Photograph taken at Muir Woods by Eddie Ching
I am going to be starting a new series every Tuesday called “Green Living”. In this series, I will write about my journey to become “green” in my life. I have always recycled ever since the garbage men started collecting them. I can’t even remember the year. Just seemed like I having been recycling all of my life. I actually got my parents into recycling. In Maryland, recycling was more of a choice than a requirement but I wanted my children and grandchildren to see the Earth’s natural beauty. My father argued with me saying we were putting more trash. Not really, though. He just saw the recycling bin as another place to occupy trash. And after much arguing, he finally saw my point.
More recently, in the past four years, I really became aware that the products I have in my home are really toxic and bad for our health. I am not talking about cleaning products, although they do play a big part. I am talking about our personal hygiene. Our soaps, shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products, lotion, deodorant, and make-up. What you put in your hair, face, and skin is absorbed in our bodies.
It’s amazing how marketing a product or putting a pretty label or jar with the product attracts consumers. My intention for this series is to educate people what is really inside their homes could be carinogenic. Why is it the cancer, all types, have increased in the last twenty years. The statistics are unbelievable!
It has been a slow process for me but I have changed the products I buy into more natural products. For instance, the shampoos and conditioners I buy now are made with organic ingredients from either Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa line or any Aveda line. I use oatmeal soap from Trader Joe’s. I switched all of my hair styling products to Aveda products. I switched my Lancome liquid foundation to mineral make-up. As for my deodorant, I use Crystal Body Deodarant, made from natural mineral salts, contains no aluminum chlorohydrate, hypoallergenic, fragrance and paraben free. I remember reading an article when I worked in the ICU how cancer researchers thought aluminum was the culprit behind breast cancer.
For my cleaning products, I have transitioned from the store bought products to Melaleuca products for my dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, fabric softener, and tub and sink cleaner. I like Melaleuca products. It definitely goes a long way and is light on the wallet. Although, I am willing to try natural products that I can get in the health food or wellness store instead of contacting a Melaleuca representative.
Many people think organic products are expensive and I believe the prices did decrease in the last few years. I think it is more affordable now. But let’s think about this. Are you more concerned with the cost of the product or your health? In the long run, your health is the most important investment you will ever make.
This organic transition has been slow for me. I did not get rid of all of my products overnight. I started using mineral make-up in 2007 and the change has been a good one for me. All of my shampoos and conditioners were switched this year. I am now in the process of transitioning all of my cleaning products to natural ones and will provide product reviews on them. Come join me in my green living series here on my blog every Tuesday. My first green living post is about green cleaning tips. Stay tuned.
*Note: I am not getting paid to advertise Trader Joe’s, Aveda, Melaleuca, or Crystal products. I am merely stating the products I used and bought.
{image: all photographs taken by Eddie Ching at Muir Woods and may be used if you credit his name and link back to his website at www.eddieching.com}
Tags: green living
