Mission is the part of my life

As a part of my mission (as a mommy), I want to be more aware of the things we (my family) put in our bodies.
I have to admit I get all excited when I find new healthy stores to shop at. A great idea is to find a local Nutrition Store that has a holistic or natural nutritionist, which provides free advice and recommendations. There are many stores that do include this service to their customers now. Recently there was a store our family attended that offered this service, and the woman whom said something that stuck with me while she was helping me choose some natural products for my little toddler. “Our family rule is, if you wouldn’t let your baby eat it… we won’t use in on our skin”
It threw me for a bit, because I was sitting there thinking, how little we pay attention to all the chemicals we allow to permeate our body via our skin, and some times even our mouths. This comment was said, because our son has a milk allergy, and when he comes in contact with dairy, he is quick to get a rash on his skin. I dread the thought of using a steroid on his preciously, delicate skin, so she recommended an all natural skin cream, that astonishingly took my little mans rash to an un-noticeable memory in a few short days. The ingredients:
Olive Oil
Natural Beeswax (anti-bacterial properties)
Vitamin E
So I sat down to further my research on things we unknowingly allow into our system, and what kind of havoc it could reek on our internal system. Here are some points I thought to share: Chemical Found In Effect
Food coloring Yellow (tartarazine)
Drinks, cakes, snacks, ice cream and confectionery
asthma attacks & hyper activity in children
Diethyl glucol
Ice Creams
effects & it is also used in antifreeze and paint remover
MSG (look for Monosodium glutamate*)
Drinks, candy, chewing gym and soups
migraines, blurred vision, behavior problems in children, difficulty to focus
Pesticides
Basically everything that is NOT organic
cancer, health issues, weakened immune system**
Acrylamide
Potato Chips
Causes a pro-inflammatory state and is a risk factor for progression of atherosclerosis (clogging of arteries) *note* there is over 500 times of this chemical in potato chips, than allowed by the World Health Organization
Notes: * MSG is also on labels hidden under a secret identity of autolyzed yeast or hydrolyzed protein (sheesh, yeast and protein don’t sound so bad until you look deeper into the word in front of it, plus any word in front of a natural occurring item i.e. Protein, means that is has been ALTERED, and thus, not recognizable by your super smart digestive system **What is scary about pesticides’ today, and your baby, is that our little baby is teeny tiny, and a little can do a LOT of harm. It’s interesting to note as well, the fact that the use of pesticides in over 70% of our foods has increased by over 33% in the last 20 years.
So, how do we make simple yet effective changes?
1. Shop outside of the box (and the aisles); stay far away from things that last for months, on end. Sadly the longer the shelf life is the worst for your life
2. Select items that are organic. Being a mom I know with budgetary constraints this isn’t always easy. Here are the TOP items that you should consider purchasing organic.
Apples
Imported grapes
Bell peppers
Strawberries
Nectarines
Spinach
Red raspberries
Soybeans
Celery
Peaches
Peanuts – including peanut butter
Pears
Cherries
Potatoes
This is also a GREAT article that explains WHY certain items should be purchased organic!
The Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods to Eat Organic
Other items can be washed with a natural fruit and veggie wash available at all local grocery stores. 3. Shop Local. This lets you know that the food was picked ripe and not ripened on the truck. Small changes over time will prove to only benefit you and your family! Baby steps to a healthy baby!