Life, Gluten Free

5 Ways to Support Yourself During the Winter Months

Winter encourages us to slow down and offers us space to focus on what is most important. As we shift to staying indoors more, there are ways we can boost our mood and prioritize our well-being. Below are some ways to support your body during the colder winter months. 

1. Drink Warm Tea

Drinking warm tea in the winter is a great way to support your body. Tea can boost your immune system and decrease inflammation. During the cold winter season, ginger tea is an excellent choice because of its warming properties. Ginger helps with digestion, boosts the immune system, and is anti-inflammatory. I love to drink a warm cup of ginger tea with a hearty helping of honey. For those of you who love to drink tea that provides an energy boost, earl grey tea is a great choice. It has a lovely aroma thanks to the bergamot oil. Earl grey is a type of black tea which contains caffeine so it can help support your energy levels. Black tea contains the amino acid L-Theanine which boosts brain health and improves your ability to focus. Whatever tea you choose, use the opportunity to slow down and take a few deep breaths before you resume your busy day.

2. Journal

Journaling is such a great way to connect with yourself and find out what is most important to you. Art journaling and gratitude journaling are great ways to accomplish this. You can start by making a daily gratitude list. Once you jot down what you’re most grateful for, you’ll know what areas of your life are supporting you the most. Find ways to increase this type of joy and nourishment in your life. If you are feeling artistic, you can add creative elements to your journal. Washi tape, fun pens, and stickers can help you add a fun creative flare to your journal.

3. Light Candles

The winter season brings a layer of darkness that can be challenging for some. The lack of sunlight can impact your mood and energy levels. Lighting candles can help bring warmth and brightness. Beeswax candles in particular can really boost your mood. They have a lovely natural aroma and purify the air. If you feel crafty, you can make your own beeswax candles. This can be a really relaxing and fun experience. If you want to buy them, try finding some beeswax candles that are sold locally in your area. It’s always great to support a small business.

4. Focus on Warmth

Depending on where you live, winter can be very long and very cold. Our bodies crave nourishment and warmth during these cold winter months. One way to support yourself is by making warm nourishing soups. Try hearty soups like potato leek or minestrone. If you love to be in the kitchen, winter can be a great time to focus on your baking skills. Try new recipes like my apple cider donuts and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

5. Slow Down

One of the best things about winter is the ability to slow down. Take this opportunity to really focus on what matters most and be present with yourself and your family. The winter months allow for quiet time and can be a great opportunity for introspection. If you take advantage of what winter has to offer, you’ll be more refreshed and recharged when Spring and summer come around. Each season offers us a different perspective and we can savor those moments.

5 Steps for a Fall Detox

Autumn offers us the perfect opportunity to slow down and check in with our bodies. This year, 2020, has been especially challenging; requiring us to quickly adapt to a new normal. And while we may have done our best to go with the flow, stress is a normal part of life and it affects all of us. But unfortunately, stress takes a toll on our immune system in the process and negatively impacts our overall wellbeing.

A light detox can help our immune system cope better and give our system a break from the heavy load we carry. Below are some gentle ways to accomplish a detox, clear our skin and hopefully brighten our moods in the process.

1. Warm lemon water in the mornings. You probably have heard this before and you may even already do it. It's such a simple way to clear our body for the day ahead. It's great for our digestion and lymphatic system. Lemon is alkalizing to the body and supports liver detoxification. You can also add ginger or turmeric for anti-inflammatory support. 

Here is a simple recipe to get you started:

• 1/2 of an organic lemon
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger 
• 1/8 teaspoon ground organic turmeric
• 1 cup boiling purified water
• Organic Honey to taste (optional)

Instructions

• Put on purified water to boil.
• Squeeze one half of a large lemon into your preferred tea mug then add in the sliced ginger and turmeric powder.
• Once the water is boiling, pour about a cup into your tea mug and let it sit for a few minutes before drinking.
• Add honey to taste if you'd like.

