Getting comfortable with organics: Misoh Organic underwear and sleepwear

New to market; beautiful, sexy, feminine, organic underwear and sleepwear (at last!) by Misoh....

It is a common complaint that really modern and beautiful organic sleepwear is hard to come by in Australia, so here we present you a hip young company that is producing exactly that! We interviewed Misoh Director Rebecca Bird to find out more about her range, the ethics behind Misoh and also a little about what inspires her as an individual and as a business woman.


What do Misoh offer?
Misoh offers you a new and exciting range of eco essentials – sleepwear and underwear designed in Australia and proudly made with environmentally sound fabrics such as Organic Cotton. Our focus is comfortable styling that looks and feels amazing. We want you to feel good about buying from Misoh so we consider your well being and the future of our planet when designing, sourcing and manufacturing our pieces to offer you a beautiful product that is better for you and better for the environment.


How are your products environmentally positive?
We only use certified organic cotton coloured with vegetable dyes. All of our pyjamas and outerwear garments are packed in re-useable fabric bags to eliminate as much plastic as possible from our factory. We are always considering the planet when making decisions about our range and the day to day running of our business.


What can people expect from Misoh?
Not only does our styling set us apart from a lot of other organic or eco friendly ranges but our pricing is so competitive you simply won’t be able to resist.
From our cute Misoh boxer PJ to the feminine chemise with frill detail you will find something you simply must have. We also offer gift vouchers to make birthdays and special occasions a breeze.


What does the name Misoh mean?
I struggled to find a name that meant something to me that wasn’t already in use. So I played around with the letters in my children’s names. To me it means ‘pure and beautiful’.

What inspired you to start Misoh and how has the journey been for you?
I was initially inspired to start my own business because the flexibility appealed to me. Being self employed means I can work from home and balance that with spending important time with my children who are still quite young. Setting up my own label was the natural path to take as I have spent all of my working life in fashion, design and manufacturing. The journey has of course been hectic but very exciting. It has taken loads of hard work to get me where I am at the moment but at least I feel like I am doing something positive for the environment by only using organic fabrics and putting in place environmentally sound business practices. I hope that one day conventionally grown cotton will be a thing of the past and we won’t even have a choice because organic will be the only option for all suppliers.

Why sleepwear and underwear?
I don’t think that there is a woman out there that doesn’t appreciate beautiful sleepwear. There are some other great outerwear eco ranges around but not much in the way of sleepwear. So I decided to really concentrate on the sleepwear. I would like to expand in the future to include daywear and accessories.

Do you have a favourite Misoh product?
I absolutely love the Sophie Chemise. It is so feminine and yet has a bit of a cheeky feel also. Retailing at $39.90 it is such great value. I also love the Misoh floral print, it comes in a couple of lightweight 100% organic cotton styles.


It is almost Christmas time, what will you be giving friends and family this year?
Of course, Misoh jammies are at the top of the list. I also love giving books because it’s a lot of fun trying to match books up with people. If I was shopping for myself on the other hand I adore recycled furniture and home wares. Second hand and antique books are another favourite.




Misoh Director, Rebecca Bird


Visit www.misoh.com.au and get your fix of feel good jammies!

P.S: Attention secret Santa, Misoh PJs would make a great present for the CleanLife Director, don't you think?

Cloth menstual pads; a simple solution?

We all know about cloth nappies...have you considered cloth menstrual pads?






This BLOG entry is from Wendy Dumaresq the director of Rad Pads and the Natural Woman Network www.radpads.com.au.


It is worth a read, some thought and hopefully for some, an action........I must admit this is not something I have yet tried (oh the benefits of pregnancy and then breastfeeding!) but the recommendations for these come in fast and furious, so here is what Wendy says.......


Several years ago, I started receiving feedback from women attending my clinic that they had been using Rad-Pads, cloth menstrual pads and felt that their menstrual bleed symptoms had improved.

‘Well’, I thought, ‘anything so economical and simple that can have positive effects like that is worth investigating’. So I got on the blower to Jane Bennett, who owned Rad-Pads at the time and ordered some for the clinic and also for myself.

On a personal level, to say I haven’t looked back is an understatement. I couldn’t believe that something so simple could have such a great impact – I felt more in touch with my cycle, I felt much more comfortable without the scratchy, ‘bandaid like’ other things, I enjoyed washing them, hanging them on the line and putting the pads away for the next period and best of all I have saved hundreds of dollars not buying disposables – this would have been thousands possibly if I had started when I was a teen!

I was caught short without my ‘girls’ (as I fondly call my pads) not long ago and had to use one of those ‘other (disposable) things”. Wow, I had forgotten just how comfortable Rad-Pads were in comparison! Couldn’t wait to get home and get into the ‘girls’.

I was so impressed with my own results and the feedback from others that when Rad-Pads came on to the market a few years ago, it seemed like a natural progression to become the next ‘custodian’ of Rad-Pads. It worked in well with my clinical practice in which I see a lot of women of all ages.

Since then, I have amassed a pile of feedback from women all over the world about this simple method of ‘catching the blood’. It is so gratifying to be doing something to assist women with the menses, to help reduce the dollar cost of having a bleed and also providing an eco-friendly, sustainable option for all the terrible waste and chemicals which go into our environment every day from disposable products.

Can we afford NOT to use sustainable options such as cloth pads?


I admit that for some this may be a bit to get your head around, we are so trained to treat menstruation as something dirty that having to chuck cloth pads in the wash does seem too much in some ways. When we cast societal pressures aside however, it makes perfect sense, just as cloth nappies do. Both are perfectly natural. If it is something you would like to know more about visit www.radpads.com.au

Genetically modified foods; are our regulators letting us down ?

The articles below are from the West Australian Newspaper on Tuesday the 21st October. It seems that Food Standards Australia and New Zealand is again letting the consumer down and failing to protect our health. The best we can do, in my opinion is to be informed and make our own health choices. Read, become informed and if you can, attend the Rally (see below for details).

