A better me

Last year in April I started my 5k training journey.  Since then I've run many 5ks, two 10ks, and two Warrior Dashes.  It's been a long and sometimes difficult journey.  I started this running journey with my sister and now my husband has joined us. I'm very competitive and hard on myself.  This often causes me to feel like I haven't done well in races.  I just have to remind myself that I've worked hard to get where I'm at.

I'm determined to get myself into better physical shape.

And my newest passion is yoga.

Going DEET free!

I am a bug magnet, if it bites or stings, it finds me.  Not only am I a magnet, but I'm highly sensitive to bug bites, I get Huge welts.  This pretty much means I have to wear bug spray when I'm outdoors.  I've never been a big fan of DEET

Day 5

I'm finally doing it!  After months and years of talking about quitting, the time has finally come. 

This is my coming out party!



It's been a very long and very short five days.  I know that makes no sense, something can't be long and short at the same time.  It's like I've got two me's each pulling in a different direction, the "Yeah! I'm a non-smoker me" and the "Nicotine addict me".  So yeah I actually have two perspectives on what the last five days have been like.

Yeah! I'm a non-smoker:

It feels great not to be a slave to the nicotine.  My clothes, breath, car, and everything else I touch doesn't stink anymore.  I love looking at my bank account now.  In fact I check it several times a day.  For one I don't see lots of "little" charges everyday for a pack of cigarettes.  The other nice part is I actually have money in my account; I might not have to completely scrape by this month.  I wish I could say I feel healthier, but I've been sick for the past week, and I think I have the quitting cough now too.  I am also getting so much more work done around the house now that I don't have to constantly stop to smoke.

Nicotine addict:

Day one was no problem, it almost never is.  In fact day two went pretty well also.  It was day three when I started feeling like a junkie who needs their fix.  Everything reminded me of a cigarette, Everything.  For the past few days I've been between feelings of agitation and melancholy.  I keep trying to remind myself of all the good things, but the addict needs it's fix.

Either my family hasn't noticed or they're just not talking about it.  I don't want to bring it up for fear of jinxing myself.  I've been trying to stay busy, to keep the "nicotine addict" at bay.  I must admit that even just writing about not smoking, makes me want to smoke.  Thankfully my husband is quitting with me.  We don't talk about it, but it helps to know that we're in it together.

I must admit being a non-smoker has had it's ups and downs, but I think I'm going to enjoy this life style.

~Earthy Mom

Thought for today

Had to go out and do some last minute wedding shopping.  I realized this morning that I don't have any hairspray (and my mother in-law needed mousse), because I rarely do more than pull my hair up in a ponytail.  I never shop for beauty products at the store, since I shop online with a company that makes
toxin-free products.
I must confess that I am a label reader.
So here we are in the hair product aisle and I'm reading the labels of all the hairspray and mousse bottles.  Here is what's in the hairspray (Rave 4) I was asked to purchase)  I'm shocked and appalled.  Seriously, I'm going to be putting this stuff in my hair, spraying it in my house.  Who in their right mind would think of such a thing?!?
Sadly, because the wedding is tomorrow and I have No other choice, I will have to spray my head with the store bought hairspray.  I hope I won't have to use too much or be too disgusted by the thought of what I'm doing.

~Your Earthy Mom

H2O Think before you Drink

Drinking water is "in", everyone is doing it.  But is anyone really thinking about the possible dangers and amount of waste created from drinking bottled water?

I've just recently jumped on water "bandwagon" because honestly I'd rather drink a coke.  I've been trying to drink more water and less soda to help with losing some weight.    At home I always drink from a glass, but when I'm running around town or hiking through the woods, I bring my bottle of water.  Naturally I started looking into the facts about bottled water.

Store-bought bottled water is a rip off. Tap water is often subject to more stringent regulation and testing than bottled water. It costs a fraction of the cost from the tap. It is cleaner, cheaper, and thus healthier. (Natural Resources Defense Council)

So the above statement seems almost obvious.  It's water. Why in the world would anyone actually want to pay for water, when you can get it out of your faucet at home for free.  The kids hate when I say that because they like everyone else are captivated by the water commercials.  So here's what we're not told about drinking bottled water.

• 90% of the cost of bottled water is due to the bottle itself.
• 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled.
• Plastic bottles are among the most prevalent source of pollution found on our beaches.
• 38 million plastic bottles go to the dump per year in America from bottled water (not including soda)
• U.S. landfills are overflowing with 2 million tons of discarded water bottles alone. Source: idswater.org
• Bottles used to package water take over 1,000 years to bio-degrade and if incinerated, they produce toxic fumes. It is estimated that over 80% of all single-use water bottles used in the U.S. simply become "litter." Source: ValleyWater.org
• 24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles.
• Plastic bottles pose a health risk. Studies have shown that chemicals called phthalates, which are known to disrupt testosterone and hormones, can leach into bottled water over time.
• Studies have indicated that food and drinks stored in such containers—including those ubiquitous clear Nalgene water bottles hanging from just about every hiker’s backpack—can contain trace amount of Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal messaging system.
• The same studies found that repeated re-use of such bottles—which get dinged up through normal wear and tear and while being washed—increases the chance that chemicals will leak out of the tiny cracks and crevices that develop over time.

