The Baking Soda List

Baking Soda is another one of those amazing products that can do almost anything. It's dirt cheap and completely safe and natural. 

Quick science lesson... Baking Soda is actually the mineral, sodium bicarbonate, which occurs naturally in all living things. It's function is to balance pH (keep them from being too acidic or too alkaline). It can be manufactured by mining sodium carbonate and dissolving it in a solution through which carbon dioxide is bubbled. Baking soda's ability to balance pH is one of the things that makes it such a useful, multi-purpose product.

So, here's the list...

To Deodorize:  

1. Small bowl or box in the refrigerator and freezer.

2. Sprinkle in garbage and diaper pails and inside each new bag.

3. Soak containers in a solution of baking soda and water.

4. Sprinkle in drains and garbage disposals and then run warm water.

5. Sprinkle carpets, let sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum.

6. Sprinkle in litterboxes.

7. Sprinkle your dog and then brush. 

8. Sprinkle in your laundry hamper between washdays.

9. Add to each load of laundry.

10. Sprinkle camping gear and sports gear before putting it away for the off season.

To Clean

11. Sprinkle on a damp cloth or sponge to use as a light scrub. Rinse with water.

12. Clean silver with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rinse with water.

13. Remove scuff marks from floors by sprinkling and wiping up with a damp cloth.

14. Clean pans with baked on food or grill racks by sprinkling and then soaking overnight.

15. Clean stains off kitchen or bathroom surfaces with a paste of baking soda and water. 

16. Clean hairbrushes and combs by swishing in baking soda and water.

17. Clean a carpet spill as normal, but then sprinkle with baking soda and vacuum.

18. Clean toys or lawn furniture with 1/4 cup baking soda per quart of water. Rinse.

19. Pre-treat grease stains with a baking soda paste.

20. Clean mildew from kiddie pools with baking soda and warm water.

21. Clean thermoses and coolers with baking soda and warm water.

22. Run your (empty) dishwasher through a cycle with baking soda instead of detergent.

23. Clean/deodorize garlicky or fishy hands by scrubbing with baking soda paste.

24. Use to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from toaster. Dampen cloth and make a mild abrasive with baking soda.

Other Ideas

25. Throw handfuls of it at the base of grease or electrical fires to put out.

26. Can be used in pools to balance pH... see Arm and Hammer website for details.

27. Keep drains clear by occasionally pouring 1/4 cup down and and then running hot water.

28.1/2 tsp in 4oz of water every 2 hours as an antacid. (Not more than 7 times per day-- not more than 3 times per day if you are over 60 years old). 

29. Sprinkle on ant piles.

30. 2 TBSP in baby's bath to relieve diaper rash.

31. Sprinkled liberally in an adult's (cool) bath to relieve sunburn.

32. Paste on insect bites, rashes, and poison ivy.

33. Used as a mouthwash it will relieve canker sores.

This is hardly a conclusive list... there are literally hundreds of uses! I definitely recommend buying baking soda in bulk because you will be using it all the time!!

The Oil Replacement

Some sections of the grocery store are just overwhelming.... so many choices ... they all look alike... how are we supposed to know which one to pick!? 
Cooking oil is like that. Vegetable, corn, soybean, canola, peanut, safflower, olive, extra virgin olive, coconut... Everything is yellowish (except coconut oil, which is white), in a bottle, tons of fat... no difference, right? 
Wrong. Oils all have very different qualities; some good, some bad. There are some simple changes you can make when purchasing oil that will make a big difference in your health.
Basically, you want to look at the amount of essential fatty acids (good) versus the amount of saturated fat (bad). Healthful oils will help your body absorb vitamins, provide the building blocks for cell membranes (especially in the brain), and are good for your skin. 

The Good Guys

Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Comes from the flesh of the olive (rather than the seed, as other oils do) so it doesn't need to be processed. About 90% unsaturated fat, mostly monounsaturated which lowers cholesterol. However, it is not a good source of Omega 3 or Omega 6 fatty acids, so it needs to be balanced with other oils. "Extra Virgin" Olive Oil is the oil from the first press of the olives and has the highest amount of antioxidants. Avoid  "Virgin", "Pure", or "Light" Olive Oil which come from the second and even third press and are often chemically processed. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is best for dressings and low heat cooking. It does have a rather strong flavor, which does not lend itself to baking
Canola Oil- Comes from the rapeseed and is the second highest vegetable source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Also a good source of alpha-linoleic acid which is an Omega 6 fatty acid. Canola oil is only 7% saturated fat content, so is considered a very heart healthy oil. Because it is high in unsaturated fat, it is thought to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease. Best to purchase organic, since rapeseeds are usually sprayed with pesticides.
Macadamia Nut Oil- I had actually never heard of this until doing this research, but now I am going to get some! It is 80% monounsaturated fat, which makes it extremely good for your heart (canola is considered good at 58%). It also has the best ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids. Lastly, this oil has a smoke point of 389 degrees, which makes it ideal for sauteing and stir frying.
Coconut Oil- There is a lot of conflicting information out there about this type of oil. I think it really needs it's own post so that all of the pros and cons can be discussed. I just didn't want to complete this post without at least mentioning it. There are some pretty amazing claims out there about coconut oil including that is supports heart health, weight loss, metabolism, your thyroid, and your immune system. I've also read some amazing things about the flavor when using it for baking (especially with chocolate). The problem is that the saturated fat content is very high (which advocates have an explanation for). As I said, its very controversial. I personally feel good about using it. 

