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A document released by The President’s Cancer Panel on May 6, 2010 listed a variety of carcinogenic compounds that many people routinely encounter. Included was bisphenol A in canned foods.  In its letter, the panel singled out bisphenol A, a chemical used in can linings that is unregulated in the United States.  There is a proven link between canned food and cancer.  There have been laboratory links to recent trends in human diseases — a chilling list including breast and prostate cancers, increases in urogenital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men, early onset of puberty in girls, metabolic disorders including Type 2 diabetes and obesity, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.  Food cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains bisphenol-A.  Most experts believe this is our main source of exposure to BPA.  Eden Foods is currently the only company with BPA-free canned foods (other than the canned tomatoes, which they haven’t found an adequate substitute for given the acidity of the tomatoes).

Giving up canned food has not been difficult.  Canned food has never really appealed to me, I just cooked with it out of convenience.  If I do run out time and decide to buy  a can of beans, I always buy Eden.  In 1997, Mike Potter, founder and president of Eden Foods, learned that new research was raising questions about the safety of bisphenol A and that one of BPA’s many applications was in the linings of cans.  After his canning manufacturers refused to disclose the chemicals they were using in the cans, Potter asked what they used in the days before BPA.  The answer was an enamel made from vegetable resins.  He asked if he could have his cans made with this resin and the answer was yes.  Eden Foods pays 14% more for their cans.

Tomatoes are the biggest culprit when it comes to cans containing BPA because they are highly acidic and need a liner.  Once I stopped buying canned tomatoes and just bought and grew fresh ones, I realized I never really liked the taste of canned tomatoes anyway.  Beans are another canned food I was buying a lot.  When I bought bagged dried beans, learning how to cook them was easier than I thought.  Lastly, broth was another frequent purchase.  Many broths, stocks, and soups come in Tetra Packs.

Stick with fresh fruits and vegetables, dried beans, and boxed or jarred soups and stocks.  There’s not much in a can that tastes very good anyway.  By the way, if you’re planning on canning your own food from your garden this year, be aware that mason jar lids contain BPA.  Tattler Canning Lids are a great alternative and they’re reusable.

Read more about the effects of endocrine disruptors:

Endocrine Disruptors Really Do Suck

It’s Time to Learn From Frogs

As I unpacked the summer hand-me-downs for the boys from our crawl space, I found so many great items that unfortunately had holes worn in them…BOYS.  The last thing I wanted to do with a couple of toddlers was go shopping for something as boring as shorts.  I remembered back to the day when mothers used to patch holes in the knees and elbows of our clothing.  They probably used a sewing machine and knew exactly how to mend old things; maybe their mothers taught them.  Not wanting to get rid of still wearable clothing that will inevitably end up with holes and stains by the end of the summer anyway, and not wanting to spend more money, I found another solution.  Etsy is my favorite place for finding such gems.  I discovered a great selection of iron-on appliques that are so cute you almost want to iron them on things without holes.  Starting at $1.50, you can’t beat the value and you’re reducing, reusing, and recycling in the process.  You could almost call it upcycling since the damaged clothing becomes an entirely new piece.  Here are some of my favorites:

Applique Heaven

123 Applique

Ksalva Designs

Crazy Couture

Ella Ba’ Della’s

PDF Designs

Tadpole Creations

To exclusively dress your child in organic baby clothes and outfit their nurseries with organic baby bedding can be more expensive. But by making a commitment to organic sleepwear, at least 50% of your child’s day will be spent in organics.  The investment becomes minimal when looking at the harmful effects of flame retardants, synthetics, and pesticides. Organic sleepwear lasts longer and can be used for more than one child. The Healthy Children Project recommends ” buying clothing, bedding and furniture made of natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, which do not melt near heat and as such do not need to contain flame-retardants.” The Environmental Working Group says, “To avoid any chemicals in sleepwear and reduce the risk of igniting sleepwear, we suggest you choose natural fibers that are inherently fire resistant and snug-fitting.” Most clothing produced today is grown and manufactured with toxic chemicals. The garment industry is well-known for being chemically intensive and polluting.

