On the Green

Glass Popsicle Molds - Solved!

2009-07-30T20:24:00.005-04:00

I haven't made popsicles in forever. The plastic molds went out with the recycling quite awhile ago and since then I've periodically researched for other alternatives without much fruition. But now that our living room AC is broken, I think I'm a bit more motivated!

There are food grade silicone ones available on Amazon, but to be honest I am still a bit leery of those. I heard that there is a company coming out with stainless steel soon. And I also read that using small glass jars from jam is a way to make your own molds. Unfortunately, I do not buy jam and or have any jars that small. Freezing glass can lead to the container cracking if it is not thick enough, like Pyrex or good mason jars. So I was not sure how to proceed with the glass idea. I thought for sure if I waited long enough a company would come out with glass molds. Still waiting!

But today in Ikea I came across these little 2oz glass cups called "Pokal". They were $3, so I thought why not? I did a test freeze with water when I got home. When the water was a bit solid, I put the pop stick in so it would stand up straight. And an hour or so later- voila! Perfect! You would just have to let the popsicle thaw a tiny bit to ease it out of the cup. I think I will buy another set so I will have 12 in all. They are perfect child-size pops. An adult might want two!

In the last edition of the Weston Price quarterly ( "Nourishing Traditions") there was an article about making nourishing popsicles. I am so on it ;)

Curing Oral Thrush in Babies Naturally

2009-07-23T22:19:00.007-04:00

Recently, when checking to see if any new teeth were coming through, I noticed white spots in my son's mouth. Funny, I thought- do teeth come in THAT far back? And then it hit me, those were not teeth at all, but spots of oral thrush. He also had a coating of white on his tongue, upon further examination.

And then I proceeded to get nervous! I had heard more than once that a baby passing oral thrush to the mother is just hell for a nursing. I was so afraid that I would contract the thrush and the pain would be so bad that I would have to quit nursing. It sent me into a nervous tizzy! Not being able to nurse was not a road I wanted to go down since my son depends both nutrionally and emotionally on breastfeeding. So losing all of my bearings I called his doctor and got a prescription for Nystatin. I actually filled it. But then my husband brought me back to reality and said, "He doesn't need that medicine- you didn't even TRY to cure it naturally."

"True," I admitted, "OK, I'll figure out what to do."

As I gulped down my fear of burning nipples, I canvased the Internet for something I could try out. First I tried homeopathy. Kali muriaticum (Kali-mur) is the treatment for thrush. To be honest, I didn't notice any difference. So I started taking Culturelle and giving it to my son as well. Probiotics are very helpful in reigning in any sort of yeast imbalance.

In the meantime, before I nursed I made sure everything was clean by washing with water and vinegar. I knew it was a also key to keep the nursing area dry- so I made sure to change breast pads frequently. Yeast breed in moist areas, so I made sure the drier the better.

Upon more reading I came upon another treatment idea- grapefruit seed extract. It really did the trick! I used about 10 drops per ounce of water and swabbed it in his mouth every waking hour or so for probably 5 days. It wasn't easy to swab- I basically used a cotton ball and squeezed the concoction in his mouth until he got used it and kind of opened up. I don't blame him- it's very sour! But it did work- and I was all too glad!

Everything cleared up totally in about a week and the Nystatin went in the garbage- waste of a copay, but made me feel good that I was able to conquer the thrush naturally. Thanks to my husband who so patiently reminded me to try the natural first amid my fears :)

Some good links to read about oral thrush in babies:

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/thrush.asp
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t083100.asp
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/thrush-resources.html

The Judgement On Vaccines Is In ???

2009-04-22T21:48:00.005-04:00

Excellent article by Jim Carrey!

The Judgement On Vaccines Is In ???

Recently, I was amazed to hear a commentary by CNN's Campbell Brown on the controversial vaccine issue. After a ruling by the 'special vaccine court' saying the Measles, Mumps, Rubella shot wasn't found to be responsible for the plaintiffs' autism, she and others in the media began making assertions that the judgment was in, and vaccines had been proven safe. No one would be more relieved than Jenny and I if that were true. But with all due respect to Ms. Brown, a ruling against causation in three cases out of more than 5000 hardly proves that other children won't be adversely affected by the MMR, let alone that all vaccines are safe. This is a huge leap of logic by anyone's standards. Not everyone gets cancer from smoking, but cigarettes do cause cancer. After 100 years and many rulings in favor of the tobacco companies, we finally figured that out.

The truth is that no one without a vested interest in the profitability of vaccines has studied all 36 of them in depth. There are more than 100 vaccines in development, and no tests for cumulative effect or vaccine interaction of all 36 vaccines in the current schedule have ever been done. If I'm mistaken, I challenge those who are making such grand pronouncements about vaccine safety to produce those studies.

If we are to believe that the ruling of the 'vaccine court' in these cases mean that all vaccines are safe, then we must also consider the rulings of that same court in the Hannah Polling and Bailey Banks cases, which ruled vaccines were the cause of autism and therefore assume that all vaccines are unsafe. Clearly both are irresponsible assumptions, and neither option is prudent.
In this growing crisis, we cannot afford to blindly trumpet the agenda of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or vaccine makers. Now more than ever, we must resist the urge to close this book before it's been written. The anecdotal evidence of millions of parents who've seen their totally normal kids regress into sickness and mental isolation after a trip to the pediatrician's office must be seriously considered. The legitimate concern they and many in the scientific community have that environmental toxins, including those found in vaccines, may be causing autism and other disorders (Aspergers, ADD, ADHD), cannot be dissuaded by a show of sympathy and a friendly invitation to look for the 'real' cause of autism anywhere but within the lucrative vaccine program.

With vaccines being the fastest growing division of the pharmaceutical industry, isn't it possible that profits may play a part in the decision-making? That the vaccine program is becoming more of a profit engine than a means of prevention? In a world left reeling from the catastrophic effects of greed, mismanagement and corporate insensitivity, is it so absurd for us to wonder why American children are being given twice as many vaccines on average, compared to the top 30 first world countries?

Paul Offit, the vaccine advocate and profiteer, who helped invent a Rotavirus vaccine is said to have paved the way for his own multi-million dollar windfall while serving on the very council that eventually voted his Rotavirus vaccine onto our children's schedule. On August 21, 2000 a congressional investigation's report titled, "Conflicts in Vaccine Policy," stated:

It has become clear over the course of this investigation that the VRBPAC and the ACIP [the two main advisory boards that determine the vaccine schedule] are dominated by individuals with close working relationships with the vaccine producers. This was never the intent of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which requires that a diversity of views be represented on advisory committees.

Isn't that enough to raise questions about the process of choosing the vaccine schedule?

With many states like Minnesota now reporting the number at 1 in 80 children affected with autism, can we afford to trust those who serve two masters or their logic that tells us "one size fits all" when it comes to vaccines? Can we afford to ignore vaccines as a possible cause of these rising numbers when they are one of the fastest growing elements in our children's environment? With all the doubt that's left hanging on this topic, how can anyone in the media or medical profession, boldly demand that all parents march out and give their kids 36 of these shots, six at a time in dosage levels equal to that given a 200 pound man? This is a bias of the most dangerous kind.

I've also heard it said that no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism has ever been found. That statement is only true for the CDC, the AAP and the vaccine makers who've been ignoring mountains of scientific information and testimony. There's no evidence of the Lincoln Memorial if you look the other way and refuse to turn around. But if you care to look, it's really quite impressive. For a sample of vaccine injury evidence go to www.generationrescue.org/lincolnmemorial.html.

We have never argued that people shouldn't be immunized for the most serious threats including measles and polio, but surely there's a limit as to how many viruses and toxins can be introduced into the body of a small child. Veterinarians found out years ago that in many cases they were over-immunizing our pets, a syndrome they call Vaccinosis. It overwhelmed the immune system of the animals, causing myriad physical and neurological disorders. Sound familiar? If you can over-immunize a dog, is it so far out to assume that you can over-immunize a child? These forward thinking vets also decided to remove thimerosal from animal vaccines in 1992, and yet this substance, which is 49% mercury, is still in human vaccines. Don't our children deserve as much consideration as our pets?

I think I'd rather listen to the more sensible voice of Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of the National Institute of Health, who says:

Listen to the patients and the patients will teach...I think there is an inexcusable issue, and that's the lack of research that's been done here...A parent can legitimately question giving a one-day old baby, or a two-day old baby [the] Hepatitis B vaccine that has no risk for it [and] the mother has no risk for it. That's a heavy-duty vaccine given on day two [of life]. I think those are legitimate questions.

Dr. Healy is also calling for a long overdue study of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated. Dr. Frank Engly, a researcher and microbiologist who served on the boards of the CDC, FDA and EPA during the 70s and 80s, warned:

The CDC cannot afford to admit thimerosal is toxic because they have been promoting it for several years...If they would have followed through with our 1982 report, vaccines would have been freed of thimerosal and all this autism as they tell me would not have occurred. But as it is, it all occurred.

In all likelihood the truth about vaccines is that they are both good and bad. While ingredients like aluminum, mercury, ether, formaldehyde and anti-freeze may help preserve and enhance vaccines, they can be toxic as well. The assortment of viruses delivered by multiple immunizations may also be a hazard. I agree with the growing number of voices within the medical and scientific community who believe that vaccines, like every other drug, have risks as well as benefits and that for the sake of profit, American children are being given too many, too soon. One thing is certain. We don't know enough to announce that all vaccines are safe!

