When I became pregnant a common issue/topic that arose between friends and other pregnant women was the drinking of caffeine. I think it is important for pregnant women to consider this very carefully. Here’s an article for you to begin your research with…

Is it OK to drink caffeine during your pregnancy? This is a common question when women begin to consider pregnancy and especially once they find out they are pregnant. If you’re taking a naturally holistic approach to pregnancy, the answer is most commonly no, it is not OK to drink caffeine while pregnant. Ultimately the choice is yours so, be sure to research the topic well.
Believe it or not, caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world and you do not need to be a doctor to know that coffee is not the best drink for you. However, I do agree with the thought that it is less harmful than most other things that people drink, like regular soda, diet sodas, juices and Gatorade-type products. The caffeine question is not a new one, as early as 1980, the FDA began publishing a warning advising pregnant women to restrict or eliminate their intake of caffeine because of its ability to cause birth defects. [READ MORE HERE]

I went without caffeine throughout my pregnancy, once I found out I was pregnant. I do admit the week before knowing I was attending an intense convention and drank more coffee than I would have in a normal week. But once we knew I was indeed pregnant, all liquid caffeine consumption ended.
[I did have the occasional 'piece' of dark chocolate here and there.]

I have a history with coffee. I love, LOVE coffee. My addiction started midway through college and became much worse a few years later when I began graduate school and then began working a high stress job. At my worst I was drinking 3 to 4 20oz cups a day with cream and sugar. Not as bad as others I knew, but not a healthy amount for anyone.

Once I started eating properly I cut my caffeine intake to two 8 to 10oz cups a week. The break with it was difficult at first. Going through withdraws and dealing with the cravings was quite an experience; especially when you’re surrounded by it at work everyday.

Then, once I found out I was pregnant I began trying coffee alternatives. I didn’t want to drink decaffinated coffee…the chemicals and processes they use to decaffinate the coffee are terrible for you and there’s still a trace amount of caffeine remaining in the drink. Most of the alternatives were chickory and nut based and tasted nothing like coffee to my great frustration. But then around my 5th month of pregnancy I found a coffee alternative called Teeccino and I love it! First of all it actually smells and tastes like coffee. It’s ingredients are simple: organic carob, organic barley, organic dates, chicory, organic chicory, almonds, natural amaretto flavor, and organic figs. That’s it. No chemicals or other harsh substances. To me it tastes like a flavored coffee something with a hint of cherry, but it’s probably the figs that I’m tasting. I highly recommend it. If you want to try it, I buy it from iHerb.com and if you’ve never ordered from them before, use my $5.00 off coupon code: OMA603. It usually sells for around $8.00 for an 11oz bag of loose grinds.

If you do try it, please come back and let me know how you liked it. I don’t normally push products in my articles as you can see by going through the archives, but I firmly believe you should eliminate your coffee intake while pregnant [and breast feeding] and this was the only coffee substitute I was happy with. Now, you soda drinkers…sorry, your on your own finding a substitute for that.  Good luck everyone!

So, this week I was going to write about the goods and bads between drinking sodas, coffee and tea.  Something my friends debate on quite a bit actually.  But I had the opportunity to watch “Food Inc.” this weekend and I changed my mind.  [We'll have the soda, coffee and tea article in the near future.]

Everyone should see this film.  Everyone.  The film is not at all “preachy”.  It simply addresses the fact that we, Americans, know very little about the foods we buy at our local supermarkets or serve to our families.  The following is from www.foodincmovie.com:

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

You can view the trailer here:

Click image to see trailer.

Simple things YOU can do RIGHT NOW according to TakePart.com

Stop drinking sodas and other sweetened beverages. [ You can lose 25 lbs in a year by replacing one 20 oz soda a day with a no calorie beverage (preferably water).]

Eat at home instead of eating out.  [Children consume almost twice (1.8 times) as many calories when eating food prepared outside the home.]

Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards.  [Half of the leading chain restaurants provide no nutritional information to their customers.]

Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks.  [Over the last two decades, rates of obesity have tripled in children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years.]

Meatless Mondays-Go without meat one day a week.  [An estimated 70% of all antibiotics used in the United States are given to farm animals.]

Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides.  [According to the EPA, over 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year in the U.S.]

Protect family farms; visit your local farmer’s market.  [Farmer's markets allow farmers to keep 80 to 90 cents of each dollar spent by the consumer.]

Make a point to know where your food comes from – READ LABELS.  [The average meal travels 1500 miles from the farm to your dinner plate.]

Tell Congress that food safety is important to you.  [Each year, contaminated food causes millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths in the U.S.]

Demand job protections for farm workers and food processors, ensuring fair wages and other protections.  [Poverty among farm workers is more than twice that of all wage and salary employees.]

To learn more, click here.

Over the next few weeks you’ll see this site adding additional resources for research with great thanks to this film.

No excuses.  If you care about what you are eating and what you are feeding your family [at home as well as out at restaurants] SEE THIS FILM.

“The irony is that the average consumer does not feel very powerful. They think that they are the recipients of whatever industry has put there for them to consume. Trust me, it’s the exact opposite. Those businesses spend billions of dollars to tally our votes. When we run an item past the supermarket scanner, we’re voting.”
– Gary Hirshberg, founder of Stonyfield Farm. Hirshberg began with a seven-cow farm and grew his business into the No. 3 yogurt provider in the country.

If you’re health consious and always try to eat well I’m sure you are well aware of what is known as MSG, and you’re most likely very aware of food labels now boasting comments such as “MSG Free!” or “No MSG Added”. But are you certain this is true? I had thought I was doing pretty well with limiting the amount of MSG in my family’s nutrition, but after meeting someone over the holidays that is greatly allergic to MSG and her briefly enlightening me in the actual extent of its usage I dug deeper into the topic.

It is very difficult to really know whether MSG (monosodium glutamate) is in your food, because it goes by so many aliases [i.e. 'Accent' - 'Aginomoto' - 'Natural Meet Tenderizer']. To avoid ingesting this toxic additive, you’re best off choosing fresh, unprocessed foods. But becoming familiar with the hidden names of MSG can also help you determine what foods to eat.

So before we go any further, just what is MSG?

Monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG, Ve-tsin or E621 is used as a flavour enhancing agent, in many kinds of food products to enhance their original flavour. Chemically speaking, MSG is approximately 78 percent free glutamic acid, 21 percent sodium, and up to 1 percent contaminants.

The origin of MSG comes from a very nutritious sea vegetable called “kombu”— Laminaria japonica. In 1908 a Japanese scientists, Dr. Kikunae Ikeda, identified what it was in the seaweed that was enhancing flavour, creating monosodium glutamate or MSG. Like many foods today monosodium glutamate is produced through fermentation, a process used in making beer, vinegar, soy sauce and yogurt. The process begins with natural products such as molasses from sugar cane or sugar beets and food starch from tapioca or cereals, which are fermented in a controlled environment.

Though it is a “natrual product” MSG is not a naturally occurring “substance”. It is man-made from glutamic acid, which is an amino acid found in all complete proteins.  These amino acids occur naturally in many plant and animal tissues. Artificially created MSG involves processes, such as fermentation, that break down and change natural bound glutamate (usually from corn, grain starches, molasses) into various free forms of glutamate. One form, d-glutamic acid is never found in nature. Free glutamates can enter the blood stream 8-10 times faster than bound or natural glutamate which is found in tomatoes, milk, and mushrooms. Commercial processes used today to manufacture MSG weren’t in use until the 1960s. There’s nothing “natural” about the MSG in wide use today.

Why is it considered bad?

The isolated “flavor enhancer” chemical MSG has no nutritional value and is not a preservative. It does nothing to food, but it does affect the person using it, some much more that others. It’s actually the glutamic acid in the MSG that is of concern for most people and in 1959 the FDA classified MSG as “generally recognized as safe.”

