Light it Up

Our house is riddled with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) as they use approximately 75% less energy, are better for the environment and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Last week, I heard on the radio that the energy-saving CFL’s  were known to cause rashes and burns, equivalent to a sunburn, on some people. Of course, I needed to look into it to find out what that actually meant to me and my family since we have changed over all our bulbs to CFLs.  Upon searching, I found that they actually have a little bit of mercury in them and emit ultraviolet radiation.   Each bulb manufacturer varies, but  according to EarthEasy, each of them “generally contains an average of 5 mg of mercury, about one-fifth of that found in the average watch battery, and less than 1/100th of the mercury found in an amalgam dental filling.” According to the news program 16:9, Health Canada states,  “CFLs are not provided with a prismatic diffuser that filters ultraviolet radiation out. Therefore, there may be skin sensitivity issues, especially in people with certain skin diseases”.   I also heard that the rashes and burns occur when you are about 30cm or closer to the CFLs.   As well, by 2012, Canada will be banning the sale of incandescent lights.

Some things to note about CFLs:

• CFLs come in various different shapes and sizes, and lumens (amount of light be generated). Some even come domed for a little extra protection.
• There are limitations to CFLs in such things as dimmers and some timers.
• Dispose of used CFLs carefully, some retailers such as Home Depot and IKEA, provide recycling programs for burnt out bulbs.
• Don’t get too close to the bulb itself, especially for extended periods of time.
• If you break a CFL use caution to clean up safely. Here are some good instructions for cleaning up!
  

Happy Lighting!

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Squeaky, Clean Locks

I’ve been slowly changing the products that my family uses on their body, face, and hair; trying to replace them with ones that are safer for us and for the environment. It hasn’t been easy since it’s hard to decipher what is really “good” out there versus what appears good but is still full of chemicals and junk.

In the process, I stumbled upon a brochure about Curelle at my local organic grocer. It was about the toxic stuff found in our regular shampoos and conditioners. Then it went on to claim that the ingredients used in their hair products are “plant derived, solvent-free, and contains no toxins”. I was skeptical and took the brochure home to look more into it. I punched the ingredients into EWG’s Skin Deep Database and it came up with ratings of 2 and less. Then I did a bit of online searching and found that it was one of the better shampoos in Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia’s Guide to Less Toxic Products. In addition, Curelle is a local company based in Vancouver. These were all good enough reasons for me to give it a try.

I picked up the Hydra Shampoo, Riche Conditioner and Build-Up Remover Treatment and it was all reasonably priced. $13.99 for 500ml bottles and $8.99 for 250ml bottles, and the 70ml bottle of the Build-Up Remover set me back $3.99. There is also the Energe Shampoo (for volume) and the Treslite Conditioner (for lighter conditioning). They also have some styling products and a moisturizing body lotion in their product line.

I’ve been using it for awhile now and I am satisfied with the results. It seems to give the umph that my thick, curly hair needs and tame the frizz. In addition, the conditioner can be used as a leave-in, so sometimes I smooth a dime-size amount into my hair to calm the fly-aways. The downsides, I’m a bit addicted to scented shampoos and conditioners so I am still getting use to the fact that the products are scent-free and also it lathers differently (less bubbles) so I probably end up using more than I need.

If you want more information about the Curelle products you can check out this link, because unfortunately, their website is still under construction.

What products do you use? Any suggestions for ones to try or advices for ones to stay away from?

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Hard Working Moms

I have to brag that I got in some “me” time, time without the kids, this past weekend. And though it didn’t include lounging around in my PJs, a spa treatment, or lunch with girlfriends, it was still very mind-replenishing. My dear hubby graciously took care of all 3 kidlets while I went to the Baby Purity Mother’s Conference that I had blogged about previously.

At first I was a bit unsure of the conference only because my sister couldn’t come with me and I really don’t enjoy going to things like this alone. When I arrived, I browsed the several info and vendor booths, like Green Zebra, yoyomama, inBed organics, Better Baby Bums to name a few, and picked up business cards and info sheets. And though one of the guest speakers that I was looking forward to hearing, Christopher Gavigan, had to cancel last minute due to family circumstances, the line-up of speakers that were there was nonetheless interesting and informative. The focus was mainly about chemicals in our everyday things that affect our health and well-being more than we know and the intriguing connection between the gut and allergies in kids. There was a lot of information to take in. Though there was a Q&A period at the end and one of the speakers, Margaret Evans, a RN and life coach, advised us to not feel overwhelmed but rather take one thing out of the conference and work on that, I couldn’t help but still feel like there is so much still for me to do, for me to look into. But that is me: a bit of a worry-wart.

