6 Steps to Reduce Exposure to Synthetic Hormones in Food

by Janelle Sorensen

Hormones are responsible for much more than just acne in teenagers and mood swings in pregnant women. They are the messengers for much of your body's functioning, including growth and development, immune response, regulation of metabolism, and reproduction among other things.

The body creates its own hormones to take care of these vital duties, but many synthetic chemicals also mimic hormones. Some are intentionally developed to do so, like birth control pills or recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) and others accidentally disrupt hormones, like bisphenol-A and phthalates.

And, whether natural or synthetic, hormones are powerful. It only takes a miniscule amount to cause big changes. That's why understanding hormones is extremely important.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) just released its latest "Smart Guide" covering the issue of hormones in the food system. And, there are a lot more than you were probably aware of. They include:

• hormone growth promoters given to food animals
• hormone-active pesticides sprayed on food crops
• hormone plastic additives in baby bottles, infant formula cans or other food packaging
• hormone disruptors that build up in the food chain (like brominated flame retardants)

Plenty of uncertainties still remain about the impacts associated with these substances, but preliminary studies paint a disturbing picture.

According to the Guide:

"[E]ver-strengthening science links exposure to many individual hormone disruptors-pesticides, Teflon chemicals, plasticizers and food contaminants with these common or rising chronic conditions, including:

• Breast and prostate cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Obesity and diabetes
• Endometriosis, uterine fibroids and infertility
• Immune-related disease, such as asthma or allergies

Increasingly, exposure in the womb to these same chemicals is implicated in serious problems found in newborns such as birth defects and low birth weight, as well as reduced odds of having a boy child.

A recent study links a mother's high beef consumption while pregnant (steroid growth promoter use is widespread in beef production) with lower sperm counts in her son."

While waiting for conclusive research, IATP advises consumers to take precautions and reduce exposure by following these steps:

1. Eat low-fat meats and dairy products.


2. Eat "certified" organic when possible.


3. Avoid pesticide hormones. Peel your fruits and vegetables, especially if they have been waxed, or wash them with a vegetable wash or diluted vinegar to remove surface pesticide residues.


4. Use hormone-free cans and bottles.


5. Demand that your elected officials support stronger efforts to keep synthetic hormones out of our food supply.


6. Read the "Smart Plastics Guide," the "Smart Guide on Sludge Use in Food Production," and IATP's other Smart Guides at healthobservatory.org.

Learn more about why these steps are important and exactly how to take them by reading the full Smart Guide to Hormones in the Food System.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Organic Foods Slideshow: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

What's Your Favorite Eco-Friendly Toy?

by Christopher Gavigan

Tiffany Washko / CC BY 2.0

I think every parent has a favorite eco-friendly toy. The kind of toy that makes you feel so good watching your child play with it that you're desperate not to get rid of it the moment they grow out of it. The charming giraffe, the wood blocks from Grandpa, the cotton baby doll that either ends up as a decoration on a shelf or gifted to a close friend or relative. Well, now you can nominate it for the Second Annual Best Green Toys Contest sponsored by Eco-Child's Play and The Goddard Schools for Early Childhood Development.

Toys must meet the following criteria:

• the toy is eco friendly
• the toy is affordable (under $25)
• the toy encourages creative, social, and engaging play activities
• the toy is interactive and lends itself to child-initiated play
• the toy is appropriate for preschool to early elementary school-aged children

According to the Eco-Child's Play announcement the top green toys will be awarded the Eco Friendly Toy seal and listed in the Top Ten Eco Friendly Toys of 2009. In addition, preschoolers at participating Goddard Schools will get to play with the Top Ten and then name the "Local Preschoolers Picks" for the top kid's choices.

The contest is open to environmentally safe toy submissions until October 1, 2009, and the winners announced at the end of October. To enter, download the Eco Friendly Toy Test entry form and read the guidelines.

Now they need your help!

What's your favorite eco-friendly toy under $25? Please leave your nominations at EcoChild's Play. Personally, I nominate Green Toys, Inc and their "Indoor Gardening Kit". This earth, social, and health conscious company actually makes all toys in California from recycled milk jugs. No batteries here. The toys are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastic, tie downs, or cellophane. Of course they meet all safety requirements, as well has having NO traces of phthalates, lead, or BPA. Good for the earth, and great fun for you kids.

