Discarded, Expired Pharmaceuticals end up in Americas Waterways

The average American may be shocked to know just how much expired, unneeded, spoiled and/or unwanted pharmaceuticals end up in our waterways. Most would think why is this a worry... a few pills tossed down the toilet is a quick and easy way to dispose of leftover or unwanted prescription medications, and what can the harm be?

Sadly the huge amount of pharmaceuticals being flushed down the drain by individuals and care facilities are quite possibly causing minuscule concentrations of Rx medications in our drinking water. Over the years, researchers have alerted us that even extremely, extremely diluted concentrations of pharmaceuticals harm fish, frogs and other aquatic species. And it's not a stretch that these diluted concentrations may affect humans as well...

And in my eyes, all of this is so unnecessary. I encourage you to contact your local town hall and find out when your medication disposal days are, so you can safely discard your unwanted, expired and unneeded medications.

Fast Food, Take 2: Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Okay, so I'm not a big take-out, fast food fan or eater.

I follow the saying "I can eat anything I want, as long as I've taken the time to make it myself from scratch." French fries, apple pie, decadent desserts, you get the picture. I feel that I can indulge every once in a while, as long as I make it myself and don't make it a regular habit. But what if hubby and the kids are starving as you're heading home from vacation...

Recently my family and I stopped at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, a Zagat rated fast food chain. They've won numerous Zagat awards and hubby couldn't wait to visit. According to their literature they have no freezers on the premises, just coolers to keep the meat fresh, and each burger is made and served to order that day.

And wow, what a pleasant surprise. The fries were hot and crispy and the burgers were moist and juicy and made with our choice of toppings! Each burger a special order made your way! Everyone left feeling full and satisfied and I felt better that it was all freshly prepared.

We still won't be headed to a fast food place, even one that's Zagat rated on a regular basis, but it's nice to have found a chain where the food is made fresh. And next time I'll remember to order a little Five Guys burger as the regular burger was actually a double burger -- not that my dog complained.

And I hope the success of Five Guys spurs other fast food places to prepare fresher (and healthier) foods.

Does Living Green mean giving up Fast Food?

Living green means many different things to me... living simply, making wise choices, eating local, recycling, reusing, reducing, choosing toxin free everything, etc., etc.

In terms of food, I've always felt it's best for my health and my wallet to eat in, using fresh ingredients I've purchased and prepared - better yet if those ingredients are from my local farmer's market.

Not to say I don't eat out, I do. I LOVE restaurants and take-outs offering natural (I should be careful with that word, mercury after all is natural...), wholesome, healthful food, and I'm very fortunate to have quite a few local places, that make fabulous food from scratch.

So as I share this article about McDonald's Chicken McNuggets, I'm wondering why on earth you'd add dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent made of silicone, to fried chicken? And what would even make someone think of adding it to food?

Let alone tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a chemical preservative and form of butane, that according to according to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, is so deadly that just five grams can kill you!

I think most Americans are well aware that deep fried McNuggets aren't the healthiest choice, but that they contain an anti-foaming agent made of silicone. I'll guess that's a surprise.

Organic Authority recently posted the full ingredients list provided by McDonald's website, for their Chicken McNuggets:

"White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary).

Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.

Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent."

As a dear friend, who also happens to be an M.D says, "if you really must have fried chicken (or something equally high cal and unhealthy ie: french fries), eat it as often as you're willing to make it at home, from scratch."

In my opinion, the McNuggets ingredient list gives you another reason to make it yourself... as for me, I'm headed over to Bartlett's Farm for some fresh ingredients for a delicious (and healthy) soup.

Best of Health,
Susan

Living Green and the Cancer Question...

If you knew for sure that doing "x, y and z" would make you (and your loved ones) bulletproof to cancer, would you make a change to do "x, y and z"? Even if it cost you more? More effort, more time, more money?

What started me thinking about this question is a radio telethon being done by WHUD for a local hospital, the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. They're sharing successes and the stories are both heart wrenching and heartwarming. To listen to the parents and children speak of their ordeals brings tears to my eyes. And it got me to thinking about "x, y and z."

