All right, I know I’m going to get a few looks today because when I first heard about this natural health remedy, it struck me as a little odd? I have long known the benefits of using baking soda for natural cleaning, but drinking it?

Also known as ‘sodium bicarbonate’ or ‘bicarbonate of soda,’ baking soda has dozens of uses. It can be used for indigestion and upset stomach, as a cleaning product, and as a fire extinguisher, to name only a few. Drinking baking soda mixed in water also apparently has a number of health advantages.Who knew?

Ailments like the flu, common colds, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer flourish in a body that is acidic. Baking soda reduces the acidity of the body’s internal environment. The first time I saw this was from a guy on Youtube that said his cancer tumor was shrinking because he was able to change his body PH through baking soda. I wish I would have had this knowledge for my father in law who passed last December from Prostate cancer.

A study published in 2009 by the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology showed that patients with chronic kidney disease experienced a decrease in symptoms after consuming baking soda every day. In fact, these patients eliminated their dependency on dialysis.

Sodium bicarbonate is also very effective at fighting urinary tract infections, since it must interact with the urinary tract prior to being expelled from the body. The bicarbonate drink you prepare must be transformed into urine and goes directly through the urinary tract, interacting with the affected area in the process. Bicarbonate is a very potent substance, and its effects are not diminished as it progresses through the body. The alkaline nature of the baking soda reduces the acidity of your urine, helping to fight infection.

Perhaps one of the most convincing reasons for me to drink baking soda is because of it’s ability to bind with and cleanse toxins from the body. You already know I am a big promoter of yearly cleansing for health. I now feel that each family should have a few large boxes on hand, as a precaution for possible Nuclear disasters on our Continent and to cleanse from fallout exposure, such as what we are subjected to now from Fukushima. It can be used in detox baths and and taken orally in a crisis when you need something on hand to protect and neutralize the effects of radiation exposure. I have added it to our weekly bathing routine since Fukushima for sure.

You should always use 100%, aluminum-free bicarbonate. To raise the body’s pH level, mix a teaspoon of bicarbonate in a glass of water. Drink it without food after waking up and just before bed each night. The pH scale indicates the acidity of a medium, and is scaled from 0 to 14. Seven indicates a neutral environment. Above 7 indicates alkaline conditions and below 7 represents acidity. Baking soda is incredibly alkaline, with a pH of 14. The body’s internal environment should optimally be between 7.1 and 7.5. In therapeutic circumstances, you will want to grab yourself some PH test strips so that your body’s PH does not go over 8. Either too acidic or too alkaline is poor health and disease. Most people are naturally too acidic. I was actually a little alkaline when I was a raw vegan a few years back.

Savoring a baking soda drink as you start to feel colds coming on can help ward off seasonal bugs. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables also promotes a more alkaline environment. I have to say, knock wood, we are feeling great right although the kids have both already been sick this fall. I felt a little tickle coming on, but after 2 days of Baking Soda, I was able to fight it off. Now I drink it every other day. Even a few sparkling water brands contain some baking soda as well as magnesium, another major deficiency in our diet . More on that to come soon!

The other funny remedy for Baking Soda? Preventing or curing a hangover. Yep, after you and hubby indulge in a bottle of fine wine only to realize the kids will be up at 6am, swig a glass of Baking Soda down before going to bed. Better yet, drink it during the evening. But that would be gross, right? I assure you though, you’ll be better off in the morning.

Athletes can also benefit from baking soda by taking bicarbonate with water to prevent accumulation of acid in the muscles. This can greatly boost athletic performance. One third of a gram of baking soda for every 2.2. pounds of body weight is the typical standard. Along with plenty of water, drinking baking soda before exercise can work wonders.

So, still think baking soda is a crazy idea? Try it once and see what you think.

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The Awesome Health Benefits Of Drinking What?!?

The so-called toy safety law, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), was quietly signed into law by Pres. Bush on August 14, 2008.  Many supporters advocated it as a solution to the recalls of lead-tainted toys and necessary to prevent harm to our children, including the tragic death of a 4 year old boy in 2006 from ingesting an almost pure lead heart shaped charm that was a gift with a purchase of Reebok shoes.