Flame Retardants

polyester textiles are manufactured with built-in fire retardants

These dangerous chemicals have been detected in blood, urine and breastmilk. They are embedded in our people, our animals and land. PBDE affects the thyroid, immune system, reproductive system, and liver. It disturbs brain development, learning abilities, hormone function and can cause cancer, hyperactivity (ADD & ADHD), obesity, diabetes and permanent behavioral changes. These are all the same conditions that are increasing in our children today, who happen to be the most highly exposed.  According to animal studies, most problems stem from prenatal exposure and exposure soon after birth. Humans have not reached the same levels found in animals, but these levels are doubling every 2-5 years. PBDE does not break down, it accumulates in fatty tissue and works its way down the food chain.  Flame-retardants are most prevalent in the United States. Concentrations of flame-retardants are 3 times higher in children than in their mothers. Their tiny bodies are not able to excrete toxins as easily as adults and their skin is thinner and highly absorbent.

a rayon nightgown requires chemical treatment

Synthetics

Most children’s sleepwear is made of polyester (fleece), nylon acetate, and rayon. These fabrics begin their lives as a vat of chemicals, including petroleum. They have a prolonged landfill life, create more dependence on oil and take 40% more energy to produce than cotton. They are not breathable and block out air sometimes causing the body to overheat. These synthetics can also emit toxic gasses and are allergenic, causing respiratory disease in some cases. Polyester is plastic and will melt when heated. Synthetics must also contain flame retardants.

Conventional Cotton

Conventional cotton is the 2nd most pesticide-saturated crop in the world and one of the most environmentally destructive.  90% of production involves the use of synthetic chemicals. It takes one-third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers to make one cotton t-shirt. 70% of conventional cotton farmers use GMO seeds and treat them with fungicides and insecticides.  Synthetic fertilizers and herbicides are added to the soil to kill weeds, five of which are probable carcinogens. Aerial spraying of these chemicals drift onto farm workers, neighboring wildlife and communities. They runoff into our water, cannot be eliminated by water treatment centers, and end up in our city water systems. Residues of these chemicals have been found in human amniotic fluid, breast milk and fatty tissues.  The biggest problem with non-organic cotton fabric is the finishes.  Softeners and brighteners like bleach, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and ammonia are used in the finishing process of conventional cotton and a scientific link has been proven between these toxic chemicals and cancer, endocrine disruption and even reproductive disorders.  Permanent press finish releases formaldehyde and no amount of washing removes permanent press.  The reason to buy organic cotton is that conventionally-grown cotton uses a huge amount of the most toxic chemicals, which get into our air and water and soil, and indirectly into our bodies.

The Solution

Fortunately there is a safe and sustainable choice that can be made by informed consumers. Snug-fitting organic cotton and naturally flame-resistant organic wool are the best choices for children. They feel softer, last longer, and protect the developing systems of babies and toddlers. They are free of dangerous chemicals, they breathe, and allow for moisture absorption.  With summer upon us, Snug Organics has created it’s own line of summer sleepwear perfect for those hot, muggy nights.  A simple tank top paired with briefs sporting an elastic-free yoga waistband.  A girls’ or boys’ set of 3 or individuals can be ordered now.  Girls’ Set- strawberry, lavender, vanilla    Boys’ Set-cherry, blue moon, vanilla.   Available in toddlers sizes 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T.

Look for our Snug O-Wool Sleepers this fall, made of naturally flame-resistant organic wool…no snug-fit necessary!

Articles on this topic by:

The Smart Mama

The Daily Green

Summer hasn’t officially started, but it sure feels like it.  I’ve never been one to slather my kids with sunscreen everyday, but I’m somewhat diligent about long days at the pool or park.  It’s easy to forget that sunshine can be a very good thing.  It boosts the body’s vitamin D supply and regulates at least 1,000 different genes that govern virtually every tissue in the body. This includes calcium metabolism, neuromuscular and immune system functioning, just to name a few. Sunlight also boosts serotonin and melatonin levels, which help regulate sleep schedules, as well as help fight infection, inflammation, auto-immunity, and even cancer. Recent research shows that regions with more sunshine have slightly higher levels of skin cancer, but an even higher level of survival for most other forms of cancer.  Ironically, the chemicals in most sunscreens are cancer-causing or hormone-disrupting.  Use Skin Deep to find out how hazardous your current sun products are.

The biggest threat is a sunburn.  Remember these simple tips from The Healthy Child, by Partners in Pediatrics:

• Apply sunscreen if your child will be outside longer than 30 minutes.
• Start the summer with exposure to the sun in small increments until an underlying protective tan builds up.
• Children with the least skin pigment should use sunscreen throughout the year and avoid sun whenever possible.
• The skin of infants is thin and very sensitive to the sun’s rays.  Protective clothing, hats, and shade are essential.  Do not use sunscreen containing PABA for infants less than 6 months.
• The sun’s rays are most intense and damaging from 10:30-3:00.
• The sun’s rays reflecting off water, sand, and snow increase risk of sunburn.
• Protect your child’s eyes from the sun.  Years of exposure increase the risk of cataracts.
• Preventing sunburn during childhood will help prevent skin cancer in adulthood.

