1. Austin / 2. Amaircare / 3. Airpura / 4. IQAir

Last updated: May 2021

There are few things as elementally important as clean air.

Each of us takes up to 30,000 breaths a day. What our bodies want is oxygen, but what we actually inhale often contains all sorts of less-than-good stuff.  This is especially true of our indoor air, where a wide variety of contaminants can accumulate.

Regarding the Coronavirus and Other Viruses

Right now, the thing we are probably most worried about breathing in is coronavirus! So, do air filters kill coronavirus?

Austin air filters contain true medical grade HEPA that removes 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns and 95% of all particles larger than 0.1 microns. Scientists say that the size of the new coronavirus is .125 microns, so yes, these filters do capture the virus. Moreover, experts say that the droplets the virus travels in measure at least 1 micron, which is easily captured by a HEPA filter.

We run two Austin filters in our home, and we have five in the warehouse.

Indoor Air is More Polluted Than Outdoor

Indoor air contaminants come in many forms, from floating particulates like pet dander and smoke to chemical vapors that off-gas from the materials our homes are built from and products we bring into them.

Because indoor air is essentially trapped, it cannot easily mix with fresh air and thus disperse these contaminants. Instead they tend to accumulate. (The same is true for viruses like the one that causes COVID-19; when the air is trapped inside, they accumulate.)

In cities, even the outdoor air can be laden with things like diesel particulates and other toxins. It eventually works its way indoors and mixes. That’s the bad news.

How to Clean Indoor Air

Moso bags passively purify indoor air.

The good news is that there are ways to clean the air of a range of contaminants. We’ve written in the past about a variety of these methods, ranging from Moso bags to wool rugs to houseplants.

Unfortunately, all of the methods are passive, only affecting air that happens to pass over the plant/rug/Moso bag. This doesn’t make them useless–they are certainly better than nothing, and in our home we have found Moso bags to be truly effective against odor from our garbage can.

Passive filters like Moso bags are also are good for gasses and VOCs but are essentially useless against particulates, which can be particularly bad for our lungs.

So if we want a more active filter, there are five basic types of technology.

Types of Air Filters

1) HEPA Filters

We’ve all heard this term (which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance), but probably don’t know exactly what it means.

To be certified as HEPA, a filter must trap at least 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns. Many of the particles caught in a HEPA filter (including many chemicals) are so tiny they can’t be seen with the naked eye.

HEPA filters also trap mold, viruses (including the coronavirus), and bacteria, so they create a more sanitary environment. HEPA filters also trap larger particles that can cause lung irritation. (Side note: Make sure your vacuum cleaner is a HEPA-sealed model, too.)

2)   Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters are comprised of trillions of molecular-sized pores that have high absorbent and chemical bonding ability.

Activated carbon filters are highly effective at capturing pollutants like chemical emissions, gases, tobacco smoke, and odors. Once captured, these pollutants are not released back into the air.

Activated carbon filters are recommended for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) because they absorb formaldehyde, which is found in the adhesives used in carpeting, wood paneling, and upholstered furniture. They also trap fragrances as well as many chemicals found in household cleaning products.

3)   Ultra Violet (UV) Filters

Air purifiers using this technology have a UV lamp installed inside of them. As microorganisms pass by the UV rays radiated from the lamp, cellular damage destroys the microorganism.

Although UV technology is effective at killing viruses and bacteria, it is best used with a filter system ahead of the lamps. Without a filter system, too many microorganisms get shaded from the light by particulates.

4)   Negative Ion Filters

Negative ion air filtering technology has proven to be less effective than others because it simply masks the polluted air as opposed to actually cleaning it.

This type of air purifier does not have the ability to absorb or dispose of the harmful contaminants in the air. The negative ion simply takes the airborne particles out of the air and transfers them to walls and other solid things in the room. When stuck to walls and other surfaces, they have the ability to become re-circulated back into the air. For this reason, I do not recommend negative ion filters.

5)   Ozone Filters

Ozone air purifiers produce the gas ozone (O₃). Health professionals have refuted the claims made that these devices are safe, and no agency of the federal government has approved of these devices.

Exposure to ozone may ignite asthma symptoms, and at high enough level can even scar the lungs. Many of the chemicals found in indoor environments take months or years for ozone to react, making them virtually ineffective. Ozone does not remove particles such as dust and pollen. Obviously, I do not recommend ozone filters.

The Most Effective Air Filters

While some individuals may have a specific reason for investing in an ultraviolet or negative ion filtering unit, the vast majority of us need the air-scrubbing power of HEPA and activated charcoal. Those two combined do an excellent job of eliminating almost all of the common irritants/pollutants found in most homes, as well as bacteria and viruses like the coronavirus.

Austin Air: The Best Air Filters on the Market

Austin Air offers a line of robust filters that employ HEPA and activated carbon technologies teamed with fans that get the job done quickly and super effectively.

For extra filtering power, Austin mixes their activated carbon with zeolite, a mineral with superior ability to trap toxic gases and odors such as formaldehyde, ammonias, and carbon monoxide.

Made in the U.S.A, Austin Air filters have garnered wide acceptance as one of the very best air filtration systems available. They are the only manufacturers to have their products designated as Medical Grade Air Purifiers, and the only manufacturer to successfully reduce asthma attacks and respiratory problems in a clinical trial. Johns Hopkins Hospital has chosen Austin Air medical grade air purifiers to conduct four clinical trials. Austin filters were selected by the Federal Government to provide the emergency air purifiers to the citizens of Anniston, Alabama, during the destruction of chemical weapons.

During the global pandemic of 2020, hundreds of hospitals, schools, and dental offices have relied on Austin Air to protect their spaces from the novel coronavirus.

The Noise Factor

An electric air filter works by moving air past the filters, and of course only the air that passes through a filter is affected.  It’s a simple equation: the more air that passes through the filter, the cleaner the air stays.

While some companies make filter units that are super quiet, the fact is that moving air makes noise. To the extent that noise is lessened, filtering power is likewise lessened. This does not mean that filters need to be loud, but, especially when set on the high setting, filters sound exactly like what they are: a fan.

You can hear Maia’s Austin Air unit here.

Also Great: Amaircare Air Filters

Amaircare Roomaid filters are made in Canada and are perfect for actively reducing particulates and VOC’s inside of small spaces, like a nursery or inside your car. Amaircare filters can be purchased with a car-kit that let’s you plug into a lighter socket and hook the filter to a seat belt for extra safety.

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Toxins in Cars

Some of the most toxic air is inside of our cars. Automobile interiors are notoriously toxic and some of us are stuck in our cars for hours per day. Extra special care should be taken to detox the air inside a car; especially a new car.

Runners Up: Other Air Filters We Like

There are two other air filtration systems that we consider Good Stuff:

1) The Airpura T600 HEPA Air Purifier employs similar technology to Austin and is mostly targeted towards smoke, so if you’re a smoker or live with a smoker, this is one to consider. They are a bit pricier than Austin’s filters.

2) IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier is another filter that meets our criteria, but it is also more expensive than Austin, and made for smaller spaces. Without a doubt, the IQ Air has an aesthetically-pleaseing design, but on the whole, we think Austin offers more for less money.