If you want the basics on genetic modification, to give you the background for these articles, read this past CleanLife e-newsletter by Janet Grogan, click here

Watchdog ‘panders to GM food giants’
WELLINGTON

The food authority responsible for approving genetically modified products has been accused of pandering to agrochemical giants at the expense of consumer health in a report set to be released today.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is gambling with the health of consumers, the director of the University of Canterbury’s Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety, Professor Jack Heinemann, has warned.
He pointed out that it was one of only a few regulators to have approved every application for genetically engineered food products.
“Many other regulators have at least stood up once where FSANZ appears to have cowered under industry or political pressure,” he said, describing the authority as the victim of “flawed legislation that mixes the goals of trade and public health”.
Over the past 12 years, the authority has approved more than 50 varieties of genetically engineered crops, from corn and soy to potato and sugar beet, the report compiled by Greenpeace found. Among the products approved, despite what Greenpeace described as a weight of harmful evidence, were:

• A strain of corn (MON863) developed by Monsanto found to cause liver and kidney toxicity when fed to rats in a peer-reviewed French scientific study last year;

• A Syngenta-manufactured corn (GE alpha-amylase) specifically designed to be used in bioethanol production and not intended for human consumption, yet with the potential to enter the human food chain through unchecked US imports;

• Another Syngenta corn (GE Bt10) approved by the authority despite being banned by the European Union and Japan because no safety assessments have yet been conducted;

• A Monsanto canola, still the subject of debate in the EU and banned in Austria after Monsanto’s own testing found increases in liver sizes in rats of up to 16 per cent.
Professor Heinemann said many of the authority’s decisions on genetically engineered food were based on assumptions and “picking and choosing only the science (the authority) wants to believe”. He said while more stringent food labelling laws were being passed in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South Africa, in Australia products produced by animals fed GM crops required no labels.



Critics say GM canola buffer zone is too small by JODIE THOMSON

Growers of genetically modified canola will need to set up buffer zones of just 5m to keep the GM crops away from regular varieties if WA follows national industry guidelines, sparking fears of contamination if the State adopts the controversial technology.
As the new State Government prepares for large scale trials of GM canola, possibly by next year, critics of the technology warned yesterday contamination of non-GM crops would be inevitable if industry was allowed to “self-regulate” segregation.
Network of Concerned Farmers spokeswoman Julie Newman said that as a result, farmers would not be able to promise consumers that their crops were entirely free of GM seed.
Expensive testing, which could cost up to $1000 per sample, could be used, but even that was not a guarantee the product was completely free from GM contamination.
“Almost overnight we could lose our ability to provide what the customers want, and that is choice in whether they consume GM foods or not,” she said. Mrs Newman said buffer zones used in NSW and Victoria, where commercial GM canola crops were grown, were only just bigger than the standard farm firebreak.
In a NCF report, due to be released at a rally in Perth next Thursday, she argues the small buffer zone could be breached easily by wind, floods, animals and machinery carrying the seeds. She said the Government needed to introduce strict liability legislation to ensure the company providing the GM seed was liable for containing its product to prevent potential economic loss for GM-free farmers.
“At the moment it is the GM-free farmer who must keep it out, rather than the GM industry keeping it in,” she said. “The only legal recourse is farmer suing farmer, which becomes a legal and moral nightmare for growers.” Campaigners will be rallying against the release of GM crops amid expectations the Barnett Government will take a more lenient stance than the previous Labor government.
Maggie Lilith, of the Conservation Council of WA, said the rally next week would include not just “greenies” but consumers and conventional farmers who were worried about crop segregation and labelling of GM foods. A spokesman from industry body AusBiotech said that buffer distances were based on research into gene flow under Australian conditions.
He said the industry had also examined the issue of strict liability, which was normally reserved for products that were considered hazardous. It had found that the current legal process was appropriate given Australia’s regulatory agencies did not consider GM canola hazardous.
Agriculture Minister Terry Redman, who will address the rally, said issues of liability and crop segregation would be examined.
Andy McMillan, of WAFarmers which backs commercial GM canola, said the NCF had chosen “not to have any faith in the regulatory system


I can't really say it better than David Suzuki has;

'Anyone that says GE is perfectly safe is unbelievably stupid or deliberately lying. The reality is we don’t know enough about what we are doing.'
Choosing certified organic foods, avoiding processed food (and choosing certified organic or GMO free foods when you do) and buying direct from the producers are just a few of the key things you can do to ensure your family isn't consuming genetically modified foods.

Eco savvy parenting is the new BLACK

The Basics of Green Parenting

If you travel in environmental circles you are likely to have heard that having children is considered a form of environmental ‘terrorism’. More mouths to feed, more bodies to house, clothe and transport creates increased pressure on our limited resources. It is interesting then, that for many individuals, the impetus for reducing individual and collective impact on the planet, is a positive result on a pregnancy test. Previously unconcerned, fuel guzzling, plastic bag touted individuals realise that their flesh and blood will not only inherit the earth, they will likely inherit our individual and collective chemical and environmental burden. What follows is usually a conversion to organic food, natural personal care products and with some luck energy efficient homes and water saving devices. When it is time for the baby to arrive the nursery is filled with organic baby clothes and second hand furniture. So it seems that in fact, the very act of creating children, which is adding to our overpopulated earth, may in some ways, provide for our salvation.

It would be unrealistic and unfair to expect all children to be the next David Suzuki, Tim Flannery or Al Gore. The way we choose to raise our children does however have both an immediate effect on the planet in terms of their individual ecological footprints and a long term effect in regard to how the next generation will live and consume as adults. Being a parent has for a long time been said to be the most difficult yet most important job one can undertake. In addition to the long list of roles a parent must fulfill, our environmental situation now demands that all parents now also take on the responsibility of eco-educator. The good news is, being an eco-savvy parent really isn’t any more difficult than being an eco-sloppy one.


There are many positive steps parents can take that will nurture rather than degrade the earth both now and into the future. As an additional benefit many of these practices will also protect the long term health of their children.

Simple steps to green parenting………
• Breast food is the greenest food
The health benefits of long term breast feeding are now well established. Fortunately breast feeding is also the most environmentally positive manner in which to feed your child, requiring no packaging, no transportation costs and no additional waste disposal services!

