A Natural Way Of Life

Can you just imagine how many toxins and chemicals we put in our body every day??? Not just from the air we breathe...but from the food we eat, the products we use, the clothes we wear...etc. Even before I started the oil cleansing method for my face, I have been slowly trying to go natural with everything! Amber from The Survival Guide for the Young, Fabulous & Newlywed did a great post the other day about dangerous cosmetics (you can read it here) and it got me thinking. I know it's a difficult, expensive process and I know that I'll NEVER be 100% natural in the items I use and the food I eat...but I'd like to try to do as much as I can for my own health. I've been reading Natural Health Magazine and I'm learning all kinds of great tips.

I started thinking about natural products I already use and what products I need to start using. I am on hormone replacement and I made sure my doctor prescribed bioidentical hormones that are derived from plant extracts. I absolutely hate and always have hated taking medicines of any kind. I don't take allergy medicine, diet pills or any other kind of OTC medicines. I only take a pain killer if I am ABSOLUTELY dying from the pain. So you can imagine how upset I was to learn that I was going to have to take hormone replacement for a good part of the rest of my life. I knew if there was no way around it then they were going to have to be natural and the best there is.

I have been eating fresh fruits and vegetables as often as possible with meals and for snacks. Yummy!! Doesn't it feel so good to eat something that is straight from the earth and hasn't been messed with?

I have been using Organic African Black Soap to shower with. It's all natural and it works amazingly. There is no leftover residue whatsoever and it leaves my skin feeling clean and soft.

I use a mixture of white vinegar and water to clean the kitchen and bathrooms with. It smells pretty bad at first but once it dries you don't smell it at all!! It works just as good as any cleanser you can buy at the store and it's cheaper too!! Just use an equal amount of both water and white vinegar and store it in a spray bottle!

I have been brushing my teeth with Tom's Natural Antiplaque Toothpaste. My mouth feels just as clean and it seems to give me even fresher breath than the other toothpastes. The good thing about this one is that it is all natural. No artificial sweeteners, no preservatives or chemicals and no flouride. I'm not an expert on flouride but I've done enough research to know that I can do without it.

I take natural, whole food vitamins. They don't contain artificial colors or flavorings or GMO's. They are made from whole foods which is said to be easier for your body to absorb. I feel good knowing that I'm putting natural vitamins in my body every day that don't contain harmful substances or chemicals.

I do not eat and have not eaten any artificial sweeteners in about 2 years. I have done lots of research on the harmful effects of them and it's not something I want in my body. I don't go around telling people they shouldn't eat/drink artificial sweeteners but I feel strongly enough about them to stay away from them for my own health. You have probably heard that Splenda is natural but I stay away from it too. It has been chemically altered which makes it just as bad as the other culprits in my book. The only no calorie sweetener I will use is Stevia but I rarely use that.

If I do eat packaged foods, I try to eat natural, preservative free foods. I just recently found Healthy Choice All Natural entrees and I love them!!! They contain no preservatives, they have tons of veggies and whole wheat additions. Kashi is another one of my favorites. Their products contain no preservatives and no artificial sweeteners or flavors. I know I've got a long way to go and tons more research to do but I feel good about how far I've come. I learn more and more everyday about different foods and products.

There are tons of other things I do and tons of things I need to start doing. It's not easy but slowly I will be able to add more and more natural things and develop a natural way of life. I know I will become healthier in the process. I have still yet to find a good natural deodorant, dishwashing liquid, dryer sheet or makeup but I'm working on it!!!

What do you do to try to attain a natural way of life?