My Top 5 Deodorants for Sensitive Skin

My Top 5 Deodorants for Sensitive Skin

 

I became aware of the dangers of aluminium in deodorants when I was in my teens.  As dementia is common on both sides of my family, I definitely knew I wanted to avoid it, let alone the links between antiperspirants & breast cancer.  Instead, I used perfumed body sprays that were (and still are) so popular with girls & young women, not realising at the time how much they can mess with hormones.  I tried a natural spray deodorant based on tea tree oil, but it barely lasted a few hours before I started to stink.  I then tried one of those solid crystal deodorants, only to end up with irritation that looked like a chemical burn.  In the bin with that!

I tried so many different things over the years, with limited success.  Several years ago, I realised a lot of the newer natural deodorants on the market were based on sodium bicarbonate.  I tried dusting bicarb powder on my armpits & found it was amazingly effective!  I went on to try a couple of pastes with bicarb which were great…..until the itch started.  The itch quickly turned into peeling skin that had me wanting to rip my armpits off.  I had developed a sensitivity to bicarb and was back to square one.

As it turns out, I was not the only one and I started seeing bicarb-free deodorant pastes in the shops.  Huzzah!  I have tried pretty much every one I’ve come across & wanted to share my top 5 with you in case you are a sensitive flower like myself – LOL.  All are Australian made, natural and cruelty-free.

 

1) No Pong – Low Fragrance, Bicarb Free

No Pong is nothing short of fantastic.  I find it lasts 2-3 days with no smell, which is how often I shower (daily showers make my skin worse).  It has a lovely subtle scent, using some of my favourite essential oils.  It’s the same blend of oils they use in their original formulation, just at a lower concentration.  They’ve actually dubbed their deodorant as an “anti odourant”, which is probably a more accurate description for a product that prevents the odour forming in the first place. It’s also palm oil free, which is great news for the orangutans.  However, if you’re vegan, you may prefer the other deodorants I have listed as No Pong does contain beeswax.No Pong Bicarb Free Deodorant | www.unitywellness.com.au

Ingredients: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Magnesium Hydroxide, Diatomaceous Earth, Beeswax, and a reduced concentration of our fresh, gender neutral, proprietary blend of 100% pure, Australian certified organic essential oils consisting of Orange Sweet, Vanilla, Lemongrass, Cedarwood Atlas, Bergamot, Lime, Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, and Geranium.

RRP: $6.95 + Shipping from $3 from their website, $9.95 from retailers for a 35g tin.

Tins can be reused or recycled via roadside collection.

Available HERE

 

2) My Shay Sensitive

I had the opportunity to try the bicarb-free version of My Shay shortly before it was released on the market.  My Shay is based on certified Fair Trade shea butter from West Africa & certified organic coconut oil.  All My Shay products are hand-blended & poured about half an hour away from me in Hobart, so it’s great to buy from a local small business!  My teenage daughter, who spends several hours a week getting sweaty at dance classes, said she likes My Shay more than No Pong, preferring both the smoother texture & subtle citrusy scent.  I find it doesn’t last quite as long (1, maybe 2 days), but I definitely like the texture more.  It is also the least likely of all the pastes to leave any white marks on dark clothes.

This is also the option for you if you’re vegan, as it’s free from beeswax & other animal products.  Tara who makes it is vegan herself, so this was super-important to her.My Shay Sensitive Deodorant | www.unitywellness.com.au

Tara took out both Gold & the People’s Choice Award at the 2019 Australian Non-Toxic Awards for her regular Lemon Myrtle deodorant (with bicarb) and her original scent was also a Finalist, so she definitely makes top-quality products.  She has had a number of people tell her that her bicarb-free deodorant has actually healed irritated and eczema-prone skin, which is amazing!  You may also like to try her Detoxifying Charcoal Soap to naturally draw impurities out of the skin and remove the bacteria that causes body odour.

Ingredients: Tapioca Starch, Coconut Oil*, Shea Butter*, Magnesium Hydroxide, Cacao Butter*, Kaolin Clay, Diatomaceous Earth, Candelilla Wax. Olive Oil, Essential Oils of Lavender, Lemon Myrtle, Sweet Orange, Red Mandarin, Peppermint & Cedarwood. *=Certified Organic

RRP: 30g tin $11.99 / 65g jar $19.99 / 80g refill pouch (home compostable) $21.99 / discounted 4-pack bundles.
Free Shipping on many small items, plus Free Shipping on all orders over $50.  Upgrade to Express Post available.

You can use the code UNITY10 at checkout to save an extra 10% on your order!

Tins & jars can be reused or recycled via roadside collection.  Refill pouches are home-compostable.

Available HERE

 

3) Good + Clean Deodorant Crème

I’ll admit that this was a “you had me at Sandalwood” purchase.  I really can’t go past anything with Sandalwood….nor can my daughter apparently, who looked at me intensely & insisted we weren’t leaving the store without buying the Santalum Deodorant.  There are 3 other varieties available: Nerolina (Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards 2019 Finalist), Piperita (Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards 2019 Winner) & Ternifolia (unscented), but it’s all about the Santalum in this house!

Like My Shay, this deodorant is vegan & hand-made, although somewhat further from us on the Gold Coast, and it’s palm oil free.

The first thing I noticed (after the beautiful scent) was the silky, powdery texture of the crème-to-powder formula.  It’s much softer than the other deodorants and very easy to spread without having to wait a few seconds for it to warm to body temperature.  They say on their website that it’s a non-staining formula and it’s true that there’s no lasting stains, but I do find it leaves white powdery residue on dark clothes, so you need to be careful getting dressed or be prepared to wipe down your clothes with a damp cloth.

Even though I love this scent the most, I do find that I react slightly to something in it (possibly the almond oil as I’m a bit iffy with nuts), but this is my daughter’s top choice.Good + Clean Santalum Deodorant | www.unitywellness.com.au

As a bonus, Good + Clean donates 10% of every sale to land and ocean conservation projects.

Ingredients: Tapioca Starch, Magnesium Hydroxide, Prunus dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Diatomaceous Earth, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Vegetable Glycerine (Palm-free), Candelilla (Euphorbia Cerifera) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Essential Oils: Rosewood, Cedarwood, Orange, Buddha Wood, Peru Balsam, Australian sandalwood, Frankincense, Benzoin, Lemon, Vetiver, Juniper, Vanilla.

RRP:  70g tin $22.00 / 4 x 70g tins $80 / Free Shipping on orders over $75 / Afterpay available

Tins can be reused or recycled via roadside collection.

Available HERE

 

4) Black Chicken Axilla Paste – Barrier Booster for Sensitive Skin

For months, I saw people RAVING online about Black Chicken deodorant.  It seemed to be the go-to amongst lovers of non-toxic products.  It sounded great, but it was another product with bicarb.  Then (drumroll), they released their bicarb-free version, Barrier Booster.

It lasts 1-2 days, spreads easily & smells lovely.  It’s vegan-friendly & palm oil free.  The oils and fatty acids actually help to strengthen sensitive skin, reducing sensitivity over time.

