Go Organic – Switch Your Milk

If you are looking for just one product to get you well on your way to living an organic life. Start with your milk.

In the United States, the use of rBGH, Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone is still licensed by the FDA, EPA and Department of Agriculture for the use in dairy cows. rBGH is a genetically engineered, variant of the natural growth hormone Bovine somatotropin. It is used in dairy cows to increase milk production. In both Canada and Europe, rBGH is banned. In many cases this hormone is known to make cows sick. The diseases that these cows suffer from, end up in our milk as well as the antibiotics they are being treated with.

Milk contaminated with rBGH contains high levels of natural growth hormone and is thought to cause breast, colon and prostate cancer.

Genetically engineered milk is not required to be labeled as being derived from rBGH treated cows, so many Americans are not aware that they are at risk for consuming not only high levels of hormones but also pesticides and unnecessary antibiotics.

To learn more about what may be in your milk, pick up the book "What's in Your Milk" by Samuel S. Epstein M.D..

Milk labeled as organic with the USDA Organic seal are produced under strict restrictions including not being allowed to contain antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering, radiation or synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Take the time to read your milk labels and only buy organically produced products. In recent years, those products have become easier to find and prices have come down. Though some organic milk can be a bit more expensive than non-organic, it's worth it.

My family personally likes products made by Horizon Organic. Not only do they produce Organic Milk but also yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, etc. They of course are not the only organic dairy producers out there. It's all a personal taste preference. So look in your dairy aisle and try a few products out. You may enjoy one organic milk over another.

What Does "Organic" Really Mean?

Do you often find yourself standing in an aisle at the market staring at products that say "Organic", "All Natural", "Made with Natural Ingredients", "Cage-Free", "Free-Roaming", etc. and wondering what it all really means? I know I do. I often wonder, are the "Cage-free" eggs the same as the "All Natural" eggs? If they say they are free of hormones and are free roaming does that also mean they are feed an organic diet? What really are the USDA organic standards?

Let's examine.

The current USDA Certified Organic standards are pretty strict. The problem that has been coming up recently in the news, is that some companies are trying to push bills that will lower the standards.

Any product carrying the USDA Certified Organic seal must contain at least 95% organic ingredients and be produced without antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering, radiation or synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

So that you are sure you are getting a certified organic product, look for the little green seal that says "USDA Organic".

So what's the difference between organic and all the rest?

All Natural or Natural - According to the USDA, products, especially food, can only be labeled "All Natural" or "Natural" if they contain no artificial ingredients or added colors and are minimally processed. However, this does not mean the product is organic and it also means that animal products that contain artificial hormones and genetically modified products can still be labeled "Natural".

Cage-free or Free-Roaming - These two titles can mean completely different things. A "Cage-Free" chicken simply means that the chickens are not kept in small wire cages. They are allowed in some cases to roam around a shed. A "Free-Roaming" or "Free-Range" chicken stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture must be allowed access to the outside. Though many feel both of these scenarios are better for the chicken, it still does not mean the chickens or the eggs they produce are organic. For an animal product to be organic it must be feed an organic diet and not be given artificial hormones, antibiotics and so forth.

I guess I could really take this article on and on, regarding what every definition means. But to be safe, if you really want to start moving towards a more organic lifestyle. Look for the USDA Certified Organic seal on the products and foods you buy. Even though something says "Organic", "All Natural" and so on, it does not mean it has met those standards unless it carries the seal. Unfortunately though, many of the smaller organic companies can not necessarily afford the USDA Certification. And many of these companies operate and produce their products to that standard and sometimes higher than the standard. That's when you need to do your research. There are countless websites on the Internet where you can find help and information.

If you want to keep up on changes to the standards or read more about what it means to be organic. Subscribe to the Organic Consumers Association newsletter. It's a great resource on all things organic including a guide to shopping.

Vinegar and how it can be your household friend

For years I was like many other people when it came to cleaning the house. I used those harsh chemicals that you buy in the store, that say they are the best cleaner for this and that, and every time I would clean, especially the bathrooms I would develop horrific migraines. I always felt that having to open the window while I cleaned was a good sign that these cleaners were probably harmful to me. So I searched for a better solution and I found it, right in my kitchen.

White vinegar is an excellent alternative to using harsh cleaning products. Since it is a mild acid it helps dissolve dirt, grease and soap scum but is still gentle enough to use in everyday cleaning. Now not many people may like the idea of cleaning their entire house with vinegar. I personally happen to love the smell of vinegar (however my husband does not). So for those that don't like it, the smell will dissipate as the vinegar drys.

