmother and drink that water. You’ve got to flush those germs out.

70% of Americans are subclinically dehydrated. This is something I have clients track. Oftentimes they’ll tell me they drink a lot of water but then when they keep track they’re surprised at just how little water there actually taking in each day. Ahh the power of tracking and journaling. 

Drinking enough water flushes out your G.I. tract and aids the function of your immune-fighting lymphatic cells. It also helps remove toxins from the body.

Water oxygenates your blood. When you are even mildly dehydrated, your body pulls water from the skin’s tissue to maintain concentration in your blood. When we’re fighting infection, our body’s fluid needs increase.

Start your day with a detoxifying drink of warm lemon water. A cup of warm water with the juice of 1 organic lemon helps flush the kidneys, aids digestion, boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation, balances pH levels and the acidity stimulates your liver to produce acids that help detox the body… how about all those benefits without much work?! Oh and you’ll also get a nice dose of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin B and C and other antioxidants.

Extra credit if you add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, It also creates an alkaline environment that helps kill viruses and bacteria. That’s what I drink every morning before my coffee. Drink about half your weight in water each day. A bit more if you are ill.

I’ve been teaching clients, students in my workshops and in my online programs to drink warm lemon water every morning for years now. According to Mr. Healthy, Professor Chen Horin, CEO, Beijing Military Hospital, warm lemon water aids against proliferation of coronavirus. He says the acid and carboxylic acid in lemon help protect narrowing arteries and regulate hypertension which is a risk factor for coronavirus, stroke and other problems. He advises putting three slices of lemon in a cup of warm water which turns it into alkaline water.

If you are one of those people who just do not like the taste of water and it’s a true hardship forcing it down, try Hint Water.

Detoxification Environmental toxins impair your immune system. Detoxing your home, beauty and personal care routine is not just about being an eco freako earth loving hippie chick. No, this is vital for your health. I’m not messing around when I talk about this. Toxins have a very negative impact that suppresses your immune system. Using clean beauty and non toxic household products is vital for your overall health.

Get your home detoxified. Make it easy on yourself by registering for my easy to follow Home Detox Masterclass. You’ll learn how to create a healthier, less toxic environment inside your home which will benefit your immune system big time. In light of what’s going on right now I am keeping my Home Detox Masterclass at the introductory price for the time being. I can also help you reduce your body’s toxic burden with an Eco Wellness Power Hour. Book yours here.

Manage Stress  Our adrenal glands pump out excess cortisol when we’re under stress which weakens the immunity in the lining of the gut. To say this COVID-19 pandemic is causing stress and anxiety is an understatement. We must manage that stress and anxiety for our well-being.

Proven stress relievers:

Exercise It’s vital for your immune system and since we all are homebound with a lot of our responsibilities taken off our plate the number one excuse for not exercising: ‘not enough time’ is not going to fly anymore unless you are someone who is now working from home while also homeschooling young children. In that case, you need stress relief more than ever. Walk, jog, do yoga, lift free weights in your home, log onto one of the many online workouts that are now popping up.

Yoga Since your gym and yoga studios are closed, online workouts are our solution! Keeping up with your workouts will keep you sane and boost your immune system. Yoga is a stress reducer and a great workout. Try Yoga Download or even Yoga With Adrienne on YouTube.

Sleep, rest and relaxation

Getting out in nature Can’t go anywhere else now anyway. Take a walk and a few times a day, step out on your balcony, yard or front door and take a few deep cleansing breaths.

Meditation, Mindfulness & Gratitude There are wonderful meditation resources like Barbara Savin that can help you create a meditation practice. I had the extreme pleasure of speaking with her at Conejo Collective Day Of Wellness last year. She ended her talk with a short guided grounding meditation that was transformative, everyone was talking about how wonderful it was.

If you’re new to meditation, you don’t need to get fancy, just take a few minutes or even one minute several times a day to breathe while focusing on something you are grateful for. Gratitude is a potent stress reliever.

What you focus on expands. What you resist persists. Focus on thoughts of health and wellness. What do you think will happen generally does happen.

“Stress is a response to stimulation that makes you feel threatened and not always provoked by real circumstances, Rather a perception that you are being attacked.” ~Dr. Mark Hyman

There are many others things you can also do for your immune system that I help clients with but these are a few of my top recommendations that you can implement right now. They aren’t difficult, they are free or very low cost and they will make a difference.  A strong immune system is your best defense during this crisis. 

I don’t use that word lightly. I am not an alarmist and I truly believe that staying calm and levelheaded will get us through this but it is a crisis. It’s a serious situation, however, worrying about what we can’t control will only deteriorate our mental and physical well-being and exacerbate anxiety and stress.

