Organic Food - Nutritious Food?

I have found an interesting research paper which I would like to share.

The following is an abstract from the article titled "Organic food: nutritious food or food for thought? A review of the evidence" by Faidon Magkos, Fotini Arvaniti and Antonis Zampelas

Apparently, one of the primary reasons for purchasing organic food is the perception that it is more nutritious than conventional food. Given the increasing interest towards organic food products, it is imperative to review the existing literature concerning the nutritional value of the produce, and to determine to what extent are consumer expectations met.

There are only few well-controlled studies that are capable of making a valid comparison and, therefore, compilation of the results is difficult and generalisation of the conclusions should be made with caution.

In spite of these limitations, however, some differences can be identified. Although there is little evidence that organic and conventional foods differ in respect to the concentrations of the various micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements), there seems to be a slight trend towards higher ascorbic acid content in organically grown leafy vegetables and potatoes.

There is also a trend towards lower protein concentration but of higher quality in some organic vegetables and cereal crops.

With respect to the rest of the nutrients and the other food groups, existing evidence is inadequate to allow for valid conclusions.

Finally, animal feeding experiments indicate that animal health and reproductive performance are slightly improved when they are organically fed. A similar finding has not yet been identified in humans.

Several important directions can be highlighted for future research; it seems, however, that despite any differences, a well balanced diet can equally improve health regardless of its organic or conventional origin.


It should be noted that this review is coming from the nutritious value perspective.


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Organic Food - List of Foods with Pesticide Residue Levels

Most often, some people choose organic foods because they want to lower their exposure to pesticides. For these people, it makes sense to know which conventionally grown foods are good enough because they are low in pesticide residue.

Not all fruits and vegetables grown with conventional farming methods contain high level of pesticides, some simply don't absorb pesticides. The Environment Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization in Washington, has conducted tests on foods to determine which fruits and vegetables contain the highest pesticide residue. The list is given below.

As you can see the Peaches and Apples have the highest level of pesticide residue, while Onion and Avocado absorb the least amount of pesticide. So if you are on a budget, you can focus on organic foods that absorbs in a lot of pesticides when grown using conventional farming methods.

According to the EWG, the toxic effect of pesticides are still largely unknown, and therefore, consumers are advised to minimise exposure to them.

Although rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables will likely to reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them totally. While peeling also reduces exposures, substantial amount valuable nutrients may be lost, for example apples. Nevertheless, the best approach is to wash all fruits and vegetables, and choose organic where possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

RANK -- FRUIT OR VEGGIE -- SCORE

1 (worst) -- Peaches -- 100 (highest pesticide load)
2 -- Apples -- 96
3 -- Sweet Bell Peppers -- 86
4 -- Celery -- 85
5 -- Nectarines -- 84
6 -- Strawberries -- 83
7 -- Cherries -- 75
8 -- Lettuce -- 69
9 -- Grapes (Imported) -- 68
10 -- Pears -- 65
11 -- Spinach -- 60
12 -- Potatoes -- 58
13 -- Carrots -- 57
14 -- Green Beans -- 55
15 -- Hot Peppers -- 53
16 -- Cucumbers -- 52
17 -- Raspberries -- 47
18 -- Plums -- 46
19 -- Oranges -- 46
20 -- Grapes (Domestic) -- 46
21 -- Cauliflower -- 39
22 -- Tangerine -- 38
23 -- Mushrooms -- 37
24 -- Cantaloupe -- 34
25 -- Lemon -- 31
26 -- Honeydew Melon -- 31
27 -- Grapefruit -- 31
28 -- Winter Squash -- 31
29 -- Tomatoes -- 30
30 -- Sweet Potatoes -- 30
31 -- Watermelon -- 25
32 -- Blueberries -- 24
33 -- Papaya -- 21
34 -- Eggplant -- 19
35 -- Broccoli -- 18
36 -- Cabbage -- 17
37 -- Bananas -- 16
38 -- Kiwi -- 14
39 -- Asparagus -- 11
40 -- Sweet Peas-Frozen -- 11
41 -- Mango -- 9
42 -- Pineapples -- 7
43 -- Sweet Corn (Frozen) -- 2
44 -- Avocado -- 1
45 (best) -- Onions -- 1 (lowest pesticide load)


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Organic Personal Care - Chemicals to Avoid

Every year, close to a hundred thousand tons of chemicals are used to make personal care products. Over 99% of oils used in cosmetic are extracted from petrochemicals. In addition, additives and preservatives are also added in cosmetics. Some of these "ingredients" may be absorbed directly in the bloodstream through our skin, and accumulate in the body tissue. There is increasingly convincing evidence that using such products in long term can constitute a potentially serious health risk.

What are the Chemicals Found in Personal Care Products?

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA)
These are used as moisturizers in skin creams, dandruff shampoos, and foundations with sunscreens. They are suspected to cause increasing cell turnover and decreasing the thickness of the outer skin, and therefore, making it more sensitive to the sun's rays.

Dibutylphthalate (DBP) and iethylphthalate (DEP)
These are likely used in skin creams to enhance absorption and softening or soothing effect to the skin. They are also used to create a flexible film in nail polish and mascara. However, they are toxic and highly allergenic chemicals. Studies have shown that they can cause birth defects in rats.

Diethanolamine (DEA), monoethanolamine (MEA), and triethanolamine (TEA)
These are ammonia derivatives found in foams, shower gels, body lotions, moisturizers, and facial cleaners. Their chemical function is to bind oil and water together and act as detergents. They are known allergens.

Formaldehyde
This chemical toxin is found in cosmetic preservatives. As a cosmetic ingredient, it is not easy to recognize, since it is associated with the additive 2-bromo-2-nitropropane, 3-diol Diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, or Quaternum-15. It is also widely used in shampoos and handwashes, and some nail hardeners. In Sweden and Japan, its use in cosmetics has been banned.

Lanolin
Although this natural emollient for softening and moisturizing the skin derives from sheep's wool, it can be contaminated by pesticides such as DDT, lindane, and dieldrin. Creams and lipsticks with lanolin can cause acne.

Kathon GC
This preservative is another common ingredients used in shampoos and hair conditioners.It is thought to damage cell growth in ways that may lead to cancer.

Petrochemical-based
Products based on petrochemicals are widely used in cosmetics, such as mineral oils, petrolatum, paraffin, and any ingredient that has the prefix ethe-, methyl- or propyl- are used in products to hydrate the skin. However, because they cannot be absorbed through the skin but sit on the surface. This results in blocking the skin's natural function of respiration, inhibiting its ability to function of respiration, inhibiting its ability to eliminate toxins. Petrolatum may cause drying and premature aging of skin and strip the skin of its lubricating oils. Propylene glycol is used to improve foundations and moisturizers. It is known to cause cancer in rats. Benzyl alcohol used in perfume is an irritant to skin and mucous membranes.

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD)
It is used to produce the black color in hair dyes. It can cause allergic reactions.

Persulphate Salts
These act as boosting agents in hair bleaches and have been linked to occupational asthma among hairdressers. They may also be present in over-the-counter bleaching products.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
This detergent and foaming agent is found in engine degreasers and harsh cleansing solutions. It is used in bat and shower gels and shampoos, cleansers, and most toothpastes. It can cause skin rashes, hair loss, and eye damage.


Try to avoid using beauty products that contain the above chemicals or ingredients. Check the label carefully before buying or using.


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Organic for Children - Organic Toys

Harmful PVC Toys
The use of plastic in children's toys is so overwhelming to the extend that your children may seem to be surrounded with playthings that can turn a toxic zone.

Many children's toys are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), also known as vinyl. Its manufacture and disposal can create dioxins, highly toxic substances. Furthermore, to make PVC soft and flexible, it is necessary to use plasticisers and most commonly used plasticisers are phthalates. These chemicals may leak from the toy when sucked, chewed, squeezed, or even just held. The European Science Committee has advised that phtalates are liable to cause liver, kidney, and testicular damage and may affect hormones and lead to reduced fertility in later life.

