Navigation

Tag Archives | health and wellness

The Truth About “BPA-free” Plastic

June 17, 2014 2

BPA

A few months ago, a good friend, fellow mom, and super responsible eco homesteader sent out an email to all the mothers in her community about a new study on BPA-free plastic. Essentially, the study has found that even plastic products claiming to be BPA-free contain traces of BPA high enough to be harmful to test subjects and, more importantly, our babies. BPA, or bisphenol A, is a plastic additive that is an endocrine disrupter mimicking the structure and function of the hormone estradiol, and exposure to it has been linked with serious health issues including cancer, accelerated puberty, inhibited neurological development, and behavioral and prostate gland issues when fetuses, infants, and children are exposed to it. Practically everyone uses plastic bottles, sippy cups, and toys, and unfortunately not even all of these products on the market advertise themselves as BPA-free. Exposure to this chemical in the early developmental years is especially harmful, making it even more important to eliminate your plastic use, especially when it comes to baby and children’s products. The following are three great ways to ditch plastic.

#1 Switch to Stainless Steel or Glass Bottles and Sippy Cups
Bottles and sippy cups are probably the number one way babies and children become exposed to BPA (and other harmful additives like phthalates and PVC) because they are literally drinking out of them and subsequently drinking traces of these chemicals that have leached into their juice, milk, or water. Fortunately there are a few great companies making stainless steel and glass alternatives. My personal favorite, which the friend I mentioned turned us on to, are Pura Kiki Stainless Steel bottles and cups. The bottles are 100% BPA, PVC, petroleum, and phthalate free, and use silicone sippers and nipples instead of plastic. Bottles become sippy cups just by substituting the nipple for a sipper. Some other great brands that are now producing kids’ products include Klean Kanteen and Lifefactory.

#2 Switch to Wood and Cloth Toys
When I began researching harmful additives in baby toys, I found a list from the Healthy Toys Project of the top ten most dangerous toys, including the “killer zerbra“. I was shocked to find two of my daughter’s favorite toys on the list–one of them at the top. Since babies put everything in their mouths, I’ve come to feel that no plastic is safe in our daughter’s toys. Of course it can feel impossible to avoid it 100% (we still have MANY plastic toys and will get rid of some as she grows out of them), but choosing solid wood toys–made with wood that is safely sourced and non-toxic–with safe, non-lead paint is a safer option. Some of my favorite wood toy brands include Haba, Hape, Boikido, and PlanToys. Under the Nile makes some very cute organic cotton toys including friendly little vegetables with faces. While I’m 100% a supporter of reducing, reusing, and recycling, when I’ve discovered that one of my daughter’s toys contains harmful toxins like lead, PVC, BPA, phthalates, or any number of toxic dyes or any of the other 66 Chemicals of High Concern to Children, I’ve thrown them out. The way I see it, if the toy isn’t safe enough for my child, it’s not safe enough for someone else’s. If you want to help provide toys for impoverished children, donate ecologically responsible, safe toys during toy drives or simply purchase some and donate them to a thrift store.

#3 Don’t Eat off of Plastic
Plastics leach their harmful chemicals continuously, especially when heated (like when you dump still-hot soup or mac and cheese into a tupperware). One of my favorite brands selling safe, non-plastic baby food storage, tableware, and cutlery is Green Sprouts by iPlay. Their collection includes bowls, spoons, plates, cups, and even toys and hygiene products made of silicone, bamboo, stainless steel, and corn starch. I have yet to find a high chair tray that is not made of plastic, but luckily most convertible high chairs these days have a removable tray and can be pushed up to the dinner table so your little one can eat with the family instead of eating off the tray. Once again, we haven’t found it possible to get rid of all the plastic eating-ware in our home, but we’re slowly replacing it at a rate we can afford.

Above all else, the most important thing is that you do your own research and stay up to date on emerging information. YOU know what’s best for you and your family, but having the latest information helps you make an informed decision, whichever way you go. Our babies are little sponges soaking up everything in their environment. Yes, wood toys, silicone eating ware, and stainless-steel baby bottles are more expensive–but so are the harmful diseases these toxins can cause. Because I am someone with an estrogen-fed, chronic condition (endometriosis) that will supposedly be passed down to my daughter, the cost of replacing the plastic in our home is worth it. I’ll do whatever I can to help her avoid developing endometriosis and the resultant infertility and chronic pain it can cause. As always my goal is to support all moms regardless of whether or not we agree. My hope is that this information will help someone else as much as it helped our family.