They also have an agreement with Terracycle where you can send back any Black Chicken packaging that can’t be recycled via roadside collection (at your cost) & you’ll receive a $10 e-gift card to use on their website.Black Chicken Axilla Barrier Booster | www.unitywellness.com.au

Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii* (Shea Butter), Cocos Nucifera* (Coconut oil), Borago Officinalis* (Borage seed oil), Camellia Oleifera* (Camellia Tea oil), Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E oil), Vegetable Glycerine* not derived from palm oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla wax), Magnesium Hydroxide, Amorphous Silica (Diatomaceous Earth Powder)*, Manihot Esculenta (Tapioca).

With essential oils of: Citrus Paradisi (Pink Grapefruit essential oil), Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin essential oil), Pelargonium Graveness (Geranium Bourbon essential oil), Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang essential oil).

*Certified Organic ingredients.

RRP: 75g plastic jar $19.50 / Free shipping over $75 / Afterpay available

PET jar bases can be recycled in roadside collection.  Lids may need to be returned to Black Chicken for recycling as there’s no recycling code on them.

Available HERE

 

5) Woohoo Mellow

Woohoo was probably the first paste-style deodorant I tried, although I started with the Urban scent that does contain bicarb.  It worked well until I couldn’t tolerate it.

Even though they did all they could to balance the pH of their original formulas, it wasn’t enough for us super-sensitive types, so they created Mellow.  Not only is it bicarb-free, it’s also the only deodorant in this list that contains no essential oils, which can also irritate some people.  That makes it a great choice for pregnant & breastfeeding women who want to avoid essential oils, or those who just don’t like scented products.  Like all except No Pong, this deodorant is vegan-friendly.Woohoo Mellow Deodorant | www.unitywellness.com.au

Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Manihot Esculenta (Tapioca) Root Starch, Magnesium Hydroxide, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Kaolin Clay, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla) Wax, Triethyl Citrate, Zinc Oxide (non-nano), Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Diheptyl Succinate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Activated Charcoal Powder

* Certified Organic Ingredient

RRP: 70g plastic jar $17.95 / Free Shipping on orders over $100 / Afterpay available

Jars are reusable or recyclable in roadside collection.

Available HERE

 

As you may have noticed, Magnesium Hydroxide (AKA ‘Milk of Magnesia’) is a hero ingredient in all of these deodorants due to its ability to safely kill bacteria on the skin.  Magnesium is required for over 300 normal processes in the human body & most of us are deficient in it, so this is a much healthier option to aluminium salts which are neurotoxic and block sweat glands.  On that note, none of these deodorants will stop you from sweating, and that’s a GOOD thing.  Sweating is a great detoxification pathway which we don’t want to stop, but the ingredients in the deodorants will slow the growth of odour-causing bacteria on the skin.

With all of the pastes, the application method is the same: apply a pea-sized amount under each armpit & gently massage into the skin.  Easy as!

So that’s my top 5 deodorants for sensitive skin.  Although they are all similar in ingredients, there are subtle differences that will affect which choice is right for you.

 

I’d love to know which one you love the most, or if there’s any others you think I should try, so please comment below 😊

 

BONUS #6

 

So, it’s been a few months since I first wrote this post and I am always trying different products so I know which ones I’m happy to recommend to you.  In the past, I haven’t really loved roll-on deodorants because I’ve found they tend to lose effectiveness really quickly, almost to the point it’s like I’m rolling ON stench.  Ewww!  I’m guessing it may be because of bacteria transferring to the bottle from the roller, but who knows?  I’ve just avoided them based on past experience.Miessence Ultrasensitive Deodorant  |  www.unitywellness.com.au

However, someone recommended I try the certified organic Milk of Magnesia Ultrasensitive Roll-on Deodorant from Miessence.  I was ordering some of their shampoo & conditioner anyway, so figured I’d give the deodorant a go.  I’m so glad I did!  I’ve been using it for several weeks with zero reaction and there’s also no roll-on stench effect as I near the end of my first bottle (and yes, I’ve ordered more).  I get a good 2-3 days out of one application.  There are only four ingredients and it’s great for anyone sensitive to essential oils, having only a very subtle neutral scent from organic vanilla extract.

It is definitely a worthy addition to the list of my ‘Favourite Deodorants for Sensitive Skin’ so if you prefer a roll-on to a paste, or you’re accustomed to using conventional roll-on deodorant, this is one you need to try.

Ingredients
certified organic aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, magnesium hydroxide, Non-GMO Xanthan Gum, certified organic vanilla planifolia (vanilla) fruit extract

RRP $9.20 60ml

Available HERE

 

 

Top 5 Deodorants for Sensitive Skin  |  www.unitywellness.com.au

 

 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices.  While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.  Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.

AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS

This post/site may contain Affiliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!).  I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.

This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.

Pink Noise for Peaceful Sleep

Pink Noise for Peaceful Sleep

 

What exactly is ‘Pink Noise’ and how might it help you or your child to get a deeper, more restful sleep?

 

When my teenager was born, she had bad colic and wasn’t entirely keen on sleeping….and rarely in her own space.  I know it’s biologically normal for babies to be close to a primary carer (usually, that means Mum) and had no problem co-sleeping and baby wearing.  However, as a first-time Mum with little practical support, I certainly had days I didn’t cope so well.  Looking for some solutions, I came across the concept of “white noise” and bought the ‘Sounds for Silence’ CD by Australian Paediatrician, Dr Harry Zehnwirth.  A blend of domestic noises (think the vacuum cleaner, radio static, washing machine) and rhythmic maternal sounds, the tracks replicate the sounds babies may hear in-utero to calm and soothe the brain and nervous system to allow them to ease into a sleep state.  It made a significant difference, with me often saying it should be included in every baby bag handed out in hospitals.  There are some tracks that worked better than others, so I just put those on repeat and would often just take that time to do some meditation to the swooshing sounds.

 

White Noise vs Pink Noise (and other colours)

Sounds can be categorised by their wave patterns which correspond with the wave patterns of colours in the visible light spectrum.  Both white noise & pink noise contain all the frequencies audible to humans, the difference being the way the power is distributed through those frequencies.  Where as white noise has equal power per hertz through all frequencies, pink noise decreases in power per hertz as the frequency increases.  This results in lower frequencies in pink noise being louder and having more power with a deeper tone, even though most people perceive pink noise as being flat or even.

Sounds that can be classified as white noise include radio or television static, a whirring fan or an air-conditioner.  Because all frequencies are of an equal intensity, they can drown out other noises that may stimulate your brain and make it difficult to sleep.

Now think of the sound of steady rain, of leaves rustling in the wind or the familiar lub-thump of a heartbeat.  Those are all examples of pink noise. You could say pink noise is white noise with a bass boost.

Brown (Brownian) noise, sometimes called red noise, is deeper again – think rolling thunder or a large waterfall – although there’s not as much evidence to support its effectiveness as a sleep aid.

Just as black is a lack of light, black noise refers to silence, with occasional random noise.  Some people love sleeping in silence (myself included), but for many, especially young children, it can be unsettling as they are used to background noises in the womb.  A lack of noise may represent abandonment and can trigger a fear response.

There’s also blue noise, violet noise, green noise & grey noise, but for sleep, pink noise has shown greater benefits.

Pink noise masks background sounds that might otherwise disturb sleep, as well as reducing brain wave activity and increasing time in deep sleep, which improves memory & helps you to awaken feeling refreshed.

 

Sources of Pink Noise

Given that it does not conveniently rain every night, nor do the majority of us live near the base of a roaring waterfall or in the middle of a forest, we need to turn to recordings of these frequencies, either based on sounds from nature or replicated in a studio environment.

