This wasn't in my Story of Cosmetics post but I ran out of toothpaste so I jumped on the chance to make some. Here's the recipe...
Tooth Powder:
3 Parts Baking Soda
1 Part Salt
Toothpaste:
3 Parts Baking Soda
1 Part Salt
Add Glycerin until favored consistency
( I found a 4oz bottle for $5 and I used right under 1oz.)
Add Flavoring Extract until you can smell it {Grin}
I used Peppermint in mine. You can also add a drop of food coloring if it gets the kids excited to try too.
What do I think??
It's going well so far. A bit salty the first try but you get used to it. Little Astronaut hasn't complained one bit. I just told him he needs to spit really well. And I use the smallest bit for Miss Adventure since we're still working on her spitting.
My wonderful mother in law asked me...How do you have time to make all these things??
Maybe you're thinking you're too busy too. There was a time I thought I was too busy to make bread from scratch or start a garden. But really it takes 15 mins of my day. Well, not the bread. But really. It took me 15 mins to make this toothpaste. And I don't do these things every day. I make bread every Monday and I'm thinking our toothpaste will last a month. And the deodorant maybe 2 or 3 months. It's really not a big deal. And once you have the supplies at home all you have to do is whip some up when you need it.
So say good bye to the 'time' excuse and try it. {Grin}
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Deodorant
I'm so excited to share this one because it is
SO CHEAP and SO EASY!! Do you sense my excitement?? lol
And guess what...my husband is using it.
He's the real test.
He does the gym thing and he helps out
with high school wrestling. Talk about close quarters, right?
First off I will Copy and Paste a tid bit from
Use of antiperspirants. Here is a very intriguing thought. Kerri Bodner, publisher of the excellent Women's Health Letter, points out that 50% of breast cancer tumors appear on the upper quadrant of the breast closest to the underarm. Antiperspirants are strong chemicals, usually containing aluminum, which prevent sweating. Now sweating is a way for the body to eliminate toxins and unwanted materials with the help of the lymphatic system. Preventing this activity is, in Bodner's words, "like damming up a river." Sweat backs up into the lymphatic ducts, and the toxins become trapped in the under-arm lymphatic area. The fatty breast tissue allows for efficient storage of these unwanted toxins. Breast cancer often involves the lymph nodes. Could there be a connection?
Now what I've done in the past is use Women's Degree Antiperspirant during the summer
and Toms Deodorant in the winter to give my body some time to detox. I found that I had to apply
Tom's a few times a day or I was smelled a bit funky.
But now I use this and guess what!!
I don't smell like anything. Honest!
My husband has said it too and he has to work outside the home...
you know...with people who care.
Not just two kids.
So here's how you do it...
Take 3 Tbls Coconut Oil and warm it to a liquid.
Pour into a small bowl and add 3Tbls Baking Soda
and 3 Tbls Corn Starch. You can add an essential oil too if you's like.
Mix until combined and our into an empty deodorant stick.
Put it in the fridge and it should be ready in 1-2 days.
You can keep in the fridge and use as a stick or you can pour it into a
small jar and keep it in the bathroom but you have to use your fingers to
apply it. We use it both ways. It's not messy at all.
Coconut Oil is about 8 bucks for 16 oz so it will last forever.
And you probably already have Baking Soda and Cornstarch in your
kitchen so I'm thinking 3 Tbls is 1.5 ounces...that's .50cents an ounce...
so for 1.50 you have one great natural product!
Thank you to my friend Mrs. A for this deodorant solution!
Note: At Micheal's Craft Store you can buy a small bottle of essential oil for $3. (Use your 40% off coupon!)It's in the candle making area. We used Clean Linen.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Soap and Moisturizer
I know you're wondering 'what can she possibly be using for soap??'
Yes...a washcloth and water.
We do use a Trader Joe's (natural) soap in those hidden places :)
but just a good scrubbing with some good ol' clean water does the trick for the rest...promise!
Even on your face!!
For the past 3 weeks I've been washing my face with soap on Fridays when I washed my hair. But I can totally tell my face oil is adjusting because today is day 8 of no washing and it feels great!
Gets me wondering how much damage we do to our hair and face
with all our crazy chemical washing and chemical moisturizer over and over and over again.
No wonder a women's face ages faster then men. We run our skin into the ground!
As for moisturizer...
We use Almond Oil.
This particular one smells like lavender when you put it on
but the scent goes away...just in case your hubby dares to try it {Grin}
I was afraid this would be too oily and I would feel like a grease ball all day
but seriously you need very little and it soaks right in.
It can be a bit pricey if you can't find Almond Oil in your grocery store.
I bought this one at a health food store for $12 but I've been using it for 28 days
and I've used under 1/3 of the bottle between myself and Miss Adventure.
That's only $4 a month. Not too shabby if you ask me.
Maybe you're not quite sure about the no soap thing yet. Try the Almond Oil.
Add your favorite essential oils. Be brave I bet you'll like it {Grin}
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
No Shampoo
A while ago I decided to stop washing my hair so often so my natural oils could do what they were made to do...create healthy hair. I washed every other day so I started to wash every 3 days. After a while I pushed it to every 4, then every 5, then every 6....so now I'm up to every Friday I wash my hair. Then I watched the video I posted yesterday. After such a wake up call I've been washing my hair with this...
That's right! Two things you already have in your kitchen. This is not only more natural and better for your hair, it's better for the environment. No I'm not a 'tree hugger' but it makes sense right? You wash your hair and body in chemicals...it goes down the drain and eventually makes it's way back into your water supply and now you're drinking chemicals. Oh and this is super CHEAP! Maybe I'll get some of you with just that. {Grin} Anyways this is how you can do it too...
Step 1 Don't wash your hair everyday. Work yourself up to an extra day until your not a grease ball anymore and then add another day and another day and another day and so forth. My goal is to work up to every two weeks and then maybe once a month. Note: I do rinse my hair every few days with just water. Really work your scalp with your fingers and pull all that natural oil down your hair. And during this stretching time...Don't touch your hair! You'll add the oils from your hands to your hair.