If the CDC, the AAP and Ms. Brown insist that our children take twice as many shots as the rest of the western world, we need more independent vaccine research not done by the drug companies selling the vaccines or by organizations under their influence. Studies that cannot be internally suppressed. Answers parents can trust. Perhaps this is what Campbell Brown should be demanding and how the power of the press could better serve the public in the future.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-carrey/the-judgment-on-vaccines_b_189777.html

Throwing in the Towel

2009-04-02T21:20:00.006-04:00

At a play date today there was conversation of how many wipes we moms go through. That made me think to write about my recent personal campaign around the house of trying to stop using paper products. I haven't told anyone about it until now.

I am on about my 5th pack of wipes since my son was born 15 months ago- they are for travel and emergencies. But then again I do not use regular wipes when I change him. Before he was born I cut up old tee shirts into large squares and use those as wipes which get washed with his diapers. They don't add anything extra to the laundry since they're so light and small, but do save me a lot of money and are obviously chemical-free (to wet them I use a spray bottle with water).

I thought to myself, if I can use these tee shirt wipes for my son's bottom, maybe I can use them for us instead of toilet paper! Crazy ideas are nothing new to me, but I decided to wait a bit on chucking the toilet paper. And instead tried to use A LOT less for each trip. Getting rid of toilet paper seemed like a great idea, but not something I could tackle at the very minute.

So I began to do other things around the house to cut out paper products. I took out those cloth napkins that were suppose to be for guests but somehow never made it to the table. And I just never bought any more paper napkins. Easy! Why didn't I do this before?

Next I let my paper towels go. I didn't run out to Costco for the gigantic bundle. I bought a small, unbleached recycled role from Whole Foods for nasty emergencies- think raw meat on the floor or the like. What I did to replace the paper towels was use a big stack of washcloths I had on hand for any type of mess. For instance, when my son finishes eating a meal, I wipe his hands and face with the cloth. Then I rinse it and wash the table, his high chair tray, another rinse, and finally the floor. (I use a vinegar/water mixture in a spray bottle for all surfaces.) Then I do a final rinse and hang the cloth to dry somewhere in my kitchen. When it's dry I toss it in the laundry basket. I go through a few in a day- no big deal!

I also thought about tissues. I decided I could use facecloths for every day use too (the occasional nose drip or small area to clean is no big deal...don't some people use handkerchiefs on a regular basis?). They could go right in with the laundry. But I thought I should keep box of unbleached recycled tissues on hand in case of a big, nasty cold. Luckily those are very far and few in between so I figured this way I would not really be using many tissues either.

Now, I haven't had the guts to get rid of the toilet paper yet. But maybe sometime in the future. I am at least considering using it only for #2 and using tee shirt wipes for #1. I wonder, is there anyone out there that actually does this because I'd love to know more about the logistics!

The way I see it: if you can't convince yourself that using cloth wipes, napkins, papertowels, tissues and toilet paper is greener, then don't do it for the environment, do it for your wallet. Imagine if you never bought these items again (or at least fewer of them) how much you'd save! Really- it's quite a bit!

And for more reading concerning the topic, this is a great article.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/paper-towels-and-napkins-vs-cloth.html

I also wanted to add a fun and useful quiz that my friend sent me to rate your body's exposure to toxic chemicals- although I see some blips (for instance, they ask if you use shampoo- not what kind you use...that sort of thing), I think it's a really good baseline for everyone to go by. Makes you think, hmm am I exposing myself to that?

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fextras.insidebayarea.com%2Fbodyburden%2Fbodyburden.html&h=5a7aa3a4976c98e519294f40f82a9132

The No-Microwave Challenge

2009-03-13T23:22:00.007-04:00

Have you ever stopped to think that your microwave might be dangerous? I had been having doubts for some time, but microwaves are so convenient I sort of ignored the issue. Then after my son was born, I decided it was too important to pass by any longer. And so I faced up to the white box in the kitchen that made my food taste so very strange and spongy, yet nice and hot. I did a lot of reading on the issue, and of course there are two sides to every story. But to be feel good about myself, I needed to be safe and not sorry. Microwaves use radiation to cook and the bottom line is that was not natural to me. There is certainly much information out there to explain why this unnatural cooking means is hazardous to us. One article I liked very much is the following by Mercola. While I do not agree with all his views, I think this is a telling read:

http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm

After my mind was made up and my husband agreed, I was not sure what to do with the microwave, but I decided that I could not trash it. What if there were some unfortunate people out there that did not even own a stove? I know, a bit of a stretch, but still. So I put it up for free on Craigslist. A lady contacted me and said hers had broken and she did not have enough money for a new one- she had a whole story. You get the idea. She came, my husband brought it down for her and she asked him, " Why are you getting rid of this?"

He couldn't exactly say, "Well, we don't want cancer". So he errred and ummed and the lady said, "Are you going green?"

"Yes, that's it," said my relieved husband. And she proceeded to tell him that before she saw my ad, she posted looking for a free microwave and another woman wrote her to tell her she should not get one because they are dangerous. Well, at least she was previously warned!

So here I am, microwave free. It's been a year, at least, and we are very glad that we gave the microwave the old heave-ho. I am no longer worried about radiation due to the microwave (just don't get me started on cell phones, wireless Internet or the like) and my food no longer tastes like mushy cardboard. It does not take much more time to heat up food in a pan or in the toaster oven as I feared. Yet I do feel like food preparation is much more mindful this way. And that's the way I like it.

So can you do it? Try the no-microwave challenge for a week or so and see how you fare. You may just realize that you no longer need your microwave either. Or maybe that with all the potential dangers that it was never worth it in the first place!

Not Going At It Alone

2009-03-11T22:34:00.004-04:00

In my day to day activities I talk to a lot of moms. Friends, family, mothers in my son's playgroup, members of the Yahoo groups I belong to- even the occasional random person at the supermarket. All moms, all from different walks of life, yet it seems natural living is important to many of them.

One thing I hear frequently is "I want to do (fill in the organic, natural thing), but my husband...."
Ah...but my husband! My husband says it's too expensive to eat organic. My husband thinks OTC cold medicine is just fine. My husband won't change a cloth diaper. So it got me wondering where it leaves moms who want to change things, but are running up against some resistance- or at least not getting the support they need. (Surely this could be the opposite scenario too- I merely encounter moms reguarly, not dads!)

Of course each husband is to be dealt with differently, but I thought, what kind of general advice could I give a mom who was having this kind of issue? I have a husband who happily got rid of our microwave, changes cloth diapers and encourages all his friends to get them, scrubs the bathroom tub with baking soda while commenting on how natural cleaning products are the best and brings raw milk (he calls it "real milk") and raw honey to the office in glass containers for his tea. But it was NOT always this way. My husband used to smoke, eat indiscriminately and had no penchant for natural living.

So I tried to remember, how did things get to where they are today? That experience could servce as general advice to others. Yes, it was me who began talking about change. I think that was the first step. I would talk to my husband about different things I was learning (bringing up the topics whenever I could) and sent him articles- whether on the benefits of organic food, raw milk, the dangers of vaccines...anything to get his mind moving in the right direction. And little by little he himself would talk about something HE saw in the news or hear from someone. This information push was a big help in changing his mindset. Because he was never against natural living- it just wasn't something on his radar.

The next thing I did was take things step by step. People (especially some men, I think!) don't like change. So when I wanted to get rid of as much plastic in our house as I could, I slowly replaced it with glass. Or when I wanted us to stop eating processed food for the most part, I didn't empty the cabinets all in the same day. I think by taking things one at a time, my husband wasn't overwhelmed and in fact he probably didn't notice mostly.

Although when it comes to money, husbands notice! So when you really want to start buying organic (or replacing all the Tupperware in your kitchen!), but don't want your bank account to take a steep decline there has to be an action plan. Like a budget. If you already have a food budget (which is just good sense) you can assure your husband that you'll work inside of it to buy organic. If you don't have, it's time to make a budget. Now I can't say my budgeting has always been perfect (some months I go over a little), but I belong to a fruit and vegetable coop (http://www.localharvest.com/ is a great resource for this), I shop wholesale a lot (you'd be surprised at the organic food you can get at Costco), and I have other money saving ways (which I will blog about next, I hope) which reassure my husband that eating well does not mean we'll go broke- in fact I can almost bet I spend less than the "average American" does because processed foods carry such a high price tag (for little or no nutrition, how ironic!). The moral of the money story is by making a budget, you can reassure your husband that not only is eating organic important to you, but so is your family's money.

To carry over from money- living naturally, your family will most likely not get sick as much, therefore decreasing the cost of health care. I find this very true with us. I cannot remember the last time we have seen a doctor (thank God!). You will be saving on copay and medicines, not to mention feeling good on a daily basis. Which I find to be another selling point. My husband always comments on how great he feels because of our lifestyle and how he's never felt better. So capitalize on each little change and how it makes you, him or the kids feel good...eventually you will see even him noticing and commenting.

