This week

In the last issue of Öko-Test, there was an interesting article on green tea. Green tea is said to have many properties from slimming, to helping the cardio-vascular system to preventing cancer because of its complex make up of molecules such as polyphenols.

Unfortunately because green tea is predominantly cultivated in East Asia, there are many questions that arise for its safety of consumption. Alone last year’s nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima, Japan poses questions of radiation exposure. But apparently, there are other more pressing problems when it comes to analysing the content of green tea.

Take China:

Tea passes through many hands before it steams in your cup. This is especially true for green teas. Because it often comes from China, a country where the cultivation of tea – unlike in India or Kenya – has traditionally been more fragmented: a farmer’s family who has their house usually in the middle of the farm, go about their business on their own and continually deliver small harvests to a cooperative. The rights to be allowed to cultivate a particular piece of land, are often passed down from generation to generation.

Sounds idyllic – but exactly that can be a big problem for the importers. For if a thousand farmers deliver to a collection point, it can hardly be traced, who has been sloppy, if there is something wrong with the tea. Excessive amounts of pesticides on one field? It is lost in the blend! Identification of each delivery by computer? Systematic analysis of pesticides?

But to demand no use of pesticides, or at least analytical reports for every tea would be an illusion: in a market with rising global demand no retailer relies on delivery to Germany. Importers from other countries do not even ask such questions, the consequence of the importer Öko-Test interviewed: he has moved almost their entire business in China to organic products (even if this tea will disappear later in conventional mixtures) and yet has each sample tested for pesticides in Germany, before the complete delivery is ordered. Better safe than sorry.

Exposure to radiation?

There are more pressing problems!

A whole new East Asian problem exists since last spring: what about radioactivity? Only last year almost all Japanese tea came from harvests from Fukushima. Only now the supplies are slowly but surely running out - and the tea of ​​the 2011 harvest hits the shelves. Not an easy procedure. Today, those who import food from Japan to the EU, have to register first, and if necessary submit certificates. Additional controls should also ensure that no irradiated product comes to us.

Elsewhere in the industry they consider, however, whether the tea trade with Japanese teas is still worth it after Fukushima, says one supplier. The main problem is not the radiation, but rather the pesticides. Japanese teas have been again and again conspicuous in that respect. Discontinuing Japanese tea would anyhow only be a loss for connoisseurs. The highly-priced green tea from Japan can be found almost exclusively in a specialty store.

In tea cultivation, the use of pesticides is apparently still widespread. Even now, Öko-Test has demonstrated up to 14 different pesticides in a single product. This is clearly too much, even if it is only in traces in most cases. Although Öko-Test  has found increased amounts flavoured tea - sometimes the amounts are even higher ​​than would normally be allowed at present in tea. However, there is no statutory maximum amounts of flavoured teas for the end product, but only for the ingredients, for example flowers or lemon peel. Because here the authorised levels are above those of pure tea, it may be that in flavoured tea you find much higher pesticide levels which is legal. But a tea bag is a tea bag – flavoured or not. Therefore, Öko-Test aligned themselves for flavoured tea with the legal requirements of non-flavoured tea.

Tea with oil? In 17 of the products Öko-Test had commissioned for testing the laboratory found residues of mineral oil. This can be dissolved from the printing ink, for example, found in carton made from recycled material. But answers to the question, what effect mineral oil has in the body, research is still in its infancy. For tea, it is even likely that only a small part - or nothing – is transferred into the tea. Nevertheless, oil is an unwanted impurity in the tea, which is preventable, as demonstrated by several manufacturers.

Radioactive particles: could the tea after Fukushima be radioactively contaminated? This is what Öko-Test has tested for all teas that could come from affected areas. In fact, in some samples traces of radioactive particles such as occur only in atomic fission where found. The fact that the particles originate from Fukushima cannot really be established. It is much more likely that it is a remnant of past nuclear tests - as weak background levels may be detectable in food even after decades in many regions of the world. In any case, the amounts in the tested products, where far below the limits, at which food is rejected.

Aroma from the laboratory: if a tea is flavoured it should be with fruit extracts, herbs or flowers. On other teas the ingredients list already reveals, that it contains ”natural flavouring” or simply “flavour”  - that is, substances of a very large group of substances, behind which lurk mostly synthetic or biotechnological flavours, but usually no fruit extracts. If the ingredients list mentioned “natural lemon flavour with other natural flavours”, ”raspberry flavour” or the like, Öko-Test had the laboratory examine, what really is inside. The result: every time, synthetic or biotechnological flavours were present in the tea.

Ref: Öko-Test February  2012

Reminder

Have a look at my Facebook page, where I post regularly links to articles, advice and other interesting infos.

New

This week, Zone Bébé will take delivery of I&M products, something for people suffering from allergies as well as some new hair products.

Tip

With the current cold spell, you need to care especially for the sensitive skin of the face. My daughter came home from school the other day and her cheeks where all dry and red. Here is a perfect remedy for dry winter skin:

Martina Gebhardt Winter balm, nourishes and protects the skin from cold, wind and bad weather.

7.85€ for 15ml

Next week’s newsletter

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

As I already reported on my facebook page, this week Öko-Test has reported that it is official: Sophie the Giraffe should not be sold! Back in November of last year, they reported about the fact that too much nitrosable amines dissolved from the rubber, which convert to carcinogenic nitrosamines within the body. Upon request by Vulli, the manufacturer of Sophie, Öko-Test was banned from saying that Sophie should not be sold, but not from publicising the findings of the test. In the end, the injunction was lifted. Vulli admits the increased amount of nitrosable amines, but also refers to the EU regulations for toys, which allows a maximum limit of 1mg/kg. The German Consumer Goods Ordinance only allows 0.1mg/kg! The courts referred to this guideline, and applied their judgement. Even if the EU regulation should come into force by July 2013, Germany will probably not apply it.

