Drowning In Junk Mail

We  all get so much junk mail! It’s such a waste – ending up right directly in the recycling in our home.

Don’t despair – with a few simple steps stem the flow of junk mail to your mailbox.

It will take all of 15 minutes to fill out some online forms that will help reduce the paper invasion to your home!

When filling out the forms – Don’t forget to remove both yourself and your spouse or significant other.

Direct Marketing Association

The Direct Marketing Association will put your name on a “do not mail” list, which all its members must cross-reference before sending you a solicitation. This site represents marketers, so they will get you to jump through a hoop or two. In addition for companies that you have done business with, you will need to contact them directly.

If you are worried about missing special offers, you can always open an email account just for “junk mail”.

Another tip for special offers -  google a vendor before completing a purchase – often you’ll find all there current special offers.

https://www.dmachoice.org

Consumer Credit Reporting Industry

The Consumer Credit Reporting Industry will remove your name from the mailing lists that credit card companies use to send out offers. You will have to provide your SS information, so I went to a few sites that I trusted before I was comfortable proceeding – you can’t be too careful.

https://www.optoutprescreen.com

Phone Books

If you aren’t using them – why receive them. They are bulking take up space and use a lot of paper.

This organization will contact all phone book companies in your area and remove you from their lists!

YellowPagesGoesGreen.org

Or the number for individual companies using the following information:

AT&T  1-866-329-7118.

Yellow book has made it easy – go to http://corporate.yellowbook.com/products/print-directory-options-opt-out/

When calling to cancel your phone book be sure to tell them they don’t need to call you annually to confirm you still don’t want the phone book! They actually said if they call and don’t reach you, they will resume regular delivery! But after a short conversation the representative was able to set it up so that we receive no phone calls and no phone books. Beautiful!

Online Bill Pay

You can also set up many of your bills to be paperless and to pay them online – if you’re worried about missing an important bill you can always set up an email account to be used exclusively for bills.

Welcome back to PND. It's good to see you again!Drowning In Junk Mail

Splenda Safety

At the beginning of 2009 – following a lecture from my BFF, I stopped using Splenda.

She told me it was bad for me… and given my desire to provide whole, natural and organic foods for my family I realized that splenda use was completely incongruous with my other habits. So I eliminated Splenda from my diet (I had never given it to my children).

A few months later, I thought I should do some research of my own to better understand what makes it questionable. I know that other artificial sweetener’s had been found to cause cancers in animal testing and wondered if the same was true with Splenda.

Studies have shown that it depress’ immune systems:

It has been shown to interfere with the Thymus Gland - causing it to shrink up to 40% in animal testing.  The Thymus is a a key part of our bodies immune system.  In addition it has been shown to cause calcification in the kidneys and swelling in the liver or kidneys.

I wouldn’t say I was ever a heavy Splenda user, but a few teas and coffees per day and perhaps a Hansen’s or two in the evening.  Certainly enough that it adds up.

Since eliminating Splenda my body has fought a few bugs, but I have not been down & out sick. I don’t know if it is a coincidence or not, but after my research it makes me believe that it’s not.

For my money – skip the Splenda.

This article goes even farther in condemning Splenda: www.holisticmed.com

Alternatives:

Try Agave Nectar for a low glycemic index option.

Stevia, Honey, Brown Rice Syrup and when all else fails… just use sugar.

Splenda Safety

Diva Guide – Use Less Plastic in Your Home

With plastics plastered all over the news I am working harder than ever to reduce plastic use in our home.

I thought I’d share some techniques that work for me in our home.

Use glass containers for food storage:
My favorite way to store leftover foods in my fridge is the 6 Cup Rectangular Pyrex dishes with blue lids – we have 8-10 of these and I love this system.

Leftovers always look good.

They are the perfect size, not to big, not too small.

They stack nicely – so things look organized.

They are clear so you can see what is inside them and you are more likely to remember what you have and finish it off.

They can go in the freezer, oven or microwave.

They can go from fridge to table for service.

Additionally

- We use a round pyrex 10 cup bowl (with lid) to keep ready made salad in our fridge. The salad stays fresh for much longer in this bowl. Prepare your salad – leaving out anything mushy (in our house that’s tomatoes). I’ll often chop a few days of extra salad fixin’s, throw them in the bowl. The next day or two, all I have to do is add more (organic)mixed greens – Salad is done.