As with every aspect of health and life in general, I always say control what you can, give yourself grace and release worry about what you cannot control. Can you 100% control your immune system? No, but you absolutely can implement these methods to give yourself a leg up.

With all that immune boosting goodness being said, please don’t beat yourself up if you’ve been eating too much comfort food, having a few to too many glasses of wine, not getting off the couch often enough, scrolling social media endlessly… These first few weeks were weird and scary. I think we all have to just give ourselves a little bit of grace, right? Your world has been turned upside down and your schedule is likely completely thrown off. Give yourself a break but that now we’re a few weeks in, good idea to get into a healthy routine – your new hopefully very temporary normal.

A word about personal Hygiene. I wrote about handwashing years ago in the first article that I wrote on tips for preventing cold and flu and easing symptoms. One of my tips was handwashing and as I stated in that article, I attribute diligent handwashing to rarely getting sick (thank you, Lord!). It’s amazing how handwashing is now at the forefront of everyone’s minds. It should always be a priority.

Certain germs threaten your immune system and others can lead to serious illness as we are now witnessing across the globe. I was a major hand wash it before all of this and even I am over the number of times I am at the sink sudsing up! However, we must wash the germs off your hands, especially before you eat, wash or touch your face and prepare food and always after you are out in common areas.

When it comes to supplements, check with your physician

There are impressive supplements that also boost the immune system like probiotics, vitamin D3 with K, astragalus, vitamin C, zinc, oregano oil, Echinacea, and more but you must check with your healthcare practitioner. Particularly with the coronavirus, scientists are finding that certain substances in medications exacerbate symptoms. And please keep in mind some supplements are not healthy on a long-term basis like echinacea and others so you must do your research and find a good physician. I like Western doctors that are integrative and homeopathic as well.

Spread Love Not germs 

Know what else reduces stress? Love and gratitude. Spread loving kindness and treat with others and yourself with care. 

Be gentle on yourself and as I told my kids, let’s just take it one day at a time and look for the silver linings. I shared some of mine here that will help ease your anxiety.

We are all in this together, we need to stick together, be there for one another and comply to save lives. It’s OK to be scared and to dislike the situation. This isn’t the norm for humans, it’s lonely. We are meant to be together and experience human touch. I still can’t believe it’s happening.

I’ll say it again because it’s an important concept to understand – – – – what we focus on expands. Focus on love, healing & positivity? Send those vibes out into the world to change the trajectory. It will make a difference in what’s going on in the world, within yourself. and your beloved immune system.

To recap, keep your immune system strong and be particularly vigilant in this time of pandemic with: Good nutrition, proper hydration, eliminating toxins, sleeping, and reducing stress.

Health isn’t just what you’re eating. It’s what you’re thinking, what you’re doing and what you’re saying.

Want help implementing some of these habits and learn more self-care tips that will help alleviate your anxiety during these uncertain times?

Register for my FREE Savvy Girl’s Virtual Self-Care Retreat starting on World Health Day, April 7th. As soon as you sign up, you’ll also get my complimentary Home Detox checklist delivered right to your inbox.

Stay safe, stay well and let’s all do our part to stop the spread of COVID – 19.

May 26, 2020 By Kelly 2 Comments

How To Choose Safe Sunscreen: What To Avoid & What To Use

My happy place… a beach day with my loves

I have a confession. I love the smell of Coppertone. Despite the fact that I know that is one hell of a toxic fragrance, I love it because it brings back happy memories of exhilarating beach days and fun afternoons at our community pool. Regardless, I still don’t use it because there is no way I’m slathering those toxins on me or my kids.

I have gone so non toxic with all my products that now I am extremely sensitive to the toxic scent of synthetic fragrance. I can detect the scent a mile away and I usually cannot stand the smell but Coppertone is the exception.

One question I’m often asked is, “what sunscreen should I use,” because by now, most of know that the chemicals in most sunscreens pose serious health risks. Even mainstream western doctors admit that the chemicals found in most brands are dangerous.

One important thing to remember is that you need to wear sunscreen every single day of the year, even when it’s cloudy. The sun hits you through the window while you’re driving and even comes through the windows of your home.

I’ve written about this several times over the years. I like to do a refresh on the topic as summer approaches when we’ll be slathering our bodies and our kid’s bodies with sunscreen.

The safest sunblock is non-nanoparticle zinc oxide but if you’re curious about the common sunscreen ingredients that you should avoid, here is a rundown:

8 Ingredients You Do Not Want In Your Sunscreen

1. Oxybenzone
This hormone disruptor penetrates the skin, enters the bloodstream and behaves as estrogen in the body. It’s been shown to cause cell damage that promotes cancer, allergic reactions and even endometriosis.