About Other Air Filters

There are other decent air purification systems out there. Some are very slick looking, and some have interesting bells and whistles. But other than the ones that produce ozone, any filter is better than having no filter at all. We like the Austin because of the combination of proven robust filtering technology, quality construction, versatility, and price point.

Lots of you have asked about the Molekule air filter. While Molekule is marketed as a new technology, it’s roots go back quite a way. After taking a closer look at this brand, I remain concerned that the technology might not be as effective as the brands we’ve recommended above. In fact, Molekule recently was forced to retract most of their advertising claims.

Please ask your questions about air filters below.

Stay sane!

By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

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The post How to Choose the Best Air Filter appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

1) Clean the air in the classroom.

I hope your school has a plan for improving air quality—ideally even holding classes outside if space and weather allows.

If they don’t, placing portable air filters in each classroom can clear the air of viruses and bacteria–in addition to removing a wide variety of environmental toxins.

Here is more on which filters kill the virus that causes COVID-19 and this is the filter we are buying for our schools. (We’re also donating filters to underserved schools, so please reach out if you’re a teacher in such a classroom.)

2) Keep your child’s immune system strong.

We aren’t big vitamin proponents in normal life, but select supplements are worth considering this year. You could even add a serving of (yummy tasting!) elderberry syrup to a water bottle so your child boosts her immunity while she sips throughout the day. (Or go the easier route and just give them a gummy.)

Wondering about the science behind elderberry? Studies suggests it “may help to prevent the early stage of coronavirus infections, which includes COVID-19,” according to Dr. Andrew Weill. One caveat from my husband, a molecular embryologist: “It’s possible that if you’re sick with COVID-19, the increased cytokine activity conferred by elderberry could add to fluid volume in the lungs–part of the “cytokine storm” reaction. For this reason, if you become symptomatic or test positive, I’d stop slugging elderberry.”

Another supplement to consider is vitamin D for its general immune-boosting properties.

My mom, a certified holistic health coach, suggests six daily habits that keep kids’ immune systems in top shape:

1. Greens every day.
2. An alkaline diet (cucumbers with their crackers, bananas on their cereal, a little broccoli in their pasta).
3. Eating with the seasons.
4. Getting quality sleep.
5. Creating a peaceful home.
6. Spending time outside every day.

Suzanne wrote a separate post to provide details and tips to incorporate these habits into your daily life come fall!

3) Teach your kid to clean his own hands.

Normally, I fight the urge to turn my kids into germaphobes (which isn’t to say I cannot often be found shouting “don’t touch that subway pole!”). However, right now I am reminding them to use hand sanitizer every 30 minutes or so whenever we are outside of our home and touching things. Consider sending your children to school with easy-to-open sanitizer and encouraging him to apply it often. (This one is easiest for my kids).

4) Put your child in a mask that fits.

I like these soft organic cotton ones that fit well and don’t require lots of fiddling with. And of course, because masks are the new missing sock in our home, I have at least five per kid--especially since I’ll want to wash them daily when they get home from school.

(Primary also makes nice masks that have a removable filter for extra protection.)

5) Enable your kid to keep a distance from her teachers.

For the sake of the teacher as well as your kid, you want her to handle herself without a teacher having to come too close. Depending on the age of your child, this likely means shoes that slip on or have Velcro rather than laces, pull-on pants rather than ones that need buttoning after the bathroom, and so on.

This is a year to definitely make sure ALL of your child’s items are clearly labeled, so that he keeps his own stuff in his own space (I am normally so bad about having our stuff labeled, but I am vowing to do better!).

It’s also a year to make sure her backpack, lunchbox, and jackets and hoodies have functional zippers, and that she’s able to open his water bottle and lunch containers without help. If you have a kid with seasonal allergies, send along tissues.

6) Push for safer cleaning products.

While COVID is the most front-of-mind risk, I’m also worried about the heavy dose of bleach and other cleaning products our kids will be exposed to in the school. If your school is receptive, you might consider lobbying for them to use one of the many non-toxic solutions that will kill the coronavirus. This one is the most earth-friendly, and Force of Nature is offering 40% off all bundles through the end of the year with code GIMMETHEGOODSTUFF.

7) Keep your home germ-free.

This year, we will have designated space outside the door for backpacks, shoes, and outerwear. The kids will come in from school, put their clothes (and masks) straight into a hot washer, and go take their showers immediately. And, I’ll definitely be running an air filter in my home all evening.

What other strategies are you employing to mitigate the inherent risks of sending your kids back to the classroom? I would especially love to hear how parents of middle- and high-school aged kids are tackling this.

P.S. Lots of you have asked what our plans are for school this year, and I am happy to share: 

• Felix is starting at a private middle school, which will be fully open and because it is small is able to abide by social distancing rules with limited class size, spacing between kids, etc.
• Wolfie is going to public school for second grade, and he will be there half-time (with half as many kids) and doing remote learning from home on the other days.

Do I feel one hundred percent comfortable sending them to school? Definitely not. However, I basically trust our governor and our school administration/teachers, and the community at both of the schools, and so I am willing to take this calculated risk for the educational and social-emotional benefit to my kids.

I would almost certainly make a different choice if I lived in a city where my values didn’t align with local elected officials, school leadership/teachers, and the parents whose kids will be in school with mine—or if I lived in an area where there were high levels of COVID currently circulating. If New York City’s numbers begin to creep up, my husband and I will re-evaluate our strategy. We are fortunate that I work from home, and I know many of you are having a much more stressful decision-making process.

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The post 7 Ways You Can Make School Safer from Covid-19 appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

You probably know that in real life (as in, the time before coronavirus, or BC as I’ve been calling it) I’m a huge fan of robust air filters to improve the quality of indoor air. I run two in my home every day, and my dad wrote a popular post about choosing the right filter for your needs.

But, we are no longer living in real life, and lots of you are asking, “do air filters kill coronavirus?” Here’s the deal.

Air Filters & Coronavirus

In addition to their other benefits, HEPA filters can remove bacteria and viruses from the air. Whenever someone in our home is sick, I run our filters with hopes of keeping the rest of us well.

Austin air filters (the ones I use, and the ones we carry in our store) contain true medical grade HEPA that removes 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns and 95% of all particles larger than 0.1 microns. Scientists say that the size of the new coronavirus is .125 microns, so yes, these filters would capture the virus. Moreover, experts say that the droplets the virus travels in measure at least 1 micron, which is easily captured by a HEPA filter.

Should You Invest in an Air Filter to Kill Coronavirus?

When it comes to coronavirus, you are probably not worried about catching it inside of your own home, so getting an air filter isn’t necessarily the right move for everyone.

If you’re living with a COVID-positive individual then I would definitely have a filter running 24/7, and I would probably do the same if I lived with anyone working in healthcare. Because my husband is going into work, I am running our filters more than normal in case he’s bringing virus in the house on his shoes or clothing.

Other Benefits of an Air Filter

While social distancing and hand-washing are clearly the most important daily practices that will reduce your personal risk of contracting this virus, there are two other considerations that I’ve recently read about that make a case for using an air filter.

1) Indoor air quality is notoriously worse than outdoor, even if you’re using non-toxic cleaning products. Cooking in home is a major source of indoor air pollution, and these days we are cooking more and spending just so freaking much time inside.

2) There is apparently a link between living in areas with poor air quality and experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms. This is a good reason to make sure our lungs are as healthy as they can be in case we are exposed.