Then there will come a time when your husband is finally "on board". He will no longer be just a bystander. I think the time frame for each person is different, but the key is not to give up. No one wants to go at it alone and once you have your husband's support in living naturally, it is a wonderful thing. I am often surprised at what an advocate my husband is concerning our lifestyle when I hear him talking to other people- but know it didn't just come out of thin air.

And finally, if you think something needs to be changed to fit your ideals of natural living- just do it. I will push for things I think are important. I have found that my husband later thanks me.

I wonder, what experiences do others have with their husbands concerning this?

UPDATE: My husband read this post and commented, "Is this how to get your husband into natural living or how to brainwash him?!" Ok, I had to laugh! And for the record he maintains that before I was into natural living that he was the one who refused to take synthetic vitamins way back when. So score one for him - and I'm sure there were other incidents, he's a smart guy :)

Babies Know: A Little Dirt Is Good for You

2009-02-21T23:54:00.004-05:00

I loved this article and wanted to share it! I laughed to myself as I remembered the first time my son threw his food from the high chair and after being put down, crawled around and proceeded to eat it all off the floor. Now I see he must have been intuitively boosting his immune system- or so I'd like to believe! At the very least, I think it serves all of us parents well to read something like this- so put down the mop and put up your feet tonight instead!

Babies Know: A Little Dirt Is Good for You

NY Times

By JANE E. BRODY
Published: January 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27brod.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=hand%20sanitizer%20kids&st=cse

Ask mothers why babies are constantly picking things up from the floor or ground and putting them in their mouths, and chances are they’ll say that it’s instinctive — that that’s how babies explore the world. But why the mouth, when sight, hearing, touch and even scent are far better at identifying things?

When my young sons were exploring the streets of Brooklyn, I couldn’t help but wonder how good crushed rock or dried dog droppings could taste when delicious mashed potatoes were routinely rejected.

Since all instinctive behaviors have an evolutionary advantage or they would not have been retained for millions of years, chances are that this one too has helped us survive as a species. And, indeed, accumulating evidence strongly suggests that eating dirt is good for you.
In studies of what is called the hygiene hypothesis, researchers are concluding that organisms like the millions of bacteria, viruses and especially worms that enter the body along with “dirt” spur the development of a healthy immune system. Several continuing studies suggest that worms may help to redirect an immune system that has gone awry and resulted in autoimmune disorders, allergies and asthma.

These studies, along with epidemiological observations, seem to explain why immune system disorders like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and allergies have risen significantly in the United States and other developed countries.
Training the Immune System

“What a child is doing when he puts things in his mouth is allowing his immune response to explore his environment,” Mary Ruebush, a microbiology and immunology instructor, wrote in her new book, “Why Dirt Is Good” (Kaplan). “Not only does this allow for ‘practice’ of immune responses, which will be necessary for protection, but it also plays a critical role in teaching the immature immune response what is best ignored.”

One leading researcher, Dr. Joel V. Weinstock, the director of gastroenterology and hepatology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, said in an interview that the immune system at birth “is like an unprogrammed computer. It needs instruction.”

He said that public health measures like cleaning up contaminated water and food have saved the lives of countless children, but they “also eliminated exposure to many organisms that are probably good for us.”

“Children raised in an ultraclean environment,” he added, “are not being exposed to organisms that help them develop appropriate immune regulatory circuits.”

Studies he has conducted with Dr. David Elliott, a gastroenterologist and immunologist at the University of Iowa, indicate that intestinal worms, which have been all but eliminated in developed countries, are “likely to be the biggest player” in regulating the immune system to respond appropriately, Dr. Elliott said in an interview. He added that bacterial and viral infections seem to influence the immune system in the same way, but not as forcefully.
Most worms are harmless, especially in well-nourished people, Dr. Weinstock said.

“There are very few diseases that people get from worms,” he said. “Humans have adapted to the presence of most of them.”

Worms for Health

In studies in mice, Dr. Weinstock and Dr. Elliott have used worms to both prevent and reverse autoimmune disease. Dr. Elliott said that in Argentina, researchers found that patients with multiple sclerosis who were infected with the human whipworm had milder cases and fewer flare-ups of their disease over a period of four and a half years. At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Dr. John Fleming, a neurologist, is testing whether the pig whipworm can temper the effects of multiple sclerosis.

In Gambia, the eradication of worms in some villages led to children’s having increased skin reactions to allergens, Dr. Elliott said. And pig whipworms, which reside only briefly in the human intestinal tract, have had “good effects” in treating the inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, he said.

How may worms affect the immune system? Dr. Elliott explained that immune regulation is now known to be more complex than scientists thought when the hygiene hypothesis was first introduced by a British epidemiologist, David P. Strachan, in 1989. Dr. Strachan noted an association between large family size and reduced rates of asthma and allergies. Immunologists now recognize a four-point response system of helper T cells: Th 1, Th 2, Th 17 and regulatory T cells. Th 1 inhibits Th 2 and Th 17; Th 2 inhibits Th 1 and Th 17; and regulatory T cells inhibit all three, Dr. Elliott said.

“A lot of inflammatory diseases — multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and asthma — are due to the activity of Th 17,” he explained. “If you infect mice with worms, Th 17 drops dramatically, and the activity of regulatory T cells is augmented.”

In answer to the question, “Are we too clean?” Dr. Elliott said: “Dirtiness comes with a price. But cleanliness comes with a price, too. We’re not proposing a return to the germ-filled environment of the 1850s. But if we properly understand how organisms in the environment protect us, maybe we can give a vaccine or mimic their effects with some innocuous stimulus.”
Wash in Moderation

Dr. Ruebush, the “Why Dirt Is Good” author, does not suggest a return to filth, either. But she correctly points out that bacteria are everywhere: on us, in us and all around us. Most of these micro-organisms cause no problem, and many, like the ones that normally live in the digestive tract and produce life-sustaining nutrients, are essential to good health.

“The typical human probably harbors some 90 trillion microbes,” she wrote. “The very fact that you have so many microbes of so many different kinds is what keeps you healthy most of the time.”

Dr. Ruebush deplores the current fetish for the hundreds of antibacterial products that convey a false sense of security and may actually foster the development of antibiotic-resistant, disease-causing bacteria. Plain soap and water are all that are needed to become clean, she noted.
“I certainly recommend washing your hands after using the bathroom, before eating, after changing a diaper, before and after handling food,” and whenever they’re visibly soiled, she wrote. When no running water is available and cleaning hands is essential, she suggests an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Dr. Weinstock goes even further. “Children should be allowed to go barefoot in the dirt, play in the dirt, and not have to wash their hands when they come in to eat,” he said. He and Dr. Elliott pointed out that children who grow up on farms and are frequently exposed to worms and other organisms from farm animals are much less likely to develop allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Also helpful, he said, is to “let kids have two dogs and a cat,” which will expose them to intestinal worms that can promote a healthy immune system.

Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury

2009-01-27T20:37:00.005-05:00

Another good reason to avoid processed foods as much as you can!!!

Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury

MONDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury, which was also found in nearly a third of 55 popular brand-name food and beverage products where HFCS is the first- or second-highest labeled ingredient, according to two new U.S. studies.

HFCS has replaced sugar as the sweetener in many beverages and foods such as breads, cereals, breakfast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments. On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average.

"Mercury is toxic in all its forms. Given how much high-fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply," said the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Dr. David Wallinga, a co-author of both studies.

In the first study, researchers found detectable levels of mercury in nine of 20 samples of commercial HFCS. The study was published in current issue of Environmental Health.

In the second study, the agriculture group found that nearly one in three of 55 brand-name foods contained mercury. The chemical was most common in HFCS-containing dairy products, dressings and condiments.

The use of mercury-contaminated caustic soda in the production of HFCS is common. The contamination occurs when mercury cells are used to produce caustic soda.

"The bad news is that nobody knows whether or not their soda or snack food contains HFCS made from ingredients like caustic soda contaminated with mercury. The good news is that mercury-free HFCS ingredients exist. Food companies just need a good push to only use those ingredients," Wallinga said.

More information
The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry has more about mercury and health. SOURCE: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, news release, Jan. 26, 2009

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html

How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor

2009-01-25T23:43:00.006-05:00

How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor by Dr. Robert Mendelsohn is a must-have book. After receiving a copy from a friend, I now give it to ALL parents I know. Especially new ones, but even those on their second or third child. It is THAT important.

Although this book was written some time ago, it is incredibly relevant and taught me so much. Namely to take control of my son's health (and our family's health) and to relax about it. I know controlling and relaxing sound quite opposite, but it is the case here. I remember when my son had a "cold" at 8 weeks, I practically could not sleep I was so nervous. (I say cold in italics, because it was really nothing more than a slight stuffy nose). I probably brought him to the doctor about 3 times over the course of the 3 days he was sick- and for what? Not only did I need to take control of the fact that he had a cold, but I needed to relax because it was no big deal and stress was definitely not helping him get better! See what I mean?

This book teaches you to identify illnesses and helps you treat them at home. That way, you do not have to go to the doctor's office where you child is apt to pick up more germs, deal with a doctor who doles out medicine even when your child does not need it (if you have a doctor like that) which usually just makes things worse and waste a copay! I enjoyed Dr. Mendelsohn's detailing of what doctors learn in medical school and the influences of big pharma- it gives you an honest and wide perspective of orthodox health care and what it means for your child.