The use of phthalates in toys and childcare items has been restricted in the European Union since December 1999. From January 2007 further restrictions on their use in toys will come into force on a permanent basis.

Organic Toys
Soft organic toys are best alternative that takes away the worry and stress about your child's toys. Organic toys are made from either ultra-soft cotton or wool which are organically grown under strict conditions without using harmful chemical pesticides.The manufacturers also use only organic (vegetable) dyes to give them color. They also don't have anything on or in them that could be a potential choking hazard.

Other benefits

• Plastic toys are non-biodegradable and eventually increase the amount of plastic in landfill sites.
• Toys made from natural materials tend to last longer and therefore, can be recycled by donating them to charity or to friends with children.
  

Make Your Own Toys

• Make your own playthings with your children from simple everyday objects such as paper boxes, jars, toilet rolls, as well as natural objects such as seashells and pine cones.
• Save your old clothes for a dressing-up box.
• Save paper for your children to draw on, and magazines for them to cut up for making collages.
  

Cleaning Toys

• To clean soiled plastic or wooden toys, dissolve 2 heaped tablespoons of baking soda in 600ml (1 pint) warm water. Either submerge the toy and soak it, or wipe it clean, then rinse in cold water and leave to dry naturally.

• Mix cream of tartar and lemon juice in a small bowl with a cotton swab. Apply the cotton swab onto a stubborn stain and leave on for 30 minutes. This will work to bleach out the stain.
  

• To clean fluffy toy, place stuffed toys in a large plastic garbage bag, then pour in cornstarch or baking soda, seal the bag and shake vigorously from time to time over a period of several hours. Remove the stuffed toys and brush the fur to remove the dust, dirt and cleaning agent over a sink. Dusting of baking soda eliminate odours and removes unwanted stains from soiled soft toys.

Organics for Children – Baby Skin Care

Baby skin is so delicate and sensitive, try to avoid using strong soaps and shampoos made for adults on your baby. Additives such as artificial colors, fragrances, and preservatives can cause irritation and allergic reactions.

It is always good to choose natural, organic oils and creams for your baby. These products are not tested on animals, are biodegradable, and can be guaranteed to be free of synthetics and petrochemicals.

• The skin of a baby's face is more sensitive than elsewhere, never use soap products on his/her face.
• Use lotions, oils and powders that come from natural and organic sources, examples, almond oil and cocoa butter.
• Dry your baby with a soft cotton towel. Avoid using talcum powder that has found to be linked to serious illness if inhale it accidentally.

Another thing that most of new parents may not often think about is laundry. New baby will generate massive amounts of laundry, and therefore, it is important that laundry has to be done correctly, so that baby’s delicate skin is not irritated.

• Make certain that all new clothes that come into contact with your baby are laundered before use.
  
• Should not wash your baby’s clothes with your own clothes, or in the same detergent that you use. Most infants have very sensitive skin, and your perfume, your bleach, your softener, could very well cause irritation.
  
• It is always good to do baby’s laundry separately for at least the first year, and maybe even longer if baby has unusually sensitive skin.
  
• When shopping for laundry detergent, you will need to purchase either a special baby detergent with no added dyes or perfumes that could be harsh to baby’s skin.
  

Cleaning Cloth Nappies
Rinse wet nappies and dispose of solid matter down the toilet. Place the nappies in a bucket with a borax or baking soda solution, and leave to soak for 6-8 hours or overnight. Drain the soaking solution down the toilet. Machine wash the nappies on a hot cycle at 21deg-C (70deg-F) with a double rinse. Dry outside if possible, sunshine is a natural bleach and disinfectant. If you have to tumble-dry, it will help to sterilize the nappies.

Treating Rashes
When you change your baby, make sure that you keep an eye on baby’s skin, so that if there are any signs of a rash or allergic reaction, you can take prompt action. An uncomfortable baby is no fun for anyone, so if you catch these things early enough, you can take care of them before they escalate.

• Use shampoo containing chamomile oil which is gentle for baby hair
• Treat skin rashes with calendula cream.
• For nappy rash, mix 3 drops of German chamomile oil with 30ml (6 teaspoons) of almond oil and rub on the affected area.
  
• Buy nappies cream containing ingredients such as red clover, a natural anti-inflammatory.

Try not to change detergents often, otherwise, if your baby has shown sign of allergies, you will have hard time to pinpoint the cause. So, if you find one detergent that is suitable for baby, then stick with it.

If you have questions, or suspect an allergic reaction, you should seek the advice of your pediatrician, just to be certain!

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Organic Food – Food Additives

When shopping for food, we should read the label carefully. Try to select item that are low in or free from additives, preservatives and synthetic food colorants

Additives are added to foods for a few reasons

1. to improve their presentation in terms of texture or color
2. to make them lasting longer or having a longer shelf-life
3. to replace the nutritional value lost in processing
4. to facilitate the preparation of the processed food

Additives to Avoid

Sulphites

• Used to prevent foods from spoiling and discoloration. They may be used in self-service salad bars to keep food looking fresh.
• Listed as sulphur dioxide, sodium sulphite, sodium and potassium bisulphate or metabisulphite.
• Can trigger severe allergic reactions, including nausea and vomiting, breathing difficulties, and abdominal pain. Those who have asthma are most at risk to sulphite sensitivity and other forms of reactions.
• Often are found in wine, shellfish, fruit and vegetables, salad dressings, sauces, and corn syrup.

Nitrates and Nitrites

• Used to enhance color and inhibit the growth of the botulism bacteria in cured meats especially pock, fish and cheese, sausages, luncheon meats and hot dogs.
• A percentage of nitrates convert to nitrites once ingested, which may then combine with amines (protein in food) to cause cancer.

Artificial color and flavorings

• Almost all artificial colorings have been shown to be caused cancers in animals.
• It was observed that when artificial coloring and flavoring are avoided, children's hyperactivity and other behavioral problems improve significantly.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

• is a flavour enhancer often used in Chinese restaurant food.
• Can cause headaches, cold sweats, and heart palpitations.
• Studies show that MSG can cause brain damage and female sterility in animals.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

• Used as preservative in processed foods, and may have toxic effects.
• High exposure may cause dizziness, headaches, sneezing, nausea, and asthma attacks.

Natural Additives
The following additives come from natural plant and animal sources and are safe alternative to chemical additives and colorings. You can find them in the ingredients list on the label.

Acetic acid, a colorless acid with a strong smell which is contained in vinegar. As It inhibits the growth of bacteria, it is used as a preservative in foods, such as pickled vegetables, and as a mild disinfectant in cleaning.

Albumen, from egg white and is used in processed meat products.
Annatto, is obtained from the outer layer of the seeds of the tropical tree Bixa orellana L, and is used for over two centuries as a food coloring, especially in cheese.

Beta-carotene, are yellow and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, carrots and red peppers, and yellow fruit such as mango, melon and apricots, and used as an artificial coloring and a nutrient supplement

Citric acid, from citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, and is used as a flavoring and preservative in food and beverages, especially soft drinks.

Dextrose, type of sugar found in fruit honey and blood of animals, for used in the production of baked products such as biscuits, pies and cakes, but also in the preparation of ice-cream, yogurt and confectionery.

Lactic acid, formed by natural fermentation in products such as cheese, yogurt, soy sauce, sourdough, meat products and pickled vegetables, and usually serves as either a pH regulator, a preservative, or even a flavoring agent.

Lecithin, found in plant and animals tissue which is often used in food products to help the different parts mix together well.

Sodium chloride, salt commonly used as a condiment and food preservative.

