Kelly Bonanno

Your soulful coach for eco friendly living, organic beauty & wellness Savvy | Sexy | Beautiful | Healthy | You

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The Great Savvy Suburban Deodorant Challenge & Giveaway

What type of deodorant do you use? 

Do you like a challenge? This one will improve your health and well being! Might even save your life down the road. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am on a mission to educate as many people as possible about the serious risks that antiperspirants and most deodorants pose to our health.

Forget about focusing on awareness, we’re all aware by now, aren’t we?! We need to focus on PREVENTION. A key component of cancer prevention is avoiding toxic chemicals. One of the easiest and most efficient ways to do this is by using clean, non toxic personal care products.

Use deodorant that does not CAUSE breast cancer. We put it right next to our breasts and directly on lymph nodes in our underarms which have 100% absorption. According to The Breast Cancer Fund, 216 toxic chemicals commonly used in personal care products, including deodorant, are directly linked to breast cancer.

I am challenging you to make a change that will potentially prevent you from being diagnosed in your lifetime

Let’s have a conversation about this. Leave a message in the comments section of this post or on my Facebook Page answering the following questions: What type of deodorant do you currently use? What ingredients are listed?

I know what you’re thinking, the natural ones don’t work or stop working after a few hours. I finally found one that truly works without harmful chemicals, drum roll please… organic deodorant by Pure Haven Essentials. 

My challenge to you: stop using harmful antiperspirant & give this a try

This will not stop you from sweating because it does not contain  aluminum, the extremely toxic chemical that dries out sweat. Besides, we need to sweat, there’s a reason our bodies do it. Stopping that process is unnatural and unhealthy. Plus, I have found that since I stopped using antiperspirants, I naturally sweat less in that area. I suspect it’s because I’m not preventing that natural process or causing my body to over-produce under arm sweat. 

Because of the physiological change antiperspirant causes in the cells of the armpit when aluminum compounds swell and plug sweat glands, the FDA considers it a drug (rather than a cosmetic). 

Aluminum is scientifically validated to accelerate brain aging and cause Alzheimer’s disease

It’s bioaccumulative so it stores in your fat cells. Once toxins get stored in adipose tissue it can be very difficult to get them out. Some scientists estimate that they stay in the body for years, possibly for life. 

Aluminum is not the only harmful chemical used in deodorants. Many chemicals commonly found in deodorant are carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Beware of and avoid: Propylene Glycol, Triclosan, Tetrasodium EDTA, Green 5, parabens. fragrance, BHT.

Aluminum is also associated with Alzheimer’s. A new brain develops Alzheimer’s every 66 seconds and two thirds of those people are women. It’s in your brain for about 20 years before you even shows signs. 

Parabens & Aluminum have been identified in breast cancer biopsy samples

It’s especially important that your teens and pre-teens do not use deodorant with these chemicals. Their systems are still developing so they are even more delicate. Plus, you’ll set them up for choosing the right type of products for life, so get them started with a safe, healthy alternative that actually works. Try Schmidt’s, Pure Haven Essentials or Meow Meow Tweet.

This stuff doesn’t stop working midday the way other ‘natural’ deodorants do (I use that term ‘natural’ loosely because even if it claims to be natural, you’ll likely find unfavorable ingredients). Pure Haven Essentials organic deodorant works all day and all night. Depending on your body’s chemistry and how active you are, you may have to reapply once during the day but it will work and will not cause cancer or any other illness. It’s gluten free too!

Will you take my challenge and try this fantastic organic deodorant?! Be sure to let me know how you like it! Please pass this along, Tweet it, share it on Facebook. Let’s get everyone using healthy deodorant! One lucky reader will win one so enter the giveaway!
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You Have To See This

file0001655248612This short video from Earth Focus is worth a few minutes of your time. Why am I so passionate about everyone using safer personal care products? Watch this and you’ll know why.

You do not need to subject yourself or your children to toxic chemicals every time you wash your hair or moisturize your body. There are safer options. But don’t be fooled by companies claiming to be ‘natural’ or ‘green’ because they could be misleading you.

Know your ingredients, read labels and stay away from any products or ingredients that score higher than a 2 on the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Data Base. You can see a list of the most dangerous chemicals to avoid here.