Öko-Test’s recommendation: should you already have bought Sophie, bring it back to the shop and demand your money back. Well, that goes for Germany!

Now, I wonder how this will reflect here in France…

More details (in German) can be found here: judgement

A lowdown on nitrosamine can be found here on Wikipedia.

Ref: Öko-Test 24 January 211

Have a good week.

Reminder

Have a look at my Facebook page, where I post regularly links to articles, advice and other interesting infos.

New

Zone Bébé is currently investigating a new product line by I und M, a small producer in Berlin. Apart from hair products, comprising of different shampoos and hair conditioners, they also have a line of products for people suffering from skin problems such as dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema. A product line free of perfume and alcohol, with a very good rating by Öko-Test. Watch this space!

Tip

Last week, I announced the arrival of some local rose floral water. Recently during my research, I found that using rose floral water in cold compresses to cool down forehead, cheeks or as wrap around the calves is calming, and most of all helps to reduce a fever.

Organic rose floral water, 250ml at 9.50€

Next week’s newsletter

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

It has been a while since my last newsletter… but here at Zone Bébé towers, there have been many changes! Too many to accommodate in the time available. But – here is the New Year, and here I start again to write my weekly newsletters (well, I’ll try).

First of all, a very happy New Year 2012 to you all, making use of the French habit, to express New Year’s wishes well into January! May this year be an exceptional one! And the forecast has been for exactly that: 13 full moons alone, 3 Friday 13ths and many astrological constellations that bring about change. 

This week, I want to share my research in order to just give you some food for thought, some ideas, and opinions in general.

More and more do we read about the connections between the environment, food and day-to-day contact with certain ingredients and diseases such as cancer, skin and respiratory problems, to name just a few. Even though in general, the medical opinion tends towards “we don’t know the connection”. But what is stopping us from adjusting our daily life to exclude these factors, as prevention alone? The more I read, the more I try to change my life style and that of my family. In the end, what do I have to lose? More like: what can I gain? An improved health, more energy and a general well-being…

And basically that is why I have started Zone Bébé, to make inoffensive products, in best organic quality available.

Here are some links that are very interesting, that show that we all need to wake up a bit.

Have a good week.

Developing cancer in children

A very disturbing account (unfortunately in French) on the development of cancer in children, in form of a report to President Obama. This does require reflection, especially by the authorities, and not just in the US.

Chemicals in food and cosmetic products

Again a disturbing account of the findings of parabens in cosmetics, another topic that keeps reappearing.

Food rules

Even those these refer to anti cancer rules, they form basis of a very good guideline to a healthier lifestyle for anybody. Even adopting just part of it, will give us a certain benefit.

Reminder

Have a look at my Facebook page, where I post regularly links to articles, advice and other interesting infos.

New

Zone Bébé has taken delivery of two new products by Sylviane Reina, our local provider of essential oils, carrier oils and floral waters:

Organic sweet almond oil, 60ml at 8.70€

Organic rose floral water, 250ml at 9.50€

Next week’s newsletter

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

The Christmas planning is in full swing. We are getting bombarded with offers from everywhere, the supermarkets are full of Christmas things and I am sure you are starting to feel that nagging feeling that you have to start too. Take a little moment to reflect, what Christmas really means and what the media has made of it in recent years. Sit down, brew yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee (loads of choice at Zone Bébé J) or some mulled wine and relax. And while you are relaxing, have a look at this funny video by Harry Enfield:

27 days to go!

And if you need some gift ideas for babies, or mums, grandmothers, aunties, cousins etc. let me help you.

Have a good week.

Reminder

It is the season of colds, flus and coughs. If you are searching for some natural remedies, have a look at last year’s blog. A two-part feature on natural remedies, that could alleviate the symptoms.

Part 1 covering  fever, coughs and colds

Part 2 covering sore throats, ear aches, diarrhoea and tummy aches

My favourite recipe for mulled wine

Since it is getting cold at night now, I thought it could be a good idea to share my favourite hot wine recipe. Although easy, you may prefer to buy the ready-made spice mixture. I have recently seen a variety of mixes at Brittain’s in Valbonne.

What you need:

1 organic lemon, 5 cardamom pods, 1 x 2cm piece of ginger, 1 x 750ml bottle of red wine, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 cloves, 4 tbsp brown sugar

What you do:

1. Rinse the lemon with hot water and dry. Peel with a potato peeler. Juice ½ the lemon.
2. Slightly split the cardamom pods with a sharp knife. Peel the ginger and cut into slices.
3. Add the wine, ginger, spices, sugar, ca. 10cm of the lemon peel and 1tsp of lemon juice to a saucepan.
4. Heat on medium heat with a closed lid (do not bring to the boil!) and leave to infuse for about 1 hour.
5. To serve, reheat and drink immediately.

Tip:

Do not use the cheapest wine as it will just spoil the taste.

Do not boil the wine as all the alcohol will evaporate and the lemon will develop a bitter taste.

You can also add some orange slices, or replace the lemon with oranges.

And still…

It is still time for this wonderful advent calendar filled with 24 different varieties of organic teas and infusions numbered from 1 to 24 in a decorative cardboard dispenser by Sonnentor. So why not treat yourself or loved ones?

It is available at 4.95€ per box.