In addition, there were so many facts and tidbits about illnesses that I never knew and that most doctors will not tell you. Did you know that our bodies have an automatic feature which never allows fevers (which are actually GOOD for you when you are sick- not to be suppressed by Tylenol) to reach a dangerous point? The only fevers that are dangerous and could go too high are those brought on by an external factor like heat stroke, food poisoning, or chemical exposure. Fevers brought on by illness are immune system activators- now that is something I never knew because most people bring out the Tylenol for their kids as soon as the temperature reaches 102F or the like, under the auspices that the fever might "get too high". And that's only ONE new thing I learned :)

All I have to say is what an eye-opener! You will feel well-armed with this book. LOVE it.

http://www.amazon.com/Raise-Healthy-Child-Spite-Doctor/dp/0345342763

...I am hoping to read more of Dr. Mendelsohn's books - he has written other titles that look very provocative.

Eucalyptus Oil for Cold Relief

2009-01-23T23:10:00.004-05:00

My 13 month old son recently had a cold. Pretty mild, but because we had switched some time ago to a holistic pediatrician I thought I would call in to take advantage of their useful natural solutions advice to treating illnesses. Of course the nurse mentioned the run of the mill things I had been doing: elevate the head at night, run the humidifier, suction his nose and so on. But there was one tip I had not though of- they suggest putting one drop of eucalyptus oil in a teaspoon of olive oil and rub on the chest (I also put a little under his nose). I did this for him at night and saw a big difference in how he seemed to be feeling. The scent certainly does ease breathing! I plan on doing this the next time I get a cold too, right along with using my neti pot... something I laugh about trying to get my 13 month to use :)

(If you are in North Jersey, we go to Dr. Lawrence Rosen in Oradell. His office is called "The Whole Child Center" : http://www.wholechildcenter.org/ . He also writes a very interesting blog, which you can access from the fore listed site.)

Latest GMO Research: Decreased Fertility, Immunological Alterations and Allergies

2008-12-23T02:22:00.004-05:00

Latest GMO Research: Decreased Fertility, Immunological Alterations and Allergies

http://www.naturalnews.com/025001.html

A friend of mine emailed me this very important article. I will paste what she wrote to those she sent it to here because I think it is a great summary:

If after reading this article, you still continue to buy conventional processed foods because 'organic is too expensive', you need to have a good strong look at your budget and figure out what really matters in your lives and the lives of your children.

Organic is not too expensive - in fact, you can't afford NOT to eat organic food as exclusively as you can. In addition, we all need to be putting pressure on our respective governments to require labelling of any foods that contain GMO ingredients and while we are at it - foods and other products that use nanotechnology.

Both of these 'sciences' have the ability to destroy living species including man in a very short time period. The English had the right idea when they went into the fields that were growing GM produce and burnt them. GMOs were banned by major supermarket chains in the UK within a very short time of those acts. Where has direct action gone? Why are we so accepting and apathetic when it comes to our own lives and the lives of our children?

I was at first hesitant about sending this out because if you don't have a working knowledge of what Genetic Modification is it may sound overwhelming at first. But if you just read it through you will get the point. In synopsis he is saying that Genetic Modification is not an exact science and as more information comes out it shows that it is actually a game of Russian Roulette.

There have been some biased short term studies and those that weren't biased have been suppressed. The recent research by independent (the key word) researchers show many hazards especially over the long term and carried across the generations. This being most likely because it is actually CHANGING OUR OWN GENETIC CODE!!! Genetic modification is a crime against humanity and should be taken seriously by every one of us.

We should question what we are consuming and demand labeling of anything genetically modified. And remember genetic modification is going beyond the foods we eat. Just as an example, the Hepatitis B vaccine is made up of genetically modified animal material. And this is injected regularly into babies only hours after being born. Always being wary of anything genetically modified.

( Thanks Arianna! )

A Clear and Plastic Danger

2008-12-20T21:06:00.005-05:00

The following article appeared in Natural Solutions magazine and I thought it was not only very scary, but extremely important. PLEASE read it- I believe everyone needs to. Can you eliminate plastics from your life completely? Probably not- but after reading this I did my best to try.

The full article:

http://www.naturalsolutionsmag.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/center.article/articleID/14985/subTopicID/173/AClearPlasticDanger

Important excerpts:

"For a microcosm of what’s been happening with endocrine disrupters in the US, consider the case of the widely used chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). Industry loves BPA because it makes polycarbonate plastic clear and nearly unbreakable. An extensive body of literature supports the view that this chemical, originally developed as a synthetic estrogen, can cause hormonal chaos. “We’re talking about hundreds of studies with large sample sizes by the world’s premier scientists in endocrinology, neurobiology, and developmental biology—published in the major journals in the world,” says University of Missouri-Columbia neurobiologist Fred vom Saal, a pioneer in BPA research. But the FDA has so far declared BPA safe, citing instead two tiny studies. Those studies, unlike the independent research that counters them, were funded by the chemical industry."

"The government has also failed to act against phthalates—chemicals used mainly to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic soft and pliable—despite disturbing research that points to estrogen-related damage in both animals and people, including shrunken penises and impaired testes. As usual with profitable substances, the government claims that regulation is unwarranted until someone proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that phthalates cause harm. Relying on the same research available to US agencies, however, the European Union (EU) began enforcing a ban against phthalates in toys in 1999."

“When [fetuses and children] are exposed during critical windows of development, the effects are permanent,” says vom Saal. Women’s BPA and phthalate levels worry scientists as well, because these chemicals pass through the placenta to the fetus during pregnancy or through breast milk. Scientists worry less about men because, as vom Saal notes, “In adults, it’s like taking a birth-control pill.” In other words, when a woman takes the Pill, her hormonal activity is affected while the chemicals are in her body. Once she goes off the Pill, her hormonal activity eventually returns to normal. So it is with endocrine disrupters: If adults end their exposure to the chemicals, they also end the effects."

"The theory about how damage from endocrine disrupters transpires goes like this: As vom Saal points out, the cells in babies and children depend upon signals from hormones to determine how they should develop. The wrong signals produce the wrong result. Because both BPA and phthalates resemble estrogen, they can mimic or block estrogenic effects in the body. Females exposed to messed-up estrogen-like signals early in life may develop breast and other reproductive system cancers later, research suggests. If males are exposed at crucial developmental stages, they may develop female characteristics and/or have poorly developed male ones. Other possible consequences include testicular cancer, reduced sperm counts, smaller penises, and undescended testes."

"Vom Saal has worked exclusively on rodent studies, but he’s used breeds that respond to estrogen in a similar manner as humans. In 2006, an expert panel including vom Saal suggested that BPA may factor in such known human trends as increases in abnormal penises and urethras in males, early female puberty, decreased sperm counts, prostate and breast cancers, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, obesity, and type-2 diabetes. BPA led to all those conditions in rats."

"In a sense, one large-scale human study of estrogen mimics has already been conducted—and the results weren’t pretty. From about 1941–71, millions of US women were given a synthetic estrogen called DES to prevent miscarriages. Their babies seemed healthy at birth, but vom Saal notes, “as teenagers, the girls started developing uterine cancers that had never been seen in women under 60.” These same girls, now grown women, have hyper rates of breast cancer, too. “They looked OK from the outside,” vom Saal says. “But their internal systems were completely deranged.”

"How did the endocrine disrupter situation get so out of hand? The US was the first nation to aggressively regulate chemical pollution in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. But as other industrialized nations began following our lead, an antiregulatory backlash—fueled by corporate lobbyists and their political allies—took over at home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasn’t banned a single chemical in 17 years and has only banned five—including dioxins and PCBs—in its entire history. In fact, it has allowed 95 percent of chemicals to be used with no testing whatsoever. Note, too, that one of the most dangerous sources of phthalates—cosmetics—is barely regulated at all, thanks again to the industry’s lobbying efforts."

How to Avoid Heavy Metals in the Kitchen

2008-12-19T21:41:00.008-05:00

This is a topic I have been meaning to attack for some time. After reading an article in the Weston Price Foundation Quarterly discussing heavy metal poisoning I got to thinking about how I can reduce my family's risk. Environmental factors are difficult to control, but I knew I could do something in my own home.

At this point, most people know that cooking with Teflon (or any non-stick surface), aluminum, copper and plastics are unsafe- I did not realize that stainless steel could also leach heavy metals, especially when cooking acidic foods. Here is a good general article detailing the dangers involved with cooking in different types of pots and pans:
http://www.enotalone.com/article/10251.html

I was slightly overwhelmed at the thought of giving my kitchen an overhaul, especially because I am not on such a big budget, being a stay at home mom. But I thought this was very important because it is connected to what we are ingesting on a daily basis and therefore I decided to look into some solutions.

-Cooking with glass is an excellent way to go and is very budget-friendly. Corning used to make a line of amber-colored glass cookware called "Visions". You can buy one item or a whole set for a great price on Ebay. Just remember to tell the seller to pack carefully and write "Fragile" on the outside (hmm...wonder how I know that!). They are just great to cook in and extremely durable.

-Baking with glass is also easy to accomplish by buying Pyrex pans. I love the ones with tops that snap right one. They go from the oven to the refrigerator so easily. Just do not leave the tops on the oven while baking- they melt. (Personal experience of course!)

