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Newborn Essentials

Finally!  It’s about time I posted this one.  Sheesh.

This blog summarizes the newborn items I recommend (and some that I suggest you steer clear of).  Here’s a hint – you truly need only a small fraction of the things the baby stores (and maybe your friends) are pushing on you.  Trust me – I’ve now been through this twice.  I took the bait with the first one and had a closet full of short sleeve tops, long sleeve tops, sleep sacks, onesies, socks, booties, hats, mittens, diapers, wipes, breastfeeding pillows, etc.  Not to mention all the other things like bassinets, swings, toys, teethers, books, music, etc. (plus all the things my friends “donated” to help).  My god – what a racket (my grandmother would be proud of me for using that word).

Some of these products are green and many are not – I tried green options when possible and provided you with a review on whether they’re worth it or not.  The one thing to remember…babies grow and grow fast.  Everyone will have her own opinion, and I appreciate this, but I’m hoping to shed some light on the essentials you’ll truly need for the first few months.

A helpful hint – take all the freebies you can get from the hospital:  wipes, diapers, formula, nipples for the formula bottles, disposable underwear (trust me, just get a huge stack to take home), etc.  Some hospitals will even give you a girdle thing if you’re super focused on things like that.  And, take advantage of the nursing staff you’ll have available to you – while each one may have her own opinion on things, they are valuable wells of information.

This is a pretty long blog, so for those of you who just want the answers (the Cliff Notes version for those of you who remember those) – here they are (if I haven’t included it on this list, I personally don’t think it’s an absolute requirement.  If you have specific questions, please reach out to me on my Facebook page):

DIAPERING

Why Huggies Little Snugglers?  They absorb and have elastic in the back waist so they don’t leak as much.  Why do I like them better than Pampers?  (a)  the side tapes are longer and easier to adhere; (b) they have genius purple color sides in the front near the tabs (sounds weird, but when you are tired, it’s a godsend to know you haven’t put the diaper on backwards AGAIN); and (c) they’re cheaper.  Sold.  I actually used Pampers Sensitive for my first child –  only because a friend recommended them to me, and I never tried Huggies.

What about green options?  With my first, I tried several green disposable diapers.  None of them worked.  The Honest Company diapers actually gave my child boils.  Seriously?  Other options, like Seventh Generation and Babyganics just didn’t absorb pee (if any), and I was constantly changing wet onesies.  Not to mention how uncomfortable it must have been for my baby to be covered in pee all the time.

For newborns, you won’t need a specific overnight diaper yet.  That comes as they get older.  As my youngest go older, we added Huggies Overnights to our stockpile.  Man, do they hold a lot of pee.  This is the only version that worked for us.  The Pampers ultra absorbent left a weird green dye on my baby, and also disintegrated into pee pebbles in the morning (if you’ve ever wondered what they put inside these diapers to absorb the pee, this is a way to find out).

One non-green brand that definitely did NOT work?  Target.  Supposedly they reformulated their diaper line a year or so ago.  They just don’t absorb anything.  Nothing.  Nada.  Total waste.  This is such a shame because they can be half the price of other brands, and now we know why.

A thought – it really sucks to run out of diapers.  Newborn can go through 10+ per day.  Do yourself a favor and get the diapers on automatic subscription through Amazon.  You can edit your automatic delivery at any time.

WIPES

There are a ton of wipes out there – many are very similar.  I want to try and find something that had as few chemicals as possible, while still working.

I haven’t found much difference between the various sensitive brands of wipes, whether Pampers or Huggies.  The one sensitive brand that I’m not a fan of is the Target brand – the wipes aren’t wet enough so I had to use a ton, and the packaging is that super noisy crunchy plastic (have fun with that – a startled cry from your newborn may make you think you’re having a heart attack).

What about green options?  The Babyganics wipes are great, but super expensive – I tend to save these to use for hand wipes only.  Oh, and the ever popular Water Wipes.  I just don’t get it.  They are ridiculously expensive, and I’ve actually heard of people receiving ones that are moldy.  If you haven’t heard of them, they are wipes with 99.9% water and then a little bit of grapefruit seed extract as a natural “skin conditioner.”  The idea is that water is best as a wipe (can be – I learned this in a baby class), and that anything else in wipes can irritate a baby’s skin (also a possibility).  What about just putting water on a soft cloth?  Anyways, I figure if the hospitals are using traditional sensitive baby wipes, thats what I will stick with also.  To each her own.

OINTMENT

Your newborn most likely won’t need much ointment.  Yeah, she’ll be peeing a lot (could be 8 – 10 x / day) as well as pooping (1+x / day), but you’ll be changing diapers so often that most likely the baby won’t get much redness or a rash.  It is advised to really only use ointment if necessary.

But, if your baby does need it, there are some great ointments out there.  On the green front, I love Alba Botanical Un-Petroleum Multi Purpose Jelly.  Yeah, it’s a bit pricey, but my little squeeze bottle has lasted me for a long time (again, I only use ointment when necessary).  Its main ingredients are castor seed oil, coconut oil and beeswax.  Same consistency as traditional petroleum jelly.

Otherwise, the tried and true ointments work very well – Aquaphor Baby (basically a petroleum jelly substitute), A&D (petroleum + lanolin) and Triple Paste (white ointment specifically to treat the redness and irritation of a diaper rash).  Another neat little trick – your baby’s cheeks may get red and chapped. Why?  Drool, face rubbing, etc.  You can use lotion (see below), but you need to be careful with all the additives and fragrance.  Instead, I use either the Alba, Aquaphor or A&D on her cheeks, mainly before naps and bedtime.  Voila – redness disappears.

BABY MONITOR

So, I’ve been through more than my fair share of monitors.  The best in my opinion?  Infant Optics DXR-8 – maybe you haven’t heard of this brand.  I heard about it through a friend in San Francisco years back.  One of the main reasons I chose it is that it operates on a frequency band that doesn’t interfere with most other frequency bands out there.  Also, it’s not WiFi – not WiFi???? How dare I!  Hear me out – I didn’t choose WiFi for security reasons.  There were many reported cases of crazies tapping into people’s WiFi streams to watch the baby monitor feeds.  Freaky.  Wrong.  Disturbing.  So, I decided I did not want WiFi.  If you choose to go this route, I don’t have much to recommend as I haven’t used any.

Back to Infant Optics – beyond what I mentioned above, it has an amazing battery life (6+ hours unplugged), has the option to not have the automatic video shut off after a few minutes of being unplugged (this is SO ANNOYING) and has crystal clear night vision.  Also, the customer service is amazing.  I dropped my monitor right on the charging cord input – oops.  The company sent me another charging cord for free.   No questions asked. Sold.

