Klean Kanteen stainless bottles June 12, 2007

Did you know that in most cities the municipal water supply goes through much greater scrutiny than bottled waters? That means your tap water may be healthier than bottled water. And frankly, the plastic used in bottled waters is atrocious for the environment. Really, if you’re drinking bottled water – especially from those little throw-away single use bottles – consider switching to something a little more earth friendly. Either get yourself a water cooler if you’re too cool for tap water, or if you just don’t like the taste, get a decent filter for your tap. And spend the money you would have used on bottled water to get yourself a nice reusable bottle to keep with you on the go. It wouldn’t hurt if it was pretty too, right?

Klean Kanteen has sippy adapters now for use with toddlers and preschoolers. Turn your stainless steel Klean Kanteen into your child’s spill-proof sippy, and you won’t have to worry about the carcinogenic hazards of poor quality plastics leeching into little Johnny’s juice. They’re on sale now at Reusable Bags. And while you’re there, pick up a tote bag for your groceries. Save us from plastic-bag-dependency!

Worst baby-making months May 23, 2007

Joni Mitchell said it best, “…Hey, farmer, farmer, put away that DDT now. Give me spots on my apples, just leave me the birds and the bees, please!…” Now we can add to the birds and the bees line, babies and brains too!

News this week? Babies conceived in the summer months don’t do as well in school as those conceived at other times of the year. Neonatologist Paul Winchester analyzed the scores on standardized tests and found that children who were conceived in June, July, and August were significantly less proficient in language and math. He attributes the effect to high levels of environmental pesticides during the most crucial months of nervous system development. “The pesticides we use to control pests in fields and in our homes and the nitrate we use to fertilize crops and even our lawns are at their highest level in summer,” Winchester says. He suspects that pesticides are causing higher rates of hypothyroidism in pregnant women, a condition known to affect brain development in growing babies. Not only that, pesticides and fertilizers are also blamed for premature and preterm birth.

So, no more makin’ whoopie in the summer time! Well, scratch that. But if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant this summer, I’d say it’s high time to start buying organic produce, and limiting the chemicals you use in and around your home. Switch to natural cleaning products (or a natural maid service, like… need I say? Broom Huggers!), see if you can manage your lawn and indoor pest control without pesticides and fertilizers. And most definitely, buy yourself some organic 2% milk (miscarriage rates rise a bit in women who drink skim), and limit your beef intake.

Best water bottle May 9, 2007

Here it is. Featured on Oprah. Called the toughest water bottle by Backpacker Magazine.

Sigg water bottles are a great looking, fully-functional way to tote your water and be kind to the earth. They keep your water tasting like water and don’t allow particles to seep into it.

They’re dishwasher safe. And the rest of the good news? After 10-15 uses, it pays for itself! Yes, your tap water is most likely perfectly safe and clean, and if you filter it well you can be sure it is. In fact, it’s probably cleaner than most bottled waters. And… no more putting plastic water bottles in the landfills. Check it out here!

Attention moms-to-be April 9, 2007

A recent study from the University of Rochester suggests that the hormones cows are fed is very much present in the beef we eat. In fact, the study shows that men whose mothers ate beef every day during pregnancy averaged a sperm count 24.3% lower than average. It also notes a suspected connection to polycystic ovarian syndrome, early puberty, and altered growth rates in daughters.

So, the moral of the story… pregnant women and moms of young boys too (the article doesn’t mention them, but surely they’re at risk too, right?), buy some stock in Chick-Fil-A. No, seriously though, a diet with smaller quantities of beef also lowers the implications of cholesterol, and nutritionists have long raved the benefits of white meat. Replacing all your beef with chicken may not be the best solution, but ground turkey and buffalo are available in most supermarkets, and supplementing your weekly meals with more white meats, seafood, and other departures from beef may have greater long-term health benefits than we previously knew.

Kermit’s wisdom March 30, 2007

As it turns out, Kermit was quite right. It’s not easy being green. Check that. If you’re living on a budget, it’s not easy being green. Environmentalists tend to be upper-middle class folks who can afford the luxury of being green. Check out this article from the Washington Post today. And the author has a point. Compare $3.09 for a gallon of whole milk to $3.89 for a half gallon of organic whole milk. Or $2.49 for Formula 409, versus $4.60 for it’s ecologically-friendly equivalent at a specialty store. It’s true. It’s not easy being green.

I’d like to add to that and say that eating nutritiously also isn’t easy if you’re living on a budget. Look at the eating habits of the lower middle class. My first job was a grocery store cashier. I was always amazed that the people coming through with nice jewelry and expensive cars bought health food. And the folks who were using food stamps and WIC filled up their shopping carts – more often than not – with junk food and very little that was nutritious. But hey, iIt’s cheaper to buy soda than milk. You can fill up your grocery cart with chips and cookies, and spend less than you would on a little hand-held shopping basket full of fresh produce. It’s even cheaper to buy that powdered mac & cheese mix than it is to buy regular pasta. So, if you’re trying to feed your kids without breaking the bank, junk food is a natural choice. No one goes hungry. And hey, the kids like what they’re eating too.

I don’t know what the solution is. I guess it all starts with education. No one is going to buy a pomegranate if they don’t know how to eat one or what the benefits are.  But as far as making it financially accessible? Food stamps and WIC help – for those who fall into that category. And there are food co-ops that are moving in the right direction. But I don’t know how to conquer the discrepancy between cheap soda and expensive milk or between sodium-filled convenience foods and fresh steamed veggies. Any ideas out there?