So make the replacements today. The oils listed above are going to be the best choices for you and your family. 


Quick tip: The healthiest way to cook at high heat with oil is called the "wet saute" method. Pour about 1/4 cup of water in the saute pan. Add the food and cook slightly before adding the oil. this shortens the amount of time that the oil is in contact with the hot pan (which can destroy the nutritious properties and flavor of the oil).

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

Isn't everything you see on TV true?? As the commercial says, "whether it's corn sugar or cane sugar... sugar is sugar". These commercials which are paid for by the Corn Refiners Association (shocker) are absolutely false. According to a study by Princeton University here's why.
Chemically...  High fructose corn syrup is chemically different than sucrose (table sugar). Sucrose is comprised of two simple sugars; 50% glucose and 50% fructose. HFCS is 55% fructose, 42% glucose, and 3% of larger sugar molecules called higher saccharides. A second chemical difference is that the fructose in HFCS is "free and unbound", meaning that it is ready to be absorbed and used by your body. In sucrose, the fructose molecules are each bound to a glucose molecule. Therefore, metabolically there is another step to absorbing the fructose in sucrose.
Nutritionally... In the Princeton study, they fed rats a diet of rat chow combined with water sweetened with either HFCS (half the concentration found in most soft drinks) or sucrose (the full concentration found in soft drinks). The researchers monitored weight gain, triglyceride levels, and body fat in the rats. The rats given HFCS gained 48% more weight, had significantly more triglycerides circulating in their blood stream, and put on large amounts of abdominal fat. One researcher stated, "These rats aren't just getting fat; they're demonstrating characteristics of obesity, including substantial increases in abdominal fat and circulating triglycerides. In humans, these same characteristics are known risk factors for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cancer and diabetes".
I'm not sure why there are still questions about whether this is a good alternative to sugar. Clearly, research has shown that HFCS causes obesity when sucrose does not. I'm not advocating a diet full of sugar, I'm advocating a diet free of HFCS. Unfortunately, the average American consumes 60 pounds of HFCS per year. gross. It is present in an alarming number of our foods/drinks: juices, sodas, ketchup, salad dressing, bread, yogurt, cereal, crackers, cookies... etc... etc... etc...
The positive thing is that people seem to be catching on and food manufacturers seem to be noticing. There are products out there without this garbage in it. If you must buy soda, try natural sodas or at least the throwback editions which are made with cane sugar. Organic products are obviously the best choice.
Be diligent about checking labels and know that you are making the right choice for you and your family.

Side Note

Just wanted to say sorry about the brief hiatus! My sisters were visiting from out of state and I haven't seen them for months! In the future (as I get better at blogging!) I will try to plan ahead and have extra posts prepared. I'm going to skip the menu plan for this week since we are already a few days in... there will be a new one posted on Saturday. Here's what else you can look forward to this week...

Info on High Fructose Corn Syrup

The Oil Replacement

The Baking Soda List

Info on Laundry Soap

Thanks for reading!

The Candle Replacement

Who doesn't love a good candle? I love seasonal candles the best... pumpkin in the fall, evergreen in the winter, flowers in the spring, clean cotton in the summer... Smells are nostalgic; so many of us are suckers for a scent that brings us back to a certain time or place. Plus, it's nice to have a house that smells good instead of like last night's dinner, the dog, or one of the many (un)pleasant smells that comes from having children. 


So what's the problem? ... 
Soot that stains your walls and furniture and releases toxins and carcinogens into the air in your home. Most candles are made with paraffin wax which is a by-product of petroleum and releases a petro-carbon soot. That's what leaves black marks on your walls/furniture and also circulates through your air and home duct work. The American Lung Association reports that this soot contains 11 documented toxins including 2 carcinogens; toluene and benzene. yuck.


On top of the petroleum issue, there are also concerns with traditional candle wicks. Many candle companies are using lead core wicks. When heated, they release lead into the air. 100% of lead that is inhaled is released into the blood stream. gross. Even more horrible, chronic low-level lead exposure is related to neuro-psychological and behavioral problems in children. 

Fragrance is another issue. Your best bet is to buy candles which are scented with essential oils. Synthetic fragrances are composed of chemicals with an unknown number of possible health risks. Some of the chemicals you are inhaling: acetone, ethanol, toluene, camphor, methylene chloride, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, formaldehyde, limonene, linalool, g-terpinene, beta-phenethyl, musk amberette, musk xylene and musk keytone. 


SO. Other options? Soy and beeswax candles are widely available and comparably priced. Be careful that what you are buying is pure beeswax or soy, since it is legal to advertise them that way even if they are mostly paraffin. Check labels carefully. As far as the wick, you want pure cotton, hemp, or wood. Undyed (or dyed with natural ingredients) and scented with essential oils (only) is the way to go. Natural food stores, environmental stores, and the internet are all good ways to find safe candles. I have found great candles at TJMaxx in the past, you just have to be diligent in your search! 