The Glorious Pacific Ocean

2. 4-MBC
4-MBC is a chemical that chemical enters the bloodstream and behaves as estrogen in the body as well. It’s also been linked to cancer. Both 4-MBC and oxybenzone are such dangerous hormone disruptors that scientists are urging parents to refrain from using any product containing either on children but it’s found in most sunscreens, even those made especially for babies. 

3. Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate)
This widely used sunscreen ingredient disrupts thyroid hormone, affects brain signaling and lab tests show that is kills mouse cells when exposed to sunlight, even at low doses.  Octinoxate and octisalate are neurotoxins that have even been shown to cause Petit Mal seizures. 

4. Avobenzone
Also known as Parsol 1789 and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane. It generates free radicals in the body and has also been cited as an endocrine disruptor. It is unstable and sunlight causes it to break down into unknown chemicals, especially when used with octinoxate.

5. Retinyl palmitate
This is a form of vitamin A. It is an antioxidant that slows the aging process in skin which is fine for use in night creams. However, a study done by the FDA discovered a connection to cancer because it may accelerate growth in tumors and skin lesions when exposed to sunlight which makes it a dangerous ingredient for sunscreen.

The FDA does not conduct any safety testing on sunscreen. It is completely unregulated so manufacturers can use any ingredients they want. 

6. Parabens
You’ll also find parabens listed as methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. They are found in many cosmetics as well as sunscreen. Like oxybenzone, parbens mimic the body’s natural hormones increasing the risk of various cancers.

Would you like help on how to avoid other toxins or to discuss health or weight concerns? Book your complimentary call today! 

7. Padimate O (Octyl Dimethyl PABA / PABA Ester)
This damages DNA, releases free radicals, mimics estrogen and causes allergies in some people.

8. Benzophenone 
This is one of the most commonly found ingredients in sunscreens. It is known to cause cancer in lab animals.

9. Homosalate
Causes organ system toxicity and dispruts sex hormones in animal studies.

The sunblocking ingredient you want in your sunscreen is zinc oxide made without nanotechnology. Zinc is a physical sunblock which means it reflects light back into the environment. Your skin basically does not see the sun.

Nanoparticles have been shown to cross the cell barrier driving into organs, even attaching to brain cells. They’ve also caused developmental issues in animals. Mineral sunscreens are often made with nanotechnology.

In addition to harming your health, these toxins also harm marine life. The coral reefs are being damaged and killed off. This is a major issue. Many clean sunscreens brands will say ‘reef safe’ on the bottle. If it’s safe for the beautiful coral reefs, it will be for us.

So what can we use?! Sunscreen that doesn’t have these harmful ingredients. If depends on your skin type, personal preference and how green you want to go. Do you want to completely pure and plant-based or are you OK with a few safe synthetics? Several trusted clean beauty brands make nontoxic sunscreen. I offer clients help in deciding based on skin type, needs, budget and preferences.

As with all personal care and beauty products, there’s no one size fits all but here are some good general recommendations:

  • Coola (great under makeup)
  • MyChelle Dermaceuticals (love this under makeup one too)
  • Pure Haven (their whole line is great)
  • 100% Pure
  • Acure (great budget friendly line)
  • Mad Hippie
  • Ever (this one has nice shades if you want tinted sunscreen)
  • 100% Pure (love their whole line)
  • Josh Rosbrook 
  • These are good for beach days and kids, a bit heavy under makeup: Block Island Organics, Badger and Babo Botanicals

**Want to make shopping for cosmetics, beauty & personal care products for you & your family easier? Grab my list of Top 12 Toxic Ingredients to avoid** 

We need sunlight. A deficiency in vitamin D3 causes a whole host of severe illnesses including. Recent studies are revealing that avoiding the sun blocks our body’s ability to produce vitamin D3.

It’s even more beneficial to get that natural vitamin D barefoot with your feet in the sand, grass, or dirt so you’re getting those wonderful grounding negative ions.

Lake Tahoe With My Cutie

Do you know someone who is looking for safe sunscreen? Send this their way and share it on Facebook, tweet it, Pin, it. Everyone needs safe sunscreen! These ingredients are especially toxic to children and babies because their delicate systems are not fully developed so they have a harder time filtering out toxins.

 “… some sunscreens are known to interfere with hormone action… could plausibly increase the risk of various cancers” -Thomas Zoeller, Endocrine Society

April 22, 2020 By Kelly

10 Ways To Go Green & Reduce Your Carbon Footprint For Earth Day

Happy Earth Day

50 years ago today, 20 million Americans held demonstrations across the country rallying for a healthy, sustainable environment. We still face many of the same environmental issues as we did on that first Earth Day when founder, Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Senator at the time, was inspired to make a difference after the devastation of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, a beautiful coastal town here in Southern California.

  “What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable home planet to put it on?”

