Category Archives: Health

The Imperfect

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Tuesday afternoon I found myself at our ophthalmologist chatting about how if my son’s eyes don’t respond to a change in his glasses prescription, how we might find ourselves back in hospital requiring further eye surgery.

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Eye Operation – April 2015

I’m okay with this. While it’s not great news, he can see, we have medical aid (which should cover it this time!), and we have options.

I sat there thinking about the next step. I’ve realized I’m a solutions focussed person and so my mind is already calculating what needs to be done: go to optometrist to order new lenses, send other glasses back off to Vancouver, double check with our broker that all our medical aid bits and pieces are in order and book a follow up appointment for 4 months time to determine official outcome. Cool. I got it.

A year ago these appointments terrified me. When something is wrong with your little one, your heart sits FIRMLY on your sleeve and you feel EVERYTHING DEEPLY. Once we knew something was awry (I still remember clearly, the road we were walking down when I verbalizied what I had noticed with Clay to my friend Amy) we booked numerous appointments, including the BIG one with the ophthalmologist to rule out the very scary stuff. I don’t think I ate for a week before the meeting I was so anxious. But now, we’re stronger and this is what it is (which is minor in the greater scheme of things) and with chins up, we embrace the challenges with grace and love.

Recently, I’ve known of friends dealing with many, many things. Friends struggling with rejection, very real family challenges, struggles with identity, years of getting out of debt, miscarriage and even the death of a child.

I’ve also been chatting with new parents, in what seems like that gushy, mushy, amaaaazing, yet sleep deprived what-the-hell-am-I-doing stage of parenting. I chuckled to myself as I heard them talking, remembering so clearly how I tried to keep things ‘right’ with this clean slate (of a person) I had just been given. I did it too: the whole ‘wash all of the baby clothes in the natural scented, gold tinted baby laundry soap’, have way more of everything than I EVER needed, put the ‘no tears’ shampoo in my eyes before using it on the kids, and didn’t sleep much at all if my child was 0.3 degrees hotter than his regular basal body temperature (all the while the canned goods in my cupboards were lined up military style – labels facing forward).

But the reality is, in our imperfect broken world – things go wrong. Eyes weaken, bodies fail, bad decisions are made (even with the very best and most honourable intentions), families break, and hurt people hurt people.

be kind

As I sat in the ophthalmologist’s room picturing the possibility of a second eye operation, I was comforted by the fact that this is life, and we are all working through different things. We may not all wear the badges on our blazers or show the depth of the scars but to pretend this stuff is not happening and that we’re always alright is just ignorant, hurtful and even harmful. Being an idealist I might come across as one of those ignorant ones, but I’m not… I am hopeful.

brokenn crayons still colour

This quote is so great –

Vulnerable quote

I’m hopeful. I believe in a God who heals, who changes, who restores and even if not – I’m hopeful because he is God. And we’re a part of a bigger story, and what we’re struggling with now, does not define us or determine who we are.

And because he makes beautiful things, out of us (thanks Gungor).

Easy-Peasy Homemade Chicken Stock

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When we first did Paleo (Whole30) back when I was pregnant with #2, we stuck to the rules military-style, and that included no chemicals in any-thing. So we had to make our own stock. What?

Making your own stock is awesome, super rewarding and easy-peasy. And it is delicious. In fact, after we learnt about it we stopped buying boneless, skinless chicken breasts so we had extra bones to use, and by doing so, saved some money at the same time (boneless meat is often more expensive).

So here’s how you do it:

Cook a roast chicken. This is my go-to recipe and I love love love it. It’s a throw-together rustic version of a roast chicken. Invite some friends over, and enjoy your dinner with some good wine and laughter. Pick as much meat off the carcass as you can, gobble it all up or save whatever you have left over for chicken mayo toasties, salad toppings etc.

Jamie Oliver Roast Chicken

Then take the carcass and pop it in a pot and pour about 3L-4L of water over it. Now you get creative… Was there a mushy lemon in the carcass cavity? Throw that in the water. Cut up a couple carrots, an onion or two, a couple sticks of celery, salt, pepper and some herbs (bay leaves, parsley, thyme etc.) from your garden. Basically any veggies (flavours) you have lying around, chuck them in.

