Morning Exposure

We’ll start our blog series in a time manner. We’ll take different times of the day and expose some things that you may be exposed to. My point to this series is to help you get some of the unknown chemicals out of your life by bringing them to your attention and giving you easy ways to replace what you removed! Your Green Life: Bit by Bit, Bite by Bite… one step at a time.

I’ll try to keep on track of just going through an average, everyday life. I say “try” because I do tend to wander at times! Today, I’ll start upon rising from bed! Or should I say stumble out of bed!

As you crawl out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, first thing is to make that amazing cup of energy, Joe, liquid life, or whatever you want to call your coffee. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to talk you out of coffee. It’s my vice and I’m proud of it! But I do enjoy a chemical free, happy cup of my morning elixir.

The media has done some great things recently about publicizing the chemicals, pharmaceuticals and nasties in public and bottled water. I’m not diving into water in this article. Maybe another blog. Until then, I do suggest some research on your own if you need to learn more.

First we’ll talk about what you make your coffee in. There are eco-friendly coffee pots that don’t use filters and barely any energy. A french press or a percolator is to name a couple. No need to throw away your coffee pot, just yet! If you have a drip model, there are healthy ways to have that morning elixir!

If your coffee pot has a filter, to be green and healthy, I recommend you really look into the kind of filter you use. There are options for eco-friendly, chemical free ways to filter your coffee. There are organic, reusable ones on the market that you wash after each use. Just dump your grounds into the compost and wash the filter. The Swiss Gold basket type are readily available in department stores. Some gold ones do come with some issues of various low quality wire and the mixing with coffee acids, so buyer beware. There are reusable ,organic hemp or muslin that are great and come with a bit of getting use to because they are floppy. I prefer the fabric to the gold ones.

If you don’t want to get rid of your paper filters just yet, please be cautious of what kind paper filter you do use. The standard white coffee filter is white because it has been bleached. In the bleaching process the coffee filters are left with dioxins from the chemical bleaching process.

The term “dioxin” is referred to a group of toxins that have a toxin level near radioactive waste. Dioxins have been stated by EPA as “likely human carcinogens and are anticipated to increase the risk of cancer at background levels of exposure.”

Dioxin accumulates in the body’s fat and stays there and disrupts the endocrine system. According to National Institute of Environment Health Sciences, studies have shown exposure to high levels of dioxins have an increased risk of cancer. Other studies have shown dioxins can cause reproductive and developmental problems, and an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. All that in your morning cup? What do I suggest then?

Unbleached, recycled filters are my choice. They can put in your compost as they break down quickly. Using recycled paper causes 74% less air pollution, 35% less water pollution, and creates 5 times the number of jobs than producing virgin paper from trees. It saves old-growth trees, forest eco-systems, native habitat and biodiversity. (Data from World Centric)

Take your green bite, bit by bit. Do what you can, when you can and how you can. It all accumulates too.

Stay tuned for our next in Your Green Life: Bit by Bit, Bite by Bite for an exchange about your actual coffee.

 

Acetaminophen use after MMR vaccine may be linked to autism

A good portion of my private practice is pediatrics. I’m active in the pediatric wellness community. The term Pediatric Wellness means just what it sounds like. Wellness is key. Prevention, toxin free, not to overload their little bodies is a great way to start life. I don’t preach (well most of the time) but when I come across info from well trusted colleagues, I pass it on. Based on all my research, the increase in autism and ASD has grown in my children’s lifetime beyond comprehension. I have my beliefs, it’s not the post for it right now. But please take note of the following, it just could be a piece to the puzzle. Especially taking into consideration that acetaminophens use was an 80s birth…. just when autism started to rise.

It is something to think about. So please read below and pass it on!! Don’t take for granted that docs know about this.

In May 2008, scientists of a University of California San Diego reported that acetaminophen use after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was associated with autistic disorder.

Let me repeat this once again. “Acetaminophen use after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was significantly associated with autistic disorder when considering children 5 years of age or less.”