• Organic food, for better taste, better health and a better world
Once solid food is introduced organic produce is the best option for the earth and the individual. Generally higher in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, organic food also tastes fantastic and for children this is half the battle. Reports from mothers world wide have been that children are more likely to accept fresh organic produce than the conventional variety.

• Green bottoms
Nappies are a major source of landfill, in her book Greeniology, Tanya Ha notes that the average baby uses between 6000 to 8000 nappies before being fully toilet trained and that Australians are estimated to use around 800 million disposable nappies a year. Cloth nappies also have an environmental impact, both in production and in water and electricity usage. If you choose cloth opt for nappies made from environmentally sustainable fabrics such as hemp, organic cotton or bamboo and choose to wash them with cold water and non-toxic laundry products. If you choose to use disposable nappies, consider eco-disposable options. The lowest impact option of all is ‘Elimination Communication’ , a form of nurturing in which the parent uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to help the infant address his or her elimination needs and thereby reducing or removing the use of nappies. For more on elimination communication see the article by Suzy Barry on page………..


• Squeaky clean but not so green
In the quest to have squeaky clean, sweet smelling babies we may be unintentionally lathering our children with a cocktail of unnecessary and potentially dangerous chemicals. With a higher skin surface area to body weight ratio, increased skin permeability, and higher respiratory rates, our babies may absorb higher levels of environmental pollutants than the average adult. Additionally an underdeveloped blood brain barrier, lower levels of serum albumin (a protein in the blood which may prevent chemicals from targeting specific organ sites) and an immature liver and kidneys, make newborns a highly susceptible group. The lowest impact and safest option is for bathing you baby is using nothing but water for as long as you can. When you do need something a little extra opting for natural, non-toxic baby soap and using it sparingly is the best option. If you do need a little extra moisture, use pure oil such as certified organic olive oil.


• Green Cleaning
In the desire to protect our child many of us opt for strong chemicals to ‘kill the germs’ when we have children around. Unfortunately the most likely consequence of our cleaning obsession is a child with allergies as a result of chronic low level exposure to indoor air pollution. These chemicals also end up in our waterways, polluting them and in the case of overuse of phosphates create the dangerous blue-green algal bloom. Many natural non-toxic alternatives are now available and often you need little more than bicarb soda and a microfibre cloth.



• Sustainable style for kids
Keeping your children in the most ‘fashionable’ clothing can be an expensive and environmentally devastating exercise. Every item of clothing has an environmental cost. This includes the water, pesticides and energy used to grow the crop, the synthetic chemicals used to colour and treat the garment, the fuel used in transportation, the packaging and finally the plastic bag we may decide to put it in. Fortunately there are a host of green options for every budget when it comes to clothing your baby and child. Second or third hand clothing is a great option and can be obtained from friends and family or your local second hand shop. When purchasing new clothes, choosing organic cotton or sustainable fibres such as hemp and bamboo is the eco option.


• Green with toy envy?
Keeping up with the Jones’s is not only bad for the mind it can be devastating for our world. Spoil your children with unique toys that connect them to the earth and our dependence on it. A great family toy or pet is a worm farm! Kids love to get their hands in a watch the worms eating the food scraps. The positive impact of children then being involved in using the worm castings to fertilize and nurture their organic vegetable patch can not be underestimated. Another great option is spending time making recycled paper with your children; this can be then used to make unique gift cards for friends and family.

• A greener school
Many schools are now taking up the green challenge by installing organic vegetable gardens, solar power and converting to natural cleaning methods. If your school is yet to take this action, be the proactive parent and help to get things rolling. Teachers are an incredibly valuable resource when it comes to educating our future eco-warriors, so providing them with the support they need to implement environmentally positive initiatives is every eco-conscious parents duty.

If we can’t hand our world over to the next generation a little better than we found it, the next best thing, is surely to provide them with the knowledge, the skills and the confidence to create a world better than we could ever have imagined.

Signing off, a less than perfect but ever optimistic green parent

Gina x

Lily's Birthday

Who would have thought; a home birth...

Our bundle of joy is now 14 months old, yet it seems like only yesterday that she was born. Birth stories can be personal, but I feel the need to share our positive experience as I think that so much fear is spread due to the horror stories that many people insist on 'sharing'. While I believe that everyone has the right to share their experience be it positive or negative as a way of healing any associated trauma or sharing incredible joy, we tend to dwell on the negative, so here for those interested is a positive birth story.

Several years ago I was shocked to find that a friend of ours was planning a home birth. At the time, I could not understand why an intelligent and educated woman would opt for, what seemed to me, such a risky option. I had witnessed several births during my days as a Physiotherapy student and had treated many women for damage to the perineal, spinal or abdominal areas sustained during birthing. I began to believe that trauma and damage were the norm in most cases of vaginal delivery. Based on this misconception and in the interest of preserving my nether regions, I was determined that when my time came, I would be booking into a private hospital for an elective caesarian.

The truth is in the research…………..
Like any good scientist and writer, I love to research and when we decided to start a family, my literature search began. My emotions ran into turmoil when most of the research indicated the benefits of a vaginal delivery over a caesarean section. In the case of a normal pregnancy, the outcomes for both the mother and baby were more favourable following a natural birth. While caesarean sections are an essential and lifesaving operation for those who require them, the research didn’t back up my idea of a caesarean as the primary birthing choice. It was time to reconsider my stance.

The decision for a natural birth…………………
On finding I was pregnant we consulted a well regarded Obstetrician. Together we opted for a natural delivery as our ‘plan A’, knowing that if things didn’t go to plan, we had a plethora of interventions at our fingertips.

A change of plans………………
Twenty-five weeks into the pregnancy, whilst touring the birthing suite at our chosen hospital, our birth plan changed dramatically. On entering the birthing suite with several other expectant couples, I felt the muscles in my arms and legs tighten and my heart race. I had visualised a serene and comfortable room as the setting for a calm and natural birth. I was greeted with a bed, with stirrups ‘up’ and ready for action and a scary looking contraption that can only be described as a baby BBQ, to warm and inspect the newborn. Whilst this scene was not new to me, it was the first time that I had viewed the set up through the anxious eyes of a prospective patient and parent.