Bring it to the boil for around 20min. Then (my favourite bit), pop it in your Wonderbag. Overnight. At end of cooking time, open bag, check temperature immediately to be certain stock measures 60° C/140° F or higher. Strain the liquid through a sieve and throw the veggie bits in your compost. For maximum flavor use the back of large spoon to press as much liquid as possible from meat, bones and veggies. Add additional salt and pepper to taste and pop your delicious flavoursome liquid it in the freezer. Done!

(If you don’t have a Wonderbag, you can let it simmer gently for around 30min. Check on it and then turn it down and let it cook on low for another hour or so – just don’t forget about it).

Chemical, MSG, nonsense-free stock. Yum.

Picture Credit: everydaygoodthinking.com

Homemade Kale Chips

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It doesn’t get much greener than kale chips.

Kale – that infamous leafy green which no one really knows what to do with, right? So back in the ‘Couve, friends used to grow kale and then make us crispy kale chips and OH STOP IT they were delicious. I’m not crazy. They really are delicious.

I’m pretty sure when I pull out massive bunches of unknown greens at home my dad inwardly shudders. And the bunch of kale I bought was huge, but he dared to try the chips and he even ENJOYED them. No lies. All you need is kale, ground salt and olive oil and you’re off and away…

These are seriously addictive! My mah-hoosive bunch of kale made 6 trays (!) of the stuff (which I cooked 2 trays at a time) and I’d almost finished 2 trays worth of the chips before the next 2 trays were cooked. Like I said. Addictive.

HOMEMADE KALE CHIPS (thanks to Kitchen Treaty)

Ingredients: kale, good quality ground salt and extra virgin olive oil.

How to: 

1. Wash your kale well, and pat it as dry as you can get it.

2. Pull the leaves apart from the stem (or cut it if you want to be dainty), and tear them (or cut them) into small pieces (we don’t need perfection, you can be rustic about it).

3. Put them in a large bowl and pour a little extra virgin olive oil over it, and toss gently but thoroughly so the leaves are all coated. (I had to laugh as Kitchen Treaty says ‘You don’t want to bruise the kale, but you want to make sure every single bit of every leaf gets coated‘. Ha ha ha)

4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the kale in a single layer on the sheet. Sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt.

5. Bake at 150 degrees C (300F) for 8-12 minutes. As soon as the kale is rigid and crisp, remove it from the oven. It’ll burn quickly. And if it isn’t yet crisp, keep baking, checking every couple of minutes until it is. It should literally crunch into bits in your mouth – not be chewy.

6. Wait a minute or two for it to cool and then crunch away. This is best eaten straight after cooking. You can store in an airtight container, but I highly recommend preparing it just before you plan to eat it as it doesn’t keep too well.

Bake-until-crispy

So easy and so delicious. Let me know what you think! I dare you to take it to your next get-together and see what your friends think (then go outside a hug a tree for pure entertainment value)…

Enjoy
xxx

Battle of the (Dishwashing) Brands

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Even if you have a dishwasher, you no doubt wash a good few dishes in your sink with sunlight liquid each day. But, sunlight liquid – while it has seemingly outplayed many other brands in the dishwashing liquid world – how happy/honest/good is it on your hands, dishes, environment and ultimately your health (with its sneaky little hidden residue sitting on everything you put your food on…)?

Not being a scientist, (and never claiming to be) I don’t have the exact answer, but considering more and more of you wonderful humans are looking into alternatives to use in your homes, I thought I’d take the liberty of doing a little ‘Battle of the (HONEST) Brands’ in my own home, with my own pots and pans, to test out our happy competitors.

Disclaimer: Please note that this was not an audited experiment and I did not have 6 equally bacon-greased pans ready to be washed in 6 different basins of water with the respective dishwashing soaps. I popped the 6 brands on my windowsill and used them each at differing intervals while washing up the seemingly endless amount of dishes that comes with having kids.

