Once I took a deep breath (OK, a couple of deep breaths), I realized one of the best things would be to make sure my kids, Rich, and I have strong immune systems. Our time at preschool, elementary school, and work gives us exposure to plenty of local germs. I wanted to make sure all our defenses were in tip-top fighting shape for whatever we encountered.

Here are some of the best ways to bolster immune systems. As I wrote this, I was struck by how many of these items have multiple benefits. If we did these things all the time, my family would be leaner, happier, and healthier.

(1) Get plenty of rest. This can be tough, especially for new parents, but a good night’s sleep will do both you and your immune system a world of good. Studies have shown a clear link between immune functioning and sleep. A recent study suggests that sleep may have even evolved to defend against disease.

Experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep per day for adults. The recommended amounts for children vary according to the age of the child. If you aren’t sure how much sleep your child should be getting, check out this handy sleep guide on Web MD.

(2) Eat healthy food. Nutrient rich foods supply tons of ammunition for your body’s immune system. They also contain little sugar, which has been shown to reduce immune functioning. Healthy eating, as we all know, includes lots of fruits, veggies, and whole (not refined) grains. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Fruit smoothies, salads, and other quick and healthy meals are actually faster, and much cheaper, than picking up fast food.

(3) Move your body every day. Moderate regular exercise is simply magic. The benefits range from more stable blood sugar levels to reduced risk of high blood pressure, many cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis, etc., etc. to increased immune functioning.

For those of you who are serious athletes,  know that intense exercise has been shown to decrease immune functioning for up to three days. If you are running a marathon or participating in another intense endurance event, take extra steps to strengthen your immunity and reduce exposure afterwards.

(4) Have a laugh. Laughing helps your immune system by increasing the number and activity of  T-cells, which are part of your body’s first line of defense against viral attacks. It also reduces stress hormones and releases endorphins, the natural opiates produces by the brain, so lets your body’s defenses have a break. Tell silly jokes with your kids, watch a funny movie together, or just think about laughing.

(5) Make time for tea. With two daughters, we have many tea parties. It turns out that all that tea is good for our immune systems. Drinking tea increases your body’s ability to fight off germs and infections. Both green and black teas contain an amino acid called L-theanine, which increases the boy’s infection fighting capacity. No wonder our teddy bears are so healthy!

(6) Get some sunshine. Vitamin D has received a great deal of press lately (bone saving! cancer preventing!) but one of its less well-known traits is strengthening immunity. The easiest way to get the Vitamin D you need is to have 10-15 minutes of sun exposure. Exposure through windows or on skin covered with sunscreen will not do the trick.

If you work nights or live in an area that does not receive much sun, supplements are available. Cod liver oil, tuna, salmon and fortified milk are all dietary sources. You may find Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D particularly relevant and interesting reading.

(7) Take steps to reduce your stress. Stress does more than cause headaches and tense muscles – it also depresses your immune system. Take the time to do something nice for yourself to help reduce the impact of stress in your life. Talk with a friend, take a hot bath, meditate, read a book, or do something else that makes you feel relaxed. You’ll rejuvenate yourself and your immune system.

The Centers for Disease Control have also published some helpful tips for limiting exposure.

Be well!

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However, we were concerned about the toxicity of ingredients in many nail polishes and the concomitant polish removers. Common ingredients of nail polish include dibutyl phthalate (also known as DBP), formaldehyde, and toluene. The Breast Cancer Fund reports that, like other phthalates, DBP is a hormone disruptor and is suspected of harming human reproduction and development and increasing the risk of breast and other cancers. DBP is actually banned from cosmetics in the European Union and is included on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

Both formaldehyde and toluene are listed by the U.S. National Toxicology Program as “reasonably anticipated” to be human carcinogens; they also report that toluene has been shown to induce mammary tumors in animals.

The news doesn’t get much better for nail polish removers. Even acetone-free nail polish remover, which many think of as safe, has other toxic ingredients. Gamma-butyrolactone is readily converted into gamma-hydroxybutyrate or GHB, which has well-known toxic effects. None of these are the outcomes we want for our children!

After some searching, I finally found Priti’s nail products. Created by an expectant mom, Priti polishes and polish remover are non-toxic, petroleum-free, and free of all three the afore-mentioned chemicals so they are safe for children and expectant mothers. Both the polish and remover are naturally derived from corn and soy and 100% biodegradable. The packaging is even glass, although the nail polish brush and bottle caps appear to be plastic.

