4 Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid & Our Top Natural Picks!

With my fair skin, painful sunburns happen very, very easily. Aside from the standard discomfort, peeling, itching, and stinging, extended sun damage can result in sun poisoning and even worse – skin cancer. So, naturally, I do what I can to protect my skin from the sun’s rays.

But I’ve found that it’s a double-edged sword, because it turns out that slathering on the highest SPF could be just as harmful as baking protection-free. Most chemical-based sunscreens contain unsafe ingredients that are quickly absorbed through our pores and can be damaging to our bodies.

Fortunately, it’s possible to find natural sunscreens that don’t contain these ingredients, as long as you know what to look out for. So next time you’re at the drugstore stocking up on your favorite skincare products, make sure to check the labels and avoid any brand of sunscreen that contain these four toxic ingredients.

Avoid These Sunscreen Ingredients:

• Oxybenzone: This is public enemy number one in most chemical-based sunscreens. Oxybenzone actually blocks the good stuff we can get from the sun, like UVB rays that provide much-needed vitamin D, while allowing in harmful UVA rays. Not to mention the fact that when it’s absorbed into the skin it can cause the kind of cell damage that leads to skin cancer (which is what we’re all trying to prevent in the first place!).

• Parabens: You’re probably already mindful of the harmful parabens in deodorant, shampoo, and most other cosmetics, but make sure to look for them in your sunscreen too. Propylparaben, ethylparaben, mythylparaben, and butylparaben are used as preservatives to lengthen the shelf life of these products, but can end up causing allergic reactions and hormone deficiencies. Some studies even link parabens to an increased risk of breast cancer.

• Octinoxate: Not only can octinoxate impair hormone production, but it also allows other damaging chemicals, like the ones mentioned in this article, to be more easily absorbed by the body. This can lead to a host of side effects including the production of skin-damaging free radicals and premature aging.

• Retinyl palmitate: While the jury is still out on whether retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, increases our risk of cancer when applied to skin that’s exposed to sunlight, government studies show that it can produce free radicals and tumors in mice. I don’t know about you, but that’s enough for me to stay away from it.

Luckily, there are alternatives! The Environmental Working Group is a fantastic consumer resource that reviews thousands of sunscreen products for their safety and effectiveness. We rounded up a list of our favorite mineral sunscreens that all ranked the highest. Slather them on before you head out to enjoy some fun in the sun!

Loving Naturals Clear Body Sunscreen - SPF 30. This unique formula is clear and rubs in easily. Water resistant up to 40 minutes.

Badger Lightly Scented Lavender Sunscreen - SPF 30. Works for both face and body and has a mild natural lavender scent.

The Honest Company Sunscreen – SPF 30. Safe for the whole family, including babies under 6 months. Unscented and non-greasy formula.

TruKid Sunny Days – SPF 30. Light texture rubs in smoothly and has a pleasant scent. Contains soothing aloe and cucumber extract.

Coola Suncare Total Body – SPF 30. This antioxidant-rich formula has the added benefit of promoting skin cell regeneration and improving appearance.

California Baby Sunscreen Stick – SPF 30. This easy-to-use stick glides on smoothly and smells like lemongrass. Works for the whole family.

Burnout Ocean Tested Physical Sunscreen – SPF 30. Very water resistant – great for the beach or the pool. Enriched with aloe and antioxidants.

Lavanila The Healthy Sun Screen – SPF 30. Infused with green tea, shea butter, cucumber, and vanilla for a luxurious and hydrating experience.

What’s your favorite brand of mineral-based sunscreen? Tell us in the comments section below!

Which Nut Milk Is Right For You?

If you’re lactose intolerant, vegan, or would just rather not consume dairy, there are many dairy-free milk options on the market for you to choose from. Each option has its own unique nutrition benefits, flavor, and consistency. 

It can be a bit overwhelming to choose the right milk alternative when you’re at the grocery store, so we’ve taken a closer look at some of the most popular nut and seed milk options. Read below to decide which is the best choice for you!

Soy milk – The most popular of nut milks, soy milk is derived from the soy bean and is packed full of protein. It’s a great alternative to dairy milk on cereal or in coffee because of its neutral flavor. The downfall of soy milk is that it is highly processed, and the benefits of adding soy to your diet are highly debated. 