We can save the earth simply by recycling water bottles.  You can even take it one step father by purchasing a re-usable water bottle.  Stainless steel or glass would be the best options.  Check out Nubius Organics to find echo-friendly water bottles and other products.  I just purchased a stainless steel water bottle several weeks ago and I love it!

Check out these sites for more info: The Water Project  Gaiam Life

~Your Earthy Mom

Letting Go...

Of Stress?

 Is it even possible?  We live such busy lives, always running here and there.  Family, work, the news, and even finding time for yourself produce stress in our lives.  Stress consumes us and takes over our lives.  It's time to stand up to stress and say "No more." (or at least lets reduce it)

My mother invited me to attend a six week class about stress management, taught by Diane M. Foster of Mystic Hypnosis.  Let's face it we all have stress in our lives, even the most "put together" person.  This past year has been incredibly stressful for my family, since my father has spent the majority of that year in the hospital.  First with a spinal/brain issue and then cancer.  So I thought why not learn some techniques to reduce my stress.

Diane uses and teaches meditation and hypnosis to reduce stress.  I've been mediating for years now, but it's always been sporadic.  The biggest thing, about meditation, I learned from Diane is to be consistent; Same place, Same time everyday. Since this is a beginner class we started from the beginning with breathing.

Belly Breathing: Focus on your breath, the air moving in and out of your body.  Place your hand on your belly to feel your belly rise and fall, breathing in through the nose and out the mouth.

There is just something refreshing with just breathing.  It actually helps you relax and reduces stress.  Think about a stressful situation you've had.  You may not have noticed it then, but most people will let out a deep breath to help calm themselves.  This is your subconscious taking over and trying to reduce your stress level.

Diane is teaching us Mindfulness Meditation.  The concepts of this type of meditation come from Pali: sati, Sanskrit: smṛti in Buddhist Meditation.  During the meditation we are being Mindful of our breath, using it as an anchor, allowing thoughts to pass through the mind.

Diane M. Foster's Mindfulness Meditation Instructions

1. Find a quiet and comfortable place.  Sit in a chair or on the floor with your head, neck, and back straight but not stiff or tense.

2. Close your eyes and gently become aware of your breathing, focusing on the sensation of air moving in and out of your body as you breathe.  Pay attention to the way each breath changes and is different.  Be aware of your breathing without trying to control it or alter it in any way.

3. Watch every thought and feeling come and go.  When thoughts come up in your mind, don't ignore or suppress them but simply note them and use your breathing as an anchor.

4. At times your attention may drift away from your breath to sounds in the environment or sensations in your body.  Whenever you realize you are not observing your breath, gently bring your attention back to your breathing.

5. If you find yourself getting carried away in your thoughts or other distractions, observe where your mind went off to, without judging, and simply return to your breathing.  Remember not to be hard on yourself if this happens.

6. Remember to let go of any expectations you may have about the practice.  If you notice that you are focusing on a mood or emotion, or looking for a particular experience, treat this like any other thought and gently bring your awareness back to your breathing.

7. As the time comes to a close (about 15 minutes), keep your eye closed and stop observing your breath for a minute or two, becoming aware of where you are.  Gently stretch, open your eyes and get up slowly before resuming activity.

I have been finding it difficult to meditate everyday.  Ironically, the days when I'm the most busy I make sure to take time out for myself and meditate.  It's the days when I have little going on (therefore less stress) that I don't make time for me.  I have been working on spending 15 minutes of every day meditating.  I know I need the time for myself to be less stressed, so I can better focus on my work and my family.

~Your Earthy Mom

To Contact Diane M. Foster

mystichypnosis@comscast.net

Have some Chicken with that Salt?

I was recently reading my fiance's cooking magazine to find some new recipes for us.  When I ran across an article about chicken.  Yup the boneless skinless chicken that for the last several years we have been taught to eat because it is healthier. 

"About one-third of the fresh chicken found in super market meat cases has been synthetically saturated with a mix of water, salt, and other additives via needle injections and high-pressure vacum tumbling."

This is done so the chicken we eat is juicier.  Without adding any seasoning of your own at home, when you eat a breast of chicken it could have up to 20% of your daily sodium limit.  Adding the salt water mixture to the chicken also adds weight.  Which means you could be paying an extra 45-90 cents (based on $2.99-4.99 a lb) per pound for the added salt water mixture.

The best way to find out what kind of chicken you are buying is to read the labels.  In very fine print on the front of the package you'll find what's been added.

• Contains 1 to 5% water - This chicken is not enhanced and better for you.
• Contains up to 15% chicken broth or sodium water - This chicken has been enhanced and will be more salt for your buck.

After reading about what could be added to my chicken and learning where to look for the labeling I headed out to the store to look at chicken.  I almost did a "happy dance" right there in the store when I read the label and found out the chicken I buy for my family is not the super salty kind!

~Your Earthy Mom Trish

One week reflection

I'm trying to figure out what went wrong.  The first day was good, almost easy.  So why on day two did I cave and start smoking again?  I think part of the reason is fear and part of it is because Day 1 was so easy. 