Our categories will include: price point, bubble factor, smell, effective clean and overall awesomeness.

(As always, when changing brands, you’d be ignorant to think that by using a different, green brand will give you the exact same experience as your usual brand would. It’s easy to forget, so bear that in mind when you consider changing over. If we are to expect a different outcome (i.e toxic-free/biodegradable) then we need to expect a different user experience). 

Meet our Contestants: 

Dish washing Liquid HR - 2015

1. Better Earth Dishwashing Liquid 
Price Point: R52 for 750ml
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil.
Bubble Factor: 7/10
Smell: 9/10
Effective Clean: 8.5/10
Overall Awesomeness: I LOVE the smell, and love the brand. A number of their products are finalists (and winners) in the Fairlady Best Buy Consumer Awards 2010. Locally made in Muizenberg, I trust this brand. I just get a good vibe. A bit on the pricier side when compared – that’s my only negative.

Better Earth claims: Their products are bio-degradable and do not affect anything else apart from what they are designed to do which is to clean and freshen. They want to give you a cleaning product that works well but is safe for you, your family and the earth, and the beauty of their products is that they are kept simple while still being effective. Better Earth products are free of sulphated surfactants, parabens, animal products, colourants and synthetic fragrance. They are also bio-degradable and are certainly better for the earth than some of your more conventional cleaners.

Dishwashing Liquid

2. Nu Eco Dishwashing Liquid
Price Point: R33 for 750ml
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Peel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citral, Limonene.
Bubble Factor: 8/10
Smell: 9/10
Effective Clean: 8.5/10
Overall Awesomeness: Made in Durbs, this new brand gets me amped and I’m stoked to see it hitting the shelves of many retailers. I love the story behind how they began and am continually pleasantly surprised by the price and quality of each new Nu Eco product I try.

Nu Eco claims: Cuts through grease and grime, non-polluting to water systems, fresh natural fragrance, kills germs with botanical extracts, contains natural citrus-based, anti-microbial oil.

3. Earthsap Dishwashing Liquid
Price Point: R37 for 750ml
Ingredients: Saponified Vegetable Extract, Citrus Essential Oils, Natural Gum, Water.
Bubble Factor: 8/10
Smell: 7/10
Effective Clean: 8.5/10
Overall Awesomeness: Proudly showing off a ‘2 x normal strength’ sticker, my only disappointment is that I found this liquid rather runny, and so if you’re not careful, you could go through it quite quickly. I love that it says it’s non toxic, biodegradable, safe for kids and gentle on hands. I was impressed.

Earthsap claims: Earthsap products use no dyes, synthetic fragrances, artificial preservatives, phosphates, petrochemicals, chlorine or bleaches, animal or GM ingredients and are never tested on animals. They are non-toxic and 100% biodegradable.

Pure-Simple-Dishwash-Liquid

4. Pure Simple Dishwashing Liquid
Price Point: R46 for 1L
Ingredients: Natural Spring Water, Coconut Oil, Caustic Potash, Citrus Essential Oils.
Bubble Factor: 4/10
Smell: 6/10
Effective Clean: 6/10
Overall Awesomeness: Dubbed by Pure Simple themselves as their ‘problem child’ this soap, was, well… errmmmm not the beeeest. BUT, having said that, it is an excellent heavy duty grease cutter – the pure coconut oil soap emulsifies the oil and/or grease and washes away leaving dishes grease free.

Sandra from Pure Simple suggests you dilute it 50 / 50 with water in a spray bottle and spray directly into greasy roasting pans. Rub with a scrubby sponge and rinse in hot water. This I found very effective. If you are a hardcore ingredient watcher – this is your best bet.