(Source: Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use, measles-mumps-rubella vaccination, and autistic disorder: the results of a parent survey. Schultz ST, Klonoff-Cohen HS, Wingard DL, Akshoomoff NA, Macera CA, Ji M. Autism. 2008 May;12(3):293-307.)

Why?  Acetaminphen suppresses glutathione levels  which doesn’t allow detoxification of vaccine ingredients such as mercury and aluminum.
Do your own research, come to  your own conclusions, but please pass the information along.

 

The Mother of all Tips

We all get those emails of random tips, “if you don’t send this to 150million people, your luck won’t change” and then there’s those jokes that seem endless. But once in a while, an email comes along that just makes your day.

Well, my friends, this is the Mother of all tips and I am passing along the email.   Am I the only one that didn’t know this????

Was this something we were supposed to learn from our Mom’s?????
I can’t believe it’s been there all this time.

I had to go into the kitchen and check this out for myself.
Whoever looks at the end of your aluminum foil box?
You know when you try to pull some foil out and the roll comes out of the box.
Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over.
The darn roll always comes out at the wrong time.
Well, I would like to share this with you.
Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it,
and looked at the end of the box. And written on the end it said, Press here to lock end.
Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place.
How long has this little locking tab been there?
I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too.
I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too!
I can’t count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out,
when I was trying to cover something up.
I’m sharing this with my friends.
I hope I’m not the only person that didn’t know about this.

I know you’re going to go and check your boxes, so go ahead

but come back and comment about your AHA moment!

 

Stress, Economy and Back to Basics

Stress and a bad economy has a hold of us. It’s time to get Back to Basics

Every news show. Every newspaper. Every radio and media event, we are being told how bad the economy is. We know!! Food has skyrocketed. Unemployment figures are soaring. And don’t even get me started on the billions that are getting pumped into the skyscrapers!!

We are where we are because America has lived beyond its means. As a child of parents who lived through the Depression Era, we had one car, simple meals, little material objects and entertained ourselves without many toys. Most of all, we were happy.

An attorney I worked for in my early 20s was very wealthy and lived a simple life. He became a somewhat father figure to me throughout the years working there. The one thing I remember him saying a lot is to “take care of the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves.” I remembered that saying, but never quite took it to heart.

We need to shift the way think and the way we live our lives. The earth is crumbling from global warming and overuse of chemicals. The overspending pendulum has swung as far as it can. We, as a species, in order to survive must get back to basics. It is imperative for my children and my children’s children future.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When stuff happens, my nature is to calmly, methodically act. I am in the stress management business. I do practice what I preach (most of the time). Wellness today means body, mind and spirit. It’s time to be well.

The world affairs bombard us daily and are overwhelming and insurmountable. Turn off! Turn off! Turn off! What, you may ask?? Turn off the news. Turn off your cell phone, Blackberry and other communication devices. And yes, that includes the computer (after you read this of course!!) Turn off your brain and just be in the moment. Take some time to practice even small stress management techniques. Want to know how? Visit my site for free techniques. www.WholeHealthHypnosis.com

I have been chemical conscious for about 20 years. When my son was young, people just thought I was an earthy, crunchy, hippie about 20 years too late! But even back in the early 80s, I was concerned what was in the food that my children ate and the chemicals that they were exposed to.

My mother baked from scratch. Prepackaged food was seldom used in our house because she was a frugal shopper and cooking from scratch was inexpensive. Well cooking from scratch just happens to be healthy too! Osmosis happens! I grew up without the want or desire to cook with a lot of prepackaged food, but my reasons were preservatives not finances. I found myself in my 20s and beyond baking bread from scratch and making real soap. Not detergent bars that you buy off the supermarket shelves, but real, honest to goodness soap. For some reason, I just knew it was better than that ingredient list on the back of the detergent bar!