I'm afraid of being a non-smoker.  I've been a smoker for seventeen years and it's become part of who I am, part of my life.  The last several years I've hated it, feeling like my life is dictated by my addiction.  Standing outside in the winter freezing and shivering to get my fix of nicotine.  Stepping out during social engagements and missing opportunities to have fun with my friends.  I hate the smell on my clothes and feeling self conscious when I meet new people, because I stink.  So it's totally insane that I'm afraid, but the truth is I am.  I'm afraid I won't know what to do with myself with out a cigarette.  I realized that first day I had alot of 'extra' time on my hands.  It's sad how much time in the past seventeen years I've wasted on my addiction.

Honestly the first day was great!  I had a couple times when I wanted to smoke, mostly when I had nothing to do.  I tried to keep myself busy all day.  When I did think about smoking, I reminded myself how great it is to be a nonsmoker!  It was so easy that I thought it wouldn't matter if I just had one, I could stop again anytime I wanted.  But that one turned into another one and another one, until I was hooked again.  I felt like a failure and that I would never be rid of this evil addiction.

So now it's just over a week later.  I've looked back to see what went wrong and how I can change it.  I've put my fears and concerns down in writing.  I've re-read my Easyway book.  My father just lent me his quit smoking hypnotism CD, which is what helped him quit.  I also have found a website that offers advice and support for quitting smoking.  You can also read and post in online forums.  With all these resources in place I'm feeling less afraid and more ready to be successful in becoming a nonsmoker with a new quit date.

I'll be using my blog, friends, and family to help keep myself accountable and stay quit.

~Trish

My Secret Demon

For over a year now I have been sharing with other people how to make their homes and lives more toxin free.  Every time I share the dangers of toxic chemicals and the harm the cause, I feel a twinge because of my secret demon.

I am a smoker.

Phew.  Just putting that out there for all the world to see takes a huge weight off my shoulders.  I know of all the reasons I shouldn't smoke, my kids tell me every time I go out to light up.  I know it's hypocritical to talk about keeping toxins out of our homes and be a smoker.  But sadly I'm addicted to nicotine.  Everyday I wish I had never started this horrible chain.  I know so many of you out there wish you hadn't either, so I thought why not share what I'm doing to become a non-smoker.  So I've decided to make a series on my blog just about becoming a non-smoker.

Step 1:  Figure out how to become a non-smoker.  I've been asking around, to family and friends, and I've heard that many of my friends, my sister's coworkers, and even my dad have become non-smokers by reading.  The book is called, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr.
Step 2:  Read the book.  I bought the book from Amazon and started reading.  At this point I've almost finished it.
Step 3:  Pick a "quit" date.  Well today is going to be my last day as a smoker.  I'm looking forward to waking up tomorrow morning and finally being a non-smoker!

I highly recommend to anyone read Allen Carr's Easy Way it will remove the smoker brainwashing.  As you read, you will begin to feel like you can be a free and happy non-smoker too.  Allen Carr shares testimonies through out the book from people who have used his EasyWay to become non-smokers.  My favorite quote from the book is "Whenever you think about smoking, . . . ,you think: YIPPEE, I'M A NON-SMOKER!!!"

Plans for my Removing the Toxins Within ~ Becoming a non-smoker series:  Post updates and share how it's going every couple days in the beginning.

My Morning Joe

I am one of those people who can't function with out my morning cup of coffee.  My children can even tell the difference between "mom before coffee" and "mom with coffee".  My oldest daughter even buys me a new mug for Yule every year.  As a WAHM I usually brew my own coffee at home.  Some days after the kids are off to school, I'll head out to my local D&D (my favorite) and treat my self to a cup o' joe.


Recently I had a friend point out something very interesting, my coffee comes in a styrofoam cup!  We are both very green gals, but here I am drinking my coffee from styrofoam,while she's using a paper cup.  Very embarrassing moment for me.  Well of course now I bring my own travel mug for a re-fill.  It's better for the environment and less expensive.  But I started to think about not only the environment, but how safe is it to be drinking out of a styrofoam cup?  Time to do some research, and I'm shock at the information I found.


Interesting fact that I don't think many of us know:  Styrofoam cups don't exist.  Styrofoam is a trade mark name for the foam material made by the Dow Chemical company.  They don't make any kind of food packaging.  So what are we drinking out of?  Polystyrene cups, commercially manufactured from petroleum.  Styrene (the basic chemical component) can leak into you food or drink and then into you. 

Studies suggest that styrene mimics estrogen in the body and can therefore disrupt normal hormone functions, possibly contributing to thyroid problems, menstrual irregularities, and other hormone-related problems, as well as breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Foods that are higher in fat and hot drinks can cause Styrene to leak faster.  This means coffee and tea can have more Styrene in them.  Also to-go foods like soups and chowders will have a higher amount of Styrene in them.  Branching out from our morning drinks and lunches on the go, you purchase items at the grocery store in Styrene containers.  Meats and cheese will have higher amounts of Styrene leaked into them.

Here are some safer options to consider.