5. Triple Orange Dishwashing Liquid
Price Point: R72 for 500ml
Ingredients: Orange Oil, Coconut Oil, Coconut Extract, Anionic Surfactant & Non-Ionic Surfactant
Bubble Factor: 8/10
Smell: 7.5/10
Effective Clean: 7.5/10 (dishwasher), 8/10 (sink)
Overall Awesomeness: Triple Orange seems to have all of a sudden hit the market with a small yet super effective range of cleaning products boasting everything ORANGE. And as a small family business based in Jozie, well done to them! Their dishwashing soap can be used for both the dishwasher and sink, but I found it more effective in the sink. This was the most expensive competitor in the bunch. Hmph.

TRIPLE ORANGE™ claims: their products are made from the oil extracted from the peel of the orange. The soaps are emulsifiers which contains no synthetic chemicals, petroleum distillates, or alcohol. They are environmentally friendly, biodegradable and non-toxic. They are capable of handling the toughest industrial cleaning problems, but are safe enough to use in the home, around children and animals.

EnviroBlend

6. Greenman’s Enviroblend Dishwashing Liquid
Price Point: R175 for 5L (only sold in 5L and 25L tubs)
Ingredients: Water, Sulphonic Acid (COA), SOD Lauryl Sulphate, Coconut Diethanolamine, SOD Hydroxide (C/Lye), Cocoamidoproyl Betaine, Acticide LA1220, Perfume Lemon Fresh SW0007, Dye T Green.
Bubble Factor: 9/10
Smell: 5/10
Effective Clean: 8.5/10
Overall Awesomeness: I do like Greenman products and use quite a few in my home, and while I’m not a scientist, from my semi-uneducated opinion, this contestant seems to be the one with a number of ingredients which I’d usually find in store bought products. This soap looks and feels like good old Sunlight (it has a green dye unlike any others). I queried the SOD Lauryl Sulphate with my friend at Greenman and he sent the following link for those who might be concerned about it too. Regardless of my hesitancy, I do like it, it is the most affordable and it certainly works.

Greenman claims: their products are Non Toxic, Non Corrosive, Non Caustic, Non Flammable and Non Explosive, As well as being Readily Biodegradable, Carcinogen Free, Plant Based, Dioxane Free, Ethylene Oxide Free and Bleach Free.

Conclusion: I expected to be comparing apples with apples but that didn’t seem to be the case.

For instance, your Pure Simple, while not offering the easiest wash, has the fewest ingredients – which to some, means the most. Your Greenman on the other hand, I initially felt uneasy about the SOD Lauryl Sulphate (and think the DYE is needless), it does provide you with a more natural option for the committed Sunlight Soap lover.

Surprisingly, my top choices are Earthsap and Nu-Eco, with Better Earth trailing ever so slightly just behind them. Better Earth also comes in a 5L which is handy to have on hand and uses less packaging (using it to refill the original 750ml bottle).

One more simple change you can make to your home. Now it’s your turn to try one…

Image credit: www.brayandscarff.com.

Crazy Delicious Veggie Burgers

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So, a while back we made these homemade veggie burger patties and they are astoundingly delicious. Like, trust me. If you’re trying a meat-free-ish diet, please, please make these!

Whether you’re trying to eat less meat for personal reasons, to create healthy habits or for environmental concerns – this is a win-win.

This recipe makes about 12 patties. So throw a party and include this recipe. If that’s more than you need, pop the extras in the freezer. You’ll eat then soon enough – I promise.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
3 cups each grated beets, and grated carrots
1/2 cup minced onions
2 eggs
1 cup cooked brown rice (I’d imagine quinoa would work well too)
2.5 cup grated cheddar cheese (I use the really old stuff, it’s tastier)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped parsley
3 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 clove minced garlic
Dash of cayenne pepper



Method:

Toast sesame seeds in a skillet on the stove, for 3-5 mins.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly (get your hands right in there!).
If the mix seems runny, add a bit of extra flour, it can get messy…
Shape into patties, and bake for about 25 minutes at 180 degrees C (350 F), until browned on the edges.
Only turn patties if you make them extra large and thick.

TOPPINGS:

Get creative. Add sliced tomato, avocado, feta, fresh greens, crunchy slaw and maybe even some fresh purple or caramelized onion. So really, I’m describing a vegetarian burger bar. Add some homemade salsa, or some paleo mayo… Eat it on a fresh bun or between some lettuce leaves if you’re going low carb.