If you're on Twitter, please complete and Tweet this using the hashtag #bestgreentoys @EcoChildsPlay: I nominate ______ for the #bestgreentoys contest.

If you know a green toy company, reach out to them to enter the contest by sending them a link to this post.

There is a Flickr stream set up (bestgreentoys) for you to upload a picture of your child with their favorite green toy (tagged with #bestgreentoys) to suggest that the company should enter the contest. And we have a Best Green Toys Facebook Page (please become a fan and upload pictures and leave comments).

I can't wait to see all the nominations. Regardless who wins, I'm sure it'll be an awesome list of wonderful, safe, eco-friendly toys.

Related Topics:

• Video: Child-Safe Toys
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

7 Frugal Food Tips for the Farmers Market

by Janelle Sorensen

Feeding a family can be an expensive endeavor - especially if you're trying to avoid things like pesticides, genetically modified ingredients, synthetic hormones, or any of the other questionable contaminants or practices related to modern industrial farming. Good, pure food isn't cheap. Or is it?

Photo: Tiffany Washko / CC BY 2.0

It can be if you know where to look for it. Your local farmers market can be a treasure trove of affordable, organic fare. Even if it's not certified organic, many of the farmers who sell food at the farmers market often have relatively small scale operations and are more likely to use environmentally beneficial practices including using less synthetic inputs like toxic pesticides and sewage sludge fertilizers. Often the foods are cheaper than the grocery store because by buying directly from a farmer, you are avoiding the extra costs that are involved in commercial food production (processing, inspection, packing, shipping, etc.).

Here are 7 tips to get the most bang for your buck at the farmers market:

1. Shop around. Find your nearest farmers market, other nearby markets, and even farm stands. (Visit Local Harvest to get started). You'll only know where the deals are if you comparison shop. Check out each location and each vendor.


2. Make friends. Talk to the farmers (often the same people that grow the food, sell the food). Ask questions about the farm, the food, their business. Small farmers are usually very passionate about their work and will talk your ear off if you get them started. Befriend farmers to build a lasting relationship - then reap the rewards of the secret deals only loyal customers receive. Go the extra mile by bringing your favorite farmer a loaf of zucchini bread you made from his produce. And, remember, flattery will get you everywhere. If their berries make you go bananas, tell them! Everyone loves a compliment.


3. Be flexible. Skip the shopping list and look for what's cheap. Often, odd specialty foods (like heirloom, ethnic or rare vegetables) are at cut-rate prices due to their less than significant popularity. If you're flexible, you can save money as well as expand your palate - perhaps finding new favorites you never knew existed. If you're unsure about what something might taste like or how to prepare it, just ask! Oftentimes a farmer will have cooking secrets to share or even printed recipes for you to take home.


4. Barter. Money isn't everything. After you've established a relationship with a farmer, offer your time in exchange for food. If you have a certain skill - like accounting, web design, mechanics, carpentry, etc - your time may be a valuable asset to a farmer. Likewise, you can offer to be an extra farm hand - weeding, cleaning barns, whatever the two of you find mutually beneficial.


5. Bulk up. At the farmers market most produce is available based on seasonality. That's not to say you can't find certain foods out of season, but just like at the grocery store - you're going to pay a premium. So, bulk up on foods when it's the natural harvest time and there's a healthy surplus (which drives prices down). You might be able to get it even cheaper by offering to buy cases or crates of food. Save your seasonal food by canning, drying, or freezing. Or, share the savings and split bulk purchases with friends or family.


6. Volunteer. Find out if there's a community organization that coordinates your market. If so, they almost certainly need volunteers. Becoming a volunteer will help you get to know the farmers better and likely earn you discounts and free products for your benevolent service.


7. Go late. If you want the best selection, go early. If you want the best bargains, go late. Vendors would rather sell off their stock than haul it back to the farm (especially if it's something with a short shelf life like lettuce or herbs). Haggle a bit to get the price down (but don't be annoying or make disrespectful offers). Again, try to build a real relationship and offer to buy up the days-end goods on a regular basis. Then you'll be saving money by buying in bulk with the added savings of getting the rock bottom price.

Related Topics:

• Organic Foods Slideshow: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic
• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Organic Lunchbox Challenge

Our guest blogger is Alan Greene, MD, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, Attending Pediatrician at Packard Children's Hospital, and Senior Fellow at the University California San Francisco Center for the Health Professions. He is also founder of DrGreene.com and author of Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care.