• Use ceramic cups and mugs.  Or go with paper cups.
• If you work outside the home, share washing duties with your co-workers.  This will save on hot water usage.
• Paper cups do create waste, but they are biodegradable, unlike Styrene cups.
• Consider transferring food items bought at the grocery store into non-plastic containers, until ready to be cooked.
• When getting take-out or "doggie bags" ask to have your food wrapped in foil.

Every where we go we are faced with Styrene containers.  Limiting your exposure and making safer choices is the best way to go.  Next time you head out to your favorite coffee shop, be safer and bring your own mug.

Note to Self: Buy a ceramic to-go coffee mug.

Enjoy you next cup 'o joe!
          

~Trish

Scents of the Season

I love the scents of the Holidays!  Gingerbread, pine trees, pies and cookies baking, cinnamon, cranberry, and vanilla just put me in the holiday spirit.  I buy scented candles so the yummy aromas fill our house and add the light and warmth of the season.  What I don't love are the toxic fumes that candles produce.
Think about what popular candles are made from.

• They are made of paraffin wax, a byproduct of petroleum. When burned, this candle wax can be a respiratory irritant.
• Scented candles typically get their aromas from artificial fragrances made with phthalates, which can affect the hormonal system.  They also release toxic chemicals (such as formaldehyde and benzene – both of which are linked to cancer) into the air. These toxins may trigger or aggravate asthma and allergies, and may cause headaches.
• Some candles have metal core wicks made of lead or lead-containing alloys. When burned, they may emit airborne lead and present a lead poisoning hazard to young children. Lead is toxic to a baby's brain.  These candles are now banned in the United States but may still be found rolling around in drawers, and imported candles may still have wicks with lead.

I now buy soy or beeswax candles.  They burn longer than traditional candles and release less soot from the wick.  Soy candles are also renewable and biodegradable.  And the best part is they don't release any toxic chemicals into the air.  Another way to bring Holiday aromas into your house is to make your own natural scents.  Try boiling cloves and cinnamon sticks in a pot on the stove.  You can also use citrus peels, cranberry juice/extract, nutmeg, or plant or flower petals to create other aromas.  Be sure to keep it out of reach of little hands.  Poking cloves into an orange creates a wonderful holiday scent.

Hope you enjoy these wonderful holiday aromas as much as we do.

Just wanted to share

I stumbled upon this while doing some research.  I had to re-post and share with all of you.


The purpose of this email is to educate, my friends and family, about the toxins in your home. I don’t think that most people are aware of toxins or how much they can affect your health.


Facts:
* The air in your home can be up to 70 times more polluted than the outside air. Most people spend about 90% of their life inside.
* Between 1950 and 1990 lung cancer has increased 364% despite that smoking has declined every year since 1950.
* Turn of the century (1900) cancer rates were 1 in 50. Today about 1 in 3. Within the next several years it is expected to be 1 in 2.
* 2,983 chemicals in personal care products were analyzed. 884 caused cancer, 314 caused biological mutations, 218 caused reproductive complications, 778 caused acute toxicity, 148 caused tumors, 376 caused skin and eye irritations.
* EPA doesn’t require manufactures to put harmful chemicals or their harmful effects on the container. FDA can’t regulate a personal care product or require safety testing until after it is in the marketplace. They also can not recall harmful products from the marketplace.
* Some of the long term effects of using toxic products include allergies, asthma, birth defects, cancer, central nervous system damage ( MS and Alzheimer’s Disease), infertility, learning disorders ( A.D.D. and A.D.H.D.), and miscarriage. All of these are on the rise.
* The three ways chemicals enter our bodies are ingestion, absorption, and inhalation. Even if a product has a lid on it or has never been open we are still inhaling the toxins.

Here are some harmful chemicals found in store brands. Chlorine, Dioxin(Commonly known as Agent Orange. Exposure is a key factor in cancer and fertility issues), Phenols(linked to breast cancer, allergies, asthma, and A.D.H.D.), Lye, Bleach, Ammonia, Formaldehyde, and Phosphates.

Toxins can be found in air fresheners, window cleaner, all purpose cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, dishwashing detergent, carpet shampoo, laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, hair spray, bubble bath, mouthwash, toothpaste, cosmetics, perfume/cologne, and baby wipes just to name a few. All of the ingredients do not have to be listed on the container. The ones that are listed may be disguised by what is called a "trade name".

-Dove Beauty Bar has Quaternium 15 ( this is formaldehyde).
-Johnson’s Baby Shampoo also has Quaternium 15 and FD&C Red 40 (causes cancer).
-Crest Tarter Control Toothpaste has Saccharin which can cause cancer.
-Clorox has sodium hypochlorite (corrosive) and sensitizer this can be fatal if swallowed and is also an respitory irritant ( People with a heart condition or asthma be very careful).
-Cascade is corrosive (Test: Place a quarter size amount of liquid cascade on some tin foil and place over a bowl or sink let it sit for awhile and come back to see what happened.).
-409 & Fantastic ingredients damages central nervous system, kidney, liver, and damages blood and body’s ability to make blood. Listed as a pesticide.
-Lysol has dioxin, also know as agent orange, in it which causes cancer.
-Cheer & Tide are corrosive, cause cancer and can be a respiratory tract irritant. Powder Tide has fiberglass in it.