Over the years it's been well documented that exercise decreases the risk of cancer and many other health concerns, yet many Americans are couch potatoes. It's also well documented that eating more fruits and vegetables AND avoiding pesticides and herbicides on our food is healthier for us, and the planet, yet many feel they can't afford the extra cost. HealthyChild.org, The Environmental Working Group and The National Institute of Health have shined a light on ingredients of concern, some linked to serious health issues, in many household cleaners, yet Americans still choose them over non-toxic green cleaners which are safer.

The reality is that no one knows exactly what causes cancer, especially in a child. And doing "x, y and z" won't Guarantee that you or someone in your family won't get the big C... but what if those simple changes were truly the answer to a big part of the puzzle?

I realize I'm making this all too simplistic and sadly families doing all the right things may still wind up with a member who gets cancer since there are things we simply have no control over, such as the air we breathe, the pesticides used on our neighbors lawn, or in the office we work... but what if getting a little more exercise, choosing toxin free foods, and clearing the toxic cleaners from your home are a big part of the answer?

It really can cost so little monetarliy. Exercise doesn't have to mean joining a gym, instead strap on a pedometer and go walk the track at your local high school. Try to get in 10,000 steps every day.

Choosing organic food does cost a bit more, but going green for cleaning can save you more than enough to make up for the added cost of healthier food, and the added health benefits, Priceless (even if your not bulletproof for cancer).

Best of Health,
Susan

Election Day 2010

Today is Election Day in the USA. If you voted early or absentee, great you're done. Thank you! If you've not yet voted, please exercise your right as an American citizen and vote.

The Chemical Soup We Live In

Unless you've been avoiding the news for years, you know that plastics used for water bottles, beverages and canned goods often contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that may effect our health, and not in a good way.

In a recent study, more than 90% of Americans were found to have BPA in their urine, and those with the highest levels of BPA in their urine were two times more likely to suffer from heart disease and diabetes as those with the lowest level of BPA in their urine. As a result of this study and others, many experts are now recommending that we use only glass or stainless steel bottles for drinking water.

But it's not just BPA that we should be concerned with. Triclosan in deodorants, toothpastes and antibacterial products; Teflon to create non-stick cooking surfaces; phthalates in personal care products, the list goes on and on.

I recently heard this audio and thought I'd share it with you. The speakers, authors of the book Slow Death by Rubber Duck, have used themselves as guinea pigs to show just how quickly some chemicals get into our bloodstreams.

Should we be concerned? Probably, since everyday we're exposed to chemicals... in the air we breathe, the food and beverages we eat, and even in the fabrics that we wear or touch. Obviously we can't avoid all chemicals, but some may be of greater concern than others, and may be within our control if we just make a few changes.

Best of Health,
Susan

A New Name for High Fructose Corn Syrup?

The U.S. FDA has been petitioned by the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) to allow high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) manufacturers the option of using the term “corn sugar” instead of “high fructose corn syrup.”

The CRA feels that “independent research demonstrates that the current labeling is confusing to American consumers.” They blame “inexact scientific reports and inaccurate media accounts” for the bad rap HFCS has gotten.

Now I'm not a scientist, so I won't debate the health effects of HFCS over other sugars. What I can state is that Americans are consuming way more sugar than they think they are (HFCS is in so many products), and way more than is healthy. Also, most corn in this country is Genetically Engineered (GE) corn which gets us into a whole different discussion.

What to do? Limit your intake of HFCS by reading labels, and work toward reducing your overall sugar intake. And lest you think artificial sweeteners may be a safer choice, check out this article by Dr. Oz.

To avoid HFCS completely, we choose products that are 100% juice or organic, neither will have HFCS.

Best of Health,
Susan

Living Green and the upcoming elections

As we get into the last few weeks of the 2010 elections I'm sharing a post from Greenwise with some thoughts for us all, regardless of political persuasion.

Living Green 101

Often people think they have to go green all at once. I didn't and I'd venture to say that most go green gradually. It's a process. You start with one thing and then add another, and another.

Perhaps step one will be to flip out the light when you leave a room, turn off the water while you brush your teeth or replace a few incandescents with CFLs. Next you unplug energy hogs (like your TV) when not in use. I've purchased power strips for my elctronics and just flip them off when they're not being used.

I'd next encourage you to purchase an organic version of a food you're already buying. If you choose carrots or celery the cost difference is minimal.