Students I speak with observe that school food is often either unappetizing (overcooked cafeteria veggies) or unhealthy. Tasty junk food at school has become a magnet for kids across the nation, encouraging nutrition choices that hurt kids now, and build unhealthy habits for the long run.

Thankfully, a growing wave of school boards is starting to tackle the issue, one school district at a time. A quick phone call to your school board could help tip them into action.

But even when action is taken, there is usually a lag of a year or more before the menu actually changes. The Organic Lunchbox is something simple you can do in the meantime to provide your children delicious food that gives them energy for today and builds healthy, vibrant bodies for tomorrow. I'm encouraging parents everywhere to give their children at least one serving of organic food every day this year. Here's why, then how:

Background

Toxic chemicals are toxic.

We know that pesticides and other chemicals (such as mercury) that can contaminate our food supply cause serious health problems if the exposures to these chemicals are high enough. These problems include cancers (such as brain cancer, breast cancer, and childhood leukemia), behavior problems, ADHD, learning disabilities, genital abnormalities, and reproductive problems.

We know that the very problems that can be caused by these environmental chemicals are increasing in our society and in our children. We know that childhood brain cancer and leukemia have each increased by more than 50 percent since 1975. We know that autism diagnoses have increased 10 times since the 1980's.

We know that children have higher exposures to pesticides and other chemicals than do adults, and that even at the same exposures, they are at higher risk.

We've known from several good studies that pesticides and toxic chemicals aren't just in the environment - but get into our developing children's bodies. Some kids have high levels and others quite low. What's different between these kids? Is there anything simple and practical that parents can do to lower their own children's risks? A provocative study was published in October 2002 in the Environmental Health Perspectives, the journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH. Here, children were divided into two groups: those who ate mostly conventional foods and those who ate mostly organic foods. All urine for 24 hours was collected from each child. Children who ate conventional diets had mean pesticide concentrations in their urine 9 times higher than the children who ate organic! Their levels indicated that they had exceeded safe exposure levels set by the EPA and were at increased risk to their health. By contrast, those children who ate organic foods were well within the EPA levels deemed to cause negligible risk. Feeding children organic foods is something simple and practical parents can do right now to protect their children and help them build healthy bodies.

The Organic Lunchbox

I recommend that children get a variety of healthy foods. Together, the foods below would make an ideal lunch, loaded with body-building vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other important nutrients (perhaps some that haven't even been discovered yet). I'm asking parents to include at least one of these items every day. Even adding one of these a day could make a big difference for our children and our environment:

A Serving of Organic Fruit. This might be an organic apple, organic grapes, or a bag of organic cherries from the local farmers' market. Thankfully, organic produce is available at more and more grocery stores as well. And the more that people ask for organic produce, the more available it will be. There are so many types of delicious fruit! My kids love kiwi bowls. Take a kiwi, cut it in half, and scoop out the yummy treasure using the thick skin as a bowl.

A Serving of Organic Veggies. This might be a bag of small carrots from Earthbound Farms. Some kids like veggies (and even fruit) better if they are sent with a dip. A variety of dressings or yogurts can make tasty dips. Ants on a log are a perennial favorite (raisins on a peanut butter - or cream cheese - filled celery stick). My kids sometimes enjoy fresh sugar snap peas to munch, or English peas to shell and pop into the mouth - we get them both at the farmers' market. Or you might get veggies in as a snack food, such as Just Veggies, or in a drink (such as carrot orange or carrot berry juice).

A Serving of Organic Whole Grains. The easiest way to get this in is as a bread, a cereal, or a cracker. I like breads from Rudi's Organic Bakery. The French Meadow Bakery also makes some delicious organic breads. A simple sandwich can be a convenient centerpiece to a great lunch. Keep in mind, though, that not all lunches need a centerpiece. A hunk of bread along with the other items in the lunchbox can make a perfect lunch without a 'main dish'.

An Organic Calcium Source. Two out of three kids in the U.S. do not get enough calcium in their diets! School-age children need at least 800 mg daily through age 8, and 1300 mg daily from age 9 to 13. A glass of milk has about 300 mg; a serving of yogurt about 400 mg; a slice of cheese might have about 200 mg. Those who don't get calcium at lunch are unlikely to meet their daily needs. Lunch might include a serving of Stonyfield Farm organic yogurt - in a cup, as a fun Squeezer, or as an organic drinkable yogurt. Organic cheese is another good option. For kids who don't do dairy, there are many other calcium options, including green vegetables, or even calcium enriched juices.