-Baking with Corning enamel pans is another very good option. You can get those with snap on tops as well.

-Cast iron cookware is yet another choice. I have a griddle that I really enjoy using for burgers and home fries. I also have another pan which has become rusty. Truth be told, I am not so good at maintaining cast iron. Many people swear by it and will not use anything else, but I have trouble seasoning it. If properly seasoned it is a really fabulous nonstick surface, but for most of my daily use, I just find glass easier.

-Broth is a very important base for our diet, but my stockpot was stainless steel. I found an enamelware pot (lightweight speckled) for around $15 at Target. So far it has worked just fine. You could also use graniteware as well.

-Pyrex glass mixing bowls are nice to use because they come with snap on lids- so you can also use them for food storage.

-I've seen a lot of glass bowls/jars/plates and more at IKEA for very good prices.

-I also "recycled" all my Tupperware. Although this does not have to do with heavy metals, plastics are dangerous too, so I replaced them with glass storage containers of various sizes. Both Pyrex and Anchor makes them- I recommend Pyrex because although the Anchor brand is cheaper, the tops have cracked on me. The neat thing about these storage containers is you can bake with them, freeze food in them, or stick them in the toaster oven/regular oven to heat up the food inside (without the lid on, of course).

-I peel the labels off old mayonnaise, sauce, and salsa jars or the like and use those for storage. It is nice because they are free! You can also freeze food in some of them, but make sure they are the Mason variety. Sometimes if the glass is too thin, they will crack in the freezer.

-My son was really never into drinking from a bottle, so I have used my sets of Evenflo glass baby bottles with the flat storage tops to store homemade salad dressing, spices and to mix homeopathic remedies.

-I have replaced Thermoses with stainless steel inside to the ones with glass inside. They sell them on the Thermos website. And of course my husband just lost our big one on his last trip abroad!

-I try to use bamboo utensils for cooking. To Go Ware sells bamboo cutlery, but at this point it is too expensive for me. It is really cool though!

-I got rid of my crock pot. From what I have read, Hamilton Beach is the only brand that does not use lead in their glaze. All other brands do- and while the lead content is suppose to be within the "safe" limits, I am not sure how much I trust the FDA on anything.

-I am attempting to find a glass sippy cup. My son can drink with a straw, but for travel it is either plastic or stainless steel. Any ideas are welcome- I am still working on a solution. For the time being I am using a stainless steel one and putting the water in and dumping it after he drinks.

I think this is a fairly good synopsis of the changes I have made- it has taken a few months and a lot of analysis, but I finally feel pretty good about the kitchen. If you are able to make small changes as you feel comfortable and can afford it, it does not take too long to make your food preparation space safe.

*** I want to note that although this does not have to do with the kitchen, amalgam fillings leach mercury directly into your mouth. If you have them, do some research about the dangers and how to remove them. Composite fillings are plastic, which is not great, but you might want to weigh your options. Of course, another HUGE source of heavy metal poisoning is vaccines. Avoid them for that and other reasons. ***

Vinegar as a Rinse Agent for Dishwashers

2008-11-26T13:42:00.005-05:00

Just a quick tip:

Instead of buying a "natural" rinse agent for your dishwasher (which just costs way too much!), just use white vinegar in rinse agent compartment instead.

And if you're looking for reasonably priced dish liquid or dishwasher detergent, Seventh Generation has an inexpensive and very "green" line out with lots of choices. Even Target is selling it now. Yes, I've looked into making those things myself too- but don't think I can handle that :)

Got Raw Milk?

2008-11-22T23:48:00.009-05:00

Drinking milk straight from clean, pastured cows (or goats) is one of the best things you can do for you and your family's health in my opinion. I discovered what harm pasteurization and homogenization does to milk, beyond the hormones, antibiotics and confinement (even with "organic milk" cows), and I was really unhappy about how such a good thing could be turned so very bad. Now that we've started drinking raw milk, we can't imagine going back. It tastes amazing and it just so nutritious.

Interestingly, when talking to my mother (who does not consume any dairy) she noted that I used to have many colds, sinus problems, post nasal drip and bronchitis all the time growing up, especially in the winter. And as kids we were always made to drink our milk and eat many other dairy products. I stopped getting this sort of thing later in life- when I was in high school and didn't drink my milk and especially in college when I rarely drank any. She was linking dairy to my sicknesses early in life. And when I think of it, it really makes sense. Every time I eat regular dairy these days I feel all stuffy and mucousy. But with raw milk- never- it is totally different. I feel great.

So on that note, I'll urge everyone to read up on raw milk on the following websites. I'll go have my glass right now!

http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html

http://www.rawmilk.org/default.php

Gum O'Mile- Great for Teething

2008-11-14T02:47:00.004-05:00

Lately I've been having problems with my son and teething. He just does not want to sleep when his teeth bother him- and sometimes that can be quite difficult. I will not resort to Tylenol or Oragel, but I have scoured the internet looking for something natural to help him...something I have not tried already. Homeopathy had not made an impact (although I may need to use 200c instead of 30c), I had bought wooden teethers (really cool) which he promptly threw on the floor and the list goes on and on.

I happened to find a great product by Herbs for Kids called Gum O'mile while searching. I actually tried it on my own gums and I think it would be good for after dental work. I was surprised that it is not that well known, so I thought I would have to share. It really did help my son more than anything else so far.

Here's what's in it:

(The clove oil is what helps the gums- but don't try clove oil alone, it needs to be diluted in a carrier oil so it does not burn when applied.)

INGREDIENTS PER SERVING: Almond oil, Willow bark extract, Chamomile flowers extract, Essential oil of Clove bud and Vitamin E oil

Just a little end note- I've been using the homeopathic remedy "cina" with good results to help my son go to sleep when his teeth make him wakeful. It is excellent for sleeplessness and irritability in children. Remember to give the remedy in water- one pellet in 4oz, a teaspoon at a time. Watch for results and if there is none succuss the bottle 10 times and give another teaspoon. Discontinue when there is improvement and if not continue with the succussing.

Probiotics and Third World Travel

2008-10-19T00:28:00.008-04:00

OK, so I haven't blogged in quite some time. In fact, it was right before we went our our month-long trip to Egypt. And since we got back I've been super busy and really neglectful of blogging.

I was nervous to go to Egypt with our baby. I used to live there, but with kids it's different. You worry about them getting sick or you getting sick and not being able to take care of them. Egypt is kind of like Mexico- you're abt to get "Mummy Tummy". Or whatever the cute catch name is for the nasty stomach virus third world countries are famous for.

So I decided to exclusively nurse my son the whole time- and he did fabulously. Could I have bought organic baby food from the US and fed him that. Yes. Could I have bought organic veggies from Egypt and made his food. Yes. But I thought bringing tons of jars wasn't the best idea and I was too busy to make food. And come to find out, my son didn't really care. He was happy with breast milk. Clean, always available- worked perfectly.

I was afraid though, that I would get sick and it would be hard to care for and nurse my son. So a friend recommended that I take probiotics leading up to the trip and during. I thought it couldn't hurt. So I bought some Culturelle, which doesn't require refrigeration and took them a month before the trip and all throughout- amazingly I never got sick. I didn't drink the water, but I did eat out plenty (and I did eat raw fruits and vegetables, but only at home). Could it have been coincidental- sure. But every time I've been away from Egypt for awhile and come back I get a nasty stomach bug. And this time not even so much as diarrhea. Also on the plane ride back my husband's stomach wasn't feeling great, so he took two and felt better an hour or so later.

At home I get my probiotics from natural sources. I culture yogurt and kefir. I also lacto-ferment sauerkraut. But for travel, there's no way to take that kind of thing with you, so probiotics were the perfect solution. I recommend you try them on your next trip- especially to a third world country.

For reference, if you do not know what probiotics are. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/probiotics/AN00389

Garlic Curry Cauliflower

2008-08-12T00:09:00.014-04:00

A wonderfully flavorful and easy recipe from Natural Solutions Magazine. And I thought cauliflower was bland!

Ingredients

1 large head fresh cauliflower, cut into florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh gingerroot, minced (I used jarred- you could probably get away with dried too)
1 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon white pepper (I used regular black)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced (I didn't have this and it was still great)

Process

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. In an 8-inch-square glass casserole, coat cauliflower with olive oil. Roast 10 minutes.

3. Combine onion, garlic, ginger, coconut milk, curry powder, white pepper, and salt.

4. Pour coconut milk mixture over the cauliflower, cover loosely with foil, and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until cauliflower is tender.

Remove from oven and stir in cilantro.

Nutrition info per serving: 186 calories; 13.5 g fat; 6.4 g saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 5.4 g protein; 15.6 g carbohydrates; 6.2 g fiber; 359.5 mg sodium

http://www.naturalsolutionsmag.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipes.display/ID/214

When Organic Isn't an Option

2008-08-04T00:27:00.011-04:00

I thought this tidbit might be handy as recently there has been a substantial movement to buy organic fruits and vegetables (among other things). And for good reason. But sometimes you can't find what you're looking for or the price of a certain item is sky-high. I've definitely had one or two of those supermarket dilemmas- trying to decide how my husband will take it after he sees a $5 organic avocado on the receipt (which is where organic coops come in handy...more about that on another post)!

