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"I was sick of being told that "healthy," "Safe," and "eco" means "boring," "beige," and "blah" - not to mention crazy expensive and hard to find. Which really doesn't add up, right?"
TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 80,000 CHEMICALS ON THE MARKET
THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN PROPERLY STUDIED
TO SEE IF THEY'RE TOXIC TO OUR HEALTH.
Biggest Misconception: "But I grew up with that and I'm FINE!" I hear this all the time from friends and family when I tell them about mainstream, toxic products - and that is exactly what my mom said when I told her how the special expensive "baby safe" detergent gave me horrible swelling and a rash just from folding the clothes washed in it.
But the fact is, all of those so-called "tried and true" products you've trusted and used for years aren't necessarily the same as when we were kids.
In fact, far from it. There are WAY more chemicals in the marketplace today. Most of these chemicals have NEVER been tested for human safety - and in fact, the way the system works, they need to be proven unsafe to be banned. So we have no idea what they might do to our health - or, more important, the health of our kids - in the long term.
In the past 35 years the EPA has restricted only 5 toxic substances and the FDA has banned 11. Meanwhile, the European Union has banned more than 1,100 chemicals that it considers unsafe in personal care products alone.
- "I don't think a parent should need a chemistry degree to have a safe home."
- "Parents today are way too busy to do tons of research and shop around. So the idea of one trusted company that met all of these needs and saved us a trip to the store was incredibly appealing...www.honest.com was launched in 2012.
HONEST FOOD
Eating tons of fruit, veggies, and whole grains makes your skin amazing and gives you way more energy.
Organic: "Whether I'm buying produce, meat or dairy, the USDA "Certified Organic" Label is a must for me. It's the hands-down biggest deal, whether you're worried about your health, the environment, or animal welfare - or, like me you think all three are important and intersecting. When you see the organic label on a whole fresh food, you can relax because you know you've covered your bases. If it's a fruit or vegetable, it wasn't sprayed with toxic pesticides or fertilizers, and the farmers couldn't use genetically modified (GMO) seeds. If it's meat or dairy, the animals weren't given antibiotics or growth hormones, and they were fed a 100% organic diet and given access to the outdoors. The USDA regulates how food brands can use the organic label and checks to make sure they're upholding all of these standards."
THE DIRTY DOZEN (Highest in Pesticides: Buy these Organic!)
- Apples
- Celery
- Sweet bell peppers
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Nectarines (imported)
- Grapes
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Blueberries (domestic)
- Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Kale/Greens
THE CLEAN 15! (Lowest in Pesticides)
- Onions
- Sweet corn
- Pineapples
- Avocado
- Cabbage
- Sweet peas
- Asparagus
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Kiwifruit
- Cantaloupe (Domestic)
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Watermelon
- Mushrooms
Hellotheretracy says: There are many many more ideas of How and What to eat "Honest" in this book, pick it up on Amazon if you want more information as this is just a quick overview of the first 1/2 of the book only. The following are more things I found really interesting that I wanted to share with you...
Honest Little Eaters:
"...how do you get your family to eat it, too? I see so many kids whose parents are always having to pack them special snacks with the rationale, "That's just how my kid eats." But in my house, we don't have discussions or give the girls tons of options. It's "Here's what you're eating." If that sounds kind of old school, it is - that's how my mom raised my brother Joshua and me and I think she got this so right. There was no special children's meal versus the adults' meal. Whatever my mom made, we all ate it -
and questioning wasn't an option.
The fact is, kids don't need alternatives to what the adults are eating. With too much choice, they can get overwhelmed, and that makes them cranky and more prone to putting up a fight."
Honest Clean
" One Hundred Percent of women of childbearing age have detectable levels of phthalates (fragrance ingredients that may be reproductive toxins in their bodies, probably because of cosmetic use)"
LIAR LABELS - These marketing claims sure sound healthy - but don't fall for their greenwashing...
Hypoallergenic:
WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS: That somebody has tested the product to make sure it won't cause any allergic reactions
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: Nothing - there are no government regulations around the term "hypoallergenic," so companies are free to define it however they like.
Natural:
WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS: That a product was made with all-natural, plant-based ingredients.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: Who Knows? The government doesn't regulate the term "natural", so it can mean just about anything.
Organic:
WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS: That every ingredient in a product comes from a USDA Certified Organic Farm.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: That some of the ingredients in your product are certified organic - but the rest can be anything at all.
DON'T FALL FOR THOSE "TEAR-FREE" BABY PRODUCTS. THEY CONTAIN A SPECIAL MIX OF TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT WORK BY NUMBING YOUR BABY'S EYES SO THEY CAN'T FEEL ALL THE OTHER HARSH CHEMICALS STINGING!
NOTE: The average personal care product contains around 126 ingredients. The Government doesn't require pre-market safety testing on any of them.