The polish comes in several beautiful colors, including a couple of pink shades that would satisfy even Fancy Nancy. The remover smells lovely – a far cry from typical polish removers. Beautiful and safe, what a concept!

For those of you lucky enough to live in New York City, a safe mani/pedi can be yours at Priti Organic Spa. Priti, which means out of satisfaction, with love, and pleasurable sensation in Sanskrit, is an environmentally friendly spa that uses 100% natural, organic and cruelty-free products.

* Richard is asking me to mention that our eldest loves bugs and our youngest has a solid right hook, lest you think they are one dimensional girls. I assure you that they are extremely complicated and complex individuals. : )

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Richard and I have been open about our earlier battle with infertility, in part because we felt so alone at the time. One topic that has come up repeatedly in our conversations with others is how helpful we both found the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health (Revised Edition)
Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler.

There are many, many ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitors on the market, some of which are quite pricey, but the information in this paperback book was truly valuable. After reading the book, I was able to accurately track my cycle with nothing more than a thermometer and a piece of paper.

I knew my cycle so well that I was able to tell health care practitioners exactly when we conceived both of our children. This proved to be very helpful since during both pregnancies questions arose about the size of our babies. I was able to state with complete confidence how far along the pregnancies were and avoid unnecessary tests thanks to the information the book provided.

The text is very clear and inviting. Ms Weschler covers a lot of ground, some of it fairly complex, but it never felt overwhelming. She simply walks through the information step-by-step and periodically offers reminders, which are helpful to those skipping ahead to the chapters of most interest. I gained a great deal of knowledge about my body and my cycle. I even found answers to several questions I had asked doctors along the way that had remained unanswered.

I’m using the information in this book to teach my daughters about their own bodies. When they are older, I plan to give them each their own copy so they can understand what is happening inside of them long before I did.

If you are currently trying to conceive, I strongly suggest that you give this book a read before spending your money on predictor kits and monitors. Save it for diapers instead. : )

If you are looking for more information on this topic, also check out Green Fertility. It features loads of ideas for healthy living and conceiving.

If you want to neutralize the affect of your book purchase, visit Eco-Libris. To locate an independently owned bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. You may also want to check SwapTree, an online trading site for books, cds, dvds, and video games.

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In case you are in the midst of your holiday shopping, these would make good gifts! Gaiam is an earth-friendly company so even your greenest friends and family members would be excited to see a package from them. Gaiam was the first company to use a carbon-neutral shipping program, which they developed with The Conservation Fund. The program, called Go Zero, allows customers to add a small, tax-deductible donation at checkout. Each donation is used to plant trees, which offset the carbon dioxide emissions that result from shipping the order. Their mailing supplies are comprised of 100% recycled materials. Gaiam can also provide gift wrapping for your package.

Whether you purchase for yourself or a gift, organic cotton items are great green purchases. Cotton is the most pesticide-intensive crop in the world today, accounting for 24% of the global insecticide market and 11% of the pesticide market. Five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton are cancer-causing chemicals. As just one illustration of the harm these chemical do to the environment, it is estimated that pesticides kill 67 million birds annually. An organic cotton purchase helps organic cotton farmers, the textile workers, the owner, and the environment.

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Several very large benefits would arise from a shift away from foreign oil and these often seem to be given short shrift in discussions about fuel. For me, the largest benefit would come from strengthening America’s ability to power its own destiny. Currently we are dependent on other countries for one of the basic building blocks of a strong economy – the energy to manufacture and transport goods and services. This is just plain foolish. By allowing ourselves to rely on oil from outside the US, we have given away some of the control over our own destinies.

This raises national security issues as well. We are letting ourselves be painted into a corner. By continuing our dependence on foreign oil, we are increasing our need to keep oil flowing across the globe. That is a lot of territory to cover. Do we really want to risk the lives of the men and women who serve in our military for cheap gasoline?

The last big issue I see, and the one I hear mentioned least frequently, is the need to give our children as many options as possible. I strongly believe that one of the primary duties of parents is to give their children opportunities so they will have an array of tools at their disposal as they make their way through life. I want my children, and every child, to have choices in every arena, including energy. I think we owe them nothing less.

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The topic today is soap. What’s the big deal about soap, you ask? More than 60% of the products you place on your skin will be absorbed into your body. Experts say this figure is even higher for small children since their skin is thinner. Since soap is an item people use every day, switching to a nontoxic soap will immediately reduce your family’s exposure to harmful ingredients. Choosing a nontoxic soap will not only protect your family but will also protect the environment since dangerous chemicals won’t be produced to create it and won’t be released into your area’s water when you use it.

