Green Eggs & Ham (aka Green Eating)

So instead of writing about more ecofriendly cosmetics next, I figured I'd take my first trip into the land of more ecofriendly eating habits and share what I know and have learned so far. This has been a more challenging area for me to fully commit to and even though a lot of fellow 'greenies' tend to recommend this as one of the first things to do when becoming more earth-conscious, it's definitely been a struggle for me. On the good side, there's a whole spectrum of choices you can make to green your eating habits and even the smallest of steps is a big step in the right direction.

The steps basically result in smaller carbon foot prints or lower chemical impact. What's so bad about the chemicals you ask? Well, the chemicals can have an affect on the environment in many ways as we hear about every day on the news. In addition to that though, chemicals even in small doses have been found to cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood development. So now we all know why this has become increasingly important to me.

• Eat more locally produced/grown and in season foods -Depending on where you live, this could be extremely easy or somewhat challenging. Even if you live in a less temperate area, there is still probably at least a short growing season. Eating foods that are grown locally and in season is very earth friendly. It saves foods from otherwise having to be packaged, preserved, and shipped all across the world. This means a much smaller carbon footprint and very likely that the foods have much fewer chemicals on the food that could leach into the environment or into your body. This includes fruits, veggies, and meats.
  
  Not only is this better for the environment, but it could also save you some money. These foods and you'll likely find that these foods taste better. These are likely the same foods you'll see on weekly special in the produce section of your grocery store during the growing season. In many areas of the US this includes squashes, green beans, tomatoes, corn, peppers, strawberries, apples, okra, eggplant and other similar produce items during the summer and parts of the fall. Because these products are in abundance during their in season time, they'll be on sale and will likely taste the freshest. With the increased popularity of farmers markets and CSAs you can likely find a farm in your area where you can support your local economy and likely find farmers that practice sustainable farming practices that results in better standards for the environment and better tasting food. I'll talk more about CSAs at another point, but these are definitely a great option to look into.


• Organic Foods - Organic foods have specific standards and practices that must be followed for items to be classified as organic. These products are grown sustainably and don't have harmful pesticides and chemicals on them. They also are not genetically modified and if you ever had produce straight from a garden and remember the taste of it, you'll likely recognize organic produce as having that familiar very wonderful and aromatic taste that a lot of your regular veggies don't have. With that said, many times you'll find that organic veggies and fruits are more expensive than your conventional produce. This is because the organic certification costs farmers money to obtain and the sustainable and ecofriendly processes they follow tend to be more costly to maintain.
  
  With that said, there are two options I'd recommend following if you are like me and don't have an unlimited food shopping budget. Consider locally grown produce and talk to the farmers. Many of them grow their products using organic methods, but haven't obtained certification due to the cost of doing so. Therefore you are getting local, organic products (which is essentially the best of both worlds for you and our environment) without the higher cost associated with it.
  
  If you aren't fortunate enough to have local farms near you or their hours of operation don't match up with your schedule, consider buying organic produce for only the top 'dirty dozen' products first and the clean 15 last. See http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php for a handy wallet guide you can print out.
  
  Basically, the top most pesticide ridden products (meaning the most chemicals are used during the growing process and/or the chemicals are absorbed more into the produce) are in order: 1) Peaches 2) Apples 3) Bell Peppers 4) Celery 5) Nectarine 6) Strawberries 7) Cherries 8) Kale 9) Lettuce 10) Imported Grapes 11) Carrots 12) Pears. So if you enjoy these foods, buy these in organic as your first step towards eating Green. Also consider growing these yourself if you can in a sustainable manner. I started growing strawberries last year and I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful they tasted - they actually tasted like I remember strawberries from my childhood garden tasting and I remembered why I enjoyed them so much. I also want to grow my own apples and peaches, but for now I've been buying them from a local farm that practices sustainable growing methods. If you grow them yourself or talk to the farmers who do grow them, you can know exactly what pesticides and chemicals are on your products.
  
  The top 15 clean products (meaning that fewer chemicals are used and the chemicals leach into them the least during the growing process) that you should switch to organic last are in order: 1) Onion 2) Avocado 3) Sweet Corn 4) Pineapple 5) Mango 6) Asparagus 7) Sweet Peas 8) Kiwi 9) Cabbage 10) Eggplant 11) Papaya 12) Watermelon 13) Broccoli 14) Tomato and 15) Sweet Potato.
  
• Eat less processed food. When grocery shopping, this means staying on the perimeters of the store. When you look at boxed and packaged goods, the more items you can't pronounce the worse it is for you typically. I was amazed to find out the canned goods I'd been eating for so long were actually not very good for me. The cans are lined with BPA - yep the same stuff that was in the plastic scares - to prevent rusting. Plus most of them have a lot of salt and other chemicals in them. Simply switching to frozen or glass jarred versions of your canned goods is a great way to eat better for yourself and your family.
  
