Soap Nuts: the Green Clean Detergent

Author: James J Clarkson

The North American consumer is moving towards becoming an informed buyer. An average American is now aware of facts that previously went unnoticed such as the presence of Triclosan in anti-bacterial soaps, bisphenol-A in plastics and that air fresheners are abuzz with phthalates. In simple words, the above describes the various harmful chemicals that are present in items that a person uses on a daily basis. People are now coming to realize that such chemicals are not just harmful to human health but also deplete the environment. The shift towards plant based and natural products is evident.

Why not regular laundry detergents?

Cleaning and washing laundry are a regular household task. There are various options in the market in the form of cleaning aids and commercial laundry detergents. These detergents contain a blend of many toxic chemicals that are present in the form of residue on clothes after they are washed. The skin may absorb these chemicals into the blood stream or they may evaporate and be taken in by children causing potential health effects.

Regular laundry detergents contain ammonia and phosphates which is why many people experience itching, rashes and allergic reactions ,such as eczema, to these detergents. A better, safer, ethical and environmental friendly option would be to use Soap nuts as a detergent and cleaning aid.

Soap nuts as detergents and cleaning aids

Soap nuts are a type of berry native to India, Nepal and other South Asian countries. The larger variety of soap nuts (Sapindus Mukorrosi) is widely used as a natural detergent and cleaning aid all over the world. The saponins in soap nuts make them an excellent detergent and cleaning aid.

Saponins are nature’s cleansing agents that act like soap when they come in contact with water. The saponins dissolves in the water and function as detergents. The soap nuts allow water to penetrate well into the fabric thereby washing and cleaning them. The dirt is attached to the surfactant which is then drained along with the water.

How to use soap nuts for laundry?

In order to use soap nuts for laundry purposes, 4-6 soap nut shells will be required. The soap nut shells should be taken and tied together in small muslin bag (supplied with most soap nuts orders), and tossed into the washing machine. Now you can add your clothes and do your normal laundry cycle. This set of soap nuts can be used for 4 to 5 loads of laundry. The soap nuts should be changed when they become grayish or mushy. It is advisable to allow the soap nuts to dry between successive loads of laundry. The soap nut bag should be removed before running the clothes in the dryer.

To make a liquid solution, 100 grams of soap nuts, (or approximately30-35 whole soap nuts) should be boiled in approximately 3L of water for about 20 to 30 minutes. A liquid will be obtained which is a chemical free, concentrated soap nut solution; a natural aid to all your laundry detergent needs. The shells that are left over may be added to your compost. Then 45 ml of this solution (approximately 3 tablespoons) can be used for a load of laundry. The solution made with 100 grams of soap nuts can be used for washing approximately 40 loads of laundry and will cost you less than $10!

Benefits of using soap nuts as laundry detergents

Soap nuts help maintain the bright colors of the fabric and prevent fading with each wash. Soap nuts can be used to wash the most delicate fabrics such as silks and woolen garments without causing any harm to them.

Clothes washed with soap nuts come out feeling very soft eliminating the need to use additional fabric softeners.

The use of soap nuts does not cause any allergic reactions as it is completely natural and chemical free. They are ideal for people with allergies, eczema, dermatitis and sensitive skin.

For more articles on soap nuts visit http://www.HotterThanHealth.com/Newsletter.html

For pricing & to purchase soap nuts visit http://Stores.HotterThanHealth.com/StoreFront.bok

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/soap-nuts-the-green-clean-detergent-376954.html

About the Author:

http://Stores.HotterThanHealth.com/StoreFront.bok

Ten Terrific Superfoods That Will Enhance Your Wellbeing

Author: Roger Wakefield

Athough many people think of the term 'superfood' as a modern phenomena, records show that the term has been in use since at least 1945, and possibly early if we allow the hyphenated version, 'super-food'.

So what are they, and are they really all that 'super'?

In modern times, the term is generally used to indicate that a food has nutritional properties that are above and beyond those needed just to sustain life - usually that they contain vitamins and nutrients that have been proven to reduce the risk of disease and promote good health.

The claim is that 'Superfoods' are jam packed with nutrients and have great healthgiving properties. They are also supposed to boost our energy levels, prevent illness, boost brain power and repair cell damage.

