Exit for Non Toxic Highway, On Back!
February 9, 2010 by La Mama Naturale'
Filed under all natural, eco-friendly, green, non toxic
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Photo credit: Jeff Keen via flickr
Yesterday, I didn’t have the time to elaborate in yesterday’s post… but the message in A Wake Up Story really hits home, doesn’t it? Just last week, I was feeling discouraged about all the toxic chemicals us moms have to worry about. A friend and I were talking about toxic chemicals (more of a rant) and I was giving her a toxic 411 lesson on all the yucky chemicals. Both she and I have tried to eliminate product containing harmful chemicals but every time we turn around; we learn about another pesky and toxic chemical to lookout for. I’m so sick of having to flipping items around to look for harmful ingredients. These companies are poisoning us AND as long as we continue to support them with our hard earned cash they won’t stop!
It’s not an easy task (nor easy being green, for that matter!) but avoiding products that don’t contain nasty chemicals is important for the sake of our lives and the planet.
The simplest item such as toothpaste can contain numerous chemicals that are known to cause cancer (found this out the other night when trying to make a decision on which one to buy; basically, it was which one is least harmful). Does this mean I need to start making my own toothpaste too? In my opinion, hell yes it does! Plus, Tom’s of Maine isn’t cheap and it STILL has propylene glycol in it! ARGH! An organic version (Jason Organics) is $8 bucks and I’m not going to spend a pretty penny on toothpaste, thank you very much (or any other overpriced “natural” product). Not right now, anyway.
Everything and it seems like everything sold in stores is bad for you. It’s impossible to avoid all of it the chemicals whether in our homes, outside, or at the movies! What we can do as consumers and as FRIENDS is make a difference.
Tell all your friends as the Healthy Child Healthy World video implies and help spread the word! Secondly, stop buying the product and try to find an alternative. Finally, start writing to the companies and DEMAND change. This could seriously devote ones time since there are so many companies out there who are polluting the planet and our bodies (toxins + plastic). As a consumer we need to start standing up for what’s right- not wrong! The FDA (Food and Drug Adminstration) does not require premarket health or safety studies or testing on products that hit store shelves which means were the guinea pigs who suffer!
What To Look For
(derived from better nutrition magazine)
Phthalates: found in synthetic fragrances, are endocrine disruptors that have been linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity. If it contains the word FRAGRANCE- stay away!
Propylene glycol: found in tortillas, lotions & potions, deodorant, many snack foods, etc., is linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, immunotoxicity, and skin and eye irritation. Also listed as 1,2-dihydroxypropane; 2-hydroxypropanol; methylethyl glycol; 1,2-propanediol; or propane- ,2-diol.
Parabens: used as preservatives in a wide variety of body care products. Also linked to cancer and developmental and reproductive damage. AKA 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, benzoic acid, p-salicyclic acid or zoic acid.
Mineral Oil: Petroleum based, linked to cancer and can be listed as paraffin.
Sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate: used as a foaming or sudsing agent – found in bubble baths and body washes, shampoos and hand washes. It can cause organ toxicity and irritation of the skin, eyes and hair. May be listed as PEG 1-4 or lauryl ether sulfate, sodium slat, polyethylene glycol (1-4)
Oxybenzone: widely used in sunscreens and other skin care products with SPF protection, is linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive damage and cell damage. AKA benzophenone-3, 2-benzoyl-5-methoxyphenol, phenylmethanone and other names.
Familiarizing yourself with these chemicals is your exit sign for the non toxic highway!
Resources
I’m always checking out these helpful sites for the latest information! I know I’ve mentioned it before but if you’re curious to know what’s in your products be sure to check out the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database. Be sure to also check out their chemical index!
Beware!
Just because a product advertises “all natural” or “organic” doesn’t always mean that it’s non toxic! Reading labels is a huge preventive measure when it comes to buying products that may contain harmful ingredients.
Have you recently switched out a product because it contained unsafe chemicals?
Please, share your thoughts!
Is Your Purse Toxic?
January 29, 2010 by La Mama Naturale'
Filed under eco-friendly, green, non toxic
Happy Friday!!
Yes, that’s my purse above and yes, is your purse toxic?
Your favorite accessory may be toxic and should know why!
In about a minute’s time, my friend Jennifer Taggart, The Smart Mama, will tell you what to watch out for.
I couldn’t get the video to come up but you can view here!
Jennifer recently wrote the book Smart Mama’s Green Guide: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Child’s Toxic Chemical Exposure.
In her book she provides great tips and tricks to help kick those pesky toxins to the curb & live easily without them!
Her website is also filled with tons of information on her latest investigations concerning toxic products on the market and the 411 on toxic chemicals.
So, back to the question, is your purse toxic?
