This means that by the time your organic coffee reaches your cup it would likely no longer qualify as “organic,” and definitely not as Good Stuff.

(By the way, did you know that coffee is a superfood?)

Written by John Goss, Healthy Home Director

Problem #1: Toxins in Coffee Growing

Coffee is one of the most intensively sprayed crops in the world. This is because coffee is no longer grown in the shade (where the plant evolved and thrives). It is now grown in ways that allow for maximum production, but that requires the use of large amounts of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and chemical fertilizers.

This is not only bad for us as consumers, but is also quite detrimental to the people who live and work in coffee-producing areas.

Here are just three of the pesticides commonly used on coffee beans:

1. Methyl Parathyion is one of the most vile pesticides ever created, and is toxic to a wide swath of all living things–including humans.
2. Endosulfan is toxic to most animals and takes a very long time to break down in the soil.
3. Chlorpyrifos has been banned for household use in the U.S. as it can cause birth defects.

All of the above, and more, can show up in your morning joe.

The solution to this problem is pretty simple: buy only certified organic coffee beans.

Problem #2: Toxins in Coffee Roasting

Organic coffee beans are a great start to a healthier cup of java, but it is important that the roasting process be free from harmful chemistry, too.

Roasting equipment needs to be cleaned on a regular basis to avoid chemical solvents showing up in your cup.

Flavoring agents are commonly used immediately after the roasting process, sometimes to mask the taste and smell of old or bad beans. Flavored coffee should be avoided as they are synthetic and often contain preservatives that are definitely not Good Stuff!

The solution here is a little more complicated: Find a roaster that is dedicated to a non-toxic process. (This is easier said than done—it took us a year to find one!)

The Worst Stuff: Coffee Pods

The environmental damage caused by coffee pods (AKA “k-cups”) can’t be overstated. In fact, their founder, John Sylvan, has said that he regrets inventing the pod!

Traditional coffee pods are neither biodegradable nor recyclable, and a whopping THIRD of American households have a k-cup brewer in their homes.

Equally concerning: coffee pods are made of plastic, and the hot water that passes through them increases the leaching of endocrine disruptors into your coffee. While k-cups are free of BPA, they’ve still tested positive for estrogenic activity.

To make matters worse, the top of coffee pods are usually made of aluminum, a heavy metal linked with a range of health problems.

Problem #3: Toxins in Coffee Bags & Packaging

Once the coffee beans are roasted, they go into a bag. These bags almost always contain plastics and other chemicals that can convey even more toxins to your beans.

Coffee bags typically have a lining of polypropylene to keep the coffee oils from making the bag unsightly.  Simple brown paper bags may fool you by looking like they are made entirely of paper when this is basically never the case.

Polypropylene, while relatively inert, is the single most abundant micro-plastic found in all the waters of the world (and in seafood…and in every one of us!).
The effects of micro-plastics from this type of plastic are only beginning to be understood. Studies have found that polypropylene particles may stimulate the immune system, but human studies are lacking.

Some coffee beans come in glassine bags (pictured above). This seems better than plastic because glassine is essentially wood pulp. Unfortunately, glassine is almost always bleached with chlorine or other chemicals that stay in the paper fibers and are leached into the coffee beans.

We’ve solved this one for you! Until recently, there have been no alternatives to standard coffee bags, but we finally found a new, non-toxic, environmentally safe alternative. More on this below,

Problem #4: Toxins in Coffee Water

Obviously, brewing coffee starts with water. If you use typical municipal water you are adding chlorine, fluoride, and potentially substances like lead, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and others to you morning cup. Not only are these toxic, but they can also negatively affect the taste of your coffee.

The solution here is easy: We highly recommend using a robust water filtration system. Pitcher type filters are better than nothing, but true filtration essentially eliminates a very wide swath of biological agents and chemical toxins. Learn more about choosing a water filter here.

Problem #5: Toxins in Coffee Brewing Equipment

This Frankfurt coffee brewer is entirely free of plastic, so there’s no opportunity for endocrine disruptors to leach into the coffee.

Water is a potent solvent that breaks down many substances. Hot water is an especially intense solvent, and it extracts substances far faster than cold water does.

Whether you like cold-brew or hot, pour-over, drip, espresso, French press, or a plug-in brewer, it is a good idea to avoid brewing equipment that is composed of certain plastics, metals, or coatings that could introduce unwanted substances into your cup.

More specifically, you’ll want to avoid coffee brewers with plastic parts that come into contact with water. Also, avoid aluminum, nonstick surfaces, and any low-fire ceramics.

The good news is that there are several great ways to brew without any toxins. We like stainless steel filtration rather than plastic, paper, or even cloth. Stainless steel is rugged, easy to clean, imparts no flavor, and lasts almost forever—making it an Earth- and wallet-friendly choice.

As for coffee dispensers, cups, and storage, we like stainless steel, glass, and most ceramics. Medical grade silicone seals are acceptable and better than plastics.

The solution here is to vet your coffee accessories carefully. We have a selection of Good-Stuff approved, plastic-free brewing, storage, and dispensing solutions here.

Problem #7: Toxins in Coffee Cup

You may already know that styrofoam cups can mess with your hormones, especially when the liquid inside of them is hot! But even paper to-go coffee cups can be a problem, from the coating on the inside (polyethylene) to the glue at the seams–which partially dissolves when the coffee is poured into the cup. Moreover, wax-coated paper cups cannot be recycled because of their petroleum-derived paraffin coating.

Coffee lids made with #6 or #7 plastic likely contain BPA. The last few times I’ve ordered a to-go coffee I’ve noticed the lid is printed with a #7, and of course you’ve got hot liquid passing through this on it’s way to your mouth (like in the picture of Maia above!).

The solution here is to bring your own reusable coffee mug when stopping at a Starbucks. I like this one and this one.

Problem #8: Toxins in Decaf Coffee

If you are a drinker of decaf coffee, you have one more thing to worry about. There are three major decaffeination techniques, only one of which is Good Stuff.

1) Methylene Chloride Process (MCP)
Also known as “direct decaffeination,” MCP is the most common decaffeination technique. MCP decaffeination uses the solvent methylene chloride (commonly found in things like paint stripper), and it leaves behind trace amounts of this toxin. According to Consumer Reports, even small doses of methylene chloride can cause “coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. At higher doses, it can cause headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue, and has been found to cause liver and lung cancer in animals.” It’s true that the amount of methyl chloride that remains in decaf coffee is restricted to not exceed 10 ppm, but I definitely want my coffee free of this decidedly Bad Stuff.

2) Swiss Water Process (SWP)
In this method, beans are soaked in near-boiling water, which extracts both the flavor oils and the caffeine from the coffee. The water is then separated into a tank, where it is forced through charcoal filters to remove the caffeine. The beans are then reintroduced to the swill, which reabsorbs the flavor. Since no chemicals are used, there’s nothing to worry about in terms of toxins with SWP decaf coffee. Unfortunately, coffee drinkers often find that bright, lively coffees can end up being rather flat after the SWP. (The term “Swiss water” is a branding term, by the way; there is not actually water from Switzerland used in this process.)

3) Mountain Water Process (MWP)
In this process, water from the glaciers of the mountains of Mexico is used to decaffeinate coffee in a similar manner as SWP. The water is used to float the coffee oils and caffeine in a solution, then the solution is filtered to remove the caffeine, and finally the the water soluble oils are returned to the coffee beans to restore the flavor. The big difference with MWP is that the resulting coffee tastes better. Coffee connoisseurs say that MWP decaf taste very close to premium regular coffees.

The bottom line if you drink decaf coffee: make sure it’s water-processed .

Introducing….Coffee, Not Chemicals

After a year of research and a lot of false starts (mostly around the bags!), we were so excited to launch Coffee, Not Chemicals in 2019. Our coffee bags are certified nontoxic and 100% compostable. This means that our coffee is not only non-toxic but also a zero waste product.

Why We Think Coffee, Not Chemicals Is the Best Stuff:

Our coffee is made of certified organic coffee beans that are fresh roasted in a dedicated non-toxic roastery. Each bag has a roast date.

Our packaging is certified non-toxic by an independent testing facility. This means that the bags, the valve, the labels, the ink, and even the adhesives are nontoxic and 100% compostable.

The packaging is free of BPA, phthalates, fossil fuel by-products, and bleach.

Coffee, Not Chemicals has gotten only 5-star reviews from our customers, and most people who order a bag decide to subscribe to keep it coming uninterrupted.

You guys asked (and asked and asked) for a decaf version. It’s here! And it’s Mountain Water Processed of course.

Please comment below with questions or comments about your own favorite coffees or brewers!

Stay sane,

P.S. What if coffee is something that you love but it doesn’t love you back? Coffee is delicious and I love the ritual of it after breakfast, in the afternoon, or after dinner. But caffeine makes some people, my wife included, agitated and impatient, and it can disrupt sleep or cause indigestion. Even decaf can sometimes bother some people’s stomachs. Suzanne recently discovered MUD/WTR, and it’s taken the place of her morning latte. It is full of superfoods, and is soothing, warming, and gives a little lift without any of the side effects that she experiences with coffee.

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The post Toxins in Coffee: 8 Sources of Harmful Chemicals in Your Morning Brew appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

1. Vaccines

You’ve probably heard about the rudimentary way that we figured out how to inoculate people against smallpox–by scraping pus from a milkmaid’s cowpox blisters and then inserting it under the skin of an unaffected individual. (Cowpox was a much milder illness, but still conferred immunity to deadly smallpox). From there, we discovered increasingly sophisticated ways to vaccinate against more than a dozen illnesses. Vaccines are something that I’ve agonized over since I became a parent–there are now so many of them, and some of them are for diseases that are almost never serious in the developed world (like rotavirus or varicella). Felix is turning twelve in a few months, and his school requires a Covid-19 shot. Yes, I will get him vaccinated, and no, I’m not super psyched about doing it! Bottom line: We can’t overstate the number of lives saved worldwide because of the discovery of vaccines, although one could argue that the current vaccination schedule borders on “too much of a good thing.”

2. Pasteurization

Listeria, tuberculosis, diptheria, and typhoid can all pass through raw milk, and this was a common cause of infant death before the widespread pasteurization of milk. (It’s worth noting that none of these microbes are passed through human milk–so this problem could have been largely avoided if more women had exclusively breastfed their infants). I don’t personally buy raw milk because we aren’t big milk drinkers and I don’t have access to a farm that I trust, but I do believe in the nutritional benefits of raw milk. Still, it’s worth remembering that the genesis of “processed” milk wasn’t a money-making ploy from Big Dairy, but rather a legitimately life-saving discovery. Obviously, there are myriad problems with industrial agriculture, from the inhumane treatment of animals to the environmental impacts to the hormone-laden/pesticide-ridden milk that comes out of factory farms. BUT, I am still grateful for Louis Pasteur!

3. Chlorination

Before municipalities started adding chlorine to the water supply (in around 1912), fatal typhoid and cholera spread through contaminated drinking water. I am a firm believer that we should all filter our drinking water (and that we shouldn’t drink any amount of chlorine). But once again, it’s good to be reminded that worrying about chlorine is far better than worrying about cholera!

4. Antibiotics

Penicillin was (accidentally) discovered in 1945, and practically eliminated deaths from bacterial diseases like tuberculosis. We take for granted that you won’t die from a scratch or lose an eye to a “mild” infection, but this used to be a totally common occurrence. Antibiotics also have a HUGE downside, and I believe they are wildly over-prescribed. Like so many other medical interventions, antibiotics are used too often when they are not needed, but thank God they exist when they are needed.

I’m sure there are other reasons that life expectancy has increased so dramatically this century–seat belts, lower smoking rates, pap smears, HIV treatments, skiing helmets! (And probably C-sections, too–this is another example of “often unnecessary and not without a downside, but thank God available when necessary.”)

It’s unearned good fortune that allows me to exert energy making sure my pans are the right kind of non-stick and that my rug gripper is made of real rubber instead of vinyl. Were I alive in a different time, place, or socioeconomic class, I would likely be facing much more immediate risks.

Modern lifestyles are rife with dangerous toxins and subsequent health risks. Nevertheless, I am thrilled that I was born after the invention of antibiotics, vaccines, chlorinated water, pasteurized milk, and many of the other man-made toxins!

I look forward to your comments on this–what other discoveries or medical interventions do you worry about but also feel grateful for?

Stay sane,

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The post The Privilege to Fret Over Antibiotics, Vaccines, Chlorinated Water & Pasteurized Milk appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

1. Joov / 2. Mito / 3. Rouge / 4. iRestore / 5. Gemba

By John Goss

With research provided by Michael Hopkins, PhD.

The term red light therapy (RLT) has caught our attention several times over the last five years or so. According to those championing this treatment, just a few minutes a day under the cool glow of red or near-infrared light can cure almost every type of ailment, while also reversing the signs of aging. Red light devices are now available over the counter, so you can buy your own machine e for home use, saving thousands on expensive spa treatments. 

Doesn’t this all seems too good to be true? We decided to find out. 

The purpose of this report is to attempt to answer the two big questions we had about red light therapy: 

1. Does red light therapy actually provide a benefit, and if so, what is it? 
2. Is red light therapy truly safe, without possible negative side effects?

As always, our goal is to answer these questions based on the actual scientific evidence available, rather than simply parroting the dozens of other websites who have already published guides and reviews of RLT. 

Graham, my son and Maia’s brother, tries out a red light device from Mito.

Our Initial Discoveries About Red Light Therapy

I was surprised to discover—when I did an initial dig about red light therapy–that the claims nearly every miraculous benefit appear to be backed up with compelling science.

Still, I’m not a scientist, so I called upon someone who is–Dr. Michael Hopkins, PhD. Dr. Hopkins is a natural skeptic and also so thorough in his research that the report he submitted to us about RLT was literally dozens of pages long. 

The bottom line: After scrutinizing hundreds of pages of data, Dr. Hopkins concluded that there are definitely well-researched and scientifically demonstrable benefits to RLT. But as usual, it is important that the type of equipment used is independently tested and certified. 

So, let’s get into the nitty gritty to help you understand what this therapy can (and cannot) do, how to use it safely, and how to choose the right device. 

Dr. Hopkins now uses his own red light therapy device for 10-20 minutes several times a day. He’s seen an improvement in skin tone and wrinkles. The unit he uses is the Mito Original Series Mid sized.

What is Red Light Therapy? 

The essential idea behind RLT is that by exposing our skin to very specific wavelengths and intensities of light, we can stimulate cells into functioning at a superior level. 

Usually called photobiomodulation (PBM), red light therapy was invented in the 1960s, and simply put, refers to the application of light energy to treat a variety of skin and soft tissue conditions. 

Over the decades, PBM suffered from inconsistent terminology, so you may also see it referred to as Low Level Light Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy, or Cool/Cold Laser Therapy. Dr. Hopkins suggested that we only refer to it as PBM in this report, but since most commercial models are called red lights, we are going to stick with red light therapy or RLT from here on out. 

Nerding Out: How Red Light Therapy Works

(Feel free to skip this part if you find your eyes glazing over.)

At the most basic level, RLT acts by inducing a photochemical reaction into molecules in our cells that are called chromophores. When a photon of light is absorbed by a chromophore, an electron in the chromophore can become excited and jump from a low-energy orbit to a higher-energy orbit. The stored energy from the excited electron can then be used by the system to perform various cellular tasks. Dr. Hopkins adds: “This is actually not such a strange concept; think about the rods and cones in our retinas converting light to neural signals—that’s how we see!” 

Anyway, one such chromophore is called Cytochrome C Oxidase (CCO), which is very responsive to specific wavelengths of light in the red and near infrared (NIR) spectrum. When CCO is activated in the mitochondria in our cells, it causes them to produce more energy, allowing them to undergo self-repair and wound healing.

The direct effects of photon absorption include increases in ATP, a brief burst of reactive oxygen species, an increase in nitric oxide, and modulation of calcium levels, thereby inducing the activation of numerous intracellular signaling pathways. These signaling pathways lead to activation of a wide range of transcription factors, which are known to improve cell survival, cell proliferation, tissue repair and regeneration.

Is Red Light Therapy Safe? 

The short answer is, yes, RLT is entirely safe. 

To be clear: we are not referring to the use of lasers when discussing the safety of RLT, nor are we including infrared (heat) treatments. We have not done enough research to give any opinion about the use of low level lasers at home, and there are safety concerns with the use of infrared (aka heating) pads, including a significant potential for burns.  

So, to repeat: our comments on safety and efficacy refer only to therapy that’s administered via light emitting diodes, aka LEDs, which emit non-coherent or asynchronous light. 

Dr. Hopkins say this: “I can say without reservation that RLT using red and NIR LED lights from a commercially available, trustworthy manufacturer appears to be completely safe.”

Does Red Light Therapy Work? 

The short answer again is yes, but the question we should actually be asking is: “What does RLT treat, and what kind of results can I expect?”

Depending where you look, you will find claims that RLT is a veritable panacea, with benefits ranging from skin health (wrinkles, elasticity/collagen production, hyper-pigmentation, rosacea/acne, psoriasis) to wound healing, arthritis/joint pain treatment, hair regrowth, eyesight improvement, and even improvements in brain activity and mental health conditions, such as PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury. 

The reality is that there are data to back up virtually all of these claims. After a rigorous review of the literature, we believe that RLT actually may indeed be an effective treatment for most, if not all, of these conditions. 

Still, there are several important questions we considered when coming up with our recommendations for specific red light devices, including:

• What are the parameters necessary to achieve real results in a clinical or laboratory setting, versus what you can achieve with a consumer device in your home?
• How important are individual differences between users themselves (including skin tone)?

