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Title: Making Living Green, Organic, Non-toxic Easier for Mom, 14 Tips
Author: The
Article:
Many people ask me how to start going organic and live a healthy
organic lifestyle? There are so many products, so much
information they don't know where to start. Other questions I
get are: Do I need to buy everything organic, food, cleaning
products, clothes, personal care and skin care products? Are you
vegan? Do I have to throw everything away and start from
scratch? Where do I start? It gets expensive. What does it mean
by going organic?</p>
Lets start with my definition of going organic and living an
organic lifestyle. To me going organic is more than the food I
eat. It is about making healthy choices with the food I eat, the
products I use in my home, on my skin and body, and in my
garden. To me organic, green, non-toxic living is about
eliminating toxins from my home and life to protect my long and
short term health. It is about the environment and ensuring that
it is clean and healthy because last time I checked we are all
earthlings which means we are part of the environment. If the
environment is unhealthy then so are the earthlings. Finally,
going organic, non-toxic and green is treading lightly on the
earth so that I leave it better than I found it for future
generations. What does organic mean to you?</p>
Here are some simple steps to help you transform your home from
conventional to organic, non-toxic and green. First I would like
to say that it isn't about being perfect or having everything in
your life organic and green. A few simple changes will make a
huge difference in the way you feel and in moving forward to an
organic, green, non-toxic, healthy lifestyle. Take one step at a
time and have fun.</p>
There are a couple of different ways you can incorporate organic
living into your lifestyle. One is to use the products you have
now, finish them and replace them with healthy, organic choices
as needed. The other choice is to throw everything away and
replace your old choices with healthy new organic products.
Either choice is awesome. Note: If you are throwing away
cleaning products that are made with chemicals be sure to do it
properly. Contact your local waste management company and ask
them how to safely dispose of chemical products.</p>
I took the slow less expensive root and used products until they
were finished then I replaced them with green, organic choices.
Products like food, cleaning products, personal care, skin care
and gardening products were choices I started with when I went
green. I took one step at a time to a green, organic lifestyle.
It seems the more I do the more that I want to do.</p>
Remember do what is right for you not what your friends and
neighbors are doing. You and your family are the only factors to
consider here. Also it isn't about being perfect or who is doing
the most or making the biggest changes. What matters is that you
are giving your family healthy choices and every healthy choice
you make for your family is one step closer to the short term
and long term health goals you want to achieve.</p>
Take one step at a time and notice how the changes are affecting
your family and how you feel about these changes. Maybe keep a
diary of why you want to live an organic, green, non-toxic
lifestyle and then note in the diary the changes that you are
making and how they are affecting your family's health.</p>
For example, maybe you have allergies or a member in your family
has allergies and you decide that you want to change your
cleaning products so that they are non-toxic in an effort to see
if that clears the allergies. Write this in your diary and
notice if the allergies subside and even if they go away.</p>
Another example is maybe you change some of the foods you eat to
organic and you notice that your children have more energy or
they are more focused; write that in your diary. In a month or 2
go back to the diary I bet you will notice that a lot has
changed with your families health. Lastly be sure to celebrate
your successes. You deserve it. Remember it isn't about being
perfect it is about making a few simple changes here and
there.</p>
Below is a list that I created, especially for mom's, to help
them make the switch from conventional to organic, green and
healthy.
1. Recycle</br>
2. Reuse</br>
3. Reduce your waste</br>
4. Any food with High Fructose corn syrup is a big no!
Especially if you are protecting your family against obesity. It
gives the false feeling that you are still hungry even when your
body is full and has zero nutritional value. It is not a
necessary food ingredient ever. Read labels carefully as it is
used often. You will be surprised how often it is used, even in
foods labeled as natural or organic.</br>
5. Eat as many organic foods as possible. If your family eats a
lot of something like pasta, absolutely eat organic pasta
instead of conventional. Chemicals and pesticides build up in
your body over time. Children are most susceptible to pesticides
and toxins from conception to 10 years old. Here is a list of
foods that are a must avoid. If you only want to change some
foods that you eat put these on your list:</br>
* Strawberries</br>
* Blueberries</br>
* Raspberries</br>
* Apples</br>
* Grapes</br>
* Raisins </br>
* Juice - many also contain high fructose corn syrup so be
careful and read labels.</br>
* Peaches </br>
* Nectarines</br>
* Apricots</br>
* Pears</br>
* Cherries</br>
* Lemons </br>
* Limes</br>
* Bananas</br>
* Pineapple</br>
* Cantaloupe </br>
* Rice </br>
* Oats - commonly used in cereal</br>
* Milk</br>
* Baby Foods - get baby started off right. Also baby's immune
systems are not yet fully developed so they are more susceptible
to the adverse effects of toxins.</br>
* Nuts</br>
* Potatoes </br>
* Corn</br>
* Celery </br>
* Cucumbers</br>
* Spinach</br>
* Lettuce</br>
* Green & Red Bell Peppers </br>
* Hot Peppers</br>
* Green Beans</br>
* Carrots</br>
6. Use non chlorine bleach it works just the same as regular
bleach without the toxins.</br>
7. Body lotion for you, children and baby. Remember when you
hold or play with your children they touch your skin and body
thus toxins from you can rub off on them. Most personal care
products contain a large list of toxic, unsafe chemicals like
parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth
sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, DEA's, TEA's to name a few.
