Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 22 - Happy Earth Day!

Today I'd like to recognize Shaklee Corp., a company that's been offering concentrated green cleaners for over 50 years! Their Basic H household cleaner was first introduced way back in 1960, ten years before the first Earth Day!

A few years ago Shaklee doubled the concentration of their Basic H 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, and it's been a favorite of mine for years. Even made Oprah's list of Favorite Things!

Through May 22, 2011, you can get Basic H2 and a selection of other Get Clean prodcuts at a very Special price. Called the "Special Earth Day Healthy Home Kit" it includes Basic H2 (16 oz), Two Spray Bottles, Get Clean Super Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, Get Clean Dish Wash Liquid Concentrate, Get Clean Fresh Laundry Concentrate (32 oz), and Shaklee Energy™.

On this, the 41st Earth Day, I thank Shaklee for offering products that protect my family and the Earth... and I thank them for the special too!

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

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