Safe Cosmetics

One of my readers asked about safe cosmetics.  I did a post on this subject a while ago, but I am reblogging it because it’s such an important topic.  According to the Environmental Working Group,  on average American women use 12 products a day and men average 6 products daily, which means an adult is likely to be exposed daily to 126 unique chemical ingredients in personal care products alone.

Personal care army (Photo credit: A30_Tsitika)

We might not realize that the make up we put on our faces or the hair and body products, sunscreens, and nail polish we use on a daily basis have a host of dangerous chemicals and allergens like mercury, lead, parabans, pthalates, and others. Watch out for products with fragrances. There are no regulations on ingredients and there are usually dozens of synthetic compounds.  I always wonder why American cosmetic companies sell the same products in Europe without the chemical additives! Well, the European Union strictly regulates the extremely hazardous chemicals found in everyday products in the United States and has banned about 1,100 chemicals, while the FDA has banned only ten!  Of the more than 10,000 chemical ingredients in personal care products, 89 percent have not undergone safety testing, according to the Environmental Working Group.  If you read about what these additives do to our bodies, especially young, developing bodies, you would only use organic personal care products!  It’s scary….

The average woman “eats” more than 6 pounds of lipstick over a lifetime, just one of many cosmetics used.  Fortunately finding safer products is getting easier. Whole Foods Markets and independent natural food stores have several lines of organic skin care products that are safe to use, like Dr. Hauschka, Mychelle, Badger, Burt’s Bees.  Some products are “cleaner” than others, so make sure to always read the label and be wary of names too long to pronounce.  A knowledgeable sales person will be able to help you find the safest products.

Organic cosmetics and personal care products are not only better for your health, but better for the earth too!  When discarding them, fewer chemicals will go down the drain or in the trash, seeping into our water supply and landfills.  Many watch dog groups like the Environmental Working Group and the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow are forcing pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies to eliminate these harmful chemicals.  To rate the toxicity of your personal care products, visit www.safecosmetics.or, which does an online safety assessment of 75,223 products.

Information from ewg.org and ecosalon.com.  

Let me know if you have certain topics you want me to write about.  I’m happy to do so! 

 

Food, Glorious Food!

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” ― Hippocrates

Unfortunately the typical American diet – factory farmed meats, saturated fats, too much sugar, processed foods, hidden GMOs, artificial preservatives and pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables – is hardly thy medicine.  An organic, whole foods diet however, can be.  Below are two common and often interrelated conditions, which with the right foods can be helped.

Insomnia:

“They” say that sleep is the new water; experts are talking about the negative effects on our bodies from lack of sleep and are recommending we get 7 – 8 hours of sleep every night for optimal health.  Many Americans are chronically sleep deprived however.  Consuming the right food is part of the answer. Eating a small snack – not a heavy meal – at least an hour before bedtime can help you fall asleep.  Tryptophan and carbohydrates, often found in comfort foods, maximize the release of serotonin, the feel good hormone, which helps you sleep.  Foods containing these two things are sleep inducing.  For example, bananas contain tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin, the hormone that controls the sleep and wake cycles; oatmeal is a complex carbohydrate; yogurt, warm milk, and other dairy products contain tryptophan; humus, turkey (You know how tired you feel after Thanksgiving dinner!) nuts and seeds, honey, and eggs also contain tryptophan. Try it and see if it works – don’t you like having permission for (a not too) late night snack?

Main health effects of sleep deprivation (See Wikipedia:Sleep deprivation). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Stress:

In today’s complex, fast-faced, high-tech, and often-uncertain world, we all fall prey to stress from time to time.  A certain amount of adrenalin and cortisol, the stress hormones, are motivating, but too much is a problem and actually can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and even cancer.  Avoiding or minimizing your intake of certain foods like caffeine, alcohol and sugar, which produce highs and lows, is key.  Incorporating foods high in folic acid, B vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, anti-oxidants and omega 3 into your diet on regular basis will stabilize your mood and fight free radicals associated with stress.  Good examples are asparagus, blueberries, avocados, oranges, papayas, red peppers, cottage cheese, milk, almonds, salmon, spinach, whole grain cereals and breads, and black tea.  Crunching raw vegetables is not only nutritious, but helps release your clenched jaw and curb tension.  Of course alleviating stress also helps with sleep.

Another benefit of healthy eating?  The same foods prevent and treat a variety of ailments, as well as ward off premature aging.  It’s kind of like one stop shopping.  Now that’s a powerful medicine!

Information compiled from: http://www.webmd.com/, www.oprah.com/oprahradio, www.thedailymeal.com, http://www.sheknows.com/

 

Choose a Green Spa!

