Healthy Home

September is National Organic Harvest Month and we at Down to Earth want to celebrate with you! Below are a few easy ideas to help you incorporate more organic foods into your life and have fun doing it:

1. Start your day off with a special organic breakfast. You could make organic whole grain blueberry pancakes with organic butter and organic maple syrup (see recipe at the bottom). Serve organic fruit and yogurt on the side with organic juice or tea. Share it with a friend!
2. Wash off the dirt AND the chemicals! Shower with soaps and shampoos made with organic ingredients. Dry off with an organic cotton towel.
3. Make a plan to start an organic garden on your own or with a friend. It doesn’t have to be huge – a few pots of tomatoes on the porch are a good start! If you have a small area of land you can use, even better. Research some plants that are easy to care for and grow well in your area. You’ll have your own organic veggies in no time!
4. Building healthy soil is an important part of organic farming. A great way to guarantee rich, organic soil is to start composting! Save your compostable remains and make your own compost pile or donate it to someone else’s.
5. Go to your local Down to Earth store to support your local organic farmers and buy local organic produce.
6. Give your kids the best nutrition with organic back-to-school lunches such as organic fruit, organic crackers and cheese, organic chips, organic fruit leather, or organic peanut butter jelly sandwiches.
7. Experience the coziness of organic cotton by buying some 100% organic cotton clothing, or get organic baby clothes for your or a loved one’s baby! According to the Pesticide Action Network, conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other single crop and epitomizes the worst effects of chemically dependent agriculture.
8. Prepare a delicious vegetarian meal that's as close to 100% organic as possible. Invite friends and family to share and help cook. It could be an organic picnic, pizza party, or pasta feed. DTE’s website has lots of recipe ideas - www.downtoearth.org.
9. Treat yourself and your family to some organic goodies: Share a dessert of organic brownies or organic apple pie topped with organic vanilla ice cream. Leave some organic cookies and candies in the candy jar.
10. When bedtime comes, sip a cup of organic chamomile tea, then slip under your organic cotton sheets!

There are many ways to gradually incorporate organic food and clothing into your life. National Organic Harvest Month is a good excuse for starting some regular habits that are good for your body and good for the earth at the same time. Down to Earth has a huge variety of organic products and can help you in your goals to live a more organic lifestyle.

Mosquito season is in full swing, and Down to Earth wants you to remain bite-free, naturally. There are countless bug repellents on the market today, but the majority of them contain harmful insecticides such as DEET. A recent study by Duke University pharmacologist Dr. Mohamed Abou-Donia resulted in an extensive list of neurological problems caused by DEET and other conventional insecticides such as memory loss, tremors, and slurred speech. The study also found that DEET killed brain cells and caused severe behavioral changes in rats. In addition to the dangers it poses to humans, DEET can seep into the ground and water, harming birds, fish, and other animals.

Fortunately, there are alternatives without using harsh chemicals: The most effective natural mosquito repellents are essential oils, such as citronella, lemongrass, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, tea tree oil, and cedar oil. All of these oils are to be applied topically, not internally. There are many products on the market that are comprised of a combination of these oils and are quite effective. The secret is to reapply often, about every 30 minutes or so for the best results. Citronella candles and incense are also common and effective, especially when used in combination with the oils. Other natural repellents that are currently being researched for their effectiveness include fennel, thyme, clove oil, and neem oil. Be sure to check out the various natural insect/mosquito repellents available in our Down to Earth Wellness Centers.

Other Suggestions

Another suggestion is you can also wear loose fitting clothing and lighter colors to discourage the mosquitoes. Finally, be sure to prevent mosquitoes from living and breeding near you home. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as 1 tablespoon of water in only 7-10 days. Get rid of any sources of standing water around your property, including buckets, bottles and cans, car tires, bird baths, and tarps. With these simple precautions and the above mentioned essential oils, you can peacefully co-exist with mosquitoes all summe

Natural remedies can help you in a pinch. While they are not a substitute for a regular first aid kit, they are a great addition.

Here are some remedies that are helpful to have on hand:

• Calendula homeopathic gel is awesome on burns, cuts and scratches. It relieves pain almost instantly and helps prevent infection.
• Arnica 30X (another homeopathic remedy)helps with any kind of physical trauma/bruising/bleeding. Give one dose as soon as a trauma occurs. Give every 3 or 4 hours after that for one day and then once a day for a few days. Arnica is very helpful for preventing bruising and speedy healing.
• Aconite 30X is great for shock, like in a car accident. It is also good for sudden-onset trauma, such as an asthma attack, seizure or heart attack. Keep on hand in case of an emergency.
• Nux vomica 30X is great for stomachaches, diarrhea, etc. – this may be particularly likely if you have to eat unusual food or you are under stress.
• Rescue Remedy can help you to deal with the stress and anxiety of an emergency.
• Vitamin C products, such as Emergen-C, are good for helping to boost immunity and help the body cope with stress in any kind of illness.
• Elderberry extract has natural anti-viral properties and is good to have on hand in case of a viral infection.