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Organic Food - Why Eat Organic Meat and Fish

Meat
Intensively reared animals are often kept in crowded conditions and are fed growth-stimulating hormones, or steroids. More than half the world's antibiotics are used to promote growth in animals reared for meat.

Milk from diary cattle, and cheese made from it may contain DDT residues, antibiotics, hormones. It may also be homogenized, which may lead to heart disease.

Unlikely intensively reared animals, organic livestock spend much of their time outdoors, grazing on organic pastures. In the United States, organic cattle must be fed and managed organically their entire lives in order to be slaughtered for organic beef.

Furthermore, organic animals are not given unnecessary medication, and wherever possible are treated with natural remedies. Animals are allowed to mature naturally without the aid of growth-promoting agent.

Fish
Wild fish caught in coastal waters, may be contaminated with industrial pollution. Similarly, shellfish can be highly polluted as well, because they live in coastal habitats.

Larger fish such as king mackerel, swordfish, shark and tilefish usually contain more contaminants, in particular methylimercury. Pregnant women should try to avoid these fish because the contaminant is harmful to an unborn child's nervous system.

Largely herbivous fish such as tilapia, catfish, salmon and wild trout, as well as deep-water fish such as sandines are less likely to be contaminated.

Tips
When cleaning the fish, remove as much surface fat as possible, because this is where the major bulk of the chemical contaminants are usually found.

The way of cooking fish can help to reduce the traces of chemicals in the fish's body fat, skin and muscle tissue. Grilling, baking and steaming allow the juices and fats to run off, whereas frying and making soups reserve the fat.

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Organic Food - Foods Vulnerable to Residues

There are certain fruits and vegetables that still retain residues from harmful artificial fertilizers or pesticides even though they have already been banned for a long time. This is because the residues can remain in the soils for decades, and the roots of the plant take up these residues.

According to the findings of the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program (PDP), covering testing done in 2004, over three-quarters of the conventional produce contained residues (78%), while 16% of the organic samples contained residues.

For example, conventional apples were found to contain, on average, 3.6 residues, while the one positive organic sample had a very minute level of the post-harvest fungicide thiabendazole. The level of residue found in the one positive organic apple sample was 0.0002 parts per million, while the mean thiabendazole residue found in 641 positive conventional samples was 0.43 ppm, over 2100 times higher than the level found in the organic sample.

Why Residues Found in Organic Food
Pesticides are ubiquitous and mobile across agricultural landscapes. Many positive organic samples in the PDP tests contain low levels of pesticides used on nearby conventional crops that have moved across field boundaries by drift or through use of contaminated irrigation water. Soil-bound residues of persistent pesticides used years ago, before the farmer switched to organic methods, account for a large portion of the residues found in vegetables and root crops, especially squashes.

Cross-contamination is the main cause of low-level fungicide residues. The movement of a post-harvest fungicide applied to conventional apples reached organic apples. This could have occurred in a cold storage facility, or it might have happened during trucking or even in a store if a box of treated conventional apples were placed too close to a box of organic apples.

Therefore, it is very important that special measures must be in placed to separate the handling of conventional and organic produce in order to prevent this sort of inadvertent cross-contamination.

Removing Residues
When eating non-organic or conventional fruits and vegetables, it is advised that you wash them thoroughly to remove as much residues as possible, and that peel fruits and root of vegetables.

• Experts recommends peelings the skin of fruits. But note that two-third of the fibre and most of antioxidants are usually found in the peel of apples, for example.
• At a minimum rinse all fresh produce under tap water for at least thirty seconds. The mechanical action of rubbing the produce under tap water is likely responsible for removing pesticide residues.
• However, a study had shown that mild detergents or fruit and vegetable washes do not enhance the removal of pesticide residues from produce above that of rinsing with tap water alone.

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Organic Food - Harmful Chemicals in Foods

Food grown with the aid of artificial fertilizers and pesticides contains toxic chemicals that can cause serious harm to our health and environmental problems.

Fertilizers are supposed to help in producing healthy crops, but research has shown that artificial fertilizers reduce the nutritional value of fruit and vegetables, and lower human reproductive function.

Pesticides include insecticides, molluscides (to kill slugs and snails) and nematicides (to kill worms).

Residues from these fertilizers or pesticides can remain in the soil for decades and are likely taken up by the root of corps.

Here are some harmful fertilizers or pesticides:

Organophosphates
This type of insecticide interferes with an insect's nervous system and is the most widely used group of pesticides. They are acutely toxic, affecting the nervous system and disrupting hormone function. High levels of methyl parathion and azinphos methyl have been found on a wide range of fruit and vegetables. The US has now eliminated the use of methyl parathion on certain corps and reduced allowable residues for azinphos methyl.

Methomyl
An insecticide that is found in many fruits and vegetables. Its use is restricted because of its high toxicity to humans. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor and a potential groundwater contaminant.

Lindane
This insecticide is an endocine disrupter and has been linked to breast cancer and anemia. It is applied in spray form to treat a number of food corps, and is also used to control ticks on livestock. It is presently banned in more than 50 countries, and is under consideration for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants, which would ban its production and use worldwide.

Maleic Hydrazide
This is sometimes sprayed onto onions and potatoes to stop them from sprouting (but it may cause the sprouting to occur inside the vegetable, which is probably worse). It is toxic to humans. Animal studies have shown damage to the liver and central nervous system. There are concerns about its safety because it contains minute quantities of a known toxin, hydrazine, which may leach into water supplies.

Food Waxes
Fruits and vegetables may be coated with one of a number of waxes to maintain freshness and improve their appearance. Paraffin wax, a petrochemical derivative, may interfere with digestion and the absorption of vitamins. Other coatings include carnauba wax, the same wax that is used on cars and floors and shellac.

Effects of Banned Chemicals
Although there are increasing number of chemicals been banned but their residues can remain in the soil for decades and are taken up by the roots of some plants.

For example, Dieldrin - this insecticide accumulates in human body fat and has been linked to reproductive disorders and cancer. Besides fruits and vegetables, it may also be found in fish, dairy products, and animal meats.

So as the old saying, we are what we eat. If we enjoy uncontaminated and fresh food, this is going to reflect in our health, vitality and energy. And eating organic food is the best for our health and well-being.

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Organic Food – Organic Fruits & Vegetables

Organic Crops have higher nutrition
According to some studies, the today's conventional farmed fruits and vegetables contain much lesser vitamin and minerals, as compared to 50 years ago. For examples,

• An average potato has lost all of its vitamin A, more than half of its vitamin C, iron and riboflavin, quarter of its calcium.
• Broccoli loses almost two-third of its calcium and one-third of its iron.

On the other hands, a study had indicated that organic crops contained significantly more vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus as well as significantly less nitrates than conventional crops. In addition, there were non-significant trends showing less protein but of a better quality and a higher content of nutritionally significant minerals with lower amounts of some heavy metals in organic crops compared to conventional ones.

In a French study on the nutrient qualities of twelve foods grown in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, the organic foods had showed increased quantities of vitamins A, B, C and E. Furthermore, elements such as zinc, minerals such as calcium, and fibre were also increased.

Conventional Farmed Crops Potential Harmful to Health
There is a strong association between exposure to chemical agricultural herbicide and breast cancer.

• Atrazine, a common ingredient in herbicides, is found causing breast cancer in rats, chromosomal breakdown in the ovaries of hamsters, and hind-limb deformities in frogs.
• A Finnish study also showed that women with high level of a lindane-like (lindane, an agricultural insecticide) residue in their breasts would have ten times more likely to have breast cancer than women with lower levels.

A study by the University of Washington found that children with primarily organic diets had significantly lower organophosphorus pesticide exposure than did children with primarily conventional diets. Their finding showed that children who consumed primarily organic produce exhibit lower pesticide metabolite levels in their urine than children who consumed conventional produce. It is consistent with known agricultural practice because organic foods are grown without pesticides. Therefore, consumption of organic produce represents a relatively simple way for parents to reduce their children’s pesticide exposure.