There are a number of free recordings on YouTube, as well as Noise Generator websites and apps that allow you to listen to pre-set ‘colours’ or adjust the frequencies to suit your personal preference.

You can also purchase a pink noise device like the Aroma Snooze sleep aid.  What I like about this option is not only do you get pre-recorded pink noise, but it also contains lullabies to help babies sleep, nature sounds, a heartbeat sound & a voice recorder so you can record shushing sounds or lullabies in your own voice.  For older children and adults, you can use it to record special messages, mantras and affirmations to play through the night, which will be ‘heard’ by the subconscious mind. The Aroma Snooze is also an air purifier & ioniser, ultrasonic essential oil diffuser (no heat or condensation issues) and contains a red/orange LED light, known to support melatonin release to ensure proper sleep patterns.  It comes with a 15ml complimentary 100% Australian Certified Organic essential oil blend designed to support relaxation and sleep.

You can watch an interview with Julie Parr, the creator of the Aroma Snooze HERE or watch the video below as she runs through all the features:

 

Have you tried sound therapy to help your baby sleep, or even to overcome your own insomnia?  I’d love to know how it helped you, so please comment below.

 

Pink Noise for Peaceful Sleep | www.unitywellness.com.au

 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices.  While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.  Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.

AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS

This post/site may contain Affiliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!).  I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.

This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.

What’s The Best Water Filter For Your Home?

What’s The Best Water Filter For Your Home?

When Professor Marc Cohen (AKA ‘Dr Marc’) asked what the best water filter was for his home, the answer was, “It depends”.  Every type of filter has pros and cons and there is no one filter that ticks all the boxes.  As Dr Marc says though, “you can either use a filter, or become one” and he set out to find the best technology currently available.

 

The Importance of Water

We know that water is essential to life.  We have all heard that humans are around 70% water.  While that’s true based on volume and mass, Dr Marc says that on a molecular level, we’re actually 99% water.  As such, the quality of the water that we’re exposed to can significantly impact our health.  According to an analysis just released by the EWG, substances in drinking water can even increase your risk of cancer.

Clean water is the cheapest way of improving health.  On a large scale, this involves adding chlorine &/or chloramine to Municipal water supplies to kill common pathogenic bacteria.  It does the job well, but with all we’re learning about the microbes responsible for 90% or more of our genetic expression, now the question is what effects are these chemicals having on our gut microbiome? These microbes help to control our thoughts, mood, diet, appetite, what food we want to eat and even who we want to be with.  They also impact our gut permeability, nutrient uptake and immune function.

It’s not just the water we drink that matters, though.  We’re exposed to 10x more water through bathing each day than what we drink and when water is heated, the chlorine and its by-products (such as trihalomethanes, or THMs) become volatile and are easily inhaled.  The skin surface area of an average adult is around 2m2 and we’re covered is beneficial microbes. Our lungs have a surface area of around 150m2, or nearly the size of a tennis court, with a high permeability to allow the normal exchange of gasses to & from our bloodstream.  As such, there’s probably no part of our body not affected by the chlorine.

Here are the ‘10 Calamities of Chlorine‘ by Dr Marc:

1) Chlorine is a potent poison
Chlorine is so toxic to bacteria it makes great disinfectants, antiseptics, pesticides and antibiotics. The acrid smell of chlorine can be detected above 0.1 ppm, inhaling 1- 4 ppm damages the lungs, above 40 ppm causes acute chest pain, shortness of breath, and cough, and above 400 ppm is fatal.

2) Chlorine has many toxic forms
Chlorine gas was used to kill soldiers in the First World War. Chlorine bleach and disinfectants produce toxic disinfection by-products. Organochlorines like DDT are persistent pollutants that accumulate in the food chain. Chlorofluorocarbons are volatile compounds toxic to the ozone layer. PVC releases dioxins and other hazardous waste into the environment.

3) Chlorine is toxic when ingested
Chlorine forms poisonous acids in the body and its disinfection by-products such as Trihalomethanes are known to cause cancer and birth defects. Persistent exposure to low levels of chlorine and its by-products in contaminated drinking water and food may lead to gut dysbiosis and a wide range of chronic diseases.

4) Chlorine is toxic on skin
Chlorine in bathing water directly irritates and dries out skin and hair and may alter the skin microflora leading to skin dysbiosis. Chlorine may cause or aggravate many diseases including psoriasis, allergies, eczema, contact dermatitis, acne, poor wound healing, skin ulcers, dandruff, yeast and fungal infections, rosacea, and accelerated skin aging.

5) Chlorine is toxic when inhaled
Chlorine and its volatile by-products are released when chlorinated water is heated and are easily inhaled. Chlorine irritates the mucous membranes in your eyes, nose and respiratory tract and causes immediate or delayed symptoms including watering eyes, sneezing, sinus congestion, coughing, choking, wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and death.

6) Chlorine is volatile
Chlorine and its volatile by-products avoid the first-pass metabolism in your liver by being directly absorbed into the bloodstream through the large surface area of your lungs and skin. Exposure to hot water through bathing, showering, dishwashing or other activities, therefore, produces greater exposure to disinfection by-products than exposure through drinking.

7) Chlorine is more toxic for the young
Chlorinated water is associated with higher rates of stillbirths and birth defects. Infants and young children’s skin, eyes, respiratory tract and developing microbiome are more sensitive to chlorine and its by-products, which may contribute to the development and aggravation of asthma, hay fever, allergies, skin irritation and gut dysbiosis.

8) Chlorine leads to leaks
Chlorine and its volatile by-products can erode flexible, braided water hoses leading to leaks and plumbing failure when chlorine-based cleaners and disinfectants are stored nearby. Chlorine can also cause pinhole pitting in copper pipes and cause leaks and water damage to buildings and the development of dampness, moisture and mould.

9) Chlorine leaches lead
Chlorine and its by-products are corrosive agents and they combine with pH, alkalinity, temperature, oxidation potential, and other chemicals to leach lead from pipes, solder and ‘lead-free’ brass plumbing fixtures. Lead in drinking water leads to neurotoxicity, and stunted cognitive development, learning disabilities, attention difficulties and antisocial behaviour in children.

10) Chlorine makes hazardous waste
Chlorine-based products such as PVC produce dioxins and other hazardous Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) when they are burned. POPs are toxic to human and wildlife at low levels, do not degrade easily, are distributed around the globe through long-range environmental transport, and bioaccumulate up the food chain in fatty tissue.

 

An Increasingly Toxic World

Chlorine and chloramine are not the only toxins in our water.  There’s a saying that “the solution to pollution is dilution”, and for the last century in particular, humans have discharged all sorts of toxins into sewers, streams, rivers and oceans with this idea that it would just wash away.  However, we have now created so much pollution that it doesn’t just disappear.  Testing was done on the breastmilk of a native tribe in New Guinea who lived 2000km away from agriculture and an elevation of 2000m and DDT (an organochlorine) was found that they’d never been exposed to in any other way.  These chemicals are part of the water cycle now and fall in rain and enter underground aquifers world-wide.  In the last few decades, we’ve seen an average loss 2/3 of all species on Earth, increasing to around 78% near ‘fresh’ water.

