What the heck is Ditch and Switch?
In January of 2015, my friend Angela, told me "it's great you guys eat healthy, but what about all the cleaners and air fresheners you are using daily? Did you realize they have an effect of your health?" She went on to explain that even though we were seemingly healthy, the exposure to air pollution inside of our home, was actually worse than the air pollution outside!
When these facts were brought to my attention, it made so much sense! Dan's asthma and allergies getting worse each year. My weekly and sometimes daily headaches. Irritability and anxiety that we both suffered. And the effect this was having on our dogs... I knew we had to make a change. Ang said "you need to ditch the toxic cleaners and switch to plant based ones!"
In January of 2015, my friend Angela, told me "it's great you guys eat healthy, but what about all the cleaners and air fresheners you are using daily? Did you realize they have an effect of your health?" She went on to explain that even though we were seemingly healthy, the exposure to air pollution inside of our home, was actually worse than the air pollution outside!
When these facts were brought to my attention, it made so much sense! Dan's asthma and allergies getting worse each year. My weekly and sometimes daily headaches. Irritability and anxiety that we both suffered. And the effect this was having on our dogs... I knew we had to make a change. Ang said "you need to ditch the toxic cleaners and switch to plant based ones!"
I was so saddened by some of the things I had learned. So, right away we stopped using the blue glass cleaner as our “just about everything “ household cleaner...
Those pups (Daphne and Phoebe pictured above) were our babies before we adopted our beautiful daughters from China. The thought that some of the cleaners we were using had affected our dogs’ health weighed tremendously on me.
Here are some of the things we used on a daily basis:
*Candles
*Blue all purpose cleaner
*Bleach
*Dryer sheets
*Air fresheners
*Laundry soap with fragrance
*Stainless steel polish
*Granite cleaner
*Oven cleaner/degreaser
*Scented AC filters
*Deodorizing spray
*Hand soap
*Dish soap
*Dishwasher detergent
Not only did these items cost us a pretty penny each month, but they were affecting our health and poisoning our pets. 😢
When we decided to make the shift to plant based solutions, we did it slowly, over time. Little by little, each month.
First - we started with our household cleaner and deodorizing spray.
The next month we added laundry soap, hand soap and dish soap.
The third month we opted for an essential oils diffuser instead of candles and air fresheners. And ordered different oils to try.
Not only did we save big time on our grocery bill, but we also had the peace of mind knowing we were doing our best for ourselves and our remaining doggies.
I know that the damage we did to our pets, using all those toxic chemicals, was a contributing factor in all four of them dying from cancer. But I am grateful for the knowledge I have now, to do better for our family.
If you or someone you love is suffering, we want to help! We have a community of others, just like you, who are embracing natural ways to improve respiratory health. We share up-to-date resources, to help you navigate the sometimes tricky waters, in learning what foods, products and nutrionals are helpful and safe, and which are not.
We are sharing our experiences with you. Please be sure to consult your doctor.
The information in this video is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness.
xoxo Liz
Found this information helpful? Then you you will LOVE my 3 step formula to improve lung health! Check it out right here!
I know that the damage we did to our pets, using all those toxic chemicals, was a contributing factor in all four of them dying from cancer. But I am grateful for the knowledge I have now, to do better for our family.
If you or someone you love is suffering, we want to help! We have a community of others, just like you, who are embracing natural ways to improve respiratory health. We share up-to-date resources, to help you navigate the sometimes tricky waters, in learning what foods, products and nutrionals are helpful and safe, and which are not.
We are sharing our experiences with you. Please be sure to consult your doctor.
The information in this video is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness.
xoxo Liz
Found this information helpful? Then you you will LOVE my 3 step formula to improve lung health! Check it out right here!
Incredibly Easy, DIY, Toxin Free Hand Sanitizer - Yes you can!
Are you a zero entry person?
I am a zero entry kinda girl. I search for ease.
I crave simplicity, the easy way, if it's to complicated... I'm out!