New

Zone Bébé will take delivery of a new product by Arc en Sels, Sheabutter with 40% Argan oil, perfumed with essential oil of Lavender.  50ml at 14.50€

Next week’s newsletter

Öko-Test has a very interesting feature in its December issue, instead of revealing the baddies in their test of toys, this time they have established a list of toys that can be bought with a good conscience. I shall let you know next week.

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

We have just been back from a weekend in Germany. And the first Christmas markets are already in full swing. Even though early, it was lovely to just meander, having a look and drink one or the other obligatory mulled wine (even though temperatures were mild considering the time of year). It does get you into the Christmas spirit… 32 days to go!

And if you need some gift ideas for babies, or mums, grandmothers, aunties, cousins etc. let me help you.

Have a good week.

Teething problems – teething rings

The typical passion of teething baby is chewing on hard objects. Therefore there are teething rings. Half of the products in the test by Öko-Test can be safely offered by parents to their children. However, some release too much dye and are full of problematic substances.

During the first months of baby’s life, it explores the world with its mouth. Everything is licked with relish and its nature is examined: mum’s blouse, the foot of the favourite doll, daddy’s thumb. When the first teeth show the little ones have the urgent need to chew on anything they can get their hands on. Babies, who get nothing at this stage for biting, can quickly start to whine.

Much of what kids grab does not really belong into their mouths. But at least baby toys should not be problematic in this regard. However, very often they are. That, Öko-Test  tests show again and again. This is also confirmed by the letters from their readers. For example, Nadine Schade who bought a wooden pram chain for her son (4 months) wrote: ”He likes it very much; unfortunately I’ve found that the colour comes off. Of course he takes the wooden parts in his mouth – and afterwards his chin was full of red colour. ”

An alternative may be teething rings. If you believe the suppliers, they are pretty much the safest thing a baby can put into its mouth. Öko-Test wanted to check this and bought 16 products, including both conventional plastic and wooden models, a product of natural rubber, one of unpainted birch wood. In the laboratory, it was examined whether pollutants are present and whether paint or small parts could come loose.

The test result

Many tested products are in order, some manufacturers lag behind: half of the products can be given to children to chew without a problem. Unfortunately, there are a few models, that contain cheap plastics. And some products in the test lost their paint or their colour. This negligence of the manufacturer cannot be understood:  in the last teethers’ test by Öko-Test four years ago, all products were saliva and sweat proof.

One manufacturer still uses harmful phthalate softeners. Three teething rings contained environmentally damaging PVC or other chlorinated compounds. In addition, plasticisers are added to make the brittle plastics pliable. Another teething ring contained among others the phthalate plasticisers DiBP. This is similar from a toxicological point of view as the one defined as teratogenic plasticiser DBP, which is regulated in childcare articles and toys. The established DiBP content of around 700 milligrams per kilogram is not far below the legal limit of 1,000 milligrams of DBP. Öko-Test for years now has been downgrading starting from a content of 100mg. The test shows that soft teething rings can be manufactured from unproblematic plastics.
Tear-off and swallowable small parts could not be criticised in any product. In addition, the filled rings kept all tight - this is important, because a contaminated fluid could for example cause gastrointestinal illnesses.

Not a good solution: one varnished wooden rattle not only contained ethylene glycols, they can also be dissolved partially from the paint. Therefore two points are deducted. The manufacturer wrote us this: ”Existing solvents evaporate after application of the surface materials and make an assessment unnecessary.” In this case, there must have been something that probably went wrong.
How Öko-Test tested

The purchase

Teething rings come in many varieties: most are made ​​of plastic and have varying firm zones, some are also made ​​of wood or natural rubber. Some awaken the playfulness with an attached stuffed animal or security blanket; others are shaped like teddy bears, fruit, and jewellery or key chains. Cool teethers are usually filled with distilled water - after a period in the refrigerator they are supposed to relieve the tension of teething problems. The test covered nearly all varieties.

The ingredients

Depending on their material properties, the teethers needed to complete different tests: coloured textiles and colourfully painted wooden parts were examined for suspected carcinogenic aromatic amines and aniline colour components. For the wood Öko-Test had the formaldehyde content measured. For natural rubber, they tested for the cancer-causing nitrosamines, which may arise with the vulcanisation of rubber. They also wanted to know if the usual suspects like legally regulated phthalate plasticiser and suspected carcinogenic PAHs are contained in the teethers and whether questionable solvents could be released.

The practical test

With a teething ring small parts are not to fall off or flake off - not even when the baby is constantly drooling and nibbling on it. When a part is ingestible, which conditions and forces a teething ring must withstand is regulated in the toy standard EN 71 (Part 1), which formed the basis of the tests.

The evaluation

Products in which the colours are not saliva and sweat proof, were downgraded, whether harmful substances were detected in them or not. Because when biting and sucking, the dissolved dyes are ingested – and this is at best unappetising.

Interview

Caution with analgesics

Dr. Hermann Josef Kahl, Chairman of the Committee for Prevention and early treatment of the Professional Association of Child and Adolescent Physicians

Öko-Test: When do teething problems usually commence and what are the first signs?

Dr. Kahl: For most babies, the first teeth erupt at the age of six months. You can sense it because babies have a strong flow of saliva, often take a fist into their mouths and are particularly cranky. Parents should not act too quickly: all too often all problems are excused by teething. Often, other causes are behind the problems, such as light infections and a sore throat. If in doubt you should always consult a paediatrician.

Öko-Test: What can parents do to distract their baby from the problems?

Dr. Kahl: Teething rings or gentle massages are generally the best methods. And of course: cuddles, caresses, diversion tactics. A medical treatment is not recommended at this age because the risks of side effects are larger than the beneficial effect. Herbal supplements should be given at most in much diluted form and only in consultation with a physician.

