Organic Winds

Baby Shower To Support Military Moms

2011-12-10T10:48:00.000-08:00

Recently we supported a wonderful organization called Operation Shower. They are a non-profit who recognizes and honors the sacrifices military families make by producing and coordinating baby showers for expectant military personnel and their families.

While our military are deployed serving our country we often forget that in addition to the challenges of being away from home, they often miss some of the most important moments in life, like feeling your baby kick inside your wife's belly for the first time, or being there while your baby is born.

Military families are renowned for how well they support one another through the stress of deployment and Operation Shower does a wonderful job of creating memorable moments for these moms-to-be and their families. They have been a favorite charity of ours over the years and this year we donated several cases of Under the Nile organic cotton gingham bunnies (that's one in the photo about to go to a new home!).

We salute LeAnn Morrissey and the rest of the team at Operation Shower and wish all of our military and their families a very happy holiday season. Let's pray that they all get home safely very soon.

Peace Sign Birthday Party

2011-10-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

Just finished a birthday party with a Peace Sign theme including cake, cupcakes, custom goody bags for girls and boys, an eco-friendly reusable pinata, balloons and finger food.

The theme was a lot of fun and turned out to be a big hit. I worked with Mari at BunnieCakes and her vegan baking was wonderful. We are now doing children's birthday party packages together for families looking for alternatives to typical plastic, high waste, junk food filled events laden with toxic food dyes and additives that send our poor kids' little bodies into a frenzy.

We all have our reasons for wanting to do a birthday party a little differently. For some it is food allergies and Mari does have options for baking that is free of common allergens. For others it is personal diet restrictions like being vegan or vegetarian, and for others, it may be a desire to find a fun way to continue to honor our organic and green values even during what often becomes the highly commercial event of a child's birthday party.

Lisa wants a princess party and Tom wants a batman party. So how do we reconcile providing the party of their dreams with our own better knowledge about food and environmental choices? That's where we come in. Atlantis Natural has been in business since 2000 helping families to raise their kids naturally. From original, fun yet eco-friendly gifts to pre-made or custom goody bags to coordinating the event, our help can be as simple or as all encompassing as you would like it to be.

For this party since peace signs were the theme, Mari prepared a beautiful double chocolate cake with strawberry center and pink icing surrounded by tufts of white topped with silver pearls.

She added two flavors of cupcakes, chocolate chip with vanilla icing for those kids who believe it or not aren't crazy about chocolate, and mint chocolate with chocolate icing. Each was topped with vegan sprinkles and either a tiny peace sign or heart. They made a beautiful tower of sweet treats for the table.

While Atlantis Natural does offer several goody bag options, including eco plastic recyclable party bags, in this case with such a strong eco theme we opted for re-usable cloth goody bags, each imprinted with either an original design purple and pink peace sign for the girls, or blue and green for the boys. Each goody bag was plumped with color coordinated tissue and a peace sign name tag. I have learned over the years that the end of a party can sometimes be stressful when children select their own goody bag and those who are less assertive wonder if there will be something left for them at the end. Name tags allow for a much more orderly conclusion to a party. Customizing them with the party theme adds a nice touch. We tied a peace sign balloon to each goody bag both to facilitate the end of party balloon distribution but also as room decorations during the party.

We stuffed the goody bags with wooden tops, xylitol candy, organic chocolates and custom peace sign buttons for the boys and for the girls we included organic lip gloss, bpa free nail art and natural water based peel off nailpolish. For each we included bite sized organic chocolates.

The pinata was also custom made and is not only re-usable for other birthday parties but converts into a throw pillow that makes a great decorative accent for the birthday girl's room. It was stuffed with raisin boxes, organic fruit gummies, organic chocolates, organic lolly pops and organic candies. It was created as a pull string pinata.

Finger foods for the mid-afternoon event were provided by Atlantis Natural via our discount organic grocery selection and included veggies and olive hummus, fruit, multi-grain tortillas and black bean dip or salsa, Pirate's Veggie Booty (always a favorite with the kids) and organic cheese and whole grain crackers. More elaborate options are also available but given the time of the party the hostess preferred to keep it simple.

The partnership between BunnieCakes and Atlantis Natural is exciting for both companies and for our customers will make birthday party preparation not only easier but cost effective as each company can bring in the products and services of the other at no additional charge.

Organic On A Budget

2010-12-19T21:29:00.000-08:00

For everyone looking to buy the healthiest possible organic foods for your families while saving a little cash (and who isn't?), here are a few money saving tips:

Buy local and in season (google produce season chart for your area if you aren't sure)
Try freezing or home canning (easier than you think!) to preserve produce when it is fresh to eat later. Properly canned food stored in a cool, dry place will last 1 year. Freezing tip: spread cut fruits or vegetables on a cookie tray and freeze separated then drop into BPA free storage bags for easy smoothies, desserts and quick side dishes. Preserving tip: Simply wash the jars and put them in the oven on a cookie sheet, open side up at 200 degrees F until ready to use. Boil the lids (always new) and bands in water until ready to use. Fill jars with your sauce, jam, etc. leaving about 1/2 inch of space at the top. Wipe the top clean where the seal will go, put on the tops but don't over twist. Then boil the jars in a shallow pot of water until you hear the ring make a popping suction sound.
If you're a little more energetic, try a dehydrator to make your own dried fruit and fruit leather from fresh fruit in season. Apricot and bing cherries make great healthy dessert options later by rehydrating with a little water for a couple of hours. Add cinnamon and you won't even need sugar. Leave them in water in the refrigerator before work and when you arrive home they will be soft and in their own juice.
Bake your own healthy treats rather than buying packaged food. Better for you and cheaper. Go on a weekend baking spree then freeze in smaller packages for later.
Buy individual serving size bake ware and then whenever you make dinner, make a little extra and freeze the servings. Makes for easy quick dinners when you have no time and can save the cost of take out or prepared foods. Plus provides portion control.
Save on herbs, spices, tea, beans and other items you would normally find in the health food bulk aisle by buying in bulk at http://www.frontiercoop.com/. They carry the Frontier (organic herbs and spices), Aura Cacia (natural skin care) and Simply Organic (organic spices, marinades, sauces, gluten free baking mixes etc.) brands. Free shipping over $75. More expensive than Azure Standard below but lower minimum purchase. Also may keep you out of impulse shopping at Whole Foods by shopping from home!
Save about 60% on just about everything you would find in the health food store by buying in serious bulk at http://www.azurestandard.com/. Minimum order is $550. You can buy in individual units but save more if you buy by the case (e.g. single 32 oz yogurt is $3.30 but $3.01 if you buy 6). Good opportunity to collaborate with friends and neighbors and establish your own buying club.
Find local organic and non-GMO farmers markets, co-ops, etc. at http://www.localharvest.org/. They also have an online catalog of over 8000 natural and organic products.
Buy nuts, legumes, raw vegan prepared products, dried fruit, pickles, pate and more from South Florida organic farm http://www.glaserorganicfarms.com/. They also have a farmer's market every Saturday in Coconut Grove on Main Street.
Join the Organic Buying Club of South Florida http://www.organicbuyingclubsoffla.com/ for produce shares every two weeks. Two huge grocery bags of fruits and vegetables is $65.

