The ABCs of Healthy Indoor Air

by Christopher Gavigan

People spend about 90% of their time indoors where air quality can be 2-5 times worse than outside. If your home is like most, the indoor air is polluted with dust mites, allergens, formaldehyde, volatile organic chemicals, phthalates, and a large number of other chemicals from the pesticides, cleaners, personal care products, electronics, and furniture you bring into your home. Makes you want to hold your breath, but there are simpler ways to clear the air. Here's a whole alphabet of easy steps.

Avoid pesticides. Find safer solutions at BeyondPesticides.org.
Buy natural personal care products (especially avoiding those with fragrance listed in the ingredients). Visit CosmeticsDatabase.com to find the healthiest options.
Clean without chemicals. Find homemade recipes and safer products at HealthyChild.org.
Dust often. Use a rag moistened with water or a microfiber cloth (especially windowsills and door jambs if your house was built before 1978 and televisions and
electronics which can release toxic flame retardants.)
Eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting if at all possible and replace with washable rugs. Carpets are virtual magnets for allergens and other contaminants.
Forgo fragrances and artificial air fresheners. Some just cover odors and others actually numb your nose so you can't smell the offending smell.
Grow plants, which act as natural air purifiers. The most effective ones, based on studies by NASA scientists, include heartleaf philodendron, elephant ear philodendron, English ivy, spider plant, Warneck dracaena, weeping fig, golden pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, and bamboo or reed palm.
Hang dry-cleaned clothes outside or in a well-ventilated area before bringing them inside.
Install a carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas that can cause flu-like symptoms, respiratory problems, and even death. Learn more at
www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html.
Just say no to pressed woods and particleboard. These types of wood are often glued together using formaldehyde resins.
Keep your ducts clean. Annually (especially before any season that requires you to keep your home closed up), hire someone to come in and vacuum out your ductwork.
Leave shoes at the door. Lead dust, pesticides, gasoline and more can be tracked inside on the bottom of your shoes.
Maintain a healthy level of humidity. Aim for levels of 30-50%, using a moisture detector (hygrometer). Air that's too humid promotes mold growth. Air that's too dry makes you more susceptible to illness.
Neutralize odors with white vinegar. Put four parts water and one part vinegar in a spray bottle. Use in trash cans, the refrigerator, or other areas with odors. Vinegar will naturally deodorize and within a few minutes, the vinegar smell will dissipate as well.
Open windows to let polluted air out and fresh air in. Even just a few minutes a day can noticeably improve your indoor air.
Paint using low or no-VOC options.
Quit smoking. At the very least, take it outside.
Repair leaky plumbing to avoid mold growth.
Sprinkle baking soda on rugs and carpets before vacuuming to naturally absorb odors.
Test for radon. Radon is another invisible, odorless gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Visit www.epa.gov/radon/ to learn how to protect your family.
Use an exhaust fan (or open a window) when bathing and cooking to keep humidity levels down.
Vacuum at least twice a week with a HEPA filtered vacuum.
Wash new clothes, bedding and drapes twice before using.
eXamine combustion appliances annually. Gas stoves, heaters, and other appliances that burn fuel should be checked regularly by a professional to ensure they are burning correctly and not releasing too many contaminants into your air.
Your nose knows. If something smells "new" or perfume-y, it is likely releasing chemicals.
Zzzzzz. Sleep peacefully knowing you're whole family is breathing easier.

Safe Outdoor Play

by Christopher Gavigan

Photo: Janelle Sorensen

After a long, cold winter, parents everywhere throw open the windows, soaking in the sunshine and spring temperatures, and utter the most thrilling four words in the parent lexicon: "Go outside and play!"

As you release your children out into nature (and out of your hair for an hour or two), bear in mind these few tips about keeping them safe and healthy as they tumble down grassy hills, bury themselves in sand, and get good and dirty!

Swim in clear waters. Beaches are a favorite summer destination, but the water at them can be polluted with chemicals, fecal matter, or other contaminants.

• Look for the cleanest beaches. Pick a beach that is tested regularly for cleanliness and that notifies you when it is unsafe to go in the water. The Natural Resources Defense Council rates the top 100 beaches, but for smaller beaches you’ll need to do some hunting. Contact your local or state environmental protection office or public health agency. Oftentimes you can do an on-line search of your favorite beach’s name with the words "water quality" to find information.
• Wait at least 24 hours after a heavy rainfall before swimming. Heavy rains can stir up polluted sediment and cause sewage systems to overflow into storm drains.
• If possible, choose beaches that are away from urban areas or that have good water circulation.
• Avoid swimming near storm drains.
• Check out the surrounding environment. What’s adjacent to the water? Farmland or golf courses could mean high levels of pesticides are running off into the water. If there’s an industrial facility upstream, you could be swimming in their effluent.
• Avoid getting water in your mouth.