MSG is a neurotoxin, which is a poisonous protein complex that acts on the brain and the nervous system.  Neurons are over stimulated to the point of exhaustion and cell death. MSG goes to the brain through membranes in the mouth and throat, and it also enters the blood stream as MSG laden foods are digested. It tricks the brain into thinking that it’s getting something tasty. Very little use of MSG takes to create widely diverse and dramatic effects on the human body. Since separate parts of the brain govern different body functions. The body function that is affected will depend on the part of the brain that is attacked by the neurotoxin. If a person has a genetic weakness in a specific part of the brain or had an injury or a stroke, the damaged area will be the part that is easily affected and vulnerable to toxins.

[From Mercola.com]

Examples of physical adverse effects that have also been linked to regular consumption of MSG include:

• Obesity

• Eye damage

• Headaches

• Fatigue and disorientation

• Depression

The FDA admits that “short-term reactions” known as MSG Symptom Complex can occur in certain groups of people, namely those who have eaten “large doses” of MSG or those who have asthma.

According to the FDA, MSG Symptom Complex can involve symptoms such as:

• Numbness

• Burning sensation

• Tingling

• Facial pressure or tightness

• Chest pain or difficulty breathing

• Headache

• Nausea

• Rapid heartbeat

• Drowsiness

• Weakness

How do I know if what I’m about to eat/buy has MSG?

Food manufactures have become privy to the fact that a great number of the population does not want MSG in their foods and have gotten quite slick in labeling their products. While some have actually reduced or removed MSG from their products altogether, most have simply changed the wording on the ingredients, have used alternate names for MSG or have begun using ingredients which contain MSG. MSG is listed on the label only if it is a separate ingredient in the food.  In most cases, MSG is hidden by being included as part of other ingredients on the label. It can make up as much as 60% of these other ngredients.

[From Mercola.com]

Here is a list of ingredients thatALWAYS contain MSG:

These ingredients OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing:

Below is an excerpt from “Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills” by Russell Blaylock, M.D. which lists possible sources of MSG:

Additives that always contain MSG:

- Monosodium Glutamate

- Potassium Glutamate

- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)*

- Hydrolyzed Protein*

- Hydrolyzed Plant Protein*

- Hydrolyzed [Anything else]*

- Plant Protein Extract

- Sodium Caseinate

- Calcium Caseinate

- Yeast Extract

- Textured Protein

- Autolyzed Yeast

- Hydrolyzed Oat Flour

Additives that frequently contain MSG:

- Malt extract

- Malt Flavoring

- Bouillon

- Broth

- Stock

- Flavoring

- Natural Flavoring

- Natural Beef or Chicken Flavoring

- Seasoning

- Spices

[From MSGtruth.org]

Free glutamate content of foods (mg per 100g)

roquefort cheese 1280
parmesan cheese 1200
soy sauce 1090
walnuts 658
fresh tomato juice 260
grape juice 258
peas 200
mushrooms 180
broccoli 176
tomatoes 140
mushrooms 140
oysters 137
corn 130
potatoes 102
chicken 44
mackerel 36
beef 33
eggs 23
human milk 22

So if you do eat processed foods, please remember to be on the lookout for these many hidden names for MSG.

Go into your kitchen, check the cupboards and the fridge. MSG is likely in everything: Campbell’s soups, Hostess Doritos, Lays flavoured potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, Kraft salad dressings, especially the ‘healthy low fat’ ones. [Luckily none of these foods are ever in my kitchen-but they are in the average household in America.]

Again, be careful for even items that are not listed with MSG as an ingredient on the product label may have ”Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein”, which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate.

If you really want a shocker, when you go out to eat ask for an ingredient list from a manager and check for the above. Nearly any food chain you can think of [fast food and sit down alike] uses MSG in massive amounts.

Is this all hub-bub?

With all the uproar against MSG from organic eaters and those not wanting additives in their food, there are others that argue this is all hog-wash, exaggeration, false information.