Rice milk – This is the most hypoallergenic option of all alternative milks. It is also very low in fat and high in niacin and vitamin B6, which are very good for your blood pressure. Rice milk has a sweet flavor, and, like soy milk, many people prefer to use it in cereal, oatmeal or beverages. However, just one cup of rice milk has 33 grams of sugar, which is about 3 to 4 times more than soy milk so it is a good idea to incorporate other milks into your diet as well if you plan to drink rice milk.

Coconut milk – Coconut milk is the richest and creamiest dairy-free milk option. If you buy a can of high fat coconut milk, the texture and consistence is much like heavy cream. However, it can also be purchased in a carton, which tends to have a lower fat content and isn’t as thick. Coconut milk is high in saturated fat, so it’s a great option for more decadent uses like flavoring rice or making curry.

Almond, cashew, and hazelnut milk – There are several varieties of nut milk on the market now. The most common are almond, cashew and hazelnut. Almond milk in particular is high in protein and magnesium, which is good for bone strength. It is also high in vitamin E and has much less sugar than soy or rice milk. Nut milks tend to have a very nutty flavor, so they are a good option to use in vegan baking or cooking.

Hemp milk – This option is great for people with nut or soy allergies. Hemp milk is very high in omega 3 fatty acids and low in saturated fat. It is very creamy and thicker than many nut milks, although it does have a strong nut flavor.

Most of the alternative milks that you can buy at the grocery store are highly processed, and almost all of them, especially flavored versions, have a very high sugar content.  Luckily, many nut milks are easy to make at home. We found this recipe from IIN graduate, Diana Chaplin for almond cashew milk that is simple and easy. Give it a try next time you want to incorporate nut milk into a meal!

Delectable Almond, Cashew Milk

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups raw almonds
• 1 cup raw cashews
• 2-3 dates
• 5 cups of water
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1-2 cinnamon sticks

Instructions

1. Rinse and soak the almonds, cashews, dates overnight.
2. After about 8 hours, drain the water and rinse again, then put the mix in a blender with 5 cups of water (divide into two batches if necessary).
3. Blend until the mixture is thoroughly white and just a little frothy.
4. Strain the pulp and transfer to a large container.
5. Add the vanilla extract, and the cinnamon sticks (I like to store my almond milk in 16oz jars and put one cinnamon stick in each jar for a few hours before removing it).
6. Give it a taste, and if you could use a bit more sweetness add a couple drops of liquid stevia or maple syrup.

What is your favorite alternative milk?

How Science Perfected Addictive Junk Food

It’s no secret that eating nutrient-poor processed snack foods won’t keep you healthy. Laden with sugar, salt, and fat, indulging in them fill us up and take the place of foods that have the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that give us energy and keep our systems running.

Though serving sizes and nutritional information are clearly labeled on packages, most people have trouble putting down snacks after eating one serving. Why is this?

The truth is that food manufacturers carefully study what makes a snack crave-worthy to make them more addictive. Researching which colors, textures, flavors and levels of sweetness or saltiness maximize the bliss point, scientists design foods to create constant cravings and boost profits for food manufacturers.

A recent New York Times article reveals that the food industry has used science for years to create addictive junk food. The results of their science experiments have altered the way we eat – fewer set meal times and more frequent grazing or all-day snacking. The consequences have yielded a growing health crisis with increasing numbers of people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

The good news is that you can break the habit by eating real meals containing whole foods. By abstaining from processed salty and sweet snacks, you can retrain your taste buds so that the cravings no longer have a hold on you.

How to do this? Here are a couple of tips:

Cook more: When you prepare your own meals, you know exactly which ingredients are on your plate. Experiment in your kitchen by trying new recipes.

Crowd out: instead of cutting out your snacks, add in wholesome foods. You won’t have as much room for the junk if you’re eating the good stuff, too. Leafy greens can help cut your cravings for sweets.

Substitute: Use a natural sweetener like honey or stevia instead of refined white sugar in sweet treats. Try a new dessert recipe that has more healthful, whole ingredients.

What’s your favorite healthy snack?

Biggest Loser Cookbook Discount!

Were you happy with the winner? The Biggest Loser Store is taking 20% off the Biggest Loser Quick and Easy Cookbook to celebrate another great season! Use code BL20 at checkout to get the deal until midnight PT tonight. This is a great cookbook, perfect for individuals or families trying to eat a little healthier while still preserving great taste!