Step 2 Toss your shampoo. Buy an 8oz squirt bottle (I got mine at a beauty supply store for a buck or two). Use 1 TBS Baking Soda and add 1 cup of warm water. Shake and work into your hair. Use your fingers to work it into your roots. I usually let this sit for a few minutes. Rinse. Then mix 1TBS Apple Cider Vinegar in 1 cup warm water. Shake and work into your hair. Let sit a few minutes then rinse well. No you will not smell like Vinegar. Just make sure you rinse well.
I've been using this on myself and Miss Adventure for three weeks and I'm really happy with it. The hubby says the baking soda/vinegar wash makes my hair the softest it's ever been. I haven't used anything but water on Little Astronaut and his hair is not greasy or stinky! That's a big deal for a four year old boy! Goes to show ya that hair was not made to be striped everyday and your body will do it's job if you let it.
More to come on the soap, deodorant, and lotion...
That's right! Two things you already have in your kitchen. This is not only more natural and better for your hair, it's better for the environment. No I'm not a 'tree hugger' but it makes sense right? You wash your hair and body in chemicals...it goes down the drain and eventually makes it's way back into your water supply and now you're drinking chemicals. Oh and this is super CHEAP! Maybe I'll get some of you with just that. {Grin} Anyways this is how you can do it too...
Step 1 Don't wash your hair everyday. Work yourself up to an extra day until your not a grease ball anymore and then add another day and another day and another day and so forth. My goal is to work up to every two weeks and then maybe once a month. Note: I do rinse my hair every few days with just water. Really work your scalp with your fingers and pull all that natural oil down your hair. And during this stretching time...Don't touch your hair! You'll add the oils from your hands to your hair.
Step 2 Toss your shampoo. Buy an 8oz squirt bottle (I got mine at a beauty supply store for a buck or two). Use 1 TBS Baking Soda and add 1 cup of warm water. Shake and work into your hair. Use your fingers to work it into your roots. I usually let this sit for a few minutes. Rinse. Then mix 1TBS Apple Cider Vinegar in 1 cup warm water. Shake and work into your hair. Let sit a few minutes then rinse well. No you will not smell like Vinegar. Just make sure you rinse well.
I've been using this on myself and Miss Adventure for three weeks and I'm really happy with it. The hubby says the baking soda/vinegar wash makes my hair the softest it's ever been. I haven't used anything but water on Little Astronaut and his hair is not greasy or stinky! That's a big deal for a four year old boy! Goes to show ya that hair was not made to be striped everyday and your body will do it's job if you let it.
More to come on the soap, deodorant, and lotion...
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Story of Cosmetics
Ahh! It's been 3 weeks since my last post! I know...what the heck have I been doing??? Well I'll tell ya...it all started with me watching this video...
So...what'd you think? Crazy I know.
So in the past three weeks I haven't used shampoo, soap, deodorant, or lotion on myself or the kids. Grossed out yet? {Grin} I'll tell you what we have been using instead in my next post.
So...what'd you think? Crazy I know.
So in the past three weeks I haven't used shampoo, soap, deodorant, or lotion on myself or the kids. Grossed out yet? {Grin} I'll tell you what we have been using instead in my next post.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Safe Plastics??
10 Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA
Since our culture is obsessed with plastic you can't avoid all BPA but you can surely reduce your intake.
1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby
We use BPA-Free plastic bowls and plates made by Munchkin...check that packaging!
2. Give your baby natural fabric toys or wood ones instead of plastic ones
3. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic -- containers
4. IF you choose to use a microwave, don’t microwave food in a plastic container
5. Stop buying and consuming canned foods and drinks
6. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it)
7. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with glass varieties
8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don’t wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food
9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis filter instead
10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to you, or your children’s teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA
In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your food, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label No. 7 as these varieties may contain BPA.
Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 do not contain BPA, but they do contain other unsavory chemicals that you’re best off avoiding as well. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Smart Plastics Guide offers more detailed descriptions of the most commonly occurring chemicals in plastic products. They also offer this handy reminder:
"With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for you."
The website Mother Jones also offers a handy chart that you can cut out and stick on your refrigerator.
Since our culture is obsessed with plastic you can't avoid all BPA but you can surely reduce your intake.
1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby
We use BPA-Free plastic bowls and plates made by Munchkin...check that packaging!
2. Give your baby natural fabric toys or wood ones instead of plastic ones
3. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic -- containers
4. IF you choose to use a microwave, don’t microwave food in a plastic container
5. Stop buying and consuming canned foods and drinks
6. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it)
7. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with glass varieties
8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don’t wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food
9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis filter instead
10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to you, or your children’s teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA
In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your food, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label No. 7 as these varieties may contain BPA.
Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 do not contain BPA, but they do contain other unsavory chemicals that you’re best off avoiding as well. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Smart Plastics Guide offers more detailed descriptions of the most commonly occurring chemicals in plastic products. They also offer this handy reminder:
"With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for you."
The website Mother Jones also offers a handy chart that you can cut out and stick on your refrigerator.
Plastic in the Kitchen
There's a new wave in testing people for a so-called "body burden" of industrial chemicals in their blood stream. The results should shock you. A family with two young children in Oakland, CA were invited by reporters to participate in a cutting-edge study to measure industrial chemicals in their bodies.
The parents were horrified to find that their children - a boy, then 18 months, and a five-year old girl - had chemical exposure levels up to seven times those of their parents. The baby boy had three times the level of flame retardants in his body that's been known to cause thyroid dysfunction in lab rats.
The following chemicals are in YOUR body...so lets take a look...