Common pollutants in our drinking water include:

  • pharmaceutical drugs (including the oral contraceptive pill and antibiotics)
  • pesticides
  • herbicides (such as glyphosate)
  • heavy metals
  • viruses
  • bacteria
  • parasites
  • protozoa
  • cysts
  • mould spores
  • sediment
  • radioactive materials
  • fire retardants
  • VOCs

Thirsty yet?

Even if you are on tank water, many of these pollutants are still in the water, so filtration is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury.  I find our garden plants suffer when watered with tap water, my gut issues get so much worse and when I run a bath for my young daughter, the bathroom smells like an indoor swimming pool.

 

Whole-House Water Filters

 

Dr Marc’s motto is “drinking less poison is good for you”.  The man has a point!  However, as we can see above, we also need to consider what’s in ALL the water coming into our homes.

Clean Water | www.unitywellness.com.au

Aragon filter cartridges offer the latest in water filter technology, being 20x more effective than common ion-exchange filters.  Testing in both Europe and America show they remove 100% of viruses and chlorine, 99.999% of sediments, around 95% of chloramine, pathogens, pesticide residues, pharmaceutical drugs, and parasites, and reduce fluoride by about half.  As a bonus, the calcium in the water is reduced to a smaller, more crystalline structure that does not form scale deposits, which means less scrubbing of tiles and shower screens, your hot water cylinder and appliances will last longer, your skin and hair will feel softer and less irritated, and it’s kinder on your digestive tract and kidneys.

Whole House Water Filter | www.unitywellness.com.auBig Blue Whole House Filter | www.unitywellness.com.auHaving a whole-house filter will give you the comfort of knowing you can drink, cook, shower, bathe, groom your pets and irrigate your plants using water free from toxic contaminants such as chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, heavy metals, hardness salts, dissolved and colloidal iron, radioactive materials, sediment, and a range of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, cysts, mould spores and residues from pharmaceutical drugs.

Those of you who create your own ferments & sourdough will also know how important it is to use purified water, free from chlorine and other substances that may damage the beneficial microbes.

The Big Blue twin filter system is designed for use where a high flow rate is needed, either domestically or in commercial premises. With a flow rate of 50 L/min, the whole family can enjoy filtered water at the same time (most showerheads have a flow rate of 7-9 L/min to give you an idea).  They come with a 5 year warranty and you can choose between UV-stabilised polypropylene casing that should last outdoors around 15 years or stainless steel casing that will likely last a lifetime.  Big Blue filters also meet AU/NZ WaterMark Standards.

View the brochure HERE.

 

I know a lot of people are concerned about fluoride and I’m one who’d love to see the end of mass medication through water fluoridation (a topic for another day).  However, the only way to remove 100% of fluoride is through reverse osmosis which does not allow for the fast flow needed for showers, baths, dishwashers and washing machines.  If you do want a reverse osmosis system for drinking and cooking water, there are countertop or below sink systems available.  The reverse osmosis process takes out everything from the water, but that can leave it “dead” and devoid of minerals that help the water get into our cells to hydrate them.   The systems I’ve linked to have an extra cartridge to add alkaline minerals back into the purified water which help the water to enter your cells for proper hydration.

For more general information on why we need to reduce our exposure to toxins, you can also read a great article by Dr Marc about the ‘10 Toxic Truths‘.

What's the Best Water Filter?  |  www.unitywellness.com.au

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices.  While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.  Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.

AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS

This post/site may contain Affiliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!).  I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.

This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.

Project “Drop the Baby Weight”

Project “Drop the Baby Weight”

 

Let me preface this post by saying I loathe the pressure on women to “lose the baby weight” within weeks or months of birth.  Our bodies go through SO much from the beginning of pregnancy, right through the months to years of breastfeeding.  When I studied Naturopathy, they taught us that women generally need at least two years between pregnancies to recover nutrient stores so as not to leave themselves chronically depleted.  Dr Oscar Serrelach says post-partum depletion can affect our health for up to a decade, so this is a time to nourish our bodies, not punish them.  I’ll never forget a woman I used to work with who had to have her crumbling teeth removed that had been affected two close pregnancies some 25 years prior.  Nobody wants to go through that physical & emotional pain.

 

Some Background

Those of you familiar with my blog may have read my story from a few years back about how I released 30+kgs.  I started that when my eldest daughter was 7.5 years old and it was honestly the best thing I’d probably ever done for my health.  It was certainly the first time I’d dropped a significant amount of weight and my fatigue symptoms disappeared, along with much of my back pain from a herniated disc and bone degeneration.  I felt amazing & like the outside finally matched the inner me, without all those protective layers that had built up since childhood.

Whilst the majority of women who breastfeed lose weight faster than those who don’t (lactation uses around 500-700 calories/day), I’m not one of them.  With both my girls, I was back to pre-baby size within a week of birth, but then around 2-3 months postpartum, I started ballooning – and fast.  Not quite as fast the second time, but there were spurts where I’d suddenly gain & could not get it to move back down.  As such, all the good work I’d done between kids came undone & I maxxed out around 104kg by the time my youngest turned 4yo, despite not really having an appetite.

My nervous & endocrine systems had also suffered in that time,  with a health crash mid-2016 that saw me in the hospital with sudden-onset convulsions & muscle weakness that started just after I climbed into bed in the wee hours one morning, having finally gotten my then-toddler to sleep.  Laying there in the ED, the right side of my body flapping about madly, all I could think of was the worst case scenario & not being around to see my girls grow up.  After they ran some tests, I was diagnosed with “stress”.  WTAF????????????  I was certainly not feeling stressed (until that point) and had been through some traumatic situations in my life without ever experiencing symptoms like that.  The feeling of having no control over my body & not even being able to drive at times was excrutiating.

As it turns out, shortly after that happened there was a show on TV one night about Functional Neurological Disorder, where people had symptoms of neurological disorders, but no physical cause.  Essentially, the brain does not register stress, so you don’t “feel” stressed psychologically, so the body (in all its wisdom) has to find another way to release the stress, hence the somatic symptoms.  I decided to try Chiropractic care to calm my nervous system (I’d received Chiropractic care on & off since childhood, but hadn’t been in several years) and I saw a local Integrative GP to get some further testing done.  The GP agreed with me that testing for MTHFR defects & Pyroluria were well indicated, and both came back positive, along with low Vit D & B12 levels & cortisol levels about 3x the normal range.  They explained my lack of appetite along with a raft of other symptoms I’d had throughout my life (and that were prominent in other family members).  The long-term lack of sleep combined with IBS, poor appetite, an increased load on my endocrine system & reduced ability to detox had all combined to create the perfect storm.

The general advice was to wean my daughter and go away for a couple of nights for a break.  Pfffft!  That was not going to happen.  Leaving her at that time would have created more stress for both of us.  I needed to do what I could to nourish my body & reduce the physical stress of the aforementioned issues.  I continued regular care with my chiro, had some B12 shots, took some other supps and slept when I could.  Over the next few weeks, the “episodes” reduced & I was able to function much better.  I was doing the best I could with the circumstances at the time.

It was shortly after that that the opportunity to start Unity Wellness arose.  I always say it was the best & worst of timing.  With all that was wrong healthwise and with the way I looked, I was acutely aware that I didn’t present as the picture of health, but then I hoped my own journey to better health might inspire others who are ready to make changes, which is why I always share openly & honestly.