Read labels carefully. Try to use products that are organic and
free of chemicals. For more information on safe cosmetics and
personal care products go to,
http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep. They have information on
popular baby products too.</br>
8. Face lotion for you and children they also contain many toxic
chemicals. A common ingredient used in skin care products
especially those that claim anti aging ingredients is
methylparaben. Methylparaben has been linked to accelerating
aging. Isn't it ironic?</br>
9. Products that contain phthalates are an absolute must avoid,
especially if you have children. They are found in perfume, nail
polish, hair care products like hair spray, deodorant and
lotions. Phthalates can be carcinogenic and have been linked to
birth defects. They also damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and
reproductive system in laboratory animals according to the
center for Disease Control. Phthalates are used many products
but are not listed on labels in order to protect "trade
secrets." That is where confusion enters. So the best rule of
thumb is avoid conventional perfumes, products with fragrance,
conventional nail polish remover and nail polish. Don't panic.
The good news is that you don't have to give up your favorite
nail polish color to avoid toxins. There are non-toxic
alternatives to all of the aforementioned products. For example,
many perfumes and fragrance are made with pure, organic
essential oils and are safe. There are non-toxic nail polishes
and nail polish removers. Choose products that are fragrance
free especially if you are using them on or around your children
and baby. If you are pregnant or have children avoid products
with phthalates at all costs. Your unborn child's health and
your children's health are fragile. Before the age of 10 their
immune systems aren't yet fully developed thus chemicals stay in
their tiny bodies where they can cause disease and even
obesity.</br>
10. Avoid cleaning products or any products that contain anti
bacterial ingredients. Antibacterial ingredients contain
pesticides. According to the EPA, http://www.epa.gov, pesticides
are designed to kill living organisms. They don't discriminate
between pests and humans. The key word here is living organisms.
The bacteria and viruses that anti bacterial products kill are
also killed with simple warm soap and water. Don't let marketing
hype tell you that you need these products to kill germs in your
home. If simple soap and water is good enough for hospitals then
it is good enough to kill germs in your home. Why add a layer of
pesticide to your surfaces, especially where children and pets
play and spend time?</br>
11. Stain remover for clothes is highly toxic use non-toxic. To
treat a stain use simple soap and water. Immediately when you
notice a stain pore clear liquid soap right on the stain add a
little water and throw it in the dirty laundry until laundry
day. In most cases the stain will come out. Stains set when they
aren't treated immediately and they are allowed to set into the
material of clothing.</br>
12. Conventional air freshener - contains carcinogens. This is a
huge NO, especially if you have children. The toxins are inhaled
and absorbed through the skin. Extremely dangerous. Instead
eliminate the source of the odor. For example if the trash
smells, take it out. On nice days open a window. If you must add
fragrance to your home use pure, organic essential oils. A trick
I use is to drop 3 to 5 drops on a light bulb that will be
turned on. Or make your own air freshener using essential
organic oils. Simply fill a 29 to 32 oz. spray bottle with
distilled water and add 20 to 25 drops of essential oil. Spray
the air, your furniture I even use it to iron with. Cook muffins
or cookies to make the air in your home smell good. On a cold
winter day make some apple cider on the stove and let it simmer
on very low heat to add fragrance to your home.</br>
13. Use organic mattresses or put heavy cotton over your
conventional mattress - If you can't or don't want to replace
all of your mattresses with organic then put heavy cotton
material over the mattress under the fitted sheet. If possible
use organic cotton material. Absolutely do this for your baby
and children as they are more susceptible to the effects of
toxins found in conventionally made mattresses, because their
immune system and organs aren't fully developed. Toxins found in
synthetic mattresses include; phthalates, PBDE - flame
retardants, polyurethane, foam, polyester, plastic,
formaldehyde. They all emit dangerous toxins that your baby or
children breathe in or absorb through the skin while sleeping.
In many cases these toxic elements lead to insomnia, have been
linked to brain development and thyroid problems, include eye,
nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing, fatigue,
skin rash, severe allergic reactions and may cause cancer. In
asthma suffers formaldehyde has been known to cause asthma
attacks.</br>
14. If you have children or pets and they will be on the floor
playing use simple soap and water to mop your floors. Otherwise
the children and animals are playing on a toxic surface where
they are absorbing toxins into their skin and body.</br>
If you find that your supermarket doesn't carry organic,
non-toxic products ask them to. Marketers and supermarkets know
that women make the majority of the buying decisions in the US.
Yes women you have the power, use it. Tell the supermarkets what
you want. If they don't get it right away, tell them again, and
again and again until they carry the products you want. Ask your
friends and family to chime in. Don't give up, you can make a
difference.</p>
Remember take only the steps that are right for you at this
time. Follow your instincts they are your guide, they are true
to you. </p>
Once again I will say it; you don't have to change everything if
you don't want to. Simple changes to start make a big
difference. Take baby steps. For example, change the food that
you eat to organic. Then change your cleaning products one by
one. This is something that should be fun and enjoyable. After
all you are protecting your health and your family's health so
that you have a long future together, that is something to smile
about.</p>
Good luck! Another GreenQueen solution.
www.thegreenqueencorner.com
About the author:
TheGreenQueen writes about green, organic, sustainable,
environmentally healthy living, gives FREE teleseminars and
teleclasses on green, organic, healthy living, and she gives
workshops in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego,
California along with personal in home consultations. You can
find her at http://www.thegreenqueencorner.com or
http://www.askdatabase.com/gt/askgt6g.php?a=12865&t=6g
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