Archive for the ‘Organic Products’ Category
Coal Ash: One More Reason To Go Organic
Coal-fired power plants produce more than 100 million tons of the toxic-waste byproduct sulfur dioxide, the stuff that causes acid rain.
Called FGD gypsum, this synthetic powder is produced when coal plant “scrubbers” remove sulfur dioxide from plant emissions. 
Last year, a coal ash pond just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, spilled and flooded about 300 acres of land with ash, killing many fish in the area. The spill damaged many homes as well, and cleanup costs are expected to be upwards of $1 billion. This catastrophe has prompted the EPA to draft regulations on how to handle toxic coal waste safely. Guess what they came up with?
In 2001, the USDA together with the EPA began to promote FGD gypsum use in agriculture. Since that time, the amount of coal ash used by farmers on their fields has tripled. According to the American Coal Ash Association (ACAA), nearly 280,000 tons of the byproduct was spread on fields last year.
FGD gypsum contains toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, but according to the EPA, “the mercury contained in FGD gypsum does not affect plants and runoff into water supplies at significant levels.” Guess they never heard of PHYTOREMEDIATION, a technology which uses plants to absorb heavy metals from the soil.
If the waste from coal plants is toxic and must be dealt with in a manner that keeps it contained, I’m just wondering why the EPA would promote the same waste for use on FOOD crops. Perhaps it’s just more cost-effective to sell toxic waste to farmers than to stop producing it in the first place.
Food that’s USDA-certified organic cannot be grown with coal ash. I’m sticking with organic for my family, and that includes my cats.
Nature’s Variety Raw Food Diets Organic Chicken Patties 6 lbs.
Sewage Sludge: Another Reason To Go Organic
Since the passing of the Clean Water Act in 1988, sewage treatment plants are not allowed to dump sewage sludge into the ocean. This is because sewage sludge contains all kinds of pollutants:
Synthetic chemicals, more than 500 found including chemicals from medicines, steroids, flame retardants and detergents,
Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury and radioactive material,
Bacteria and fungi, including 18 human viruses (including Hepatitis A, Polio), 19 different parasites, and 31 different types of bacteria,
Pharmaceuticals, of 72 pharmaceuticals, three (i.e., cyprofloxacin, diphenhydramine, and triclocarban) were found in 84 sludge samples.
Industrial waste such as arsenic, lead, mercury and radioactive material.
Since sewage sludge is too toxic to put in the ocean, the EPA has decided that it would be great to use it as fertilizer. Sludge is now called “biosolids,” and is defined as the nutrient-rich organic byproduct of the nation’s wastewater treatment process. 
It is now used on millions of acres of farmland in the US, or, if you like to produce toxic veggies you can spread it on your home garden, just look for the brand names Milorganite, Nu-Earth, Nitrohumus, and Baystate Organic.
Using sewage sludge, by any name, is expressly prohibited by the USDA’s organics standards. Here are a few other resources for those who are interested:
Toxic Sludge Is Good For You: Lies, Damn Lies And the Public Relations Industry
John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton
Common Courage Press
Sued and Censored
Michael Moore and TV Nation on Trial for Libel
Texas Observer; March 22, 1996
International Joint Commission
Draft Lake Michigan Management Plan for Toxic Pollutants, Chapter 4
Environmental Working Group
Dishonorable Discharge: Toxic Pollution of America’s Waters
Agency for toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Toxicology Profiles
U.S. Public Health Service
Health effects of heavy metals
I’ll go with the organic food, and organic cat food for my best furry friends!
Cats Can Get The Flu
Apparently a cat in Iowa came down with the H1N1 virus. In general, cats are not considered susceptible to human flu viruses, but this cat got H1N1 flu from his owners.
On Oct. 27, the cat became sick. The owners called friends who are veterinary researchers at Iowa State University in Ames. The researchers brought in the cat to be studied, and it tested positive for H1N1. It has since recovered and is back home.
For anyone who is concerned about their cat getting the flu, the best defense is a strong immune system. This has been seen time after time in clinical research, yet it is routinely ignored. Researchers will inject animals with a virus or some disease-causing substance, and some animals will get sick and some will stay healthy. The healthy animals are ignored, the sick ones will be studied to learn how various drugs or chemicals affect the illness and suppress symptoms. The drug industry is a billion dollar business. It’s simply not profitable to suggest maintaining a strong immune system to avoid illness.
There is a reason why there are untold trillions of bacteria and viruses everywhere: to keep the immune system working properly. Unfortunately, our cats and other pets, as well as us, have immune systems that are so overburdened from a toxic stew of synthetic chemicals in almost everything we touch, breathe, and eat that they no longer work so well. You can keep your cat’s immune system strong by feeding a wholesome diet of raw meats from grass-fed animals, supplying filtered water, and eliminating as much as possible synthetic chemicals in food and the environment.