Do you yearn for a break from the routine? Feeling tired, stressed and overworked? Need a little pampering? Is you skin in need of extra care after the summer sun?  Relaxation and rejuvenation at a spa might be just what you need, but before you book your next massage or facial, check to see if your spa is eco-friendly with sound green practices.   Relaxing in a heavily chlorinated hot tub or jacuzzi or getting a facial with synthetically derived products containing known carcinogens is not my idea of rejuvenation!

What makes a spa green?  Several things…

• Green spa massage oils and facial products use high quality, natural ingredients without toxins like parabens or lauryl sulfates. They are gentler on your skin and help ensure long-term health and beauty.
• Green spa interiors are decorated with green products like bamboo, non-toxic paint and flooring that won’t off gas chemicals.
• Green spa robes, sheets and towels are made from natural fiber like organic cotton, bamboo or silk, grown and manufactured without the use of toxic chemicals and under environmentally friendly conditions.
• If water or food is served, the water is filtered and the food locally sourced or organic.  Reusable or compostable plates, cups and flatware are also used.
• Air filters rid the air of allergens and pollutants and plants are around to add natural beauty and help clean the air.
• There are no chemical scents from cleaning or laundry products – environmentally friendly products scented with essential oils are used instead.
• Green spas employ efficient water use, waste prevention and reduction, and recycling programs.  Low flow toilets are part of the program.
• Green spas offer a balanced and relaxing experience considering the rhythms of nature and the body.

Sound more appealing? Go to http://greenspanetwork.org to find a green day spa or resort near you.  For you readers in the Boston area, I highly recommend trying GOHSPA (green.organic.holistic spa), a vegan spa opening soon in Woburn, MA.  I’ve known the owner for years and used to get her fabulous organic facials.  The list of gluten-free certified services is both extensive and novel including holistic facials, organic massage, organic nail services, hair removal with paraffin alternatives, alternative health care like Tui Na and tuning forks, kid spa treatments and more!

Information compiled from www.greenspanetwork.org and spas.about.com/od/stressmanagement/a/green.htm

How Safe Are Baby Wipes?

I was recently chatting with one of my readers who mentioned that both her daughter and her daughter’s baby had painful eczema, especially on her fingers and the baby’s bottom; she wondered if the baby wipes had anything to do with it.  I remembered that I had terrible bouts of eczema on my fingers when I had babies and ended up making my own wipes because of it.

Most baby wipes contain a common preservative known as Bronopol, or 2-BROMO-2-NITROPROPANE-1,3-DIOL, which according to the Environmental Working Group has the highest hazard score possible and is a known human immune system, lung and skin toxicant.  It is listed by the European Union as a toxin affecting wildlife and the environment.  Bronopol is used in baby wipes in place of alcohol and other preservatives and because it is a highly effective antimicrobial ingredient.   Wipes can also contain phthalates (a group of synthetic chemicals that act as a softening agent but are also known endocrine disruptors) and other skin irritating chemicals.  While eczema can be hereditary, people with it usually find that chemical irritants can trigger an outbreak.

Whether you and your baby have eczema or not, I recommend erring on the side of caution (small, developing bodies are more susceptible to the dangers of toxins than adult bodies) and encourage you to buy one of the purer, alcohol and fragrance-free brands like Seventh Generation or Tushies, make your own, or try the “waterfall” method recommended by a French pediatrician in Manhattan. He encourages new moms to set up a changing station near the kitchen sink and hold the baby under the faucet to clean them.  It cleans better than wipes and cuts down on diaper rash.

For those of you who want to save money and have the time to make your own baby wipes solution, I have listed a basic recipe below.  You can also find many recipes using a variety of essential oils or specific anti-fungal recipes on-line.

The Environmental Working Group site offers baby product suggestions, including shampoo, soap, wipes and diaper cream that are safer alternatives to conventional brands loaded with toxic chemicals. Go to http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide.

Basic Wipes Recipe

• 2 tablespoons chemical-free baby shampoo or wash
• 2 tablespoons oil (almond, olive, or jojoba)
• 2-4 cups hot water
• 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel

Shake will in a jar or mix with whisk and then pour over wipes (soft wash cloths, tee-shirt or cotton squares) quickly before oil begins to separate.

Information compiled from www.ewg.org/news/safe-alternatives-baby-lotions-and-wipes, http://www.mysensitiveskincare.com, and www.diaperjungle.com.

 

Dispose of Unused Medications Properly

Various pills (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of my readers asked me about the proper disposal of unused or expired medications.  Great question!