Summer Infant?  I had the Side by Side version (I initially liked this as it was the only monitor I found that could show both video feeds of my children on the same screen – didn’t have to toggle back and forth – as well as the temperature in each room.  Sound only could come from one room at a time, though).  Why don’t I like it anymore?  Horrific battery life.  The worst ever – maybe will last 20 minutes unplugged.  You also cannot turn off the automatic video shut off which happens almost immediately after unplugging it and probably every 30 seconds thereafter.  Also, it’s clunky and not well made.  And, the camera, even when turned off, runs hot.  Odd.  Finally – customer service is the worst out there.  On 2 occasions, the monitor just stopped charging.  I don’t know why.  Customer service was relentless in saying they couldn’t do anything for me and that I should just go out and get another monitor (I was able to get a new charging cord after tears – oh, if you ever have a 2nd monitor you aren’t using, that power cord can almost always be used as a substitute for the monitor charging cord).

Motorola?  It’s ok.  I actually liked the compact design.  But, my Motorola monitors each lasted less than a year.  Kind of unacceptable when you’re spending $200+ for a monitor.

Each of the monitors mentioned has the ability to move the camera remotely through the monitor controls (important so that you don’t need to run in while you’re baby is seeping to adjust it), as well as the ability to talk through it (I’ve never used this feature), zoom and several other options.  One final thing, the temperature gauges on monitors vary wildly with reality – I had one (it was a Motorola one – that averaged 7 – 8 degrees hotter than the actual room).  When you have an infant, it can freak you out.  I called, and they asked me to build a hollow, wooden box to put it on.  REALLY??????? For f’s sake.  Just fix the temperature sensor.

CLOTHING

Ok, so for you first time moms and dads out there…newborns need to be changed A LOT.  So visions of changing your little cherub a few times a day into super cute outfits turns out to be a royal pain in the as*.  Trust me.  Save those super adorable outfits for when you’re out with friends or relatives come and visit.  It’s just not practical.  And, do you really want to be pulling a onesie over your child’s head if that onesie is covered in blowout poop?  Yes, there’s a reason they’re called blowouts.

So, what is practical?  A great onesie.  And here’s how I define great:

  • Zipper (no snaps!!!!!!!!  I am convinced someone who never had an infant invented the onesie with snaps.  Who the hell would do this to me when I’m trying to change a diaper in the middle of the night?  Never again)
  • Zips from the top down – this may sound weird and backward, but it is a nifty thing  when changing your child’s diaper b/c you only need to unzip from the foot to mid chest to change the diaper
  • Soft cotton – I don’t want a ton of strange synthetic material against my newborn’s skin
  • Fold over mittens (important so that your newborn doesn’t scratch herself when she doesn’t have control over her limbs quite yet) AND footies
  • Affordable

Thanks to my aunt who found my favorite onesie…Target’s Cloud Island onesies.  They check all the boxes, and get this…3 for $12.99.  I tried to find affordable organic cotton onesies, but most of them were expensive, had snaps and many times didn’t have the fold over mittens or footies.

With respect to other clothes, you really don’t need them unless you really want to.  One option which can be great is a kimono style top (short or long sleeve) right after the baby is born.  These style of tops are much easier to put on (not over the head) and are gentle against the baby’s umbilical cord until it falls off (which happens generally 1 – 2 weeks after birth).  I skipped pants, pull over shirts, shoes (really?  I  mean they’re cute, but trust me, the baby will somehow get them off) for months and months, Again, a personal preference.

FORMULA

I am a huge believer and supporter of both breastfeeding and formula feeding.  Each mom knows what’s best for her and her child.  For my first child, I was medically unable to breastfeed due to nerve complications from a severe case of Bells Palsy.  I was able to pump, so I bottle fed and then started mixing that with formula over time.  As you are already aware, everyone has an opinion on this so do what you feel is right – my view is that let’s all be respectful of others and their choices.  Ok, I’m off my soap box.

For both of my children, I needed to supplement in the hospital given their weight loss (I had c sections for both so my milk came in late).  For my first, we used whatever the hospital had (it may have been Enfamil, I don’t remember).  For my second, I actually asked that she be supplemented with donor breast milk.  After a day or so, she still was losing too much weight, so I was strongly encouraged to switch to formula.

The only formula I’ve used at home is Earth’s Best Organic Sensitivity Formula (note:  this product can be bought at various grocery stores as well as Target – it can be pricey, so you may want to comparison shop vs. Amazon).  Given it worked for my first child, I never tried anything else.  Also, when thinking about baby formula, I think it’s very important to choose an organic version.  Why?  Because generally one of the first ingredients will be corn syrup solids – unless the can states organic or non-GMO, you are putting genetically modified corn into your infant … a no no for me.

BOTTLES

Here again, I didn’t try everything under the sun because I was fortunate to find some that worked for us right away – with my first child.

As I mentioned, I bottle fed my first for a year.  I used Dr. Brown’s bottles throughout, and just changed the nipple as she got older (allowed for faster flow).  I used both plastic and glass bottles (pros and cons to each).  This bottle has a funky way of reducing gas / colic and seemed to work for us.  And, while this seems like an odd thing, they actually print the nipple size on the nipple (many companies do not, so you are left guessing which nipple flow rate you are using which is super annoying – hello Comotomo).  Dr. Brown’s now has a wide neck bottle and nipple option, but I have never used that so can’t provide an opinion.  I always used the standard sized ones.

For my second child, I didn’t use bottles – a long laundry list of reasons, but it just didn’t happen.  So, at 7 months, I tried to introduce one.  It just didn’t work.  I tried SEVEN bottle types and nada.  I was at my wit’s end.  Everyone kept telling me to “persevere.”  WTF.  What ended up working?  A sippy cup!  the ZoLi BOT cup to be exact.  I am now weaning her onto formula and will skip bottles altogether (maybe a silver lining in that I won’t need to wean her from a bottle).

Remember, for all bottles, check which nipple come with it.  Many times they come with the newborn, slowest flow nipple.  You may have to buy the right nipples separately.  It’s also helpful to have a bottle brush to clean the bottle and parts.

BREAST PUMP

Do yourself a favor and rent a hospital grade breast pump.  Why?  It will extract more milk from your breast than any consumer version.  Period.  You generally can rent these by the month (mine was $40 – $50 / month if I remember), and then you return it when you’re done.  And, many times your insurance will cover this.

