Mercury is now regarded as the most common cause of heavy metal toxicity and can get into the bloodstream in various ways from injected vaccines, eating fish and by amalgam dental fillings by chewing. The World Health Organization estimates that between three to 17 micrograms of mercury are released daily into the body by chewing alone.

History of Mercury

Mercury is the second most toxic metal in the world after plutonium. Mercury has a history of being known as quicksilver due to it being a silver liquid. The symbol, Hg, is Latin for hydrargyrum, meaning watery silver. Mercury does not readily react with oxygen in the air but does reacts with some acids when they are hot.

Mercury toxicity has been reported since the first century when Roman prisoners were sentenced to work in cinnabar mines where they usually died due to the lethal levels of mercury. In the 1800s felt hat workers exposed to mercuric nitrate exhibited symptoms such as memory loss, angry outbursts, depression, insomnia, hallucinations and delusions. This condition was coined the “Mad Hatter syndrome” and was referred to famously by Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland. Similar symptoms were reported in syphilis patients who were treated with mercury in the mid-19th century.

In the last 50 years, more has been discovered about the toxic effects of mercury. Mercury enters the body fairly easily and its vapours pass through the skin into the blood stream. Once in the blood mercury interferes with bodily chemical reactions that can lead to illness and even death.

Amalgam Fillings in Dentistry

Mercury consists of approximately 50% of an amalgam filling, and is mixed with silver, copper and tin. This combination has been used for well over a century and has proved to extremely durable. Mercury is used in amalgams because it helps it is effective in making the filling material pliable and it also hardens quickly and can withstand biting and chewing. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) caused controversy in July 2008 when they issued a final regulation with altered language on their website: “While elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients.” They also advocated better warnings about mercury sensitivity and dental amalgams. The association also reclassified the mercury component of dental amalgam from Class I (low risk) to Class II (moderate risk).

With increasing concern over the safety of amalgam fillings, more than five hundred mercury-free practices have been set up in the UK. There are alternatives to amalgam fillings such as composite resin, porcelain and gold. The durability of these alternatives is increasing with time and further research. Removing existing amalgam fillings isn’t advised in healthy people as it is a skilled procedure and involves the release of mercury vapour.

Health Risks of Amalgam Fillings

A report in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine finds that dentists have higher concentrations of mercury in the body and double the number of brain tumours. Female dentists and assistants have more than three times the risk of sterility, stillbirth, and miscarriage. Exposure over long periods of time to mercury vapour can result in brain damage and studies have found extensive mercury exposure to be a factor in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and multiple sclerosis. Mercury is particularly toxic to fetuses and babies. Women who have been exposed to mercury in pregnancy have sometimes given birth to children with serious birth defects.

A study that followed more than 500 Portuguese and American children for seven years after they received amalgam or mercury-free fillings found no differences in the neurological symptoms between the two groups.

In contrast a 2004 study concluded that amalgam fillings may be an important risk factor for patients with autoimmune diseases. The study found that patients responded positively when amalgam was removed from a group of 35 patients with autoimmune diseases and replaced them with composites. Six months later more than 70% had shown improvement in health notably in multiple sclerosis.

Supporters of amalgam fillings emphasised that mercury is locked in and inert. It has now been conceded that mercury vapour escapes, and filters into the bloodstream and organs. Now scientists and the FDA claim that mercury levels are very low. Opponents argue that mercury accumulates in the body and no level of mercury should be deemed safe. Insufficient published data exists on the potential health effects of dental amalgam to completely support or refute the health effects attributed to it.

The safety of amalgam fillings is still inconclusive, though due to the toxicity of mercury an increasing amount of people are choosing alternatives such as composite resin, glass and gold.

Sources:

Emedicine.medscape.com. Toxicity, Mercury (accessed April 23, 2010).

Flcv.com Health Effects Related to Mercury from Amalgam Fillings and Documented Clinical Results of Replacement of Amalgam Fillings (accessed April 22, 2010)

Prochazkova J, Sterzl I, et al. The Beneficial Effect of Amalgam Replacement on Health in Patients with Autoimmunity. Neurological Endocrinology Letters 2004; 25: 211-218.

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Benefits of Home Composting

When green waste is composted properly at home, it doesn’t give off methane and helps reduce climate change. Mixing compost into soil provides important nutrients that help plants grow and helps the soil hold on to moisture. As well as saving money on buying compost, home composting helps avoid peat-based composts. Peat extraction is damaging to wildlife and is not very green. Compost can even eliminate the need for chemical fertilisers by suppressing plant diseases and pests.