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Kashi & The USDA Battle Over GMO Cereals - UPDATE

After a battle between Kashi & the USDA, Kashi has not updated it's website with the "NonGMO Project" information and has included a list of cereals that it now manufactures & distributes that do NOT contain Genetically Modified Organisms.  Here is the link to Kashi's website as well as the NonGMO Project site which is a great resource for families who are not aware of the effects of genetically modified foods or would like to get more information about which foods to avoid.

Kashi: NonGmo Cereals

NonGMO Project Website

Forks Over Knives

Although I am not a vegan, I do love this movie and support the science shown in Forks Over Knives.  I also believe in Bio-Individuality, meaning that not one certain way of eating is meant for or best for everyone.

Forks Over Knives Overview

What has happened to us? Despite the most advanced medical technology in the world, we are sicker than ever by nearly every measure.

Two out of every three of us are overweight. Cases of diabetes are exploding, especially amongst our younger population. About half of us are taking at least one prescription drug. Major medical operations have become routine, helping to drive health care costs to astronomical levels. Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the country’s three leading causes of death, even though billions are spent each year to “battle” these very conditions. Millions suffer from a host of other degenerative diseases.

Could it be there’s a single solution to all of these problems? A solution so comprehensive but so straightforward, that it’s mind-boggling that more of us haven’t taken it seriously?

FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.

Chipotle - Back to the Start

Thank you to Chipotle Mexican Grill for using "food with integrity" ingredients in their restaurants. It's not the popular choice for many fast food joints & restaurants, but with each company that stands up for what is right - the world changes, a little at a time!! Great video!!

Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.69/lb

Zaycon Foods will begin taking orders for their Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts tomorrow!  Jan 4th - 11th

This chicken is the most flavorful & tender chicken breasts I have ever eaten.  I have friends and family that are ordering just because they ate dinner at our house & loved the quality of the meat and how tender & juicy it was!

   -100% Natural
   -No hormones, additives or artificial ingredients.
   -Comes in 40 pound cases
   -Direct from farm to processor - Never been frozen

   -Butchered within 48 hours of delivery
   -Pickup Only - They load it for you!

Each case contains 4 large plastic bags of butterflied chicken breasts. These have never been frozen and will need to be repackaged.  After picking up our order, we remove any excess fat, split the breasts and repackage in quart-sized ziploc bags.  They freeze great and I have not had any problems with frost burn.

If you are interested in purchasing, you can create an account at the Zaycon Foods website: 

https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf36725

Pickup locations are all over the Texas, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi. North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee States right now.  They will do more events in the Northern & Western Regions in a couple months.  I'll keep you posted on those!!  If you have any questions or need help with your order, please do not hesitate to leave a comment on this page or contact me! I would love to help get you started!! Enjoy!!

Applegate Farms Meats - All the Meat without the Mystery

On this quest for a healthier lifestyle one thing I have not been able to give up is lunch meat. I know it's not the best for you, it's full of sodium nitrates & nitrites, heavily processed and the majority of today's lunch or deli meats are full of meat bi-products.  Applegate Farms is changing all of that! They are a great source for many of your "processed" meat needs.  They are an anti-biotic, anti-additive, low-sodium and nitrate free company! They make MANY different meat products such as lunch meat, turkey bacon, canadian bacon, low-sodium & no bi-product hotdogs, uncured hams, breakfast sausage, gluten free chicken nuggets & so much more.  We are lucky here in Texas as their products are stocked at both Kroger & HEB, as well as Target Super Stores.  If you live up north you can find their products at Cub Foods, Trader Joes & Target Super Stores.

For a list of their products as well as nutrition information, click here to visit their site!

What's the big deal with Sodium Nitrates?
"Sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and its close relative sodium nitrite (NaNO2) are preservatives that you find in lots of processed meats. Stuff like salami, hot dogs, pepperoni, bologna, ham, bacon and SPAM all normally contain sodium nitrate as one of the ingredients. Fresh meats generally do not contain any added chemicals, so the question is, "Why is sodium nitrate added to all of these processed meats?"

There are two reasons for adding these chemicals to processed meats:
They preserve the color of the meat (meaning that it looks pink like SPAM rather than gray like cooked hamburger). You have probably noticed that nearly all meats that contain sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite remain pink or red even though they are cooked during processing.
These chemicals inhibit botulism to some degree." - TLC Cooking

Super Size Me

This movie was made in late 2004 and several years completely changed the way I saw fast food.  

