Eating Healthy

Eating healthy means something different to different people. It could mean eating more fruits and veggies and less processed food. It could mean eating organic, buying locally or following the Raw food movement. Yikes...

For many of us it's a choice that becomes difficult as there are so many choices and what is good for me as a 30 something Mom with three kids who works full time may be different than yours.

Another factor that makes healthy food choices difficult is the cost of the food. A report produced by the Heart and Stroke foundation found that depending on where we live the cost of fresh fruits and veggies can be double or even six times more expensive. This is just fresh produce - never mind organic.

Take a look at CBC's article for more detail - it really is interesting and shows how making healthy choices is not always easy. But in the long run I would suggest it is essential. So keep trying Canada - baby steps!

Tamey
Pure Know How

Nail polish confession

I might be one of the "Pure Know How Women", but I can't always live 100% "pure". I do try but really it's impossible to always do so.

Well this weekend was one of those times. My husband and I went to his work holiday party and I bought this sexy little purple dress and silver healed sandals (will I ever wear them again?). So of course I had to paint my toe nails. I did have my non-toxic polish in my hands but I just could not use it. The colour just didn't have enough punch and to get half the effect I wanted I would have had to put on 5 coats. So I went with the mainstream brand and damn did my toes look nice!

I just re-read our e-bulletin on nail polish and I think I'll just let this stuff wear off and not use nail polish remover-

Tamey
Pure Know How

New Advertising Guidelines on Greenwashing

The Competition Bureau and the Canadian Standards Association have introduced Environmental Claims: A guide for Industry and Advertisers. Basically the thought is that all environmental claims must be verified and substantiated with supporting data. This data must be accurate and readily available to law enforcement agencies, such as the Bureau, on request.

The purpose of the guide is to "provides businesses making environmental claims with guidance on how to comply with the laws under the Bureau’s jurisdiction by outlining best practices and guiding principles based on international standards. It will serve as the reference used by the Bureau when evaluating whether a claim is false or misleading under the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, or the Textile Labelling Act."

Certainly a step in the right direction, take a look at Pure Know How's e-bulletin on Greenwashing. But our best defence is still to get educated on ingredients to avoid and always read labels.

Tamey
Pure Know How

One Million Acts of Green community

The One Million Acts of Green was created by cbc.ca, along with with George Stroumboulopoulos as a place where you can record your Acts of Green by selecting an act of green from a category.

This is what the organizers have to say, "This season, CBC and The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos want to mobilize Canadians to do One Million Acts of Green. In partnership with Cisco, the idea behind the campaign is that one small act can make a big difference."

The site is sponsored by several well know environmental groups including the David Suzuki Foundation and Environmental Defense. So why not take a look and sign-up and add your act of green to make a difference!

Tamey
Pure Know How

Bisphenol A Regulations

According to a news release from Health Canada the regulations surrounding Bisphenol A will centre around infants (those under 18 months).

'The Government of Canada today announced it will immediately proceed with drafting regulations to prohibit the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA). The Government will also take action to limit the amount of bisphenol A that is being released into the environment."

I think this is wonderful news but it's really too bad that the rest of us weren't taken into consideration. I for one am very carefully about keeping BPA away from all in my family.

The government also announced that it will spend 1.7 million on research projects. Hopefully after that amount of money a clear and decisive answer will be had. I wonder if other governments around the world are also working on similar studies and if we could not all work together. The we could use some of that money to clean up the environment. Just a thought!

"The Government has allocated an additional $1.7 million over the next three years to fund research projects on bisphenol A. This research, in addition to major studies currently underway at Health Canada and Environment Canada, will help to address key knowledge gaps in both the Canadian and international scientific community, and inform Government decision-making should further actions be required."

Tamey
Pure Know How

Bisphenol A (BPA) a toxic substance

Yesterday the federal government put forth a proposal to declare BPA a toxic substance. At this point it doesn't seem clear what the outcome of this proposal will be but officials did say,

"It is concluded that bisphenol A be considered as a substance that may be entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health..."

So let's all keep our fingers crossed and see what the outcome is, we should here more later today and we'll blog again.

If you are interested in this subject take a look at our ebulletins on Plastic Water Bottles and Plastics - BPA

Tamey

Pure Know How

Cold weather and our skin

Fall is here and with the colder weather comes for many of us dryer skin. For me the second the humidity ends (even before the furnace is on) my skin becomes dry - that lovely stretched itchy feeling - love it!

If you also have dry skin and need to purchase new lotion and want to try something more natural take a look at our skin care product reviews.


You may also want to read over our ebulletin on face lotions (same really goes for any lotion).

Tamey
Pure Know How