Modern Organic Blog

One of the greatest gifts to mankind given by the creator is nature. Now it is our duty to protect this gift. If nature is not properly used and protected, we put ourselves and our next generation into peril. So use of nature and natural products should be made with wisdom. It is also true in the case of manufacture of toys.

Care of child:

It is the duty of every soul in this world to care for the child. He is our successor. The care of his health is of utmost importance. In order to make the child industrious, we provide him with many toys. Unfortunately many of these toys are made of materials like plastic, fibers, etc. which are chemical based products. These products are known to affect the tender skin of the baby. Attracted by the pleasing color of these toys, the toddler puts these products in his mouth and as a result he gets infected. These products are known to be storehouses of many serious diseases. So the child is laid down with serious ailments. His future is affected. Ultimately we have failed in taking proper care of the baby.

Remedy:

The remedy is to stop providing such toys which are manufactured using artificial materials like plastic, etc. Instead, replace these with organic and eco-friendly toys. They do not harm the child. These toys are manufactured using natural materials. They are as attractive as artificial toys. Advantages of organic toys:

As they are made of natural material without any artificial lining around them, they are totally safe for the child. Of course, they cost little more than their counterparts; artificial toys. But looking at the long range benefit, anyone will be willing to pay more. They are free from all sorts of toxic materials. They can be used for longer period of time. They can be repaired and reused. But in any form they are eco friendly. If there is a need to discard these toys, they can be put back on the road; nature will accept them. For example toys made of wood, cotton cloth, clay toys are all eco friendly; when they are discarded in the open, they in no way harm the nature or the neighborhood. But it is not so in case of artificial toys. There are many examples of many electronic gadgets yet to be disposed off because they cannot be thrown in the open for fear of causing environmental hazard.

The first question you need to ask does your Homeowner Association Board have extensive and practical experience in financial budgets, governance, community operations, and training for new board members. If you didn't immediately answer yes to each of those questions than a professional community association Management Company could be of service to your board. One more thing to consider is with your homeowner association board is not just do you have the experience, though do you have the time.

Unless your homeowner association board is made of fulltime board members which it probably is not, you have other responsibilities to your own business or employment that take priority for your time. This is why hiring a community management company is so important. That way you have a fulltime staff working to run your community.

One of the most beneficial items from using a professional community management team is operational budgets. The process of having a detailed and accurate budget for board members to make decisions from is crucial to community success. Since management companies with extensive experience have created many successful budgets the difference in accuracy is immense. With realistic budgets and planning your board members can feel confident that they are making the right decisions for their residents. Management services can guide board members through operational challenges that will arise no matter how detailed planning is. The biggest mistake most homeowner association boards make is a lack of a consistent communication process to updates and how the challenge will be solved.

When all community processes are handled by trained fulltime staff your community can run smoothly and it makes you look good for your residents. The reality is that most home owners only notice their association board when there are issues. The best boards are the ones that the residents don't even think about.

Have you ever been frustrated with new board members? Not that they are not bright and highly accomplished people, though they lack the experience of how your board and community works. Professional community management companies should have experience in how to train new board members into effective decision members that can contribute faster to their respected development.

The part that most residents notice the most is the up keep around the properties. Making sure that every person or business responsible is delivering can be overwhelming. The most effective community management companies have systems in place to organic and manage each community to keep property values and impressions up.

Just think if your homeowner association board is having any issues that professional community management could take care of. Less head aches and smoother management makes being on a association board more enjoyable and effective.

You may not know that the question of paper or plastic is a far bigger question for eco friendly conscious people than you would think. The use of plastic bags is much more rampant in the market than paper bags because of many reasons and one such reason is that the cost of plastic bags is much less than the paper bags.

Manufacturing of Paper Bags:

The manufacturing of paper bags is a long and complicated process. These bags are made from the trees and they have their environmental cost as well. The use of trees for making these bags is not good for the environment and the forest habitat. This results into long run damage to the ecology. Also the cutting down of trees and carrying them to the manufacturing units requires the use of heavy machinery and the transportation then consumes much of the fuel. After these trees reach the desired place, there is a long process of drying the trees and extracting the pulp, then bleaching and washing of the pulp and adding the color, etc. This whole process requires a lot of resources which can be otherwise utilized for better reasons.

After Use of Paper bags:

There are different possibilities like either you can compost them or throw them or you can recycle these bags. The recycling is again a complicated and tricky process and requires the use of a lot of resources again.