Determining the safety of a conventional farming method is not always easy and may take a very long time. For example, some of the pesticides widely used in the past, such as DDT, were found to have caused serious heath problems in children. This did not become evident until 30 years later after the substance was banned for environmental reasons. This means that we may not see the full effects of the new, subtler poisons conventional farmers used on their crops for a long time.

Organically Farmed Crops Better for Health
A study by Scottish scientists found that organic vegetable soups contain almost six times as much salicylic acid as non-organic vegetable soups. Salicylic acid helps fight hardening of the arteries and bowel cancer and is the main ingredient in aspirin. It is produced naturally in plants as a defence against stress and disease. Due to the widely use of pesticides in conventional farming, plants don’t have to resist bugs and therefore, they generate less salicylic acid. As a result, they pass less on to us. The same scientists found vegetarian Buddhist monks had significantly higher concentrations of salicylic acid in their blood as compared to meat-eaters.

Tips for Parents
If you are not sure how to go organic, perhaps, you can try starting with foods that will have the greatest impact.

You may download A Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce list from the Environmental Working Group at www.foodnews.org. It provides a guide to the fruits and vegetables that have the highest and lowest levels of pesticides and helps you to figure out which types of fruits or vegetables you should begin with so as to protect your children's or family's health.

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Organic Food – Fish Dishes

Fish is an excellent source of protein, vitamin B, antioxidant selenium and minerals. Oily fish with low in saturated fat, such as salmon, mackerel and tuna also has good source of healthy omega 3 fatty acids which may help to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Some oily fish can contain harmful chemicals, such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Dioxins are by-products of certain industrial processes and PCB are pollutants used mainly in the production of electrical equipment. They are no longer permitted in the UK, but may still be present in the environment, including fish. Dioxins and PCBs do not have immediate effect on health, but there is concern that higher than recommended levels in the diet over a long period of time may increase the risk of cancer.

Fortunately, levels of PCBs and dioxins have started falling recently, and supermarkets conduct stringent tests to ensure that the oily fish they sell fall within or below the minimum levels that are acceptable.

Organically Farmed Fish
Organically farmed fish live in pure water and are usually occupying no more than 2% of the water available. When fish are crammed so close, they can be very stressful, and are more susceptible to infections. Therefore, the key to organically farmed fish is freedom of space, which removes the need to suppress disease. So the fish are usually alert and healthy and have a real flavor.

For an example, organically farmed salmon have far more space than regular farmed fish. They live in waters that are carefully monitored for purity and have powerful natural tides to swim against. Organic salmon feed contains far less oil than conventional feed, allowing the fish to put on weight naturally and slowly. Adding crushed prawn shells rather than artificial coloring to their feed gives them their salmon-pink hue. No pesticides or routine antibiotics or medication are used, and the fish are individually culled by hand, which is swifted and less stressful.

Many people find that the organically farmed fish have more flavor and better texture and are less flabby and oily.

Tips for Parents – Benefits of Oily Fish
Many experts now believe that the balance of Omega 6 (found in plant oils) and Omega 3 fatty acids (found in oily fish like mackerel and salmon) in children's diets may be crucial for health. The bulk of children's polyunsaturated fat intake currently comes in the form of Omega 6s. However, experts believe that it's the level of omega 3s that needs to be improved.

Children who had taken part in a few trials of fish oil supplements appear to have better concentration, learning ability and behavior, however more research is needed.

Eating oily fish regularly can help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Try to put oily fish on the menu once or a maximum of twice a week from the age of 9 months.

The current recommendation is at least two portions of fish a week – one of which should be an oily fish. However, it should be noted that there are safety limit on the amount of oily fish one should eat. Boys, men and women who are not going to become pregnant in the near future can eat up to four portions of oily fish a week. Girls, women who may want to have children in the future and breast feeding mum should eat no more than two portions of oily fish a week.

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Organic Food – Organic Bread

Why Choose Organic Bread?
Mass produced breads usually contain more additives than you might imagine because they help to reduce the time needed to make bread. The additives can come in the shape of bleaching agents, preservatives and colouring, and there are always concerns about the potential side-effects of these man-made artificial additives.

Besides additives, bread may likely to contain agro-chemicals from its ingredients. High-fibre bread is the most likely type of bread to contain pesticide residues because they can collect in the grain's outer layers.

To avoid these nasty ingredients, you should look for organic or traditionally made breads.

Benefits of Organic Bread
Organically baked bread is the natural alternative for people who care about their health and the environment. It is made from flour milled exclusively from organic grain and contains none of the various dough improvers and additives that are widely used in many mass produced breads.

The term "organic" refers to the manner in which the wheat has been farmed and turned into flour and bread. Organic farming uses more natural methods of treating the land during the farming cycle. And more importantly, it does not use artificial fertilizers and restricts applications of pesticides, insecticides or herbicides.

Nowadays, most organic bead bakers do not even use yeast, they prefer to allow the bread to rise on its own. Although it takes much longer, bread without yeast is much easier to digest because it contains lactobacillus, a Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium that produces lactic acid essential for good digestion.

In addition to being yeast free, more and more the organic breads are dairy free as well, making them ideal for those who are lactose intolerant or following a strict vegetarian diet.

Does Organic Bread Taste Better?
Organic breads should not be substantially different from non-organic ones. In fact, people who have tried organic breads, find that they generally taste better mainly due to the purity of the ingredients. Commercial bread makers tend to simplify and speed up the bread making process that unfortunately, have caused the bread to lose its rich texture and nutrients.

I believe many people are likely to think that fresh bread must be soft, but the truth is exactly the opposite. Preservatives and additives make breads soft. Organic bread or traditional bread should feel firm when touched. So, if you come upon a loaf of bread that is soft, there is a high chance that it is filled with preservatives and additives.

Organic Bread Ingredients
All organic baked goods shall contain 95% or more certified organic ingredients. Only a few natural baking aids, such as vitamin C, calcium carbonate and raising agents are allowed. No hydrogenated fats or genetically modified ingredients are permitted. Sometimes, refined white sugar, artificial additives or dough improvers may be used.

Organic Breads Easily Available
Organic breads can be found at most local health stores. In fact, nowadays, the standard supermarket organic bread is made to be more like a traditional loaf, and may contain organic soya flour, fat or sugar, or added vitamin C.

While mass-produced or processed breads are much simpler to make and cost lesser, organic breads take more time to bake, but the taste and health benefits definitely outweigh the convenience and cheaper cost.

Making Your Own Organic Bread
Perhaps you might want to have a go at making your own at home. There is organic pre-mixed bread flour available which contains wheat flour, butter, shortening, sugar, milk powder, etc. This flour mix is ready to be baked because it already contains all the essential ingredients necessary to bake bread.

To further simplify the making process, you can even use a bread-making machine which is really easy to use. Just throw the ingredients in and turn it on. That's it, you have your own home-made bread.

Let's Learn & Experience Organics for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic Foods - Breakfast

Changing to an organic diet may not be easy and certainly is not going to happen overnight. So you should try and experiment whatever you feel like. Perhaps, you should begin with Breakfast, the most important meal of the day.

An organic breakfast offers the best possible start to the day, and it gives you that feel-healthy lift that comes from food you know you can trust.

What can you have for organic breakfast?

• Similar to normal bread, organic bread is a good, nutritious source of complex carbohydrate and vitamins. It does not have any hydrogenated fats, and in some minor cases, may contain refined white sugars, artificial additives or dough improvers. For variety, choose different kind every week. (Advice: Just be aware that organic bread has a shorter shelf life because of its lack of chemical preservatives.)