Once you've done that, replace one or two regular cleaning products with non-toxic versions.

Before you know it, over time you'll have gone green and although some things may have cost you a bit more, others should have saved you some green.

Elevated Blood Sugar and Cancer - a connection?

I received this a while back from a friend I respect. In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I share it with you...

"You put on a few extra pounds - especially around the middle. Your blood sugar goes up a bit. Is that a big deal? What's the worst that could happen?

Try cancer for starters!

When your blood sugar levels go up, your body produces more insulin and a protein called insulin-like growth factor to try and keep your blood sugar levels under
control. And both of those hormones stimulate the growth of cancer cells.

This has been known for years, but scientists have argued as to whether this was a real concern or just of theoretical interest.

Two recent studies - one in Korea and one in Sweden - have shown that this is a very real concern.

The Swedish study, published in the December 2009 issue of PLoS Medicine, followed 550,000 residents of Sweden, Norway and Austria for 10 years. It showed that high blood sugar levels increased the risk of cancer by 11% for women and 5% for men.

The cancers most affected by high blood sugar levels were cancers of the pancreas, gallbladder, liver and bladder - although the incidence of most other cancers was increased as well.

Interestingly, prostate cancer - the most common form of cancer in men - was not affected by high blood sugar levels. That explains why the effect of high blood
sugar on cancer incidence was lower in men than in women.

So what can you do if your blood sugar levels are starting to creep up? You probably know the answer already!

Weight control and exercise are the most important keys to keeping your blood sugar levels under control - although proper diet and appropriate supplementation are also important.

To Your Health!
Dr. S. G. Chaney"

Time to drop those extra pounds and get some exercise -- it's a recipe for good health for all of us.

Best of Health,
Susan

Think before buying that "PINK" product

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month... and those cute little pink ribbons are on a gazillion products.

You can purchase pink appliances as well as well as sneakers and fitness equipment that support Komen for the Cure.

Also sporting the pink ribbon are sugar laden cereals, cake mixes and frostings, paraben containing makeup and personal care products, and cookies loaded with saturated fat. Now I realize the Marlboro man isn't sporting a pink ribbon but are all things "pink" really good for our health, and shouldn't they be?

For me, those pink ribbons won't change how I shop. I'll purchase the products I regularly do, virtually none of which have a pink connection. Then in honor of the month I'll gladly make a donation to one of my favorite charities, Community Cares, a non-profit that benefits young women dealing with a health crisis - usually cancer.

And of course I'll continue to educate and advocate for safer products, because GREEN really does go with everything, and perhaps safer products will lead to less cancer...

Best of Health,
Susan

Shaklee's Non-Toxic Cleaning Products top the list of Cleaners the Pros LOVE

Reader's Digest has a new article titled 5 Cleaning Products the Pros Love.

Personally I love their number one suggestion of Shaklee's Basic H2 concentrate and Scour Off Paste. I've used both of these in my home for over 30 years and absolutely love how easily they clean.

But I'd like to share why I choose a concentrate like Shaklee's or Mrs. Meyer's which costs more to buy, over a ready to use product which costs way less.

Simply because in the long run concentrates not only save me money, they save plastic too, and since one bottle of Shaklee's concentrate makes hundreds of bottles of powerful green cleaner, the savings in plastic manufacturing costs (oil), product shipping and plastic bottle recycling, is significant. So my initial investment of $15, saved me hundreds of dollars over the $3 ready to use product, and kept hundreds of bottles from needing to be manufactured, shipped and recycled.

Bottom line, whenever possible, if your favorite product is available as a concentrate, buy it, the savings are exponential.

Vitamin D linked to cancer, autoimmune disease genes

As we observe Labor Day 2010, much of the US with a beautiful sunny day... I hope you spent some time outside soaking up a little sun. A recent Reuters reported:

"Scientists have found that vitamin D influences more than 200 genes" and that "Vitamin D deficiency is a well-known risk factor for rickets, and some evidence suggests it may increase susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes, as well as certain cancers and even dementia."