- I have a stack of 8-10 custard cups (a few with lids too). These are great for reheating small servings of food – they were perfect for warming baby food too.

Reduce plastics at your point of purchase:

When shopping, make glass packaging a criteria – you’ve been there. You’re at the store, you’ve studied the label. You are trying to figure out which product is the best choice – all things being equal – pick glass.

For example – not too long ago I was trying to decide between Ralph’s Brand and French’s Brand Worcestershire Sauce -the only 2 brands of Worcestershire I’ve found without HFCS (this is really my life). They still had a few unknown ingredients – but they seemed to be relatively equal. One in glass, one in plastic. I chose the French’s – it was in glass.

There are now many products that I routinely purchase in glass, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, dressing, tomato sauce and such. Some things may be prohibitive to your budget (for most families I’m guessing Milk), but if you look you’ll find you have a choice more than you realize.

Re-Use the Glass:

I’m gearing up to start making my own beans (to avoid the can), so I’m saving all these glass jars and lids. Soon I will have enough to get cooking – in the meantime they fill in as food storage when I’m out of pyrex.

I keep the salad dressing bottles, they are good for storing homemade fruit or berry pancakes syrups & I have visions of making salad dressing… one day soon. Help me Martha!

There you have it. A few simple ways we are using less plastic in our home.

What’s working for you?

Diva Guide – Use Less Plastic in Your Home

Diva Tips for Greener Living

1. Before You Buy – Use What You Have.

Chances are you have a lot of stuff in your closets waiting to be used!  I’ve recently broken a habit of buying bulk.  One of my challenges has been to use what I have before moving on to greener and better options. Don’t we just get excited and want to go shopping!

Dig around. You’ll be surprised at what you have – using what you have is better than a green acquisition. In the PND pantry we still have 3 boxes of plastic Costco cutlery, 1200 paper napkins, ribbon, gift wrap, moisturizers, conditioners, sunscreens… you get the idea.  We’re working on it!

2. Take Care of The Things You Own!

Taking care of your “stuff” values the resources that went into making it!  You’ll keep them longer and reducing  impact by not having to replace it. Your home, cars, clothing, shoes, toys, etc… will all benefit from being well taken care of. And the environment will thank you, if it’s taken care of it’s less likely to be tossed when you are done with it.  It’s more likely that you’ll be able to pass it along to a new home when you’re done with it.

Teaching your children to care for their things will impart values that will last a lifetime.

3. Pick just one area of your life to green!

Wherever you are in your green journey… whether you are just beginning or an ecosavant, pick ONE new area to work on. Once mastered you can add another, another, another… you get the idea. Living a greener, healthier life is a journey that starts with one step.

4. Buy Organic

Start buying organic in a new area of you life.

You may have bought organic food, or this might be new for you.  You may buy organic dairy, but haven’t moved into the produce section yet.  Pick a new area to explore the benefits of organic.

If you’ve never bought organic cotton or denim, next time you’re shopping keep your eyes and mind open. Ask the stores you shop at.  Even if you make a conventional selection, asking the questions will help spread the word that customers care and want to see more options.  You may even find organic options in places you don’t expect.  This last holiday season I was able to buy organic cotton casual clothing for lil’ Diva at Walmart and Organic PJ’s for both the kids at Costco.

Keep your eyes peeled and ASK!

5. Buy Fair Trade

I buy fair trade chocolate. I figure chocolate is something I don’t NEED. It’s a luxury.  I figure, if it’s a luxury I can step up and make sure children aren’t picking the cocoa beans for my chocolate.  It’s been fun, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect fair trade organic fix to my chocolate cravings.

It doesn’t have to be chocolate, you could pick coffee, clothing, bananas, again… sometimes starting in an area of your life that is already a splurge will make it a little easier to spend that little bit extra that fair trade calls for.

You’ll be surprised how it will inspire you!

6. Buy Quality

Can’t find what you are looking for organic or fair trade, buy good quality. It will last and when you’re done you’ll be able to pass it on.  As a country we have become accustomed to buying everything in quantity.  We can take a page out of the Europeans’ book, attempt to retrain our sense of value.  Buy fewer high quality items, moving away from our culture’s more, more, more frame of mind.  Look for items that are made in your country too, supporting your own economy.