• To make breakfast more interesting, you can have varieties of organic cereals that are rich, nutty, and completely natural with no unwanted artificial extra ingredients. Kids can also have organic cornflakes and crunchy. (Advice: something certified organic does not mean it is super healthy. Breakfast cereals can actually have higher fat, salt and sugar contents that non-organic versions. So you need to read the labels)


• Adults with busy days ahead of them may prefer organic porridge. Porridge has a low glycaemic index score which means it gives a slow, sustained release of energy, helping you to feel fuller for longer.


• Organic muesli are made from their own organic oats, rye and barley, and available loose or pre-packed.


• Organic milk comes from organically raised cows that graze organic pastures supplemented with natural feeds and that receive no routine antibiotics. Recent research from Aberdeen University showed that organic milk can contain almost 75% more of the essential fatty acid omega 3 than ordinary milk. This thanks to a higher proportion of clover forage in the diets of organic cows. Organic cheese is thought to contain even more Omega 3 than milk.


• Organic soya milk, rice milk and almond milk drinks are creamy, if you are looking for dairy-free alternatives for milk.


• Spread your organic toasts with organic jams or marmalades that are sweetened with honey, apple juice or agave syrup instead of sugar.


• Mixing chopped organic fruits with creamy organic yoghurts can be an excellent meal to begin your day with. Organic fruits and vegetables contain higher levels of vitamin C, essential minerals and antioxidants than non-organic types.

Tips for Parents
Some studies have found strong link between eating breakfast and improved learning, a better ability to concentrate, less irritability, more energy, less likelihood of overeating during the rest of the day and a general feeling of well-being.

Eating the right food at breakfast time will stabilize blood sugar levels, making it less likely that your child will crave a boost from sugary, high fat or processed foods later.

The foods to avoid at breakfast most of the time are the sugary and over processed ones, such as chocolate spread, croissants, muffins, cereals bars and pastries. Although they may go down well with your child, they tend to lead to craving for yet more sugary, over processed foods by mid-morning.

Try to give your child a combination of slow-releasing carbohydrates and protein which will help to keep him/her full and offer a steady supply of energy until lunchtime. For examples:

• Wholegrain cereal served with chopped banana and semi-skimmed milk
• Bacon (non-smoked, lean bacon with fatty rind trimmed away) sandwich for older children
• Unsweetened porridge, try the plain type with half semi-skimmed milk and half water, and add chopped fruits or raisins instead of sugar or honey.
• Wholegrain, multi-grain, seeded or fruit toast with low sugar peanut or other nut butter, cream cheese or ham slices.
• A pot of natural bio-yogurt with fruit and muesli.

Let's Learn & Experience Organics for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic Food - Why Are We Sicked?

Generally, there are only two main sources why we get sicked

Reason #1 - We catch a virus or bacteria.
We will pick up thousands of bacteria and viruses throughout your life and that's natural. Our body immune system is designed to counter or handle the bacteria or virus. Our immune system is effective only when our body is in balance, a state known as homeostasis, and we will never get sick because of a virus or bacteria. On the other hand, if our body is not in balance, our immune system becomes too weak to fight off the virus or bacteria, and so, we can get sick more often, more severe and for longer period of time.

Reason #2 - Our body develops an illness or disease
We can have illness or disease such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer because something in our body is not working properly. This is a result of too much toxin getting into our body which affects our body pH level. When our body pH is alkaline, we virtually can never get sick. However, when we are toxic, our body becomes highly acidic, which means that we are susceptible to illness and disease. Every patient who has cancer is found to has a low pH level i.e., too acidic!

One of the sources of causing our body to be imbalanced or highly acidic is what goes into our body or what we eat.

Sadly, today, almost all kinds of man-made or man-grown food contain toxic synthetic chemicals.

Let's be practical, food manufacturers or farmers are in food business and in order to make profits, they have to sell more of their products at lower cost. For example, to produce more crops in shorter possible time, a farmer will use chemicals fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides to ensure that his crops grow faster and are not easily destroyed by pests.

That's why if you are going to eat fruits and vegetables or any food for that matter, it is important that they are organically grown without any toxic chemicals for personal healths.

For the coming posts, I will share with you on organic food.


Let's Learn & Experience Organics for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Wearing Organic

I believe that you tend to choose clothes made from natural fibers because they feel good and allow your body to breathe, but you may not know that it takes 150g (1/3 lb) of pesticides just to produce a conventional cotton T-shirt.

What to look for?

• Look for natural, organic and non-toxic fabrics in the-closest-to-your-skin types of clothes your wear, such as underwear, socks, leggings, and T-shirts.
• Look for fabrics made from organic cotton that are not colored using heavy metal dyes or bleached with chlorine bleaches. Do your know that cotton actually grows in several different colors? They can be used to make the ultimate eco-friendly fabrics, since they are created without the need for dyes. As for bleaching, try to look for fabrics bleached using eco-responsible methods, for example, hydrogen peroxide bleaches.

What to avoid?

• Try to avoid fabrics with "non-iron" or crease-resistant" finishes as these finishes contain formaldehyde, a colorless poisonous gas made by the oxidation of methanol and possibly causes cancer. They are bonded into the fibers and cannot be washed out.
• Try to avoid your dry-cleaning as much as possible. The chemicals used in this process are toxic and there is evidence that we as well as workers at dry-cleaning factories are all exposed to these chemicals when they are released into the environment through air and groundwater pollution.

Let's Learn & Experience Organics for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic for Children - Organic Bedding

Is organic bedding necessary?
I would say it definitely helps. Children or babies can spend from one-third to half of their times in bed, and their skins are constantly in contact with the bed sheets, pillows or even duvet covers. Therefore, it is important to avoid choosing children or baby bedding made from materials with chemicals that are potentially harmful to your children's health.

These days, most new conventional bedding materials are made purely from synthetic fabric, conventional cotton or combination of both. Synthetic fabric, like nylon or rayon are by definition made by means of chemical synthesis. Conventional cotton is growth with 30 over different pesticides and herbicides. Most people may not know that the cotton industry is responsible for 50% of all chemicals used in the world for agriculture purposes.

Besides the bedding raw materials, the end-products will also have been treated with fire- and water retardant chemicals, formaldehyde, strong bleaches, dyes and other chemicals.

All these chemicals can potentially cause respiratory problems and skin allergies if your children or babies are exposed to them continuously for a long period of time.

Organic Bedding is a Healthier Option
To minimize the risk to your children's health, go for organic bedding, preferably, to choose those made from pure organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown without nasty chemicals, only with natural means. For an example, instead of using pesticides, Australian wasp are used to control pest that destroy the cotton plants. Furthermore, fabrics made from organic cotton are not colored using heavy metal dyes, bleached with strong chlorine bleaches or treated with formaldehyde.

Therefore, organic bedding is a much healthier choice because it provides a natural, chemical-free environment for your babies or children while they are sleeping or resting.

Furthermore, knowing organic bedding conforming to international organic standards means that you are helping to protect the environment as well.

Getting Organic Bedding
Nowadays, organic cotton sheets, blankets or mattresses for cots are quite easy to get from mail or online order if they are not available in your nearby stores.

Perhaps, because of budget constraint, a more affordable alternative for cot mattresses may be a natural futon, stuffed with organic cotton or wool. If you decide to buy new conventional mattresses, it is advisable to avoid one filled with polyurethane foam, and to allow it to release “gas” in a well-ventilated room for several days before using it.

Besides organic bedding, try to make sure that what is closest to your children's and especially baby's skin, is organic or untreated fabric for their better health.

Again, although the price of organic product is slightly higher, but the extra little more money offers more peace of mind. Won't you agree?

Let's Learn & Experience Organics for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic for Baby - Baby Organic Wipes

Most commercial baby wipes for your baby's bottom contain alcohol or other chemical ingredients that can irritate a baby's skin. Washable wipe is the best baby wipe for both your baby and the environment.

