Looking Out For our Own health - Avoiding the Chemicals

Discussions Include:

• The importance of a toxic free workspace
• How to change your work environment to better your health
• Becoming more mindful of chemicals

The Hangout:

Not Enough Time On Your Hands?

You can skip ahead to the information this is important to you using the video's table of contents (TOC) in the video description on YouTube! 
Table of Contents (click on the minute timeline for the specific content):
00:23 - Greetings
01:53 - What's in this show?
02:41 - Guest intro - Jennifer Steiner
04:05 - Jen's story and why she is passionate about this topic. 
06:26 - Simple lifestyle changes to manage the problem.
11:01 - Figure out why it is important for you to make changes.
11:55 - How do we become more mindful of chemicals? 
12:56 - Jen's suggestions & recommendations on how to look out for our health and avoid chemicals.
18:07 - Zef's simple tips on looking out for your own health.
22:16 - The importance of making conscious decisions to avoid chemicals.
23:33 - Tips from Sondra on what she practices to look out for her own health. 
28:42 - Cast contact info.
30:14 - Learn more on Creative Chat Cafe!
31:33 - Let's connect and get social!

The Conversation:

ZEF: This episode is part one of our two part health series for February. We have a special guest, Jennifer Steiner, who is an Environmental Health Coach. The name of her business is Healthy Healing Wellness!

SONDRA: So Jen, can you please share with us your story and why you are passionate about it?

JEN: I was misdiagnosed with an illness because of my exposure to chemicals in food. This made me become aware of what other toxins to which we are being exposed. We are exposed to many different chemicals, whether it is our personal care products and cosmetics, cleaning products, and even electronics and furniture in our office. Although these chemicals are linked to illness and the laws have not changed (as of yet!), we can still make simple changes in our home and office environment in order to lessen our exposure and keep ourselves healthy. The primary scope of my work is working with couples before they get pregnant so none of these exposures can be passed to the baby in the womb. But, these tips can work for anyone to keep them healthy long-term.

ZEF: This is something that I am learning myself too. Post-cancer, I have become more aware of this issue myself and am learning and practicing simple ways to manage it since I am the queen of tech gadgets! Gotta love my devices! So as painful as it is, I have to learn to minimize my exposure to these electronics. However, it is not as simple because it is what I do and I am sure many of our audience who are watching - who are busy business folks, can identify this challenge.

So where does one begin to make the changes? How can we all keep our workspaces free from toxins, because I am sure my workspaces are producing tons!

JEN: There are many toxins that can be in our homes and workspace. One of them could be the furnishings. Most office furniture can emit gas for quite sometime; so, when buying new furniture, you want to stay away from pressed wood products. They can contain formaldehyde that you can pretty much smell from the day of purchase. Also, something to consider is your chair. A lot of these cushioned, comfortable office chairs can contain flame retardants. This is starting to be phased our and laws are changing regarding flame retardants in furniture, but until then, question the store and call the manufacturer before purchasing.

SONDRA: What is leading you to become more mindful of chemicals?

JEN: I began becoming aware of chemicals in food after being misdiagnosed with MS and then learning it was the food that I was eating that caused me to have trouble walking and slurring my words. Once I got rid of the toxin, I regained my health. I went back to school to become a Health Coach to prevent others from going through what I did. I started hearing through the grapevine about how the chemicals that make up our cosmetics and personal care products don't have to be tested for safety before they hit the market. I started learning about what some of these ingredients were and how they affect our health. I also learned that there are no laws in place in the United States that require these ingredients to necessarily be tested before they hit the market. It is the same with our cleaning products. This is why it is important for us to educate ourselves and take our health into our own hands. We can make the changes in our own homes by purchasing from companies that do not use harmful ingredients.

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Meet Zef Here!

SONDRA FIRESTEIN
www.PursuitOfSeattle.com

"Sondra is the founder of PursuitofSeattle.com, which offers concierge, lifestyle management, and personal assistance services. 'I work hard so I can play harder. When I'm not helping others find balance in their lives, you can find me eating delicious food, paddleboarding, or dancing like nobody is watching.'"

JENNIFER STEINER
www.HealthyHealingWellness.com

"Jennifer is an Environmental Health Coach and she support couples who are thinking about starting a family who are struggling with worry and anxiety around how to raise a healthy child considering the rising rates of disease. She gives them the peace of mind that they’re doing everything they can to give their child the best start in life."

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Results:

HOW TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR OWN HEALTH BY AVOIDING CHEMICALS:

As busy business folks, I am sure we all eat out from time to time and we don't necessarily have access to labeling information. What I know I can do is that simple stuff that you know is not goof for you, such as sugar substitutes - just avoid it! Also, avoid processed foods and consume food in its most natural state. 

Read the labels or shop somewhere you don't have to do that. I shop at Whole Foods and other natural grocers because I don't want to have to waste my time on reading. I know that I can rely on their quality.

• Read labels: When it comes to food, live by the rule "if you can't pronounce it, don't eat it"
• Bring plants into the office: In 1989, NASA conducted the Clean Air Study, where they were trying to find out how to keep the air clean in space stations. They found that plants, through photosynthesis, will absorb a lot of these toxins through the leaves and store them in the roots away from you.

• Open windows year round: Since there is a lot of off-gassing of furniture and also any fragrance that may be used, we should really get some ventilation going. Since homes are built a lot more energy efficient nowadays, there isn't a lot of air coming in and going out. According to the EPA, the indoor air quality can be much worse than the outdoor air because of this reason. Open the windows for just a little bit to get that air circulating.