~Henry David Thoreau

The hippie chick inside this eco advocate considers every day Earth Day ?The theme this year is Climate Action. Celebrate by connecting with your inner flower child and take action by implementing one (or all!) of these eco-friendly habits:

  • Conserve Energy Shut lights off when you leave a room, use energy efficient light bulbs in all your fixures, and reduce phantom energy drains by unplugging electronics when they’re not in use. This will save you money too. 
  • Compost Like An Eco Boss  This seems like a rather big project but it’s actually not. You just need to get it set up. It turns food scraps into a rich additive for soil that helps plants thrive but if it’s not done right it can be a smelly mess. Learn how with Master gardener, Stacey Murphy. You’ll also find helpful tips at The Spruce. If gardening is a form of your self-care, you’ll like composting. After a few weeks you’ll have crumbly compost for your lawn and garden. Many cities even provide you with a free composting bin which certainly makes it far easier. Check with your municipality to find out if they offer that service.
  • Eat Less Meat Livestock production emits more greenhouse gas and uses a huge amount of land and water. In his enlightening book, Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet–One Bite at a Time, Dr. Mark Hyman, Chairman, Institute for functional medicine, says that our food system is the number one cause of climate change. Loss of soil, factory farming of animals, processing and food waste are some of the contributing factors.

Click here to watch my Earth Day live stream on Facebook

  • Shop local And Shop Consciously  Buy less, recycle more, upcycle and seek businesses that are environmentally focused.
  • Detox Your Home Occupy your time during lockdown by creating a healthier, less toxic home. You are currently spending more time inside your home than ever. The environment inside your home is up to TEN TIMES more polluted than it is outside. I cannot impress upon you enough how important it is to create a less toxic home. Environmental toxins impair your immune system and wreak havoc on your health. I know it’s daunting and overwhelming, that’s exactly why I created my easy workshop-style course:  The Home Detox Masterclass will remove the overwhelm, save you an abundance of time and you will avoid the hassle of being greenwashed. This makes it easy for you to learn the steps you need to clean up your indoor environment, reduce your toxic load, and minimize your carbon footprint. (In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m keeping it at the very low introductory rate for a limited time – grab it for $37. Tell a friend.) Imagine how relieved you’ll be when you know exactly what to do and what to use. What better way to celebrate Earth Day?!  Click here to learn more & register.

If you are concerned about climate change, make some eco friendly changes in your own home. What’s going on in your home affects the earth. 

It starts with you.

  • Clean Hair Care Is Best For Humans and Mother Nature Make the switch to clean, non toxic hair care. Americans poor hundreds of millions of gallons of shampoo down the drain each year. The waste water treatment plants in this country are designed to remove bacteria but not toxic chemicals so that contamination can end up back into our water supply. Using clean beauty and personal care products is very beneficial to your health as well as the planet.
  • Drive Less, Bike And Walk Way More Wonderful for the environment, your wallet and your waistline.
  • Burning Clean Candles Paraffin candles emit toxic chemicals such as benzene, toulene, and keytones into the air and many wicks contain heavy metals. Soy and palm oil candles are hydrogenated and often contain paraffin. Soy can be a safe option if it’s non GMO. Beeswax and coconut wax are clean, safe options.

The EPA ranks indoor air pollution one of the top five environmental health risks

  • Green Your Beauty Routine This is good for the planet and it will reduce your toxic load which is super healthy for you. Click here for tips to make it easy.
  • Plant A Beautiful Tree This is a great thing to do with your family while you’re in lockdown. Even one tree has a positive impact on the earth. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen into the atmosphere, help regulate the water cycle and provide food and habitat for wildlife and humans.

In light of this pandemic, it’s more important than ever that you create a healthy, less toxic home and personal care routine. Environmental toxins found in homes account for an estimated 75%-80% of cancer cases and deaths in the US.

 

June 13, 2019 By Kelly Leave a Comment

The Savvy Mom’s Top Toxins To Avoid To Welcome Baby Into A Healthy Home

✱ Babies are typically born with over 200 toxins in their system before they are even out in the world ✱

You want the very best for your baby. You’re doing all you can to ensure he is healthy, safe and happy. But you know that environmental toxins pose a serious health threat, especially to a baby’s delicate system.

You realize how important it is to reduce the toxins in your home environment for your precious baby’s health.

That is exactly when the light bulb went on for me. I was pregnant with my now 13-year-old son when I learned how toxins seriously threaten our health.

I knew I had to do something to give my kids a healthier home environment. That was long before the green movement was big. Clean products were not nearly as easy to find so I did my research and made it my mission to help moms like you go green and healthy. 

Discover The top toxins to avoid to welcome your precious baby into a healthy home.

