Organic and Natural Cleaning and Home Products

Pitfalls of Re-using Plastic Water Bottles

2005-09-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

Many people think they are doing a good thing by reusing and refilling their plastic water bottles. However, it is now being shown that the more uses of a plastic water bottle leads to more leaching of the toxic chemicals from the bottles into the drinking water. In addition, heat and high temperatures also may cause further leaching. So it is important to not put plastic water bottles in the dishwasher to clean or to put hot liquids in them to drink. Use only cold or cool liquids and hand wash all bottles. If you decide to continue using plastic water bottles be sure to replace them every few months or so, especially due to the risk of bacterial contamination from the bottle not being cleaned properly between uses.

For more information read:

What’s in Your Water Bottle

What's in your water bottle besides water?

Alternatives to plastic water bottles are stainless steel water/food storage bottles:

Visit www.thermos.com for a great selection, such as the ideas listed below:

Great for Kids – FUNtainer™

Great for at work or on the go - Briefcase Beverage Bottle

Great for carrying food - Food Bottle

Other Resources:
www.KleanKanteen.com
www.sigg.com

Pack Your Kids an Unleaded Lunch

2005-09-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

From Mothering Magazine Action Alerts Beware:
The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) recently filed lawsuits against makers and retailers of soft vinyl lunch boxes that can expose children to harmful levels of lead.
For more see:
http://www.mothering.com/sections/action_alerts/september2005.html
or for full article from the Center for Environmental Health, see here:
http://www.cehca.org/lunchboxes.htm

Great alternative:
Try Cool Tote Lunch Sacks made with all recycled materials. They come insulated with a Thermo-tek material made from recycled plastic soda bottles!
www.cooltote.com or 888-826-6533

Billions of Bags in Our Dumps

2005-09-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

Environmental groups estimate that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are now used worldwide every year. All of these bags continue to pile up in landfills across the globe. Some countries have even begun to ban or taken action to discourage the use of plastic bags including Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Taiwan and India.

So what is the alternative?

How about reusable bags...
Take a look at www.reusablebags.com

Antioxidant Power of Clove and Other Essential Oils!

2005-09-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

Antioxidant capactiy can be measured by ORAC-Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity. The higher the ORAC, the higher the ORAC score, the more capable that particular food is of destroying free radicals, thus retarding the ageing process and other diseases.

Essential oils have one of the highest ORAC scores on the planet.

According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference, 2nd ED., they are as follows:
ESSENTIAL OIL (BOTANICAL NAME) ORAC SCORE

Sandalwood (Santalum Album) 1,655
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) 2,446
Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) 2,517
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) 3,309
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) 3,669
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) 5,398
Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) 17,420
Lemongrass (Cymbopogen flexuosus) 17,765
Orange (Citrus aurantium) 18,898
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) 24,157
Rose of Sharon (Cistus ladanifer) 38,648
Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamamum verum) 103,448
Mountain Savory (Satureja montana) 113,071
Oregano (Origanum compactum) 153,007
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) 159,590
Clove (Syzigium aromaticum) 10,786,875

WOW - look at clove with an ORAC of over 10 million!!!

Note: Just TWO DROPS OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF CLOVE Have the Antioxidant Power of . . . 2.5 tablespoons of Berry Young Juice (from Young Living), 5 pounds of carrots, 2.5 quarts of carrot juice, 10 oranges, 20 ounces or orange juice, 2.5 pounds of beets, 1 pint of beet juice, 4 cups of raspberries, 2.5 cups of blueberries.

To get the highest quality, therapeutic grade essential oils such as clove oil, sign up for Young Living at https://www2.youngliving.com/signup/ and use code 503614.

Essential Oils Make Cleaning a Healing Event!

2005-08-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

The liver is the main organ in the body that is burdened by any toxins that we expose ourselves to on a daily basis.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), your biggest toxic air pollution exposure comes from the air in your own home!

Over time a constant exposure to toxins and chemicals will begin to overwork and exhaust the liver and the detoxification systems of the body. Many common diseases may even be caused or exacerbated by exposure to chemicals and toxins that overburden the body’s immune and detoxification systems. In children, their bodies and systems are in the growth stage often making them even more susceptible.

The article "Dangerous Chemicals in Personal Care Products Compromise Health" at http://www.newstarget.com/ recently stated that:

The average American household is a toxic chemical dump. People have antimicrobial soaps, dryer sheets with toxic chemicals, and then there are people using all sorts of personal perfumes and fragrance products that are also loaded with cancer-causing chemicals. You've got people putting deodorant in their armpits, and that deodorant contains aluminum which promotes dementia and Alzheimer's disease. And if that's not enough toxicity, you can buy air fresheners that will release a mist of toxic chemicals into the very air that you breathe so that you can inhale carcinogenic chemicals directly into your lungs. Beyond all that, we have the shampoos which are also loaded with all sorts of toxic chemicals, and we have the cleaning products that contain solvents which directly promote cancer as well as birth defects. And this isn't even to mention the food supply yet, because the food supply in the average American household contains yet more toxic chemicals.

How Can You Lessen the Toxic Burden on Your Body?
One simple way is choosing not to expose oneself to toxins that can voluntarily be avoided. Use natural and organic cleaning products as well as towels, sheets and other household items that off gas unnecessary chemicals and toxins in your home.

How Essential Oils can Help Purify Your Home
Give your immune system a boost and also protect yourself from some types of toxins quite simply and effectively with the help of essential oils. Essential oils are also known as the “life force” of the plant, protecting the plant from bacteria, molds, fungi and other microorganisms. The distillation process is what makes them so concentrated. Essential oils can be antibacterial, anticancerous, antifungal, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antitumoral, antiparasitic, antiviral, and antiseptic which help in turning your cleaning into a healing event!

I only recommend using high quality, therapeutic grade essential oils such as those from Young Living that are known for producing quick and significant results on the mind and body. Adulterated or chemically created substitutes might smell similar, but do not have the same effect. Sign up now for Young Living. Use code 503614 when signing up.

When diffused, Essential Oils can be the best air filtration system in the world. They will:
(1) Purify, by removing metallic particles and toxins from the air.(2) Increase atmospheric oxygen.(3) Increase ozone and negative ions in the house, which inhibits bacteria growth.(4) Destroy odors from mold, cigarettes, and animals.(5) Fill the air with a fresh, herbal aromatic scent.

Antibacterial and Antiviral Oils Excellent for Cleaning or Diffusing
Cinnamon
Clove
Eucalyptus globules
Thyme
Juniper
Melaluca alternifolia
Spruce
Lemongrass
Grapefruit
Purification blend
**Always test oils for staining of surfaces before cleaning entire area.