 

Fast Forward

Breastfeeding my youngest had never been as easy as it was with my eldest (oh, how lucky I was the first time).  Her latch was never the best and the older she got, the more I dreaded feeding her due to pain.  By the time she was 4.5yo, I felt like there was not really any milk being produced and feeding was more about comfort.  A couple of months later, I realised we’d gone a whole day with her being OK with just a cuddle instead.  Then the next day, and the next.   This sudden change brought about ALL the emotions.  Whereas my eldest had weaned in her own time, I kind of felt guilty this time because I felt like the timing was more due to my pain than her readiness to finish.  I felt like if I let her have another feed, I might miss this opportunity to wean and focus more on my health, but then it was such a sudden change that I felt a deep sense of grief (even writing this has the tears flowing).  This was the end of my breastfeeding journey not just for her, but forever.

Mixed in with the grief was a sense of relief and excitement.  Finally, I was in a position to make choices about my body without worrying about anyone else.  Looking at photos of myself, all I could see was tiredness, inflammation, gut issues (which had improved, but not completely) and aging.  Now, I’m in my mid-40’s, not mid-20’s, so I don’t have unrealistic expectations or believe I have to look a certain way but again, my body did not accurately represent the way I felt inside.  I almost didn’t recognise the person in the mirror, and not in a good way.

Before Photo | www.unitywellness.com.au

In April this year, just after her birthday, my eldest daughter was ready to do another round of the Changing Habits Fat Loss Protocol and I was ready to join her.  It was time for me.

 

The Journey

 

I had grand plans to blog a daily diary, but nearly four weeks later, I’ve realised that’s just NOT going to happen 😆

As such, a weekly review will fit much better into my schedule and still gives you an idea of what’s involved in the protocol and what you can expect if you decide to try it.  As with the first three rounds I did years ago, this is about improving endocrine health & reducing inflammation, with fat reduction being an added and most welcome benefit.

 

Phase 1

Phase 1 (P1) of the protocol is about loading the body with good fats, whilst minimising carb intake.  There is an optional 5 day cleanse you can do before this phase, but as I’m already gluten-free, mostly dairy-free & eat organic when possible, I didn’t feel the need but it can be useful if your diet has been poor in the lead-up or you struggle with sugar cravings and the like.  As I don’t eat much dairy, I focused more on coconut products, fat on meat & olive oil.  We also did a 3 day loading period as I only started eating half way through the first day, so it was more like 2.5 days.  Loading well can make the transition to the next phase easier as the body becomes accustomed to using fat for energy.  This is also the time to start taking the Support Drops that help the body to release the unwanted fat stores rather than the structural fat, so we don’t end up looking gaunt.

Some P1 foods we enjoyed include chia pudding made with coconut milk served with coconut yoghurt and hemp seeds, loaded berry smoothie with coconut cream, MCT oil, hemp seeds and assorted powdered superfoods, and roast chicken with the skin & veggies roasted in oil.  Soooooo gooooood!!!!

Phase 1 Good Fats | www.unitywellness.com.au

P1 Fat Loading | www.unitywellness.com.au

One the first day of P1, I weighed 100.2kg.  While it’s not usual to lose weight in this phase, I tend to and weighed 99.8kg on the next 2 days.

 

Phase 2

Phase 2 (P2) is the fat burning phase, with people releasing an average of 300g a day.  In nature, where no shops or markets exist, food tends to be more scarce in Winter so we would have to live off the fat we’d stored on our bodies in the warmer, more abundant seasons.  Meat would also be leaner as their food sources were also scarce.  Phase 2 of the 4 Phase Protocol replicates that pattern, with limited quantities & variety of food – lean protein, vegetables & fruits.  That’s one of the reasons I like to do the protocol in the cooler months.  They describe it as “Keto without the fat” to give you an idea of the sorts of foods allowed.  I’ll be doing 40 days (and 40 nights) in P2.  The maximum time allowed is 43 days, but I want to be finished in time for my birthday so I can celebrate by reintroducing fat when cooking.

NOTE: This program does include meat / seafood as the protein source.  If you’re vegetarian, there is the option of eggs or cottage cheese, with vegans choosing from Inca Inchi Protein Powder or tofu (ideally, organic and non-GMO), although be aware that results may differ if using plant-based proteins.

 
P2, Week 1

Well, I’m not going to say it was a walk in the park.  I experienced more headaches & tiredness in the first week than I have any other round of the Protocol.  Maybe I should have done the pre-cleanse after all?  On Day 2, my bleed started, which was terrible timing.  I’d normally start a round of the Protocol just as I was finishing my monthly cycle, but in starting this round when I did to support my daughter, it didn’t work out that way.  It could also have played a part in the way I was feeling.  It could also by why I found myself feeling much more hungry this time, which I offset with drinking more herbal tea.  Working on Instagram certainly didn’t help, with all the photos of goodies being posted in the lead-up to Easter.  I don’t think I have ever salivated so much, which is probably a good thing for my digestion….not so good for my chocolate-loving soul! 😆

My favourite meal of the week was probably the Herbed Roast Beef with Peppercorn Jus created by Nikalene at Skinnymixers (we did the protocol at the same time years ago, so I’m proud to see the success she’s had since then).  It made 10 servings, so it was also great to have enough food cooked for the next few days.

I started this phase at 99.2kg & finished the first week down 3.2kg, which is still good considering the less than ideal timing.

 
P2, Week 2

The hunger and headaches continued until about half way through the second week.  I woke up around Day 11 & suddenly felt much better.  My hunger was gone, my headaches had stopped, I had more energy and my head felt clear for the first time in a lonnnnng time.  Definitely settling into the groove this week and enjoying another Skinnymixers recipe, Chicken Zoodle Soup (seriously, try it even if you’re not doing the Protocol).  I also made us some Berry Fruity Dream from organic frozen strawberries & an eggwhite which was delicious, but I only had a small weight drop the next day.  Given that strawberries can be touch & go for me, I decided to stick more to apples (we’re lucky to live down the road from an organic apple orchard, so get them at a good price).  We can have 2-3 fruit serves a day, so I’ve been using one of the apples to make my Green Smoothie.  It’s a great way to incorporate the food-based supplements that are included in the Protocol.

This week also coincided with Easter, but I discovered that my body does well with hot chocolate made with a teaspoon of organic cacao powder mixed in hot water with 3 drops of stevia & a little vanilla.  WINNING!!!!!

Another 2.5kg released this week.  Here’s some of the food I’ve been eating in P2:

Phase 2 Meals | www.unitywellness.com.au

 
P2, Week 3

I woke on day 15 to my first weight increase.  I tried prawns last night, which had previously been fine for me.  Nooooo!  Not the prawns!!!  The weight stayed the same the next day as well, but I was also having ovulation symptoms which may have caused some inflammation or fluid retention, and sleep was lacking.  Either way, I’ve decided to avoid prawns for the moment and I’ll test them again down the track.

I’ve been using stocks & broths for cooking in place of oil.  As a bonus, the bone broths are good for healing a leaky gut and increasing collagen in the skin & joints.  The only one that’s “officially” allowed on the protocol is the Changing Habits Naked Beef Broth, which has been skimmed of fat before being dehydrated into a powder, but I’ve also used the ‘Meadow and Marrow’ a.m. Cleanse & Natural bone broth concentrates, as well as ‘Best of the Bone’ Turmeric and Ginger concentrate, all with good results (just don’t tell anyone, mmmkay? 😉 )

As mentioned above, I’ve been reminded this week about the importance of sleep for proper endocrine function.  On the nights I only get around 6 hours sleep, I find my weight doesn’t change or goes up slightly, which has been an issue over the last 5 years of pregnancy & child-rearing.