We sadly live in a very toxic world which is why I’m passionate about helping families reduce toxic load.

While you’re caring for your baby, you need to take care of yourself too. Self care is the latest buzz word but it truly is vital. You can’t be your best for your baby and loved ones if you don’t take good care of you.

There are many ways to show yourself and your family love, eco friendly and wellness living is one of them… to me the most important one. Why? Because while you are healing yourself you are also healing the environment. You live in and among every single person living in that environment. Your desire to detox your body and your home creates a ripple effect. You are taking on a task that not many consider taking or will take in their lifetime.

This is a list of some of the most toxic ingredients that are commonly found in personal care and household products.

Eliminate these and you will have a good jumpstart on cleaning up the environment in your home.

Grab this free guide: The Savvy Mom’s Top Toxins To Avoid To Welcome Baby Into A Healthy Home & discover the top toxins to avoid to welcome your sweet baby into a healthy home so you create a safe environment for your little one and your whole family.

February 17, 2019 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Home Detox Masterclass Special

Do you fear that the toxins swirling around inside your home are causing potential long-term health problems for you and your family? Your concerns are valid. The truth is, our indoor environments are up to 10 times more polluted than the outdoors! The indoor air in the average American home contains over 400 chemicals.

Environmental toxins found in homes account for an estimated 75%-80% of cancer cases and deaths in the US.

Fortunately, there are simple things that you can do inside your home and certain products you can use that will significantly clean up your indoor environment which will benefit your family’s health.

.

I’ve created this progressive workshop-style course with you and your concerns in mind. Home Detox Masterclass is perfect for you if you want a quick, actionable solution to creating a healthy, less toxic indoor environment inside your beautiful home.

In light of this pandemic, it’s more important than ever that you create a healthy, less toxic home and personal care routine. Toxins lower your immunity and wreak havoc on your health.


Create a healthy, eco friendly home and finally have control and freedom from the overwhelm of minimizing your body’s toxic burden.

The lessons are extremely focused, most videos are only 5-10 minutes long so there is no time wasted. You can get through the entire class in less than 2 hours. Go at your own pace while on your computer or your phone. The lessons are designed to show you exactly what you need to do. You can implement everything or just what resonates with you. Go at your own pace, take baby steps and go back to it when you want to make more changes or review a lesson.

The EPA ranks indoor air pollution one of the top five environmental health risks.

Learn how to implement easy, actionable household methods that will improve the quality of your indoor environment, improve overall health and reduce risk of illness.

We get to the point quickly so you can go green and create a healthy, eco friendly home asap.

Are you frustrated by all of the confusing, conflicting information out there? Do you find yourself wondering which products are truly clean, safe and effective for your home? You are not alone! It can be very confusing and overwhelming.

Imagine feeling confident and secure in the products you’re using in your home and the methods and habits you’ve implemented. Imagine how relieved you’ll be when you know exactly what to do and what to use. You won’t have to worry about it anymore. The fear and concern will be a non-issue. 

This masterclass will remove the overwhelm, save you an abundance of time and you will avoid the hassle of being greenwashed.

 


This is a value-packed online workshop. A deep-dive into going green with a step by step program to help you make simple changes to improve the environment inside your home which will reduce your toxic load as well as your carbon footprint. 

Home Detox Masterclass is perfect for you if:

✅ You want to keep your family safe from harmful toxins

✅ You want to prevent the long term adverse health effects caused by toxins

✅ You want to reduce your risk of cancer, autoimmune disease, and various other illnesses

✅ You want to understand what the words labels mean and read them with confidence

✅ You want to know how safe the products you currently use are and wonder if they cause cancer or other illnesses

✅ You want to learn eco friendly household tips and methods

✅ You are sick of being greenwashed

✅ You want to detoxify your home but find it overwhelming because there is so much conflicting information out there

✅ You find it difficult to discover which products are really healthy as well as effective

✅ You have faced health issues and want to reduce your body’s toxic burden

✅Your child or someone in your family has health issues and you want to minimize their toxic load

✅ You want to learn which products & brands are truly safe and effective

✅ You want to discover the truth about the toxic issue and why it’s important to detoxify your indoor environment

✅ You want to be kinder to our beautiful planet 

✅ You want to reduce your family’s carbon footprint 


You will have peace of mind that the household products you and your kids are using are truly safe and effective. Your home is the most toxic place where you spend most of your time but the good news is that you have control over what do you use in your home and what you do in your home. 

With my guidance, going green will be easier than you think. There are clean alternatives for everything. It’s not just for tree hugging, Birkenstock wearing, macrobiotic vegans!

