New Information on BPA

I subscribe to a blog by the Organic Consumers Association. I highly recommend everyone sign up. It is incredibly informative about what is going on with world fuel, genetically engineered food, and many other items pertaining to organics. Recently this article was published about the effects of BPA.I am very glad that I replaced all of my to go bottles and coffee cups with ones from BODY which are all BPA-free.

Kendra

this New Studies Link BPA to Heartbeat and Fertility Problems

* By Rory Harrington
Food Quality News, June 11, 2009
Straight to the Source

Fresh research linking bisphenol A (BPA) to heart beat disorders and fertility problems have added to the growing weight of opinion questioning the safety of the chemical.

BPA is used to make hard, clear plastics for food containers, dental sealants and the sealants that line food and beverage cans. Concern over the chemical has been rising in the US resulting in it being banned in two states and an announcement from the Food and Drug Administration to review its opinion that BPA is safe.

Two new studies presented this week at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Washington are sure to add to the controversy surrounding the chemical.

Irregular heartbeat

A study by a team at the University of Cincinnati (UC) found that exposure to BPA and/or estrogen causes abnormal activity in the hearts of female rats and mice. The group, lead by associate professor of pharmacology Scott Belcher, said that estrogen receptors are responsible for this effect in heart muscle cells.

Belcher said: "There is broad exposure to bisphenol A, despite recognition that BPA can have harmful effects. We had reason to believe that harmful cardiovascular affects can be added to the list."

The scientists said live cultures of cardiac cells isolated from rat or mouse hearts were briefly exposed to BPA and/or estrogen. It found the reaction in terms of heartbeat was sex-specific to women.

"Both compounds caused striking changes in the activity of cardiac muscle cells from females but not males," said a UC statement. "Additional studies revealed that these cellular changes in activity caused improperly controlled beating in the female heart."

Belcher added: "Basically, it's very clear that BPA is acting like estrogen. If we give estrogen at physiological concentrations, then add BPA, it's actually a synergistic effect. It's not like adding the two together. It's worse."

A second study presented by Yale University School of Medicine's reproductive endocrinology team claimed to show adverse effects on fertility in rodents following exposure to BPA.

Gene altering

The group, led by Professor Hugh Taylor, injected pregnant mice with a low dose of the chemical. After the animals gave birth, the scientists analyzed the uterus of female offspring and extracted DNA. They found that BPA contact during pregnancy had a lasting effect on one of the genes that is responsible for uterine development and subsequent fertility in both mice and humans (HOXA10).

"The genes that are necessary for normal pregnancy are altered," said Taylor, adding BPA changed the DNA code and the ability of DNA to express these genes.

He said: "A little transient exposure during a brief time period in pregnancy could permanently alter the DNA of the uterus.

"We don't know what a safe level of BPA is, so pregnant women should avoid BPA exposure. There is nothing to lose by avoiding items made with BPA-and maybe a lot to gain."

Research techniques questioned

But the American Chemistry Council (ACC) rejected the validity of the studies, accusing the authors of "bypassing the scientific process in favor of sensational press releases" and as "a scare tactic that will not promote public health".

Steven G. Hentges, of the ACC, said: "It is disappointing to see that some researchers continue to inject animals with bisphenol A since this experimental technique has recently been acknowledged by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to have very limited value for assessing human health effects. In addition, studies on cell cultures are unlikely to be directly relevant to human health and, unless and until such relevance is scientifically validated, should not be presented as evidence of health risks."

The danger in beauty

We are constantly bombarded by advertising of beauty products, in magazines, TV, and everywhere else we turn. But the long term consequences of some of those products are too scary to ignore. It all started with an article a few months ago and a little bit of research. It has me looking at beauty products in a whole new light. It seems many of them contain ingredients that are carcinogenic and this includes items at health food stores and products for children. I recently went through my bathroom and threw out at least 50% of the products that were in there. Now I spend more time in the store reading every single label. There are a few items in particular that you really should look out for: Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben(E214),propylparaben, and butylparaben); PEG's; dioxane 1,4 (most of the time this won't even be included in ingredients because it is considered a by-product. To read more go to http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18112.cfm); Sodium Laureth Sulfate; phenoxyethanol (which is considered a safer preservative then the Parabens and is in many natural products);OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3); and Benzyl Alcohol (Alcohol can be required by the USDA & FDA if no other preservatives are used even in products considered organic). The list can go on and on and some of these are worse then others. The parabens, PEBs, and Dioxane being the worst offenders.You can look up specific products at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. They rate products on a 1 - 10 scale. 10 being the worst and go into details on why the products are bad. I think it is important that we are all educated on the products that we use every day and contact the companies to tell them how we feel. If we stand up to the worst offenders they will be forced to change their products and create better standards in the beauty industry. I hope this helps you feel empowered to make a difference in the cosmetic industry. There are many companies out there doing their best to offer safer products.