Some webites to get you started:

Think Green Store (http://www.thinkgreenstore.com)

Sapphire Tree Candle Company (http://www.sapphiretreecandle.com)

Q Candles (http://www.qcandles.com)

Pharmacopia Organic Soywax Candles (http://www.pharmacopia.net)

Maddison Avenue Candle Company (http://www.maddisonavenue.com)

Lumia Organic (http://www.lumia.us)

Green Nest Soy Candles (http://www.greennest.com)

eco candle co. (http://www.ecocandleco.com)

Green Apple Kitchen Organic Soy Candles (http://www.shop.greenapplekitchen.com)

The Wheat Germ List

Question: What is one of the healthiest foods in the world, inexpensive, tasty, and extremely versatile and easy to use?
Answer: Wheat Germ!!

So what is wheat germ? The wheat kernel can be separated into three distinct parts: the endosperm, the bran, and the germ. The endosperm makes up about 80% of the kernel; it is the foodsource for the plant. The bran is the outer layered shell of the kernel. The germ is the smallest only about 3% of the kernel and is the part of the seed that could sprout into a new plant. (FYI: whole wheat flour incorporates all three parts of the kernel, white flour uses only the endosperm). This tiny food packs a huge punch containing a whopping 23 nutrients; most notably folic acid, potassium, and iron. It is also a good source of B vitamins, protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc. It contains an immune system boosting antioxidant called L-ergothioneine, which is not destroyed by cooking. It looks like small, tan colored flakes and has a very mild nutty flavor. It can be purchased raw or toasted, but since raw wheat germ spoils very quickly, it's a good idea to be the toasted stuff. It can be found in any grocery store, usually in the cereal aisle for about $4. Keep it refrigerated to avoid spoilage.


Now you're convinced that it's amazing... so, how do you use it? Easy! Wheat germ has such a mild flavor and texture that it can be added to almost anything! Here's the list...


1. Sprinkled on hot or cold cereal
2. In pancake or waffle mix
3. In or on top of muffins
3. In place of or combined with bread crumbs
4. Sprinkled on top of casseroles as a crunchy topping (ex: mac and cheese)
5. Sprinkled on yogurt
6. In smoothies
7. In soups or stews
8. As a salad topping
9. In crumbles on top of desserts (ex:apple crisp) 
10. Toss tofu or bananas in it as a snack for babies (or grown-ups!)
11. Use it to line brownie or bread pans instead of flour.
12. Sprinkled on cottage cheese
13. In oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies
14. On ice cream
15. In peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
16. In homemade granola
17. In place of flour in homemade bread (check online for exact substitutions)


etc... etc... etc...


This is something that you can really be creative with and use all the time. There are so many health benefits in adding wheat germ to your diet, you'd be crazy not to! 

Bottom Line: Buy it and use it! You're going to love it!

Parabens

"Paraben-free" health and beauty products are popping up all over the place. This raises the natural question, what are parabens? And why are they creating products with or without them? What kinds of concerns are there in using products that contain parabens?

Parabens are a preservative; an ester, which is a compound of alcohol and acid (in the case of parabens, p-hydroxybenzoic acid). They are used to preserve health and beauty products. The FDA does not regulate cosmetic ingredients as it does with medications and foods. The only safeguards are that companies can not mislabel their products, sell contaminated products, or sell products which have decomposed/spoiled. Thus, products are preserved to protect their shelf life.

One of the main concerns with parabens is that they are a xenoestrogen. This means that when they come in contact with your cells, they fit into little estrogen shaped receptor sites. Your cells then signal via neurotransmitters that they have received "estrogen". There are concerns that this could affect estrogen production or other parts of the endocrine system. Also, in laboratory studies, parabens have been shown to affect sperm count. Lastly, parabens have been found in cancerous breast tissue; this is obviously a huge red flag. (One disclaimer to that finding is that they did not study non-cancerous breast tissue to see if parabens are also present there). Only very small amounts of parabens are supposedly present in our health and beauty products. It is thought that this is a protective factor and this is one reason that the FDA has not banned the use of parabens. How this is regulated/tracked, I don't know, considering they are still not regulating cosmetic ingredients. 


Bottom line: while there is not any hard, conclusive evidence that parabens are detrimental, there are studies showing some possible negative effects. It seems that it would be prudent to try to avoid them. This is especially true because of the abundance of paraben-free products. Read labels and avoid anything containing methylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben. 
Some paraben-free examples that I've found: St. Ive's Body Wash- inexpensive and easy to find, Burt's Bee's, Bare Escentuals, Sephora-approved products, Avalon Organics, Tom's of Maine, Method soaps, etc... There is a ton of stuff out there- you just have to be aware of what you're buying. I recently switched to Burt's Bee's facewash- same price as my old stuff and missing all the yucky chemicals. I love it!


* This article is focusing on parabens. There are several other concerning ingredients in beauty products which will be featured in later articles. Just wanted to let you know. *