Don't Panic, It's Organic: Top Foods to Buy Organic

When it comes to grocery shopping, not only are nutritious foods a priority but organic foods are becoming more important. While foods contaminated with pesticides, chemicals, hormones, and additives often do not exceed safety tolerances for a single dose of pesticide, most contain multiple pesticide residues- a concern for children and expectant moms.

Since most of us probably cannot afford to buy everything organic, below is a list of top produce that should always be bought organic:

• baby food
• milk
• strawberries
• meat
• apples
• peaches
• celery
• grapes
• lettuce
• potatoes
• tomatoes
• coffee
• rice
• nuts
• raspberries
• bell peppers
  

Fishy Diets Not Just For The Halibut: Babies Who Eat Fish Cut Eczema Risk

Babies with eczema have traditionally been withheld from various foods until they were older, in fear of allergic diseases however recent studies now show that an introduction to fish before the age of nine months can lower the risk of developing eczema.

Although Researchers did not specify the types of fish to be consumed, suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids are not as beneficial in protecting against eczema as once thought, studies show that the introduction of fish into babies' diet can cut the risk of eczema by 25%. With one in five babies having experienced eczema by the age of 12 months, a fishy diet may be a dish worth serving!

Green Genes

Do my genes make me look fat? According to studies, yes and no. Genes in our DNA only account for about 30% of our health problems, meaning that 70% of our susceptibility is due to environmental factors- what we eat, whether we exercise, how much toxins are around us. The lifestyle choices we make can play a bigger role in our health than predisposed genes.

Furthermore, a transition to a healthier, greener lifestyle can possibly alter our given DNA. The study of epigenetics proposes that DNA isn't destiny, and that environmental alterations in genes can possibly be passed down to future generations. So eat your veggies. Do it for your grandkids.

Who Needs Pilates When You Have Surfing: PC Magazine's Top 100 Undiscovered Websites

For all you tech-savvy moms (and dads!) who want to be in the know about the latest and greatest out there in the cyberworld, PC Magazine recently came out with their top 100 undiscovered websites.

Their list ranges from a calorie counting website , to an online book club (installments sent via email), to a personal bill advisor ....and everything in between! This is a great list of sites for moms, providing excellent resources or perhaps just plain entertainment when junior is napping.

Not The Supplement You Had In Mind: Lead Found In Most Women's and Children's Vitamins

A multivitamin would the be last thing you would think would cause harm but recent tests prove otherwise. The FDA has just announced that they found lead in 9 out of 10 brands of vitamins for children and women (including prenatal vitamins). Although the FDA does not consider any of the concentrations to exceed what is safe or tolerable levels, experts on this issue claim there is really no safe level of lead exposure.

Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead poisoning often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death- giving this heavy metal its deservingly bad name.

You can find a full list of the products tested on the FDA's Web site.

Moody Mamas and Sleepless Babes

If there’s one thing that everyone knows about newborn babies, it’s that they don’t sleep through the night, and neither do their parents. But in fact, those first few months are crucial to developing the regular sleeping and waking patterns, known as circadian rhythms, that a child will need for a healthy future.

Some children may start life with the sleep odds stacked against them, though, say Researchers. Babies whose mothers experienced depression any time before they became pregnant, or developed mood problems while they were pregnant, are much more prone to having chaotic sleep patterns in the first half-year of life than babies born to non-depressed moms, studies have found . This disruption of the baby body clock may help set these children up for their own depression later in life.

Although depression does run in families, not all babies born to depressed mothers are doomed with the gene. Parents can encourage a healthier pattern by putting babies to bed and waking them up at the same time every day. Creating rituals around bedtime also help their bodies develop rhythms tied to light. Better yet, sleep when your baby sleeps, nap when your baby naps- all is happy.

A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Veggies Go Down

A Fig Salad or Sautéed Squab with a side of Baby Red Chard? Neither, if Junior can help it. Researchers are now showing that children who turn their noses up to veggies may be doing so due to an identified gene, dubbed TAS2R38, that controls a receptor for bitter flavor. The studies found that children with certain variations of this gene are particularly sensitive tasters.

Bitter-sensitive tykes, however, are not destined to shun vegetables their whole lives. Food preferences can change over time due to nature and nurture. Time to start experimenting with those Brussels sprout recipes!

A Clean Sweep: PVC-free Yoga Mats

There's no better way for new moms to get back in shape than with yoga. But did you know that most sticky slip-free mats are made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a toxic petroleum by-product that sets off carcinogenic fumes throughout its lifetime? Nor is it good to throw them out, because they are not biodegradable!

Good news for all you eco-conscious fit moms! There are non-toxic yoga mats out there made from jute, a natural rubber tapped from trees. These yoga mats are also machine washable and promises to be biodegradable. Another way to do good, feel good, look good!

Ecoflip.org: The Green Craigslist

Being touted as the green Craigslist , Ecoflip.org is slowly gaining a reputation amongst eco-friendly users as the cleaner, greener online classifieds. It provides a local forum for finding reused/ recycled goods, green living tips, and even local green companies.

When you search with their classifieds, you help individuals selling a service or product with a green focus. It offers ecopreneurs a huge community of services, products, and networking. The site is also helpful for moms with recommendations for local yoga centers, baby/ kid products, farmer’s markets- anything your tiny footprint desires!