Recipe: Spin
Corn, egg, gluten, lactose, milk, nightshade, nut, peanut, sesame, soya & wheat free
Falafels are made of chick-peas and are full of protein, vitamins and minerals. This recipe is baked rather than fried and has a spicy sauce to add to the flavour. Great with a salad for those hot, balmy days. Click here for the full recipe.
Thanks go to FoodsMatter for letting us reproduce this dish.
Helen's Blog
This year I have decided to sort out the clutter in my home. I had read numerous articles on how it will help bring in new energy. I got rid of any clothes I haven't worn for two years to a charity shop, although this was really hard as I always think "I may wear that sometime". I am trying to put clothes away each evening rather than just put on the end of my bed until they pile up and I can hardly get in. Just by trying to clear clutter for 15 minute slots it can be less of a haven for dirt, dust and allergens. A team of UCLA researchers observed 32 Los Angeles families and found that all of the mothers’ stress hormones spiked during the time they spent dealing with their belongings. Apparently similar to multitasking, physical clutter overloads your senses, makes you feel stressed, and impairs your ability to think creatively
Myths and Facts about Chemical Sensitivity
Myth: People with MCS don’t like the smell of fragrances. Why can’t I smell nice if I want to, or just use scents in my own air space?
Fact: MCS is not a smell preference but a recognized disability. Fragrances aren’t merely “nice smells” and they don’t stay confined to an air space. For example: dryer sheets, which were found in an EPA study to contain chloroform, can contaminate whole neighborhoods. Fragrances contain carcinogens and neurotoxins that cause severe health problems in susceptible individuals, and these chemicals linger on skin and clothes for weeks after use. According to the Environmental Health Coalition of Western Massachusetts, 95% of the chemicals used in fragrances are neurotoxic, including “benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxins and sensitizers capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions.” The EPA has found that asthma, fatigue, immune system damage, kidney and liver damage, cancer, and brain damage are associated with the chemicals in fragrances.
Myth: I use shampoo from the health food store, or products labelled “natural,” and I don’t wear cologne, so I am scent free.
Fact: “Natural” is a pretty loose term these days. The synthetic fragrances that contain the toxins mentioned above are found in most body care products, including many at the health food store labeled “natural.” Even some items labeled “unscented” contain a masking fragrance, which is a synthetic fragrance to cover up the smells of the product. Essential oils are also a problem for chemically sensitive people, and they can be impure — meaning they might contain solvent residue from extraction, or pesticide residue. Many essential oils also contain seizure-inducing compounds, a problem for people with MCS whose brains have lowered seizure thresholds. Using natural products does not make you scent free unless you buy natural products labeled “fragrance free” or “unscented” (without masking fragrance or toxic additives).
Myth: I won’t get MCS. I love the smell of fragrances and they make me feel great.
Fact: Most people with chemical sensitivities were injured by a chemical assault of some kind (i.e., pesticide treatments in a home) and then developed chemical sensitivities. A person who has not yet been afflicted is certainly not immune. In fact, most people with MCS had many exposures before getting sick, and appeared to be immune until their bodies broke. Commercials have managed to normalize the practice of slathering damaging chemicals on the skin and hair where they might be readily absorbed — some who use these products may form the next generation of people with MCS.
Myth: People with MCS seem angry about every accidental slip-up I make around scents, and everything seems to make them sick. Aren’t they overreacting? It’s just laundry detergent.
Fact: When you “accidentally” forget to not wear scents or when you use chemical cleaners around a person with MCS, you have just “accidentally” inflicted physical harm. You also unwittingly give the message that a “fresh clean scent” is so important that you don’t care if a friend spends months in bed because of it. Nobody should have to choose between isolation and physical injury. Don’t make people with MCS fight for their safety. They are used to coping with denial, anger, combativeness, and outright aggression when they ask for accommodation, and they need you as an ally. And yes, people with MCS are reacting to almost everything — physically — because, sadly, our society is so laden with chemical products that it is nearly impossible to avoid them. It’s painful for people with MCS when others choose synthetic products over the value of their lives. Instead of pathologizing the reaction of someone with MCS, why not ask yourself why you would choose the contents of a plastic bottle over a person you love? Why not ask how you would feel if you had to give up your job, your relationships, your house, your physical functionality, and your security in the world instead of just your hair gel? Why not ask what you can do to create a better society for victims of chemical injury? For the full article, which was first published on The Labyrinth Press website and written by Peggy Munson, click here
Latest News
There is a detox summit coming up in June which includes tips and interesting health-related information. We have not seen it but a support group member made us aware of it.
Interesting article on chemical sensitivity.
On 8th June, EMF Aware Sussex will be hosting the Jenny Fry Memorial Lectures, at Sedgwick Park House, Horsham, RH136QQ from 9:30am to 5:30pm.
With lectures in the morning, and a full afternoon of open clinic, you have a chance to put your questions to international experts. Tickets cost £20 or affordable donation, please contact: Peter – 01935423002 Bob – 07971761816 Stuart – 01273558680 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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