10 Ways to Create a Healthy & Eco-Friendly Nursery

 Posted by
Apr 172013
 
how to create a healthy and eco-friendly nurseryThe Nursery.

This is probably the one topic of this pregnancy that I have driven my hubby the most nuts over. The majority of the last part of this pregnancy I have spent in a mild panic about all the possible toxins that are present in baby supplies.

We all want the best for our babies, so how do we best provide that without going overboard?

It all started when I got a lot of toys for my baby at numerous showers and I learned how much lead can be in the toys made outside of the US (a good majority of toys that are made in China that are sold at stores like Target and Walmart). I wanted to test all of them for lead, throw away all the stuffed animals due to them being treated with flame retardants, and it went on and on.

I am really not all about being eco-friendly for saving the planet. Not that I don’t care, but my hubby still goes behind me all over the house turning off lights, etc. I am all about being eco-friendly to keep as many toxins out of my life as possible for health reasons. The more I looked into creating my baby’s first home, the more I read about all the hidden dangers and toxins hiding everywhere.

How could I create a toxin-free (or minimized) zone while staying within our small budget?

I had to take a deep breath and remind myself that I can’t protect my baby from every little toxin. However, I can focus on the most important areas to choose healthier alternatives.

Each little swap means a little healthier environment to bring baby home to.

So, the following points are what I came up with for my “as healthy as I can get it on my tiny budget”.

Paint

In researching paint that would be healthy for me to use while pregnant and for bringing baby home to, I wanted no-VOC, but due to living in a small town, I had to settle for low-VOC. VOC, or volatile organic compounds have been shown to cause cancer, damage to kidneys, liver, and central nervous system as well as cause headaches, eye irritation, difficulty breathing and many more adverse health effects. So, after my midwife approved, we painted the nursery a few months in advance of baby’s arrival so it has time to air out. We were sure to keep the windows open as much as we could so it had time to “off-gas”.

Floors

We didn’t have the budget to replace floors and I particularly like having carpet in the bedrooms. If you are replacing the floors, choose an eco-friendly carpet choice that will not have the VOCs and other chemicals that will release toxins into the nursery’s air. It would be better to put in eco-friendly floor choices such as sustainable wood, bamboo, cork, etc. Also, be sure to stay away from vinyl which may cause cancer, endocrine disruption, birth defects, child development issues, neurological damage, etc.

Because we were sticking with carpet and it can harbor all sorts of nasties, I used a HEPA vacuum a few dozen times and sprinkled baking soda before vacuuming to get rid of odors. We borrowed a steam carpet cleaner from a friend. If you do get your carpets shampooed, be wary of commercial products because they contain all sorts of not-so-baby friendly ingredients.

What we found that worked well was using ½ c. of distilled white vinegar with a gallon of hot water. Worked like a charm! It’s also a great way to disinfect the carpets. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, it disappears when dry.

Crib

If you have the money for a solid wood crib, choose one that hasn’t been treated with toxic finishes or paints. Otherwise, the majority of cribs out there are pressed wood. Make sure formaldehyde hasn’t been used (found in the glue) and give it plenty of time before baby’s arrival to off-gas. To me, it was more important to spend more on a healthy mattress because baby is closer to it and breathes in any off-gassing from the mattress more than the crib.

Another way to lower crib toxins you bring into your nursery is to buy a crib 2nd hand (just make sure it meets current safety regulations).

Mattress

This was more important to me because of the amount of time babies spend sleeping and breathing in any off-gassing from the mattress. Here you will want to avoid flame retardants, polyurethane foam filling (contains the nasty formaldehyde and tolune), PVC/vinyl and phthalates that can be in the covers (linked with asthma, cancer, and reproductive issues). On our budget, we couldn’t spend the $500+ on an organic crib mattress. There are some cheaper than that in regular stores but are not completely toxic-free. So I checked what materials to avoid and found one that met Green Guard standards.