My daughter has found that she hasn’t got the stamina to get through four dance classes a week during this phase.  A gentle daily walk or some restorative yoga are fine on the protocol, but it doesn’t really provide enough energy for an active lifestyle and more intense exercise can trigger inflammation, which is counter-productive with this program.  As such, she’s decided to cut this round short with a view to moving to the Hunter Gatherer Protocol, which is better suited to those who do a lot of physical work, who are breastfeeding or otherwise not suited to the Fat Loss Protocol.

Down 1.5kg this week after a couple of stalls.  Halfway through P2 and I am starting to see my jawline again as the puffiness subsides.  Huzzah!

 

Phase 2 fat loss half way | www.unitywellness.com.au

 

P2, Week 4

Well, this week’s been a mixed bag!  After the hunger of the first couple of weeks, I’ve been struggling to eat my second meal of the day.  I just didn’t really feel like it at all for a few days, but knew that insufficient protein can cause fluid retention & my body needs the nutrients from the veg.  My weight has been bouncing around after the steady losses of the first 3 weeks, with gains happening on the nights I get less than 7 hours sleep (usually more like 4-5 hours).  Sufficient sleep really does make such a massive difference on this protocol to regulate the metabolism & gut microbiome.  Thankfully, the gains were offset somewhat by some good losses (1.3kg one day, 700g a couple of days later).  On the day I dropped 700g, I also dropped into the 80’s, for a total loss from the start of 10.3kg.  Here’s Debra Messing reenacting my reaction (the subdued version, according to my daughter):

However, this week also saw the return of headaches & dizziness, along with lower back pain and a short temper.  I was not eating any differently, but I did end up starting my cycle this week, which explained those symptoms, along with the yo-yoing weight.

One of the “free” foods we can test on the protocol is konjac noodles, but given they haven’t been good for me in previous rounds, I’ve avoided them, instead trying kelp noodles.  They are good for me!!!  It’s great to have them as an option when I want something a bit extra.

 
Onwards & downwards!
 
 
P2, Week 5

I was reading a post in the Facebook Support Group for the Protocol that others have experienced stalls at the changing of a “decade” of weight, so my week of bouncing just either side of 90 was normal!  Once my cycle started, the weight started moving again.  I’ve also noticed a return of hunger some days.  Not gnawing, but a feeling of emptiness that I can generally fill with some extra water, herbal tea or a hot chocolate.  It essentially means my body is having to access more fat stores for energy, so it’s easy to deal with.

Unfortunately, I’ve run out of colloidal minerals (I didn’t buy a new bottle this round as I already had some in the fridge) so despite making efforts to get to sleep earlier, I had some sleep disturbance from muscle twitching (I tend to be low in magnesium), but I sorted that quickly with some Magnesium Chloride spray on my neck, shoulders & thinner-skinned areas of my body.

There were a couple of physical changes I really noticed this week.  First, my 4yo daughter wanted me to climb under some equipment with her at gymnastics.  I was able to crawl and get up quickly and easily, without the feeling of having to haul myself up.  It’s at moments like that you realise what a difference the reduction of weight and inflammation makes.  The following day, it just feel like my whole body was sucking inwards and tightening.  It was weird, but good.  I also noticed I kept feeling my glutes 😆 which are more prominent & feel higher without as much padding.

We found a few clothes when op-shopping earlier this week, including a free pair of black denim jeggings in a size smaller than  usually wear, but by the end of the week, they were getting roomier, as were some of my other clothes, so I started off as an 18-20 and am now heading towards size 14 (size 10 if you’re reading from the US).  It feels great to be feeling more comfortable in my clothes and in my skin.

Even if the stall I had means I don’t quite reach my goal for this round, I’m really happy with and proud of what I’ve achieved already.  I finished the week with an 800g drop, with my weekly total being 2.4kg for an overall reduction of 12.2kg.

Only 5 more days left of P2 before I stop the drops for the 3 days of Phase 3 then enter the reintroduction phase.  I could go another 3 days in P2 if I wanted to, but have decided I want to celebrate my birthday next weekend by reintroducing good fats 😀 , which after 6 weeks of P2/P3 will be even better than cake!

 
P2, Week 6

I started this week with a 200g gain.  Inflammatory gains are 700g or more, so whilst not a major concern, it’s still not what anyone wants to see when trying to reduce weight.  The only thing different diet-wise was sourcing apples from a different place.  Whilst still organic, they were a different variety, which can sometimes make a difference.

The next 2 days I had drops of -100g & -400g respectively, before my youngest child came down with a cold & sleep went out the window as she felt miserable for the next couple of nights with a blocked nose & sore throat.  As such, there was only a net 300g loss over the 5 days.  More than a stick of butter, but much less than previous weeks.  I also had more bloating & gut pain this week, which could also be attributed to poor sleep quality as there weren’t really any dietary changes.

So, final results for P2 are 11.5kg down on top of the 1kg in P1, for a total of 12.5kg to date.  Measurements-wise, I’ve shed 47cm (or 18.5″) and I’ve dropped 2 dress sizes.  I’m moving easier & my chiro was amazed by the difference in my appearance.

 

Phase 3

Phase 3 is exactly like Phase 2, only you stop taking the drops and allow your body time to adjust to not having them for 3 days before testing new foods.  I went down 200g, but also had ovulation signs, which could also have contributed to the reduced losses, bloating & fluid retention a had a few days prior.

Here’s how I looked at the start of the protocol vs the end of P3:

4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol Round 4 | www.unitywellness.com.au4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol Round 4 | www.unitywellness.com.au

Much less “jowly”, which was one of things that really made me look old and hopefully, I’ll no longer have any questions about my “pregnancy”.  Obviously, I’ve still got a way to go with another round to do later in the year, but I’m feeling much more comfortable in my skin and clothes!

For the chart geeks amongst you, this chart over the 3 Phases so far shows that fat loss is not always a smooth journey, more akin to rolling down a bumpy mountain 😆

Weight loss Chart 4PFLP | www.unitywellness.com.au

 

Phase 4

Phase 4 is the final & probably most important phase of the protocol.  It’s when we reintroduce other foods into the diet, with a new food every 3 days for 3 weeks, with the aim of stabilising our weight at the lowest point we’ve reached so far by learning which foods agree & disagree with our bodies.  It is this individualised approach that makes this protocol so powerful as not all foods suit all people (even those deemed “healthy” in various eating approaches).  We get to eat the fat/skin on meat and food quantities and combinations are no longer restricted (although it’s about eating until you are just full).  There is a recommended order in which to reintroduce foods, which I followed roughly.

 

Phase 4, Week 1

Happy birthday to meeeee!  Day 1 of P4 started off a little more rushed than I would have liked, but my celebratory breakfast of organic t-bone steak with the fat was a perfect start to the day.  I also snuck in some grilled Trevalla for lunch and tested MCT oil as my first extra fat.  All of that went well, with another 700g gone the next day.  By day 3, I started noticing some bowel issues, most likely due to an increase in food quantity & not drinking enough water due to busyness over the weekend.