Aaaaand enjoy.
xxx

Source: Farmer John’s Cookbook: The Real Dirt on Vegetables.
Image credit: www.self.com

Spring Cleaning with Better Earth & GIVEAWAY!

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So, I presume you’re all done with your spring cleaning right? Wait… No?

Well if you haven’t started (and we’re almost mid way through Spring) then don’t feel bad. Neither have I, which is strange because I love cleaning… when I’m in the mood. I think maybe it is because I haven’t had the right goodies in my hands and I’m not up for making my own cleaning products quite yet. I’m trying my hand at making things slowly, and well… I’m sure I’ll get to the bicarb of soda/lemon juice/vinegar mix soon enough, but for now I’m going with local, trusted well known brands, such as Better Earth, a homegrown family company based in Muizenberg.

Better-Earth

A while back I read a post by Wellness Mama stating that our homes are often our most toxic environments. It stuck with me.

Two experts Leslie Reichert, author of “Joy of Green Cleaning,” and Sara Snow, author of “Sara Snow’s Fresh Living,” share the reasons why people should make the switch to green cleaning products.

1. Healthier Home
If you go green, “No longer will there be chemicals absorbed into the skin or breathed in by the person cleaning,” Reichert says. Health benefits extend to family members who are no longer breathing in cleaners lingering in the air and sitting on surfaces. Studies have shown that using a household cleaning spray, even as little as once a week, raises the risk of developing asthma. Snow says that using green cleaning products can reduce the chances of developing asthma, which “today is the most common chronic illness and the leading cause of school absences due to chronic illness across the country.”

2. Purer Environment
When you use many cleaning products, “harmful chemicals are being released into the environment,” says Reichert. Not great for you and the people around you to breathe in. Changing to greener methods, “helps reduce pollution to our waterways and the air and it minimizes your impact on ozone depletion and global climate change with fewer smog-producing chemicals,” advises Snow. Many green products also use recyclable packaging which minimizes waste.

3. Safer Products
Conventional cleaning products pose risks such as chemical burns to the cleaner’s skin and eyes. Green cleaners aren’t corrosive and meet strict standards regarding inhalation toxicity, combustibility and skin absorption.

4. Better Air Quality
As with most people, Snow can’t stand the “stench of strong chemical odours.” Many green cleaning products — including store bought and ones you can make at home — include pleasant natural essential oils. Reichert even refers to cleaning with these products as her “aromatherapy.”

5. Less Expensive
“For home cleaning, vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, etc. can do the trick for pennies on the dollar, compared to buying conventional cleaning products,” Snow says. Why go out and buy products when you can use things you already have in your pantry?

As I said previously, I’m not at the point of making my own cleaning goodies yet (and I know many of you feel the same way) and I have zero conviction about it because there are a number of really good brands on the shelves that are not bank-breaking and which work really well.

Kerry, the brains behind Better Earth is a lover of all things natural – including what is safest for ourselves and our environment. “I’m passionate about making sure that what we use in our homes for cleaning has the least possible effect on water and the environment down the line.” Better Earth’s products are free of ethoxylated ingredients, sulphated surfactants, parabens, animal products, colourants and synthetic fragrance. The products are kept simple while still being effective, and are never tested on animals. Music to my ears.

Recently I tried out three of her popular products, the Better Earth Laundry Gel with Fabric Conditioner (Fairlady Consumer Awards Finalist 2012), Better Earth Bathroom and Toilet Cleaner (Fairlady Consumer Awards Finalist 2011) and the Better Earth Natural Cleaning Spray (a fantastic gentle cleaner you can use on just about anything).


I loved using these products. They smell amazing, are fresh, they look great and simply put – they are a fantastic (and necessary) addition to my home. I love that I can be confident knowing my kids can lick the syrup off the floor, suck the bovril drops off their clothing and that my now toilet-trained-toddler (can I hear an AMEN!) can safely touch, climb on and wiggle all over the toilet.