Have your own money saving tips? Please post them here or email us at customerservice@atlantisnatural.com and we will share them with our readers.

Tips to include more fruits and vegetables in your childrens diet

2010-03-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

We have all seen the studies reporting that fruits and vegetables are the richest source of fiber, vitamins and minerals and are critical for disease prevention and proper child development. Yet, approximately 90% of Americans fail to meet the government's recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption.

But how do busy parents incorporate these essential nutrients in the diets of our children while fostering a healthy love of natural foods? Below are some tips to consider:

* Children's Health Tip 1. Stock up on fresh fruits and keep them accessible on your countertop or visible in your refrigerator. They should be the easiest items to grab for quick snacks at home or on your way out the door.
* Children's Health Tip 2. Add fresh or dried fruit to your breakfast cereal. Our favorite is plain instant oatmeal sweetened with honey, agave, Lakanto or Xylitol, a tablespoon of ground flax seed (keep it in the freezer for freshness), cinnamon, raisins and water to moisten.
* Children's Health Tip 3. Thaw frozen berries and add them to plain or vanilla yogurt for a snack or dessert. Or as another tasty option serve blueberries or cherries straight out of the freezer in a bowl. They're as tasty as ice cream!
* Children's Health Tip 4. Serve a six-ounce glass of 100% fruit juice with breakfast. Even better if it is fresh from your juicer or Vitamix. Personally we like the Vitamix as it adds the benefits of whole fruit and is easy to clean.
* Children's Health Tip 5. As a thirst-quencher or a mealtime beverage, make a "spritzer" by adding 100% fruit juice to sparkling water or seltzer.
* Children's Health Tip 6. Enjoy a fruit smoothie made by blending low-fat milk or yogurt with fresh or frozen fruits.
* Children's Health Tip 7. Pack dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cranberries, apple slices) for snacks at school.
* Children's Health Tip 8. If your kids turn up their noses at veggies, try hiding them in fruit smoothies or other meals they like. Carrots hide easily in a smoothie. So does fresh spinach if you whirl it in the Vitamix with dark colored fruit like strawberries or cherries (it will come out purple).
* Children's Health Tip 9. Start your meal with a salad. Many kids will gladly eat veggies raw but don't like them cooked. Add tasty treats like chopped apple, mandarin slices or pineapple chunks. This is also a great time to not let them get used to fat and sugar rich dressings. A little balsamic vinegar (no oil) and parmesan cheese works well.
* Children's Health Tip 10. When making or ordering a wrap or sandwich, include lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and other raw vegetables. A few crunchy leaves of lettuce is tasty with almost any sandwich.
* Children's Health Tip 11. Add raisins, grapes, or apple slices to your salads.
* Children's Health Tip 12. Make a big pot of vegetable soup on the weekend and freeze it in single-portion containers to reheat for a quick weekday lunch or dinner. Throw in some whole grains like brown rice or barley.
* Children's Health Tip 13. Make your own pizza (you can buy ready-to-use dough at a pizzeria or supermarket) and top it with mushrooms, onions, broccoli, spinach, or eggplant. Whole grain pizza dough is also easy to make in your bread machine.
* Children's Health Tip 14. Double the portion of vegetables you already serve at lunch and dinner. Don't limit yourself to one vegetable at dinner but try two instead.
* Children's Health Tip 15. Look for opportunities to include more fruits and veggies in school lunches. If you're in a hurry then easy items include organic fruit rollups, unsweetened applesauce, fruit cups, cut up fruit like apple, mango, kiwi or strawberries, a whole banana or raisins. Easy veggie options include carrot sticks with dip, red sweet pepper or corn mixed in with a hot lunch.
* Children's Health Tip 16. If you're really in a hurry and need to grab a quick bar for the road, we love the Greens Plus bars. Sweetened with agave and coated with chocolate they are packed with greens and truly tasty. Kids love them.

Protecting Your Family Against Swine Flu H1N1

2009-09-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

With growing concerns about the heightened immune alerts coming from governmental and non-governmental agencies, now is the time to care for your immune system.

Atlantis Natural carries Natural Immunogenics Sovereign Silver and neither we nor they make claims against any specific disease, you can always count on Sovereign Silver for your immune support needs.

They suggest an immune building protocol using their bio active silver hydrosol of 1 tsp 3x day, held under the tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing (which equates to 2 of the 8 oz bottles per person, per month). If you are already fighting something then you may increase the dosage to 7x daily for short term immune support.

Among CDC recommendations are to wash your hands frequently and use a hand sanitizer. We also carry an all natural hand sanitizer from All Terrain Co. in a convenient travel size for purse or school bag.

As an adjunct we recommend the Sovereign Silver Homeopathic Silver First Aid Gel for topical cleanliness. This gel contains no harsh chemicals and can be used as often as necessary, as directed on the product label.

Please consider checking out the CDC web site (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu) for the latest information and health alerts, symptoms, transmission and their advice on how to stay safe.

A silver hydrosol is the purest form of a colloidal silver product because its ingredients are only pharmaceutical grade purified water and positively charged silver particles are suspended, not dissolved. Lower quality colloidal silver products may contain silver compounds, such as silver salts or silver proteins, and do not have the high percentage of active silver which is present in Sovereign Silver's silver hydrosol.

