Updates from Sharon Edwards

Your body has 7 pathways that is uses to remove toxins.  The liver, colon, lungs, kidneys, skin, blood, and your lymphatic system.  They all work together to filter bacteria, toxins, harmful substances and foreign materials.  Your lymphatic system does the bulk of the work through lymph.   Lymph is 75% of your body's fluids and blood is the remaining 25%.  The primary function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph,  which is the fluid containing white blood cells that fight infection, throughout the body.  Your lymphatic system also drains excess fluid from tissues and cells into the bloodstream to prevent water retention, swelling and inflammation.  Here are some ways you can keep you and your lymphatic system healthy.

Moving your body increases the flow of lymph and increases the removal of toxins from the organs and muscle tissue.  Any kind of movement or exercise will help the flow of lymph.  But since the main lymph vessels run up the legs, arms, and torso, moving these areas will move the most lymph.

If you're not able to move, you can do deep diaphragmatic breathing to move your body's lymph.  To do it, breathe in
deeply through your nose and hold for four counts. Exhale through your mouth for two counts. As you get better at this, you can increase the time.  For example breathe in for a count of five, hold for 20 counts and exhale for a count of 10.  Repeat these deep breaths three times a session, and do 3 sessions a day.

Alternating between hot and cold water during a shower will relax and contract your lymph vessels, resulting in increased lymph flow.  The blood in your body will also flow in different directions in response to the hot and cold water.  And because blood vessels are connected to the lymphatic system, it encourages lymph flow.

Your body needs water to stay hydrated and keep the lymph fluid flowing well.  And the purer the water, the better.  Avoid water from plastic bottles and get a good water filtration system.  Even if you are on a well, the water may still contain heavy metals and other contaminants.   Sipping on warm water or herbal teas between meals will help loosen lymph and increase your hydration levels.

Eating poor quality foods is the biggest contributor to a stagnant, dehydrated lymphatic system.  Some of the worst foods for your health and your lymphatic system are processed foods, conventional dairy and animal proteins, fried foods and artificial sweeteners.  Drinking acidic beverages such as coffee, alcohol, soda, energy and sports drinks, is equally as bad.  The best way to improve your health and your pathways of elimination is to alkalize your body by eating lots of ripe, organic, uncooked fruits and vegetables.  Mixing these in a smoothie is a great way to get support your body's health.  Other foods that are good for the lymphatic system include ground flax seed, chia seeds, avocado, garlic, Brazil nuts, cranberries, almonds and walnuts.

By wearing excessively tight clothing, you are reducing circulation in the lymphatic system. Tight clothing can cause blockages in the lymphatic system, which can lead to an accumulation of toxins.  For women, bras, and especially underwire bras, are problematic.  Approximately 85% of the lymph fluid that drains from the breasts, go to the lymph nodes in and around, the armpits.  Wearing too tight a bra can cut off lymph flow and keep toxins in the breast tissue.

Did this help you?  If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you commented and/or share it on social media.

Email:  sharonledwards@hotmail.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sharonledwardsbiz/

Cellulite is caused by old fat cells that harden and show up as an uneven texture of fatty deposits beneath the skin.  It is more common in women than men.  Most women will have some amount of cellulite as they age and the skin loses its elasticity.  However, anyone can develop cellulite, even children and teenagers.   While it is not a serious condition, the extra fat can be a burden to the body.  And many toxins and petrochemicals accumulate in fatty tissue.  This can result in hormone imbalance and other health issues.  Fortunately, there are some natural cellulite strategies that can help you reduce and/or avoid the development of cellulite.

Exercise is  important because it can help you get rid of extra body fat and cellulite.  While walking is great, you'll want to do some type of resistance training to help tone the muscles and skin.  High-intensity interval training (HIIT) combines burst cardio and resistance training which will help your body to burn fat fast by exercising for only about 20 minutes a day.  There are free classes you can watch on YouTube and Facebook.

Cellulite is slow to dissolve, so you will need to work on a particular area for at least 30 days.   While you are breaking down the old fat, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of pure water,  This will help to flush the toxins and fat out of your body.   The essential oils that are thought to aid the body in dissolving fat include Grapefruit, Tangerine, and Ledum.  Lemongrass and Spearmint may help fat metabolism.  And Cypress supports circulation to help with eliminating the fatty deposits.

You can make a blend of these or choose one to work with at a time.  The general recommendation is to apply then to the targeted area 3 times a day.  Make sure the oils are food grade, because they will be absorbed into your blood stream.  It is also important to note that citrus essential oils make the skin sensitive to the sun for approximately 24 hours.

Eating a healthy diet that is high in fiber is a great way to help cleanse the body and feel full.  High fiber foods include  leafy greens, nuts, seeds and berries.  These foods also contain lots of antioxidants, which decrease free radical damage  that can cause the skin to age faster.  Flax seeds are great for skin health and supporting weight loss because they help  balance hormones and may also increase collagen production.  You can sprinkle ground flax seeds on your breakfast or add them to a smoothie.  Finally, high quality protein from things like grass fed beef, free range poultry, wild caught fish, and eggs from pasture raised chickens, can help increase metabolism and aid in cellulite reduction.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is needed for skin’s elasticity  When the skin is strong, cellulite appearance is diminished.  One great source of collagen is grass fed bone broth, which also contains glucosamine and amino acids that are the building blocks for your connective tissue.  Bone broth also contains important trace minerals and antioxidant compounds.   All of this means that collagen can strengthen skin tissue and help reverse the underlying cause of cellulite.