Inadvertently my body had assumed the physiological response known as a ‘fight or flight’ response. In the face of potential danger our bodies release of the hormones adrenalin and noradrenalin, preparing us to fight or to run away from any potential threat. This primal response was a protective mechanism enabling our predecessors to suddenly halt the birthing process when facing danger. During a normal labour this response is not protective but rather can delay, prolong or halt the labour, causing a cascade of problems and initiating a cascade of intervention.

I had to reconsider my previous decisions, this wasn't as hard as I imagined; humans really do have an incredible capacity for change.


A home birth………………….
We contacted an independent midwife and on meeting Theresa, felt instantly at ease. She reinforced my new found realisation that my body was designed to give birth and that birthing at home would not only provide a comfortable environment but would facilitate an optimal hormonal release for both myself and our baby. At the end of the meeting I was armed with fresh insights, including the fact that 20 to 30 percent of first time mothers birthing at home, end up in hospital, usually for pain relief. However, I was also armed with a new found confidence in my body and despite being ready for any eventuality during the birth, deep down I knew that our baby would enter life in the spa in our bedroom.

The Labour…………
The first 18 hours of my labour were very peaceful. I moved between the beanbag, physioball and spa, and using a portable TENS machine and visualization to ease the contractions. I was able to continue with my days activities which included baking an organic apple tea cake. Our midwife, Theresa popped in to check on us twice during the day and returned when I had been in labour for 19 hours when the surges had become very strong and my hips were cramping. I thought I couldn’t take much more, but in her calm, supportive and empowering manner Theresa assured me that I could, and I believed her. Of course this didn’t stop me from screaming or from demanding my husband to ‘promise me you won’t let me do this again’.

Twenty-four hours into the labour, I was kneeling in the spa when something changed; my body took over. Surprisingly, I didn’t need to ‘push’ at all, if anything I was ‘panting’ to encourage my body to slow down. I could feel my uterus contracting and with each surge, I could feel more of our baby’s head on my hand, which comforted me with the knowledge that soon we would meet our little treasure. Moments later a little body was gliding rapidly through the water. The feeling of overwhelming exhilaration and love as I moved this precious new life onto my chest was intense and remains impossible to describe. It was several minutes before we looked to find the sex of our child – it seemed an almost irrelevant detail. We instantly fell in love with our very alert little princess Lilian Joy and have continued to fall deeper under her spell with every moment of every day. Twenty-seven hours after my labour had begun; my husband and I were tucked up in our bed, staring at our beautiful daughter, enjoying her birthday cake – the organic apple tea cake I had made during the labour. It was the best cake I have ever made.

If you are interested in natural birthing I highly recommend the following two books, which were invaluable for me;



Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering
Sarah is a mother of four, a GP with a special interest in Obstetrics and the daughter of an Obstetrician. This book examines the medical literature and intertwines it with Sarah's own birth experiences. It is a beautiful read, incredibly well referenced and really blends the science with the reality. I still read this book for its mothering advice and I highly recommend it. If you are new to natural birthing ideas, as I was to some extent, you may initially find the lotus birth idea confronting, but continue on, this book was one of the major contributors to my birthing confidence.

You can visit Sarah's website at http://www.sarahjbuckley.com/index.html

Another wonderful read is A Labour of Love by Gabrielle Targett

A Labour of Love is a non-medical approach to childbirth. I found it highly empowering and was also lucky enough to receive regular massages from the wonderful author during my pregnancy! The book covers the work of doulas and also different birthing options and experiences and is easy to read. It also assists de-mystifies and questions the fear surrounding birth today. You can visit Gabby's website at; http://www.alabouroflove.com.au/

Wishing all those pregnant women out there a wonderful birthing experience, however it happens for them

Gina

The science of healthy children; hazard reduction

The health of the next generation; it is in our hands

Regulators would have us believe that our current level of exposure to the vast array of synthetic chemicals is completely safe. The FDA's recent decision on BPA in baby bottles and other children's products is a prime and concerning example of this. In many cases we have been told that while toxic chemicals may exist in our products, we don't absorb them, however numerous studies have proved this incorrect. In 2005 investigations by the Environmental Working Group found 287 commercial chemicals, pesticides and environmental pollutants in the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborns (with an average of 204 different contaminants per newborn) . Subsequently we have been told, that we may absorb them, but they don't do any damage. This also has been found to be false, with BPA for example found not only to cause endocrine disruption, but also significantly increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease in those with the highest blood levels.

While the scientist in me agrees that cause and effect are extremely difficult to demonstrate in this complex area, I certainly am not waiting until any body or government legislates against the use of the growing number of threats to human health found in everday products. The following excerpt is from one of my articles for Clean Food Organic Volume 5, which is available from www.cleanfood.com.au and from many Health Food store, organic stores and newsagents.

Organic Pregnancy by Gina Cacho (BSc)
Our children are exposed to an unprecedented level of synthetic chemicals even before they make their way from the womb to the world. Does this contamination of the next generation pose a risk to their long term health and what can expectant parents do to protect their unborn children?

Synthetic chemicals now pervade all aspects of every day life. Around 100 000 different chemicals are registered for use in the European Union. In addition to the billions of kilos of industrial chemicals released into air, water and landfill we are now facing exposure to synthetic chemicals through our household products and furnishings, our food and it’s packaging, personal care and cleaning products, our toys and even our clothes. Recent research has shown unequivocally that the foetus in the womb is now exposed to a cocktail of toxic chemicals.

The past 60 years has seen significant growth in industry of all forms. Following the world wars of last century, production of many synthetic chemicals previously required in the war effort continued as executives looked to find new markets for their products. Regrettably many of these chemicals have now found their way into our everyday lives and homes despite the fact that most have never been tested for their safety to work in this capacity. These pollutants have been found to cause many adverse biological effects both in local wildlife (including waterways) and in communities. Additionally each year around 2 500 new synthetic chemicals are launched into industry with very little safety testing. Many of these relatively new (and often untested) synthetic chemical compounds mimic the body’s natural hormones and therefore disrupt the endocrine (hormonal) system. Hormone disruption / imbalance is often cited as a cause of disease. The development of a foetus is largely controlled by hormones, making the influx of these endocrine disrupting compounds into our everyday lives a major concern.

