Up until a couple of years ago, I had never heard of phthalates, BPA, or parabens much less their impact on the health of my family. I have always tried to be as natural as possible by eating healthy and avoiding unnecessary chemicals. When I got pregnant with my son two years ago, I ended up on bedrest at 17 weeks which gave me too much time and not enough to do. Most of my days were spent on the phone and online researching trendy strollers and safe car seats. It was during that time I happened upon a blog post (I didn’t even know what a blog was) warning about the dangers of BPA. And that is where my green adventure began.
It’s been two years and “going green” has never been easier. I recently read Green Goes With Everything by NBC’s Today Show contributor and KNTV’s Green Editor Sloan Barnett. I’ve done a ton of research on the subject but I still found this book to be informative and practical. When people think of “going green” they envision giving up lots of the green stuff to achieve this. Sloan Barnett’s book gives you the 411 on everything from contaminants in bottled water (yikes!) to saving money by reducing your energy usage. Each chapter begins with The Plain Green Truth, a series of “green” facts that challenge what you think you know, and ends with Five Green-Hot Tips to get you started on your green path to a healthier life.
Green Goes With Everything provides credible information on the toxins we come in contact with everyday and how they have the potential to impact our health. Her solutions and alternatives to conventional products are a great start, particularly if you have just started thinking about “going green.” I have to admit that while much of the information was not new to me, I was able to find some recommendations on products that I had never heard of (her resource guide at the end of the book is amazing). Her last chapter on Clean Energy is particularly useful to my husband and I at this time in our lives, having just moved into a home of our own. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has limited knowledge on going green or would like a little refresher on the subject.
You can purchase Green Goes With Everything on Amazon.com. Be sure to take the Body Burden Tour to find out which household products are burdening your body and visit Sloan Barnett’s blog for new green product finds and offers and insights into green and health issues concerning the world today.
Here is a list of 10 steps from the site that you can work on right now to achieve a greener, healthier home:
1. Start by replacing a bunch of your cleaners (your general spray cleaner, glass cleaner, counter top cleaner, floor and bathroom cleaners) with a natural, nontoxic all-purpose cleaner. You will only need one to do that. Really!
2. Replace your laundry detergent with a natural nontoxic one so the clothes you wear and the sheets you sleep on have no fumes for you to breathe.3. Go to your bathroom and read the shampoo, makeup and moisturizer labels. Ask yourself, “Do I really need scent in these products?” Take stock of all of your other products and try to replace one a week with a safer, greener choice.
4. Use BPA-free plastic baby bottles and fill them with breast milk or organic formula. Choose powdered formula over canned formula to avoid BPA leaching from the can-lining.
5. Pay attention (without freaking out) to the toys you buy for your kids. Avoid lead paint and soft plastics that contain phthalates.
6. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store and avoid processed food. Even better, choose organic and locally grown meats, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
7. Try to get the plastic containers out of your kitchen and replace them with glass containers.
8. Make a vow to stop buying bottled water—NOW. Instead, buy a water filter pitcher and keep two in your fridge at all times.
9. For cleaner and healthier air, open your windows once a day when the outside temperature is comfortable.
10. When buying new stuff for your home, focus on green products especially mattresses and carpets.
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We’re fans of Nature’s Sleep collection of mattresses. It’s allergen resistant and provides a great night’s sleep.
In the near future, all mattress providers will have to offer more organic/natural selections for the health conscious consumer. We’re looking forward to it.