DISHONEST INGREDIENT: PETROCHEMICALS
(includes mineral oil, petroleum jelly, propylene glycol and paraffin)
FOUND IN: Foundations, lotions, cleansers, lipsticks, lip balms - unless they say "oil free"
...this stuff is used in paint, antifreeze, and gasoline. Does that sound like something that should go on your face?
DISHONEST INGREDIENT: PARABENS
FOUND IN: Water-based products like shampoo, conditioner, cleanser, shower gel, lotion - you name it.
WHY IS IT SKETCHY? We can absorb parabens through our skin blood, and digestive system, and they've even been found inside breast tumors (and thus, linked to cancer). They may also be toxic to our reproductive, immune, and neurological systems and can cause skin rashes.
DISHONEST INGREDIENT: TRICLOSAN & TRICLOCARBAN
FOUND IN: Antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, deodorants (plus some fabrics and plastics)
WHY IS IT SKETCHY? This stuff gets absorbed and piles up in our bodies, where it may disrupt our hormones. And because we use so much of it, it's also helping to create dangerous bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. In 2005, the FDA found no evidence that antibacterial soaps are in any way superior to good old soap in water.
DISHONEST INGREDIENT: SLS & PEG
FOUND IN: Baby shampoo, kids bubble bath, regular shampoo, soap and shower gel
WHY IS IT SKETCHY? When these chemicals are manufactured they release a toxic by-product called 1,4-dioxane. This chemical easily penetrates our skin and may cause cancer and birth defects. It may also be toxic to our kidneys, neurological system and respiratory system.
Tip for parents: Once a week, de-gunk your bath toys in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts hot water solution.
Tons of tips in book that I am not putting here.
DISHONEST INGREDIENT: TOLUENE
FOUND IN: HAIR DYES, ANTI-AGING CREAMS
WHY IS IT SKETCHY? Can cause cancer and screw up your immune system and reproductive health. Also associated with developmental problems when little kids are exposed. All around bad news.
DISHONEST INGREDIENT: FORMALDEHYDE
FOUND IN: KITCHEN CABINETS, CARPETING, MATTRESSES
WHY IS IT SKETCHY? Chronic, long-term exposure has been linked to cancer, plus in can trigger more immediate allergic reactions, rashes, asthma, nosebleeds and other respiratory issues.
Tip: Use No-VOC paint like Mythic Paint.
Tip: Look for cushions, mattresses and throw pillows, even nursing pillows and children's clothes made with polyester, down, wool or cotton which are all less likely to contain flame retardants that are harmful chemicals that interfere with healthy hormonal development and can lead to reproductive and developmental disorders. Try the Naturepedic brand.
Tip: Shop vintage.
Tip Take shoes off when entering your home (cuts lead dust tracked in by 60%)
WHEN SWITCHING TO NONTOXIC CLEANING PRODUCTS, IT MAY TAKE YOU A WHILE TO GET USED TO NOT HAVING THAT PINE FOREST OR LEMON SMELL THAT HAS SIGNALED "CLEAN" FOR OH, YOUR WHOLE LIFE. BUT TRUST ME - ODORLESS (OR NATURALLY SCENTED) IS MUCH HEALTHIER!
A breath of Fresh Air: Here's a nasty fact: According to the EPA, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air - and we spend 90 % of our lives indoors! Choosing natural, healthy materials for building supplies and furniture and swapping in safer cleaning products will go a long way.
Tip: Encase your mattress and pillows in protective covers and wash all linens in hot water weekly to kill dust mites that can cause breathing issues.
Hellotheretracy says: Before I encased my pillows and mattresses I actually had to use a breathing nebulizer machine regularly and suffered horribly for years from asthmatic bronchitis. Taking the carpet out of the bedroom and encaseing my bedding along with washing everything in hot water regularly set me free. I have had ZERO problems since and thus gave my expensive nebulizer away.
Hellotheretracy says: Before I encased my pillows and mattresses I actually had to use a breathing nebulizer machine regularly and suffered horribly for years from asthmatic bronchitis. Taking the carpet out of the bedroom and encaseing my bedding along with washing everything in hot water regularly set me free. I have had ZERO problems since and thus gave my expensive nebulizer away.
Tip: Kill dust mites out of your children's stuffed animals by putting them in the freezer for 3 to 5 hours per week.
Good to know: Mold can trigger asthma and allergies or in more concentrated doses dizziness and flu like symptoms.
Other chapters in this very informative wonderful book cover Honest Beauty, Honest Style, Honest Home, Honest Baby, Honest Inspiration.
If you would like to order this book for yourself, a loved one or a friend go to amazon.com and order it for less than $14. It is called "The Honest Life" by Jessica Alba. If you are interested in ordering healthy "honest" products for yourself or your children at a discounted rate go to www.honest.com and they will ship them right to your door!
Hope this summary of the first 1/2 of the book was helpful to you in some small way. Even if you make just one change every few months, in a few years you will be living a healthier lifestyle for yourself and for your family. Thanks for reading this long but hopefully informative blog post.
hellotheretracy:)
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