While I agree there are very strong arguments that MSG is fine [one of my faves and you'll understand why at the end: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/jul/10/foodanddrink.features3]

I myself will continue to avoid MSG as much as possible due to I wish to eat pure food without tricking my brain into thinking it tastes fantastic and that I need to eat more of it. My wish is that you educate yourself and make your own decision and if you feel the concern over MSG is “hog-wash” I ask that you at least try to minimize your intake.

Best wishes!

Additional Reading & Sources:

Dr. Russell Blaylock:  “Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.”

John Erb: “The Slow Poisoning Of America”

National Library of Medicine, at http://www.pubmed.com. Type in the words “MSG Obese”

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/Dang.html

http://www.holisticmed.com/msg/msg-mark.txt

http://journalofhealthyliving.com/why-is-msg-bad-for-you.htm

http://www.yelp.com/topic/washington-food-detectives-makes-an-interesting-statement-about-msg

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/jul/10/foodanddrink.features3

http://www.msgtruth.org

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/21/MSG-Is-This-Silent-Killer-Lurking-in-Your-Kitchen-Cabinets.aspx

First we’d like to say Thank You for your patience while we have been on hiatus. These past 5 months have been very eventful for us and we are terribly sorry for our absence; but a sacrifice had to be made. In the meantime, we do hope that you have been taking good care of your health and are enjoying the passing of winter and welcoming the spring.

So what’s coming up on Wellness Pure & Simple for the month of April? Yummy recipes for the warmer weather, articles on topics such as MSG, caffeinated drinks, the dangers of sugar and tips on handling allergies.  We’ll also have news for the Savanah, GA area on a few new organic/natural food and product providers and , updates on the local farmer’s markets and dates for some fun local events not to be missed.

So, be sure to check back with us every Sunday starting Sunday, April 4th for updates and new articles.

Best wishes,

Stormy {:0)

So, winter’s nearly here and many are fighting off that first seasonal cold and some are dreading the flu.  I have many friends that get it every year, sometimes more than once and some are constantly battling sicknesses throughout the autumn and winter seasons.   With my friends in mind and for those looking for a more natural way to boost your immune system without getting vaccines,  I’ve collected a few lists from reputable sites sharing foods that are known “Immunity Boosters”.  Remember to always eat the best foods possible, organic farmed produce, wild fishes and like, grass-fed beef, bison, free-range chickens and eggs and cook the food as little as possible.

This first list is from Mercola.com.  It contains a few items that are a bit more difficult to find in some areas but try your best for they are by far the most effective.  You can read the full article with complete explanations here: Top 12 Foods for Healthy Immune Response

1. Unpasteurized Grass-Fed Organic Milk; or Whey Protein as an Alternative

2. Fermented foods such as kefir, natto, kimchee, miso, tempeh, pickles, sauerkraut, yogurt (watch for sugar), and olives.

3. Raw Organic Eggs from Free-Range Chickens

4. Grass-Fed Beef or Organ Meats

5. Coconuts and Coconut Oil

6. Locally Grown Organic Vegetables Appropriate for Your Nutritional Type the amount and type of vegetables you should eat daily will depend on your nutritional type.

7. Blueberries and Raspberries

8. Mushrooms

9. Chlorella [Chlorella water..Yum!  Seriously, I enjoy it a lot]

10. Propolis

11. Teas [Green and Tulsi]

12. Herbs and Spices [click here for the list]

The 15 best foods for your Immune System from AlterNet.Org. This list may be a bit more practical for most.  I myself find that my daily diet incorporates items from both lists.  Again, follow the link for the full article and explanations. 

1. Oysters; Yep.  Oysters produce cytokines, a protein that’s known to ward off illnesses.

2. Yogurt

3. Green Tea

4. Oranges

5. Crab; Like oysters, crab meat is rich in selenium, a nutrient that strengthens your immune system.

6. Garlic

7. Carrots

8. Spinach

9. Sweet Potatoes

10. Mushrooms

11. Salmon

12. Kiwi

13. Bell Peppers

14. Broccoli

15. Oats & Barley

Ok, before you read this, stop.  Go and get your shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleaner, shaving cream and toothpaste.  Go ahead, I’ll give you a few minutes.  Look at the ingredients.   Do you see either Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) listed? Or one of their cousins: Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, etc.?  Did you know SLS is so strong that it’s also used to scrub garage floors?  It caught my attention too.