1. Austin / 2. Amaircare / 3. Airpura / 4. IQAir

Which Filter Should You Buy and How Quickly Can You Get One?

If you decide you want to purchase an air filter for coronavirus protection, our contact at Austin Air recommends the HealthMate Plus (the full-sized unit costs $715; there is a junior unit for smaller spaces that goes for $465).

The HEPA technology of this filter removes 95% of all airborne viruses, as well as dust, dander, allergens, airborne chemicals, and VOCs. They also told us they’ve seen a huge increase in demand for this filter, including from hospitals around the country.

If you order here, your filter will ship the next day via FedEx ground.

If buying a filter just isn’t in the budget right now, I encourage you to run the stove fan while you’re cooking, open your windows as much as possible, use only toxin-free cleaning products, and most importantly, wash your hands!

Stay sane,

P.S. My dad recently added an additional air filter next to the printer in our warehouse, after reading this alarming study that shows that laser printers seriously degrade indoor air quality–to the point where some scientists say that working near a constantly-running laser printer could be “as bad for you as smoking.”

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This time of year, I get a lot of questions about humidifiers. As temperatures drop outside, we turn up our thermostats for relief. But that warm air is dry, leaving our skin, hair and mucus membranes parched.

Add in a cold or flu, especially a sick baby, and you’ll be temped to run out and buy the first humidifier you can get your (very dry) hands on—but wait!

The humidifier market is crowded with products–cool-mist and warm-mist humidifiers; big units, small units, and whole-house humidifiers; cute humidifiers for baby; humidifiers with “air washing” and UV features; etc. When I started researching humidifiers and saw all of these options, I understood why so many readers and clients ask me for help choosing one!

You may have also heard about some of the health risks associated with humidifiers. They can over-humidify a space, which may lead to the growth of mold and bacteria in your home. If not cleaned regularly, the humidifier itself can be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

And warm-mist humidifiers, also knows as vaporizers, come with a burn risk because they heat water to create steam. Many pediatricians warn against using these units near children.

All that said, a good humidifier could become your best friend this winter. Here are my top tips for humidifiers–what kind to choose, and how to use it to maximize benefits and eliminate drawbacks:

1. Choose an evaporative cool-mist humidifier. According to my research, one of the best cool-mist humidifiers is the Honeywell HCM-350. (Shoppers agree; it’s the best-selling unit on Amazon!) Warm-mist and cool-mist are the two basic types of humidifiers. Aside from the burn risk mentioned above, warm-mist humidifiers are higher maintenance and often more expensive. You should also avoid ultrasonic cool-mist humidifiers, which are more likely to over-humidify your space. 
   
   

   I recommend the Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier.

2. If you’re set on the idea of warm mist, consider Stadler’s HERA Ultrasonic Humidifier, which produces both cool and warm mist.  This is a good humidifier, but because it’s ultrasonic, you run the risk of over-humidifying your space. Get a hygrometer and monitor it to make sure the humidity level in your home stays in the safe range of 30-50%.
3. Avoid humidifiers that require the addition of quaternary ammonium compounds, as they are linked with asthma and respiratory disorders, as well as skin allergies and irritation. For instance, Venta humidifiers require a “water treatment additive,” which contains the aforementioned compounds.
4. Keep your humidifier clean! This might mean cleaning it daily or every few days. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. I recommend using white vinegar to clean them.
5. But don’t worry about features that kill water-borne microbes or purify your air. Some units (including the Honeywell cool mist humidifier I recommend) have UV bulbs that are supposed to kill germs in tap water. Unless you’re living off the grid, your drinking water shouldn’t have these germs. Also, some humidifiers claim to have “air washing” abilities. Studies by Consumer Reports and others conclude that these claims are pretty much bogus. Don’t rely on a humidifier to purify your air. Instead, try a natural charcoal purifier, like a Moso bag.
6. Last but not least, start with good water. One of the most important (and overlooked) considerations when it comes to humidifiers is the water you put into the unit. Unfiltered tap water is full of all kinds of unhealthy stuff. If you use water that contains chlorine, for instance, the humidifier vaporizes chlorine and spreads it through your home.

Stay sane,

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What follows are some tips on staying healthy right now, whether you’re worried about COVID-19 or just run-of-the-mill colds and flu.

1. Bathe your kids as soon as they get home from school.

If we aren’t planning to leave the house in the evening, I’ll pop my kids in the shower and put their clothes in the wash as soon as they get home from school, rather than waiting until after dinner.

We all know that schools are the germiest places ever, so I love to get my kids scrubbed and in clean pajamas as soon as possible once they get out of the cesspool that is the classroom.  This is their favorite bubble bath.

2. Support your immune system with stuff that works.

I’m not a big supplement person, but I do believe a few key immune-boosters are worth taking, especially when we are in the midst of flu season.

Elderberry syrup has been shown to reduce the duration of colds and flus, and may even be protective against complications from Coronaviruses. Note that this study was conducted on cells in a petri dish rather than in an animal, much less a human, and it’s also from a different strain of Coronavirus than the one circulating now. Still, the fact that the Sambuca nigra fruit compound protected these cells against the Coronavirus is promising, in my opinion.

I also give my kids this vitamin D gummy every day for general immune support, especially in the winter. You might also consider a probiotic for yourself or your kids. I also add Olea True high-phenol olive oil to their meals whenever I can sneak it in (salad dressing is the easiest way to get it in them!).

(Related: My thoughts on multivitamins.)

3. Pop a few pills when you feel symptoms.

When you do get sick, consider a few natural remedies that really work to make you feel better, faster.

In addition to Umcka, elderberry, and propolis, zinc is once again in the news for shortening colds.

4. Invest in a good air filter.

The right filter can remove bacteria and viruses from the air. If someone in your family is sick, running the filter might help stop the spread of germs. I have this model in our living area, and this one in the kids’ room.

5. WASH YOUR HANDS, or use natural antibacterial spray and wipes. 

If you can’t get to a place to wash your hands, the next best thing is spraying your hands with sanitizer.

I was totally that mom wiping down tray tables and armrests on our flight last week. Note that the CDC recommends sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and the brands we sell are alcohol free. A toxin-free version WITH alcohol is this one. If you can’t get it on Amazon, check Whole Foods or local health food stores.

Stay sane,

P.S. If you are extremely worried about Coronavirus, keep in mind:

• Kids are not getting super sick with this virus (and none has died), and the same is basically true for healthy adults. The risks are higher for the elderly, especially those with underlying health issues.
• Overall, COVID-19’s fatality rate is low compared to other virus outbreaks in recent years. Ebola kills between 25% and 90% of its victims, and SARS and MERS (both coronaviruses themselves) have fatality rates of 10% and 35%, respectively. Right now, it looks like COVID-19’s death rate is somewhere around 3%.
• For middle-aged adults, this Coronavirus is probably about as dangerous as the flu, and it appears to be much less dangerous than the flu for kids.

Shop This Story

Elderberry Syrup

Sniffle Set

$42.00Buy Now

Umcka Tablets

$17.99 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

Antibacterial Wipes

Herbal Lozenges

Cleanwell Hand Sanitizer

I love CleanWell’s hand sanitizing spray.