(Reblogged from Zero to Mom)

Eco Baby 101: 5 Steps for Greener Baby Care

June 4, 2014 1

Green-BabyBaby’s first year is the toughest phase of many parents’ lives. With all of the demands and details of new parenthood, it can be tough to make eco-consciousness a priority.  The truth is that bringing an entire new person into the world creates a huge impact on the environment—from the thousands (yes, thousands) of diapers he or she will use to the impact your child will later have on the world as an adult who makes daily choices as a consumer and community member. By incorporating environmentally friendly practices now, it will be easier to go green in the future and you’ll be setting a great example for your growing, learning child.  Not only are the following steps green, they’re healthy and safe, too! The following are five first steps to take towards greener baby care.

#1 Breastfeeding
Making the choice to breastfeed has a huge impact on the environment and your child. The American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization advocate exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life followed by continued breastfeeding to supplement solid food through 12 months. Countless studies have shown numerous immediate and long-term benefits to both mothers and babies who participate in breastfeeding including reduced incidence of postpartum depression, fewer health issues and increased immunity in babies, and a stronger attachment relationship. On top of the health benefits, it’s free! Formula can be very expensive, especially if your baby does not tolerate cow’s milk protein and needs prescription formula. Formula costs money and takes energy to manufacture, package, and transport. Additionally, most formulas are cow’s milk based so everything that goes into feeding and raising dairy cows comes into play. If your baby is like many who cannot digest cow’s milk protein during their first year of life, you may have to pay extra for special allergy-free formula. Breastfed babies stop eating when they’re full; with formula, it’s a bit harder to predict when baby has had enough, creating waste when extra formula is thrown out after each feed. If you do decide to formula feed your baby, you can make the choice greener by purchasing organic brands or making your own.

#2 Green Diapering
Considering that the average American baby will go through roughly 6,000 diapers during his first two years of life, cloth is by far the greener way to diaper! While the up-front cost is daunting, most parents who chose cloth have estimated that the diapers paid for themselves by the time their baby was eleven months old—and the investment paid higher returns if the diapers were used for multiple children.  Cloth diapering has become increasingly popular and many companies sell organic, colorful, easy-to-use sets that are either sized per age and weight or one-size-fits all. If you are one of the many parents who does not have the time nor resources for the cleanup and laundry that cloth diapering require, there may be a diaper service in your city that offers pickup, cleaning, and drop-off. If you simply can’t commit to cloth, brands like Seventh Generation sell hypoallergenic, chlorine-free, fragrance-free diapers that are easier on the environment and your baby’s bottom. When choosing wipes, a good rule of thumb is to choose fragrance-free wipes with the least number of ingredients to avoid putting unnecessary, harsh additives on your baby’s skin.

#3 Greener Bottles
Several studies have come out recently revealing that even plastic bottles, baby toys, and accessories labeled BPA-free contain BPA in traces high enough to pose a risk to your baby’s health. Fortunately, there are some great companies out there making baby bottles and sippy cups from materials like stainless steel or glass. These options do not contain the harmful PVC, phthlalates, and BPA found in most plastic products.  My personal favorite brand, which I use at home with my daughter, is Pura Kiki. They make stainless steel bottles and sippy cups with silicone nipples and spouts. The bottles are safe, easy to clean, and come in a variety of cute colors.

#4 Homemade Baby Food
While jarred baby food can come in handy when you’re on the go with baby, it is costly to the environment and your wallet overall. Jarred food has a bigger carbon footprint than homemade food because it has to be made and canned in a facility before traveling to your local grocer for you to purchase. One jar or pouch of baby food alone rarely costs more than $1.50, but once baby starts to branch out with solid food she’ll consume multiple jars a day and dozens a week—not to mention the waste that’s produced if she doesn’t finish an entire jar during its shelf life. Making your own baby food certainly takes more time than buying jars, but this time commitment can be minimized by choosing one day a week or even month to mass-produce purees. After the up-front cost of a baby food blender and freezer trays, homemade baby food is far cheaper then store-bought. A couple of organic sweet potatoes at $1.19 a pound makes dozens of single servings. Plus, when you make your own food you choose exactly what goes into it!