An Organic Source of Lean Protein. You may have already provided your child with protein by giving them yogurt or a simple sandwich with Organic cheese. If there is not another protein source in the lunchbox yet, consider a hardboiled egg (perhaps an organic egg high in DHA), organic beans, or a sandwich with lean organic meats.

They DON'T Need: added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrups), added fats (especially partially hydrogenated fats), lots of artificial colors and other chemicals, or foods grown with pesticides, antibiotics, or hormones.

The Evil Twin

Let's compare the commonsense, tasty lunch above with a popular prepackaged combination lunch-in-a-box, the kinds some kids fight over in the grocery store aisles. The one in front of me contains hot dogs, with cola to drink, and candy for dessert.

The Organic Fruit? None. There is no fruit at all. 0% of the daily requirement for vitamin C (among many others).

The Organic Vegetable? None. There is no vegetable, unless you count the catsup. 0% of the recommended servings of vegetables. Less than 2% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A.

The Organic Whole Grain? None. There is no whole grain. Only highly processed, nutritionally depleted white bread, with insufficient fiber.

The Organic Calcium Source? There is a small amount of calcium, but not close to the amount needed at lunch to meet the day's requirements - it leaves them needing to catch up.

The Lean Protein Source? No lean protein source here. The saturated fats are artery-clogging and fattening even to kids. What protein there is comes from mechanically separated turkey and pork treated with sodium diacetate, sodium erythorbate, and nitrites. We know nothing about how the animals were raised.

It Also Contains: caffeine, chemical preservatives such as potassium sorbate and calcium proprionate, artificial chemical flavors, artificial chemical colors, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, added sugar, dextrose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup - about 12 teaspoons of sugars, and more saturated fat than anyone should eat at a meal.

All of the vitamins or minerals whose levels are disclosed on the package are quite low. It would take 10 of these meals to give a day's supply of calcium or iron, 50 meals to get a day's supply of vitamin A, and you would never get enough vitamin C - no matter how many of these you ate. Ten of these meals would supply almost 5000 calories, almost 200 gm of fat, and 8500 mg of sodium. This is part of what we mean by empty calories.

This may seem like an unfair comparison, but children eat food like this evil twin every day - food that they purchase at school, or pack along with them. The number one food kids eat? French Fries!

The Lunchbox Challenge

Let this be the year where you give your child at least one serving of organic food a day. The Organic Lunchbox is one great option. If packing lunch doesn't work well for your family, consider starting the day right with a serving of organic food for breakfast. The research is clear that whether and what a child eats at breakfast makes a difference in learning, behavior, and test scores all morning long.

Isn't it great that choosing healthy delicious food can make a real difference for our children today - and in years to come when they have walked out their childhoods, out of our homes, out of our reach, but never out of our hearts!

Last reviewed January 2005. As research is on-going, you may want to check several sources for the latest information.

Related Topics:

• Organic Foods Slideshow: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Diaper Bag Eco-Makeover

by Janelle Sorensen

When you're the parent to a baby, your diaper bag is your lifeline. Without it, chaos ensues. Try this diaper bag eco-makeover to save your sanity, help your baby stay happy and healthy, and protect the Earth.

First off, start with a good bag. If you buy new, look for Earth-friendly textiles like organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, or recycled plastic. Check out Pristine Planet or Fleurville for some preferable options. If you're looking to re-use (the Earth-friendliest and most affordable option), avoid PVC which can leach phthalates and lead.

What should you fill it with?

Diaper Bag Must Haves	Look For
Diapers	Chlorine-free, flushable or cloth
Baby wipes	Chlorine-free, unscented, refillable tubs, homemade
Baby lotion	Botanical-based, certified organic
Diaper cream	Botanical-based, certified organic, zinc oxide for rashes
Bottle	BPA-free plastic or glass
Teething biscuits	Whole grains, organic
Snacks	Reusable containers; organic, whole foods
Baby food	Jarred, frozen, or homemade; organic whole foods
Toys & teethers	Natural materials like solid woods or organic textiles
Pacifier	Natural rubber or clear silicone
Burp rag	Organic cotton, reusable plastic bag or container for sanitary storage
Bib	Organic cotton or bamboo textiles
Blanket	Organic cotton, wool, or bamboo
Sunblock	Non-petroleum based, SPF 30 (or higher)
For Mom or Dad:
Water	Reusable, stainless steel bottle
Hand sanitizer	Botanical based options like tea tree oil or Cleanwell

Quick tips:

• Avoid care products with parabens, phthalates, DMDM hydantoin, fragrance, triclosan, sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate, toluene, formaldehyde, PEGs, anything with "glycol" or "methyl."
• Opt for products that are reusable or recyclable.
• Choose natural materials.
• Look for products with the least packaging.