Phthalates:
This is a big one! Chemicals that make plastics soft and pliable. They're found in all kinds of plastic bottles, as well as plastic containers, kitchen wrap, soft toys and medical devices. Phthalates are also used as solvents for fragrances, so they're in a lot of personal care products like shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfume, nail polish and cosmetics. Animal studies show that phthalates disrupt hormone levels, causing neurological dhysfunction and reproductive defects in lab rats. Preliminary studies on humans show that phthalate exposure may be associated with genital birth defects in males as well as male infertility.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs):
Flame-retardant chemicals. They're found in foam products such as mattresses, couches and carpets. In plastics such as casings for TVs, computers and other electronics. In building materials, motor vehicles, airplanes, and textiles. Animal studies show PBDEs cause liver, thyroid and neurological damage in lab rats. Health experts worry most about PBDEs potential harm to fetuses and children under 6, but studies on human toxicity have only just begun.
Bisphenol A (BPA):
This is a big too! A chemical used to make plastics hard. It's in polycarbonate plastic products such as baby bottles, hard water bottles and food containers, as well as in the resin lining of aluminum cans and some dental sealants. A study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology found a link between bisphenoal A and female reproductive disorders such as cystic ovaries and cancers. In August, an expert panel from the National Institutes of Health expressed concern that bisphenol A may harm children and adults and recommended more research be done.
Perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs):
Chemicals used to make nonstick and stain-resistant products such as nonstick frying pans <-We use this all the time right?! and water-resistant materials. PFOAs have been shown to cause developmental problems and liver toxicity in lab rats. Animal studies have caused concern among health experts about PFOAs' toxicity to humans since they stay in the body for years at a time between exposures. Some studies have suggested that PFOAs are human carcinogens. A CARCINOGEN is any substance, radionuclide or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in causing CANCER.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):
Chemicals used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment as well as older models of microwaves and refrigerators. It is found in plasticizers in paints and cements, adhesives, wood floor finishes, de-dusting agents, water-proofing compounds, and surgical implants. They were banned in the US in the late 1970s, but they are long-lasting compounds that persist in the environment. The EPA calls PCBs a "probable carcinogen," meaning they probably cause cancer. PCBs have been associated with immunological and psychosocial problems in children, such as changes in motor skills and a decrease in short-term memory. In adults, PCBs have been associated with rashes, acne and liver damage.
So after all that....We use glass in the kitchen. I bought some Pyrex at Walmart and some mason jars. Britney at http://www.4littlemenandgirlytwins.com/ did a post about using certain plastics so I will just copy and paste it after this post because it's so great.
We also replaced our cookware with Todd English's Green Pan. It does not contain PFOA. You can find it at http://www.hsn.com/
But I bought my set on EBAY for a lot cheaper. The pots are fantastic but the pans are hard to keep looking new. I'm thinking I'm going to buy a large cast iron skillet instead but keep the pots.
The parents were horrified to find that their children - a boy, then 18 months, and a five-year old girl - had chemical exposure levels up to seven times those of their parents. The baby boy had three times the level of flame retardants in his body that's been known to cause thyroid dysfunction in lab rats.
The following chemicals are in YOUR body...so lets take a look...
Phthalates:
This is a big one! Chemicals that make plastics soft and pliable. They're found in all kinds of plastic bottles, as well as plastic containers, kitchen wrap, soft toys and medical devices. Phthalates are also used as solvents for fragrances, so they're in a lot of personal care products like shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfume, nail polish and cosmetics. Animal studies show that phthalates disrupt hormone levels, causing neurological dhysfunction and reproductive defects in lab rats. Preliminary studies on humans show that phthalate exposure may be associated with genital birth defects in males as well as male infertility.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs):
Flame-retardant chemicals. They're found in foam products such as mattresses, couches and carpets. In plastics such as casings for TVs, computers and other electronics. In building materials, motor vehicles, airplanes, and textiles. Animal studies show PBDEs cause liver, thyroid and neurological damage in lab rats. Health experts worry most about PBDEs potential harm to fetuses and children under 6, but studies on human toxicity have only just begun.
Bisphenol A (BPA):
This is a big too! A chemical used to make plastics hard. It's in polycarbonate plastic products such as baby bottles, hard water bottles and food containers, as well as in the resin lining of aluminum cans and some dental sealants. A study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology found a link between bisphenoal A and female reproductive disorders such as cystic ovaries and cancers. In August, an expert panel from the National Institutes of Health expressed concern that bisphenol A may harm children and adults and recommended more research be done.
Perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs):
Chemicals used to make nonstick and stain-resistant products such as nonstick frying pans <-We use this all the time right?! and water-resistant materials. PFOAs have been shown to cause developmental problems and liver toxicity in lab rats. Animal studies have caused concern among health experts about PFOAs' toxicity to humans since they stay in the body for years at a time between exposures. Some studies have suggested that PFOAs are human carcinogens. A CARCINOGEN is any substance, radionuclide or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in causing CANCER.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):
Chemicals used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment as well as older models of microwaves and refrigerators. It is found in plasticizers in paints and cements, adhesives, wood floor finishes, de-dusting agents, water-proofing compounds, and surgical implants. They were banned in the US in the late 1970s, but they are long-lasting compounds that persist in the environment. The EPA calls PCBs a "probable carcinogen," meaning they probably cause cancer. PCBs have been associated with immunological and psychosocial problems in children, such as changes in motor skills and a decrease in short-term memory. In adults, PCBs have been associated with rashes, acne and liver damage.
So after all that....We use glass in the kitchen. I bought some Pyrex at Walmart and some mason jars. Britney at http://www.4littlemenandgirlytwins.com/ did a post about using certain plastics so I will just copy and paste it after this post because it's so great.