-Kendra

Health & Relaxation are not just for women

Women, do you invite the men in your life to join you at the spa? Do you encourage them to seek out treatments on their own or maybe accompany their daughters for a day at the spa? It is important to acknowledge that a body treatment at the spa can be a way of honoring a man’s inner peace, physical strength, and internal well being.
If there were a science to figuring out men and their relationship to spas, we who work at and frequent the spas would know it inside and out. But it’s so sporadic that the issue is really more cultural than scientific. I say lets take the challenge of looking at all things; boys, men, spa, and do I dare say emotionally related. From the dressing rooms of Victoria’s secret to grocery store lines, us women can and do talk about our bodies & feelings. But where is it normal for men to do this? If there are places, they often tend to make a big deal about the pairing of men and well umm . . .emotions. As though those two don’t naturally go together. Where are the male spaces for all things feeling related to be normalized and not emphasized?
Since I was a young girl my mother always took me to female bathhouses where women of all ages and emotional states bathed together. I knew as a little girl this is the place where women came to talk with their bodies, about their bodies. But what little boys are exposed to this when they are young? Where can they be in the midst of men of all ages, to be present, absorb, and hopefully understand without ever awkwardly using the word emotion? The most interesting thing about emotions, for men and women, is that you don’t have to do a single thing verbally to fully express them. Science other than spa science shows that translating your intangible thoughts into tangible words through the physical activity of writing is one of the healthiest ways to express oneself. I recently was given a beautiful Royal typewriter from 1966, in pristine condition, and the best part is, it doesn’t type. So when I am really stressed out I take my typewriter in the backyard and type pages and pages of everything I am thinking and feeling. Then I pull out those blank pages and feel like I expressed, it’s out there, and its over, I don’t have anything left over to reflect on. Writing is not the only way to release, though. Maybe the science behind getting men to embrace the spa as women have, lies in the concept, that the tiniest of sighs as you zone out in a massage can equal that of a thousand words.

"You are what you eat"

We've all heard this adage a million times, but even although the saying may be tired, the truth in it is more relevant than ever. The way you nourish yourself quite literally creates the cells that make up your body, and determines your health. So how would we eat if this simple mantra was going through everyone's head? There's no doubt that organic food would gain even more popularity, and processed food would decline into obsolescence.

Food and nourishment is truly an important and weighted topic, and should not be taken lightly, nor for granted. Give thanks for the nourishment you get from your food, and watch how meals can become yet another daily experience where you can practice consciousness.

If you are interested in how to prepare consciously crafted, healthy food, please join us this weekend for our Raw Culinary Class by Dr. Kartar and Deva Khalsa. Learn how to reframe your conceptions on food to see how it can serve as medicine!

-Keryn

your body and the cosmos

" Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos - the trees, the clouds, everything."

~Thich Nhat Hanh

What do you do to thank your body for carrying you through life? Find a simple way to practice gratitude to your body everyday, and in doing so, see yourself in everything, and everything within yourself.

-Keryn

BODY Style

Shama considers adding the Corset Dress to her suitcase for a trip to Germany.

BODY Style

Tacos at Body café

Have you ever had the pleasure to go on the ultimate foodie's adventure known as Body café's tacos? If you are in the know, you already have tried them. We have clients that travel from out of state just for these yummy examples of Mexican cuisine! Body café offers something for everyone - even in taco form! Satisfy your hunger cravings with a choice of taco fillings for anyone's diet - chicken, tofu, tempe, egg, or my favorite, smoked salmon! ¡Son muy sabrosos!

-Keryn

Happy Arbor Day!

"Trees are your best antiques." ~Alexander Smith

Today is Arbor Day! Observe this nationally-celebrated day by planting a tree! Relationships with humans take up a lot of time and energy, so creating a bond with non-humans, like trees, must be a conscious choice. Plant a tree to mark a special anniversary, a yearly commitment, or the completion of one of life's milestones. Over the years, your bond with the tree will grow, and your subtle connection has the potential of lasting a lifetime!

I have a special connection with an aspen and a plum tree. What kind of tree are you connected to?

-Keryn

BODY Style

The cyclical nature of community

Building community takes work. We all have the tendency to settle into our own private worlds when we aren't making a determined intention to be part of the bigger picture. I dare you to reach out to make a connection in some way that is out of your regular routine. Here are some ideas:

• Compliment a stranger
  
• Share something you are passionate about with a friend
• Attend a community gathering
• Start an communal project with your neighbor
• Lend something special to someone
• Donate your time to a worthy organization
• Offer to help someone

Making these efforts may feel like work at first, however contributing to a community entails reaping the benefits of being part of something that is larger than yourself.