Keep the bugs from bugging you. Nothing spoils a day outdoors like bug bites. And, some bugs can leave more than just an itchy red spot. Parents need to be aware of the risks of Lyme Disease, West Nile virus, and other infectious diseases – while also being aware of the risks of chemical repellents like DEET and permethrin.

• Keep as much skin covered as possible by wearing lightweight fabrics.
• Go indoors at dusk when mosquitoes come out to play.
• Use the safest, least toxic repellent for your situation and read the label carefully. Wash off skin and change clothes after returning indoors.

Breathe easy. For millions of children with asthma or allergies, air quality is nothing to sneeze at. And, for every child’s developing lungs, you should schedule outdoor playtime at times when the air is clearest.

• Check ozone and air particulate levels at airnow.gov. You can also sign up for email alerts by entering your zip code.
• Relax during peak heat. During the late afternoons of the hottest days are typically when air quality is worst. Avoid heavy exercise or anything that causes heavy breathing.
• Warmer weather also means seasonal allergies. Check your local pollen levels at Pollen.com.

Keep Off the Grass. Okay, not entirely, but be aware of yards and parks that may have recently been sprayed. Every year 90 million pounds of pesticides are showered on American lawns (between 7-10 times more pesticides than on food crops). The result is an immediately green lawn, but also long-term pollution of air, water and unknown potential impact on the health of our families.

• Watch for signs. Most public spaces are required to post signage when they have sprayed pesticides, but private lots and homeowners are not always so communicative. Find out from your local Park and Rec when and what they spray (and encourage them to switch to IPM – to save money and protect health and the environment). When you’re on walks, keep kids on the sidewalk.
• Kick off your shoes. When you get home, leave potential pesticide residue, lead dust, and dirt at the door by having everyone remove their shoes. If you can’t keep the shoes from crossing the threshold, have a straw mat and encourage everyone to do a thorough wiping.

This post originally appeared online at Cookie Magazine.

Related Topics:

• Safer Sandbox
• Sunscreen and Sun Safety
• Stay Safe at the Beach and Swimming Pool

My Daughter Had Lyme Disease: Was it My Fault?

by Janelle Sorensen

I spent New Year's Eve 2007 in the emergency room with my seven year-old daughter. For several days she had been complaining of an achy knee. The day before she had been limping around the house. And by late afternoon on New Year's Eve, she could barely stand up. I rolled up her pant leg to find her knee swollen to twice its normal size – and it hadn't looked like that the evening before when I helped her with her bath. I had no idea what was going on and since it was a weekend, it meant a trip to the ER.

In the emergency room, they sedated her and withdrew fluid from her knee. It showed signs of intense infection, but the doctors had no idea what it was from – maybe a freak occurrence, maybe pediatric arthritis, maybe immune dysfunction – it was a mystery. The one thing they did know was that she needed emergency knee surgery to clear out the bacteria infested fluid so it wouldn't eat away at her bones. I welcomed in the New Year sitting alone in a hospital room, terrified for my little girl.

After her surgery, she was admitted to the hospital where they pumped her body full of a wide spectrum of antibiotics to kill anything and everything until they knew exactly what they were up against. She was in a wheel chair. She was connected to an IV. She was getting needles stuck into her over and over as they performed test after test after test. It was every parent's nightmare. Nothing makes you feel as vulnerable as when your child is in pain, especially when you have no idea why or what's to come.

Fortunately, there was a brilliant epidemiologist on staff. She had never visited my daughter's room, but she received every patient file in the hospital to watch for trends. She saw my daughter's file and knew right away that it was Lyme Disease, an infectious disease spread by black-legged ticks that can, if left untreated, spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system causing chronic pain and debilitation.

Other doctors that checked out our daughter had considered Lyme Disease, but since we live in the middle of a large city and she never had the tell-tale bulls-eye marking most victims get after being bitten, they quickly wrote it off. The epidemiologist, hidden away in her office, knew it was "Lyme Disease season," a period about 3 months after peak tick season when people start showing up at the hospital with odd infections. She ordered the test for my daughter and it came back positive. After a week of tests with no answers, we finally knew what was going on – and, luckily, they caught it early enough to cure it.

Ironically, the previous summer we had done much less camping and hiking than we usually do. We had only left the city twice and it wasn't to camp or hike. We visited two houses in the country. We had one walk through a prairie. And, like so many times before, I relied on natural bug repellents because after years of researching toxic chemicals, there was no way I was going to spray DEET on my babies.

So, was it my fault that my daughter caught Lyme Disease? Did I knowingly put her in harm's way? I thought I was reducing a health risk. I had no idea I would be opening her up to another one.

After your child gets something like Lyme Disease, your risk-benefit spectrum gets turned on its head. The epidemiologist advised us that the risks from DEET were far less than the risks from Lyme Disease. I can't say I think it's quite that simple. Since the world has become such a chemical soup, I think reducing all exposures is important. It might not be the case that using DEET alone may cause something as horrible as Lyme Disease, but DEET mixed with phthalates mixed with bisphenol-A mixed with methylmercury mixed with dioxins (all common everyday exposures) may create a tipping point in my child's development. No one really knows what's going on anymore, so I feel strongly about eliminating as many chemicals from our family soup as I can.