One piece of advice, make sure you have the right flange size – the flange is the ever so pretty cone thing that you put on your boob and over your nipple.  If you have the wrong size, you can get blisters.  Awesome.  Another helpful hint – if you plan on breastfeeding, ask the nursing staff right away to get you a hospital grade pump to use while you are in the hospital.  They can help you find the right flange size, but it will also help start your milk flow sooner.

SWADDLE / SLEEPSACKS

I’ve had great success with the Halo sleep sacks.  Your doctor would / should recommend that infants be in a full swaddle (or a burrito wrap with a blanket with her arms tucked in).  Most sleep sack brands have infant versions that have velcro to help with this (trust me – the nurses at the hospital make the blanket wrap look so easy – both of my babies were able to get out of my version of the wrap.  A swaddle with velcro tabs made it MUCH easier, and they couldn’t get out).

The Halo 100% Cotton Swaddle comes in both a lighter cotton material and a heaver fleece like material.  I use both depending on how hot / cold the rooms are.  The other great thing about a sleep sack?  As the child gets older, it makes it nearly impossible for her to climb out of her crib.

One option I just cannot recommend?  Lotus Baby.  I tried this with my second because it seemed to be all the rage this past year.  They are insanely expensive ($75.00 each) but the company claims the swaddle is made from a NASA-inspired material which regulates the body heat of your child.  Enticing.   But it didn’t work.  Also, the infant swaddle version has a huge chest plate size of velcro on the front –  nothing quite as sweat-inducing as scaring the living sh&t out of your infant by ripping off a huge velcro thing from her chest when taking her in and out of this.  I will say the company gave me a full refund when I called, and the head engineer also asked to speak with me so they can improve the product.

BLANKET / WRAP

I have an almost full drawer of “blankets” that are bigger than burp cloths and smaller than actual blankets.  So annoying – they aren’t useful really.  Do yourself a favor and invest in a handful of really good blankets / wraps – some that are lighter (made out of muslin – you can use as light blankets / wraps as well as for a cover for your stroller if sunny) and heavier (for feeding, cuddling, etc.).

I’ve tried almost everything out there – name brands, discount brands, etc. – I always come back to Aden & Anais muslin blankets for the lighter ones (note:  Amazon won’t let me provide a link, but they do sell it on the site).  These are made out of cotton muslin, are huge and are light.  They aren’t cheap, but I have had the same ones for over five years, and they look brand new.  Worth every penny.

For the heavier ones, I love Little Giraffe.  This is definitely a splurge.  But again, I’ve had the same ones for over 5 years.  They withstand washing, spit up, etc.  And, they are super cozy and wonderful.

BURP CLOTHS

Again, you’ll see tons of different kinds of these in the stores.  And again, I need to go back to the tried and true Aden & Anais burp cloths (note:  Amazon won’t let me provide a link, but they do sell it on the site).  Why?  Because they’re made out of super hefty, thick cotton, are a bit larger and they have snaps so you can transition them into bibs later.  And, like with my other Aden & Anais products, I have had the same ones for 5 years and they look like new.

BASSINET

I respect parents have various opinions on sleeping arrangement for their infants.  For me, I chose to put a bassinet next to my bed for 3 months or so.  And, I chose the Fisher Price Rock n Play (note:  Amazon won’t let me provide a link, but they do sell it on the site).  I didn’t buy it because it rocks (in fact, I don’t know if I ever used this feature), but more so because it is on a slight angle and almost at my bed edge level.  It made middle of the night feedings a lot easier.

In fact, a little hint for those of you that may be on baby #2 or more…get another one of these to put in or near your other child’s room.  Why?  It’s extremely convenient to have an extra bassinet to put your baby into while you’re helping your other child get up or be put to bed.  Or, even more convenient for those times when you desperately need to shower (nothing like your infant staring at you from her bassinet while you’re trying to shampoo furiously).

For my second, I also had an Uppa Baby Bassinet which would click into the stroller.  The bassinet is also approved for sleeping – in fact, there is an Uppa Baby Bassinet Stand just for this purpose.  For some reason, my infant didn’t like sleeping in this, but it was a great (if expensive) option for the stroller so my baby could lie flat (my pediatrician always told me, “the CAR seat is for the CAR” and urged me to use a stroller that would lie as flat as possible for an infant).  Note – if you get one of the stroller systems I recommend, it will lie completely flat and you will not need a separate bassinet.

CAR SEAT

There’s nothing like walking down the aisles of a baby store and seeing endless numbers of car seats and strollers.  The main thing I focused on for a car seat was safety (you can review safety ratings for car seats online), ability to easily click it into a stroller and then weight.  If it was pretty, that was awesome, but that was not my focus.  And remember, you need to make sure whatever car seat you are buying is either specifically for an infant, or is a car seat that has the required inserts / parts for an infant (there are many “convertible” car seats that will grow with your child from the infant age up through toddler and even beyond).  I chose to get an infant specific car seat knowing I would need to transition to a larger one most likely within a year.

For my first, I used the Chicco Cortina CX Travel System – it was fantastic.  It was the car seat (fairly easy to install) as well as a stroller.  The car seat clicked easily into the stroller without any accessory parts, and this is one of the only strollers that lies completely flat when used in stroller mode without the car seat (Note:  the Bravo version does NOT recline flat).  Amazing.  And, compared to many other car seats and strollers, this was extremely affordable.

For my second, I used an Uppa Baby Mesa car seat.  Why did I change?  Several reasons:  (1)  you’re never supposed to use a used car seat – this is a cardinal rule; (2) I gave away my Chicco stroller to a neighbor when we moved from San Francisco; (3) I had an Uppa Baby stroller already (purchased it for my first child when she was a bit older).  I really love the Uppa Baby Mesa car seat – while the base installation is a bit annoying (the clips that go onto the hooks in your car automatically retract all the time to ensure the car seat is installed correctly – but if the clip slips out of your hand when you’re installing it, it automatically retracts.  Over and over and over again), getting the car seat in and out of the car is easy.  It clicks right into the stroller, and there is a single button release on top of the handle to get it off the stroller.

STROLLER

As mentioned above, I used the Chicco Cortina CX Travel System for my first child – the entire system included a stroller.

For my second, I had an Uppa Cruz stroller.  It’s expensive, I won’t lie.  But it lasts – I’ve had ours for almost 5 years and it has been through hell and back with us.  This is one you put on your registry and hope an uber generous person buys for you!  It folds very quickly with two release buttons, has an adjustable handle bar as well as a great canopy for blocking the sun (along with an additional silver, UV shielding extended canopy).  The downside is that the Uppa products are pricey – but, it is very high quality.