Nearly two years ago now, my husband and I started removing anything in our personal care items that contained SLS (or its relative SLES).  We had read numerous reports that they are cheap chemicals found in our personal care products that are exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines-just a lower percentage is found in our personal products.  Earlier this year we noticed it was even in our ‘natural’, ‘safe’ toothpaste to our surprise.

I sat down earlier this week to write this article but I wanted to research both sides of the story for I found it amazing that this toxic chemical would be found in so many everyday beauty/health products, even in “green” products.  So, I began my search and wow, what a whirl wind of confusion for a few hours.  Whom does one believe?  Some sources make outrageous claims to scare you one way or another, some try to give you just the “facts” to support their claims and others are clearly trying to sell you a product.  What I found even more frustrating was that to my surprise many of the trusted sources I usually turn to had completely different outlooks on the subject.

So, I am not going to tell you it is terrible for you NOR am I telling you to continue to use it.  I want you to do the research yourself and make up your own mind. But here is what I have decided on.  SLS and SLES will NOT be allowed into my home again.  We decided as a family earlier this year to live as toxin free as we could.  We are not willing to knowingly put anything that ‘could’ be hazardous to our health into or onto our bodies, especially when there are safe alternatives.   I have gathered the more complete sources, a few with additional links you should review, and have posted them below for you to begin your research.  Here’s an excerpt [and my main argument for not bringing these chemicals into my home] from the first source listed below:

“SLS and SLES are esters of Sulphuric acid – SLS is also known as “Sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt”, however there are over 150 different names by which it is known – see them here. In fact, SLES is commonly contaminated with dioxane, a known carcinogen.

Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting.

A report published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology in 1983 showed that concentrations as low as 0.5% could cause irritation and concentrations of 10-30% caused skin corrosion and severe irritation. National Institutes of Health “Household Products Directory” of chemical ingredients lists over 80 products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate. Some soaps have concentrations of up to 30%, which the ACT report called “highly irritating and dangerous“.  Read more about the potential implications of SLS and SLES on Human Health

So please, follow the links in this article, do your research and decide for yourself what you are comfortable with.  All I wish for is that you and your family live as healthy as possible and you can only do that by making intelligent decisions, not by just doing the ‘norm’, convenient or expected behavior.

Natural Health Information Center

Hall Gold

Mercola

The Natural Skin Care Company

Ingredient Myths

Seventh Generation Q&A

American Cancer Society

Snopes

NICNAS of Australia

So, it’s that time again…spending your hard earned money ON SOMEONE ELSE! Oh, I’m just joking. It can be very rewarding to find that perfect gift for someone else and to see their faces light up. So, this season I’ve put together a collection of shopping guides, stores and holiday specials for you. A few will change after Black Friday or Black Monday so, be sure to come on back and take a look at the new items.

Read Up First

First, start with this quick article from the Environmental Stewardship Committee at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It has tips for shoppers who want to help the environment by conserving resources. It contains gift ideas, shopping tips, and wrapping, decorating and entertainment ideas. The article is a bit old, but the information is still quite relevant.

Buying Guides

National Geographic’s official Green Buying Guide

The Holiday Green Guide
This unique and interactive online coupon resource is COMPLETELY FREE for consumers who are looking to save HUGE dollars on eco friendly products from online retailers. The publication is filled with thousands of dollars in savings to make the holidays a little greener for shoppers, retailers and the environment.

The Holiday Green Guide is live and available to consumers from November 2– December 31 2009.