When it comes to RLT, the data suggest that the beneficial effects often correspond to the degree to which there is some sort of damage or insult to the tissue in the first place. In other words, you’re more likely to see a dramatic improvement in skin elasticity or wrinkle reduction in skin that is already sagging and has wrinkles, versus young skin with only some minor fine lines. 

As long as we approach RLT with the understanding that results will vary and that you’re more likely to get dramatic results if your goal is to treat damage or injury, Dr. Hopkins enthusiastically recommends that you try RLT. (Since researching this article, he now uses his device from Mito every day.)

Red Light Therapy=Exercise

Dr. Hopkins encouraged us to think about RLT in much the same way that we view moderate cardiovascular exercise: we know that exercise benefits us in countless ways, all of which have been well-documented in controlled scientific studies. We also know that we aren’t damaging ourselves by engaging in moderate cardio. Finally, we’ve accepted that the precise parameters around how much is optimal in order to achieve a specific benefit is largely uncertain and varies a great deal from person to person. 

While this analogy to physical fitness may sound anticlimactic or disappointing, Dr. Hopkins provided three reasons why he feels it’s actually remarkable: 

1. First, RLT is easy–much easier than working out!—as long as you have the financial means to purchase a quality device. 
2. There are tons of studies demonstrating effective RLT treatments in the laboratory. Therefore, you can model your dosage/regimen after a successful research investigation and be reasonably confident that you will get positive results. 
3. Even if you don’t experience specific results to the extent that you were hoping, RLT has the potential to provide many different benefits. You’ll probably notice some other unexpected improvements—just like you will if you start a fitness regimen.  

What Does Red Light Therapy Treat?

So, we’ve established that RLT is safe and that it is beneficial in a range of ways. 

We asked Dr. Hopkins to separate legitimate uses of RLT from the false claims. Fortunately, he found many medical and cosmetic conditions for which there is sufficient scientific evidence to endorse RLT as a treatment. 

In some cases, Dr. Hopkins even found enough information about appropriate dosage and treatment parameters to provide specific instructions for use. More on this below. 

Here is a non-exhaustive list of what RLT can is purported to treat:

• Wrinkles and elasticity/collagen production
• Cellulite
• Hyper-pigmentation
• Rosacea and psoriasis
• Acne
• Wound healing,
• Arthritis
• Muscle strength
• Gum health
• Hair regrowth
• Eyesight
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Anxiety
• Immune system boost
• PTSD
• Depression
• Traumatic brain injury
• Cancer
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Neuropathy 

This list smacks of too-good-to-be-true, but the reality is that at minimum there are some data to back up most of these claims; many of these conditions actually have a wealth of scientific support. 

The big challenge is defining the parameters necessary to achieve these results in a clinical or laboratory setting versus what you can achieve with a consumer device in your home.  

Until we have controlled studies comparing dosages in order to define optimal parameters, there is simply no way to guarantee specific results for most of these conditions. 

This may seem like bad news for those seeking a guarantee of 20 years off their skin with a home RLT device. But Dr. Hopkins says that RLT “can safely be used for many conditions, and users can replicate the dosage from published studies to optimize their own results with an expectation of improvement and no risk of harm.”

Dr. Hopkins’ bottom line is that superficial skin issues such as wrinkles, discoloration, rashes/eczema, bruising, scabs/scars/scrapes, fine lines/wrinkles and elasticity, as well as muscle and joint pain are good candidates for at-home RLT machines. Deeper tissue effects (e.g., anything brain-related such as PTSD, Alzheimers, etc.) would be smaller simply due to the fact that OTC machines are necessarily quite weak compared to the lasers often used in clinical trials.  

At the end of this post you’ll find Dr. Hopkin’s instructions on how to use red light therapy devices for various conditions.  

NEW! Red Light Clothing

Here’s something cool: Lumiton clothing is made of a technology that turns sunlight into red and near-infrared light. Use code GIMME5 for 5% off everything on their site.

How Do I Find a Red Light That Works?

As with many health and wellness trends, the excitement over all the (legitimate) health benefits along with the relative safety has led to an explosion of RLT devices on the market for at-home use. 

There are manufacturers that are doing things correctly and have all of their products tested in reliable independent testing facilities. But there are a lot more companies trying to grab some of the profits in this trendy market by making wild claims that are not (yet) backed by research. Many companies also have no credible test results. 

The essential criteria in order to determine whether a RLT device qualifies as Good Stuff include:

• the specific wavelengths of light that are used
• the illuminance (also known as power density) of the device
• the electromagnetic fields (EMF) produced
• the amount of flicker produced by the device (these last two should be as close to zero as possible). 

Finally, Dr. Hopkins evaluated the credibility of the manufacturer, which will depend on several factors including transparency of specs and communication, FDA approval/clearance, and independent testing/validation by a third-party. 

 What about Blue/Green/Amber Light?

Acne seems to be the one skin condition that specifically responds better to blue light than red. This is thought to be due to the antimicrobial/sterilizing properties of blue light. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also is likely better helped by blue, green, and yellow light than it is by red light. Unfortunately, blue light is that it can also damage the skin, and may disrupt circadian processes, damage retinal cells, and more. For this reason we don’t recommend using blue light at home.

What Makes a Red Light Good Stuff? 

What follows are what Dr. Hopkins considered when deciding which of the many brands of red lights would qualify as Good Stuff. 

Energy Output: Illuminance & Radiant Exposure

One of the most important factors in deciding on a red light therapy device is the energy output. The first thing to understand here is that the “strength” of your LED device is measured in mW/cm2, which is also called “illuminance” or “power density.”

To calculate the dose, you take the illuminance and multiply it by the number of seconds of exposure to your skin. One watt is the same as one Joule per second, so you might see a light therapy device reporting Joules/cm2 rather than milliwatts (mW)—this refers to the total radiant exposure from that device.

Here’s an example: Suppose you have a red light device with a measured illuminance of 50mW/cm2 at a distance of 6 inches. If hold this device 6 inches from your face for 60 seconds, you receive .05 Watts of energy per square centimeter (50mW/1000 = .05W), times 60 seconds of treatment time (.05 X 60), for a total of 3 Joules per cm2. 

Based on the studies that Dr. Hopkins read, the range of effective treatments is typically reported from around 10mW/cm2 to 200mW/cm2, with each dose ranging from about 1Joule/cm2 to 50joules/cm2.  

So how frequently and for how long you should expect to continue treatment in order to see results? While results will vary depending on the condition being treated, most data suggest that you’ll want to use an at-home device on affected areas several times a week for at least a month.  

The Trouble with Measuring Illuminance

Dr. Hopkins found that the “industry standard” for measuring illuminance is flawed. His explanation about the flaws are a page long, so I won’t post it all here, but the basic problem is that widely-available Solar Power Meters are designed to measure the power density of white light. Because they absorb across a broad range of wavelengths occurring naturally in sunlight, there a large differences in sensitivity for different wavelengths. 

Red light devices sold to consumers will have artificially inflated illuminance data because they are being measured with a Solar Power Meter rather than a Laser Power Meter (the latter being prohibitively expensive). The bottom line here is that you always want to look for brands that report third-party testing from an independent laboratory. Alternatively, if a brand explicitly states that they have corrected this industry-wide issue to report accurate power density levels, we would consider this brand potential Good Stuff. 

The Most Effective Wavelengths

Dr. Hopkins found that the wavelengths known to produce benefits are 630, 650 (visible red light), 830, and 850 (near infrared).

Visible red seems to be effective in activating cellular energy, detoxifying cells, and building new arteries. Generally, red 630 has been tested more for skin-tone (collagen and elastin) while 660 may better influence ATP production.

The optimal therapeutic window for red light therapy is between 600 and 1100nM (Rojas & Lima 2011). This is because light below 600nm wavelength does not generally penetrate living tissue, and light above 1100nm wavelength (infrared) is rapidly absorbed by water. 

It’s also worth nothing that near-infrared light (NIR) penetrates even more deeply into the tissue than does red light, and thus more effective at treating conditions below the skin—such as joint pain in the back, neck, and hip joints (where the synovia are deeper), traumatic brain injury, or any other conditions that go below skin deep. 

Bottom line: When choosing your RLT machine, try to get one that matches the biologically active frequencies listed above within +/-15nm. If the frequencies are not matched, Dr. Hopkins recommend a device with a greater distribution of frequencies, rather than just one for red and one for NIR.   

 Red Light Therapy for Different Skin Tones

The FDA approval for over-the-counter red light therapy devices is limited to people with light skin tones. This means that, in general, the lighter your skin is, the more effective RLT will be for you because the light can penetrate deeper in skin with less melanin. Melanin will absorb a considerable amount of the light before it can reach deeper cells.

How Much is Enough? Determining the Correct Dosage

RLT, like the vast majority of naturally occurring phenomena that exert biological effects, follows a hormetic arc of efficacy. Hormesis refers to dose-response processes in which a low dose can produce the opposite effect of a high dose. In other words, there is a dose range that will produce positive outcomes up to a certain level, at which point increasing the dose further will not continue to be beneficial but rather, will be harmful (examples of this: heat, salt, oxygen, stress, etc.).  

The big trouble with RLT is that the optimal parameters have not been established. That said, there is a very large range of light intensities that have been shown to be effective for a wide variety of conditions. The data all suggest that the threshold for shifting from benefit to harm is higher than any at-home light therapy device will be able to achieve when used as intended. In other words, the more powerful, the better–and you do not have to worry about it being too strong. 

The best RLT devices available for at-home use will achieve an illuminance of at least 50mW/cm2 at an appropriate distance for use– usually at 6 to 12 inches away. If you opt for a flexible, form-fitting sheet like the Celluma Pro or a helmet like the iRestore the illuminance may be lower because the item is coming in contact directly with your skin.  

Effective dosages range anywhere from 1Joule/cm2 up to around 150 Joules/cm2. The majority of studies demonstrating positive effects cluster around 10-100 Joules. One study looking at RLT to improve runners’ performance found that a single treatment of 30 Joules was more effective than either 15 or 60 Joules (Dellagrana et al., 2018). 

FDA 510 Clearance

In order to get FDA approval, a product must provide some kind of health benefit or treat a specific condition, and the benefits of the product must outweigh any risks associated with using it.

This process involves substantial safety and efficacy data by way of peer-reviewed studies and clinical trials; is very time consuming and costs millions of dollars. There is a much faster and cheaper version, though, for low risk medical devices. This is called 510K Clearance, whereby companies must only prove that their device is equivalent in safety and function as a previously approved device with similar characteristics (called a “predicate device”).

This 510k Clearance process is important when it comes to RLT because new devices have to match the specs of approved predicate devices in order to be cleared. There are several different possible wavelengths that might be more or less effective for treating many different conditions, but this system encourages “copy cat” wavelengths and device styles, rather than novel and possibly more effective wavelengths or devices. Still, you of course want to make sure any red light therapy device you purchase has received FDA 510 Clearance.

Pulsed Versus Continuous Wave

You will find that several manufacturers proudly state that their device uses “pulsed” light. This is just marketing, and can be ignored if you’re using an OTC red light device. 

The only reason you’d want to use pulsed rather than continuous light energy is in the case of a laser or other extremely intense light. This is because pulsed light allows you to deliver a more powerful beam without damaging your skin by ensuring that the heat has time to dissipate between pulses. But this simply does not apply to red light therapy devices for home use. 

Can RLT Cure Covid-19?

Dr. Hopkins feels that there is great potential for red light therapy to help treat not only COVID-19 but any number of other potential pathogens. There are already clinical trials underway to explore the efficacy of such treatments . 

Dr. Hopkins concluded that it is “absolutely reasonable to suppose that PBM can and will be an effective adjunct/alternative treatment for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases as more research is conducted. It is not clear where at home LED devices will fall in terms of efficacy but it is safe to assume that the benefit would be greater than zero and certainly not harmful.” 

So let’s cut to the REAL bottom line: Which red light therapy lamps are Good Stuff and which are not? 

The Good Stuff

The Okay Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

How to Use Your RLT Device

If you’ve purchased a device and want to know specifically how to use it, here are Dr. Hopkins’ recommendations. For all the conditions below, we’ve cited at least one clinical paper with specific data on dosage/treatment parameters, but please note that all of the conditions listed below are supported by multiple published clinical trials.  

Wound Healing

• Use 633nm light at 96J/cm2 dosage immediately after surgery, 48-hours later and 2 times the following week. (Studies shown that mean healing time was 13.5 days versus 26.8 days for untreated patients. Trelles & Allones 2006–taken from Ablon 2018 review.)
• Use 830nm at 55J/cm2 plus 633nm at 98J/cm2 following surgery and repeated at 72 hours and again 3 times more during the following week. (Studies found that exudation, crusting, pain, and edema resolved roughly 50% faster in the treated group. Trelles et al., 2006- taken from Ablon 2018 review. You can also see extensive review of in vitro and animal models by Abreau Chaves et al., 2014.)

Pain

• Use 810nm, 27 J/cm2 (12 sessions, with 20-minute treatments each time). When combined with physical exercise, this improved chronic lower back pain 12 weeks after treatments. (Djavid et al., 2007).    

Superficial Skin Appearance (age spots, wrinkles, smoothness, elasticity, etc.)

• 633nm (96 J/cm2) LED light administered as 20-minute treatments three times weekly for three weeks. In a study, this resulted in reduced wrinkles and fine lines as well as smoother skin as assessed by treatment-blind third party. (Bhat et al., 2005).
• Red light (611-650nM) resulted in significant improvement of skin as measured by complexion, feeling, roughness and collagen density as measured by ultrasound compared to controls. (Wunsch & Matuschka 2014).  

Psoriasis

• 830nm, 60J/cm2 and 633nm,126J/cm2 during two weekly 20-minute sessions for 4 to 5 weeks with two days between sessions. Researchers found 60% to 100% clearance of psoriasis in treated patients. (Ablon, 2010).

Hair (Re-)Growth 

• Double-blind control study (Lanzafame et al., 2013) found a very clear significant effect of red light (655+-20nM) on hair growth in men compared to placebo. 

Muscle Recovery Post Acute Exercise

• Single treatment of 630nm at total energy density of 24Joules/cm2 following arms workout significantly reduced muscle soreness, loss of strength,h and loss of range of motion up to 96 hours after muscle-damage-inducing eccentric work out in 17 healthy male volunteers. (Borges, L.S., Cerqueira, M.S., dos Santos Rocha, J.A. et al.)

Retinal Health (Eyesight)

• Researchers found the 670nm light had no impact in younger individuals, but in those around 40 years and over, significant improvements were obtained in both color contrast sensitivity as well as low light visual acuity.  (Shinhmar et al., 2020).

Stay sane!

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The post Red Light Therapy: Is It Safe and Effective? appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Related: Shop safest lip balms.

Blistex lip products definitely soothe super chapped, sore lips. Perhaps this explains why Blistex sells more than $100 million worth of their “medicated” lip balm every year! But is Blistex non-toxic?

While Blistex offers short-term relief from the pain of chapped lips, it contains ingredients that may carry other health risks.

My Favorite Natural Lip Balm

I love the creamy texture and subtle scents of Green Goo’s line of lip balms.

 

$3.95 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

Is Blistex Non-Toxic?

A tube of Blistex contains some 25 ingredients, including a variety of preservatives and dyes. Among the most concerning ingredients are the following, which you will find in various Blistex products:

• Phenol. One of Blistex’s several active ingredients, phenol is considered toxic to the central nervous system and to the heart.
• Saccharin. I won’t eat food with this artificial sweetener in it, and anything you smear on your mouth has sort of got to be considered food, right?
• Parabens. Unsurprisingly, these notorious, carcinogenic preservatives make an appearance in some Blistex formulas.
• Fragrance. We know that when we see “fragrance” on a label, that usually means the presence of phthalates.
• Oxybenzone. That really bad sunscreen ingredient that’s linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, as well as endocrine disruption.
• Mineral oil. A petroleum product.
• Parraffin. Another petroleum product.
• Petrolatum. Yet another petroleum product.

(See our glossary for more on many of these ingredients, including links to studies that back up all these scary claims.)

This chemical cocktail is especially concerning in a product that you smear all over your mouth. (I’ve likely eaten several ounces of Blistex in my life, since in high school it was all I used.)

Here are some of my favorite natural lip balms:

1. Soapwalla’s coconut-lime lip balm is probably my favorite flavor of any lip balm I’ve tried. It’s also made by a wonderful women-owned business in Brooklyn.
2. Green Goo makes healing balms in several flavors (my favorite is the honey), which come in a standard chapstick-style dispenser.
3. Tandi’s Naturals lip balms are rich in avocado oil and beeswax, and are available in either Mint & Grapefruit or Herb Garden and come in a cool little tin (extra points for no plastic!).
4. Weleda’s Skin Food for the lips has a cult following for a reason. It leaves lips noticeably hydrated and soft, especially in cold weather conditions.
5. Badger makes some nice extra-large cocoa butter lip balms, which are great for little hands and make a perfect stocking stuffer. My kids love these most.
6. If you like a lip balm that doubles as a lip tint, my absolute favorites are these from Olio E Osso. They also make a beautiful clear version, and all of them work for cheeks as well as lips.
7. If you like a little luxury in your lip balm, I recommend Beautycounter’s lip conditioner, which also works really well over any of their lip sheers (I wear Terra).

Thankfully, lip balm is one category of products where choosing the Good Stuff doesn’t mean a sacrifice in performance (as opposed to, say, deodorant!). When my lips are chapped and painful, these natural balms really do bring complete relief.