And of course, not forgetting to get those made from organic undyed cotton. They are usually avaiable in most cloth diaper companies. Just get one or two dozens washable wipes and use them with a home-made wipe solution or water.

Here is one of the effective soothing wipe solution recipes.

• 3 & ½ tbsp (50ml) distilled water


• 1 tbsp (15ml) vinegar


• 2 tbsp (30ml) aloe vera gel (may help to heal minor burns or cut and to soothe sunburn)


• 1 tbsp (15ml) calendula oil (is gentle, cooling and soothing. It is suitable for babycare oil or lotion. It helps to heal dry and damaged skin, skin inflammations, rashes, diaper irritations, and other skin disorders.)


• 1 drop lavender essential oil (a relaxing, cooling and healing oil with sweet, floral herbaceous scent)


• 1 drop tea tree essential oil (is a powerful and healing natural antiseptic, excellent for children's skin and cleaning hands. However, a point to note is that it can be little dry on the skin when use on its own, so don't put too much)

The vinegar and essential oils will act as preservative, so you can store the solution for up to six weeks.

There you have it, a do-it-self natural wipe that is excellent for your baby's skin.

Hope you like it.

Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health & Better Our Planet Wellness

Environmentally Friendly Pencil

I found an interesting pencil which I would like to share with you. Actually, it has nothing to do with organics but it is an environmentally friendly pencil,

If you look closely on the picture above, you will see "SAVE FOREST PENCIL" labelling on the pencil.

It is made of recycled newspaper. I think it is manufactured by rolling up probably a single sheet of newspaper over a piece of graphite with glue in between. Then coated with a layer of paint with decorative drawings.

When I wrote or scribbled with it, I did not notice any significant differences as compared with conventional wooden pencils. The plus point is that it is much easier to sharpen and the shavings came off in bigger pieces.

I think it is a brilliant way of cycling newspapers.

That's all, a short one for today.

Organic Soap - Making Your Own Soap for Baby

Baby Rose - Recipe

Generally, for the first few weeks, new baby's skin just needs little water to clean since it does not have many opportunities to get dirty. However, when you need to start using soap, use a moisturizing natural olive oil soap sparingly and rinse it off well. This following soap recipe is suitable for baby and young children.

Ingredients

• 4 tsp/20ml ground rosehips (helps to reduce scarring and induce skin healing, suitable for number of sensitive skin problem)


• 1lb & 3oz/600g olive oil (provides firmness and a silkiness to the lather)


• 10 & 1/2 oz/300g coconut oil (provides a lovely and fluffy lather)


• 3&half oz/100g borage oil (is very moisturizing and soothing to sensitive skin)


• 13 oz/375g distilled water


• 5 oz/145g lye (or sodium hydroxide)


• 1 tsp/5ml Roman Chamomile essential oils (gives a relaxing oil with a sweet-fruity and herbaceous scent.)


• 3 tsp/15ml mandarin essential oils (gives quite a strong sweet and almost floral-like scent.)

Cold Process (You can find videos on soap making on my previous post How To Make Your Own Soaps)

• Put the ground rosehips in a woven cotton bag and tie the bag.


• Place the bag in the distilled water for a few hours.


• Remove the bag when the distilled water turns a rich red color.


• Prepare the lye solution water using the red distilled water and sodium hydroxide. The lye solution water will turn from red into rusty color.


• Warm the base oils in a stainless steel pot over a low heat.


• Add the warm base oils into the lye solution water and stir the mixture carefully. The mixture will slowly become thicken and color also become lighter.


• When the mixture is done, add the essential oils.


• Pour the mixture into a mold and insulate your mold with blankets to help the soap mixture gel.


• Leave the soap mixture for 24 to 48 hours to cool.


• Remove the soap from the mold and place it somewhere well-ventilated to cure for 6 to 8 weeks.


• Try to let the soap bar becomes hardened and the pH level is close to 7 (i.e. neutral, not acidic nor alkaline) before using it.

Next, I would like to share a tip on how you can store your handmade soap

If you want to store your soaps for a longer period, simply wrap them in greaseproof paper and leave them somewhere cool and dry, such as the bottom of a drawer or the back of a closet. Keeping soaps away from light and heat will help to preserve the freshness of their color and scent. If you made your soaps correctly, you should be able to keep them in good condition for a year and beyond. Another plus point of storing for longer period is that your bars will harden and improve in quality, as they mature and age.

So if you can keep your soaps in good condition, you will not only have a constant supply of soaps for your own personal use, but you will also have a ready supply of last minute gifts. That's right, if you have no ideas what present to get for special occasion, handmade soaps can be perfect presents. They will always be a welcome and popular gift.

Let's Learn & Experience Organics for Better Personal Health & Better Our Planet Wellness

Organic for Children - Baby Organic Cotton Diapers

Concerns of commercial disposable diapers
The advantages of using disposable diapers are convenient, no need to wash, and may even be cheaper than re-usable cotton diapers. However, most people may not know that the nasty chemicals used in the manufacture of disposable diapers can leach into your baby's skin, causing skin rashes or even infection. The heat in disposable diapers can raise the temperature around the genital area to an ideal level suitable for a breeding ground for infection.

Disposal diapers unfriendly to environments
It is estimated that each year, the U.S. consumes about 40 billion of disposable diapers which resulted in hundreds of tonnes of rubbish, over 90% of them end up in a landfill. Tens of millions of dollars are spent on collection and disposal of the rubbish a year.

Several millions of trees are cut down to just to make diapers each year. Up to 20 trees and about 420 gallons of petroleum are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby each year.

Disposable diapers are estimated to take hundreds of years to decompose, so it will likely cause problem to our next generations.
Recycling disposable diapers has been found to be economically not viable.

Organic disposable diapers?
When I tried to look for information on organic disposable diapers, I could not find any, not at least on the internet. I guess that they are not widely available or well supported by the organic community. I am not surprised because even though organic disposable diapers have the same benefits as other organic products and they are biodegradable, they will still result in tonnes of rubbish since they are made for single use. And of course, the second reason is probably the higher price due to the cost of organic raw materials.

Benefits of cotton diapers

Therefore the best alternative is to use reusable unbleached organic cotton or cotton-and-wool diapers. There are many benefits:

• Organic baby diapers made from organic cotton are the most absorbent diapers because the dense loops create more surface area for contact and absorbing moisture.


• The conventional cultivation of fibres, including cotton consumes huge numbers of agro-chemicals. On the other hand, the raw materials of organic cotton clothing are grown without harmful pesticides or insecticides, and the diaper clothes are not chemically treated and do not receive chemical textile finishes.


• Using organic cotton diapers ensures that you are protecting your baby from chlorine bleach, glues, plastics, formaldehyde, dyes, artificial perfumes, chemical lotions, and other toxins that are widely found in both plastic and paper disposable diapers.


• Cotton diapers are expected to last between 50 to 200 times of usage before being turned into rags.


• Organic cotton cloth diapers will definitely helps to relieve pressure on our fast disappearing forests and our planet's fossil fuel limited supply.

Using re-usable unbleached pure cotton or cotton-and wool organic diapers may be expensive in terms of outlay, but knowing that it helps to reduce the considerable risks both to your baby and to the environment, is worth the extra price difference.

Before I stop here today, would like to share with you some interesting tips on baby diapers:

• Some babies have diaper rash, it could be because their skins come in contact with chemically treated fiber or plastic disposal diapers. It will be good to give organic diaper a try to see whether the condition improves.


• Avoid using petroleum-based cleaners (for example silicon-based softeners) helps to prevent waxy build-up that can prevent your baby clothes or diapers from absorbing moisture as much as they use to be.