Without good sleep, you will have altered stress hormone levels and will have a tough time reducing cellulite.  Incorporating good sleep hygiene strategies will allow your body to reduce stress hormones and allow you to get a deep and restorative sleep.  Every hour of high quality sleep before midnight is equivalent to 3 hours of regenerative sleep after midnight.  So getting to sleep reasonably early will get you the most regenerative sleep.  Getting a good nights rest in a fully dark and cool room is one of best ways to reset your  hormones and flush toxins from your brain.

Did this help you?  If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you commented and/or share it on social media.

Email:  sharonledwards@hotmail.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sharonledwardsbiz/

In the past, research had been focused on tooth damage caused by tooth whiteners to the outermost part of the tooth, known as the enamel.  More recently, research is beginning to show that the hydrogen peroxide used in most tooth whiteners is damaging the tooth layer just underneath the enamel - the dentin.  The dentin is a protein-rich area that binds the roots of the tooth to the gum.  Hydrogen peroxide appears to break the tooth collagen found in the dentin into smaller fragments, effectively reducing collagen levels.  While collagen can be replaced over time, it is a slow process.  So if you want to keep your teeth healthy, avoid hydrogen peroxide based products.  Here are some ways you can keep your teeth white safely and naturally.

Activated charcoal is a fine-grained black powder made from a variety of natural substances, such as coconut shells, olive pits, slowly burned wood, and peat. It is very porous and highly adsorbent.  It is it's absorbent nature that allows it to bind to toxins, odors, and stains.  While the American Dental Association (ADA) has not approved the safety of using activated charcoal for tooth whitening, there are thousands of testimonials for many products that support it's effectiveness.  One of the side benefits of using a natural charcoal based toothpaste is they generally don't include any toxic ingredients.  You can check out the scoring of toothpaste here at the Environmental Working Group - EWG.

Baking Soda is alkaline and has a pH of 8.1.  This allows it to neutralize the acids in the mouth.  It is a mild abrasive and gently cleanses and polishes the teeth, and can help freshen the breath.  Simply mix equal parts baking soda and water to make a paste.  You can  apply the paste  to your teeth with your fingers or a soft-bristled toothbrush.  Gently brush for about two minutes using circular motions, making sure to coat all of your teeth with the paste.  Spit out the baking soda, and rinse your mouth with water, when you're done.

There are several types of clay that are commonly used in dental products. White kaolin clay is high in calcium, silica, zinc, and magnesium. It helps to whiten and polish teeth.  Bentonite clay is nontoxic and rich in vital minerals that are found in your teeth and gums, like calcium and potassium.  It is a cleansing clay that gently scrubs and polishes the teeth.  French green clay is very absorbent and helps cleanse the tissues from things like oils, toxins, and impurities found on the surface.  It contains decomposed plant matter as well as many trace minerals that support the teeth

Oil pulling is an ancient technique that originated in Asia.  It is done using about a tablespoon of organic coconut oil and swishing it around around in your mouth while you're busy doing other things.   About 15 to 20 minutes of swishing, spit it out into a trash can.  Studies suggest that oil pulling can kill bacteria in the mouth and improve dental health.  And because it is anti-inflammatory in nature, it can help reduce gum inflammation.

Because it is liquid, olive oil can travel between your teeth and gum line and easily remove any leftover food debris missed by your toothbrush.  It can also eliminate toxins in the mouth that can cause staining.  And because olive oil is a fat, it can remove lipid soluble stains on the enamel that are not removed by brushing alone.  You apply the olive oil to either your tooth brush and it will fight chemicals and stains on your teeth that toothpaste may have missed.  You will want to use organic cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil to whiten your teeth, because it is the freshest, least processed and the least likely to contain any harmful chemicals.

Did this help you?  If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you commented and/or share it on social media.

Email:  sharonledwards@hotmail.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sharonledwardsbiz/

Glyphosate is the most commonly used agricultural pesticide in the world.  And many people still use it on their lawns and gardens at home.  Although you would never purposely add it to your food or drinking water, you’re probably consuming some every day.   The use of the chemical has been so widespread, that there are measurable amounts of it in rainwater in some areas of the world.  And to make matters worse, it is often used in combination with other toxic chemicals like atrazine.  The use of glyphosate has increased since the introduction of genetically modified (GMO) glyphosate-resistant crops.  These crops can grow well even in the presence of glyphosate and other chemicals.  Here is what you need to know so that you help your body deal with glyphosate/Round-up.

Glyphosate contaminates hundreds of the most common conventional foods.  Even though each food may contain only trace amounts of glyphosate, over time, it can build up in your body and be harmful.  The environment working group (EWG) tested 28 conventional snack bars and oat products.  26 of the 28 products tested contained trace amounts of glyphosate.  Other products tested include cookies, cereals, crackers and ice cream.  The fact that it was found in most children's cereal is particularly troubling.

Glyphosate was originally patented as a metal chelator.  It was used to bind to minerals (like calcium), so that they could be cleared out of pipes.  When you consume glyphosate, it's thought to bind to minerals in your body.  Over time, you can develop mineral deficiencies and experience bone loss.  It also kills off beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in your body which can affect your gut microbiome.  Some research has showed that it speeds up antibiotic resistance in for bacteria like salmonella and E. coli.  In August of 2018, Monsanto, the original maker of  Roundup, was ordered to pay $289 million in damages to an agricultural worker who said the product led to his non-hodgkins lymphoma cancer.  The lawsuit payout was eventually lowered to $80 million, but the ruling stayed in place.  In June of 2020, the new owner of Roundup, Bayer, was ordered to pay $10 billion to settle cancer law suits.  You can read a lot more about it and it's affects on human health here.

Glyphosate, or Roundup, is prohibited in organic crops.  While it's true that contamination is possible due to wind drift and contiminated water,  organic foods have minimal risk compared to conventional food.   Buying directly from a farm or growing your own food are great ways to make sure your food is chemical free.   You may not think you have enough space to have your own garden,  but you may have enough room to grow greens, peppers, or tomatoes.  You could even grow herbs and spices indoors.

It is essential that you wash any non-organic produce very well with pure filtered water.   Just rinsing with water is not good enough because agricultural chemicals are created to withstand water.  So it's important to remove chemicals, soil and wax using a safe organic wash.  You can make your own veggie wash with water, vinegar, and lemon juice or use a commercially prepared organic option.

Remember to always stay hydrated and eat plenty of fiber rich foods.  This gives your body the best chance of detoxing and moving harmful chemicals and heavy metals out of your system.  Anthony William has recipes for many types of detox smoothies on his website, in videos, and in his books.  Or you can take supplements that are known to bind to toxins in your body.  Citrus pectin, for example, is known to bind heavy metals and is a common ingredient in detox formulas.  Humic acid and fulvic acid come from soil and are also great at binding toxins, in particular heavy metals and glyphosate.   They provide many other health benefits as well.

Did this help you?  If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you commented and/or share it on social media.

Email:  sharonledwards@hotmail.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sharonledwardsbiz/

Rashes come in many varieties and can have a wide range of causes.  Sometimes the reason may be obvious, like a rash caused by poison ivy.  Other times it can be difficult to determine the cause.  Rashes can be a reaction to a food, pollen, clothing, chemicals.  Or they can appear because your ill or have poor digestion.  The good news is there are many natural ways to treat a rash while you figure out the root cause.

Aloe Vera works particularly well on heat rashes, but is also useful for other skin conditions.  It helps soothe the inflammation that causes  redness.  It also helps to decrease itchiness and adds moisture to the skin.  More than 70 constituents have been identified in Aloe Vera, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids.  It can also be used as a natural treatment for dry hair or an itchy scalp.  Because it is known to have  antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, it can also help with dandruff.  And the enzymes in it can rid the scalp of dead cells and promote the regeneration of skin tissue around the hair follicles.

Drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy organic diet rich in fiber, can help flush any toxins that might be contributing to the rash.  Clean sources of protein will help strengthen your immune system.   Protein also provides the building blocks for cell regeneration.  Chia, hemp and flax seeds contain fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids which can help reduce inflammation.  If you are dealing with a rash, you want to avoid processed and fried foods that contain inflammatory omega-6 fats and chemicals.

Witch hazel has been used as a natural healing remedy for hundreds of years.   It has been used as a natural treatment for blisters, insect bites, poison ivy, toothaches and more.  The most popular use for witch hazel is for skin care.  This is because it has strong antioxidant and astringent properties that can hep treat acne, wrinkles and other skin conditions. Using witch hazel on rashes several times per day can help to calm the inflammation and itching.

Calendula is a flowering plant that is known as marigold or pot marigold.  The plant used medicinally is calendula officinalis, and is not the same as you see at garden centers.  It is easy to grow and has been used for centuries both topically and internally.  Calendula is a powerful antioxidant and also contains anti-inflammatory compounds.  It has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties as well.  Herbalists infuse oil with calendula flowers to use topically.  Commercial preparations extract concentrated oil from the flowers.  Baby lotions and diaper rash creams often contain calendula extract oil and is a great way to get other skin soothing ingredients and treat a rash.

There are some supplements and herbs that are known to help reduce inflammation.  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and has antihistamine properties, which can help to reduce the inflammation of a rash.  Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory plant flavonoid found in things like red wine, green tea, apples, berries and onions.  It has been shown to reduce inflammation and calm allergic reactions.  Ginger possesses antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which can work well in treating different types of skin allergies.  You letting a slice of ginger steep in hot water.  When the ginger-infused water is cool, dab it on your skin to treat a rash.  Or you can can take it internally in pill form.

Did this help you?  If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you commented and/or share it on social media.

Email:  sharonledwards@hotmail.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sharonledwardsbiz/