STROLLER COVER

Some people use the muslin blankets and drape them over the stroller – this works, especially if you can tuck them under a handle of the car seat or into the sides of the actual stroller so the wind doesn’t blow them away.

If you use the car seat in the stroller for walks, running errands, etc. another cool option is a Baby Car Seat Cover Canopy which has elastic around it to hug the car seat.  The one I like is made out of t-shirt like material and comes in several designs.

BABY SHAMPOO

You won’t be able to give your infant a real bath until her umbilical cord falls off.  Before that, you can use wash cloths with just water as necessary.  Also, understand that baby’s skin is very sensitive, so you won’t even really need to use soap very much once baths start.  A helpful hint:  don’t use bubble bath.  And this isn’t only for infants.  My pediatricians both San Francisco and Colorado have told me to not use bubble bath as it is extremely irritating to babies’ skin, especially girls.  Girls can get vaginal infections from bubble baths so it’s best to steer clear.

With respect to shampoo, I have always used the mildest product I can find.  And who doesn’t love smelling a baby’s head?  Yum.  I have used Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns for both children when they were infants.  It is expensive, but this version is a foam which is a very mild cleanser and the bottle lasts a long time – I’m still on the same bottle after almost 8 months.

Separately, it is very common for infants to get cradle cap – this is basically pretty intense dandruff.  There are products out there specifically for this condition, as well as special combs / brushes to help if you need it.

BABY LOTION

You won’t really need to use baby lotion for quite some time – maybe even months.  But, it is sometimes very relaxing for your baby to use some lotion for a baby massage after baths, before bed, etc.

Again, you need to take precautions that whatever you are using is mild and fragrance free given how sensitive babies’ skin is.  I use(d) California Baby Sensitive Lotion for both children.  It is a vegan lotion free from fragrance and has soothing ingredients like organic calendula and aloe vera.

NIPPLE PADS AND CREAMS

Oh yes, how fun.  If you choose to breastfeed, you may experience some odd/interesting/painful things like leakage, sore/cracked nipples, plugged ducts, etc.

I wore / wear Lansinoh Nursing Pads in my bras during the day – they help with not only leaks (I actually didn’t have much of this) but also with comfort.  Sorry if TMI, but your nipples most likely will be quite sensitive and maybe even sore at times.  The pads help with this so they aren’t rubbing against your bra all the time.  Why do I like Lansinoh?  They stay put (most of the time) as they have 2 adhesive strips (Medela pads only have one adhesive strip, and they’re awful), and they don’t show that much underneath clothes.  Sorry, but if any brand says they don’t show, they’re lying.  You’re putting a round cotton pad inside your bra.

If your nipples do get dry and / or cracked, you will need nipple cream.  You want to get something that is 100% lanolin.  This is safe to apply as often as needed and is safe to use while breastfeeding (you don’t need to wipe it off).  I’ve always used the Lansinoh Breastfeeding Salve, mainly because that’s what I saw first in the store with my first child. There are other brands out there, but just make sure you’re getting 100% lanolin.

I hope these suggestions are helpful – while I think I remembered everything I feel is essential, I could be missing somethings.  I tried to really focus on the basics – you may feel there are some things you need that aren’t on this list.  And, please, if you have a question, always feel free to reach out to me on my Facebook page, and I will do my best to provide an honest answer.

Congrats on your little one(s)!

 

Love and Peace,

The Almost Green Mom

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Amy Smith is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Personal Care / Child, Personal Care / Parent

Here Comes the Sun!

Screen Shot 2017-04-26 at 11.19.38 AMFor many of us, it seems that summer has come early – I know we here in the Denver area started hitting the 80s a while back.  While I believe sunscreen is critical year round, it is especially important during these hotter and sunnier months of spring and summer.  And especially for our children.  It’s not always easy getting a child all lathered up in sunscreen when they’re fidgeting, but study after study has shown that sunscreen is the most effective way to ward off skin cancer (see studies by The Skin Cancer Foundation, citing medical evidence that over 90% of skin cancers are linked directly to radiation from the sun; and significant data and information from the American Academy of Dermatology).

A quick science background – UVA vs. UVB rays. UVA rays are the ones that can penetrate deep below the skin’s surface.  They may not always cause a noticeable burn to the skin, but they are responsible for premature aging, wrinkling and suppression of the immune systems.  UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn and are the key instigator of cancer.  While both rays can be extremely harmful, SPF actually only measures UVB rays.  So that 50+ SPF lotion you are using may block upwards of 98% of UVB rays but be minimally effective against UVA rays.  You need a sunscreen that protects against both.  The Environmental Working Group (see below for more information) does a great job of providing information on a product’s ability to combat both UVA and UVB rays.

This blog will focus on sunscreen for children (which can also be used for adults actually – I use the same sunscreen as my daughter).  Since she was born, I have tried countless brands of sunscreens – all labeled as natural / organic, and with varying success.  We have found one brand that is stellar – I’ll get to that one in a second.  But before, I’ll highlight a few others we tried and issues with.  We do NOT use any of the traditional off the shelf sunscreens you’d find at an everyday grocery store as I believe many of the chemicals included in them (namely oxybenzone, which has been linked to hormone disruption and and cell damage, potentially a precursor to cancer) are extremely dangerous and potentially cancer causing.  So, we don’t use brands like Coppertone, Neutrogena, Banana Boat, etc.  Instead, I look for sunscreens that include minerals such as zinc oxide (get non nano size particles, if possible – label will say this) and titanium dioxide.  Screen Shot 2017-04-26 at 11.20.40 AM.pngThe biggest issue I’ve found with the natural versions is that many are a chalky white which are hard to rub into the skin.

One more thing before I get to the specific brand reviews.  I always refer to the  Environmental Working Group (this is a link to the “skin deep” part of the website to search for any product) to check the “score” of a sunscreen (I do the same for all household cleaning supplies, personal beauty products, etc.).  They have an app which you can download for free so you can check on specific products while out shopping.  This resource is invaluable and summarizes how toxic / harmful a product is based on its ingredient list.  It’s quick and easy to search for specific items.

Ok, here we go – here is my honest take on a handful of the sunscreens we’ve used over the years along with the EWG rating (note that EWG rates on a scale of 1 – 10, with 1 being the safest / best.  Typically 1 – 3 are “green”; 3 – 6 are “yellow”; 7 – 10 are “red”.