So here's a chart from the Environmental Working Group that lists produce from the most pesticides to the least. Print it out and take it with you to the grocery store so you can make an informed decision in a pinch. It's difficult to paste, so I'll link it here (scroll down):

http://www.foodnews.org/

If you're a visual person, there's a nice little printout from The Organic Center that is not quite as detailed, but along the same lines.

http://www.organic-center.org/reportfiles/TOC_Pocket_Guide.pdf

How Independent Are Vaccine Defenders?

2008-07-26T15:17:00.005-04:00

A VERY telling article as far as I'm concerned.

(CBS) For years some parents and scientists have raised concerns about vaccine safety, including a possible link to autism and ADD. Many independent experts have sided with government officials and other scientists who say there's no possible connection. But how "independent" are they? CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson shares here's what she found.

They're some of the most trusted voices in the defense of vaccine safety: the American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two, and pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit. But CBS News has found these three have something more in common - strong financial ties to the industry whose products they promote and defend.

The vaccine industry gives millions to the Academy of Pediatrics for conferences, grants, medical education classes and even helped build their headquarters. The totals are kept secret, but public documents reveal bits and pieces.

A $342,000 payment from Wyeth, maker of the pneumococcal vaccine - which makes $2 billion a year in sales.

A $433,000 contribution from Merck, the same year the academy endorsed Merck's HPV vaccine - which made $1.5 billion a year in sales.

Another top donor: Sanofi Aventis, maker of 17 vaccines and a new five-in-one combo shot just added to the childhood vaccine schedule last month.

Every Child By Two, a group that promotes early immunization for all children, admits the group takes money from the vaccine industry, too - but wouldn't tell us how much.

A spokesman told CBS News: "There are simply no conflicts to be unearthed." But guess who's listed as the group's treasurers? Officials from Wyeth and a paid advisor to big pharmaceutical clients.

Then there's Paul Offit, perhaps the most widely-quoted defender of vaccine safety. He's gone so far as to say babies can tolerate "10,000 vaccines at once."

This is how Offit described himself in a previous interview: "I'm the chief of infectious disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at Penn's medical school," he said.

Offit was not willing to be interviewed on this subject but like others in this CBS News investigation, he has strong industry ties. In fact, he's a vaccine industry insider.

Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children's Hospital, funded by Merck. He holds the patent on an anti-diarrhea vaccine he developed with Merck, Rotateq, which has prevented thousands of hospitalizations.

And future royalties for the vaccine were just sold for $182 million cash. Dr. Offit's share of vaccine profits? Unknown.

There's nothing illegal about the financial relationships, but to critics, they pose a serious risk for conflicts of interest. As one member of Congress put it, money from the pharmaceutical industry can shape the practices of those who hold themselves out to be "independent." The American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two and Dr. Offit would not agree to interviews, but all told us they're up front about the money they receive, and it doesn't sway their opinions. Today's immunization schedule now calls for kids to get 55 doses of vaccines by age 6. Ideally, it makes for a healthier society. But critics worry that industry ties could impact the advice given to the public about all those vaccines.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/25/cbsnews_investigates/main4296175.shtml

Why We Decided Not to Vaccinate- Our Story

2008-07-26T01:36:00.008-04:00

My husband and I had planned and planned and discussed and discussed many things before our son was born. You could say he was anxiously awaited! We talked about how we would raise him, how we would educate him, what kind of morals and values we would instill in him, what kind of food he would eat...nothing was too small to go over. But there was one thing we missed. And that was vaccinations. As vigilant as we were about what he would eat and what we put on his body, we never thought about what was being injected IN it. Go figure.

Lucky for me, I met someone through a Craigslist transaction (really!) and we became good friends. She urged me to research vaccinations- she does not vaccinate her daughter who is my son's age (7 months old). At first I thought, oh, well he needs shots- think of those horrible diseases you can get. Although I really couldn't name one off the top of my head....and I certainly couldn't tell you anything about them. Then I thought, well, if we go to Egypt, there's much worse there and he'll need to be protected, won't he? I didn't realize how socially ingrained the concept of vaccinating is and I just assumed it's what we had to do, what we should do and the best thing. But my friend encouraged me to research again and because I have an open mind and realized that I did not know anything about vaccinations that I should do my research.

What I initially found was quite shocking. I talked to my husband and we decided to cancel my son's 4 month "well-baby visit" (Read: "shot-visit") until we could do more research and come to a conclusion. Now, my husband and I both have our masters and we're no strangers to research, so we delved in. We looked at 3 things initially- just the facts. There are many pro and con vaccine websites and books out there, but first we needed to put all debates aside and look at the heart of the matter.

1. What are the recommended vaccinations?

2. What ingredients do these vaccines have in them?

3. What are the diseases they are vaccinating against and the details? (How statistically possible is it to get it? What happens if you do get it? What is the treatment for it?)

I think the recommended number of vaccinations is what is quite unbelievable at first. Why is it that the amount has increased SO drastically since say, we were children or even our parents were children, yet there have been no new diseases or epidemics that require such measures? It is easy to see if you follow the trail of money...doctors, drug companies, politicians- vaccines make their businesses extremely profitable. Why not make more and more? Sadly, there are no long term studies on how these vaccines affect the health of those they are injected into- but who cares- it's all about the money, isn't it? All you will hear from doctors is that vaccines are "safe and effective." Where is the proof? I do not want the 96+ viruses injected into my son- his immune system is perfect as-is. The vaccines can only overwhelm and weaken it.

I think the most shocking for us was the second thing we researched- the ingredients. Just go to the Center for Disease Control website. They list all the ingredients.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf

I think I will pass on the mercury, aluminum, monkey kidney tissue, aborted fetus cells, formaldehyde and much more, thank you. I felt like puking after reading what they inject helpless babies with. And this is coined "safe"? Who are they fooling? I will not say more about the ingredients- I believe they speak for themselves if you take the time to look. Or take a peek at the package inserts for the vaccines that your doctor probably will not go over with you. Wait, I guarantee that he or she will not. See for yourself why.

http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/package_inserts.htm

The last thing, the diseases, definitely took the longest time to research. Although after we did, the picture became crystal clear. We realized that the diseases which there is a possibility of contracting are not inherently dangerous. (Yes, I did survive the chicken pox.) And those that are dangerous are almost impossible to contract. You might think- well that's because vaccines eradicated them. Not so. There is absolutely no scientific evidence to prove this. Try and find some. Take polio for example. It went away in Europe at the same time as here in the States, yet in Europe they did not vaccinate widely as they did here. So what gives? Better hygienic conditions most likely. Also, the polio vaccination was developed as the cases of the disease were already on the decline. But most people, previously including me, don't know these things. This article was a fabulous resource for us to congeal the whole scenairo.

http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cfm?ID=20001118213614

So as we plugged through each disease, we crossed one more vaccine off the list. Until we didn't have any left. And then we felt better. Freer. At least that's how I felt. I remember when we gave my son his 2 month shots (albeit split into 2 visits per my mother's recommendation), I just felt that it was wrong. I do not know why- maybe it was instinct. When we came home and he screamed for 4 hours straight the top of his lungs and ran a fever, I just knew all this could not be a good thing. And now I know why I felt that way.

Also, after this research I came to ponder all the claims of autism, developmental delays, allergies, asthma and even cancer- as well as many other things people never had when I was a kid. Why? What's changed so drastically since then that these conditions are so extremely prevalent in children today? I am a teacher (or rather former, since I am now a SAHM) and I often cannot believe the problems of today's children. Always sick, allergic to everything under the sun, multiple learning disabilities...I personally think it has to do with vaccines. I also think that diet, chemicals in the environment and antibiotics have a thing of two to do with it as well.

So as my mind was opened up to "possibilities", I continue to research vaccines. It is fascinating and there is a wealth of information available that your doctor certainly will not give you. So don't take his or her word for it- arm yourself with knowledge! While I research vaccines, I am also learning how to boost my son's immune system naturally. So if he contracts the measles or chicken pox or the flu, he can be in tip-top shape to fight it off the way nature intended.

This is really the short version of our journey. There is an absolute plethora of information available online and in books about vaccines- which is why I am still learning and reinforcing our decision. But my advice: stick to facts and don't get carried away in the controversy. Decide what you think. Decide what is best for your child. And don't get caught up in "fear" or what your doctor says or that you need shots to go to school (you don't- there are exemption letters in most states). Because before I researched- really researched- I would have just gone along with the herd. So good luck- and do your research. Your kids will thank you.

Awesome Lentil Soup (and Baby Food)

2008-07-21T22:17:00.006-04:00

I finally perfected my lentil soup recipe. It is very easy and great to puree for babies. My 7-month old really liked it!

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, coarsely diced
4 or 5 cloves of garlic, minced
6 carrots, peeled and chopped
15-ounce can of diced tomatoes
5 cups of chicken or beef broth (needs to be homemade-store bought is not nutritious)
1 cup red lentils (soaked previously for at least 7 hours)
salt and pepper to taste

Process

Put the onion, garlic, carrots and olive oil in a large pot. Saute for about 15 minutes (making sure not to burn the garlic). While the onion and garlic are sauteing, strain the lentils with strainer to get rid of the water. Then add the lentils and broth and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat, cover and simmer until the lentils are soft (around 30 minutes). After the lentils are soft, add the tomatoes and simmer for another 10 minutes. It is important not to add the tomatoes until the end. For some reason the lentils will not cook properly with tomatoes- I made that mistake before myself.