Green Guard certified means the product was evaluated to meet certain health standards in regards to eco-friendliness and low off-gassing. So, if you can’t afford organic, choose products that have the Green Guard certification.

Bedding

Cotton is the most heavily sprayed crop. The fertilizers and pesticides used for growing cotton shows up even one made into linens. These linens are also often treated with nasty flame retardants. Choose organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, or wool for baby linen as much as you can. On our limited budget, I chose to focus on the linen and mattress cover as being 100% organic cotton without toxic ingredients. Although the mattress was Green Guard certified and the low level of off-gassing diminishes the risk of SIDS, I still chose an organic protective cover (I am a huge fan of Naturepedic) to block allergens and any other possible off-gassing or nasty ingredients. Fitted crib sheets are also important to buy organic.

Pack n’ Play

Everyone I have talked to loves their pack n’ plays for their babies. Again, due to the limited budget, we bought a popular brand’s pack n’ play. Because we have a split floor plan, we wanted to use it as a bassinet. The pads in these pack n’ plays, as you probably guessed it, do contain some not-so-baby friendly materials. So, I am using 100% organic fitted sheets.

The company Naturepedic will make custom organic protective covers (that actually fits my budget) which will help lower the off-gassing my baby will have to breathe in at night. Finally, I set up the pack n’ play months before baby’s arrival to give it plenty of time to off-gas.

Blankets and Clothing

With all the showers that we had, it was impossible to go completely organic. I had so many people make baby quilts and receiving blankets (I feel I could provide for an army of babies) that I just washed them well with toxic-free laundry detergent. Clothing was the same. However, if it was made outside of the US and had a painted graphic on it (instead of embroidered) I tried to return them.

Most paint, if the baby item was made in Asia, contains lead. I am purchasing organic for all sleepers, plain onesies, swaddlers (whatever he will have next to his skin the majority of the time). I will use the outfits he received for when we go out and about, etc.

Our skin is our largest organ and it is very good at absorbing whatever we put on it. This is why I have chosen to go organic with the majority of what we put next to baby. Their bodies are not as efficient as ours to detoxifying all these chemicals we bombard them with on a daily basis which brings me to my next area of going as eco-friendly/healthy as I can.

Bath Products/Lotions/Laundry Detergent

The skin is very good at absorbing whatever we put on it. Don’t be gullible to that “baby smell” lotions, etc. because they are really just full of artificial chemicals that are not healthy for your baby’s skin at all. Many of these have shown to cause cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities, endocrine disruption, etc. Some ingredients to watch out for are petroleum, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, and Polyethylene Glycol (foaming agents that also cause kidney, neurological, and respiratory issues). Did you know bubble bath contains formaldehyde and 1, 4-dioxane? Steer clear!

Diapers

This was an area I was going back and forth about. Cloth diapers are just not practical for our lifestyle. Disposable diapers contain some ingredients I am not crazy about having right up next to baby’s skin all day long. There are a lot of hybrid options out there that have some great reviews, however, because I will be working full time, disposable just are what work best for us.

I highly recommend choosing the healthier disposable option if you choose that route. Look especially for gel-free and chlorine-free diapers if nothing else. If you don’t mind ordering online and getting monthly shipments, the best eco-friendly/healthy disposable diaper I have found is from the Honest Company.

For diapers sold in stores, I like seventh generation the best.
Conventional diapers contain dioxins (EPA lists as one of the most toxic chemicals known to science and can cause cancer and issues to the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems), tributyl-tin (endocrine disruption), and sodium polycarbonate (the gel in the diapers that can cause skin irritation and respiratory issues; was removed from tampons because of toxic shock syndrome).

I recommend doing some research about what toxic ingredients to avoid in disposable diapers and make a decision that is best for your family and budget.

Toys

There are a lot of toxins that are still found in baby toys. Did you know that toys manufactured outside the US can contain lead and still be sold in our stores? Products made in the US are required to be lead free.

