Living Green & Healthy

This is probably one of the most important posts I write, and it's been a long time coming. I have been asked why I use glass baby bottles, why I buy Seventh Generation diapers, why organic food?...... well friends, the 3 are all very much connected. After years of researching and also speaking with people that have similar concerns as myself, I have finally finished cleansing our home of environmental toxins and am SO happy to provide my family with healthy GREEN living. As a wife and now a mother, it is my job to take care of my family's health, diet, and ensure a clean pure home. It is the most important job I have (next to raising our baby)! I also feel it is my duty to be earth-conscious, and set a good example for Taji, so that he and his family may have a clean and beautiful world to enjoy. I believe in moderation, and that balance is key. But before I go any further, I write this not to offend anyone, but to educate and explain why I do the things I do.... and maybe to encourage and inspire others to make a change for a healthier tomorrow.

BPA, Chemicals, and Synthetics Study after study reveal the dangers of BPA plastics, the harm they do to our body and our environment. Its no joke we live in a plastic world.... we buy food packaged in plastic, eat/ drink out of plastic tupperware, plates, bottles, utensils.. ugh! plastic overload!!! Plastic is made of synthetic materials, and anything that touches it can easily absorb the chemicals it is made with, including us. Just recently I saw a news story about how BPA found in children's dental sealant (to prevent cavities) has been linked to behavioral problems, and a host of health issues in children and adults. BPA plastics have also been connected to the increase in neurological disorders and ADHD in children. Even though most quality plastic baby bottles are now made free of BPA, Pthalates, and PVC, I personally prefer to limit the amount of plastic Taj is exposed to. I love the Born Free glass bottles. Besides being chemical free, glass is better for use and storage of milk, especially breastmilk, due to its anti-bonding qualities. Antibodies and good cells from milk tend to adhere to plastic therefore depleting your baby's nutrients.
Because Taj has sensitive skin like Brad and I, I'm also very picky what I bathe him with, and the diapers he wears all day long. Did you know that the popular and most common diapers have all been bleached to get that "white" color, and many contain tons of fragrance, and other synthetic chemicals...no wonder some babies break out in rashes! What's more disgusting is that these diapers last over 100 years in the landfill. Enter Seventh Generation diapers.... only a buck or two more than the popular Pampers, but they are all-natural, no bleach, no dyes or fragrance, eco-friendly, and they prevent diaper rash! Because Seventh Generation is so great, we use their whole line of GREEN household cleaning products, including laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid.

Environmental Toxins Is our food industry the same as it was 20 years ago when we were kids? No. Is obesity and early on-set of puberty in girls becoming a problem with our youth? Sadly, yes. Are more and more people developing allergies to gluten and other foods, becoming lactose intolerant, and/or suffering from intestinal digestive issues? Its scary, but true. Is the number of ADHD diagnosis, Autism, Neurological/ Developmental disorders, and learning disabilities on the rise? Yep. Is there a connection? Definitely. I am a firm believer that as we destroy our environment with synthetic materials and chemicals, our environment is slowly making us sick. What comes around, goes around. What we put in the earth, in the air, in the water..... we eat, breathe, and absorb. The combination of environmental toxins, tweeked food supply, and our fragile genetic predispositions gives way to gastrointestinal issues, fertility issues, and diseases/ disorders in children. Unless we create a bubble around us and our loves ones, we have to fight this war to detoxify. As I mentioned above, we use only GREEN household cleaning products, diapers, reuse and recycle plastics bags and bottles (we love our monthly Arrowhead water delivery), and try to be as energy efficient as we can be. I did quite a bit of research on immunizations as well and found that although we have a valid responsibility to erradicate and prevent diseases, we also can't possibly inject our babies with a million vaccines. Again, this brings us back to moderation. My moderation is to protect Taj against the most common and scary diseases and viruses while carefully watching for possible side effects from some of the nasty ingredients used to make these vaccines. Have you read the article about the latest autism vaccine lawsuit settlement? The age old question isn't "do vaccines cause autism?", but "how many number of vaccines will you administer at the same time to cause a serious allergic reaction and harm to a child's growing body?"

SO.....Who's Your Farmer?!! Our farmers are small family farmers located in Central California, who provide us with only their freshest produce, poultry, and eggs through Abundant Harvest Organics. I am very excited to share this hidden gem! There are a bunch of farm delivery services and businesses out there but from my research, Abundant Harvest Organics is unique in that you not only get produce in-harvest but you can add on organic chicken, pastured chicken eggs, even grass-fed beef! By supporting our local farmers, we are also saving our environment. After shopping at Trader Joes for many years I began to question and feel suspicious why we buy organic produce from foreign countries when we have farmers here in our backyard. Everything within the food industry is dictated by business and money, rather than health and logic. I refuse and am disgusted to buy chicken and eggs from these big industrial chicken farms who raise overcrowded, dirty, and unhealthy chickens that never see daylight. No thanks salmonella eggs! No thanks hormone -injected chickens! Knowing all this information could definitely make you a vegetarian! I prefer my happy healthy california chickens that peck at the grass, dust, eat bugs, and frolick in the sunshine.... I also LOVE my beautiful dark orange yolk eggs! Every week we bring our crate to the local AHO delivery/pick-up site, load up on the produce we order, and bring the farm to our home! I love that we get the freshest veggies and fruit that are in harvest for the week! Our $21 small crate this week included eggplant, zuchini, 2 types of squash, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, red onions, potatoes, 2 types of pears, apples, grapes, melon, basil, and avocados! The different weekly produce and the amazing fresh taste has motivated me to get creative with cooking, and I bet Brad is happy to have his wife cooking 3-4 dinners a week! Abundant Harvest Organics makes buying organic food super affordable (even cheaper than regular supermarkets!). They have wonderful service, great online ordering system, and they come out with weekly newsletters and delicious recipes. Our tummies are very happy! I can't wait to start making Taji's baby food!

Probiotics. Last but not least, let me introduce you to my little army of healthy bacteria that attack the bad bacteria from coating my stomach: Kendy Acti-Flora Probiotics. Go ahead and read up on all the benefits. Thanks to my friend Kristen Papac for motivating me to look into this. Do you have a little bacteria army looking out for your best interest and protecting you from the harmful things in our food? I am CONVINCED that my probiotics and Taji's BioGaia baby probiotic drops cured him from his abdominal pains and colic. Baby probiotics are being given more attention because of their effectiveness on colicky babies. And while I'm in the process of divulging what I consume.... check out Green Pastures Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil and Butter Oil.... one of the most beneficial if not THE most beneficial vitamin supplement you will ever need to take. DHA, Omega-3's......etc, its got ALL of them and has the highest potency and absorbency.