2. Autumn spices can help to naturally detox the body by enhancing digestion and increasing circulation. Think cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cardamom! A great and simple way to add these into your diet would be to incorporate them into your recipes or tea. A warming and cleansing treat would be stewed apples with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and maple syrup or coconut sugar. You could also make a warming tulsi tea with these spices. Tulsi tea supports our digestion, respiratory health and reduces cortisol to help combat stress and anxiety.

Enjoy a nourishing up of tulsi tea with warming spices:

• 1 tea bag of organic tulsi tea
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin spice
• Honey to taste (optional)
• Organic coconut milk (optional)

Instructions

• Brew one bag of organic tulsi tea in your favorite mug.
• Add 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin spice, sweetener of choice and a splash of coconut milk.

3. Clear and support your skin. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and it absorbs everything we put on it. It also is impacted by toxins in the air and water. Below is one of my favorite skin care routines using all-natural gluten-free products by EvanHealy.

 Naturally support your skin and leave it feeling refreshed and hydrated:

• Apply EvanHealy Blue Chamomile Cleansing Milk (dairy free).
• Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
• Apply a generous misting of EvanHealy Lavender Facial Tonic with Hydrosol. Spray it on your face and neck too.
• Finish with an application of EvanHealy Rosehip Facial Serum (Blue Chamomile).

4. To further support skin health and promote detoxification, try dry skin body brushing. The benefits of body brushing include the removal of toxins by stimulating circulation and the lymphatic system. Before you shower or bathe, use a dry skin brush. Start at your feet, using long strokes and work up toward the center of your body and upward toward the heart. You can also add epson salt to your next bath. Epson salt contains magnesium which helps to release toxins and relaxes your muscles.

5. Have you tried Art Journaling? Being creative is a great way to boost your mood. This can help us cleanse our thoughts and focus on what is really important to us. Recently, I've tried Bullet Journaling which has been a fun way to decompress and keep track of each month. I like to write down appointments, fun things we've done as a family and what books I read each month.

Here's a list of what you need to get started if you haven't tried it before:

• A Bullet Journal or Art Journal
• Art Journal Pens 
• Highlighters
• Washi Tape
• or you can also get a How To Guide and Bullet Journal Set

I hope this list helps get you inspired for some easy autumn detox and stress-relief practices that you can apply to your daily schedule. Happy Autumn!

May is Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month: Our story

Does your child have food allergies or asthma? maybe both?

Our daughter was diagnosed with food allergies before she was 2 years old. She had anaphylaxis to a pine nut when she was about 15 months old. Our journey with food allergies has been a long one and I have talked about it extensively on my blog.

When she was 4 years old, she began to have mild symptoms that included sneezing and coughing. Within just a couple of days of those symptoms, it progressed to her not being able to breathe well. We immediately took her to the emergency room. This was not an unfamiliar place to us due to food allergic reactions, and it quickly became a place that we frequented even more.

The ER doctor said "this is asthma, has she been diagnosed with asthma in the past?"

And this is where our asthma story begins.

We told the ER doctor how we just recently bought a home, but it's an attached dwelling. We live in a 4plex, and we've had issues with our neighbors scented laundry detergent filtering into our home. The doctor said clearly this is a trigger for her. 

Years later, our daughters main asthma trigger continues to be artificial fragrances. Her asthma can also be triggered when she gets a cold, during times of high pollen, smoke (camp fires, wood burning stoves, wild fires) and certain foods.

The reality that we live with is that she has asthma and severe food allergies. She is also an amazing human being. My husband and I are so proud of her resilience and strength.

This road is not an easy one, but as a family we have learned to navigate it to the best of our abilities. We have learned to cherish each other more, for life is so uncertain.

For a while it seemed that our daughter's asthma was well-controlled, but then it suddenly became very chronic. We tried so many different things, both pharmaceutical and natural. Nothing worked well enough, and our daughter was bed-bound having intense asthma exacerbations at least 2 weeks out of every month. 

When we visited her pulmonologist, we were told what we already knew.. her asthma could no longer be considered well controlled. It was chronic and severe... and something needed to be done, immediately.  

They ran tests and did x-rays, ruling out other causes of her chronic respiratory distress. The end result was that it is asthma, solely, and we haven't been controlling it with our current protocol.

