Bohemian Kate

My Personal Journey to Natural Beauty and Wellness Part 3

So, while it's fresh on my mind, I thought I would write Part 3 to this series.  At the end of Part 2, I was turning 27 and making some major changes in my life. My early to mid 20s consisted of a lot of partying and poor lifestyle choices.  Too much bad food, too much going out, etc...you get the idea.

By 27 I was kind of growing out of that stage.  First, I wanted to cut back on the going out and drinking.  Easier said than done because where I lived during that period was the Redondo/Hermosa Beach area in L.A.  Great location, beautiful scenery, but also it's a party town.  Lots of recent college graduates that were still in party mode (myself being one of them as well as most of my friends).  When you're surrounded by that kind of atmosphere, it's hard not to join in.  However, I was really feeling like I needed to leave L.A. for various reasons.  I just wasn't happy up there and I needed to live somewhere with a slower pace. 

My roommate and friend's boyfriend lived down in Carlsbad at the time which is North San Diego.  We would go down there on the weekends and hang out with him and his friends.  It was such a refreshing change of pace.  I truly felt like I was on vacation.  It was so nice to get away to this slow little beach town.  I soon discovered the trail of mellowness that makes up the coast of North County; Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach and Del Mar.  I was in love with the area and soon decided I was going to move down here once my lease was up.  So I did...with no job and no friends down here...and it felt AMAZING! 

This was definitely a turning point in my life.  Getting away from the party crowd in L.A. and now being surrounded by people that were super mellow did wonders for my health.  Now, don't get me wrong...it's not like we were all angels all the time.  Yes, we still had some fun (duh!), but in no way was it to the extent that is was when I lived in L.A.

A couple of other changes were going on at the same time.  First, I stopped eating meat so frequently.  I used to think that I needed to eat it at every meal to get enough protein.  I started reading a lot of books on health and nutrition.  I also began researching cultures or societies that had a centenarians or large amounts of people that lived over 100 years old.  The one thing that all of these cultures had in common was either they didn't eat meat or they ate it about once a week.  I took that into consideration, but I was also getting kind of grossed out by meat.  I definitely wasn't ready to cut it all the way out of my diet at the time, but I started eating it just once a week.  I also started to really pay attention to what I was eating and made a big effort to eat a lot of veggies and whole grains.  I lost about 10 pounds in less than a month and I wasn't even trying to lose weight.  I kind of felt like I was almost cleansing my body because up until that time, I would eat about anything that was placed in front of me.  Anyway, after this change, I felt so much better I can't even describe to you!  I was happier, leaner and healthier.

In addition to this, I really began to get picky about which beauty products I was using.  Since I became somewhat obsessed about health and researching nutrition, I also learned that what we put on our body is just as important as what we put in.  All that beauty crap that I spent so much money on was actually detrimental to my body.  I had a feeling about that before that I chose to ignore!  Turns out my intuition was right. 

So I began to research which products were truly natural and let me tell you they were hard to find.  Even the so called natural ones still had a lot of ingredients that I didn't understand or trust.  I won't name names, but I tried out a couple companies over the next year or so.  Yes, they were better than all the drugstore products I had been using before.  However, they still were questionable. 

I started researching even more about beauty remedies from nature.  I had always loved honey and heard that it was great for skincare.  The research I found said it was anti bacterial (great for acne) and super gentle on the skin.  I can't remember what gave me the exact idea to use it as a facial wash and I'm certainly not the first person to do it, but I gave it a try.  I found that my skin stayed soft after washing it and I rarely got any pimples...ever.  So, that started my journey towards completely natural skincare.  I continued to use the honey, but it took a couple of years to completely switch over to homemade beauty products that I make myself.  I've been using my own beauty products for about two years now and my skin has never felt or looked better.  I use all organic vegetables oils on my face and honey.  That's it. 

I will never in a million years go back to the traditional beauty methods here in the U.S. of buying synthetic store bought products.  There is no need. 

