Still Using Mainstream Fabric Softeners?

Here is a laundry list for you, some of the many toxic chemicals in fabric softeners and laundry sheets:

A-TERPINEOL: Causes respiratory issues, edema, and damages the central nervous system.
BENZYL ACETATE: Linked to pancreatic cancer, causes respiratory problems.
BENZYL ALCOHOL: Damages upper respiratory tract.
CAMPHOR:  Damages central nervous system.
CHLOROFORM: Carcinogen and neurotoxin.
ETHANOL: Damages central nervous system, listed by EPA as Hazardous Waste.
ETHYL ACETATE: Also on EPA's list as Hazardous Waste list, narcotic.
LINALOOL:  Damages central nervous system, narcotic.
LIMONENE: Carcinogen.
PENTANE: Causes respiratory damage.
PHALATE: Common in fragrance and scented products, phalates are linked to various cancers, birth defects, and reduced sperm count.

Does that sound like a fresh summer breeze to you?  I don't know why this is legal, especially since the Environmental Protection Agency recognizes most of it as hazmat.  Children are particularly vulnerable to this chemical exposure and if you are using these products, they and you are getting it pumped into your bloodstream via skin and lungs constantly.  Health issues involving the central nervous system include MS, ADHD, Parkinson's Disease, SIDS, Stroke, Alzheimer's, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and many many more.

I remember once cutting short a visit to friends of mine because I couldn't sleep on their sheets.  I never told them the real reason why I had to leave because I didn't want to hurt their feelings, but I left with a raging migraine and it's interesting to note that one of them is a physician.  For those of us who do not use chemical fragrance, we can smell it the same way a non smoker smells smoke.  It gets on our clothes if we hug someone who's used it, it can trigger asthma attacks, migraines, nausea, and more.  It's just as bad if you are exposed to it via someone's dryer duct.  The EPA has called it air pollution!

Fragrances are masking the smells of harsh chemicals and they are marketing that as fresh and clean.  Whether the smell bothers you or not, you are being exposed to some bad stuff that damages your health.  Isn't it counter intuitive to wash your clothes in dangerous chemicals in an effort to get them clean and fresh?

So.  What would be a good alternative?  If you want bottled fabric softener, you can get non toxic varieties at your local co-op and stores like Whole Foods, and even delivered right to your door via Amazon.  I love their subscribe and save programs which are convenient and save me money.  I also really love soap nuts which naturally soften clothes while they wash.  If you want your laundry to have a scent, lavender and other essential oils are ideal and there are many recipes online for making your own non toxic fabric softeners.

Image Credit:  Photochiel

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21 Drops: Great Alternative to Perfume

If you are tempted to buy perfume for the holidays, remember that perfume contains carcinogens and irritants that can harm the wearer and people around them.  Personally, I despise the stuff and get an immediate migraine from being around it.  When someone goes to hug you and they are wearing perfume or cologne, you're stuck with that smell all day, and for people like me, we have to go and get a shower to escape the smell.  I could go on and on about how much I hate perfume, the chemical stuff.  And the more I talk openly about this, the more I realize I am not alone.

But I do like fragrance that comes from plants and flowers.  Essential oils are a different story.  They can be soothing, invigorating, and detoxifying.  They can create a mood, and they can lift a weary spirit.  21 Drops has some interesting formulas and fabulous packaging that would be great for gifts.  It's very modern, I love the colors and the the number graphics on the bottles.

The 21st Century Survival Kit provides aromatherapeutic support for life in our fast paced world which includes oils to Uplift, to help you Sleep and De-Stress.  It probably wouldn't be too hard to think of someone who could use this.  They use organic and wildcrafted essential oils, find them Here.

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Cantaloupe Smoothies, Fragrance Free Day, and Inside the Minds of Animals

One of my favorite summer drinks is the Cantaloupe Smoothie.  It couldn't be easier to make (cantaloupe and ice in the blender) and it's packed with nutrition and refreshing goodness.

Canteloupe is rich in beta carotene and makes a great source of vitamin A which is beneficial for vision health and cancer prevention.  People who eat diets with ample vitamin A have a reduced rate for cataracts by about 39%.  It's also high in vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant and immune system necessity.  Just one cup of cantaloupe has over 100% of what you need daily.  Fiber, B vitamins, and folate are all contained in cantaloupe.

The origins of cantaloupe date back to ancient times in India and Africa, were cultivated in Egypt and later in early Rome and Greece.  The name cantaloupe  comes from Cantalup, an Italian village where they were cultivated in the 1700's.  They're also known as muskmelons and rockmelons.  Cantaloupes  are part of the cucumber and squash family and also grow on a vine on the ground.

Choose melons that have a hollow sound, have a tan or cream color under the netting-like first layer of the skin, and smell like cantaloupe around the stem.

cantaloupe image credit: giniger

Friday, August 13th, is Fragrance Free Day.  With all the dangers of fragrance, not to mention it's just plain inconsiderate to others, I think it's a brilliant idea.  I rate fragrance right up there with cigarette smoke, in fact to me it's even worse.  Wouldn't it be great if people realized how dangerous these chemicals were and stopped polluting the environment with perfume?  That might sound harsh, but check out what's actually in fragrance.  I'm not talking about plant derived essential oils, those are not the same.  I am talking about the perfumes that go into laundry detergent, perfumes, air "fresheners," soaps, shampoos, lotions, even trash bags can be perfumed, the stuff is everywhere.  And it makes us sick.  And we should all get as educated as possible about this.  There will be a live Twitter Q&A with chemical experts.  Participate HERE.  Meanwhile, check out the EWG for many informative articles regarding the dangers of fragrance.

Time Magazine recently did an article (cover story) on the intelligence of animals making the argument that they are much smarter than once believed.  Jeffrey Kluger did a great interview with Charlie Rose citing some of the various studies and the concept that animals are sentient beings which should not be eaten or treated unkindly.  Obvious to my readers but really nice to see this becoming more and more mainstream.  Watch the interview HERE.

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A Perfume Organic

Most of my readers already know that most perfume is bad news.  I love fragrance--from the plant.  Essential oils can be very soothing, invigorating, and pleasing, evoking mood and atmosphere.  Synthetic perfumes and fragrance, on the other hand, send me right into migraineville and with good reason, they are comprised of dangerous chemicals.

A Perfume Organic is a healthy alternative.  It comes in a pretty bottle, is non toxic and smells great, I like the ylang ylang heavy Green.  There's no reason to buy toxic, carcinogenic perfumes when this is available.  Also--essential oils smell infinitely better than the toxic stuff.  A Perfume Organic is USDA certified organic, freshly hand made  and comes in a plantable eco friendly box.  Find it HERE.

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Should you give your Valentine perfume?

When I think perfume, I think instant headache.  I'm okay with essential oils, in fact I love essential oils, the fragrance that comes directly from the plant.  But most perfumes are synthetic and contain carcinogenic substances.  More and more, people are realizing that chemicals don't actually smell that great, and that they are dangerous.  When something can cause cancer, it doesn't matter how pretty the bottle is or which celebrity endorses it.  Toxic does not equal sexy.  For more on this, the EWG is a great source, check their website and this video, detailing the dangers of fragrance.

(Image Credit: Katch)

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