You will learn how to: 

  • Go green
  • Detox your home
  • Reduce your body’s toxic burden
  • Reduce your risk of illness
  • Reduce your carbon footprint
  • Adopt healthy home habits 
  • Eliminate chemical-filled commercial products from your home and daily routine
  • Eliminate and avoid toxins commonly found in households and everyday products
  • Learn about harmful chemicals commonly used in household products & which health risk they pose
  • Implement the best strategies to help ensure your home is as healthy and non-toxic as possible
  • Easily implement eco-friendly household habits and methods
  • Transition to clean, effective products for the home
  • Eliminate toxins and create a healthy indoor environment
  • Prevent long term health issues caused by environmental toxins
  • Choose healthy, safe, effective household products
  • Protect our ecosystem and help create a cleaner environment 
  • Avoid being greenwashed ever again

What you learn will not only help you create a healthier home, it will contribute to a healthier ecosystem that benefits future generations, marine life, land animals, the waterways, flora and our soil.


Your kids want a clean, green world. Did you know that 76% of parents feel that their child is the one advocating for environmentally healthy changes in their home?

Be your kid’s hero – set them up for a healthy future – they will learn from you and won’t have to be subjected to dealing with figuring it out.

Coco! Your pets need a healthy home too.

Do you have a pet? You’ll be happy to learn that this will also enhance their health. I’m a lifelong dog lover. I feel good knowing that my cutie Coco isn’t absorbing and inhaling the number of toxins he would in a less healthy home. 

If you are a new or pregnant mom, this is especially meaningful. Babies are typically born with over 200 toxins in their system before they are even out in the world.

Eliminate greenwashing, misinformation and overwhelm for good.


BONUSES

  • To help you implement what you learn, worksheets, handouts and pocket guides are included

  • You have lifetime access, the course materials are yours to keep 

  • You will receive a comprehensive list of my top favorite household lines that are safe and effective. This includes candles, water filters, and more. 

It’s the perfect gift – Get one for yourself and one for your BFF, daughter, sister, mom, wife, and brother. 

People who have guidance and support reach their health goals faster and have more success sticking with them and making real changes that last a lifetime. I would be honored to help you create a healthier home.

Green Your Home Like A Boss

Home Detox Masterclass: $47  $19

 

 

January 23, 2018 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Go Non Toxic In 2018! Get Started With These 5 Tips

I hope 2018 is off to a wonderful start for you! I began my year on a family cruise to the Mexican Riviera which was fabulous. I was offline for most of the week, no wifi at sea. It felt so good to take a break, have fun with loved ones, unwind & unplug! The average person checks they’re phone 50 – 300 times a day. It was nice to not have the temptation. I highly recommend taking a tech break whenever possible, even if it’s just for a day.

I love the holidays so I do get a tad blue as they come to an end but there is something very exciting about starting fresh with a brand new year and diving into a world of new possibilities.

Most of us want to make changes when a new year begins; those changes typically involve getting healthier. This could be losing weight, exercising regularly, quit smoking, eating more fruits and veggies, adding a meditation practice… You know I take a very holistic approach to wellness so I advocate all those goals and I am here to help you reach them.

My suggestion? Go non toxic. Most people don’t realize how important it is to reduce our body’s toxic burden. Toxicity levels in our system can wreak havoc on our health.

A healthy, eco friendly lifestyle is not a luxury. Detoxing your lifestyle is simply not an option if you want to be healthy.

The truth is, we live in an extremely toxic world. Being healthy requires detoxing our personal care and beauty routines and our home environments. The good news, it’s really not difficult and I am here to help you do it.

The other fantastic thing about adopting this particular healthy habit is that you don’t have to give up any of your favorite foods or start some intense workout routine to reap the benefits. It’s easier than trying to lose weight or change your diet or get in shape. Seriously!

Whether you are just beginning your green non toxic journey or you are already living a pretty clean life but want to go further, all steps to detoxing will improve your health. Period.

The healthiest individuals make detoxing a natural part of their daily routine.

Even small changes will make a difference. Here are a few things you can start doing this year to detox and improve your health:

