Hospital Says no to Toxic Baby baths and Yes to earth mama angel

As news spreads about toxins and the ongoing concerns about formaldehyde-releasing ingredients in baby products, Earth Mama wants to spread the good news that some hospitals are making safer choices for their newborns. Earth Mama Angel Baby® products were chosen by Miami Valley Hospital, in Dayton, Ohio, as the first step in their “greening process” following a year of research on the subject of environmental toxicants and the health risks they pose to newborns and mothers.

MVH delivers nearly 5000 births a year, and wanted to assure mothers of the safety and efficacy of the products they offer. Earth Mama’s Natural Non-Scents Hand to Toe Wash and Angel Baby Oil are being used on all newborns including the babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Replacing the many different products previously offered to new mothers, Earth Mama’s organic castile soap and 100% natural baby oil offer a pure, safe, simple alternative to the myriad wipes, lotions and soaps that are often laden with chemicals, including artificial fragrance, preservatives and dyes.

Nurses from MVH strove to find products that rated a 0 for toxins by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), while also meeting MVH’s own rigorous standards. Earth Mama Angel Baby was a natural choice, since the entire product line was formulated by a nurse and herbalist and it was the first company to rate all zeros on EWG’s Skin Deep database.

While taking part in a nurse leadership program it became clear to Ann Brower BA, RN, IBCLC, ICCE, CD, Birth & Family Education/Lactation Coordinator, that MVH could lead the way by using the best products for their patients. "As nurses we are challenged to be leaders in the community and to help the community do the right thing. We hope our children’s children won’t have to suffer with illness, allergies, reproductive disruption and cancer. We need to set back the clock to a simpler way of doing things. This IS the right thing. This is best practice. As healthcare providers, we need to be leaders not only in safety, but also in education. We want them to learn to read labels, and realize if you have a choice, choose the one that’s least toxic."

Earth Mama founder Melinda Olson encouraged broad product testing and provided numerous rounds of samples for approval by different MVH groups. “I am delighted MVH required extensive product review; Earth Mama is all about pure ingredients and consumer education,” Olson said. She sees this growing trend in hospitals as a good sign. “It’s no surprise that hospitals are taking ‘healthcare without harm’ to a green level. Nurses are on the cutting edge of more natural patient care, and when they get involved, things change for the better. Since more parents are aware of avoiding toxins in pregnancy and baby products and strive to keep their babies free from as many worrisome chemicals as possible, it’s natural that they would choose hospitals that are on board with a safer philosophy.”

Regarding the most recent Toxic Tub news story (Baby’s Tub is Still Toxic ) , Earth Mama Angel Baby thinks it’s simple; a mama should be able to know what she is putting on her baby, and her whole family, without having to have a degree in chemistry. “With all this news about formaldehyde-releasing Quaternium 15 and 1, 4 Dioxane in babies’ tubs, we want to make it clear that Earth Mama Angel Baby has never contained those ingredients, or ANY toxins ever.” says Olson. Every Earth Mama product rates a ZERO for toxins on the Skin Deep database, and Mama’s Promise® is to offer only safe, pure, natural products that work. If it doesn’t measure up to Mama’s standards, it doesn’t leave the building.

Natural Non-Scents Hand to Toe Wash is a pure, organic body wash that’s perfect for safe, toxin-free hand washing too. Naturally antibacterial without artificial preservatives or foaming agents, it is naturally unscented, not masked, and is USDA Certified Made With Organic ingredients. Angel Baby Oil is a gently absorbable grape seed oil blend infused with calming organic Chamomile and moisturizing organic Calendula, which has virtually no scent, no nut oils and zero toxins.

Interview Melinda
Earth Mama Angel Baby founder Melinda Olson is a nurse, herbalist, and, by necessity, expert on pure, safe options in the “natural” product industry.

About Earth Mama Angel Baby®:
Earth Mama Angel Baby® was founded by nurse, herbalist, and concerned mother, Melinda Olson. The company’s mission is to safely ease the common discomforts of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and baby care with pure, safe herbal remedies. Olson’s knowledge of traditional herb medicine is combined with evidence-based research to help soothe and comfort mamas and babies naturally. Proudly pure, Earth Mama Angel Baby products are made only with worry-free ingredients: no artificial ingredients or toxins of any kind. That’s Mama’s Promise®. Earth Mama Angel Baby’s products are certified by Quality Assurance International.

Mamas' Voices: Healthy Mama, Healthy Baby

WHAT ARE THE REALITIES OF 21ST CENTURY PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH?

Every day, thousands of women worldwide give birth to new human life. While many of these women will have happy and successful deliveries, hundreds will die in childbirth. How do things like geography, income, and age affect your chances of a safe delivery? What is being done to improve upon the world’s maternal mortality rate, and how can you get involved?