Air Purifier

$995.00Buy Now

Immune Zoom

$18.99 – $33.00 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

Vitamin D Gummies

My kids love these vitamin D gummies. Just make sure to brush teeth after eating!

Lavender Bubble Bath

$15.99 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

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Written by Maia, President & Founder

We all grew up hearing that we should “eat more fruits and veggies.” Now, as parents, we often go to great lengths to get a “rainbow of color” into our kids’ diets.

Most of us struggle with this—when it comes to vegetables, my kids will only consistently eat broccoli and asparagus, so it’s hardly a rainbow!

As many of you know, there is a dark side to fruits and vegetables.

Conventionally grown produce is often laden with agricultural chemicals. This includes toxic pesticides that the government has yet to ban, despite incredibly strong scientific evidence of harm to human health.

(For more on this, check out “Poison Fruit,” Sharon Lerner’s recent article about Dow Chemical’s efforts to prevent the government from banning chlorpyrifos, a widely used pesticide linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Warning: Don’t read before bedtime—you may be too angry and scared to sleep!)

The good news is that there are simple (and affordable!) steps you can take to reduce the pesticides in your diet.

How to Reduce Pesticides in Your Family’s Diet

1. Buy organic produce—where it counts.

I know, I know…organic produce is often more expensive—like, much more expensive—than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.

I don’t recommend that you blow your monthly budget on organic fruits and vegetables. Instead, spend your fruit and veggie dollars strategically by using the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists.

Buy Organic to Reduce Pesticides

EWG’s 2016 Dirty Dozen List

Strawberries

Apples

Peaches
Nectarines

Celery
Grapes
Cherries

Spinach

Tomatoes

Sweet bell peppers

Cherry tomatoes

Cucumbers

These lists guide you to buy organic versions of the fruits and vegetables that tend to have the highest levels of pesticides, and buy conventional versions of the cleaner ones.

These changes matter. Switching to more organic produce has a positive effect on pesticide levels in the body, and this effect happens in a matter of days, according to research by Chensheng Lu and colleagues.

2. Wash produce wisely to reduce pesticides.

My clients ask me all the time how they can wash fruit to reduce pesticides in their kids’ diets.

Short answer: you can’t simply wash (or peel) away pesticides, but simple washing methods still matter.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) says that washing produce is not the best way to reduce pesticide exposure. Their pesticide risk rankings are based on tests of fruits and vegetables “as eaten,” or washed and peeled as appropriate for the specific type of produce. The EWG says that pesticides can be in the whole fruit, not just on the outside.

That said, you should still wash produce before eating it. Here are some tips:

1. Use cold, running water (soaking or dunking just re-exposes produce to the stuff you’re trying to wash away).
2. Scrub the surface of root vegetables and other firm-skinned produce.
4. Dry with a clean cloth.
5. Peel when appropriate, and remove the outer leaves of leafy produce.

What about fruit and veggie washes and DIY tricks like soaking produce in a vinegar solution to reduce pesticides?

I don’t generally think it’s worth the extra expense or effort. Store-bought produce washes often have sketchy ingredients, although this one is safe.

As for vinegar as a way to reduce pesticides, it has to be used in a pretty high concentration (like 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) to kill some microbes, and I couldn’t find compelling evidence that it reduces pesticide levels better than washing with water alone.

Unless you are dealing with a compromised immune system, the tips I offer above are the easiest and most effective ways to get your produce clean.

3. Filter your water.

Because agricultural chemicals have been so widely used for many decades, they are present in our environment, including our drinking water. This is one of the many reasons that I recommend that people use a comprehensive water filter in their homes.

4. Lose shoes at the door.

You’ve probably heard me say this before, but one of the simplest things you can do to decrease the toxic load in your house (and keep it a little cleaner!) is to make sure that everyone removes their shoes at the door.

Otherwise, you’re tracking in all kinds of gross stuff, including chemicals used in gardens, farms, lawns and parks; animal feces; lead-contaminated dust; etc.

If you have dogs or other indoor-outdoor animals, wipe down their paws at the door.

These habits are especially important if you have rugs and carpets (toxins can linger in the fibers for years, even if you clean diligently) and if you have young children who spend a lot of time on the floor.

Stay sane,

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The post 4 Simple Ways to Reduce Pesticides in Your Diet (and Home) appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

This January, instead of making the usual resolutions that we’ve given up on by the end of the month, we decided to break it up by dividing some big goals into manageable chunks.

Each month, we invite you to overhaul one aspect of your life to reduce toxins, improve health, and increase your peace of mind. Our promise is that these changes will be easy to implement, helping you avoid resolution overwhelm. 

(If you’re just joining us, here is January’s mini resolution on upgrading junk foods, February’s with a medicine cabinet detox, March’s on improving indoor air quality, April’s five ways to clean up your cleaning products and May’s on making your yard non-toxic.)

A human can go for weeks without food, but without water we can only make it about a week, at best. Our bodies consist of about 70% water. Water that is free from a wide range of contaminants should be a high priority.

June marks the beginning of the warmest months of the year, and a time when we all (should!) drink more water. But even in places with “good water,” what comes out of our faucets is often contaminated with a wide range of toxins, heavy metals, and trace pharmaceuticals. This month, I invite you to invest in a filtration system that will improve your water, health, and peace of mind!

The sheer volume of water-treatment options is staggering. We offer only a limited number of filtration systems in our online store because most folks need only one of a few options. We see no need to make things more confusing!

You can learn more in our article, Do You Need a Water Filter?, but below I’ll tell you what you want to get out of your water, and then four filter options that will do that.

Filtering Your Water

The main things we want to get out of our water are as follows:

1) Chlorine

Chlorine is used to kill many biological agents, including bacterias like cryptosporidium, giardia, and cyclospora. Chlorine is incredibly effective, but chlorine in drinking water is implicated a wide variety of health problems, from cancer and heart disease to reproductive problems and more.

2) Heavy Metals

Lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and more easily bio-accumulate in our bodies and can cause serious long-term health problems.

3) Pharmaceuticals

This is a relatively new source of toxins now found in water supplies throughout the world. Pharmaceuticals pass though those who take them and are eliminated through our urine. They are flushed and later show back up in drinking water.

4) Industrial products/byproducts

DDT, Dioxins, Percholate, Hexachlorobenzene, MtBE, PCB’s, Chromium VI and many others can now be found in the water of many towns.

5) Radioactive elements

These are now showing up in some locations. If you have them, you should of course filter them out. This usually requires reverse osmosis technology.

6) Fluoride

There is robust debate over the use of fluoride in drinking water. Some believe it to be okay while others can point to studies suggest it is a potent neurotoxin. I choose to filter it from my water.

Filtering Your Water: Choosing the Right Filter

We offer three basic types of filtration systems in our store.

1. Two-Stage KDF/GAC/carbon block filtration. These filters take care of most of the contaminants found in municipal drinking water, but they lack a fluoride filter. Choose an under-counter or counter-top model. Requirements: A hole in your countertop for the under-counter model, and a faucet with an aerator tip for the countertop model. Do you live in a city? If so, you should invest in a pre-filter for your system.
2. Three-Stage KDF/GAC/carbon block filtration. This model includes a fluoride filter. Choose an under-counter or countertop model. Requirements: A hole in your countertop for the under-counter model, and a faucet with an aerator tip for the countertop model. Do you live in a city? If so, you should invest in a pre-filter for your system.
3. ZIP Countertop Reverse Osmosis filter system. These filters are perfect for folks who cannot put a hole in their countertop and/or have the modern type faucet that will not connect to the KDF/GAC/carbon block countertop unit. They are also great for folks who may have radioactive elements in their water.