List of Things That Can be Composted

It’s not just leaves and vegetable peelings that go to the home composter. Here are forty-five things that can easily be composted:

1. Popcorn
2. Peanut shells
3. Seaweed
4. Coffee grounds and filters
5. Coconut shell fibre
6. Stale herbs and spices
7. Tea bags
8. Hay
9. Straw
10. Wood chips (from untreated wood)
11. Sawdust (from untreated wood)
12. Brown bags
13. Pizza & cereal boxes (rip into small pieces)
14. Used paper napkins
15. Paper towel rolls
16. Wine corks
17. Toothpicks
18. Old seeds
19. Hair
20. Feathers
21. Nail clippings
22. 100% cotton balls
23. Latex condoms
24. Dead bees and flies
25. Pencil shavings
26. Contents of vacuum cleaner
27. Leaves trimmed from houseplants
28. Dead houseplants and their soil
29. Flowers (dried or fresh)
30. Used matches
31. Ashes from the fireplace
32. Paper cupcake cups
33. Shredded paper
34. Cotton Rags
35. Cotton string
36. Old wool/cotton clothes (shredded)
37. Real leather (cut up into small pieces)

38. Hops
39. Peat moss
40. Tree bark
41. Lawn clippings
42. Magazines (shredded and in moderation)
43. Waste from vegetarian pets such as guinea pigs
44. Pet bedding
45. Pet fur

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The Power of Less in a Nutshell

Leo Babauta writes the popular blog ZenHabits which promotes simplifying your life to concentrate your time and efforts on what you want. This 170-page book is based on six principles:

1. Set limitations

2. Choose the essential.

3. Simplify.

4. Focus.

5. Create habits.

6. Start small.

Sounds simple hey? Well surprisingly enough I think most of us could do with going back to basics and digesting the practical advice here. So many of us while away hours online (whether on Facebook or religiously checking email). I must admit I was a little skeptical about how useful the principles would be- but it actually made a lot of sense.

Advice to Take on Board

The most useful things that I found in the book include:

The biggest strength of The Power of Less is that it is straight to the point and could be read in one evening. Most of the advice requires no extra tools – just organisation and being more mindful of the choices you make.

I do need to learn to say “no” to things to ensure my time is used more effectively. It is difficult as I have been involved in many exciting projects due to my enthusiasm in trying new things. I guess now I would consider the opportunity first (whether it fits into what I want) and then deciding whether to go for it.

In fact I’ve been inspired to empty out cupboards and question every single item I own. I have bags of things to take to the charity shop and it is liberating to know that I only have items that I actually need or love in my life.

Green Potential of The Power of Less

While many people think they are green due to using the right products, appliances and transport; it is actually deeper than that. The Power of Less questions what you are buying and why. So many of us have gadgets that we want rather than need, unwanted clutter and clothes that we are never going to wear. I think as well as helping to focus on your goals, this book will offer a different (calmer and more green) mindset.

It is refreshing to know that there is more to life than gathering more possessions, aspiring for a bigger house, better car etc. Treasure the precious things in your life – time, family or whatever your passion is.

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10) These beautiful Spanish-made recycled suede boots have recycled PET plastic uppers, and more importantly are stain free, so no more watermarks. With a comfy and sturdy 3″ heel they zip up with an elastic section and have padded, flexible soles for comfort. I think they are worth the hefty price of £207.

Stunning and pretty vegan flats that are actually made from plastic and have a black lace effect which Gok Wan would describe as being “bang on trend this season”. I like how versatile they seem, and would add interest to the most boring outfit. Not bad for £65.

Here are possibly the most sophisticated and stylish vegan court shoes available for this season and will make any outfit look absolutely amazing. The shoes cost £121 and are made in Spain from a recycled faux suede upper and breathable faux leather lining. They are also available in black but this burgundy print is very striking and worth the extra pennies, they can be purchased here.

A real bargain at £16.25 (currently on sale at Fashion-Conscience.com) these gladiator style vegan flat sandals from are from Komodo and are fair trade too.  I like the recycled tyre rubber sole and brass detailing. The lovely blue colour looks great and complements my current love of turquoise jewellery.

These Neu Aura grey slip on heels can be worn with almost anything and feature subtle stitching detail that work for both work and play. Perfect when going straight out from work. Grab them while they’re on sale!

I have a thing about wooden platform sandals and Stella McCartney’s canvas ones that tower at 5 inches are right up my street. The silver diamanté and gold bead embellishment makes them more of an evening shoe and the highlight is the gripped rubber sole making them comfortable and safe to walk in.

These “Love Pumps” from Draven are vegan and the polka dots make them fun and inline with the current fashion trend that seems to be here to stay for the time being. Perfect with a monochrome outfit. Available here for $49.50.

If only one pair of faux suede shoes can be purchased then these boots by Olsen Haus must be at the top of the list. The faux patent section makes them stand out among the cheap ones on the high street.

These classic and stylish flats are a winner from Form Fauna. The pleats add a little detail and the neutral colour means they will never go out of fashion. Made from Italian biodegradable synthetics, bamboo and regenerative wood heels the shoe is completely ethical and uses non-toxic water-based glue. They are expensive even though they’re currently on sale for $121.

And last but not least, these Berlin boots are very sensible waterproof options. Available for a very competitive price of £20 (not including P&P). They are also windproof, breathable and claims to maintain foot temperature at 32 degrees.