  • Honest Co. Honest Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ (EWG 1):  This was way too chalky for us – very white and thick in consistency that was nearly impossible to rub into our skin.  While the SPF looks good, we actually still burned using this.  Time to move on.
  • Honest Co. SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray (EWG 3):  I’m highlighting this one mainly because it is a spray which seems to be fairly popular.  We used this at the pool one day – I ran out of our favorite, and a neighbor had this in her bag.  I hate sprays, so I sprayed it in my hands and then applied it.  Why do I hate sprays?  There have been many studies / articles, including one from Consumer Reports which state that the ingredients sprayed enter the air and we inhale them, which is extremely unsafe.  Regardless, this product didn’t work at all – burned again. And stay away from the sprays.
  • Babyganics Mineral-Based Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 (EWG 2):  Now this one I kind of liked, but the only issue is that it separated very easily in the bottle.  So many times when I squeezed it, a lot of watery liquid came out before the thicker sunscreen.  There’s an easy enough solution – shake up the bottle and knead it with your hands.  We didn’t burn, and it was relatively easy to apply.  They also have a stick that we have used on my daughter’s nose as well as hands (I’ve found sticks are the best for the hands as it doesn’t rub off as easily)
  • Kiss My Face Baby’s First Kiss Mineral Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 (EWG 6 – eek).  I was drawn to this one initially because it provided very good UVA and UVB ray protection.  In addition to the EWG score of 6 which is very concerning, the product is very oily.  It applies very easily (to be expected because it’s like an oil slicks), but then has an oily sheen on the skin which rubs off on everything it comes in contact with.  I say avoid this one.

So which sunscreen do we ADORE?????

  • Blue Lizard Australian Suncream, Baby SPF 30+ (EWG 1):  This stuff rocks.  It’s more of a lotion consistency (like traditional sunscreens), absorbs very well, leaves no white residue and works very well.  I also use this sunscreen (to note – the company has told me that the baby version is essentially the same as the sensitive version, so I just buy whichever one is cheaper at the time).  We’ve never burned, and it doesn’t seem to rub off on anything.  Also, it has an EWG score of 1 which is reassuring that the ingredients are as good as they can get.  Buy this now – oh, and another cool feature, the bottle will actually start turning a dark pink when exposed to sun’s rays as a fun reminder to put this on even when it’s cloudy (and your kids will think it’s cool).

So, there you have it – Blue Lizard is our top choice.  I actually have a bottle in my bag and another at home – you never know when an impromptu visit to the park may happen.  In addition to sunscreen, we are huge fans of the UV clothing line Coolibar (offers sun protection clothing for the whole family, and it actually looks like normal / cool clothes) as well as great sunhats and polarized sunglasses.

Summer is a great time of year with so many amazing memories – the pool, picnics, BBQs, boating, skiing, etc.  Have a wonderful summer and use that sunscreen!

“Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right

Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right”
– The Beatles
Love and Peace,
The Almost Green Mom
Amy Smith is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Personal Care / Child, Personal Care / Parent

The Daily Routine

As promised, this blog focuses on the daily supplements we (my 3 year old and I) take for general health maintenance.  As I’ve stated many times, I’m not a doctor so you should definitely check in with your pediatrician, general doctor, naturopath, etc. to see what is right for you.

CHILDREN

Here’s our morning routine:

  • Elderberry Syrup.  Our typical day starts off with elderberry syrup during cold season (we take this even if we are not sick as a preventative measure).  As I mentioned in my blog about colds, I am a huge fan of Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup – you can use the same formulation for adults and children, but make sure to check the dosage chart on the side of the box
  • Probiotics.  I then give my toddler probiotics – as also mentioned in my blog about colds, we really like the Metagenics UltraFlora Childrens brand.  We buy it in the refrigerated section of a local Pharmaca store.  (Note that when my toddler was younger, I’d use Metagenics UltraFlora Baby liquid drops or pharmax HLC neonate powder – I’d mix them in with milk / formula as they are tasteless).
  • Multivitamin.  Then, with breakfast, my toddler takes a multivitamin.  After speaking with our naturopath as well as chiropractor (a very gifted and talented chiropractor is an amazing inclusion in your overall wellness), we started taking Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive Kids in the orange flavor (for whatever reason, my toddler hates the grape flavor.  Go figure).  Why do we like this specific brand?  (1)  it not only contains vitamins, but also minerals and trace elements which I believe are really important for general health; (2) it does NOT contain any artificial colors, artificial preservatives or GMOs (as many of you have asked, I promise to do a blog on GMOs soon!); and (3) it actually tastes pretty good (yes, I’ve tried them).
  • Vitamin D.  I give my toddler vitamin D, 2000 units, every other day.  I use a liquid brand, and I put 1 drop inter her water bottle (it doesn’t taste at all.  It does make the water cloudy, so I usually use a darker water bottle that day so she doesn’t see it!).  The brand we used, which was recommended to me by a naturopath, is Biotics Research Bio-D-Mulsion Forte Vitamin D.  It doesn’t need to be refrigerated, so it’s also a great one to travel with.  Note that this can also be used for adults.

Here’s our evening routine – we only do one thing right after dinner (unless we are sick, then we add more things as noted in my blog about colds):

  • Fish Oil.  No, it’s not gross.  She’s actually been taking it since she was 1 year old at the suggestion of my naturopath (again, check with your own doctor).  The only brand we will use is Nordic Naturals Kids DHA (the liquid version which has a strawberry flavor; they have chewable, but we’ve never tried those).  Why Nordic Naturals?  It’s one of the few brands that is completely transparent on the entire process of harvesting the oil, packaging it and shipping it.  Who cares?  I do – because if fish oil is heated, processed the wrong way or shipped incorrectly, it can completely negate the health benefits of the product.  Yeah, Nordic Naturals is more expensive, but it works (I have my own bloodwork results to prove it). And why even take fish oil?  I’ll explain it below in the “Adults” section.

ADULTS

Like my toddler, I start off my day with the Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup.  I then also take a probiotic, and I switch between a few different brands including a Metagenics UltraFlora Balance, Udo’s Choice Adult’s Probiotic and pharmax HLC High Potency Capsules.  To add a fun little twist, I always take my probiotics with my “green drink” in the morning.  It’s really not gross, I swear.  I really, really like the Amazing Grass Green SuperFood ORAC, Acai Berry.  It’s s green powder you mix with water.  With the acai flavor, it really doesn’t taste grassy or anything to me – then again, I’ve been drinking this stuff for years.  If you want to just test it out, I’ve seen single serving packets of the various flavors of Amazing Grass at Whole Foods.  It’s definitely worth a shot.