Like all personal care products in America, the ingredients in soap do not have to meet any pre-market safety tests. In other words, a company does not have to show that the ingredients it uses to create a soap are safe. That fact was an eye-opener for me. I realized I could not assume that items on a store shelf were safe for my family; I would have to check them out for myself.

After a bit of research, I found Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. Those of you who are campers have no doubt heard about these soaps as they are completely biodegradable. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps uses 100% Post-Consumer Recycled bottles and paper labels so even the packaging is earth-friendly. These soaps are pure-castile soaps so are vegetable rather than animal-based. All of the ingredients are organic and certified fair trade. Even better, they are items that are understandable without a degree in chemistry. Here is the entire ingredient list:

INGREDIENTS: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut*, Organic Palm* and Organic Olive* Oils (w/Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Essential Oils**, Citric Acid, Vitamin E
* Fair Trade Ingredients
** Available in Peppermint, Lavender, Almond, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Unscented Baby-Mild, Rose and Citrus Orange

That’s it! (Saponified just means converting a fat or oil into a soap – I had to look it up, too.)

The peppermint scent is very refreshing, especially on a hot day. The almond scent has a wonderful smell which is a favorite of our children. I hope your next bath time is enjoyable and nontoxic!

Check out MotherNature.com for a great selection of Dr. Bronner’s Soap.

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This study tracked fourth-, seventh-, and ninth-grade students in Wisconsin public schools. Some of the students received in-school snacks consisting of fruits and vegetables while the others did not. After three months, all the students were asked if they would be willing to try new fruits or vegetables. Those students who had received the snacks were more willing to try a new item than those who had not received the snacks. The research also showed that the younger students were more willing to try new items, showing how important it is to expose children to a variety of healthy foods early.

Joining a CSA is an easy way to add variety to your family’s food choices. You’ll receive farm fresh produce, which is always tastier than food that has been sitting on a truck for days. Many CSAs are organic so you’ll limit your family’s exposure to harmful chemicals. Your family’s diet will enjoy a wider variety of foods as well. To find a CSA in your area, visit Local Harvest or the Eat Well Guide.

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Unless the measure is vetoed by President Bush, the ban will go into effect on January 1, 2009. If you would like to contact President Bush regarding this issue, you can email comments@whitehouse.gov or call 202-456-1111.

Since the ban won’t begin until the new year, toys on store shelves this holiday season can still contain phthalates. For toys that are already free of phthalates, visit this section of Amazon. For green bath and personal care products, visit MotherNature.com.

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Researchers estimate that the average adult has more than 700 chemicals coursing through their veins or stored in their body fat. The umbilical cord blood of babies born in the United States has been shown to contain approximately 200 chemicals. (For more about the studies of newborns, see http://archive.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/.)  Some of these chemicals clear the body quickly while others can stick around for years.

It is especially important for want-to-be and soon-to-be parents to be familiar with this concept because:

1. developing babies and children are particularly vulnerable to exposure and
2. there are many ways to limit exposure, thus reducing the body burden.

While it was once believed that the placenta protected fetuses from chemical exposure, the statistics above show that is sadly not the case. Babies are exposed to the chemicals present in the mother’s bloodstream through the exchange of blood in utero. When women reduce their chemical exposure, the chemical exposure of any children they bear is also reduced.

After birth, some chemicals in the mother’s body can also be transferred through breastmilk. Medical providers already encouraged women to breastfeed due to the many health and psychological benefits for both baby and mother. Recent studies have shown that breastfeeding also offsets some of the damage caused during fetal development by chemical exposure so this is yet another reason to make every effort to breastfeed.

The long-term effects of most of these chemicals have not been fully studied nor have the effects of the combination of chemicals. Chemical exposure can arise from every day items such as cleaning products, cosmetics, and plastic food containers.

While you can’t take a blood test online (at least, not yet), you can fill out a questionnaire at http://extras.insidebayarea.com/bodyburden/bodyburden.html. Answering this 35 question quiz can help you see what areas to tackle first to reduce your family’s exposure to toxic chemicals.

Please see Affordable Nontoxic Make-Up (coming soon) for suggestions on creating inner and outer beauty. We’ll continue to add articles to help you reduce your family’s chemical exposure so look for more soon.

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