The author's daughters, having fun in the sun once again

Still, Lyme Disease can be very serious and the incidence is on the rise, among other infectious diseases transmitted by insects – a trend expected to continue as climate change warms our world and makes it more hospitable for bugs. So, what do I do? I've introduced DEET back into my home, but I use it very judiciously. I have other options and I choose bug repellents based on each particular situation. I rely on natural repellents like Bite Blocker for low risk environments like the neighborhood park and I have my DEET-based repellent for camping and woodsy hikes. I don't use anything if the bugs aren't bugging us (which may or may not be wise given it only takes one bug to spread an infectious disease) and I take simple physical precautions all season long, like:

• wearing light colored clothes to cover skin, and hats to keep ticks out of my girls' thick hair;
• staying indoors when bugs are at their peak playtime (dusk);
• using my local public health department's website to find where infectious disease hot spots are;
• doing full body tick checks after hikes; and,
• changing clothes and bathing immediately after returning indoors if we've used any bug spray.

This is what I do. It may not be right for you. But, it's a good example of how we need to constantly weigh the factors in our environments. Which Insect Repellent is Right for Your Kids? Do you have any tips, tricks or stories to share?

Related Topics:

• Safer Bug Spray: Natural Bug Repellents
  
• Get Bugs Off, Naturally
• Chemical-free Ways to Fight Outdoor Pests

Secondhand Safety

Whether you just hit some yard sales and found a treasure trove of family goodies or you're a mother-to-be and you've just been flooded with hand-me-down baby gear, secondhand kid stuff can be a blessing or a curse. These items are better for your bank account, better for the planet, and have generally off-gassed harmful VOCs (that "new" smell). But they may not always be the safest option.
The March 2009 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, placed pre-used cribs, toys, clothing and more under the microscope so you know when you can gratefully say yes and when you should gracefully say no thanks.

Here are their tips to spot unsafe hand-me-downs with some additional recommendations from Healthy Child:

Bath Products

• Safe: Used baby bathtubs are fine as long as the lining isn't full of mold or mildew.


• Not Safe: If the tub has an odor of either of these, say no thanks because they can be hard to remove. Also, skip secondhand bath seats, bath rings, and inflatable tubs since they have been responsible for many deaths among babies.


• Healthy Child Recommendation: In addition to mold and mildew, look for scratches or other signs of wear and tear in the plastic. Old plastics are more apt to leach chemicals and the scratches can also be a harbor for bacteria.

Car Seats

• Safe: A car seat that has all its original parts and labels, has never been in a crash, and fits your car and child is OK.


• Not Safe: Products more than six years old are outdated, and most likely too run-down to be considered safe. Look on the underside of the car seat for an expiration date. Learn more about car seats from the American Academy of Pediatrics.


• Healthy Child Recommendation: It is dangerous (and illegal in some states) to reuse a car seat that has been in an accident. Only accept a hand-me-down from someone you trust. Don't ever buy one from a yard sale or thrift store.

Cribs

• Safe: Any crib that was manufactured after the year 2000 should be fine, as long as it is not broken or missing any pieces.


• Not Safe: Prior to 2000, cribs were held to different safety standards, and will not be acceptable for your baby, even if you slept soundly in them. Any crib with cutouts in the headboard, and corner posts over sixteen inches pose serious risks for a child's safety.


• Healthy Child Recommendation: Use the money you saved on the crib for a nice organic mattress (or at least an organic mattress cover). Your baby will spend most of her daily hours with her face nestled into her mattress, so it's worth it to invest in a healthy one.

High Chairs

• Safe: Say yes to a hand-me-down high chair if it has a five-point harness to prevent your child from climbing out and a fixed crotch post that prevents him/her from sliding out the bottom.


• Not Safe: Old-fashioned wooden high chairs with removable trays or arms are considered dangerous and uncomfortable for the baby, in addition to not being up to newer product safety standards.

Strollers

• Safe: Strollers made after 2007, when new safety standards were published, are safe.


• Not Safe: Any stroller made prior to that date, or has missing, loose, or broken pieces is not.


• Healthy Child Recommendation: Go for the stroller, but ditch the PVC rain guard.

Toys

• Safe: Stuffed animals and most children's books make fine hand-me-downs. In the case of lead in used toys, there are many home lead inspection kits which can be purchased for under twenty dollars which will tell you whether the toys have surface lead contamination.


• Unsafe: Avoid any toys that are chipped, as well as any small parts that can fit through a tube of toilet paper, since they present serious choking hazards for small children.


• Healthy Child Recommendation: Toss stuffed animals into a dryer on high heat or place into a freezer for 48 hours to kill any dust mites – especially if your child has dust allergies or asthma. Make sure books don't smell moldy. Politely decline plastic toys, especially if they are worn or if they are made from PVC (#3), PVC (#7) or an unknown plastic.