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1. Every year in the UK we feed our livestock enough food to feed 250,000,000 people while in the world 30,000,000 people die of starvation

2. 20 vegans can live off the land required by one meat eater

3. Every three seconds a child dies of starvation somewhere in the world

4. If Americans reduced their meat consumption by 10% it would free 12,000,000 tons of grain – enough to feed 60,000,000 people (the population of Great Britain)

5. If all Americans became vegetarian, it would free enough grain to feed 600,000,000 people (the population of India)

6. In third world countries one in ten babies die before their first birthday

7. The UK imports £46,000,000 worth of grain from third world countries to feed our livestock

8. Due to overgrazing 850,000,000 people live on land threatened by desertification & over 230,000,000 already live on land so severely desertified that they are unable to sustain their existence & face imminent starvation

9. 1,000,000,000 people in the west feast on meat & dairy leaving 1,000,000,000 to waste away & 3,500,000,000 teetering on the brink. An Indian proverb states better we feed our child and the neighbour’s hungry child rice, than feeding our child kheer (expensive rice pudding) and letting the other go hungry.

10. If they continue to clear American forests to raise cattle at the present rate, in 50 years there will be none left

11. One acre yields 165 lbs of beef or 20,000 lbs of potatoes

12. 8/10 of cultivated land in the UK is used to grow food for animals (14,732,000 hectares)

13. It takes 16lbs of high protein soya to produce 1 lb of beef

14. Since 1945 in the UK we have lost 95% of flower meadows, 50% of ancient woodlands, 40% of heathlands, 50% of wet lands & 224,000 km of hedgerows all due to animal farming

15. Pressure on land due to meat farming leads to soil erosion 6billion tons/year in the USA

16. If everyone went vegetarian up to 90% of land used for animal farming could be taken out of production & used to replant woodlands, leisure activities etc.

17. 25% of Central America’s forests have been destroyed for cattle grazing since 1960

18. Between 1966-1983 38% of the Amazon rain forest was destroyed for cattle grazing

19. 90% of cattle ranches established on cleared forest land go bankrupt in less than eight years as the land becomes barren due to nutrient loss & overgrazing

20. Overgrazing by cattle is destroying the land & increasing desertification, nearly 430 million acres in the USA alone has suffered a 25-50% reduction in yield since first grazed

21. Even cattle ranchers are promoting veganism

22. An inch of topsoil takes 200-1000 years to develop – yet in the USA they have lost around a third of their prime topsoil in 200 years (around 7 inches) due to animal farming. The health of our topsoil is very important – good topsoil creates more nutritious food.

23. Land will be lost as a result of rises in sea level due to global warming due to animal farming

24. The destruction of the rainforest by cattle farmers is destroying the lungs of the planet and reducing the worlds capacity to replenish our oxygen supply

25. The 1,300,000,000 cattle in the world emit 60,000,000 tons of methane per year (methane is a greenhouse gas & leads to global warming)

26. Burning of forests, grasslands and agricultural waste associated with animal farming releases 50-100,000,000 tons of methane per year

27. Combining these figures, 25% of methane emissions are due to animal farming (not including the billions of sheep, pigs & poultry so the real figure is much higher)

28. Fertiliser used to grow crops to feed to animals releases nitrous oxide – thought to account for 6% of the greenhouse effect

29. Fertiliser, weedkiller & pesticides sprayed on crops enter the atmosphere creating a noxious carcinogenic cocktail

30. CFCs are released into the air from refrigeration units used to store decomposing flesh (meat), milk & butter – CFCs are destroy the ozone layer

31. Ammonia from animal urine also pollutes the atmosphere

32. Faeces, urine, pus and blood are likely to be present in meat and dairy

33. CO2 is released by burning oil and petrol in lorries, ships, abattoirs, dairies, factories etc. associated with meat & dairy production

34. Emissions from large chemical plants which produce fertiliser, weedkiller & other agricultural chemicals are also poisoning our air

35. 25 gallons of water to produce 1lb of wheat & 2500 gallons to produce 1lb of meat

36. UK farm animals produce 200,000,000 tonnes of slurry (liquid excrement) every year, the majority of which ends up in our rivers

37. Bloody waste water from abattoirs ends up in our rivers

38. In the USA every second humans produce 12,000 lbs of effluent while farmed animals produce 250,000 lbs

39. Nitrates & pesticides used on crops grown to feed livestock end up in our rivers

40. Meat & dairy farming uses 70 litres of water per day per animal in the UK or 159,250,000,000 litres per year in total

41. The water used to produce 10 lbs of steak is equivalent to the average consumption of water for an entire household for an entire year

42. Depletion of groundwater reserves to grow crops for animals & to supply abattoirs will lead to greater water shortages

43. Aquafers (stores of underground water) in the San Joaquin valley in the USA are being drained at the rate of 500,000,000,000 gallons/year to produce meat

44. 18% of all agricultural land in the world is irrigated & as global warming increases (partly due to animal farming) it will cost $200,000,000 to keep these systems going

45. The water used to produce a 1000 lb beef steer is enough to float a Destroyer battleship

46. The liquid waste from the various parts of the meat & dairy industry flow into the rivers & from there into the seas polluting them & encouraging huge algal blooms to grow