Now I'm not worried about rickets, but getting enough Vitamin D, for a healthy immune system is tops on my list. During the summer months it isn't too difficult if you spend at least 20 minutes daily out in the sun. However, the winter months are another story for those of us who live north of Atlanta. Scientists have found it's very difficult, bordering impossible, to get enough sunlight for our bodies to be at optimal Vitamin D levels. Eating foods high in Vitamin D such as salmon, mackerel, herring, eggs, and fish oil will boost your Vitamin D, but for many, including myself, a supplement is the only guarantee that we're getting enough D.

So enjoy the last few weeks of summer by spending a bit of time outdoors everyday. Your immune system will appreciate it!

Miacomet Pond Clean Up

Saturday I biked over to Miacomet Pond to volunteer with the Nantucket Clean Team. The Clean Team is a dedicated group of volunteers who heads out every Saturday morning, spring to fall, to a different part of the island, to pick up trash and recyclables.

As I got to the head of the pond near the small spit of beach that divides the pond from the ocean, I had a little trouble finding the group. My thanks to Cassie and her Mom who pointed me in the right direction. Once I found the car with the supplies I donned my blue gloves, grabbed a clear bag for trash, and a paper bag for recyclables and headed off down the road picking up trash, cans and bottles along the way. An hour later everyone met back at the supply vehicle to sort the recyclables. After which I said thanks to all the volunteers and then headed back to my bicycle to enjoy the day, feeling grateful to all volunteers for what they do.

Special thanks to Sarah, Grant and Bill for all they do to organize the clean ups and for their dedication to keeping Nantucket clean and green! You are so very much appreciated!

See you in a few weeks.

People Matter, Things Don't - The Story of Stuff at the Nantucket Atheneum

Last night my daughter and I went to the Nantucket Atheneum to hear Annie Leonard, author of The Story of Stuff speak on every one's obsession with stuff and it's effect on us, the planet and what we can do about it.

Annie began by sharing that she took a tour of the Madaket dump that morning and was thrilled at the recycling rates on Nantucket - 92%! Kudos to Nantucket town, it's citizens and visitors for that achievement. Unfortunately, much of the USA is not doing anywhere near that well. Let's face it, most Americans generate a LOT of trash, on average, 4.5 lbs. per citizen in the US.

Annie also shared that we're going through way more resources than the Earth can provide, somewhere between 1.3 and 1.6 TIMES the Earth's resources, each year. Hardly a sustainable pace.

So what can we do about it? First, watch the Story of Stuff video. Second, choose non-toxic products from cleaning to personal care to electronics and appliances. The Good Guide is a great place to start, although not all brands are listed. Third, vow to do without that umpteenth pair of shoes or another new whatever. In other words stop buying what you already have. Next, donate what you don't need to the Hospital Thrift Shop, "Madaket Mall," FreeCycle, or wherever - pass it on to someone who needs what you no longer need.

And last but by no means least, invite a few friends over... for coffee, for appetizers, for dinner, for dessert, just because. Life is about living, and it's about people. What makes us happiest is not all the stuff, it's the connections and friendships we make and have. So call a friend and get together!
_________________________________________________

Annie was invited to speak at the Nantucket Atheneum by ReMain Nantucket. Their mission is "dedicated to strengthening the lasting economic, environmental, and social vitality of downtown Nantucket, while preserving its unique character and spirit." Thank You!

EPA bans aldicarb, toxic pesticide - better late than never

First registered in 1970 for use on cotton, Temik (also know as aldicarb) has been used on numerous crops including cotton, peanuts, potatoes, citrus crops, soy and sugarcane. Forty years later the FDA now says "aldicarb doesn't meet US food safety standards."

Thank you. But I wonder what took so long. Why? Because back in 1985, quite a few people became ill after ingesting watermelon that had been sprayed with aldicarb. Now 25 years later the EPA has decided to take action, but this will be slow too, because under the agreement with the EPA, the manufacturer Bayer CropScience won't stop manufacturing aldicarb until 2015! Although use on citrus and potatoes will end in 2011.

As always, it's buyer beware when it comes to choosing wisely for yourself and your family, especially for infants and toddlers. So what to do? Choose organic if you can. If that's not an option, buy local at your local Farmer's Market - it's the next best thing! And last but not least, refer to the Dirty Dozen list of foods that are most contaminated with pesticide residue. Also check out the Clean Fifteen list at the same link (scroll down).