We were told to increase her dose of Flovent, an inhaled steroid. This would keep her off the stronger oral steroids that can cause systemic issues in the body. Her pulmonologist also suggested Singulair (a drug prescribed for asthma and allergies) but we declined. 

Her pulmonologist explained to us that if this protocol is not effective, the next step would be to start talking about asthma medications with black box warnings. Drugs, the doctor said, that can have lasting effects on the heart.

This is where the epiphany happened for both my husband and I. We looked at each other and knew what our next step would be. We thanked the doctor and left.

We left knowing that we would do everything in our power to keep our daughter off of those harmful drugs, and that the increased dose of Flovent inhaled steroid would be temporary.

A year later, all of this happened. She is off of the Flovent entirely, and the reason is because of dedicated effort. 5 times a week, I take my daughter to salt respiratory therapy. This is a natural and effective way of managing asthma, other respiratory challenges, nasal allergies, sinus issues.

It truly is a lifestyle choice. We would rather spend money and time on something that not only manages symptoms, but overall promotes health and wellness.

Does she still have asthma? Yes. Is it well-controlled? most definitely. We just went through the winter season, and for the first time in many years she did not experience intense respiratory issues. She still had some respiratory challenges in response to sickness but they were not as frequent, severe or long-lasting. She is thriving more than she ever has.

Managing her asthma went from needing intense steroids and daily use of albuterol, to not needing steroids and using the occasional albuterol. We also use natural remedies that we found to be very effective for her seasonal allergens. All of the changes that we made for our daughter was done under the care of a doctor that specializes in asthma and allergies.

Asthma is a serious life-threatening condition and people with this condition should always be under the care of a doctor. I am not a doctor and I am only sharing our story, not offering medical advice. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your treatment protocol and never stop using life-saving medication without consulting your doctor.

Read more:

Artificial Fragrances Trigger Allergies and Asthma 

Artificially Scented Laundry Products are Harmful to Your Health

How to do Whole30 with a family

Disclaimer: It's safe to say that I am not a Whole30 expert. We are doing Whole30 for very specific reasons and we may or may not be doing it 100% accurate to what some call "Whole30 Approved."

Some people wonder why we are doing it at all, because our diet already is closely aligned to what Whole30 is. While this is true -- and this is also what makes it pretty easy for us to do a Whole30 -- we are still giving up some specific foods.

My husband and my daughter are doing the Whole30, because I already eat a certain way since I have been treating SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).

My daughter has asthma and lately it has been really chronic. Since cold and flu season is fast approaching, we decided it was a great time to do the Whole30 to boost her immune system and hopefully break the inflammatory cycle.

Sugar depletes the immune system and is inflammatory to the body, so we feel really good about completely avoiding processed sugars for a month.

But.. you won't find me constantly googling to see if something is Whole30 safe, which is why I can't guarantee that all the foods I post about are "Whole30 approved." More than likely, they probably are.

To stock up and get ready for the Whole30 we bought...

• 2.5 pounds of Organic Dates (from Costco)
• Organic Coconut Oil (from Costco)
• Avocado oil (From Costco)
• Organic Pumpkin Seed Butter (from here)
• Organic Hemp Seeds (from here)
• Huge tub of Organic Spinach
• Coconut Water (our favorite is C20)
• Organic Nori Sheets (found here)
• Organic SeaSnax (found here)
• Organic Pumpkin seeds (found here)
• Organic Fruits & Veggies, in season (hello Peaches!)
• 2 dozen Organic Eggs
• Organic meats
• Coyo coconut yogurt

[ To save money I order a lot of things from Thrive Market. ]

It's really easy to get locked into the idea that if something is labeled Organic or Non-GMO, it means it is healthy to eat. Unfortunately, there are a lot of "natural" products out there that still aren't that healthy to consume, especially ongoing. Whole30 is a great way to hit the reset button and consume more fresh foods.

A lot of people do the Whole30 to help them figure out what foods are bothering them. For example, eliminating common trigger foods like soy, dairy and wheat and then adding them back to your diet after a month can help you pin point foods that may be causing digestive upset, brain fog or skin rashes (to name a few)...

