Stumbling Toward Enlightenment

posted by Michelle Schoffro Cook, Care2
‘Tis the season for sunshine, barbecues, and mosquitoes.

Before you grab that DEET-based mosquito repellent in an effort to keep the mosquitoes at bay, consider that research at Duke University links diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) use to brain damage —no wonder the mosquitoes leave at the first scent of it. Perhaps we’d be wise to follow their lead and stay clear of the stuff. Check out my article tomorrow on the dangers of DEET mosquitorepellents.

Here are six natural options that mosquitoes hate and you’ll soon love. You don’t have to worry about DEET-induced brain cell damage or scratching yourself to death. And, if you still think that natural means less effective, keep reading. Some of these mosquito repellents are MORE EFFECTIVE THAN DEET!

1. Citronella
   The old standby. Be sure you’re using pure essential oil, not fragrance oil, which is ineffective and potentially dangerous. Most mosquito repellent products “containing citronella” are made with fragrance oil and should be avoided. If you’re applying citronella to your skin, dilute it in a carrier oil or natural moisturizer. A few drops per tablespoon of oil or cream is all that is needed.

   Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

2. Catnip
   Research at Iowa State University found that catnip essential oil 10 is times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. Mosquitoes will hate you and cats will love you. Like citronella be sure to use it diluted in a carrier oil or natural moisturizer.
3. Lavender essential oil
   Smells great and is a commonly used and effective mosquito repellent.
4. Soy oil
   Better yet, choose organic soy oil as the carrier oil for catnip, lavender, and citronella essential oils. According to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine soybean oil-based mosquito repellents are as effective as DEET-containing repellents.
5. NEEM seed oil
   “Neem oil” is extracted from a plant that grows in India. An ingredient in Neem seed oil has also been found to be more effective than DEET by researchers at the Malaria Institute in India. Both the US National Research Council and the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association have confirmed this finding.
6. Garlic
   Eat lots of fresh garlic—mosquitoes will steer clear of you since they hate the stuff. As an added bonus, so will vampires.

Michelle Schoffro Cook, MSc, RNCP, ROHP, DNM, PhD is an international best-selling and eleven-time book author and doctor of traditional natural medicine, whose works include: The Vitality Diet, Allergy-Proof, Arthritis-Proof, Total Body Detox, The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, and The Phytozyme Cure. Check out her natural health resources and free e-newsletter at www.WorldsHealthiestDiet.com.

By Planet Green

We produce a lot of waste. In 2008 alone, Americans generated 250 million tons of trash, and though about a third of that was recycled, a lot went into landfills or was incinerated. Our culture is centered around disposability, and only we have the power to change that.

Take stock of the disposable, overly-packaged, and single-use products that you use, and then look for reusable alternatives. Not sure where to start? Here are more than two dozen items that many people use . . . and can easily live without.

25 Wasteful Things You Can Live Without:

1. Tin foil — Use an oven-safe pot or dish with a lid.
2. Plastic wrap — Instead, use a container with a lid.
3. Disposable cleaning cloths, dusters, etc. — Use a microfiber cloth that can be washed.
4. Paper towels — Use a tea towel, instead.
5. Disposable pens — Buy a good pen that only needs the ink well changed.
6. Plastic cutlery — Use the metal stuff.
7. Paper plates — Washing dishes may be an effort, but it’s worth it.
8. Paper or plastic single-use grocery bags — Get a few reusable bags.
9. Packaged fruits and vegetables — Produce does not need to be packaged.
10. Individually wrapped snacks — Snacks travel better anyway in a hard container.
11. Disposable razors — Invest in a razor that only needs the blades changed.



12. Juice boxes — Put juice in a reusable container (not plastic).
13. Electric pencil sharpeners — Use the hand-crank version of days gone by.
14. Disposable diapers — Cloth diapers aren’t that much more difficult to use.
15. Disposable cloths — Fabric cloths can be washed regularly to avoid bacterial or viral build-up.
16. Plastic cups — Stick to reusable cups.
17. Bottled water — Install a water filter on your tap or pick up a water jug with a filter.
18. Non-rechargeable batteries — Make the investment for rechargeable batteries and you’ll save money in the long run.
19. Electric can openers — Use a little muscle.
20. Single-serving pudding or yogurt cups — Buy a large container of yogurt or make your own pudding, and send it in a reusable container.
21. Antibacterial wipes — If you must, use a gel hand sanitizer.
22. Disposable table cloths — Spills are a reality of life; just clean them up as they happen.
23. Facial tissues — Unless you have a bad cold, a handkerchief will work just fine.
24. Paper billing — Switch to e-billing for your bank statement, credit card bill, utility bill, etc.
25. Plasticized sticky notes — Use the original paper sticky notes; they can be recycled when you’re done with them.

posted by Terri Hall-Jackson

It is now a common sight to see shoppers carrying their own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store. That is fantastic, and such an easy eco-friendly action for most of us to take. Still, there’s a ton of material we continue to schlep home when shopping — the cellophane, unrecyclable bags, plastic, and cardboard used in the packaging of many common items. Much of this packaging is unnecessary, but manufacturers know that flashy packaging translates into increased sales.

As of 1994, the European Union requires manufacturing companies to take back and recycle at least 60 percent of their packaging waste, including that used for food items, thus taking the burden off of the consumer and local communities. No such incentive for reducing packaging exists for manufacturers in the U.S. or Canada.

As consumers, there are a number of items we can use or purchase in order to reduce our consumption of excess packaging:

1. Bring a travel mug whenever you go to your favorite coffee shop. Many cafes will fill your mug at no additional charge, eliminating the need for those one-use styrofoam cups with plastic lids.
2. Use a reusable, stainless steel drinking bottle instead of individual drink boxes or bottles.
3. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables instead of produce in cans, frozen boxes and bags.
4. Buy in bulk, using your own containers from home to eliminate the use of can, carton, and plastic bag packaging.
5. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
6. Buy big boxes of cereal instead of individually packaged cereals.
7. Never buy individual “snack-sized” boxes or bags.
8. When washing non-bagged greens, use a salad spinner. That way you won’t have to use paper towels to blot the greens dry.
9. Buy quarts of yogurt instead of eight-ounce or smaller cups.
10. Use cloth or a gold coffee filter rather than paper filters.
11. Buy bulk cheese instead of individually wrapped slices.
12. Make your own popsicles using reusable molds, rather than buying boxed popsicles. Be sure to use BPA-free molds.
13. Use metal and ceramic baking pans instead of aluminum disposable pans.
14. Use loose tea instead of one-use tea bags.
15. DIY, green cleaning products instead of commercial cleaning products. Care2 is a great resource for recipes for these easy to prepare recipes, from window cleaner to furniture polish.

Personally, I’ve sewn together some cloth bags, the same size as the plastic bags from the grocer, and take them with me when I go shopping. They’re inside my canvas bags and I use them just like the plastic ones, only I can wash them and reuse them many, many times. The folks at the Farmer’s Market smile when they see them, the folks at the grocery store scratch their heads.

That cuts down on some of the plastic, but I’m still getting some of it when I buy things, which is annoying. When I ask about that, I’m usually told that the packaging is for sanitary or health reasons. Which points us back to buying local, fresh foods and baking our own bread and other baked goods. Lots of time, I know, but, I believe it’s worth it for us, our health, and our planet.

Do you have any tips to reduce packaging? Leave a comment below.