If you are looking for a safe, non-toxic cleaner and overall household helper, look no further than white vinegar. This humble substance can be used in a variety of ways to clean and disinfect your home. Here are some ideas for how to use this inexpensive liquid. Read the rest of this entry

Parents struggle daily with the challenges of raising a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adding to the frustration is that no definite cause has been found for this problem. Some possibilities are coming to light, however – among them is the possible link between pesticide exposure and the development of ADHD symptoms.

The kind of pesticides in question are organophosphates, a group of pesticides commonly used in agriculture. The presence of these types of pesticides was tested on more than 1000 children (ages 8-15) and the results published in the May 2010 issue of Pediatrics. The findings were rather startling. Read the rest of this entry

Your pillow is a source of soft comfort and a good night’s sleep. But it can also be a source of allergens, primarily dust mites. Because your face and head rest on the pillow all night, your exposure is inescapable. You spend about 1/3 of every day lying on your pillow. So if you have allergies, it’s a good idea to maintain an allergy-free pillow along with the rest of your bedding. Read the rest of this entry

Electronic devices are tricky to recycle (although there are programs), and they are not cheap. So extending their life makes sense from a waste standpoint as well as an economic one. Here are some tips and ideas on how you can get the most out of your electronic products. Read the rest of this entry

In 2006, there was an outbreak of E.coli in the United States. There were 5 deaths and more than 200 cases of illness. The cause was contaminated, bagged spinach which the victims had been eaten raw. Also in 2006, pre-packaged iceberg lettuce served in restaurants resulted in another outbreak of E.coli.

Understandably, people became concerned about pre-packaged leafy greens. How safe is bagged salad now? Read the rest of this entry

Pet stores can be such fun to visit. The animals are so cute behind the glass windows, especially the dogs. They roll around, look cute, and often charm pet store customers into buying them. But where did that puppy come from? It’s a good question, and often the answer is: a puppy mill.

While not all pet stores obtain their stock from puppy mills, nearly all puppy mills sell to pet shops. The likelihood that the doggy in the window came from a puppy mill is very high. Read the rest of this entry

While undercooked meat and eggs tend to raise red flags among restaurant-goers, salad bars may actually pose just as much if not more risk of food-borne illness. This is not necessarily the result of the owners and employees of the salad bar (although sometimes it is). Often lettuce becomes contaminated during processing, before it even reaches the salad bar. And customers’ unsanitary behavior also contributes to making the salad bar unsafe. Read the rest of this entry

Sometimes called the “dirty dozen,” there are twelve fruits and vegetables that are the most contaminated by pesticides and/or fungicides. Here is a list of the most contaminated produce in loosely descending order and the pesticides used on them.

1. Bell Peppers

Of vegetables contaminated with neurotoxic pesticides, bell peppers came out the winner (or loser, depending on how you look at it). They have a higher level of such neurological toxins than any other crop that has been tested. Read the rest of this entry

Going back to school means hitting the retail stores and stocking up on all kinds of stuff, right? Well, maybe it means that for some, but the eco-conscious are looking for ways to go green when they get ready to go back to school.

1. The Lunchbox

Remember your lunchbox as a kid? Was it festooned with Star Wars characters, Rainbow Brite, Smurfs, or Superman? Well, times have changed but the principle has not – lunchboxes reduce waste. Go for a used one at an antique store for a retro look, or invest in a reusable cooler bag. Thermoses are still great for transporting drinks and soup. Don’t forget the cloth napkin and reusable flatware. Read the rest of this entry

Breast milk is absolutely amazing stuff. It can’t be duplicated in formulas, and it has components whose relevance modern science has still not figured out. You may have heard that breast milk is healthy for your baby, but did you know it could also heal?

Breast milk has antibacterial properties. Thus, it can be applied to various types of topical and even internal infections. Here are some things to think about regarding the healing power of breast milk. Read the rest of this entry