Used Clothing

• Safe: As long as buttons and snaps are on tight and none of the thread is unraveling from the fabric, the used clothing is fine.


• Unsafe: Don't accept any article of clothing with drawstrings because they pose a strangulation hazard.


• Healthy Child Recommendation: Recently, many children developed rashes and skin burns from children's tag-less clothing. Watch for these items and monitor your child for any reactions.

Clean your "new" treasures using mild (but still effective) disinfectants and other safer solutions.

And, here's my two-cents about secondhand safety: just as with many parenting issues, use your own best judgment. Items that you have a personal history with might fall outside of these guidelines (like using the same stroller or high chair for siblings). Take more precautions with items from thrift stores and yard sales.

Related Topics:

• 8 Ways to Make Baby’s Room Safer
• Tips For Sleeping Safely
• VIDEO: What to look for when buying toys

6 Fast and Natural Ways to Kill Weeds

It’s summer time and the weeds are growing like, um, weeds. Instead of reaching for a toxic chemical that could be harmful to your family or pets, try one of these easy natural ways to kill weeds quick.

1. Use mulch to smother weeds. Covering garden soil with a mulch blocks weeds. Use two or three inches of shredded bark, wood chips, straw, cocoa bean hulls, gravel or rocks. The mulches will also keep moisture in the soil so you'll have to water less frequently.


2. Douse weeds with boiling water. Weeds, like humans, will burn if exposed to boiling water. This method also kills weed seeds.


3. Soap weeds to death. Mix 5 tablespoons of liquid soap (such as dishwashing liquid) in one quart (4 cups) of water in a spray bottle. Coat the weeds with the soapy water. Works best on hot days.


4. Pickle weeds with vinegar. Pour household vinegar into a spray bottle and evenly coat weeds with it. U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists recently confirmed this in tests. Vinegar is really five percent acetic acid in water, and it burns the plant, especially on sunny days. For extra strength weed killer, look for pickling vinegar, which is nine percent acetic acid. Don't get the vinegar on your garden plants, as it can kill them too.


5. Give weeds a stiff drink of alcohol. Mix one to five tablespoons of alcohol – depending on how stubborn the weeds are – with one quart (4 cups) of water in a spray bottle. Shower weeds with the spray. Don't let the alcohol get on garden plants as it may damage their leaves.


6. Don't let 'em sprout! Use corn meal gluten as a pre-emergent herbicide and fertilizer. Corn meal gluten prevents weeds from growing, then breaks down to provide nitrogen to your plants or lawn. Use it on lawns or established perennial beds, as it won't kill already growing plants. That does mean, of course, that it won't work on already existing weeds.

Related Topics:

• Video: Fighting Weeds Naturally
• Get More Lawn and Garden Tips

Healthy Snack Checklist

Our guest blogger is Tara DelloIacono Thies, RD, LUNA Nutrition Strategist at Clif Bar & Company

My son and I were out and about when SNACK TIME came upon us. I opened our trusty grab bag to find a petrified orange, a trap of stale pretzels and an empty sippy-cup. Yikes! Since that day I promised to keep the bag stocked with some healthy packaged snacks that would hold up in the bag, ready to be eaten when we needed them.

Obviously, cheese sticks, yogurt, and fresh fruit don’t do well hanging out in a bag meant for a rainy day. You need something in a sealed package that doesn’t need refrigeration to serve as part of your grab bag of emergency snacks. This means finding natural and nutritious snacks that come in a package.

Packaged foods are convenient to stash in the glove box, a diaper bag, or a desk drawer. Foods in a package can be as healthy, natural and nutritious as fresh foods. Let me help you spot the best choices by showing you what to look out for on a food label.

As you are reading, pull a snack food package from your pantry. First, flip the package over and look at the ingredient list. Does it have ingredients you recognize as healthy or that you may even have on your shelf for cooking? If you see Blue 1, Red 40 or artificial flavorings, back away now.

Artificial colors, flavors, and non-natural preservatives are not ingredients you need in your food or body, nor do they have any nutritional value. Foods made with natural flavors and colors that come from the ingredients themselves are your best choice.

Other ingredients that are also a total turn-off are partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. Partially hydrogenated oils come with trans fat as a by-product that has no nutritional place in a recipe. When it comes to sugar, using more natural sweeteners will provide better taste with less sugar per gram, making it easy to enjoy the sweet benefits without overdoing it.

Does the package claim the food inside is natural? When it comes to labeling, you will find the term "natural" to be quite subjective. The best way to back up a natural claim is to see if it is closely followed by the word organic. Finding organic ingredients on a package is the fastest way to identify a food that is made with ingredients that have not been grown through genetic engineering or with dangerous pesticides or fertilizers.

