Into Healthy Living

Recent press over the past few years has increased public awareness of possible toxin ingestion from pesticide application in our food supply as well as the potential risk of consuming milk derived from agricultural animals given artificial/synthetic hormones. While we may be aware of the relationship between food consumption and health, what about the chemicals women absorb from their daily cosmetic regimen? There have been many polls that estimate women use over 20 different beauty products per day. Toxins can be just as readily absorbed into the body through the skin as they are through the consumption of food. Why then aren’t women more inquisitive about the ingredients in their cosmetic products as they are to shop at Whole Foods to buy organic produce?

“Cosmetics do not have to be approved as safe by the FDA before they are sold. As a result, they too often contain dangerous ingredients banned in Europe and Japan or chemicals deemed unsafe for specific uses by their own industry scientists,” said Jane Houlihan, VP for Research at the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org).”

Have you ever looked at the list of ingredients contained in your foundation or your eyeshadow? If you knew the product contained a potential carcinogen, why would you risk applying this toxin to your face ever single day when healthy alternatives already exist? Alima cosmetics, www.alimapure.com, created a nice pocket-sized chart of the Top 10 Cosmetic Toxins to avoid. Visit their site to request a .pdf copy of the list; then, print out and take with you on your next visit to the cosmetics aisle.

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I received a wonderful surprise package from my sister-in-law last week: homemade strawberry preserves. I found a perfect recipe from Cooking Light magazine to highlight the sweet jam: Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins.You can also find this recipe through their online web site: www.cookinglight.com These would be a nutritious afternoon snack as each muffin is under 200 calories (see nutrition below). For a very nutritious kids snack, pair the muffin with some frozen sliced-up bananas.

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My words of advice on this recipe Read more… »

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If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, VegNews magazine ( is hosting a party on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at Electric Works Gallery (8^th and Mission in San Fran). There will be plenty of vegan appetizers, music, and drinks. Ticket prices are $15 for VegNews magazine subscribers or $25 for non-subscribers and can be purchased online at: http://vegnews.com/party.

If you are at all interested in learning about a vegan diet—you should definitely subscribe to this magazine.My favorite page of the magazine is all the way at the end—a glimpse into the refrigerator of a vegan celebrity. You can get some great ideas for stocking a vegan refrigerator. While I am not a vegan (I currently consume cheese and egg whites), this magazine keeps me up to date on veg news and activities.

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It is with great pleasure that I begin my first blog on healthy living. While I’m not quitting my day-job as an oncology pharmacist, I do hope to bring to this medium an awareness of eco-friendly products and lifestyle decisions for a healthier self and a more sustainable environment.

Who am I? A 30-something California girl currently living in San Francisco, a vegetarian, an animal lover, a devout dog owner, and a runner when not injured. My husband describes me as a constant state of action-a “go-go-go” lifestyle. My on-paper qualifications: I received my BS in biochemistry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and my doctorate in pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of California San Francisco.

Why a blog? I am driven by my determination to never be idle on topics that drive my passion. John Sawhill, former president/CEO of The Nature Conservancy exemplifies my feelings perfectly with his statement: “A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy.”

Let the blogging begin…

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