So to summarize since we are already don't eat gluten and dairy, our main focus in doing the Whole30 is to eliminate:

• processed sugars
• processed foods
• legumes 
• grains

We are also focusing eating a lot of anti-inflammatory foods plus foods that increase L-Glutathione in the body (for my daughter's asthma).

So for her lunch today, my daughter had:

plantains (sautéed in coconut oil), herbed turkey, nori sheets, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes. For something sweet: dates with hemp seeds and grapes.

These are all foods she is used eating, BUT often for a treat she would have organic gummies (while organic, it is is processed and also contains sugar). To replace that, she had dates with hemp seeds.

 And in the crock pot for dinner....

pork roast with potatoes, onions, garlic, peppers and carrots.

So this is how are doing the Whole30. Is it completely accurate? Not sure, but we also don't care. We are Whole30 inspired and we are using it to benefit specific health conditions...... and that's good enough for us.

Have you done the Whole30? let us know how you did it and what you thought! 

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about our Whole30. 

Why I Was Happy to Be Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

Fact: I breathed a sign of relief when I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

In January of 2008, I was sick. Really sick. My daughter was covered in a large, itchy skin rash and I was having tremendous digestive problems. Nothing I ate was okay, as my stomach couldn't handle anything. Eventually all I could eat was bland potatoes. I was losing weight and muscle mass.

What was wrong with me? And what was wrong with my daughter who was just about to turn one?

Celiac Disease.

I wouldn't say the diagnosis came easy either, because we were told by one doctor that our daughter's rash was normal and would go away. And that as for my stomach problems? "maybe it's just the flu."

Have you ever heard of a flu that can last over a month and results in someone losing a large amount of body weight and muscle mass? I haven't.

And an itchy rash that covers most of your child's body, is not normal. Not at all.

I started to worry that something was seriously wrong with me, because nothing I ate agreed with my digestive system and I was literally melting away. I'm a petite person to begin with, so losing weight was very dangerous for me.

Through a friend, we found an amazing pediatrician to take our daughter to who specializes in children with allergies and I found someone to help me as well. We found out that we both have Celiac Disease, and we were relieved because it was a diagnosis that we could do something about.

There wasn't anything wrong with me that couldn't be fixed, which I had started to wonder about. I thought I was really, really sick because it went on for months until we were diagnosed properly.

My daughter's itchy rash? Dermatis Herpetiformis. I've had it too, in the past, which made me really scratch my head when she began breaking out in the same exact rash that I had once had. But after we were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, the puzzle pieces all fell into place. It all made perfect sense.

Her rash looked like mine because we both have Celiac Disease.

And what if we hadn't found out? What if we were among the 95% that don't know?

We would be really sick, and my daughter may have ended up having growth issues. But instead we found out, changed our diet, and she continued to grow and be healthy.

That's why I was happy to be diagnosed, because it meant the end of suffering. We could make adjustments to our lifestyle and feel better. 

Fast forward to a couple of months after being diagnosed with celiac disease, my daughter's skin looked amazing. She still had some eczema which we found out to be related to food and environmental allergens, but she didn't have the Dermatitis Herpetiformis rash anymore. She wasn't covered from head to toe, and we were able to sleep at night because she stopped itching since the rash was gone. 

I started gaining weight again and my stomach liked the food I ate!

I remember the first Thanksgiving of being gluten-free. I didn't feel sick after I ate. 

That's why I say, be glad for your diagnosis.. because what if you didn't know? Can you imagine the damage that could be happening to your digestive tract? All the nutrients from food that your body can't absorb?

I had chronic iron deficiency both before and during pregnancy with my daughter... this was despite the fact that I took iron supplements. But even on iron supplements, my body just wasn't getting enough. 

I had people tell me it was because I'm vegetarian, but I just didn't buy it.

About 6 months after being gluten-free, I weaned myself off the compounded iron supplement I was taking. After I stopped taking it, I noticed that the symptoms of iron deficiency were not returning. I was tested several times over a course of many months and the results were the same: completely normal.