Although several portions of the law have already been implemented, on February 10, 2009, just a few short weeks away, the bill’s cornerstone will come to pass – we will have a national limit on lead in children’s products. We will also have a ban on certain phthalates in children’s toys and child care articles, which we will talk about in a separate blog entry.

What does this mean to you? Well, it means that the children’s items you buy may be safer, but it also means that you may have less of a selection. As we will talk about below, many small manufacturers and handcrafters and artisans may not be selling handmade toys and clothing.

On February 10, 2009, all children’s products must meet a limit of 600 parts per million (ppm) lead.  The law defines any children’s product that exceeds this limit to be a banned hazardous substance.  And, as a banned hazardous substance, that children’s product cannot be sold or distributed in commerce. So, the law applies a lead content limit to children’s products regardless of when those products were manufactured. Existing inventory must meet the limit. Items at thrift stores and consignment shops must meet the limit, basically everything out there – from retailers to eBay.

This is actually a good thing in one sense. Lead remains the number one preventable childhood cause of childhood poisoning.  One in 5 children in the US has blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter. We see permanent adverse health effects, primarily consisting of lowered IQ, attention defiicit type/hyperactivity issues, and similar problems, with blood lead levels at 2.5 micrograms per deciliter.

Lead exposure is additive, so eliminating any exposure is a good thing. Most children are primarily exposed to lead as a result of lead-based paint and household dust containing lead. Other sources are wide and varied, and include folk remedies, leaching from water pipes and consumer products. The more lead exposure sources you eliminate, the lower the riskand adverse health effects.

But, and here’s the but, the risk from most of the children’s products regulated under the CPSIA may be relatively small. The term “children’s product” is defined to be any product intended for children under the age of 12 within the CPSC’s jurisdiction. The law imposes a lead content on everything from toys to cloth diapers to clothing to crib sheets.  Most of those products just aren’t going to have lead. But the law doesn’t, at least of yet, make a distinction between likely exposures and not so likely exposures.

All manufacturers are required to test their items (for those items manufactured after 2/10/09) and certify that they meet the lead content limit. And each manufacturer has to test.  Let’s say I buy fabric from a craft store and make a dress – I am the manufacturer and have to test. I buy certified organic fabric (which has already been tested for lead) and make it into a cloth diaper, I have to test the cloth diaper, even if all I have done is sewn it together.

To test the items can be expensive. For some items, the testing is prohibitively expensive. Some manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market because of the testing and certification requirements. Many handcrafters and artisans are closing down or are changing their businesses so that they don’t make  handmade dresses for children or simple wood toys or organic dolls. They just can’t afford the testing, even if they have been using organic fabrics and certified heavy metal free closures. They just can’t afford to test again.

And yet, at the same time, we aren’t doing much to eliminate the primary exposure – lead found in lead-based paint in older housing stock and lead in household dust. All the money spent on testing by all these manufacturers would probably be better spent educating about the benefits of washing hands to remove lead dust, using a HEPA equipped vacuum and wet wiping to remove lead contaminated household dust, and taking off shose before coming inside. Those efforts would  more significantly reduce children’s lead exposure.

Yes, I recognize that some children’s products have lead in them.  And I laud the regulation of those products.  Let’s regulate lead where we find it – children’s toys, children’s jewelry, vinyl trasnfers and films on textile, vinyl used in children’s products, etc.  Let’s even add in crystals, rhinestones, closures/fasteners and faux pearl or opalescent buttons.  But testing for lead in an organic cotton onesie dyed with certified dyes?  That’s a little silly.

In any event, yes, we may have slightly safer children’s products. But we may lose the best of those products – the lovingly made, handcrafted pieces in doing so or those small manufacturers using environmentally friendly materials.

An original post for Healthy Green Moms. You can read more from Jennifer about the CPSIA and simple solutions to reduce toxic chemicals in the home at her personal blog, TheSmartMama. And reserve a copy of her forthcoming book, Smart Mama’s Green Guide:  Simple Steps to Reduce your Child’s Toxic Chemical Exposure.

