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How To Create Change

1/3/2021

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by Just Another Natural Nut
This quote stares me in the face every time I leave my home.  It is one of the most important things I can do to create change for the world I want to live in.

How do I do it?

I choose not to buy any products from companies I feel do not represent that world I want to live.  

Here's an example......

the Clorox Company

I have an issue when a company uses these kind of lines to sell a line of their products

'A balanced, natural lifestyle begins with a clean home. That’s why the people at Clorox got to work on a line of products that clean powerfully without harsh chemical fumes or residue.'

​while still selling product containing harsh chemical fumes and residue

My thoughts are....

If you are selling a product on the basis you want to help the environment and protect the consumer, you shouldn't be selling products that do the opposite.

So I use my purchasing power to let them know I do not believe in what they are doing.  Now you might think that one person doing this won't make a difference and that's true but if one person reads this and decides to the same and passes it on to another and they decide to use their purchasing power you create a domino effect.  Eventually the company will start to notice a decline in sales, the shareholders will start to notice a decline in their investment and the company will have to start looking at the why's.  And that is a start in the right direction

So what other products, beside their own line of cleaning and household products, does the Clorox Company own


  • Brita water filtration systems 
  • Burt's Bees natural cosmetics and personal care products
  • Fresh Step, Scoop Away and Ever Clean cat litters
  • Formula 409 hard surface cleaners
  • Glad storage bags, trash bags, Press'n Seal, GladWare containers (joint venture with P&G as 20% minority shareholder)
  • Hidden Valley dressings, sandwich spreads and condiments, dips and dressing mixes, croutons and salad toppings, side dishes and appetizers
  • Green Works natural cleaners
  • Kitchen Bouquet, KC Masterpiece, and Soy Vay sauces
  • Kingsford charcoal
  • Lestoil heavy-duty laundry / multipurpose Cleaner
  • Liquid-Plumr drain cleaner
  • Natural Vitality
  • Neocell dietary supplements
  • Pine-Sol, Tilex, and S.O.S cleaning products
  • Rainbow Light
  • Renew Life digestive health products



1 Comment

Anti-Bacterial/Anti Microbial Microfiber Cloths

4/2/2020

2 Comments

 
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These words might have compelled you to purchase your microfiber cloths to help in the fight against coronavirus
​ 
'capable of "trapping and removing" 99.9% of bacteria from hard surfaces'

the coronavirus is not a bacteria but a virus therefore anti-bacterial and/or anti-microbial microfiber cloths will not be what removes the coronavirus from your non-porous hard surfaces. 

Soapy water and rigorous scrubbing will.

Using any of the Health Canada approved disinfectants will help against the fight against the coronavirus (Click here to find the natural and Eco-friendly ones)

Ensuring your dusting cloths are always damp (not dry) to trap the coronavirus and not spread it around will help.

Soaking all of the cloths you have used in soapy water for a time (I do overnight) will help

Anti-bacterial and/or Anti-Microbial microfiber cloths will not unless you use them in harmony with all of the steps above so why spend more to protect you and your loved ones when you already have what you need.






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What is Non-Porous?

4/2/2020

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Before using that disinfectant product you just purchased to  help you do your part to protect yourself and your loved ones against the coronavirus, you are reading the label and you noticed these words .... non-porous hard surfaces (and if it doesn't have those words it should) and you think to yourself 'what is a non-porous hard surface', well listed below are all the hard surfaces in your home and as you can see its not a big one

NON- POROUS HARD SURFACES

the disinfectant you are using is only disinfecting (if used properly) surfaces that are hard and non-porous.  What are these surfaces made of

Stainless and other processed metals
Glass
Leather and vinyl
​Hard plastics including acrylic
Corian
Quartz

That's it...that is what your disinfectant product works on
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My First Time

3/19/2020

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WITH AN EMPTY BLUE BOX ON COLLECTION DAY

by April Anderson
Just Another Natural Nut
Last week I reached under my kitchen sink to empty my indoor recycling bin into my curbside one for pickup.  To my surprise it was empty.  This was a first and I hope it won't be the last.