My favorite small appliances for cooking healthy food

2009-05-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked about the best way to prepare healthy food at home and I have to say that I rely upon 3 small appliances to prepare almost everything I make, my bread machine, Vitamix and Flavorwave counter top convection oven. I avoid plastics and non stick coatings in utensils and appliances due to the chemicals that leach into food when heated, and microwaves have been shown to diminish the nutritional value of food so I haven't turned one on in years. I know that whole foods prepared from scratch are healthier than frozen dinners but I work all day so time is really of the essence in getting dinner ready. The bread machine takes little preparation and then takes over from kneading to rising to loaf, or for Friday school pizza days I run it on the dough cycle using whole grains and when ready my daughter can help make her own pizza which she loves. I bake it in an oiled cast iron skillet for a crispy crust that comes out easily without the need for non stick pans. One ball of dough is enough to make a medium and small kid sized organic pizza in my two pans. I then pack a few slices in on of my favorite stainless steel lunch containers and zip off to school with fresh baked pizza that stays warm enough for a preschooler until lunch.

I use the recipes that came with the bread machine but substitute my own healthy ingredients and rather than paying $5 per loaf at Whole Foods my own fresh organic whole grain bread costs under a buck. Any recipe calling for sugar can substitute honey (yeast just needs a little sweetener), just remember to add all of the liquid ingredients first, make sure your water temp is between 80 and 100 degrees and put a well in the top of the flour for the yeast so it doesn't get wet right away. I use Bob's Red Mill organic wheat bread flour which seems to work well. Good bread in a machine is all about the right consistency of dough so once you get the hang of it you can substitute all sorts of healthy ingredients and just check the dough when it first mixes to see if it has too much or not enough liquid and adjust as you go. In addition to making super quick from scratch soups, salsas and smoothies, my Vitamix blender can grind grains so whenever the recipe calls for nuts I'll throw in some fresh ground whole grains instead.

My Flavorwave oven is my other favorite healthy meal-on-the-go kitchen toy. I purchased the new one with the glass dome since I didn't like the idea of heating food in the plastic dome the old one had. Food sits inside a glass dome on a stainless steel grill and is heated quickly by convection powered infrared. Fat drips through the grill onto the base of the glass dome making for healthier meals and easy clean up. I can take a piece of free range chicken or grass fed beef with some seasonings and put it on the rack with cut up organic sweet potato, red pepper and onion and then chat with my daughter about her day at school for 20 minutes until dinner is ready.

For healthy sweet potato french fries I toss the cut up sweet potato with a tiny bit of coconut oil and some sea salt and grill in the Flavorwave. Together with mom's "barbeque" chicken it has become her favorite.

So those are my secrets to including more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy low fat meat in my family's diet while balancing the demands of a busy career.

The Dangers Of Food Dyes And Children

2009-05-19T02:27:00.000-07:00

The article below is from Well Being Journal, a wealth of knowledge about the latest research on organic food, supplements, food additives and environmental concerns. I wish there was a way to link directly to articles on their site but unfortunately the way their library is set up it isn't so we have reprinted the article in its entirety here. Please do sign up with them for a subscription as it is worth every penny.

This particular article is on such an important topic that we wanted to provide visibility to all of our readers. Preschoolers and young school children are exposed to unacceptable amounts of food dyes in the school, often delivered by well meaning parents who probably have no idea the damage they are causing to these developing minds. Think of birthday party cupcakes with brightly colored icing, Halloween party treats, Valentine's Day bright red candies, Christmas cookies decorating in bright red and green sprinkles and the list goes on.

We urge you to forward this article to your friends, print it out and leaves copies in your classroom for other parents to read, do what you can to ensure that people are informed. We sincerely believe that if more parents understand the danger of food dyes to their own children as well to highly sensitive children in the classroom that we can reduce the exposure to these chemicals and have calmer classrooms.

Scientists Urge Congress to Ban Food Dyes

By Jane Hersey

Nineteen prominent psychiatrists, toxicologists, and pediatricians have sent a letter to Congress, urging it to pass legislation banning the use of synthetic food dyes and certain other additives that have been linked with children's behavior and attention problems.

“The undersigned physicians and researchers are concerned about the effects of food ingredients, especially food dyes, on children's behavior, including children with hyperactivity and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and are troubled by federal inaction,” they wrote.

The scientists stressed that the link between food dyes and children's behavior has been confirmed by numerous studies since Ben Feingold, M.D., a pediatrician and allergist, first discovered it over 30 years ago.

“The first hints that food ingredients could impair children's behavior came in the mid-1970s, when the late Dr. Ben Feingold publicized his clinical findings,” they explained. “His contentions not only generated great public concern, but also spurred scientists to conduct scientific research. Many of the studies done over the years, in the U.S. and abroad, have confirmed that some children are adversely affected by foods, with food dyes being the ingredients most intensively studied.”

In their letter, these doctors and researchers cited a meta-analysis of previous studies, which included a discussion of the low-additive Feingold Diet and concluded that “our results strongly suggest an association between ingestion of [artificial food colorings] and hyperactivity” (Schab 2004).

They also cited a recent British study on the effects of six synthetic food dyes on 297 children, which concluded: “The present findings ... lend strong support for the case that food additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviours (inattention, impulsivity, and overactivity) in children at least up to middle childhood.” It also noted: “These findings show that adverse effects are not just seen in children with extreme hyperactivity (i.e., ADHD), but can also be seen in the general population and across the range of severities of hyperactivity” (McCann 2007).

Reactions to these studies have been dramatic, both here and abroad. The European Parliament passed legislation this summer requiring labels on foods containing six synthetic dyes to warn that they “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” (Manufacturers were given eighteen months to comply.) Britain's Food Standards Agency also called on manufacturers to voluntarily remove the dyes by the end of 2009 and advised parents to limit their children's intake of these additives if they show signs of ADHD.

In the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledged in its journal, AAP Grand Rounds, that “a trial of a preservative-free, food coloring-free diet is a reasonable intervention” for hyperactive children. In addition, the Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling on the agency to ban eight synthetic food dyes and to require warning labels on all foods containing them in the meantime.

The letter to Congress points out that some multinational corporations have already cut down significantly on the use of synthetic food dyes in Europe—but not in America. These companies apparently think that these additives are too risky for British children to eat but are “good enough” for American children!

Despite many studies linking these dyes with behavior problems, the food industry dumps huge amounts of these chemicals into our food. According to the FDA, people consume about five times as much synthetic food dye today as they did in 1955. Worst of all, these additives are found in many processed foods targeted at children, including candy, gum, cereals, sports drinks, popsicles, gelatin, cookies, and frostings.