Second, there are details to take note of on the nutrition label. Here’s a line-by-line guide to understanding some important details in the nutrition label on the package:

Serving Size: Check the serving size, so you know what portion is being referred to. It may say one serving, but perhaps there are two in the package and you are certain they will both be munched down together.

Calories: Snacks should be moderate in calories providing 150-200 calories per snack.

Calories from Fat: Generally, you want 30% of calories in kids’ foods to come from fat. Plug this simple equation into your mobile phone calculator to determine fat percentages: Calories from Fat ÷ Total Calories = % Calories from Fat.

Fiber: Kids need fiber to keep the digestive tract clean. Kids should snack on foods with 3 grams of fiber or more per serving, which can be found in whole grains like oats and whole wheat flour.

Sugar: On a food label, this refers to both added sugars (like organic cane juice) and naturally occurring sugars (like lactose in milk). Be sure to weigh the balance of sugar to the other nutrients provided in the food. Ideally, a snack should be less than 35 percent of its total weight in sugar.

% Daily Values (DV): The %DV makes it easy to see which foods are higher or lower in nutrients. When you are comparing similar foods, be sure you are comparing similar serving sizes too.

Sodium: Kids typically need only 1,200 milligrams of sodium per day. But, on average, they consume more than twice that – 2,800 milligrams each day – according to the Institute of Medicine.

If you were to open up my "ready-for-any-snack-time" grab bag today, this is what you will find:

• 4 oz 100% organic juice box
• 20 gram 100% organic no-added-sugar fruit snack
• 4 oz cup of cinnamon apple sauce
• 8 oz shelf-stable 1% fat milk box
• 1 oz bag of mini organic cheddar cheese crackers

These foods all have 'best by' expiration dates, so be sure you eat on a first-in, first-out basis. Next time you are out and about with hungry toddlers and no food in sight, you will be pleased to have snacks like these on hand.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For a Healthier You
• What's in Your Pantry?
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Surgeon General Issues Call to Action for Healthy Homes

Healthy Child Healthy World has been educating people about the importance of healthy environments for well over a decade and we’re so pleased to finally see a groundswell of support for helping everyone have a healthy home. From a press release issued earlier this week:

Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., today issued The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes at a press conference from the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. The Call to Action looks at the ways housing can affect health; its release will initiate a national dialogue about the importance of healthy homes.

"The home is the centerpiece of American life," Galson, a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service, said during today’s press conference. "We can prevent many diseases and injuries that result from health hazards in the home by following the simple steps outlined in this Call to Action."

Beyond the tangible hazards, like fires and falls, that public health officials have been warning families about for years, this new effort embraces the unseen dangers posed by poor indoor air quality and chemicals in everyday products.

Individuals can make their homes healthy and more environmentally friendly by improving air quality, safely using household products, properly using safety devices, adequately supervising children, and abating the use of toxic chemicals.

And, it’s not simply a call to action for individuals. It’s a call to action to society – citizens, health professionals, government officials, everyone – to work together and create cleaner, greener, safer environments for everyone.

The Call to Action outlines the next steps of a society-wide approach to healthy homes that will result in the greatest possible public health impact and reduction of disparities in the availability of healthy, safe, affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly homes.

Related Topics:

• Read the full press release.
• How Healthy Is your Home? Find Out Here!
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Healthy Body Care Tip #5: Antibacterials Are Not the Answer

by Christopher Gavigan

There is no doubt that personal hygiene is important to good health, but how much is enough? Sales of personal care products for children have jumped significantly in the past decade in part because marketers continue to redefine the "needs" of children in order to increase profits. One of the biggest new "necessities" is antibacterial products. Marketers have done a brilliant job at making parents feel like they need a scrupulously sanitized home and if you scrub enough with enough antibacterials and disinfectants you can rid the world of germs and bacteria and keep your family safe and healthy.

Guess what? Antibacterials are not all they're cracked up to be. Consider these facts, shared with Healthy Child by Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides:

• The most common illnesses (colds, flu and gastrointestinal upsets) are caused by viruses. Antibacterials have little or no effect on viruses.
• Antibacterial products target good bacteria as well as bad, but our bodies need those good bacteria. They help us digest our food, for example, and keep harmful microorganisms from entering our bodies through our main orifices like our mouths and nose.


• The bad bacteria we encounter typically have no impact on a healthy immune system. In fact, only 1 percent to 2 percent of microbes are likely to make us sick.


• Bacteria are so prevalent and reproduce so fast that it's impossible to eliminate them anyway. In addition, a large number of recent studies have found substantial evidence that certain antibacterial products actually promote the emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotic medications and antibacterial cleansers


• Research shows that plain soap and water is just as effective for hand washing as products containing triclosan. The Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee, which advises the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), voted 11-1 that antibacterial soaps and washes were no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections-both work equally as well.


• The overuse of triclosan (and other antibacterials) could potentially be increasing the incidence of allergies. The "hygiene hypothesis" theorizes that there is a correlation between too much hygiene and increased allergies and asthma. Studies have found an increase in the frequency of allergies, asthma and eczema in persons who have been raised in more sterile and hygienic environments. Through over-cleaning ourselves, The theory states, the body's immune system is not challenged, and thus it is prevented from developing and maturing.


• Even the American Medical Association concludes, "Despite their recent proliferation in consumer products, the use of antimicrobial agents such as triclosan in consumer products has not been studied extensively. No data exist to support their efficacy when used in such products or any need for them...it may be prudent to avoid the use of antimicrobial agents in consumer products."
  

Visit Healthy Child Healthy World to learn safer ways to keep germs at bay.

Related Topics:

• Antibacterial Soap: Do You Need It to Keep Your Home Clean?
• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Healthy Body Care Tip #4: Make it Yourself

by Christopher Gavigan

With a growing awareness of the questionable chemical concoctions manufacturers are allowed to sell to unassuming consumers, kitchen cosmetics are increasingly in vogue. While there are certain things that don't translate well to homemade, there are plenty that you might find superior to their store bought counterparts.

Instead of relying upon synthetic chemicals to clean or soothe the skin, you can use natural ingredients that have been relied on for centuries. Things like extra virgin olive oil which attracts external moisture without clogging pores or compromising skin function, calendula which is an extremely gentle way to treat skin irritations and minor infections, and chamomile which is a useful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent.

Here are a few simple recipes to get you started.

Baby wipes:

1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
1 Tbsp. Calendula oil
2 tsp. organic liquid soap
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls)
1 plastic container that the roll fits in

Cut roll in half and remove center cardboard. In plastic container, mix liquid ingredients, and place half of roll in container (cut side down). Put on lid and tip upside down until paper towels are fully saturated. To use, pull out from center.

Rash Soother: Protect skin and prevent rashes by rubbing a little olive oil on your baby's bum after each changing. At the first signs of redness, bathe your baby in warm water with a little baking soda or apply a small amount of aloe vera gel.

Oatmeal Baby Bath: 1 cup whole oats. Whirl in blender or food processor until they become powder. Mix as desired into bath water. The oatmeal softens the water and your baby's skin (you may be tempted to try it yourself!)

Baby Oil: Almond oil, olive oil, apricot oil, or calendula oil.

As with any product, the first time you use something on your child, watch closely for any type of reaction. For more recipes and tips pick up a copy of Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home or visit HealthyChild.org.

Related Topics:

• Healthier Hygiene
• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Healthy Body Care Tip #3: Know What You Need to Get What You Want

by Christopher Gavigan

America is the land of impulse shopping and if you don't know what you want, you'll end up buying a lot of things you don't need. In the case of personal care products, if you don't know what you need, you can end up buying products with a laundry list of chemicals that you don't want.

The variety of personal care products and cosmetics available is quite stunning and Americans buy 11 billion every year. While it would be nice if you could trust marketer's claims and make purchases based on which products you liked the smell of or that had the most attractive container, it's not that easy. If you want the safest products, you have to know what you need and want.

Luckily, the internet provides a wealth of information right at your finger tips. Two places to begin your search for the safest products are GoodGuide.com and CosmeticsDatabase.com. These two sources detail the health and environmental performance of thousands of products. You can refer to these in order to create your own personal shopping list, so you know exactly what to look for at the store.

Still, the best products you find in these databases are not always the ones you'll find on your local store shelves. In that case, turn to the internet again and shop on-line. There are a growing number of mindful manufacturers offering pure personal care products that don't use chemicals, fillers, or preservatives. A few of Healthy Child Healthy World's favorites are: Perfect Organics, Weleda, California Baby, Earth Mama Angel Baby, Aubrey Organics, Dr. Bronner's, and Dr. Hauschka. And as for cosmetics for mom, my wife tells me Josie Maran Cosmetics and CARE Cosmetics are outstanding.

Be intentional. Buy intentional.

Related Topics:

• Healthier Hygiene
• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Healthy Body Care Tip #2: Learn Label Lingo

by Christopher Gavigan

"Natural," "Hypoallergenic," "Herbal," "Organic" - they all sound like exactly what any parent would want to apply to their child's delicate skin. But while these terms are tempting product descriptions, don't judge the book by its cover. Currently, there is only one clear-cut hallmark of safety and that is the USDA Certified Organic seal. This seal is the only one that has defined standards and is actually regulated.

Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of Certified Organic body care products available and they typically cost much more than most families can afford. You can still make safer choices, but you have to be a savvy consumer. Use these two label-decoding tips to help you find the safest products:

1. Read the actual ingredients list. Even though marketing claims are largely unregulated, manufacturers are required to list the actual ingredients of products in order of volume. Still, reading product ingredients is like reading another language.
   
   Here are the top toxic ten to try to avoid: Parabens, Phthalates, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance, Triclosan, Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Ceteareth and PEG compounds, Anything with "glycol" or "methyl."
   