We also replaced our cookware with Todd English's Green Pan. It does not contain PFOA. You can find it at http://www.hsn.com/
But I bought my set on EBAY for a lot cheaper. The pots are fantastic but the pans are hard to keep looking new. I'm thinking I'm going to buy a large cast iron skillet instead but keep the pots.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Desires Of Your Heart
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4,5
My in-laws bought some property a few years ago in the middle of nowhere. It's only two hours away from us so we visit once a month. We live here everyday but our hearts are really on the ranch. There is such peace, purpose, and a sense of freedom on the land that it gets harder to come home to the busyness of life. Not that we are not busy there. There are houses to restore, grass to plant, gardens to work, and tumbleweeds by the field full. It's work up there and it looks a bit run down but it'll get there soon enough.
We know that the Lord will move us there and at times we feel anxious for it. We've never felt rooted somewhere and have always seen friends, churches, living space, etc. as seasons in our life. Everything has felt temporary even if we've really enjoyed it. So now that all makes sense. We grew up in this town but our kids won't. They'll be country kids and that sounds great to me!
Anyways, where I'm going with this is......
My in-laws bought some property a few years ago in the middle of nowhere. It's only two hours away from us so we visit once a month. We live here everyday but our hearts are really on the ranch. There is such peace, purpose, and a sense of freedom on the land that it gets harder to come home to the busyness of life. Not that we are not busy there. There are houses to restore, grass to plant, gardens to work, and tumbleweeds by the field full. It's work up there and it looks a bit run down but it'll get there soon enough.
We know that the Lord will move us there and at times we feel anxious for it. We've never felt rooted somewhere and have always seen friends, churches, living space, etc. as seasons in our life. Everything has felt temporary even if we've really enjoyed it. So now that all makes sense. We grew up in this town but our kids won't. They'll be country kids and that sounds great to me!
Anyways, where I'm going with this is......
I was talking to the Lord about moving and he brought to mind when I was little I used to tell my grandparents I wanted to be a police officer, live on a ranch, have a few dogs, and horses. They would laugh it off and say 'All on an officer's salary huh?' Of course I didn't know what a 'salary' was at the time {Grin}And I don't want to be an officer anymore. But this scripture came to mind and I had to laugh to myself. God gave me this desire 20 years ago and here I am really nearing it. I came to the Lord 9 years ago and I know that My Father loves me, wants me, and has great plans for me. And soon he'll give me and my family this every day.
What desire has He given you?
Friday, October 1, 2010
Will this Harm us or Help us?
**There is a bread recipe after this rant so just make it through...it's worth it! lol
I was in the grocery store today and I observed two things that kindda made my heart sad. I was in the bulk section (unbleached flour for .28 a lb!) and I noticed a family with four (yelling) children. One of the girls says ,'Mom! I'm getting some beef jerky!' She walks near me and picks up a handful of Slim Jim things. And yes I mean things. I turn back around and think...'Oh sweetheart that is not beef jerky.' Then I get in line and a mom and her five children are in front of me and I'm thinking...'How fun a big family would be.' Then she starts to load their food and I see 3 huge boxes of Pop tarts, fruit cups...processed food and more processed food.
I'm not judging these people. They just don't know what they are feeding their family. The mom in front of me probably thought fruit cups were a healthy choice. But she doesn't know that they contain High Fructose Corn Syrup which harms your immune system. So when her kids get sick she'll wonder why their little bodies take so long to recover.
Every time I'm at the grocery store I am reminded why we eat the way we do. And don't get me wrong we don't eat perfectly...my weakness is chocolate {grin}. We have been slowly changing our habits over the past year or so and we have a ton more to learn and change. This is what I've learned so far...question everything's ingredients before it goes in our basket. Will this item help us or harm us? Then make your decision.
It comes down to... I want to know what I'm feeding my family.
So we have stopped buying a lot of items we used to. I have started cooking from scratch instead of a box. We try to stick with organic foods as much as we can afford. And we are trying lots of new things...good and bad (lol). Ex: Don't make homemade doughnuts with whole wheat flour...they are horrible!
One of our newer things is homemade bread. You can buy real bread at Trader Joes or Lassens or whatever health food store you have but this can be expensive depending on how much bread you go through a week. So I tried a whole wheat bread machine recipe for a couple months and slowly but surely my family stopped asking for toast or sandwiches. So back to the internet I go and find a recipe for oven baked white bread. My husband loves the bread and that is a big deal! I used to be afraid of bread but it's so easy. So I don't feel like I'm always checking on it I just set my timer for the rising times. There are 6 ingredients in this bread. Take a quick look in your pantry and see how many are listed on your bread...surprised?? Me too.
3 cups of warm water
3 TBS yeast
3 tsp salt
4 TBS oil
1/2 cup organic sugar
8 cups of bread flour
*Tip* So you don't have to buy different flours just buy the one you like and find Gluten Flour in your bulk section and add 1TBS per cup of flour. Ex: This calls for 8 cups of bread flour so I used 8 cups unbleached flour and add 8 TBS Gluten Flour to make it bread flour.
Combine water, yeast, salt, oil, sugar, and 4 cups of flour. Let rise until double. (Mine takes about 30mins)
Now remember that this bread has no preservatives so you need to eat it or freeze it. This lasted us a week and a half. I kept 2 out and froze the other until we needed it. I looks like a lot of work but it's really not and it's delicious! For us this is one more step to self sufficiency...I'm never buying store bread again {Grin}
I was in the grocery store today and I observed two things that kindda made my heart sad. I was in the bulk section (unbleached flour for .28 a lb!) and I noticed a family with four (yelling) children. One of the girls says ,'Mom! I'm getting some beef jerky!' She walks near me and picks up a handful of Slim Jim things. And yes I mean things. I turn back around and think...'Oh sweetheart that is not beef jerky.' Then I get in line and a mom and her five children are in front of me and I'm thinking...'How fun a big family would be.' Then she starts to load their food and I see 3 huge boxes of Pop tarts, fruit cups...processed food and more processed food.
I'm not judging these people. They just don't know what they are feeding their family. The mom in front of me probably thought fruit cups were a healthy choice. But she doesn't know that they contain High Fructose Corn Syrup which harms your immune system. So when her kids get sick she'll wonder why their little bodies take so long to recover.