Children's foods do not need to be colored with synthetic dyes, because there are plenty of natural ones available. Food manufacturers are now competing with each other to see who can offer kids the most brightly colored foods and beverages, but if these petroleum-based dyes were banned, the manufacturers would use safe natural colorings such as fruit- and vegetable-based ones.

While the eventual banning of synthetic food dyes is an important goal, concerned parents can take steps now to eliminate these petroleum-based additives from their families' diets. As a first step, parents can read ingredient labels and avoid all foods listing color/number combinations, such as Yellow 5 and Red 40, because these are synthetic food dyes. In addition, it is recommended that parents refuse to purchase foods containing artificial flavorings and the preservatives BHA, BHT, and TBHQ, because these have also been linked with conduct and learning difficulties.

But reading labels is not the only answer, because food manufacturers do not always list all of the ingredients and restaurant menus seldom do. More complete information on food ingredients can be found at the Feingold Association website (see note below). ∆

Note: The Feingold Association (www.ADHDdiet.org) conducts in-depth food research and publishes a Foodlist & Shopping Guide, which lists thousands of brand-name foods that are free of the unwanted additives; the Pure Facts Newsletter; a Mail Order Guide; a Fast Food & Restaurant Guide; and more.

Jane Hersey is director of the nonprofit Feingold Association, which helps families of children with learning/behavior problems use the low-additive Feingold Diet. A former teacher and Head Start consultant, she is author of Why Can't My Child Behave? and Healthier Food for Busy People. Hersey has testified before the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Congress about ADHD and diet, and she frequently lectures at educational associations, hospitals, medical groups, universities, and schools across the country. She volunteered in the Feingold Association in 1976 after the low-additive Feingold Diet helped her daughter Laura.

This article is from the January/February 2009 issue of the Well Being Journal. For annotations, see January/February, 2008, Volume 18, #1. Order online or purchase by phone at 775-887-1702 M-F between 9am and 3pm PST.

References
“Do artificial food colors promote hyperactivity in children with hyperactive syndromes? A meta-analysis of double-blind placebo-controlled trials.” DW Schab et al., Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 25(6):423-434, Dec 2004
“Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.” D McCann et al., Lancet Online DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3, Sep 6, 2007
“ADHD and food additives revisited.” A Schonwald, AAP Grand Rounds DOI: 10.1542/gr.19-2-17, Feb 2008 (http://www.feingold.org/Research/PDFstudies/AAP08.pdf)

The importance of pre-conception healthcare

2009-05-17T12:04:00.001-07:00

This video raises some very critical aspects of the impact of Vitamin D levels, and electro magnetic frequency and mercury in the mother on her unborn child. Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD suggests that before becoming pregnant in order to reduce the risk of autism, a woman should;

remove mercury amalgam fillings
have her Vitamin D level tested to ensure that it is sufficient
protect areas where she spends a lot of time from EMFs, including working and sleeping areas

Click here to see the video.

At Atlantis Natural we have long supported these recommendations. With today's reliance on technology it is practically impossible to eliminate products like computers, cell phones, wireless phones and TVs from our homes (although we should all eliminate microwaves for other health reasons), but fortunately there are products our there to protect ourselves, our environment and our children from EMFs. Click here for more information.

From Crying To Calm in Seconds Flat - Amazing Baby Video

2009-05-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

I'm a Miracle Blanket mom and I truly appreciate the impact of this amazing swaddle blanket. When I was expecting another mom friend advised that if I bought nothing else I should make sure I had one of these. I can say that I truly appreciate it because although I purchased one before she was born, for the first 3 weeks of my daughter's life I forgot I had it and didn't use it. My daughter was a high need baby and would only sleep when held. She was nursing and tended to fall asleep before she was full so was literally awake every hour. It was a cycle of hunger and exhaustion for both of us. Swaddling using a regular blanket seemed too much like origami and I could never master it.

Then one day when organizing the baby clothes I came across the Miracle Blanket and decided to try it. I was amazed. My daughter was not only calmer but she slept longer, nursed better and was generally more relaxed. She was still a high need baby and required more constant attention than the average baby but I was sleeping longer too so I had the energy to handle it. I kept her in the blanket long after the manufacturer recommends. I let her hips go free after a while so she could sleep in the "frog position" so important for hip development. She just loved having her arms in snug beside her. I was so impressed with the product that our company Atlantis Natural became one of the first Miracle Blanket resellers. After having worked with the company for the past 6 years I have received countless emails from grateful rested parents describing how wonderful the Miracle Blanket is. So when I saw this video I thought it would be a great way to visually show parents how quickly babies settle when swaddled with the Miracle Blanket.

Check it out for yourself here

Find more information on the Miracle Blanket here

Kids Safe Chemical Act

2009-05-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

I just watched a video about the pollution in people and I was shocked.

Did you know the current law regulating toxic chemicals was passed in 1976? And it hasn't changed since, even though 20,000 new chemicals have come onto the market since then?

Please go to www.KidSafeChemicals.org to watch the video, then sign The Declaration to stop pollution newborns.

WATCH THE VIDEO AND SIGN THE DECLARATION: http://www.KidSafeChemicals.org

People are polluted with hundreds of industrial chemicals. Babies are born pre-polluted with 300 industrial chemicals in their bodies when they enter the world.

We are at a tipping point, where the pollution in people is increasingly associated with a range of serious diseases and conditions from childhood cancer, to autism, ADHD, learning deficits, infertility, and birth defects.

It's time to step up and protect our children. Tell Congress and President Obama that you won't stand for this any longer.

Watch the video and take action. Then share it with your friends. It's up to us to protect our children and make change happen.

The Environmental Working Group is organizing this petition.

ACTIVISTAS signed The Declaration and encouraged others to do so, too. Because, as she said:

EWG wants 500,000 Americans to sign The Declaration so they can show Congress how very many people are ready for a real national chemicals policy. Go ahead, add your name. It's easy and it just might work. It's sure worth a try, anyway.

BABYMINDING says the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act means safer products. She writes:

Currently there are over 80,000 chemicals used in various consumer products including children's toys and personal care, most of which are not tested for safety. In fact, only around 200 are actually proven safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
If the bill passes, any chemicals or ingredients used in children's products will have to be proven safe and approved by the EPA before the products can go to market.