Currently, I make all my own beauty products.  As far as nutrition, I make an effort to eat really well.  Lots of veggies, fruit, whole grains and protein in the form of fish, eggs, nuts and seeds.  I've also cut out meat all together.  I'm not completely against meat, but I do suggest to always buy organic and only eat it a couple of times a week max.  For me though, it's just easier not to eat it at all.  I also rarely drink, maybe about once a week and that's not going crazy.  Once in awhile I have a big night, but these days it's pretty rare.

So there you have it!  My life story...actually while I'm writing this, I'm realizing that I need to add on a Part 4.  There have been some changes in the last month that I really want to share with you. I think I need to wait a little while though because I'm right in the beginning of this current stage of health.  I want to get some concrete results to give you...it will be sooner than later though because I already feel some positive changes within my body resulting from all the physical exercise I've been getting lately.

Anyway, this is the longest post ever!  Isn't it? 

I will leave you with this...it is never too late to make a positive change to your health/life.  You may need to hit bottom before you realize it or maybe you're ready right now, but I suggest not waiting.  Just go for it.  Seriously, it's worth it.

xoxo...Kate

My Personal Journey to Natural Beauty and Wellness Part 2

Long ago I wrote Part 1 for this and somehow time sneaks past me so I apologize that's taken me this long to do Part 2.  It's just a very personal post so it takes me awhile to write it and I just haven't been able to find the time to really sit down and get into it until now.

So at the end of Part 1, I was just getting over a month long sickness (which my doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong with me) and I had a cholesterol count of 270 at 19.  My doctor basically said I need to make some lifestyle changes or things were only going to get worse.  Now my current diet back then was junk food; pizza, soda, cookies, candy, fast food etc...and I wasn't working out.  However, I wasn't gaining any weight either, but my body obviously was extremely unhealthy.

I made some changes in my diet, but it was really hard.  At that point I hated veggies so that was something I forced myself to eat.  Looking back, I still don't think I ate that well, but at least I had cut out a lot of the junk food.  I also remember about a year after getting sick, getting a physical during a P.E. course at my community college and they told me I still had high cholestoral.  I couldn't believe it, but at that time I just didn't understand what a healthy diet was.

When I moved out of my parents house at 21 down to Los Angeles to go to school is when I started cooking for myself.  I started shopping at Trader Joe's and buying healthier options.  So I was doing a lot better at this point than I was when I was 19.  I barely was eating junk food at that time, but I definitely wasn't eating organic and was not eating anywhere near the amount of fruits and veggies that I needed to. 

Also, I had another downfall.  Now, I'm trying to be totally transparent on here so don't judge, but when they say live it up in your 20s...well, I did.  From the moment that I moved down to L.A. I started going out and drinking a lot.  I wasn't an alcoholic by any means, but my girlfriends and I would go out about 3 to 4 times a week to the clubs.  I mean, that's just what we did and I think a lot of girls in their early 20s in college can relate to this.  Do I look back and regret that I did this?  No, I had a great time and I am the type of person that still likes to have a good time every once in a while (like once a month these days) so I take it for what it was worth. 

However, I just wish that I was more aware of what I was doing to my body at that time.  When you're in your 20s, you feel like you're invincible.  You party, then you wake up and feel fine and go out the next night.  If I did that today, I would feel like crap for a week.  Back then, it was no big deal.  Can anyone else relate to this?  I hope so! 

Another thing about drinking and losing your inhibitions...you tend to eat a lot and it tends to be junk.  I remember almost after every time we went out, we would either get pizza or stop by Jack In The Box to get a burger and fries.  So now I was eating junk food again.  I would try to eat healthy during the day and then we would all binge on fast food when we came home from going out.  For some reason too, I still thought I was being healthy.  I can't remember if I was in complete denial or just didn't know better, but I think I was just having too much fun to care.

As I got into my mid 20s, I wasn't going out as much (probably like two nights a week), but I was still doing the same thing.  Drinking and then binging on junk.  I would work out and wonder why I couldn't get rid of my little belly I always seemed to have.  Now, I've been lucky that I never had a weight problem throughout all this.  At the same time you can still be skinny, but have the body fat of someone who is overweight.  That was me.

This lifestyle lasted until I was about 27...that's a good six years, which seems like a long time, but in hindsight went by really fast. Half of me wanted to be healthy and the other half just didn't care and wanted to have a good time. 

