Chemical-Free Kids: How to Safeguard Your Child's Diet and Environment

Every parent should be aware of the issues addressed in this book! This is not a new age earth mama read. This is for any adult that cares about children. I knew enough to stop cleaning with chlorine bleach, comet & ammonia years ago [use vinegar, hydrogen peroxide to disinfect, baking soda to scrub - it's also less expensive] & every parent knows not to allow their kids around pesticides but this book actually explains the consequences. The info on food coloring alone is worth the price of the book! Great basic reminders like `read food labels' to avoid fructose corn syrup & other additives. Our local doctors confirmed the information about avoiding chemicals vs the biological elements in reference to allergies. This book not only tells you what to avoid - it also describes practical alternatives. It is an interesting easy read, broken down into sensible sections [making it good for a parent with short spans of reading time], and has great references. You don't have to have kids to appreciate this information & it should be required reading for all school board members [it's not only about food but chemicals in fabrics, bldg. materials, etc.]. If you are reading this review you are obviously interested in the health of your children - this book is defintely one you will want to read.

Protecting your children from the many perils lurking in today's world is bound to be one of your top priorities. But some of the most insidious threats to their well-being are those you can't see and may not even be aware of -- and that your kids are quite apt to be regularly exposed to at home, at play and at school. Chemical-Free Kids is your guide to the whereabouts of these invisible dangers -- the toxic substances that permeate our food and environment -- as well as to strategies that can enable you to keep them from doing irreparable harm to your family. In this highly informative yet reader-friendly book, you'll learn the identity and characteristics of the chemical culprits hiding in processed and conventionally-grown food, either in the form of poisonous residues left over from pesticide applications or as additives intended to preserve it or disguise its flavor and appearance. You'll also be given an overview of the health hazards to your children posed by all manner of household and garden products, from air fresheners to lawn sprays. You'll find out why government watchdogs have been so lax about regulating or banning these hazardous substances and what steps you can take to gradually eliminate them from your family's environment. This book will also provide you with highly workable plans for introducing your kids to a healthier lifestyle, for making your child's school safe from toxic sprays, and for weaning your kids off junk food and winning them over to nutritious, unadulterated meals and snacks. It even offers dozens of recipes to help you detoxify your family's diet -- including some especially geared to kids with allergies to certain kinds of foods.The wealth of essential information and advice you'll gain from reading "Chemical-Free Kids" includes: * How you can phase out products that contain harmful additives and replace them with healthier ones -- including the ten best foods for children -- without disrupting your lifestyle. * How detoxifying your child's diet can prevent or limit food allergies and sensitivities. * Why artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame) should be avoided. * How you can give your baby a priceless gift by limiting your exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy. Non-toxic pest-control techniques, and other easy and convenient methods for maintaining a chemical-free home environment. * How to avoid the life-threatening hazard posed by a deadly nerve gas in widespread domestic use as a "fumigant." * The various reasons that organically grown foods are so important to your family's health. * The twin menaces of lead and mercury exposure -- and how you can keep these extremely toxic and nerve-damaging heavy metals from harming your child's development.

Of all the books I have seen on this topic, this is the most practical and easy to understand. While the focus is on kids, the information can be most helpful for parents who want to reduce toxins in their diet and environment as well. This book does not use scare tactics in presenting information, but just tells it like it is with a lot of references. The part on heavy metals and vacinations was most valuable to me right now (which is why I got the book), but I have learned more about fake colors and other additives from this book than from all the magazine stories and newspaper articles combined. An excellent choice for anyone who really wants to learn about pesticides, food additives and related issues. The only thing I would have really liked is if the book were spiral bound (which would help with the recipes), but mostly because I use it for reference (for example, ways to make less toxic cleaning agents) and a spiral bound copy would be much easier.