I encourage our readers to sign the petition. Many of us shudder at the memories of products we used with our own children that are now known to be toxic. As a caring mother who travels frequently on business I spent two years nursing my daughter, pumping milk while on the road, storing it in plastic bags which I deposited into the freezer and were later thawed and heated in plastic bottles in a bottle warmer when I was away. Here I thought I was giving my daughter the purest possible food...mother's milk...only to discover years later that I was also poisoning her with BPA from freezing and heating plastic. Now breast milk is still a far healthier option than formula, which is also contaminated due to the plastic liners in cans, but who knows what well meaning actions we are taking now that will have health consequences down the road for our children. Today a children's product may go to market as long as it has not yet been proven dangerous. We need to reverse that logic and not allow a product to go to market until it has been proven safe.

Protecting Kids Against Swine Flu

2009-05-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

Although the Swine Flu pandemic appears to now be coming under control, there are still illnesses and deaths being reported that strike fear in the heart of every parent and insert an extra degree of caution in our daily activities. But even when this threat passes as parents we must all remain vigilant in helping protect our children against the flu.

Flu vaccines present their own dangers. According to the Charleston Gazette, "No one questions the EPA's recommendation that pregnant women consume only certain fish because of mercury contamination. Why then is it a stretch to question the wisdom of injecting very young children with mercury in excess of the EPA's and National Academy of Science's standard safe level for daily ingested mercury? For example, a 22-pound child given a flu vaccine receives 25 times the established safe level with this one shot, unless the (close to) mercury-free version of the vaccine is given. (Both Fluzone, for children under 4, and Fluviron, for children over 4, make two versions of the influenza vaccine. One of each of these versions has only 0.3 micrograms of mercury, while the other has 25 micrograms of mercury.)"

According to holistic pediatrician Dr. Eric Rydland, "Influenza, also called the "flu", is a viral infection similar to, but more severe than a common cold. Occasional epidemics occur, which may at times be very severe and even life-threatening. During these epidemics many physicians and the media often recommend “flu shots” and certain prescription medicines for the flu. Dr. Rydland, many of his patients and his family use a natural approach to flu prevention." Here at Atlantis Natural we also take a healthy and natural approach to prevention through strengthening of the immune system and educating our families about ways to lower risk.

While we do suggest that you check with your own healthcare provider on the best approach for your family, here are the steps we are taking this flu season:

1. Wash hands regularly. Explain to children what germs are and the importance of clean hands before touching food or anywhere on your face. If soap and water isn't handy we like Hand Sanz, an all natural sanitizer without artificial polymers.
2. Sneeze into your elbow and not your hand. This is good practice for limiting the spread of cold and flu germs.
3. Think carefully about whether you really need to take children to crowded public places. Perhaps that shopping trip could be scheduled for a less busy time.
4. Take Vitamin C - Dr. Rydland recommends 300 milligrams per 10 pounds of body weight daily, divided into two to four doses two days per week (e.g. on weekends).
5. Take kidsWellness daily defense herbal remedy during flu season
6. Take Colloidal Silver as a preventative and use in a nebulizer if coughing or congestion is present. Colloidal silver is a liquid preparation made of only silver and water. The silver is suspended in a solution of purified water. The process involves the use of purified silver electrodes that slowly seep the silver into solution. The longer the electrodes are left on, the more the silver that gets in the solution. The amount of silver contained in different preparations can vary from 5 to 500 PPM (parts per million). Silver has been shown effective against infections. Check out Dr. Victor Marcial-Vega's article on Pneumonia, Colds and Flu Protocol for more.
7. Look to homeopathy for natural flu remedies. We use Newton Labs, a high quality US based manufacturer and like their Kids Sniffles remedy.
8. Serve home cooked organic meals whenever possible with whole grains, fruits, vegetables and high quality proteins like wild caught salmon and grass fed beef.
9. Get plenty of sleep to allow your body to rebuild and be at peak immunity for the next day. According to pediatrician Dr. Sears, Below is a chart of average sleeping times for children of different ages.

Age	Hours per Day
Birth to 3 months	14 to 18
3 to 6 months	14 to 16
6 months to 2 years	12 to 14
2 to 5 years	10 to 12

By taking proper precautions, keeping a clean environment and taking steps to build your child's immune system, the risk of contracting a seasonal or more serious flu will be reduced.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for Kids

2009-04-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

In our kitchen we have a cool looking stainless steel 3-part receptacle—paper on the left, cans & bottles in the middle and trash on the right. It has those pedals that are fun for my preschool daughter to step on and watch the lid of her choice pop up as she deposits the contents. Our green minded condo has installed a computerized trash chute that directs our trash & recyclables into the appropriate bin according to which button you push. At our house recycling is a way of life and my daughter has become pretty good at sorting which items go into each bin.

Being crafty by nature and with my encouragement, we look for reuse possibilities before an item goes into the recycle bin. Glass jars become pencil holders or a great place to keep craft supplies like beads and stickers. Paper towel centers have transformed into animals, rocket ships and tree trunks.

Each week my daughter and I shop for organic food at our local farmer’s market. We bring our cloth bags and I take the opportunity to point out that not only is it better to help this wonderful local organic farm Glaser Farms, but we’re doing the right thing by not encouraging trucks to drive hundreds or thousands of miles carrying produce that ripens on the way. You can definitely taste the difference between a tomato picked green and shipped cross country and one that was picked vine ripened within the week, and there is nothing quite as sweet on a hot summer day as fresh corn and watermelon. That same farm sells to our local Whole Foods but requires more packaging for the store environment so we really prefer to go to them.

If you have a farmer’s market in your area it is a wonderful way to teach your children to appreciate the Earth and all that it gives us. Let them wander through the overflowing boxes and choose fruits and vegetables for the shopping bag. Show them how to tell when each is ripe, with a gentle squeeze, a color check or a quick peek at the cob of corn nestled in the husk. Point out the farmers and explain the importance of their job to bring good food to your table. Some city kids are so accustomed to the packaging of a typical grocery store that they may have never seen how garlic grows, what a prune looks like before it is dried or where well water comes from. Even if the market is not at the farm it still provides a great learning opportunity for them to appreciate how to “reduce” by seeking items with less packaging. While you’re at it, consider saving some green and helping the environment at the same time by buying some extra tomatoes and whipping up your own sauce or salsa, or puree those fruits and veggies to make a much healthier baby food than you can buy in a jar. (we use a Vitamix which makes this a breeze - enter coupon code A3AW at checkout for free shipping).

