Clorox Deserves A Spanking!

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Photo by Alessandro Perilli

OMG! Have you seen the new Clorox bleach commercial? Count yourself lucky if you haven’t. Their new slogan is ” useful in many ways” and suggests using bleach to clean out baby bottles!! WTF! Baby bottles? As I listened and watched with shock I could not believe they actually depicted a person rinsing out a baby bottle that contained a solution of bleach and putting onto the drying rack.

What I can’t stop thinking about is the possible residue that could potentially get left behind if not rinsed completely. The commercial suggests to use a tbsp. of bleach in a gallon of water- soak baby bottles for 2 minutes and then allow to dry. Where’s the final rinse???   What an unsafe scenario.   Bleach in your precious newborn baby’s mouth? I think not!

There’s actually two versions of the commercial. One that just suggests using it by giving the ingredient recipe and the other touts their new slogan while mentioning other “useful” ways to use it.  Clorox must be feeling the green shift! They figure us mom’s are an easy target since we’re the ones who reach into our wallets. Not this mom, thank you very much!

How does a company stoop so low? I mean think about it,  do you really need bleach to clean out a baby bottle? Last I checked,  boiling baby bottles in hot water kills germs. I even know moms that use a crockpot to sterlize their baby bottles and don’t use an ounce of bleach. I mean c’mon Clorox! We now you’re product is a posion. I’m pretty sure you’re one of the reason’s we have  posion control centers; in case accidents happen- because afterall toddlers are curious.I’m completely disgusted that Clorox bleach is advocating the use of bleach in an infant product- especially one that happens to be their main source nutrition. Let’s discuss the dangers of bleach- shall we:

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Back On Track: Placenta Power!

Hola! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter. Tristan had a blast hunting for eggs this year. It will be so neat to watch them both one day. On Saturday, we visited my grandparents. My grandma is in a private hospital facility receiving therapy for her back injury.. She broke her back twice (lower and upper) in 2 months time. She’s doing well actually and was in good spirits. We ate lunch together and it turned out to be a lovely visit. I also brought home freshly picked lemons from their backyard. Oh boy!! We made lemonade and oatmeal cranberry chocolate chip cookies for Easter.

BTW- Clark is named after my Grandpa: Joseph Clark

I’m doing my best to get back on track. What a great 10 or so days it’s been. It’s gone by FAST. I think I’m at the point where it feels manageable. Even though, I know there WILL BE phases and transitions ahead.  So far, Clark has been a good sleeper and eater. He observes and tracks objects when he’s awake. He’s even cracked a few smiles for us. He’s stretching out and learning about the new world around him daily. I’m suprised at how well he’s adapted to our routine. I’ve been co-sleeping with him from the start and can’t believe how easy it makes our lives. He sleeps in his moses basket for the first couple hours of the evening then I take him into bed with me. The four of us rest easy together.

We have an Arms Reach co-sleeper we used with Tristan and it’s set up so that I can eventually place him in there. For now, I’m just enjoying this soft, sweet, precious time. I just gaze at him endlessly and try to bottle up his smell and photograph the cute little faces he makes into my brain.

It’s amazing what having a baby will do to you- emotionally, physically and mentally…the sweet joys of new life – I’m loven’ it! I feel like it’s brought a balance to our family dynamics.

Anyway, with all the hormones engaging in my body from pregnancy to birth and beyond…

I chose to dehydrate my placenta! I did this with Tristan’s placenta. I feel like many the benefits you receive from ingesting the placenta are completely worth the cost. It’s a bit pricey. I felt like my energy was restored and overall I was always in a great mood.

Some people are a little grossed out on the idea of it.

I say- Waste Not, Want Not- Why not!!!!!! It goes right down my throat and I don’t taste a thing. Hey, they’re worse things that can be ingested – at least this one provides health benefits unlike your typical McDonald’s hamburger…now that’s gross in my opinion!

I digress.

I’m fortunate enough that my midwife has done this process for years now which allows me to have such a wonderful opportunity! I received it a few days after birth. I take 1 pill 3x a day – I store the jar in the freezer. My placenta made 280 pills…my midwife said it was the biggest placenta she’s dehydrated!

Placenta has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. It is considered one of the most powerful qi tonics and nourishes the medians of the lungs, liver, and kidney’s during pregnancy. Especially helpful postpartum due to the added stresses placed on the kidneys during pregnancy.

