No so "Natural" Flavorings

If you didn't catch this episode of 60 Minutes, the link is below:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7389748n&tag=pop%3Avideos

This is really a great video on how food and flavorings are manufactured and developed for many of our favorite items on the grocery shelves. Food chemisty has come a long way - definitely an eye opening and informative video.

Thanks to 60 minutes to include this in their show.

Is going organic really worth the extra $$$$ ?

When I look at my grocery bill these days - sometimes I wonder..

BUT, I just came across this article on www.babycenter.com and it was good information:

I copied and pasted it below:

Is organic produce really worth the price difference?
That's up to you. A 2003 University of Washington study found that children who ate a diet of organic food had a level of pesticides in their bodies that was six times lower than children who ate a diet of conventionally produced food.

Many studies also show that organic fruits and vegetables are more nutritious — containing more vitamin C and antioxidants, which may help prevent heart disease, than non-organic fruits and vegetables. A 2003 study at the University of California at Davis, for example, found that organic fruit has up to 58 percent more antioxidants than non-organic fruit.

If you have the outdoor space, you might consider growing some of your own organic fruits and vegetables. Gardening is also a great way to teach your toddler about nutrition. Look for organic growers at your local farmer's market, farm stand, or food cooperative. Most grocery stores now have organic produce sections, as well.

if you'd like to read more, here's the link to the article:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_pesticides-in-your-toddlers-food-what-you-need-to-know_5054.bc?scid=mbtw_post13m_1w:1270&pe=MlV4ekFJT3wyMDExMTIwMQ..

Making Progress

Just finished reading the report produced by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics - just released. Personal Care product manufacturers are finally starting to remove toxic chemicals from their product lines. Here's the link to the report below:

http://safecosmetics.org/downloads/MarketShift11.pdf

Check and see if your favorite product manufacturers made the list and are listening to the concerns of their customers. Vote for safer products - Vote with your dollars.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Safer Cookware

A while back I started reading a book called The Healthy Home by Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz (listed in my NOTED BOOKS list on the right hand side of this page). My good friend Dena had recommended the book as she has started trying to make healthier choices for her family. She actually started me thinking about all this stuff! This book talks about all the things you can do to change your home into a less toxic environment - an amazing read. But, I will warn you, It will scare the heeebeeegees out of you - and you can't change all this stuff overnight - you just have to be aware and try to change things little by little. And one of the items addressed in the book is non-stick cookware. And to get rid of it.

I also came across an article by Dr. Mercola about the dangers of using non-stick cookware (of which we are the owners of several skillets) and alas, I was not happy about what I read. Here's an excerpt from the article:

"More evidence has emerged regarding the dangers of Perflurooctanoic Acid (PFOA), which is used in the production of non-stick cookware and stain-resistant snack food packaging. PFOA is currently found in the bloodstream of 95 percent of American men, women, and children.

Now, a study has shown a correlation between PFOA and low birth weight in newborns. One of the head researchers in the independent study, Dr. Lynn Goldman, said that, “It appears that there is a relation between a higher level of exposure and lower birth weight, as well as the circumference of the head.”

Another recent study showed that PFOA caused an overreaction to allergens in mice.

PFOA has already been implicated in increased instances of cancer in the pancreas, liver, testicles, and mammary glands, as well as miscarriages, thyroid problems, weakened immune systems, and low organ weights.

A growing community of scientists believe the largest concentration of PFOA comes from the telomers used to make the stain and grease repellent coatings for fast food containers, apparel, and carpeting."

Well, that sucks. You can read more, and the full article here (and yes, there is more)http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/03/06/non-stick-cookware-continues-to-prove-its-toxicity.aspx

So, I've had my eye out for a safer replacement skillet ever since. Now, I would love to throw out all my cookware and buy a whole set of new, safe cookware, like the ceramic, glass or enamel coated cast iron. However, I have yet to grow a money tree in my backyard. ;)

But lo, behold - I found an enamel coated cast iron skillet the other day! And I found it at my local H.E.B. Grocery store for about $20 !

Yay! And it came in blue to match my kitchen - too good to pass up! :) Double yay!

The only obstacle left - to convince my husband to use it. You may not know that my husband, Jeff, does most of the cooking around the house. Not just because he likes to cook, but he is definitely GOOD at it. I married UP! :)

Jeff grew up using a plain old cast iron skillet so I was hoping he'd be open to giving it a try. So last weekend, he made our favorite breakfast in it - scrambled eggs. He was impressed. The eggs stuck a little here and there, but not much. It was a win, win.

Yay for toxic free scrambled eggs! And a husband who can and LOVES to cook.
I am blessed. :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Homemade Deodorant that REALLY works!!!!!!!

So excited to share this discovery with you! Last month one of my dear friends, Sarah, forwarded me a DIY deodorant recipe she came across on another blog. Here's the link to the recipe:

http://sewgreen.blogspot.com/2010/08/make-yourself-un-stinky.html

So, last Friday, I mixed up a batch to give it a try. I used 5 tablespoons of coconut oil for my batch and I also used bergamot oil like the author did. But you could use any of your favorite essential oils in it. I put my batch in a stainless steel jar that I got at Bed Bath Beyond. Here's what it looks like:

So you scoop a little bit out with your fingers and rub it in on each of your armpits...Ladies, you may not need much. Gentlemen, it may take a bit more for you. Because of the coconut oil its kind of solid, but still soft in the jar, but once you get it on your fingers it warms up with your body temperature pretty quick and melts into an oil-so be sure to put it on quickly after scooping from the jar.

So I am now on day 4 of using it and its GREAT. In fact, it works better than the last toxin free deodorant (that was also homemade) and better than the old commercial deodorants I used to use. My husband has been using it too, but it hasn't worked as well for him. So he is back to using his old commercial deodorant for the time being. I may try to modify this recipe a bit to suit him better. Will let you know of the results!

Let me know if it works for you!

Alternative Therapy for Breast Cancer...Food for Thought

The following link is to a blog that i read occasionally and today features the story of a medical doctor that was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer. She had some surgery but opted not to follow the regular route of treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. Instead she chose to use alternative therapy. And is alive and well now, fully recovered.

http://www.greendrinkdiaries.com/alternative-breast-cancer-survivors-dr-day/

Positive outcomes such as these are what fuel my desire to continue to make the extra effort and question everything that me and my family put in and around our bodies.

People often ask me why I go through all this trouble-I'd like to think that the precautions that I take now, may save me and my family from developing cancer later in our lives. But I dont' know that. My grandmother died of pancreatic cancer-it was not only a painful way to die, but the last decade of her life was no cake-walk. It became more of a battle everyday for her to just live.

I don't know if my precautions will make a difference at all- but to me, its worth a shot. The alternative isn't very appealing and it seems that more and more people are getting cancer - and younger, all the time. Could I be a little jaded? - because my husband has already had cancer and we are only in our early 30s? Maybe, maybe not. I don't know.

The bottom line is:

No one is more concerned about what you expose yourself and your family to than YOU.

Be an educated consumer - do your research. And don't assume.....

Cause you know what happens when you assume, right?

Enough said....Soda is probably not the best thing for you...diet or not

Via: Term Life Insurance