I have worked hard to get to this point, finding ways to purchase items with packaging I can reuse and stop purchasing items I cannot.  This is a long way from being excited about having to use more than one blue box to do my part in recycling 15 to 20 years ago.

What changes did I make?

I purchase less canned goods and instead of recycling the ones I do buy, I find other ways to use them after thoroughly cleaning them 

I buy my fruit and vegetable loose whenever I can

I buy in bulk at places I can bring my own containers or can reuse theirs

I don't purchase prepared foods with all of their packaging and I am not a milk or juice drinker so no tetra containers.

I choose glass over plastic containers for condiments

I do not accept junk mail so I rarely receive mail

Now I have to start working on what I put into the garbage for pickup




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A Glimpse at Alternative Therapies

3/18/2020

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from Consumer Reports

Acupuncture

There is some research to show acupuncture does work, especially for chronic headaches, chronic back/neck pain and osteoarthritis.

Apple Cider Vinegar
There is very little scientific evidence to support the claims of regulating blood sugar, promoting weight loss, lower cholesterol or reducing the risk of cancer.  If you suffer from heartburn, drinking apple cider vinegar would be like "throwing gas on a fire" (Benjamin Kligler, M.D.).  Regular use can trigger nausea, damage tooth enamel and irritate the esophagus.

Ear Candling
In 2017 a review by Seth Schwartz M.D. concluded candling to be ineffective and dangerous, reporting it can block the ear with wax, damage hearing and possibly set your hair on fire.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Combined, a top selling supplement for aching joints was shown not to be any better than a placebo during a trial of 1625 patients with osteoarthritis in 2015. 

Green Coffee
Supplements have been linked to side effects, including headaches and urinary tract infections

Kava
Used in drinks and supplements to promote relaxation and ease anxiety.  Some countries have banned Kava, Canada is not one.

Kratom
Promoted as a safe pain reliever it has been suggested it can be as addictive as opioids as it affects the same brain receptors.

Light Therapy
A proven treatment for seasonal affective disorder.  It may also help with depression and bipolar disorder

Massage
A good massage will do more than relax you.  Research shows it can help some people with back pain and those recovering from injury.

Meditation
Research suggests meditation may help lower blood pressure, ease anxiety, depression and insomnia.

Melatonin
A 2017 study found that some of the supplements didn't contain what the label stated. Instead of Melatonin, Seratonin was found in the products which is a chemical that regulates mood instead.

Omega 3
A 2017 research review concluded the pills might provide some benefit to people with a history of heart disease but there was not enough evidence to show if they improve cardiac health in people without existing heart problems.

Probiotics
For general health you are better off getting probiotics from your diet than a supplement. fermented foods and yogurt may offer benefits far beyond what you can find in a supplement.

Tai Chi
Research suggests it cuts the risk of falls in older adults, helps with chronic pain and may ease symptoms of depression, osteoarthritis and Parkinson's disease.

Tea
After water, this is the most widely consumed drink in the world.  Research shows regular tea drinkers have a lower risk of diseases such as Type A diabetes and heart disease.  Doesn't matter what you drink, green , white and black teas are all rich in health friendly flavonoids.

​Turmeric
Unlike the laboratory mice, when humans digest turmeric, little of the very important curcumin is absorbed.  Make sure you check with the doctor before taking turmeric supplements as the can interact negatively with certain medications such as blood thinners.

Yoga
While many use practice yoga for flexibility or relaxing, it can also relieve low back pain, reduce blood pressure and ease depression.
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Oil & Water

3/17/2020

0 Comments

 
by April Anderson
Just Another Natural Nut
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you've heard the saying

'they are like oil and water'

no truer words
can be spoken
when it comes to
throwing straight
essentials oils 
into your bath water