Declining Health
While some will correctly point out that some natural chemicals are also potentially harmful, it is only with the rise in use of synthetic chemicals in the home, that we have seen a significant increase in the rates of asthma, autism (10 fold increase since the early 80’s), testicular cancer (66%), childhood brain cancer (40% increase), acute lymphocyctic leukemia (62% increase) and behavioural disorders such as attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Infertility rates and the rate of birth defects continue to rise and sperm counts continue to decline. While it is impossible to link these problems to one specific cause, environmental pollutants are likely to be contributing factors in the rise in the rates of cancer, allergies and developmental and reproductive disorders. It is also likely that prenatal exposure may increase the risk of an individual developing these diseases in adulthood.

Daily exposure
We live in chemical soup, with the majority of our daily activities providing a route for potentially harmful synthetic chemical exposure. The following list represents a small sample of the potential sources of contamination.
• Pesticides in our food and in the air
• Stain and grease resistant coatings for food wrap, carpet and furniture
• Fire retardants in TVs, computers and furniture
• Garbage incineration and plastic production
• Electrical insulation
• Car emissions and fossil fuel combustion
• Burning coal
• Personal care and cleaning products


The chemical cocktail
Some chemicals have been assessed for safety however most toxicology studies tend to look at individual chemicals in isolation. While this has been useful in providing insight into the likely sequelae of exposure to a particular chemical it does not provide useful information into the potential long term effects of the complex chemical combinations that are present in our bodies. While exposure to certain chemicals at high levels may result in severe birth defects, chronic low level exposure is likely to create more subtle changes that may surface later in childhood as learning or behavioural problems or in adulthood as cancer, autoimmune or neurodegenerative disease. Exposure safety limits are set with individual chemicals in mind. This does not take the interaction of chemicals or the effects of chronic bioaccumulation in the body tissues into consideration. While there is inevitable difficulty in determining a singular cause of most diseases, a study by the Natural Academy of Sciences in 2000 suggests that environmental factors contribute to at least 28% of childhood developmental disabilities.

Problematic research
Epidemiological studies are unable to provide precise information as there is little exposure data for most groups of chemicals. Having no unexposed groups to use as controls is also problematic. Additionally if a condition is frequent in a population then the ability to establish certain exposure as a direct cause is difficult. Currently hazard reduction is the best means of regulating exposure to these chemicals and while to some extent this requires changes in legislation and industrial practices there are certain steps we can take to reduce exposure for our unborn children.

Protecting the future generations
Some protection can be afforded by adopting the following strategies to minimize exposure. It is best to start following these guidelines as long before conception as possible, however reducing your exposure at any time before or during pregnancy is still beneficial.

EATING
• Eat less processed foods (which often contain chemical additives).
• Consume Organic foods which guarantee minimal pesticide residues for the consumer and protection for the farmer.
• Eat low on the food chain, by consuming less meat and dairy products which often contain a higher level of pollutants due to their high fat content (fatty tissues have a greater ability to accumulate persistent organic pollutants).
• Avoid consuming fish that are high on the food chain such as tuna and swordfish.
• Drink filtered water to reduce exposure to the pollutants found in most tap water.
• Avoid heating food in plastic, particularly soft plastics which can leech chemical contaminants into food.

PERSONAL CARE
• Reduce the number of personal care products you use and choose truly natural and /or organic varieties.
• Do not use conventional nail polish; if you must have painted digits opt for naturally based less toxic varieties.
• Avoid synthetic fragrances including perfume, aftershave, air fresheners and perfumed cleaning or personal care products.

HOME
• Avoid the use of stain repellants and opt for certified organic bedding.
• If you are pregnant use your growing belly to encourage somebody else to fill your car with petrol.
• Avoid painting the nursery or performing renovations either while you are pregnant or trying to conceive. If you must renovate, use non-toxic paints and finishes whenever possible.
• When furnishing the nursery avoid purchasing pressed wood products that often use formaldehyde based glues. Opt for solid untreated plantation wood.
• Avoid conventional chemical based cleaning products.
• Consider a water filter for your shower to reduce contaminants.

BABY
• Avoid allowing your baby to play with or suck on PVC toys.
• Use minimal personal care products for your baby and stick to completely natural and or organic varieties.
• Opt for certified organic clothing and bedding for your newborn, or second hand clothing that is likely to have ‘off gassed’ many of the toxic substances.

Protecting the next generation is in our hands.
So while our legislators sift through poor quality studies sponsored by chemical producers, many of us will be making a positive change for our future. Even if you can make only one small change a month, you may be improving your families long term health, and in my mind, there is nothing more important than that.

With green thoughts for those making a difference

Gina



References:
Dorey C 2003. ‘Chemical Legacy: Contamination of the Child’. Greenpeace.
Greenpeace International 2005 ‘An Investigation of chemicals in Perfumes’.
Houlihan J, Brody C and Schwan B 2002. ‘Not Too Pretty, Phthalates, Beauty Products and the FDA’. Environmental Working Group.
Houlihan J, Kropp T, Wiles R, Gray S and Campbell C. 2005 Body Burden The Pollution in Newborns. Environmental Working Group.
‘The Human Impact of Man-made Chemicals’, Greenpeace UK, 2003.
National Academy of Sciences 2000. Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment. Committee on Developmental Toxicology. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Peters, RJB 2003 ‘Hazardous Chemicals in Consumer Products’. TNO Netherlands Organisation for Applied Research.
US Environmental Protection Agency 2005. Supplemental guidance for assessing susceptibility from early-life exposures to carcinogens. EPA Risk Assessment Forum.
Swan SH, Elkin EP, Fenster L, 2000. The question of declining sperm density revisited; an analysis of 101 studies published 1934-1996. Environmental Health Perspectives 108; 961-966.

Ethical Cafe: Leaf and Bean Emporium

Good Coffee, Good Food all with a Good conscience...