Every time I'm at the grocery store I am reminded why we eat the way we do. And don't get me wrong we don't eat perfectly...my weakness is chocolate {grin}. We have been slowly changing our habits over the past year or so and we have a ton more to learn and change. This is what I've learned so far...question everything's ingredients before it goes in our basket. Will this item help us or harm us? Then make your decision.
It comes down to... I want to know what I'm feeding my family.
So we have stopped buying a lot of items we used to. I have started cooking from scratch instead of a box. We try to stick with organic foods as much as we can afford. And we are trying lots of new things...good and bad (lol). Ex: Don't make homemade doughnuts with whole wheat flour...they are horrible!
One of our newer things is homemade bread. You can buy real bread at Trader Joes or Lassens or whatever health food store you have but this can be expensive depending on how much bread you go through a week. So I tried a whole wheat bread machine recipe for a couple months and slowly but surely my family stopped asking for toast or sandwiches. So back to the internet I go and find a recipe for oven baked white bread. My husband loves the bread and that is a big deal! I used to be afraid of bread but it's so easy. So I don't feel like I'm always checking on it I just set my timer for the rising times. There are 6 ingredients in this bread. Take a quick look in your pantry and see how many are listed on your bread...surprised?? Me too.
3 cups of warm water
3 TBS yeast
3 tsp salt
4 TBS oil
1/2 cup organic sugar
8 cups of bread flour
*Tip* So you don't have to buy different flours just buy the one you like and find Gluten Flour in your bulk section and add 1TBS per cup of flour. Ex: This calls for 8 cups of bread flour so I used 8 cups unbleached flour and add 8 TBS Gluten Flour to make it bread flour.
Combine water, yeast, salt, oil, sugar, and 4 cups of flour. Let rise until double. (Mine takes about 30mins)
Add 4 cups of flour and knead until smooth (I used my Kitchen Aid). Put into greased bowl and cover with damp cloth until double. (about another 30mins)
Punch down and let rest a few mins. Divide into 3 parts, shape (just make the top look nice and smooth), and place in 3 greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise until double. ( about another 30 mins)
Finally!! Bake 35 mins set on 350* And you get these beautiful loaves....
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Why Fluoride?
Alright...take a look at this picture. Look familiar? I've seen it on many people's teeth. It's called dental fluorosis.
My notes are a bit lengthy so I'd advise you to just watch the video :)
1) 97% of western Europe has chosen fluoride-free water . This includes: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland.
2) Fluoride is the only chemical added to drinking water for the purpose of medication (to prevent tooth decay - remember this part for fact #3). All other treatment chemicals are added to treat the water (to improve the water's quality and safety - which fluoride does not do). This is one of the reasons why most of Europe has rejected fluoridation. Example: In Luxembourg, "In our views, drinking water isn't the suitable way for medicinal treatment and that people needing an addition of fluoride can decide by their own to use the most appropriate way."
3) Contrary to previous belief, fluoride has minimal benefit when swallowed. When water fluoridation began in the 1940s and '50s, dentists believed that fluoride needed to be swallowed in order to be most effective. This belief, however, has now been discredited by an extensive body of modern research. According to the Centers for Disease Control, fluoride's "predominant effect is post eruptive and topical". In other words, any benefits that accrue from the use of fluoride, come from the direct application of fluoride to the outside of teeth (after they have erupted into the mouth) and not from ingestion. There is no need, therefore, to expose all other tissues to fluoride by swallowing it.
4) Fluoridated water is no longer recommended for babies. In November of 2006, the American Dental Association (ADA) advised that parents should avoid giving babies fluoridated water. Babies exposed to fluoride are at high risk of developing dental fluorosis - a permanent tooth defect caused by fluoride damaging the cells which form the teeth. Other tissues in the body may also be affected by early-life exposures to fluoride. According to a recent review published in the medical journal The Lancet, fluoride may damage the developing brain, causing learning deficits and other problems.
6) Ingestion of fluoride has little benefit, but many risks. Whereas fluoride's benefits come from topical contact with teeth, its risks to health (which involve many more tissues than the teeth) result from being swallowed. Adverse effects from fluoride ingestion have been associated with doses attainable by people living in fluoridated areas. For example:
a) Risk to the brain. According to the National Research Council (NRC), fluoride can damage the brain. Animal studies conducted in the 1990s by EPA scientists found dementia-like effects at the same concentration (1 ppm) used to fluoridate water, while human studies have found adverse effects on IQ at levels as low as 0.9 ppm among children with nutrient deficiencies, and 1.8 ppm among children with adequate nutrient intake.
b) Risk to the thyroid gland. According to the NRC, fluoride is an “endocrine disruptor.” Most notably, the NRC has warned that doses of fluoride (0.01-0.03 mg/kg/day) achievable by drinking fluoridated water, may reduce the function of the thyroid among individuals with low-iodine intake. Reduction of thyroid activity can lead to loss of mental acuity, depression and weight gain.
c) Risk to bones. According to the NRC, fluoride can diminish bone strength and increase the risk for bone fracture. While the NRC was unable to determine what level of fluoride is safe for bones, it noted that the best available information suggests that fracture risk may be increased at levels as low 1.5 ppm, which is only slightly higher than the concentration (0.7-1.2 ppm) added to water for fluoridation.
d) Risk for bone cancer. Animal and human studies – including a recent study from a team of Harvard scientists – have found a connection between fluoride and a serious form of bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in males under the age of 20. The connection between fluoride and osteosarcoma has been described by the National Toxicology Program as "biologically plausible." Up to half of adolescents who develop osteosarcoma die within a few years of diagnosis.
e) Risk to kidney patients. People with kidney disease have a heightened susceptibility to fluoride toxicity. The heightened risk stems from an impaired ability to excrete fluoride from the body. As a result, toxic levels of fluoride can accumulate in the bones, intensify the toxicity of aluminum build-up, and cause or exacerbate a painful bone disease known as renal osteodystrophy.