they just don't mix

which can become
​a problem
​for your skin
​

excerpt from Tisserand Institute
" do not put drops of essential oil into a bath and then step into it. Essential oils do not mix with water, they float in tiny droplets on the surface, and you are about to sit on those droplets of undiluted essential oil. Whenever essential oils are ‘mixed’ with water without a dispersing agent, there is a risk of irritation, since undiluted droplets of essential oil attach to the skin, often in sensitive areas. Because the oils are warmed up by the water, and also cannot evaporate, they often sting like crazy.  Therefore, essential oils always need to be fully dispersed in and appropriate base before being added to a bath."  
SAFE TIPS
FOR BATHING WITH
ESSENTIAL OILS
​THESE CARRIERS ARE NOT SAFE TO USE IN YOUR BATHthese 8 substances are water soluble, so when you put them in your bath with your essential oil, they readily dissolve and become one with the water, leaving your essential oils all alone to hang out on the surface of the water causing havoc on your skin. 
  1. cornstarch
  2. baking soda
  3. all salts - safe if diluted in a carrier oil and then added to the salt 
  4. milk - dairy or non-dairy
  5. ​witch hazel
  6. alcohol unless it is 160 proof and higher
  7. glycerin
  8. aloe vera


USE OILS AS A CARRIER  - Essential oils can be safely added to oils (olive, sunflower, hemp, grapeseed) properly diluted (5 to 7 drops in a Tbsp. will do), if thoroughly mixed. These oils work well to safely dilute and ‘carry’ essential oils. this does make for a pretty slippery, greasy bath experience so be very careful when getting out.
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Petroleum Jelly

3/12/2020

1 Comment

 
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by April Anderson
Just Another Natural Nut

DID YOU KNOW your skin cannot absorb products with petrolatum/petroleum jelly, like Vaseline. 

Products with petrolatum/petroleum jelly, simply coat the skin, which does not allow your skin the ability to breathe, release toxins or absorb moisture when needed.

1 Comment

one phrase changes everything

3/10/2020

0 Comments

 
by April Anderson
Just Another Natural Nut

I don't think there is a phrase in the world of  products that confounds me more because it is one of those phrases that is so overused our brain has stopped recognizing it as something that we need to pay attention to...it has become that "white noise" of the visual world.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A PRODUCT SAYS DERIVED FROM
It means the starting point of the ingredient was real (natural) at one time

The greatest example I can use to explain this is....................................
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ORANGE JUICE

You know the one
The container says
fresh squeezed and pure
100% orange juice
Not from Concentrate

I am going to assume
We, as consumers
Know there is a
growing season
For oranges
Just like all other
fruits and vegetables

I am also going to assume
We don’t believe
Someone stands
over that carton
And squeezes oranges
Until it’s full

  But what you may not know
The method used
To store juice
of squeezed oranges
Makes the juice
completely flavourless  

If you bought different
​cartons of orange juice
They would all taste the same
Well, except Texas, Mexico and Alaska
 I think I read somewhere that
They found the consumers in these areas
Preferred a different taste
​According to Food Renegade: “Juice companies therefore hire flavor and fragrance companies ... to engineer flavor packs to add back to the juice to make it taste fresh. Flavor packs aren’t listed as an ingredient on the label because technically they are derived from orange essence and oil. Yet those in the industry will tell you that the flavor packs, whether made for reconstituted or pasteurized orange juice, resemble nothing found in nature
So you are 
ingesting a product
that is man-made, 
manipulated, modified


ITS NOT NATURAL

and they don’t 
have to tell you
because they are doing
nothing illegal
because it is
DERIVED FROM
and as long as there is
a smidgen of nature
they can call it 100%
 
Some manufactures 
and producers of

CLEANING PRODUCTS
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
BEAUTY PRODUCTS
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
OUR FOOD AND DRINK


  do basically
the same thing


they modify
they manipulate
and they don't
have to tell you


WE INGEST IT 
WE BREATHE IT 
WE WEAR IT

AND BY PURCHASING
WE ACCEPT IT


Use the voice that matters

your purchasing power
to affect change 

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4 Worst Household Products for Greenwashing

3/9/2020

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​Marketplace investigation reveals the truth behind environmental claims
CBC News · Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:41 PM ET | Last Updated: September 14, 2012

**UPDATE** In 2012, when this investigation was aired Marketplace listed 10 products they considered the worst for Greenwashing.  I did a search and found 6 of the listed products no longer available but we still have the four products below that you may want to steer clear of if you are trying to use products that are safe for you, your loved ones and the environment.  Support companies who are transparant

Biodegradable, natural and non-toxic are environmentally friendly promises plastered across many household products, but a CBC Marketplace investigation found that a number of them amount to little more than greenwashing.

