This week has been celebrated as National Poison Prevention Week. The week highlights the dangers of poisonings for people of all ages and promotes community involvement in poisoning prevention. We contacted our friend Terry Mecklin at Learning Health and Wellness, LLC to see if she could give us some information on poison prevention and healthier alternatives to common household poisonings. See what she had to say in today's blog.

When we think of poison most of us picture the skull and crossbones with the x through it that is pictured on any product that is dangerous to our health and that we should be careful handling. But, do you use any of the following products? Baby powder, makeup, toothpaste, shampoo & Conditioner, bleach, household cleaning products, disinfectant spray or air fresheners, pet flea collars, laundry detergent, dryer sheets? Did you know that these products are laden with heavy metals and toxins and that these toxins can lead to cancer and a host of other diseases or alignments? Did you know that your children and pets are even more susceptible to these toxins than we as adults are?

The products mentioned above are used by most consumers every day. So what are we to do? We need to first be aware of what is in the products that we are using. You can start by looking up the ingredients in your favorite products and see how many cancerous or harmful chemicals it contains. Many of your favorite products contain neurotoxins that destroy the nerve tissue. ADHD, Autism, Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s are all neurological disorders that are in part caused by the destruction of nerve tissue. Other household products contain endocrine disruptors. These chemicals interfere with the endocrine, or hormone system, and because they interrupt the bodies normal hormone production they can cause us to gain weight, or even suffer from alignments such as thyroid dysfunction. These toxins also decrease the production of certain chemicals in the brain that cause us to be happy. This disruption leads to moodiness and depression.

It is important to begin replacing all products in your home with natural, non-toxic ones. You can replace your toothpaste, laundry detergent, hand wash, all-purpose cleaners, your shampoo, conditioner, all facial cleaning products and so much more with healthy alternatives. Believe it or not, you can even save money by using these products! Who doesn’t want to save money and live a healthier, happier life?

Here are some easy recipes to reduce your toxic load:

All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 25 drops CPTG Wild Orange Essential Oil

Combine in a glass spray bottle and shake well. Use on Counters, wood, glass, stainless steel and porcelain. Wipe with a microfiber cloth.

“Lime” Scale Remover

• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 3 Tablespoons water
• 10 drops CPTG Lemon Essential Oil
• 10 drops CPTG Lime Essential Oil

Combine all to make a paste. Rub a small amount onto the surface. Let sit for 20 min and then wipe off with a wet cloth.

For a list of toxic free products and additional recipes, or to learn more about reducing your toxic load, attend a class or set up an appointment to work on living a healthier and happier life, visit www.learninghealthandwellness.com.

Terry Mecklin, Learning Health and Wellness, LLC