Once you start using these natural home remedies and keep them around, you will wonder how you ever lived without them.

Simple changes in your household cleaning products can reduce the potential for toxic exposure in your home. There are easy steps that you can take to identify and eliminate these hazardous yet common household chemicals, and replace them with safer, healthier choices.

Take a “household toxins” tour and pay attention to the following:

• In the kitchen: All-purpose cleaner, ammonia-based cleaner, dishwashing/automatic dishwasher detergent, bleach, metal polish, disinfectant, drain cleaner, floor wax/polish, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, and scouring powder all contain toxic substances.
• In the utility closet: Common products likely to contain toxic ingredients include laundry detergent, laundry softener, anti-cling sheets, spot remover, carpet cleaner, room deodorizer, mold/mildew cleaner, mothballs, insect repellant, and charcoal lighter fluid.
• In the living room and bedroom: Pressed wood products, synthetic fiber carpeting, and fabrics that are labeled "wrinkle-resistant", "permanent press" or "easy care" – including no-iron sheets/bedding, curtains, sleep wear, and polyester/cotton blends – are usually treated with a toxic formaldehyde resin.
• In the bath: Toilet bowl/shower cleaners can be hazardous, and numerous cosmetics and personal hygiene products – shampoos, hair sprays, antiperspirants/deodorants, soaps, lotions, creams, and moisturizers – contain harmful chemicals. Eye drops, contact lens solutions, and nasal sprays/drops may contain thimerosal, a mercury-preservative.

Use safe substitutes. Simple and safe ingredients can perform most home cleaning chores:

• All-purpose cleaners: These can be made from a vinegar-and-salt mixture or from 4 tablespoons baking soda dissolved in 1 quart warm water.
• Disinfectant: Practice regular cleaning with soap and hot water. Or mix 1/2 cup borax into 1 gallon of hot water to disinfect and deodorize.
• Drain cleaner: Try a plunger first, but NOT after using any commercial drain opener. To open drains, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, add 1/2 cup white vinegar, and cover the drain tightly. The resulting chemical reaction can free the clog. DO NOT use this method after trying a commercial drain opener.
• Floor cleaner: Use a safe soap, then add a few drops of vinegar to the rinse water.
• Oven cleaner: Sprinkle baking soda on moist surface and scrub with steel wool.
• Scouring powder: Try baking soda or dry table salt, or use Bon Ami powder.
• Tub and tile cleaner: Wipe with vinegar and then use baking soda as a scouring powder.
• Window and glass cleaner: To avoid streaks, don't wash windows when the sun is shining. Use a solution of vinegar/water, cornstarch/vinegar/water, or lemon-juice/water. Wipe with newspapers, unless you are sensitive to the inks in newsprint.
• Avoid PVC : Polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as vinyl, is toxic from both an environmental and health standpoint. It is found in a wide variety of products – food packaging, toys, furniture, shower curtains, imitation leather, and plumbing/building materials. Alternatives can be found through consumer research or on the internet.

Make informed choices when shopping. Dispose of hazardous products properly and replace them with safe alternatives. Check out Down to Earth’s Natural Living and Wellness departments for a wide range of toxin-free, environmentally safe household and personal care products.

Everyone appreciates a clean home. We scrub and spray and wash using many different products to achieve a sparkling environment. However, while we may be getting rid of mold and dirt, we might also be expelling a plethora of toxic gases and contaminants into our home and our bodies, many of which can eventually make their way into the soil and water of the earth.

Conventional cleaners are labeled with warnings such as “Danger: Corrosive,” “Hazards to humans and domestic animals,” “Keep out of reach of children,” “Do not take internally,” “Flammable” and many other equally intimidating phrases. The chemicals in these conventional cleaners can cause immediate problems such as skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns as well as long-term or chronic problems such as cancer. In 2000, cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10% of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers, accounting for 206,636 calls. Of these, 120,434 exposures involved children under six, who can swallow or spill cleaners stored or left open inside the home.¹ And alarmingly, laboratory tests commissioned by Environmental Working Group have detected 232 industrial chemicals and pollutants found in the umbilical cord blood of newborns.²

To make matters worse, any chemicals that are poured down the drain end up at the sewage treatment plant and are subsequently released into nearby streams. Many of these chemicals are rendered harmless in the treatment process, but some maintain their toxic properties and end up contaminating our waterways. In a May 2002 study of contaminants in stream water samples across the country, the U.S. Geological Survey found persistent detergent metabolites in 69% of streams tested. Sixty-six percent contained disinfectants.¹

The good news is that there are many safe alternatives to commercial cleaning products. You can replace conventional laundry detergents, which are usually filled with petrochemicals, perfumes and dyes, with natural biodegradable ones. Look for natural, ammonia-free window cleaners, natural toilet bowl cleaners, stain removers, etc. Get rid of any aerosol sprays as they release tiny chemical particles into the air that are easily inhaled. Down to Earth carries a wide variety of non-toxic cleaning products for all your household cleaning chores. From toilets to tubs, to dishes and windows, many great products can be found that are human and earth-friendly.