Keen to try these products in your home? I thought so. Well lucky for you, Better Earth and Our Greenish Life are giving each of them to one lucky reader! This prize is valued at over R200!

Enter here:

  • Like Our Greenish Life on Facebook
  • Share the competition on Facebook
  • Tell us in the comments below: If you chose to go green with one cleaning product, which one would it be? (i.e Toilet and Bathroom/Dishashing Liquid etc.)
  • Tag a friend for an extra entry.

Thanks for entering. Good Luck!

Contact Better Earth
Tel: +27 (0)72 662 2107
Fax: +27 (0)86 612 6911
email: info@betterearth.co.za

Terms and Conditions

The competition runs from Saturday 17 October – Monday 26 October 2015.
This competition is open to Cape Town residents only.
The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email.
Winner will be announced on the Our Greenish Life website and social media channels on Monday 26 October.

Featured Pic Credit: imgkid.com

THIS COMPETITION IS CLOSED. Congrats to Valerie Duffield Anderson who won this awesome compo.

Green ‘GET ME BACK TO HEALTH’ Kale Smoothie

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I’m stiiiiiill sick. Argh man, it’s been too long and I’m just not on top of it. So, after devouring half a slab of chocolate earlier in despair, I decided I needed to up my attitude and EAT my way back to health… (because who doesn’t love eating). Starting with greens.

So I dashed off to the shops and stocked up on EVERY fruit and veg known to mankind (okay, you know I’m exaggerating), but I loaded up (including a 5kg pocket of oranges) and came home ready to propel this bod back to health.

Since my kids love making smoothies/juicing, it’s a family affair. No extra energy needed (of which I currently have a limited supply).

Green ‘GET ME BACK TO HEALTH’ Kale Smoothie:

– 5 leaves of kale (de-stemmed)
– 2 apples (chopped)
– 1 small pineapple (chopped)
– 2 oranges (de-skinned. Bring on the Vit C)
– half a cucumber (peeled)
– cup of water (to get that blending going)
– half a tray of ice cubes (for the chilled effect)

Blend. Drink. Feel good.

Step 1 to health, done.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. So this December, (God-willing) she will be 10 years cancer free. While it terrifies me to think back to Christmas 2005, I am filled with immense gratitude that she is still with us, and that she is healthy. So many friends I know have not had the same experience.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. So let’s be aware. As someone in the direct line of breast cancer I know I need to take this stuff seriously.

Here’s some info to jog our memories this October:

Every person should know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, and any time an abnormality is discovered, it should be investigated by a healthcare professional.

Most people who have breast cancer symptoms and signs will initially notice only one or two, and the presence of these symptoms and signs do not automatically mean that you have breast cancer.

By performing monthly breast self-exams, you will be able to more easily identify any changes in your breast.  Be sure to talk to your healthcare professional if you notice anything unusual.

Facts About Breast Cancer:

  • Every year, one in 29 women is diagnosed with breast cancer in South Africa.
  • During the ‘80s and early ‘90s, cancer of the cervix was the leading cancer in South African females; however, breast cancer has overtaken cervical cancer.
  • It is now the most common cancer in women, with the most cases in white and Asian females, then mixed-race and least common in black populations.
    (Source: Discovery Health)

Once a Month:

once a month

Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month. Johns Hopkins Medical Center states,

“Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”

While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast self-exams help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your healthcare professional if there are any changes. Mammograms are recommended annually for women over the age of 40.

Can I Rely On Breast Self-Exams Alone To Be Sure I Am Breast Cancer Free?

Mammography can detect tumors before they can be felt, so screening is key for early detection. But when combined with regular medical care and appropriate guideline-recommended mammography, breast self-exams can help women know what is normal for them so they can report any changes to their healthcare provider.

If you find a lump, schedule an appointment with your doctor, but don’t panic — 8 out of 10 lumps are not cancerous. For additional peace of mind, call your doctor whenever you have concerns.