For babies, puree the soup (I avoid the pieces of tomato, though) and serve!

Make Your Own Baby Formula

2008-07-18T00:06:00.009-04:00

Really. I thought this was so great. I wish I had known about it when my son was first born. I fed my son a few bottles of formula here and there in the first month or so. I didn't want to. I wasn't happy about it- especially when I read the label on the formula (yikes- what ARE those ingredients!). And I wanted to gag when I tasted it. But while waiting for my milk to come in and for a few weeks after my c-section when my husband needed to help me, I knew of no other option. (Pumping just never worked for me, unfortunately). Thankfully, my son speedily took to nursing and has never seen a bottle since.

Later on, a friend told me about a recipe for formula that she started making for her daughter when she went back to work. Her daugther is so healthy and just thriving on it. I thought this was fantastic- it would have been great to have had a natural and healthful option on hand when I needed it in the beginning. So I want to share:

http://westonaprice.org/children/recipes.html

And some FAQ:

http://www.westonaprice.org/children/formula-faqs.html

And if you need more reasons to make your own, see the following articles:

CDC: Rocket Fuel Chemical Found in Baby Formula
http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/baby_formula_perchlorate.html

90 Percent of U.S. Infant Formula May Be Contaminated with Melamine; FDA Abruptly Declares Chemical Safe for Babies
http://www.naturalnews.com/024947.html

I also want to add that glass bottles are the way to go. Born Free (expensive) and Evenflo (inexpensive) sell them- I've seen the Evenflo at Babies 'R' Us and Burlington Coat Factory. That is the brand I went with. I use them now for water and they are very durable (dropped multiples times) and of course, safe. You'll never have to worry about any of the things that are used to make plastic leaching into the fluid. I highly recommend them- they are great.

A Shocking Trip to the Dentist's Office

2008-07-13T14:41:00.007-04:00

When I was at the dentist this past weekend, she asked me why I wanted to know about what the ingredients were in the filling material. I had them send me the package inserts weeks in advance. I told her I am leery of numerous components (especially fluoride leaching) and I like to be an informed consumer.

Later she started talking to me (because of my almost 7 month old) about how babies are being started on "fluoride vitamins"at 6 months. I was really shocked. Um, what? Maybe I have been in the dark, but I hadn't heard about that before. Great, just what babies need, to be overdosed with fluoride AND vaccines.

I really didn't want to discuss it and just laughed it off saying, "Well, my son doesn't have teeth yet anyway". (Read: As if you'll ever catch me giving that to my son.)

She said, "Oh, well they don't need to have any- it's to get the fluoride in their system before they get teeth."

So when I was paying my copay, I couldn't help myself. I just had to say something. I asked her, "Don't you think if children's diets were better (they didn't eat processed food, sugar, and all that other nasty stuff) that they wouldn't need fluoride?"

She said, "Well, a long time ago people didn't eat those things and they had more cavities than today." (This is debatable!)

"Sure", I said, "But then their hygiene habits then were not as good as today. Today our hygiene is very good."

She looked stumped and kept saying, "Well, studies prove that fluoride prevents cavities...blah blah blah".

I am not arguing about whether fluoride does or does not prevent cavities, but if people just ate better and continued to take care of their teeth well, I think that would certainly alleviate the need for fluoride. Not to mention how much fluoride all of us are already ingesting through our water supply and food. Fluoride is a toxin- bottom line! I was really feeling so disgusted at the fact people actually pump their babies full of this stuff. Funny enough, as I was about to go, her assistant who was standing right near her, asked my recommendation for a fluoride-free toothpaste for another patient they have. That kind of made me chuckle inside.

There are many sites to research fluoride- but here a couple to get started. Do the research yourself- see what you think! No matter which way you lean, be informed.

http://www.fluoridealert.org/

http://www.nofluoride.com/

How Safe Are Your Cosmetics?

2008-06-30T00:26:00.006-04:00

Or for that matter anything you use on your body? Check the Cosmetic Safety Database by the Environmental Working Group to find out. What you find may shock you. But all for the better- then you can toss your old personal care items and replace them with ones that are safe as soon as possible. I know that safe cosmetics can be a few dollars more expensive, but it is certainly worth that money as opposed to exposing you and your family to toxins. Remember, anything that touches your body is absorbed by your skin. Think- foundation, lotion, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, eye cream, hair gel...get started in your bathroom cabinet. And don't forget to look up the products you are using on your baby or child- never assume they are safe!

http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1

Clean Your Entire House With Just THREE Things You Already Have

2008-06-28T17:00:00.006-04:00

When I look down the "cleaning products" aisle in the grocery store, I cannot believe the products being marketed to the general public. It makes me sick that people are paying money to spread toxic chemicals around their home in the name of "cleaning". Especially people with young children who touch and lick almost everything (and are most vulnerable to toxins). Not that it's any better for you and me.

Sure, there are "green" cleaning products out there. I have never tried them because why spend the money? You can use exactly three things you already have to clean your entire house. Seriously.

1. WHITE VINEGAR

Mix a solution of one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. This is your all purpose cleaner. Use this for countertops, tables, and pretty much any hard surface. Also use as a glass cleaner with a clean cloth. Dishcloths, old Tshirts and the like are good for this.

Mix very hot water with a cup of vinegar in a dishpan to clean hard floors.

2. BAKING SODA

Mix a little with water to form a paste and use this with a sponge or scrub brush to clean sinks, the bathtub and any hard surface that needs a little extra abrasion.

Sprinkle some in the toilet and use a toilet brush to clean.

Sprinkle some on hard to clean pots and pans and scrub.

3. OLIVE OIL

Use with a little on a clean cloth to dust and polish wood furniture.

Vaccines - Why Fear Sells

2008-06-25T23:57:00.004-04:00

I like this article's slant. People are so pumped with fear on this issue that they don't even have the ability to cut through the curtain and look for the truth.

By Sherri Tenpenny, DO

It's interesting how a discussion about vaccination can quickly become heated and sometimes even hostile. Would the same debate rage over an antibiotic or an antihypertensive medicine if there was evidence the drug was causing harm? When it becomes obvious that thousands have been injured by a drug such as Vioxx, it is removed from the market. We stop the use of drugs until they are proven safe. And we sue.

Not so with vaccines. Vaccines are promoted with fanfare until they are statistically proven to cause harm to a large number of persons. The thousands of individuals who suffer from vaccine reactions in proportion to the millions who have been vaccinated are not considered to be a mathematically significant statistic. However, the more than $1billion that has been paid to vaccine-injured persons shows that safety is not all that is it promoted to be. Why the double standard?

Vaccination is built around a "belief system." We believe vaccines are safe; we believe vaccines are important to health; we believe the stories that vaccines are solely responsible for the elimination of smallpox and polio. And we really want to believe that our doctors have read all the available information on vaccines--pro and con--and are telling us the complete truth about vaccines.

However, belief is based on faith, not necessarily on fact. For example, we want to believe that vaccinating our children will keep them from getting sick with measles or chickenpox. However, there is a plethora of information documenting this is not necessarily so.

Why is there an almost desperate need to defend the current belief--and trust--in vaccines? The public’s view of disease seems to be similar to our current view on terrorism: Random attacks that are potentially deadly. The media hawks this view of childhood illnesses and the need for vaccines. Pharma sells it, doctors push it, and educational institutions reinforce it. They keep selling it because most readily buy into it, without question. There is a "just in case" or "better be safe than sorry" mentality when it comes to vaccination and illness with children.* After nearly 200 years of use, fear still sells vaccination.

What do we really know about vaccines? A review of the literature and the CDC documents reveals the following:

1. Vaccine safety studies are relatively small and include only healthy children. However when a vaccine trial has been completed, vaccines are given to ALL children, regardless of the condition of their health, family history or genetics.

2. Vaccine safety studies are short. Most clinical trials monitor for side effects a paltry 21 days, sometimes, it is only for 5 days. It can take months before immune system complications appear. This arbitrary deadline, established by the FDA, precludes associating vaccines with chronic health disorders. "Safe" is a designation given based on limited information.

3. Vaccine safety studies do not use a true placebo. One of the Gold Standards in medical research is the "placebo-controlled" trial. An inactive substance such as a sugar pill is given as a placebo to one group of participants, while the treatment group is given the new drug. The data is analyzed to compare the number of side effects that occurred in those given the drug compared to the numbers of side effects that occurred in those given the placebo. However, the "placebo" used in vaccine research is not an inert substance such as sterile water; it is another vaccine. Inert, sterile water doesn't cause a reaction; as substitute vaccine can. If both groups of babies in a trial have the same number of reactions, the study reports that the vaccine "is as safe as a placebo." This is deceptive science.

4. Vaccine-induced antibodies do not correlate with protection. In fact, the esteemed journal, Vaccine stated this clearly "…It is known that, in many instances, antigen-specific antibody titers do not correlate with protection." The full reference can be found at PMID: 11587808

Vaccination has been accepted as safe, effective and protective. The shots can be described as a medical "sacred cows," by definition, "a medical procedure unreasonably immune to criticism." The strong response is a reaction to a suggestion that the "cow" should be "sacrificed." It is heresy to suggest that the status quo is wrong.