47. To produce 1 calorie of energy from meat takes 60 calories of petrol, whereas growing grains & legumes to directly feed people produces 20 calories for each calorie of fuel used (that’s 1200 times more efficient)

48. Meat & dairy farming uses billions of gallons of oil to run tractors, fuel ships & lorries (to move animal feed & animals), pump billions of gallons of water to irrigate fields & run slaughterhouses, power refrigeration units to prevent the corpses from decomposing & to power sewage plants to clean up some of the pollution produced

49. Cattle convert only 6% of their energy intake (mainly grains & soya) into flesh, the remaining 94% is wasted as heat, movement (which is why they keep many animals in very close confinement), hair, bones, faeces etc

50. 1lb of beef takes one gallon of petrol to produce

51. A family of four eating beef for a year uses enough petrol to run a car for 6 months (obviously depending on how far you drive!)

52. If the full ecological cost of meat was passed onto the consumer – the price would be quadrupled (at least)

53. The EC spends millions to subsidise animal production resulting in lakes of unwanted milk & mountains of unwanted meat & butter. This money could be better spent encouraging organic fruit, vegetable & grain production

54. In the USA in 1979 145,000,000 tons of crops were fed to cattle resulting in only 21million tons of animal bodies – the cost of the wasted crops was $20,000,000,000

55. Between 1950 & 1985 grain production in Europe & the USA increased massively but 2/3 was fed to animals

56. 70% of all grain is fed to animals

57. Eating vast quantities of animal flesh, eggs, milk & butter is a luxury that most of the planet can not afford

58. Fishing with drift (and other modern) nets weakens & destroys ecosystems by indiscriminately killing billions of sea creatures & disrupting the sea bed

59. Fishermen’s nets kill 10 times as many other animals as the fish they are hoping to catch

60. Fish caught in nets die an agonising slow death of suffocation

61. Each year 15,000,000,000 land animals are slaughtered for food & an unknown but much larger number of sea creatures (including 1000′s of dolphins caught accidentally)

62. Chickens are crammed into battery cages with up to three other birds, they are unable to even spread their wings & many can not even stand up

63. Unwanted male chicks are gassed or pulped while their females go to the battery sheds

64. Chicks are debeaked without anaesthetic to prevent them injuring each other in the unnaturally confined conditions they are kept in – this is equivalent to having your fingernails pulled out without anaesthetic

65. Modern farming methods using growth hormones & artificial lighting mean that many chickens out grow their bones, resulting in fractured & broken legs

66. Sows are kept tethered in stalls 1.3 x 1 metre on concrete or slatted floors – they can not even turn around

67. Poultry raised for meat are kept in windowless broiler sheds, with around 20-30,000 in each shed, they live in an area of 10-20 cm square

68. Spiritual progression is impossible while eating a diet that promotes violence to animals

69. Animals transported from farms to slaughter are sent in overcrowded conditions with no food or water – resulting in stress, injuries and many deaths on route

70. 95% of poultry suffer injuries before being killed & 30% suffer broken bones

71.  Stunning sometimes doesn’t work meaning that many animals have their throats slit while still conscious and are then dipped in tanks of scalding water while fully conscious

72. In the USA cattle are fed partly on recycled plastic pellets

73. Calf leather comes from animals killed at just two weeks old

74. Cows fed on the ground up remains of other cows and sheep are thought to be the cause of BSE (mad cow disease).

75. Cows often only give milk for around ten months after they have a calf – so they are routinely artificially inseminated (ie. mechanically raped) to keep them milking – then their calves are taken away (usually at 12 hours old) for meat or export to veal crates

76. Cows would naturally live up to 20 years but are slaughtered after five or six years when their milk production begins to drop

77. In the UK animals are killed by first being stunned with electricity or a captive bolt gun (ie. a bolt is fired into their heads) before having their throats slit & being plunged into boiling water. Someone I know swiftly turned vegetarian after seeing this happen on a production line

78. Cows often bellow out for their babies as they naturally form a close bond with them and there have been reports of cows escaping to search for their calves

79. Veal calves are confined in stalls in the dark, unable to move and are sometimes fed on pigs blood , chocolate and dried milk instead of their mothers milk

80. Cows naturally produce five litres of milk per day for their calves – under the intensified systems of modern farming they produce twenty-forty litres per day – resulting in swollen and inflamed udders and plenty of pus in the milk

81. Large areas of land are under monoculture to grow crops to feed to animals

82. Vegetarians have a 20% lower rate of mortality from all causes – they live longer and don’t get sick as often

83. Meat is full of traces of antibiotics, hormones, toxins produced by stress and pesticide residues that become concentrated from all the crops they have eaten

84. Fish contain heavy metals and other pollutants -many of which originated on farms

85. The world health organisation recommends a diet low in saturated fat, sugar, salt & with plenty of fibre – this is easily acquired on a vegan/vegetarian diet

