What's in Your Bathroom

Shower curtains are another product in our bathroom that we may want to revisit. Especially when you consider the amount of time you spend in the washroom. Add to this, the bathroom is usually a very warm place (which releases more gases) and that nasty curtain might be right beside your bathing little one, who is probably sucking on it every once and a while!

Gorgeous and Green ... Hmmm

A friend of mine introduced me to a great book the other day and I just have to share it in this week's Tip of the Week. I haven't read it all yet so I guess I really shouldn't be doing this. So I will qualify by saying I am really excited about it so far... I have learned about some great facial products for women. Plus some excellent at home treatments, which is such great advice! Like a salt rub with essential oils, mmm can't wait to try it.

Hope you get a chance to pick it up:
Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano

Organic Shampoos, Are You Serious?

With all the natural and organic products on the market some may wonder what all the hype is about. You may even question how can a soap be organic and why would I bother paying more? Believe me, I have thought the same thing. Our concern is the continued allergies in our children and cancer in our families, could we make changes in our daily routines that would begin to slow this down.

There seems to be numerous products in our bathrooms that could be seriously harming our health. Read further in this month's NOW YOU KNOW

Check Your Tuna

We seem to understand the importance of getting enough fish in our diets to help aid in good "brain" nutrition. There is also increased evidence that children should be taking more omega 3s which has started the trend of many new supplements. Although when you are trying to get it from the 'natural source,' foods, you will want to keep your levels of tuna in check. First of all, stick with light tuna, albacore has the highest levels of mercury. Some even suggest women of childbearing age and children under 5 stay away from albacore completely.

Probiotic Helps Improve Colic Symptoms

There is a growing interest in a "healthy gut." It seems every other week the grocery store has a new product that has added a probiotic into it's food. Now there is more positive evidence for our babies to take a probiotic as well.

BPA in Canned Foods

We have noticed that not everyone is aware of the BPA found in the linings of canned food. Unfortunatley, just when you thought you were free of Bisphenol-A by throwing out your plastic #7 bottles turns out you also need to watch out for those cans. "Food and drink cans are lined with BPA containing plastic. Beverages appear to contain less residues, while canned pasta and soups contain the highest levels." EWG, Environmental Working Group

SAFETY TIPS:

Great Site for Understanding Ingredients in Your Baby Lotions

Once and a while you come by a website that seems to have just what you need. A great friend passed on a very informative site that we must share with you. This site rates products by their ingredients. Therefore you can plug in to their database your latest baby lotion, shampoo, etc. and see how it fairs on the organic safety score. Sadly, some really surprised me, products that I thought were trusted, natural ingredients were anything but natural.

Please give it a try:
http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/browse.php?maincat=babycare

Canada Banning Bisphenol A

It seems to be the topic of the week for Canadians! In case you haven't already heard the news the Canadian Government will be banning products that contain Bisphenol A from stores by the fall and have plans to limit the continued use of this chemical. The chemical is found in hard plastics (no.7) such as water and baby bottles and in the linings of cans. Bisphenol A exposure is most dangerous to children as it leaches out through their bottles into the liquids. Possible affects are future behavioural and neurological problems.

Dangers of Plastics

As we await the Canadian government to do more testing on our baby's bottles and water bottles it appears many retailers are concerned enough that they have removed these harmful plastics from their stores. Mountain Equipment Co-op and Lululemon Athletica Inc. removed products containing bisphenol A from it's shelves and other retailers are preparing to as well.

Cell Phones Worse Than Smoking

Just when you think you have been saturated with foods and things that are harmful to your health here comes another one. Sorry to say this seems pretty serious.