If you want to test this theory out for yourself, look for ways to get the following superfoods into your diet.

1. Brazil nuts – These contain selenium which helps to protect the body against certain cancers, Alzheimer's disease and depression. Nuts help to reduce our risk of heart disease and can help to control our appetites. Look for free recipes online which make use of this wonderful nut.

2. Olive oil – Olive oil is a mono-unsaturated fat which helps to lower cholesterol. It is a source of antioxidants which help to fight the signs of ageing and protect us from damage caused by free radicals like smoking and pollution. Olive oil is a main ingredient in the healthy Mediterranean diet so look for Mediterranean diet free recipes online.

3. Apples – The humble apple is high in Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant, and high in pectin, a soluble fibre which keeps the digestive system in good working order and helps to lower cholesterol.

4. Seeded Wholegrain Bread – The fibre in the bread keeps the digestive system healthy, the seeds are a source of essential fatty acids and phytoestrogens in linseeds and soya can help relieve symptoms of the menopause. These high fibre breads also help to control appetite.

5. Baked beans – Baked beans are brilliant. The tomato sauce is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant which protects the body from prostate cancer and heart disease. Insoluble fibre in the beans helps to keep the digestive system healthy. Beans are also rich in calcium, iron and protein. Serve baked beans on seeded bread toast for a great superfood meal!

6. Tea – Both black tea and green tea are rich in antioxidants. An antioxidant in tea, catechin, helps to keep our arteries healthy and stops blood clots forming.

7. Bananas – Bananas are high in potassium which is essential for healthy hair and skin and also helps to lower blood pressure. Bananas are also high in antioxidants and are a great source of energy. Bananas can be used in low fat recipes to replace half the fat content in cake recipes.

8. Yogurt – Yogurt is a great source of calcium which is essential for healthy teeth and bones. Bio yogurts also help the digestive system by topping up the amount of friendly bacteria present in the intestines. Make your own yogurt – find free recipes online.

9. Salmon – Salmon is an oily fish and oily fish are often known as “Brain food” because eating oily fish regularly helps to prevent dementia and depression. Eating oily fish also reduces the risk of heart disease, build up of plaque on the walls of the artery and lowers triglyceride levels.

10. Broccoli – This vegetable is high in folic acid which is thought to lower the risk of heart disease and phytochemicals which help to prevent cancer. Broccoli also contains the antioxidants Vitamin C and lutein which is thought to delay the onset and progression of AMD, age related macular degeneration.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/ten-terrific-superfoods-that-will-enhance-your-wellbeing-480372.html

About the Author:

Roger Wakefield works for for the Recipe File site, (http://www.recipe-file.co.uk), one of the best established recipe sites online. The Recipe File website contains more than 40k recipes which cover recipes as diverse as appetizer recipes to stew recipes. Home cooking can be simple and fun if you have some great recipes to start with. The Recipe File makes sure you will never have trouble finding a scrumptious recipe whenever you want.

Top 10 Reasons to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Your Health

Author: Hope Pope

Copyright (c) 2008 Hope Pope

Here are top 10 reasons to use Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for your health. (However, don't use anything but "Raw apple cider vinegar. Braggs is a great brand.)

1. Energy. Take 1 tablespoon, 2 times a day in 8 ounces to 16 ounces of water. This is especially helpful if you have a baby or little children... and you need the energy to keep up with them.

2. Bug bites. To take away the itching and the bites quickly, dab the bites with straight ACV or mix it with half water, half vinegar.

3. Slows down bleeding during menstrual cycle. To lessen the bleeding each period, take 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in a glass of water... 2 times a day.

4. Cuts. Hippocrates used raw apple cider vinegar to treat cuts. It was helpful years ago and it is helpful now. It stops the bleeding rather quickly and heals cuts as well. Put a compress of straight ACV or mix it with half vinegar and half water. Does it sting? Yes, it typically does... just like any other treatment would. But it will only typically sting for a few seconds.

5. Shiny hair. Use apple cider vinegar after shampooing for a beautiful shine. Mix one half of a cup of ACV with one half of a cup of water... and then rinse the hair with this. Then rinse again to get it all out of the hair.

