It has been a while since I did publish the last newsletter. But time did not permit to sit down and think about topics I wanted to write about. Well, now I have had the time and found a topic I would like to share with you. This time, looking at nutrition again and some points of view I came across, providing food for thought (pardon the punJ).

Definitely there are a lot of different approaches and opinions around, and for sure none is anybody’s absolute truth. But I do believe that everybody has to find their own truth.

According to Dr. Hiromi Shinya, commercially available milk can be categorised as rusty fat. He explains that after oil and fat, milk oxidises the most. But what does this mean? Raw milk contains numerous useful substances, amongst which are many types of enzymes such as lactase (needed for hydrolysis of lactose), lipase (needed for hydrolysis of fats) and protease (needed for hydrolysis of protein). Furthermore, it also contains lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein, which is characterised by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immune-regulatory properties.  But commercially available milk has lost all its good properties during processing. The process takes place like this: a machine milks the cow and the milk is stored in a big container. The milk produced by the different farms is then collected in even bigger tanks by the manufacturer. Here the milk is homogenised through stirring, meaning that the raw milk’s fat droplets are made smaller and thus equally dispersed. This has to be done as otherwise the milk fat of approx. 4% in form of droplets would rise to the surface if the milk is left standing. But the process isn’t finished: the homogenised milk has to be pasteurised through heating up in order to prevent the proliferation of microbes and germs. Here there are four different techniques:

1. Steady heating for 30 minutes at a low temperature of 62 to 65°C;
2. Steady heating for 15 minutes or longer at a higher temperature of more than 75°C;
3. Flash heating for a minimum of 15 seconds at a temperature of 72 to 75°C;
4. Flash ultra heat treatment for 2 seconds at very high temperatures of 120 to 130°C (or 1 second at 150°C).

In Europe process number three is mainly used. But enzymes are sensitive to heat: at a temperature of over 48°C, they start to break down; at 115°C they are completely destroyed. Even with a short heating process enzymes are nearly completely lost once the temperature reaches more the 130°C.

This is just part of Dr. Shinya’s opinion about milk consumption amongst humans.

In another chapter of his book he talks about organic food. And his way of looking at it is very interesting.

In nature everything is linked to each other and has an impact on each other, while maintaining a subtle balance. Modern agriculture often uses pesticides, to prevent damage to growth and harvest caused by bugs. The term ‘bug’ is one created by man, as in nature there is no such thing. But good as bad insects deliver a certain nutrient to the plant they inhabit – chitin-chitosan. Once the insect sits on the plant, the plant excretes a small amount of the enzymes chitinase and chitonase, enabling the plant to absorb minimal amounts of chitin from the legs and bodies of the insect and to use it as nutrient. Thus providing nutrients for those creatures that consume the plant. The use of pesticides interrupts this food chain. Instead of chitin-chitosan, the plant absorbs chemicals. Which in turn harms the human beings who consume the plant. No worms or good soil bacteria are found in agricultural land that is regularly treated with chemicals. Since no crop can grow on such infertile ground, artificial fertilisers need to be applied. Plants then grow, but as empty shells without any life energy. One reason why the nutrient content of crops decreases each year.

In today’s agriculture the main goal is to produce good-looking food instead of concentrating on a high content of nutrients. Naturally grown vegetables are often not quite as flawless, showing insect holes in their leaves and size and weight are not consistent. But, it contains a lot of life energy. The price for organically grown food is definitely higher compared to conventionally grown food, but Dr. Shinya considers this as the “price of life”. Only food with living energy can sustain our lives.

If you are interested in Dr. Shinya’s work, the book is available from Amazon.

Reminder

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé Facebook page and click on the “Like” button. I regularly post links to articles, advice and other interesting infos.

Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

New

A couple of weeks ago the UVBio sun protection range arrived at Zone Bébé. SPF 20, 40 and 50 are available as well as After Sun care. Have a look on the Zone Bébé website.

L’écolomiam

This is a ‘hors série’ issue by l’écolomag: 60 recipes that guide you through the seasons, provided by chefs that are known on the French organic scene. Get your free copy from Zone Bébé.