Getting back to basics and “taking care of the pennies so that the dollars will take care of themselves” go hand in hand today. Cleaners are full of harsh, dangerous chemicals and they are expensive. Even the termed “green cleaners” aren’t as safe as the term “green” has you thinking. There are no guidelines to use the term “green.” Using home made household cleaners are safer, just as effective and slashes your grocery bill by a lot. Knowing just where our cleaning dollars are going and what the ingredients are is an eye opener. Making safe cleaners start with an understanding of safe and unsafe ingredients. Below are some of the most used chemicals and a brief description. There are many natural sites on the web with a plethora of recipes for household cleaners. Do a bit of research and make your own. The recipes are very easy and you know what is being spread around your home.

Want recipes?? Just give me an email and I’ll gladly return it with some of my favorites.

Remember, making cleaners from scratch is less expensive and more reliable because you know what ‘you’ are putting into it!!

The Household Toxics Tour

In the Kitchen

All-purpose cleaner, ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, brass or other metal polishes, dishwater detergent, disinfectant, drain cleaner, floor wax or polish, glass cleaner, dishwashing detergent, oven cleaner, and scouring powder contain dangerous chemicals. Some examples are:

• sodium hypochlorite (in chlorine bleach): if mixed with ammonia, releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems;
• petroleum distillates (in metal polishes): short-term exposure can cause temporary eye clouding; longer exposure can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys, and eyes;
• ammonia (in glass cleaner): eye irritant, can cause headaches and lung irritation;
• · phenol and cresol (in disinfectants): corrosive; can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage;
• · nitrobenzene (in furniture and floor polishes): can cause skin discoloration, shallow breathing, vomiting, and death; associated with cancer and birth defects;
• · formaldehyde (a preservative in many products): suspected human carcinogen; strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin, and lungs.

In the Utility Closet

A number of products are likely to contain toxic ingredients: carpet cleaner, room deodorizer, laundry softener, laundry detergent, anti-cling sheets, mold and mildew cleaner, mothballs, and spot remover all usually contain irritant or toxic substances. Examples:

· perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents (in spot removers and carpet cleaners): can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested; perchloroethylene is an animal carcinogen and suspected human carcinogen;

• naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (in mothballs): naphthalene is a suspected human carcinogen that may damage eyes, blood, liver, kidneys, skin, and the central nervous system; paradichlorobenzene can harm the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys;
• hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate in toilet bowl cleaner; either can burn the skin or cause vomiting diarrhea and stomach burns if swallowed; also can cause blindness if inadvertently splashed in the eyes;
• residues from fabric softeners, as well as the fragrances commonly used in them, can be irritating to susceptible people;
• possible ingredients of spray starch (aside from the starch) include formaldehyde, phenol, and pentachlorophenol; in addition, any aerosolized particle, including cornstarch, may irritate the lungs.

In the Living Room and Bedroom

Even the furnishings of the typical American home can be harmful. Fabrics that are labeled “wrinkle-resistant” are usually treated with a formaldehyde resin. These include no-iron sheets and bedding, curtains, sleep wear — any woven fabric, but especially polyester/cotton blends, marketed as “permanent press” or “easy care.” More modern furniture is made of pressed wood products emits formaldehyde and other chemicals. Carpeting is usually made of synthetic fibers that have been treated with pesticides and fungicide. Many office carpets emit a chemical called 4-phenylcyclohexene, an inadvertent additive to the latex backing used in more commercial and home carpets, which is thought to be one of the chemicals responsible for “sick” office buildings.

In the Bath

Numerous cosmetics and personal hygiene products contain hazardous substances. Examples:

• cresol, formaldehyde, glycols, nitrates/nitrosamines and sulfur compounds in shampoos;
• butane propellants in hair spray (replacing carcinogenic methylene chloride), as well as formaldehyde resins;
• aerosol propellants, ammonia, formaldehyde, triclosan, aluminum chlorhydrate in antiperspirants and deodorants’
• glycols, phenol, fragrance, and colors in lotions, creams, and moisturizers.