This Earth day check out our free electronic picture book, “Caring For The Earth” to teach kids about the 3 R’s.

What are the best organic cotton diapers out there?

2009-03-29T11:32:00.002-07:00

With the wide variety of cloth diaper systems available on the market, what’s a parent to choose? First let’s break through some misconceptions about cloth diapers;

Misconception #1: Cloth Diapers are expensive

Truth - In fact the opposite is true. While individual cloth diapers are more expensive than individual disposable diapers, when the reuse factor is considered it is really no contest. The average baby will need about 6,000 diaper changes from infancy to potty training so rather than purchase that many diapers, new parents can focus on a smaller set of about 20 diapers per size plus a set of diapers liners and covers and come out ahead financially, a particularly important factor in these economic times. Going green really can save green! To cut down even further on the cloth diaper investment, consider a one size, adjustable diaper like Tiny Tush.

Misconception #2: Cloth diapers cause diaper rash.

Truth - Once again the opposite is true. Disposable diapers, being made of plastic, tend to heat up more than cloth and their synthetic material has a tendency to react on baby’s skin. The absorbent material has also been linked to toxic shock syndrome (remember the tampon scare? Same stuff). Ingestion of just 5 grams of this material has been lethal in some cases. According to Proctor & Gamble’s own research, diaper rash is more than 8 times more prevalent with the use of disposable diapers than cloth.

Misconception #3: Cloth diapers are difficult and messy to use

Truth - The new fitted cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables. Adding diaper liners makes them even easier. Solids fall out in the toilet and for those that don’t simply toss them into the washing machine. Best options are organic cotton (conventional cotton is one of the most pesticide intensive crops according to the Pesticide Action Network (http://www.panna.org/) and Dioxin is a byproduct of chemical bleaching and is one of the most dangerous cancer causing chemicals around), or ultra sustainable, naturally antibacterial bamboo like the European line Bambinex.

Misconception #4: When you consider all that washing, cloth diapers really aren’t that green.

Truth - Most disposables are not biodegradable and sit for years in landfills while untreated body waste seeps into the earth and into our waters. Disposable diapers use 5 times more energy than cloth.

We’d love to hear you weigh in on your favorite natural and organic cloth diapering systems, and tips for working with cloth diapers.

Calling all natural, green and organic lunchbox ideas!

2009-03-29T11:32:00.001-07:00

Today one of our customers contacted us with an interesting product idea to green you child’s lunchbox. It is an environmentally friendly sandwich wrap that folds around your sandwich or snack then lays flat to server as a clean placemat (think about those germ laden preschool tables). It is easy to wipe up and use again. Seems like a pretty interesting idea that is a much better lunch solution than plastic bags.

In the next few weeks we are looking at a couple of other green lunchbox products as well. First is the reclosable stainless steel lunch container which works well for sandwiches, salads, fruit or hot lunches. Perfectly safe since stainless will not hold or impart food taste into your next meal and contains no chemicals or toxins. Easy to clean, just throw it into the dishwasher.

We’re also waiting for manufacturing to complete on our new Bamboo Lunch Bags. Bamboo is one of the greenest fibers possible as it is the fastest growing plant on earth so reforestation is very rapid after harvesting and happens naturally without replanting. Did you know that a bamboo tree can grow to 60 feet in only 59 days? Bamboo stores 4 times the amount of CO2 as trees and release 35% more oxygen, thus cleaning our air more efficiently. It grows without chemicals or pesticides and as anyone who has ever tried to remove bamboo from their yard will attest, it is as strong as steel. Naturally antibacterial (no yucky mold) and hyperallergenic, bamboo is surprisingly soft when woven as a fabric.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these and other green lunchbox ideas that are safe for kids and convenient for moms and dads. Post to this blog or send us an email at customerservice@atlantisnatural.com .

Update: All of the products above are now in our store in our Healthy Kids Lunchboxes department.

How to have a green Valentine's Day

2009-03-29T11:31:00.001-07:00

Valentine’s Day is most often associated with the color red, but this year why not add a little “green” to this day of love? We have been reading lots of good news about the health benefits of chocolate (in moderation of course) as having even more anti-oxidants than red wine. But should we go the extra mile and buy organic chocolate? I think so and here’s why. Organic chocolate is both better for our bodies and better for the earth. As with all certified organic products it is free from chemical fertilizer residue and genetically modified ingredients but is also free from rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone), that nasty stuff in milk and milk powder that has been associated with premature puberty and breast development in young girls, a fact that is known to increase predisposition to breast cancer later in life due to the duration of exposure to estrogen.

But organic chocolate is good for the earth as well. Grown in the shade of tropical forests, the cocoa in organic chocolate protects the habitats of migratory songbirds and the biodiversity of the forest. Did you know that conventionally grown cocoa is second only to cotton in pesticide use? I certainly don’t want to contribute to poisoning the earth this Valentine’s Day, nor do I want to risk pesticide residue on the treats we give to my daughter and her class. And I certainly do not want to economically contribute to poor field workers damaging their health by being exposed to toxic pesticides. The most common pesticide used on conventional cocoa crops is Parquat. According to the Pesticide Action Network (a great resource by the way and I highly recommend signing up for their newsletter), “Paraquat is an extremely hazardous substance: it has been known to damage the lungs, heart, kidneys, adrenal glands, central nervous system, liver, muscles and spleen, causing multi-organ failure. The herbicide causes severe acute and long-term health problems such as severe dermatitis, second degree burns, nosebleeds, rapid heart rate, kidney failure, and respiratory failure. Some chronic effects have also been identified: an association with developmental and reproductive effects, as well as links to skin cancer and there is mounting evidence linking it to Parkinson’s disease. ”

It always amazes me the kind of junk my daughter brings home from school after birthday, Valentine’s Day and Halloween parties, all contributed by unsuspecting parents. Each year it is harder and harder to sort through it all and find something that could potentially be edible. This year we’re trying to set an example by contributing individual packages of organic dark chocolate covered blueberries. Maybe the other parents will get the hint.

But Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about candy (believe it or not). For gifts this year we gave my daughter fair trade flowers (she loved being treated like such a “big girl”), and wooden toys from Maple Landmark, all hand made in Vermont with sustainable wood and lead free colors. We had an organic picnic by the pool and just enjoyed spending family time together. For her it was the “best day ever”!

