1. Clear your clutter and literally make “space “in your life!
Clutter can weigh you down. What you surround yourself with can influence your thinking. This concept of your environment influencing your thoughts and emotions is thousands of years old and stems from ancient Oriental medicine wisdom.

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to decide what you really need, not only in your house but in your life.
How do you decide what “stuff” to let go of?

1. Literally keep good vibes, recycle or chuck the bad. Let go of anything that reminds you of difficult or negative experiences in your life. Let it go and move on!
2. Let “stuff” go if it just sits there taking up room and not contributing anything positive in your life. Your stuff can literally help keep you stuck. Let it go and move on!

3. Did you know that the number of toxic compounds released from plastic shower curtains over 28 days is 16 times greater than the recommended limit for indoor quality established by the U.S. Green Building Council? Replace your plastic shower curtains with ones made from linen. Plastic fumes can contribute to breast cancer.

4. Select your beauty products wisely. Skin is a living, breathing organ.

1. Beauty products that contain “ parabens” may act like estrogens in the body and cause hormone disruptions linked to breast cancer. They are in 90% of all cosmetics, shampoos and body lotions to keep them from going bad.
2. “Petroleum jelly”, often used to help skin retain moisture, forms a film on your skin that traps toxins under the skin and keeps it from breathing properly. This can clog pores and interfere with your skins function and new cell development.
3. Other potentially dangerous ingredients in your beauty products to watch out for are: disodium laureth sulfosuccinate (DLS), triethanolamine (TEA), propylene glycol, imidazolidinyl urea, phenoxyetanol.
4. Snub antibiotic hand washing soaps that get released into all our surface waters and breed hard – to – kill, antibiotic – resistant bacteria in everyone’s environment. They also wash away your own body’s good bacteria on your skin which is one of your body’s natural defenses to disease.
5. Make red meat an once a week indulgence. Studies suggest that more than that can clog your arteries raising the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Replace red meat with fish, poultry or soy foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Better eating can start with small, positive steps.
6. Gulping too much sugar can raise your risk of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s. For a naturally sweet drink add a splash of juice, or a slice of orange, lemon or lime to your water.
7. After you clean your house, your closets and stock your frig with healthier foods have a party! A close network of friends and family can sustain you emotionally and spiritually throughout your whole life. People who remain socially active and develop good coping skills for stress are less likely to develop high blood pressure, depression, lower immunity and dementia as they age.
8. Keep your mind active to help prevent depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s as you age. Modern research shows that reading is actually an exercise for your mind. Read more, especially to learn more about natural healthy living. I suggest reading “Body & Soul” published by Martha Stewart. Much of the information in this article comes from this wonderful magazine.
9. Remember- amazing things can happen when you opt for healthier choices in your life!