Stores and Discounts

UncommonGoods.com
UncommonGoods is one of my all time places to shop, for others as well as myself!  I’m sure you’ll find something fun and unique this year here.  “We have worked hard to build an online marketplace offering creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. We are combining the treasures of a specialty boutique, the great finds of a craft show, discoveries from a faraway bazaar, along with some enduring classics.”

Hay House Inc.
Hay House is offering stunning new gifts items, discounts up to 70% and free gifts to celebrate the Christmas Season. With the economy the way it is, everyone could use a little inspiration and Hay House products provide just that! During these difficult times, we are excited to pass along more savings to your customers.  Click the picture for the link.

SPECIAL OFFER: Free Shipping* Site Wide!
One Day Only – Cyber Monday, Nov 30th
We will kick-off the online holiday shopping season with free shipping site wide with no minimum purchase. *Offer will be valid one day only and expires on Monday 11/30 at midnight Pacific Time. Valid for online purchases only shipped within the continental U.S.  CLICK HERE ON MONDAY, NOV. 30TH.

EcoExpress.com
I enjoy finding nice, appropriate gifts for people I either don’t know very well or that I just can’t figure out what to get for them. EcoExpress creates natural and organic gifts that are unique, memorable and high quality. You can send beautiful gifts and support the environment with their wide assortment of earth friendly gourmet, fruit, spa and rainforest green gifts and baskets.

iHerb
You’d be amazed at all of the products iHerb has to offer. Here I purchase supplements, home cleaning products [when needed], pantry items and bath and cosmetic products from time to time. If you shop with them, remember to SAVE $5 on your first purchase by using my COUPON CODE: OMA603

Lavera
Lavera is having a TON of various sales, but this one is by far the biggest saver. Keep in mind the page will not be available until BLACK FRIDAY, 12:01AM NOVEMBER 27TH.   I will have updated links to other holiday specials as soon as Sunday, November 29th.  Click the picture for the link.

Beautorium
I enjoy the variety of higher end organic/natural products available with Beautorium. I can not get these locally and shopping with Beautorium has been terrific. Check them out and find amazing lines such as Dr. Hauschka, Trilogy, Saaf, John Masters and Red Flower. Save 15% on all featured lines until January 1st, 2010.  Click the picture for the link.

Did you know that most of your common household cleaning products contain potentially toxic chemicals?  The website EnvironmentalHealthNews.org states that the typical American home contains 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials and uses and stores more than 60 hazardous household products.  Most of these toxic chemicals can be easily absorbed through your skin and you can breathe them into your lungs and these toxins build up in your system over time.  Some of the health effects of ingredients in common household products are:

     Respiratory problems
     Eye irritation
     Cancer
     Disruption of the endocrine system

With the holidays approaching most of us will be hosting guests for parties or for extended stay in our homes.  This means…it’s time to roll up the sleeves and get to scrubbing.  This year do your holiday cleaning with safer, time-tested ingredients you already have in your cupboards and closets while avoiding toxic products that cause indoor air pollution, endanger children and disrupt the environment.

EnvironmentalHealthNews.org is a fantastic site that has fact sheets, science journals and news articles on chemicals in household products including guides to safer home cleaning recipes, expert contacts and a plethora of resources for additional information.  It can be a bit overwhelming if you are unfamiliar with research online but just dig in and stay persistent.

Here’s a head start…Go to: household toxic cleaning products

Using home cleaning recipes, such as those found at EarthEasy.com, can reduce numerous environment impacts.  Your home cleaning recipes will reduce the manufacture, packaging and shipment of commercial products, since home cleaning recipes use ingredients which are safe to buy in bulk and which ounce for ounce go a lot farther than commercial products.

For example:

All-Purpose Cleaner

Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda
(or 2 teaspoons borax) into
1/2 gallon (2 liters) water.
Store and keep.
Use for removal of water deposit stains
on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome
fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

You can find this recipe and many, many more here: http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

Here’s a simple starter list of what you need to make your own natural cleaning products:

Baking soda
White vinegar
Lemon Juice
Hydrogen peroxide
Liquid castile soap
Organic essential oils [optional]
Mixing bowls
Spray bottles
Micro fiber cloths

Well, perhaps you simple prefer to use a manufactured, store bought product, which is an alternative, but beware!  Not all “green” or “natural” cleaning products are as safe as they lead you to believe.