7) The industrial chemicals used to fluoridate water may present unique health risks not found with naturally-occurring fluoride complexes . The chemicals - fluorosilicic acid, sodium silicofluoride, and sodium fluoride - used to fluoridate drinking water are industrial waste products from the phosphate fertilizer industry. Of these chemicals, fluorosilicic acid (FSA) is the most widely used. FSA is a corrosive acid which has been linked to higher blood lead levels in children. A recent study from the University of North Carolina found that FSA can - in combination with chlorinated compounds - leach lead from brass joints in water pipes, while a recent study from the University of Maryland suggests that the effect of fluoridation chemicals on blood lead levels may be greatest in houses built prior to 1946. Lead is a neurotoxin that can cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems in children.
8)Water fluoridation’s benefits to teeth have been exaggerated. Even proponents of water fluoridation admit that it is not as effective as it was once claimed to be.
a) No difference exists in tooth decay between fluoridated & unfluoridated countries. While water fluoridation is often credited with causing the reduction in tooth decay that has occurred in the US over the past 50 years, the same reductions in tooth decay have occurred in all western countries, most of which have never added fluoride to their water. The vast majority of western Europe has rejected water fluoridation. Yet, according to comprehensive data from the World Health Organization, their tooth decay rates are just as low, and, in fact, often lower than the tooth decay rates in the US.
b) Cavities do not increase when fluoridation stops. In contrast to earlier findings, five studies published since 2000 have reported no increase in tooth decay in communities which have ended fluoridation.
c) Fluoridation does not prevent oral health crises in low-income areas. While some allege that fluoridation is especially effective for low-income communities, there is very little evidence to support this claim. According to a recent systematic review from the British government, "The evidence about [fluoridation] reducing inequalities in dental health was of poor quality, contradictory and unreliable." In the United States, severe dental crises are occurring in low-income areas irrespective of whether the community has fluoride added to its water supply. In addition, several studies have confirmed that the incidence of severe tooth decay in children (“baby bottle tooth decay”) is not significantly different in fluoridated vs unfluoridated areas. Thus, despite some emotionally-based claims to the contrary, water fluoridation does not prevent the oral health problems related to poverty and lack of dental-care access.
9) Low-income families are least able to avoid fluoridated water. Due to the high costs of buying bottled water or expensive water filters, low-income households will be least able to avoid fluoride once it's added to the water. As a result, low-income families will be least capable of following ADA’s recommendation that infants should not receive fluoridated water. This may explain why African American children have been found to suffer the highest rates of disfiguring dental fluorosis in the US.
10) Due to other sources, many people are being over-exposed to fluoride . Unlike when water fluoridation first began, Americans are now receiving fluoride from many other sources (Sources of fluoride include: fluoride dental products, fluoride pesticides, fluoridated pharmaceuticals, processed foods made with fluoridated water, and tea besides the water supply. As a result many people are now exceeding the recommended daily intake, putting them at elevated risk of suffering toxic effects. For example, many children ingest more fluoride from toothpaste alone than is considered “optimal” for a full day’s worth of ingestion. According to the Journal of Public Health Dentistry:
This information is from http://www.fluoridealert.org/
Does your head hurt from information overload?? To conclude this post I'm happy to say my kids and I use Tom's non-fluoride toothpaste and I don't give my children those liquid vitamins with fluoride in them either. I believe my area does not fluoridate our water but I will be calling my dentist on Monday to confirm. You can do the same and if your area does fluoridate your water you can get a reverse osmosis filter to filter it out.
UPDATE: Jan 7 2011 this article came out on Yahoo News
http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/ap/us_med_fluoride_levels
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
When I Was young in the Mountains
I found this book at Goodwill Books a few months ago and I love it. It's like a summation of The Little House on the Prairie in way. It's simplicity speaks to me...calls to me...waits for me to respond.
Each page begins with... when I was young in the mountains and she talks of everyday life living in the mountains with her grandparents. Her grandfather coming home from the coal mine covered with black dust. Swimming in a dark and muddy swimming hole. Pumping water for their baths and warming up by the wood stove while her grandmother heats up cocoa. Church at the schoolhouse and walking through the cow pasture to the swimming hole for baptisms. These are my favorite pages...
When I was young in the mountains, Grandmother spread the table with hot corn bread, pinto beans, and fried okra.
On our way home, we stopped at Mr. Crawford's for a mound of white butter. Mr. Crawford and Mrs. Crawford looked alike and always smelled of sweet milk.
When I was young in the mountains, we sat on the porch swing in the evenings, and Grandfather sharpened my pencils with his pocket knife. Grandmother sometimes shelled beans and sometimes braided my hair. the dogs lay around us, and the stars sparkled in the sky. A bobwhite whistled in the forest.
When I was young in the mountains, I never wanted to go to the ocean, and I never wanted to go to the desert. I never wanted to go anywhere else in the world, for I was in the mountains. And that was always enough.
This is the last page and whispers contentment, joy, and peace. No fancy dinners, no TV in the evening, and no rushing to soccer practice and dance. Family, spending time, and doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done. I admire this book. You may not get it or like it but I do {Grin}
Each page begins with... when I was young in the mountains and she talks of everyday life living in the mountains with her grandparents. Her grandfather coming home from the coal mine covered with black dust. Swimming in a dark and muddy swimming hole. Pumping water for their baths and warming up by the wood stove while her grandmother heats up cocoa. Church at the schoolhouse and walking through the cow pasture to the swimming hole for baptisms. These are my favorite pages...
When I was young in the mountains, Grandmother spread the table with hot corn bread, pinto beans, and fried okra.
When I was young in the mountains, we sat on the porch swing in the evenings, and Grandfather sharpened my pencils with his pocket knife. Grandmother sometimes shelled beans and sometimes braided my hair. the dogs lay around us, and the stars sparkled in the sky. A bobwhite whistled in the forest.