Here are just a few great tips and ways to use vinegar to help clean your house.

Bathroom

• Soak your shower head in full-strength white vinegar over night to remove soap scum and hard water deposits.


• Shine your chrome fixtures.


• Clean the grout of your shower. Spray full-strength vinegar on the grout and let it sit then scrub with an old tooth brush.


• Use undiluted vinegar to remove mildew and soap scum from your shower and tubs.

Dish Washer & Dishes

• Vinegar can be used to clean up detergent residue. Just run a cup of vinegar through a full cycle every month to keep fresh.


• Use to clean up soap deposits on your sink


• Clean water stains off glassware

Kitchen

• Clean and deodorize the refrigerator by washing the inside with an equal mixture of white vinegar and water.

Laundry

• Remove perspiration odor and stains on clothing by spraying full-strength white vinegar on underarm or collar before placing in washing machine.

Microwave

• My other personal favorite is cleaning the microwave. You know how gross that can get. Mix a 1/2 cup vinegar and a 1/2 cup water in a microwave safe container. Then bring it to a boil in the microwave so it steams. Then just wipe down the inside of your microwave.

Pets

• I personally use vinegar every time I clean our rabbits cage. Our rabbit is litter trained and I use it to clean up urine stains. It breaks down the urine like a champ and keeps the litter boxes fresh. Great for cat boxes as well.

Walls

• Vinegar works great to clean of stubborn stains on the walls including crayon without stripping the paint. I typically use full-strength vinegar for this job.

Windows & Mirrors

• Dillute with water and place in a spray bottle to clean windows both inside and out as well as your mirrors.

As there are so many uses for white vinegar, we will start adding them to the site and this post with a "Tip of the Day". Please feel free to submit your tips.

Wired Science . Video: What's Inside Your Fridge? | PBS

Wired Science . Video: What's Inside Your Fridge? | PBS



I just had to post this. While watching Wired Science the other day, I was fascinated by their segment "What's Inside Your Fridge?" In this episode they breakdown the ingredients of store bought Cool Whip. I think you'll be amazed too.

My advice. Buy organic heavy cream and whip it yourself. It tastes great and doesn't have all the scary ingredients.

Reduce plastic bottles in our landfills

Sure, the whole bottled water craze has taken most of America by storm. But even though most of these Americans feel they are doing themselves good by buying crates of bottled water, in reality they are adding to their own carbon footprint and our landfills.

I cringe every time I see someone at one of those bulk food stores coming out with a crate of bottled water. I just want to scream. First off, most of that so called "filtered" water, isn't even filtered. Secondly, most if not all of those bottles in that crate won't go into the recycling bin. Not all Americans recycle. They may say they do, and many states have recycling laws, but in reality, our landfills are teaming with plastic bottles from sodas, fruit drinks, and water.

There are simple ways to reduce your use of plastic bottles.

The best way - REUSE!! Of course you won't want to reuse a typical disposable bottle. They are not dishwasher safe and bacteria and germs can gather rather fast on those bottles. Not the most sanitary container to be reusing.

If you are one of the many Americans watching this season of "The Biggest Loser" on NBC, you have most likely heard of the "Refill Not Landfill" campaign in partnership with Brita. This campaign encourages the use of reusable and washable sports water bottles as well as Brita filters. Not only are you reducing those little 20oz plastic bottles in landfills you are actually drinking filtered water, which you know is filtered unlike the water you buy in the store.

Here's my challenge for the month - Don't buy any drinks from your office vending machine and stop yourself before you buy bottled water at the store. If you already own a Brita filter, use it and just refill a glass or a sports bottle. Track how much money you would have spent on vending machine drinks and bottled water. You may be surprised how much you save.

Find out more about bottled water in our landfills at "Refill Not Landfill"

About the site

As my first post, I just want to explain what this site will entail. I've always dreamed of starting a blog or website where I can share many of the great ways I've found to incorporate organic and green ways of living into my own life. I know there are many resources on the net, but I also know there are alot of ways to go organic/green and some seem so much harder to do than others.

This site is dedicated to the simple everyday changes you can make in your daily life to start or continue down the path to becoming more green. Some of these methods may not be ground breaking or earth shaking but they will be simple for you to implement in your own life. And a great start to reducing your carbon foot print.

Many of these tips will include recipes, new products, & alternatives to items found in your life. I always appreciate comments and suggestions, so as the site rolls on, feel free to tell me what you do in your life to be more organic and green.

I do hope you enjoy.

-Michele