How can you stay healthy? Get rid of the poisons! Instead of supporting pollution and disease, spend your money on safe organic foods, cleaners, cosmetics and other items. Eat a lot of RAW unprocessed foods. Get plenty of sunshine (or vitamin D if that’s not possible). Drink the purest water possible, filtered is good. Take a probiotic (there are probiotics for cats too), eat meat only from grass-fed, humanely-treated animals. Smile, laugh, love, stay positive, get enough sleep, have a pet (of course a cat is excellent…) and believe in your body’s ability to stay strong and healthy.
Organic Pet Superfood Super Immunity Powder for Dogs, canines, felines, and Cats
Six Tips To Lower Your Cats’ Exposure To Industrial Chemicals
1) Remove your shoes in the house. Removing shoes has been scientifically proven to reduce contaminants in the home.
A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study shows that people track in weed killers and other pesticides commonly applied to lawns during the spring and summer. The study, conducted by the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, is among a series being funded by the EPA to assess how small children are exposed to pesticides around the home. Scientists think that “track-in” exposures may exceed those from the best-known source: pesticide residues on fresh fruits and vegetables.
In 1991 the EPA conducted a study called the “Door Mat Study” that measured the amount of lead dust that was in homes. The study found that in homes where there was a doormat at the entrance and where shoes were NOT worn, there was a marked reduction (about 60%) of lead dust and other chemicals in the home.
2) Go organic: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60% of herbicides, 90 % of fungicides and 30% of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. Alarmingly, pesticide residues have been detected in 50% - 95% of U.S. foods. Pet food fare even worse, especially those containing by-products and “meal” (chicken meal, fish meal etc.)
3) Avoid plastics: use a glass bowl for food, all plastic is synthetic and made from petrochemicals, it neither photo-degrades nor bio-degrades, it just breaks down into ever smaller toxins such as Phthalates and BPA. Phthalates chemically mimic hormones and are particularly dangerous to children and pets.
4) Use safe, natural or organic cleaners. Paints, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothing, moth repellents, air fresheners all contain dozens of chemicals.
5) Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances as they pollute the air you are breathing.
6) Never feed your cat fish, especially tuna! All fish is contaminated with PCBs and mercury, although wild caught salmon and sardines both have lower amounts.
Advantages of a Grain-Free Raw Diet For Your Cat
I was sick for most of my life. I had Crohn’s Disease and all the crap that goes along with bleeding, inflamed guts…anemia, arthritis, kidney stones…the list goes on and on. Today, I am fairly healthy, minus a few feet of intestines here and there. Along the journey, I learned that a good diet of whole unprocessed foods is one of the many pieces of the puzzle of good health. This applies to our pets as well, and as I learned about the utter garbage that goes into pet food, I changed my cats’ food to the best organic food I could find. 
They were healthy for sure, but it wasn’t until I eliminated the grains and cooked food that I noticed some really amazing changes. The two most surprising ones are: Mango used to barf once or twice a day, now he barfs maybe once a month and I really think that’s just for fun. And my friends who are allergic to cats don’t seem to be allergic to mine!!
This is amazing considering there are three cats in this little house.
A few other observations that may be relevant: they simply don’t get sick at all, Taco’s pudge pouch has diminished dramatically, (Sumari is rail-thin and Mango never had pudge), They have tons of energy and play a lot, even old Mango. They have no discernable odor, no flaky skin, and the litter box has almost no odor at all. They shed very little, except Mango still leaves behind some of his mass of orange fluff wherever he goes. It’s decreased though. Their furs are incredibly soft and silky, they seem happier, they don’t have fleas (but I do sprinkle a bit of Diatomaceous Earth on them when I remember), and they recover from injuries quickly and without intervention on my part. In case you’re wondering what injuries, Taco and Sumari got stung by yellowjackets, Sumari enjoys jumping from roofs and other high places and recently hurt her shoulder, and Taco has been known to get into a fight or two. 
I’ve been feeding them Real Pet Food from Slanker’s Grass-Fed, and the following from Only Natural Pet Store
Only Natural Pet Chicken & Veggies Patties 6 oz. Freeze-Dried Dog & Cat Food
Grasslands Cat Food Grain-Free Dry 15.4 lb. for Felines
Pacifica Grain-Free Dry Cat Food 5.5 lb. for Felines
ZiwiPeak Daily Cat Dry Cuisine Pouches Venison 14 oz. Bag
ZiwiPeak Daily Cat Cuisine Canned Food Fish & Venison 6.5 oz. Can - Case of 12
Primal Pet Foods Raw Cat Food Beef & Salmon Nuggets 4 lbs.
Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Cat Food Prowl 4 lb. Bag
This stuff is all incredibly convenient, the Prowl cat food is a powder that you add water to and it looks like canned food. Slanker’s is frozen, you need to thaw it a little (it’s very bloody so don’t thaw it much) then cut it into slices, then re-freeze. My cats all love everything they’ve tried. It’s less expensive to make your own raw food, but I don’t have the time or freezer space.
If It Causes Cancer in Humans, Is It Safe For Your Cat?
About ninety percent of all cat litter sold is made from clay. Clay litter produces a lot of dust (although some brands claim that the type of clay they use produces a dust-free product), which contains silicon particles that have been established by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a known human carcinogen. 
A product made for humans called Moltan Absorbent is also made from the same ground clay as cat litter. It is manufactured for use in garages to absorb oil. This product must carry a warning label that reads, in part, “Aggregate contains crystalline silica. Crushing, grinding, or creating dust may cause exposure to a respiratory silicosis or cancer health hazard.”
Many brands of clay cat litter also include fragrance made from petrochemicals, also known to be carcinogenic.
Clay particles tend to cling to your cat’s fur and in-between their toes. In addition to leaving dusty cat prints on your floors, breathing these particles can cause respiratory infections.
A recent study actually found clay-based litter silica dust in cats’ lungs, and that cats with respiratory disease had up to six times the amount of silica in their lungs as healthy cats.
The clumping capability of sodum bentonite is due to its ability to swell to 15-18 times its dry size when exposed to liquids. This is great for absorbing cat urine. But when cats lick themselves clean and ingest the clay, it can prevent nutrient absorption and cause intestinal blockage as it swells when it gets exposed to intestinal liquids. Many veterinarians recommend not using clumping cat litter as the first litter for inexperienced young kittens, as they may experiment with the litter and eat it.
You can keep your cat safe by using natural cat litter made from corn or wheat. World’s Best Cat Litter is made from corn, it clumps well and is flushable, and contains no chemicals, perfumes, clays, silicas, bentonite, or any synthetic substances whatsoever.
Swheat Scoop is made from wheat, it is completely safe and non-toxic and the natural wheat enzymes work continuously to neutralize litter box odor, no matter how many cats you own.
Natural Pine Cat Litter is made of 100% pure, southern yellow pine pellets which instantly neutralizes ammonia odors and is safe and healthy for our cats and our planet.
High Levels of Flouride Found In Dog Food
Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released a new study that showed high levels of fluoride in eight of ten pet foods tested.
Eight major national brands of dog food marketed for both puppies and adults contained fluoride in amounts between 1.6 and 2.5 times higher than the EPA’s maximum legal dose in drinking water. These levels are higher than amounts associated with bone cancer in young boys in a 2006 study by Harvard scientists (Bassin 2006). All 8 brands contain bone meal and animal byproducts, the likely source of the fluoride contamination. So far, the names of the brands of dog food have not been disclosed! WHY?? It seems of course that sales are so much more important than the health of animals.
Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food
Paw Naturaw Mixed Case of Organic Formulas for Cats and Dogs: 2-Count Organic Chicken Diets and 2-Count Organic Turkey Diets, 32-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4
Paw Naturaw Organic Chicken Formula for Cats and Dogs, 80-Ounce Bag
Raw Cat Food !
Look at all the sources for raw cat food that I found!! I just ordered one bag of freeze-dried, and one bag of grain-free dry food. There are 244 different varieties of raw food at this site, check it out!
Fifty To One-Hundred Million Suffer And Die…
…just so we can have cosmetics with toxic chemicals in them.
By the millions, animals suffer and die…
…so that we can use cleaning products and pesticides that are toxic to us and our environment.
You can EASILY CHANGE THIS. Use inexpensive natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda, use diatomaceous earth as a natural pesticide control, simple organic castile soap can be used for cleaning also.
There are many sources for organic cosmetics. There is no need to use poisons which only cause needless suffering, pollution and disease.
click here for the COMPASSIONATE SHOPPER’S GUIDE
There are THOUSANDS of cruelty-free products, here is just a small sampling:
Cargo Cosmetics PlantLove Botanical Lipstick (Choose Color)
Green All Purpose Cleaners
Malie Kauai Organic Hand Soap - 16 oz
Hair Spray, Medium Hold, 8 oz ( Eight Pack)
Aubrey Natural Misst Hair Spray (Super Hold) 8oz
Nature’s Gate Tea Tree Calming Shampoo for Irritated, Flaky Scalp, 18-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3)
Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products
Did you know that chemicals can be absorbed through a cat’s paws? Floor waxes and cleaning solutions pose a particular danger.
The majority of aerosol sprays contain poison and should never be sprayed near a cat’s food, or near your cat for that matter.
Keep your pet and your family safe by using organic products instead of chemicals.