-Keryn

BODY Style

BODY Style

BODY Style

BODY Style Blog

The new BODY Style Blog is here!

Every day we marvel at the beauty and creativity walking by or through our doors at BODY. We, at the BODY Boutique would like to share these experiences with you by capturing, displaying and celebrating the diverse styles expressed by the members, employees and visitors of our BODY community. It is such a feast for the senses to drink in the wonderful combinations of color, texture, and form that make up an individuals "style"; the witnessing of which translates into the idea that our very bodies are an art form to be dressed and adorned in endless possibilities of expression and play. Which is one of the reasons style is so intriguing; it is always evolving...Just like us.

Beauty. BODY. Individuality.

Come play "dress up" with us and let us know what you think about the images and styles we've chosen for our BODY Style segment this week.more

Miracle Beauchamp, BODY Boutique Buyer
Jacqueline Beam, BODY Boutique Manager

Time & Gravity

"Time and gravity are the best teachers"

This is what one of Body's great yoga teachers, David, said to the class on Tuesday. Throughout the hour of his class, David guided us through an exploration of gravity and how intense it can be when combined with extended time. My muscles are happily feeling the effects of yesterday's class, which immediately gave me a renewed sense of adjustment - even in my bones. I highly suggest David's class for anyone who is looking for a uniquely meditative and stimulating experience.

-Keryn

Spring renewal

"To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival."

~ Wendell Berry

Take this quote as a reminder of the importance of following an eco-friendly lifestyle. The best inspiration to recycle, purchase green products, and to lower you carbon footprint can be found right outside your front door. Look at each spring blossom as a beautiful symbol of how the earth can renew itself - but only with our help and dedication to protect nature and the atmosphere.

Happy Spring!

-Keryn

Our newest Skin Care - DNA

We have always loved Spa Tech, but have always wanted to add another line to our spa. We have finally added in DNA. We are thrilled to have them and feel they fit in perfectly with BODY's beliefs. DNA uses only natural, organic, chemical-free and preservative-free ingredients. The products contain no parabens, even the sunscreen is completely natural. All fragrances are natural. (I recently got the night cream and it smells like walking through a rose garden after a rainstorm. Not a fake rose smell, but a true rose smell). DNA also offers cryostem cells. Research has shown they actually slow the aging of cells and increase new skin growth by 71% percent. We really liked the fact that there is a lot of research behind this product. There are many organic products out there, but they do not all have scientific research to back it up.
Sometimes when you hear cryostem cells it might make you wonder, but their cells come from cows. As follows: (cows). The bovines roam free-range in a pristine region of the French Alps. They receive organic feed and are hormone, steroid and antibiotic free. The health and well-being of this special bovine herd is a priority for the DNA Health Institute, and we ensure that these bovine live in a safe and nurturing environment. Embryonic fluid, rich in nutrients and stem cells, is extracted during a carefully calculated specific timeline (within the first trimester of the bovine’s pregnancy) to achieve maximum amounts of stem cells which have not become specific to the bovine genetic composition but contain the DNA information to influence and support human skin. The extraction process is similar to human amniocentesis, a diagnostic procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the amniotic sac, the membrane that surrounds the fetus in the uterus. This cruelty-free method does not harm the bovines and protects the health and well-being of the mother bovine and her fetus. The extracted fluid is soon replenished by fresh embryonic fluid, rich in the biological nutrients necessary for a healthy pregnancy. The mother bovine replaces the fluid in less than eight hours after extraction. The DNA Health Institute has always been on the forefront of animal and human rights.

Many of the staff has already started using the product and I have noticed drastic results in a few. I highly recommend if you are looking for a good skin care product to try DNA out.

Evening of Spirit

Body staff is abuzz with excitement for this Sunday's event by Charley Castex "Evening of Spirit"! As the most recent addition to Body's community of psychics, Charley takes residency at Body every Friday to offer in depth life readings that focus on each individual's personal potential.

Charley has been very busy here at Body, and booking an appointment has become competitive. If you haven't been able to book one of Charley's transformative readings yet, join us on Sunday, March 15, for "Evening of Spirit" - you might be one of the lucky audience members to receive a random reading! This is the introductory event, so admission is free!

Prior to the gallery readings, Charley will offer us a presentation of joyous teachings on cultivating an empowering relationship with our own natural divinity. Please join us in a journey of transformative self discovery led by Charley Castex.

-Keryn

Take it slow

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” - Lao Tzu

Allow yourself to go at your own pace today. Chances are, you still will get everything done with even more precision. Life is not about getting your errands done. Practice fully feeling every moment today. Trust that every task is a stepping stone on your personal journey.

-Keryn