We've all been there, you are desperate for a good cup of your favourite brew, but the coffee on offer is shockingly bad not only in taste but also in many cases for the environment and the plantation workers. I really hate having a bad coffee....

The solution? You need to know where your local good coffee merchants are.

To get you started we have included our Cafe of the Month....

The Leaf and Bean Emporium, 178A, Scarborough Beach Rd, Mt Hawthorn. (pictured above)

Not only do these guys offer Toby's estate fair trade, certified organic coffees (including swiss water process decaf), they also really know how to make a good coffee, thanks to the meticulous training from owner Alison Muir. So head on over to Mount Hawthorn for brilliant coffee, great food and a chilled ambiance.

For those in other areas, we have a list of Toby's estate stockists in Perth;

Voyage Kitchen and Delicatessan - Waterman
Boatshed Fresh Market – Cottesloe
Little Chutneys – Subiaco
Claremont Fresh – Claremont
Hippo Creek – opening in November in Sorrento
Manna Wholefoods – Fremantle (Good Organic lunches too!)
Tonic Café - Fremantle
Raspberry Fields – Como
Star Anise – Shenton Park (Yum- fine dining at its very best!)

For the other states visit www.tobysestate.com.au for your local stockist.

If you could make a difference just by changing the type of coffee you drink would you? You can, GO Organic and Fair Trade and make a difference today.

I am off to have an ethical decaf......

Gina

eco peko Organic Fashion for Kids

Protecting our kids in more ways than one....ethical fashion....

WE LOVE eco peko www.ecopeko.com organic fashion for kids, not only are they beautifully designed, high quality garments but they are certified organic and created by a Perth mum. You've told us that you want to know about the people behind the products, so here is a guest blog from eco peko CEO Justine.



Being a passionate advocate of organics and a natural way of life made us move from our City central address to the very green hills of Roleystone. We love living amongst the trees and growing our own food.
With my smallest child in a portable cot at the back of my stall, I screen printed designs onto t-shirts for bubs and sold them at the Kalamunda markets. I then went searching for organic cotton and eco peko was born!
Our range has started with t-shirts and kimonos and has grown with bibs & hats. The shirts have positive environmental messages and the kimonos are cut wide to allow for cloth nappies, layering and growing! The bibs are a double layer french terry and are super long!
I’m very excited about the direction the label will take towards the end of he year.
The fabric we have used is made from a high quality 100% Certified organic cotton. It has a high thread count and is unbelievably soft.
All our garments come with a little packet of organic veggie seeds, as we at eco peko would love to encourage people to have a veggie patch (its fantastic for kids!)

I love everything about this business. It’s amazing how much I have learnt and am still learning. It works well with my babies (I have lots of clothes for them ) and also my beautiful husband helps out by looking after them so that I can get work done. It makes me really happy running my own business, and that is a huge positive for my family.


Visit the eco peko website for more details and stockists www.ecopeko.com

P.S The eco peko range is approved by CleanLife baby product tester Lilian, aged 13months!

Peppermint Magazine: The world of eco fashion

Wardrobe inspiration from PEPPERMINT MAGAZINE

Every once in a while, something comes into your life, that changes not only what you do, but the way you think. The arrival of the first issue of Peppermint Magazine was such an occasion for me. I love ethical fashion, I have quite a few items that are organic, fair trade, second hand, Australian made and just plain OLD in my wardrobe, but I must admit since becoming pregnant with our daughter almost two years ago now, I had really lost the little passion I did have for fashion. That changed when Peppermint mag arrived.

Peppermint; Fresh green fashion, has a vintage edge to it that I LOVE. I also adore the fact that the editor Kelley, notes in her opening letter that she doesn't have an eco-perfect wardrobe, but that every bit helps. At CleanLife we think the same way. We also love the story of a business woman who starts a magazine for ethical reasons. For Kelley learning that '(there is)20, 000 deaths per year of cotton farmers from pesticide poisoning and the fact that every 8 hours in a province in India a farmers commits suicide due to pesticide debts' was the catalyst for this wonderful publication.

But that is enough of the UGLY side... for what I really love about Peppermint is that is shows the positively funky and wonderful side of organic, eco, fair trade and ethical fashion! You'll find the pages filled with the latest eco-savvy designers and their wonderful wares, thought provoking articles and the latest fashion events.

How could it get any better?
Well it is printed on recycled paper, with veg inks and the first issue is ABSOLUTELY FREE, so get onto www.peppermintmag.com to find your local stockist.

So how has peppermint mag changed the way I think? It has brought back to me the realisation that, what I wear actually is important (for me). My reasoning for this is that if I enter a room, looking and feeling good, people are likely to comment on what I am wearing and if I can explain to them that the item is: organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, recycled materials, vintage or that I made it myself.....then I may just be able to make a few more individuals think about what they wear and perhaps one day they may find themselves in a changing room asking themselves.....DOES MY CONSCIENCE LOOK BIG IN THIS???

So grab a copy of this wonderfully nourishing mag, treat yourself to an organic cuppa or wine and enjoy!

I am off now to learn how to sew...

Until next time...

Gina
(Yes it is true (I hear some of your sniggering), previously I managed to sew the back and front of my apron together three times, before accidently tacking it to the tablecloth, but peppermint mag has inspired me to try again!)

Pure and Natural Soap

Feeling itchy? It could be your soap
This guest BLOG is from Jan from Pure and Natural AromaBeauty. We LOVE her soaps, I am a fan of the sunshine exfoliating bar, but if you are adventurous the 'choc mint slice' does look ridiculously good! Jan is offering a special offer for CleanLife readers;

BUY 6 BARS of SOAP and GET ONE FREE (while stocks last) To redeem this offer email jan@aromabeauty.com.au after you order and mention CLEANLIFE and your free soap will be added. www.aromabeauty.com.au


Pure and Natural AromaBeauty is a small family owned and operated business located in beautiful Mackay, Queensland. We are committed to providing you with all natural soap made with all natural ingredients. Why? Because we believe that natural is better, and we want to offer you the choice of using totally natural products over chemical filled ones.