I've had it re-tested every year since my diagnosis in 2008 and my iron levels continue to be perfect.

The iron deficiency was because I have Celiac Disease and didn't know, so my gluten-filled diet was making me sick in more ways than most people imagine it can.

That's why I am thankful to know, because I was able to do something about it at a young age. I am even more thankful to know that my daughter has Celiac, because she will grow up on a healthy, organic, gluten-free diet!

How to be Tested

Entero Lab

We used Entero Lab, which I honestly believe is one of the very best ways to be tested. I've showed doctors my test results, and they continue to be amazed by the thorough testing methods employed by Entero Lab.

Blood tests are very inaccurate, yielding false positives 65% of the time. The immune response to gluten happens in the gut, not the blood stream. This is why stool testing is the best choice for testing gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

I opted for the stool test and gene test from Entero Lab.

To learn more about Entero Lab and their testing methods, visit Which Test to Order and Test Pricing and Info.

Should you be tested?

Celiac disease is genetic. If you have it, at least one of your parents carry a gene. Your family members should be tested. Your children mostly definitely should be tested.

If you have IBS, Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, Autoimmune Liver Disease, as well as other conditions.. you may want to be tested. Research shows a link between these conditions and Celiac. The relation may be genetic.

Symptoms for Celiac Disease vary from individual to individual, and can include digestive symptoms (gas, bloating), migraines, joint pain, stunted growth in children, anemia, skin rash, mouth sores.. among many other symptoms including neurological symptoms (gluten ataxia).

If you have symptoms that you believe could be Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity, it would be in your best interest to consult with a qualified health professional that both takes these conditions seriously and is knowledgeable on accurate testing methods for proper diagnosis.

Tips on Finding Allergy-safe Foods and How to Be a Conscious Consumer (Part 2)

Did you read Part 1 of Tips on Finding Allergy-Safe foods? (click here if you haven't yet!)

We eat very little packaged foods, not just because it's hard to find allergen-free and 100% gluten-free products... but because it's healthier to eat a whole-food based diet.

The few foods we eat packaged are by companies that we have spoken to on the phone with - sometimes on numerous occasions - to learn about their facility and food processing practices. They do not produce gluten, tree-nuts, etc in their facility.

So, we have literally spent hours on the phone speaking to companies. We do this for all of the products we buy such as: supplements, bodycare, food, etc.

It's important to contact companies, as you have read in part 1, because food labeling is not effective. There are very little regulations regarding what you can and cannot put on a food label. This means that "gluten-free" can be put on a label even if the product contains trace amounts of gluten.

What should I say when I approach companies?

Here are a few ways we start the conversation:

"Hi, I am very intrested in your line of products.. but my daughter has severe allergies to foods like tree-nuts, sesame and flax... we both have celiac disease so that means we can't have gluten. I see that your product ingredients do not contain those, but I would like to inquire about your food manufacturing policies to see if you produce any products in your facility that contain those ingredients."

or

"Hi, I am interested in your product but I need to ask some questions because we have allergies in the family."

Then you can go on to explain what allergies you have, and ask if their facility is free of these ingredients.

I explain about cross-contamination and how serious of an issue it is. I tell them that we've gotten sick in the past because products contained trace amounts of gluten or our other allergens, so now we always call companies before trying their products.

It's important to let them know how serious the situation is, so that they understand it's important to get the right information.

Never be afraid to ask. Companies should expect inquiries, and if the person you are speaking with on the phone does not have the information you need then ask to speak to someone who does.

Labeling policies is something that definitely needs to improve across the board, but again it's up to us to call companies to make sure products are truly safe!

Tips on Finding Allergy-safe Foods and How to Be a Conscious Consumer

It can be very tricky to find products that are truly allergy-safe, gluten-free, tree-nut free and so on. The key is not just in reading the label because labels are often not clear and the laws on labeling for food allergens is fuzzy at best.

In fact, labels can often be incredibly deceiving. The key, rather, is to be a conscious consumer. Know what is in the products you are eating, and do not rely on the label to tell you what's really in it.