Le Petit Salon du Bébé – Mandelieu

Sunday, 13th May there will be an event for future mums and babies. Different professionals show off their services, from a baby showers, to decoration, to birth preparation, clothes for baby and mum, as well as books and of course organic cosmetics. Come and have a browse. Entry and parking is free. From 10:00 – 19:00hrs. See you there!

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.

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week, I would like to draw your attention to the use of vitamin supplements. Already in earlier tests, did Öko-Test find many to rather be no healthy addition at all. This time several studies put even more question marks on the use of supplemental vitamins. If you are taking vitamins, it is maybe time to look at reviewing your strategies…

Vitamins and minerals in one tablet are being sold as the all-inclusive package to the preservation of health. But more and more studies show: the benefits of such product is questionable, the risks cannot be underestimated.

Without vitamins, nothing works. Our metabolism could come to a halt, because fats, proteins and carbohydrates cannot be assimilated without vitamins. Vitamins are involved in numerous processes in the body. The trouble is that during evolution humans have lost the ability to produce them themselves. They are dependent on an adequate dietary intake.

Although we today have an abundance of food available more than ever before, the supply of vitamins in some cases leaves a lot to be desired. According to the German National Nutrition Survey II, a survey conducted by the Max Rubner-Institute on nutrition for young people and adults, 80 to 90 percent of men and women do not reach the recommended amounts of vitamin D and folic acid. If no iodized salt is used, 96-97 percent of the respondents take too little iodine. In addition, calcium is a critical nutrient, especially for 14 – to 18-year-old girls and older men and women over 65 years.

No wonder then, that resourceful producers everywhere offer vitamin pills. Often they offer in addition to products for the general public, special preparations for children and seniors in their range.

Anyone who wants to be carefree can immediately reach for an A-Z preparation that not only contains all 13 vitamins, but possibly also provitamin A (beta carotene) and on top of that more than ten minerals ranging from calcium and magnesium to the trace elements chromium, copper and selenium. In 2010, according to the health service IMS Health, in pharmacies alone, 5.1 million multi-vitamin packs with minerals and 1.3 million packs without minerals were sold over the counter in Germany.

Coffin nails for supplements

Compared to the last year, sales went down by 10.3% and 14.6% respectively. Consumers seem to have become cautious. Because recently there is increasing evidence that vitamin pills may potentially harm.

With the title “Less is more – nutritional supplements and mortality in older women,” scientists of the journal Archives of Internal Medicine analysed data from 38 772 women. These were at the beginning of the study in 1986 on average 62 years old. By the end of 2008, 40 percent of them had died. In between, they were asked three times about taking dietary supplements. Many supplements increased mortality: multivitamins by 2.4 percent, zinc by 3 percent, iron by 3.9 percent, vitamin B6 by 4.1 percent, and folic acid by 5.9 and copper as much as 18 percent.

The vitamin supporters were indignant. The claims are “frivolous and scientifically not sustainable,” said the company for information about nutrients and nutrition (GIVE) promptly. Critical standards were not adhered to, full and accurate recording of the nutritional status and the dose and formulation of the active ingredients were not specified. In fact, no causal relationship can be detected by such studies. The authors refer themselves to weaknesses in their study. They admit that they cannot exclude benefits such as improved quality of life through the supplements. However, scientists are worried about the long-term safety and see little justification for the widespread use of the products.

“Another nail in the coffin of vitamin E supplementation” provided the German medical journal MMW – advances in medicine. In one study, the fat-soluble vitamin E had increased the risk for prostate cancer in healthy men. Taking a combination of vitamin E plus selenium or selenium alone did not increase the risk it but also did not decrease it. However, very high doses were selected in the study: 400 International Units of vitamin E, which corresponds to just under 270 milligrams (mg), and 200 micrograms (mcg) of selenium. In Germany, available dietary supplements usually contain about 12 mg of vitamin E and 25 micrograms of selenium.

At the end of 2011 the doctors’ journal then added: “Vitamin pills promote strokes.” It was referring to Australian researchers, who were investigating among others the question of whether strokes could be prevented with vitamins A, C and E. As antioxidants, they should intercept free radicals and reactive oxygen compounds in the blood vessels and so slow down the hardening of the arteries. But nope.  At best, it seemed the administration did not affect the rate of stroke, while in some controlled studies, vitamin A, actually increased the mortality rate.