I have heard too many tragic stories of children and adults dying from toxic products. A three year old suffered and died after ingesting 3 ounces of hair conditioner. A seven month old crawled through a puddle of laundry bleach. It gave the baby 3rd degree burns on half of his body. The fumes burned his lungs. The baby suffered four days before dying.

For more information on toxins visit:
http://www.concernedmoms.com/
www.epa.gov/chemfact/
http://www.scorecard.org/
www.cleaningpro.com/page.cfm
www.pbs.org/tradesecrets/
http://www.checnet.org/

I hope you are all a little more aware of the toxins that are in the products you use everyday. When you use these products you not only effect yourself and family, but wildlife and the environment. Where do you think those toxins go after they go down the drain? What about the toxins we use on our lawns? There are safe natural alternatives available. They cost less and are more effective than what you have now. I set up customer accounts for one of these companies so if you want safe alternatives for you and your family please contact me. I want to help you get rid of the toxins. I encourage all of you to help others become educated on toxins. Please forward this to everyone you know and print it out for those without email.


Resource: http://searchwarp.com/swa1508.htm

Toxic Beauty

Women (and men) everywhere are trying to make themselves look and feel younger and more beautiful.  But the products in use are more harmful than helpful.  Have you ever really looked at the ingredients in your personal care products.

...the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did something amazing. It issued an unprecedented warning to the cosmetics industry that it was time to inform consumers that most personal care products have not been safety tested.

This statement was issued back in 2005.  So why does the FDA still not require pre-market safety testing, review, or approval for cosmetics and personal care products.  The toxic chemicals that go into our shampoos, lotions, and cosmetics are often main ingredients.  What makes this so scary?  Everyone uses some type of personal care product.  In fact many of us use 15 or more personal care products in a single day.  Think about how you start your day off.  You take a shower, using soap (or body wash), shampoo, and probably conditioner.  You shave using shaving cream, put on lotion, and brush your teeth with toothpaste.  Ladies are putting on their make up; foundation, blush, eye shadow, lipstick, etc.  And many of us use some type of hairspray or gel to keep our hair in place for the day.  These are just a few things we do to be ready for the day.  That's Eleven different personal care products!  And many of these products don't just sit on our skin!  They are absorbed into our skin.


What can we do to protect ourselves from these toxins? 

• Shop for products that have the fewest ingredients. 
• Find out what ingredients are in the products you use currently.
• Switch to safer products that don't contain toxins.

Here are some everyday products and the toxins they contain:

DOVE BEAUTY BAR - Quaternium 15; Formaldehyde-Carcinogen. Causes cancer, dermatitis, neurotoxin, and sensitizer - poisonous, irritant to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Butylated Hydroxytoluene, (BHT) Carcinogen.JOHNSON'S BABY SHAMPOO - Quaternium 15; FD&C RED 40: Carcinogen and causes dermatitis.

CREST TARTAR CONTROL TOOTHPASTE - Saccharin: Carcinogen, contains Phenol. If you accidentally swallow more than a pea-sized amount of this, you must contact the Poison Control Center immediately. This warning does not appear on the tube.

OLAY REGENERIST - Ethylparaben, methylparabe and propylparabe; hormone disrupters. polyacrylamide, triethanolamine; carcinogens.

CLAIROL HERBAL ESSENCES SHAMPOO DRY/DAMAGED HAIR - CI 17200, CI 15510, CI 42053, CI 60730; cancer-causing dyes. cocamide MEA can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane; a hormone disrupter associated with breast cancer.

LISTERINE TEETH AND GUM DEFENCE - 21.6 percent alcohol; alcohol dries and changes the pH of the mouth and throat and in long-term use increases the risk of mouth and throat cancers. Fluoride; in quantity is poisonous if swallowed.
Some of the long term effects of using toxic products include allergies, asthma, birth defects, cancer, central nervous system damage ( MS and Alzheimer’s Disease), infertility, learning disorders ( A.D.D. and A.D.H.D.), and miscarriage. All of these are on the rise.

I hope you are all a little more aware of the toxins that are in the products you use everyday. When you use these products you not only effect yourself and family, but wildlife and the environment. Where do you think those toxins go after they go down the drain?  There are safe alternatives out there.  Many of them cost less and are just as (or more) effective than what you are using now.  Please educate your self and your loved ones about the effects of toxins in our health and beauty products.
I set up customer accounts for a company that makes safer products, so if you want safe alternatives for you and your family please contact me. I want to help you get rid of the toxins.

Resources:
http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/cosmetics_personal_care.htm
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/research/whythismatters.php
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/how-toxic-is-your-bathroom-512285.html

Less Waste Lunches

With the school year starting just around the corner, I needed to find some new healthy snack and lunch ideas for my kids. What it didn't expect to find was how much waste lunches create. 

"the New York State Department of Conservation has estimated that a child taking a disposable lunch to school generates an average of 67 pounds of trash per school year."

That's almost twice as much as my youngest weighs!  Its so easy for us not to think about how all those snack wrappers, sandwich bags, juice boxes, napkins, not to mention uneaten food adds up day after day.  Home-made lunches are definitely healthier and more cost effective, now it's just a matter of packing smart.  I thought I'd share some of the things we do to make healthier, cost effective, echo-friendly lunches.

1. Buy some reusable plastic drink containers.  I use juice box size/shaped ones.  We have been using them for the past couple years.  I fill them half way with juice, lemonade, or water and then freeze it over night.  In the morning I fill them up the rest of the way.  This helps keep their drinks cold until lunch time rolls around.
2. Stop buying individually prepackaged snacks.  Sure it's easier to grab the little bag of chips, yogurt, fruit cup, etc. but the 'convience' costs you a lot more.  Get regular sized packages of snacks and put a serving size portion in to a reusable container.
3. Use reusable plastic containers for everything from sandwiches to snacks.  They keep foods from being 'squished', are better for the environment, and more cost effective.
4. Make home-made snacks.  There are lots of internet sites out there; so use them to find your kids favorite snacks that you can make at home.  Buying the ingredients cost less, cause lets face it you're really paying for the name brand packaging.  You can also make it a fun activity to do with the kids.  One of our family's favorites is Rice crispy treats.
5. To save time in the mornings, pack lunches the night before and store them in the fridge.  Also get the kids involved.  My six year old helps put everything in the lunch box, where as the twelve years olds make their own lunch.  This is great in two ways; having the younger ones help teaches them responsibility and the importance of a nutritious lunch and the older ones doing for themselves saves you some time.
6. Make the most out of your left-overs.  We often turn a dinner from the night before into a healthy lunch for the next day.  The kids like having something different than the same old sandwich day after day.

"the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey’s estimate that 16 percent of children and adolescents ages 6-19 years are overweight."

Now that we're packing smart and getting our kids involved, what foods should we be putting in their lunches?

• Fresh fruits and vegetables.  Kids should be eating 3-4 servings of dark green, red, and orange vegetables and 2-3 servings of fruit daily.  Try finding recipes that you can add fruits or vegetables into.
• Whole-grain breads, crackers, rice, pasta, and cereal instead of white varieties.  Kids should be eating 6-8 servings from this group daily.  Whole grains provide lots of vitamins and minerals, fiber, and protein.
• Beans, nuts, poultry, fish, and lean meats.  Kids should be eating 2-3 servings of protein foods daily.  Avoid meat products from animals that have been treated with hormones and antibiotics.
• Yogurt and cheese.  Kids should be eating 2-3 servings of dairy products daily.  When packing keep these items closest to the icepack to avoid spoiling. 

"Children who eat well and exercise regularly experience less fatigue, more energy, and better concentration. They are more fit for sports and other physical activities, and they have lower obesity rates."

With just a little thought and planning we can pack lunches that create less waste and are healthier for our children.  It's also important to get our children involved.  Talk to them about the changes in their lunches, whether it's the food or the packaging.  Teach them about reducing waste to help the earth and how eating nutritious meals helps their minds and bodies.

A home-made lunch may take a bit more planning and an extra ten minutes a day, but given the obvious benefits, it’s well worth the time and effort.

~Earthy Mom

Super Yucky :P

My family is on vacation, camping in Maine. We forgot our dish soap at home and had to buy some at the store. This may sound weird, but back in December we switched stores and started shopping for safer products without the harmful chemicals in them. So I haven't been down a cleaning supplies aisle at a store in a long time. The smell was so awful that I had to cover my face. It even burned Glen's eyes and made them water. We wouldn't even let the kids come down the aisle with us.
Lesson learned - Never forget dish soap (or other cleaning stuff) at home again.

Search ANY Product

Did you know you can search ANY product at the following link and it will tell you the level of toxicity and toxins rated 1-10.


http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/

Persistent Toxic Chemicals

Persistent toxic chemicals (sometimes referred to as persistent bioaccumulative toxics or PBTs) include dioxin, mercury, PCBs, lead, PBDEs, and many others.
They represent a specific class of chemicals which are:

• Persistent — they are long lasting in the environment, wildlife and in peoples’ bodies.
• Bioaccumulative — they increase in concentration as they move up the food chain.
• Toxic — these chemicals are extremely toxic, even in tiny amounts, and they cause health problems in humans and wildlife, such as birth defects and cancer.

Because these chemicals are very persistent and break down very slowly, they are found virtually everywhere in our environment. They are circulated through our food chain, our oceans, and our atmosphere, so that they are even found in wildlife and people living in remote Arctic regions. Persistent toxic chemicals are passed to children in the womb and through breastfeeding, impacting them at the most vulnerable time of their lives. 

Where do these chemicals come from?

Consumer Products - Persistent toxic chemicals are released from the use and disposal of many consumer products like toys, electronics, batteries, light bulbs, chemically treated textiles and furniture. Flame retardant chemicals (polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs) are used in a wide range of products, including furniture, electronics, and cars. PBDEs are chemical cousins of the now-banned PCBs and have been found to cause health problems in laboratory animals, including memory and learning impairment.
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products - Many of the products we use on our bodies every day - such as shampoos, body lotion, make-up, and nail polish - contain a variety of potentially harmful chemicals including phthalates, acrylamide, metals, parabens, and formaldehyde.
Medical Products - Many medical devices and products are made of plastics which can leach out harmful chemicals over time, creating risks for both patients and health care workers. Materials of particular concern are polyvinyl chloride plastic (also know as PVC or vinyl) and phthalates, such as DEHP, that are used to soften PVC.
Building Materials - building materials made from polyvinyl chloride plastic (also known as PVC or vinyl)
Industrial Sources - Persistent toxic chemicals are released into our environment by a range of industrial sources, including: pulp and paper mills, mining facilities, cement factories, refineries, incinerators, wood-treating plants, and other industrial sources.
Environmental Exposures - As a result of consumer and industrial activities, persistent toxic chemicals are in our air, our water. and the food we eat.

How serious are the health and environmental risks posed by persistent toxic chemicals?

Many scientists and government agencies have concluded that levels of persistent toxic pollution in the environment, in wildlife, and in our bodies can cause health problems including reproductive failure, hormone disruption, cancer, birth defects, as well as learning and behavioral disorders.
Consider the following:

• According to the National Academy of Sciences, 60,000 children each year may suffer brain problems as a result of exposure to mercury in the womb, affecting their ability to learn, remember, and pay attention.
• The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that as many as one in one thousand people in the United States will develop cancer from exposure to dioxin, with the current average daily intake of dioxin at more than 200 times the amount considered safe by the agency.
• Puget Sound’s declining orca whales have become one of the most contaminated marine mammals in the world, in part because of PCBs found in the Puget Sound food chain. PCBs are known endocrine disruptors, which become highly concentrated in the fatty tissues of top predators.

For these reasons and many others, persistent toxic chemicals are among the most dangerous substances on the planet.

How are we exposed to persistent toxic chemicals?

There are several ways in which people are exposed to persistent toxic chemicals. For example, these chemicals accumulate in the bodies of fish and animals, where they are stored in fatty tissues. They are passed on to humans when we eat fish, meat, or dairy products from an animal that had been exposed to or consumed persistent toxic chemicals during its life. These chemicals are passed on to children while in the womb and through breast milk.
Recent studies of dust have revealed the presence of persistent toxic chemicals in our homes, schools, and offices. This suggests that we breathe or ingest some persistent toxic chemicals from the ambient environment.
Children's exposure to persisten toxic chemicals is of particular concern. Kids receive a higher dose, or body burder, of chemicals due to their lower body weight. Small children inhale or ingest more contaminated dust or soil because they spend their time closer to the ground and they tend to place their fingers and items in their mouths frequently.
The Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition conducted a "body burden" study of ten Washingtonians to determine the levels of some of these chemicals in their bodies.
Washington State PBT Program
After many years of work by member organizations of the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition, the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) has created a first-in-the-nation policy and plan to eliminate dioxin, mercury, and other persistent toxic pollution.

What can you do to help eliminate persistent toxic chemicals?

• Educate yourself: Explore the websites of coalition steering committee members to read more about persistent toxic chemicals, how they affect our daily lives, and how we can prevent their harming our environment and our health. http://www.watoxics.org/, http://www.pugetsound.org/, http://www.washpirg.org/, http://www.wpsr.org/, http://www.healthybuilding.net/, http://www.breastcancerfund.org/, http://www.wsna.org/.
• Visit our Pollution in People web site to learn more about toxic chemicals in our bodies.
• Be a smart consumer: Purchase products which do not result in persistent toxic pollution, such as chlorine-free paper, non-PVC plastic, and mercury-free thermometers. See our Pollution in People web site for tips on safer food and consumer products. see Safer Alternatives
• Join our coalition: If you work with a public interest group, a small business, or local government, consider supporting our coalition as a member or being an ally.
• Volunteer for the coalition: Write or call if you would like to volunteer your time.
• Donate to our campaign: If you can’t volunteer your time, help make our work possible by donating to the organizations leading this campaign.
• Contact us: Call or email Margaret Shield, Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition Coordinator, for more information, mshield@toxicfreelegacy.org 206-632-1545 ext. 123.

The "Dirty Dozen"

The top 12 cancer-causing products(called the “Dirty Dozen”) in the average home include the following:

• Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder w/Talc
• Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste
• VO5 Hair Conditioner
• Clairol Nice-n-Easy Hair Color
• Ajax Cleanser
• Lysol Disinfectant

[Source: The National Cancer Prevention Coalition]

Liquid dish soap is the leading cause of poisonings in the home for children under the age of six (over 2.1 million accidental poisonings per year). Most brands of liquid dish soap contain formaldehyde and ammonia.

The State of California recently passed legislation requiring a 45% reduction in the amount of toxins found in:

• Hairspray aerosols  
• Furniture polish  
• Window cleaners  
• Air fresheners  
• Shaving cream 
• Laundry detergents 
• Nail polish remover 
• Insect repellent  
• Hair styling gel and mousse

[Source: Healthy Homes in a Toxic World]

  

Just by reducing (not eliminating) environmental carcinogens alone, we would save at least 50,000 lives taken by cancer annually.
[Source: Dr. Lee Davis, former advisor to the Secretary of Health]

Most laundry detergent contains a form of NTA. NTA is a substance we may reasonably anticipate to be a carcinogen.
[Source: The Merck Index]

Diseases that used to occur later in life are now appearing at younger ages. Diseases that used to be rare are more frequent. For example: There has been a 28% increase in childhood cancer since the addition of pesticides into household products. Cancer is now the #2 killer of children – second only to accidental poisonings. Since 1977 the rate of cancer among American children has been steadily rising at a rate of nearly 1% each year.
[Source: National Cancer Institute]

Asthma was once a very rare disease. Now the condition is extremely common – the asthma rate has tripled in the last 20 years with nearly 30 million Americans currently afflicted.
[Source: Consumer Federation of America , 1997]

In one decade, there has been a 42% increase in asthma (29% for men, 82% for women). The higher rate for women is believed to be due to women’s longer exposure times to household chemicals.
[Source: Center for Disease Control]

Childhood asthma has increased by more than 40% since 1980.
[Source: Environmental Health Perspectives, June 1997; 105 (6)]

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in adults and children is also rising – in 1993, 4.5 million children took the drug Ritalin so they could sit still long enough to learn. By 1998, 11.4 million children were being drugged with this powerful Class-2 narcotic.
[Source: Your Children and Ritalin, The Detroit news (March 8. 1998)]

Developing cells in children’s bodies are more susceptible to damage than adult cells that have completed development, especially for the central nervous system. During the development of a child, from conception through adolescence, there are particular windows of vulnerability to environmental hazards. Most disturbing – until a child is approximately 13 months of age, they are virtually no ability to fight the biological and neurological effects of toxic chemicals.
[Source: Herbert L. Needleman, M.D., Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., Raising Children Toxic Free]

Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance. It is a highly suspected cancer-causing agent. It damages the neurological connectors in the body. It is an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs and may cause:

  

• skin reactions  
• ear infections  
• headaches  
• depression  
• asthma  
• joint pain 
• dizziness  
• mental confusion  
• nausea  
• disorientation  
• phlebitis  
• fatigue  
• vomiting  
• sleep disturbances  
• laryngitis

 One in five people are sensitive to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is commonly found in:

• drugs  
• mouthwash  
• hairspray  
• cosmetics 
• cleaning products  
• perfumes  
• waxes  
• hair setting lotions  
• shampoo  
• air fresheners  
• fungicides  
• fingernail polish  
• floor polishes  
• dry cleaning solvents  
• toothpaste  
• laundry spray starch  
• antiperspirants

… just to name a few

DO YOU STILL WANT TO USE PRODUCTS IN YOUR HOME THAT CONTAIN FORMALDEHYDE?

How many of these names would you have recognized as formaldehyde? 

• Formalin  
• Methanal 
• Methyl Aldehyde  
• Methylene Oxide  
• Oxymethylene  
• Bfv*  
• Fannoform*  
• Formol*  
• Fyde*  
• Karsan* 
• Methaldehyde  
• Formalith*  
• Methylene Glycol  
• Ivalon*  
• Oxomethane  
• Formalin 40  
• Formalin  
• Formic Aldehyde  
• Hoch  
• Paraform  
• Lysoform*  
• Morbocid  
• Trioxane  
• Polyoxmethylene  

* denotes trade name

  

Warning labels on containers refer only to toxic hazards from ingestion; however, only 10% of health problems from chemicals are caused by ingestion. 90% are caused by the inhalation of vapors and absorption of particles.

Government regulations require that only the most EXTREMELY toxic substances must contain a warning label. Labels that say the following should be removed from your house immediately:

• “Do not induce vomiting”
• “Corrosive – rinse from skin immediately”
• “Harmful or fatal if swallowed”
• “Call physician immediately”
• “Warning!” (may mean that as little as 1 teaspoon of product can harm or kill adult)
• “Danger!” (means that as little as 5 drops can harm or kill an adult)

Phenol is an extremely caustic chemical that burns the skin. Absorption of phenol through the lungs or skin can cause:

• central nervous system damage
• pneumonia
• respiratory tract infection
• heart-rate irregularities
• skin irritation
• kidney and liver damage
• numbness
• vomiting
• and can be fatal

 Phenol is a very common chemical and is regularly found in the following common products:  

• air fresheners
• aftershave
• bronchial mists
• chloroseptic throat spray
• deodorants
• feminine powders & sprays
• hair spray
• decongestants
• mouthwash
• aspirin
• solvents
• acne medications
• antiseptics
• calamine lotions
• cleaning products
• detergents
• furniture polish
• hair setting lotions
• lice shampoo
• polishes
• cold capsules
• all-purpose cleaners
• aerosol disinfectants
• anti-itching lotions
• carnex
• cosmetics
• disinfectant cleaners
• hand lotions
• lip balms
• sunscreen and lotions
• insecticides
• cough syrups
• … just to name a few

 DO YOU STILL WANT TO USE PRODUCTS IN YOUR HOME THAT CONTAIN PHENOL?

Contact me to find out how you can make your home safer

Website: http://www.livingwell2010.com/

Email: LivingWell2010@live.com