(In case you were wondering, my purse is made from hemp and the other two accessories are made of cotton.) 
P.S. Thank you, Lisa for tipping me off about this ! 
Fake Plastic Fish
January 9, 2010 by La Mama Naturale'
Filed under eco-friendly, green, non toxic
Interesting visual isn’t it? Fake. Plastic. Fish. In our bathtubs??? A toy? Ocean?
If you haven’t yet heard those three words… then listen up!
Beth Terry is a woman whom I consider a pioneer in the quest to rid her life from pesky plastic. She runs the site Fake Plastic Fish-Living with Less Plastic.
That’s right, PLASTIC! The unbiodegradable material that is ruining the environment, our oceans & wildlife.
Beth has gone above and beyond to prove we can live and enjoy life without plastic.
Just watch… you’ll be inspired & motivated! I promise!
All I have to say is Beth YOU ARE THE WOMAN!
a recycled post, gearing up for 2010, & homemade recipes!
December 27, 2009 by La Mama Naturale'
Filed under all natural, eco-friendly, green, non toxic, organic
Hiya RYD readers!! How are ya? Hope you had a wonderful holiday.
Here’s a post I wrote about last year… if you need any ideas for what to do with your X-Mas cards!
I’ve been looking at last year’s Green Vision’s and thinking about what some will be in 2010…
My vision board is a work in progress as I find pictures and words to summarize my goals and future!
Lately, I’ve been doing my best to meditate and visual what it is I truly want and what makes me happy. I also focus some time on my boys’ and our future together as unschooler’s. It’s going to be a great journey. I can only hope we make it the greatest experience.
{Anywho}
I mentioned in an earlier post; I was going to make homemade gifts/goods for Christmas and that’s exactly what I did. ( I didn’t get any pictures of the green cleaning supplies; but I promise I made them.) I bought 2 new squirt bottles and reused and old one. I filled them up with…
1/2 cup of vinegar
1/4 cup of baking soda
10-20 drops of peppermint essential oil
put contents into a glass pitcher and add 1/2 gallon (2 liters) H20!
That’s it! You’re ready to go clean as it is an all purpose solution!
I put the squirt bottles in a reused gift bag along with a sample of Dr. Bronner’s Almond scented soap, a glass mason jar filled with baking soda and a coconut scrub brush. The Dr. Bronner’s and baking soda make a good soft scrub in case you didn’t know. Something I’ve been doing for years. I HEART Dr. Bronner’s soap. I highly recommend buying some- you can even find it at Target. A little goes a long way… it’s an all purpose soap. It’s amazing. 2 squirts to 2 gallons… is the recipe on their bottle.
Since my bro didn’t get any Dr. Bronner’s soap; I reused a baking soda can added in more baking soda, put in about 10-20 drops of Tangerine essential oil and sealed it with it’s lid. Poked holes in the top- voila’ it’s an instant carpet deodorizer! He’s always complaining about smells in his house… he’s a bachelor with roommates… so you know what I mean. LOL!
I also made a salt scrub for a close friend of the family. She loved the one I made for her on Mother’s Day so I decided to whip up a winter batch she would like!
Here’s what I did…
Bath Salt Scrub
1 cup of sea salt – fine works best… if you have course you can blend it down into fine using your blender or food processor.
1 cup of epsom salts
1/2 -3/4’s of oat powder (oats put into the blender and pulverized)
20 drops of essential oil of your choice … I chose peppermint for the holidays!
1/3 cup of organic EVOO
Stir all ingredients in a stainless steel or glass bowl for 2min’s or more then put into a glass mason jar! Or whatever dish suits your fancy.
For mother’s day I added in a lot more EVOO… you can do more or less depending on how slick you like to feel when you get out of the shower.
Enjoy!
P.S.
I will attempt to post a Meatless Monday recipe today! We’ll see…
Homemade Underarm Goodness
December 7, 2009 by La Mama Naturale'
Filed under Uncategorized, all natural, non toxic
I highly recommend making your own deodorant- it will be gratifying.
It has been a goal of mine to stop buying mainstream deodorants for AWHILE now. In case you didn’t know, deodorant’s on the market today are known to be harmful and cause certain cancers due to the toxic ingredients being used to make them. (Ugh!)
After learning about chemical exposure from deodorants (what isn’t toxic anymore) I turned to natural alternatives such as, Tom’s of Maine, Alba, Miessence etc. I’ve pretty much tried them all but those name brands are just a few that kept creeping back onto my dresser.
Eventually, I found that Miessence worked the best and had ZERO toxic exposure. It’s my favorite alternative, for sure. My least favorite part though is having to order it and pay extra for shipping.
Granted, the product is outstanding but my pocketbook is not! I have yet to find any place in my town to carry the Miessence line (but even then $$). I thought what would my grandparents have done?