86. Farmed animals contain up to 50% saturated fat in their bodies

87. Vegetarians have 24% reduced risk of getting heart disease and vegans a 57% reduction (heart disease is the biggest killer in the UK accounting for 50% of deaths)

88. Obesity is rare in vegetarians, obesity is related to many diseases

89. Vegans & vegetarians have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels

90. Vegetarians have a 50% reduced risk of dying of diabetes

91. Vegetarians have a 40% reduced level of cancer than the general population thought to be because they have a higher intake of vitamins A,C & E

92. Vegetarians have a reduced risk of developing gall and kidney stones

93. 80% of food poisoning is due to infected meat (faeces, bacteria etc.) after all meat is decomposing flesh – most of the rest is due to salmonella in eggs

94. Osteoporosis due to calcium loss from bones is mainly due to the sulphur content in meat and casein protein in milk that cause calcium to be lost in the urine.  The countries with the highest meat and dairy consumption are those with the highest levels of brittle bones

95. 50% of people do not have the enzyme to digest milk properly and milk allergy is related to conditions such as asthma and eczema

96. Meat eaters have double the rate of Alzheimers disease as vegans and vegetarians – some people also think that Parkinsons disease is linked to meat eating

97. Egg yolk is a dense concentration of saturated fat & the white is high in albumin protein associated with leaching calcium into your urine.

98. Meat eaters are two and a half times more likely to get bowel cancer than vegetarians

99. The cling film used to wrap meat in supermarkets & butchers contains chemicals linked to falling sperm counts in men

100. Chinese people (living mainly on a vegan diet) consume 20% more calories than Americans but Americans are 20% fatter

101. Of 2,100,000 deaths in the USA in 1987, 1,500,000 were related to diet (ie. meat & dairy)

Be the change you want to see – eat high quality fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. Be confident in lobbying the government to put their resources into providing top quality organic produce, and most importantly show your support by not buying milk, meat or eggs

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The crux of the matter is using cow fat from a vastly destructive source (mass production of meat) is NOT green or eco friendly. People need to find alternative methods to address the oil situation, and focus their energies on putting a stop on meat production all together. Yes the oil maybe biodegradable but it is made from the slaughter of cows which is disgusting. It makes one wonder how far people will go to make a profit.

If people are looking to live an environmentally lifestyle then we must stop looking for quick fixes which mask rather than solve problems. A United Nations report finds that meat production causes almost forty per cent more carbon emissions than all the cars, trucks, ships and planes in the world combined. It takes around twenty times more fossil fuel to grow meat compared to the equivalent weight of vegetables.

Not producing meat will lead to lower gas prices and reduces the use of precious fossil fuels.

And now the South American rain forests are being destroyed to make room for livestock this is having a negative impact on oxygen levels. Meat-eaters need to wake up and smell the coffee- if you want to satisfy your taste buds with dead animal flesh then catch and kill your own. It is ridiculous to put the world at risk because a number of people like to eat meat. If Americans reduced their meat consumption by 10% it would free 12,000,000 tons of grain – enough to feed 60,000,000 people (the population of Great Britain). And if all Americans became vegetarian, it would free enough grain to feed 600,000,000 people (the population of India). Can you imagine what a difference would be made if all these people became vegan?

A Note on Stinkiness

Research has shown that some people with body odour have problems in their personal and social relationships and it is no laughing matter for those with this embarrassing problem. Solving the problem of “stinkiness” will not come from antiperspirant and deodorant sprays that only mask the problem. If people find that despite regular bathing and wearing clean clothes they are still suffering from body odour they should take a good look at their diet and health in general.

Research at the Imperial College in London has shown that some people with body odour have bacteria imbalances (which can occur through use of antibiotics and steroids in particular or a diet high in fat, sugar and red meat). Caffeine and can stimulate the nervous system, which regulates sweating making you possibly sweat more. Strong spices and foods such as curry, garlic and onions is excreting through sweat and can create a strong body odour. I assume a healthy vegan diet without intoxicants is less likely to result in a body odour problem!

Please remember it isn’t necessarily sweat that creates a smell, it is the bacteria on the skin feeding on the sweat that leads to unpleasant odours. Rather than focusing on stopping sweating a long term solution addresses the bacteria through diet and deodorant.

Mineral Salt Crystal Deodorant
Dr Mercola is completely against the use of alum in deodorants and suggests limiting contact with aluminum altogether (especially in antiperspirants). In his article Aluminum Lurks in Crystal Deodorants he makes a good point that aluminum is not needed by the body and therefore it does no harm to prevent exposure. However people exposed to large amounts have been seen to develop Alzheimer’s Disease and even cancer.

So Why Does the Health Food Store sell it?

Faith in Nature was launched more than thirty years ago by Rivka with an aim to produce products from natural sources which are kind to the environment and the user too. Faith in Nature do not conduct animal testing and are on the BUAV list (Leaping Bunny Standard).  It is understandable why a consumer would trust this brand and buy a deodorant without worrying about safety issues. Faith in Nature describe their solid crystal deodorant as eliminating odour-causing bacteria and “allows perspiration without body odour”. The deodorant is vegan and has the Vegan Society logo, and is made from pure ammonium alum. Interestingly it is marketed as a natural product free from toxins.