  This one is a more difficult one for me because while I can easily make some of the boxed goods without processed materials (such as home made mac n cheese) it's way more convenient and quicker to fix from a box. Especially after working 8-10 hour days and when you aren't feeling good (like being 9 months pregnant for instance) fixing something a box is much easier and can be much cheaper than shredding cheese, boiling pasta, making sauce, etc. So do what you can here, but keep in mind it's better for you and your family to avoid these foods as much as possible.

So that's my advice for taking the first few steps towards eating healthier. If you are lucky, you'll have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near you so you can buy more ecofriendly and healthy versions of these foods without having to worry much. Unfortunately for me, I don't have any very close by, so I'm frequently left having to make the best choices with the resources I have.

As I learn more and have more time, I'll go more in depth into other options you can take as you evolve further into your new found green and crunchy lifestyle.

~Amber

Green Dishwashing Update

So ironically, as a follow up to my post the other day, a fellow Green blogger posted the following the other day regarding a new dishwasher detergent that apparently works miracles:
http://theecofriendlyfamily.blogspot.com/2010/02/dishwasher-leaving-you-cloudy.html

She's also doing a give away as part of this. I'm so hoping to win a sample myself so I can give this product a try and see for myself, but I'm encouraging you to give it a shot as well.

Good luck & happy Green washing!

Green Beauty

So I thought as my next topic, I'd discuss a topic that's dear to me that I'm still learning more about and evolving as I go. Eco-friendly cosmetics and personal care products are an area where I think we would all benefit by switching to some healthier products for us.

First off, here are some of the common 'bad' ingredients found in your every day cosmetics:

• Parabens - These are the second most common ingredients in skin care products, second only to water. It is used as an inexpensive preservative even though they may cause skin rashes and other allergic reactions. Besides those side effects, parabens have been shown in studies to possess mild estrogen-like qualities. Parabens have been linked to human breast cancer tumors, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, and are found to possess estrogen-like qualities which mimic female hormones. They are found in baby preparation products, cleansers, deodorants, eye-products, lotions and moisturizers, make up, nail products, hair products, and sunscreens. The good news is that there is a gradual phase out of these preservatives starting to occur in the natural skin care industry. While preservatives are essential, there are alternatives that are all natural and nontoxic that are out there that work just as well.
• Phthalates - Used as solvents in many cosmetics, they are also used as plastic softeners in many different consumer products (sure you want this on your face and intimate areas?). They are found in hair sprays, deodorants, nail polishes, and perfumes. Phthalates can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled and have been shown to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive systems in studies. They've been linked with reproductive issues and high phthalate levels in mother's bodies have been linked to developmental abnormalities in male infants. They were banned in European products in 2003, but have yet to be banned in the US or Canada.

Lots of fun right? Well, the solution isn't as easy as seeking out products labeled natural or organic. If a product claims it's "All Natural" or "100% Natural" it may not be. Look for information of the perfect of natural ingredients. Also, make sure you read the labels and look for some of the unhealthy ingredients I've listed here. Of course there are others out there, but I could dedicate an entire wikipedia site to listing all the harmful chemicals out there, but these give you some top offenders most commonly found.

So if you are scared out of your mind or even mildly intrigued at this point, what can you do you might ask? Well, again we are lucky that there are quite a few companies out there that have dedicated themselves to making more natural and chemical free options for educated consumers out there. Here are a few of the ones I've tried and had good experiences with. There are definitely many others out there. Feel free to check out http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ for a nice rating of cosmetics.

Burt's Bees - They've become my 'go to' eco-friendly personal products company. I like them because they have clear, easy to read labels and do not include any of these chemicals I've mentioned. Plus, they don't test on animals which is awesome. However, many folks take offense to the fact that Clorox now owns them. I'm fine with them as long as they continue to stay true to their roots and we don't see these bad chemicals start creeping in - so continue looking at these labels. My favorite products of theirs are the baby products, shampoo and conditioner, chap sticks, and milk and honey lotion. I've heard mixed reviews of their facial care products - I liked them upon first using them, but to me they leave a little residue or at least the feeling of residue and it seemed to increase break outs on my skin. So I'm addicted to their pomegranate shampoos and conditions, pomegranate chap stick, and milk and honey lotion, but I've moved on to another set of facial lotion and cleansers. These are easy and convenient to find at your local Target or you can order them straight from the site - http://www.burtsbees.com/