• To keep your cloth diapers soft without adding chemical softeners, you can place in your dryer a gym sock tucked with a hockey puck or rubber ring. It "stirs" the diapers around as they dry as to prevent them from becoming stiff. When you remove diapers from the dryer, shake them to loosen and soften the fibers. This will fluff up the diapers and make them more absorbent.

Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic for Children - Baby Cotton Clothing

Baby’s skin
Most people may not know that a baby's skin is 5 times thinner and more sensitive but less oily than an adult's skin. It is less resistant to bacteria and harmful substances in the environment. Babies also sweat less efficiently than the rest of us, so it is harder for them to maintain their inner body temperature. Therefore, baby clothing and diapers made of natural cotton will be ideal because cotton provides better ventilation and absorbs moisture more easily.

Problems with Conventional Cotton Clothes
One important point to note is that baby's skin is much more porous than adult's skin, so whatever put on baby's skin will be absorbed directly into the body including chemicals on the baby clothing or diapers made of conventional cotton clothes.

Majority of the conventional cotton is produced with many different pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and other chemicals, and as mentioned in www.treehugger.com:

“Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10% of all agricultural chemicals and 25% of insecticides on 3% of our arable land; that's more than any other crop per unit. That adds up to 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for a t-shirt, and 3/4 of a pound for a pair of jeans. And that's just not bad for the planet; 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries, many of these from cotton farming, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)”

Therefore, for the sake of your baby's health, parents should seriously consider getting organic cotton baby clothing or diapers.

Benefits of Organic Cotton Baby Clothing
Organic baby cotton clothes are made of pure cotton that is not only natural but also free from hidden nasty agro-chemicals.

Then, how to prevent pests from destroying cotton plants?

In Australia, cotton growers are making major progress in replacing costly and environmentally harmful pesticides with beneficial insects, such as Trichogramma Wasps to control pest from feeding on cotton plants. Basically, the tiny trichogramma wasps which lay their eggs into pest eggs and then trichogramma larvae eat pest eggs before the eggs can develop into destructive pest adults.

Besides free from agro-chemicals, you will also unlikely to find any chemical preservatives, SLS, articificial dyes or artificial fragrances in the organic cotton clothing.

Cost More But ...
Unlike in the past, organic clothing including baby cotton diapers, bedding, towels and many other products are easily available online, if you can't find them in your local stores. Alright, the price of cotton clothing is higher than those made of conventional cotton, but it is definitely not prohitbitively expensive. Letting your baby wearing something that you know is comfortable, safe, good for his/her skin and health as well as environmentally friendly, will definitely worth paying for.

That's it for now.

Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic Soaps - Ecosoapia Organic Soap

While I was searching for organic soaps available in the existing market, I discovered that there were over 5000 searches on "Ecosoapia Organic Soap" on the internet.

So I decided to take a look on the Ecosoapia website, and the followings are what I have found.

Ecosoapia
21st Century Health have launched Ecosoapia in October 2006, an organic ethical hand and body wash. Its aim is to introduce to consumers with an organic liquid soap that is free from all nasty chemicals that can be found in so many soap in the market today.

Product - Organic Liquid Soap
Ecosoapia introduces a luxurious organic liquid soap that is available in 7 different fragrances:

• Almond
• Eucalyptus
• Peppermint
• Lavender
• Rose
• Tea Tree
• Unscented

The liquid soap is available in 295ml/9.98 floz bottles with pump dispensers.

This Ecosoapia organic soap is free from Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), artificial colour, fragrances, synthetic preservatives or parabens. It is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Furthermore, it is kind to your skin as it is kind to the environment.

Besides SLS (which can be found in my previous post - Potential Harmful Chemicals in Commercial Soaps), parabens is another most common chemicals that are found in conventional cleansers. Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben or others) are chemical preservatives that allows products to have longer shelf-life. However, some studies or reports have claimed that parabens stimulate breast cancer.

Certified
Besides being approved by the Soil Association (the largest British organic body that approves over 70% of organic British produce), Ecosoapia has been awarded both the Chemical Consumer Award and Consumer Award from Allergy UK, which is important for allergy sufferers.

Contribution Back to Our Planet
The company also gives 10 percent of its profits to Irasambi, a Brazilian group working to preserve the rainforest. Not only is the product itself good for you and the environment, buying it is good for the environment as well.

Using them also makes you feel as though you are helping the environment as money from profits goes straight to helping conserve the rainforests.

Think of Buying?
It is likely that Ecosoapia products generally are not available at your local natural foods store because it is still a relatively new company.

You can order them online and of course, you will like to get better price at Ecohip, a division of 21st Century Health.

Before giving this product a try, there are points to note
- The price are usually quoted in British pound.
- Check the shipping charges and other terms and conditions.

If you have tried this product, you are welcome to post a comment here to share your experience of this product.

Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic Soaps - What is a Difference between Natural & Organic Soap?

While I was working on the next post on Organic Soap, I realized that there could be a little bit confusion between a Natural Soap and Organic One. So perhaps, I would just write something about their slight differences.

Firstly, let's begin with a basic understanding of soaps.

Since 1000 B.C., soaps have been invented and are primarily used for hygienic and sometimes medical purposes. They usually come in a solid moulded form, typically in rectangular shape, and therefore termed as soap bars.

Next, what is a soap made of?

Natural soap is made from animal fats or plant oils or even butters, and the primary ingredient used is oil or some combinations of oils such as olive, palm, coconut and almond. When the oil mixture reacts together with lye or sodium hydroxide solution (known as chemical base), it produces a sodium salt or soap and glycerin. Glycein is actually a sweet syrupy alcohol that softens and conditions the skin.

Depending on soap recipes and personal preferences, sometimes, butters such as vegetable or cocoa are added as well. Therefore, theoretically speaking, infinite varieties of natural soaps can be made depending on the combination of fat and/or oil. But only certain combinations (or "special recipes") will give you the better quality soaps that last longer lasting, produce more lathers, give good feeling on your skin and pleasant smell to your nose.

You can find out more on my previous post - How to Make Your Own Soap

How does a soap remove dirt from your body?

Soaps remove dirt from a dirty surface by attracting and clinging to dirt from the surface, and wash away with the water. This thanks to the structure of the soap molecule. One end of a soap molecule (carbon chain from oil and fat ingredients) is able to attract organic compound such as oil, while the other end of the molecule (sodium ions - that is why we need sodium chemical base) like to cling on water.

Therefore, when you wash with soap, your skin oil containing the dirt is attracted by the soap molecules. Then these molecules grap hold on to the running water when you rinse your hand with water. So this is how soaps get rid of oil and dirt on your body.

Finally, what is a difference between natural and organic soaps?

Well, the only difference is simply that organic soaps are made of organic ingredients such as aloe, peppermint and oats that are free from pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers or other chemicals harmful to personal health.

That's it. Simple? Life is already so complex, why make things so complicated.

Which is better, natural or organic?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question because essentially, it depends on the combination, quality and amount of the ingredients used in making the soaps.

But, there are benefits of using organic soaps,

Firstly, again, they are free from pesticides or potential health hazardous chemicals especially when used over a long periods.

Secondly, making soaps using ingredients from organic farming is better for the environment because organic farming does not cause any pollutions to the soil or water with chemicals. (I know what my next subject for my organic is going to be)

Point to note - it is very difficult to get soaps that are made of 100% organic ingredients, but you can find natural soaps made of 100% natural ingredients with some organic ingredients.


So, hope you have a better understanding of natural or organic soaps.


Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic Soap - How to Make Your Own Soap (Part 2)

In Part 1, I summarized the process of making organic soap bar. Perhaps, some of you have already got used to a liquid soap contained in a bottle with pump dispenser.

So for today post, I will summarize the basic process of making liquid organic soap.

