Green Options

Swimming in pools treated with chlorine can increase kids’ asthma risk according to a recent study published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Belgium researchers also found that kids who swam in indoor and outdoor chlorine-treated pools had a higher risk of other allergies including hay fever and allergic rhinitis.

The study compared chlorine pools with a healthier and more eco-friendly option, pools sanitized with copper and silver. Researchers suggest that the chlorine causes changes in the airway, promoting the development of allergic diseases. While more research is still needed, 20% of Olympic swimmers have asthma. Interesting, right?

Do you know a mom that is working hard to “create healthier environments for children and families”?  If so, Healthy Child Healthy World would like to honor her!  Take Part explains:

Our wonderful friends at Healthy Child Healthy World announced their first ever search for a “Mom on a Mission.” In October 2009, the Healthy Child benefit gala will honor one inspiring woman who is dedicated to creating “healthier and happier environments for children and families.” This amazing woman will be flown to LA for a luxurious and eco-friendly 2 night stay and be presented with the first ever Healthy Child Healthy World “Mom on a Mission” award.

The WebMD Health eHome is a a new educational collaboration between WebMD and Healthy Child Healthy World and is sponsored by Seventh Generation.  It provides you the tools to discover how to create a safer and healthier home for you and your children.  While many of the writers here provide daily information on how to provide your family a safe environment both outside and inside your home the WebMD Health eHome promises to provide more wonderful information on how to rid your home of health hazards.  With a variety of tools it may even enlighten some ECP readers on new ways to improve their quality of life.

Since it’s Thanksgiving Day, the thought of another big dinner might make your stuffed belly groan a little. Fortunately, this dinner is a few weeks away, so surely you’ll have digested your turkey by then. Plus, it’s a dinner worth planning for, because it’s hosted by The Organic Center in Los Angeles.

On December 9th, the Center’s For Our Children fundraiser will feature an organic gourmet dinner by Chef Domenica Catelli, one of the judges on Iron Chef who is also famous for her ability to get kids to eat their vegetables, without hiding them. Dessert by Chef Akasha Richmond, owner of the Culver City restaurant Akasha, follows. In addition to her restaurant, which is dedicated to sustainable, local and organic ingredients, Akasha is the author of Hollywood Dish and the spokesperson for SILK soymilk.

In the short time since she has launched the haute green newsletter and site, EcoStiletto, which encourages all the ladies to stiletto-size their carbon footprint from an Ugg Boot to a tiny Manolo, Rachel Sarnoff has made a huge impact of her own.

I got a chance to get the scoop on her inspiration and objectives and couldn’t wait to share them with the FGS readers. Keep reading to hear about her Fashion Week eco-find and what gets her going to inspire other green fashion mavens.

Healthy Child Healthy World contributor, Stop Global Warming campaigner, breast cancer survivor, new single mom, and now fashion designer, Sheryl Crow is teaming up with Western Glove Works (aka Silver Jeans) to create casual eco-chic looks that are both eco-friendly and affordable. It comes as no surprise that this country-girl-at-heart will focus the line around denim, while integrating organic cotton and fair trade materials.

The collection is said to be vintage-inspired and will be named “Bootheel Trading Co. by Sheryl Crow”. No launch date has been announced, but rumor has it she’s flying to Australia this October to meet with her partners about the line.

For eco-savvy parents in Los Angeles, Bel Bambini is hosting an event in store on Tuesday July 15th to equip moms with tips on how to create a healthy, eco-friendly nursery using green building products from leading experts.

Experts and hosts include:

• Hostess, Anna Getty, founder of Pregnancy Awareness
• Jay Watts from AFM Safecoat
• Josie Maran, founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics
• Kristina Lin, owner of Bel Bambini
• As well as information from Healthy Child

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Did you know that there are 80,000 synthetic chemicals registered for use in the United States? As a green parent, the mama bear in me comes out and I feel the need to protect my children from the effects of such chemicals. In the past, I have relied on the website Healthy Child Healthy World for information. Now there is a book by this leading children’s environmental nonprofit that is clearly the definitive source on “creating a cleaner, greener, safer home.”
Healthy Child Healthy World is written by Christopher Gavigan and features a star studded line up of contributors, including Sheryl Crow, Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Hanks, Laura Dern, etc.  The book is divided into ten chapters, from “Doing the Bump: Preparing for Baby” to “It’s All Good:  How to Grow Your Impact.”  Filled with easy steps and simple solutions, Healthy Child Healthy World helps parents rid their homes of chemicals that may cause or contribute to the rise of chronic diseases and illness, such as autism and ADD/ADHD.