Manufacturing of Plastic Bags:

Plastic bags are made completely differently from the paper bags. Plastic bags are the side products of oil and are produced by the refining process of oil. The big resource input which is used in the production of plastic bags is the energy in the form of electricity.

Recycling of the Plastic Bags:

Plastic bags are recycled but it is not an easy process and requires the melting and casting of the plastic again. This is also an energy consuming process and after the recycling, the quality of the plastic gets hard and this cannot be recycled again.

Which bag to use: Paper or Plastic?

The comparison between these two bags can be made by looking at the energy consumption, environment emissions and all other costs of recycling and production. According to some statistics, plastic bags are better as they consume less amount of energy and other air emissions while paper bags consume more resources than the plastic bags.

So to support the go green cause, the bags which consume less of the resources should be used.

Organic Products - The Present Scenario

"Going Organic" seems to be the new buzzword. Whether its Hollywood celebrities or The National Geographic, everyone is talking about how to go green and switch to organic products. So, while you are browsing the endless brands of lotions and creams on the supermarket shelf, you choose only the ones that say 'organic' or 'natural.' You go home in peace thinking you did your job, you choose right and you have nothing to worry about. Right? Well, we suggest, think again. Hundreds of organic skin care products are flooding the global skin care market every day. The credibility definitely becomes questionable.

The Organic Catch

Many of us become the target to the shrewd marketing gimmicks of skincare products manufacturing companies that mislead consumers by claiming to be organic, while the truth is harshly far from it. Most skin care products that declare themselves as being Organic, in reality may merely have a few organic ingredients blended with preservatives and chemical agents. Unfortunately, the loophole is in the system, since there is no rule what so ever, restricting companies from labeling their products as 'Natural' or 'Organic.'

Organic Skin Care Products - The Concept

The basic difference between an ordinary skincare product and an organic skincare product is that the organic products are made with organically grown ingredients. Therefore, unlike conventionally cultivated materials, which are exposed to harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides, organically grown materials are toxin free.

Organic Skin Care Products - Some Facts

When a skin care product is certified as 'Organic,' it generally contains 95% organic ingredients and 5% of inorganic materials, which belong to an approved National List.

When a product is certified as 'Made from Organic Ingredients,' it means it contains only 70% of organic ingredients and the other 30% contains inorganic materials from the approved National List.

Organic Purchase - The Pre-requisites

Taking into consideration all the facts it can be said that 100% pure organic products may not really exist. Still, we can definitely find the next best things for us. A few things to keep in mind before buying any organic products:

Read the Ingredients Carefully - If you cannot even pronounce a chemical's name, it maybe that it should not be there. If you are unsure about the ingredients, browse through the internet to find more information on them. Fact sheets on most chemicals can be found easily, online.

No Additives - True organic products should not contain any artificial colors, synthetic dyes, artificial fragrances, or preservatives.

Check Certification - Check for USDA (United States Departments of Agriculture) seal or ACO (Australian Certified Organic) logo on the products.

Ultra Violet (UV) Rays are reportedly the leading cause of skin cancer and the biggest source of annoyance for the tan lovers. For people who want that glamorous tan through cosmetic or medical purposes involving prolonged exposure to the UV rays, indoor tanning solutions are the best options. The good news is that these indoor UV free tanning agents, available as creams, sprays, or lotions, produce very similar results as sun tanning, without subjecting your skin to the harmful UV rays of the sun. In addition, these agents achieve the results in much lesser time than the traditional means. Following are the main types of UV free tanning products:

Products with DHA

Dihydroxyacetone or DHA is an active tanning agent, which is used in a broad range of products these days. It is considered a safe ingredient, as it functions by chemically reacting with the amino acids of the 'dead' cells in the epidermal layer of the skin. This also explains why such kind of tanning diminishes with time. The 'tanned' dead cells of the Epidermis are shed off and are replaced by new cells over a period.

Canthaxanthin products

Canthaxanthin finds key use as a synthetic food color, although, now a days it is being used as an oral tanning agent as well. FDA has not approved its latter use, since for tanning purposes, much larger quantity of Canthaxanthin is required than that in its use as a coloring additive in edibles. Moreover, this substance deposits itself below the epidermal layer and is linked to serious medical conditions, such as hepatitis, adverse effect on digestive system, and skin damage.

Melanotan products

A synthetic form of Melanotan hormone has also been found effective in creating a tanned look without exposure to UV rays. The hormone is taken as an injection. The use of Melanotan hormone is still in the stage of clinical trials and is not available commercially.