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What Does The CPSIA Mean to The Consumer?

If there is one smell that intoxicates me, it’s the smell of beeswax candles They remind me of my early childhood days at Waldorf when we used to make candles by dipping them over and over into into big buckets of beeswax. The beautiful scent of a beeswax candle relaxes me and it’s also good to know that when I burn beeswax candles, I don’t have the worry of toxins wafting through the house.

Unfortunately, most candles are better left unlit because they are made of paraffin wax. Beeswax candles are, on the other hand, made by bees. Well not entirely, but you get the point. Bees work to make the honey for the wax. It is all natural and there are many advantages to using beeswax candles over paraffin candles.

Paraffin (the wax) is made from vegetable, animal, and petroleum wastes. When you burn these substances, toxic substances have the potential to be given off in the flame. Have you ever seen black smoke coming from a candle flame? It occurs when the candle is getting close to being burned out because there is no more wax to burn. These are the chemicals being released into the air. Decorative candles of this type typically do not burn clean. When the wax re-hardens you will see the black residue in the wax. The wax creates a pitting phenomenon in the center of the candle and the wax also drips down the side and ruins the look of the candle.

Another little known fact is that the wicks in the center of many candles contain lead. When burning the wick, the lead can be released into the air air around us. Yuck! Unfortunately, candles like this are mostly found at discount stores so they are in a lot of homes! People with respiratory problems should especially avoid being around burning paraffin candles (any parents with children that have asthma?)

On the other hand, beeswax candles are a great alternative. Many people pass over them because they cost more and the large variety of scented candles on the market seem more appealing upfront. But there is much more to a beeswax candle than meets the eye:

• They burn clean. That means no pollutants are released into the air. The air is actually cleaner because what is given off by the beeswax works to eliminate odors and other pollutants from the air.
• For people who want to keep the shape of the candle, beeswax candles do not do any pitting when the wax is burned. In fact, the wax burns out towards the end of the candle.
• Beeswax candles do not drip over. They continue to burn until there is nothing left.
• They are not scented artificially. They do give off a smell of sweet honey.
• The color of the candle is the natural color of the wax.
• Beeswax candles burn longer than paraffin wax candles. For your twenty bucks you will get over 100 hours of candle burning pleasure.

You can also make your own beeswax candles:

Beeswax candles can be made with beeswax sheets.  True beeswax candle makers don’t use these sheets but for homemade candles, beeswax sheets are easy and safe for children to use.  The wax is pressed into sheets for use in making different shapes of candles.

Before making beeswax candles, prepare by getting all of your supplies together and setting up an area to work.  To make these candles you will need:  beeswax sheets, scissors or a knife, candle wicks, a cutting board or other hard surface for cutting.  When purchasing the supplies, check to see that the wicks do not contain any lead or other chemicals.

Beeswax usually comes in a light color which is the color of the wax.  Adding color introduces chemicals into the wax that can be burned off in the flame.  You can get beeswax candles in different colors but they may not burn as clean.

First, watch the children when sharp objects are around.  Do any cutting that needs to be done and keep the knife pointed away from the body.  Work on the kitchen table so the kids can lean as they work.

1. Lay out a sheet of beeswax.  If using colored wax in combinations cut the sheet and add other colored pieces.  Lay them close together so they overlap.
2. Take the wick and place it near the beginning of the wax sheet.  Let an inch or so of the wick hang out of the bottom of the candle and two inches out of the top of the beeswax sheet.
3. Press the wick gently into the beeswax sheet.  The wick needs to be secured so that it will not be displaced during rolling.  After the wick is firmly in place, it is time to create the candle.
4. Slowly, roll the beeswax sheet over itself.  Keep the rolls tight so no gaps are present in the wax.  Continue rolling until the entire sheet is finished or the candle is as wide as you would like it.  Larger candles like pillars have one or three wicks depending on width.
5. Cut the wick at the bottom even with the bottom of the candle.  Trim the wick at the top of the candle until it is about half an inch long.

You can find your beeswax sheets at a craft store, large natural living stores and online shops like Millers Honey.