   It may be difficult to always avoid everything in this list, but do your best to cut back as much as possible.


2. Go fragrance-free. The one loop-hole in ingredients lists is "fragrance" (aka "parfum"). Fragrances of products are considered industry secrets and that single component can actually be made up of over a hundred other ingredients that do not need to be spelled out in the ingredients list. Play it safe by avoiding it. And, again, it does not matter if the label says "unscented." Read the ingredients to ensure that this suspect element is not present.

Worried you won't remember what to watch for? Go to Healthy Child Healthy World to print a pocket guide to keep with you when you're shopping.

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The Golden Rule for Reducing Exposure to Chemicals from Personal Care Products

by Christopher Gavigan

I've considered myself green for many years, but becoming the CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World and then becoming a father has certainly increased the hue. Everyday is a learning experience, whether I'm researching issues that pertain directly to being a father or I'm watching the headlines for breaking news or the latest studies at work. One area of environmental health that never ceases to shock or exasperate me is personal care products.

Allow me to share some of the jaw dropping statistics about the products you rub into your scalp and skin and trust on your baby's body and even use to clean your mouth every day:

• Even though the average person uses about ten products a day constituting hundreds of individual ingredients, safety testing of these products is voluntary and conducted by the product manufacturers.


• Eighty-nine percent of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have never been evaluated for safety by any publicly accountable institution.


• The FDA has banned or restricted only nine personal care product ingredients. For comparison, the European Union has regulated over 1100.

For me, for my wife, for my son, this is entirely unacceptable. Luckily, we've found safer products we love and we know the tricks to reduce exposures in general. You can learn how to do exactly the same thing.

To kick things off, here is the Golden Rule to remember in order to reduce unnecessary exposures to chemicals in care products:

Use fewer products in smaller amounts.

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The 5 Most Important Things We Can Do to Protect the Planet

by Christopher Gavigan

I recently spoke with Julia Wasson of Blue Planet Green Living and she asked me what I think are the five most important things we can do to save the planet.

Saving the planet - let's just say, protecting the planet. I'd like to frame this whole thing as protecting the planet instead of saving the earth. The planet doesn't need to be saved. The planet will be around a lot longer than we will.

1. Really, we need to save ourselves and save our existence and our civilization as we know it. I believe that it's a humankind challenge in how we accept and interact with each other. Certainly, love and respect and the ability to listen and be collaborative is part of that process. I think we could learn to love ourselves, our families, and each other a little bit more and judge less. I think if you embrace the fact that we're all trying our best and really take that critical nature out of it, we would be less entrenched in our own opinions and more willing to listen and be collaborative.


2. We certainly all could eat less meat and rely less on land animals as food sources. There's no question about it that the amount of resource intensity required by meat and dairy production and the amount of land source degradation happen because of eating animals. And so, I would embrace the fact that we could protect the planet more if we all ate less meat. I've been doing this as a vegetarian for almost 15 years now.


3. We should use less toxic products in our daily lives, from our cleaners to our beauty care products to the mattresses and furniture we build. We need to be aware of the chemicals that exist in each one of those and understand that you don't have to live a chemically laden life. Reducing the amount of chemicals is more beneficial for the planet, for our waterways, and for land, our children's future, and also our own health.


4. Another thing we should think about is the "buying cycle," and put some intentional thinking around this. Every day, I realize that less really is more. Truly, I need less to have a fulfilled and happy life. Just buying less would be very anti-capitalistic and anti-consumptive, but the planet would breathe a big "Ahhh" of relief. Being less consumptive is a powerful thing. You're requiring less, you're demanding less of the earth. And you're reducing your impact on the planet, something that I think about. Certainly, it's a challenge of mine. I always can do better at it, but it's an intention of mine, and I do a little better every day.


5. The last thing is being grateful. I don't think, as a culture, as a species, we're grateful enough. Grateful for the moments that we have. Grateful for the people that are in our lives. And grateful for the resources that we have and the ease of the life that we have. I try to be very intentional every day when I wake up in the morning. I try to think of those things that I'm most grateful for, and I try to think of something new every day. Being more grateful is a way to recognize the magnitude and the importance of where we are and our lives. And embracing the fact that we have a limited time here and we should make the most of it for our children, for the people who are around us, and for the planet.

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Climate Change & Health

Our guest blogger is Mary Gant, Program Analyst, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences


Mankind is totally dependent on the Earth's natural systems for the essentials of life-air, water, food, and shelter. Over the coming decades, global climate change will have a significant impact on our atmosphere and our marine and terrestrial ecosystems and their ability to provide these essential elements. For some, e.g., the millions of people who live less than a meter above sea level or who eke out a living in already arid environments, the impact may be catastrophic.

The health consequences of climate change include disease (both physical and mental), injury, and the misery of poverty and dislocation:

• An increased frequency or severity of heat waves would cause an increase in cardiorespiratory diseases and mortality. The elderly and very young children would be most at risk.