The Environmental Working Group recommends only 39, or 8 percent, of 500 beach and sport sunscreens on the market this season. They also highly recommend avoiding Oxybenzone, Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), and added insect repellent.  See the full report here

The Top Ten

Sunscreens Exposed:  9 surprising truths

Hall of Shame

What is the deal with cookware and toxicity?  I think we all briefly heard the news a while back about Teflon being toxic and slowly seeping into our food.  So is it Teflon or all non-stick cookware surfaces that are dangerous?  I don’t know if I trust any of them.  Non-stick isn’t as long-lasting as other naturally-surfaced cookware anyway.  Non-stick coatings, usually Teflon or something similar, contain controversial chemicals PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene).  They scratch easily and may release little bits of inert plastic into food when cooked, as well as toxic fumes over high heat. DuPont studies show that Teflon off-gases toxic particulates at 446°F.  Teflon pans release at least six toxic gases, including two carcinogens.  DuPont acknowledges that the fumes can sicken people with a condition called “polymer fume fever.”  A study by Environmental Working Group, in collaboration with Commonweal in 2005, found chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of US-born infants, including the Teflon chemical PFOA (99% of 300 newborns tested).  The Canadian government is introducing legislation to ban PFOA.  The other most popular cookware, aluminum, is also a concern because food can react with this metal to form aluminum salts associated with impaired visual motor coordination and Alzheimer’s disease.  More than half of all cookware sold today is made of aluminum.  As I researched and began to replace all of the Calphalon cookware that we’ve had since we got married ten years ago, here are the most non-toxic options I found:

Stainless Steel Stainless steel cookware is considered one of the best and safest choices in cookware.  Some say there is the possibility of ingesting nickel and chromium if the surface is scratched, but that’s very difficult to do.   It is one of the most hygienic surfaces for the preparation of foods and very easy to clean, as its unique surface has no pores or cracks to harbor dirt, grime, or bacteria.  It requires minimal care since it won’t chip or easily rust.  Stainless steel has a useful life expectancy of over 100 years, and it is totally recyclable. 360 Cookware, a green company based in West Bend, WI, offers a stainless option introducing vapor technology.

Cast Iron (plain & enameled) Plain cast-iron is thick and dense with unparalleled heat capacity.  The thickness also results in even heating, but also requires more time and energy to heat up.  Cooking with cast iron also provides a source of an important nutrient.  Some nutritionists suggest that foods cooked on unglazed cast iron contain twice the amount of iron they would contain otherwise.  Enameled cast iron absorbs heat and distributes it evenly, creating an efficient cooking experience, whether it is the slow roasting of vegetables or the simmering of soups.  It can also be used on any heat source including in the oven for casseroles or baking bread.  Enamel-coated cast iron is safe and a little easier to cook with than plain cast iron.  Green Pots is an affordable option, but is only offered online.

Copper Copper requires more care, but offers unmatched heat conductivity and temperature control.  It is environmentally-friendly, being a natural material that takes little heat to form into pots and pans.  It also takes a lot less energy to heat copper cookware. For recipes that require your stove to be on medium high, would only require just medium low or low.  Most copper pans come with a stainless steel lining.  Copper is extremely expensive, but Revere Copper offers a compromise of stainless steel with a copper layer on the bottom.  It can be found at local hardware stores starting at $20.

Anodized Aluminum This non-stick replacement is treated to develop an aluminum oxide non-stick coating.  The manufacturer of Calphalon, a best-selling brand of anodized aluminum cookware, claims that a final stage in the anodization process seals the aluminum, preventing any leaching into food.  They say it resists abrasion, is chemically stable, does not decompose, and is non-toxic. s However, some people feel that all aluminum cookware should be protected with stainless steel or some other safe material.  Many even have a rolled edge that allows food to touch only stainless. Well-made anodized aluminum cookware that doesn’t have any scratches is probably okay, but when there are other safe choices, why bother with aluminum?

These are the tried and true cookware choices that have stood the test of time.  Cooking on surfaces other than non-stick take some getting used to, but food cooked this way tastes even better.  Eventually I would love to invest in a few Green Pots, a small, women-owned business ensuring that their enameled cast iron is completely non-toxic.  For the time being I bought a couple of stainless steel pieces, a cast iron griddle for pancakes, one enameled cast iron dutch oven, and uncovered a beautiful copper pot given to us for our wedding when I was too inexperienced to appreciate it.  I also saved one of our original, very small, Calphalon non-stick skillets just in case.