 

 

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Help EWG Defeat The Chemicals In Commerce Act

file0001999433332According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are currently 1000 chemicals in use right now that should be tested for safety but have they? NO! This scary reality is compromising our safety and health. What's worse is that thousands more chemicals will be allowed in everyday products if the Chemicals in Commerce Act gets passed.

This act will NOT require companies to prove chemicals are safe before they are used in products we use everyday. It will allow more toxic chemicals in commerce with little or no safety testing. This is beyond absurd.

The House of Representatives will be voting on this as early as next week. We need to stop this so that thousands of untested chemicals don't hit the market. They should be taking measures to stop toxic chemicals from being used but instead are doing the opposite.

Please join me and help the Environmental Working Group convince the House of Representatives to oppose this act. Visit EWG, they have made it very easy for us to be heard.   

 

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How To Find Safer Sunscreen Protection

I love the smell of Coppertone… brings back fond memories of my childhood. Oooh and baby oil… I’d slather that stuff all over my body in hopes of achieving that deep dark tan. If we only knew! Not only were we damaging our skin but that pleasant smell of Coppertone is a highly toxic synthetic fragrance.

file9151265810349In my post, You Know The Sunscreen You’re Using Is Toxic, Isn’t Time To Make A Healthier Choice? I detailed the harmful chemicals that most sunscreen brands contain. Because the FDA does not conduct any safety testing on sunscreen, we consumers have to be savvy about what we use. It’s infuriating, we’re trying to protect ourselves from skin cancer but the damn sunscreen itself contains carcinogens. So what the hell are we supposed to do?!

Don’t worry, there are alternatives. There are brands that offer quality sunscreen without the harmful chemicals that get a good rating on the Environmental Working Group sunscreen report. Look for products that have zinc oxide made without nanotechnology. Zinc is a physical barrier against the sun’s rays that does not get absorbed by the skin. The sun’s rays break down chemical sunscreens and you have to reapply them frequently. The physical sunscreens do not break down so they protect your skin from the sun longer.

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SPF 15 & 30, sunscreen stick and lip balm with SPF 15

California Baby and Badger are good but they do leave a white film on the skin (which my 11 year old won’t tolerate!) , UV Natural is good but a bit greasy.

I like Solar Protective MoisturizerSPF 30 by Devita Skin Care. It’s good for us gals because it contains hyaluronic acid which gives a little anti-aging boost.

I know sunscreen sprays are convenient and easy to use but they are especially harmful because we inhale the ingredients as well as absorb them.

Protect Your Health, Protect The Environment

Lake Arrowhead 009Avoiding sunscreen with toxic ingredients is not only important for our health, it’s important for the environment. After we slather ourselves with it, it washes off into the ocean harming sea life. According to a study conducted by Environmental Health Perspectives in 2008, these chemicals are killing the coral reef.

Research shows that octinoxate, oxybenzone, parabens and camphor derivatives kill hard corals which could have a negative impact on biodiversity and reef ecosystems. Help inform your friends – tweet this, share it on Facebook & send it to friends, especially those with kids. No one should use sunscreen with harmful chemicals and with all the safe alternatives, they don’t have to.

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When Should You Choose Organic?

To go organic or to not go organic. There are many benefits to buying organic. The majority of experts in the scientific community believe pesticides have adverse effects on health and on our environment. Babies and children are at even higher risk when exposed because their delicate systems are not fully developed.

hot-farmers-market-lgCertified organic produce is not grown with genetically modified seeds, fossil fuel or sewage-based fertilizers or manmade chemical pesticides. The same goes for certified organic meat  and dairy and you can be assured the animals were not given antibiotics or genetically engineered bovine growth hormones. Organic farmers conserve water and soil, use renewable resources and do not irradiate their crops.

                      Research shows that we can lower our health risks by as much as 94% by choosing organic produce

There is no doubt about it, organic can be costly. Save some $$ by buying conventionally when it comes to what the Environmental Working Group [EWG] calls them The Clean 15: onions, sweet corn, pineapples,  avocado, asparagus, frozen sweet peas, mangoes, eggplant, cantaloupe (although other sources say that cantaloupe has a dangerous amount of pesticides so this one’s up for debate), kiwi, cabbage, sweet potatoes, grapefruit & papaya. Tests show that after washing these fruits and vegetables they were least likely to have pesticide residue on the parts you eat. 