I felt a connection with the 100 or so moms, plus a few dads, there. It was a camaraderie with strangers; moms/parents with the same interest as mine: providing the best we can for our children. I lunched with people I didn’t know and we talked about weaning, formula and stainless steel containers. I met the incredible one-woman force behind Yoyomama, Annemarie Tempelman-Kluit. I chatted with Lisa Frack, Online Parent Organizer for EWG and a blogger for Enviroblog, who was sweet enough to seek me out and offer a follow-up email to a question I posed during the Q&A period. And I introduced myself to Sydney Carlaw, the dynamic person behind Baby Purity. Now, I barely know her. But from the tiniest bit of email correspondence I had with her, and the casual “Hi” and “Thank-you for the conference”, I must say that she is one incredible woman (with most likely an extremely supportive hubby). Most of us, including myself, would love to fulfill our dreams but few of us have the tenacity and patience to follow through. This was her dream and she really made it possible to share it with us.

The conference ended with a ton of giveaways, and though I didn’t end up with one of the fancy gift baskets or the G-diapers or the blender, I came away happy knowing that there are moms out there: like Annemarie, like Lisa and like Sydney, who are working hard to share their knowledge and experience; enabling us to raise our children the best way we can.

By the way, one of topics for next year’s conference is the immunization debate. As for the fee, Sydney is working on reducing the cost by finding more sponsors. Looking forward to next year.

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Conference Call

We apologize for our little hiatus. We just got back from a wonderful vacation to the more francophone part of our beautiful country. We thoroughly enjoyed Quebec as we got to learn more about Canada’s earlier history and of course, we couldn’t resist and had to sample Quebecois cuisine: poutine, mussels, crepes and smoked meat. Yum! Now that we’ve returned, and somewhat recovered from the jet-lag, we hope to get back into the swing of things.

One thing that I did notice is a conference happening next Saturday that might be of interest. It is put together by Baby Purity, a resource for parents who are interested in more natural and healthier options for their children. The Baby Purity Mother’s Conference is a one day affair held in downtown Vancouver on October 25, 2008 from 9am to 5pm. Topics that will be covered are nutrition for the entire family, healthy first baby foods, and safe household products. What I’m most excited about are the guest speakers: Christopher Gavigan, author of Healthy Child Healthy World, and Lisa Frack from the Environmental Working Group.

I just registered so there still is some spaces available. Cost is $38.99. Sounds a bit pricey, but I figure that lunch is included, I will be in the company of great resourceful and informative speakers, and I’ll come home with a loot bag.

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Stainless Steel Appeal

A few years ago I received a set of stainless steel pots and pans that I had been dreaming about for quite sometime. I was always careful about using them. I wanted to make sure they kept that “see-yourself-in-it” shine. Recently, I started looking into cookware and I realized the cheap non-stick coated frying pan I was using may be costing me a whole lot more than the $5 that I paid for it. Studies have linked perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is the chemical found in “non-stick” cooking products such as Teflon, to be likely carcinogenic. Apparently, the non-stick coatings are a risk if you heat them beyond 350°C (650°F) or if they are deteriorating.

Though the studies are still up for much debate you may want to consider phasing out some of those grungy, scratched pots and pans that hide in your cupboards. Who knows what kind of chemicals will come off of them when you start heating them. If you are looking for a place to recycle them you can do so at Happy Stan’s Recycling.

Here are some tips from the EWG (Environmental Working Group) for safe cookware and some tips from Health Canada about the safe use of cookware.

Needless to say, I have been pulling out my stainless steel pots and pans to cook with and have just been spending a little more time to get them clean enough for me to see my reflection.

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Hello Mr. Sun!

Happy belated Canada Day! How did you celebrate? Did you take in some of the festivities happening around town or spent the day with family and friends outdoors? No matter how you celebrated, the past long weekend gave us a dose of what summer days are going to be like. And sunnier days in the forecast calls for more frequent and liberal application of sunscreen.

For a long time, I knew that not all sunscreens were created equal. Besides the varying SPF numbers and paraben-free or not paraben-free ingredients; there are the water-proof, sweat-proof, and water-resistant varieties; sprays, lotions, and creams; scented and unscented; and kid versus adult versions. But it was just recently that I discovered that some listed active ingredients may not give you the UVA and UVB protection that you would assume it should give. Plus, some of the actual ingredients may cause unnecessary health concerns.

So now what? You should visit Skin Deep. Once again, it’s from the EWG (you must know by now that I can’t rave enough about them). It is a pretty impressive database of the health hazard profile of numerous cosmetic and personal care products. Each product is given 2 ratings: hazard rating and data gap rating. You need to look at both ratings because a low hazard rating doesn’t necessary deem a product to be safe. The data gap rating will give you in percentage of how much is unknown about the ingredients. Each product profile goes into detail the safety concerns of each ingredient, some have user reviews and comments, and many list optional “better” products that have lower concerns. It is the best and largest database available of its kind and I think it is definitely worth browsing through.

Wondering about your sunscreen? Look it up in their sunscreen section. If it’s not there, you can always input the ingredients and package information yourself and generate a provisional report; you just need to sign up to set up a personal account first.

See their sunscreen buying guide if you would like some recommendations.

A happy and safe sunny summer to everyone!

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Getting to Know the Locals

Here are some Reasons to Eat Local Food as provided by Life Begins @ 30.