6. Fever. Put 1 cup of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR in the tub and soak in it for 10 to 20 minutes. If the fever is extra high, it is recommended to do this two times a day. This is the only thing that worked to bring my child's fever down... on more than a few occasions.

7. Cysts. Dab ACV on the cyst for a few minutes (if the cyst is really big, a longer time is suggested... such as 10 minutes). Putting ACV on a bandaid ... and applying a bandaid on the cyst all night ... is often helpful.

8. Earache. Using ACV in the ear has shown to help an earache. Make a mixture of ½ tsp ACV and ½ tsp distilled water... and put a few drops in the ear.

9. Toothache. Swish the Vinegar in the mouth... especially the area where it is affected. Keep it in the mouth as long as possible. ACV has a very strong smell ... so some people might not be able to do this... but if it is possible, it can be very helpful.

10. It's cheap! It costs less than $6 (in most health stores) and it cures so many things.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/top-10-reasons-to-use-apple-cider-vinegar-for-your-health-643666.html

About the Author:

Hope Pope is the Owner of www.provennaturalcures.com ... a web site that includes natural cures for warts, yeast infections and more. To read another article on the benefits of apple cider vinegar, click here... ezinearticles.com/

What Steps Has Your Family Taken To Go More Green? Linked In Members Respond!

What steps has your family taken to go more green?

Dave Maskin wrote:
"If we all do a little bit, it will add up BIG TIME!"
http://www.WireNames.com

• The one big thing we've done is to change out our regular light bulbs for compact fluorescent ones.
• Also, completely unplugging cable boxes and TVs when not in use, as well as computers and modems.

Hans Chung wrote:
"I think that helping more people go green by focusing
on greening business has the most impact."
http://www.mokugift.com/

• I went green by starting my own company to help other people and companies go green while saving money or driving revenue.

• We let you plant a tree for $1. Consumers can send them to each other or companies can use them as rewards.

Taylor Ellwood wrote:
"It comes down to making little choices, but those
little choices can have a big effect on how you live your life."
http://www.imagineyourreality.com

• We've changed our lights to flourescent bulbs
• Started composting
• Even making sure not to throw out a paper bag we use to collect paper for recycling...

Susan Shwartz PhD wrote:
http://www.sff.net/people/susanshwartz/

• I buy mostly fresh foods with as little packaging as I can manage.
• I turn off all lights that I am not using.
• My apartment is cooler.
• I watch water consumption.
• Although I use plastic bags, I recycle them.
• I repair, rather than throw out, and buy most clothes on e-Bay.
• I do not own a car.

Shane Wyatt McCartney wrote:
http://swmccartney.blogspot.com/

• Recycle
• Changed out lights to LEDS
• Down to one car and plan our shopping drives better
• Composting
• Green roof and siding ( Started not complete )
• Turned off room lights when not in use

Beate Bouwman wrote:

• In a family with five young kids we don't use a tumble dryer or dishwasher,
• Buy either very good clothes or second hand
  
• In business, I promote low energy houses (wood - frame-construction with use of loam products (very high insolation), regenerating energy from sun and water etc.).
  
• My husband is also into MPC.

Aurora Bramble wrote:
"If everyone lived simply maybe everyone could live a decent life. I don't want to be one of the small % of people to use the great % of resources."

• I now buy all my personal and cleaning products green
• I look for organic cotton and bamboo fabrics in clothes bedding towels
• I got the electric company to come out and put in free insulation for the top floor of my apartment building
• I sat in on my city's green committee came up with a plan for green incentives for businesses in my city and gave it to the chairman
• I got the city to include the end of my block a triangular shape included into the city's beautification project. They made a beautiful little park lush and full of flowers and some picnic tables
• I ride my bike pretty much everywhere
• I consume as little as possible i am big time into simplicity
• I buy all my produce from a farmer's market and i am a vegan the rest I buy at whole foods organic
• X-mas lights this year LED
• Cards recycled paper
• I rarely use lights in my apartment because it is bright here so i get up when it's light and wide down when it gets dark and i use candles for atmosphere made.
• If everyone lived simply maybe everyone could live a decent life. I don't want to be one of the small % of people to use the great % of resources. I live in an apartment so it is tricky to grow vegetables and herbs but I'm trying.

Get $5 off your iherb.com order when you use Code CEL445.