Advice

• Simple models are better, but not necessarily made from plastic, there are good models made from rubber or wood.
• Cooling teethers should never be placed in the freezer as they would become too cold and could damage the mucous membranes of the mouth.
• To clean the teethers a good rinse with hot water is sufficient. Do not boil and better abstain from using cleaning agents.
• When the first teeth erupt, do not forget to clean them with a special brush.

For the full test result, please go to the Öko-Test website (in German):

http://www.oekotest.de/cgi/index.cgi?artnr=98918;bernr=07;co=;suche=Bei%DFringe

(copy/paste the hyperlink into your browser, if clicking does not work!)

Ref:. Öko-Test 11/2011

New

Zone Bébé has taken delivery of the popular advent calendar filled with 24 different varieties of organic teas and infusions numbered from 1 to 24 in a decorative cardboard dispenser, this time by Sonnentor. So why not treat yourself or loved ones?

1. Thank you Tea

2. All love Spice-Fruit Tea

3. Fruit Dream

4. Rooibos Vanilla

5. Magic Potion

6. Advent-Tea

7. Runny Nose Tea

8. Ginkgo Concentration Tea

9. Hildegard Relaxation Herbal Tea

10. Green Happiness Tea

11. Bedtime Sweet Tea

12. Winter Night Fruit Tea

13. White Reenergizing Tea

14. Kutz Kutz Herbal Tea

15. Happiness Tea

16. Ginger Energy Tea

17. Cheerfulness-Herbal Tea

18. Sunny Greetings

19. Ginger Lemon Tea

20. Cranberry Enjoyment Tea

21. Rooibos Magic Potion

22. Sea Buckthorn Enjoyment Tea

23. Guardian Angel Tea

24. Heavenly Christkindl-Tea

It is available at 4.95€ per box.

Next week’s newsletter

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

Finally a bit of sunshine is back on the Cote d’Azur. All the excess water is also making an exit. And the run on Christmas can start. 42 days left. I am sure many company/school/ association Christmas dos are planned for the coming weeks. And if you are already on the hunt for present ideas, one idea maybe a gift voucher from Julia Edgely’s Antibes Practice for a baby massage workshop. If you are interested, give her a call: +33 (0)6 27 09 68 57 or send a mail: julia@homeopath.fr.

And if you need some gift ideas for babies, or mums, grandmothers, aunties, cousins etc. let me help you.

Have a good week.

Sophie, the Giraffe

Since her ”birth” - in 1961 in the French Alps on the day of St. Sophia – the squeaky toy Sophie la Girafe accompanies newborns in France, it now has also found a growing popularity for babies  in Germany, reads the advertising of the provider. And: ”Sophie is painted in natural rubber, only with food colouring and has the same properties of a baby dummy.” Admittedly, Sophie is really cute. But unfortunately, in the laboratory considerable quantities of nitrosatable substances released from the rubber. Nitrosatable substances can transform in the body to carcinogenic nitrosamines. They can occur in the manufacture of rubber products, but are technically avoidable. Another problem: the rubber contains elevated levels of the suspected carcinogenic compound naphthalene. According to the norm, the volume of the squeal is, if not held directly to the ear still ok. Nonetheless who has already purchased Sophie, should be saying “au revoir” .

Overall rating “unsatisfactory”

http://www.oekotest.de/cgi/index.cgi?artnr=11137;gartnr=90;bernr=07;co=;suche=sophie (copy/paste the hyperlink into your browser, if clicking does not work!)

Ref:. Öko-Test 11/2011

P.S. To be continued… since the manufacturer of Sophie did not like this analysis, they took Öko-Test to court. So far, Öko-Test has yet to lose a court battle…

Eliane Zimmermann on how to create a happy ambience

It’s autumn, it is cold, and it is damp.  It gets dark too early. And my reaching in the spice and tea cupboard points toward happiness molecules. After many months I drink Earl Grey tea again, which is enriched with the mood-elevating bergamot oil. It is very easy to prepare yourself: in a box with inexpensive organic black tea (loose or in tea bags)place a piece of folded paper towel on which you have dropped two or three drops of organic bergamot oil to taste, leave it at least a week , and a shake or restack cannot hurt. The particularly mood-lifting furocoumarins are now taken out little by little from the oil (if oil is declared as a cosmetic), so look out for unaltered oil (for food purposes and not for diffusing). These substances increase the light intensity, so to speak, which can be good for the mood, but may provide for undesirable browning of the skin (pigmentation, burns),  if used too much and in combination with certain UV rays.

I smirked at myself when I once again caught myself reaching for nutmeg. The poor brown seed had to stay alone and lonely for months in the dark closet, since the appetite for it was completely gone. Now, the amphetamine-like ingredients are in demand again, driven by nose and instinct. The essential oil of this fruit (or from the surrounding mace), has a stimulating effect on the CNS (central nervous system) when used in a diffuser which may lead to the promotion of concentration, creativity and imagination flow. However, it is suitable only in very small doses and only for healthy adults (although the active ingredient was or still can be included in cola beverages). Here, the nose shows the way:  a little too much oil and nutmeg (and also as a spice in food) is bitter and disgusting.