Also, as far as a beauty routine at that time, it was so completely different than it is now.  I used to be a drugstore beauty junkie.  Every time there was a new product that promised to get rid of wrinkles (and I didn't even have wrinkles back then) or some other anti aging product I would buy it.  I shopped a lot at Bath and Body Works because I thought they're products were natural.  I even was a big fan of self tanner which I shudder at now.  I would waste so much money on these products that really did nothing for my skin and definitely did not make me look any better. 

When I turned 27 was a turning point for some reason.  First, I really started to question what I was eating.  Second, I started to question what were in the beauty products I was using.  All those ingredients that I couldn't pronounce, were they really safe for me to use?  This leads me into my third phase in Part 3.  We'll call it the awakening...when I really made a huge lifestyle change that I'm still living today.

It's a little embarrassing to write about my downfalls to be honest, but if I can influence just one person to lead a healthier lifestyle, then it's worth it.  Stay tuned for Part 3...I promise you won't have to wait long.  Actually there might even be a Part 4 down the line as well because I'm going through some more positive lifestyle changes as we speak. 

You can read about Part 1 here...

I would love to hear your comments and questions regarding your journey to a healthier life or about mine. 

xoxo...kate

10 Essential Reasons to Buy Organic

I often get into discussions with my friends and co-workers on whether to buy organic or not.  They all know that I always buy organic and don't really understand why I'm so persistent about it.  The response that I usually get is that it's too expensive or it doesn't really matter in the long run and what's the difference?  Well...there is a huge difference and it actually matters way more than you would think.  Buying organic affects all different aspects of our lives, not just our pocket book.  So, to make it easier to get the gist of why it's so so important, I've compiled a list of the ten most important reasons to buy organic in my opinion.  So here goes!

1. Your Health: Sure, it's great to eat veggies and fruits, but if you're not eating organic, then I question how healthy it is for you.  Today, we're overloaded with toxins, everything from getting a new flat screen to getting your carpets cleaned to what we wash our hair with.  Eating non organic fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides is only adding to the toxicity in our bodies.  Pesticides have been linked to cancer and birth defects.  Field workers especially are at risk being chronically exposed to pesticides.  Here's a news story of a baby who was born without legs or arms who's mother worked in a field harvesting tomatoes.  Of course, working directly with pesticides on a daily basis is more harmful, yet we ingest food on a daily basis that is sprayed with the same toxins.  I always try to look for the most positive way to encourage my friends to eat organic, but at the same time evidence like this cannot be ignored.  I care about you guys, so I feel I must share this with you even if it's negative if I think it will change your mind to buy organic.
2. Save Money in the Long Run: Many times, people I know would buy organic, but say that it's too expensive.  I get it, there are some ridiculously expensive organic items, but not when you buy your essential produce that is in season.  For instance, I always buy kale, cabbage and lettuce, but steer away from buying more expensive produce like red peppers and asparagus when they're not in season.  Buy in season and trust me, you will get more bang for your buck and it really isn't that much more expensive than non organic.  When I talk about the long run, what I mean is you may spend a little more now, but you will be saving yourself potential doctors bills in the long run.  When you eat clean organic produce, you are in a sense, cleansing your body of toxins and toxins are what cause disease. Here are two books that I highly recommend to learn more about how living a clean organic lifestyle prevents disease and promotes longevity; Never Be Sick Again by Raymond Francis and The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder.  I love, love, love these books because they're straight to the point and packed with such useful information!
3. Get More Minerals and Nutrients: So we've talked about pesticides and how nasty they are, well here is another case in which pesticides are preventing us from getting the nutrients we need from our produce.  Quite plainly, pesticides kill soil.  So yes, they kill bugs and weeds, but they also deplete the essential minerals and nutrients that we need from the soil.  So while we think we're being so healthy by eating lots of fruits and veggies, if they're not organic, then we are not getting any of the healthy benefits.  So what's the point, right?  Organic soil is filled with these nutrients that we need because it's not being destroyed, thus we get produce filled with much, much more minerals and nutrients essential for health. 
4. Avoid GMO's: This to me, may be the most important reason to buy organic.  In case you don't know what GMO's are, they are genetically modified food such as corn, soybeans and host of other types of produce.  They were introduced in 1996 and genetically engineered to withstand and survive herbicides or toxic chemicals that are sprayed on the crops.  Then there are other GMO's that are engineered to kill insects by producing their own toxins.  They do this by injecting the DNA of different species into one another in a lab and creating genetically modified seeds.  The reasons behind this of course is money, but the environmental and health implications are disastrous.  There have been many studies done on rats and mice that indicate organ damage from GMO's.  The fact that we have only been eating genetically modified food since 1996, less than 20 years has not allowed us to see the long term damage.  Something like 93% of soybeans, 86% of corn and 70% of all processed food contain GMO's.  You would never know it though because there are no laws here in the U.S. that you have to label genetically modified food.  Personally I would never want to eat a food that has been genetically sliced and diced in a lab, especially one that contains actual pesticides inside the food!  I'm not alone because GMO's have been banned or restricted in Japan, Australia and the European Union.  Here, in the U.S. though it's completely legal and they even just approved alfalfa sprouts and sugar beets to be genetically modified!  The only way to avoid GMO's is to buy organic or grow your own organic food.  Scary stuff.
   