It's unhealthy... the VitaminWater lawsuit

"Coca-Cola is being sued by a non-profit public interest group (The Center for Science in the Public Interest) on the grounds that the company's vitaminwater products make unwarranted health claims." Read the article here.

Duh, you think? But to me, the really BIG news is the company's official response:

"Lawyers for Coca-Cola are defending the lawsuit by asserting that "no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage."

So does that mean that The Average Joe is
A) naïve
B) an idiot, or
C) "it's okay for a corporation to lie about its products, as long as they can then turn around and claim that no one actually believes their lies?"

The name "VitaminWater" makes you think of a drink that is water with some added vitamins - the perfect ending to a good workout. It's not until you read the label that you discover that it's full of added sugar -- 30+ grams to be exact, plus 125 calories per bottle! So much for that workout.

Bottom line, read labels, and please, don't rely on a soft drink company for your vitamins or other essential nutrients.

Anyone for some filtered water?

The Story of Cosmetics... and the toxins within many of them

The Story of Cosmetics video has just been released, and it shares information on the ugly truth about cosmetics and personal care products.

Have you read the ingredient label on your favorite mascara, shampoo or deodorant? Seriously, you need a degree in chemistry to figure out just what's in there!
Now to be fair, just because an ingredient sounds scary, doesn't mean it is, but some common ingredients in personal care products ARE linked to asthma, cancer, learning disabilities and male infertility. How can this be?

And how can a product marketed with the PINK RIBBON logo to fight breast cancer, contain ingredients LINKED to breast cancer? Because nobody, not even the FDA regulates ingredients in personal care products. In fact, since 1938, the FDA has banned only eight ingredients from being in them!

The video is enlightening, and after you watch it, I encourage you to purchase products from responsible companies who market products that are truly safe, that really work and that are actually green!

Oh, and please sign the petition asking Congress to pass the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010. Isn't it time for all products to be safe?

Shopping GMO free

GMO, three little letters that truly frighten me.

They stand for Genetically Modified Organisms or more specifically, genetically modified food.

I've written before about the GMO process and I've recommended some books on the topic so that you can form your own opinion. For me, I've made up my mind that I DON"T want to feed GMOs to my family!

So just how does one avoid GMO foods. Well it's not all that easy unless you can buy everything organic, but there are steps you can take. First, whenever possible, shop local. That means shopping at your local farmers market. Not sure where to find one, visit the Consumer Supported Agriculture site.

If you can buy organic, always look for the USDA Organic label, that means it's "certified organic". If you can't buy organic, and lets face it, not everything is available as organic, the next best is to choose foods with "Non-GMO" labels. Also avoid most packaged foods which are loaded with GMO ingredients.

And last but surely not least, avoid the most common GMO foods, which are corn (including frozen and canned), soy, sugar beets (and sugar made from sugar beets), canola oil, cottonseed oil, and soybean oil. Obviously this means reading labels as many of these common GMO foods are in packaged ingredients, like those corn tortillas you bought for dinner.

Eating green, clean food takes a little effort, and yes, it does cost a bit more, but the flavor and aroma of organic and foods grown locally are so worth it!

Toxic Chemicals video from Healthy Stuff.org

Bisphenol-A in baby bottles, water bottles, and food cans.
Formaldehyde in furniture.
Phthalates in air fresheners, soft plastics, and fragrances.

According to research by the Environmental Working Group Body Burden study, these chemicals and many others can be found in babies (and adults alike). It's time industry put public health first!



And to avoid these toxins, chose truly green cleaners that are safe for you, your home AND especially your family!

The Story of Cosmetics... coming soon

I recently read that Annie Leonard, who put together "The Story of Stuff" will be doing a new video called "The Story of Cosmetics." I can't wait. Many cosmetics are loaded with some very scary ingredients...

Cleaning products and their link to asthma

The good news, biodegradable cleaners are finally "en Vogue." Everybody is going GREEN. But did you realize that many of the cleaners that you purchase in the supermarket - and some of the "biodegradable" cleaners that you buy in your local health food store release toxic fumes in your home that can adversely affect your health and the health of your family?

Sadly between 1980 and 1994 childhood asthma increased 74%. Today 1 in 13 kids has asthma. The cause(s) behind this rapid increase in asthma is probably a combination of things, but recently evidence has shown that some of the increase may be caused by early exposure to toxic chemical fumes in the home.