This is a dream list just to get you thinking about things, so don't feel bad if you can't do everything. You should only be losing sleep because your baby keeps you up, not because you bought the wrong lotion.

Related Topics:

• Give Your Baby the Best Start
• Video: Diaper Baby Safely
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Bulk Up and Save $500 a Year

by Janelle Sorensen

Buying food in bulk not only saves money, it's also healthier since these foods are typically whole foods (meaning they have not been processed). Buying in bulk also means less packaging, which means less pollution, which means a happier planet.

How to Do It
Take a tour of your local supermarket's bulk section and make a list of what they offer. Go home and hit the recipe books to find things your family would like to eat using these ingredients. Some will be items you already buy frequently like sugar and flour. Others may be new to your menu, like lentils or couscous. The key to saving money with bulk food, is buying what you'll eat.

When you get home, make sure you put your food in airtight containers or in the freezer and clearly label them with their name and the date of purchase.

Good for Your Pocketbook
Buying in bulk can save a family up to $500 per year. It should also mean you won't have to spend so much time in the supermarket. Less time in the supermarket can mean even more savings as most of us frequently indulge in spontaneous purchases. If you're not there, you won't succumb to these little purchases that can quickly add up. Finally, shopping strategically means visiting the store less or, driving less - saving gas and even more money.

Good for You
Heavily processed foods, like many of the packaged convenience foods you find in the center shelves of the grocery store, are stripped of much of their nutritional value and have a lot of synthetic additives and preservatives in them (not to mention all the extra sugars and salt). Buying whole foods and making meals from scratch is much healthier for you and your family. It may sound difficult at first, but you'll soon find that there are many easy recipes out there that are quick, delicious, and nutritious. Healthy Child's Eat Healthy program has a wide variety of family friendly recipes to try.

Good for the Planet
Buying in bulk uses less packaging (look out for warehouse store options that are simply cases of individually wrapped smaller servings). According to ShiftYourHabit.com, if everyone bought in bulk, we'd save enough packaging waste to eliminate 1.1 million fewer garbage trailer trips to the landfill per year.

Take it even further by using durable containers instead of the disposable bags at the store. Safer plastics for food storage include those numbered 2, 4, and 5. Glass or stainless steel are even better. If you must use plastic bags, try to reuse them several times and then return them to the store for recycling.

Extra oomph: Don't stop at food. Buy shampoo, soap, toilet paper and anything else available in bulk or large sizes.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Video: What's in Your Panrty?
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

What's Getting Into Our Children?

Our guest blogger is Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, the Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. He is also principal investigator for the National Children's Study.

In the past century, the threats to our children's health have shifted radically. Life-threatening infectious diseases – smallpox, polio, and cholera – have largely been conquered. Babies born in the United States today are expected to live two decades longer than their ancestors were 100 years ago.

But our children are growing up in a world in which environmental toxins are ubiquitous. Measurable levels of hundreds of manmade chemicals are routinely found in the bodies of all Americans, including newborns. Infants are exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, and mercury in the womb and through breast milk. Baby bottles and toys have been found to contain phthalates, bisphenol A, and lead, all toxins that have been linked to reproductive and developmental disorders.

As harmful elements detected in everyday household items increase, rates of chronic disease have also risen sharply – and these conditions are now the leading causes of childhood illness and death.

Air pollution and cigarette smoke contribute to asthma, the most common chronic disease of childhood, which has increased 160 percent in the past 15 years for children under age 5. Chemicals called endocrine disruptors – found in pesticides, herbicides, some plastics, and air and water – can interfere with the body's hormone signaling system, potentially causing reproductive disorders, neurologic impairments, and immune dysfunction. Cancer, which kills more children under age 15 than any other disease, is linked to solvents and pesticides.