A Word About Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filtration

RO does a great job filtering water of just about everything. One of the downsides is that RO traditionally wastes 4-5 times as much water as they produce. The ZIP limits the amount of waste-water and even stores it in a special chamber so that it can be used elsewhere in the home (we use ours to water plants). RO filtration also removes beneficial dissolved minerals, so care should be taken to be sure that your diet contains these trace minerals. For most of us that is not a problem.

What About Charcoal Filtering Bottles?

Activated carbon is a great filter medium, but usually water is forced through the charcoal by the pressure in the system. When you just drop a stick of charcoal into your water bottle and head off to yoga, there is simply not enough time for any significant filtration to occur.

Finally, water also enters into our bodies when we shower and the chlorine that’s added to all municiple water sources enters with it. Chlorine can also become a gas when heated and thus get into our lungs when taking a steamy shower. To prevent this, it’s worth considering a shower and/or bath filter.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask questions.

Stay Sane,

Shop This Story

Three-Stage Under-Counter Filter (includes fluoride filtration)

$294.99Buy Now

Three-Stage Countertop Filter (includes fluoride filtration)

$220.99Buy Now

Two-Stage Under-Counter Filter (does not filter fluoride)

$220.99Buy Now

Two-Stage Countertop Water Filter (does not filter fluoride)

$140.00Buy Now

Reverse Osmosis Countertop Filter

$469.95Add to cart

Shower Filter

$69.95Buy Now

Bathtub Filter

$79.95Buy Now

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The post June: Filtering Your Water appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

This new year, instead of making the usual resolutions that we’ve given up on by the end of January, we decided to break it up by dividing some big goals into manageable chunks.

Each month, we will invite you to overhaul one aspect of your life to reduce toxins, improve health, and increase your peace of mind. Our promise is that these changes will be easy to implement, and we hope will help you avoid the typical resolution overwhelm!

(If you’re just joining us, here is January’s mini resolution and here is February’s!)

It is (finally!) March, which should feel like the beginning of spring, but I know those of us in the Northeast still feel very much like we are in winter–which means lots of time indoors.

For this reason, I invite you all to take some simple steps to clean up the air you breathe when you’re in your home. Did you know that 80% of the toxins you will ever encounter in your life, you will encounter INSIDE your home?!

You don’t have to do every suggestion on this list, but the more you check off, the cleaner your air will be.

Here are my favorite ways to clean up the indoor air:

1. Throw open your windows when the weather permits; even in cities, outdoor air is usually better than indoor.
2. Purchase some charcoal air purifiers, which clear everything from odors to VOCs.
3. Stock up on houseplants, which both absorb airborne toxins and generate clean oxygen, making them a great passive air filter.
4. Invest in 100% wool rugs for your floors, as wool naturally absorbs VOCs.
5. If your budget allows, go for an electronic air filter, which will remove everything from dust and viruses to pollens and VOCs most effectively.

The Best Electronic Air Filter

While we have an extensive guide on our site that will help you choose the best air filter, I thought I would share the most salient points here:

1. There are two broad categories of toxins that are important to get out of your indoor air:
   a) Particulates, including: dust, smoke, mold spores, pollen, diesel exhaust, flame-retardants, bacteria, and viruses.
   b) VOCs, including: formaldehyde, acetone, benzene, butanol, carbon disulfide, ethanol, terpenes, toluene, and more.
2. There are various methods/technologies for removing these substances from your home, but from our perspective the best air filter units will have all of these  features:
   —True HEPA filtration for particulates.
   –Large and robust filtration for VOCs.
   –The ability to move air through the filters quickly.
   –A proven track record of effectiveness and reliability.
   —Ease of use–not having to constantly change or clean the filters.

For a long time, we could not find an air filter system that we felt really good about, but a couple of years ago one of you readers clued me into a filter that hits all five of the above criteria. (This is why we love talking with you guys!)

We now use this series of air filters in our own homes.

It is worth noting that cars are thick with all sorts of VOCs and there has been precious little we could do about it until recently. I was thrilled to find the Amaircare Roomaid Mini, which we’ve put in all of the Gimme the Good Stuff vehicles!

Feel free to ask questions below about cleaning up your indoor air or which air filter is best for you. Also, check out this video, where we discuss both water and air filters.

Stay sane, and happy March!

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By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

Here at Gimme the Good Stuff, we have quite a few friends and relatives in California. The current fire season has been especially devastating. At one point the Thomas fire (Ojai/Ventura) was burning at a rate of one acre per second!

My cousin lost his home and nearly everything he owned in the Santa Rosa fire.  Another cousin is currently evacuated from her Ojai home. A dear old friend is likewise evacuated from her Ventura home, and the fire is now moving towards Santa Barbara where I have an elderly aunt.

Many of our readers and customers have also been affected by the fires, and they tell us that smoke is everywhere.

The Austin Bedroom Machine is the most effective way to clear your air of VOCs.

Depending on the wind, you can smell nothing one day and find it difficult to breathe the next! These fires leave behind a toxic mess, of which we have yet to have a complete understanding.

Our friend in Ojai writes, “Because it’s a valley, the air is off-the-charts hazardous; we won’t be going back until it clears, but even then I will definitely be running an air filter.”

If you or someone you love is in the path of these fires, please use code CALI10 for 10% off any of our air filters.

Other Ways to Help Fire Victims

While the news shows us luxury homes going up in flames, the reality is that these fires cut across all socio-economic lines. Some have great insurance and can rebuild. Many are not as lucky. Here are some ways to help.

Amaircare filters are great for small spaces, including cars.

If any of our readers has other good ideas about helping please post them on our Facebook page!

And of course, let’s not forget those brave folks who risk it all and work themselves to the bone trying to minimize the damage. We owe them our deepest gratitude.

Stay sane,

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The post Air Quality After a Fire appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

While sometimes I indulge in a really luxurious soak, with magazines, candles, and face masks (this is my current fave), often I just do the basics.

Here are the products I travel with for my baths:

Acure Clarifying Shampoo

I love this shampoo for daily use–the trick with this and other nontoxic shampoos is to use a generous amount and rinse very well. (I rinse off in the shower after a bath to make sure my hair and body are really clean.)

Beautycounter Daily Conditioner

This is the best nontoxic conditioner I’ve found; I’ve started putting it on more than just my roots and as long as I rinse well, it doesn’t make my hair greasy.

Buy Now from Beautycounter

Acure Brightening Facial Scrub

Guys, I swear this scrub takes years off my face, as least temporarily:). I use it a few times a week, and when I get out of the shower or bath my pores look littler and my skin all glowy.

$9.99 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

Babo Botanicals Calming Bubble Bath

This is the sudsiest of the natural bubble baths I’ve tried, and smells wonderful. My kids get nightly baths in this, and whenever I take a bath myself I also enjoy sinking into the fragrant foam!

$15.99 — or subscribe and save up to 5%Buy Now

Please feel free to share your own favorite self-care rituals in the comments below!