P.S. Please share your favorite lip balm brands below, or ask away if you have any you’d like us to investigate.

The post Is Blistex Toxic? (And What to Buy Instead) appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

A few years ago, a private client of mine gave me the opportunity to look more closely at the best multivitamins.

She wanted to know if she should be taking a multivitamin, and if she should be giving one to her children. Of course, she also wanted to know which brands make the best multivitamins.

I shared my opinion with the Gimme readership back then, and now am pleased to be able to update you guys. What follows is even more research on multivitamins, plus a few supplements I do recommend, as well as suggestions for the best multivitamins if you decide to take one.

RELATED: Best Prenatal Vitamins

Should You or Your Kids Take a Multivitamin?

The best way to hit all nutritional checkpoints is by eating a diverse range of vibrantly-colored fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. This is hard to accomplish for a picky child, of course. Many nutrients are lost during the processing of the food most Americans eat.

For adults, there is no harm in taking a multivitamin, although it’s unclear if there is a huge benefit, either. In general, I recommend against giving a multivitamin to young children, but I think they cannot hurt for kids about six and older. You’ll read more about this below.

I do recommend that both children and adults take a vitamin D supplement. You should also consider a fish oil supplement or a multi that contains fish oil if you or your children don’t eat fish.

If you eat several servings of fish a week, you probably don’t need a fish oil supplement.

The Case for (and Against) Multivitamins

Science clearly shows that vitamins and minerals are important to overall health. Studies have also shown that the best way to get most nutrients is from our food.

There is some evidence to suggest that the quality of modern soil and agricultural practices are insufficient to produce food as rich in nutrients as the stuff that our ancient ancestors enjoyed. This makes sense.

Still, most researchers argue that isolating vitamins into pill form vastly reduces or even eliminates the benefits.

The theory that multivitamins and supplements can “fill gaps” in our dietary intake of vitamins and minerals also makes sense. And yet most studies have been unable to find any actual health benefits when compared to placebo or non-use.

Despite this lack of clear benefit, many doctors recommend the use of a daily multivitamin, and I don’t think there is much harm in “covering your bases” by taking one.

I haven’t come across strong evidence that taking vitamins has any major downsides for adults, but there are a few worrisome studies I’ve found that don’t apply to most people, but are still worth mentioning:

1. Smokers who take beta carotene have increased risks of lung cancer. 
2. Folic acid may increase prostate cancer risk.
3. Adults who take large doses of B vitamins for many years may have increased incidence of hip fracture.

Overdosing on Vitamins

You can take toxic doses of vitamins—in particular preformed vitamin A, E, and K. Look for supplements with no more than 100% of your daily value for these. 

Excessive doses of vitamin C have also been shown to increase the risk of kidney stones. Most of us get plenty of vitamin C in our diets, so it’s not one that you need much of in a supplement.

What are the Best Multivitamins for Adults?

If you are trying to get nutrients from a pill, it makes sense to get a food-based pill. The less we try to break down vitamins/minerals to the sum of their parts, the more bio-available all the nutrients will be.

There are two brands I like if you choose to take a multivitamin–or if your doctor recommends one.

Ritual Essential for Women

Ritual’s multivitamin contains half of the number of ingredients of most multivitamins, so you’re not getting unnecessary or excessive amounts of nutrients. For instance, this multi doesn’t include calcium, because  most women get plenty from their diets and it can impede the absorption of iron. Ritual’s multi uses folate rather than synthetic folic acid, and it contains omega-3 oil (a vegan form) in the same pill with the other nutrients This brand is one of the most transparent of those we reviewed, and has the best third-party testing. Finally, Ritual’s multivitamin has an enteric coating to improve absorption of nutrients. You can shop Ritual here.

Llama Naturals Multivitamins Gummy Bites

If you, like me, have  a hard time swallowing pills, then these gummies will make taking vitamins something you actually look forward to . Despite not even being convinced that I need a multivitamin at all, I take these every day after lunch when a sugar craving hits (I also take their vitamin D and probiotic). I like this brand because their gummies don’t contain any sugar (they’re sweetened with organic apples and strawberries) are organic, and contain no synthetic vitamins.

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Should Kids Take a Multivitamin?

Considering how many kids take multivitamins, I was surprised to uncover almost no research on the benefits and risks of this daily habit.

Each brand of multivitamins contains a different cocktail of vitamins, and the quantities of each vitamin varies by brand as well. When studies are done on “multivitamins,” they don’t seem to take these differences into consideration. Therefore, we really don’t know which combinations of vitamins and minerals carry which benefits or even which potential risks.

Here are a few red flags I uncovered:

• An association between multivitamins before the age of 6 months and increased risk of asthma among black children.
• The same study showed increased levels of food allergies among formula-fed infants who were given multivitamins before the age of 6 months, and increased levels of food allergies amongst 3-year-olds exposed to multivitamins (whether they had been breast- or formula-fed).
• Another study found that the nutrients most lacking from the diets of children ages 2 to 8–-namely, calcium and vitamin D–-remained lacking despite multivitamin use. Researchers attribute this to the fact that children’s multis are heavy in the “wrong” nutrients–B vitamins and vitamin C, for instance, both of which kids get from food. Moreover, multivitamin use led to excessive levels of certain nutrients, like iron, zinc, and copper in this study. The effects of this are unknown.

What Are the Best Multivitamins for Kids?

Overall, I think the potential for a downside outweighs the potential benefit of multivitamins for kids under about the age of about six. Of course, I defer to your pediatrician–if he or she recommends that your child take a multi, or if your child has a very restricted diet, there are a few brands that qualify as Good Stuff that you can consider.

And for older children, a high-quality multivitamin might be beneficial and probably isn’t harmful. Based on our research, the best multivitamins for kids are the following:

Llama Naturals Kids Multivitamin Gummy Bites

This is a unique gummy brand because it has no added sugar–the vitamins are sweetened with just fruit. It has a good range of naturally-derived vitamins, including 100% the daily requirement of vitamin D.

Ritual Essentials for Kids

Sweetened with monk fruit, Rituals chewable vitamins also contain fiber, a prebiotic, and omega-3 oils. Ritual has separate (non-chewable) formulas for teenage girls and boys, both of which adhere to Ritual’s strict ingredients sourcing policy.

Hiya Kids Daily Multivitamin

Hiya is the most eco-friendly brand because they come in a reusable glass bottle and then send you monthly refill packs. The ingredients list is very clean, and Hiya’s chewable vitamins aren’t a gummy at all, so they are a great option for kids who are prone to tooth decay.

Two Pills You & Your Kids Probably Should Be Taking

My research left me somewhat torn about the necessity of multivitamins, but I did come away convinced that we all should be taking a couple of supplements:

1. Vitamin D. Higher levels of vitamin D are protective against a variety of diseases. Vitamin D also enables calcium absorption, making it critical for growing children. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get sufficient vitamin D from diet alone (which is why I recommend time outside without sunscreen). Supplementing 400 IU a day for babies and children and 4,000 for adults makes sense, especially because vitamin D carries a low risk for toxicity. Note that you want to look for D3 if you are a vegan.
   

   I like Carlson as a brand for vitamin D supplements for babies. As for kids (and me!), we take these ones by Rainbow Light or this one by Llama Naturals (which is free of sugar).

   

   Carlson is my favorite brand of vitamin D drops for babies.

2. Omega-3s. These fatty acids are crucial for good brain and heart function, and are found in fatty fish like salmon and sardines, breastmilk, and some nuts and seeds. If you and your kids eat fish regularly (even relatively small amounts), you are probably covered. If not, you may want to consider a DHA supplement.

   Nordic Naturals Baby’s DHA is a good one, as are the Nordic Naturals supplements for adults. (Note that the orange-flavored “Fishies” by Nordic Naturals have low levels of omega-3s and are basically candy.) Ritual’s kids multivitamin also contains omega oils and is Good Stuff approved.

Another supplement that you might consider is one with B12 if you are a vegan. This one has 75% of what you need in a day.

Finally, probiotics are good for all of us, and while they are beyond the scope of this post, you can read more about them here.

What supplements and vitamins do you like? Please share in the comments below.

Stay sane,

P.S. If you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, you may want to read our guide to the Best Prenatal Vitamins.

P.P.S. Here’s Llama Naturals lineup of vitamins, including a probiotic we take every day.

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The post What Are the Best Multivitamins? appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

This year, we tried to find gifts that were good for the planet in addition to being good for the person receiving them. We also have highlighted products from Black-owned businesses that we adore.

A few of the gifts below are available in our online store, where we will cover shipping if you spend $50. The rest of the items on our list are available online, and are all sold by companies we love and shop from ourselves. Many of these companies are already running Black Friday sales, so the prices you’ll see below will often be steeply discounted for the holidays. (If you purchase using the links below, we may earn a commission for the referral. Thank you for supporting our work in all the ways!)

Please comment below with your own ideas for non-toxic, natural gifts. I assume I am not alone in planning to celebrate the sh*t of of the holidays this year–even if that means doing it inside my own house with just my immediate family!

Stay sane,

P.S. Here is last year’s list, for 99 more natural gift ideas.

P.P.S. Because of COVID, shipping times are very delayed. In our store, we are sending packages out (via Priority Mail) the same day the order comes in, or the following day at the latest. In normal times, this means you’ll have your package in two days, but right now we are finding that it can take up to a week. Please order early this year, from us and from everywhere else, too!

For Your Sister, Mom, Wife, or Best Friend

1. Rose Gold French Press. Toxin-free and just so pretty. $50. (You might pair with some nice organic coffee.)
2. Solstice Romper. You know I’m obsessed with it, and now it’s available in more colors! $68.
3. Supersoft Cotton Throw. Woven of thick organic cotton and brushed for softness. $148.
4. Annual Membership to Alo Moves. My favorite at-home fitness, yoga, and meditation. The luxe, black gift box comes with the annual membership card plus a gorgeous booklet. $99.
5.  Non-toxic 10-Piece Cookware Set. Toxic-free, non-stick coating means less oil and easy cleaning. $329. 40% off with code SAVE40.
6. Le Creuset Utensil Set. Made of toxin-free stoneware and silicone. $60. On sale for $40 right now.
7. The Joan Coup. Adds a touch of vintage-inspired charm to a bar cart or cabinet. $11 each.
8. Kombucha Brewing Kit. Highest-quality kombucha cultures, top-tier equipment, and expert instruction will turn anyone into a kombucha brew-master. $45.
9. Pocket Leggings. Made of impossibly soft organic cotton. $50. 40% off for Black Friday now.
10. Ode to Tea by Pique. Eight curated blends of toxin-screened tea crystals in a musical tea chest. $130. Use code GIMME5 for 5% off your first order, on top of their Black Friday sales.
    
11. Thrive Market Annual Membership. A Costco-meets-Whole Foods-meets-Amazon shopping experience, with hard-to-find healthful foods delivered at steeply discounted prices. $59.
12. Meal Delivery for Longevity. Because you want her to live forever! From $138. Use code GIMME20 for $20 off a trial box
    
13. Zero Waste Skin & Haircare Starter Kit. Hand wash, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner  in refillable stainless steel bottles. $50.
14. Kyrgies. Toxin-free wool slippers with thick vegetal-tanned leather soles. Handmade by artisans, and from a socially responsible business. From $59.
15. Red Light Therapy Home Treatment. This device can improve skin health, promote hair regrowth, and even treat depression—among many other benefits. Look out for a guide on red light therapy soon. From $239.
16. Organic Cotton Undies. My mom and I both love these, and they’ve just launched a comfy thong. $13.

For the Men in Your Life

1. 1. Reclaimed Wood End Table. A Jenga-inspired, eco-friendly, toxin-free statement piece for his man cave. $495. Use code GOODSTUFF5 for 5% off site-wide.
   2. Organic Crinkle Pajama Pant. Soft, breathable, and as comfy as they look. $78.
   3. Bamboo Safety Razor. Eco-friendly and non-toxic, and with a long-handle for an easier shave. $22.
   4. Organic Plush Bath Towels. My husband is weirdly picky about his towels, so he’s getting a pair of these this year. $116.
   5. A Map of His Favorite Place. Whether it’s Amsterdam, Martha’s Vineyard, Kentucky, South Africa, or hundreds of other locales. From $36.
   6. Stainless Steel Citrus Juicer. Since citrus causes increased leaching from plastic, you want to make sure that citrus juicers are 100% stainless steel; this is the nicest one we’ve found. $38.
   7. Organic Cotton Boxers. Pre-washed, with an extended leg for full coverage. $9. 30% off for Black Friday.
   8. Grow Light. These give houseplants the TLC they need–no green thumb required. From $150.
   9. Full Spectrum CBD Massage Oil. Obviously, you’ll also have to give him a massage! $45.
   10. Insulated Lunch Box. Because some day he will go back to the office. $27.
   11. Laptop Protection. To shield him from radiation when he uses his laptop at home. $115.
   12. Barr Hill Gin. This Vermont gin is my dad’s absolute favorite, and I love its subtle honey sweetness. $39.
   13. Air Plant Trio. An assortment of plants that can stand alone or be attached to the wall to spruce up a home office. $50.
   14. The Always Pan. The most beautiful piece of (toxin-free!) cookware in our home, hands-down. $145.
   15. Organic Waffle Joggers. Consider a matching henley shirt to build the perfect lounge outfit. $50.
   16. Latex Mattress Topper. My husband cannot sleep without this toxin-free, 100% natural bedding luxury. From $938.

For Infants & Toddlers

1. Pocket Bib. Made of medical-grade silicone, these are supple, lightweight, and phthalate-free. $13.
2. Emerson Sleeper. Thick and cozy, and made of organic cotton. $34.
3. Coming Home Blanket. This comes in 45 (!) different adorable patterns and is made of organic cotton. $24.
4. Rubber Duck & Teether Set. Made of natural rubber, and safe for teething as well as bath time. $37.
5. VW Bus Teether. The cutest teether we’ve found, made of 100% silicone. $8.
6. Sherpa Ear Flap Hat. Made of organic brushed sherpa, this is the perfect hat for chilly weather–and it won’t fall off baby’s head! $20.
7. Colorful Rubber Pacifier. Made from 100% natural rubber and natural color pigments. $10.
8. Baby Bum Soothing Duo. This game-changing set includes a soothing balm that doubles as a cleanser, plus organic cotton wipes. $25.
9. First Cooperative Game. This game can be played by toddlers as young as two, and my own nieces love it. $30.
10. First Phone. A toxin-free way to keep a baby away from your phone. $15.
11. Wooden Bernese Mountain Dog. Made in Germany and painted with water-based pigments. $25.
12. BPA-Free Feeding Set. Everything you need to keep a toddler’s food plastic-free. $40.
13. Zip Top Baby Containers. These adorable animal-shaped food storage bags are friendly to the planet while also being toxin-free. $9.
14. Rattling Max. A best-selling, rattling wooden baby toy from the German brand Haba. $17.
15. Happy Weather Mobile. A beautiful, colorful addition to any nursery, made of organic cotton. $55.
16. Naughty by Nature Onesie. Made of 100% organic cotton. $10.
17. Rainbow Toy. A large platinum silicone stacker, puzzle, or even a safe teether for younger babies. $49.99.

For Kids & Tweens

1. Kringle Domino Set. A beautiful BPA-free racing set that’s fun for kids of all ages. $70.
2. Illustrated Recipe Book. The cutest book of recipes from around the world, with easy-to-follow instructions. $12.
3. Earth Paint Kit. Six packets of hand-crafted vegan paint and a set of biodegradable mixing cups with lids. $33.
4. Vegetable Garden Toy. This year my niece is definitely getting this adorable wooden garden from Plan Toys. $25.
5. Personalized 12-Piece Puzzle. These personalized puzzles come in a variety of piece-counts, depending on the age of the recipient, and arrive packaged inside a beautiful, gold-accented hinged box. $42.
6. Heart Tights. OEKO-Tex Standard 100 certified fabric, with non-skid soles. $16.
7. Ice Pops Memory Game. We’ve tried nearly every version of Memory that exists, and this is for sure the cutest. $14.
8. My Favorite Childhood Book. Peter Spier is one of my all-time favorite illustrators, and People is the title I enjoyed in my own childhood. $11.
9. Holiday Jammies. These are OEKO-TEX certified, and they make them in sizes for the whole family. From $18.
10. Magnetic Blocks Set. The wooden alternative to Magnatiles, these beautitul blocks are painted with toxin-free stains. $37.
11. Washable Sun Rug. Cheerful, machine-washable, and made of organic cotton, this is the perfect bedside rug. $95.
12. Personalized Apron and Oven Mitts. 100% cotton with an embossed tag. $42.
13. Kid’s Yoga Mat. A non-toxic cork mat for your young yogi. From $59.
14. Stainless Steel Lunch Container. This is a decidenly non-babyish way to pack and eco-friendly lunch. $29.
15. Doodle Crate. We’ve had so much fun with all of the monthly kits from Kiwi, and Doodle is the best one for crafty kids ages nine and up. From $16 a month.
16. Heart Cushion. These cotton cushions can be thrown in the wash without removing the cover. $59.
17. Piggy Paint Gift Bag. Three festive colors, all free of toxins and odor. $22.50.