What is Ammonium Alum?

I was not aware until recently but ammonium alum has had a lot of controversy. Faith in Nature’s Stand on Ammonium Alum After contacting Faith in Nature about their reasons for using alum I was delighted to get a reply, yet I was concerned at the quality of response:

“Our ammonium alum is a nature identical form of the natural mineral rock, We understand that it has a very good safety performance. Whilst it is not natural as such, but is a man made product. There is no waste material that goes into the crystal and all .the ingredients are of top quality, made under Good manufacturing practise.”

Eeek well spelling and grammar aside they haven’t actually answered my concern in relation to safety and their personal ethics in providing products that are both natural and completely safe for consumers.

Deodorants vs Antiperspirants

Antiperspirants are supposed to work by both constricting and blocking your sweat glands. The aluminum used in antiperspirants (not deodorants) are absorbed into your body and broken down, releasing the aluminum. The aluminum in deodorants (usually potassium or ammonium alum) lies on the skin in a thin layer and makes it alkaline stopping bacteria from growing and creating bad odours. It is likely that limited exposure to alum will not cause harm yet is it really worth the risk?

In the United States the FDA has required a new label on antiperspirants saying that people with impaired renal function (who have trouble shedding environmental toxins) and children should not use these products. Many in the industry are complaining due to lack of scientific evidence, but someone at the FDA seems to believe in “prudent avoidance”!

Is Ammonium Alum Safe?

A 2007 Daily Mail article has Dr Exley suggesting caution with natural deodorants:

“There are some non-aluminium- based antiperspirants but they don’t work as well. Myth and legend tells us aluminium is safe but reality shows us not that it isn’t safe but that we don’t know. Not knowing is not a reason for assuming safety.”

Dr Exley said manufacturers used aluminium in deodorants because it was very effective in preventing sweating.

The Vegan Alternatives

There are no peer reviewed studies as of yet that prove or disprove the safety of aluminum alum and so it pays to be cautious. I think for now I would suggest staying away from ammonium based deodorants and antiperspirants.

Safe options for vegans include Aromaco and Aromarant from Lush and High C Roll-on Deodorant from Aubrey Organics. Brace yourself for new reviews on deodorants…

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Here are a handful of my favourite home remedies to bring out natural highlights and have healthy looking hair. As usual the recipes are suitable for vegans and with the added benefit of being safe for use during pregnancy.

Infused Herbal Hair Rinse

Dark hair can be rinsed with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and certain herbs to both condition and enhance hair colour

• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
• 1 pint boiling water
• ½ pint apple cider vinegar
• Muslin bag

Place the dried herbs in the muslin bag and put in a saucepan adding the boiling water. Lower the heat and cover pan with a lid. Simmer for five minutes and let it steep until cold. Allow the liquid to cool and add the apple cider vinegar mixing carefully. To use simple pour over hair after shampooing, then finish by rinsing with clean water.

Henna Dye for Blue Hair Highlights

Lush’s Caca henna makes an excellent choice of dye for dark hair. Apply lemon juice mixed with olive oil to hair in random sections from root to tip and leave for ten minutes. Go out into the sun for fifteen minutes. Lemon juice is not advised for lightening dark hair as it can make it look orange or brassy. However as this will be followed up with henna we can get away with it! Use either caca noir or brun for bluish tones in hair. Read Lush Les Cacas review for detailed instructions about how to use the henna.

Herbal Hair Mask for Dark Hair

Rosemary and cloves bring out the highlights in hair, and coconut milk conditions leaving hair soft and silky.

• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried lavender
• ½ teaspoon powdered cloves

Combine ingredients and mix well. Apply to hair massaging carefully to cover all hair. Leave for twenty minutes and then wash and condition as usual.

Herbs to Enhance Dark Hair

Herbs that are recommended for dark hair include comfrey, elderberries, , nettles, raspberry leaves, bay leaves, rosemary, burdock root and sage. Natural herbal remedies enhance dark hair without damaging it like chemical treatments. These homemade remedies condition the hair and leave it stronger and shinier. Home treatments are inexpensive, easy and more environmentally friendly (cutting out packaging etc).

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1) MyLot.com

MyLot is an interesting site for those who enjoy spending time idled away chatting in forums. Any topic can be discussed on MyLot, except the rather secretive earning formula. No one is clear on how you get paid, though it appears the higher quality posts get rewarded. Default payout of MyLot is $10 via PayPal and it can take a little time to get to that. The site is best approached by those who like to communicate with people around the world- the time that may have been spent on other forums can be paid for on MyLot.