Bronzers

These are considered the safest tanning option, as they produce an effect, which is totally superficial and washable. However, they suffer from similar disadvantages as cosmetic makeup. Bronzers should be applied very carefully and in an optimum quality, as they carry a risk of being smudged onto the clothing. It is always advisable to test for possible staining before putting on your clothes.

UV free tanning can be done in a spa, tanning booth, or at home. If you are trying the products at home, you need to follow these steps for effective tanning:

Take a bath.

Exfoliate your skin.

Shave for a smoother tan.

Dry your skin completely.

Choose a place, which is cool so that you do not sweat during your tanning session.

Use a convenient form like lotion or spray.

Take someone else help if needed, especially for the hard to reach areas.

Do not take a bath or shower immediately after tanning. Depending upon the type of product, you may have to wait anywhere between 2 hours and 8 hours.

If you want to help the environment and go green, here are some tips to get you started. Why go green at all? What exactly is green? How do you know which items to purchase? There are many people out there looking to cash in on the green fad. How to shop safely.

So, do you really want to do your part? Do you want to help the environment, the economy and future generations? Everyone is going green these days and it's a good thing. It shows that people are becoming more conscious of their impact on the world around them. There are so many things that our society wastes. We waste food, water, building materials such as wood from trees and many many more. It's disgusting when you think about all of that money wasted. Think of the time that's wasted too. If you don't change the way you live and shop - you will be leaving the world in a terrible state for future generations.

Do you want to go green? What exactly is going green? What exactly makes a product a green product? If you check the label or item description from the manufacturer - you should see no harmful chemical. All of the ingredients and materials should be easily found in the earth. They should be made using natural processes. Don't buy products that were made in a lab using all kinds of nasty substances. Going green means saying no to harmful toxins and unsafe chemicals in your home or workplace.

Green products must be made using methods that are environmentally friendly. There's more to going green than just leaving out toxic chemicals. We must use methods to produce our goods and services that are sustainable. Think about some of the factories you have seen. They produce a lot of items. They also produce a lot of waste material. It seems like madness when you really think about it. There is absolutely no reason to be spending more just to produce less. Don't let the big guys at the top play with your future, just so they can make a few quick dollars. Green products are products that are good for the earth, the economy and everyone on it. If this isn't true about a product that a manufacturer is offering - it's not green. Don't buy it!

Go green and do your part for our environment.

A common problem affecting people in the present day sedentary lifestyle is Constipation. It is not therefore surprising to see how hugely popular laxatives are. Laxatives are drugs, food items, or any other lubricant substance, used to stimulate bowel movements, mostly to treat constipation. While Laxatives help remove the undigested food material present in the colon and large intestine, their high dosage can result in diarrhea.

The link between the use of laxatives and birth control pill effectiveness

There is not enough medical evidence on the direct link between the use of laxatives and the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, as a general understanding, if laxatives cause diarrhea, they may hamper the effectiveness of the birth control pill on the body. There is a possibility of getting pregnant then, as the pill may not be absorbed the way it would have, if one did not have laxatives induced diarrhea and vomiting. It has been observed that if there is vomiting within two hours of taking the pill, one should consider it as a missed pill. In addition, if one has three or more loose bowel motions for a couple of days, the efficacy of the pills may decline.

The Castor example: A laxative and birth control measure

Castor seeds are used to produce Castor oil, which while being a strong laxative, also has the ability to induce labor in pregnant women. Given this potential ability of stimulating the uterus, it may also give the effects of a birth control mechanism. Although the effects are not proven, there is a possibility of research in its effectiveness both, as a birth control method and a laxative.

Healthier alternatives

While the exact link between birth control pills and laxatives is not yet proven, it is important to understand that taking laxatives for a long period is not a great idea, and is certainly not good for your intestines. What may start as a cure for mild constipation can turn out to be a vicious cycle of over dependence on laxatives! If constipation is troubling you and you take birth control pills, it may be a better idea to improve your overall lifestyle than relying on laxatives. One can switch to better healthier alternatives. Try out the following:

Exercise: Regular exercise and workout will keep your whole body functioning well and in shape too.

Eat a healthy diet: Eating a fiber rich diet with lots of salads and legumes is a great idea to stimulate your intestines and ensure the removal of waste matter.

Drink plenty of water: The ultimate natural body cleanser is and always will be water. It helps flush out toxins from your colon and intestines.

Finally, in case you still have problems with constipation and are on birth control pills, a visit to the doctor would be the best bet!