A Change In How The Breast Or Nipple Feels

  • Nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
  • A change in the skin texture or an enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast (some describe this as similar to an orange peel’s texture)
  • A lump in the breast (It’s important to remember that all lumps should be investigated by a healthcare professional, but not all lumps are cancerous).
A Change In The Breast Or Nipple Appearance
  • Any unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast
  • Dimpling anywhere on the breast
  • Unexplained swelling of the breast (especially if on one side only)
  • Unexplained shrinkage of the breast (especially if on one side only)
  • Recent asymmetry of the breasts. (Although it is common for women to have one breast that is slightly larger than the other, if the onset of asymmetry is recent, it should be checked)
  • Nipple that is turned slightly inward or inverted
  • Skin of the breast, areola, or nipple that becomes scaly, red, or swollen or may have ridges or pitting resembling the skin of an orange.

breast cancer early detection signs and symptoms appearance

Any Nipple Discharge—Particularly Clear Discharge Or Bloody Discharge.

It is also important to note that a milky discharge that is present when a woman is not breastfeeding should be checked by her doctor, although it is not linked with breast cancer.

breast cancer early detection signs and symptoms discharge

If I have some symptoms, is it likely to be cancer?

Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer, but any breast cancer symptom you notice should be investigated as soon as it is discovered. If you have any of these symptoms, you should tell your healthcare provider so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated.

If I have no symptoms, should I assume I do not have cancer?

Although there’s no need to worry, regular screenings are always important.  Your doctor can check for breast cancer before you have any noticeable symptoms. During your office visit, your doctor will ask about your personal and family medical history and perform a physical examination. In addition, your doctor may order one or more imaging tests, such as a mammogram.

How Should A Breast Self-Exam Be Performed?

three places to check

1) In the Shower

Using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your healthcare provider.

2) In Front of a Mirror

Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead.

Look for any changes in the contour, any swelling, or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Next, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women’s breasts do, so look for any dimpling, puckering, or changes, particularly on one side.

3) Lying Down

When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions covering the entire breast area and armpit.

Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

What Can I Do To Reduce My Risk Of Breast Cancer?

Although you cannot prevent cancer, some habits that can help reduce your risk are:

  1. Maintain a healthy weight
  2. Stay physically active
  3. Eat fruits and vegetables
  4. Do not smoke
  5. Limit alcohol consumptionHealthy pic breast cancer

You can find support groups in South African here.

Thank you to The National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc. and Breast Cancer Awareness South Africa for the info.

Asking Why

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Today I was driving in the car with my kids. Exhaust fumes were BULLOWING out of the car in front of us, in a hazard like manner. My oldest likes to have control of his window, which he did at the time (and he likes it down) but for the sake of our lungs, I took over and closed the windows tight.

In an attempt to explain the situation to my fairly upset 3yr old, he started on the ‘Why’ Series. “Why did you wind our windows up? Why are exhaust fumes bad? Why is it coming from that car? Why shouldn’t we breathe it in? Why is it worse than normal air? Why?”

I had to come up with some pretty ingenious answers but two things stood out to me (innocence and wisdom from the mouths of kids ‘eh?)

– he was questioning… (obviously)

– did the answers I give him make a difference?

I’m all for a good sesh of playing devils advocate but I find people who question things for the sake of complicating a situation or to force their opinion on someone else irritate me. And I think, out of that frustration, we’ve forgotten to question.


Be it questioning faith issues, accepted societal and cultural norms; what we eat and drink, what we buy, where we buy it from, what we consume or whether or not we should commit ourselves to the Zero Waste initiative (which terrifies me!) I think what I’m learning, is the art of mindfulness (even in my own small way).

This is a HUGE topic I’m barely scratching the surface of, and I’d hate it to springboard into a group of people anti-this and anti-that. Let’s not be devisive in our differences, let’s rather encourage each other in our individual convictions.

If I can suggest one practical change in this intimidatingly huge topic it’s this: stop, and think, before autopilot takes over. I’m an easy one to talk. It’s only from personal experience and desperation did I ever think ‘outside’ of what I had assumed to be right or correct (with little thought given to it).