Eliane Zimmermann, a German naturopath and book author about the safe use of essential oils in therapy and nursing with more than 20 years of experience. She also offers guided botanical tours in the southwest of Ireland. Have a look: http://www.aromapraxis.de/

©copyright by Eliane Zimmermann – http://blog.aromapraxis.de

And last but by all means not least

A very helpful guide by the Ecologist to preparing a greener Christmas, good advice on cards, presents and food…

The Ecologist, the world’s leading environmental affairs magazine, now theecologist.org, was founded in 1970 by Edward Goldsmith. The magazine quickly became a platform for those who would go on to be the leading lights of the environmental movement.

New

This week, Zone Bébé will take delivery of the popular advent calendar filled with 24 different varieties of organic teas and infusions numbered from 1 to 24 in a decorative cardboard dispenser, this time by Sonnentor. So why not treat yourself or loved ones?

1. Thank you Tea

2. All love Spice-Fruit Tea

3. Fruit Dream

4. Rooibos Vanilla

5. Magic Potion

6. Advent-Tea

7. Runny Nose Tea

8. Ginkgo Concentration Tea

9. Hildegard Relaxation Herbal Tea

10. Green Happiness Tea

11. Bedtime Sweet Tea

12. Winter Night Fruit Tea

13. White Reenergizing Tea

14. Kutz Kutz Herbal Tea

15. Happiness Tea

16. Ginger Energy Tea

17. Cheerfulness-Herbal Tea

18. Sunny Greetings

19. Ginger Lemon Tea

20. Cranberry Enjoyment Tea

21. Rooibos Magic Potion

22. Sea Buckthorn Enjoyment Tea

23. Guardian Angel Tea

24. Heavenly Christkindl-Tea

It will be available at 4.95€ per box.

And…

The new Ecolomag for November/December is out.

If you like a copy let me know. Every order will automatically receive a free copy.

Next week’s newsletter

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

Well, even the autumn school holidays have come to an end. And the weather is playing havoc in many areas of France. I hope you are safe, wherever you are. Zone Bébé is looking at things for Christmas. Yes, it’s not long to go now. 49 days… Maybe there will be some ideas that could help your preparations. In the meantime a few tips and hints on baby equipment.

Have a good week.

High chairs

As soon as baby is old enough to discover the world by starting to crawl, to pull themselves up with the help of your furniture and to sit unaided, they will also want to eat at the table with the rest of the family. And this is the time you will be looking at buying a high chair. And your choice of chair should mainly be guided by safety. In the first months because baby’s sitting capabilities are not quite developed and they need a lot of support, but later on because the little ones develop ever new ideas what to do with a high chair. Key point is, always enforced by legal high chair norms that the child should not be left unsupervised while in the chair.

But it is not quite so easy to find the right model: not too big so potential accidents are likely to happen by slipping through, and not too small that it makes it difficult to get baby in and out of the chair. Questions such as how easy is it to get baby in an out of the chair? How well does baby sit in the chair? Does the chair even wobble or tilt? Can the chair easily be adjusted?  Should be part of your decision making process.

All these questions plus a test for harmful substances have been asked and undertaken by Öko-Test in their October issue (in German). http://www.oekotest.de/cgi/index.cgi?artnr=98688;bernr=07;co=;suche=hochst%FChle

(copy/paste the hyperlink into your browser, if clicking does not work!)

Some advice

Some safety equipment such as the safety bar has to be bought in addition.

Seat cushions are offered as size reducers but rarely do fulfill their purpose and are expendable.

For small children, add a small cushion between back rest and child’s back, this way they sit closer to the front, can correctly flex their legs and place their feet and still sit safely.

An optimal seating position is reached, when the child can rest the whole foot on the foot rest.

Very small children should not sit for too long in a highchair, as this position is new and their little backs have to get used to it.

Ref:. Öko-Test 10/2011

And another word on…

… Baby walkers

The question was what do experts think of these baby walkers?

Here is the answer by the Federal Association for more Security for children in Germany:

We do not think anything of these walkers. Even though they increase baby’s range, they limit physical motion and even hinder learning processes. Many experts believe that these contraptions put baby at risk rather than providing a benefit.  Many severe accidents happen with these walkers, which could be avoided if they would not be used in the first place. Some countries such as Canada, have gone as far as banning the sale of the walkers because of the accident risk.

Ref:. Öko-Test 10/2011

And more advice…

… on colouring pencils

Again , in a recent test by Öko-Test about colouring pencils, the verdict was atrocious.

In many brands carcinogenic and hormone acting plasticisers were found at levels which are illegal for toys.

One general advice to be more or less on the safe side, buy pencils made from natural wood, since most harmful substances are in the varnish of the pencil.

http://www.oekotest.de/cgi/index.cgi?artnr=98607;bernr=07;co=;suche=buntstifte

(copy/paste the hyperlink into your browser, if clicking does not work!)

Ref:. Öko-Test 10/2011

New

Next week, Zone Bébé will take delivery of the popular advent calendar filled with 24 different varieties of teas and infusions, this time by Sonnentor. So why not treat yourself or loved ones?

Also a few new types, such as Evening and Respiration infusions will be available.

Watch this space!

Next week’s newsletter

We’ll be looking at some suggestions on a greener Christmas and some gift ideas.

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

I think we have to accept that summer is finally over. The cats join the blanket in the evening, and I am sure the first fire in the chimney won’t be far off. It’s time to look at the different infusions Zone Bébé has to offer to make those cold evenings more bearable… AND, perfect for baby’s sippy cup…

Sippy cups

Babies are eager to learn: at around their first birthday, some a few months earlier, others later, want drink independently like their parents. But every beginning is difficult, coordination is difficult - and to try to drink from an open cup or glass, the liquid sometimes ends up everywhere but in the mouth.
In order to facilitate children’s transition from breast or bottle to drinking from a cup, sippy cups or beakers are offered. Condition is that the child can hold the cup alone. Handles on the left and right simplify the grip.