There are two main reasons proper disposal is so important.  One, you don’t want children, teenagers, pets or others to get their hands on unused prescriptions or over the counter medications which can be harmful to their health or even deadly. Secondly, if medication is poured down the drain, flushed in the toilet, or simply thrown away, it will filter into the groundwater and end up in lakes and streams.  Though the effects on marine life, aquatic life and human life are unknown, it has opened the door for much-needed study.  According to disposemymeds.org, “A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.”

The best way to dispose of unused medications is to take them to community sponsored “Take Back” days or hazardous waste collection days.  The Drug Enforcement Administration along with state and local law enforcement agencies sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Days throughout the country.  According to the FDA, over 1.5 million pounds of medication have been removed from circulation since the program started.

Many police stations have a receptacle where you can take unused medications on an ongoing basis. You can also ask your pharmacy or doctor’s office; some have receptacles for disposal.  Check the disposemymeds.org search option to find a pharmacy with a take back program near you.

If absolutely no take back program is available in your area and no instructions for proper disposal are on the label, do not flush them down the toilet.  Instead throw them away using the following guidelines.

• Take them out of their containers and mix them with coffee grounds or kitty litter to make them less appealing to children, pets or someone who may be going through trash.
• Put them in a sealable bag to prevent leakage or breakage in the trash.
• Mark out all personal information on the container before recycling.

To avoid having to dispose of unused medications, get just what you need rather than a long-term supply;  medications and prescriptions often change.  The above tips apply to pet medications too!

Information compiled from www.fda.gov/drugs, http://www.medicinenet.com, and www.Disposemymeds.org.

 

 

 

Important Books and Documentaries about Healthy Eating

I love food – fresh, healthy food!  But understanding what’s healthy and safe is getting increasingly difficult. Food poisoning and food contamination are too common.  Do you buy organic?  Local? All natural? Sustainably grown? Free range?  Grass fed?  Lowfat?   Whoa……….

Fish is loaded with heart, brain, and skin-healthy omega 3.  But not all fish.  Many types are also contaminated with mercury, overfished, or farmed, which has its problems.  Chicken is a healthy, lean protein, but not if it’s injected with growth hormones and antibiotics and raised in filthy, inhumane environments. Soy is an excellent source of plant protein, but along with corn, a major GMO (genetically modified organisms) crop. GMO crops are linked to allergies and many other health issues, and what’s worse they aren’t labeled.  (There is a bill before Congress now requiring GMO foods to be labeled.)

It’s ironic that berries are a powerhouse of cancer-fighting anti-oxidants, but one of the most heavily sprayed crops with cancer-causing pesticides.  Apples are considered a super food, but they are #1 on the list of the most heavily sprayed crops.  Additionally, it seems like everyday we get conflicting advice about what is good for you and what isn’t.

It’s all too complicated.  There are several eye-opening books and documentaries however, that help make the issue of food more understandable.  Here are some of the most important.

Books

Michael Pollan is the expert about sensible, ethical eating and has written several fascinating books on the subject.  His book The Omnivore’s Dilemma is a must read;  Food Rules is a short manual of simple food rules.  One example, don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.

Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation is the intriguing history of the fast food movement and how it has changed our diet, culture, economy and health!

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, a history making bestseller published in 1962, launched the modern environmental movement.

Documentaries

Food, Inc., an astonishing, if not frightening film about what’s wrong in America’s industrialized food system.

Super Size Me: A fit man embarks on a 30-day challenge to eat only McDonald’s fast food.

Forks Over Knives investigates the lifestyle diseases that can be controlled or reversed by avoiding meat and processed food.  You’ll never eat meat again!

The Future of Food: A look into genetically modified food (GMOs) and the destructive path of the Monsanto Corporation.

Get informed – the future of our food supply depends on it!

Email me with questions…..

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fast Food Nation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Edible Landscaping

The local and organic food movement is a good one, ensuring a tastier, more nutritious and safer food supply, while reducing carbon emissions with food grown closer to home. Many people are growing some of their own food, going beyond the typical vegetable and herb garden to edible landscaping.

What is edible landscaping?  According to virginiaberryfarm.com, “edible landscaping replaces plants that are merely ornamental with food producing plants, allowing you to create a multi-functional landscape providing returns (fruits, berries, etc.) on your investment of water, fertilizer, and time”.  In today’s world where food safety is a growing concern and food prices escalate with the price of fuel, it makes good sense. Food also tastes better and has more nutrients immediately after it is harvested; produce trucked from long distances loses much of its nutritional value and doesn’t last as long.  Working in the garden and connecting with the soil is good for the body and soul, with nothing more gratifying than picking your own food for dinner.