#5 When Safe, Choose Used
Safety regulations on baby products are constantly developing and changing as new research surfaces and manufacturers learn by trial and error what is safe and unsafe. There are items that came onto the market during our one year old daughter’s short lifetime that have already been recalled. Used baby clothes are pretty much guaranteed to be safe. While there’s nothing like seeing your baby in a brand new outfit that you picked out just for her, buying new for baby requires purchasing a new wardrobe every three months or less—plus, your baby is guaranteed to stain everything you put her in eventually. Reusing baby clothes is cheaper than buying new and many moms like knowing that cherished memories will live on through another child wearing her baby’s old clothes.

These are just a few of the many, many ways you can begin to green your baby care! What are some of your favorites?

 

Water Conservation Saves the Earth and Saves Money

May 19, 2014 0

water conservation

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: This post, Water Conservation Saves the Earth and Saves Money was written by Jenna. Jenna is a freelance writer who writing focuses on eco-lifestyle, health and wellness.

Your home is one of the first places to start conserving natural resources and reduce your carbon footprint. Making sure your home is properly insulated not only keeps you warm during the cold months, the insulation, venting and weather stripping can also reduce your energy usage during the warmer months that are popping up ahead.

While energy conservation at home is super important, another area of concern is water conservation. The truth is that there is a shortage of fresh water on this planet. In fact, including municipal water supplies, less than three percent of the water on this planet could be considered fresh. Adopting water conservation practices now will not only preserve our water supply, it can also save you money. There are several ways to conserve water around your home. The two easiest ways are to modify the appliances and equipment that use water, and to modify your behavior.

Appliance and Equipment Modification

Appliance and equipment modification usually involves making changes to your plumbing, or to the devices that use water in your home. Even if you don’t own your home, or you live in an apartment, you can still make many of these changes:

  1. Upgrade Your Toilets
    Prior to 1994, the average residential toilet used 3.5-to-5 gallons of water per flush. In 1994 all residential toilets were required to operate on 1.6 gallons or less. However, if you have an older toilet, you could still have a high-flush model. If you can’t replace the toilets, insert a displacement device into the upper tank to conserve your water use. A displacement device makes the water level appear higher than it is, similar to when you sit in a full bathtub and the water rises. Common displacement devices include bricks and water-filled plastic containers. If you want to add a bathroom to a space in your home that doesn’t have traditional plumbing – a Saniflo toilet could be the solution for you.
  2. Install Special Aerators on Your Faucets and Showerheads
    The aerator makes the water bubbly and provides good water pressure while simultaneously reducing the amount of water flowing through the faucet. So you can enjoy your shower, and actually rinse your hair, without using too much water.
  3. Install Shower Timers
    To reduce your time in the shower, and the amount of water down the drain use a timer when you jump in the shower.
  4. Check and Repair All Leaks, Especially in the Toilet
    Toilet leaks can send hundreds of gallons of water down the drain and cost you a lot of money in water and sewer fees.
  5. Invest in High-Efficiency Washing Machines and Dishwashers
    When it is time to replace the machines that you currently have choose machines are designed to clean effectively with the minimum amount of water.

Behavior Modification

Behavior modification is essentially changing the way you use water, here are 7 ways that will have you conserving water in no time:

  1. Take fewer showers during the week, if possible;
  2. Plug the bathtub drain, during your shower, and reuse the collected water to flush your toilet;
  3. Consider only flushing the toilet once a day, or when you have solid waste;
  4. Avoid running the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing dishes;
  5. If you have a dishwasher, avoid running the washer when half empty;
  6. If you have a washing machine, adjust the water level based on the size of the load;
  7. Use rainwater for gardening, washing your car, and other outdoor uses.

YOUR TURN: How are you conserving water in your home?

Green Tips: Choose an Eco Friendly Sunscreen

May 18, 2010 0

sunscreenIs using sunscreen a part of your daily beauty regimen? If not, it definitely should be, since using sunscreen is essential for a healthy body. Sunscreen reduces the risk of cell carcinoma, so adding it your daily routine is a must. It is important to stay covered up as much as possible, stay out of direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day 10am – 4pm and take the time to visit Skin Deep to get current sunscreen ratings and find a great natural sunscreen that you protect your body without harming it.

Unfortunately, the higher the SPF on traditional sunscreens, the higher amount of chemicals that it contains. Conventional sunscreens contains phthalates, diethanolamine and benzophenone oxybenzone, which are all harmful to your health. (See my complete list of personal care product ingredients to avoid here.)  Also, conventional sunscreen contaminates our water supply when we bathe and swim, therefore endangering the lives of our marine mammal friends.

YOUR TURN: Do you have a favorite natural sunscreen?  How do you protect yourself from the sun?

Newer posts