5. When You’re Done with Something – Pass It On!

When you are done with something, find a new home for it! We had a rug that our dogs had scratched. I listed it on Craigslist with pictures of the damage, within 30 minutes I had 10 people that wanted it. When we we’re renovating I listed mirrors, sinks, hardware… whatever I thought someone else might find useful…. and they came. These items were destined for the landfill, but with not too much effort were taken away and used by others.

That said – this is one of my areas of weakness. I have a hard time saying goodbye to my stuff. I’m sure it comes from growing up really poor!

6. Reusable Water Bottles

If you don’t have a reusable water bottle and a way to filter your water.  Get one and start using it!

Get in the habit of taking your bottles and the children’s bottles ALL THE TIME.  In particular parties, sporting events and school.  Eventually if host/ess’ start seeing guests arriving equipped with their own beverage containers they won’t feel the need to buy bottled water for their parties.  We put out iced tea, water with glasses.

7. Group you errands into similar geographic regions.

Saves trips, saves gas, saves time!  SCORE!

8. Detox Your Beauty!

When I first began the journey to detox my beauty routine, I started by using up what I had (still doing this of a few things!) and replacing them with safer options!  I encourage everyone to do this.  The next item you are running low on, replace it with something better.  Use PND to help find the replacement that is right for you.  Knowing what I know now, if I was pregnant, I wouldn’t use the “use it up” method.  I would make the switch immediately.

Do this for your children first if you have them!  Their developing systems are more vulnerable to the toxins in their environment.

9. Pay attention to Preservatives and Additives.

While you are shopping, get in the habit of reading labels!  If you can’t read the name of the ingredient, chances are you’d be better off with a different option.  You’ll be surprised – pick up pickle relish and 2 brands will contain HFCS, one will not… easy healthier switch.

10.  Use Less Canned Foods.

Chances are you’ve heard about BPA’s in the news, in particular concern over plastics and baby bottles.  But did you know how we ingest the most BPA’s – Canned Food.  Opt for glass packaging over canned to minimize your families exposure!

11. Green Your Parties!

Parties can be a huge source of waste.  We opt for convenience, buy a lot of pre packaged, convenient entertainment foods.  We serve foods on paper or plastic plates, drink from countless paper & plastic cups.  Start adding up the cost of all that convenience and not only are you throwing a lot of hard earned money in the landfill, but that plastic will live there forever.

One year we were getting ready for a super bowl party and did the math.  For the cost of buying paper goods, we were able to purchase inexpensive white plates, glasses and wine glasses from IKEA.  We use these for our parties -  including the parties for the little ones.  It may take a little extra effort, but I never have to run out to the store for cups and plates last minute!  Next on the list is to get party flatware.

You can also find reasonably priced “catering” sets at Pottery Barn, Cost Plus, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

The pre-packaged food options.  Sometimes it’s easy to succumb to the ease of this ready to go food, but for so much less money you can buy really nice, high quality foods,  fruits and vegetables.

You might even find with all the money you’re saving on prepared foods and paper goods that you can spend your savings on getting an extra set of hands to help you at the party!

If you can’t bear the thought of these suggestions buy eco friendly disposables.  You can find them at Smart & Final, Whole Foods and such.  You are looking for plastics that can be Compostable.  This typically means they will biodegrade in a few weeks.  Compostable plastics can be placed in our “green” garbage bins in Los Angeles.  With a little research you can find out if you can compost with your yard waste in your area (in the event you don’t have one in your yard)!

12. Clean Green

Start cleaning your home with green cleaners or make your own formulas using some of our easy recipes.  You’ll reduce the toxins you are breathing in your home after you’ve cleaned it.

I’ll never forget an Oprah “ah ha” moment for me… “CLEAN DOESN’T HAVE A SMELL“!

Extra Credit: Use less plastic!

Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Choose products with less plastic packaging. Choose items packaged in glass. Store your leftovers in glass.

You Can Do It!

I know, I know… I missed so many things… you can do those things too!

