Evening Primrose Oil: Great for Natural Labor

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I have always wanted to have a natural labor. I’m almost 9 months pregnant (due 2/28). Since I am now coming to the end of my pregnancy, I have researched ways to make Natural Labor more attainable. Starting at 37 weeks I began taking Evening Primrose Oil. You can grab it in tablet form, much like fish oil at many drugstores (I grabbed mine at Walgreens) and health food stores. I take 3 1,000 mg tablets a day. Be sure to talk to your doctor or midwife first before using it, just to be on the safe side.

How it works:

According to the National Institutes of Health, evening primrose oil is high in prostaglandins and contains gamma-linolenic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid. Prostaglandins soften the cervix so that it is ripe to begin dilation and effacement as labor progresses; they are naturally produced in higher amounts by the body in preparation for labor and delivery. The use of evening primrose oil to start labor has been around for a long time, and many midwives swear by this technique when helping pregnant patients prepare for delivery. Evening primrose oil does will not start labor, but helps prepare for it and helps the process move along. It allows the baby’s head to engage in the pelvis, encouraging dilation. (source) Another benefit of using EPO is that it is said to help avoid tearing, or lessen any tearing that may occur because it also softens the birth canal walls. If doing perineal massage, they often recommend using EPO as well.

Read more: How to Use Evening Primrose Oil to Start Labor

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A company to LOVE: Ava Anderson Nontoxic

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If you frequent EWG’s Skin Deep Database as much as I do (I’m constantly checking it), you would know how rare the image to the left is: a company with most/all products ranked “0.” In other words, a company with all products virtually completely free of toxins. This is how Ava Anderson Non-Toxic‘s personal products rank.

Natasha and I recently tried a plethora of Ava products and are now, to put it simply, Ava junkies.

Ava Anderson Non-Toxic currently has the following lines: Ava Body, Ava Skin, Ava Baby, Ava Sun, Ava Face, Ava Home and Ava Scent.

My favorite of everything we tried would have to be the deodorant (Ava body), which I have been wearing for the past two weeks with amazing results. It goes on almost like a very thick cream in a deodorant stick form, which at first had me doubting its effectiveness, but I am pleasantly surprised to report that it has kept me completely dry and odor free (as well as very smooth!). It also has a slight coco scent which I love.

Equally effective and good smelling (without those toxic artificial fragrances, of course!) are the glass cleaner and hard surface bathroom cleaner. From someone who typically uses just vinegar and water (occasionally some lemon in there) for household cleaning, the surface cleaner smelled AMAZING (peppermint, lavender and tea tree essential oils). I know the same can’t be said about Lysol or other typical (i.e. chemical-laden) home cleaners. Even better, the glass cleaner, which I used with the “green and clean” microfiber cloth, left my mirrors completely streak free (which for some reason I always doubt natural products can do… Windex still has me under it’s grip!).

Natasha is going to write a separate Ava Baby review, but from what I hear she was just as pleased as I was. Next up, we are excited to try the Ava Skin and Ava Face lines! Like I said, Ava junkies!

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Surprising Stat: Paraffin wax

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Paraffin wax is a petroleum byproduct that is whitened with industrial strength bleach in order to create the very wax used for candles.

Paraffin wax off-gases 11 known toxins while burning, including toluene, benzene, and formaldehyde, which are known carcinogens.

To avoid these chemicals, try soy candles instead of conventional paraffin wax candles.

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Saying “sayonara” to the Twinkie

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When Hostess recently announced that it would be closing shop, the same thought likely crossed everyone’s mind: no more Twinkies!?

In all liklihood, the company will be bought out and Hostess products will continue to line the shelves of local convenience and grocery stores. While some (who are currently lamenting the death of the Twinkie) will celebrate the continuation of this iconic brand, I will not.

Why? Because these products are purely a concoction of fat and processed chemical ingredients derived from petroleum. In other words, not very good for us. If you are looking at the ingredient label pictured below, you may be saying “oh look, it has vitamins… not so bad.” Food writer Steve Ettlinger, author of the book “Twinkie, Deconstructed,” found that the vitamins ”were, by and large, made from petroleum and fermented in enormous industrial plants mostly in China. To find out that a lot of my vitamins, and in particular the B vitamins in enriched flour that are in a Twinkie, were made from Chinese petroleum just blew my mind.” (Source: New York Times)

Yuck. Also, that fact that Twinkies can last a lifetime (OK not exactly a lifetime, but a very, very long time) while a REAL cake with REAL icing would mold within a week, should have us all second guessing…

We are in the middle an obesity epidemic! Let’s let go of the Twinkie and focus on a healthier future.

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Zulily: FREE $10 Credit! = Norpro Glass Mixing Bowl 10-piece Set ONLY $6.94 Shipped!

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Zulily is offering up a FREE $10 credit when you create a new account! They have TONS of great items to choose from (think gifts for the holidays). One item worth noting is the Norpro Glass Mixing Bowl 10-piece Set with BPA FREE lids (Food Storage Collection sale – select shop by category – home) on sale for $10.99, so just $0.99 after the automatic $10 discount + around $5.95 for shipping. So ONLY $6.94 Shipped!

 

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