Some of my fave iherb products:

New Chapter Woman's One Daily
Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
100% Natural Vanilla Oil
Spry Gum
XyliWhite Toothpaste
Giovanni Shampoo
Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap
Krystal Salt
Hemp Seeds

Just use CEL445 at iherb.com to get $5 off your first order!

Author Interview: Stacy Malkan: Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of The Beauty Industry

Stacy Malkan

Author of
Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry

CELESTE: What is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics?

STACY: A national coalition of health and environmental groups working to shift the beauty industry away from toxic chemicals and toward safer ingredients.

CELESTE: How can consumers find out if their favorite beauty item contains harmful chemicals?

STACY: Check out the Skin Deep database at www.CosmeticDatabase.org. You can look up your favorite products, find out how toxic they are, and identify the safest alternatives in every product category.

New Book Reveals Ugly Side of Big Beauty

Lead in lipstick? 1,4 dioxane in baby shampoo? How is this possible? Simple. The $50 billion cosmetics industry is so powerful they’ve kept themselves unregulated for decades. Stacy Malkan’s new book, Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry (New Society Publishers, 2007), follows a group of health and environmental activists as they knock on the doors of the world’s largest cosmetics companies to ask some tough questions:

• Why do companies market themselves as pink ribbon leaders in the fight against breast cancer, yet use chemicals that may contribute to that very disease?

• Why do products used daily by men and women of childbearing age contain chemicals linked to reproductive harm and infertility?

As doors slammed in their faces, the beauty myth peeled away and the industry’s toxic secrets began to emerge. The good news is that while multinational corporations fight for their right to use hazardous chemicals, scientists are developing non-toxic technologies and entrepreneurs are building businesses based on the values of health, justice and personal empowerment.

CELESTE: Are cosmetics regulated as to what can or cannot go into making them?

STACY: Most people are surprised to find out that companies can put nearly any chemical into personal care products with no required safety testing. Cosmetics are the least regulated product at FDA. It’s up to the companies to decide what’s safe, and companies are making decisions all over the board – some are making products safe enough to eat, while other companies regularly put carcinogens, reproductive toxicants and other hazardous chemicals into products.

CELESTE: Tell me about phthalates.

Phthalates are a set of industrial chemicals that are toxic to the reproductive system. We all have phthalates in our bodies. For 30 years, scientists have known that certain phthalates cause birth defects of the penis, infertility and testicular tumors in animal studies. These same health effects have been increasing in humans in recent decades and many scientists suspect phthalates. Unfortunately, many personal care products contain phthalates, but the chemicals are not listed on labels because they are part of the fragrance.

CELESTE: What steps should consumers take before they purchase health and beauty products to make sure what they are buying is safe and environmentally friendly?

STACY: A good rule of thumb is, simpler is better. Choose products with fewer synthetic chemicals, shorter ingredient lists, and try to avoid synthetic fragrance. Also check out the Skin Deep database to research your products and find the safest brands.

CELESTE: Do you think women are aware that what they spend their dollars on in the health and beauty department does have a HUGE effect on their health and the health of our environment? Please explain.

STACY: We’ve all been trained through millions of advertisements to put our blind trust in companies; but unfortunately, we’ve seen over the past few years that the world’s largest beauty companies can’t be trusted. All the major conventional brands have been unwilling to discuss legitimate concerns about toxic chemicals, and they continue to make excuses that “a little bit of poison is OK.”

The fact is, the beauty industry buys huge amounts of carcinogens and other toxic chemicals from the chemical industry, and they put these chemicals into products and into the environment. The poisons are adding up. The $50 billion beauty industry should be at the front of the line offering to reduce their contribution to the toxic load; unfortunately, many of these companies are at the back of the line. They continue to use and defend old polluting technologies and toxic chemicals even though safer alternatives are available.

CELESTE: Let's talk about 'eco-friendly' perfumes. In this case, how do I know the product is truly environmentally friendly?

STACY: Look for “natural fragrance” or essential oils, or choose products that have no added fragrance. Synthetic fragrances often contain toxic chemicals and there is no way to know for sure what’s in them because the companies don’t have to tell us.