"There's so much greenwash on shelves today, it's just overwhelming," said Adria Vasil, a columnist and author of the Ecoholic book series. "It's like a tsunami of greenwash really."

Figuring out whether products are actually environmentally friendly can be challenging since companies don't have to post the ingredients on cleaning products.

"For companies, they think, 'Consumers aren't looking too deeply. We can bamboozle them.'" said Marc Stoiber, who worked in advertising for 20 years but now helps companies go green.

Ecoholic author Vasil worked with Marketplace to examine environmental claims on household products and created the following Top 10 list of lousy labels.

1. Dawn Antibacterial dish soap
The labels on Dawn's antibacterial dish soap feature baby seals and ducklings with the promise that "Dawn helps save wildlife." Dawn donates soap to clean up animals after oil spills and gives money to rescue groups, but the product itself contains an ingredient harmful to animals.

Triclosan, an antibacterial agent, was recently declared officially toxic to aquatic life and it is an ingredient environmental groups have called for to be banned. "We don't need more of this in our rivers and streams," said Vasil. "And it's certainly not saving wildlife."

Proctor & Gamble, maker of Dawn products, refused an interview request by Marketplace. In a statement, the company said, "All of our Dawn dishwashing products and ingredients are in compliance with current legal and regulatory requirements in Canada."

2.  Organic Melt ice remover 
One of the key concerns around using road salt to melt ice is the damage salt does to aquatic life when it reaches rivers, streams and groundwater. Organic Melt ice remover advertises itself as being "environmentally safe" and an "agricultural-based product" with sugar beets.

When Marketplace checked with the company, it revealed that only three per cent of its product is sugar beets by weight and the rest is rock salt — that despite the fact that the ingredient list puts beets first.

There's no requirement for companies to put the main ingredient first on the list. The company, Eco-solutions, told Marketplace that using sugar beets makes the product work better so less is needed and overall there's less salt going into the environment.

3.  Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner
On the label, this cleaning product states it's non-toxic. But a Marketplace expert determined that one ingredient in the cleaner, 2-butoxyethanol, is listed by Environment Canada as a toxic health hazard that can damage red blood cells.

Vasil notes that no one is policing use of terms such as non-toxic on household products. The toxin is also not listed on the back of the product because there's currently no requirement for ingredient lists on cleaning products. "No one is forcing them to list their ingredients and to come clean about what's actually in the product," said Vasil.

Simple Green responded to questions from Marketplace about its non-toxic claim in a statement. "We have had independent laboratories … conduct a host of testing on our product as a whole to confirm that the complete formula is non-toxic."

4. Raid EarthBlends Multi-bug Killer
With an insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower, Raid EarthBlends Multi-bug Killer touts itself as an alternative insect control solution. Despite its naturally derived component, the label warns users to avoid contact with skin and clothes, and not to inhale the mist when spraying it.

"A lot of things in nature are actually dangerous and toxic," said Vasil. "Not all natural things are good for you. And this is a perfect example."

The product states it can be used for bed bugs, despite that in many parts of Canada, homeowners are banned from using such pesticides on their lawns. "Banned from your backyard, but OK for your bed?" questioned Vasil.

In a statement, the maker, SC Johnson, said it is "committed to using sustainable ingredients in our products" and the products are "safe and effective when used as directed."
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sodium lauryl sulfate is natural?

3/6/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
by April Anderson
​Just Another Natural Nut
​aka sodium caprylic sulfate, sodium capric sulfate, sodium oleic sulfate, sodium stearyl sulfate, sodium myreth sulfate, sodium dodecanesulfate, sodium monododecyl sulfate, to name a few

​It's what gives you

all that 'lather'
and
skin irritations
dry skin
allergic reactions
dermatitis
Picture
but the label
says it's from
coconuts

so it must
​be natural

not really!

they took the
lauryl alcohol
from the coconut
added a bunch of
not so natural 
ingredients
to manipulate

and then 
used the words
'comes from'
and 
'derived from'
to make it
a 'feel good'
​product

​that is not natural

that is a company
finding ways
to deceive you
legally
so they can 
use a cheaper
ingredient
to create a
bigger profit
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