Early exposure to lead, mercury, and certain pesticides are suspected to contribute to autism, ADHD, and other developmental conditions, which affect 5 to 10 percent of babies born each year.

A contaminated environment takes an economic toll, costing $55 billion in medical treatment and lost productivity each year. Health care reform can be successful only if it is tied to strong environmental policies.

Historically, this has paid off. In the 1970s, landmark studies on childhood lead poisoning resulted in its removal from paint and gasoline, producing a 90 percent decline in lead poisoning. Children's average intelligence subsequently rose by 5 to 6 IQ points, and the economic productivity in the United States increased by $100 billion to $300 billion annually.??
And in the 1980s, two major pesticides were banned after being shown to have detrimental effects on childhood development.

Long overdue is the National Children's Study (NCS), which was appropriated in 2009 for two-thirds of its $300 million budget. The largest study of children's health in U.S. history, NCS will track 100,000 children from before birth through age 21 to determine the environmental and genetic factors that influence health and development. The data we collect will allow us to develop a national blueprint for prevention.

The Kid Safe Chemical Act (KSCA) is another measure that deserves support. During the past 50 years, more than 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been invented, and each year hundreds more are added to consumer goods, including cosmetics, motor fuels, and food packaging. Most are not tested for toxicity. Introduced into Congress in 2005 and 2008, KSCA would mandate that all new chemicals be tested and found safe for children before being brought to market. It would require that 62,000 untested chemicals currently in use be proven safe or be banned. Similar legislation exists in Europe.

Our children are 30 percent of our population, but they are 100 percent of our future. They deserve our protection.

Note: This originally appeared as an Op-Ed in the print version of The New York Times. It is the first in a series of commentaries by prominent Mount Sinai physicians and scientists.

Related Topics:

• Give Your Baby the Best Start
• 10 Affordable Ways to Make Your House Safer and Healthier
• Avoiding Environmental Toxins at the Pool and Beach

The opinions expressed in the WebMD Blogs are of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of WebMD and they have not been reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance or objectivity. WebMD Blogs are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on WebMD. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.

The Power of Your Purse

by Janelle Sorensen

I swear there must be some mathematical algorithm that defines the relationship between the size of a woman’s purse and the amount and age of children she has. Before kids, I had the tiniest purses – the size of what’s now just my wallet (between insurance cards, receipts for taxes, and pictures of my kids, it just keeps growing). And, my purses have grown right along with my kids, too. There’s a point where you eagerly ditch the diaper bag, but it doesn’t eliminate the need to have a carryall that can accommodate crayons, wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues, snacks, a water bottle, band-aids, etc. etc. A mother’s purse is like a family survival kit, but it turns out it’s also a powerful planetary revival tool.

This is the idea behind Big Green Purse, a book turned website turned campaign spearheaded by the brilliant Diane MacEachern. Since what we buy impacts the environment, if you find a strong source of purchasing power and you focus that power on purchases that protect the environment, you can shift markets and change the world.

According to Diane:

Women buy or influence the purchase of 85% of all products and services. That's a lot of power packed in a purse... but only if it's used in a way that can't be ignored. That's why Big Green Purse is encouraging A MILLION WOMEN to shift at least $1,000 of money they already spend for an initial $1 billion Big Green Purse impact. One of the fastest, easiest, most effective ways to protect the environment is by shifting money you already spend to eco-friendly goods and services. 

The more money you spend on green products, the more you encourage manufacturers to reduce pollution, save energy and water, use less packaging and protect natural areas. 


Added bonus:
Big Green Purse saves you time. We've strolled the shopping aisles and browsed the search engines so you don't have to. We've found products that are really green (not just "green washed") at prices you can afford. Where possible, we've pinpointed goods that are not only green but "fair trade," meaning people are paid a fair wage for their work and no child labor is involved.

The real appeal behind Big Green Purse is that you don’t need to spend more, you just spend smarter. And, together we make a big difference. So, buy the book, bookmark the website, sign up for Purse Alerts, and become One in a Million.

Related Topics:

• Pots, Pans, and Plastics: A Shopper’s Guide to Food Safety
• Organic Foods Slideshow: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic
• What’s Inside? Decoding Product Labels

The Ultimate Guide to Deals and Discounts for Organic, Healthy Food

by Janelle Sorensen

Whether you're an avid coupon clipper or just getting started, this guide will be one of your new best friends for finding the greatest deals on some of the healthiest foods. Every little bit helps take the sting out of the premium price tags typically associated with organic foods and over time this list will be worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for you. Bookmark it and revisit it whenever you're making your grocery list.