Benefits: (For recovery postpartum) energy levels are up, feelings of strength and overall well being, strengthened immune system, restored sex drive, increased milk supply, emotional balancing, restores hemoglobin levels back to normal.

Would you ingest your placenta for it’s great benefits?

LunchBots: A Non Toxic, Healthier Alternative

Packing a lunch without using plastic can be a challenging. With all the Ziploc baggies and plastic containers out there makes it hard to avoid. Packing a healthy lunch is one thing but having to worry about packing a plastic and waste free lunch is where it can get difficult.

Look no further…LunchBots are here to the rescue! 100% stainless steel and non toxic lunch containers.

LunchBots was created by a mom who couldn’t find any non-plastic containers to use and no longer wanted to worry about which plastics are safe. Sound familiar?

Jacqueline Linder of LunchBots began the company with the idea that we could eliminate the use of Ziploc bags and other plastic containers that are harmful to the environment. Plus, she wanted them to be unique and have a great design so kids AND parents would love them. Read more

Be Green & Drink It Too: Wheatgrass

It took me awhile before I became used to the idea of taking wheatgrass juice. In realizing the benefits of wheatgrass it was something I didn’t want to miss out on. Wheatgrass shots at your local health food store can be very pricey. So, last spring we started to grow our own wheatgrass for it’s health benefits. When I was pregnant with my first I took wheatgrass shots about once a week to boost the Vitamin K in my system so that we could opt out of our son receiving the Vitamin K shot after birth (unless he had bruising of course).Be sure to consult your midwife or physician if your are pregnant or nursing before consuming wheatgrass. In any case, we set up a seed starter tray with soil and planted wheatgrass.

Growing wheatgrass, otherwise known as, “Liquid Sunshine” is very easy to do. Wheatgrass grows quickly. It only takes 3-5 days to emerge in soil 1/8 of inch deep. You can grow it all year round but the preferred temps for wheatgrass to grow is between 50-80 degrees. In warmer climates where I live it will grow too fast and turn yellow quickly and wilt. Therefore, wheatgrass is great to grow in a window box which is what we did after a few attempts in high heat. Wheatgrass is a uniform green foliage that it gives off a beautiful look when planted into a small pot. It’s vibrant green color looks just as good in a tray.

To start, soak organic wheatgrass seeds for approximately 8 hrs. before planting in moist soil. Place tray in indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight will dry the soil out and inhibit growth. A sprouting container works just as well as the tray method and may even be easier.  Once the wheatgrass is about about 7-8 inches tall it’s ready to harvest.  Cut wheatgrass using kitchen scissors about a 1/2 -1 inch from the soil surface.  Beware of mold. If mold occurs cut way above the mold. Make sure to rinse the wheatgrass before juicing. Typically, wheatgrass is only harvested once after the first cutting. It will grow back but does not contain the same amount of nutrients.

Wheatgrass provides energy and drinking about six ounces of it supplies the daily vitamin and mineral needs of an adult. It’s packed with chlorophll and all sorts of energizing vitamins, such as, most all of the B vitamins. A teaspoon of wheat grass contains around 15mg of Calcium, 8mcg Iodine, 3.5mcg Selenium, 870mcg Iron, 62mcg Zinc, and plenty of other minerals. The chlorophyll content is 70%. It’s also filled with enzymes to help rid your body of toxins. It is recommended that you start with drinking one ounce a day then work you way up to 2 ounces after a few weeks.

Wheatgrass must be juiced in order to digest. The strong fibers of the grass are not digestable to humans unless juiced. Excess wheatgrass can be kept in an airtight container in fridge for a few days. It’s a simple cycle once you get the hang of growing your wheatgrass. You’ll begin to familiarize yourself with how much juice a tray or sprouting jar yields. The cycle will help keep a daily supply available.

Wheatgrass is known to have healing powers. I recommend The Wheatgrass Book by Ann Wigmore which highlights the benefits of wheatgrass and how to grow it. The book also has recipes  to incorporate it ( a great alternative should you not like the taste) and even mentions composting the wheatgrass mats! Growing your own organic wheatgrass in these times, is the most economical way of obtaining a regular intake of this super green goodness!