I look for recipes, and tasks with short (and not too many) steps, simplistic directions. I guess it's my nature... but I also think it's my desire for time freedom.
Time is the one commodity we cannot make more of. We can make more money, but precious time, once that minute is gone, it can't be gotten back.
So, what I'm trying to say is...
Yes you can make better choices... I promise it's not hard! Or time consuming!
Why hand sanitizer? Well, because of the pandemic, hand sanitizer has become even more of an everyday item. An item that contains ingredients like triclosan.
Triclosan - Recent studies have also found that Triclosan interferes with the body's thyroid hormone metabolism and maybe a potential endocrine disruptor. Children exposed to antibacterial compounds at an early age also have an increased chance of developing allergies, asthma and eczema.
Source: Beyond Pesticides
When avoiding asthma triggers, and in the interest of doing better for your general health, it's best to avoid products with triclosan. Hand sanitizer being one of the most popular offenders!
I use a plant based hand sanitizer with essential oils and high quality ingredients, but if I run out before my monthly wellness box arrives, I'll whip up a batch of DIY hand sanitizer... so stinkin easy!!!
DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe:
Ingredients:
Organic Aloe Vera Gel
Clove, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Eucalyptus and Lemon Pure therapeutic grade Essential oils
Isopropyl Alcohol or Grain Alcohol (Like Everclear)
Optional - Healthy fatty oil like jojoba oil or Avocado oil
How to make it:
- Fill tube mostly with aloe vera gel (I eyeball it) - you can get the tubes I use here (pictured below). Or the more traditional tubes here.
- Add a splash of alcohol, I add just a few drops.
- Add 2 drops of each Essential Oil, or as many as you'd like. I use Thieves blend, which is these 5 oils combined and formulated for efficacy.
- Shake until combined.
Thats's it! See, super easy! And the best part is no asthma triggering triclosan!
I make this hand sanitizer in this video! Just click the graphic below!
If you or someone you love is suffering, we want to help! We have a community of others, just like you, who are embracing natural ways to improve respiratory health. We share up-to-date resources, to help you navigate the sometimes tricky waters, in learning what foods, products and nutrionals are helpful and safe, and which are not.
We are sharing our experiences with you. Please be sure to consult your doctor.
The information in this video is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness.
xoxo Liz
Found this information helpful? Then you you will LOVE my 3 step formula to improve lung health! Check it out right here!
Could Amino Acids really HELP?
When Dan and I began our health journey it started with food. As time when on it turned into supplements, then cleaning up our home environment. The journey became a gradual effort that resulted in Dan saying good bye to his asthma meds for good.
Yes. Read that again.
Dan said good bye to his asthma meds.... for good.
Here's Dan with our youngest daughter.
As we began sharing our asthma recovery story, we wanted to pinpoint what exactly was most integral, for Dan, in weening off of his inhalers.
Side note: Dan did not intentionally ween off of his asthma medications... he would forget to use them because he felt so good, and one day he announced,
"I haven't used an inhaler in weeks!"
That's when we realized we were onto something amazing!
ONTO AMINO ACIDS!
As we incorporated more supplements into our daily lives, we included drinking a wolfberry purée drink and adding in an organic form of natural, plant based sulfur powder. We also take a sulfur supplement, in capsule form every night. Both of these nutritionals are fabulous amino acids!
Amino Acids are amazing for decreasing inflammation.
Why would someone with respiratory issues (or anyone for that matter) want to decrease inflammation?
Amino Acids, because of their anti-inflammatory properties, may ease asthma symptoms.
Ani-inflammatories stops the lungs from swelling and narrowing when a trigger is present.
This swelling and narrowing of airways makes breathing difficult!
So now rather than using a long-acting bronchodilator, we manage Dan's pulmonary disease with daily sulfur supplements. In fact, when presented with a trigger, we've made our wolfberry drink with sulfur, rather than using a fast acting rescue inhaler.
The best part of Dan getting off of his medications, was no more side effects.