For Teenagers

1. Lash Line Trio. Easy-to-apply, toxin-free liquid liner, eyelash curler, and super lash-lengthening mascara colored from bold black tea. $38.
2. Organic Travel Sleep Set. Eye mask and a pillowcase in a travel bag, all made with 300-thread-count organic cotton sateen $34.
3. A Real Piece of Art. If you’re sick of looking at posters in their bedroom. From $78.
4. Renew Gift Set. Naturally addresses breakouts and blemishes. $150.
5. Papaya Bright Face Mask. An entirely natural exfoliating mask from a Black-owned business. $34.
6. A Grown-Up Lunch Box. A French-style lunch tote that’s free of toxins and includes a convenient insert lining and messenger strap. $42.
7. Personalized Stationary. For beautiful thank-you notes. From $25.
8. Organic Aloe Face Wash. I love the unsubtle message on this bottle of natural face wash, which is brought you to by one of our favorite Black-owned businesses. $16
9. Soccer Pathways Consulting. The perfect gift for teens hoping to play NCAA soccer. Mention Gimme the Good Stuff and Coach Cory will waive the $100 initiation fee. From $89 a month.
10. Succulent Trio. Petite in size, and hand-potted in ceramic planters. $50.
11. Vitamins for Teens. With formulas for boys or girls, from the most rigorously researched and tested brand we’ve found. $30.
12. No Sweat Small Towel. Made of 100% cotton, and perfect for wiping sweat during sports. $14.
13. Clean Deo Minis. Natural scents include Soft Lavender, Fresh Coconut, Clean Rose, and Crisp Sequoia. $49.
14. Stackable Mineral Powder Makeup. Can be used as eye liner, eye shadow, and lipstick. Formulated from a blend of uncoated mineral pigments and oxidized mica, and free from toxic preservatives. $9.
15. Hydrating Natural Lip Gloss. This EWG-Verified natural lip gloss is enriched with natural coconut oil, cocoa butter, and soothing organic calendula. $19.
16. Peanut Butter Cereal. A reimagined take on your favorite peanut butter cereal, with only 3 grams of net carbs, plus 11 grams of complete protein and nothing artificial. $39 for a case.
17. Meal Kits. Green Chef is a great way to get your teenagers cooking organic meals (including keto, plant-powered, and omnivore options). From $6 per serving.

For a Host(ess)

1. Champagne Sealer. This pretty sealer quickly locks carbonation inside champagne bottles with its airtight rubber seal. $32.
2. The Spray by Soapwalla. I use this essential oil spray before working out, on equipment, mats, and weights. It smells wonderful, and is great for cleaning hands on the go. $32.
3. Paleo-Friendly Champagne. When you choose Dry Farm Wine’s sparkling subscription, you’ll receive only sugar-free  bottles of bubbly, sourced to the highest standards of farming, purity, and taste. I always bring a bottle to dinner parties (remember those?).
4. MUD\WTR Coffee Alternative. With one-seventh the caffeine of coffee, this blend of cacao, masala, chai, and tumeric gives you natural energy and focus without the jitters and crash. $40.
5. Fresh Flowers. Farm-direct, transparent sourcing from eco-friendly farms that minimize waste, recycle water, and use sustainable growing practices. From $39. 25% off site-wide for Black Friday.
6. Cotton Basket. Because you can never have enough pretty baskets for storing throw blankets, toys, laundry, books, a plant…you name it. Comes in four beautiful color combos. $65.
7. Salt & Cellar Gift Set. From Vermont-based ceramics studio Farmhouse Pottery, and with a bag of fresh, coastal sea salt. $100.
8. Superfood Olive Oil. Olea True is my go-to hostess gift. It’s as much medicine as it is a (delicious!) food—perfect for foodies and wellness enthusiasts alike. From $30.
9. E-Cloths. These miracle cloths clean and disinfect all household surfaces with just water. $39.
10. Le Creuset Refrigerator Magnets. Perfect for the home chefs in your life—adorn the front of their refrigerators with a miniature model of the iconic (and non-toxic!) Dutch oven. $20.
11. Praline Holiday Granola. Sakara’s delicious coconut praline granola contains only clean, organic, plant-based ingredients, and the festive packaging makes is a beautiful gift. $16. 25% off with BF-MAIA2020.
12. Cotton Bowl Covers. These cotton bowl covers in three sizes are perfect for making bread, covering a salad or casserole, and saving all kinds of leftovers. $38.
13. Stainless Steel Ice Cube Tray. This old-school tray is toxin-free and non-leaching. $33.
14. Stoneware Honey Pot. This pot with a silicone dipper makes it easy to keep healthy sweetener nearby, and it’s the ideal size for countertop use. $45.
15. Silicone Food Huggers. These have become my favorite food storage item, and the perfect eco-friendly way to save fruits and veggies of all sizes. $13.
16. Living Wreath. There are so many beautiful options—seeded eucalyptus, rosemary, bay leaf, and olive lemon leaf are a few of my favorite—that you’ll have a hard time choosing! From $72. 25% off for Black Friday.

The post 2020 Non-Toxic Gift Guide appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

1. All Good / 2. for:good / 3. Soapwalla/ 4. Lumion/ 5. Aura Cacai

Research provided by Michael Hopkins, PhD

So you’re looking for non-toxic hand sanitizer…You’ve come to the right place! But buckle up, my friend, because there is a lot of info in this guide! (That’s what I get every time I hire Dr. Hopkins to provide research!).

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know when shopping for non-toxic hand sanitizers–from sprays, gels, foams and wipes.

(Since probably most of you are reading this through a lens of COVID-19 worries, here is the good news: the novel coronavirus is very easy to kill with truly non-toxic hand sanitizers.)

Non-Toxic Hand Sanitizer: Sprays Vs. Gels Vs. Wipes

Generally speaking, you’re more likely to find a non-toxic hand sanitizer in a spray form than either a gel or a wipe.

This is because gels usually have some kind of thickening agent that sprays don’t need, giving one more opportunity for Bad Stuff to get into the formula.

Wipes are least likely to be Good Stuff because they are by nature disposable and involve more packaging as well as the cloth itself, which may or may not be Good Stuff.  and then for some reason almost all wipes have preservatives in the ingredient list, which is weird since they are soaked in disinfectant solution already.

Soap Versus Hand Sanitizers

As you surely know by now, the CDC recommends that any alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain 60% or more alcohol in order to be effective against the novel coronavirus.

The CDC also is clear that washing your hands with soap and water (for 20 seconds or more) will effectively rid your skin of the coronavirus. When using soap, you don’t need any disinfectant at all to kill the virus that causes COVID-19. Any old soap will work because of the virus’ lipid membrane, aka “envelope.” Enveloped viruses, like SARS-CoV-2, are among the easiest pathogens to kill.

Bottom line: if you’re only concerned with COVID-19, it’s okay to use soap that is not labeled as “antimicrobial” or “antibacterial.”  

Sonett’s foaming calendula hand soap is one of my favorites.

This guide is a review of a broad range of antimicrobial hand sanitizing gels, sprays, and wipes that will kill more than just coronavirus–because this pandemic will end some day! Hand soap will be covered in a future guide.

Cleaning Versus Disinfecting 

To truly disinfect a surface, you need to scrub an area until the entire surface is wet, and then let it dry with time.

The mechanical process of scrubbing physically wipes away the germs, and the disinfecting agent offers extra assurance that any remaining virus/bacteria will be killed.

It’s also crucial to use enough of the product—and to allow it to sit long enough—to make sure it really works.

Here’s how Clorox says to disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces with its wipes: “Use enough wipes for treated surface to remain visibly wet for 4 minutes. Let surface dry.”

What Are the Hardest Bugs to Kill?

Let me repeat the good news: the novel coronavirus is among the easiest pathogens to kill. This is because of it’s lipid membrane, or “envelope.” Enveloped viruses, which include influenza, are easy to kill. (By the way, a product is allowed to market itself as able to kill the coronavirus if it is proven to kill at least one virus that is harder to kill than this coronavirus.)

But what if you’re worried about other microbes?

Certain viruses, like the norovirus (which causes the stomach bug) and rhinovirus (which causes the common cold), are among the hardest bugs to kill, and both are resistant to ethanol-based antiseptics as well as quaternary ammonia (you’ll learn more about these ingredients later).

Rotavirus and adenovirus are also non-enveloped viruses, but they are bigger making them more vulnerable than their smaller non-enveloped cousins. Many bacterial endospores can be killed by alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

And what about mold and yeast? Most people worried about a fungal infection will use a product that is specifically fungicidal. That said, the most common household fungal pathogens (like ringworm and athlete’s foot) are generally susceptible to common household antimicrobial products, such as alcohol or bleach.

(By the way, a product is allowed to market itself as able to kill the coronavirus if it is proven to kill at least one virus that is harder to kill than this coronavirus.)

Antiseptic Versus Disinfectant 

“Antiseptic” refers to products used on living tissue (like your hands), and “disinfectant” is reserved for products that will be used on inert surfaces (like an airplane tray table).

The Essential Components in Hand Sanitizer

Any hand sanitizer, be in conventional or “natural” will likely contain a combination of the following components:

1. Antiseptic (“active ingredient”). The truth is, an antimicrobial hand product really only needs one ingredient–an effective antiseptic. You will read more about which active ingredients kill which microbes in the next section. The acceptable active ingredients for a product to meet our Good or Best Stuff designation are alcohol (either ethanol or isopropanol, 60-80%), thymol and/or citral, and hypochlorous acid. Note that alcohol enhances the absorption of other topical ingredients into the skin. It’s therefore especially important that alcohol-based sanitizers have an otherwise safe list of ingredients.
2. Moisturizer/skin conditioner. Given that alcohol is the most common active ingredient in non-toxic hand sanitizer, it’s important to consider what will counteract its drying effects, especially in these times where we are using it many times every day. The three most common moisturizing ingredients in the Good Stuff brands are aloe, coconut oil (or some other non-petroleum oil such as macadamia, or even olive oil), hyaluronic acid (this can be a tricky ingredient as this may be sourced from plants, synthetic, or rooster comb), and glycerin. Sucrose cocoate is another natural emollient that appears to be safe.
3. Aromatics. The third item that you will find in most hand sanitizers is some kind of pleasant aroma. The most common source of safe and clean fragrances are essential oil (EO) extracts, which are both natural and generally non-toxic. One caveat is that many terpenes (the aromatic molecules found in so many essential oils–for example, geraniol, linalool, limonene, citral, and eucalyptol) are known to be potential skin irritants. If you’ve had a reaction to topical essential oils in the past, you may want to avoid hand sanitizers with essential oils or any isolated terpenes from essential oils.
4. Thickening/gelling agent. For non-toxic hand sanitizers that come in a gel form, there is often an ingredient added to thicken the liquid into a gel. Good Stuff approved thickeners include  aloe, hydroxyethylcellulose, xantham gum and guar. There are other thickening ingredients that we feel are Okay Stuff, all of which EWG rates as a 1, but because they are synthetic polymers we can’t quite call them Good Stuff.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: Should We Be Worried? 

Yes, you can be concerned about this generally, but not when it comes to hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants, says Dr. Hopkins.

Because of the way these products kill pathogens (physically breaking apart the microorganism or disrupting fundamental cell processes), they are not susceptible to resistance in the same way as antibiotic drugs are.

There are examples of microorganisms being forced into resistance in the laboratory, but no examples in the real world, according to this article from Infection Control Today.

Common Antimicrobial Ingredients

Here are the germ-killing ingredients you’ll find in hand sanitizers as well as disinfection cleaning products.

#1 Hypochlorous Acid

HOCl, also referred to as “superoxidized water” is produced by electrolysis of salt water (H2O + NaCL).

Dr. Hopkins describes hypochlorous acid as: “awesome, because it kills basically every type of pathogen very quickly and it also happens to be a substance that is naturally produced by our own cells and is even safe to ingest.”

HOCI does have a little bit of a chloriney smell, which may be a turnoff for some. The only hand sanitizer that we know of that uses HOCI is this one from Lumion.

#2 Alcohol 

Alcohol is an effective broad spectrum antimicrobial, meaning it will kill most viruses, funguses, and bacteria.

Sanitizers that are 60% to 90% alcohol will kill germs most effectively, provided that at least 2.4 milliliters of hand sanitizer is applied for 25 to 30 seconds.

It’s important to note that 70% alcohol is better than 99% because it does not evaporate as quickly, meaning it continues working longer.

You’ll see ethanol or isopropyl on the label, and many non-toxic hand sanitizers (Best Stuff and Good Stuff, below) rely on alcohol as their active ingredient.

We Love For:Good’s Alcohol Based Wipes for cleaning hands and home.

#3 Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide

This is effective against a broad spectrum of microbes, including H1N1 (Influenza A), norovirus, and MRSA.

Hydrogen peroxide at 3% concentration can be used to disinfect most surfaces, but can cause discoloration and must never be mixed with vinegar or bleach.  Note that hydrogen peroxide will lose potency if exposed to light.

Aura Cacia’s non-toxic hand sanitizer uses both alcohol as well as hydrogen peroxide in its formula.

#4 Sodium Hypochlorite (Chlorine/Bleach) 5.25%

Bleach is effective against most bacteria and some viruses and is registered as effective against HIV, HBV, H1N1 (Influenza A), MRSA, and TB.5. Chlorine is a serious threat to the health of humans and wildlife (it’s linked cancer and endocrine disruption). You won’t find bleach in hand sanitizers, but you will find it in disinfectant cleaning products for the home.

 #4 Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Benzalkonium Chloride) 

This ingredient is generally effective against a broad spectrum of microbes, including MRSA and H1N1 (Influenza A). It has not been proven effective against spores. This ingredient is found in many “natural” hand sanitizers, making it Sneaky Stuff.

#5 Botanicals (Thymol, Citral) 

Both thymol and citral are effective against a broad spectrum of microbes including H1N1, tuberculosis, MRSA, and coronaviruses. The CDC includes thymol and citral in its list of approved active ingredients for destroying the coronavirus.

#6 Vinegar

Vinegar is a great household cleaner, and it will kill some germs–but it’s not as effective as most other household antimicrobials and not recommended as a natural hand sanitizer.

#6 Essential Oils (EOs) and their Constituent Compounds 

I’ll quote Dr. Hopkins here: “Most articles I found seem to take a needlessly conservative position on essential oils as being effective antimicrobials.” Dr. Hopkins said he found a large and growing body of literature describing the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties of many different components of many different essential oils. Some things to keep in mind:

1. Inhibiting the growth or proliferation of a pathogen and destroying the pathogen are two different things. For the purposes of a hand sanitizer or surface disinfectant, we want to know that the active ingredient destroys the pathogen, not simply inhibits its growth.
2. There is a tremendous amount of variability with regard to which EO compounds can destroy which pathogens and overall, much more research has been conducted to understand the antibacterial properties of EOs versus their antiviral activity.
3. Some key EOs containing compounds known to have powerful bactericidal activity are: Thyme, Verbena (Borneol, Geraniol).
4. Some key EOs containing compounds known to have powerful fungicidal activity are: Cinnamon, Pine.
5. Some key EOs containing compounds known to have powerful virucidal activity are: Cinnamon, Bergamot, Lemongrass, Thyme, Yarrow, Wormwood and Kumquat.laim.

So if you are looking to buy a hand sanitizer or surface disinfectant that does not contain alcohol, hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, or quaternary ammonium chlorides, you can consider the EO components listed above depending on what you’re specifically worried about killing.

More on essential oils and their antiseptic properties can be found here.

Non-Toxic Hand Sanitizers: Classic Four Ingredients

There is one combination of four key ingredients in many natural, non-toxic hand sanitizers. The list includes: alcohol, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, and water. Aura Cacia makes one example of a “Classic Four” non-toxic hand sanitizer that we sell in our store. You can also find this combo of ingredients in many brands–and it’s Good Stuff approved.

Other Ingredients: Okay Stuff

Dr. Hopkins compiled the following list of common hand sanitizer ingredients whose “main crime is being unnecessary rather than outright toxic.” In most cases, if a product has one or two of these ingredients it may still receive a Good Stuff rating, but any more than that generally will drop the product to being rated as only Okay Stuff.

• Allantoin: This is an emollient/skin conditioner/skin protectant. Although it can be isolated from plants, it is most often synthetic. EWG score: 1.
• Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate: This is a synthetic polymer that’s used as a thickening agent in some hand sanitizers brands. Because Dr. Hopkins was unable to find any safety data on this ingredient, any brand with this ingredient will not be designated as Good Stuff. EWG score: 1.
• Carbomer (polyacrylic acid): This refers to synthetic high molecular weight polymers of acrylic acid commonly used as thickening, dispersing, emulsifying, humectant/gel-forming compound. Not Good Stuff because it’s synthetic polymer, but benign from a safety standpoint. EWG score 1.
• Decyl Glucoside: This is a natural surfactant derived from glucose and is considered safe and non-toxic. Can be found in Good Stuff non-toxic hand sanitizers. EWG score:1.
• Dimethicone: This silicone lubricant is problematic in cosmetics generally because it can form a barrier on the skin and clog pores. However, when it’s used in a hand sanitizer, that can be a good thing for moisture retention. Dimethicone alone will not knock a hand sanitizer out of the Good Stuff category. EWG score: 1.
• Disodium EDTA: This preservative isn’t in itself Bad Stuff, but it is a penetration enhancer, which means any not-so-great ingredients in the product will be more readily absorbed. Sanitizers with EDTA in their formula will only be rated Okay Stuff or lower. EWG score: 1.
• Glycerith-26: This is an additive in many foods as well as cosmetics, and it was difficult to find any studies on it. Dr. Hopkins finally found a good toxicity report and is confident that this a safe/non-toxic ingredient. EWG score: 1.
• Hydroxypropyl cellulose: This is a propylene glycol ether of cellulose used as a gelling and viscosity increasing agent. This derivative is considered safe. EWG score: 1.
• Hydroxyproyl guar: This is a propylene glycol ether of guar used as a gelling and viscosity increasing agent. This derivative is considered safe however I don’t love that it’s manufactured using propylene glycol. EWG score: 1.
• Panthenol: This is a natural biologically active alcohol derived from plants, and is regarded as safe. EWG score: 1.
• Piroctone olamine: This synthetic preservative/biocide is most commonly used in dandruff shampoo and there is no reason it needs to be added to hand sanitizers. Dr. Hopkins decided to allow it into our Okay Stuff category. EWG score: 1-2.