The majority of bath toys contain PVC (which I covered earlier in this post). All those rubber duckes and squishy plastic toys? Yep, PVC. When it comes to bath toys, stick to bowls, spoons, etc. that are PVC free. Look for #3 on the bottom which would be a healthier plastic. Skip the inflatables which can contain lead or phthalates (endocrine disruptor). Lego, Gerber, and Little Tikes have cut these nasties out of their products.

Stuffed animals contain flame retardants and foam that off-gas. I recommend purchasing 1 or 2 made of organic cotton, hemp, or wool that your child can use to cuddle and sleep with.

When it comes to toys, many companies are coming out with eco-friendly, toxic-free options. Remember, less is more! You will save money and cut down on clutter. Look for untreated wood toys or toys stuffed with organic cotton, hemp, or bamboo.

Choose higher quality and lower quantity of toys for your child. You will find kids are perfectly happy playing with bowls, spoons, pots, pans, etc. and leave the heaps of fancy toys untouched. Choose what will work best for your family.

The key with creating a healthy nursery is to pick what is important to you.

In this day and age it is virtually impossible to avoid all chemicals, but we can greatly decrease our baby’s exposure to a quite a few toxins.

Remember, products that your parents used on you are not necessarily the same formulations that make up those products today. Do your research.
I have to keep reminding myself that each small swap I make will help baby be a little healthier. I can’t be perfect, but every little bit helps!

How did you choose what to buy for your baby’s nursery? What was the most important to you? Leave a comment below…

 

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Combating Nutritional Illiteracy Part 3: Majority of American’s Diet is Junk!

 Posted by
Nov 092010
 

As a part of this ongoing series regarding how to combat health and nutritional illiteracy in America, it is important to realize that the diet of 90% of Americans is based on junk! It’s true!

If you missed part 1 (Health Illiteracy in America) or part 2 (10 Ways to Start being Healthy), go back and check those out now before you take on this nutritional blog post!

With projections showing that 75% of the U.S. population will be overweight by 2020, it is time right now to take our health more seriously!

There is so much information out there about what is healthy and what we should be eating. The guidelines that are currently out there pretty much say, “eat more of everything”! Now how does that help our society when we are really suffering from eating too much?

These guidelines worked back in the 1930s when people really were not eating enough food. Now they say eat more meat, dairy, and grains because those are the industries that put their money into the government so the government will do pretty much under the radar advertising.

These guidelines do nothing for the current state of our country’s health.

What is really going on here in 2010 is that people are eating way more calories but these calories have zero nutritional value. Sure the advertisements out there all say ‘with iron’ or ‘calcium-fortified’.

All this means is that the companies add calcium into what otherwise is nutritionally junk food and this does not make this food suddenly healthy.

What we really need is truthful health and nutrition information so we can make healthier food choices without all the distractions that advertisers love!

So, today I am first going to cover what this junk diet mainly consists of and then go into what a healthy diet looks like.

Junk Diet

  • Lots of dead and processed foods
  • Not many fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Not much water
  • Lots of sugary drinks and soda beverages
  • Lots of processed sugar
  • Lots of processed carbohydrates
  • Lots of processed dairy
  • Lots of chemical food additives such as MSG and aspartame
  • Lots of BPA in plastics and epoxy resins that leads to hormonal imbalances etc.
  • Lots of pesticide-contaminated foods
  • Lots of unhealthy oils such as corn, soy, and partially hydrogenated oils
  • Lots of fried food or food cooked at high temperatures that decrease the nutritional value and increase the amount of carcinogens
  • Lots of animal products

So, does that list look familiar? How close are you to it? 

Healthy Diet:

  • Lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds
  • Not many animal products or used more as a topping
  • Lots of variety of fresh, whole foods
  • Not much of processed sugars, flour, wheat
  • Not much of GMO or pesticide contaminated products
  • Not many processed foods with lots of chemical food additives
  • Lots and Lots of superfoods and food-based vitamins
  • How does that compare to what you’ve always been taught and what your current healthstyle is? I bet it is completely different, right? I know I had a mighty wakeup call when I first started researching nutrition.