Thanks to the 'Organic' labels -the consumers can now spare themselves the trouble of going through the list of ingredients on a product's packet in order to decide whether it is organic or not. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced a few national standards that need to be met before companies can use the term "organic" for their food items. Any product labeled 'Organic' assures that it is created without the use of artificial hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, bio energy, or irradiation. The farmers involved in the agriculture of organic foods are not only required to abide by certain water and soil conservation mechanisms, but also need to give a benign treatment to animals.

The Definition of Organic

It may be strange yet interesting to note that marking a food item as organic does not necessarily indicate that the food is healthful and nutritive. The USDA does not claim that food produced organically has more salubrious benefits than conventional food, but it does assure that such foods do not contain any pesticides or harmful chemicals. Therefore, the picky consumers, who pay a lot of heed to nutritional values of everything they eat, are still required to read labels attentively in order to decide how nutritious their diet is going to be. Another interpretation conveys that the term 'organic' does not mean 'natural.' All it means is that USDA has approved the food.

USDA's Steps towards Creating Organic Foods

These days, the USDA makes the use of state and private agencies in order to carry out inspections on food companies to certify them to market organic foods. However, all the farmers making less than $5000 through organic sales are exempted from the process of certification. They do however, have to comply with the latest standards of the government and be veracious about their claims for organic label. A fine, as large as $10,000, can be issued upon the companies and individuals, who try to label or sell a product, which does not meet the USDA standards.

The Benefits of Organic Foods over Conventional Foods

The best thing about organic foods is that they comprise of less amounts of minerals. Most of the other foods contain heavy metals, detrimental to our health in the end. These metals include aluminum, which is responsible for Alzheimer's disease; Mercury, which causes neurological damage; and lead, the mental implications of which are known to affect children's IQ adversely.

Therefore, in a world where nothing can be trusted for complete purity, the consumption of foods, certified as organic can certainly define your path towards a healthier lifestyle.

Present day health conscious people are attracted more towards natural living fundamental, which includes organic foods as well. But, why do people prefer organic foods instead of conventional foods? How does organic ingredients affect your body? Organic products actually are specially grown food products, rich in organic ingredients, inculcated deliberately. Diets rich in organic health items give natural and fresh dose to the body, as compared to the pesticide inflicted non-organic foods, generally available in the market. Sometimes, conventional foods contain genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Problems associated with non-organic foods The following problems are commonly associated with non-organic products:

Low energy Levels

Low libido

Low motivation levels

Low metabolism Benefits of organic foods for the body Organic items provide not only mental and emotional benefits, but also the physical ones. Therefore, organic foods are fulfilling mentally, physically, and psychologically. Organic products do not contain toxins such as pesticides, antibiotics, additives, and nitrates that are mostly present in non-organic foods. According to an article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition, organic foods are nearly the best ones in the terms of nutritional quality.

Nutrients content of organic foods

Haves: Some of the rich nutrients, largely available in organic health items are:

Chromium - A micro-nutrient, found less in conventional food. Its deficiency may cause diabetes and atherosclerosis in adults.

Selenium - An antioxidant micro-nutrient, which protects from cancer, heart disease, and environmental chemical

Calcium - A mineral required for strong bones and teethes

Boron - This trace element prevents osteoporosis

Lithium - Good for the treatment of certain level of depression

Magnesium - Decreases the death rate, caused due to heart attacks and eases the symptoms of PMS

Vitamins - They are necessary for the body in limited supply for its proper functions and its protection against toxins. Vitamins A, B, C (antioxidant), and beta carotene (immunity booster & prevents lung cancer) are found well in organic foods

Have Nots: According to the researchers, organic foods contain less level of minerals, especially the following heavy metals:

Aluminum - Is responsible for the development of Alzheimer's disease

Lead - Has mental implications and can adversely affect children's IQ

Mercury - It causes neurological damage

Therefore, consuming organic produce is certainly a good idea and promise for good health and long lives, provided you follow the right diet patterns coupled with regular exercising! Organic products have health benefits for you and for the environment that makes long term differences.

The use of indoor tanning lotions is becoming more popular with people these days. An alternate way of saying this would be that indoor tanning lotions are a way to lower the risks associated with other ways of getting a tan. If you compare the do it yourself sunless tanners, lotions are a good way to go.

The Ultra Violet (UV) rays from the sun that penetrate the skin on a daily basis can cause skin cancer due to over exposure. Another issue people face when they spend too much time in the heat without enough water is the risk of heat stroke. Those who lay out in the sun need to watch their skin for spots or other unusual signs, like a blister that doesn't seem to heal.

