February 10th, 2010
Cornelia Mazzan
What are the dangers lurking in antibacterial soaps?
How can your family eat more healthy and in ways to help the environment?
Are chemicals increasing your risks of getting breast cancer?
How can your school and community get involved in preventing pollution?
For the answers, check out Real Mama’s Winter 2010 E-newsletter below.
Recognizing that families and caregivers are short on time and that environmental issues and actions can be complex, Real Mama researches and reviews some of the latest environmental topics and concerns for today’s busy families.
Hope you’re enjoying winter so far. Thanks for your visit and please let us know what you think!
Tags: e-newsletter, eco solutions, eco-info, green solutions
Posted in Minds | No Comments »
February 10th, 2010
Kirstin McPolin
The Quick Facts: The detection of breast cancer was the focus of new controversial recommendations made recently about breast cancer screening. However, there are many risk factors associated with the development of breast cancer and some groups strongly believe that increases of chemicals in the environment has lead to increases in breast cancer. Synthetic chemicals can mimic the effect of estrogen, exposure to which overtime increases the risk of breast cancer. You can take preventative measures to reduce your risk of breast cancer by reducing these risk factors. Namely, make informed decisions about birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy; limit the amount of alcohol you drink to one drink a day and don’t smoke; maintain a healthy weight throughout your life by eating healthy and exercising; eat organic produce, meat, and dairy; avoid #7 plastics that may contain BPA; revamp your beauty routine and use more natural products.
In mid-November the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent government-appointed panel made the first reevaluation of breast cancer screening guidelines since 2002. Needless to say, their recommendations were controversial. One recommendation suggests that women in their 40s should stop routinely having annual mammograms and older women should cut back to one scheduled exam every other year. Many organizations do not support the recommendations, including the American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology, among others. Speak with your doctor to determine what the proper course of action is right for you.
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Tags: avoid #7 plastic, breast cancer, environmental link, healthy lifestyle, hormone replacement, informed choices for birth control, synthetic chemicals
Posted in Bodies | No Comments »
February 10th, 2010
Debbie Peterson
Special contributor to Real Mama, Inc.
When it’s cold outside, we do our best to stay warm. It’s also at this time of year that we crave warm, heavy, fat and sweet foods. And if they are the right kind of foods, it’s exactly what our bodies need to keep warm. Our energy is lower too, and we tend to sleep more. No, it’s not just you. It’s the human race. However, most people aren’t tired and have low energy because of the seasons. It also has a lot to do with eating the wrong foods and living a lifestyle that is damaging to our bodies and our minds. And that’s not all it’s damaging.
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Tags: local, organic, seasonal foods, sustainable eating
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February 10th, 2010
Kari Jermansen Martin
The Quick Facts: Experts recommend singing the “ABCs” song for effective hand-washing (20 seconds of vigorous washing with warm water). However, are we making the wrong choice to wash with? Antibacterial soaps have been found to be no more effective than using regular soap and do more harm than good to both human health and the environment.
More than ever, people are washing their hands with antibacterial soap, which experts say is harmful to our health and to the environment. More than three-quarters of soaps contain an “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial” ingredient. These ingredients are also found in cleaning products, laundry detergents, trash bags, and sponges, as well as toothpaste, socks, plastic kitchenware, cutting boards, and even toys. From 2000 to 2006, about 1,500 new antibacterial consumer products were introduced into the marketplace. However, antibacterial soaps have been found to be no more effective than using regular soap and do more harm than good.
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Tags: antibacterial soap, environmental impact, hand washing, harmful ingredients, healthy alternatives, triclocarbon, triclosan
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January 2nd, 2010
Cornelia Mazzan
We wish you all a very Happy New Year! In honor of the new year and the new decade, we’ve put together the following goals that we hope will help improve the health of ourselves, our families and our planet. While some of them may be things you’re already living on a day-to-day basis, others may offer you some quiet inspiration. What are your go-green goals for this 2010? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know…
Camille’s Go-Green Goals:
1. Since I was able to make it through Christmas without using a shred of wrapping paper, I plan to continue this “zero-tolerance” practice throughout the year- birthdays, anniversaries etc…
2. Purchase a large vericomposting bin for my yard. Worms are easy to keep, help reduce food waste and their castings are amazing for your garden.
3. Be a stronger community advocate. Push hard to get organic food choices on the menu at my childrens’ school lunch program.
4. Grow more of the fruits and vegetables that we eat at home.
5. Revamp our landscaping with more drought resistant plants. California is in it’s third drought year.
Kari’s Go-Green Goals:
1. Use greener personal care products.
2. Tend to my garden better to yield more vegetables — without pesticides.
3. Eat at least one meatless meal per week since meat has a large carbon footprint.
4. Take a family hike or outdoor outing once a week.
5. In Spring, Summer, and Autumn, shop at one of the many farmer’s markets in the area for local fruits, vegetables, and other goodies.
Cornelia’s Go-Green Goals:
1. Switch from water delivery service to home filtration system to filter out chlorine, lead, prescription drugs, etc.
2. Spend more time planning and expanding our organic garden…and keep up with the weeds while they’re tiny!
3. Join a CSA for our main veggies and visit the farmers’ market more often.
4. Use reusable menstrual products (cloth pads or the Diva Cup) instead of continuing to fill the landfills each month.
5. Organize my time better so I can have the space to just be…
Kirstin’s Go-Green Goals for 2010:
1. Enjoy and be grateful for simple pleasures by slowing down and focusing on the basics of life (health, relationships, etc.).
2. Reduce waste by using leftovers to their fullest in soups, a slow cooker, or casseroles.
2. Plan trips close to home, or in conjunction with other trips, instead of taking carbon-intensive vacations.
4. Turn off the TV and other electronic devices once a week for an entire day.
5. Recognize my own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of others, to help guide activities and interactions.
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As we welcome the New Year, the school my children attend has resolved to take on the task of pollution prevention. Since we are a coastal community in the heart of our “rainy season,” much of our discussion will center on storm water run off and how 60-80% of all debris found in the ocean comes from land based sources. We provide the students with information that illustrates the harm to marine wildlife and ecosystems caused by balloon fragments, cigarette butts and other common trash found washed-up on our shores. We then punctuate this lesson with a school-wide cleanup located at a popular beach near our campus.