In the Studio or Hobby Room

Although legislation controlling many of the dangerous ingredients in hobby materials has recently been passed, exposure to certain art materials remains a health risk. Dangerous chemicals and metals include:

• lead in ceramic glazes, stained-glass materials, and many pigments;
• cadmium in silver solders, pigments, ceramic glazes and fluxes;
• chromium in paint pigments and ceramic colors;
• manganese dioxide in ceramic colors and some brown oil and acrylic paint pigments;
• cobalt in some blue oil and acrylic paint pigments;
• formaldehyde as a preservation in many acrylic paints and photographic products;
• aromatic hydrocarbons in paint and varnish removers, aerosol sprays, permanent markers, etc.;
• chlorinated hydrocarbons (solvents) in ink, varnish, and paint removers, rubber cement, aerosol sprays;
• petroleum distillates (solvents) in paint and rubber cement thinners, spray adhesives, silk-screen inks;
• glycol ethers and acetates in photography products, lacquer thinners, paints, and aerosol sprays.

In the Garage

A number of dangerous substances are frequently present, including paint; paint thinner, benzene, kerosene, mineral spirits, turpentine, lubricating/motor oils, and gasoline. Hazards among them include these chemicals:

• chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in paint thinner can cause liver and kidney damage;
• petroleum hydrocarbons, an ingredient of gasoline, motor oils, and benzene, are associated with skin and lung cancer;
• mineral spirits in oil-based paint are a skin, eye, nose throat, and lung irritant. High air concentrations can cause nervous system damage, unconsciousness and death;
• ketones in paint thinner may cause respiratory ailments; vary according to specific form of the chemical;
• ketones and toluene in wood putty; toluene in highly toxic, may cause skin, kidney, liver, central nervous system damage; may damage reproductive system.

In the Garden Shed

Pesticides, one of the most important single hazards in the home. Around 1,400 pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are ingredients in consumer products. Combined with other toxic substances such as solvents, pesticides are present in more than 34,000 different product formulations.

On the Patio

Charcoal lighter fluid contains petroleum distillates. Besides being flammable and imparting a chemical taste to food, some petroleum distillates contain benzene, a known human carcinogen.

Safe Substitutes for Household Toxics

Until World War II and the zenith of the Chemical Age that followed war-related research, householders used a limited number of simple substances to keep most objects in the house clean, order-free, and pest-free. Soap, vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, ammonia, borax, alcohol, cornstarch, and certain food ingredients were used to lift out spots and stains, deodorize, polish wood or metal, disinfect, scrub, repel pests, clean pets, wash and starch clothes, and to perform countless other household tasks. Simple cosmetic preparations kept hair lustrous and skin supplied with the aid of ingredients such as eggs, oil, clay, vinegar, and herbs.

The garden was fertilized and pests were kept down with naturally occurring substances. Weeds were weeded by hand. Even though some natural pesticides, like nicotine and rotenone, were indeed toxic to humans, they were not persistent in the environment. They degrade soon after application. Pyrethrum, a pesticide derived from a variety of chrysanthemum which is nontoxic to mammals, controlled a wide spectrum of pests. Although it is till widely used, it is usually mixed with other chemicals to increase its potency.

Buildings of the past were made with wood, brick, stone, glass, plaster, and cement. Furniture was made of solid wood, oiled to keep it polished. Rugs or carpets were made of wool or cotton. Insulation was built in by making walls thick, and roofing was constructed from wood shingles or tiles of clay or stone. Walls were plastered. Windows were made to be opened, so at least in good weather there was plenty of natural ventilation.

But toxic materials also were present in homes of the past. Not knowing enough about their hazards, housewives used such chemicals as arsenic, lead, and mercury to perform certain household chores. Interior and exterior paints were often made with lead; many American children are still living with the legacy of lead poisoning caused by eating chips of leaded paint. Asbestos, called a miracle mineral when its fire-resistant properties were discovered, is now known to be a cancer causer that contaminates hundreds of thousands of residences, schools, and other buildings in this country.

We do not need to return to the ways of the past to avoid exposure to house toxics, but we can take some lessons from the past for a better future. How can we do this?