"Several legal suits have been brought against MacDonald's Restaurants that they are knowingly selling food that is unhealthy. Some of the court decisions have stated that the plaintiffs would have a claim if they could prove that eating the food every day for every meal is dangerous. As such, documentarian Morgan Spurlock conducts an unscientific experiment using himself as the guinea pig: eat only MacDonald's for thirty days, three meals a day. If he is asked by the clerk if he would like the meal super sized, he has to say yes. And by the end of the thirty days, he will have had to have eaten every single menu item at least once. Before starting the experiment, he is tested by three doctors - a general practitioner, a cardiologist and a gastroenterologist - who pronounce his general health to be outstanding. They will also monitor him over the thirty days to ensure that he is not placing his health into irreparable damage." -Courtesty IMDb

Top 3 FREE Healthy iPhone, Andriod & Blackberry Apps

I recently got an iPhone. Yes, I know I'm a bit behind the times! I absolutely love it and like most...I have an app for everything!!  Here are my Top 3 FREE  Healthy iPhone & Android Apps as well as my favorite of all time LiveStrong.com App for $2.99!

Fooducate: 
Do you want your family to eat better food? Are you confused by nutrition information or are you simply looking for better alternatives?  With Fooducate iPhone app, you can scan UPC barcodes and ask for better alternatives, rating the food on an A-F grading scale!  Help yourself make better eating decisions by purchasing healthier groceries!
(Android & iPhone - FREE)

RunKeeper
RunKeeper uses the GPS technology found in the iPhone to track your fitness activity, giving you comparable results to an expensive GPS watch.  Now you can also enter your activities manually, including your treadmill runs too!  Tracks distance, time, calories, heart rate, mph, mapped run location, min/mile & more! Then downloads the information to your RunKeeper.com account so you can see your progress!
(Android & iPhone - FREE)

Honest Label: 
You're no dummy,  You read nutrition labels.  BUt how accurate is that serving size? And what is butylated hydroxytoluene, anyway? Take the guesswork out of healthy eating with Honest Label Foods, and iPhone and Android app that provides clear, concise information on over 250,000 products, easily scanned UPC codes  by your phones' camera!
(Android & iPhone - FREE)

LiveStrong

Livestrong.com's calorie tracker can help you reach your diet, weight loss and fitness goals by tracking your daily calories and exercise.  By keeping track of your daily caloric, fat, carbohydrate and protein intake wit the click of a button you will be sure to meet your weight loss goals! 

(Blackberry, Android & iPhone - $2.99)

Filippo Berio Olive Oil Spray

Filippo Berio Olive Oil Spray

I love using olive oil! Not only is it 120 calories per tablespoon, but it is naturally cholesterol free.  I prefer to use the extra virgin olive oil.  To use it as sparingly as possible I recently purchase a Filippo Berio Olive Oil Spray for only $2.63 at my local grocery store.  It is an extra virgin olive oil free of additives and preservatives in a convenient pump spray.  It is propellant free which means there are no chemical arisals.  In addition to the great price, the bottle is reusable! I just refilled by pump bottle today! Great for finely misting baking pans or skillets for cooking.  You can also lightly mist baked items to create a crisp without adding calories!! 

Visit the Filippo Berio website for additional information and products!

Food, Inc

How much do we really know about the food we buy at our local supermarkets and serve to our families?

"Food, Inc exposes America's industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers' rights." - I know what you are thinking.  Another crazy food-freak documentary.  I'm not asking you to believe everything you see or hear.  But, what if 25% of what you see or hear IS correct and that by educating yourself you can improve you health, even if by 25%.

Features Michael Pollan

Visit the Food, Inc website for viewing & purchasing information.

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

My husband and I love this movie. It is the motivation that started my husband's 50 pound weight loss! We purchased the juicer used in this documentary as well & it's amazing. I'll be posting a product review on the juicer soon!!

"100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well— with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health.

With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help long- term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body's ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.

While talking to more than 500 Americans about food, health and longevity, it's at a truck stop in Arizona where Joe meets a truck driver who suffers from the same rare condition. Phil Staples is morbidly obese weighing in at 429 lbs; a cheeseburger away from a heart-attack. As Joe is recovering his health, Phil begins his own epic journey to get well.

What emerges is nothing short of amazing – an inspiring tale of healing and human connection.
Part road trip, part self-help manifesto, FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD defies the traditional documentary format to present an unconventional and uplifting story of two men from different worlds who each realize that the only person who can save them is themselves."

Visit the Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead website for more information.

Also visit Join the Reboot for more juicy information & recipes.