Introduction

While I attended university, I worked in a bath product store that set itself apart with “natural” products. I remember explaining to customers that Sodium Laureth Sulfate was simply the foaming agent in shampoos and shower gels. Little did I know that it’s a potential carcinogen. I remember my friend, a product developer for the company, telling me about her frustrating experiences developing a new bath milk. The chemist wasn’t getting the base formula quite as she wanted it, then her mother the naturopath suggested using, what else, powdered milk…

A few years ago, another friend told me about the harmful chemicals in cosmetics and hygiene products. The only knowledge I had at the time was how aluminum in deodorant was linked to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. What I learned was enough to make me ditch most of my products overnight. I hated thinking of the toxins my 3 year old daughter had been absorbing every day since gestation. During the following year, my cleaning products and fabric softeners were next to go, then lawn pesticides, then plastics #7. I started eating more organic fruit and vegetables. Then I found out I had cancer.

The past year has been all about surviving. You can read MyCWord blog if you’re interested in knowing more. Now that I’m in remission, I’m on a mission to protect myself and my loved ones from becoming victims of this disease, which 1 in 3 people will develop in their lifetime. You’re wondering why breast and prostate cancer instances are out of proportion? Simple: they're fed by hormones like estrogen present in our surroundings –in our food, in our tools, in our products. I started thinking of what we consume in a day and how it’s part of the cycle that’s making us unhealthy. I’ve always been a big recycler and thrifter, but I want to do more. I want to break out of the nasty cycle, free myself of fake needs, be more self sustainable and ultimately, live a simpler, healthier life. These are some of the many facts I'm learning and realizations I’m having that I wish to share. I hope you’ll comment and share what you know too.