Exposure to Chemicals Linked to Nurses Miscarriages

According to a new study, there are two million female nurses in the United States, and many are at risk of having a miscarriage, due to chemical exposure at work. The study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, shows that nurses who are routinely exposed to chemotherapy drugs or sterilizing chemicals were twice as likely to have a miscarriage as nurses who didn’t handle these materials. As a self-reported study, this research has room for error, but even so the news isn’t good. Researchers surveyed nearly 7,500 nurses who became pregnant between 1993 and 2002. In total, one in ten nurses lost a pregnancy before 20 weeks, which is similar to miscarriage rates in the general population. However, nurses who said they worked with various chemicals or equipment, such as X-ray machines, anesthesia, anti-cancer drugs and disinfectants had double the miscarriage rate of other nurses, with around two out of every ten loosing her baby. 


A nurse’s specific risk was correlated with the type of occupational exposure and when the exposure occurred. For example, nurses who worked routinely with X-ray machines experienced a slightly higher risk of miscarriage (30% more than the general population). Nurses who handled sterilizing agents, for more than an hour per day, such as ethylene oxide or formaldehyde, experienced doubled the risk of miscarriage, but the risk was present only during the second trimester. According to the researchers, nurses aren’t the only working population at risk. Other workers such as pharmacists, drug manufacturers and veterinarians may also be at risk for more miscarriages due to chemical exposure. To limit risk of miscarriage, it’s best to limit or halt exposure to chemicals while pregnant, especially during the first trimester. It can be tough to get a workplace reassignment, or even get permission to take special precautions during pregnancy, but it’s not impossible. This is something you should discuss with your employer, so that you, and your baby can have the safest,healthiest pregnancy possible. 

Instant Eco-Friendly Birthday Party Decor from Paper and Cake

Since my youngest son Alex is going to be turning one in only a month, I decided it was time to start thinking and planning on a birthday party for him. Since I am all about natural living, I thought Id share some tips on planning a eco friendly birthday for moms out there.You want to throw an impressive, and eco, first birthday party, but you don’t have time to design the decorations to pull it off. 


So what? I found a cool new way to take the easy (and smart) way out. Pick a theme and print off a complete party collection from Paper and Cake on recycled paper. The theme, modern design and list of what you need is already laid out for you so all you need to do is print, cut, and do a few simple crafts.

Even if you have no idea where to begin, you’ll find plenty of inspiration at Paper and Cakes. Each printable party collection includes everything from the invitation to party hats and everything in between including a front door sign, place mats, cupcake wrappers, favor tags, and thank you notes. Designs are appropriate for first birthdays and beyond. How brilliant? I have to thank Paper and Cakes for making party planning easier.


Another great company I found was ACME Party Box! They are amazing and have such cute decorations.Acme Party Box Company offers the most gorgeous party-in-a-box ideas you’ve ever seen including some amazing all-in-one birthday party solutions that are convenient and affordable for throwing pint-sized parties of eight. Best of all — Acme Party Box goodies are selected for their design sensibility and eco-responsibility. The company sources reusable, recyclable, and sustainable products whenever possible, they work with local artisans and craftspeople and all products are ethically produced. After the party is over, you’ll want to wash and save these amazing keepsake quality supplies to use again and again, and items that aren’t save-worthy can be composted or recycled. Keep reading to see the amazing kid-friendly party sets offered by Acme Party Box Company.


Here are my 7 tips to planning a green birthday party for babies and kids.

1. SEND OUT GREEN INVITATIONS

Go virtual when it comes to sending out invitations to your baby’s 1st birthday bash. Paperless Post is an online stationer which offers colorful and adorable designs created especially for kids. Cards may be designed, customized and personalized, and look like they came from a bespoke letterpress. Paperless Post‘s custom cards are delivered in personalized envelopes to recipients’ inboxes and the senders are able to track and manage their invitations receipt and guests’ responses. Now, no one has an excuse not to RSVP, and no trees need to be harmed by sending snail mail back and forth.

2. ASK FOR 529 DONATIONS IN LIEU OF GIFTS

In lieu of having guests bring physical gifts for your baby (which typically come wrapped in oodles of cute, albeit wasteful wrapping paper!), ask them to donate to your child’s 529 college savings plan. In 20 years, your kid won’t remember that ring stacker… but he’ll be thrilled with the gift of a college education. My aunt also had people donate to the NICU since her son spent the first few days of his life in the NICU. Be creative with it.

3. MAKE A HOMEMADE CAKE AND HOMEMADE PARTY FOOD

Make your baby’s special first birthday cake from scratch using organic, locally grown ingredients that are in season. Make the cake even more precious by going berry picking as a family at a local farm, and use the berries to decorate the top! Buy party food snacks in bulk to cut down on packaging, or make special treats yourself!