Olive oil had been problematic for me in previous rounds, but is fine for me this time, which is great news as it’s one fat all the family can eat.  Even though Phase 4 is about stabilising, the more gradual food re-introductions this time & sticking with more of the foods that work for me mean I’m another kilo and a bit down by the end of the first week.

I tried doing a dance class with my daughter at the end of this week (it was a Def Leppard song, so I HAD to give it a go), but my blood pressure, which tends to be low anyway, didn’t really cope with the spins & changes in position 😥  Woe & dammit!  Nothing a lot of water, an apple & staying still for a while couldn’t help, though.

 

Phase 4, Week 2

Carrots, sweet potatoes & ghee were re-introduced this week.  All good with ghee & sweet potatoes, but carrots will be relegated to the ‘sometimes’ list for me.  Dark chocolate (85%, no soy or dairy) is also a yes for me, so praise the Aztec Gods!  White fish is also on the ‘yes’ list, but I’m hanging off on trying shellfish for a little longer.

I did have a couple of small gains this week – one due to lack of sleep (always happens on a Saturday when I have to be up early) and another on the day I started spotting ahead of my cycle.  My teen was hit with the flu this week & was “kind” enough to share with me a few days later at the end of the second week.  Another half a kilo down.

 

Phase 4, Week 3

I don’t think there’s anyone in this country who has either not had the flu this year or known someone wiped out by it.  It had me in bed for 3 days with a killer migraine and an impressive fever with chills.  Just as I was coming out of it, the 4yo got it.  My husband also got it, but the cough got him first, rather than the migraine.  It’s the first time I can remember us all being sick at the same time, and certainly the worst flu any of us have ever had.

Between lack of appetite from being sick & then sleeping lots, I haven’t really been eating much.  I have reintroduced coconut in various forms, though – yoghurt, cream & water – along with hemp & chia seeds.  I know that’s more than recommended to reintroduce in one week, but I’ve just been trying to recover & rehydrate.  Luckily, they’ve all been fine and chia pudding made with coconut water & vanilla served with vanilla coconut yoghurt & hemp seeds has become my staple breakfast option.  So quick and easy to make ahead, full of good fats and minerals and absolutely delicious!

1.6kg down this week (credit to Influenza A 😆  ), for a total reduction in P4 of more than 3kg – something I haven’t experienced in previous rounds.  Taking the reintroductions more slowly really is beneficial.  On the last day of P4, I was 15.9kg less than when I started.

 

Phase 4eva

Phase 4eva is…..forever.  It’s about taking the lessons learnt about the way your body reacts to different foods and making choices that support your body.  The foods that work for me may be completely different than what works for you, but the process of discovery is what I wanted to share throughout this post.

There are probably many foods to keep testing, which you can do as long as you like.  You don’t need to obsess over every morsel of food that passes your lips, but why would you want to go back to the foods that cause inflammation, gut issues, autoimmune disease, pain and weight gain?  This protocol is about educating and empowering you to make lasting changes.  Following the 80/20 rule (or 90/10) is a good guide; eat what works for you 80% of the time, but don’t stress if you go out for a meal occasionally or have a celebration to attend.  Life’s for living!

Many people also find that incorporating Intermittent Fasting is useful to help keep inflammation at bay and balance the endocrine system, with the 16:8 version being most popular (eat within an 8 hour period, then fast for 16 hours overnight), but it’s not an official component of this Fat Loss Protocol.

I had a couple of inflammatory gains at the start of P4eva , along with a nasty post-flu head cold and went up 2.4kg on my lowest weight.  By increasing the foods that are good for my body and avoiding the grains that lead to the gains, I’m back to my lowest weight and holding stable around 84kg (can vary 100-200g either side) 4 weeks into P4eva.  We’re deep in mid-Winter here so the thought of doing outdoor activities is really unappealing, even though I’d love to get out into the garden.  Instead, I’ve just started enjoying the new yoga mat I got for my birthday and have been working my way through some of the free yoga routines on YouTube.  It really feels great to be doing that again now that my back pain has lessened again (one of my favourite benefits of the protocol!) and I look forward to the strength that will bring.

On that note, I am finishing up this marathon post happy with what I’ve achieved to date.  I really wanted to feel more comfortable in my skin, beyond just weight loss, and that is happening.  I’m a work in progress, but hopefully my story so far can help others who are facing similar challenges.  I love that I was able to nourish my kids for so many years, but possibly more, I love that I am now taking the time to nourish my own body and mind and caring for the carer.

Thank you to those of of you who have followed along with me this round (especially those who waited so long for me to post the Phase 4 results!), sent beautiful messages of support & have been inspired to do the protocol yourself.  If you have any questions about what you’ve read, please feel free to comment below or send me a message.

Nyree xx

 

 

 


 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices.  While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.  Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.

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The Best Boxing Day Sales For a Healthy New You

The Best Boxing Day Sales For a Healthy New You

Christmas is done for another year and Boxing Day Sales are everywhere we look.  As you potter around the house in your stretchiest clothes, picking at leftovers & packing up all the mess you begin to take stock of everything.  How much STUFF did the kids get yesterday?  Why does it ache there?  Why is energy wasted on the youth?

To save you some time & mental load, I’ve done the research and have found some of the BEST Boxing Day Sales from businesses I know & trust to help you save money and reach your wellness goals in 2019.

 

InnerOrigin has up to 25% off + FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $99 until midnight AEDT Friday 28th December.  Make sure you sign up (free to join) before adding anything to your cart.

THE SALE INCLUDES gluten free cookies, lupin food products, natural & organic baby skin care, natural & organic adult skin care, organic herbal tea, glass tea flask, pet supplements, magnesium oil spray & lotion, tooth cleaning powder, dental care, medicinal mushroom liquid extracts, drug-free pain relief, essential oil diffusers, superfoods, natural perfumes & mineral cosmetics sets. 

If you want to look younger, protect your skin from sun damage, balance hormones and boost your energy, consider the Intrametica 21 day detox (skin, gut, liver cleanse with free menu planner).  The next Community Detox starts 7th January, so grab your kit now!

 

Changing Habits are offering 25% off their own range of products and 15% off everything else, but only until midnight 26th December.  This is the first time I’m aware of that the 4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol products have been discounted this heavily, so this is an amazing offer! (Read this post if you don’t already know my experience with this protocol)

THE SALE INCLUDES  4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol, Hunter Gatherer Protocol, 6 Weeks No Wheat Program, superfoods, food-based nutritional support, herbal formulas, organic pantry staples, gut health products, chemical-free cleaning products, natural skincare, eco-friendly household products, health & recipe books.

 

 

Until midnight on New Year’s Eve you can save 26% on essential oils, synergy blends, accessories and the signature diffuser, and 15% on skincare packs, essential oil packs and gift packs online at Twenty8.  It’s the perfect time to stock up on your favourite Twenty8 products and get yourself ready to make self-care a priority in 2019!

 

 

 

Save 10% on Gift Cards at Biome until Midnight 26th December.  Be sure your gift will be wanted and not wasted, by letting your gift recipient choose their own! Nominate the amount and send the gift card immediately by email 24/7, or print it out and give to them in person. (Please be sure to let the person know you’ve sent one so they can check their junk folder just in case!)