What would this mean for your health?

It is all about taking on step at a time! What can you start doing today to help improve your health?

If you are at a loss, how about starting with adding a LIQUID multivitamin to your daily routine? I emphasis liquid vitamin because it is closer to eating whole foods the way your body can easily absorb its nutrients.

A pill has tons of fillers and additives. With a pill, you can’t get all the nutrients absorbed by your body because of the inability of your body to completely absorb the pill.

Take inventory of your current diet. Are you promoting health or disease?

 

Apple Pickin’ Time is Tickin’

 Posted by
Oct 062010
 

I love the fall season! That crisp morning air that you wake up to just makes things feel so fresh!

My favorite thing about the fall season is that it is apple picking time!

There are so many different types of apples! It is estimated that there are over 2500 different types that are grown in the US and apples are grown in every state! This means there are tons to choose from and there is most likely an apple orchard near you to get in on this awesome healthy annual tradition!

What are the health benefits of apples?

  • They are high in antioxidants which helps protect against many different diseases such as cancer!
  • A full cup of cut up apples is only 84 calories! What a way to cut calories and not be hungry!
  • They have zero fat, cholesterol, and sodium!
  • They many help kids with asthma have less issues with wheezing.
  • They may help keep bones strong and protect against alzheimers!

My apple picking experience:

When I was growing up, apple picking was a great activity that I enjoyed in the fall season. My family would pile into the van and drive the half hour up the mountain to where the closest apple orchard was.

I remember thinking how much fun it was to grab one of my favorite fruits right off the tree and learn where food actually comes from!

As you can probably tell from my blog, I have developed a great passion for helping people learn to make healthier choices with a focus on getting back to the basics of where our food comes from.

Apple picking is a great activity for your family. Teach your kids where there food actually comes from (and that isn’t the grocery store) and give them some awesome childhood memories of family activities!

Don’t let your kids in on this: by taking them to farms and participating in picking food, you are giving your kids a taste for healthful eating habits that will follow them into adulthood! Start your kids early on the healthy path!

I hadn’t been apple picking in many years but have wanted to go every fall. This year, I made the request to my husband, and we piled into our little car and made the half hour trip across the Mississippi River into Illinois to a huge apple orchard (it did make me miss my California mountains) to create memories of our own.

When we arrived at the orchard, we hopped a ride on a tractor trailer up to where the apples were ripe. It is so much fun just walking in between the rows of apple trees and taking in the beauty of fruit hanging on the tree and the ability to walk right up, pick an apple, and eat it. (apples were all you can eat for FREE!)

This is the way food should be: in its natural state, manually picking it at its peak ripeness and nutrient quality, and none of that wax stuff they use to make the apples in the grocery store so shiny!

So after filling up on apples, and figuring out which type of apples we wanted to take home, we started the hunt for the “perfect” apples. We ended up with a little golden delicious and a little red delicious (I mean, there are only 2 of us). We then walked over to the pumpkin patch and proceeded to find the perfect little round pumpkins. Did I mention I love fall?

We then hopped back on the tractor trailer and made it back to the beginning with great fresh and nutrient dense apples and a great afternoon of apple picking memories! Afterwards, my husband (he had never been apple picking before) asked if we can come back next week. He actually had a lot of fun!

Many apple orchards also have lots of family related activities for kids. There is just so much fun and excitement going on with a little bit of food education for your kids that your family will find a new fall annual tradition!

So what are some tips for great apple picking?

  • Ask the farmer which apples are ripe because they determine it by number of days since the tree flowered.
  • Choose fruit that is firm and free from bruises.
  • Apples range with so many different colors that the best way to determine if an apple is ripe by how crisp and firm it is.
  • There are so many different uses for apples from eating them fresh or baking, cooking, or storing them that its important to determine which apples will work best for your purpose!
  • There are so many different varieties to choose from so taste test! This is a great time to figure out your favorite without having to pay the grocery store price.
  • Most important: have fun!