This pasta recipe is my favorite for greens.  It works with chard, kale, spinach, and collards.  We’ve tried it with them all and it’s always good.  If you don’t eat pasta it could easily be served over chicken or fish.  Last night’s version was made with Russian kale and gluten-free penne. The easiest way to serve this to the boys is with whole wheat shells since the greens seem to “hide” inside.  We just planted rainbow chard in our garden today, so that will be this summer’s go to green.

Penne with Greens and Leeks in a Walnut Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 T. butter or olive oil
• 1 cup chopped leek, white and pale green part
• 1 pound GREENS (kale, collards, spinach, or chard) stems cut from leaves and chopped if using chard
• 3 large cloves of garlic minced or chopped
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes-optional
• 1/3 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 T. walnut oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 pound penne, cooked and drained
• 1/2 cup toasted walnut halves and pieces
• freshly grated parmesan cheese-optional

Directions:

In a skillet over moderately low heat melt butter or oil, add leek, chard stems (if using chard), and salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and cook for 5 minutes.  Add greens, garlic, red pepper flakes, and broth.  Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 more minutes.  Increase heat to high until broth is reduced and almost evaporated.  Add the cream, walnut oil, and simmer sauce over moderately high heat, stirring, until lightly thickened.  Season with salt and pepper.  Transfer cooked pasta to a large bowl and add sauce and toasted walnuts.  Toss to combine.  Serve and sprinkle with parmesan.

Vinegar is a versatile liquid that results from the fermentation of ethanol. The key ingredient of vinegar is acetic acid.  Distilled white vinegar sold in grocery stores contain 5% acidity.  Outside of cooking, vinegar has medicinal, household cleaning, and agricultural applications.  When it comes to cleaning the house these days, I don’t use much more than vinegar.  This wonder wine seems to do it all.  Forget purchasing a different cleaner for what seems like every household duty and refill your old bottles with much cheaper, safer, and more effective ingredients.  Vinegar is the base ingredient because of its disinfecting antibacterial strength.  Here are my 10 favorite uses for VINEGAR:

1.)  Laundry- Vinegar removes stains, works as a fabric softener, provides extra rinsing of uric acid and the alkalies in soaps, and removes odors (especially from cloth diapers).  Add a cup to your load of laundry or sponge directly onto a stain.

2.)  Fever Reducer- Someone told my husband about a fever remedy he got from an old Polish woman.  Soak a washcloth with vinegar and place it on the center of the chest.  Another option is to soak a pair of socks in vinegar and put them on the feet.  As the mother of a son who suffers from febrile seizures, I was willing to try anything.  This works.

3.)  Odor Remover- Put one cup of vinegar in the refrigerator and let it sit, pour a cup down the drain, microwave 1/4 cup in the microwave, pour 3 cups in your toilet, pour over pet accidents, better yet, pour 1 cup of vinegar per 2 gallons of water over your pet- don’t rinse, simmer a small pot on the stove to get rid of cooking smells, and ditch the Febreze and Lysol asap.

4.)  All-Purpose Cleaner- Mix 1 cup vinegar with 1 cup water and a few drops of essential oil for cleaning countertops, floors, bathrooms (add baking soda for scrubbing), carpet stains, wood, the garbage disposal, coffee maker, microwave, clogged drains, refrigerator, stainless steel, lunch boxes, dishwasher, and especially windows and glass.

5.)  Air Freshener-  Phthalates involved with air fresheners and all things with a fake fragrance, like Glade Plug-Ins, have been linked to endocrine, reproductive, and developmental problems, plus they actually smell like crap.  Air Freshener Recipe:  1 cup water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp vinegar, 1 tsp lemon juice, a few drops of the essential oil of your choice, and a spray bottle.

6.)  Antibacterial- Vinegar kills bacteria, mold and germs.  A straight solution of vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses).  So throw out the Clorox now.  Hand Sanitizer Recipe:  4 oz. aloe vera, 1/4 c. witch hazel, 2T apple cider vinegar, essential oil of your choice.

8.)  Pest/Weed Repellent- Spraying vinegar on any place you’ve seen ants, fruit flies, or gnats will get rid of them.  If your pet has fleas or ticks, put a teaspoon of vinegar in the water bowl (1 tsp to 1 quart).  Even use it as bug spray on the whole family.  Pour or spray on weeds anywhere.

9.)  Adhesive Remover- Wipe bumper stickers, price tags, labels, and decals with vinegar to remove.