Buy safe substitutes. For example, search for a soap-based garden insecticide (at least one national brand is available) instead of chemically–based ones.

When in Doubt, Leave it Out. In cases where there is no effective safe substitute for a toxic product, reevaluate how important the goal really is. Must you absolutely get rid of all insects in your garden, or can you live with some chewed-up leaves? If the goal is absolutely imperative, such as ensuring that termites do not invade your house, it is important to educate yourself thoroughly. You may have more healthful alternatives than your local pest company tells you.

Safe Substitutes in the Kitchen and Bath

One shelf of simple and relatively safe ingredients can be used to perform most home cleaning chores. All that’s needed is knowledge of how they work and how different ingredients should be combined to get the cleaning power needed for a specific job.

Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate. It has a number of useful properties. It can neutralize acid, scrub shiny materials without scratching, deodorize, and extinguish grease fires. It can be used as a deodorizer in the refrigerator, on smelly carpets, on upholstery and on vinyl. It can help deodorize drains. It can clean and polish aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel, and tin. It also softens fabrics and removes certain stains. Baking soda can soften hard water and makes a relaxing bath time soak; it can be used as an underarm deodorant and as toothpaste, too.

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, soluble in water. It can deodorize, inhibit the growth of mildew and mold, boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent, remove stains, and can be used with attractants such as sugar to kill cockroaches.

Cornstarch, derived from corn, can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs, and starch clothes.

Isopropyl Alcohol is an excellent disinfectant.

Lemon Juice, which contains citric acid, is a deodorant and can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminum, clothes, and porcelain. It is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight.

Soap (NOT detergent) is made in several ways. Castle soap can be used as a shampoo or as body soap. Olive-oil based soap is gentlest to the skin. An all-purpose liquid soap can be made by simple dissolving the old ends of bar soap (or grated slivers of bar soap) in warm water.

Steel Wool is an abrasive strong enough to remove rust and stubborn food residues and to scour barbeque grills.

TSP is trisodium phosphate, a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid. TSP is toxic if swallowed, but it can be used on many jobs, such as cleaning drains or removing old paint, that would normally require much more caustic and poisonous chemicals and it does not create any fumes.

Vinegar is made from soured apple juice, grain, or wine. It contains about 5 percent acetic acid, which makes it a mild acid. Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits, grease, remove traces of soap, remove mildew or wax buildup, polish some metals, and deodorize. Vinegar can clean brick or stone, and is an ingredient in some natural carpet cleaning recipes. Use vinegar to clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots and to shine windows without streaking. Vinegar is normally used in a solution with water, but it can be used straight.

Washing Soda or SAL Soda is a sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. It can cut stubborn grease on grills, broiler pans, and ovens. It can be used with soda instead of laundry detergent, and it softens hard water. These items are available from drug and chemical-supply stores.

The Safe Home of the 21st Century

Because Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, it is crucial to make the home environment as safe as possible. Indoor pollutants have proliferated in recent years, often either because modern construction techniques and furnishings manufacturers utilize hazardous materials or because consumers do not know enough about the products they buy to make informed choices.

But safe, nontoxic alternatives exist for nearly every real need around the home, and the search for them may help consumers distinguish between what they really do need, and what may be “luxuries” that could compromise their families’ health.

Until next time,

The Green Hypnotist

Household Toxic Tour Source: http://www.inspiredliving.com/~non-toxproducts.htm

 

Children and cells

This may be redundant in posts, but working with children a lot, I see the constant use of cells and their carrying them on their bodies constantly.  While the medical establishment is still out on its dangers, I will keep posting things that are released.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkeMLOIAEKU

School is coming or has already begun for some.  Check back in a week or so with some tips on test stress and just what the Department of Education has to say in how to keep it in check!!  Great data… coming soon.

 

The Great Phone Debate

Not sure if any of you have had that feeling of warmth and gooeyness (is that a word???) while you’re on your cell phone for a long time, but when I feel that, I’m not feeling it a comfy feeling !! haha

If you have kids, there’s even more to be concerned about. More and more is coming out about cell phones. Here’s a new one.

Cellphone use potentially risky for kids, teens: health agency

Toronto’s department of public health is advising teenagers and young children to limit their use of cellphones to avoid potential health risks.

The advisory — believed to be the first of its kind in Canada — warns that because of possible side effects from radio frequencies, children under eight should only use a cellphone in emergencies and teenagers should limit calls to less than 10 minutes.

“Teach them the ways to use a cellphone responsibly — to make shorter calls, to use other modes of communication; if it’s possible, use a landline,” said Loren Vanderlinden, a health department supervisor and the report’s author.

In an interview with the Toronto Star, Vanderlinden said scientists were dismissive of any risk years ago. But with more studies, she said, a pattern is emerging that suggests people who have used their cellphones for a long period of time are at greater risk of certain kinds of brain tumours.

Eight years ago, a government inquiry in Britain concluded cellphones shouldn’t be marketed to children under 16 because so little was known about the long-term health risks.

But according to Health Canada, there is no firm evidence that cellphones pose health risks.

“Health Canada currently sees no scientific reason to consider the use of cellphones as unsafe,” the agency wrote. “Health Canada is basing this conclusion upon the bulk of scientific evidence from …studies that have been carried out worldwide, including at our laboratory.”

The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, which represents Canada’s cellphone industry, also said there is no need for anyone, including children, to change their cellphone habits.

“The state of the science right now from leading health agencies, including the World Health Organization, is that cell phone use — as set out in the guidelines — is that these devices are safe,” said Marc Choma, a spokesman for the organization. “And that is the state of the science worldwide.”

CBC News

 

Hiatus

Thanks for visiting.  Just letting the readers know  that I’m currently on a hiatus from the blog.  I’m producing more CDs and will be back shortly!

Enjoy your summer naturally green and peaceful!

 

Proprietary Blends

Aren’t those warm and fuzzy marketing words? Doesn’t it sound like your special product is made with awesome ingredients?

I will not name the company that I had this issue with. They are not the only one guilty. This is not a rant on a company, but a lesson in being prudent with ingredient lists. I purely want others to understand terminology and to be as skeptical and informed as they can not taking for granted what is listed.

A neighbor had been occasionally asking me to try her ‘new, all natural incredible cleaning products’ for the past year or so. She had been calling me occasion to come see these products because she was so excited about their ‘green’ ability to clean. Because I am known locally as the green clean, chemical free nut, she so wanted to show me her new found products.

I am not neurotically green, but I do purchase about 90% of my food organically/locally grown and the products I do use in my house, are considered very safe. The few cleaning products I purchase, I research the ingredients very well. The remainder, and majority of my cleaning products, I make. This includes my household and personal soaps. As a soap maker for many years, I understand the science behind it which is how the uncovering of these sales tactics were unearthed.

After attending this gathering with a display of products, I was very hesitant as the questions I did have regarding ingredients, could not be answered by the representative of the company. I listened respectfully. Questioned why their amazing hand cream had the ‘paraben sisters’ in it!! When she started talking about their lye-free soap, it perked my ears. The only soap one can make without sodium hydroxide (lye) is glycerin melt and pour. I personally have never really looked into these soaps as they are more crafter oriented, I do know that what I was being shown was ‘not’ glycerin.

Now remember, I am not against a soap made with sodium hydroxide. The harshness of it, when used correctly, is totally gone and conformed into a moisturizing, mild bar of soap – when made correctly. What I am against is a company that won’t be up front with their ingredients.

After calling this company and inquiring about the ingredients I found that one of their ingredients were Propriety Blend. WHAT?? What is a proprietary blend? Can you find this on Isle 8 of your local hardware store?? Or with the milk in the grocery store??? I asked, and questioned, and asked, and questioned their customer service about what were the ingredients, not exact amounts, but the ingredients for my family’s sake. The nice lady on the other side of the phone said she didn’t know, nor did anyone else in customer service.
Now my rant goes on. It seems that companies can fluff ingredients legally. A proprietary blend is anything that they don’t want disclosed because they feel their recipe is secret. There you go… Hiding behind the word secret.