The terms “green” and “natural” are becoming more and more common but they are nothing more than a marketing trend and they do not automatically equal safety.  The market is still very much unregulated and have you ever noticed how very few manufacturers list the ingredients?  Cleaning product manufacturers are not required by law to disclose all of their ingredients on their labels.

Many responsible manufacturers [like Seventh Generation and Ecover] will put as many ingredients on their packaging as possible or provide you with contact information on where to find out more.  If you should find a label, dangerous ingredients to look out for include:

*petroleum distillates like “benzene” or 1,4 dioxane – both can cause cancer and 1,4 dioxane is a suspected kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant.
*phospates – cause algae proliferation in bodies of water, killing marine life
*nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE’s) – cause reproductive defects, liver and kidney damage
*volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) including 1,4 dichlorobenzene – cause nose and throat irritation, dizziness and asthma
*glycol ethers
*ammonia
*chlorine
*ethanolamines

Natural chemicals that can cause allergic reaction and should be avoided include:

*limonene (a citrus based oil)
*pine oil
*coconut diethanolamide

I agree all of this can be overwhelming and I admit that it took me a while to “give in” and try the home recipes but I [and my wallet] am so thankful I have.  I think you will be to.

I wish you luck in your endeavor to remove the GALLONS of unnecessary toxins from your home by finding alternatives to standard cleaning products and for further research I have listed a few links below for you.

Sites for research:

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/

EarthEasy.com

Debra Lynn Dadd http://www.dld123.com/homesafehome.html

Quick reviews on in-store Eco-friendly/natural cleaning products:

House and Home [Local to this site]

Articles on topic:

“Natural doesn’t always mean safe” – EWG

“How Safe Are Green Cleaning Products?” – Mercola.com

“You Can Avoid Hazardous Chemicals” – Washington Post

“Some skip commercial cleaners for those made from pantry” – USA Today

“Going Green When You Clean” – CBSNews

“Can you clean and still be green?” – Santa Cruz Sentinel

A personal message:

I wanted to take a moment to share this information with you.  Vaccination, whether for yourself or your children, is a very personal decision.  Many Americans today are comfortable getting medications and vaccinations without a second thought, but there is a growing number of citizens and medical professionals that are finding reasons for everyone to stop and take the time to do research on what is being put into your body.  There are two very different opinions on the current H1N1 vaccination and on the actual flu itself.  One from the general mass media that is in many ways terrifying Americans.  The other from natural health specialists and a growing number of scientists that are trying to inform the public of the downfalls of the vaccination and to shed light on the actual H1N1 flu.  I am not suggesting you get the vaccine, nor am I suggesting that you not get it.  I am asking that before you make your decision you take the time to research the topic thoroughly.  Here’s a fantastic place to start, a recent article from from Mercola.com entitled “Common Links in Swine Flu Deaths.”  You can read the website of the doctor featured in the article here: Dr. Russell Blaylock, M.D.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/31/CDC-Says-Kids-That-Die-From-Swine-Flu-Have-Coexisting-Bacterial-Infections.aspx

The article has numerous links to additional sites for more information, but here are a few more to help with your research:

ALERT: Special Swine Flu Update

NPR: Debate Over H1N1 Vaccine

CBS News: Unplugged H1N1 Vaccine Dangers

World Health Organization [WHO]

60 Minutes: Swine Flu

British Medical Journal

CDC

Maximizing the peace in your life and relationships is an area not many people take very seriously in their overall wellness. Usually because they do not realize how much of an impact is has on our physical health. True wellness focuses on body, mind and spirit, the total package of your life.

