Tag Archives: plastic toxins

Can Your Mask Be Hurting You? What You Need to Know.

UPDATE 2020: A new negative affect of wearing masks for extended periods has come to light, this time from dentists who are beginning to see more cavities and gum disease since the higher use of masks. Dentists share my concern of continually breathing in your own microbes. We all have them in our mouths – they are an extension of your gut’s microbiome. If your microbiome is out of balance and you have more bad bacteria in your mouth than good bacteria, you could be making matters worse by wearing a mask and breathing through your mouth. If you have been wearing your mask for extended periods and you know you have potential dental issues, you may want to schedule a dentist appointment and get your teeth and gums checked out. In the mean time, breath through your nose when wearing a mask. See additional tips below.

Now that more and more cities, town and states are requiring masks in public places, I wanted to put out a few words of caution. The science is still not clear. Is a mask really beneficial? Does it truly prevent the spread of the virus? Can it cause more harm than good?

It is confusing, especially when the experts and government officials give us conflicting information, first telling us that masks were not necessarily protective and now telling us the opposite.* The truth may lay somewhere in between. And, it may depend on various factors.

As masks are required to work, go to school and be in public, it is time to consider some downsides of wearing masks, especially for longer periods of time. They can potentially hurt you. I am even more concerned about our children as they go back to school. I will explain below the possible negative effects and provide suggestions to minimize potential problems. Continue reading →

Plastic Toxins in Our Bodies and Our World

Last week my son and I watched a documentary called A Plastic Ocean  and I can’t stop thinking about it. I knew that plastic is bad for the environment and I knew that plastic is bad for our health, but I did not truly comprehend the full extent of the damage.

Over the years, I have taken a number of steps to reduce the amount of plastic in my family’s life, most often for health reasons. After seeing first hand the damage it has done around the world to people, wildlife and nature in general, it makes me want to take it to a whole other level.

There are still areas where I can improve, like using less plastic (or reusable) bags in the produce section of the grocery store. Plastic bags alone can survive up to 500 years in the ocean!

Plastic is indestructible. It is not biodegradable. Harder plastics may break down over time but it only breaks down into smaller pieces. Pieces that animals mistake for food and even smaller microscopic particles that get into our waterways and drinking water and into our lungs as dust. Plastic nano-particles can also get absorbed by our skin.

Read on to find out how plastic affects our health, as well as the health of our pets and wildlife in general. Use the lists below to see how you can reduce the plastic in your life. It is not too late to make a change. Plus the less plastic you are exposed to on a daily basis, the easier it is for your body to be healthy. Every little bit helps. Continue reading →