There was a time that Dan was extremely angry, irritable and down right intolerant. I would walk on egg shells because he was quick to shift into a foul mood. His temperament did not make for a loving marriage, and I wondered why he was so miserable and what was the root cause.
I go into more info about the side effects Dan suffered in my Asthma Medication Side Effects post.
Nowadays, Dan is full of love and joy and has an incredible zest for life! I can honestly say he is completely different now. The debilitating effects he suffered are gone and instead of fearing a breakdown in his system as he ages, Dan embraces building strength, endurance and wellness!
If you or someone you love is suffering, we want to help! We have a community of others, just like you, who are embracing natural ways to improve respiratory health. We share up-to-date resources, to help you navigate the sometimes tricky waters, in learning what foods, products and nutrionals are helpful and safe, and which are not.
We are sharing our experiences with you. Please be sure to consult your doctor.
The information in this video is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness.
xoxo Liz
Found this information helpful? Then you you will LOVE my 3 step formula to improve lung health! Check it out right here!
I've talked recently about asthma triggers, and one of the WORST offenders are dryer sheets.
Dan and I were standing in Whole Foods last week, and suddenly we were bowled over by the smell of dryer sheets! I turned to Dan and asked, "Is someone doing laundry?", we then both looked over at the woman who had just passed by us... she left a trail of toxic fragrance in our wake! She must have used way more than one dryer sheet!
I usually smell dryer sheets on people at the airport, while scanning carry-on luggage. One or two people need to open their suitcase, and the freshly washed, and dried laundry wafts out a fragrant over load of toxins.
I also notice it in our neighborhood. I'd love to track down exactly the homes using dryer sheets and leave them a basket filled with wool dryer balls... like the Laundry Bunny! Ha!
Have you heard of wool dryer balls? Not only are they non toxic... they are better for the environment! Way less waste! Wool dryer balls can last up to a year! And they are super affordable! And reduce drying time so they save on energy costs too!
Theses are the Organic Wool Dryer Balls that I get. Click the image for product details and to purchase. 
Here are some interesting points I learned about dryer sheets (and other laundry products):
☢️Forty-four percent of scented laundry products tested spewed at least one carcinogenic hazardous air pollutant. Some of these include acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde.
☢️Some of the more immediate dangers of synthetic scents in laundry products include migraines, asthma attacks, eye and throat irritation and contact dermatitis.
☢️In one mice study, fabric softening products triggered limited airflow and pulmonary irritation in the animals studied. (7, 8)
☢️In 2009, nearly 10 percent of the general U.S. population reports irritation from scents coming out of dryer vents. By 2016, that number increased to more than 12 percent.
☢️In a study focusing on hormone disruptors and asthma triggers in everyday products, Silent Spring Institute researchers found dryer sheets contained some of the highest concentrations of harmful fragrance chemicals. Compounds like acetyl hexamethyl tetralin, isobornyl acetate and phenethyl alcohol also turned up.
☢️According to EcoWatch, dryer sheets often contain quaternary ammonium compounds, which can trigger asthma attacks. These cautoionic fabric softeners also routinely trigger reproductive toxicity in animals. Acetone in the sheets can trigger dizzy spells and headaches. Aside from that, up to 10 percent of a dryer sheet’s weight could be comprised of fragrance chemicals.
☢️Dryer sheet “grades” vary greatly. Some “F” products contained quaternary ammonium compounds compounds due to their well-known asthma-triggering properties. Other fabric softening compounds routinely used in dryer sheets are considered toxic to wildlife.
Breathe well and take care. You can change your reality one step at a time.
If you or someone you love is suffering, we want to help! We have a community of others, just like you, who are embracing natural ways to improve respiratory health. We share up-to-date resources, to help you navigate the sometimes tricky waters, in learning what foods, products and nutrionals are helpful and safe, and which are not.
We are sharing our experiences with you. Please be sure to consult your doctor.
The information in this video is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness.
xoxo Liz
Found this information helpful? Then you you will LOVE my 3 step formula to improve lung health! Check it out right here!