In general, read labels on products, especially the warning labels. Avoid those that state things like "Danger," "Poison," "Corrosive" or "May cause burns." Look for specific claims about human and environmental safety such as “no phosphates,” or “Biodegradable in 3 to 5 days.” These claims are stronger than generic terms like “Natural,”or “Biodegradable.” Because companies are not required to disclose all ingredients on cleaning products, it may take some investigating if you want to find out what is really in a particular product. The Environmental Working Group recommends avoiding these 7 ingredients above all:³

• Butoxyethanol (or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) and other glycol ethers
• Alkylphenol ethoxylates (some common ones are: nonyl- and octylphenol ethoxylates, or non- and octoxynols)
• Dye (companies often hide chemical information behind this word; when it's unknown, it's safer to skip it)
• Ethanolamines (common ones to look out for are: mono-, di-, and tri-ethanolamine)
• Fragrance
• Pine or citrus oil (on smoggy or high ozone days, compounds in the oils can react with ozone in the air to form the carcinogenic chemical formaldehyde)
• Quaternary ammonium compounds (look out for these: alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC), benzalkonium chloride, and didecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride)

You can also stock up on a few basic ingredients that can be kept on hand for all types of cleaning jobs: baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, borax, and a coarse scrubbing sponge can take care of most household cleaning needs. Following are a few homemade-cleaning ideas from the Worldwatch Institute:

• Instead of using a standard drain cleaner, which likely contains lye, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid, try pouring a quarter cup of baking soda down the clogged drain, followed by a half cup of vinegar. Close the drain tightly until fizzing stops, then flush with boiling water.
• For an effective glass cleaner, use a mixture of half white vinegar and half water.
• Baking soda and cornstarch are both good carpet deodorizers.
• To clean up mildew and mold, use a mixture of lemon juice or white vinegar and salt.
• A paste of baking soda, salt, and hot water makes a great oven cleaner.

In the rare instance you need to use a hazardous product, use as little as possible and dispose of it in a way that will cause minimum harm—for example, by taking it to a hazardous waste recycling or treatment center.

As a conscious consumer, you may be interested in buying products that are free from animal by-products and not tested on animals. At Down to Earth, all of our health and beauty products are vegetarian and cruelty-free. But if you happen to be shopping elsewhere, it is important to be mindful of the ingredients in the health and beauty products you buy. Keep the following tips in mind:

1. Look for words like “cruelty-free,” “not tested on animals,” “no animal testing,” and “vegan” or “vegetarian.”
2. Look for the “leaping bunny” logo. This logo is recognized world wide as signifying that a product is not tested on animals during any stage of product development. The company's ingredient suppliers also make the same pledge.
3. If you don’t see any of these things on the label, it is important to read the ingredients. Be aware of “hidden” animal ingredients such as those listed below.

The following list is a condensed version of the list found at http://www.happycow.net/health-animal-ingredients.html

Carmine, Cochineal, or Carminic Acid

• Red pigment from the crushed female cochineal insect
• Reportedly 70,000 beetles must be killed to produce one pound of this red dye
• Used in cosmetics, shampoos, red apple sauce, and other foods (including red lollipops and food coloring)
• May cause allergic reactions

Chitosan

• A fiber derived from crustacean shells
• Used as a lipid binder in diet products; in hair, oral and skin care products, antiperspirants, and deodorants

Elastin

• Protein found in the neck ligaments and aortas of cows
• Similar to collagen

Gelatin or Gel

• Protein obtained by boiling water with skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones from cows or pigs
• Used in shampoos, face masks, and other cosmetics
• Used as a thickener for fruit gelatins and puddings (e.g., "Jello")

Keratin

• Protein from the ground-up horns, hooves, feathers, quills, and hair of various animals.
• In hair rinses, shampoos, permanent wave solutions

Shellac or Resinous Glaze

• Resinous excretion of certain insects
• Used as a candy glaze, in hair lacquer, and on jewelry
• Alternatives = plant waxes

Tallow, Tallow Fatty Alcohol, or Stearic Acid

• Rendered beef fat
• May cause eczema and blackheads
• Found in wax paper, crayons, margarines, paints, rubber, lubricants, candles, soaps, lipsticks, shaving creams, and other cosmetics

Urea or Carbamide

• Excreted from urine and other bodily fluids
• In deodorants, ammoniated dentifrices, mouthwashes, hair colorings, hand creams, lotions, shampoos, etc.
• Used to "brown" baked goods, such as pretzels