The spouts of the cups are available in different versions. One provider writes about his product: ”The drinking spout made ​​from TPE is soft and allows learning – but also that something can be spilled.” In addition to the soft spouts on offer for children from six months for sensitive gums there are hard spouts for children from twelve months

With the introduction of complementary foods many children get extra drinks. The experts of Network Young Families recommend additional fluid until the third cereal is introduced so at the earliest with the start of the seventh month. This does not include situations with increased fluid requirements, for example, if the baby has a fever or diarrhoea. For one-year olds, it should be about 600 millilitres (ml), preferably water or unsweetened herbal or fruit teas. The reality is different: boys drink only 343 ml, girls only 239 ml, the nutrition report from the German Society for Nutrition points out. Milk is not included here; it counts as a nutrient-rich food.

The cup should not act, however as a solace, so that baby sucks on it for a long time. Sugar and acid-containing beverages such as juice/water mixes can lead to decay of the milk teeth. The problem can be avoided with normal beakers or cups: if the cup initially is filled almost to the edge, baby opens its mouth as soon as the upper lip is moistened. The Mannheim-based paediatrician and Öko-Test consultant Dr. Falko Panzer regards sippy cups only as a gimmick, “When from the outset you get the child used to a normal cup, learning how to drink works extremely well,” he says.

Nonetheless,  sippy cups are very popular with parents, as they are practically indestructible and more or less leakage-free. Öko-Test bought twelve products and had them laboratory-tested for contaminants as well as odour and taste properties.

The Result

Almost everything is good: When buying a sippy cup nothing much can be done wrong: ten of the twelve tested products end the test with “very good” or ”good”. Only one product falls through with a “poor” result.

Many examinations, surprisingly little evidence: traces of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in all the cups. In only one sippy cup slightly higher amounts were detected (a compound greater than 100 micrograms / kg). Otherwise, however, all other cups turned out as unremarkable in the material screening: neither plasticiser (phthalates both legally regulated and alternative plasticisers) or phenolic compounds such as bisphenol A (BPA) were detected in the products. The same goes for heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium or mercury.

Smell and taste okay: Uncleaned all cups exuded an aroma, which in its strength ranged from “just perceptible” to “distinct” and was described by the auditors as ”of plastic”, ”musty” or “sweet”. After a normal household cleaning with warm water and detergent only a weak note was left. Even the taste of still mineral water after 24 hours in the cleaned cups was inconspicuous.

The way Öko-Test has tested

The Purchase

Sippy cups equipped with handles on each side are to facilitate the transition from bottle and the independent drinking from a glass or cup. Most of the purchased cups were provided with the indication from the age of six months. Prices ranged from just under € 2.50 up to almost nine euros.

The Material

The majority of the cup is made ​​of polypropylene, according to data by the provider, the mouth pieces are often made of silicone. A laboratory examined whether or not somewhere PVC/PVDC/chlorinated plastics were processed. Further analysis was made to detect unsafe and harmful plasticisers, phenols such as bisphenol A and contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, some of which are carcinogenic.

Sensory properties

Freshly unwrapped, plastic products often give off an unpleasant chemical odour. This must not be due to substances hazardous to health, but may adversely affect the content’s flavour content of the sippy cup. To test this, six experts in accordance with DIN standard10955 (2004) smelled only on the uncleaned, then rinsed cups and tasted in accordance with standard still water, which was allowed to stand in the cleaned cups for 24 hours.

The Verdict

Ideally, a sippy cup is free of contaminants, does not smell and does not alter the taste of its contents. Therefore, the test result is the composition of the overall assessment of the material and sensory test results and cannot be better than the worst individual result.

Some advice

A cup should always be cleaned with warm water and washing-up liquid before its first use.

Cups with a round bottom (weevil-effect) are not to be recommended should the cup soon be used without its lid.

Only water or unsweetened tea should be given if at all possible, in order to avoid tooth decay.

Ref:. Öko-Test 10/2011

New

Some Christmas catalogues have just arrived, yes, indeed, not long to go… Let me know if you are interested in decorations or ecological wrapping paper and cards.

Next week

Zone Bébé is taking a week off to lovely Corsica. Maybe even bringing back some new essential oils?

If you have a topic, you would like to see, don’t hesitate to suggest it.

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

And now we are in autumn! The change has been pretty drastic after all. Look after yourselves as this is the time to catch colds and flus easily. And I am sure you are already preparing for the autumn holidays, believe it or not, just 2 weeks to the next set of school holidays. Time just flies, ‘la rentrée’ seems only a short while away…

Therapeutic Infant Formula

Infant colic, wind, spitting, diarrhoea - all of these ailments can be a problem for babies and have parents worried. The industry offers special diets. But their usefulness is far from proven. In addition there are harmful substances from the fat and some products contain genetically modified substances.

The first burps in life are considered cute but necessary. Babies rid themselves of excess air they have swallowed with the milk while breast feeding or drinking from a bottle. If the air would remain in the gastro-intestinal tract, it turns into painful bloating. You can help your baby to burp, by taking it into your arms, letting it look over your shoulder and patting gently on the back.

It is best to place a burp cloth over your shoulder. Because with the air, baby usually brings a little milk back up - it is spitting. This burping and spitting is a completely normal process, which must give no cause for concern as long as the baby is growing appropriately and well. The sphincter of the stomach allows a little milk to always flow back into the oesophagus. The oesophagus is so small in infants that it exceeds the capacity and the milk is regurgitated.

Only in very, very few cases there is a reflux disease which requires treatment. If the little ones do not put on enough weight, because they regurgitate a lot of milk, a thickened formula feed may be useful. This is, announce the providers of such products on their packaging, for the milk to better stay in the infant’s stomach, and so the reflux of food into the oesophagus and thus the spitting is minimised.

These products are marketed as dietary foods for special medical purposes. According to dietary regulation, they are ”for the exclusive or partial feeding of patients with a limited, impaired or disturbed capacity to ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism or excretion of ordinary (…) food or nutrition or for patients with other medically related nutritional requirements (…)”.

The industry uses this to make money with a whole series of so-called therapeutic infant formula. Parents who are worried about their babies and abdominal pain, colic, spitting or diarrhoea find on drugstore shelves next to conventional infant formula, a series of special diets. A doctor’s visit is seemingly superfluous.

But are these effective? Has their effectiveness achieved tangible proof in clinical trials? Öko-Test has bought twelve infant formulas, asked the manufacturers for a copy of the studies and had them inspected by a paediatrician and a nutrition expert. In addition, they audited the declaration on the packaging and instructed the laboratory with the analysis of problematic ingredients. Eleven products are sold as dietary foods for special medical purposes, one is called «Dietary Food for infants based on goat’s milk.” All products are declared suitable for babies from birth or from the first week according to the declaration.

The result

Devastating: no product reached a “satisfactory” overall rating. The products do not meet at all the requirements of an infant food or a food for special medical purposes. For quite a few specialty foods there is no reliable clinical data or the benefits are doubtful.

Questionable clinical significance: an increased tendency to spitting does not initially require treatment. Therefore the use in healthy infants does not make sense. Only under medical supervision and for infants with severe reflux disease or grave malnutrition can they be used so that less food is lost through vomiting. In addition, the effect of thickened (“Anti-Reflux – AR-”) foods is of questionable clinical significance: although it can be determined statistically that with AR- foods there is less burping and spitting, but on average there are only slightly fewer i.e. 0.6 less spittings daily.

Therapeutic formulas are out of place in cases of diarrhoea. Two formulas for diarrhoea in the test contain little or no lactose. One product is also enriched with dietary fibre (prebiotics and banana powder). Both are expected to normalise the stools quickly. But: in case of diarrhoea, the primary goal should be to compensate for the loss of fluid, for example, with specific glucose-electrolyte solutions, and then to resume a normal diet. Paediatric societies are against the use of special foods for diarrhoea: they are superfluous and useless.

Soy products should only be used in justified cases. The German Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin  - DGKJ) regards formulas based on soy protein in case of cow’s milk intolerance as suitable, but only in justified cases and after consultation with the doctor. Soy foods are considered in cases of a rare congenital lactose intolerance, a vegan or kosher lifestyle or a diet, where the treatment of cow’s milk allergy is not practical with formula diets. For the nutrition of healthy breast-fed babies, soy foods can only be second choice after cow’s milk foods. The disadvantages of soy protein isolates are phytates, which can reduce the absorption of iron and zinc, and the uncertainty regarding the biological effects of phytoestrogens. In addition, the DGKJ advises not to use soy foods in the first six months of life as a treatment of food allergies. All three soy-based products in the test contained genetically modified ingredients. The tolerance limit of 0.9 percent GM soy has not been exceeded, so that there was no legal requirement to identify it within the ingredients’ declaration.

Also not useful in cases of flatulence: two products in the test are recommended by the manufacturer against constipation and bloating or against infant colic, bloating and diarrhoea caused by lactose intolerance. Both contain partially split proteins from cow’s milk and have reduced lactose content. But so far there is no proof that flatulence is reduced with a lower intake of milk sugar. In the opinion of Öko-Test’s expert, both products are recommended for mild gastro-intestinal complaints, which is not the intention of the legislature in the definition of a food for special medical purposes.

Goat milk does not meet the requirements: under current European law, one product in the test does not meet the requirements for goat’s milk-based infant foods for 0-6 months old babies. Because it corresponds to the initial requirement of an infant formula, for which protein sources from cow’s milk, protein hydrolysates and soy protein isolates are permitted but not goat’s milk. So far the evidence is also lacking that goat milk is a safe and suitable nutrition for infants, especially as the sole source of protein. In addition, there is no controlled study to demonstrate the benefits of a goat’s milk diet for the prevention or treatment of cow’s milk protein intolerance or allergy.

Harmful substances in the fat are of concern: a major problem is the detected harmful fat in the products, the 3-MCPD fatty acid esters. 3-MCPD released from these have changed the renal tubules in animal experiments. The tolerable daily intake (tolerierbare tägliche Aufnahmemenge  - TDI) for 3-MCPD exceed all analysed amounts , two products in the test even by more than tenfold. Although a TDI value for 3-MCPD exists only for adults, and not for infants, and the value relates to a lifelong intake, Öko-Test has applied strict criteria, because the specialty foods are basically used as a sole diet, and fed from birth or from the first week.

The authorities are sleeping

“It is intolerable that the regulatory authorities in Germany do not interfere in the ongoing violations of the law. Products are sold in retail and mail order business as foods for special medical purposes, without meeting the prescribed requirements, and without the ensured medical supervision stipulated by the legislation. ”
Professor Berthold Koletzko, Children’s Hospital of the University of Munich

The way Öko-Test performed their tests

The purchase

Most of the specialty, medical and dairy-free foods we bought in drugstores and large (organic) supermarkets. None of the formula foods recommended by professional bodies that the doctor may prescribe for treatment of cow’s milk protein allergy, were not considered.
The assessment

Öko-Test has commissioned Professor Berthold Koletzko with an expert’s opinion. He heads the department of nutrition and metabolism at the Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital of the University Hospital Munich and is among other things, chairman of the Nutrition Committee of the German Society for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. He has looked primarily at the question of whether the claims by the manufacturers are covered by studies and thus provide benefit for the infant.