10.)  Skin Soother- Add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to a bath to help with dryness, itching, and sunburns.  Rub directly on fungus, warts, bug bites, and burns.

Keep a spray bottle filled with straight (5% acidity) vinegar in your home at all times.  My husband always complains that vinegar stinks, but that goes away as soon as it dries and it actually removes odors in the process.  You can always add essential oils to create a “clean” smell that is safe and many of them have special properties to boot.  The best oils for cleaning are lavender, tea tree, grapefruit, and clove.  Most importantly, you can stop worrying about your kids getting a hold of toxic cleaning products stored throughout the house.  If they are a poison hazard in the bottle, then why would you spray them all over your home?

Imagine a bike that is always ready to ride, where and when you want to ride it. The tires are always inflated and the chain is never rusty.  A bike with a basket to carry your knapsack or Betty Basket Liner.  A bike with front and rear lights and a bell that fits people tall and short.  A bike that’s there whenever you need it, and gone when you don’t.  That’s a B-cycle.  And it’s powered by the ultimate alternative fuel: you.

On Earth Day this year, Denver B-Cycle launched the first large-scale citywide bicycle sharing program in the nation.  It’s designed to help Denver residents and visitors increase their daily activity, save money and reduce carbon emissions. The idea came from Europe and Asia where there are currently 50 cities with public bike sharing systems.  Montreal and Mexico City launched in 2009-10.  B-cycle is a collaboration among three major American companies:  Humana, Trek Bicycle Corporation, and Crispin Porter + Bogusky.  Also, community partners, foundations and organizations all stepped up to help create Denver B-cycle, a non-profit.  This program supports the city’s Greenprint Climate Action Plan, the Strategic Transportation Plan and the Living Streets Initiative.  With over 358 miles of bike routes/trails and 300 days of sunshine, Denver is the perfect city to launch a bike sharing system.

Here’s how it works.  Denver B-cycle members can pick up a B-cycle from any of the conveniently located B-stations and drop it off at any other B-station.  By the end of June, Denver will have approximately 500 B-cycles at 45-50 B-stations.  Users can sign up for 7-day ($20), 30-day ($30) or annual memberships ($65) online. Users can also purchase a $5 24-hour membership at the B-cycle station with his/her credit card. Discounts are available for students and seniors.

If you want a bicycle sharing program in your city, go ahead and vote here.  It could happen sooner than you think!  Also, type in your zip code to check out the B-effect, or how B-cycle will improve your community.

The first five years of our marriage, before kids, my husband and I lived in Northern California near Stanford University.  Frequently on a sunny Saturday afternoon we would walk over to the Cantor Arts Center, which has one of the largest collections of Rodin in the world outside Paris.  There are 200 works in all, but there was one that I was always drawn to, The Old Woman.

This work has four names:  The Old Lady, The Old Courtesan, Winter, and She Who Was The Helmet-Maker’s Once Beautiful Wife.  Rodin did not come up with the last of these.  It was derived from a poem written by Francois Villon called ‘Les Regrets De La Belle Heaulmiere’ about a once beautiful woman whose body is destroyed and youth gone.  It is depressing, shallow, full of doom, and obviously written by a man.  This poem mirrors the way our society feeds on women’s insecurities and constantly tells them they need to be fixed.  In a time when women cannot accept aging and have become plastic, it is vital to be reminded of the beauty in things natural.  What happened to honoring the Goddess and feminine values and images, as discussed in the book, The Alphabet versus the Goddess?  It is shameful to go to a postpartum appointment and be asked if you’re thinking about a tummy tuck or a breast augmentation instead of ‘How is your baby doing?’

Even before I had children and didn’t realize how difficult it would be to accept the changes in my body, I thought this sculpture was gorgeous.  I am in full admiration of the story her body tells and the strength it exhibits.  I see pregnancies, nursing, babies, and caring for a family;  a rich life.  In 1884-85, Rodin modeled this sculpture after an 82 year old woman named Caira, mother of an Italian model, because he was fascinated by the inevitable decline of human beings.  The artist says it best, “Commonly ugliness in nature can in art become full of great beauty.  In art, only that which has character is beautiful. Character is the essential truth of any natural object.”  We don’t see this kind of honesty in images today, instead airbrushing and visual deception continue to make women feel inadequate.  Remember on this Mother’s Day to be grateful for the healthy and strong body that served you in the birth and nourishment of your children.  Be inspired by this kind of beauty.

Oh, and if you ever have the chance to stop in at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, be sure to have lunch at the Cool Cafe.