• Eating local means more for the local economy.
• Locally grown produce is fresher and tastes better
• Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen.
• Eating local is better for air quality and pollution than eating organic.
• Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons.
• Local food translates to more variety.
• Supporting local providers supports responsible land development.

See if you can do your part in getting to know your locals: produce farmers, bakers, cattle farmers, or even supermarkets that carry local items. You can start off small and check out the local farmer’s markets in your area, where you can find fresh produce and homemade goods that would tickle any taste bud. Some of the markets even provide entertainment and showcase local talents. Check one out this weekend!

Don’t know where your locals are? Use the Eat Well Guide to find something close to you!

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Going Ga-Ga Over Bottles

What bottles are you using?

We started looking into this several months ago when our youngest were starting the bottle. At that time, the big manufacturers (Avent, Gerber, Playtex, etc) were still commenting on the fact that #7 plastics, which most likely contained bisphenol-A (BPA), did not pose any ill-effects to babies. However, after doing much searching online, there were a handful of other experts that said otherwise. Wanting to eliminate the possibility of BPA leaching from plastic baby bottles and being ingested by our little ones, we found other alternatives.

There are a number of BPA-free plastic bottles around (BornFree, Thinkbaby, Green To Grow, to name a few), but we decided to avoid plastic bottles in general when we discovered some glass options. The most economical ones are Evenflo classic glass bottles, about $2-$4 for one depending where you get them — the States vs. Canada. Those were the ones we started off with until we discovered that our babies did not like the small-necked bottles which required a “smaller” nipple.

We settled with BornFree’s glass bottles which were wide-necked and used a similar nipple shape as Avent’s. Of course, there was a wait list for them and plus they cost about $15 each. However, deciding to use glass dispelled any doubts about the safety of plastic bottles. And I think our hubbies were elated when we finally decided on which one to use and stopped all this talk about what bottles to buy, and what bottles to try.

You can find Evenflo glass bottles in the Lower Mainland at places like TJ’s Kids and Babies-R-Us or for those who venture south of the border to shop, at Along Comes A Baby in Bellingham.

As for the BornFree glass bottles, we’ve seen them locally at Pinky Blue, Baby On Board, and Capers/Whole Foods Market.

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Milk Run

For the last few months, our family has added a new routine to our weekends. With our green milk crate and empty glass bottles in tow, we do a milk run to Avalon Dairy. Up until then, I didn’t even know that Avalon still sold milk out of their original farm location. The little retail store is located in the most unexpected place: 5805 Wales Street, Vancouver East-side, amongst residential homes.

I had occasionally bought Avalon milk from the local grocery store but then was always swayed to purchase the more economical 4L plastic jug alternative. So why the change?

Well, drinking milk from antibiotic-injected, hormone-pumped cows finally got to me. I decided paying extra for organic is definitely worth it. Avalon milk is fresh tasting. I’m not sure if it’s the milk itself or just the fact that it’s stored in glass bottles. It also helps that buying local fits right in with being green. Besides, it feels great supporting the oldest family-run dairy in BC.

Some things to keep in mind when you go to their little store:

• cash only
• glass milk bottles (1L size only available) require a $1 deposit — refundable there or any other store that sells their products
• $6 refundable deposit for a sturdy plastic crate to carry your bottles
• quantity discounts are available on their milk — the more you buy the better the price
• also available: non-organic milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, butter, organic eggs and ice cream (yummy!)

By the way, their newest offering is Vitala, an Omega-3 milk that comes from fish fed cows.

So if you are ever in the vicinity, pop in and check out this century old dairy located right in our community.

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Follow-up on Veggie Spray

Remember that veggie spray that I was so gung-ho about from the Oprah show? Well, I looked more into it. From what I found, I was not convinced that veggie sprays in general (commercial or home-made) are the solution to my problem of having to search high and low for organic fruits and veggies at reasonable prices. You can say that I was a bit naive to assume that I had discovered the answer to counter the world of pesticide-sprayed produce, thus trivializing the need for organic farms.

I found many MIY (make-it-yourself) recipes which included ingredients like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, Palmolive dish soap and saw some reviews on some commercial ones (Fit, Nature Clean), but concluded that there is no wash out there that will remove all pesticides. It depends on the produce and it depends on the chemical make-up of the pesticide used. There are just some darn awful pesticides that cling tightly to the surface, get absorbed systemically, or are trapped underneath the waxy coating on produce.

However, I have been using the veggie spray recipe since finding out about it. I figure removing whatever I can from fruits and veggies was better than not doing anything at all. I deviated from the recipe a bit by eliminating the grapefruit seed extract (I had a tough time justifying spending $30 for a little bottle of that stuff). Also, because I make mine straight in the spray bottle, I made sure to add the baking soda to the vinegar/water solution slowly and then leave it uncapped overnight.  The baking soda makes it very fizzy and it will leak out of the nozzle otherwise.

My conclusion from all this:

• buy organic whenever possible especially when it comes to the “dirty dozen“
• invest in a veggie brush, to aid in removing some of the visible dirt and residue
• still use a veggie spray or a wash of some sort, even on organic produce (to counter bacteria & general people handling) — doing something is better than nothing

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