I always buy organic when it comes to the The Dirty Dozen. The Dirty Dozen are 12+(there are a few ‘bonus’ items added) fruits and vegetables that still have high pesticide levels even after having been washed: apples (pesticides pool around the stem & drip down inside through the core), celery, strawberries (because they are low to the ground, farmers typically give them a lot more pesticide to ward off bugs), peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, grapes, hot & bell peppers (they have the largest amount), cucumbers (can have as many as 35 pesticides), cherry tomatoes, summer squash, spinach (it can drink in pesticides through its stalks), potatoes, snap peas and kale/collard greens. Lettuce, sweet bell peppers, and blueberries didn’t make the list this year but were on previous lists so I still try to buy those organic. Some argue that pesticides are used on organic crops as well. Yes, naturally occurring pesticides may be used but they are less harmful than most synthetic pesticides.

farm_suit_0804If ingesting pesticides along with your food doesn’t phase you, how about the humanity aspect? While earning poor wages, hard working crop workers on conventional farms are working in extremely unhealthy conditions as they are subjected to heavy pesticide exposure on a daily basis. Consumers can buy organic but this doesn’t solve the problem for farmers, farmworkers or the environment.

The harmful effects of fumigants drifting from farms into nearby neighborhoods, schools, daycare centers, etc. is another dilemma according to The Pesticide Action Network.

Equally important is choosing household cleaners and personal care products that are truly organic. Our skin absorbs up to 60% of what we put on it. The scalp, groin, and underarms absorb up to 100% so keep your products clean. Check ingredients. Many companies claim to be natural but they are not. One name you can trust to be 100% free of toxic chemicals is Pure Haven, the entire line is pure.

Visit your local farmer’s market. Many may not be certified organic farms but they grow their produce organically without toxic pesticides. Plus there is the added benefit of supporting local growers. And of course, an 528695217economical and convenient option is to grow your own. We just put in a lemon tree, we have some herbs and a strawberry plant but it’s not exactly flourishing so I’ll have to learn more about it. Do you have any tips on growing your own fruits and vegetables?

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Is Your Beauty Routine Toxic? Part II

As I mentioned in part I of  this series, up to 60% of what we put on our skin gets absorbed which leads to our bodies absorbing up to 5 pounds of chemicals through our skin every year. If something isn’t pure enough to eat we really should not put in on our body, should we?

It’s inauspicious that manufacturers of personal care products are not regulated and therefore not required to disclose ingredients, toxic or not. Fortunately, many organizations are on top of it and bringing awareness to the issue. Some of these watchdog groups may have a political agenda, but not all of them do.

Agenda or no agenda, much of the information they share is based in science and they do have an important message: do not use products containing harmful ingredients that will compromise your health and threaten the environment.

There are many brands out there claiming to be pure and while they may not contain carcinogens, they do have synthetic fragrances, irritants, endocrine disruptors and other unfavorable ingredients. So what can we do? How do we find products that won’t harm us? We have to be cautious but there are some fabulous lines on the market which I will talk about in upcoming posts and videos.

You can also check the ingredients of your products in EWG’s cosmetic data base.  It’s not a complete list of every personal care item out there but it is a helpful resource. I’ll be writing about ingredients to avoid in the near future as well so stay tuned.

Did you read the article I posted on my Facebook page the other day? They tested over 400 lipsticks for lead content, check to see if yours is on the list.

It’s not always easy to find suitable alternatives and many of the organic and truly pure, clean cosmetics are way over priced. But there are companies that offer good, safe products such as Pure Haven. I’ll write about of my finds in upcoming posts. Another one of my favorite lines is 100% Pure.

Mascara has been a tough one for me. Do I really want to spend $25 on mascara that flakes off and leaves a smattering of black dust under my eyes when I can spend $7 on Lash Exact by Covergirl that really does give my lashes great volume and length?!

What’s an eco savvy gal to do?! I’m giving Ava and Organic Wear mascara a try, I’ll let you know how they measure up. If you like an earth friendly mascara that works well and doesn’t break the bank I’d love to hear about it.