Have you ever gone apple picking with your family? What are some other fall traditions your family has? Leave me a comment below and let me know! Don’t forget to share the  love by sharing this post with your friends!

To your health journey success,
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P.S. If you are ready to learn more about how to create a life of health and wellness, join me by Clicking Here! Find and connect with me on my Facebook fan page and on Twitter!

Get Healthy Recipe: Crazy Banana Berry Green Smoothie

 Posted by
Oct 012010
 

Welcome to another friday recipe! Can you believe it is already October? Just because fall is here does not mean you have to give up great tasting fruits! Frozen berries can be great in smoothies!

This week I am so excited to bring you my very first friday recipe that is on video! I decided to demonstrate the recipe this week because I love the Crazy Banana Berry Green Smoothie! It is so hard to get more fruits and vegetables a lot of times, especially for your kids.

This smoothie is a great power start breakfast or snack and is packed full of vitamins and minerals that will help you increase your energy and overall feel great!

Check out the Crazy Banana Berry Green Smoothie in this recipe video:

So, what do you think about this nutrient rich smoothie? Did you know green smoothies could be so cool and great tasting? You are now on your way to a healthier YOU!

If you missed the recipe on the video this is what it consisted of:

1 banana, 1/2 c. of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, 1 c. of blueberries, a handful of spinach, and water as needed. Hope you enjoy this recipe!

Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think of this recipe and my first recipe on video! Do you have any ideas for changing up this smoothie recipe? What are some things you love in smoothies? Don’t forget to share the love by sharing this video with your friends on twitter and facebook by clicking below!

Please VOTE for my Smoothie Video for the NaturalNews.tv recipe contest!!!! http://bit.ly/c3fkR5

 

New Research Study: Our Kids Health on the Line?

 Posted by
Jul 032010
 

A new study released by Kaiser Permanente sought to determine the prevalence of extreme obesity among our children. This is the first study that has looked at the issues among extreme obese children.

 The study had a sample of kids between the ages of 2 and 19 years of age. The results of this study showed that 7.3% of boys and 5.5% of girls are categorized as extremely obese. This percentage was higher among the Hispanic and African American population and slightly lower among the Asian-Pacific and White Americans.

 To put this into perspective, the population of children in 2006 in the United States was 73 million kids so,  5.1 million children in the US are extremely obese.

 This means that 5.1 million children are set up to have huge health issues and a shorter lifespan compared to their healthy counterparts. This study showed that children that are extremely obese have a 10 to 20 year decrease for their life expectancy!

It also showed that there is a great increase in health issues that used to be seen only in the 50s or 60s that are now present in 20 year olds. These health issues include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, a join issues to name a few.

 We are setting our kids up for failure! Health initiatives need to be taken in order to give these kids a chance! They are young and have their whole lives ahead of them. By allowing them to partake in unhealthy behaviors, we as adults are failing them! We are shortening their lives and decreasing their overall quality of life. They are becoming sicker and are not able to experience everything like other children.

 So what should we do as adults and parents to help our children out? We need to set an example with our own health. We should replace unhealthy eating habits with lots of nutritious alternatives that will give them the vital nutrients that will help prevent disease and extend their lives.

We also need to promote physical activity whether it’s encouraging playing on the playground, playing sports, or just playing outside. It is vital we teach them on healthy eating and activity habits to give them the best chance for the life they deserve.

 Now, it’s not just the extremely obese children that have issues. The percentage of children who are merely overweight is increasing dramatically. Even if you think your kids are just a little chubby and it’s cute, make sure you have their best interest at heart. Teach them the healthy habits. Give your kids the life they deserve! This research study also showed that 37% of children are overweight, 20% are obese, and 6% overall are extremely obese. Just 10 years ago, the percentage of obese children was less than 5%! What are we doing to our kids?

Get in gear parents and other adults and help our children regain their health and prevent disease in order that they may grow up and reach their full potential. It’s up to you! Help our kids!