5. It's Better for the Planet:  So, we talked about pesticides and GMO's, but how does this affect the rest of the planet?  Well, long story short is there is no way to contain these toxins.  Pesticides get into the water and the soil, killing native plants and poisoning wildlife.  GMO's often times pollinate non GMO plants and also pollinate plants in the wild, there is no way to contain them.  This is especially scary since we don't know the full implications of GMO's.  I highly recommend watching the documentaries Food Inc or The World According to Monsanto for more information on GMO's.  Quite plainly, by supporting sprayed crops and GMO's you may unknowingly be poisoning the planet.  
6. Helps Bees and Pollination: I'm sure most of you have heard that bee colonies have been on the decline and there have been study after study showing that pesticides are the cause.  Bees are so important to our survival so to see the colony collapse disorder is truly alarming.  We need bees to pollinate our crops and plants.  Albert Einstein once said, "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man."  According to an article at Pace Press, one in every bites of food that we eat here in the U.S. is dependent on pollination from bees.  So make sure to buy organic honey!  
7. Helps Lower the Price of Organic Products: If we want organic food to be cheaper then we must buy more of it.  It's the simple logic of supply and demand.  So let do this!  If everyone started buying organic today, then I'm sure the price will go down.  Even better, if you have room, grow your own organic garden!
8. Support Local Organic Farms: Every time I go to my local health food store, they always have food from local farms labeled.  It's great!  I love supporting local farms and it seems that new ones are popping up all the time.  Also, if you can, check out your local farmers markets for local organic produce.  It's usually cheaper too and we all like that! 
9. Organic Food Tastes Better: Have you ever compared an organic tomato with one that has been sprayed with pesticides?  The taste and texture difference is amazing.  The organic tomato is juicy and firm while the non organic is pasty and bland.  So gross!  Also, I've had non organic lettuce that just tastes like it's still covered in chemicals.  I can really taste the difference since I've gone strictly organic. 
10. You will Look and Feel Better: When I started really giving a crap about what I ate, it was amazing how much better I felt and looked.  Plus I lost about 5 to 10 pounds that I wasn't even trying to lose.  I'm convinced that it was my body ridding itself of all the chemicals that had built up from eating regular conventional food.  Plus, I cut out meat and that made a huge difference as well.  I don't eat meat now, but if you do, I highly recommend buying organic meat to avoid all the hormones and antibiotics that are pumped into factory farmed meat.

I mainly spoke about organic produce in this post, but buying organic meat is just as important to avoid meat with hormones and antibiotics which lower our immune system and mess with our own hormones.  I know this is a lot of information to take in, but hopefully this post will help clarify how important it is to buy organic food.  

If this does seem over whelming, just take it one step at a time by switching over to organic slowly.  However, if you're inspired, go for it!  You'll feel so much better knowing that you're not only helping yourself, but the whole eco system too.  Just think of it as an investment :)

For some organic meal ideas, check out my recipe section.  

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

xoxo...Kate