Kiss My Face - Recommended by a vegan friend, I finally found a sampler set of face lotion and cleansers at Target. It has a nice, natural smell and made my skin feel so wonderful. I've only been using it for around two weeks, but I love how it makes my skin feel so far. I also tried some of the Kiss My Face bar soap which smelled nice as well. They also have other cosmetics, but I haven't made more dents into their product lines as Target doesn't have too many of their products yet. Looking into trying more. http://www.kissmyface.com/

Gudonya Too - This is a shop on Etsy that sells all natural cosmetic products. I tried her shampoo and conditioner and while I found it absolutely delicious smelling, it didn't work well on my hair type. I've seen a ton of people rave her products though, which is why I opted to include her shop here. She also has bar soap, shave bars, shaving cream, deodorant, and more. www.etsy.com/shop/gudonyatoo

Tom's of Maine - Lots of people like their products. I tried the toothpaste and wasn't really impressed, but then again it was during the morning sickness period of my pregnancy, so I probably should try it again. They also have deodorant, mouthwash, floss, and soap. http://www.tomsofmaine.com/

A few other brands I've heard good things about are Aveda, Rejuva, and the Sephora all natural line. Just remember when looking for these products to check the labels!

~Amber

Green Washing (aka Green Cleaning)

So as I made the decision in my life to become more green/eco-friendly, one of the first areas I sought to improve was cleaning. As I learned more about some of the harsh or strange chemicals that were in the cleaners we were using every day and what they were doing to our bodies or the environment, I thought this was a good area to improve upon in my life.

I do have to admit, there are some so-called "green" cleaners out there that while better than most of the stuff on the Wal-mart shelf, still aren't in any way shape or form good for the environment. It's kind of a slippery slope that doesn't seem to be all that highly regulated yet, but then again, what areas of commerce really are now a days?

So what are the chemicals commonly found in every day cleaners that concerned me you ask? I'd classify them into two groups: those that harm your body and those that harm the environment. I'm sure there could be blogs out there solely dedicated to describing all the bad chemicals out there and what they can do, so I'll just list a few that were my top concerns:

SLS and SLES - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products. They are essentially added as surfactants, which for those of us who don't know what that means are the things that make the cleaners sudsy and foam up - a sign many people look to an interpret to mean that the cleaners are actually working. Doesn't sound too bad yet right? Well, SLS is an irritant. Many people are actually allergic to it and this allergic reaction or irritation can present itself in many ways even as concentrations as low as 0.5%. Some of these 'irritations' include eye irritation, scalp irritation, tangled hair, swollen body parts, rashes, and puffiness. I remember reading on someones blog that their husband was losing his hair and switched to an SLS free shampoo only to find that his hair grew back - the SLS actually had caused his hair to fall out! SLES is considered the more dangerous of the two though. It cannot be metabolised by the live and therefore its effect are much longer-lasting. Some studies seem to indicate that this can lead to cancer since SLES is commonly contaminated with dioxane, a known carcinogen. So why are these chemicals in cleaners and other products you ask if them cause so much damage? Well, the answer is simple economics - it's cheap and works well at dissolving oils. Here's a good site to read more: http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.html

Phosphates: Phosphates are another comment chemical found in cleaning products, especially dish detergents and laundry detergents. While phosphates are a naturally occurring substance, we've found that if too much of it gets into waterways, algae and other organisms feed on it and reproduce in massive numbers, causing algal blooms. Think red tides or cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae that can even kill humans if ingested in large amounts. These algae blooms block out sunlight and as a result kill off other species in the water.

Anti-bacterial Products - So many products out there are anti-bacterial now a days: Hand soap, detergents, wipes, tissues, etc. Sounds great right amidst the H1N1 scare this year and flu season? Especially as a mom-to-be, I thought I was doing a good thing by using my Lysol wipes and anti-bacterial soap. Then, the more thought you put into it you realize - I grew up in the 80's - we didn't have anti-bacterial anything and we were fine and healthy. Plus, there are lots and lots of 'good' bacteria out there that we need in order to digest food and survive. If we are using a ton of anti-bacterial products, how are these 'good' bacteria supposed to survive and help us? Then, think of septic systems which require bacteria to function properly. I learned that by using these anti-bacterial products, I was actually probably doing more damage than good. I was killing the 'good' bacteria in my septic system, killing the 'good' bacteria around the house that my family needs exposure to, and by killing or weakening the 'bad' bacteria, I was potentially creating a breeding ground for stronger, more resistant bacteria to develop. Hmmm, not sounding so great anymore huh?