Now, I won’t bore or shock you with the list of all the supplements I take, rather I’ll highlight a few which I personally believe are critical to my daily health.  As background, in about 2007 / 2008, I was feeling very, very sick.  No traditional doctor could seem to figure out what was going on with me, and in fact, one doctor told me I was crazy and should be medicated.  Thanks buddy.  At the recommendation of a friend, I finally found an amazing naturopath.  I was a huge skeptic of naturopaths in general at the time, so I made the appointment with hesitation.  My naturopath ran a ton of tests (blood work, stool samples, saliva tests) to really see what was going on.  It turns out, my lipid profile was totally screwed up (LDLs, HDLs and triglycerides) as well as many other things.  Fortunately for me, my naturopath provided me with options of natural alternatives or traditional prescription drugs (he was able to prescribe them), which actually made me feel like I was empowered to make my own decisions rather than him forcing one or another on me.  I chose to go the natural route, and we redid my bloodwork about 8 weeks later.  It was shocking – all of the lipid figures were in the optimal range and other metrics had improved as well.  I felt like a rock star.  I became a believer.  How did we do this?  And how did we do this naturally?  Well, here are a few of the key supplements I used and continue to use:

(1)  Fish Oil.  I can’t say enough about this.  There are studies upon studies about the health benefits of this fatty acid improving / maintaining healthy cholesterol and lipid levels, reducing overall inflammation throughout the body, decreasing cardiac risk, reducing joint pain, improving fertility and the list goes on.  As I mentioned above, I will only use Nordic Naturals brand – I use Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega.  And don’t worry, if you do burp, you won’t taste fish because of the added lemon flavor (and, I’ve never burped with this version.  If you take fish oil, you know what I mean).  And if you still aren’t on the natural supplement train, know that when my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the first things his “western doctor” did was tell him to take high doses of fish oil.  This isn’t some tree hugger thing.  Look into it.

(2) Resveratrol.  This is one of the polyphenols which acts like an super antioxidant to protect the body from oxidative damage.  Resveratrol is from the skin of red grapes and is produced in plants to protect against fungus.  There are countless studies on resveratrol and its ability to promote healthy arterial blood flow (cardiac health) as well as cell life.  I’m a huge fan in general of the NOW supplement line, and I usually take its NOW Foods Natural Resveratrol on a daily basis.

(3) Buffered Vitamin C.  Also one I use on a daily basis, vitamin C is beneficial not only when you have a cold, but also for general health maintenance with respect to connective tissue, general immune health, pregnancy, cardiac health and many other issues.  I’ve always taken buffered vitamin C because it’s gentler on the stomach (remember that vitamin C is water soluble, so you just pee out any extra your body doesn’t need).  I use Country Life Buffered Vitamin C.

(4) Multivitamin.  I’d like to think I’m a healthy eater, but I admit I probably don’t “eat the rainbow” every day so I choose to take a multivitamin.  I refuse to buy an off the shelf multivitamin that contains anything artificial.  My naturopath recommended pure encapsulations Nutrient 950 multivitamin.  I take the version without iron, but there is a version that includes it. The only real bummer with this brand is you need to take 6 per day – so I take 3 with breakfast and 3 with dinner.

(5)  Vitamin D.  Here’s a newsflash – vitamin D is actually a hormone and not a vitamin! Our bodies make vitamin D naturally with the help of sunlight, and vitamin D is critical for for our muscles, hearts, lungs and brains, amongst many other things.  It’s also critical for the health of our bones (long ago it was proven that Vitamin D could prevent rickets in children).  Many general practioners are now including a blood test for vitamin D levels in general annual physicals…and rightfully so.  Given that most of us now don’t spend much time outdoors in the sunlight (unlike our ancestors), we have lower vitamin D levels than are advised even by the federal entity that sets the “recommended daily allowance” levels (Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences – my person view is that if anything, these recommended levels are on the low / cautious side).  So, my view is that if your vitamin D levels are already below “recommended” levels, you can be pretty sure that you need to supplement.  And, vitamin D is  relatively inexpensive supplement.  I take NOW Foods Vitamin D3 5000 Iu on a daily basis.

The other supplements I take are more personalized to my health concerns.  Again, I urge you to find a great naturopath to help you navigate what’s right for you and your family.  My naturopath literally changed my life for the better.

Love and Peace,

The Almost Green Mom

Amy Smith is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Personal Care / Child, Personal Care / Parent

When Will Cold Season End?

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In a house with a child, it seems cold season lasts forever.  It’s insane.  My child started preschool this fall, and I’ve never seen so many runny noses, coughing spells, flushed cheeks and overall sickness in a classroom.  And, then it was brought into our home – awesome.  My child caught something, then I got it, then she got back whatever crazy mutated form I had.  It’s like a sick joke.

The good news is that there are natural remedies that work and many times, are more potent than traditional medicines such as antibiotics (which, by the way, ONLY KILL BACTERIA.  NOT VIRUSES.  NOT FUNGUS).  Almost every day I feel I read an article about a super bug that is antibiotic resistant – the result of chronic over prescription of antibiotics and the resulting mutation of bacteria which no longer are killed off by traditional medicine.  I feel strongly that natural remedies deserve a prime spot in our medicine cabinets.  As I’ve stated before, I’m not against traditional medicine when it’s required (we use it).  However, I am for finding and using natural remedies which can help accomplish the same thing in a way that is less toxic for our bodies.

Getting through and conquering cold season is a combination of basic, every day supplementation and general health practices (I’ll call this baseline – I won’t cover this in this blog, but I will in another one forthcoming) and then there is bringing out the big guns for a cold.  I’ll focus on the latter in this blog post – this blog is quite lengthy, but it’s worth it!  To note:  I have a 3 year old toddler – she has been taking the below supplements for 1 – 2 years at this point.  As I’ve stated before, I’m not a doctor, so I encourage you to consult with your own naturopath or alternative pharmacist (see my mention of Pharmaca below).

ELDERBERRY SYRUP
Screen Shot 2017-01-21 at 1.17.34 PMThis stuff is the bomb.  I take it and so does my child on a daily basis for preventative measure.  When we are sick, we take it 2x per day.  It’s a natural syrup from the elderberry (genius definition, I know).  It’s an immune booster, and this stuff has been around forever (literally mention of it in Ancient Egyptian times).  Here’s the story – this wonder syrup has proven to help colds, flu, sinus issues, allergies, upper respiratory issues and more.  There are several brands out there – get the syrup (don’t get a capsule with it because generally that is elder flower (not there same)).  I highlight recommend  Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup – here’s why:  (1)  it’s organic; and (2) the same bottle / formulation can be used for children (over 1) and adults – the dosage is just different so pay attention to the label.  Buy this stuff.  NOW.