How can that be?

Because consumers demand cleaners that work well and are easy to use - and if no effort is required, all the better! Also because cleaning product manufacturers have been more than willing to oblige consumers by mixing numerous chemicals together in household cleaners and then putting them in convenient spray bottles. And these days with our homes well insulated against the cold, and central air running in the summer, who opens a window to vent those fumes? The result is that those toxic chemicals accumulate in the air that we breathe inside our own homes!

Over the years a number of studies have pointed to an association between toxic household fumes and childhood asthma, including one published in the European Respiratory Journal (31: 54-57, 2008) which was very large and particularly well controlled. The study measured the household chemical exposure of 7,162 pregnant women in England and looked at the incidence of asthma in their children at age 8.5 years. The household products used most frequently by the pregnant women were disinfectants (87.4%), bleach (84.8%), aerosols (71.7%), air fresheners (68%), window cleaners (60.5%), carpet cleaners (35.3%) and pesticides/insecticides (21.2%).

And the results were clear. Higher household chemical exposure during pregnancy was associated with a 41% increase in childhood asthma in children with no known allergies!

What should we learn from this? That it's not enough to select household products that are safe for the environment. We also need to choose products on the basis of their safety for us and our family - not just on the basis of cost and convenience.

For information on the toxic chemicals in common household products visit: http://www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/products.htm)

Pesticides and your food

Unless you're living miles from civilization and eating your own home-grown foods, sadly we're exposed to way more pesticides than most of us realize.

The What’s On My Food website is a fabulous searchable database that has foods from Almonds to Winter Squash -- very informative and a bit Scary!

I hope you'll check it out!

Keeping Nantucket Clean... the Nantucket Clean Team

This morning, instead of the usual walk with my dog, I headed over to The Muse on Surfside Road to volunteer with the Nantucket Clean Team. There I met Bill Connell and some of the other volunteers. Our mission that day, to clean up Surfside Rd. and beach. (Meanwhile another group was busy in town doing the same.)

After getting my instructions, I donned my blue gloves, took my paper "recycling" bag, and my plastic "trash" bag, and headed off to my assigned area, Surfside Rd. from The Muse to the high school and to "please pick up the sand chair sitting on the school lawn."

An hour later, both sides of Surfside Rd. were noticeably cleaner (if I do say so myself) as we headed back to The Muse. Next, everyone sorted their recyclables by number for easy recycling at the Madaket dump. And the mountain of trash was considerable. The Gray Lady looked great, just in time for Figawi Weekend.

Happy Memorial Day.

Spring?

Did I write that it felt like summer last week? Well early spring, with it's fickle weather is back! The last few nights I've had to bring in my annuals (I only bought a few), so they wouldn't freeze -- yes, that's right, freeze. Amazing!



In a few days we'll be shedding our long sleeves for short sleeves, and I can't wait for spring to truly arrive. I love getting out and planting annuals. They make everything look so cheerful and colorful, like nature is reawakening.

Mother's Day is swiftly approaching...

and it's time to start thinking about a little something to show Mom how special she really is.

One of my favorites is a natural perfume from Nantucket Natural Oils. They have all the ingredients that make Mom's favorite perfume smell so great, but without the alcohol. They also have an exquiste collection of hand blown perfume bottles for sale!

Another gift I love to give and receive is a luxurious organic cotton Bathrobe, shower gel and ultra-luxurious shea butter cream! Give Mom some time to take a long soak in the tub and you'll really score points!

Or you can always pick up some flowers and a gift card to their favorite store.

Whatever you do, Mom will Love it and be thankful because it came from you!

It's May 1st!

Another Earth Day/Earth month has ended, which means that Mother's Day will soon be here! But instead of feeling like spring, today it feels more like summer as the temperature is expected to hit 88 degrees F.

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, and I'd like to recognize two companies celebrating big anniversaries as well.

For 20 years, 7th Generation has been offering green cleaners. They have a complete line of ready to use Earth friendly cleaners that are available at local grocers everywhere.

Celebrating their 50th year of offering concentrated green cleaners is Shaklee Corp. Their Basic H household cleaner was first introduced way back in 1960! A few years ago they doubled the concentration and it's now known as Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate. This super-concentrated, Green Seal Certified cleaner has 1000's of uses at a very consumer friendly price!