Stay sane,

P.S. I’m not quite neurotic enough to carry this with me when I travel, but when I’m home, I use a filter to get rid of chlorine–mostly for my kids’ sake.

Crystal Quest Bath Ball Filter

$79.95Buy Now

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The post Non-toxic Bath Products appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Read our Safe Sofa Guide for a list of our favorite toxin-free sofas.

Even if you live in an urban location, the air inside your home is likely more polluted than the air on the city streets outside. If you’re a reader of this blog, you probably know that indoor air contamination comes from places like the paint on your walls, carpeting on your floors, and flame retardant treatments in the foam cushions of your upholstered furniture.

It’s true that these are all important sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are airborne chemicals implicated in a range of ill health effects. And while ideally we would all replace our sofas, tear out any carpeting in our homes, and repaint all our walls with milk paints, but this kind of overhaul isn’t realistic for most of us.

The good news is that there are three steps you can take right now—none of them overly costly or complicated–that will greatly improve the safety of your home.

Clean up your cleaning supplies (and choose the right vacuum cleaner).

A major source of indoor air pollution is, ironically, the stuff we use to keep our homes feeling fresh and clean. From glass cleaners to laundry detergent, most cleaning supplies contain ingredients that are caustic to our respiratory tracts and disrupting to our endocrine systems.

Mama Suds All-Purpose Cleaner is the Good Stuff.

It’s hard to know which “natural” cleaning products are truly non-toxic and which are just Sneaky Stuff, and unfortunately you often have to look product-by-product even within one brand. Mama Suds, Eco-Me, and Better Life, and Sonett are four brands that I trust across the board.

Flame retardants and other toxins build up in dust, so the more you vacuum, the more toxins you’ll clear from your home. But choosing the right vacuum is important: you’ll want a HEPA-sealed model, which ensures that dust and toxins stay sealed inside the filter. Furthermore, many vacuum cleaners are actually treated with flame retardant chemicals themselves, so look for one that’s RoHS-certified. Miele is one brand that fits the bill.

And by the way, sweeping isn’t such a great way to rid your home of toxins—instead, it sends dust into the air where it can be inhaled. Vacuuming or wet mopping are more effective ways of cleaning dirt and toxins.

Nontoxic Housekeeping from ecomaids of New York

If you live in New York and use a cleaning service, I can’t say enough things about ecomaids. Not only are they the most professional and thorough house cleaners I have ever experienced, but they bring all of their own 100% nontoxic cleaning products (I checked all the labels, believe me!). Even if your budget doesn’t allow for regular cleanings, you might consider treating yourself to ecomaids deep cleaning services once a season.

Purify your air.

The Austin Bedroom Machine is the most effective way to clear your air of VOCs.

There are a variety of ways to clear your air of any emissions coming from your existing furniture, paints, flooring, and so forth. Depending on how extensively you want to clean the air, your options range from very affordable to fairly expensive.

Here are some ideas:

• Open the windows more to let in cleaner air.
• Put out some charcoal air purifiers, which help with everything from odors to VOCs.
• Fill your home with houseplants, which absorb airborne toxins while also producing clean oxygen.
• Cover your floors with 100% wool rugs (wool naturally absorbs VOCs).
• When it’s time to paint your walls, look into ECOS Pure paints and primers, which absorb a variety of VOCs, including formaldehyde.
• If your budget allows, go for a top-of-the-line electronic air filter, which will remove everything from dust and pollens to VOCs. (I recently invested in the Austin Air Bedroom Machine myself, and have noticed an immediate difference in my own home.)

Related Post: How to Choose the Best Air Purifiers and Air Filters

Filter your drinking water.

Even in places like New York City, where our water is known to be “really safe,” chlorine and controversial fluoride are added. Pitcher-style or refrigerator filters help a little, but mostly clean up the appearance and taste of water, rather than doing much to make it healthier. A more robust carbon-block water filtration system will deal with chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide, VOCs, pharmaceutical products, and a range of other chemicals you haven’t heard of, but definitely don’t want to be drinking. We use this three-stage filter in our home

Extra credit: Be smart when replacing furnishings.

Clean Sleep bed frames are solid wood with toxin-free finishes.

When you are shopping for new furniture, be sure to seek out low-toxin or toxin-free pieces.

Most importantly, be sure to choose a mattress and sofa that are not treated with flame retardant chemicals.

As for desks, tables, beds, and bookcases: most “wooden” pieces are actually made of something called “composite wood,” which is bits of wood glued together to mimic a solid piece. Unfortunately, processed wood contains noxious glues that emit VOCs, include formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Composite wood may be called pressed wood, compressed wood, plywood, particle board, or medium density fiberboard (MDF). Look for furniture that’s 100% solid wood (but be prepared to pay more for it!). Our line of Clean Sleep bed frames are constructed of solid wood and finished with only linseed oil and beeswax.

What else do you worry about when it comes to toxins in your home? Ask your questions below!

Stay sane,

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The post 3 Easy Ways to Have a Less Toxic Home appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President & Founder

A couple weeks ago, EWG broke the news that hexavalent chromium (aka the “Erin Brockovich chemical”) was present in the water of hundreds of millions of Americans. Otherwise known as chromium-6, there are no safe levels of this carcinogenic chemical, but there is a lot of confusion around what an acceptable level might be.

Even the terminology can be confusing–I am no math whiz, and struggled to make sense of parts-per-billion vs. micrograms-per-liter as I sifted through the research and scary news articles.

Of course, after seeing Erin Brockovich when I was in college, I sort of assumed that the chromium-6 problem had been cleared up decades ago. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

What You Need to Know About Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium-6)

So here’s the bottom line on this toxin:

1. Chromium-6 is really bad stuff–a well-established carcinogen.
2. California has set a maximum legal level of 10 micrograms per liter of chromium-6 (this translates to roughly ten part per billion (10ppb)). This California level is the most stringent anywhere, but they’ve set the more ambitious public health goal of .02ppb. The EPA, by the way, lacks a specific limit for chromium-6, but has set a standard of 100ppb for all forms of chromium.
3. Some level of chromium-6 may be in the drinking water of two-thirds of Americans. While this is the news grabbing headlines, it’s worth noting that only 2 percent of Americans’ drinking water contains levels above 10ppb, which is still some seven million people. (You can check your area here.)
4. We should all be filtering our water for chromium-6, as well as many other toxins, such as chlorine, lead, pharmaceuticals, and more. (Here’s how to choose the right filter.)

Does Your Filter Remove Chromium-6?

We’ve been getting lots of emails and calls from those of you who have purchased water filter systems through our store. You’re understandably worried about chromium-6, and wondering if your filter is useful against chromium-6.

Good news: The KDF/GAC filters in our store indeed capture chromium hexavalent. Whew!

The testing data shows that when water passes through our filter system, the chromium-6 is reduced by at least 90 percent. In my case, this means that my New York City water, which is estimated to contain .04ppb of chromium-6, should be reduced down to .004ppb.

When water spiked with high levels of chromium-6 goes through these filters, those levels drop to exactly the same level as the California law requires. This is great, but I was happy to discover that the testing is done on filters that have already filtered 20,000 gallons of water. In other words, because we recommend that those filters be replaced after about 5,000 gallons (every year or two), the filters that were tested should have been discarded years ago, but were still functioning very well, even with large amounts of chromium-6 dumped into them. This means that if you live in an area already below California’s legal limit for chromium-6 (as 98 percent of you do), and if you replace your filter every year or so, your exposure to chromium-6 via your drinking water should be negligible–at least 90 percent lower than the unfiltered water in your area.