• Extreme weather events (hurricanes, torrential rains, tornados, etc.) would occur more often and with greater intensity resulting in disruptions in locally available food, clean water, and shelter, in serious injury and death, and in devastating economic loss.


• Some regions of the world will become drier and plagued by serious drought forcing changes in agricultural, animal, and fisheries productivity and overall water usage. Drought may also increase the risk of meningitis in some regions.


• Sea level rise above various thresholds in different parts of the world will result in adverse impacts on economy, infrastructure, and resources, especially fresh water, and may force migrations and crowding with an increase risk of disease, psychological disorders, and injury.


• Increases in temperature and longer warm periods without frost will increase the ranges, numbers, and seasons for vectors that carry diseases, such as dengue, malaria, West Nile, Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and encephalitis. When temperatures rise, mosquitoes breed and mature more rapidly.


• Increased air pollution, especially ozone, would increase asthma and other acute and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.


• Increases in pollens and spores would exacerbate allergic disorders, especially asthma.


• The production and use of alternative fuels (methane, ethanol, biomass, etc.) calls for understanding the health effects of their emissions and exposures and other economic and environmental consequences.


• New technologies to mitigate or adapt to climate change may entail exposures during their manufacture, use, and disposal to materials and compounds whose health effects are little understood.


• The health consequences of the loss of biodiversity could be enormous. The alteration of the Earth's ecosystems and declines in species diversity could result in an irreversible loss in human well-being.

All of the impacts of climate change demand the attention of federal, state, and local officials and the public to provide the research to understand more fully these impacts and to develop the strategies to cope with them.

Learn how you can start preventing climate change today by taking simple steps in your home.

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8 Great Family-Friendly Foods that Help Fight Cancer

by Sheryl Crow

Being diagnosed with cancer was a life changing experience for me, as it is for anyone. One of the most significant shifts has been in the way I look at my body and what I put in it. When I was undergoing radiation, I began working with Nutritionist Rachel Bellar in order to eat foods that would help boost my immune system.

After working with her, I learned how to eat "defensively." I had never understood before how vital food was for protecting the body from sickness and disease. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, serious diseases that are linked to what we eat are the culprits in three out of four American deaths each year. And, recent research estimates that 35% of cancer deaths could be prevented through improved nutrition.

We truly are what we eat and what we put in our bodies matters to our long-term health. Rachel taught me this and I am so grateful to have worked with her. Her in-depth knowledge of how certain foods and spices are vital to promoting wellness throughout the body has become an integral part of my lifestyle after surviving cancer.

Even more importantly, having cancer made me re-think and re-define family - resulting in my greatest joy, my son Wyatt. As parents often joke, kids don't come with instruction manuals. Parenting is a constant challenge of self-education. One thing I do know, though, is that Wyatt is benefiting from what I learned from Rachel. And, I feel like I am giving my son one of the greatest gifts a mother can - the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

Here are some of our favorite foods that pack enormous nutritional value (including anti-cancer benefits), and the ways we make them fun and tasty for both of us. Truly, toddler tested, mother approved.

1. Whole Grains

• What to look for: whole grain breads, pastas, brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, etc.
• How to make it: quinoa crusted chicken fingers, whole grain pita personal pizza, steel cut oatmeal cookies, vegetable barley soup

2. Beans

• 

  Photo: pizzodisevo
  What to look for: garbanzo, navy bean, kidney beans, lentils, etc.
• How to make it: hummus (use whole grain pita or raw veggies for dipping), puree navy beans and add to mashed potatoes, black bean nachos

3. Berries

• What to look for: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• How to make it: whole grain berry muffins, yogurt berry parfait

4. Tomatoes

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  Photo: The Ewan
  What to look for: tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato juice (cooking releases the cancer-fighting lycopene)
• How to make it: pasta and pizza sauce, creamy tomato soup

5. Cruciferous Vegetables

• What to look for: cabbage and members of its family including cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts
• How to make it: steam it and serve warm or cold (in funny shapes for tentative toddlers), also good in stir fry, and soups

6. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

• What to look for: spinach, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, kale, leaf lettuce
• How to make it: use to wrap favorite cheese or chicken, chiffonade and toss into pasta or pizza sauce, toss into green smoothies

7. Grapes and Grape Juice

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  Photo: artslyz
  What to look for: red or purple grapes (the dark colored skin is the main source of nutrition)
• How to make it: Enjoy as is, frozen grapes are a great summer treat (but can be a choking hazard for small children)

8. Walnuts

• What to look for: whole, natural walnuts without additives or preservatives
• How to make it: add walnuts and bananas to oatmeal, crush and toss into pastas and salads, mince and add to muffins and pancakes

However you decide to fix your food, eat a healthy, diverse diet. And remember, real foods, not supplements, are best for your body. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that at least 2/3 of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans. Start your children young and let them reap the rewards of healthy eating habits for a lifetime.

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