Here's a rundown on labeling and why it's rarely 100% accurate:

1) It is not mandatory for companies to label their cross-contaminated products as such. It is strictly optional. When you see "may contain ..." or "packaged in a facility with .." or "produced on the same equipment as ..." that company has taken it upon themselves to add that to their label. So that means, many companies out there are not disclosing this information on their labels.

2) Labels can be deceiving. Many products are labeled "gluten-free" because the ingredients contain no gluten, but the product may be produced in a facility (and often even on the same equipment) with other products that do contain gluten. According to the FDA, a product can also be labeled "gluten-free" but have up to 20ppm of gluten. You may have also seen "certified gluten-free" on some products, which is an independent certification by GFCO that means it contains less than 10ppm of gluten and 5ppm of gliadin.

Here's an example of mislabeling. There is a new product out and it claims on the package "we're not nuts!" meaning, they are not made out of tree-nuts. The package also has a "gluten-free" symbol. Yet reading further on the package you will find in tiny letters "may contain traces of tree-nuts, wheat and dairy."

wait, what?

Let's review this. They are advertising a product as being a nut-alternative. Yet, this product may contain traces of nuts. Clearly, they are not targeting people with nut-allergies, so who then? And while the product may be labeled "gluten-free" because the ingredients are technically free of gluten, their manufacturing processes are not gluten-free and therefore you may find trace amounts of gluten in this product.

And this is a big one, because many people do not realize this:

3) Some companies produce their product in one facility and ship it to another facility for packaging.

That means that while the facility in which they produce the product may be safe, their packaging facility may not be. This is why it's crucial to always call the company and ask questions about their production and packaging facilities.

4) Many companies share facilities with other companies or they simply make a wide variety of products - many not being gluten-free or nut-free.

5) Hidden ingredients? FALCPA is strictly a law that was passed to make sure the actual ingredients are described properly on the package. For example, if a product contains "spices" in the ingredient list and those spices have wheat, the company must disclose that on the label otherwise it would be a hidden ingredient. And they have to be specific, if the ingredients say "nut" they must clarify as to which nut it contains.

You can learn more about FDA guidelines regarding gluten-free and food-allergen labeling here.

Click here to read part 2 of "Tips on Finding Allergy-safe Foods and How to Be a Conscious Consumer".. broken up into two segments for easier reading!

Artificially Scented Laundry Products are Harmful to Your Health

I was pleased to see the feedback from my previous post, Artificial Fragrances Trigger Allergy and Asthma.

Obviously, there is so very much I can say on this topic and if I were to go on as much as I'd like, I would be writing a book! But because I know some of you wanted to know more specifically regarding artificial fragrances in laundry products, I thought I would go into a bit more detail.

Here was one question that I received.

How can I check my dryer sheets for artificial ingredients, and how do I know which ones are harmful? Specific ingredient names would be most helpful.

Go grab your laundry care products and have them in front of you.

I'll wait.

Okay, so what do they say? If you use unscented, then they probably talk about being "dye-free" and "fragrance-free" and "free and clear" or maybe they use the simple term "unscented."

If you are using a natural laundry care product that has natural essential oils, then it may say it contains 100% natural essential oils dervied from a plant.

But if you are using one of the top main-stream laundry products like Tide, Gain or Downy then you are probably seeing words like "Fresh Scent," "Clean Breeze," "Original Scent" or "Fresh Lock."

You want to know what's in the fragrance, right?

Search for the ingredients. You will find it includes one of these two words "fragrance,"  or "perfume"

Manufacturers are not required to disclose the ingredients used in fragrances, or in laundry products.

So how do you know what's really in them? Well, you don't. Feel free to call the company and ask them, but more than likely they will try not to disclose that information (if you try it, let me know how it goes).

So you are looking at the label, you may see other ingredients with really long names. It probably looks like gobbly-gook.

Those ingredients don't even have anything to do with the fragrance because besides artificial fragrance, the leading main-stream laundry products contain other chemicals and preservatives that aren't healthy. But let's get back on-topic for now.