The same goes for tanning booths which can be very dangerous to someone who does not have experience with them, especially if they are fair skinned and sun sensitive. Some of the settings on the beds will fry you as badly as the sun ever could.

Tanning pills are not very popular and in the past have not worked that well. They have high levels of coloring agents that may color the iris or even cause hepatitis.

Another DIY tanning option is a bronzer which is like a cosmetic. When it is applied it stains your skin and stays on until the next time you shower.

Tanning lotions are a longer lasting alternative that can last close to a week depending on how quickly your replace your dead skin cells.

In many cases, your tan actually looks more natural than laying out in the sun for hours because it can turn out more even and smooth. Also, you don't have to worry about the tan lines of your fancy bathing suit. But the more important benefit of an indoor tanning lotion is the safety from avoiding exposure to harsh light rays.

In the case of a professional tanner like bodybuilders, they are well aware that a good lotion will help their skin keep its youthful vibrant look, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, develop and maintain a world class tan while rehydrating their skin and replenishing the lost moisture.

Some advice for those unsatisfied with that fair skin look, is to realize the health risks of tanning under UV rays, get yourself a good indoor tanning lotion, and enjoy the benefits without the risks.

While many brides would love to have a dramatic wedding dress, there are others who are uncomfortable with too many embellishments and would like to opt for a simple wedding dress. The problem these days is that the styles that are in vogue have too much detailing. They call for a whole lot of embellishments, lace, sequins and flounces, which may not be what you as a bride would want. If this is the case you need to go for the classic, simple and elegant sort of wedding dress.

In the current economic slump it makes sense to keep it simple. Many brides prefer to keep their wedding dress simple, not because of any constraints but simply because they see themselves as simple women. Simple does not mean un-trendy but simple does mean devoid of any kind of fuss. The simple wedding dress need not be unfashionable or dowdy. Of course it will not be having detailing. It will avoid layering, flounces, frills, ribbons, beading, crystal work, embroidery or any other fancy stuff. But then, perhaps you would not like to walk down the aisle wearing something that looks like rolls of lace and sequins wrapped around your body. You can achieve a classic, understated and chic effect with the right cut of the dress and the right fabric.

A simple wedding dress can be classy, feminine and elegant. Modern fashion is all-encompassing. Today's bride can choose from a wide range of styles to select the dress that is perfect for her wedding day. A simple style does not have to be dowdy. It can lay stress on the fabric of the garment, the cut and the fall. It can play with texture and color for the perfect look.

The traditional wedding dress has been white in color. Over the years brides have experimented with the white color and used cream, egg-shell, ecru and pearl. However in the recent years, brides have also started using non-traditional colors like purple, pink, and others for their wedding dress. If you do not want to wear white, you have a range of colors to choose from.

If you do not want to spend too much on your wedding dress, you can get yourself a simple gown (a prom dress would also do) and invest the rest of your money on classy jewelery. After all jewelery is a great investment, and the dress is worn only once. The main point to remember here is that the entire ensemble should be balanced. The dress should be simple yet elegant and the jewelery adds the sparkle. So chose your jewelery for the occasion with care.

Select the style and cut of your simple wedding dress carefully. For a tall slim figure a sheath is wonderful. This also complements a petite figure. Simple Silhouette is a style that accentuates the curves and is very elegant. Select a neckline and other details to emphasize the accessories and jewelery.

If you have a perfect hourglass figure, it can be accentuated with a two piece and corset style of dress. It can be very simple, with clean unbroken line, accentuating the waist. The Empire wasted wedding dress is ideal for a bride who has a fuller waist. Again this style does not need any lace or flounces. Even the layering can be minimized or done away with. This can be worn with heavy jewelery that takes away the attention from the body shape.

For a pear shaped figure, the A-line cut is a wonderful way to camouflage the full hips. It is figure hugging at the waist and bust and flows in simple lines over the lower body. Of course, you can browse the design catalog for the best way to style it. It can be with sleeves or with noodle straps. It could also be backless. You will be the best judge of the design suitable for you.

There is a wide array of fabrics to choose from. Select a fabric that is best suited for the style of your dream dress, keeping in mind the fact that you have chosen not to embellish it in any way. Silk is the traditional choice of brides. It is natural, strong and durable and has a shine. Silk today is woven with other materials to give you a wide variety of fabrics like duchess satin, shantung, Carmelle etc. You could also use velvet, Georgette, taffeta or even chiffon for your simple wedding dress. Keep in mind that the design of the dress is simple so the fabric and cut should be perfect to emphasize your beauty.