Problem Ingredients You’ll Find Even in “Natural” Hand Sanitizers

The most problematic ingredients in hand sanitizers are typically preservatives, colorants, fragrances and conditioning, buffering, or texturizing agents.

The following ingredients, if present in significant amounts, knocked hand sanitizers into Sneaky or Bad Stuff categories in our review. Some of them are okay if less than 1% of the product.

• Aminomethyl propanol: This buffering agent is a possible skin irritant and can be contaminated with toxic nitrosamines.. EWG score: 1-3.
• Benzalkonium chloride (BAK): This is a widely used quaternary ammonium antiseptic and is the active ingredient in many “natural” hand sanitizers. BAK is a known skin irritant at concentrations of 0.5% and above and induce and exacerbate allergic dermatitis. It is also known to cause respiratory irritation and should be avoided by people with asthma.
• Copper sulfate pentahydrate:  This biocide is a mixture of copper and sulfur. It’s not ranked by EWG, and Dr. Hopkins feels it’s basically safe for humans, but it is a pesticide that poses concerns as an environmental toxin.
• Dyes/colorants: Even if they are “food grade,” at best these would make a hand sanitizer Sneaky Stuff because they are totally unnecessary!
• Grapefruit seed extract (may be found on a label as “citricidal”): This is a synthetic compound which, in its final form, has a large percentage of diphenol hydroxybenzene. The chemical structure contains benzene rings, which are problematic due to their ability to mimic estrogen and bind to estrogen receptors. Do not confuse this with grapefruit essential oil.
• Fragrance (or “parfum”): This is a very common problem ingredient that may contain phthalates.
• Preservatives (found most often in hand sanitizing wipes): These include parabens (hormone disruptors), potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, methylisothiazolinone (EWG: 7), and methylchloroisothiazolinone (EWG: 2-5). There is simply no need for any of these in your hand sanitizer, and plenty of options without them.
• Propylene glycol: This synthetic liquid absorbs water and is used as a solvent, skin conditioning agent, and viscosity controlling agent. PG is a penetration enhancer and can cause skin irritation.
• Tocopherol/tocopheryl acetate: Vitamin E and synthetic Vitamin E, respectively. This is used to prevent the drying effects of alcohol-based skin products. Unfortunately, tocopherol and tocopheryl acetate can be contaminated with hydroquinone, which is a possible carcinogen (EWG score: 5-8). The rub is that although tocopherol is the natural form of Vitamin E, it can also be produced synthetically and potentially be contaminated with hydroquinone. You can’t tell from the label. If a hand sanitizer says “Vitamin E” or tocopherol and it is otherwise Good Stuff, we contacted that brand to find out how it was sourced.
• Triclosan: This has been banned from topical skin products, so we didn’t come across any brands that contained it. Triclosan is decidedly toxic, so if you see any kind of disinfecting products that contain it, they should be avoided.
• Triethanolamine: A a strong respiratory allergen and suspected immune system toxicant. EWG score 2-5.

38 Hand Sanitizer Brands, Reviewed

What you’ve just read is maybe 30% of the information that Dr. Hopkins provided in his final report. I hope you’re still with us;), because now is that time where we will just tell you what to buy and where to buy it–or why the brand you’re currently using is toxic–because we are fun like that!

The Best Stuff

The Good Stuff

The Bad Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

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The post Non-Toxic Hand Sanitizer Guide appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

1. Austin / 2. Amaircare / 3. Airpura / 4. IQAir

Last updated: May 2021

There are few things as elementally important as clean air.

Each of us takes up to 30,000 breaths a day. What our bodies want is oxygen, but what we actually inhale often contains all sorts of less-than-good stuff.  This is especially true of our indoor air, where a wide variety of contaminants can accumulate.

Regarding the Coronavirus and Other Viruses

Right now, the thing we are probably most worried about breathing in is coronavirus! So, do air filters kill coronavirus?

Austin air filters contain true medical grade HEPA that removes 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns and 95% of all particles larger than 0.1 microns. Scientists say that the size of the new coronavirus is .125 microns, so yes, these filters do capture the virus. Moreover, experts say that the droplets the virus travels in measure at least 1 micron, which is easily captured by a HEPA filter.

We run two Austin filters in our home, and we have five in the warehouse.

Indoor Air is More Polluted Than Outdoor

Indoor air contaminants come in many forms, from floating particulates like pet dander and smoke to chemical vapors that off-gas from the materials our homes are built from and products we bring into them.

Because indoor air is essentially trapped, it cannot easily mix with fresh air and thus disperse these contaminants. Instead they tend to accumulate. (The same is true for viruses like the one that causes COVID-19; when the air is trapped inside, they accumulate.)

In cities, even the outdoor air can be laden with things like diesel particulates and other toxins. It eventually works its way indoors and mixes. That’s the bad news.

How to Clean Indoor Air

Moso bags passively purify indoor air.

The good news is that there are ways to clean the air of a range of contaminants. We’ve written in the past about a variety of these methods, ranging from Moso bags to wool rugs to houseplants.

Unfortunately, all of the methods are passive, only affecting air that happens to pass over the plant/rug/Moso bag. This doesn’t make them useless–they are certainly better than nothing, and in our home we have found Moso bags to be truly effective against odor from our garbage can.

Passive filters like Moso bags are also are good for gasses and VOCs but are essentially useless against particulates, which can be particularly bad for our lungs.

So if we want a more active filter, there are five basic types of technology.

Types of Air Filters

1) HEPA Filters

We’ve all heard this term (which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance), but probably don’t know exactly what it means.

To be certified as HEPA, a filter must trap at least 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns. Many of the particles caught in a HEPA filter (including many chemicals) are so tiny they can’t be seen with the naked eye.

HEPA filters also trap mold, viruses (including the coronavirus), and bacteria, so they create a more sanitary environment. HEPA filters also trap larger particles that can cause lung irritation. (Side note: Make sure your vacuum cleaner is a HEPA-sealed model, too.)

2)   Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters are comprised of trillions of molecular-sized pores that have high absorbent and chemical bonding ability.

Activated carbon filters are highly effective at capturing pollutants like chemical emissions, gases, tobacco smoke, and odors. Once captured, these pollutants are not released back into the air.

Activated carbon filters are recommended for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) because they absorb formaldehyde, which is found in the adhesives used in carpeting, wood paneling, and upholstered furniture. They also trap fragrances as well as many chemicals found in household cleaning products.

3)   Ultra Violet (UV) Filters

Air purifiers using this technology have a UV lamp installed inside of them. As microorganisms pass by the UV rays radiated from the lamp, cellular damage destroys the microorganism.

Although UV technology is effective at killing viruses and bacteria, it is best used with a filter system ahead of the lamps. Without a filter system, too many microorganisms get shaded from the light by particulates.

4)   Negative Ion Filters

Negative ion air filtering technology has proven to be less effective than others because it simply masks the polluted air as opposed to actually cleaning it.

This type of air purifier does not have the ability to absorb or dispose of the harmful contaminants in the air. The negative ion simply takes the airborne particles out of the air and transfers them to walls and other solid things in the room. When stuck to walls and other surfaces, they have the ability to become re-circulated back into the air. For this reason, I do not recommend negative ion filters.

5)   Ozone Filters

Ozone air purifiers produce the gas ozone (O₃). Health professionals have refuted the claims made that these devices are safe, and no agency of the federal government has approved of these devices.

Exposure to ozone may ignite asthma symptoms, and at high enough level can even scar the lungs. Many of the chemicals found in indoor environments take months or years for ozone to react, making them virtually ineffective. Ozone does not remove particles such as dust and pollen. Obviously, I do not recommend ozone filters.

The Most Effective Air Filters

While some individuals may have a specific reason for investing in an ultraviolet or negative ion filtering unit, the vast majority of us need the air-scrubbing power of HEPA and activated charcoal. Those two combined do an excellent job of eliminating almost all of the common irritants/pollutants found in most homes, as well as bacteria and viruses like the coronavirus.

Austin Air: The Best Air Filters on the Market

Austin Air offers a line of robust filters that employ HEPA and activated carbon technologies teamed with fans that get the job done quickly and super effectively.

For extra filtering power, Austin mixes their activated carbon with zeolite, a mineral with superior ability to trap toxic gases and odors such as formaldehyde, ammonias, and carbon monoxide.

Made in the U.S.A, Austin Air filters have garnered wide acceptance as one of the very best air filtration systems available. They are the only manufacturers to have their products designated as Medical Grade Air Purifiers, and the only manufacturer to successfully reduce asthma attacks and respiratory problems in a clinical trial. Johns Hopkins Hospital has chosen Austin Air medical grade air purifiers to conduct four clinical trials. Austin filters were selected by the Federal Government to provide the emergency air purifiers to the citizens of Anniston, Alabama, during the destruction of chemical weapons.

During the global pandemic of 2020, hundreds of hospitals, schools, and dental offices have relied on Austin Air to protect their spaces from the novel coronavirus.

The Noise Factor

An electric air filter works by moving air past the filters, and of course only the air that passes through a filter is affected.  It’s a simple equation: the more air that passes through the filter, the cleaner the air stays.

While some companies make filter units that are super quiet, the fact is that moving air makes noise. To the extent that noise is lessened, filtering power is likewise lessened. This does not mean that filters need to be loud, but, especially when set on the high setting, filters sound exactly like what they are: a fan.

You can hear Maia’s Austin Air unit here.

Also Great: Amaircare Air Filters

Amaircare Roomaid filters are made in Canada and are perfect for actively reducing particulates and VOC’s inside of small spaces, like a nursery or inside your car. Amaircare filters can be purchased with a car-kit that let’s you plug into a lighter socket and hook the filter to a seat belt for extra safety.

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Toxins in Cars

Some of the most toxic air is inside of our cars. Automobile interiors are notoriously toxic and some of us are stuck in our cars for hours per day. Extra special care should be taken to detox the air inside a car; especially a new car.

Runners Up: Other Air Filters We Like

There are two other air filtration systems that we consider Good Stuff:

1) The Airpura T600 HEPA Air Purifier employs similar technology to Austin and is mostly targeted towards smoke, so if you’re a smoker or live with a smoker, this is one to consider. They are a bit pricier than Austin’s filters.

2) IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier is another filter that meets our criteria, but it is also more expensive than Austin, and made for smaller spaces. Without a doubt, the IQ Air has an aesthetically-pleaseing design, but on the whole, we think Austin offers more for less money.

About Other Air Filters

There are other decent air purification systems out there. Some are very slick looking, and some have interesting bells and whistles. But other than the ones that produce ozone, any filter is better than having no filter at all. We like the Austin because of the combination of proven robust filtering technology, quality construction, versatility, and price point.

Lots of you have asked about the Molekule air filter. While Molekule is marketed as a new technology, it’s roots go back quite a way. After taking a closer look at this brand, I remain concerned that the technology might not be as effective as the brands we’ve recommended above. In fact, Molekule recently was forced to retract most of their advertising claims.

Please ask your questions about air filters below.

Stay sane!

By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

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The post How to Choose the Best Air Filter appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

1. Safest stroller / 2. Pocket bib / 3. Rash protection / 4. Non-toxic car seat / 5. Better cloth diapers / 6. Plastic-free breast milk storage / 7. Silicone spoons / 8. Nursery air filter

Pulling together this list of  all the non-toxic baby registry items a conscious parent could possible want was fun! Mostly, I’m struck by how much has changed since my last pregnancy–then again, it WAS 8 years ago! It almost makes me want to have another baby–almost.

To make sure I wasn’t missing any great new inventions (turns out, I totally was), I called upon my friend Stefanie Koenig, who is a conscious mom to Marlowe, 5, and Greta, 2.

Stef and I agreed on the following list of essential earth-friendly and toxin-free Good Stuff. We hope this helps you build a baby shower registry or just make sure you have everything you need for the final stage of pregnancy and early days of parenthood.

Stefanie with Marlowe and Greta

Some of the items below are available in our store (and I’m working on getting more there!), and otherwise I will include a link to where you can find them. In a few cases, if you purchase an item from our link we may earn a commission from Amazon or elsewhere.

By the way, if you’re creating a registry, we love MyRegistry.com, which makes it super easy to register from multiple stores rather than just one place.

So, without further ado, here’s what we think you need! I look forward to your comments and suggestions of other amazing Good Stuff for a new baby.

FEEDING

Bottles

The big rule here is avoiding plastic, which can leach chemicals. Glass and stainless steel are our top choices, but silicone is also okay. We like the following three brands the best.

Hevea Baby Glass Bottles

Pura Kiki Stainless Steel Infant Bottle (We recommend the insulated ones so you can take them on the go and know that the milk will stay fresh!)

Como Tomo Silicone Baby Bottle Bundle

How many bottles do you need?

I barely used bottles because I exclusively breastfed and worked from home, so I asked Stef to weigh in to answer this. My key takeaways from our conversation are as follows:

• Newborns only drink 1-2 oz of breast milk/formula at a time so you want smaller bottles and the slowest flow nipple so they don’t choke while they eat.
• If you are exclusively formula-feeding, 5 or 6 small bottles would work, as long as you’re okay with washing some bottles throughout the day.
• If you are only supplementing with formula, 3 or 4 small bottles would be fine. (Having backsups is always nice.)
• When the baby starts drinking larger quantities, you need the bigger bottles that hold up to 8 oz and also need to switch your nipple to a higher level one, so they can get more liquid and won’t get frustrated. Again, you need 5 or 6 bottles for an exclusively bottle-fed baby, and 3 or 4 for a baby that’s also on the breast.

Formula

If you won’t be exclusively breastfeeding, you can use our guide to figure out which is the best formula for your situation. My top pick is Loulouka for almost everyone. Because you can’t know for sure which formula will best agree with your newborn’s stomach, I recommend starting with no more than 7 or 8 boxes.

Stokke Steps Chair Cushion

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GEAR

You’ll want to make sure that strollers and car seats contain no flame retardants or other problematic chemicals. (Our Car Seat Guide provides a review of many popular brands, and the following model from Clek is our favorite.)

Car Seat

Clek Liing Infant Car Seat, Mammoth

Milk Snob GOTS Certified Carseat Cover

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Stroller

Joolz Hub Non-Toxic Stroller with optional Bassinet

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Newborn Wrap Carrier

Moby Evolution Wrap

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Baby Carrier

Beco Organic Gemini baby carrier

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Infant Lounger

Snuggle Me Baby Lounger

Snuggle Me Baby Lounger Cover

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Bouncer

BabyBjorn Bouncer Bliss

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NURSERY & DECOR

Crib

Choose a crib and nursery furniture made of solid wood if possible, ideally with a no-VOC, nontoxic finish. Any of the dressers or changing tables from the following brands are also toxin-free, with the exception of the Ikea one.

Kalon Studios Caravan Crib

Romina Furniture New York Crib

Green Cradle Gratitude Slat Baby Crib

 

Ikea Sniglar Crib

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Crib Mattress

Choosing a toxin-free mattress, whether for a crib or a King-sized bed, can be a confusing process, and our Safe Mattress Guide endeavors to make it simpler. Naturepedic is our top-pick for a comfortable, safe crib mattress.

Naturepedic Organic Cotton Lightweight Crib Mattress Mattress

Blaynk Baby Organic Crib Sheet

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Travel Crib

Lotus Travel Crib

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Changing Table Pad

Once again, Naturepedic is our top choice for a flame-retardant free changing pad.

Naturepedic Changing Pad

Naturepedic Contoured Changing Pad Covers

Monica & Andy Changing Pad Cover

 

 

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Playmat

Most mats for babies contain polyurethane foam. We chose CorkiMat as our top pick because it contains no polyurethane or flame retardants and comes encased in organic cotton.

CorkiMat Comfy Non-Toxic Playmat

 

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Nursery Rug

Rugs are another place where you’ll often find flame retardant chemicals. Lorena Canals offers a large selection of machine-washable cotton rugs free of toxins. Below are a few of our favorite. (Make sure that the pad you put under the rug is made of 100% natural rubber rather than vinyl, which contains phthalates.)

Hippy Stars

Happy Llama

 

Azteca

Earth Weave Rubber Rug Gripper

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Air Filter

Austin Air Healthmate Plus Junior Filter

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CLOTHING & ACCESORIES

Ideally, your baby will be clothed in only organic cotton. If you can’t find certified organic, then look for an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certifictaion,  which prohibits the use of dangerous dyes and other toxins. Castleware is a brand we trust across the board.

Complete Organic Layette

Monica & Andy Newborn Layette Cuddle Box

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Onesies & Sleepers

Burt’s Bee’s Organic Bodysuits

 

Primary Short-Sleeve Babysuit

Pact Long-Sleeve Bodysuit

 

Primary Organic Zip Footie

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Pants

Primary Baby Pants

 

Under the Nile Footed Pant

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Mittens

Oeuf Newborn Mittens

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Swaddles & Blankets

You’ll want to have at least three swaddles on hand, because your baby will inevitably pee through at least one each day. And you’ll find that you can never have enough cute organic blankets.