WISH GARDEN HERBS

I stumbled upon this brand at a local pharmacy (Pharmaca – get to know this place.  It’s a “traditional” pharmacy as well as an alternative one.  They have brick and mortar stores nationally (a lot in the Bay Area and Denver area), as well as an online presence.  The people working here are an invaluable resource.  Here’s a tip – call a store and ask to speak to a pharmacist.  She / He can provide amazing help with respect to both traditional and alternative medicines for any ailment you / your family may have).  Back to the herbs:   Wish Garden Herbs is an amazing company, based in Colorado, which is women owned (yay!) and family run. The woman who started it is a master herbalist and has been making these herbal tinctures since at least the mid 1980s.  You can buy these at places like Whole Foods, Pharmaca or on the company’s website (I actually suggest you DON’T use Amazon to purchase these b/c it’s a lot more expensive there).  The company has a variety of tinctures for both adults, pregnant women and children, and they have herbalists on staff who can answer any questions you have.  The ones we like the best for children are Cold Seasons (link to the company’s website for this) for kids and Kick It Cough for kids.  When my child is getting sick, I give her two dropperfuls of the Cold Seasons every 2 – 3 hours (listen,  the taste isn’t exactly like a lollipop, but it works.  My child tolerates it well – and, I suggest you just go for it and give your child the two dropperfuls rather than put it in water / juice.  I can’t imagine a child drinking a full cup of something flavored with this).  If my child has a cough or upper respiratory problem, I switch between the Cold Seasons and Kick It Cough throughout the day.    For adults, I like the Kick-Ass Immune (awesome name) and Serious Cough.  (Note:  make sure you buy different formulations for adults and children b/c the strength of the tinctures are different).  Also, I’ve found the tinctures work better than the sprays.

LOCAL HONEY WITH PROPOLIS
Screen Shot 2017-01-21 at 1.19.25 PMFirst, don’t give honey to children younger than 1.  Why buy local honey?  It contains pollen local to the area in which you live, which can strengthen your immune system (it also is a wonder to help with season allergies).  And, even better buy raw honey (if it’s not raw, it’s heated which actually kills off most of the heath benefits).  Same goes for propolis – don’t heat it (don’t put it in hot water, on toast, etc.).  The heat will destroy the beneficial properties.What the heck is propolis anyways?  It’s a sticky, resin-like substance obtained from a beehive.  This is another one of those natural remedies that has been around forever – specific mention of its medicinal uses date back to Aristotle as well as the Ancient Egyptians.    Propolis has been shown to kill bacteria, viruses and fungus.  I’ll take it!  (let’s all understand that traditional antibiotics only kill bacteria.  That’s it.  Not viruses.  Not fungus).  If you’re feeling really brave, you can get straight propolis extract (only for adults).  It is strong and, I think, very difficult to swallow (hello gag reflex).  So, we get local honey that has propolis mixed in with it.  We adore Bjorns Colorado Honey – it’s a Boulder, Colorado company that makes raw honey in various forms including one with propolis.  When we’re sick, we take a small spoonful of this 2 – 3 times per day (I give my child hers right before a nap and bedtime).

PROBIOTICS

While we take these on a daily basis, I think it’s crucial to ramp up probiotics consumption while you’re sick.  It has been proven that healthy bacteria in our gut is much more important than we ever thought – even moreso if you or someone in your family is on antibiotics which kill off both good and bad bacteria (just make sure to take the probiotic a few hours before or after to ensure your body absorbs it).   Always get a probiotic that is refrigerated – probiotics are living cultures that generally need to be refrigerated to stay alive.  Trust me, I know this can be annoying, especially if you travel (note – work with a naturopath or someone at Pharmaca to investigate which non refrigerated brands are recommended while traveling).My toddler takes a Metagenics UltraFlora Childrens chewable probiotic every morning.  If she’s sick, she gets one chewable in the morning and another with dinner.  If you order this online, make sure it is sent in a refrigerated package, otherwise there’s no point.   I take a variety of different probiotics (switch them a lot to ensure I get a variety of bacteria) including  Megaspore Biotic by Microbiome (must buy through a naturopath; only probiotic I know of which which is antibiotic resistant…when my daughter was on antibiotics, I opened the capsule and mixed it in with yogurt) and Udo’s Choice Advanced Adult’s Blend Probiotic Capsules.  By the way, our digestive tract has over 100 TRILLION bacteria in it – so taking a probiotic that has several billion bacteria is completely tolerable.

GARLIC MULLEIN OIL

This is an ear drop that is used to treat / prevent ear infections.  We use Herb Farm Mullein / Garlic Herbal Ear Oil for both myself and my child.  It has been proven to be more effective than antibiotics and can be used for adults as well as children.  I put 2 – 3 drops in each ear (mine and my child’s) when I sense congestion – usually 2 – 3x per day.  What is it?  It’s basically olive oil infused with garlic.  So yes, it smells like garlic.  But, did you know that garlic is yet another wonder food that kills viruses, bacteria and parasites?  Here’s a tip:  warm up the bottle in your hands or in your armpit for a few minutes (don’t open the bottle until you’re ready to use it) – this will make the liquid runnier and easier to get into the ear.  We use this religiously and it is super effective.

VITAMIN C

There seems to be controversy on whether vitamin C supplementation actually shortens a cold.  From personal experience, I think it does.  For my toddler, during cold season, she chews a Rainbow Light Gummy Vitamin C Slices after each meal.  Here’s why I like this brand specifically for children:  (1)  each “slice” is only 83.3 mg of vitamin C (3 slices = the labeled 250 mg on the label) – this is important because children are more sensitive to higher dosages of vitamin C than adults (diarrhea can happen).  And with this lower dosage, I can better control how much my child gets.  It’s important to know, however, that vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin – basically if you take too much, you pee it out (unlike something like vitamin A which can be toxic at high quantities); and (2) while it probably tastes like candy, there are no artificial sweeteners or colors.  For me, I take 2000 mg of vitamin C daily (in 1000 mg doses; I double this when I’m sick), and I really like Country Life Buffered Vitamin C 1000 Mg Plus 150 mg of Bioflavonoids.

