A BBC news report this morning highlighted growing concerns over Bisphenol A (BPA) in infant feeding bottles.

Here is an excerpt from the report:

The current advice for parents is not to pour boiling liquid directly into bottles, not to microwave them or use scratched or worn ones.

Research carried out at Exeter University found that adults with high levels of BPA in their system were more prone to heart disease and diabetes

Dr Iain Lang, who led the study, said: “There is not enough to provide us with the evidence to say there is definitely a link, there is definitely something going on.

“But in addition to some of the previous work that has been done looking at younger children and looking at animals this does increase the likelihood that there are problems associated with BPA.”

Despite some manufacturers in the USA having removed feeding bottles containing BPA, there are currently no similar moves in the UK.  It is now thought that there is the possibility that feeding bottles, or any plastic container containing BPA for that matter, can leach the chemical into feeds when heated.

Not now having children of an age I have to worry about feeding bottles containing BPA, I did however start thinking that if it can leach from feeding bottles, it can also leach from the plastic containers and jugs I used in the microwave.  Since the very first reports some time back regarding this chemical, I decided to only use glass or ceramic containers in the microwave and only use my plastic containers when storing left-over food in the fridge or for mixing liquids that were not going to be heated, well not in the plastic container anyway!!!

If I did have babies now I’d certainly also be switching to the Green Baby Glass Feeding Bottles.  Although not without their drawbacks, breakage being one of them, so they are only suitable for very young babies unable to feed themselves, I certainly would rather that than any possible unnecessary chemicals finding their way into my kids bodies.

The reason behind the withdrawal in the US seems to have been parental pressure and we certainly need to be hitting the bottle manufacturers with the same pressure here in the UK.  But in the meantime, if you are worried, there are alternatives out there.

Click here to read the full article.

Review posted by:

Nicola, Organ-Nics.

A recent article in the Daily Mail online has linked anti-perspirants to lumps found under arms and in women’s breasts.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

There is a growing international group of scientists investigating the possible links between deodorants, breast cancer and other breast lumps.  One of them is Philippa Darbre, a cancer researcher at Reading University.

In previous studies, she has found that cancerous tumours are most likely to appear in areas of the breast nearest to the underarm-area where antiperspirant has been applied.

Her latest research project, conducted jointly with Professor Ferdinando Mannello, of Urbino University, Italy, compared levels of aluminium in the fluid from breast cysts in 48 women, with levels of the metal found in blood samples from 30 other women, and in breast milk taken from a third group of 45 women.

Where the cyst was in the armpit area of the breast, the level of aluminium present was about 25 times higher than the level found in a normal blood sample.

She said: ‘We don’t know what the mechanism involved might be, but this might be a wake-up call about the risks of anti-perspirants. Either women should stop using them or the manufacturers should look at ways of reformulating their products.’

Having thought for some years that anti-perspirants were just not good for you, I am not surprised by this article….something that interferes with the body’s natural process just is plain wrong.

With so many Natural & Organic alternatives on the market today there really is no need for us all to be clogging our pores with aluminium.  My absolute favourite is the Lafe’s Hemp Oil Roll-Ons from Organ-Nics, safe yet effective deodorants that really work!!!

If you would like to read the full article, click here….

As I eyed Nicky my PR lady across the table glaring her gnashers at me, I was somewhat sceptical that you could indeed use a twig for a toothbrush

Her teeth indeed looked white and clean and (rather academically) straighter than mine!!

As with anything I am going to stock in the shop I like to try it first and so promised to give it a go myself.  True to her word, a couple of days later my package of “twigs” arrived.

That night I was trying to remember the ‘demo’ I had watched and duly followed it’s instructions.

Nicky was indeed right, after using my “twig” my teeth did feel clean, although, it was obviously too early to see whether it had made a difference to their whiteness.

Using new products which differ greatly to the traditional always needs a period of adjustment and a degree of openmindedness (is that a word?).  We are indoctrinated to believe we ‘need’ things by clever marketing, hype, tv ads and sometimes down-right lies and scare-mongering.  However in the last few years I have learned to not scoff or pre-judge unless I have tried it myself,  we are all individual and not one product will suit everyone, and we must try and shake the shackles of our pre-conceptions that we ‘need’ such things as fluoride & bleach, neither of which I have used in over 2 years!!!