You won’t find any harmful chemicals, synthetic fragrances or artificial colours in our natural soap bars, only pure natural ingredients.
Our pure and natural soaps are handmade from scratch, using the time-consuming cold process method, in small batches to ensure the highest quality. They are made with the finest virgin olive, coconut and palm oils for a rich and creamy lather. Extra nutrients such as certified organic Shea and Cocoa Butters, Apricot Kernel, Avocado and Sweet Almond oils and skin loving botanicals are added to make them mild and luxurious. They are then infused with pure, plant-derived, aromatherapy essential oils for their natural and beneficial properties.
There are no artificial fragrances or colours in our soap; they are a major cause of skin sensitivities and irritation for many people. Why spoil a natural product with artificial ingredients?

After using our handmade natural soap you will feel the difference in your skin, and will never want to go back to store bought chemical loaded bars again!

SPECIAL OFFER FOR CLEANLIFE READERS
BUY 6 BARS of SOAP and GET ONE FREE (while stocks last) To redeem this offer email jan@aromabeauty.com.au and mention 'CLEANLIFE' and your free soap will be added to you order. www.aromabeauty.com.au

Where does your food come from?

Sourcing Real Food
When we sit down to enjoy a delicious meal with family or friends, it is made even more special if we know exactly where that food has come from, and all the better if we have met the producers. If you can't travel the countryside yourself to meet and greet the local producers, then it is great to find a company who has done all the hard work for you. That is why we LOVE the source real food store.

The source real food store offer real food sourced regionally, organically, seasonally and also offer a range of sustainable international foods. They buy direct from producers whenever possible. The Source team are heavily involved in the SLOW FOOD movement, and you can read more about this on their website. www.thesourcerealfoodstore.com.au There shop is located in Denmark (yes the CleanLife Teams favourite holiday spot)in Western Australian's great southern region. Don't worry if you can't make it to Denmark, you can also order online.

For the next three months we will be offering some recipes from the Source team, for CleanLife readers to try. Let us know how your cooking goes!


Yoghurt Cake With Pistachio Nuts and Summer berries

300ml Billawarra natural yoghurt
3 free range eggs
½ cup organic castor sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 organic lemon rind and juice
1 tbspn organic plain flour
Organic Williams River Biodynamic Pistachio nuts roughly chopped
Ravenhill Cream and berries to serve

Oven preheated to 180C Line a square 25cm ovenproof dish with greased waxed paper and grease well
Beat egg yolks with 2/3 of sugar until pale and fluffy
Beat in vanilla and stir in yoghurt lemon rind and juice and the flour
In separate bowl whisk in egg whites antil stiff and whisk in rest of sugar, then fold into the yoghurt mixture
and turn into the prepared dish.
Place dish into a roasting pan with water half way up the sides, bake for 20mins until set , sprinkle with the
nuts and put back in oven another 20 mins until browned on top.
Serve warm or chilled with berries and cream
(From Food and cooking of AFRICA and the Middle East)



BEAN & VEGETABLE MISO SOUP

Ingredients
1 cup of white beans (dried) / (kidney beans, fava beans, pinto beans, chick peas)
400ml Water (vegetable or meat broth)
1 bay leaf
3 tbsp Spiral Olive Oil
8 cups any assorted fresh vegetables on hand:
chopped onions
sliced carrots
sliced zucchini
diced eggplant
diced string beans
diced tomatoes
peas, etc.
1 cup macaroni
Salt and pepper to taste.
Chopped parsley

Method:
Soak beans in 400ml water overnight. Do not throw out the soaking water. Add another 800ml water or
broth, bay leaf, and simmer slowly until beans are almost tender (about 3 hours).
Sauté freshly chopped vegetables in oil and add to soup.
Add macaroni, salt and pepper, and simmer about half an hour until everything is tender. Add parsley and
serve. Or let soup stand for a few hours before serving; its taste will be even fuller.

For many more recipe ideas or to purchase beautiful food products visit the website
www.thesourcerealfoodstore.com.au

Why we are loving our local library

Been to your local library lately?

We all love a good book don't we? It's easy to be drawn to the glossy new titles sitting beautifully on the bookshelves of the bookshop, but if I were to tell you that you could read almost any book you want, in your own time, for FREE, and reduce your impact on the planet, WOULD YOU TAKE UP THE OFFER?

If you would, it's time to reacquaint yourself with your local library. Times have changes and what once were quiet, dusty halls of old books, inhabited mostly by scary librarians and old academic types are now bright modern places, crawling with babies, children, young and old adults and oozing with the latest books, DVDs and much more.

TIME FOR FUN....
Lilian and I LOVE to attend 'Rhyme Time' which is a free session for Parents and babies up to 2 years offered at almost all local libraries every week. For slightly older kiddies there is 'Story Time' which involves not only stories read by a lovely librarian, but activities that are matched to the story theme.

TIME TO RESERVE YOUR BOOKS.....
The offering of books at most local libraries is now extensive and the great news is that if they don't have a book that you are after, they will find out which library does have it, and borrow it for you! You can also reserve items from your own computer at home, and renew your items without getting out of your PJs!

So go on give the Library another try... you might be pleasantly surprised. We were!

The Broccoli Wars

Who stole my broccoli?

The inevitable truth in modern city living is that when we go to bed a night, we must lock up the house, to keep out the 'baddies' or at least make it so hard for them to get in so that they just don't bother. This 'lock up' mentality was however not at the forefront of my mind when we decided to grown our own vegetables in a front garden bed.

THE CRIME
Perhaps it should have been as we have been horrified to discover that all bar one of our broccoli have been STOLEN. I like to think the best of human nature and when we first discovered the hideous hacking of our beloved broccoli, we conjured up all nature of excuses for our fellow man? "perhaps there are rats that can use garden scissors?", "Perhaps the school kids stole them in the hope that mum wouldn't serve broccoli again this week?".

THE CULPRIT
The harsh reality is that after much investigation, the only culprit could be an adult human and the move was calculating and selfish. The way our garden is set up, you really need to get in and have a good close look to know that the broccoli is there, it is sandwiched between turnips, beetroot, radishes, cabbage, carrots and peas. Only one of the broccoli plants is visible to those walking along the street. This was the one and only plant they left unharmed; knowing perhaps that it is the one we were using to test the readiness of the crop.

