Posts Tagged ‘healthy’

Panel of Experts Available for Questions on Fragrance Free Day – August 13th

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Quincy and Simon - Golden Gate BridgeRemember, Fragrance Free Day is Friday, August 13th!   For one day, we are asking folks to help spread awareness of the dangers associated with fragrance/chemicals in personal care and household cleaning products by pledging to go “fragrance free” via their social networks.  http://www.odorandstainremover.com/wordpress/?p=454

We are hosting a live Q&A on Twitter with your’s truly, organic chemist Dr. Stephen Ziman and veterinarian holistic pet health expert Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM (http://www.drcarol.com/).  Anyone with questions on the safety of products they’re using for personal care or household care use can Tweet them with the hashtag #fragrancefreeday on Friday, August 13 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST and have their question answered by one of the experts through SeaYu’s Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/seayu).

What started the idea of Fragrance Free day?  Several studies have been published and we are spreading the word.  The report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Environmental Working Group, “Not So Sexy, the Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances,”  found 14 secret chemicals not listed on the labels that are associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products.  The study also notes that numerous other products used daily, such as shampoos, lotions, bath products, cleaning sprays, air fresheners and laundry and dishwashing detergents, also contain strongly scented, volatile ingredients that are hidden behind the word “fragrance.”  

The Environmental Protection Association (EPA) has weighed in, too – they state that fragranced products – like air fresheners, fabric refreshers and traditional cleaning products -are one of the leading contributors to poor indoor air quality, which can lead to health issues.

Why is this even more important for animal lovers?   “Animals have faster metabolisms and smaller lungs than humans, so not only are they processing harmful chemicals used in the home more quickly, they are also breathing them in at a faster rate,” said Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM “Because animals are closer to the ground, they are more often in direct contact with these harmful substances making Fragrance Free Day of special importance for pet owners everywhere.”

Key Facts

  • Fragrance Free Day is Friday, August 13th, an social web event created to help spread awareness of the dangers of harsh chemicals and fragrance in personal care products
  • Everyone can participate by pledging to go “Fragrance Free” for one day via their social networks (Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc.)
  • From 12 pm – 1 pm EST on Friday, August 13th, experts will be answering questions via Twitter – questions should be sent with #fragrancefreeday on Twitter

 

Resources:

I hope anyone reading this blog spreads the word and joins us on Fragrance Free Day!

Quincy and Simon

Doggy Meatloaf

Friday, October 9th, 2009

My friend of over 40 years commented the other day (as I was dishing out Simon’s specially prepared doggy meatloaf) that she could not believe that I actually cook Simon’s food rather than feed him dog food.  This made me stop for a moment to reflect.

Yes, I love Simon and he is a member of my family, but he is a dog.  And until a few months ago, we did feed him regular dog food — albeit premium, all-natural dog food and avoiding anything with chicken (allergic) and focusing on non-allergic ingredients such as lamb, rice and venison.  However, starting about 1 year ago, we had to change his dog food multiple times since he continually developed a reaction to the food after about 3 months.

I finally decided — enough was enough — after having to treat “really nasty” hot spots that developed over multiple parts of his body. I started cooking his food following recipes out of Eco Dog by Corbett Marshall and Jim Deskevich.  Well, his hot spots went away, and now I make his food weekly and his food looks like our “human” family dinner food.

So, yes I am cooking for my dog, and no, I did not think I would be cooking for my husband, kids and dog.  I am still looking for a dog food that will not give Simon hot spots since having to figure out what to cook for family everyday is hard enough without having to do so for Simon.  I would love to go back to just buying his dog food and scooping it out everyday, but until I can find something that will not give him hot spots, I am cooking for him.  Taking care of my dog and giving him medicine everyday is harder than taking care of my kids.

So, yes Gina, I make doggy meatloaf and what other recipes I find to cook for Simon… at least until I find something that he can stomach.

 Quincy and Simon