So what's in the fragrances?

If you can't find it on the label what is actually in the fragrance, which you won't, then seek research.

Like the study in 2008, that tested 6 top selling laundry care and air freshner products.

Nearly 100 volatile organic compounds were emitted from these six products, and none were listed on any product label. Plus, five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic 'hazardous air pollutants,' which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to have no safe exposure level," Steinemann said.

(Source: Toxic Chemicals Found in Common Scented Laundry Products, Air Freshners by Science Daily).

And another study in 2010, testing the leading products on the market.

"The products emitted more than 420 chemicals, collectively, but virtually none of them were disclosed to consumers, anywhere," Steinemann said.

Source: Scented Consumer Products Shown to Emit Many Unlisted Chemicals by Science Daily).

What can I use instead?

I would recommend visiting your local natural health market and perusing their laundry care product isle.

Below I will list some of the companies that I trust when it comes to laundry products and household cleaning.

BioKleen

Mountain Green

Also I would like to stress, that if this is an issue of particular importance to you (and I hope it is!), then do some research yourself, too.

And visit the web site Healthy Child, Healthy World because I am guessing most of you reading are probably concerned parents who want to do all they can to protect their kids.

Because after all, our family is the most important thing to us and we want to make smart, healthy choices for them.

So from one mom to another, I urge you to take control of what products you choose. Knowledge is power, and the choice is ours to make.

Artificial Fragrances Trigger Allergy and Asthma

What's that smell? If you use products with fragrances, more than likely you are so used to them that you don't even notice. But for those who use unscented products like we do, whether for other health reasons or because you are allergic to scented products, you probably notice when someone is using a scented body care or laundry care product.

Here are the facts:

- More than 2 million Americans have a fragrance allergy or sensitivity.

- 1 out of every 3 American children has allergies, asthma, ADHD or autism.

- Asthma and Allergies affect 1 out of 5 Americans.

Just a few months ago in August, our daughter, Sophie, was treated in the ER. She experienced these symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, coughing and then difficulty breathing with wheezing.

The culprit: artificial fragrances.

Does this sound familiar to you? Chances are, you or someone you know are bothered by scented products.

Fragrace allergies are on the rise and there are different types of allergic responses. Some people experience a skin allergy to artificial fragrances, where they develop an itchy rash. A respiratory reaction involves symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, difficulty breathing or worsening of asthma symptoms for those who are diagnosed with asthma. Some people may also develop a headache and even brain fog when exposed to artificial fragrances.

"Experts theorize that one reason fragrance allergies appear to be increasing is that fragrances themselves have become such a prominent part of our world. According to the AAD, some 5,000 different fragrances -- and countless other fragrance combinations -- are used in products today. And they can be a powerful, toxic brew."

Source: Fragrance Allergies: A sensory assault from WebMD.

What kind of products contain artificial fragrances? 

- Deodorant

- Perfume and cologne

- Body lotion and other body care products

- Hair products (shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, hairgel)

- Household cleaners and air freshners

- Laundry detergents and fabric softeners

- Soap

- Candles

Exposure to fragrances can happen by simply standing in the line at a store next to someone who has applied a strong perfume or washes their clothes in scented laundry detergent.

"Being forced to breathe in others' fragrance choices is a lot like being forced to breathe in secondhand smoke," Dalton tells WebMD. "It's a loss of control over your personal environment, and for some it can have serious personal health consequences."

Source: Fragrance Allergies: A sensory assault from WebMD.

What are these scents, anyways? Should anyone use them?

We weren't using them even before Sophie was born because we learned long ago how unhealthy they can be. But when friends/family/etc wore them, and it began to bother Sophie, we had to explain to them that they couldn't wear anything with fragrance around us. And then it begged the question, what are these chemicals and why are they so bad?

Most fragrances are synthesized, primarily from petroleum products. About 3,000 chemicals are used in the fragrance industry. Allergic reactions to fragrances are on the rise, increasing from 9 percent to about 12 to 13 percent of dermatitis patients over the last decade, according to Dr. Donald Belsito, a dermatologist at the University of Kansas Medical Center (as quoted in a February 2002 MSNBC article "Scents and Sensitivities").