I’m absolutely LOVING the conversations I’m having with people who are starting to question things (in healthy ways). We learn from those around us. So instead of always having done things this-way-or-that, let’s rethink it. Start afresh. Create your own new habits. And let’s stop outsourcing solutions to others – be it in the health and food industries or even in composting and/or recycling your waste. Let’s take ownership of what we have and responsibility in what we do with it.

The cliche of ‘be the change you want to see’ is very apt. Please do.

Homemade Deodorant

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It gives me great joy to see in our shower currently: honest shampoo and conditioner, pure castile body soap, a homemade face scrub, a coconut body scrub and a natural face wash. I’m slowly but surely swapping out the old and bringing in happy, honest and more natural replacements – slowly, one at a time, in a sustainable manner. Let’s.not.get.crazy.

Something I’ve been meaning to try my hand at for a while is homemade deodorant, but it’s never been at the top of my priority list. Maybe that’s because I’m a mum and I’m more concern about cloth diapering and making the gazillionth batch of homemade wipes, and buying cherry tomatoes by the bucket load (are your kids also popping cherry tomatoes like sweets?)… and and and.

Our underarms (and what we smear on them) are frighteningly close to our breasts. My mom has had breast cancer, and I have previously found lumps (which turned out to be cysts), and it’s scary. You don’t need to be a scientist to see how much awful stuff makes up your sweet watermelon smelling roll on (which, I’ll be honest, at one time I was a little obsessed with). Most deodorants and anti-perspirants contain aluminum, parabens and propylene glycol. WAIT! There is ALUMINIUM in your deo?!? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???

I was inspired when a friend said she’d made a batch and was super impressed with it, so I grabbed a quick moment once the kids were in bed (and after my delicious SOiL shea butter order had arrived) and I got to it. I’d looked at a number of recipes and Homemaker Chic‘s deo sounded seriously convincing. It’s easy as, and quick! Tricky and tedious don’t work for me.

We all sweat, and it can smell. It’s normal. But I’ve noticed, when I’m breastfeeding, I perspire like Federer playing Djokovic and it STINKS. So, this deo needed to be right up there with the best of the best. And it is. Oh man. This is the truth peeps. I absolutely CANNOT smell my underarms, no matter how far into my pits I can get my nose.

Taking Homemaker Chic‘s recipe as my foundation, I made a couple changes, and this is what it came out with…

Ingredients: 

  • 1/4 cup bicarb of soda
  • 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
  • 3 Tbsp (organic) coconut oil
  • 1 Tbsp icing sugar
  • 1 Tbsp (organic) shea butter
  • 10-15 drops tea tree essential oil (or any other EE you’d prefer)
  • Small jar or empty deodorant tube stick

Method:

In a double boiler (or in a glass jug placed in a pot of boiling water), melt the shea butter.

Once the shea butter is melted, add your coconut oil, and your essential oil of choice. You can really use any scent you like – do your research on the properties of certain oils. Some people like to use tea tree oil in their recipes for its anti-fungal properties. Get creative and go wild!

Once your oils are blended add in the icing sugar. The purpose of the icing sugar is that when the sugar combines with your natural body sweat it creates a sort of osmotic substance that then becomes a natural antiperspirant! Madness. I mean what’s not to love about sugar (besides the obvious). I do find that I still sweat a bit, but not excessively. Dissolve the sugar using a small whisk.

Keeping the mixture over the heat, begin stirring in the bicarb of soda, and arrowroot powder, adding it slowly. You will see it start to thicken.

Once everything is well incorporated, you can pour the mix into either the jar or a deodorant stick (I haven’t tried a deo stick – but I think I will try one as I get more daring). Allow it to set up at room temperature for a couple hours. I poured my deodorant into a small mason jar. With the jar you just have to spread about half a fingertip amount of the deodorant on your underarms. It might seem a little firm at first, so you might want to soften it between your fingers before applying but mine sort-of melts onto my skin. Voila!

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And there you have it! Happy, honest, homemade deo. Who would have thought! Let me know if you’ve tried something similar and how it worked out for you…

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