When I was young in the mountains, I never wanted to go to the ocean, and I never wanted to go to the desert. I never wanted to go anywhere else in the world, for I was in the mountains. And that was always enough.
This is the last page and whispers contentment, joy, and peace. No fancy dinners, no TV in the evening, and no rushing to soccer practice and dance. Family, spending time, and doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done. I admire this book. You may not get it or like it but I do {Grin}
Friday, August 27, 2010
What is that smell??
So I love Target. Who doesn't right? Just the convenience of being able to buy the new car seat I want, fruit leather, and a cute pink cardigan is fabulous. I'm there today and I'm all for trying new things which drives my darling husband crazy...so I pick these up. Dried apples.
I get home open them up and start snacking, the bag says they are Great For Snacking so I obey. Mind you I haven't eaten since 8am and it's 1pm so the fact that I'm smelling and tasting chemical doesn't hit me until a few mins later. Now my head kind of hurts and I'm looking up the ingredients: Apples (good), citric acid (ok), sodium metabisulphite (not so good). This is what good ol' Wikipedia says...I will take notes and highlight the best parts :)
Sodium metabisulfite or sodium pyrosulfite is an inorganic compound of chemical formula Na2S2O5. It is used as a disinfectant, antioxidant and preservative agent. How are these words used in the same sentence??
It may cause allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to sulfites, including respiratory reactions in asthmatics as well as in those who do not identify with the condition.
It is used as a cleaning agent for potable water reverse osmosis membranes in desalination systems. It is also used to remove chloramine from drinking water after treatment.
Concentrated sodium metabisulfite can be used to remove tree stumps. <- No. I'm not making this up.
When mixed with water, sodium metabisulfite releases sulfur dioxide (SO2), a pungent, unpleasant smelling gas that can also cause breathing difficulties in some people. For this reason, sodium metabisulfite has fallen from common use in recent times, with agents such as hydrogen peroxide becoming more popular for effective and odorless sterilization of equipment. Aww it's all coming clear now. If you can't smell it it's not there. That works, right??
Sodium metabisulfite or sodium pyrosulfite is an inorganic compound of chemical formula Na2S2O5. It is used as a disinfectant, antioxidant and preservative agent. How are these words used in the same sentence??
It may cause allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to sulfites, including respiratory reactions in asthmatics as well as in those who do not identify with the condition.
It is used as a cleaning agent for potable water reverse osmosis membranes in desalination systems. It is also used to remove chloramine from drinking water after treatment.
Concentrated sodium metabisulfite can be used to remove tree stumps. <- No. I'm not making this up.
When mixed with water, sodium metabisulfite releases sulfur dioxide (SO2), a pungent, unpleasant smelling gas that can also cause breathing difficulties in some people. For this reason, sodium metabisulfite has fallen from common use in recent times, with agents such as hydrogen peroxide becoming more popular for effective and odorless sterilization of equipment. Aww it's all coming clear now. If you can't smell it it's not there. That works, right??
Thursday, August 19, 2010
No Nuking In My House!
We haven't had a microwave since Oct 2009. I know insane! What first lead me to this info was a blog (http://www.4littlemenandgirlytwins.com/) then a documentary called Beautiful Truth (Netflix instant play). It's a bit on the slow side but loads of info! Anyways, they tested a carrot's 'vital energy field' first raw and then cooked in the microwave. You can see this light (vital energy field) shooting out of it in it's raw state and then hardly any light after it's been cooked. Talk about 'dead' food. I looked for a picture but I could only find this...It's a comparison of vital energy fields in an organic Mushroom vs. a commercially grown mushroom (I know.Whoa.) This is what the carrot looked like before and then after the microwave. I'll definitely be doing a post on Organic foods but a picture is louder than words right? Just think about what the average mushroom would look like after a microwave. Scary I know. Why even eat it when it has nothing to give your body?
Moving on....this is from Natural Cures By Kevin Trudeau...Page 395-397 I will take just a few notes.
The soviets took over the research that was started in Berlin, and looked very intently at how eating microwaved food affected the body. They found so many physical ailments that seemed to be caused directly from eating microwaved food that the Kremlin (government of the Soviet Union 1922–1991)banned these machines for use. (Yes I know the microwaves of today are different from the beginning)
Russian researchers found microwaved food had a decreased nutritional value and a significant diminishing of their "vital energy fields" of up to 90%!
Food that is in the microwave, even for just a few seconds, has the B-complex, C, E vitamins virtually destroyed. These vital nutrients are important for stress reduction and the prevention of cancer and heart disease.
Eating microwaved food has been shown to increase high blood pressure, migraines, dizziness, stomach pain, stress, anxiety, hair loss, appendicitis, cataracts, infertility problems, abnormal hormone levels, adrenal exhaustion, heart disease, memory loss, attention disorders, crankiness, depression, and poor sleep. Wow.
Eating the molecularity altered food alters your blood chemistry as well. Researchers have shown that if you eat organic vegetables that have been cooked in the microwave, your cholesterol rapidly rises.
From Dr. Mercola..."Recent research shows that any food that comes out of a microwave oven suffers severe molecular damage. When eaten it causes abnormal changes in human blood and immune systems."
He gives you an experiment you can do too! Plant seeds in pots and water one with filtered water and one with 'nuked' water and see what happens!! I'm so going to try this. I need to have my mom nuke a bunch of water for me first :) and I'll let you know how it turns out!
So you're sitting back in your chair thinking...'I don't know about all that. It can't be that bad? And it's just so convenient to use. I'm keeping mine. I don't care what this chick says. I grew up with a microwave and I'm fine.' Well I'll say this...'What if. Just what if a small portion of this is true? Could it be possible that we've taken convenience over health? Have we increased the chances of cancer and disease in ourselves? In our kids? I did something about it and now I won't be wondering later on.'
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Baby Steps...
