In honor of June and Father’s Day, we think about all the Fathers who team up with Moms in protecting the family. Thank you, Dads. You are all the best. With so many invisible foes that are lurking in every single thing we breathe, touch, eat, drink it has become an ongoing battle in keeping your family healthy. Even Dad, the great protector needs help.
The internet has opened up a Pandora’s box of information as to what is in our food, water, in the air we breathe, and a whole lot more. Our greatest defense however is knowledge and education. The better informed you are about what is out there and how it can affect you and your family, you will be more equipped to find a solution that can be part of your family’s checklist in living a healthy lifestyle. (Hidden toxins, buyer beware)
Here are some quick tips that you can share with your friends and family.
- There is an app called “Think Dirty” (What a name right). It allows you to scan the bar code of various products (cosmetics, personal care products, etc.) and indicate what ingredients it contains and their level of toxicity. That can take the guesswork out of fancy names in our ingredients that we don’t understand and can’t even pronounce and their impact on our health. We are talking soaps, shampoos, toothpaste. Everyday items we just take for granted are safe for our families to use.
- Review what manufacturers who are very conscious about the products that they produce and what goes into their research. Get reviews and see what other health-conscious consumers are saying about their products. Contact the companies directly and ask them as well.
- Try to eat “clean”. As clean as can be. Not everything labeled “organic” is. So again, do your homework!
- It is summer season and so everyone is in pools and slathering on sunscreen and using hand sanitizers at every turn. Your skin is your body’s largest organ and absorbs good and bad stuff. Still, have fun but be aware of what you need to avoid any “yucky” stuff getting into your family’s body beyond food.
- Last but not least – share any useful information with other Moms or friends. We all have to look out for each other. Our health is our wealth.
A quick personal note. I was spurred on to write this article in light of the new information that has come out on a very popular children’s cereal that has been found to have some very harmful ingredients in it. (Oh Cheerio: What you need to know about glyphosate)
I was shocked and angry that the authorities keep this sort of information from consumers and only when the whistle is blown and other groups start to dig, then critical information comes out. For some families – it is just way too late. Our children are our greatest gifts and we protect them with our lives. That is our responsibility. What they consume should be our top priority. Don’t let the producers of our food set the fate for our children’s futures. Let us take a more active role in ensuring that these manufacturers are held accountable for their actions and the quality of their products.