** Originally posted at Eco Child’s Play

National Vegetarian Week

Did you know that Methane gas is 24 times more potent than CO2 emissions (greenhouse gas)?!!?

According to the EPA, the world’s livestock are responsible for 25 percent of the world’s anthropogenic methane emissions (those that are human based)

This week is National Vegetarian Week- May 19- 25th! National Vegetarian Week is the annual awareness-raising campaign promoting inspirational vegetarian food and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle. Celebrated by The Vegetarian Society since 1992, the week is now an established event and everyone from big corporations to primary schools, small community groups to members of the public are welcome to join. The above facts, definitely, make me reconsider my position as a meat eater! I have to admit that I don’t usually eat red meat but I do have the occassional steak every now and then. If I’m going to eat beef it’s usually in the form of tacos or meatloaf! I was once a vegetarian and had no problem substituting- using soy, black beans, lentils or tvp (textured vegetable protein) for tacos or meatloaf. To be honest, I’m not sure why I switched. We practice going meatless! Often times, I’ll cook plenty of meals without meat.  When you think of the environmental effects that raising cattle has on the planet…it’s hard to rationalize why they’re so good for you.

After reading the book The Food Revolution- How YOUR DIET Can Help Save Your Life and THE WORLD by John Robbins I was entirely convinced that we’re raising cattle for all the wrong reasons AND that a plant based diet is certainly more earth friendly! All I can say is that I highly recommend this read for anyone thinking about becoming a vegetarian or for a vegetarian who would like to know more. Robbins breaks down how meat eating contributes to the water, food, environmental and health crisis. You’ll learn a lot about animal cruelty and will also gain insight on the “you are what you eat” theory. Not only does Robbins go into great detail about a plant based diet but he also describes the importance of this place called home, Earth!

I would just like to shoot out a few more facts that I learned from the book and from the www.goveg.com

Nearly half the water consumed in this country is used for livestock;

In the U.S. animals are fed more than 70 percent of wheat, corn, and other grains we grow;

Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters. Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than vegans.

The consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products has also been strongly linked to osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, asthma, and male impotence. Scientists have also found that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than their meat-eating friends; this means that they are less susceptible to everyday illnesses like the flu. Vegetarians and vegans live, on average, six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters. A plant-based diet is the best diet for kids, too: Studies have shown that vegetarian kids grow taller and have higher IQs than their classmates, and they are at a reduced risk for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other diseases in the long run.  Studies have shown that even older people who switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet can prevent and even reverse many chronic ailments.

And, if you’re so inclined watch this video- Chew on This for a real eye opener-(discretion advised) go to www.meat.org

When you consider all the facts it’s really HARD to rationalize why we eat meat. Especially, with the hunger crisis, global warming and all the health issues related to eating meat. With all of this information starring at me… I decided to take the Veg pledge for 30 days- Fine by me, not sure sure what the Hubby will think! He’s usually pretty supportive…but LOVES his steak…mmrr, mmrr…

Now I turn the tables…  I challenge YOU- Why not take the VEG PLEDGE and pledge to be vegetarian for 30 days- I DID!!! 30 days too long?- How about for a week? Or one night a week- however, you choose- know that when you’re not eating meat you’re saving the planet! It’s up to us.  :) Order your FREE vegetarian starter kit, today! Have a Johnny Rocket’s in your area…(what a tease!)…they’re celebrating World Vegetarian Week by offering the Streamliner, Boca burger for FREE!! It’s only for a week…so head over to goveg.com and print out your coupon!!

Here’s a Meatless Monday recipe, to help kick start Veggie Week!

Eggplant Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 small eggplant, halved and sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (6 inch) French sandwich rolls
• 1 small tomato, sliced
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven’s broiler. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil, and place them on a baking sheet or broiling pan. Place the pan about 6 inches from the heat source. Cook under the broiler for 10 minutes, or until tender and toasted.

2. Split the French rolls lengthwise, and toast. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the mayo and garlic. Spread this mixture on the toasted bread. Fill the rolls wih eggplant slices, tomato, feta cheese and basil leaves (eggplant can be substituted with portobella mushrooms and you can also do this recipe capri style with mozarella instead of Feta!)

To celebrate NVW- I will post a meatless recipe each time I blog this week.

Don’t forget to get your copy of TreeHugger’s Ready, Set Green… on sale in stores- MAY 20, 2008!