Keep cell phones away from your kids

2009-03-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Regularly I see some well meaning mom or dad allowing their baby or young child to play with a cell phone in the supermarket to keep them occupied. I see young kids talking on the cell phone and teens with their own cell phone and after everything I have read it gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as I know that these kids are receiving damaging electro magnetic frequency radiation into their growing brains and that their parents probably have no idea that they are negatively impacting the development of their children or potentially setting them up for problems later in life.

Did you know that in the U.K. the government’s chief advisor on radiation safety warned that children under 9 should not have cell phones? And to quote from that article “Eric Huber, a radiologist at Vienna’s Doctors’ Research Chamber, which has conducted its own research, last week warned against children using mobiles. “If medications delivered the same test results as mobile phone radiation, one would immediately have to remove them from the market,” he said.

“We must assume that children are more sensitive to high-frequency radiation than adults. Their skull bones are thinner and their cells show an increased rate of division, making them more sensitive to genotoxic effects.” Now that should give all of us pause.

In fact the UK government went one step further and in 2003 banned cell phones from all schools due to safety fears. They found that complaints like headaches, earaches and skin problems may have been linked to cell phone radiation.

According to Henry Lai, a bioengineering professor from the University of Washington, researchers have speculated for more than 10 years that cell phone electromagnetic radiation (EMFs) may damage DNA and cause brain tumors. His recommendation is for parents to think twice before giving middle school kids a cell phone as the health impacts are unclear. Lai’s concerns is that as children’s skulls are thinner and their brains are still developing that they will be more succeptible to the radiation.

A 2005 survey by Spectracom indicated that cellphone use by children 8 to 14 is up 140 percent since 2001 and we would expect that the numbers would be even more dramatic if repeated today. Cell phones have become a status symbol for middle schoolers and the study indicates that the average child talks two or more hours per day on their cell phone.

Now here is a particular disturbing fact. In 2004 scientists discovered that a cell phone call lasting only 2 minutes can alter the natural electrical activity of a child’s brain for up to an hour afterwards! They found that the radio waves enter deep into the brain and not just around the ear. So that quick hello to mom or dad on an unprotected cell phone can have lasting effects. Doctors are concerned that disturbed brain activity in children can lead to longer to psychological impacts.

Personally I do everything I can to protect my daughter from EMFs. I have a BioPro chip on my cell phone which has been scientifically proven to avoid the thermal (heating) affect of cell phone radiation and the body’s stress response to EMF radiation. She also wears a pendant which combats the negative impact on white blood cells of electromagnetic radiation. This allows her to remain protected while at school and in an environment full of EMFs from computers, microwaves and the fact that unfortunately many of our schools are located close to power lines.

The danger of food dyes for kids

2009-03-29T11:23:00.001-07:00

I read an interesting article in Well Being Journal’s Jan/Feb 2009 issue about food dyes that should be a warning for all parents. It cited research on the association of food ingredients and children’s behavior that was first discovered by Ben Feingold, MD, a pediatrician and allergist, over 30 years ago. You may have heard of the low-additive Feingold Diet for hyperactive kids which stemmed from this research.

More recent studies, including one from Britain, confirm that food additives can cause hyperactive behavior, including ADHD, in children as well as adults. Europe always seems to be more careful about passing legislation to protect children that we are in the U.S. (I’ll tell you more about what they have done to protect kids from cell phone radiation in another entry but for starters check out my primer on the dangers of EMFs). In this case the European Parliament passed legislation this past summer requiring foods with synthetic dyes to carry a warning label that they “may have an adverse affect on activity and attention in children.” Manufacturers were given 18 months to comply. Why aren’t we doing the same?

So what are the ingredients to be on the lookout for?

Yellow 5 (dye)
Red 40 (dye)
BHA (artificial flavor)
BHT (artificial flavor)
TBHQ (artificial flavor)
and did you know that the FDA allows manufacturers to list MSG as simply “natural flavorings”. Are they kidding?

Other research has shown that combining Red, Yellow and Blue food dyes can be particularly toxic. These dyes are petroleum based and are essentially poison. But think of all of the brightly colored foods like cereals, candy, gum, popsicles and drinks that are targeted at children. And really this is completely unnecessary as there are many natural plant based food colorings available that are perfectly safe. Did you ever cut a red beet and see how it stains your hands? Well not surprisingly this natural color is one example of an ingredient in safe natural food colorings.

So I urge you, from one parent to another, to go to your cupboard and read the labels on any food you are giving your children (or yourself for that matter since children learn by example) and do not give them anything with the ingredients listed above. You may have a much calmer family as a result and you’ll certainly have a healthier one.

The best way for us to let manufacturers know that we will not tolerate having our children exposed to dangerous additives is to simply refuse to buy them and to purchase alternatives instead.

How can Americans be overweight and starving?

2009-03-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

More than two thirds of Americans are starving themselves of necessary nutrients, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study was conducted by Johns Hopkins University on almost 9000 Americans over 4 years and found that less than a third of the participants ate the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, even when bad foods like trans-fat laded French fries were counted as a vegetables.

Volcanic Clay and skin care

2009-03-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

Today’s organic tip is on a substance that comes from the heart of the earth, volcanic clay. Volcanic clay stimulates repair and rebuilding of tissues by providing a highly concentrated amount of organic minerals and negative ions that stimulate healing communication pathways in the body. It heals wounds and ulcers and acts as a natural dressing that remains in the wounded area until fully healed, at which time it discards itself. It has been shown to clear 90% of acne within the first 2 weeks and is quite helpful on skin conditions such as nail fungus and injured tissues. Renowned integrative medical doctor, Dr. Victor Marcial-Vega MD tested this substance in his practice with great results. I have personally used it as spot treatment for acne and it is awesome! Tough to find as it isn’t in most health food stores but well worth the search. Whenever my daughter has a little bit of eczema I put the clay on the spot for a couple of days and it clears it up nicely.

Are flax seeds really good for you?

2009-03-29T11:13:00.001-07:00

Flax seeds are great for you, but how to use them is a dilemma. All seeds contain enzyme inhibitors, and if you eat them whole they will pass through your body undigested. You can grind them, but unless you use them right away, they begin to oxidize and go rancid. Buying ground seeds is a waste of money. Flax seed oil isn’t good either, unless you use it on your skin. And cooking destroys the enzymes. So here’s an easy and inexpensive way to use flax seed and get all the excellent benefits. Soak a tablespoon of seeds in a small glass of spring water overnight. In the morning, add the seeds to oatmeal or a smoothie. Anyone else have yummy flax seed recipes to share?

The controversy over feeding infants soy formula

2009-03-29T11:12:00.002-07:00

There is a great deal of scientific evidence that soy formula can be damaging to newborns. High levels of manganese found in soy are toxic to babies because they lack the blood-brain barrier that develops later in childhood. Manganese overdose is associated with brain damage leading to violent behavior. Furthermore, soy lacks many factors that are essential to normal brain development, including essential fatty acids, DHA brain growth factor and cholesterol. A New Zealand toxicologist estimates that an infant exclusively fed soy formula receives the estrogenic equivalent of at least 5 birth control pills per day, which may contribute to early maturation. The best milk for baby is always breast milk, but if a mother is unable to nurse, then organic goats milk is the next best choice.

So what's all the fuss about organic foods?

2009-03-29T11:12:00.001-07:00

Most of our readers are already convinced that organic foods are one of the keys to good health, but for our newcomers, a primer (and for the rest of us a little reminder doesn’t hurt). Organic foods help us to avoid exposure to toxic pesticides. Organic foods are also produced without antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms and other dubious substances. Fortunately, eating organic foods helps lower our toxic burden, especially for infants and children who are highly susceptible to damage from these chemicals. A growing body of research even suggests that organically produced foods are higher in a variety of nutrients as well, thus giving you more nutrition for your dollar. Local organic foods usually offer the freshest flavor, but to protect your family, stock up your pantry as well.

Can organic wines stop the red wine headache?

2009-03-29T11:11:00.001-07:00

You know that headache that many people get from drinking red wine? Well organic wineries will tell you that many people who typically get headaches from drinking red wine do not experience the same discomfort with organic red wine. Hurrah! Organic wines are produced using organically grown grapes. No pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, or synthetic chemicals of any kind are allowed on the vines or in the soil. Strict rules govern the winemaking process and storage conditions of all imported and domestic wines that acquire certification. Moreover, organic winemakers often avoid many of the chemical substances used to stabilize conventional wines. So raise a glass of healthy antioxidants this holiday season! If you’re looking for a great source to buy organic wines check out The Organic Wine Company

Can organic farming work in poor countries?

2009-03-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

A new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology indicates that low income farmers in developing nations who adopt sustainable organic farming practices increase crop yields by an average of 79%. In addition, the healthier soil allows the crops to better withstand drought. Sustainable farmers save additional money by using less water, eliminating pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and by avoiding high-priced genetically engineered seeds. Support the growth of organic farming, it’s better for your health and is proving to make good economic sense too.

The importance of natural skincare

2009-03-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

The skin is one of the organs of elimination and it is very important to your health that it function properly. If the skin is working properly it takes the stress off other organs, allowing them to work better. For healthy skin, avoid greasy foods and sugar. Drink five to six glasses of water a day. Use natural and organic skin care products to avoid absorbing harmful chemicals into your body. There is an article in All Natural Library which lists specific dangerous ingredients which according to the Environmental Working Group are commonly found in non-organic skin care products. This advice applies even moreso to the skin care products applied to babies and kids since given their smaller bodies absorption of chemicals creates a greater toxic load. Check out Atlantis Natural for ideas on natural and organic skincare products for babies and kids.

Electro Magnetic Frequencies and Children

2009-03-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

While not specifically an organic topic I wanted to alert our readers to the dangers of electro magnetic frequencies, particularly for children using cell phones. It has been reported in scientific papers that EMFs such as those emitted from mobile phones may significantly increase the risk of conditions such as cancer, blood clots and autism. Younger people are more vulnerable to EMF waves due to skull-thickness, which is maturing and growing. If you’d like to read more check out the articles at this link: EMF Dangers

Quick tip on milk letdown

2009-03-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

Fenugreek is a very helpful herb for improving breastmilk production. Mother's Milk Tea by Traditional Medicinals contains Fenugreek and is great to sip during the day. I also take a hot shower with lavender aromatherapy to get my milk going if I have a hard time with letdown.

Benefits of eating oranges

2009-03-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

Health Tip: Oranges rich in vitamin C offer another important yet lesser-known nutritional bonus: citrus limonoids. In laboratory tests with animals and with human cells, citrus limonoids have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. Limonin may also lower cholesterol. Researchers have shown that, when exposed to limonin, human liver cells in petri dishes produced less of a compound associated with higher cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels are linked to increased risk of heart disease and other health problems.

Breastfeeding and herbs

2009-03-29T11:01:00.002-07:00

When you are breastfeeding, much of what you take into your body you give to your baby along with your milk. This includes many pharmaceutical drugs, both prescription and over the counter, as well as many herbs. And just because herbs are natural, that doesn’t mean they’re all safe for you or the baby. As with pharmaceutical substances, some medicines might be fine for adults but not so for babies and children. Therefore, it is important to know that what you ingest while nursing is safe for both of you. For more information and a list of herbs and potential reactions with breastfeeding, see Breastfeeding Herb List.

Organic and Sustainable Farming

2009-03-29T11:01:00.001-07:00

A new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology indicates that low income farmers in developing nations who adopt sustainable organic farming practices increase crop yields by an average of 79%. In addition, the healthier soil allows the crops to better withstand drought. Sustainable farmers save additional money by using less water, eliminating pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and by avoiding high-priced genetically engineered seeds. Support the growth of organic farming, better for your health and proving to make good economic sense too.

Organically fed dogs live longer?

2009-03-29T11:00:00.001-07:00

This one really got me. According to Kevin Trudeau, dogs who ate standard man-made, chemically laced dog food live, depending on the breed, between 12 and 14 years. Dogs that are fed all organic raw food, as they would eat in nature, live to be 22-30 years old! So if organic food extends life in dogs….

Still not convinced that organic food is better for you?

2009-03-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting quote from Kevin Trudeau’s book, “Natural Cures They Don’t Want You To Know About”:

“- A February 2003 study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Industry showed organically grown berries contain up to 58% more polyphenolics than those grown conventionally. This means that organically grown berries have 58% more antioxidants than those grown conventionally.

- A 1993 study published in the Journal of Applied Nutrition, showed that over the course of two years organic foods contained up to 4 times as many trace minerals, thirteen times more seleneium and twenty times more calcium and magnesium than commercially producted produce, and also had significantly fewer heavy metals, including 25% less lead and 40% less aluminium.”