Blaynk Baby Organic Swaddle

Monica & Andy Organic Coming Home Blanket

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Sleep Sack

You’ll probably want a to stock a few sleep sacks, since babies will pee (or worse) through these, too!

Castlewear Sleeper Bag

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Socks

Touched by Nature Organic Baby Socks

Monica & Andy Baby Tube Socks

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Hats

Pehr Knot Hat

Spearmint Love Organic Cotton Beanie

Under the Nile Cold Weather Hat

Laundry Detergent

Any of the laundry soaps in our Detergent Guide are toxin-free and safe for baby clothes. The following two brands are customer favorites.

Eco-Me Laundry Detergent

Pure Natural Baby Laundry Detergent

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DIAPERING

I was certainly not a full-time cloth-diapering momma, but things have come a long way—if I had to do it again, I would absolutely give it a try!

Cloth Diapers

If you’ll be a full-time, cloth-diapering mom, we recommend 24 inners and 6 outters. If you’ll be a part-time cloth diaperer, go with 12 inners and 4 outters. (Your baby will need to move up to Size 2 when she hits 18 pounds)

Esembly Inner Diaper

Use code GOODSTUFF*10* at checkout for 10% off everything at Esembly.

Esembly Outer Diaper Cover

 

Esembly Overnight Insert

MamaSuds Cloth-Diaper Safe Liquid Laundry

ImseVimse Wet Bags

While this is designed for cloth diapers on the go, the large one could also used to line a diaper pail and reduce waste.

Esembly Day Bag

Use code GOODSTUFF*10* at checkout for 10% off everything at Esembly.

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Disposable Diapers

If you decide to use disposable diapers (even part time), our Diaper Guide can help you choose the most eco-friendly brands. Nest is a reader favorite.

Nest Baby Diapers

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Diaper Wipes

We hope you’ll get addicted to the reusable variety, but you can register for several kinds and see which ones you like best.

Jackson Reece Baby Wipes

Noleo Duo Baby Wipes System

ImseVimse Washable & Reusable Cloth Wipes

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Diaper Creams & Powder

Our Diaper Cream Guide will help you choose a toxin-free product for diaper rash relief. The following are our favorites.

Green Goo Baby Balm

Babo Botanicals Oatmilk Calendula Soothing Diaper Cream

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Baby Lotion

Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance Free Daily Hydra Lotion

Beautycounter Baby Daily Protective Balm

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Baby Bathtub

Stokke Flexi Bathtub

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Organic Towels

Under the Nile Spa Gift Bag Set

Under the Nile Newborn Hooded Towel

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Organic Wash Cloths

Under the Nile Sherpa Wash Cloths

Under the Nile Wash Mitt Set

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ON THE GO

Diaper Bag

Dera Design Organic Canvas Diaper Bag

Esembly Petite Pouch

Use code GOODSTUFF*10* at checkout for 10% off everything at Esembly.

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Face/Hand Wipes

Babo Botanicals 3-in-1 Sensitive Baby Wipes

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Hand Sanitizer

All Good Organic Peppermint Hand Sanitizer Spray

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BOOKS

You’ll almost certainly be gifted many books, including multiple copies of Good Night Moon. Here are a few other wonderful first book ideas.

You Are Light

Here We Are

The Skin You Live In

A is for Activist

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PLAY

Our Safe Toy Guide offers some guidelines for choosing toxin-free toys for children of all ages. What follows are some of our favorite toys and teethers for the youngest set.

Gym

Lovevery Play Gym

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Soft Toy

Petit Collage Organic Bunny Soft Chime Ball

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Teethers

Three Hearts VW Bus Silicone Teether

Under the Nile Carrot Organic Veggie Toy Teether

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Rattles

Haba Rattling Max

Kleynimals Stainless Steel Keys

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Doll

Under the Nile Sasha Dress Up Doll

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Versatile Toy

Rainbow Toy

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Lovey

Under the Nile Sleeping Lovey Doll

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Play Kits

Lovevery Play Kits

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FOR MAMA

Nipple Cream

My own breastfeeding experience was really tough, and I hope not one woman reading this goes through the same. If you have even a little discomfort, you’ll want a safe, soothing, toxin-free balm like my favorite from Green Goo.

Green Goo Nursing Cream

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Stretch Mark Balm

Green Goo Belly Balm

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Sitz Bath

Green Goo Herbal Sitz Bath

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Radiation Protection

DefenderShield EMF Radiation Protection Baby Belly Band

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Reusable Nursing Pads

Bamboobies Washable Nursing Pads

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Nursing Pillow

Holy Lamb Nursing Pillow

 

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Nursing-Friendly PJs

Hatch Collection Organic Pointelle Set

Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Organic Sleep Shirt

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Nursing Bras & Tanks

Kindred Bravely Nursing/Pumping Tank

 

Kindred/Bravely Organic Nursing/Sleep Bra

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Maternity/Nursing Poncho

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Comfy Underwear

Knickey Organic Cotton Undies

 

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Leggings

Cinnamon – New Mom Wear Leggings by DynaTot

Milestone Block Set

Modern Blocks Milestone Block Set

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New Pregnancy Resource

Unique Footprints is an online pregnancy program that teaches you everything you need to know for your entire pregnancy and early days of motherhood. It includes pregnancy meal planning, prenatal yoga, birth and postpartum prep, fetal brain development, breastfeeding, baby care, infant sleep and safety, and much more. Unique Footprints is made up of a team of nurses, dietitians, counselors, infant sleep coaches, lactation consultants, and yoga therapists. Use code GIMME THE GOOD STUFF at checkout for a 10% discount.

If you liked this post, sign up for our newsletter to be alerted when we publish new content like this!

 

 

The post Complete Non-Toxic Baby Registry Checklist appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

You probably remember Dr. Hopkins from his invaluable research on our Disposable Diaper Guide and Prenatal Vitamin Guide. As a scientist, Dr. Hopkins is able to read peer-reviewed studies and make sense of the potential risks of hundreds of ingredients (including how these ingredients interact with each other) that you’ll find even in natural face creams. With his help, I’ve written what I think is one of our most comprehensive products guides yet, so let’s get to it!

My Top Pick for Basic Natural Face Cream

Acure Organics Brightening Day Cream is my pick for an affordable natural face cream for everyday use with absolutely no concerning ingredients.

$16.99 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

How We Came Up With Our List of Natural Face Creams

When we began researching this guide, we were immediately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of products, even within the “natural” face cream space. [expander_maker id=”3″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]

To cull the list down, we eliminated any product that does not specify that it is for the face and for daytime, as well as any product with an SPF designation. We also weeded out products that were more of an serum or balm and wouldn’t necessarily be appropriate for daily use on normal skin. (Night creams, anti-aging creams, and facial sunscreens will be covered in future guides.)

As always, we used EWG for lots of our ingredients research. There are some inconsistencies on the EWG website–one face cream has grapefruit extract listed as a 2 (out of a hazard scale of 10) and another product has the same extract listed as a 1. Other ingredients, like dimethicone and sodium hydroxide, have even greater ranges (from 1 to 4).

After deciding on the appropriate criteria for what would make brands Best, Good, Bad, or Okay Stuff (more on this in a minute), Dr. Hopkins made a spreadsheet some 25 columns long, and populated it with the list of all the natural face cream brands that you guys asked us to review and that we’d found on our own (this ended up being a staggering 175 brands of face cream!).

For each brand, Dr. Hopkins evaluated every ingredient for its safety and environmental impact and calculated affordability. I then plunked all the reviewed brands into a Best, Good, Okay, Bad or Sneaky Stuff category, which you can review at the bottom of this post.

A Note About “Natural” Face Cream

With face cream as well as other products, we prefer to find what we consider “clean,” rather than just “natural.” Sometimes ingredients from nature are very problematic–because of unsustainable sourcing or other environmental concerns (e.g. the environmental cost of palm oil, the mica mines in India) or even health concerns (Japanese honeysuckle, for instance, is a natural preservative whose structure looks like a paraben). On the other hand, sometimes (albeit rarely) synthetic ingredients can actually be safer/more sustainable alternatives.

What Makes a Face Cream the Best Stuff?

In order to be included in the “​Best Stuff​” category, we decided that a face cream needed to be free of the following 18 compounds:

1. Benzyl alcohol. A preservative with carcinogenic and neurotoxic properties.
2. BHT. Another preservative with a MSDS that mentions toxicity to the liver, blood, and central nervous system.
3. Dimethicone. Safe from a toxicity standpoint, but these linear silicones do not biodegrade and are bad for the environment.
4. Disodium EDTA. A chelating agent used in a variety of applications in both food and skincare products. It’s usually included as a preservative/stabilizing agent, but it also helps with rinse-off products for anyone with “hard water” because the EDTA binds with heavy metals, thereby preventing them from forming a residue on the skin. At the quantities used as a food additive and in personal care products, disodium EDTA is non-toxic. The choice to use products containing EDTA is more an environmental concern than it is a personal safety concern.
5. Ethanol. Otherwise known as alcohol, ethanol is used as a solvent in various cosmetics. Among irritation concerns, ethanol is shown to enhance the penetration of other chemicals.
6. Fragrance. Generally, phthalates are added to fragrance to help the scent last longer, and companies are NOT required to disclose the presence of phthalates. Some products do list “fragrance*” with an asterisk on their label, and then  explain that the fragrance contains no synthetic ingredients. For transparency purposes, any brand that maintains a proprietary blend or secret recipe will not qualify as Best Stuff. Some brands also specify that they use  isolated compounds derived from natural essential oils, but that are not the complete, naturally occurring substance. These products can be Good Stuff or Okay Stuff.
7. Myristyl myristate. This naturally occurring ester is found in many types of oils and fats and serves as natural emollient, texture enhancer, or emulsifier in a range of skincare products. Although there are no toxicity risks with myristyl myristate, this ingredient can be an irritant when used topically. For that reason only, products that contain it will not be included under Best Stuff.
8. Parabens. These preservatives are notorious endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen in the body.
9. PEG chemicals. These petroleum-based chemicals are are used in cosmetics as stabilizers and to aid the penetration of other active ingredients. The PEG number indicates the number of units of ethylene glycol, and the lower the number the more absorbent it is. One example you’ll see on many face cream labels polyethylene glycol.
10. Petrolatum is a petrochemical derived from crude oil (also known as “petroleum jelly” which is used as a lubricant). It can be contaminated with ​polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are carcinogenic. Even without carcinogenic contamination, it can be a skin irritant and is not environmentally friendly–so you’ll never find it in Best Stuff or Good Stuff or even Okay Stuff.
11. Phenoxyethanol is an ingredient that we’ve debated fiercely here at the Gimme headquarters! When it comes to face cream, we’ve decided that no Best Stuff cream can contain phenoxyethanol. Still, we feel that phenoxyethanol is basically Okay Stuff when used in the concentrations found in cosmetics. It’s unlikely to be wdangerous, but hopefully cleaner preservatives are formulated in the near future.
12. Phthalates. We have a zero-tolerance policy with these super toxic endocrine disruptors (which you often won’t see listed on a label because they can hide out in “proprietary” fragrance blends). Nothing that we call Best, Good, or Okay Stuff will ever contain phthalates.
13. Polysorbate 20 is derived from sorbitol, which is a harmless natural sugar alcohol that’s been ethoxylated (combined with 20 parts of ethylene oxide). Unfortunately, during this process it can become contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is a toxic carcinogen. Although polysorbate 20 is not toxic, the risk of contamination precludes this ingredient from being present in Best Stuff or Good Stuff. However, this alone would not prevent an otherwise clean, natural face cream from being Okay Stuff. (See polysorbate 60 as well.)
14. Potassium sorbate is an odorless and tasteless salt that’s synthetically produced by combining sorbic acid with potassium hydroxide. It is very commonly used as a preservative and has been ruled as generally safe to eat by the FDA and European Food Safety Authority when present in small quantities. When applied topically (in skin cream for example), potassium sorbate can cause irritation or an allergic reaction. This ingredient would not be found in a Best Stuff pick but if this is the biggest offender on a label, the product can still be Good Stuff.
15. Retinyl palmitate. This is problematic when used topically on the skin due to potentially carcinogenic properties when exposed to sunlight. If you want to play it safe, it’s better to avoid this for face cream that you’ll be applying daily in the morning. Thus, we didn’t include any products with retinyl palmitate in the category of Best or Good Stuff for this daily face cream guide.
16. Sodium benzoate. This food-grade preservative, when combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and potassium benzoate (another preservative), can create benzene, a well-known carcinogen. Research remains inconclusive and long-term studies are needed. You won’t find sodium benzoate in any of the Best Stuff natural face creams, but if there are not other offending ingredients, products with sodium benzoate may be included in the Good Stuff.
17. Sodium hydroxide. The EWG cites studies that show moderate evidence of metabolic effects even at very low doses and score this a 3 out of 10 in the hazard scale. Best Stuff won’t contain sodium hydroxide, but Good or Okay Stuff might.
18. Terpene alcohols. This list includes geraniol, ​linalool, nerol, camphor, citronellol, citral, limonene, eucalyptol, menthol and several others. These compounds occur​ naturally in the essential oils of many aromatic plants, and are often used for their fragrance. They have been shown to be anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and also have demonstrated anti-cancer activity against various cancer cell lines in vitro. On the other hand, terpene alcohols can produce skin irritation/allergic reaction/sensitization after prolonged industrial exposure. These compounds are deemed safe for human use, but if you have a particular reason to be concerned (such as a known allergy or very sensitive skin) there is enough Good Stuff on the market that you should have no trouble locating a product without these terpenes. For this reason, nothing in the Best Stuff category contains them, although I am not personally worried about them.
19. Tocopherol (vitamin E) is safe, but we are dinging products that contain tocopheryl acetate​, which is the synthetic version, because of increased reported toxicity, risk of irritation, and contamination concerns (with toxic hydroquinone). Nothing in the Best Stuff or Good Stuff categories will contain tocopheryl acetate.

Surprisingly Not Sneaky Stuff

Many ingredients in skincare products might sound like synthetic compounds designed in a lab but they are actually just the latin or scientific names for naturally occurring/organic products, often extracted from plants. The following is a list of ingredients that are perfectly safe:

• Tocopherol just means vitamin E.
• Butyrospermum parkii is shea butter.
• Nyacinamide is vitamin B3.
• Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride is just a derivative of guar gum from cluster beans and is a commonly used conditioning agent that is natural and safe.

In addition, to be considered the Best Stuff, a face cream must be:

• Organic (either entirely or mostly).
• Vegan. I don’t eat a vegan diet, but it’s impossible to not recognize that veganism is better for the planet. When it comes to face cream, there are so many options available, that there is room to make a distinction on these ecological grounds.

(By the way, I don’t think there is any reason to worry about face cream being gluten-free, although several of these brands also check that box.)

Problematic Ingredient Combinations

There are a handful of ingredients that are basically safe on their own, but a problematic when mixed with other ingredients. For instance:

• Potassium sorbate + ascorbic acid + ferric salts can potenially mutate cell DNA. ​
• Sodium benzoate + ascorbic acid​ 
can form carcinogenic benzene. We consider this low risk because the pH in cosmetic products are usually in the range where benzene will not form. Still, if you’re worried, make sure to choose something we call Best Stuff, since thouse brands won’t contain sodium benzoate.

What’s the Difference Between Best Stuff & Good Stuff?

When it comes to the ​Good Stuff​ category, there are several natural, clean face creams whose only crime is not being organic, or containing beeswax or terpenes from essential oils (which may be irritating for those with very sensitive skin), or perhaps they contain a bit of ethanol or potassium sorbate (also possible irritants).

Most of the 19 ingredients listed above will not be found in the Good Stuff, but there are a few exceptions worth mentioning:

1. Propriety fragrance. Any brand that maintains a proprietary blend or secret recipe will not qualify as Best Stuff, but–as long as the blend is natural and phthalate-free–it might still be Good Stuff.
2. Low-risk preservatives (phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate). These synthetic preservative may be found in Good Stuff–if there are no other offending ingredients in the product in question.

Dr. Hopkins and I agree that we are comfortable using anything that you’ll find listed below under Good Stuff in our own homes. What’s Allowed in the Okay Stuff?

The long list of products that we deemed Okay Stuff are mostly there because they contain phenoxyethanol or sodium benzoate. A few of them have neither but some other combination of not-so-good-stuff to keep them from receiving the Good Stuff stamp, such as:

1. Dimethicone, which is more of an environmental concern than a toxicity concern.
2. EDTA precludes inclusion in our Best Stuff or Good Stuff categories, but may be found in the Okay Stuff.
3. Polysorbate 20 is not toxic, but the risk of contamination precludes this ingredient from being present in Best Stuff or Good Stuff.

I am comfortable using the Okay Stuff if I don’t have access to Good or Best Stuff face creams.

Best Face Oils

We will do a serum/oil guide separately, but Dr. Hopkins did identify some face oils in his research that will definitely make our Best Stuff category, including:

Acure Organics Pure Argan Oil

Badger Face Oils (they make several—all are safe)

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil

Ora’s Amazing Lightweight Daily Nourish Face Oil

Soapwalla Restorative Facial Serum (personal favorite)

The Best Stuff

The Good Stuff

The Okay Stuff

Aesop

$25-$120 ($15-$60/ounce)

Aesop makes several popular skin creams, all of which are just Okay Stuff because of PEG chemicals, disodium EDTA, and phenoxyethanol.

 

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Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion

$13.00 ($4.33/ounce)

Surprise! Cetaphil’s basic daily face lotion is actually Okay Stuff–and definitely the best thing you’ll find in a drug store.