We do not have cable. I know, kindda crazy. I would REALLY like no tv period....but that's not going to happen :) So...I'm over it.
Christmas 2008 I received The Duggars: 20 and Counting! book. First I'll say it's such an inspiring read whether you have 2 children or 20. Anyways, this is what's on page 30...
'Dr.Wheat (family physician and author) counseled us and encouraged us not to have a TV and not to have any pets during the first year of marriage. He said those things would distract us from each other....After the end of that first year,we got a pet rabbit and a television. We had the cable service hooked up and were instantly glued to the television during every waking moment at home. But the more we watched, the more we realized how bad some of the TV programming was, and we also saw our communication drop off.' (They now only watch educational videos, special events, and sometimes a Razorbacks game.)
Reading this was such a confirmation in what I had been feeling for the last few years but couldn't put into words. I didn't think my husband would be up for it (for sports mostly) but I told The Lord this is what I was feeling and wanted for our family and low and behold when I mentioned it to him he said...'Well, we spend like $60 a month on cable right? We would be saving some money. Long Pause Yeah, lets try it out. We can always turn it back on.' I think I canceled it that next day just in case he changed his mind!
So here we are a year and a half later without cable and we love it. Unknowingly at the moment this was our first step in simplifying our lives. We have Netflix and enjoy it so don't think we don't watch ANYTHING. We just watch things we want to. Here are some other reasons I was concerned about having cable in the home:
- We get to monitor closely what we all watch and no commercials telling us what we "need"
- We don't do Halloween, Santa Clause, or the Easter bunny and the preschool shows my kids watch of course had these themes for weeks (we did a lot of renting during those seasons)
- My husband and myself don't have to watch all the sex-hyped movie/show previews
- MY kids aren't concerned with the latest toys, cereal, juice, theme parks, etc. We go places of course. Just not because Mickey Mouse or Shamu told us too :)
So! I dare you...no double dare you! Turn off your cable for 3 months, start connecting with your spouse and children. Two things will happen: You may find out you really like the people you live with. OR That you don't know them at all and what a great opportunity to do something about it.
Christmas 2008 I received The Duggars: 20 and Counting! book. First I'll say it's such an inspiring read whether you have 2 children or 20. Anyways, this is what's on page 30...
'Dr.Wheat (family physician and author) counseled us and encouraged us not to have a TV and not to have any pets during the first year of marriage. He said those things would distract us from each other....After the end of that first year,we got a pet rabbit and a television. We had the cable service hooked up and were instantly glued to the television during every waking moment at home. But the more we watched, the more we realized how bad some of the TV programming was, and we also saw our communication drop off.' (They now only watch educational videos, special events, and sometimes a Razorbacks game.)
Reading this was such a confirmation in what I had been feeling for the last few years but couldn't put into words. I didn't think my husband would be up for it (for sports mostly) but I told The Lord this is what I was feeling and wanted for our family and low and behold when I mentioned it to him he said...'Well, we spend like $60 a month on cable right? We would be saving some money. Long Pause Yeah, lets try it out. We can always turn it back on.' I think I canceled it that next day just in case he changed his mind!
So here we are a year and a half later without cable and we love it. Unknowingly at the moment this was our first step in simplifying our lives. We have Netflix and enjoy it so don't think we don't watch ANYTHING. We just watch things we want to. Here are some other reasons I was concerned about having cable in the home:
- We get to monitor closely what we all watch and no commercials telling us what we "need"
- We don't do Halloween, Santa Clause, or the Easter bunny and the preschool shows my kids watch of course had these themes for weeks (we did a lot of renting during those seasons)
- My husband and myself don't have to watch all the sex-hyped movie/show previews
- MY kids aren't concerned with the latest toys, cereal, juice, theme parks, etc. We go places of course. Just not because Mickey Mouse or Shamu told us too :)
So! I dare you...no double dare you! Turn off your cable for 3 months, start connecting with your spouse and children. Two things will happen: You may find out you really like the people you live with. OR That you don't know them at all and what a great opportunity to do something about it.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Simple
A Simple Life. What does that mean? And what does it look like? What examples do we have to glean from?
Over the past two years I have felt a tug from The Lord. Only a year ago did I discover what it was. To strip. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) I've found the desire; no the need to start striping our lives of the clutter, the constant moving or need to be doing something or going somewhere.
Constant busyness leads to discontent. And this is where I find myself. Ourselves really. I see it in myself when I've had a full week of errands and 'to-do's'. I see in my kids when we've watched too much TV or had constant playmates all week. We just can't find peace with ourselves when the box in my planner says...nothing.
So here's my new mission...simplify. Why? I want to cherish these years with my kids and husband and really live in the moment. Jesus has a plan for our family and I don't want to miss it because I'm busy planning on what I'll do in heaven.
You may like the chaos and really thrive on it and be wondering what the heck I'm talking about with this slowing down stuff. But...I can relate. Two years ago I would have said 'I love being busy!' and 8 years ago I would have said 'I thrive under pressure and love it!' So bear with me. I'm excited see where this leads us.
Over the past two years I have felt a tug from The Lord. Only a year ago did I discover what it was. To strip. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) I've found the desire; no the need to start striping our lives of the clutter, the constant moving or need to be doing something or going somewhere.
Constant busyness leads to discontent. And this is where I find myself. Ourselves really. I see it in myself when I've had a full week of errands and 'to-do's'. I see in my kids when we've watched too much TV or had constant playmates all week. We just can't find peace with ourselves when the box in my planner says...nothing.
So here's my new mission...simplify. Why? I want to cherish these years with my kids and husband and really live in the moment. Jesus has a plan for our family and I don't want to miss it because I'm busy planning on what I'll do in heaven.
You may like the chaos and really thrive on it and be wondering what the heck I'm talking about with this slowing down stuff. But...I can relate. Two years ago I would have said 'I love being busy!' and 8 years ago I would have said 'I thrive under pressure and love it!' So bear with me. I'm excited see where this leads us.
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