The way we interact with our environment is extremely important to every part of our health and our future. We can grow crops for use in foods and other products using synthetic chemicals as fertilizing and pest control techniques, or we can use natural fertilizing substances and natural pest control methods in our farming.

The modern day tendency has been to use the “advances” offered to us by the chemical manufacturers as somehow better, convenient, and easy to use. But over time, it has become clear that pesticides were killing our birds and fish as well as the intended insect targets (refer to Silent Spring written by Rachel Carson). Chemical fertilizers have also contaminated our streams, rivers, and bays often causing harmful algae blooms that also kill valuable fish.

Long ago it was found that the pesticide DDT (since banned by the US government) was infiltrating into our water supply and food chain to threaten human health. But today many, many more pesticides and artificial fertilizers are being released daily into our environment. Even worse, many of these chemical pollutants are very long-lived. Some, in fact, never break down into harmless components, but persist as dangers to all life on our planet for many years into the future.

Fortunately, today many farmers and concerned citizens know that the more pure and natural approach to growing our food and herb crops is vital to reducing the chemical load on our land and on our bodies. When we farm the land with natural organic nutrients and balance pest populations with natural predators, we are protecting the environment from chemical pollutants that can have far-reaching negative consequences.

Scientific research has also shown that organically grown foods and herbs have higher benefits and nutritional value. So organic products offer superior benefits for human health, and organic farming methods keep harmful chemicals out of our environment. Such a deal!

As consumers, when we purchase anything, we are giving our support to the company and methods used to produce the product. If we buy the chemically produced products, those companies will thrive and continue to use methods that are unsafe for our health and our Earth. If, however, we choose the organically produced products, we are supporting the farmers and processors who are using safer, natural processes that protect our health and the health of our Earth.

So every day, we make choices that can make a difference. We should always look for the organic choice whenever possible to encourage conservation of a clean and natural environment for ourselves and our future generations. And we really need to pick the healthier choice for our own bodies and the bodies of our loved ones.

Organic personal care products have become the specific focus of my recent efforts. I don’t think that most people realize how many dangerous chemicals we are putting on our skin and hair and into our mouth every day. When I became aware of it, I was truly shocked. It’s actually very hard to even find a shampoo, body lotion, or toothpaste that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals.

Fortunately, there is a terrific non-profit organization that publishes extensive information about harmful chemicals and which products are safer. It is called the Environmental Working Group at www.ewg.org and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at www.safecosmetics.org.

Also, people need to be aware that the skin is the largest organ of the human body. Our skin is designed to transfer some substances out of and into the body. We have pores in our skin that reach down into the bottom layers of skin to enable us to perspire when we are too warm. And the top layer of our skin is constantly throwing off old dead skin cells, while the new cells rise up toward the surface.

So the surface of our skin with its pores to the inside is very open to outside substances. We all know that Vitamin D is absorbed through our skin just from sunshine.  It’s easy to see for yourself how a light lotion placed on your hand or arm very quickly disappears into your skin and body.

Therefore personal care products are a very important component of our health care for our bodies. And my personal experience is that organic products feel better on my body, make my hair clean, soft, and shiny, and get my teeth cleaner. I can tell that these products are actually healthier and work better than the products that I had used in the past.

I have spent years searching for the very best in organically produced products. In the summer of 2007, when I found ONEgroup, I was thrilled. I immediately bought samples and then I got REALLY excited. Their products have all been the very best performing products of any kind that I’ve ever tried.

So, I became an Independent Representative for ONEgroup’s three brands, MiEssence, MiEnviron, and MiVitality. I’m sort of a “retired” old lady, and I’m so happy that I have found such a wonderful work for the later years of my life. Take a look at some of my website if you have time. And I’ll work on blogging about the products in this location.

www.grandstrandorganics.mionegroup.com

We wish you and your loved ones Health and Happiness!

Linda Murdock