Set your Holiday mood this season with beeswax candles that not only relax you, but clean the air and freshen your home in the process.

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Relax Without the Toxins. Buy or Make Beeswax Candles!

This great giveaway has now ended, see winner listed at bottom of review.

We’ve been trying to limit our use of plastic at home as much as possible. Not only does it help me towards a non toxic pregnancy and keeping Liv safe from the nasty chemicals found in plastic, limiting plastic also helps us cut down on accumulating “stuff” – all the cheap items that only seem to be a good idea at the time!

We’re also getting serious about toys.  We soon discovered that Liv appreciates the simple things and much to our relief, is happy with blocks, rocks, boxes, dolls, books and anything she can organize. We are trying to buy quality toys instead of quantity and doing our best to refrain from the impulse purchases.  This year we will continue to introduce our favorite natural toy brands to our family as a gentle suggestion of ideas for Olivia.

There are a few great toy makers that often get mentioned on green blogs, however there is another company that deserves special recognition as a terrific natural toy alternative: I have known about Natural Pod since Liv was born and as she grows we have included many items on our wish list. Of coarse it’s nice that the toys are locally made in Canada, but the handcrafted aspect with a focus on imaginative and creative play make all of Natural Pod’s toys extra special.

I was more than happy to review these Natural Pod Stacking Rings. The first thing I love about this toy is the natural handcrafted wood. The texture appeals to young fingers and each ring is beautifully and safely finished. I also really appreciate how the rings can go on in any order the child chooses. Creative, as opposed to confined is a a big detail for me! Conventional rainbow plastic rings only allow for the rings to go on in order and while I understand the “learning” quality of this, I feel it’s much more important to develop the creative & imaginative side of a child at this age by allowing them to mix up the rings as they choose.

Each stacking ring is a slightly different wood shade and they make a great natural wooden sound as they come together on the stacker. Olivia enjoyed placing the 9 rings on and off the stacker. We also had fun spinning them on the floor and building little towers with them and her other blocks. The stacking ring is sturdy and made to last a very long time. Natural Pod also has great blog with informative information about creative and natural play.

Here’s a peek at Olivia having fun with the stacking ring:

Head on over to Natural Pod and take advantage of the 10% savings on your first order until December 31,2008. Just enter GCM08 at the checkout.

‘Tis the season of giving:

Win this lightly reviewed set for your little one just in time for the holidays!

How to Win:

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me one of your favorite items at Natural Pod.
2. For a second entry, blog or Twitter about this giveaway and make sure to leave a comment here so I know about it.

Winner will be randomly selected using Random.org. Contest runs until midnight PST on December 7, 2008

Thank yuo to everyone who took the time to enter! The following winner was randomly selected using Random.org. CONGRATULATIONS to Jacqueline who wrote that “I love the log sailing raft and kitchen. Love their products!!! Thanks!” I have contacted you by email

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

The Ultimate Wooden Stacking Toy From Natural Pod

The following article is from from Jennifer, TheSmartMama.  See more tips on green parenting and non toxic living at her personal blog: TheSmartMama.

You may love all the creatures of this world, but you probably don’t want to share your home with moths, ants, fleas, roaches, termites, mice or rats. Finding evidence of any of these pests can have you considering ant sprays, moth balls and rat poison. But, we all know the pesticides are some of the most toxic products we use in our homes.

All pesticides have some risk of harm. The broad term “pesticides” includes those products that kill, repel, or block insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), fungus (fungicides), and even bacteria, viruses, molds, and other micro-organisms (antibacterials and antimicrobials). “By their very nature, most pesticides create some risk of harm,” the EPA says. “Pesticides can cause harm to humans, animals or the environment because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms.” And, the government doesn’t keep us safe from pesticides. In the United States, pesticide law is not a health-based safety law. It balances health and environmental risks against economic benefit.

