The Miracle of Your Body

Have you ever considered all the things that are happening in your body? It is mind-boggling, amazing, and miraculous! Many functions are automatic. Our lungs breathe in and out. Our hearts beat. Pumping blood through our vessels. Our digestive system is a network of organs with multiple functions, from digestion and nutrient absorption to dumping toxins (they have a lot of work these days!!). Much of what is happening in our bodies, we don’t have to think about… until we do, until something throws the system off. It is no longer functioning how it is designed. The topic of the past few months has been COVID-19. The virus can affect our bodies’ normal functions causing respiratory issues, some circulation issues, and others are still not wholly revealed. This invader has turned our world upside down with concerns of how it might interrupt the normal function of our health, and even stop it’s function entirely. However, beyond exposure to immediate threats such as viruses or injuries, there are so many factors we should pay attention to that can compromise our body’s normal functions in the long term.

Let’s look at toxins! This is a topic I talk about often! It is one I can’t scream loud enough! One, we MUST start to listen too! I can not stress enough that beyond food, what we put in on and around our body affects our health! Right now, people are basting in chemicals. They are doing war with not only COVID-19 by sanitizing everything but also taking on bugs and weeds. We are repelling mosquitoes with chemicals that harm them, but what about us!! I get it! I do! I live in a very wooded area where mosquitoes are plentiful and the deer, besides eating my hostas, have been known to leave a tick or two behind, and no one wants to deal with the aftermath of ticks. Besides for making war on bugs and weeds, we are slathering chemical sunscreens on our bodies, worse spraying them on as we inhale them along with the fresh sea air. While at the beach recently, I was more than 20 feet away from a mom spraying down her kids with sunscreen, including their faces, and I could smell and taste whatever chemical she was applying from where I was… GROSS and not healthy. According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., that assesses the health effects of chemical exposure from day-to-day products, when using spray sunscreens -even all-mineral ones—”Small particles of the spray can get deep into the lungs and cause irreversible damage,” ( a great reason to wear a mask if no other!! ).

So what is the answer to avoiding bugs and sunscreen? Here are a few tips:

First, create a barrier. Wearing long sleeves and long pants can go a long way in keeping tics and mosquito away, but it is summer who wants to wear long sleeves ALL the time—essential oils to the rescue. Many essential oils can deter bugs from biting you can create your own recipes, or doTERRA has created Terrashield ready to use. I some times add a few drops of citronella or arborvitae to increase the effectiveness.

Again, where the sun is concerned, we certainly do not want to burn as that carries its own set of risks. I do believe small amounts, 15-20 minutes of sun exposure is beneficial, but that barely gives us time to get our toes wet in the ocean. Covering up is a great way to stay, enjoy the sun, and remain protected. There is a ton of great clothing that offers protection of SPF. For those exposed parts and added protection, a mineral-based sunscreen is protective while avoiding all the nasty chemicals. There are many out there. Make sure that zinc or titanium oxide is the main ingredient. Are you feeling inspired? Here is a recipe for a DYI sunscreen. While sandalwood smells divine and is great for your skin, you could use lavender as a lovely alternative.

We certainly need to be mindful of the immediate threats that surround us, but let’s also think of the long term risks of chemical accumulation in our bodies, those chemicals that can prevent our amazing, miraculous bodies from running optimally.

Great health starts with what you put in, on and around your body. Let’s talk. Set up a 30-minute strategy session to learn how you can live your healthiest most vibrant life.