 

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Elta MD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer

$30 ($17.65/ounce)

Can someone explain to me while every dermatologist is obsessed with Elta MD? I like this moisturizer, but it still isn’t my first choice.

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Everyone (EO) Nourishing Face Moisturizer

$8.99 ($2.25/ounce)

You can find this brand at Whole Foods, and it’s fine in a pinch–but nothing special in terms of performance or ingredients.

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FirstAid Beauty Skin Rescue Daily Face Cream

$22.00 ($11.00/ounce)

Several readers recommended FirstAid Beauty, so I plan to try this brand and will report back on performance.

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Garden of Eve Clearly Lovely Face Cream

$66 ($50.77/ounce)

This is a nice basic face cream, but  there are safer options at a lower price point.

 

 

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Goodee Eco Marine Facial Cream

$62.00 ($30.56/ounce)

This brand is hard to find, but if you’re one of the readers who already is hooked, there is nothing too terrible lurking inside the bottle!

 

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Inna Organic Frankincense Revitalizing Face Lotion

$40.13 ($23.75/ounce)

I haven’t tried this one yet, but it gets good reviews.

 

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Kiehls Ultra Face Cream

$53 ($12.62/ounce)

Most Kiehl’s products are distinctly Bad Stuff, but this face cream is a notable exception.

.

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Kora Organics

$48 ($28.40/ounce)

All of the face creams in this line–Hydrating, Purifying, and Soothing–are just Okay Stuff because of sodium hydroxide, benzyl alcohol, and sodium benzoate.

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Mineral Fusion Intense Hydration Face Cream

$22.99 ($6.76/ounce)

This one is widely available and gets decent reviews.

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Sahajan Nourish Face Cream

$60 ($35.30/ounce)

Despite the high price point, I am tempted to give this one a try just because of how lush it looks in this photo.

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Skinceuticals Daily Moisture

$63 ($31.50/ounce)

A facialist once gave me a sample of this, and I have to say that I loved it.

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Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Face Cream

$40 ($16/ounce)

If you’ve used this one, please comment below on how it performs!

 

 

The Bad Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

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The post Safe Face Cream Guide appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Here are 8 things that are helping me stay semi-sane:

1. Home improvement projects. Since we are rarely leaving the apartment these days, I’ve been inspired to improve the inside! I splurged on these organic sheets, have been filling my home with air-purifying plants, and upgraded a few of our rugs to less toxic versions (current fave). I’ve also been doing some organizing and deep cleaning, room by room, and this activity prompted me to publish an All-Purpose Cleaner Guide.
2. Cooking. You probably know by now that I’m not much of a cook. Mostly, I find it pretty tedious, which is probably why I made New York City my home. Sun Basket takes the pressure off a few times a week, and I’ve also gone back to my old favorite cookbook for delicious, easy, vegetarian meals. If you’re cooking more than usual (and I assume you all are!), our Cookware Guide might be of particular interest right now.
   1. Not cooking! Just yesterday, I started Nutrition for Longevity meal delivery and it is so, so delicious! It’s a unique concept of pre-made breakfast and lunch and then ingredients and recipe for a simple dinner. You can use code GIMME20 for $20 off your trial box or $40 off a subscription. So far, I’m into it!For a true detox, you could also try Sakara’s Healthy Body Project , which is a four-week transformative program that includes Sakara meals, at-home fitness classes from The Sculpt Society, health coaching, and $250 in luxe gifts, including a pair of sneakers from APL. You can choose to start May 4, 11, 18, or 25. Code XOMAIA will get you 20% off this or any other Sakara meal program.
3. Squeezing in fitness. The reality is that it is VERY hard for me to muster the discipline to work out for a full hour at home. To compensate, I’m forcing myself do a session every day, but typically it’s just 20 or 30 minutes. I’m working my way through the free trials of all the online programs you guys have recommended. So far, that’s been Tracy Anderson, Melissa Wood Health, and now Yoga Glo. Next, I’ll do The Class, and then I’ll likely stop the trials and sign up for my favorite. Let me know if I’m missing an amazing one! In terms of equipment, I purchased some basic ankle weights on Amazon, and am still using wine bottles for hand weights. I did a little research on yoga mats, and decided on this brand as the best non-toxic one on the market. I love it, and would highly recommend.
   
4. Giving back. A good way to stop feeling sorry for yourself is by an act of generosity. There are so many vulnerable groups right now, and I’ve been particularly worried about the many women I know who are employed as domestic workers and are ineligible for unemployment benefits. I’ve chosen to donate to this incredible organization, and would love to hear from you about how you’re giving back–if you are fortunate enough to be able to do so.
5. Trying to keep us well. I feel more peace of mind when I’m doing basic things to keep us safe. My husband is an essential worker, so we are not entirely quarantined, and doing lots of hand-washing, wearing masks when we go out for groceries, and trying to remember to take our elderberry syrup (it’s back in stock, you guys!). Here’s a list of natural substances that kill coronavirus.
6. Getting outside. I know many of you have nice big yards, but my fellow apartment dwellers must know my pain! Even moments on our roof, watering our little carrot garden, brighten my mood. We drove about an hour outside of the city earlier in this week for a 3-mile hike and I’m determined to make that a weekly activity.
7. Trying new beauty products or treatments. Wellll, the truth is, I’m not exactly making myself more beautiful during this time. You might argue the opposite, in fact. The new habits I’ve taken on during quarantine include not shaving my armpits (something I’ve always wanted to do–it must be the Vermonter in me!) and giving no-poo another shot. Picking at my face and chewing my cuticles have become my number 1 and number 2 hobbies. One thing I have done is add this raved-about product to my simple skincare routine. I’ve also thought about dying my hair, and started looking into safer options for that. My initial research lead me to conclude that Garnier’s Olia line is perhaps the safest, although still far from truly Good Stuff.

Will you reply to this email and let me know how you’re staying sane through this? I don’t always have time to reply, but I do read every single message!

Stay sane,

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The post 8 More Things Keeping Me Sane appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

1. Attitude / 2. Aunt Fannie’s / 3. Branch Basics / 4. CleanWell / 5. Eco-Me / 6. Force of Nature / 7. MamaSuds

Natural all-purpose cleaner is the bottle I reach for most often (besides maybe the wine bottle, hehehe).

My kids are charged with cleaning more and more as they get older, and I love to be able to hand them a spray bottle of natural all-purpose cleaner and a cloth and tell them to get to work on everything from spots on the hardwood floors to the top of the stove.

Best Natural All-Purpose Cleaner

My favorite natural all-purpose cleaner is MamaSuds. It smells amazing, cuts the grease on our stove-top, and even has a blend of oils that have been shown to kill viruses.

With my kids as the cleaners, I have to be extra sure there is nothing concerning in the bottle I hand them. They like a generous spray, and so I need to feel okay about them inhaling lots of it, getting it on their hands, and leaving it all over surfaces.

What’s Wrong with Most All-Purpose Cleaners?

Unfortunately, there is good reason to concerned about the toxicity of most household cleaning products. Ranging from phthalates to chlorine, the ingredients in many all-purpose cleaners are linked to everything from hormone disruption to cancer.

Studies show that long-term exposure to spray cleaning produces increases the risk of lung damage as much as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day!

Some of the worst ingredients in most all-purpose cleaners include:

• Neurotoxic preservatives, including ones found in natural all-purpose cleaners, like methylisothiazolinone and benziosothiazolinone.
• Toxic cleaning agents like 2-butoxyethanol, which is found in many multi-purpose and glass cleaners and is linked to kidney and liver damage.
• Synthetic fragrance, which usually includes hormone-disrupting phthalates in the undisclosed ingredients.
• Antibacterial ingredients, which can be totally toxic (such as bleach or triclosan), but which can also be safe. Thyme oil and citric acid, for instance, will kill bacteria and viruses (including coronavirus).

Another issue with cleaning products is the amount of plastic pollution that they create. For that reason, I’m a big fan of refillable options like this one, although I don’t use this kind exclusively.

Safe Ingredients in Natural All-Purpose Cleaners

Natural all-purpose cleaners, even those with antibacterial properties, can be totally safe. Here are some of the ingredients you’ll see on the labels:

• White vinegar.
• Thyme oil.
• A blend of various essential oils. Look for cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils for antibacterial and antiviral properties.
• A surfactant or soap, of which castille soap is the safest.
• A coconut-derived detergent, such a sodium laurel sulfate (I’ll call products with SLS Good Stuff rather than Best Stuff only because of the potential for skin irritation).

The Best Stuff

The Good Stuff

The Okay Stuff

The Bad Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

The post Safe All-Purpose Cleaner Guide appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

1. Clek / 2. Uppa Baby Jordan / 3. Nuna Rava / 4. Britax / 5. Bugaboo

Buying a “safe” car seat for your new baby (or your toddler) should be simple, but can be confusing and overwhelming. Obviously, the primary concern is choosing a seat that will protect your baby in the event of a car accident, and I like the Wirecutter for its reviews on items like this.

Of course, here at Gimme, we also feel that it’s essential to look at the chemical safety of every car seat you’re considering. Doing this within your budget can making staying sane a challenge, but we hope this guide will help!

How to Use This Guide

We reviewed seats from ten car seat manufacturers. Most of these did not make seats that were all Good Stuff.

For this reason, you’ll note that in our list of Best/Good/Okay/Bad Stuff below, we’ve categorized the seats by model rather than brand, with the exception of Britax, as all of their seats are Good Stuff (but not Best Stuff).

It’s also worth noting that no car seat manufacture received higher grade then a D in transparency in this report. This is due to the lack of public communication about chemicals and their use, and the fact that not one manufacturer has a public restricted substance list and most do not have a public chemicals policy. We hope this changes in the future.

Toxins in Car Seats

Some of the most concerning chemicals that can be found in car seats are:

1) Flame Retardants

State and federal safety standards (FMVSS 302 and California TB 117) require all car seats and strollers to meet stringent flame retardant standards. 

There are two types of flame retardants: halogenated, which include brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, and non-halogenated, which

use phosphorus and nitrogen. Research shows that non-halogenated flame retardants are likely less toxic than are halogenated flame retardants.

Several companies are moving away from halogenated flame retardants, and that’s great. Still, we believe that phosphoruss-based flame retardants should be considered as potentially hazardous until proven otherwise, so that seats that contain those

It can be difficult to meet safety standards without adding chemical flame retardants, but it’s not impossible, and some manufacturers have been able to meet these requirements without the use of toxic materials or chemicals. You’ll learn more about these brands, below.

I’m excited to see so many car seat manufacturers now offering merino wool car seats. Wool is a naturally flame retardant fabric because it is difficult to ignite, and flames are often extinguished in the fibers. Furthermore, wool does not melt, drip, or stick to the skin when it burns.

2) Stain-Resistant Fabric Treatments (PFCs/PFOAs)

Stain-repelling PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) is both massively detrimental to the environment and also linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and immune system dysfunction.

Scotchguard has phased-out PFOS and has replaced it with PFBS (perfluorobutanesulfonic acid). So far, PFBS seems safer, mostly due to a shorter half-life, but studies are still lacking.

Your best bet is to avoid any fabrics treated with stain- or water-repellents.

3) Shock-Absorbing Foams

The foam used in cars seats serves an important function: it absorbs impact when a car accident occurs. The foam used is in almost all seats is one of the following:

• EPS (Expanded Polystyrene, AKA Styrofoam)
  EPS is typically treated with halogenated flame retardant and breaks off more easily, and thus car seats made with EPS should usually be avoided.
• EPP (Expanded Polypropylene)
  EPP foam is environmentally friendly, apparently non-toxic, and offers impact absorption and high strength properties. Also, EPP foam does not require the use of additional flame retardants.
• EPO (Expanded Polyolefin)
  Like EPP, EPO is naturally flame resistant.

You might have heard about other concerning toxins in car seats, including phthalates, PVCs, heavy metals, and more. Fortunately, you can look for certifications on car seats that will ensure that these have been tested for, such as JPMA, Oeko-Tex, and GreenGuard.  

The Four Best Brands for a Non-Toxic Car Seat

Clek: All Clek brand car seats are third-party tested for volatile chemicals/components and all seat covers can be removed and washed. Clek is also the first and only car seat manufacturer with a recycling program so I give them extra props for that. You can see which fabrics/models are Best, Good, and Okay below. 

Nuna Baby: Nuna is a Dutch company, and as of 2019 all Nuna car seats are free of flame retardants. Nuna changed the foam used in all of their car seats (except for the Aace booster) from EPS to EPO (expanded polyolefin), which is naturally flame resistant. Nuna private labels non-toxic car seats for Bugaboo and Stokke, as you’ll see below.

Orbit: Orbit baby is moving towards using merino wool for their future car seat launches. These will be offered at a higher price point. Currently, Orbit’s infant car seat is Good Stuff,  and once they transition to merino wool, they’ll likely be upgraded to Best Stuff. Orbit will be launching a toddler car seat in 2020. 

Uppa Baby: Uppa makes one car seat, called the Mesa. Depending on the fabric, and Mesa might be Best Stuff, Good Stuff, or Okay Stuff. You can read more about these, below.

A Note on Cybex: They are not included below because we have not heard back from them. We will add them into the appropriate category when they get back to us.

The Best Stuff

The Good Stuff

The Okay Stuff

The Bad Stuff

Stay sane,

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The post Safe Car Seat Guide appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Suzanne, Certified Holistic Health Coach

Milk from dairy cows has been a part of the human diet for almost 10,000 years. Cow milk provides protein, fat, calcium, and vitamin D.

Some medical experts believe that milk should be the main source of many nutrients for the youngest members of our population.

But not all milk is created equal, and there are many who question the necessity for dairy milk at all in the human diet.

Certainly, milk has its drawbacks for both our health and the health of the planet, but I do not believe that there is no place for milk in a healthful diet.

For those who choose to add cow milk to their diet, we created this guide to help you find the best option for you and your family. (And for those who choose not to drink milk, look for our plant milk guide–coming next month!).

Most Important: Always Choose Organic Milk!

For nearly 15 years, studies have been showing that organic milk has a healthier nutritional profile than does conventional milk.

Organic milk contains more good omega-3 fatty acids, more antioxidants, and a higher nutrient mineral content than conventional milk. 

Dairy cows under organic management eat more grass than those under conventional management, and that difference in their diet results in more nutrient-rich milk. Also, there are notable differences in the levels of antibiotics, growth hormones, and pesticides in conventional milk versus organic milk.

A majority of samples of conventional milk repeatedly test positive for residues of antibiotics— two of which are banned from dairy production in the United States. The majority of conventional milk samples also test positive for controversial pesticides. Researchers have also found that residues of growth hormones in conventional milk are 20 times higher than in organic milk.

What’s in Conventional Milk?

Cows raised on conventional dairy farms can be fed grass, hay, grains, soy, corn, and human food byproducts (including candy and bakery waste).

Conventional dairy farmers do not have to conform to the requirements of grass-feeding or organic farming practices. Conventional cows may be given growth hormones and antibiotics.

It’s worth noting that corn and soy–both of which are used to make cow feed–are annual crops that require a lot of energy to produce and transport, emitting a lot of greenhouse gasses in the process.

These energy-intensive crops require synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. They also require a lot of fuel for machinery used to plant, harvest, process, and transport to dairy farms. This is especially true when feed grain is imported from other countries.

What Does Organic Mean?

When you buy certified organic milk, the milk is coming from a farm where:

• Cows eat 100% organic feed and grass.
• Per the USDA National Organic Program standards, the animals must graze pasture during the grazing season, which must be at least 120 days per year. (You’ll learn about some brands that don’t adhere to this below, under The Sneaky Stuff).
• Farmers may not use animal drugs like hormone growth promoters.
• Cows that need antibiotics are segregated.
• They use less energy.
• Chemicals are avoided.
• They help build healthy soil.
• They strive to mitigate climate change.

As you can see, organic milk comes from farms that have less reliance on grain for feed. Pasture is made up of perennial grasses that require few inputs to grow year after year, especially under organic management–which prohibits synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

For your own health and the health of the planet, we implore you to only buy certified organic dairy products.

Ideally, you’ll choose 100% grassfed milk. Keep reading to learn why.

Why Grassfed Milk Is Superior

Cows are ruminants and as such they evolved to eat grasses, not grains. Most milk (and beef) sold in America today comes from cows that have been fed corn, soy, and other grains.

Farmers cheaply fatten the animals up, but because cows’ multi-compartmented stomachs can’t properly digest corn, it also makes them more susceptible to E. coli, a pathogenic bacteria that can spread to humans.

Not only are grassfed animals healthier, but their meat and milk are more nutritious than their corn-fed counterparts. Grassfed meat and dairy contain more beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids, which may prevent dementia as well as heart disease. 

Grassfed dairy cows produce milk that is also high in conjugated lineoleic acid (CLA), a healthy omega-6 found in milk that’s been shown to lessen symptoms of inflammatory disorders such as allergies and asthma and promote muscle growth and fat burning in the body. Grassfed milk has six times as much CLA as does grain-fed organic milk.

Cows manufacture CLA from the grass in their gut, and so commercially-raised cows that only eat soybeans or corn meal produce little, if any, CLA.

In well-managed grassfed operations—where cows are regularly moved to fresh pasture–their manure replenishes the soil, improving the quality of the forage growth, which in turn reduces erosion and water pollution.

So how do you know that the milk you are buying truly comes from grassfed cows? All cattle are grassfed until they get to the feedlot, and any producer can put the words “grassfed” on their product, even if the cows are fed mostly grains.

(By the way, “100% grass finished” means the same thing as 100% grassfed.)