Search Tools and On-line Shopping:

• Retail Me Not: Enter key words or store names to search over 90,000 coupons.
• Ecobunga: Great guide to giveaways and deals on food and beverages, as well as many other eco-friendly products.
• Health eSavers: Has a wide variety of products (not all organic or natural) and the offers change monthly.
• Mambo Sprouts: This is a great site for organic and natural coupons, giveaways and more. You can even sign up to have a whole coupon book mailed to you.
• Drugstore.com: This isn't a coupon finder, but an on-line store. They have a green and natural store where you can find discounted organic baby and toddler food (among other things). There's free shipping on orders over $25 so it's definitely worth checking out.
• Amazon.com: Yep! Amazon now has an on-line grocery store with a sizeable organic section and many sales and discounts. Use a scrutinizing eye, though, as many things appear to be discounted but don't really end up being less than what you'd pay at a store. Also, you have to figure in shipping. They do have a membership plan where you can pay $80 for a year of free shipping, but that cost must be figured into your overall budget to calculate if you're really saving money or not.

Specific Manufacturers:
(Some of these sites have downloadable coupons and some you have to sign up for a newsletter that has special offers. Some offers are only for a limited time and change often so check back regularly.)

• After the Fall
• Brown Cow Farm
• Coleman Natural
• Country Choice Organics
• Earthbound
• Earth's Best
• Eden Foods
• Hain
• Health Valley Organics
• Horizon Organic
• Imagine Foods
• Laura's Lean Beef
• Knudsen Juice
• Organic Prairie
• Organic Valley
• Mrs. Meyer's
• Pearl Soy
• Seventh Generation
• Simply Organics
• Stonyfield Farms
• Whole Foods Market

(Note: Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement.)

Did we miss something? Add it to the comments.

The ABCs of Keeping Cool Without Making the Earth Warmer

by Christopher Gavigan

During the Dog Days of summer, many people’s first instinct is to crank up the air conditioning. While that may be necessary during extreme heat, try other alternatives first. Air conditioning can be a total energy hog. And, since the typical home gets its energy from coal burning power plants, feeding energy hogs means adding to greenhouse gas emissions and mercury pollution. Here’s a whole alphabet of easy ideas for keeping cool:

Apply a cold compress. Try wetting your wrists, neck, and other pulse points with a cold cloth or ice wrapped in a bandana. Cooling the wrists can reduce the body's core temperature by as much as 3ºF.

Bathe using cool water. To conserve water, keep your tub filled and you and your kids can randomly hop in during the day to cool off.

Call a contractor and have your home insulated. Good insulation keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter – an investment that pays itself off quickly.

Drink lots of water. Hydration is extremely important when it’s very hot. Keep the whole family drinking by making sure ice cold water is always within reach.

Eat spicy foods. Spicy food helps cool the body by opening pores and promoting perspiration (the body's natural cooling system).

Frequent public buildings. Grocery stores and libraries can be cool destinations on hot summer days. Plan to run errands or visit these spaces during the peak heat of the day (mid-late afternoon).

Grow a garden (on your roof!). Okay, not so easy and not feasible for everyone, but consider this: According to Environment Canada, a typical one-story building with 4 inches of native grass growing on its roof reduces its own cooling needs by 25 per cent. Visit GreenRoofs.org to learn more.

Hang wet sheets over your open windows at night to create natural air-conditioning.

Install energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs around your home — they use less energy and give off less heat (keeping your home cooler).

Jump into bed without drying off. Hop in the aforementioned tub of cool water before bed, but don’t dry off. The moisture on you and your sheets will help keep you cooler into the evening.

Keep the oven, dryer and even lights turned off. Anything that produces heat should be kept off for the day.

Lay low. Heat rises, so stay in the lower levels of your home. Only have one level? Stay away from naturally warmer rooms like the kitchen or poorly ventilated areas.

Make frozen treats. Keep your freezer stocked with fruit popsicles, frozen yogurt, frozen watermelon and grapes and other healthy, icy treats.

Navigate to a shady spot outdoors. Sometimes you might find it’s cooler outside if you can find a shady, breezy spot to relax.