Source: Fragrances: What Your Nose Needs to Know from Healthy Child, Healthy World.

Ongoing research and studies are being conducted and the recent findings are startling.

Findings, published online in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health, show that air vented from machines using the top-selling scented liquid laundry detergent and scented dryer sheet contains hazardous chemicals, including two that are classified as carcinogens.

Analysis of the captured gases found more than 25 volatile organic compounds, including seven hazardous air pollutants, coming out of the vents. Of those, two chemicals -- acetaldehyde and benzene -- are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as carcinogens, for which the agency has established no safe exposure level.

Source: Scented Laundry Products Emit Hazardous Chemicals Through Your Dryer Vents by Scientific Daily.

Not only do artificial fragrances cause reactions in those with allergies, asthma or chemical sensitivities, but they are also very toxic for the entire world.

And are fragrances everywhere? Yes, it seems so.

In fact, when Sophie had to be in the hospital recently for a respiratory virus, I immediately noticed that the antibacterial handwash provided for patients/doctors/nurses was heavily scented.

Let's think about this for one second.

My daughter is in the hospital because she is sick, and artificial fragrances actually can trigger her to have an allergic reaction, which could make her worse.

I spoke up and told them in no uncertain terms that she cannot be around that.

This is enoucragement to speak up and make your voice heard, because that is what brings change.

The nurse was very accomdating. She brought in unscented soap and passed it on to the respiratory specialist and the next nurse on shift. I even had the respiratory specialist inform me that she uses her own unscented hand wash because the scented bothers her too. She encouraged me to file a comment card with the hospital, which I am currently working on now.

I have learned that change does not happen unless you speak up and take time to make your voice and your opinions heard. You do matter and your child matters.

This can be a controversial topic because people often are offended when you bring up that the products they use are unsafe. Regardless, more awareness must be spread because awareness is what makes the world safer for all of us to live in.

So what if someone around me uses it and it bothers me?

Tell them. Believe me, we've been around the block with this one. We've had to have family change their products to unscented so that they can visit with us. Some of them were offended. But if the alternative is that your or your child experiences breathing difficulties or other symptoms?  There is no other way. So just speak up, tell them why it bothers you and help them understand. Help them not take it personally. It's not about them. It's because it makes someone else sick, really sick. And once they understand that, then it will make sense to them and they should be glad to comply.

A Grain-Free Diet

Some people with Celiac Disease find that being gluten-free is not quite enough for them to feel completely healthy again and symptom free. Our daughter's doctor told us that when Celiac Disease was first discovered, it was recommended that you eat a completely grain-free diet, not just a diet that was void of gluten found in wheat, rye, barley, etc. 

Since our daughter still experiences some eczema, we've decided to adapt a grain-free diet to see if that alleviates her symptoms further. 

Here are some of the products that we've added to her diet. It was not as hard as I thought. My first fear was that she'd ask for brown rice noodles but we quickly solved that dilemma! Now she doesn't ask. That might tell you something. Often times, once you eliminate a particular food from your diet, you then realize that it didn't really agree with you in the first place.

She's been off of grains for about a month, and her skin is looking pretty great! We are pleased. And since I started to write this post a while ago, I can now say that the transition to grain-free has been very easy. She loves the new noodles and she really, really loves the coconut wraps and calls them "flatbread."

Coconut Wraps: (pictured above)

Pure Wraps are heaven. They smell so, so good. They are made in a nut-free, gluten-free facility. They hold together well. You can cram them with avocado, homemade pickles, lettuce and olives (that's Sophie's favorite combo).

Grain-free Noodles:

These miracle noodles are a hit. They may not be just like rice noodles, but Sophie likes them all the same. I even used them for chicken noodle soup and it was a win!

*This post is purely my opinion on these products that we've found to work well for us, I did not receive any free products from the companies listed above. We just love them!

I'll leave you with a photo of my daughter eating a pizza that we made using the coconut wraps as a crust. It was a major win.