Well after a full week of using my “twig”, sorry….ahem….natural toothbrush, I have to say I’m converted, well partially anyway!  It really has made a difference to the colour of my coffee-stained teeth and it really does leave your teeth feeling lovely and clean.  My only critism is that it’s a bit awkward for the hard-to-reach places of your mouth, and I still like the ‘whole-mouth’ feeling of using toothpaste, so I’ve compromised.  I use my natural toothbrush in the mornings, and my toothbrush & toothpaste at night….which means my toothpaste lasts twice as long!

If you would like to try the natural toothbrush for yourself, or watch the demo then just follow this link: http://www.organ-nics.com/store/product.php?productid=16669&cat=252&page=1

Do let me know how you get on!

Nicola. X

….just when I need it too!!!

We have a very busy weekend coming up and I was cleaning and tidying like a mad woman last night, which probably explains why I am tired today?  The kids’ cousins are coming to stay tomorrow night…..I think I may need some earplugs when I go home tomorrow as they can get excitable to put it mildly!

We are also hosting a family get-together tomorrow afternoon, so more cleaning and tidying tonight with a smackeral of baking added in for good measure.

My new member of staff starts on Monday in the shop, and I still haven’t done the manual on all the products I have started for her to refer to when I am not here…..still, hopefully it will all get done at some point soon…..best I go and get on with it hey?

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL…………

What a great Christmas / New Year period I have had……I met my friend Mel, the shop was busier with customers than I had anticipated and I got a few days well earned rest.

I’m now ready to get stuck into some new and potentially exciting projects…..I won’t give too much away at the moment, suffice to say that hopefully this particular period will see the beginning of the increased exposure of Organ-Nics further afield nationally and also becoming more accessable!!!

Enough said I think for now……just keep ‘tuning’ in and all will be revealed.

After drinking rather too much vino at my sister’s “in between Christmas & New Year” party last night I felt rather under the weather this morning and was steeling myself for a less than inspiring day……then my ‘virtual’ friend Mel walked in & it has made my day

Mel, however is very real and not ‘virtual’ in the cyber-space-game-playing sense at all.  I’m sure Mel won’t mind me calling her ‘virtual’ as we ‘met’ on Janey Lee Grace’s Imperfectly Natural Forum, that was until this morning when she visited me in the shop.  Mel currently lives in Italy with her two children and partner.  She got into the whole natural & organic thing when her daughter developed very bad eczema as a baby.  But with the power of the Internet, it means that I, Mel & other like-minded natural & organic eco-warriors can share day-to-day thoughts, experiences, stories and tips….but there is nothing quite like meeting people face-to-face and having a good old ‘gas!!!

The majority of people I now meet in the shop have switched to natural & organic products because of an illness, generally an allergy or skin condition like eczema.

In fact, Mel’s visit today was just the beginning of a really good day…..despite feeling cack with a real pounding headache, I can honestly say today has been great.  Since opening my shop a little over a year ago I have met some really lovely people….not something I thought possible even just two years ago!

I have just had a really nice couple in from Devon…..the lady has (like I did) been buying all her products via Internet and was really pleased to find the Santé cosmetics in a shop….makes it all the easier to choose the right colour!

It’s on days like these that makes the hard work (and worry) all worth it!  To my lovely customers / visitors you really do make this all worthwhile, to you all I’m very thankful!

Nicola. X

Are you suffering from the last-minute-Xmas-stressathon?

With this being the second year of me having the shop, I kind’ve feel a bit out of the loop with the organisational side of Christmas…..great you might say, oh not to have the Christmas stress & strain….and once upon a time in a faraway land I would have agreed with you.

But as a tidy, organised, like to be in control type, this is not a task I relinquish easily!  ‘BO’ (No not the unpleasant Body Odour type, but ‘Before Organ-Nics) I would have lists for presents ‘got’, presents ‘to get’, who has got what in their stocking, and I’d buy bits and pieces for Christmas at each and every food shop, so by this time I only had the veg to buy at the last minute…..but with dear hubby in ‘charge’ I feel more than a little helpless and find myself asking him constant questions about the gift situation, or lack of it!

So as at 9:30am on Christmas Eve, we have a brand-new electric oven which still needs to be installed (very long story) still sitting in the middle of the kitchen.  As hubby is electrical engineer he can ‘plumb’ or ‘wire’ it in, but this is also in addition to last minute Xmas shopping he hasn’t got, including food!

Still, even without me being my usual organised self, I’m sure Christmas will still happen, I know the kids won’t care how carefully the wrapped or pretty the presents look, well Abbie might but the boys certainly won’t.  It won’t really matter if a few things are missing, as what really matters is I get to spend two whole days with my family, something of a rarity these days!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Nicola X