So what does this mean for those of us out there who want clean homes? So what to do? We still need to do laundry and wash dishes and we don't want to be sick all the time. Well, depending on the type of person you are, you have a couple choices. You can decide to make your own cleaners the way our grandparents or great grandparents did successfully for years. Or, if you are like me and don't really have the time and patience to grate up castile soap for detergents and don't particularly care for the smell of vinegar, you can choose to buy products that are more eco-friendly and have taken all of these things into consideration. Luckily, being green is the new black (ha ha, I make myself laugh at my witty-ness sometimes) and there are a lot of products out there. There are also some products out there that have been green for far longer than the green movement has been out there.

Here are some of my favorites I've found so far:

Laundry Detergent: While it's weird to buy laundry detergent online, I'm in love with this detergent. Crunchy clean - http://www.crunchyclean.com/ You can customize your detergent by choosing the type and scent. I can't imagine switching back. I actually ordered some of her cloth diaper type to wash my baby clothes in. Crunchy clean doesn't contain SLS, SLES, or Phosphates. It works well in hard water, soft water, with normal machines, or high-efficiency machines. I definitely recommend giving it a try. I was very leery at first to switching to a powder after using a gel for so long, but I'm never going back. She also has other products such as carpet freshener/powder, linen spray, and a new oxy-clean type of product.

Unfortunately, even some of the commercial 'green' brands contain SLS. I was shocked and dismayed when I purchased Seventh Generation Baby Detergent to wash my baby clothes in since crunchy clean can take a week or two to come in and I'm impatient and wanted to get the baby clothes washed and put away. I washed all the baby's clothes only to find out that the product has SLS in it and almost gave myself an anxiety attack trying to determine if I should re-wash the clothes. TBD on that to be honest with you. 7th Gen is usually my go-to green brand, but they really disappointed here.

Soap: Instead of buying my favorite bath and body works foaming anti-bacterial soap, I found a cheap, quick, and easy way to make my own. Head to your local Target, go to the aisle with the Burt's Bees and other green cosmetics and pick up a bottle of Dr. Bonner's liquid castile soap. I got the lavender although next time I'll probably get unscented since I'm not a fan of lavender. Re-use your soap pumps or pick up a nice one and use a mixture of 1 part Dr. B's and 9 parts water to make a soap. Swish around gently and viola - foaming soap that works wonderfully but isn't antibacterial. I've switched all of it in my house and the family is non-the-wiser. It works just as well and smells nice. Now I don't have to worry about the 'good' bacteria in my septic tank being killed and people are still getting nice clean hands. Dr. B's also has probably a million other uses, but that's the only use I've had for them for now. I should probably look into other options with I have time, but for now, even time constrained me was able to make this at home soap.

Cleaners: Lots of folks will tell you to use vinegar and water solutions. Well, I tried it and Joe hated the smell and I wasn't really a big fan either. So I switched to Seventh Generation cleaning products. I love the all-purpose cleaner. No SLS here, so I'm good with it. It even cleans my hard to clean black stove top wonderfully. Plus, you can't beat the 'warning' on the back that says, "While not meant for consumption, if consumed, drink a glass of water." A far cry from the Clorox cleaners that say contact Poison Control - another added benefit of going green. Seventh Generation can be purchased at Target. However, if you are unlucky like me and don't have a Whole Foods very close by and your target doesn't carry their whole line, I couldn't get their bathroom cleaner. I chose the Method brand cleaner. Didn't seem as eco-friendly to me, but still was much better than your Scrubbing bubbles type of stuff and worked just as well. Did have that cleaner smell though to it which 7th Gen didn't.

Dishwasher Detergent: My commitment is still up for grabs here. I tried the 7th Gen powder and wasn't happy. I'm currently using both 7th Gen gel and Method tablets. I put white vinegar in the Jet Dry spot. They work okay, but honestly doesn't seem to be work as well as my good ole Cascade. I've been told the 7th Gen tabs work just as well as the Cascade packs, but I can't find them near me. Either way, I don't mind a slight drop in efficiency to know I'm making a better environmental footprint. If anyone has any better suggestions though, I'd love to hear them.

So that's my short story on cleaners for now. Next time maybe I'll give you some information on cosmetics and personal type items so you can hear even more about the wonders of modern commercialism on our health, welfare, and environment.

New and Improved...

So after much thought and consideration, I've decided to delete all of my old blog entries to start fresh and new. The last year or so has been quite the whirlwind: I've become increasingly green and ecofriendly - might as well call me a granola eating hippy now, I'm 8 months pregnant expecting our first child - a little girl - which both scares me to death and makes me look forward to the future, and I've had the opportunity to do a lot of introspection to figure out who I am and what I stand for.

So, in light of that, I decided it would be a great opportunity to re-write my blog to contain the information that is now more relevant to me in hopes that I might actually write in it more (for the few people who might actually care) and to document and share the things I'm learning and experiencing.

So, I hope you enjoy the new GRASSO-isms blog!

~Amber