Accidentally Green

Making Healthy Decisions That Honor God and Happen to Help the Environment

Will Your Pretty Face Harm Your Unborn Child?

Even in the womb, an unborn child is particularly affected by his or her mother’s cosmetic use. In 2004, the cord blood of ten random American newborns was studied by nonprofit research organizations Environmental Working Group and Commonweal. At least 101 chemicals were found in each baby tested, and an average of 200 toxins were found in each child. Out of the 287 different chemicals detected, 217 were toxic to the brain and nervous system. Additionally, 208 of the chemicals caused birth or ... Read more

Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness

Accidentally Green’s All-Request April continues with a week devoted to pregnant mothers. I’ve had a lot of requests for healthy pregnancy information – congratulations, all of you mommies-to-be!! – and I’ve compiled five posts with helpful tips. Before we begin, I’d like to ask you to not feel too overwhelmed when you read the information. As a mother of two children, I remember being very concerned about harming my unborn children during my pregnancies. The fact that you care about your ... Read more

How My Family Has Dealt with Food Coloring

My son is all boy. From the moment he wakes up until his head hits the pillow at bedtime, he is running. Or jumping. Or climbing. He’s on the go and has more energy than my husband and I combined. He’s always been like this. Throughout my pregnancy, he was one wiggly, kicky little baby. And he was a squirmy newborn, an early crawler and was walking before he turned 1. While it may be a little tiring to try to keep up with him, I’m used to his high energy levels by now. Sometimes, ... Read more

A Natural, Colorful Solution

We’ve been learning about artificial colors this week – exactly what behaviors and illnesses they’re linked to, as well as the fact that other countries recognize their danger. In places like the United Kingdom, natural food coloring is now the norm. These “exempt color additives” are natural and, with few exceptions, very safe. The colors are taken from plants, animals or minerals. In the U.S., manufacturers generalize these colors as “natural colors” on an ingredient list. Some of the ... Read more

A Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Colors

Seven artificial colors are “certifiable color additives” and must be listed on a product’s ingredient list. Made from coal tars or petroleum distillates, these colors include: Blue No. 1, also called Bright Blue or Brilliant Blue; Blue No. 2, also called Royal Blue or Indigotine; Green No. 3, also called Sea Green or Fast Green; Red No. 3, also called Cherry Red or Erythosine; Red No. 40, also called Orange Red or Allura Red; Yellow No. 5, also called Lemon ... Read more

The Buzz About Artificial Food Coloring

Food coloring has been in the news a lot lately, thanks to last week’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel discussing the safety of using artificial colors in food. 1 Last Thursday, the panel judged that there is not enough scientific evidence to link artificial colors with hyperactivity. One of the panel’s members, Tennessee’s deputy state epidemiologist Tim Jones said, “If we put a label that long on every chemical and ingredient that hasn’t been adequately studied … ... Read more

A Growing Problem with Hormones

Just as vegetarians face the health dilemma of consuming too much soy, meat eaters are challenged by a variety of problems with meat and poultry. All beef, mutton, pork, and poultry sold in supermarkets are filled with antibiotics – unless stated on the packaging. And, unless stated, all beef and lamb also are chock full of growth hormones, both natural and artificial. The presence of antibiotics in meat has led to an increase of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the growth hormones found ... Read more

The Joy of Soy?

Is soy the wonder food as many have claimed? Soy products naturally contain isoflavones that mimic estrogen, alter growth, cause thyroid dysfunction, and disrupt the endocrine system. Large amounts of the plant compound can alter the development of fetuses and children, as well as reduce fertility and cause premature puberty. Interestingly enough, one isoflavone found in soy, genistein, has the similar effect as Bisphenol A. In addition to all of these dangerous side effects, ... Read more

Foods Shouldn’t Be Laden with Lead

On June 9, 2010, the Environmental Law Foundation released results of their own testing that proved lead was found in both organic and non-organic infant and children’s food. Citing a direct violation to California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, ELF wanted manufacturers to disclose that 125 products contained excess amounts of lead. While there was no federal warning or recall, parents began yanking the products off their home pantry shelves. The food in violation ... Read more

One More Safe Cleaning Tip

I just had to share another safe cleaning tip that I discovered today ... Six months ago, Big Brother scribbled on the bathroom wall with red and green crayons and I never wanted to take the time to research how to remove the mark. But today our landlord was heading over to fix our leaky toilet, and I knew I had to take care of the artwork as soon as possible. After a quick Google search, I found an incredibly easy and effective solution. Simply heat the colored wall with a blow dryer, ... Read more

Kitchens and Bathrooms: Do You Know the Safest Ways to Clean Them?

When it comes to cleaning a house, kitchens and bathrooms are two of the dirtiest rooms from the standpoint of bacteria and the potential for making a mess.Because of this, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that commercial cleaning products for kitchens and bathrooms are pretty powerful – a dangerous sort of powerful. The most hazardous varieties include corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners. 1 Other cleaners are not exempt from health risks, though. Problem ... Read more

Thought You’d Like to Know about Triclosan

Since we’re discussing spring cleaning this week, this is the perfect time to address antibacterial products – especially products that contain triclosan. Triclosan, an ingredient used to stop the spread of bacteria, initially was used as a surgical scrub and was registered as a pesticide in 1969. Over the past forty years, its use has spread into countless products like dishwashing soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, cosmetics, body wash, deodorant, shaving gel, children’s toys, kitchenware like ... Read more

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