Toxins

That's an interesting question. Clearly pesticides are a problem - eating organic or unsprayed whenever possible, is really better.

Avoiding plastics as much as possible - I drink from a PBA-free bottle and since I am chemically sensitive, I KNOW it is different. I don't use plastic cutlery but actually carry around bamboo in my purse.

I never use the microwave. And I recommend using safe cleaning products - for women or men who clean the house, this is essential. There are lists of safer or really safe products like using wet newspaper to clean windows, or olive or other oil on furniture. Clean silver with toothpaste (really works), etc.
We have a section on toxins on our website www.annieappleseedproject.org That's an interesting question. Clearly pesticides are a problem - eating organic or unsprayed whenever possible, is really better.

Avoiding plastics as much as possible - I drink from a PBA-free bottle and since I am chemically sensitive, I KNOW it is different. I don't use plastic cutlery but actually carry around bamboo in my purse.

I never use the microwave. And I recommend using safe cleaning products - for women or men who clean the house, this is essential. There are lists of safer or really safe products like using wet newspaper to clean windows, or olive or other oil on furniture. Clean silver with toothpaste (really works), etc.
We have a section on toxins on our website www.annieappleseedproject.org

I've eliminated everything! This book taught me a ton:
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Green-You-Easy-Detox/dp/141654125X

I removed every cleaning product in my house that was not natural. You can you many natural products to clean your house. One of my favorites is mixing lavender oil with water and spritzing it around as a air freshener.

Next you need to take a look at all of the bath and beauty products that you use everyday. I was shocked to learn that many mainstream face moisturizers contain phyto-estrogens. Many of us have been slathering these on our faces for years. Begin by getting rid of every product that your skin absorbs - lotions, sunscreens, makeup, deodorant (this is an important one) etc. The next step is to clean up your soap, toothpaste, mouthwash - everything that you put on your body but wash off. You can look up specific products on this website:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

I don't buy anything until to look it up on this and other websites. You can't just go to the drugstore and pick up any old brand of beauty aids at this point. It takes some time to clean all of this up but its worth it in the end. You might pay a little more for these more natural products but every extra step with our health counts! I've eliminated everything! This book taught me a ton:
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Green-You-Easy-Detox/dp/141654125X

I removed every cleaning product in my house that was not natural. You can you many natural products to clean your house. One of my favorites is mixing lavender oil with water and spritzing it around as a air freshener.

Next you need to take a look at all of the bath and beauty products that you use everyday. I was shocked to learn that many mainstream face moisturizers contain phyto-estrogens. Many of us have been slathering these on our faces for years. Begin by getting rid of every product that your skin absorbs - lotions, sunscreens, makeup, deodorant (this is an important one) etc. The next step is to clean up your soap, toothpaste, mouthwash - everything that you put on your body but wash off. You can look up specific products on this website:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

I don't buy anything until to look it up on this and other websites. You can't just go to the drugstore and pick up any old brand of beauty aids at this point. It takes some time to clean all of this up but its worth it in the end. You might pay a little more for these more natural products but every extra step with our health counts!

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is life threatening. A toxin is introduced to the body that our body has been sensitized to on earlier exposure and our immune system responds with an anaphylactic reaction. Immediate treatment is necessary.

Causes: Chemotherapy and other medications, food, insect bites or stings, environmental toxins, such as pollen, or animal dander.

Symptoms to watch for in an anaphylactic allergic reaction include the following:
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, abnormal high pitched breathing sounds, coughing, and nasal congestion.
- Tongue, lips, and eyelids swelling.
- Fainting, dizziness, light headedness, confusion, slurred speech, and anxiety.
- Hives such as urticaria, raised, itchy blotches, skin redness.
- Abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
- Internal reactions include low blood pressure, shock, and death.

Treatment:
- Help prevent exacerbation by having the patient lie flat, do not raise the patient's head, lift the patient's feet, cover the patient, and do not give anything by mouth.
- Administer an epinephine pen if available.
- Treatment includes administering epinephine, intravenous cortisone and antihistamines, oxygen, and an albuterol inhaler to assist with the breathing.

Here are a couple of other sites with information on this:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000844.htm
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/understanding-anaphylaxis-basics Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is life threatening. A toxin is introduced to the body that our body has been sensitized to on earlier exposure and our immune system responds with an anaphylactic reaction. Immediate treatment is necessary.

Causes: Chemotherapy and other medications, food, insect bites or stings, environmental toxins, such as pollen, or animal dander.

Symptoms to watch for in an anaphylactic allergic reaction include the following:
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, abnormal high pitched breathing sounds, coughing, and nasal congestion.
- Tongue, lips, and eyelids swelling.
- Fainting, dizziness, light headedness, confusion, slurred speech, and anxiety.
- Hives such as urticaria, raised, itchy blotches, skin redness.
- Abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
- Internal reactions include low blood pressure, shock, and death.

Treatment:
- Help prevent exacerbation by having the patient lie flat, do not raise the patient's head, lift the patient's feet, cover the patient, and do not give anything by mouth.
- Administer an epinephine pen if available.
- Treatment includes administering epinephine, intravenous cortisone and antihistamines, oxygen, and an albuterol inhaler to assist with the breathing.

Here are a couple of other sites with information on this:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000844.htm
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/understanding-anaphylaxis-basics

As a consequence of chemotherapy medications and the side effects of the treatment, body fluids are lost. It is extremely important for your health that you replenish these fluids.

The general daily recommended intake of fluids is 9 cups for women and 13 cups for men. As well, in addition to this daily amount, it is recommended you drink 8 ounces of fluid for every time you vomit or experience diarrhea.

A couple of common ways we lose excess fluids may be vomiting and diarrhea. I recommend keeping a daily record estimating how much fluid you are losing from urinating, vomiting and diarrhea relative to a normal day. You should replace the extra fluid you lose in addition to the 9-13 cups needed to fulfill your daily requirement.

Some suggestions for fluids that you may drink are:
- water
- juices and sports drinks
- ice chips, flavored ices, frozen juices, and popsicles

You should avoid dehydrating fluids such as alcohol and caffeinated beverages (sodas, coffee and tea).

Tips to make sure you drink enough are:
- Drink all day especially between meals.
- Take a bottle of water wherever you go

An indicator that you are drinking enough fluids is if you are not thirsty and your urine is pale yellow.

If your physician is worried about dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea, medications may be prescribed to treat these side effects. As a consequence of chemotherapy medications and the side effects of the treatment, body fluids are lost. It is extremely important for your health that you replenish these fluids.

The general daily recommended intake of fluids is 9 cups for women and 13 cups for men. As well, in addition to this daily amount, it is recommended you drink 8 ounces of fluid for every time you vomit or experience diarrhea.

A couple of common ways we lose excess fluids may be vomiting and diarrhea. I recommend keeping a daily record estimating how much fluid you are losing from urinating, vomiting and diarrhea relative to a normal day. You should replace the extra fluid you lose in addition to the 9-13 cups needed to fulfill your daily requirement.

Some suggestions for fluids that you may drink are:
- water
- juices and sports drinks
- ice chips, flavored ices, frozen juices, and popsicles

You should avoid dehydrating fluids such as alcohol and caffeinated beverages (sodas, coffee and tea).

Tips to make sure you drink enough are:
- Drink all day especially between meals.
- Take a bottle of water wherever you go

An indicator that you are drinking enough fluids is if you are not thirsty and your urine is pale yellow.

If your physician is worried about dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea, medications may be prescribed to treat these side effects.