I hope these tips inspire you to find new things you can do to have a healthier, happier, greener life!

SHARE WHAT YOU PLAN TO GREEN IN YOUR LIFE!

Diva Tips for Greener Living

Toxins – Small Amounts Matter

Why should the average person be worried about toxins in their home, additives, preservatives and contaminants in their foods.

Even if we are being exposed.  The exposures are so limited.

They can’t  be of any consequence.  Right?

Are you sure?

Toxins are measured in measured in parts per billion.

One part per billion has been illustrated recently by the chemical companies as the equivalent of a single pancake in a stack of pancake 4000 miles high.

Surely limited amount wouldn’t impact our bodies.  It’s “too low” to matter the to chemical companies argue.

The EWG studied to blood of an Sustainable Furniture Maker named Jesse who lives in New York.

He is arguably an average American.  This is what was found in his blood.  Measured in parts per billion (ppb):

The Blood Content of our “Average American”

• 97.5 ppb – Badge 40H (Liner in canned foods)
• 45    ppb – PFC’s
• 21     ppb – Lead
• 1.11  ppb – Mercury
• .29  ppb – PBDE’s

Common Drugs that impact our  body, as they measure in our blood as parts per billion (ppb):

• 30 ppb – Cialis (one dose)
• 30 ppb – Paxil (one dose)
• 2.1 ppb – Albuterol (one dose)
• 35 ppb – Nuvaring – birth control

At small doses – Cialis side effects include a sudden decrease in hearing or vision. Users are directed to call their doctor taking Cialis if they get an erection lasting more than 4 hours.
Drugs are effective at the very same parts per billion that the chemical companies claim are inconsequential in their product.  Drugs are designed to be effective at low doses.
Chemicals are not tested to ensure their safety or their absence of side effects at low doses.
Chemicals are consumed without unknowingly and we don’t know if we are putting ourselves, our families and our unborn children at risk.
The evidence is gathering that we are putting them at risk.

We are seeing an alarming increase in disease that can’t be explained by better diagnostics:

• Hypospadias has doubled  from 1968 – 1993 – 1 in 125 baby boys
• 62% increase in acute lymphocytic leukemia over short period of time
• 40% increase in Brain Cancer – this is not a matter of better diagnostics, we didn’t miss brain cancer in the 1960′s, 70′s, 80′s & 90′s.
• 1-150 Children – if this is due to better or more frequent diagnosis -  where are the  Autistic adults?
• Fertility difficulties are rising in women under the age of 25.
• We have the highest rate of cancer in the world and if someone moves here from another country their likelihood of cancer increases – according to the American Cancer Society.

Over and above the Human Cost there is a monitory Cost of  to Disorder

• $ 43.4 Billion – Lead poisoning
• $ 9.2 Billion – Neurobehavioral disorders, autism etc.
• $ 8.7 Billion – IQ loss from mercury
• $ 35 Billion – Asthma in Children

What can we do daily to lower our exposure?

Buy organic

Eat low mercury fish

Drink filtered tap water

Use Cast Iron and Stainless Steel Cookware instead of Non-stick

Avoid “fragrance”

Kid Safe Chemical Act:

Requires that chemical has to be safe from children and other who are sensitive before they are allowed in the market.

Assumes chemicals are harming people until proven otherwise. Place the burden on the chemical companies to prove the chemicals are safe.

Prioritizes safety reviews, bans and phase-outs based on the chemicals found in people’s blood/tissue and known to be hazardous.

Chemicals found in Cord Blood are presumed to be unsafe.

Help Get it passed!

SIGN THE PETITION TODAY!

GET INVOLVED.

Most of the figures for this article came from a presentation by EWG president Ken Cook ~ 10 Americans. It’s a great presentation, well worth the time it takes to watch.

Toxins – Small Amounts Matter

Family Meals + Sleep – TV = Lower Risk for Childhood Obesity

Sitting down to a family meal, ensuring your child doesn’t watch too much TV, and that they get a good nights sleep! All great ideas, but sometimes it can be hard to get it all done.

A new study out of Ohio State University has just linked all three habits together with a 40% reduction in childhood obesity rates!

Other studies have looked at these activities singularly, but this is the first study that has looked at the three habits in a national sampling of 8550 US preschoolers born in 2001.