THE COST
It must be said that we have no problem in giving excess produce to family, friend and neighbours, we do so regularly. What really bites about this crime is that the plants were hacked at their bases, so even the heads that were very small and not even close to being ready where taken. The cost financially was probably over $100 worth of broccoli (we use certified organic seeds and soil from www.yourpatch.com.au). We also pay your patch to help with our maintenance, a cost that is offset by not having to purchase vegetables. The biggest cost for us however is that our daughter Lilian, LOVES broccoli, and we grow these primarily for her, so that we know exactly what she is eating and where it comes from. Now that joy has been taken from us. So when people steal almost your entire harvest, there is a time cost, a financial cost but also an emotional cost. No I am not emotional over lost broccoli, but rather that people can stoop so very low!

JUST ASK
If the person / people in question here, had so much as asked, not only would I have given them broccoli but possibly some other vegetables too.

THE SOLUTION
I am not sure how to deal with people who steal from a one year olds vegetable patch. I am fairly sure I know who is responsible, but I am not wasting any of my time engaging with such destructive individuals.

THE HOPE
The thing I love most about man is that we have infinite capacity for change, and so we live in hope, that this won't happen again.

Signing off, one very sad vegetable gardener

Gina

Personal care products: not so squeaky clean

The dirt on personal care products


One of the many catalysts for CleanLife was my personal experience of developing severe perioral dermatitis at the age of 25 and being told that looked and felt pretty yucky. I was told by my GP and several dermatologists, that I would most likely have to take several courses of antibiotics to clear it up initially and in all likelihood would need to take the antibiotics intermittently during 'flare ups' until I was about 45, at which time it would be likely to improve.


'The cause?' I asked......
'Oh most likely the cosmetics and skincare products you use' was the reply
'OK, which ingredients are causing it, I will try to avoid them' I offered
'No point, we don't know which ones cause it and well these chemicals are everywhere, even in the water we drink' was all the dermatologist could offer
'But I can try to reduce my exposure?' I questioned with hope.......
'You could try' the dermatologist half heartedly agreed

So with that I was on a mission to study every ingredient in every product I used, not only was I horrified to find that most of my products have several ingredients that had been proven to cause dermatitis, many more had been linked to everything from cancer to birth defects.

The good news is that within three months I had removed almost all the irritants from my skincare regime and cosmetics and no longer suffered from perioral dermatitis, and now more than 5 years on, my skin is still clear and I never did take those antibiotics! While not all skin conditions are as simple to correct and many will and do need medical intervention, it is worth considering, that removing what is causing your problem it an obvious step that is often overlooked by modern medicine, which can be great at 'fixing' the problem, but not always so good at preventing it from returning, or identifying the cause. Below, is a small article I wrote three years ago, that may get you started on your own bathroom cupboard clean out!

In an age when slapping more products on our hair, face and body is thought to make you ‘squeaky clean’ and ‘beautiful’, it may be worth considering exactly what these products are made of and how they are affecting our bodies and our environment. Warning: reading this article may change the way you consume forever.

• Conventional cosmetic and skincare products contain a huge variety of chemicals, some of which have been listed as probable and definite carcinogens, irritants, toxins, teratagens (substances that cause foetal developmental defects) and mutagens (substances that change DNA).

• We are told that these chemicals are safe and that they are only present in small doses in most products. Unfortunately nobody knows what the long term consequence of using these products several times a day for your entire life does. Some have been found to accumulate in the body, others have been found to cause serious DNA damage.

• The skin is the largest organ of the body and approximately 60% of what we put onto our skin can be absorbed. In addition to that we inhale the vapours of these products and often ingest some too. Yes Lipstick on the teeth may be more than a first date dilemma!

• Some chemicals may appear safe in isolation, but are they safe when combined with the other chemicals in the product or the environment? Cosmetic companies claim there are too many chemicals used to allow testing of each in combination with all other possibilities. This is true, so why don’t they just reduce the number of chemicals in use.

• Regulators usually say that a chemical is safe until proven to be harmful. Firstly I would suggest that there appears to be significant evidence to substantiate the harmful qualities of many chemicals used in personal care products. Secondly, do we really need to wait, given the past history with asbestosis and tobacco? Would it not be more logical to consider them harmful, until proven safe?

• Not only do many of the conventional products cause significant health and safety risks, most of them will actually make your hair and skin dryer or oilier, therefore encouraging continual use.

• It is a myth that the chemicals in personal care products are necessary. An ever growing number of companies are now producing a range of low chemical, chemical free and organic cosmetics. The main reason companies choose chemicals over health is COST. It seems nasty chemicals are the cheapest of all!

• There is around 70 thousand chemicals currently in commercial use and approximately 1000 new chemicals are added each year. Of these approximately 9000 chemicals are regularly used in the cosmetics industry. Although those with known harmful effects are applied only in small quantities to comply with health and safety regulations, the long term and cumulative effects of frequent small doses are not yet known.

• In the US there are no compulsory safety tests for cosmetics. The legislation stipulates that the products must be safe, however what ‘safe’ is, is at the discretion of the company. Some ingredients don’t even have to be listed due to a loophole that protects the manufacturing secrets of companies. These companies self regulate. There is no external testing body.

• Skincare, hair care and body care products contain potential endocrine disruptors, which may be inhaled, ingested or absorbed into the skin. This can confuse the endocrine (hormone) system, leading to health problems. In particular thyroid, breast and lymphoma cancers have been linked to endocrine disruption.

• Mineral oil and petroleum make up a large component of conventional cosmetics. These are both non-renewable resources. Genetically modified organisms are often found in conventional cosmetic products commonly derived from maize or soy. Conventional cosmetics have a negative environmental impact.


If you would like to read more on which chemicals are the ones to avoid visit our article 'Check your bathroom cupboard now'.

And if you are looking for skincare and cosmetic products without the cheap and nasty synthetic chemicals, visit our http://www.cleanlife.com.au/dir_health_beauty.htm, where you will find companies that offer truly natural alternatives.