We have good soil in New England and can grow a diverse crop right in our own backyard as hedges, ground covers, patio plantings, ornamental trees and on trellises.  Popular ornamental trees, pear, plum, and late producing apple like granny smith and golden delicious, are good choices, which don’t require much pest control.

High bush blueberries, as well as blackberries and raspberries, make excellent deciduous hedges or interspersed in an existing hedge.  They have lovely spring flowers and beautiful fall color. Native low bush blueberries and strawberries spread by their roots and can be used as a ground cover.  Both are drought-resistant and trouble-free.  Blueberries are an important part of a healthy diet, loaded with anti-oxidants and considered one of the “power foods”, but typically heavily sprayed with pesticides.  (Check out the dirty dozen list of fruits and vegetables.)  Rather than pay the price for expensive organic ones, grow your own.  Who can resist the taste of a freshly picked berry?

First blueberries of the season. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Grapes are ideal trellis plants providing beautiful shade and fresh healthy clusters for picking.

I can’t think of any reason not to plant an edible landscape, wherever you live! Be patient though. It takes a few years for your plants to produce - it works on root development for the first couple of years. Remember this gardening saying:  “The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, the third year it leaps”.  Happy planting!

One caveat:  birds and other animals sometimes get to the fruit before you do.  Email me for suggestions on how to control this problem, or just enjoy feeding nature’s creatures.

Some information compiled from virginiaberryfarm.com.

 

GMO Foods

 ”If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.”                                                   Michael Pollan

The health risks posed by GMO (genetically modified organisms) are real and dangerous.

I urge you to read more about GMO foods to understand why they are so dangerous.  Go to nongmoshopping guide for a comprehensive explanation of GMOs, as well as tips on how to avoid GMO foods when shopping or dining out.   In general, it’s safest to buy organic and certified organic foods which are less likely to contain GMOs.   Avoid at-risk ingredients like soybeans, canola, cottonseed, corn and sugar from sugar beets found in processed foods.  Always read food labels.

Download the free Non-GMO Shopping Guide app available at the app store for smartphones and Ipads to help you with your safer food choices.

To read a more detailed post on GMO foods, click here.

OVERUSE OF PRESCRIPTION PILLS

Medicine Drug Pills on Plate (Photo credit: epSos.de)

Most of us probably know someone whose life is negatively affected by the overuse of prescription drugs.  Take a moment to look at this important and powerful graphic.  It’s time to get real about the misuse of pills.

BE HEALTHY!

Image via Wikipedia

I’m a firm believer in learning from other people’s expertise, experiences, wisdom and even well founded opinions.  This weekend I attended Be Healthy Boston, a 2-day urban wellness retreat with keynote sessions and workshops.   It was fabulous! Renowned doctors, naturopaths, nutritionists, physical therapists, psychologists, architects, designers, chefs, musicians, yoga instructors and green living experts, shared their knowledge with eager people who wanted a healthier lifestyle. I’d like to share some of this knowledge with you.

One main message was empowerment.  The resources to manage your own health and well-being are plentiful – we are lucky in the Boston area to have access to so many health care professionals of all levels – and there is no lack of information on the Internet.

One session that I especially enjoyed was “Food as Medicine” given by Dr. Mark Mincolla, a nutritional and natural health therapist who has transformed the lives of thousands of patients over the past 30 years.  He spoke extensively about inflammation, the root of many diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, allergies, autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and others, and how we can control chronic inflammation through diet, exercise and stress reduction.   Dr. Mincolla suggests trying an anti-inflammatory diet for three weeks (give yourself a break on the weekends if it seems impossible) just to see if you feel any difference, which consists of:  fatty fish like salmon, vegetables, fruits, legumes, brown rice (whole grains), olive oil, soy, tofu, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and yeast-free bread.  Eliminate inflammatory foods such as dairy, wheat, egg yolks, fatty red meats, sugar and alcohol. The anti-inflammatory foods, high in Omega-3 essential fatty acids, are an extremely important part of disease prevention and overall health. I urge you to read more about inflammation or visit his website maxhealing.com to better understand the inflammation/disease connection.  Check out his NECN program called “You Are What You Eat”.

I have long been an advocate of prevention and maintaining a healthy immune system through diet, especially in this time of virulent and unusual germs and viruses.  It’s exciting the medical community, the media and programs such as Be Healthy Boston focus on taking charge of your own life and embracing wellness.  As Dr. Mincolla says, “the best medicine is the medicine you will never need to take.”

An irony of all ironies – I picked up a flu bug from the Be Healthy Boston retreat!  Life is funny….

Some information compile from “Food is Medicine” by Dr. Mark Mincolla.