Apparently unconcerned about the possibility of harm (or perhaps too confident in our government’s ability to keep us safe), 80% to 90% of Americans use pesticides in and around the home. Kids, particularly fetuses, face the biggest risk from exposure to household use of pesticides. According to one study, lifelong hyperactivity in laboratory animals resulted from a single dose of organophosphate pesticides on a critical day of fetal brain development. Other research has linked exposure to household pesticides to an elevated risk of childhood leukemia by as much as 3 to 9 times. Exposures to insecticides early in life are more significant than later exposures in terms of increased cancer risk, and the highest risk associated with exposure to insecticides during pregnancy.

Keep in mind that when we use indoor pesticides, they leave residues on those areas where children play and sit. As a result, the National Academy of Sciences estimates that 50% of our lifetime exposure to pesticides occurs during the first five years of life. The National Research Council concludes at least with respect to pesticides that absent data to the contrary, “there should be a presumption of greater toxicity to infants and children.”

So what can a green parent do?

• Know your pest. Do some research and knowing exactly what pest is bothering you. Knowing your pest will let you choose a non-toxic solution that really works.
• Keep pests out. Mom was right – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keep pests from coming into your home. Block their entrances by caulking holes, using door sweeps, and keeping door and window screens in good condition.
• Let them starve. If you don’t feed them, they won’t come. So, take away what may be attracting them in the first place. Use sealed containers for sugar, flour, cereal, and pet food. Remove water sources by, for instance, fixing leaky pipes and removing standing water. My favorite tip for pet food left outdoors is to put it in a bowl and then put that bowl in a bowl of water to prevent ants. Of course, this will not deter raccoons.
• Use a fan. A breeze will keep mosquitoes and some other flying insects at bay.
• Go non-toxic. See what non-toxic options are available for your particular pest. Here are some of my favorite non-toxic options for common pests: (1) For ants, I use soap with peppermint essential oil and water. Soap has been used as an insecticide and antibacterial substance for many years. Just add about 2 teaspoons of liquid castile (vegetable-based) soap to a gallon of water, 10 to 15 drops of peppermint essential oil, and put in a spray bottle.  If you don’t have peppermint essential oil, use Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint castile soap.  (2)  For fruit flies, figure out what moist or wet decaying organic matter is attracting them and get rid of it. If you suspect your drain, tape a piece of waxed paper over your drain. If the fruit flies accumulate on the paper in a day or two, remove the paper and pour boiling water down the drain. If that doesn’t work, try ½ cup of baking soda, followed by ½ cup to a cup of vinegar down the drain.  Let the drain fizz for 5 minutes, then pour some boiling water down. For a garbage disposal, run ice cubes made from vinegar through it to clear off any gunk that may be allowing fruit flies to breed. (3) For moths, I skip mothballs made of naphthalene, a possible carcinogen, and use sachets of cedar chips or lavender to deter them.

Sometimes none of these solutions work.  So, if you must use a chemical pesticide, pick the least-toxic chemical option.  Never choose a broad spectrum pesticide.  Instead, pick one geared to address the particular pest.  And, read the label and look for the hazard “signal” words. Those “signal” words can give you a good indication of how toxic a particular product is. For example, the term “caution” is milder than “warning,” which is milder than “danger.”

Another option is some of the organic, non-toxic pesticides on the market.  These pesticides generally come from natural sources. You can use plant-based natural pesticides with pyrethins, rotenone, or essential oils or you can try boric acid or diatomaceous earth, which are also natural products. But, natural doesn’t mean the product is safe. Pyrethins, which are derived from flowers such as chrysanthemums, have been linked with autism.  Don’t put your faith in claims of “environmentally safe,” “environmentally friendly,” “eco-safe,” or “eco-friendly.”  These are NOT regulated terms.  I’ve seen an “environmentally friendly” pesticide on the market (and widely promoted in the blogosphere as green) that contains mineral oil – a petroleum substance that isn’t really environmentally friendly.

Another thing to keep in mind is the method of delivery. Spray pesticides cover wide areas of your home, so reduce exposure by using a gel or solid over a fogger or spray. If you use a chemical pesticide, ventilate the area and clean all surfaces after you’re finished. And be kid safe! Always secure pesticides in a secure location to prevent accidental poisonings.

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Non Toxic Pest Control for The Home