The ingredients

Since the infant formulas are enriched with processed vegetable fats, Öko-Test had the harmful substances 3-MCPD and glycidyl analysed. The released 3-MCPD had damaged the kidneys in animal experiments. Because of the increasing cultivation of GM soy, Öko-Test had the soy-based infant formula investigated for genetically modified material.

The evaluation

As long as full-bodied promises are not backed up with solid research, the assessment by the expert cannot be better than ”poor”. And yet, should one benefit be recognisable, it is that baby food should just be free of harmful or controversial ingredients.

Some tips from Öko-Test

The tested specialty formulas should stay where you found them, on the supermarket shelves.

There are many special formulas for babies with diagnosed lactose intolerance, but they should be recommended by the doctor. Maybe they can even be reimbursed by the social security or Mutuelle.

Ref:. Öko-Test 9/2011

New

Some Christmas catalogues have just arrived, yes, indeed, not long to go… Let me know if you are interested in decorations or ecological wrapping paper and cards.

Next week

A few people have requested recommendations for sippy (Learn to Drink) cups, which ones and whether they are recommendable. Especially since they are just so useful! Well, Öko-Test has done us a favour and tested them in their last issue. Next week I will let you know.

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week

So much for autumn! Temperatures of 30°C, literally everywhere in Europe, sunshine and heat, what is the weather coming to? Thank you global warming! And with that mosquitoes are still flying heavily around, annoying everyone and disturbing a good night’s sleep.       (don’t forget essential care’s Mosimix, perfect or young and old!).

This week, I had a look at multi-vitamins for children and I found a very interesting test and article, see below. Also, mark your calendars for this coming weekend with two wonderful events in our area.

Multi-vitamins – a bitter pill to swallow

Many parents know this: the little ones have a hard time with fruit and vegetables. It is therefore understandable that parents are getting nervous when facing the one-sided diet by their offspring.

Nutritional supplements that are specifically designed for children make promises of remedy. Although a normal diet is sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of children according to scientists.

Only doses of vitamin D are useful, which would benefit all age groups.

Despite the dubious benefits of multi-vitamins, Öko-Test sent 15 products from different vendors to the laboratory to be evaluated. They have examined, among other things, whether the composition of the products conforms to the recommended levels of vitamins and - if included -minerals by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung – BfR).
The result

No product tested was rated “very good”, four are at least “good”. More than one-third falls through as “unsatisfactory”.

Especially critical are the fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A because they can accumulate in the body. Some products contain more vitamin A than is recommended by the BfR in food supplements for children aged between four and ten years.  Some products contain an isolated form of beta carotene (provitamin A) which experts assess as being critical.

In four products vitamins B6 and/or niacin are overdosed. Because these vitamins are water soluble, however, and an excess is excreted, there is only one point deduction.

Some products contain either zinc, iron, molybdenum, copper and/or manganese, in one product the caplets even contained four of these minerals. Iron, copper and manganese should not be included in food supplements, according to the BfR. Molybdenum should not be present in preparations for children under ten years, zinc should not be present  for children under 18. Too much iron and manganese quickly turns into a health risk.

Seven products include information on colds and flu or advertise the strengthening of the body’s defences which Öko-Test marks down with negative points. Such effects are not recorded with the intake of vitamin supplements.

Öko-Test’s recommendations: children do not need multi-vitamin preparations. Normal food especially fruit and veg do deliver all that is needed. If your child does not like veg, offer plenty of potatoes and fruit, which cover most of the nutritional requirements. If you believe that your child suffers from a vitamin deficiency, consult your doctor who will prescribe a preparation adapted to the actual need, should there be a need.

Ref:. Öko-Test  Toddler’s  Annuary 2011

For your calendars

October 8^th:

Café Librairie Libellule is celebrating their first anniversary

Et oui, déjà un an !

L’équipe Libellule est heureuse de vous accueillir

SAMEDI 8 OCTOBRE de 10h30 à 17h30

10h30 12h30 Ateliers créatifs : origami, collages …

Concours de dessins (lots Libellule)

13h30 15h30 Contes, Atelier Maquillage, Concours de dessins 16h00 Gâteau D’ANNIVERSAIRE :

1 bougie à souffler tous ensemble

16h30 – 17h30 SPECTACLE DE MAGIE

STRUCTURE GONFLABLE A LA DISPOSITION DES ENFANTS TOUT AU LONG DE LA JOURNEE

POSSIBILITE DE DEJEUNER SUR PLACE

NOUS VOUS ATTENDONS NOMBREUX, c’est l’OCCASION de  FAIRE DECOUVRIR LIBELLULE A VOS AMIS !

Pour plus de renseignements vous pouvez nous contacter au 04 93 12 27 26 – http://www.libellule-librairie.fr/

October 9th:

Une journée cocooning dédiée uniquement à la femme enceinte!/ A day dedicated solely to pampering the pregnant woman !

Taking place in the Château de Bar-sur-Loup from 09:00 – 18:00

Next week

Finally, unless I find more important topics in the meantime… Therapeutic infant formula? Does such a thing exist from the supermarket?  Some helpful pointers next week provided by Öko-Test.

If you have some ideas, wishes or suggestion what you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know: contact@zonebebe.fr.

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé page and click on the “Like” button. Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans