Charity & Causes

Replacing the Least Sustainable Products You Use Regularly

June 28, 2019 By Paula 24 Comments

Replacing the Least Sustainable Products You Use Regularly

We all know the dangers we are putting our world in as we continue to burn fossil fuels and fill our earth full of plastic. To reduce the damage that we are doing, and to ensure the world is still as we left it for our children, something needs to be done. If you want to do your bit for the earth and make sure you replace the least sustainable products that you use on a regular basis, then look no further. Here are just a few of the items you can replace to work towards a more sustainable world.

Grocery Bags

We use grocery bags most days, and therefore investing in one that can be used over and over again will not only save money but the environment too. Reusable grocery bags can be purchased from most superstores or online, and with so many to choose from. you are sure to find one that is both useful and stylish.

Batteries

We use a lot of batteries, and so switching to rechargeable ones means less waste. Although they use electricity to charge, this is still better for the environment than constantly throwing batteries away. While this may cost more to begin with, as you will need to buy a battery charger, in the long run it will also save you a lot of money. If you do have batteries you have finished with, make sure to recycle them.

Water Bottles

Plastic is filling up many landfill sites around the world and plastic bottles are one of the main causes of this. Instead of picking up a bottle of water in a store, purchase a refillable one and carry it around with you. There are plenty of places that will allow you to fill up your water for free. This saves you money and the environment too!

Trash Bags

Trash bags are another huge contributor to plastic waste and so switching to biodegradable bags is a great option. There are many places to buy biodegradable bags and they do not have to cost any more than a regular trash bag. If you cannot find any in a store near you, then check online for a variety of stock.

Straws

The ban on straws and plastic bags is taking place in many countries, including the UK and the US. Starbucks and McDonalds are some of the biggest names looking to totally get rid of plastic straws and have thus replaced them with paper straws. If you often use a straw at home or when you are out and about, then you should consider buying a reusable one. These can easily be carried around in your pocket or handbag and are super convenient.

Skincare

When looking for a skincare routine, choosing one which is sulfate-free, paraben-free and cruelty-free means you are doing what is best for the earth and your skin too. There are many natural skin products that do not have to cost the earth and there are many makeup brands looking to make natural products with recyclable packaging.

Coffee Pods

If you cannot live without your morning coffee, then look no further. These third-party Nespresso capsules are both Fairtrade certified and USDA organic. Instead of using unfair trade practices that harm economies leading to often harmful environmental practices, you can be sure the coffee beans used have been ethically sourced.

By opting for a USDA certified organic product you also are taking one more step to help protect the environment as well as your personal health. Best of all, they are actually easier on your wallet than the original pods.

A Greener World Through Sustainable Products

What changes have you made to be more environmental, social, and economic conscious? What changes listed above will you be making in the future?

True Citrus is Real Flavor from Real Fruit

May 31, 2018 By Paula 3 Comments

True Citrus helps you drink more water deliciously!

With their line of crystallized citrus products, this small, growing company is dedicated to helping its customers be healthy, happy and true. All of their products are made with only simple and clean ingredients like citrus oils and juices. Unsweetened or sweetened with only Stevia and sugar, they are low-calorie at 0 – 10 calories each. Since they have no artificial sweeteners, flavors, preservatives, or sodium and they use only natural spices, vegetable and fruit juices for coloring True Citrus products are one of the healthiest choices available on the market. Plus, the entire line of products is gluten-free and Non-GMO!

You can use True Citrus’ family of crystallized citrus products that you can use throughout your day in countless ways. Since they are made with only simple ingredients, and no artificial sweeteners, flavors, preservatives, gluten, or sodium, they’re the perfect accompaniment to a healthy lifestyle. We have been using their products since 2017. Our favorite is the Black Cherry Limeade which we have been purchasing since sharing them in my Saturday Saver post last August. They really are awesome! Recently we received a huge box with lots of flavors that we hadn’t had the pleasure of trying. I added one of the True Lime packets along with one of the Wild Cherry Cranberry Energy packets to my glass bottle of water for a lemon-lime punch. I may have a new favorite!

We were excited when we saw that three salt-free citrus spice blends were included in our box. Yes, True Citrus makes Lemon Pepper, Lime Garlic & Cilantro, and Orange Ginger! These True Citrus spices are 100% Natural! We love that they are delicious and preservative, gluten, salt, MSG, Glutamic Acid, & color FREE. All three are perfect for the fish and chicken dishes that we make at home most nights. I’ve already made teriyaki chicken with the orange ginger and tilapia packets with the lemon pepper. Both dishes came out wonderful and had lots of flavor without adding extra sodium. We can’t wait to try some of the recipes that are on their website. There are so many that sound yummy!

90% of True Citrus customers say they drink more water because of their products!

They’ve heard from tens of thousands of customers who have said that unsweetened True Lemon and True Lime or their lemonades and limeades have helped them drink more water. In fact, in a recent survey of over eight-hundred customers, ninety percent of the respondents said that True Citrus products have encouraged them to increase their water intake which has helped them feel healthier.

Help True Citrus Donate 5 Million Meals – Feeding America®

Honored to be a part of their customers’ efforts to live healthy lives, True Citrus has partnered with Feeding America for the fifth year. In a country with such wealth and prosperity, there are still 1 in 8 Americans who don’t always know where their next meal is coming from. Hunger is not only experienced by the unemployed as 36% of client households served by the Feeding America® network have one or more adults working. Even educated people struggle with issues of hunger. So far you have helped them deliver 4 million meals to people in need and now are asking our help to deliver 1 million more! Helping is easy, all you have to do is enter the UPC code from any True Citrus product box HERE. In addition to helping feed the hungry, my readers can save 40% on their order at www.truelemonstore.com by entering the code TRUEFAMILY40US at checkout.

Don’t forget to enter True Citrus’ Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be True Sweepstakes before it ends June 15th for Your Chance to Win $10,000 & Much More!

Understanding Breast Cancer – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

October 1, 2017 By Paula 14 Comments

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Observed each year in October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has arrived.

It is a time to create a greater awareness of breast cancer along with nearly endless opportunities to show your support. Since I began blogging in 2013 I have posted about many of the charities and causes that I support. This is my fourth year posting about the topic of breast cancer and with it touching the lives of so many people it’s not going to be the last. About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. As of March 2017, there are more than 3.1 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.

The Amercian Cancer Society (ACS) has published Cancer Facts & Figures annually since 1951. This annual report provides the estimated numbers of new cancer cases and deaths for the year, as well as current cancer incidence, mortality, and survival statistics and information on cancer symptoms, risk factors, early detection, and treatment. In 2017, there will be an estimated 1,688,780 new cancer cases diagnosed and 600,920 cancer deaths in the US. Of those, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. About 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2017. About 40,610 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2017 from breast cancer!

Think Pink, Live Green is a way of living that aims to help women reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.

Just because you don’t have a family history of breast cancer does not mean that you will not develop it. About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations. The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).

We all want to know what we can do to lower our risk of breast cancer. While some of the factors such as being a woman, our age, and genetics cannot be changed. Other factors such as being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking cigarettes, and eating unhealthy food are things that we can change. By making the right choices and choosing the healthiest lifestyle options possible, we have the power to make sure our breast cancer risk is as low as possible.

Breast cancer risk factors that we have no control over:

Being a Woman
Age
Family History
Genetics
Personal History of Breast Cancer
Certain Breast Changes (read more)
Race/Ethnicity
Having Dense Breasts
DES (Diethylstilbestrol) Exposure

We may or may not have the ability to change these breast cancer risk factors.

Menstrual, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding History (read more)
Radiation to Chest or Face Before Age 30
Using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)
Light Exposure at Night (read more)

These breast cancer risk factors we control over and have the ability to reduce by making healthy choices and changes in our lives.

Being Overweight
Drinking Alcohol
Lack of Exercise
Smoking
Low of Vitamin D Levels
Eating Unhealthy Food
Exposure to Chemicals in Food (read more), Cosmetics, Plastic, Sunscreen, and Water
Exposure to Chemicals for Lawns and Gardens
Exposure to Chemicals When Food Is Grilled/Prepared

What is Breast Cancer?

The simple answer is breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. However, to better understand breast cancer, it helps to understand how any cancer can develop.

Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves through an orderly process of cell growth: healthy new cells take over as old ones die out. But over time, mutations can “turn on” certain genes and “turn off” others in a cell. The genes are in each cell’s nucleus, which acts as the “control room” of each cell. That changed cell gains the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more cells just like it and forming a tumor. When this happens, cancer occurs as a result of the mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy.

A tumor can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumors are not considered cancerous: their cells are close to normal in appearance, they grow slowly, and they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are considered cancerous. Left unchecked, malignant cells eventually can spread beyond the original tumor to other parts of the body. The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast.

How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

Finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are the most important strategies to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer that’s found early, when it’s small and has not spread, is easier to treat successfully. Getting regular screening tests is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early. After all, the goal of screening tests for breast cancer is to find it before it causes symptoms (like a lump that can be felt). Breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and still confined to the breast. As you know the size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are some of the most important factors in predicting the prognosis for a woman with this disease.

Regular mammograms can help find breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most successful. A mammogram can find breast changes that could be cancer years before physical symptoms develop. Decades of research clearly show that women who have regular mammograms are more likely to have breast cancer found early, are less likely to need aggressive treatment like surgery to remove the breast (mastectomy) and chemotherapy, and are more likely to be cured. Women who are at high risk for breast cancer based on certain factors should get an MRI and a mammogram every year.

Research has not shown a clear benefit of physical breast exams done by either a health professional or by yourself for breast cancer screening when you also get regular mammograms. However, all women should be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to a healthcare provider right away. Breastcancer.org believes that breast self-exams (BSE) are a useful and essential screening strategy, especially when used in combination with regular physical exams by a doctor and mammography. About 20% of the time, breast cancers are found by physical examination rather than by mammography. Learn the Five Steps of a Breast Self-Exam.

Free Breast Cancer Screenings

Believing that everyone should have access to potentially life-saving cancer screenings, Roper St. Francis along with Bon Secours Mission Grant and the Hank and Laurel Greer Colorectal Cancer Program, offer free breast and colon cancer screenings to the uninsured or underinsured. I’ve registered and will be going Tuesday, October 24, 2017, to the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center on the Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital campus for my screenings. Learn about this life-saving and FREE community resource.

Understanding a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you’ve probably heard a lot of different terms used to describe your cancer. You may also need more tests to get more details, such as the stage of the cancer or how fast it’s growing. Cancer.org has an excellent article to help you begin the understanding of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Stay hydrated during your fight against breast cancer!

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, breast cancer patients and survivors can receive a free water bottle with tips to stay hydrated during treatment. Fill out the form here to receive your water bottle.*

*This offer is for breast cancer patients and survivors only, while supplies last.

Thank you, for taking the time to read my 2017 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month PSA. Below, you will find some wonderful posts from previous years.

To learn the do and don’ts of purchasing breast cancer merchandise as well as how to best support research to find a cure be sure to read my 2016 post, Show Your Support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month Plus Facts You Need to Know.

In 2015, I posted October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Read How It’s Touched My Life. Please take a moment to read this very personal post.

Just two years after completing Chemo my sister signed up for the 2014 Lowcountry Komen Race for the Cure.

FREE Cancer Screening for Charleston Area Residents

October 1, 2017 By Paula 2 Comments

BREAST & COLON CANCER AWARENESS

Working on posting about the topic of breast cancer I recently inquired about breast cancer materials at a recent doctor’s visit. In addition, to a wealth of materials that I received from the doctor he informed me that there were services that were available for our community that, like me, many had never heard about. He pointed out the contact information of the Clinical Nurse Navigator for Roper Sait Francis Healthcare that was among the materials he had just handed me. I reached out to see what more I could learn. I was surprised to discover that not only do they offer breast cancer screenings but also screenings for colon cancer. Two free screenings offered in our area, where the need is great and yet this valuable service is underutilized by our community.

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. In 2017, there will be an estimated 1,688,780 new cancer cases diagnosed and 600,920 cancer deaths in the US. Of those, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. About 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2017. About 40,610 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2017 from breast cancer!

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. It is the third most common cause of cancer-related death, and in 2017, 95,520 new diagnoses are expected to occur in the United States (U.S.). A healthy lifestyle with a high-fiber, low-fat diet can help prevent colon cancer, and screening can detect it in the early stages. Also, advances in diagnosis, screening, and treatment have led to steady improvements in survival.

Believing that everyone should have access to potentially life-saving cancer screenings, Roper St. Francis, along with Bon Secours Mission Grant and the Hank and Laurel Greer Colorectal Cancer Program, offer free breast and colon cancer screening to the uninsured or underinsured. Registration is required for the screenings. To register, call (843) 402-CARE. The next event is Tuesday, October 24, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Roper St. Francis Cancer Center on the Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital campus (2085 Henry Tecklenburg Drive, Charleston 29414). I made the phone call and talked with a very helpful and kind woman. It only took a few minutes to register for both screenings and she answered all the questions I had. I’ve signed up and hope to see you there!

WHO QUALIFIES FOR FREE BREAST AND COLON CANCER SCREENING

To participate in the breast cancer screening, you must be:

Age 18 or older and not have had a breast exam in the last 12 months. Financial assistance will be available for mammograms for those who qualify as well as onsite scheduling.

To participate in the colon cancer screening, you must be:

Age 50 and older, or if you are African American, age 45 and older.
Or your age must be 10 years prior to the age of a first-degree relative having colorectal cancer. For
example, if your mother had colorectal cancer at age 45 you would need a screening at age 35.

Not lucky enough to live in the South Carolina Lowcountry? Check with your local doctors, cancer centers, hospital, or clinic to find out if this service is available in your area.

This post was created as a supplement to Understanding Breast Cancer. Be sure to visit this post to learn more about National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Breast Cancer.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

October 1, 2017 By Paula 6 Comments

The Known Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. While there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, there are things you can do that might lower your cancer risk. Knowing the risk factors for breast cancer is the first step in taking control of your health. Many of the cancer risk factors are under your control and are also the same changes that we need to make to enjoy living a healthier life. It’s a Win-Win!

Breast cancer risk factors that you cannot change:

Being a Woman – Just being a woman is the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer.
Age – About two out of three invasive breast cancers are found in women 55 or older.
Family History – For women with one first-degree female relative (sister, mother, daughter) diagnosed with breast cancer, the risk is doubled.
Genetics – About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary, caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child.
Personal History of Breast Cancer – If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you’re 3 to 4 times more likely to develop a new cancer in the other breast or a different part of the same breast.
Race/Ethnicity – White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African American, Hispanic, and Asian women. But African American women are more likely to develop more aggressive, more advanced-stage breast cancer that is diagnosed at a young age.
Certain Breast Changes – If you’ve been diagnosed with certain benign (not cancer) breast conditions, you may have a higher risk of breast cancer. There are several types of benign breast conditions that affect breast cancer risk. (read more)
Having Dense Breasts – Research has shown that dense breasts can be 6 times more likely to develop cancer and can make it harder for mammograms to detect breast cancer.
Menstrual History – Women who started menstruating (having periods) younger than age 12 have a higher risk of breast cancer later in life. The same is true for women who go through menopause when they’re older than 55.

The breast cancer risk factors that you have some or total control over:

Pregnancy History – Women who haven’t had a full-term pregnancy or have their first child after age 30 have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who gave birth before age 30.
Breastfeeding History – Breastfeeding can lower breast cancer risk, especially if a woman breastfeeds for longer than 1 year.
Radiation to Chest or Face Before Age 30 – If you had radiation to the chest to treat another cancer (not breast cancer), such as Hodgkin’s disease or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you have a higher-than-average risk of breast cancer. If you had radiation to the face at an adolescent to treat acne (something that’s no longer done), you are at higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life.
Using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) – Current or recent past users of HRT have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Since 2002 when research linked HRT and risk, the number of women taking HRT has dropped dramatically.
DES (Diethylstilbestrol) Exposure – Some pregnant women were given DES from the 1940s through the 1960s to prevent miscarriage. Women who took DES themselves have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. Women who were exposed to DES while their mothers were pregnant with them also may have slightly higher risk of breast cancer later in life.
Drinking Alcohol – Research consistently shows that drinking alcoholic beverages — beer, wine, and liquor — increases a woman’s risk of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Being Overweight – Overweight and obese women have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to women who maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause. Being overweight also can increase the risk of the breast cancer coming back (recurrence) in women who have had the disease.
Lack of Exercise – Research shows a link between exercising regularly at a moderate or intense level for 4 to 7 hours per week and a lower risk of breast cancer.
Smoking – Smoking causes a number of diseases and is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in younger, premenopausal women. Research also has shown that there may be a link between very heavy second-hand smoke exposure and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.
Low of Vitamin D Levels – Research suggests that women with low levels of vitamin D have a higher risk of breast cancer. Vitamin D may play a role in controlling normal breast cell growth and may be able to stop breast cancer cells from growing.
Light Exposure at Night – The results of several studies suggest that women who work at night — factory workers, doctors, nurses, and police officers, for example — have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who work during the day. Other research suggests that women who live in areas with high levels of external light at night (street lights, for example) have a higher risk of breast cancer.
Eating Unhealthy Food – Diet is thought to be at least partly responsible for about 30% to 40% of all cancers. No food or diet can prevent you from getting breast cancer. But some foods can make your body the healthiest it can be, boost your immune system, and help keep your risk of breast cancer as low as possible.
Exposure to Chemicals in Cosmetics – Research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in cosmetics may contribute to the development of cancer in people. (read more)
Exposure to Chemicals in Food – There’s a real concern that pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones used on crops and livestock may cause health problems in people, including an increase in breast cancer risk. There are also concerns about mercury in seafood and industrial chemicals in food and food packaging. (See the 2017 EWG List of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 is below)
Exposure to Chemicals for Lawns and Gardens – Research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in lawn and garden products may cause cancer in people. But because the products are diverse combinations of chemicals, it’s difficult to show a definite cause and effect for any specific chemical.
Exposure to Chemicals in Plastic – Research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in plastic products, such as bisphenol A (BPA), may cause cancer in people.
Exposure to Chemicals in Sunscreen – While chemicals can protect us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in some sunscreen products may cause cancer in people.
Exposure to Chemicals in Water – Research has shown that the water you drink — whether it’s from your home faucet or bottled water from a store — may not always be as safe as it could be. Everyone has a role in protecting the water supply. There are steps you can take to ensure your water is as safe as it can be.
Exposure to Chemicals When Food Is Grilled/Prepared – Research has shown that women who ate a lot of grilled, barbecued, and smoked meats and very few fruits and vegetables had a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who didn’t eat a lot of grilled meats.

Exposure to Chemicals in Food

“The Dirty Dozen” are the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables according to the EWG analysis (see full list), so you may want to consider buying these organic if you can: strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, celery, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and potatoes

“The Clean 15” are fruits and vegetables that are likely to have little contamination, so you may want to buy non-organic types of these foods if cost is an issue: sweet corn, avocados, pineapple, cabbage, onions, sweet peas (frozen), papayas, asparagus, mango, eggplant, honeydew, kiwi, cantaloupe, cauliflower, and grapefruit*

*Like pomegranate, grapefruit may interfere with some medications and treatments. Talk to your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume grapefruit.

* A small amount of sweet corn, papaya and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.

This post was created as a supplement to Understanding Breast Cancer. Be sure to visit this post to learn more about National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Breast Cancer.