The study criteria for family meals, sleep and television were as follows:

• Eating a family meal more than 5 times per week
• Sleeping at least 10 1/2 hours per night
• Watching less than 2 hours of television per day

It does seem logical that families who will take the time and commitment to foster these routines are likely going to be taking an active interest in the health of their children.

It’s worth noting that these routines alone will not protect all children – an indicator that there are other factors that come into play when looking at the issue of childhood obesity. However, children with higher risk factors for childhood obesity were able to overcome the odds when these habits were a part of their family life! Great news.

Risk factors for Childhood Obesity:

• Mothers who are Obese
• Household Income Below the Poverty Line
• Mothers who have not finished High School
• Growing Up in a Single-Parent Home

Encouraging News:

56% of families studied have meals together at least 6 nights a week.
57% of families reported their preschoolers are sleeping 10.5 hours per week.

To read the full report:

Family Meals, Adequate Sleep and Limited TV May Lower Childhood Obesity.

Family Meals + Sleep – TV = Lower Risk for Childhood Obesity

Sodas Linked to Near Doubling Risk for Pancreatic Cancer

Just 2 sodas per day has been linked to almost doubling your risk for developing pancreatic cancer!

This is really scary given that pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer – only 5 percent of those diagnosed are are alive five years after diagnosis.

Researchers believe that the high level of sugar in soft drinks increases insulin levels, which then contributes to the cancer cell growth.

The study followed over 60,000 men and women in Singapore for 14 years, during this time there were 140 pancreatic cancer cases.

The results are being released by The American Association for Cancer Research – so they are taking them seriously.

Hopefully this will make it easier to deny your children a soda next time they are begging for one! Not to mention being a little kick in the butt for our own discipline.

Just in case this doesn’t make you think twice about your next soda, Dr. Oz recently quoted Harvard researchers, stating that drinking just ONE soda per day increases your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes by 83%!

To read the full report:

Soft Drink Consumption May Increase Risk of Pancreatic Cancer.

Sodas Linked to Near Doubling Risk for Pancreatic Cancer

Diva Solution: Whole Grain Bread Crumbs

Whole grain bread crumbs are readily found at most health food stores, but they are not readily available at regular grocery stores. I hate having to make special trips to the “health food store” for ingredients like this.  Not to mention they always cost a premium.

My family never eats bread heels, one day as I was throwing them out, I put it together. I should make Whole Grain Bread Crumbs out of our loaf heels.

Take the heels and toast them, then let them sit and toast them again, let them sit till they are rock hard. Then I add them to the “heel bag”. When I have a bag full of toasted heels I run them through the food processor.

Super easy and a win-win. Eliminate an expensive specialty item by using something you just might be throwing away otherwise.  Something from Nothing!

Are tips like these useful to you?  My girlfriend Jennifer insisted that I post this one, but I’m not convinced.  Share your thougths!

Diva Solution: Whole Grain Bread Crumbs

The Twinkie Report: Sodium Nitrate

The Twinkie Report is PND’s investagation into the most important additives and preservatives to avoid in your diet.

We’ll also offer suggestions for ways to avoid them.

Hot Dogs, Bologna, Turkey Breast, Ham, Salami.  Unless you are a champion label reader you are likely bring home a cartload of nitrates with these foods (and others like it) from the supermarket.

Sodium Nitrite is used to preserve, color, and flavor meat products. It is commonly added to cured meats like; bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish, and corned beef. It helps to prevents growth of bacteria.

So what possible dangers does this preservative present?  The list is quite extensive, some links are more conclusively proven than others… a number of cancer’s top the list:

• Colorectal Cancer – 50 % higher risk for lower colon cancer – American Medical Association.
• Stomach Cancer: 38 % increase in stomach cancer for people who ate an increase of 30 grams of processed meat
• Pancreatic Cancer: 68 % increase risk in pancreatic cancer for groups who consumed high quantities of processed meats – National Cancer Institute
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• DNA Mutations
• Increased risk of colon cancer
• Increased risk of Brain Tumors in Children

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF SODIUM NITRATE

In addition to exposure from cured meats (and such) we are also exposed eating nitrates from leafy & root vegetables.  But don’t think that means you should avoid these vegetables, the belief is the compounds in natural nitrates actually inhibit the development of disease, rather than cause it.