When Copernicus insisted that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the solar system, it went against the philosophical and religious beliefs held during the medieval times. When two other Italian scientists of the time, Galileo and Bruno, embraced Copernican theory their comments were considered blasphemous. Bruno was tried before the Inquisition, condemned and burned at the stake in 1600. Thirty years later, Galileo was brought forward and in front of his "Betters," was forced to renounce his beliefs under the threat of torture and death. Even after his confession, he was sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his days.

The more one investigates vaccination and studies the adverse effects that have been attributed to vaccines, the more one becomes a Copernican heretic, speaking out against the status quo can have deadly consequences. I have personally invested more than 8,000 hours in revealing the truth about vaccines. If the result of this inquiry and exposure is to be called a heretic, than I am in wonderful company.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Vaccines---Why-Fear-Sells&id=610035

The Weston Price Foundation

2008-06-23T01:00:00.004-04:00

A friend led me to the Weston Price Foundation website. It is great nutritional resource- absolutely worth the read. It will make you think about food and more in a whole new way. In the future, I'm sure I will post articles from it that I feel are extra important because it's a lot to sift through and so much of value.

http://www.westonaprice.org/splash_2.htm

Got Vegetable Recipes?

2008-06-18T23:11:00.004-04:00

This lady does!

I stumbled on her blog when looking for a new way to cook up green beans and boy, was I happy. About the blog, I mean. But the green beans were good too! I adore vegetables, although I am not the most creative in cooking them. So if you're like me, this is a real gem- it has SO many yummy and easy veggie recipes that are totally worth a look. It has helped me more than once when I've been in a pinch. Yay for vegetables!

http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/

Badger Products: I Really Can't Rave Enough!!!

2008-06-18T15:44:00.010-04:00

I recently was looking for lavender lotion or oil to help my son fall asleep more easily and I came across Badger Sleep Balm. All of the ingredients in it are organic and there are no preservatives or chemicals of any kind:

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Natural Beeswax, Castor Oil, and Essential Oils of Bergamot, Ginger, Organic Rosemary, Lavender & Organic Balsam Fir

I thought I'd give it a try. Let's put it this way- it is amazing and lasts forever. And the smell- fabulous! So after using more of their stuff and loving it, I am totally hooked.They have such a great selection of soaps, suncreen, lip balms, body balms, baby products, body butter, oils, and more. A homegrown startup that makes natural products- my kind of company!

Check out their site- I am so psyched about this find!

http://www.badgerbalm.com/default.aspx

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

2008-06-17T23:07:00.011-04:00

Ingredients

1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 cup reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth (and add 1 chicken bullion for richer, slightly saltier flavor)
1 8oz tomato paste
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can white (cannellini) beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of corn
1 cup chopped onion
1 or two bell peppers, seeded and chopped
5 or 6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoons chili powder or cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

(Or instead of all the spices, you can use Penzey's Adobo Mix)

Process

In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.

We love to eat this chili in a "bread boats". Take Italian bread, cut it in half horizontally and vertically so that it is in four quarters. Or any other kind of loaf that works to your liking! Hollow out the middle. Save the crumbs in the refridgerator or freezer for use in meatloaf or another dish later. Fill the loaf with chili and bake in the toaster oven or regular oven on 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. You can also add cheese on the top and let that melt while baking them.

Coconut Oil: Diaper Rash Prevention, Treatment and Much More!

2008-06-12T14:31:00.010-04:00

Coconut oil is such a wonderful condiment to have on hand!

Using it on a baby's skin is an easy, natural way to prevent and heal diaper rash. I've never had a diaper rash to contend with by using cloth diapers and coconut oil, thank goodness! To prevent them I wash my son with water and a reusable cloth wipe (cut from old T-shirts). To make sure he is extra dry, I use a blow drier on cool-shoot (never use it at regular heat!!!). Taking away any excess moisture is very important, I find. Then I apply coconut oil. It protects the area from being irritated by further secretions. (I am sure you could find other oils that work to your liking as well). What I enjoy about using coconut oil is that it is natural (unlike other diaper rash creams- even those that claim to be natural are usually not if you read the package). I also find other diaper creams to be goopy- coconout oil goes on smooth. And the best part is a little goes a LONG, LONG way.

I love to use coconut oil to moisturize or massage my son after his bath and my own skin and scalp too. In addition, it is an excellent nutritional supplement for babies, children and adults- or just for cooking!

Here are some great articles detailing the benefits of the oil:

http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/coconut_oil.html

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

Get yourself some today- it's worth it in SO many ways. Make sure to get organic, unrefined oil. Here's where I got mine:

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=166555&catid=48848&trx=GFI-0-EVGR-49973&trxp1=10782&trxp2=166555&trxp3=1&trxp4=18&btrx=BUY-GFI-0-EVGR-49973

Cloth Diapering: Easy, Economical and Chemical-Free

2008-06-12T00:18:00.016-04:00

When I was pregnant with my son, my husband and I knew we wanted to use cloth diapers. Everything about cloth is positive, as far as I am concerned! Now, each time I wash and dry my son's diapers, I know that I'm doing something excellent for him and that makes me feel great inside. For those who want to use cloth, the challenge is settling on the way to do it that best suits your needs. There are so many products on the market that it can make your head spin- and seem complicated and expensive. So what is the cheapest and easiest method that will still stand up to wear and tear? I spent a good deal of time researching those very things and compiled some information for parents interested in cloth diapering. Here's how to get started.

What you need:

- 3 or 4 dozen indian or chinese prefolds (depending on how much you do laundry)

- 10 nylon pants

- a "snappi" or two (that is the fastener)

- a regular size kitchen garbage pail

- a waterproof laundry bag to line the pail

How to prep:

- Wash the diapers and dry them two or three times to get them to their full absorbancy.

- Stretch the snappi about 30-40 times to get it feeling more elastic and pliable.

- Line the garbage pail.

What you do:

- Fold on the diaper (there are plenty of sites to show you how to do this- just Google "cloth diaper folds").

- Fasten with snappi.

- Cover with nylon pants.

Clean-up:

- If the diaper has poop on it, swish it in toilet and rub clean (I keep a pair of rubber gloves nearby so I don't get my hands dirty). You don't need to do this if it is just a pee diaper.

-Throw the soiled diaper in the pail ( you don't have to throw the cover in if it's not soiled- I use the cover a few timese before tossing it in the pail).

- Sprinkle in a little baking soda. The pail doesn't need water- it won't smell and it's a lot less messy to do a dry pail than a wet pail.

- Once you're almost out of diapers or the pail is full, throw the bag and the diapers into the machine and wash them with Soap Nuts. Nuts that grow on trees that create soap- just throw them in the washer. Crazy, I know- look them up on Google! (I used to use Biokleen Powder which is natural. There are also other natural detergents on the market as well, which you can find in Whole Foods, for instance.) . Then dry- I personally hang them on a drying rack. You certainly could put them in the drier if you so desire- I just choose to save money/energy. Also, do not use a drier sheet if you choose the drier method. Not only do they make the diapers less absorbant, they are also FULL of chemicals. Really not needed.

- You may be wondering about bleach- I buy unbleached prefolds, so I don't need to bleach them. Bleach is harsh on the baby's skin and there is no need for it. So even if you can't buy unbleached prefolds for whatever reason, do not bleach your cloth diapers.

Specs:

- Indian or chinese prefolds are really, really absorbant and the cheapest to buy. Make sure you get 4x8x4 weave. The "8" means that the middle has 8 layers. Anything less will not be as absorbant and that means leakage. Wherever you buy the diapers, pay attention to that middle number. You will have to get at least two sets of diapers as your child grows. One size is for newborn -15lbs, then next size is for 15-35lbs. I found this site to have the cheapest prices.

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=clothdiape&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=592266261&Count2=509406685&ProductID=41&Target=products.asp

- Nylon diaper covers are the cheapest, other than plastic pants. Nylon actually breathes so it's much better than plastic...it also doesn't crack like the plastic pants would. There are several sizes you might need, but they are cheap, so it's not a big deal. You only need about 10 pants for each size. You don't change them at every diaper change because they won't be dirty. This site has the cheapest prices for nylon pants.

http://www.babybestbuy.com/diapering-nylon-pants-2.asp

- The Snappi you can buy anywhere. Cloth diapering sites sell them, but I got mine off Ebay for cheaper. They are great because you don't have to mess around with pins.

Prices:

- If you go this route, you will not spend more than $400 max. The actual figure depends on if your baby will be potty trained by the time he reaches 35lbs (if not, you'd need the third biggest size), if you buy 3 or 4 dozen, and the shipping. But over the course of 2+ years, you'd spend WAY more on disposables than $400. You should also figure in the cost of using the washing machine (and the drier if you do not choose to use a drying rack).

- Another way to keep costs down is to make your own reusable baby wipes. What I did is cut up old T-shirts into 5x7 inch rectangles. I use a spray bottle to spray water on to the wipe (or my son's bum, if there's a big poop!) and clean with that. Then I just throw it in the pail to be washed with the diapers. Soft and free- they are just great! And think of all the money you save on wipes.

-A good place to shop, if you know what you're looking for is http://www.diaperswappers.com/