Grassfed Certifications

It’s important to note that just because cows are grassfed does not mean that the farm raising them is following organic farming practices. What it does mean is that the cows are only fed grass and forage.

Cows that are 100% grassfed are not given grain, grain products, or corn silage, but the pastures on which they graze may be sprayed with pesticides or herbicides or be synthetically fertilized. Grassfed cows can be given growth hormones and antibiotics.

Obviously, the best milk comes from 100% grassfed cows raised on certified organic farms.

There are a few reliable and strict grassfed certifications to look out for when you are shopping for dairy and meat. Unfortunately, you won’t find these certifications on almost any of the milk we recommend below, but we have included them in case you have access to a small local dairy.

1) Food Alliance, Certified Grassfed

To be certified grassfed by Food Alliance, all livestock must meet or exceed a Level 3 on Food Alliance’s Whole Farm general sustainability standards, which cover integrated pest management; soil, water, and wildlife conservation; and safe and fair working conditions. All animals must be on range or pasture for their entire lives; they must not be confined to pens or feedlots; they cannot be fed any grain, grain byproducts, or animal protein products; they can never be administered any antibiotics or hormones.

2) Certified Grassfed by A Greener World

To be Certified Grassfed by A Greener World, herds must first be certified Animal Welfare Approved, which forbid sthe use of growth hormones or routine antibiotics and also require an annual review of slaughter facilities. Animals must be raised outdoors on pasture for their entire lives and cannot be fed grain, grain byproducts, or any other form of feed concentrate. For reasons beyond the scope of this article, AGW-certified milks are usually not organic.

3) Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) 100% Grassfed

To achieve this certification, farms must first be certified organic, which means antibiotics and growth hormones are forbidden. Livestock must be fed only organic pasture or forage—no grain or grain byproducts.

We hope to see the more of the larger, national brands (that we believe are producing healthy milk) seeking these certifications. Based on the conversations we’ve had with the producers of the Good Stuff (see more below), this seems to be the case.

The Pasteurization Question

All retail milk in the U.S. is pasteurized to remove any harmful microbes. But does how it is pasteurized matter?

The most common form of pasteurization in the dairy industry is High Temperature/Short Time (HTST). Basically, this means the milk is heated to a required minimum temperature of 161°F for 15 seconds. For pasteurized (HTST) milk, it is common to find a date code between 16 and 21 days from the date of manufacture.

Ultra-pasteurized (UP) milk has been flash-heated with injected steam to 280°F and then vacuum-chilled rapidly. The result is milk with a longer shelf life.

Other milk producers use a process called “UHT” (Ultra-High Temperature). This process not only removes any bacteria, but by bringing the milk to a temperature of 280° F it also renders the milk so sterile that it remains usable for up to 70 days!

We worry that sterile milk produced by UHT and UP may reduce some nutritional value, and therefore recommend choosing just regular pasteurized milk whenever possible.

Our Thoughts on Raw Milk

Raw milk, by which we mean milk right from the cow that is totally unprocessed, is touted as the most nutritionally dense milk because many of the healthy qualities of milk can be reduced or eliminated via pasteurization.

However, raw milk can (rarely) carry concerning pathogens.

If you want to drink raw milk, we highly recommend finding a farmer that conducts regular testing. Even then, it is worth knowing your farmer and asking them a lot of questions regarding their practices.

(For what it’s worth, we do get raw milk from a local organic farm here in Lancaster, PA, and have been drinking it for years without any issues.)

What About Homogenization?

Homogenization is the process of breaking down the fat molecules in milk so that they stay integrated rather than separating as cream. Homogenization is a purely physical process–nothing is added to the milk.

The majority of milk sold in this country is homogenized. The process is so prevalent and expected by consumers, that the federal classification of milk is “homogenized.” The law does not require the label to specify if a milk is homogenized.

I have tried feeding my grandchildren un-homogenized milk and they call it “butter-milk” because they think it has butter floating around in it! They don’t like it, but if your kids do, go for it!

The Deal with A2A2 Cows

A2A2 is a term to describe cattle that have a particular genetic makeup that produces a protein that differs from cows with A1A1 genetics. A cow that has an A1 father and A2 mother is termed A2A1. 

The A2 variation of cow is considered the original version of cattle, while the A1 variation is thought to be a more recent evolutionary offshoot. 

A1 and A2 beta-casein are genetic variants of the beta-casein milk protein that differ by one amino acid. A genetic test can determine whether a cow produces A2- or A1-type protein in its milk. 

It has been proposed that the protein makeup found in A2A2 cows makes their milk much more digestible in the human gut, although those claims have not been completely verified via large studies.

There is, however, considerable anecdotal evidence that some folks, especially those with difficulties digesting cows milk, have experienced noticeable improvement when drinking A2A2 milk instead of A1A1 milk.

Highly-Processed Milks

Our readers asked us about a bunch of different milks that come under the general heading of having additional processing. We cannot call any of these Good Stuff because the processing takes milk further and further from its natural state without additional health benefits.

Highly-processed milks include:

• Those with added DHA. The oils are synthetic and created in industrial labs (usually from algae) and don’t have any proven health benefits. Here’s some disturbing information on Horizon’s use of DHA.
• Lactose-free milks. If you are lactose-intolerant, my advice is to choose plant-based milk. If you want a lactose-free milk, your best bet is the one from Organic Valley, although it’s not grassfed.
• Ultra-filtered milk. These are processed to have more protein and less sugar, which may not be the worst thing in the world, but I couldn’t find a brand that does this with grassfed milk.

Whole Versus Skim Milk

All milk that is not whole milk is required by law to fortify with vitamin A. All milk, including whole milk, is required by law to fortify with vitamin D.

Therefore, non-fat and low-fat conventional milk and grassfed/organic milk are nutritionally similar, but whole milk may have some nutritional differences in terms of the type of fat.

Whole milk contains a higher amount of saturated fat and a higher caloric content when compared to low-fat or non-fat dairy, regardless of it being conventional, grassfed, or organic. There may be good reasons for you or your child to eat a low-fat diet, and you should discuss this with your physician.

Otherwise, I generally feel that less processed, less fortified whole milk is the healthiest choice.

I hate to complicate the issue further, but foods that are high in fat are more prone to chemical leaching. Most farms use plastic tubing to milk their cows, which likely introduces phthalates at the start of the production process, and the chemicals then hang out in the fattiest part of the milk. So this could be one reason to choose lower-fat dairy.

Keep reading for a bit more info on phthalates.

Phthalates & Other Contaminants in Milk

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you probably have heard us talk about environmental toxins that wind up in our food. Maia has been on The Dr. Oz Show twice to give her expert opinions on phthalates, and she’s noted that dairy contains one of the highest levels of any food.

A few years ago, we sent some samples of milk to a lab to test for DEHP, the most common phthalate found in food. The results showed that milk fresh out of the cow had ten times fewer phthalates than the milk in the tank of that same farm (in other words, the milk that had gone through the plastic tubing used for milking).

Overall, people who eat diets rich in plant foods have lower levels of phthalates in their blood than do people who eat more animal foods. Reducing your consumption of cow milk would almost certainly lower the phthalate levels in your blood. As I mentioned above, choosing lower fat dairy would also lower your exposure.

Phthalates are also used in pesticides and herbicides, neither of which is permitted in the diets of certified organic dairy, so drinking only organic milk will likely lower your levels as well.

Phthalates are not the only chemical contaminants that are concentrated in dairy fat—you’ll also be exposed to PBDEs, dioxins, and more. This is just another reminder to #eatmoreplants!

Safest & Most Eco-Friendly Milk Containers

♴

In general, we don’t usually like plastic packaging for our health or the health of the planet, but it’s a little complicated when it comes to milk.

Milk jugs are made from #2 plastic, which is high-density polyethylene and is seems to be non-leaching and safe. It is also picked up by most recycling programs, although according to the EPA, less than 30% of plastic from milk bottles actually ends up in the recycling bin—the rest will be sitting in landfills for hundreds of years!

In addition to being (likely) safe and recyclable, plastic jugs are light and require little energy to ship from the manufacturer to the retailer.

Milk cartons are made from paperboard and coated with a layer of low-density polyethylene (another plastic that’s unlikely to leach). Milk cartons are only slightly heavier than plastic bottles, but making paper requires huge amounts of water, fuels, and bleaches. The cartons are also not recyclable in most areas.

Glass milk containers are entirely non-toxic, but producing glass uses a substantial amount of energy (although still less than what it takes to make a paper carton). If you’re able to return and reuse a glass milk bottle, the energy it takes to sterilize the bottle is relatively low, but glass is so heavy that it uses substantial energy to transport.

Experts seem to agree that for the sake of the planet, a container that can be reused or recycled is best. A refillable glass container is our top recommendation, if you will actually reuse it.

Recycling is next best behind reusing, which makes the plastic jugs our second choice. And since cartons are coated in plastic anyway, you aren’t avoiding that exposure by choosing a carton, and they are the least earth-friendly (though of course the most ubiquitous!) milk container.

One more consideration, just to make this extra complicated: ultraviolet light degrades vitamins A, vitamin D, and riboflavin, and it will penetrate glass and plastic containers. So the milk in the carton is probably the most nutritious, but the worst for the planet. Unfortunately, the best brands we’ve found all tend to come in paper cartons.

The Best Stuff

The Good Stuff

The Okay Stuff

The Bad Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

A Few Concluding Thoughts on Organic Milk

A lot of you asked about private-label organic milk from the big box stores. I understand the appeal because it’s less expensive than other brands.

Unfortunately, there is a reason for that. As one farmer who produces 100% grass fed milk said: “With grassfed cows, there’s just not nearly as much milk produced.”

The big dairies sell organic milk cheaper because the cows aren’t grazing much, so they can fatten the cows on corn and grain so that the cows produce more milk.

The problem is that this milk is not going to be particularly nutritious. So, if you choose to eat dairy I believe it is worth it to spend more and get the 100% grassfed varieties, even if it means you must consume less of it.

Lots of you also sent along the names of small dairy farms. We cannot research every one, but I recommend avoiding the big retail chain brands and looking first for organic certifications from your small local farms. Even better? Find one where the cows are 100% grassfed.

As I said above, all organic dairy is partially grassfed (not true for conventional milk), but that can still mean that the cows are eating grain, which can change the components of the milk in the aforementioned ways.

Certainly, there are professionals who believe that we should avoid dairy altogether for a host of reasons. I believe it is a personal choice, but it should be an educated choice. If you’re not in a position to buy your own cow, I hope this guide has helped clarify some of the issues with store-bought milk, and that it will help making shopping for milk easier!

To your health,

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The post Healthy Cow Milk Shopping Guide appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

As a small token of gratitude, we are offering 10% off everything in our store through Monday. Just use code GIMME10 at checkout. This code will work even on sale items, and I just added a few of my favorite items to our sale section, including:

1. Our home detox e-book, where I tackled the areas that I believe will have the greatest impact on the health of your home, while also being easy and inexpensive to implement.
2. A stainless steel divider, one of my favorite my favorite plastic-free alternative for toxin-free lunch packing and food storage.
3. Eye Bright makeup remover, which doubles as a treatment oil for fine lines and puffiness.
4. The Austin Air Bedroom Machine, which is the premier machine that we all own (and use not only in our bedrooms!).
5. The Defender Shield anti-radiation protectors for iPads or other tablets.

11 More Cyber Week Deals

1) If you’re in the market for a mattress, I’ve rounded up all the best deals I’ve found in this post.

2) My favorite safe cookware brand, Xtrema, is marking everything at LEAST 25% off now through Cyber Monday.

3) You’ll receive the Ultimate Steak Sampler from Butcher Box (2 Filet Mignons, 2 NY Strips & 4 Top Sirloins) for FREE in the first box. This is $75 worth of steaks, for free. Expires end of day TODAY.

4) Fresh flowers that come farm-direct, with transparent sourcing from eco-friendly farms that minimize waste, recycle water, and use sustainable growing practices. 20% off w/ code: FRIYAY. Expires on December 1st.

5) Kettle & Fire bone broths are the healthiest on the market, and they are up to 30% off plus a free mystery gift and free shipping.

6) Use code BFMAIA for 25% off at Sakara Life for organic meal delivery and healthful snacks.

7) Enjoy a pair of mugs in your color choice from Le Creuset with purchases of $200 or more. Use code GIFT.

8) TODAY ONLY, Coyuchi Organics is offering 40% off a selection of their bestselling, luxurious towels, robes, and more, plus free shipping and additional discounts of up to $200.

9) Beautycounter is offering 15% sitewide off plus free shipping. I love their mascara, lip conditioner, resurfacing treatment, and cleansing balm most of all!

10) Belly Armour has deals of up to 40% off, plus some extra discounts on bundled wearable EMF protection.

11) The Sill is amazing for delivering beautiful, air-purifying plants, and one of their prettiest is 50% off today only.

12) Dry Farm Wine is offering a special collection of four organic wines at a reduced price. I’m definitely taking advantage and ordering the set of a red, white, rose, and sparkling!

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The post Great Deals on Good Stuff: Cyber Week Sales 2019 appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

A few of these gifts area available in our online store, where we will cover shipping if you spend $50. The rest of the items on our list are available online and are all sold by companies we love and shop from ourselves.

Please comment below with your own ideas for non-toxic, natural gifts! Happy holidays!

Stay sane (easier said than done this time of year),

P.S. Here is last year’s list, for 50 more natural gift ideas.

For Your Sister, Mom, Wife, or Best Friend

We recommend sharing this list with your partner, too, because you’re probably going to want the following twelve gifts for yourself.

I talk about some of my favorite gifts for women in this video.

Organic Beach Towel

Made of pure organic cotton that’s skin- and sand-friendly. $98.

Coconut Water Cream

Unlike most face creams with a cult-following, this one is 100% natural and really works to renew dull, dehydrated skin. $58.

Plant-Based Meals, Delivered

The ultimate wellness gift, this pretty bag includes three days of Sakara’s signature organic meal delivery program and a 30-day supply of Beauty Chocolates. $275. Sakara’s Black Friday deal is now open for my readers (ends Monday, Dec. 2nd). Use code BFMAIA for 25% off everything–including meal plans and clean boutique items!

Fresh Flowers

Farm-direct, transparent sourcing from eco-friendly farms that minimize waste, recycle water, and use sustainable growing practices. From $39.

Gift Certificate for Curated Collection of Natural Products

I’m biased, but I feel like maybe this is the best gift on this list?

$25.00 – $250.00Buy Now

For the Men in Your Life

Be they lovers, brothers, dads, or best friends, what follows are twelve gifts that will help keep the conscious men in your life smiling and sane.

I talk about some of my favorite gifts for men in this video.

Rose Gold Straight Razor

An eco-friendly alternative to disposable razors, the Cheiftan doesn’t have that little strip of toxic scented lotion that you’ll also find in disposables. $43.

Radiation-Blocking Boxers

Boxers are a go-to gift, and these ones reduce radiation exposure to reproductive organs. $39.

Bone Broth

Full of collagen, amino acids, and important nutrients, this is the best shelf-stable broth we’ve found. $8.

 Beneficial Wool Beanie

The undyed wool is directly sourced from a Northern California ranch that uses sustainable “carbon farming” practices to return more carbon to the earth than it releases. $58.

Affordable Toxin-Free Mattress

If he’s been wanting to upgrade to a truly non-toxic mattress but has sticker shock, there’s good news: My Green Mattress is now fully certified, AND they are giving our customers $125 off mattress twin or larger and 15% off Emily Crib and accessories if you use this link only. 

Blue Light Blocking Glasses

These filter 99% of blue light, so he can stare at his phone before bed without ruining his sleep. $69.

CBD-Infused Muscle Salve

For a post-workout infusion of the Good Stuff. $39.

Manly Natural Deodorant

This deodorant will convince even the biggest skeptics that natural is better than Old Spice. $10.

Maple Sriracha

This one skips the sugar but packs the sweet, garlicky heat. $9.

Frankfurt Pour-Over Coffee Brewer

A toxin-free coffee habit starts with a plastic-free (and stylish!) brewer. $99.

For Infants

Nine ideas for newborns and tiny babes, all without any plastic, polyester, or parabens!

The Prettiest Swaddles

Even the dye is GOTS-certified organic. $58 for a set of two.

Ultimate Baby Collection

Best-selling, toxin-free baby skincare, plus a super cute diaper bag. $162.

Alphabet Sets

Beautiful and educational nursery wall art. $33.

Organic Quilted Sleep Sack

Nine healthy gift ideas for babies who have learned to crawl, play, and eat!

I talk about some of my favorite gifts for babies in in this video.

First Puzzle

Made in Germany. $10.

Organic Produce

Pure cotton, and safe for chewing. $72.

Chunky Wooden Animals

Made in Germany of hard maple and beechwood, Holztiger wooden animals are colored with water-based paint and finished with a water-based sealants.

Biodynamic Baby Food

A perfect gift for a practical parent you know. $66 for a case of 24 assorted flavors.

Safe Toy Keys

Give a key-obsessed baby a safer option–free of sharp edges, lead contamination, and grime. $35.

Organic Lounger

I’ve lost track of how many friends have told me that this lounger is a “life-saver.” Sizes for infants and toddlers. From $140.

Wooden Pull Toy

Crawlers and new walkers love toys to push or pull, and this one is made of solid wood and water-based stains. $30.

Real Rubber Duckies

Natural rubber is free of phthalates, PVC, and BPA, and these chew-safe duckies are handpainted with pure plant pigments. $15.

For Little Kids

No longer toddlers, but still decidedly little, kids 6 and under will any of the following eleven gift ideas.

Cooperative Game