People generally underestimate the effect of toxins in the home. The effect on us can be much greater than we expect. We're at home, we're safe is a common thought, but with the amount of chemistry in the environment in general, it amounts to wishful thinking. Not to be totally alarmist, there are solutions. But understanding the prevalance of the problem is a start. Ken Cook of the Environmental Working Group did a video about the chemical exposure to 10 average Americans. He also debunks the chemical industry's "low levels aren't harmful" propaganda. http://naturalvitalitykids.com/2010/08/toxins-and-our-children/

My amazing friends Allison and Kelly run this website which contains oodles of information on how to keep your body and home healthy: http://www.threebrancheshealth.com/

You can also check out their blog here--it's one of my daily stops (along with The Kind Life!): http://threebrancheshealth.blogspot.com/ 

This is Allison from www.threebrancheshealth.com and I just wanted to say that we LOVE Mary Cordaro!!! She is a dear, dear friend of Marilee Nelson, the third "branch" in our company and we just referred one of our clients (looking for a water purification system) to her today. Also, Kelly and I are sleeping on the organic mattresses that she used to sell. Yes, Mary (and the products she sells) are expensive, but they are worth every penny. I mean, what's more important than the air we breathe and the water we drink?!

Alicia, we love your blog and are so happy that there are people like you out there who really get it. Thank you for living out your beliefs and not being afraid to share them with us!

I am so glad to hear you'll be blogging about water filters soon----my roomate just "had" to buy a new 3-pack of Brita filters for her Brita pitcher, and threw out the old (plastic, etc.) filter, and it got me thinking about the eco-friendliness of those kinds of pitcher/screw-on sink water filters.

I watched the video that Marty posted and am so floored at how many toxins are already in our bodies via interuterine. I'm really wondering how/if we can even stop this path that we are on. Chemicals and toxins are so ingrained into our society and have been for years that I don't know if it's even possible to stop this train? The video from the Environmental Working Group stated that chemicals were found in the cord blood of infants in the womb that had been banned 30 years ago. Can we actually stop this and make the world a clean place to live again? I really hope that we can because we and the world deserve better.

 I think thats why its so important to do whatever we can to make our immediate environments as low-impact as possible, because the bigger world is really bad and its upsetting - when you really think about it it does seem insurmountable.

I love that there is a post on this topic - its so very important!

We can all do simple stuff, like making our bedrooms a "safe" haven by having no electronic stuff, no digital clock two feet from your head on the night stand,  natural organic bedding, no synthetic carpeting etc....  - you figure you spend about 8 hours each day in this room, make it a place to have a break from the toxins you are around the rest of the day!

looking forward to checking out the links everyone is posting, and to future posts about this topic!

wow.  this comes at a perfect time (though i'm anxiously waiting for your thoughts on water filters).  we are in the process of looking for a new place and are seriously talking about investing in a water filter.  we just learned a little bit about the kangen system and i haven't had more time yet to research alkaline water (though i know organic ave that you mentioned in a previous post sells it with their juice cleanses).  my inclination is that alkaline water would be really balancing since we're so acidic in our society, but should i switch out all my water w a filter or am i better buying 1 a day and just regular filtering my tap???  is it ok for babies? so many questions.

eve

www.lovelifeandlollipops.com

Alicia,

I'm sorry, but a vegan lifestyle is not healthy for the human body.  It deprives our physiology of the essential nutrients it needs.  The human body and human race are still evolving, regardless of the advancement of the soul, spirit, or essense that occupies it/them.  Unfortunately, our bodies still need the energy from the flesh of dead animals.  We need these nutrients to build our brains so that they can better channel our minds/higher selves.  It's sounds absurd, I know...but sadly...it's true.  At this point in human history, the only thing we can do is limit our meat intake to a reasonable level so that fewer animals die.  On the other hand, vegetarianism is okay, but veganism is NOT healthy.  In the future, after the brains and DNA of man are fully developed and utilized, there won't be a need to devour flesh.  Until then, moderation in terms of meat consumption is the right path.  This point of view is subjective, though.  Anyway, check out this interview on Coast to Coast.  It's extremelely informative in regards to alternative health, and it provides an unique slant to standard thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEtLFZUAlV0&feature=PlayList&p=B9C6AA854189C1B7&index=0&playnext=1

All the Best,

Jay

Alicia, I believe a vegan lifestyle is a good path to go on. Everyone has their own beliefs and opinions I know, but THEY can practice them themselves. Preaching so everyone can change is not going to help. if you're a meat-eater and know you could never go the route of a vegetarian or vegan path, so be it! Continue on on that way. IF however, you WANT to be vegan or vegetarian then go for that!

There is no forcing, only free will,.

Don't worry, Alicia, I BELIEVE IN YOU AND YOUR CRUSADE.  :D

p.s.

I like mary's ideas-- I need to have a "home guru" for my and my boyfriend's apartment ;)

I disagree with Jay.  The vegan lifestyle is very healthy if done right.  It is important, as Alicia states, to mix it up with beans, grains and veggies.  Jay, I suggest that you do a little more research.  Try reading Dr. Neil Barnard's books and take a look at Dr. Dean Ornishes' diet to save the lives of patients with heart disease, diabetes II and yes, even cancer.  There are studies now available.  Alicia has done her research on writing TKD.  I am a retired RN and my husband is a practicing physician and we have both chosen to live a vegan lifestyle.  We are in our 60's and are very healthy and happy that we made this informed choice.  We both continues to read and improve our knowledge on this subject.  I gentily suggest that you do your homework and save your life.

I am not really familiar with just how far a vegan lifestyle goes to prevent or aid in the treatment of diseases such as cancer but am a vegan myself.  I chose it purely for compassionate reasons and am just learning about all the other great side effects to being vegan.  On that note, my husband does have an aunt who is terminally ill with cancer.  Now entering it's final stages her doctor has suggested that on her journey she lead a vegan lifestyle because he believes the purity of it will help strengthen her body to last a little longer.  The cancer has also attacked her GI tract and he says it will help keep the tract cleansed and her body nourished to fight what she can.

alicia did a wonderful job touching on alot of health benefits veganism can have in her book, bbut in addition to, The China Study documents the actual studies and facts meat consumption has on human beings.- side note on any given day you can go on the American Cancer Society website and they post the top 10 cancer causing foods-the last time i went on hot dogs were #1 all in a gross class all by themselves, and meat in general was #2-you can't argue w/facts  :)

Rock out vegans  :)

:)

ps krystle i hope you didnt think that comment was directed towards you-i am very sorry to hear about your husbands aunt-i just get a little upset when certain people join a happy little vegan website for the simple purpose of trying to flood it w/complete and utter falsities-bbbut i guess all that matters is  that we know the truth  :)   namaste