All these studies confirm, what Öko-Test is warning against for years. Beta carotene increased the risk of lung cancer in smokers, the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases also increased. Folic acid does not reduce the risk of developing colon cancer, on the contrary, in men taking folic acid increases the risk of prostate cancer. And high doses of selenium seem to favour diabetes.
Here you find the whole article and the possibility to download the test itself. (In German)
Ref.: Öko-Test 2/12

Reminder

Should you ever be on Facebook, please have a look at the Zone Bébé Facebook page and click on the “Like” button. I regularly post links to articles, advice and other interesting infos.

Maybe even suggest it to your friends? That would be great, thank you!

New

I am in the process of creating a category “Fragrance free” in the mum section of Zone Bébé to start with. Here you will find all items that do not contain essential oils, or perfume. Especially useful for those of you that are prone to allergies, but also for people suffering from eczema or psoriasis.

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.

Have a wonderful week.

Claudia/Zone Bébé

www.zonebebe.fr

Le bio for bébés et mamans

This week, out of interest did I look up the ingredients of an eye cream picked up from an organic shop as well as a shower gel, which was made available in the B&B I stayed in. The eye cream being  Weleda Pomegranate Firming Eye cream, the shower gel that of Compagnie en Provence Soin douche extra pur, olive et lavande . And I thought it would be interesting to have a look at the contents and how they compare to the marketing.

Weleda Pomegranate Firming Eye Cream:

“This effective cream contains precious ingredients from organically grown pomegranate and golden millet. It helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, tautens the skin and reactivates skin regeneration.”

Water, Sesame Seed Oil, Alcohol, Jojoba Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Wheat Germ Oil, Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Sunflower Seed Oil, Pomegranate  Seed Oil, Argan Kernel Oil, Millet Seed Extract, Butcher’s Broom Root Extract, Sunflower Petal Extract, Xanthan Gum.

Compagnie en Provence Soin douche extra pur, olive et lavande:

“Made with very gentle foaming agents and enriched with calming almond extract, this shower gel cleanses the skin delicately with its generous foam and leaves a fresh and pleasant sensation.  Preservative system without added parabens.”

Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Ammonium Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Almond Shell Extract, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool.

Why not perform the same exercise, the next time you buy any type of cosmetic. You will be surprised what you can find out from the list of ingredients. And it is well worth the effort. Unfortunately manufacturers do not make it easy, and the ingredients are usually in a very small print, too small for normal reading.

But rule of thumb, the first ingredients are those that have the biggest concentration, i.e. they take up most of the volume. Descending in importance, ingredients under 1% do not even have to be mentioned. Only most of the time you do not know how much of everything is included. Some providers do openly give you that information, others are afraid that their creams and potions get copied, others may not want to disclose that for completely different reasons…

Coming back to the eye cream, you see that water is listed in first place, so this cream contains mostly water. Alcohol comes in 3^rd place in the Weleda listing, a fact that should make those of you who are prone to allergies or sensitive skin consider a different cream.  But the other ingredients are without any problems, as you may expect from an organic, certified cream.

With the shower gel by Compagnie en Provence, you should think by reading their description that you have bought something splendid for your skin.  Well. It also contains mostly water, but the “gentle foaming agents” Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate is a surfactant of differing origin, but it is said to be an irritant to the skin as well as depriving the skin of its natural oils. The preservative agents Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone are of chemical origin and are organic bound halogens, they are protein transforming as well as strongly allergising. As a combination only  0.15% are allowed in cosmetics. And what about the type of lavender? It is mentioned under “parfum”, now it is your guess as to where it originates from. For the olive oil, well, it must be less than 1%, as it is not mentioned in the list.

If in doubt about an ingredient, there is always a good guideline available on this website in English (click on the picture):

Where you can see a rating for nearly all possible ingredients, from three black non-smileys to three white smileys.

Alternatively, a while back I posted a list of the good and bad (well ugly!) ingredients in this blog post (again click on the picture):

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 I&M products, something for people suffering from allergies as well as some new hair products. Check out the ingredients…

Tip

For the second week of the holidays, and with this nice weather, why not get some street chalk to take along to the playground? Non-toxic and guaranteed to bring a lot of fun.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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