Open your windows during cool morning and evening hours to flush out warm air and welcome in cool. Then close them during peak heat hours to trap the cool air inside.

Plant trees around your house to shade it from the sun. This is clearly a long-term investment, but well worth it as it can reduce cooling costs up to 40 percent! Choose deciduous trees for maximum shade.

Question your scheduled activities. Missing one soccer practice or letting the grass grow a little bit longer is going to be safer in the long run than risking heat stroke.

Reduce solar gain by using sun reflective film on your windows.

Swim. Sure, it’s an obvious tip, but still a good one. Temperatures are often 2-3 degrees cooler by open water and the act of immersing yourself in water cools the whole body down significantly.

Try misting yourself with a spray bottle of water. Kids might get a little crazy with this one, but it’s a quick and easy way to cool off.

Use Energy Star approved fans to keep air circulating — they use 90 per cent less electricity than air conditioners.

Ventilate your attic. Install a roof vent and attic fan to release the hot air that gets trapped this tightly enclosed space (which then gets backed up and leaks into your home).

Wear the right clothes. Opt for white or pastel colors and lightweight fabrics.

relaX. Today is not the day for extreme exercising or powerhouse cleaning. Keep cool by moving slow.

Yank the curtains. Keep your window coverings pulled shut during the hottest part of the day so the sun’s rays can’t get in and heat up your home.

Zero in on the eco-friendliest air conditioner if you must use one. Find an energy-efficient Energy Star model, and clean the filter often to improve air flow.

The Making of a Green Mom

Our guest blogger is Brooke Shields, actress, model, and mother to Rowan and Grier.

When you make choices to live better, greener, more organic, it's not always so clear-cut; that is, you want to do the right thing but you also have to do what works for you and your lifestyle. Sometimes that means choosing the lesser of two evils. An example from when I was a teenager: In 1982, I got a job at the San Diego Zoo working with wild cats. Everyday we fed them so much meat that eventually something in me just snapped and I didn't want to eat meat anymore. For thirteen years, I was a vegetarian-no beef, no fowl. I was doing a good thing, I thought, a virtuous thing. But over time, I felt weaker and weaker. I wasn't getting enough protein, my doctor told me.

In 1995 I was in Russia and I saw these chicken kebabs...and I took a bite. Suddenly I felt like I was a balloon in the Macy's Day parade, being lifted up by animal protein. I so desperately needed that protein. Other people don't. The morning I got pregnant I woke up screaming for beef. At least I try to make it organic.

When you become a parent, you would think the choices become more obvious, and they do-you always know who comes first-but then there are still trade-offs; there always are. I switched to chlorine-free diapers for my daughter. They're better for the environment but not as absorbent as the Elmo diapers she was wearing. Do I live greener and use the chlorine-free diapers all the time, including at night, when she pees more, and I lose sleep because I have to change her in the middle of the night because they can't hold as much? Or can I use the Elmo diapers just for the nighttime, sleep through the night, and put her in the environmentally-friendly kind during the day? You do all you can but there are particulars to your own life that you must respect. I've changed all our products to eco-friendly ones but sometimes I have to bring in something less eco-friendly as a supplement. I use all recycled paper products except toilet paper. It's like: You want the hybrid but then you're driving your kids around in this gas-guzzling tank of a car and you feel safe... which is ironic, of course, because it's cars like that that contribute more to something that doesn't make us feel safe for our children.

I've gone in both directions. First it's, "Okay I'm going to do this completely." Then something happens, I feel guilty about how much electricity and water my home uses and I think, "What's the point?" It's a real psychological battle. Plus, I'm the type where, if someone from an organization – Save the This or Save the That – makes me feel inferior because I'm not doing everything I can, I'll get stubborn. I'm not going to be shamed into action. But then maybe I'm cutting off my nose to spite my face. As I learn more and think further down the road, I find myself doing more. I realize that just because I can't go all the way and in every area, I still can make a sizable difference. In my mind, I may still lament that I haven't gone even farther, and sometimes at night I can't sleep thinking about all the things I haven't changed in my life and in the lives of my children. In my actions, though, I try always to be forward-moving, to focus on the change I am making. I'm thrilled that my children began with organic food and therefore won't have to make that switch to it, as I did. It feels good to know that once I adapt in certain areas (say, eating and cleaning), I'm better armed to attack areas that previously seemed out of reach.

*****

Excepted from Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.

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