Nitrites are found some drinking water due to fertilizers, manure, animal feedlots and other environmental pollution sources.  I know our water filter lists nitrates as one of the elements it removes from the water, it may be worth confirming that yours does the same.

THE GOOD NEWS

I don’t know about you, but my kids love sausage and hot dogs.  I don’t want to deprive them completely and most veggie dogs don’t quite measure up.

The food industry has responded.  If you read labels carefully you can find cured meats that are free of Sodium Nitrates and other things you want to avoid too.  My rule of thumbs is not to buy it if I can’t pronounce it.

Items we’ve found that taste great and are Nitrate Free and free of most other nastiness:

• Aidells Smoked Chicken Sausage – We like the Roasted Garlic & Gruyere Cheese.
• Trader Joe’s Smoked Fresh Turkey Kielbasa (This one has a tough casing, I freeze it and peel the casing while the meat is frozen).  Very lean and with an ingredient list of Turkey, Water, Sea Salt, Spices, Paprika, Dehydrated Garlic and Beef Collagen Casing – worth the trouble.
• Trader Joe’s Uncure Turkey Bacon
• Trader Joe’s – Uncured All Beef Hot Dogs
• Applegate Farms Certified Organic Sunday Bacon

This list is by no means complete, it’s a sampling of what was in the diva home at the time I wrote this post.

As a rule these meats are still going to have a higher sodium content. We don’t typically use them as a main course, rather as a side to a meal or a flavor enhancer.

Don’t forget to consider the meat that was used to make the product.  Is it organic, raised without hormones, antibiotics, vegetarian fed, etc.

Some sources used for this article include:

SixWise
MSN ~ 12 Preservatives to Avoid
Center for Science in the Public Interest

The Twinkie Report: Sodium Nitrate

Diva Recipes: Egg Frittata

Frittata is great.

Not familiar with it? Think, crustless quiche – eliminating the crust you removes most of what is unhealthy. Load it with vegetables and you have an easy one dish meal! Leftover frittata makes a quick, healthy and easy breakfast or snack.

Another great thing about making frittata’s is how easy they are to make.

This recipe is a great template. 
Use up leftover vegetables – hide vegetables that normally get pushed aside!
Add your favorite seasoning.
Make it your own.

INGREDIENTS

8 Eggs
1/4 Cup of Milk
Mix – Set Aside

1 1/2 Cups of Diced Mixed Vegetables
1 Tablespoon of Grapeseed or Olive Oil
1/2 Teaspoon of Italian Seasoning or other Favorite Seasoning
1 Cup of Chopped Cooked Potato
1/2 Cup Chopped Frozen Spinach
2/3 Cup of Diced Meat (Sausage, Bacon or Ham) – Optional
2 Tablespoons Feta Cheese – Optional

1/4 Cup of Sharp Cheddar or other favorite Cheese – Shredded.

Salt & Pepper to taste

In a Cast Iron Frying Pan, saute Diced Mixed Vegetables in oil over medium heat, (onion, zuchini, mushroom…) add seasoning.

Add cooked potato, cooked meat, and frozen spinach.

Note – I cook my frittata in a a cast iron skillet and flip it onto a plate – If you’d rather not flip – at this stage pour the egg mixture into a 9 X 13 Pyrex at this stage and bake the dish in the oven at 350 Degrees for 45-60 minutes – until the center is solid. Then add shredded cheese return to oven until melted.

If you’re in a flipping mood or a hurry because it’s faster…
Pour the egg mixture into the vegetables (you can also add feta here if using) for a minute or two, folding, as it starts to solidify, stop and leave it on the heat for a few minutes.

Once it looks nice a firm on the bottom, place under a low broiler and cook the top, when the liquid is gone, take a spatula and run it around the edge of your skillet and lift under to see if it’s loose, if not use a tool to separate it from the pan. Place your oven safe serving plate upside down on top of the skillet, flip the whole thing using gloves. Now the frittata is on your serving plate, add cheddar and place the frittata under the heat until the cheese it melted.

Slice and serve.
This recipe should serve 4-6.

Diva Recipes: Egg Frittata