2) Ciao.co.uk

For those who have an interest in writing, the consumer review site Ciao is a good option. The site is a community site so you get paid per member rate. This means that you need to be involved reading and rating other reviews to be noticed to get a decent amount of reads. This site can offer a good amount of extra pocket money. Ciao is a fantastic site which offers consumers the chance to find out about products. Members benefit from their reviews being read (and hopefully being appreciated!). Ciao is more about learning something and getting on with the rest of the community.  The main reason that I like Ciao is because I like the way the rating system works, and the ‘comments’ function is my favourite part where members can voice their thoughts on your opinion. Ciao also offers a ‘Premium Fund’ where extra money is given to high quality reviews. Ciao has something that other paid writing sites have failed to match. It is more welcoming; the community is particularly friendly when you are new. You do need a UK bank account as they pay via bank transfer, but the bonus is you don’t get hit with the Paypal money receiving charge!

3) Bukisa.com

Since Associated Content have changed their policies with regards to payments to international writers many are seeking viable alternatives. Bukisa is a good option in my opinion. It takes mere minutes to join the site, and it is free to join. The site lets you republish your own content though it prefers original content. make sure you choose the appropriate license when you publish your work if you don’t want others to use your article. I did notice the license is set to creative commons by default and you have to select the drop-down to change it. You get paid  via PayPal within about thirty days of the end of the month in which your account balance reaches the minimum $10. You get paid according to the set ‘Bukisa Index’ per 1000 page views and the index varies per month but is has been around the 3.4 mark meaning $3.40 per 1000 page views. Now for the real bonus- you own the content therefore you can republish it anywhere and get paid again. I would say if you write for Ciao or Dooyoo that it is worth spending a few extra minutes to republish on this site and get some additional pennies.

* the above links are referral links so I would get a small bonus for anyone who signs up (no difference to your own future earnings of course).

Other sites you may like to consider:

Dooyoo.co.uk (they pay via cheque – minimum £50 payout, and have an annoying Dooyoo Miles system which takes some getting used to).

Suite101 (for the more serious writers wanting to learn about SEO etc- this site has editors who will flag anything that contravenes their guidelines). It takes a lot of time and effort to make money, and applying for the site is more difficult too.

Demand Studios are now accepting UK writers, and have a stricter application process -they are pretty selective too. Many excellent writers get rejected the first few times. They do pay around $15 per article and there are many writers who think that is a good deal for short articles that don’t take much time. It depends on whether you want to “churn and earn” or have a good quality article which passively earns you good money over time.

iStockphoto is a good tip for creative designers and photographers. Many people make a decent living or sideline by offering their photographs here. It isn’t easy as the site has become very big and it requires imagination to offer something new that people will pay for.

If you do decide to go for trying any of these sites – good luck and let me know how you get on!

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1 ) To Help Stop World Poverty

It is estimated that around 760 million tons of grain is fed to farmed animals so that people can eat meat.  Far more people could be fed with that amount of grain versus the amount of meat. The Worldwatch Institute claims, “Continued growth in meat output is dependent on feeding grain to animals, creating competition for grain between affluent meat-eaters and the world’s poor.” Contrary to uninformed arguments that not eating meat would lead to problems in agriculture. If everyone gave up eating meat, we could feed about seven times the population that we currently do without using any additional farmland.

2 ) Lower Carbon Footprint

A United Nations report finds that eating meat causes almost forty per cent more carbon emissions than all the cars, trucks, ships and planes in the world combined. It takes around twenty times more fossil fuel to grow meat compared to the equivalent weight of vegetables. Not producing meat will lead to lower gas prices and reducing the use of precious fossil fuels. And now the South American rain forests are being destroyed to make room for livestock this is having a negative impact on oxygen levels.

3 ) To Preserve Land

Cattle overgrazing is destroying the land at an unsustainable rate.  At takes a minimum of two hundred years to develop an inch of topsoil. In the past two hundred years the USA have lost about seven inches due to animal farming.

4 ) Reduce Pollution

The mass production of meat produces an excessive amount of manure that ends up polluting both the nearby rivers and streams and kills fish. Many reports show higher rates of respiratory problems, miscarriages and neurological diseases among people who live near factory farms.

5 ) Avoid Mad Cow Disease

Mad cow disease takes years for the disease to show up in humans. There is more of a risk in America as unlike their European counterparts they didn’t follow advice on stopping the unnatural feeding of animal protein to cows. Despite the third case of mad cow disease in the US in 2006 the USDA scaled back their testing. This article is just one example of a BSE cover up in 2010

It seems that avoiding cow meat is the only sure way of avoiding Mad Cow Disease.

6 ) Avoid Bird Flu

The World Health Organisation states that in the event of the mutation of the avian flu virus- it could even be caught touching eggshells contaminated with the virus (eating the meat and eggs would be more dangerous).

7 ) Ward off Obesity

Meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than vegans.

8 ) Live Longer

Vegetarians live an average of seven years longer than meat-eaters do. Studies show that vegans tend to live about fifteen years longer.

9 ) Show Respect for Life

Despite all of the technology man has manufactured we cannot manufacture life from scratch. I believe we don’t have the right to take the life of any living being. One of my heroes Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as say “The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men.” I cannot agree with this more.