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Is Your Beauty Routine Toxic? Part I

Lead in lipstick, coal tar in lotions, formaldehyde in shampoo… harmful chemicals are lurking in our everyday products and most of us don’t even know it. If you’ve been reading my blog regularly you know how passionate I am about clean, chemical free living. I make it a priority to use pure, clean products, both personal care items and the products we use in our home.

gty_cosmetics_jef_130401_wgI love playing with make up. It’s fun to get all glammed up and go out but the stuff they put in most make up is scary. The cosmetic industry is not regulated so manufacturers can include anything they want in their formulations.

Our bodies absorb up to 5 pounds of chemicals each year through our skin which is the largest organ in our body. Up to 60% of what we put on our skin gets absorbed so if something isn’t pure enough to eat we really should not put in on our body.

Because they are not regulated, manufacturers of personal care products are not required to disclose the ingredients so there may not even be a label to read and frankly, reading labels isn’t enough, you have to know what the ingredients are.

Very few people have the time or even the desire to know the scientific properties of dozens of different chemicals. That’s the hard part. But I’ll help you sort it out with a series of posts about chemicals we should avoid in our personal care products as well as our household items.

Be sure to check out part II of this series, it includes some eco friendly solutions such as Ava Anderson Non Toxic.

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The 80/20 Rule

My friend Jamie loves her Victoria’s Secret lotion, it smells so good she gets compliments when she wears it. She happens to be very health conscience and eco savvy so I asked if she was concerned about the parabens and chemicals in it. She had a great point. She said she’s so careful about most things she uses that she’s just not going to worry about it.

That’s my philosophy, my own little 80/20 rule: 80% of the time I live as clean and healthy as possible and about 20% of the time I let things slide a bit. Not to be confused with the original 80/20 Principal suggested by business-management consultant Joseph M. Juran based on Italian Economist Vilfredo Pareto’s theory that in business it’s usually 20 percent of what you do that produces 80 percent of the total result. I’ve often heard nutritionists talk about the 80/20 rule when it comes to diet: eat healthy 80% of the time and relax a little the rest of the time.

I can live with that. It’s doable and makes sense. I eat well but I gotta have some ice cream or frozen yogurt to give my sweet tooth a little satisfaction. Do I make sure my kids eat healthy balanced meals the majority of the time? Absolutely, but do I take them to McDonalds once in a while? Sure. How about you? Are you 80/20, 50/50, 100%?

You know how passionate I am about green, clean chemical free living; most of my personal care products are pure and earth friendly but my favorite perfume isn’t. I love the smell and get loads of compliments when I have it spritzed on, so until I find a suitable eco replacement, it falls under that 20%.

I also appreciate a couple of shots of a good tequila or vodka once in a while and I’m not going to feel guilty about enjoying my favorite gluten free chocolate chip cookies with a nice cup of coffee when the craving strikes! Hard core tree huggers might not be happy about this but you can only do what you can do and every little bit helps. About 20% of the time I’m more carefree, loosen up the ‘rules’ and live a little. Striving for perfection isn’t realistic. As my wise mom used to say, “everything in moderation.”

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5 Ways to Green Your Beauty Routine

A few simple changes can make a positive impact

86525535-300x200What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in our bodies. The skin is the body’s largest organ; it absorbs up to 60 percent of what we put on it. Most women use an average of up to 20 personal care items every day and the ingredients in those products go straight to our bloodstream. Treat the earth and yourself a little kinder with these five natural tips to be a greener glamour girl.

1. Know Your Ingredients
Many are carcinogenic, others adversely affect our reproductive systems, and some disrupt our endocrine systems. The cosmetic industry is not regulated, so companies are not required to disclose ingredients. Safety testing is left to the manufacturers, so they can use nearly anything they want in their formulations. The European Union bans over 1300 cosmetic ingredients. The U.S. has banned only 11. If you are curious about whether or not your favorite cosmetics contain toxic chemicals, a good resource is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Data Base. They rate the safety of several products. Ava Anderson Non Toxic has great products and the whole line is pure and non toxic. 

2. Screen Your Sunscreen

Most dermatologists agree that the number one anti-aging secret is protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. However, like cosmetics, most sunscreens have harmful chemicals as well. Steer clear of sunscreen that contains ingredients like… Read entire article at Parent Society.