If  you are using a different water filter, you should definitely contact the manufacturer to be sure it is reducing the chromium-6 level down to 10 micrograms per liter or less, and ideally down below .02ppb.

Please feel free to post any questions below.

Stay sane,

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The post Do Water Filters Remove Chromium-6? appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

After the headlines about the water woes of Flint, Michigan, many of us were reminded of how lucky we are to be able to filter our water so that we can stop contaminants before they get to us.

Should You Worry About YOUR Water?

Of course, lead-contaminated water is not a problem limited to Flint. The fact is, there are many cities and towns with lead pipes. If you are on a municipal water system anywhere in America, you stand a good chance of having pipes just like Flint’s somewhere in the system.

Besides that, almost all water in our homes/businesses flows through pipes that potentially leach other harmful chemicals. Add to that the various toxins found/added to most municipal water systems, and you realize there are very good reasons to filter your tap water.

How to Choose the Best Water Filter

Obviously, we’d all like to enjoy the best water quality possible, but the world of water-filter technology is confusing to navigate. Our readers often ask: How can I quickly learn what filter is best for my family’s needs? How can I be sure the filter I bought is doing what it claims to be doing?

I’ve been researching (and testing!) various types of water filters for decades now, so I’ll try to provide you with my understanding of this issue, and help you choose the best water filter for your family.

Types of Water Filters

The most widely available and effective water filters are as follows:

1. Carbon/activated carbon filters: Activated carbon chemically bonds with and removes some contaminants in water that is filtered through it. Some carbon filters just remove chlorine and improve taste and odor, while others remove a wide range of contaminants including lead, asbestos, mercury, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Activated carbon cannot effectively remove common “inorganic” pollutants like fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, hexavalent chromium, and perchlorate.
   There are two types of carbon filters:
   a. Granulated activated carbon (GAC) filters: These filters contain fine grains of activated carbon. Typically, they are less effective than carbon block filters (see below) because they have a smaller surface area of activated carbon.
   b. Carbon block filters: Carbon block filters are made from pulverized activated carbon that is compressed into blocks. They are typically more effective than granulated activated carbon filters because they have more surface area.
2. Ceramic filters: These do not remove chemical contaminants, but they have very small holes throughout the material that block solid contaminants such as cysts and sediments.
3. Kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF) filters: KDF is a combination of copper and zinc. It creates an electro-chemical reaction. During this reaction, electrons are transferred between molecules, and new elements are created. Some harmful contaminants are changed into harmless components. Some heavy metals–such as copper, lead, mercury and others–react to plate out onto the medium’s surface, thus being effectively removed from the water supply.
4. Distillation: Water is distilled by boiling it and capturing the steam. The steam cools back into water. Many substances are left behind and the resulting water is purer. Unfortunately, most of the dissolved beneficial minerals are absent in distilled water. Also, many feel that distilled water is considerably more caustic and will rob minerals from our bodies. Although this topic is robustly debated, we feel that this technology is not a good solution for filtering water when there are so many better, and less expensive, solutions.
5. Mechanical filters: These filters have tiny holes that remove contaminants such as cysts and sediments. They cannot remove chemical contaminants. They filter essentially the same things that ceramic filters do.
6. Reverse osmosis filters: This process pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks particles larger than water molecules. Reverse osmosis can remove many contaminants not removed by activated carbon, including arsenic, fluoride, hexavalent chromium, nitrates, and perchlorate. However, reverse osmosis does not remove chlorine, trihalomethanes, or volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). Many reverse osmosis systems include an activated carbon component than can remove these other contaminants. Quality can vary tremendously in both the membrane system and the carbon filter typically used with it. Consumers should also be aware that reverse osmosis filters use 3-to-20 times more water than they produce. They waste quite a bit of water. One exception is this RO filter.

There are other types of water filtration methods out there, but the above technologies are usually the simplest and most cost effective ways improve the water quality in your home.

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Does Your Water Filter Work?

So how can we know if a particular filter manufacturer is producing effective water filters?

There are independent testing agencies that test contaminated water after it has passed through a test filter. If the filter removes all, or nearly all of the specified contaminants, it qualifies for certification. One of the best certifications is the NSF 53 Protocol. Filters that show positive results are granted certification and can be trusted, in my opinion.

What About Fluoride?

There is a significant debate about the ramifications of the use of fluoride in water. There seems to be science that lends validity to both sides of the discussion, but recent studies do suggest that fluoride may be harmful. We choose to filter the fluoride from our water, but we understand that others might take a different view, which is why we offer two options for filters.

What is the Best Water Filter?

You may have noticed that I did not talk about gravity filters like Brita in this post. Generally speaking, these types of filters reduce select chemicals and metals, but they mostly improve the appearance and taste of the water. We feel that to truly filter water, it is necessary to step up another level or two.

Most households need nothing more than a two-filter or three-filter system in order to have great, healthy water. We have found a small manufacturer to build us water filter systems that are simple, affordable, and effective. They’ve been making filters since 1989, and each system has options for either countertop or under-counter installation. These systems are NSW Protocol 53 Certified.

• The two-stage filter – Available for countertop or under-counter installation, this water filter uses KDF,granulated activated charcoal, and carbon block filters to effectively eliminate a wide variety of common contaminants, including chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals (including lead, chromium 6, mercury), iron, aluminum, hydrogen sulfide, chemicals, DBPs (disinfection by-products), THMs (trihalomethanes), HAAs (haloacetic acids), MTBE, VOCs, many pharmaceutical products, and more. This filter does NOT remove fluoride. If you want to filter fluoride from your water, you will want the three-stage filter instead. 
• The premium three-stage filter – Available for countertop or under-counter installation, our three-stage filter system is designed for municipal water that contains a high level of chloramines (chlorine combined with ammonia) and/or VOCs (volatile organic chemicals), PPCPs (pharmaceuticals, personal care products). This triple cartridge water filter includes our fluoride-removal cartridge PLUS our KDF/GAC cartridge PLUS a high performance 0.5 micron extruded multi-media carbon block cartridge.

(Each of the above filters can be easily installed in about an hour or less and require no special tools or skills beyond those found in a typical household.)

• If you can’t drill a hole in your countertop, or if you just want a reverse osmosis water filter, then the ZIP is the best one we’ve found.

The Best Water Filter for Your Bathroom

Finally, it should be noted that chlorine (found in most water supplies) is as easily absorbed through our skin as it is through our stomach. For that reason, we also use a shower filter and a bathtub filter in our home.

Stay sane,

P.S. For the next three months, for every filter we sell, we are donating $10 to the Flint Water Fund, a nonprofit that is supplying the residents of Flint with safe water.

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The post How to Choose a Water Filtration System appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

By John, Certified Holistic Health Coach

As the resident water filter expert here at Gimme the Good Stuff, I often field questions about water alkalinity and if it’s worth purchasing a special filter to make drinking water more alkaline. Here is my take on the issue.

What is alkaline water?

Alkaline water is simply water that has a higher pH level than does plain tap water.