Equipment you need:

1. A grater
2. A stainless steel pot
3. A stirring spoon
4. A cup (8 ounces)

Ingredients

1. Organic Soap Bar, (about 4-ounces)
2. Distilled water (a gallon)
3. Herb or other natural ingredients

If you are not keen to make your own organic soap bar, you can always begin with an organic melt and pour soap base. These organic soap base can be easily found in the soap supply websites, just type "organic melt and pour soap base" on Internet Search Engine (e.g Google, Yahoo, MSN). If not, you can go to your nearby the organic store to get some.

Steps:

1. Grate the soap bar into smaller pieces
2. Heat a gallon of distilled water (i.e. 16 cups).
3. When the water is almost boiling, remove the pot from the heat.
4. Add the grated soap into the hot water and let it melt on its own.
5. About 15 to 20 minutes later, stir the mixture to ensure the soap is completely melted.
6. Then let the mixture sit for at least 12 hours or overnight.
7. The next day, blend the mixture a few times with 10-15 minutes intervals.
8. You can customize your liquid soap by adding herb ingredients during the process of blending.
9. When the mixture becomes thickened, the liquid soap is done.

So making your own liquid soap can be a quite simple and less expensive. You can easily customize your liquid soap with your favorite herbs and other natural skin soothing ingredients

Not forgetting that you can also be helping our planet by storing your liquid soap in those old bottles.

Most importantly, it is a better alternative to purchasing commercial liquid soap that comes with chemicals potentially harmful to your family's and your health.

If you are planning to make you own soap for the first time, then I think that it will be good to get some books on handmade soaps, at least two books. This allows you to have better understanding of the process because different authors provide different processes or methods in detailed. Once you have followed the guides provided in the books and tried a few times, then you can begin creating your own handmade soaps recipes and your own cooking processes.

Of course, if you prefer, you may consider taking a class, so that you can discuss and share experiences with your friends or classmates.

As usual, I think it is not difficult to get started, but it is certainly not something you can learn overnight. It will take time to learn and master the methods like everything else. The most important thing is that you must enjoy the entire learning process and be positive.

That is all for the second part of How to Make Your Own Soap.

Next post, probably, I will try to look for what the popular "ready made" organic soaps products are available in the market.

Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health
& Our Planet Wellness

Organic Soap - How to Make Your Own Soap (Part 1)

When I started searching Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Soap, I happened to come across this website on How to Make Lye Soap by Shery Andrews. There is a series of video showing the entire process of making lye soap. It is quite a good soap making guide for beginners. You may want to take a look to have a better understanding the process of handmade soap.

Here is the summary of making soap using a process known as Cold Process.

Equipment you need:

1. For safety, you will need safety equipment especially goggles and rubber gloves because of the Lye or Sodium Hydroxide.
2. Measuring cups and a weighing scale to prepare the correct amount of your ingredients and additives.
3. Two kitchen thermometers that can measure over 100 degrees for monitoring the temperature of Lye solution and oil mixture
4. Two large stainless steel pots
5. A stirring spoon for lye
6. A stirring spoon for essential oils
7. A soap mold
8. Cardboard to act as a lid to the mold

Basic ingredients:

1. Lye or Sodium Hydroxide or caustic soda
2. Oils such as olive oil, coconut oils, castor oil, etc
3. Fatty acids like cocoa butter
4. Bee's wax
5. Additives such as oatmeal, buttermilk powder, oil fragrance and colorants

Steps:

1. To use your measuring cups and kitchen scale to prepare the amount of ingredients according to your soap making recipe.
2. To mix together your lye with water (Note: to put the lye into the water and not water into lye because the strong heat reaction may cause an explosion)
3. To slowly stir the water and lye because the temperature of mixture can go up to water boiling point.
4. After the lye solution is well mixed, place the thermometer into the container to monitor the temperature.
5. While waiting for the lye solution to cool down slightly, you can start mixing various types of oils and butters in a pot.
6. Then heat the oil mixture till the temperature is abou the same as the lye temperature.
7. To ensure both the oil and lye solution are at about the same temperature before mixing them together. (The stirring process can take an hour!)
8. Once the soap mixture is done, pour it into molds, cover it with wax paper and cardboard.
9. Let the soap mixture to cool down in the mold for forty-eight hours. Then remove the soap from the mold
10. Slice or grind the soap into smaller pieces and put it into a plastic bag
11. Add little distilled water into packet of soap and melt it in a pot containing hot water for about an hour.
12. Customize your soap by adding herbs and other natural ingredients together with the grated soap.
13. Mix the mixture well, pour it to soap mold and cool the mixture in a refrigerator over night
14. Finally, allow your soap to cure for serveral weeks before using it.

As you can see, the process of handmade soaps is quite simple, but it is not easy.

Hope you are inspired to try making your own organic soap.

Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic Soaps #1 - Potential Harmful Chemicals in Commercial Soaps

When I decided to embark into the journey of Learning & Experiencing Organic, I had been wondering which area I should begin with. Almost everything can be "organic", we have organic food, organic body or personal care products, organic clothing, etc, ....

Then two days ago, I was still pondering about this organic topic while I was washing my hands. Then, suddenly "click", I could begin with soap.

So here we are, 1st Organic subject - Organic Soaps.

And I will begin with harmful chemicals found in commercial soaps.

When we buy soaps for washing hands or bathing, we tend to choose soaps that produce lot of foam because most of us have this impression that thicker lather means better or deeper cleaning. Agree?

Foam Chemicals
In the commercial soaps, the chemical ingredients that cause soaps to foam are known as surfactants. The most widely used are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) because they are one of the most effective foaming agents.

If you don't believe, just check your toothpaste, facial washer, hand soap and see for yourself.

What are the side effects?

According to some study reports, SLS and SLES are found to have potential effects that can be detrimental to health. Some severe ones include

Skin irritation or corrosion - SLS is also known to be effective in dissolving oils or grease. So it removes oil from your skin causing a drying effect which in turn causing irritation. Besides drying effect, studies had found that SLS denatures skin protein allowing the lower layers of the skin exposing to external contaminants.

Eye irritation or deformities in children - Tests had shown that SLS could cause eye damage in young animals when it was absorbed through the skin. So be more vigilant when you are getting products for your children.

Protein Denaturing - SLS disrupts the process of replacing old cells with healthy new ones, which may cause skin layers separating and inflaming, In some cases, it can lead to early stage of skin cancer.


Fragrance Chemicals
Besides foam, another major component in the commercial soaps that uses chemicals is Fragrance, and most of the fragrance are synthetic chemicals scents. Some of the common chemicals found in the synthetic fragrance include:

• Benzaldehyde
• Benzyl Alcohol
• Limonene (used for its lemon-like flavor and odor)
• a-Terpineol (lilac odor)
• Toluene (methyl benzene)

Point to note - a fragrance having a botanical sounding name does not necessary mean that it comes from a natural source. Fruit fragrance such as watermelon, peach, apple, strawberry and many others are all synthetic chemical scents.

The possible side effects claimed:

• causing eye, throat, lung and skin irritation
• causing dizziness, headache, nausea
• damaging organs such as lungs, liver, kidney, heart, centre nervous system

Other harmful synthetic additives in the soap are FD&C colors, dyes, antibacterial triclosan & triclocarban, EDTA, TEA, DEA ... the list is long, so I will not go through them in detailed over here. I guess you have got the point, these chemicals used for the fragrance are found to be not kind to your health or the environment.

So why are harmful chemicals used in commercial soap?

I guess you also know the answer - they are cheap to produce and can be produced in large quantity easily.

The bottom line is that try to avoid soap or other body care products when you don't recognize or can't even pronounce ingredients with chemical sounding names in the label.

For the sake of our personal health, if there are natural or organic alternatives that are free from chemicals and easily available, then why not giving them a try.

Yes, organic products are known to be more expensive, but again, they are well worth it in terms of your health and the health of our planet. Think about it.

That's all for now.

Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health and Our Planet Wellness.