ONLINE: Enter the code GIFT10 at checkout to apply the 10% discount
IN STORE: Please purchase in a store & mention this exclusive offer.

No buying limit. Gift cards valid for 12 months. Gift cards purchased online can be redeemed online only. Gift cards purchased in store can be redeemed in any of their  stores.

 

Don’t forget, too, that the Functional Nutrition Academy is offering 15% off all courses for their February 2019 intake PLUS the chance to win a Macbook Air when you enrol & pay in full by 20th January, 2019.  Perfect whether you just want to know more about the best way to nourish your family with the ‘Introduction to Nutrition’ course, or you want to start a career as a Health Coach with the full program.

 

The other thing you may find valuable is the upcoming Herbs & Essential Oils Bundle, where for two days only, you can save 95% on an amazing collection of 34 resources that will help you to safely and confidently utilise herbs and essential oils to support the health of you and your family.  See the timer below to know when the sale goes live, and keep an eye on my Facebook page for a reminder.

Get your bundle now!

 

My wish for you is a happy, healthy, vibrant and abundant New Year.  If at any time you feel like you need some extra support to get there, feel free to contact me to send a message or book your complimentary 20 minute call, and join The Healthy Household group on Facebook to become part our community.  Here’s to your best year yet! 🙂

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices.  While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.  Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.

AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS

This post/site may contain Affiliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!).  I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.

This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.

Hooray for Hemp Oil

Hooray for Hemp Oil

Hemp oil has been getting much more attention in recent years, thanks to a dedicated group of people wanting the right to legally grow industrial hemp, but there’s still some confusion between the various products available from this plant genus.  Let’s look at the differences.

Hemp Oil vs CBD oil vs Marijuana

Hemp & marijuana both come from the Cannabis Sativa plant, however they are different varieties with differing levels of chemical compounds.  Marijuana used for psychoactive properties is higher in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which when heated (through smoking or cooking) is what gives the “high” normally associated with this plant species. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in this plant and CBD oil is what most people are talking about when they refer to “medicinal marijuana”, which is used to alleviate anxiety, pain & depression.  Some cancer patients also find it useful.  It is generally made using the whole plant, utilising a solvent such as alcohol to extract the CBD, with the alcohol mostly removed through heating.  This results in a thick, resinous oil that is higher in CBD & low in THC. Hemp, on the other hand, contains lower amounts of THC and other cannabinoids, so does not produce psychoactive effects.  Hemp oil is pressed from the seeds, resulting in a clear green oil with a distinctive grassy aroma & taste that contains no THC, CBD or other psychoactive compounds.

Benefits of Hemp Oil

Hemp seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids that our body needs to maintain cell wall structure, maintain an effective skin barrier, regulate cholesterol production and maintain hormonal balance.  Hemp seed oil has the perfect balance of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids to modulate inflammation in the body. Hemp oil can be used both internally and externally, although there are different laws around the world regarding the ingestion of hemp products.  In fact, eating hemp foods has only been legal in Australia since November 12th, 2017, whereas previously hemp was covered by the same prohibitive laws as marijuana.  The range of hemp foods on the market now includes not only hemp seed oil, but hemp seeds, hemp powder, vegan protein powder with reishi mushroom & hemp protein, even a kombucha homebrew kit with hemp seed oil.

Benefits are skin deep

As a woman in her mid-40’s that has lived with eczema & sensitive skin for most of those years, I just want to share the benefits hemp oil has on the skin and the experiences I’ve had using it.

Taken internally, hemp seed oil has been shown to both reduce skin dryness & itching in atopic dermatitis (eczema) and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dryness & atrophy (thinning) of skin.  I’ve also been using hemp oil products externally & have found them to be non-irritating (YAY!), deeply moisturising and effective in soothing breakouts of eczema quickly.  The skin on my face has a dewiness I hadn’t seen in years.

I had the pleasure of visiting Teresa McDowell from Hemp Hemp Hooray when I visited her shop in the Adelaide Hills earlier this year.  She has been involved in lobbying governments and educating people on the benefits industrial hemp for many years.  After her first child was born, she worked in aromatherapy before going on to study therapeutic massage.  As someone who is passionate about the environment, she learnt about the many benefits of hemp as a crop and after the birth of her third child, opened a shop in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia 12 years ago, blending hemp oil with essential oils to complement her massage business.  Upon moving back to South Australia, she learnt to make emulsions and her business has grown from there.  She still blends all of her products in small batches in a specially designed room at the back of her store which visitors can view through a large window, so she has total control over the quality of the products.  There are no artificial ingredients, no petroleum oils, no allergens & no synthetic fragrance.  Just beautiful, effective natural ingredients combining the therapeutic effects of organic hemp oil and pure essential oils.

 

 

Her range is simple but effective, utilising a 2-step process to care for skin.  First, there is a Cleansing Cream that reminds me a little of the cold cream I remember my Mum and Grandmother using when I was young – albeit in a pump bottle and made without the mineral oil and synthetic fragrance.  It easily removes make-up and can be used in combination with the hemp fibre face washer to gently exfoliate the skin.  The face washer is also great to use all over the body when showering.

Step 2 is your choice of moisturiser.  The Night Cream is a really rich moisturiser that gives you an extra boost of skin nourishment at night, or it can be used in the day if you have super-dry skin, which is what Teresa does.  With jasmine, frankincense and palmarosa essential oils, it is also balances your skin, so is equally suited to those with irritated or greasy skin.  The Vitamins A, D, E & F are particularly helpful for sun damaged skin.  Because it is so rich, you only need a tiny amount, so a jar lasts for ages.

The Daily Moisturiser is great for normal/dry/aging skin, combining hemp oil, almond oil and shea butter with the therapeutic benefits of rose and patchouli essential oils.  This is the one I like to use best and it’s great under mineral make-up, ensuring there are no dry patches of skin. Finally, there’s the Skin Soothe cream.  This has a witch hazel base, so is great for oily and combination skin, as well as those prone to acne (check out the Natural Acne Care Pack). The astringent properties of the witch hazel also make this cream a great aftershave moisturiser and many people (including myself) have found it fantastic on eczema, burns, skin ulcers, chicken pox and other compromised skin conditions.  It’s one of those multi-purpose creams that is a must-have in your home first aid kit.

If you want a specific eye cream, Teresa has just released her Precious Eye Emulsion with hemp seed oil, shea butter, aloe vera & chamomile to refresh & revitalise tired eyes (you can read more about it HERE).  She’s also created her ‘Floral Fire’ Body Lotion with a nurturing blend of organic hemp oil, jojoba, apricot kernel oils, shea and cocoa butters, along with certified essential oils of lavender, geranium & patchouli to relax the body, balance hormones & soothe dry, itchy skin.

I’m one of those “canaries in the coal mine”, often reacting to “hypoallergenic” products that other people seem fine with, but this range has been brilliant & I can’t recommend them highly enough.  As a bonus, you can get them HERE at 20% off RRP until the end of November 2018. Just click ‘Log In’ on the page to create your free account before you add products to your cart, and check your emails after signing up as you’ll receive a message with a discount code for Free Shipping if you spend $99+ on your first order. With Christmas only a couple of months away, these products also make beautiful gifts for teens through to great grandparents.  Be sure to have a look at some of the other things available in-store while you’re there.

 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices.  While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.  Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.

AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS

This post/site may contain Affiliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!).  I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.

This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.