10 ) Cool Guys Don’t Eat Meat

Everyone knows someone who feels their masculinity is threatened if they stop eating meat. Tell that to Andre 3000, Nelly, Tobey Maguire and professional skater Ed Templeton. See this list for more famous vegetarians and vegans. It appears successful people tend to favour conscious eating habits.

11 ) Protection from Cancer and Heart Disease

Studies suggest that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease than meat-eaters. Drs Dean Ornish and Caldwell Esselstyn have used a vegan diet to prevent and reverse heart disease with a 100% success rate. Vegetarians have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters.

12 ) To Keep a Healthy Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Level

Meat-eaters often consume more bad fats that clog arteries leading to higher blood pressure and resulting in higher cholesterol levels.

13 ) To Lower the Risk of Diabetes

Meat eaters have a higher rate of diabetes- possibly because they consume less whole grains, fruits and vegetables than vegans and vegetarians.

14 ) To Save Money

A well planned meat free diet is a lot cheaper, and as mass production of meat is subsidised via taxes the prices seen in supermarkets do not reflect the real cost of meat.

15) Conserving Precious Water

It takes more than four hundred gallons of water to grow and supply a pound of beef compared to only fourteen gallons of water for a pound of wheat.

16 ) Preserve Rare Animal Life

It has been estimated that for each hamburger made from beef raised in the rain forest- approximately twenty-five different plant species and numerous birds, mammals and reptiles are destroyed.

17 ) To Keep Bones Healthy

Studies show that at the age of 65, the average meat-eater has twice the bone loss of their vegetarian counterparts. It is likely to be excess protein consumption that leads to poor retention and absorption of calcium.

18 ) Eating Meat is Bad for Health

Beef and other meat products increase your chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and even impotence.

19 ) Compassion for Animals

Factory farming crams animals in filthy spaces and horrible conditions.  Cattle are subjected to abuses such as having their horns sliced off, branding with chemicals and castration for males (often with no painkillers). Many animals live in their own waste, are forced to constantly breathe in ammonia, and are fed hard to digest cheap food. When time for slaughter comes animals are shipped without food or water to the slaughterhouse, where many of the animals are still conscious throughout the process.

20 ) Reduce Toxic Exposure to Chemicals

Meat is usually treated with chemicals and preservatives to help them look more appealing and stay fresher. These chemicals can be toxic and the EPA estimates that about 95 percent of pesticides in a meat-eaters diet come from eating meat, fish and dairy. Fish is more problematic as it contains carcinogens and metals such as mercury and arsenic that cannot be eliminated by cooking them.

21 ) Spiritual Benefits

According to Vedic philosophy and many religions, eating meat hampers spiritual development. The bad karma gained from meat eating results in a lower vibration.  Some people claim that when animals are slaughtered, negative emotions like fear and anger leak into their cells and remain in the flesh for the meat-eater to absorb when they eat it.

22 ) Mental Benefits

People who stop eating meat often describe a mental fog being lifted after adopting a vegetarian diet. This effect is amplified when becoming vegan (as found by Steve Pavlina).

23 ) Cows Are Sacred

Cows are sociable gentle animals. In Vedic philosophy the cow is likened to the mother as she gives milk. Studies have found that cows have different personalities and even grieve when their friends or family members die. More reasons to not eat cows are here and reasons to forsake dairy in Cruelty free Dairy.

24 ) The Best Tasting Food is Meat-Free

If you don’t believe me get yourself down to your local Hare Krishna temple and eat some prasadam. No other food tastes as good!

25 ) The Human Body is Not Made for Digesting Meat

I’m risking getting flamed for this one- but this is what I believe. Looking at the human body and teeth with flat rear molars for grinding, weaker stomach acid and alkaline saliva it is clear that human body is not carnivorous. Meat putrefies in around four to five hours and bodies suited to digesting meat have a straight and short intestinal tract to avoid poisoning. The human intestinal tract shares characteristics with herbivores being around ten times the body length to fully absorb nutrients from plant matter and grain.

26 ) Following My Ancestors Diet

Surprisingly the ADA (American Dietetic Association) finds that “most of mankind for most of human history has lived on a vegetarian or Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet”. This is true in my own family, and many live to their nineties. The vegetarians suffer less illness and are fitter and younger looking.

27 ) Avoid Food Poisoning

Meat-eaters get food poisoning more than vegetarians. Meat is often frozen and during transportation can thaw and refreeze making it a breeding ground for bacteria. Estimates hold meat responsible for around eighty percent of food poisoning cases.

28 ) To Avoid Eating Body Waste

Meat contains the animal’s waste and it has been said that leftover blood and urine are the flavouring elements in a hamburger.

29 ) To Eat The Right Amount of Good Quality Protein

It is estimated the average American eats three to four times the recommended daily protein intake. The excess protein can cause a lot of related health problems due to the excess nitrogen in the blood.

30 ) To Raise the Vibration of Human Society

How can we live in a peaceful society when millions of innocent animals are being slaughtered? I believe in ahimsa or nonviolence.  The words of Mahatma Gandhi sum it up perfectly: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

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