I wish these two companies a very Happy Anniversary, and I thank them for offering products that protect my family and the Earth.

Automatic Dishwashing Detergents... Is there an Eco-Friendly choice?

Back in the early 70’s phosphates were banned from most laundry detergents due to the destructive growth of algae they encouraged in fresh water lakes and ponds. These masses of phosphate fed algae than robbed plants and animal life of oxygen.

Yet as phosphates were being phased out of laundry products, automatic dishwashing detergents were given a free pass on phosphates. Why? Because the major commercial brands felt that an effective formula could not be produced without some phosphates, especially for those that lived in areas with hard water.

OK, so you may be thinking that the little bit of phosphates in your automatic dishwashing detergent can’t possibly be that bad. Unfortunately, in can. Phosphates spur algae growth on a scale of over 100:1 in other words, for every pound of phosphates released into water, over 100 pounds of algae can grow! And neither a septic system or treatment at a sewage plant effect phosphates.

Over the years some manufacturers have managed to reduce and in some instances eliminate phosphates from their formulation. Unfortunately not all were a success for those with hard water, but I’m glad they’re at least trying.

I’m equally glad that I’ve found a brand that does a great job in my Bosch dishwasher, despite my hard water. I’ve been using Shaklee’s Dish Wash Automatic Concentrate, and I have absolutely been impressed. The formulation is phosphate free, chlorine free, biodegradable, and one tiny scoop cleans an entire load of dirty dishes – no pre-rinsing required.

But I decided a real test would be to take my “find” on the road and see how well it would clean at our vacation home, in our ancient GE dishwasher. To my surprise everything glistened there too. As the saying goes, I’m sold!

Each bag of concentrate does 48 loads of dishes, and if you have soft water, you might try less than that one tiny scoop.

GE alfalfa - should you be concerned?

Alfalfa in the USA may soon be available in a Genetically Engineered (GE) variety. Alfalfa, a grass fed to animals and humans alike. Wonder if this should concern you? Here's an easy to understand explanation on the difference between selective breeding and genetic engineering.

Some additional comments from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

I also highly recommend the book Seeds of Deception by Jeffery Smith, but before you run out and read the book, take a moment to visit The True Food Network and and send an email to the USDA. In my opinion this is one of those things where I feel we need to be extra cautious - you can't put the genie back in the bottle after it's been released...

USDA comment period ends March 3, 2010.

M.D. speaks about childhood ear infections

Thinking back to when my kids were little, I now realize just how fortunate I was. My kids were rarely ill. Not that they didn't get sick. They got the occasional cold and DS had hearing loss for close to a year due to fluid in both ears (no infection). But I didn't have to deal with one illness after another and the never ending stream of antibiotics that often follows.

I wish every parent could see this video which features an M.D. who speaks about childhood illnesses and how he was taught in medical school to treat them, and what he's since learned in his practice.



I've always been a believer in prevention... getting rid of toxins in the home, eating fresh, preferably organic foods, selectively supplementing for "insurance," getting adequate rest and exercise, and letting the body heal itself when possible. It doesn't always work, but it's a start.

Do you unknowingly have toxic products in your home?

This study may just be a wake up call...

Cancer Prevention Coalition Chairperson Samuel Epstein, M.D., and investigative journalist, David Steinman, compiled the "Dirty Dozen" from data on over 3,500 consumer products.

> Beef Frankfurters (Conventional)
> Whole Milk
> Talcum Powder (often labeled as "baby powder")
> Cover Girl Replenishing Natual Finish Make Up (Foundation)
> Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste
> Alberto VO5 Conditioner (Essence of Neutral Henna)
> Clairol Nice 'n Easy (Permanent Haircolor)
> Ajax Cleanser
> Zud Heavy Duty Cleanser
> Lysol Disinfectant Spray
> Zodiac Cat & Dog Flea Collar
> Ortho Weed-B-Gon Lawn Weed Killer (another Monsanto "winner")

Change may not be easy and getting rid of your favorite whatever may be difficult, but for your health and the health of your family and our planet, visit your local health food store and try a substitute. Heck, you may just love that new toothpaste!