Book Excerpt
Section 4 Toxins in Your Home and in Your Body
Chapter 1 Cosmetics
Dousing the flame of inflammation:
THE BIG TAKEAWAYS ON COSMETICS
1. Beauty begins in the gut.
2. Our skin is our largest organ, and our cosmetics are loaded with chemicals that are harmful to our body.
3. Eliminating our toxic load is critical to healing our gut and quelling inflammation
4. There is little regulation on cosmetic ingredients, so it is time to get educated
5. Look up what you are using on the Skin Deep database on EWG. If it’s toxic, consider trying one of my recommendations, or search and find a cleaner brand to use.
6. Stop using anything with fragrance. Change to essential oils in a clean carrier oil and make sure you buy from a source that is not selling synthetic oils. Use high quality essential oils as cologne, air fresheners, and any place where you used fragrances before.
Before we begin, the most important thing you can do for your body, your skin, your teeth, your nails and your hair is to heal your gut. Go back to my chapter on autoimmune disease to learn how to do that. Healing your gut will clear your acne, eliminate eczema, psoriasis, and it will help you have healthy hair, healthy nails, a healthy attitude (which is part of beauty). There is no beauty product that can substitute for overall good health, and good health depends on a healthy biome. Remember, you are what you eat!
Go back to my chapter on Food to understand more about how to do this. But each chapter in this book has to do with creating health, and doing that allows your beauty to shine through.
There are an incredible amount of toxins lurking in your cosmetics and personal care products. Who knew? It doesn’t matter if they are from the drug store (almost all toxic synthetic ingredients) or very expensive brands (still often loaded with toxins). Cosmetics are not regulated, and since our skin is our largest organ, what we are putting on our skin can be very detrimental to our health.
Cosmetics have never particularly been regulated.
Until recently, The Cosmetic Act of 1938 was the only guideline for the FDA. This law came about because mascara sold before 1938 had rat poison in it and blinded the consumer. According to Wikipedia, “Under the Act, the FDA does not approve cosmetic products, but because the Act prohibits the marketing of adulterated or misbranded cosmetics in interstate commerce, it can remove cosmetics from the market that contain unsafe ingredients or that are mislabeled. The FDA can and does inspect cosmetics manufacturing facilities to ensure that cosmetics are not adulterated.” It counted heavily on the Cosmetic industry to monitor itself. Yikes.
That has been it for the last 80 years. Last year, a bill was finally passed to add some regulation to the cosmetic industry. The Personal Care Product Safety Act of 2015. “Strong provisions in the bill would advance the FDA’s ability to protect Americans’ health by improving current law in the following areas:
– Directing the FDA to assess the safety of a minimum of five cosmetics chemicals a year;
– Requiring companies to register their facilities, products and ingredients with the FDA;
– Requiring companies to comply with good manufacturing practices;
– Closing labeling loopholes by requiring full ingredient disclosure for professional salon products and web-based sales of cosmetics; and
– Giving the FDA mandatory recall authority to get unsafe products off the shelves.
Bottom line, it is a start, but it doesn’t do enough.
You have to take responsibility to do your own research for your own health, to keep the toxins out of your house and off of your skin. This government regulation is not going to protect you.
…..
SKIN CARE
This category took me time and a lot of trial and error before I settled on a line that I love. Keys-Soap. The company was born when the wife got skin cancer, and suddenly all products irritated her skin. Her husband was a biochemist in Silicon Valley, and he quit his job to develop a line that she could use. Their products are amazing, and they are all a “1” on the EWG scale. I use their skin cream, their eye cream, and then expanded to their shampoo, their facial wash, and their body-wash.
My scalp had been itchy for more than 25 years. Who’d of thunk that I was sensitive to the ingredients in my shampoo? Now that I research, I know that shampoos are loaded with chemicals. Key’s products are clean.
Key’s products are also way more affordable than the expensive toxic “beauty” creams that I used on my skin for years. If you buy from their website, you can also bundle products for a discount.
You can also buy them on Amazon.
They also have expanded to a line for Dogs which I understand are amazing. (Althought I love all animals, I own cats *smile*)
Most recently they have introduced products to take the place of anything in your medicine cabinet that has petroleum in it. They are fantastic. I will discuss further in my chapter on over the counter drugs and products.
The best thing about Key’s is you can also order samples on their website for a nominal fee and see if they work for you. More kudos for them!!!
Read More in It “Feels Good to Feel Good, learn to eliminate toxins, reverse inflammation and feel great again.”
About the Book
Title: It Feels Good to Feel Good
Author: Cheryl Meyer
Genre: Non-Fiction / Health
Got Pain?
This book is for anyone with chronic pain looking for answers. It will give you a place to start. You don’t have to resign yourself to a life of pain and pills.
In this book you will learn:
* What is causing your pain and how to eliminate it.
* How to find a practitioner that will help you gain back your health.
* What’s in your food? Organic, conventional, GMOs processed, fast, canned, dairy, factory farmed meat, soy, water. Identify your sensitivities and heal your leaky gut.
* Identify the toxins in your life. in your cosmetics, over the counter drugs,in you kitchen, in your body. Learn how to purge them.
* 34 stress busting ideas, and four simple exercises to reduce your stress.
* 32 suggestions from leading functional experts on how to get a good night’s sleep..
* How to recognize a toxic relationship and make it work or walk away.
* How to tame Anxious Negative Thoughts “ANTs”.
* The importance of movement, even for people who don’t like to move
* How to take control of your health, reduce your inflammation and feel great again!
Author Bio
About Cheryl Meyer aka Cheryl M Health Muse and her book, “It Feels Good to Feel Good, learn about toxins, reducing inflammation and feel great again.”
Five years ago, Cheryl got sick, really sick. It was a perfect storm: she was working 24/7; her long-term relationship imploded; economic changes slowed her business; she got Type II diabetes; she was taking care of everyone else; her stress was out of control.
Then one morning … viola, Cheryl woke up in incredible pain that didn’t go away. Her doctor didn’t recognize what it was and thought it was in her head.
Cheryl didn’t want more pills, so she embarked on her own journey to find wellness. When she started, she didn’t even know what she was looking for. She was stunned to find toxins in every aspect of her life that were poisoning her. She discovered the Functional Medicine community. She was tested for food sensitivities.
This book shares everything that Cheryl learned to reverse her inflammation and put her autoimmune diseases at bay. This is the get well manual that she wishes had been available when she got sick. The book is about first identifying that toxins that were a significant cause of her leaky gut, then she identified what the toxins were and finally she shares what she replaced them with. She addresses the toxins in our food, in our cosmetics, our cleaning supplies, our kitchen utensils, our water, our over the counter drugs, and even in our heads, stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, lack of movement and finally toxic relationships. She wants to help others find a path to wellness.
Cheryl is now relatively pain-free, but still considers herself a work in progress. She avoids the foods and spices on her specific, long list of problem foods. She has purged toxins. She has released stress and nagging worry. She has learned to find joy in movement. She has found love. She is grateful.
Cheryl believes that following her journey will help you live a long, happy and pain-free life.
In order to help others, Cheryl has become a Holistic Health Coach, certified from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition©.
My book has won the following awards to date:
- 3rd place CIPA EVVY Health/Wellness,
- 2nd Place CIPA EVVY Illustrator in a non-children’s book
- New Apple Summer Digital sole winner in Health/medical
- The Living Evergreen Award Gold winner for books that exemplify better living.
- It is in the top 10 from Write your Own Dream Book, November 17, Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
- TOP 12 Books on the Spirited Woman Fall Equinox 2017 book list.
Book Reviews
“It Feels Good to Feel Good, learn to eliminate toxins, reduce inflammation and feel great again” is written by Cheryl Meyer, a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition®, where she completed a cutting edge curriculum in nutrition and health coaching taught by the world’s leading experts in health and wellness. I recommend you read this book and be in touch with Cheryl (Cheryl M Health Muse ) to see how she can help you successfully achieve your goals.
– Joshua Rosenthal, MScEd, Founder/Director, Institute for Integrative Nutrition
If you want to truly feel better…clean up! Just one tip from Cheryl’s book will change your life. She has written the ultimate source for getting well through detoxification.”Suzy Cohen, RPh Author of “Drug Muggers: Which Medications Are Robbing Your Body of Essential Nutrients and How to Restore Them.”
“You have taken putting soap in the mouth for naughty words …” to a New Level! LOL Who knew we were surrounded by so many toxins.
I’ve pretty much finished your book now working on giving sections to my family and friend that I think will especially appreciate certain chapters! YOU, my Dear, have found your calling, YOU make this rather “dull” subject a Very Good, interesting read, with fun personal touches along the way.
I LOVE your book; I hope people will embrace it. Why worry so much about health care if we keep killing ourselves with poison. We can all start with eliminating the toxins out of our lives. Val Peterson
“As a Functional Medicine Doctor who partners with patients to deal with the root causes of their symptoms, it was a pleasure to read a book that offers such a comprehensive yet simple approach to improve health, reduce inflammation and pain, lose weight and increase energy. This is a great reference to keep in reach on your own journey to optimal wellness. If you are struggling with chronic symptoms like digestive problems, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune disorders, this book may really help you. It lays out practical tools that you can use right away and at your own pace, everything from how to change your shopping choices to getting more comprehensive medical testing to reduce your toxic burden. Her simple to understand, well researched and easy-to-adopt tools can be helpful to even the busiest among us.” Dr. Shilpa Sayana, Founder and Medical Director, Sayana Wellness Centers
“Cheryl has been not only been an exemplary patient, she has made it her mission to inspire and help others with her experience and knowledge!” Susan Spizer, MTCM, L.Ac.
“She writes like she talks, straight and with passion. What you will read here will surprise you. A helpful read that you will refer back time and time again for reference.” Scott Lee, Master, Body and Brain Yoga, Monrovia
“My friend, Cheryl Meyer has written a book that I recently finished called “It feels good to feel good”. It has a lot of common sense solutions (many that you would never think of) to healthy, toxin free living designed around the reduction of inflammation through what you put in and on your body. Most of this is from her personal experience. I know Cheryl to be one of the finest people you’ll ever know. Cheryl’s also a big proponent of “functional medicine”. If you are unfamiliar with this form of medical practice, you need to read her book. It will change the way you think”. Frank Jones
Cheryl’s book is as timely as it is informative. This is an excellent read for those seasoned in the holistic lifestyle as well as those just beginning. There is something for everyone. Her material covers everything from probiotics, house cleaning materials, and abdominal massages, to which teas to drink for better sleep. She has the latest information on metal detoxing and extensive research on the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.
Cheryl provides real solutions that can be implemented far beyond the basics with a bend toward functional medicine. I personally ordered three products within hours of reading her book. I’m especially thrilled with the depth of her research around relationships and those that can be toxic. Make sure to read this book and hold onto the “not to miss points” at the beginning of each section.
Shannon Eavenson, Author, & Physical Therapist/Health Coach
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