OREGANO OIL
Screen Shot 2017-01-21 at 1.30.19 PMI do not give this to my toddler.  This is something only I take, and I only take it when I’m starting to feel sick / when I’m sick.  I buy it in a capsule form and use the Gaia Herbs Oil of Oregano.  I first became aware of oregano oil years and years ago during the bird flu epidemic.  I flew to China a lot for work (every other month or so), and I wanted to make sure I had something on hand at all times that could kill the nastiest of bugs.  This is it.  It has been proven to kill a wide variety of bacterias, fungi, viruses, parasites and almost anything else you can imagine (including MRSA).  I take 2 – 3 capsules with water a few times a day to kick any of my symptoms to the curb.  The only side effect I’ve noticed, is that if you burp, it just tastes like you ate an Italian meal!

Hopefully this helps a bit.  I’m sure it’s a lot of information.  Here’s a little cheat sheet on a day in the life of my toddler when she has a cold:

Breakfast:  elderberry syrup + 2 – 3 dropperfuls of Cold Seasons (repeat this every 2  – 3 hours throughout the day; alternate with Kick It Cough if respiratory issues) + probiotic + daily multivitamin + vitamin D (will cover in another blog)

Lunch (after):  “herbs, vitamin C and honey!” (2 – 3 dropperfuls of Cold Seasons / Kick It Cough, 2 vitamin C chews + spoonful of honey with propolis)

Before rest time / nap:  2 – 3 drops of garlic mullein oil in each ear

Dinner:  probiotic + fish oil (will cover in another blog)

After dinner / before bedtime:  elderberry syrup + “herbs, vitamin C and honey!” (2 – 3 dropperfuls of Cold Seasons / Kick It Cough + 2 vitamin C chews + spoonful of honey with propolis)

Right before bed:  2 – 3 drops of garlic mullein oil in each ear

As a side note, I am a huge believer in diffusers (put a few drops of organic eucalyptus oil to help with colds / flu), air purifiers throughout the home (will cover in another blog), sitting in a steamy bathroom to clear congestion, tons of water and even more rest. Oh, and one more thing – make sure to get that congestion out of your child’s nose…if not it can lead to an ear infection.  I am a fierce believe in the “snot sucker” – NoseFrida The Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator.  Yep – you’re sucking out their snot.  Don’t worry – you don’t get it in your mouth (how dramatic).  Many kids can’t blow their noses well, and this is an amazing product to really help.  If your child is really congested, spray some saline mist (we like Little Remedies brand – DO NOT use adult nose sprays) into each nostril and then do the sucking – voila!

Love and Peace,

The Almost Green Mom

Amy Smith is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Personal Care / Parent

New Year – Time to Juice Cleanse???

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Happy 2017.  Here we go – it’s January again which means we are barraged with advertisements for weight loss products, gym memberships, exercise equipment and anything else catering to our wellness & weight loss resolutions.  If I see another advertisement for NutriSystem, Slim Fast or anything else I will scream.  But, there’s a reason we’re flooded with these commercials…most of us make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight and / or get healthier.  In the past few weeks, I’ve received several requests from neighbors to borrow my blenders and juicer for a juice cleanse.  But is a cleanse really the way to do it?  Doesn’t that seem fairly extreme?

Here’s my background in this (as I’ve stated I’m not a doctor, this is just my personal experience) – since the late 1990s, I fairly religiously (annually) went to a fasting spa in Palm Desert.  I usually went for one week at a time, but once I actually went for three weeks.  So, obviously, I personally have experienced the benefits of a pretty aggressive cleanse.  While at this spa, the daily routine consisted of a specific menu of drinks (no solid food) consisting of water, pureed vegetable soup and other concoctions and supplements meant for purifying the body and mind.  Then, interspersed with this, you would have colonics (if you don’t know what this is…google it…I’m not sure I’m going to provide specifics in this post!), practice yoga, go on long walks in the desert and just relax.  The first few days were sometimes difficult (note:  if you choose to cleanse, do yourself a favor and gradually eliminate caffeine and sugar over a few weeks before starting otherwise you’ll be in for a rude surprise), but then I felt amazing.  My skin glowed, my eyes were bright white and yes, I did lose weight.  Why did it work?  I think because (1) I was in the middle of nowhere, and I really had no distractions or temptations; and (2) I was almost guilted into making it work because it cost a sh%&load of money (pun intended).  The real challenge then began when I went home and immersed myself back in my normal life.

Back in the real world, it was hard to maintain any consistency with my juicing because life just got in the way:  business travel, client lunches and normal life which various beet + cucumber + kale + apple juices just didn’t provide the energy for.  The transition back to eating whole foods was critical having not eaten for a while (another helpful hint – if you do a juice fast, don’t immediately go back to your previous way of eating immediately.  Do so gradually – your digestive tract with thank me).

Since having a child, I haven’t made my annual pilgrimage to the desert.  But I do juice every now and then – not for a fast, but rather to get a boost of vitamins and minerals when I’m feeling sub par.  I have a fantastic juicer, and many times create a random combination of whatever fresh fruits and veggies I have on hand.  The juicer I have is the Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer.  Why did I get this one?  It’s definitely more expensive than the ones you can get at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc., and here’s why:  (1)  unlike almost all traditional juicers, it presses / squeezes the produce – you can watch it actually be crushed – this is very important because this process extracts more nutrients and fiber out of the fruits and veggies (as compared to almost all other juicers that mince up the produce and spin it around to try to get the juice out).  The Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer will produce a lot more juice (and a lot less pulp) out of the same amount of produce vs. a cheaper / traditional version;  (2) it’s powerful – you can put an entire, small apple through the feeder chute – you don’t need to cut things up into super small pieces; (3) you can juice anything – I put kale, lettuce, parsley and other “hard to juice” things right down the chute; (4) it’s super quiet – traditional juicers are insanely loud and annoying; (5) it’s relatively easy to clean and put together; and (6) there’s a 10 year warranty.  Done.  Again, it’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

So, I say go ahead with a juice fast if that’s what you want to do.  But, don’t think that you need to go all in for it to be effective – just living off juices for days on end can be a complete shock to your system, especially if you’re balancing every day, normal life at the same time.  My vote?  Juice, at times, to feel better.  And, here’s something that may be way too obvious that a lot of us don’t really want to do…eat whole foods, organic foods, non-GMO foods and purify your body that way.  Call me crazy, but it feels pretty good to make eating good food a centerpiece for your health.

Love and Peace,

The Almost Green Mom

Amy Smith is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

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