  • Start your day with a detoxifying drink. A cup of warm water with the juice of 1 organic lemon will set you up with a healthy start to your day by helping to flush the kidneys, aid digestion, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, balance pH levels and the acidity stimulates liver to produce acids that help detox the body… how about all those benefits without much work?! Oh and you’ll also get a nice dose of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin B and C and other antioxidants, which all help combat wrinkles savvy girls! 
  • Ecofy your cleaning routine Use products that do not contain harmful toxins to clean your home, car and office. Just like using non toxic personal care products, this is far healthier for the environment and your family
  • Steer clear of Bisphenol A. I have written about the dangers of BPA in several posts over the years. It’s found in everything from plastic containers to the lining of canned foods to cash register receipts. BPA is problematic because it imitates estrogen so it disrupts our endocrine system and messes with hormones. It’s been associated with many cancers including breast cancer. The truth is, most plastic has estrogenic chemicals so it’s healthy to avoid plastic as much as possible.
  • Toss toxic air fresheners  Exposure even just once a week can increase your odds of developing asthma by as much as 71% and can contribute to an increase in pulmonary diseases. Plus there is no evidence that they disinfect the air in any way but research is showing that chemicals in these products harm us. Try Master Blaster, it eliminates odors and blasts stain (even tough laundry stains!) or  John Desilvia‘s natural version instead: 2 T baking soda, 5 drops of essential oil, 2 C water in a spray bottle.
  • For the love of all that’s good in the world, DITCH TOXIC DEODORANT & ANTIPERSPIRANT! They contain parabens (which mimic the body’s natural hormones increasing the risk of breast and other cancers) and aluminum. Both have been found in breast cancer tissue. Our underarms absorb even more than other areas of our skin. Want a safe, healthy alternative that actually works ALL day and night? You’ll find it here in my list of clean personal care products that I approve.

You know sipping your daily h20 intake from plastic water bottles is no good because of the BPA and phthalates not to mention how horrible they are for the environment. Another disposable item habit to break is coffee pods, 30 million go to the landfills each day. Start using reusable K-cups for Keurig. You’ll save money and help out the beautiful environment!

There you have it, a new year’s detox that doesn’t require fasting or juicing for a cleanse. How about that? Pretty easy way to detox, right?!

Want even more great tips on how to reduce the toxins in your home with ease and live a healthier, more eco friendly lifestyle in 2018? Grab my free healthy home checklist, The Savvy Girl’s Guide To Eco Friendly Living: Detoxify Your Home In 10 Easy Steps 

And if you want to green your beauty routine grab The Savvy Girl’s Guide To Looking Younger Without Toxic Chemicals In 10 Easy Steps. 

I am ready to start this new year with a bang, how about you?! I am developing some very exciting things that I can’t wait to share with you.

Happy 2018!

October 31, 2017 By Kelly Leave a Comment

You’re Aware, Aren’t You? Let’s Focus On Prevention ✳︎15 Things You Can Do To Prevent Breast Cancer✳︎ Plus a FREE Checklist Included!

Awareness is important but the conversation needs to be about preventing breast cancer. Only 10% of all cancers are genetic, even breast cancer is not usually caused by a genetic predisposition. A mere 15% of breast cancer patients actually have a family history yet it is the second most common cancer in women. Second only to skin cancer.

The good news is that we can reduce our risk with healthy lifestyle habits. Even small changes can improve our health and increase longevity. Many of these tips can help prevent other cancers and illness as well as breast cancer.

  • Get screened. Early detection is the key. Be sure to conduct monthly self exams and seek proper screening based on your age group and family history. You may need an ultrasound or sonogram in addition to a mammogram. The most effective type of mammography is the Genius 3D which has been found to detect 41% more invasive cancers and is proven to detect cancer 15 months earlier. Tell your doctor you’d like that one, it’s available in every state.
  • Avoid parabens. You know how I feel about parabens if you’ve been reading my blog for a while. Use cosmetics and sunscreen that are formulated without them because parabens mimic the body’s natural hormones increasing the risk of breast and other cancers. They are found in 99% of breast cancer tissue samples.
  • Eat less red meat. A study published in the BMJ that followed 89, over a 20 year period revealed that women who had an average of 1.5 servings of red meat each day had a 22% higher chance of breast cancer over women who limited their red meat intake to once a week. With each addition daily serving of red meat, the risk appeared to increase by 13%
  • Move your bod. Hit the gym, lace up those running shoes, pop in a work out DVD, power walk with a friend– choose some type of physical activity because just 30 minutes of exercise each day reduces your chance of getting breast cancer. Plus exercise boosts t-cells that help your immune system work at full capacity
  • Stay at a healthy weight. Exercise also helps keep your body fat percentage in check. Too much fat on our bodies creates hormones, particularly estrogen, which has been found to stimulate cancer
  • Garlic, turmeric and cruciferous vegetables including brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and bok choy are good breast cancer fighters because they bind estrogen in your GI tract
  • A study showed that drinking 3 cups of green tea a day can reduce risk of breast cancer by 50%

Fortunately survival rates are at an all-time high for those with breast cancer. In the last 20 years, there has been a 30% reduction in mortality and over 90% of breast cancer patients survive after 5 years with early diagnosis.