What are the reported benefits of alkaline water?

Proponents claim that alkaline water can do everything from delaying the aging process, to neutralizing acid in your bloodstream, to increasing your metabolism, to helping you absorb more nutrients from your food.

Is there any evidence that alkaline water is healthier?

The debate over the effectiveness of alkaline water is robust. Despite the fact that proponents make interesting arguments and have lots of anecdotal evidence to share, it is difficult to cite scientific studies that demonstrate any benefit. Of course, this doesn’t mean there is definitively not a benefit–but after lots of research on this topic, I remain unconvinced.

It seems that, except for the rare instance, our bodies naturally maintain very tight control over the alkalinity of our blood and other organs. This suggests that no matter how much alkaline water we might drink, there is little we can do to actually change our pH levels for more that a very brief time.

It may be that, over time, studies will prove the benefits claimed by alkaline water proponents. Or perhaps they will show flaws in the theory. It does seem that alkaline water won’t hurt anything but your budget if you choose to purchase a filter.

How can I make my water more alkaline?

Rather than spending money on an expensive filter, most experts seem to agree that the best way to make your water more alkaline is to simply add a bit of lemon or lime to your drinking water.

How does my body balance alkalinity if I don’t drink alkaline water?

Many nutritionists say that eating a diet rich in fresh vegetables will give us all the alkalinity we could ever use. Foods with especially high alkalinity include raw spinach, kale, and broccoli, cucumber, lemons, limes, seaweeds, wheatgrass, and red cabbage. And I always recommend filtering drinking and cooking water with a robust carbon filter to remove a range of harmful contaminants.

Where can I read more about alkaline water?

Here are some sources that I think provide a nice balanced take on this issue:

PrecisionNutrition.com

MedicalDaily.com

Mercola.com

Stay sane,

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The post Alkaline Water Questions? We Have Answers! appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President

If you missed our Twitter party the other night (the one on toxins in your water with Dr. Alan Greene), here is the complete transcript.

Need it even simpler? Here are the big takeaways:

1. Tap water–even in areas known for “good” water–often contains a range of contaminants.

These might include heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and of course chlorine and fluoride. The pesticide Atrazine is of particular concern, and can be found in the tap water of 30 million Americans. Animals who ate identical diets and burned the same amount of calories weighed 10 percent more if they had Atrazine in their water!

2. Chlorine is bad stuff.

Chlorine is added to municipal water to kill microorganisms (which is good). But it’s linked to everything from hormone disruption to cancer. It should be filtered out after it’s done its job. Chlorine also is inhaled as steam in the shower, you should get filters for your showerheads, too.

3. Fluoride belongs in toothpaste, not water.

A recent Harvard study showed that fluoride exposure can cause as much as a 7-point drop in IQ. Fluoride stops tooth decay but is best in toothpaste and then spit out. (Special filters will take out fluoride.)

4. Bottled water is often worse than tap water.

Bottled water is usually stored in plastic, which we know leaches toxins. While tap water is frequently tested and treated, and you can find info about your local water online, this isn’t true for bottled water, and most isn’t treated with advanced filtration. If you must by bottled water, Penta Ultra Purified Water scores high marks from the Environmental Working Group.

5. Pitcher filters don’t do much.

Plastic pitcher-style filters don’t do much besides improve the taste and appearance of water. Pitchers also means your water sits in plastic, and BPA-free doesn’t mean anything,  (in fact it can be worse than BPA!).

6. The best filter choice is a carbon filter.

Here are the ones we like. You can get them in over-counter or under-counter configurations. We recommend the three-filter model to deal with fluoride, for the reasons mentioned above.

7. Drink from glass or stainless steel.

Don’t put your water, or the water you give your kids, in plastic. We love these glass water bottles, and kids should use stainless steel sippy cups.

Since I believe filtering your water is one of the very most important things you can do to reduce your family’s exposure to toxins, I have decided to put the filters we sell on our site at 10% off until Sunday at midnight EST. Just use code GIMMECLEANWATER at checkout.

Stay sane,

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The post What You Need to Know About Toxins In Your Water appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Written by Maia, President

As a breastfeeding mom, I’m constantly thirsty, and I carry around this water bottle all day as a reminder to guzzle lots. Most of us have plenty of water available…but do you really know if your water supply is safe?

Whether you live in a big city, in the burbs, or out in the wild woods, there is likely something pretty noxious in your drinking glass (don’t worry—it’s not all bad news. This problem actually has an easy fix).

The Trouble with “Safe” Water

In much of the developing world, water-borne maladies cause all sorts of disgusting (and often devastating) illnesses. The good news for us first-worlders is that municipal water systems are governed by strict regulations that ensure that most pathogenic microorganisms in our water are dead and can do us no harm.

The most common and effective agent for eliminating these nasties is chlorine.  The bad news is that, while chlorine is deadly for tiny critters, it’s not exactly benign to larger life forms like humans. Removing chlorine from the water after it does its disinfecting job, but before drinking it, is ideal.

Unfortunately, chlorine is only one of the many chemical compounds found in modern water supplies. According to Forbes.com, there are over “6,000 toxins the EPA has not gotten around to regulating in municipal drinking water systems.”

The fact is that no matter where you are on planet earth, there are all sorts of new, man-made chemical compounds floating in the water or blowing in the wind (wah!!). And evidence is mounting that at least some of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors, screwing around with our kids’ development and possibly causing cancer.

And its not just “city water.” (Here in New York City, everyone talks about how safe the water is and looks at me funny for having a filter on my sink and shower). People with wells and springs can be drinking any number of pollutants from farm runoff or industrial waste.

Bottled Water Isn’t Safe Either

You probably have already heard this, but many of these gross chemicals may also show up in expensive bottled water. In fact, the Environmental Working Group found “38 pollutants in 10 brands of bottled water, including chemicals linked to cancer.”

The Question of Fluoride, and an Answer from Harvard

Fluoride supplementation is controversial.

Just today, The Harvard Public School of Health reported that  fluoride “adversely affect[s] cognitive development in children,” causing as much as a 7-point lower IQ.

For these reasons, I recommend filtering out fluoride.  There is evidence that vitamin D may help prevent cavities, so I would recommend that if you aren’t doing it already. The one pediatricians typically recommend (Tri-Vi-Sol) contains artificial colors and flavors. We use these.

How to Clean Your Water: Get a Filter

There are many types of water filtration systems out there, from whole-house systems that filter every drop that comes through your pipes, to the pitcher filters that you put in your fridge (meaning your water is sitting in plastic, but that’s another issue).

While whole-house systems can be great, they can also be pricey and require complicated installation. Pitcher filters aren’t particularly effective, so I use two affordable filters in my home. I have a three-stage filter system beneath my kitchen sink, which we use for all of our drinking and cooking needs. I also have a shower-head filter that helps keep us from soaking in chlorine (It should be noted that your skin can absorb more toxins that your digestive tract, and when a chlorine-contaminated shower runs, the chlorine becomes vaporized and airborne). I have a detachable shower head on a hose, so I even fill the kids’ baths with filtered water (most of the time, anyway).

We now sell the same water filters I’ve been using for years on our website. Check them out here.

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The post Do You Need a Water Filter? New Harvard Study Says Yes appeared first on Gimme the Good Stuff.