After trying out one their Tub and Tile cleaners, it gave me a respiratory reaction. None of which I even have with the harsh products on the market. So why was this product giving me such a bad case of it. Again, looking into the ingredients, “Surfactants and solvents” were listed as ingredients. What are surfactants and solvents? I feel that is a category, not an actual ingredient. Yes, after calling the company, once again, they told me that they do not disclose what exactly are used. And here’s the kicker: they told me that rest assured, their products were “natural” (a word not defined by the FDA) and that they don’t profess to be a green company, nor do they market it as a green company. HAHAHA… The reps that I have spoken to, all market it as such. Hiding behind and blaming their reps. Gotta love commercialism.

Live and learn… read labels, scrutinize. You may be paying more for green products, which in my opinion is fine, but when bad chemicals have a mask on and marketed as safe that is outright wrong.

 

To tap, filter or bottle. That is the question!

Bisphenol A has been getting a lot of press lately. It has been widely known in holistic circles as being a nasty for some time. The hormone disruptor that can be found in almost everyone. Studies have linked it to breast and prostate cancer, and infertility.

Polycarbonates (type of plastic) are sometimes made with BPA. Looking at the recycling triangle, you’d see a #7. #7 is the recycling number that doesn’t fit into any other category. Therefore, it may or may not have BPA in. What does have BPA is products made with Lexan type plastic like those hard pretty colored water bottles, baby bottles, canned foods are lined with BPA, and some metal water bottles are lined with BPA (what is that about!!)

That being said, can bottled water be safe? What about the other numbers? Do we fill the landfills even further continuing to use bottled water?

Due to Canada banning BPA and a recent study, the BPA controversy has been all over the news and web. Earth day brought up some very valid points regarding plastics and the waste from not recycling plastic water bottles.

After reading many reports and much advice regarding water, I’d like to just organize thoughts and ask, “What is the priority of your water quality.”

I see it this way. There are three types of people. Two of which I’ll talk about. One is the person who doesn’t buy into any of the propaganda regarding the water not being safe. All I have to say is read and decide for your own.

Second type of person who chooses water for safety at the extreme and is the very chemical cautious. The “I don’t want to drink tap water at all because of all the miscellaneous chemicals, contaminants, chlorine and fluoride.” “If I do, it will be dead, distilled water.”

Thirdly, the person who just wants to get large portion of gunk out of their drinking water and doesn’t really understand what the gunk is, but is concerned.

I’m not writing this to persuade anyone. What I’m doing is organizing or bringing to light what and why you would choose a particular water treatment method. Maybe you haven’t thought of the entire fluoride problem in drinking water or what your actual reasons are for the method you choose.

I’ve read much on just filtering tap water. There are great filters out there, if you do your homework. The one thing they cannot filter is fluoride. The only way fluoride can be taken out of water is reverse osmosis. This creates a dead water, but very safe. The filter of my dreams, but expensive. Due to the economy, it isn’t happening at this house soon. Thanks shrub.

Yes. To reduce plastics, it would be best to filter tap water. But I am that kind of person that doesn’t want my daughter exposed more than she has to be (restaurant food, school, juices, etc.) with fluoride. I’ve done my homework. Fluoride is poison. That’s why your fluoride toothpaste tells you not to swallow it and who to call should your child ingest it.

I want the most chemicals out of my water, without fluoride, so for now I will buy bottled spring (not water from a ‘source’.) but genuine spring water knowing its source and testing. Yes, I am questioning whether I should filter it as I pour it into my glass (trying to get away from storing anything in plastic) bottle with spout. That may be coming. An inexpensive 29 contaminants filter costs about 30.00. Good investment I guess, until the reverse osmosis magically appears in my house.

I also highly recommend a chlorine filter for your shower. My daughter has very sensitive skin and without the chlorine, it has shown to be very good – not to mention what chlorine does to you. That’s an article for another time.