  • Steer clear of Bisphenol A. I have written about the dangers of BPA in several posts. It’s found in everything from plastic containers to the lining of canned foods to cash register receipts. BPA is problematic because it imitates estrogen so it disrupts our endocrine system and messes with hormones. It’s been associated with many cancers including breast cancer
  • Choose lean protein. Replace those red meat meals with nuts, beans, organic chicken and low mercury fish such as wild caught salmon
  • Know your family history. While only 15% of breast cancer patients  have a family history, if you do, your risk is higher so you need to know and take precautions and get genetic testing if your physician recommends it
  • Stay away from pesticides. They can also affect the way your hormones react so buy organic when possible, use green cleaning products and stay away from hand sanitizers & soaps containing the endocrine disruptor triclosan. This cousin to agent orange is classified as a pesticide
  • Ask your doctor about taking the active form of vitamin D3 with K, 1000 iu’s a day may slash your risk of breast cancer up to 50%. Taking D with vitamin K is important for helping prevent calcification
  • HER-2 is a rare but aggressive form of the disease. Another study found that eating lots of raw salad veggies dropped the risk of developing it by close to 35%
  • Curb your alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day. Studies show that over imbibing on a regular basis increases the risk factor. I love my wine, I’m not suggesting anyone stop enjoying it but, as with most things, moderation.
  • Breastfeed. It’s been shown to lower risk and it boosts infants health and immune system
  • This is a bonus tip but perhaps one of the most important: DITCH THE TOXIC DEODORANT & ANTIPERSPIRANT! Seriously, that shit is toxic. Parabens and Aluminum have been found in breast cancer tissue. Aluminum is also associated with Alzheimer’s. A new brain develops Alzheimer’s every 66 seconds and two thirds of those people are women. It’s in your brain for about 20 years before you even shows signs. Want a safe, healthy alternative that actually works? Try Schmidt’s, Pure Haven Essentials or Meow Meow Tweet.

I am passionate about raising awareness about what we can do to prevent breast cancer and other illnesses. But let’s switch gears and discuss a deceitful practice that needs to end: Pinkwashing.

I am grateful to companies that raise real funds for breast cancer research and prevention. However, I find it horrendously hypocritical when companies sell products with ingredients that have been shown to CAUSE BREAST CANCER! Don’t you?!

Everywhere you turn in October companies are Pinkwashing us by claiming to be in support of breast cancer research while using ingredients that are mammary carcinogens, or carcinogenic contaminants that behave as endocrine disrupting compounds in our bodies, causing hormonal imbalance. As the Gerson Institute calls it, ‘carcinogens for the cure.’ Yep.

“Pinkwashing – verb 1. the sale of items containing known carcinogens, while marketing these products in support of breast cancer awareness 2. also, capitalizing on the promotion of breast cancer prevention when only concerned about bottom line profit margin.”

It’s said that Evelyn Lauder’s dream was to end breast cancer. Why doesn’t the company jump off the breast cancer awareness bandwagon and honor her memory by reformulating their products WITHOUT harmful cancer causing ingredients?! L’Oreal, Proctor & Gamble and many others do it too. How do they sleep at night?!

According to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, which is doing amazing work in the name of prevention, “thousands of chemicals linked to breast cancer in scientific studies.”

Avon’s part in all of this is perplexing. They raise millions with their walk, have created a “Center of Excellence” in breast care and claim the mission of the Avon Comprehensive Breast Care Program at San Francisco General Hospital is to ‘provide comprehensive breast care, education and research in a compassionate and culturally sensitive environment.’Yet, many of Avon’s products contain toxins. Ludacris.  

Women’s Voices For The Earth offers good tips on how to avoid being pinkwashed. Breatcancerfreebies.com, created by breast cancer survivor Bethany Kandell,  is a site that truly helps patients.

           *Please share this info with the women and men in your life. It’s rare, but men can get breast cancer too*
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Join me each week on Clean Beauty Scene Podcast for the latest tips, trends, and advice to help you go clean, green and lean without giving up glamour or going to extremes. I bring you exclusive interviews with industry leaders, inspiring trendsetters and experts sharing powerful wellness, skincare and lifestyle advice and strategies to help you feel your best, up your wellness game, optimize weight loss and look great. Talk clean to me baby.

ABOUT ME

Kelly BonannoHi! I’m Kelly. Wellness warrior & Life Coach with over a decade as a wellness educator. I help people navigate divorce with confidence so they can become the best versions of themselves inside and out. I also help business owners reduce sick days and burnout while increasing productivity, focus, and morale with my innovative wellness programs and workshops.

LET’S BE FRIENDS

SUBSCRIBE TO MY MAILING LIST & GET MY TOP TIPS TO GO GREEN & DETOXIFY YOUR HOME DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX INSTANTLY!

Ready to go green and discover some eco savvy habits?

Get on my mailing list & grab your FREE guide now!

 

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Categories

side button

Footer

Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Let’s Connect!

Certified California Green Business

CONTACT KELLY

Copyright © 2023 · Cookd Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in