4. START TRADITIONS WITH REUSABLE DECOR

Paper streamers and pointy disposable party hats are decidedly passe’. Reusable decorations and birthday crowns will be cherished mainstays at every eco celebration during your child’s youth. Start the traditions with Jr.’s first birthday party. Place a sweet felt party crown on his regal noggin, drape a cloth Happy Birthday banner across the venue, and get creative making your own decorations and centerpieces from household items including baby photos and favorite toys.

5. HOST A GENTLY USED BOOK EXCHANGE IN PLACE OF PARTY FAVORS

Plastic party favor trinkets no longer get the last word! Ask each guest to bring a gently used baby book that they would like to trade-in for a ‘new’ one in a book exchange. Guests can place their book in a basket on the way in, and pick a new one when they leave the party.

6. GREEN THE PARTY ACTIVITIES

Give the poor donkey a break by leaving his tail on… and don’t bash him with a bat either! One year olds certainly aren’t ready to be spun around with a blindfold to pin a tail on a donkey, or to hit a pinata that rains candy! Instead of planting one on a candy bearing beast, plant miniature gardens. Babies will enjoy the tactile experience of digging and planting in the soil, and guests will have a blossoming keepsake to take on their way. Older sibling attendees and parents can plant herb gardens for their baby if the bambinos are too busy eating cake.

7. GIVE REUSABLE PLATES AND UTENSILS ‘TO-GO’ INSTEAD OF USING DISPOSABLES

If possible, serve birthday cake and party food on reusable dishes with stainless steel utensils instead of opting for wasteful, one-use paper plates. If you aren’t in the position to bust out your china, give guests reusable plates and utensils that they can take home and use again long after the candle has been blown out. Dandelion serves up great tableware for tots: child-sized plates, bowls, sippy cups and utensils made from eco-friendly Corn PLA.
Do you have any great green birthday party tips you’d like to share? Please leave a comment below!

Sprinting VS Long Distance Running

Sprinting VS Long Distance Running

Ever notice the difference between a long distance runner and a sprinter? 

Can you guess which one is which?

Long Distance Runner (left) Sprinter (right)

for both pictures.

Notice anything? Perhaps it's hard to tell at first but there are some of the key differences:

1. The sprinter has larger muscles.

2. The sprinter has lower body fat percentage (usually)

3. The long distance runner is more slight in build

4. The long distance runner has much less muscle tone.

If you look up photos of long distance runners vs. sprinters you will notice this trend with most of them.

The way you exercise can determine the shape your body takes. Mainly this is because it determines how your body uses its resources to help you get through these workouts. Long distance runners are doing aerobic exercise, whereas Sprinters and weight trainers are doing anaerobic exercise. The difference is important.

While cardio workouts burn fat and calories over a long period of time, they also tend to burn muscle as well. This is because the body has to find it's largest resource of calories and that tends to be the muscles. Especially after a weight-training workout, one should avoid long distance running, as it negates the process of muscle building. There is nothing wrong with long distance running, in fact it has been proven to promote heart health over sprinting, but if you really want to maintain muscle mass and lose more body fat, sprinting is better choice.

Why does sprinting take off more body fat than long distance running?

Sprinters train with high intensity bursts for short duration periods, burning more sugar, and less fat during the workout. When a high intensity burst of exercise is performed, the body burns more relative amounts of sugar, but burns more fat and calories after the workout. It burns calories anywhere from 16-48 hours after the workout. Low or moderate intensity exercise, such as long distance running, has no after burn effect. You burn what you burn and that is it.

Also important in answering this question is looking at the hormones involved in these two types of exercise. Low to moderate intensity exercise produces a large amount of unopposed cortisol, leading to a catabolic, muscle burning state. High intensity exercise also produces cortisol, but does so along with growth hormone and testosterone, enhancing fat burning, leading to an anabolic, or muscle building state. Therefore the long distance runner has less muscle than the sprinter.

One of the reasons I prefer sprinting is that it takes less time, the workout is harder but not nearly as tedious, and it gets you great results while still maintaining muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be. This means that if you can maintain or add muscle to your frame, you will burn more calories than you did before, and lose more weight over time if you continue to take in the same amount of calories you always have. This is why sprinting helps you lose weight more permanently than long distance running. If you had to stop running for a few weeks for some reason, you would still be burning a significant amount of calories by just breathing. However, if you had lost muscle mass, or didn't have much to begin with because you run long distance, you might gain weight over this inactive time, because you aren't burning as many calories.

My Potato Project; The Importance of "Organic"