CELESTE: What are some harmful substances that consumers should stay away from in:

STACY--

SHAMPOO: Sodium laurel sulfate (toxic to the skin); sodium laureth sulfate, PEG compounds (often contaminated with 1,4 dioxane); synthetic fragrance

LIPSTICK: See the report, A Poison Kiss for list of lead containing lipsticks, http://www.safecosmetics.org/your_health/poisonkiss.cfm

LOTIONS:Parabens, fragrance

MASCARA: Petroleum distillates, thimerisol/mercury

DEODERANT: aluminum, parabens, fragrance

CELESTE: Stacy, would you like to add anything?

STACY: This topic can be overwhelming, but I see a lot of reasons for hope. Change is happening fast.

• Consumers are demanding safer, greener alternatives in all product categories.
  
• Scientists are discovering new information about the toxicity of chemicals on an almost daily basis.
• Many beauty companies in the natural sector are reformulating out toxic chemicals and creating safer alternatives.
  

The big companies will be forced to change too, it’s only a matter of time. We are working toward the day when all products on the shelf are as safe as they can possibly be.

What’s in your products? www.SafeCosmetics.org
Read the Toxic Beauty Blog: www.NotJustaPrettyFace.org

About the Author

Stacy Malkan is co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of health and environmental groups working to eliminate hazardous chemicals from personal care products. Stacy is a former journalist and newspaper publisher, who now works as a leading media strategist for national and international environmental health campaigns.

Be A Green Giant today! Q&A with Brad Doan from Steelcase,Inc.

www.BeAGreenGiant.com

Q&A with Brad Doan
Manager,North American Brand Communications & Advertising
Organization: Steelcase, Inc. (www.steelcase.com)

CELESTE: Tell me about www.BeAGreenGiant.com.

BRAD: In February 2008 we decided to kick off a U.S. campaign that we called, “GreenGiants”. It consisted of a series of events and initiatives that culminated in a website: www.BeAGreenGiant.com. This campaign (one of the largest in recent Steelcase history) intentionally put our own marketing messages on the back burner. From the onset, this campaign wasn’t going to be centered around us. Our approach to advertising sustainability, had to mirror our approach to sustainability.

• We wanted to elevate the conversation beyond simply being “green”.
  
• The campaign says, “Sustainable environments begin with sustainable communities” – that’s been our company’s approach to sustainability since the beginning – a holistic approach that considers people and the planet.
  
• We believe that the social component (helping people) is critical when talking about and doing sustainable initiatives. We believe that social component is the difference between just being “green” and being a “GreenGiant”.
  

So GreenGiants don’t really need to be “giants” at all… it’s anyone that believes in or is practicing a broader approach to sustainability – one that considers people and the planet. And we believe that’s a message that resonated with people – as far away as India and other guests to the site from 116 countries.

CELESTE: What were the goals of the campaign?

BRAD: The campaign had three goals:

1) To educate others by providing comprehensive resources and information on sustainability,

2) Inspire others through stories of great works of sustainability and

3) Provide a platform for others to celebrate sustainable acts that have inspired them (friends, themselves, organizations, companies, projects, etc.) – elevating their visibility and giving them a global stage from which to share.

GreenGiants has been a rally cry within the corporation and has taken on deeper cultural significance than we could have imagined. Employees have committed to being GreenGiants and are looking for ways (big and small) that they can personally make a difference.

CELESTE: What does Steelcase specialize in?

BRAD: Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, helps people have a better work experience by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. The company designs and manufactures architecture, furniture and technology products. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase (NYSE:SCS) serves customers through a network of over 600 independent dealers and approximately 13,500 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2008 revenue was $3.4 billion.

Background:

You can’t pick up a magazine or a newspaper these days and not see a company touting how “green” they are or celebrating their environmental achievements. And that’s a good thing, because it’s a sign that companies are starting to recognize the importance of being more environmentally conscious. The bad thing, is that a lot of companies don’t take the time or make the investment to do the things that really matter – choosing, instead, to celebrate small achievements for self-promotion.

At Steelcase, you could say sustainability is in our DNA, dating all the way back to our founding family members. We’ve been helping the environment and the people that live in that environment for many, many years. We’ve done that and continue to do it, because it was important to us… it’s one of our company’s core values.

www.BeAGreenGiant.com