In our society today, the greater majority is overworked, overstressed, overwhelmed, over-stimulated and overfed. Come on, this is America after all…we want more, we want it bigger and better and we want it NOW. We, as a whole, are also undisciplined, under-motivated and unable to move forward in areas of our lives that are not ‘easy’ or are areas of our lives that require long term attention. How many family members or friends of yours are on antidepressants? How many children? Use of antidepressants has become a true epidemic in America.

Without peace of mind and strong relationships, neither life nor health can be maintained at optimum levels. Numerous studies have proven that poor relationships cause stress and we are constantly reminded that stress leads to poor health. It’s been shown that people with more negative aspects in their close relationships had an increase in the risk of heart problems and poor blood pressure. Those with poor relationships are also much more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mood disorders due to inflammation which can damage our brain cells (even after taking weight, social support and other factors into consideration). [Many of these studies can be found on WebMD and ScienceMag.org.] How is this happening? Any time you think a thought or say a word, little messengers called neuropeptides, travel all through your bodies, touching every cell and depositing a bit of that chemical in it. If your thoughts are negative in any way, then the chemicals that these messengers deposit depress your immune system. If your thoughts are loving, optimistic, and positive, then the different chemicals that these messengers—or neuropeptides—deposit will enhance your immune system. [To learn more about neuropeptides and how they effect your body pick up a copy of "Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d"
by Dr. Candace Pert.]

Moment by moment, we’re consciously or unconsciously choosing healthy thoughts or unhealthy thoughts. These thoughts affect our bodies. One thought by itself doesn’t have much influence over us. However, we all think more than 60,000 thoughts a day, and the effect on our thoughts is cumulative. Poisonous thoughts poison our bodies. [So you can see how important it is to have people in your life that have a positive effect on you.] Science is now confirming that we can’t allow ourselves to indulge in negative thinking. It’s making us sick and it’s killing us.

Personal note:

I, like many, went through many years of troubled relationships and as a result suffered small, annoying health problems and bouts of depression and anxiety attacks. In 2004 I was introduced to the works of Dr. Wayne Dyer through the book, “The Power of Intention“.  I found the views and perspectives of Dr. Dyer so refreshing and it taught me to start thinking in a different way.  I started trying to implement some of his teachings into my lifestyle. On one hand it was easy and on the other, rather difficult.  When I was focused on bettering my relationships and life I noted numerous changes in my overall mood, quality of life and outlook, but I had to stay focused on such changes and I would always fall back into my old habits after awhile. Being a fan of Dr. Dyer, I began reading each new book Dr. Dyer published and in doing so, stumbled upon Louise L. Hay and the book “You Can Heal Your Life: Gift Edition“.  I can not say enough about this book. I read it [or listen to the audio book] quite often.  It helps me learn to deal with and release so many negative aspects in my life and relationships. By letting go of so much, I began realizing what my life could be and a whole new world opened before me. I started branching out my reading even more and found many wonderful authors; some effective and beneficial, some not so much. It all depends on you, your state of mind and where you are in your life at the time of your readings. I found that though I have interest in reading new authors and evaluating their ideas, I relate to Dr. Dyer and Louise Hay best. This year I read Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book “Excuses Begone!” I have never slept better [and I often suffered from bouts of serious insomnia]. This too will be a book I turn to on a regular basis. I’m always wishing for friends and family members to read Louise L. Hay. In one year I gave away 5 of the books “You Can Heal Your Life”. Now I wish to add Dr. Dyer’s new book “Excuses Begone!” to my constant recommendation list. There are many different ways people find to release the negative aspects in their lives, bad habits, poor relationships, terrible work environments. For me I found it simply in making major life changes, meeting my amazing spouse and reading the works of authors with positive messages. Friends I know find solace in going to church regularly, attending meetings with groups that share similar life ideals, staying active as volunteers-the options are endless and are personal for each person. I hope that if you find a way to improve or remove any negative relationships in your life…it’s not always easy-but the peace and joy it will bring to your life will be more than worth it.

Additional reading online:

MedicineNet.com
HealthMatrix.net
Code For Living Life
Prevention.com
The Secret by author Rhonda Byrne

My Book Reading List: