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Tag Archives: Families

Laundry Hazards

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Daniel & April

Lately I’ve noticed a big push in advertising for laundry sanitation products. As a mom it seems like I do hundreds of loads of laundry each week from germ covered kiddos so I figured I’d do some investigation.

After contacting the company I found out a lot about this product.

This product DOES GO in the fabric softener dispenser. It does NOT get added to detergent in the wash cycle. It absolutely CANNOT come into contact with laundry detergents, softeners or any other products.

It needs to go in the final rinse and remain for a minimum of 16 minutes to even be effective!

The warnings listed on the label are scary and the product specialist even stated “to take them 100% seriously.”

So should you have this in your home? Well I’ll tell you no way will it ever come into my home! There’s several ways to safely sanitize your laundry without risking your health or your families safety!

Here’s just some of the fine print on the product….

Product Warnings:

Eyes: Get medical attention immediately. Call a poison center or physician. Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Check for and remove any contact lenses. Continue to rinse for at least 10 minutes. Chemical burns must be treated promptly by a physician.

Inhaled: Get medical attention immediately. Call a poison center or physician. Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. If it is suspected that fumes are still present, the rescuer should wear an appropriate mask or self-contained breathing apparatus. If not breathing, if breathing is irregular or if respiratory arrest occurs, provide artificial respiration or oxygen by trained personnel. It may be dangerous to the person providing aid to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If unconscious, place in recovery position and get medical attention immediately. Maintain an open airway. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.

Skin: Get medical attention immediately. Call a poison center or physician. Wash with plenty of soap and water. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash contaminated clothing thoroughly with water before removing it, or wear gloves. Continue to rinse for at least 10 minutes. Chemical burns must be treated promptly by a physician. In the event of any complaints or symptoms, avoid further exposure. Wash clothing before reuse. Clean shoes thoroughly before reuse.

Ingested: Get medical attention immediately. Call a poison center or physician. Wash out mouth with water. Remove dentures if any. Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. If material has been swallowed and the exposed person is conscious, give small quantities of water to drink. Stop if the exposed person feels sick as vomiting may be dangerous. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. If vomiting occurs, the head should be kept low so that vomit does not enter the lungs. Chemical burns must be treated promptly by a physician. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If unconscious, place in recovery position and get medical attention immediately. Maintain an open airway. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.

Handling Instructions:

Eyes: Safety eyewear complying with an approved standard should be used when a risk assessment indicates this is necessary to avoid exposure to liquid splashes, mists, gases or dusts. If contact is possible, the following protection should be worn, unless the assessment indicates a higher degree of protection: chemical splash goggles and/ or face shield. If inhalation hazards exist, a full-face respirator may be required instead.

Skin: Chemical-resistant, impervious gloves complying with an approved standard should be worn at all times when handling chemical products if a risk assessment indicates this is necessary. Considering the parameters specified by the glove manufacturer, check during use that the gloves are still retaining their protective properties. It should be noted that the time to breakthrough for any glove material may be different for different glove manufacturers. In the case of mixtures, consisting of several substances, the protection time of the gloves cannot be accurately estimated.

Body: Personal protective equipment for the body should be selected based on the task being performed and the risks involved and should be approved by a specialist before handling this product.

Respiratory: Use a properly fitted, air-purifying or air-fed respirator complying with an approved standard if a risk assessment indicates this is necessary. Respirator selection must be based on known or anticipated exposure levels, the hazards of the product and the safe working limits of the selected respirator.

Then if that’s not enough information for you… here’s the statement that sealed my decision:

Potential chronic health effects:

Once sensitized, a severe allergic reaction may occur when subsequently exposed to very low levels.

Other information:

They openly state their product was tested on animals. Specifically rats, rabbits & guinea pigs.

Here’s the real dirt on laundry:

Fresh clothes are dirtier than you’d think and you have no idea about it. It just not hygiene, there are plenty of issues that make clothes dirty even after washing. Here are few reasons:

The first reason is that washing machines are generally teaming up with microbes.

Even if you sanitize washing machines, you’ll end up washing mixed loads. So by the time wash cycle is complete, the clothes would still be dirty.

Ordinary detergents just remove dirt from the top layer. The deeper layers and clothe fiber remains home to pathogens even after washing.

The use of natural laundry sanitizer or some home remedies can ensure that clothes not only sparkle, but become really clean inside out.

Listed below are some options which you can consider for disinfecting laundry:

1. Lavender – This aromatic herb is used for variety of issues, in form of essence and oil. The most basic use is of its aroma. It is also used for improving immune system, getting relief from allergies and relaxing. But where can it be used as fabric sanitizer?

By just adding 1- 2 drops along with unscented detergent will render clothes pleasant smell, and disinfect them. Lavender has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

2. Tea Tree oil –Another good and natural solution to disinfect laundry. Tea Tree essential oil has been noted for its antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. This is why it is an important ingredient base for most cosmetics, detergent etc. Putting 2-3 drops of Tea Tree oil in the washing machine, with preferably unscented detergent sanitizes laundry. Besides, it gives a tinge of good smell to clothes.

3. Vinegar and Baking Soda – This combination not only works for white clothes, but has many uses for laundry care. Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener. A drop of essential oils like Lavender, Pine, Tea Tree Oil, spruce, pine, orange etc can be added to give clothes a pleasant smell. This mixture can be added during the rinse cycle.

If you use vinegar and baking soda together it will work brilliantly to remove hardest stains and help keep white clothes white. Vinegar also acts as natural disinfectant, killing germs, bacteria or mold present in the laundry, and removing soap residue as well. The backing soda acts as a natural cleaners and scrub.

Use 5 to 6 cups of vinegar, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of baking soda and 12 and 15 drops of your favorite essential oil. For a super fresh smell, lemongrass, orange, lime or lemon are good choices. Combine all the ingredients in a plastic container and use 1 cup per load as you choose

Another easy fabric softener blend is…

• 6 cups Vinegar

• 1 cup Water

• 15 drops Lemon, Orange, Lime, or Lemongrass oil

Combine all ingredients in a heavy-duty plastic container. Add 1 cup to rinse cycle for each load. You can also choose a spice oil or spice blend for the essential oil(s).

4. Grapefruit Seed Extract – With 10 percent extract in 90 percent water you can create a great disinfecting liquid and dip laundry one by one in it. Or you can run the grapefruit extract in between the rinse cycle to make your laundry hygienic.

5. Some Other Important Tips:

• Try washing clothes with hot water. Often cold water is used to save electricity.

• Avoid mixed loads. If not this, then at least exclude undergarments. Wash them separately.

• Clean washing machines regularly with hot water and detergent.

• Use a good laundry sanitizer disinfectant to ensure clean clothes.

• Soak kitchen towels and rugs in  a few drops of Tea Tree oil, Eucalyptus oil or Lavender in water before washing them in the machines.

Posted in Clean Living, Health, Product Review, Reviews | Tags: clean clothes, Clean Living, Families, Healthy Lifestyle, laundry, laundry solutions, Live Clean, sanitation, sanitize laundry | Leave a comment |

Energy Drinks Truth & Lies

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Daniel & April

In the US, the energy drink and shot industry grew 60% between 2008-2012 and was worth $12.5 billion in 2012. Sales are projected to reach $21.5 billion by 2017. These enormous sales numbers are due to the effective marketing strategies geared toward adolescents. Companies use different strategies to attract the young consumer. Cans and bottles usually consist of colorful graphics and catchy names. Commercials are placed on television networks including MTV, MTV2, Adult Swim and Comedy Central that are predominantly viewed by adolescents. Extreme sports competitions such as the X Games are mostly watched by the young population and therefore are heavily sponsored by energy drink companies. These companies also sponsor the athletes. Young consumers see their favorite athlete drinking and promoting an energy drink and want to imitate their favorite superstar athletes by acting, dressing and drinking just like their idol. They do this to try to live their idol’s lifestyle and maybe one day walk in their shoes. A recent study showed that in 2010 adolescents saw an average of 124 television ads for energy drinks/shots and 122 soda ads. The same study also showed that children between the ages of 2-11 saw almost the same amount of 5-Hour Energy commercials as they saw Capri Sun fruit drink commercials.

Many health risks arise from the consumption of energy drinks, especially for the young consumer. The main issue is due to the large amount of caffeine in these drinks. In 2007, there were 5,488 cases of caffeine overdose in the US. Forty-six percent of those cases occurred in individuals under 19 years of age. Drinking too much caffeine, especially if the individual does not consume large amounts of caffeine on a regular basis, can have rapid cardiovascular effects. Caffeine causes heart rate and blood pressure to increase. This in turn can lead to irregular heart activity, seizures, diabetes, mood and behavioral disorders, sleep disturbances, caffeine dependence and withdrawal. Genetic factors also determine if an individual is at a greater risk for complications with the consumption of caffeine. Caffeine is also a diuretic and may lead to dehydration. It is important to stay well hydrated and not consume large amounts of caffeine before or during exercise. The combination of altered cardiovascular activity along with dehydration may lead to many complications and even death. It is also important not to mix energy drinks/shots with medications or alcohol.

Sugar in energy drinks can lead to a variety of health problems. A diet high in sugar can overwork the pancreas, which generates insulin to balance sugar intake, and makes the individual more susceptible to diabetes. Sugar also makes blood very thick and sticky, preventing it from flowing in small capillaries that supply the gums and teeth with nutrients. Teens consuming about 2,000 daily calories should limit their daily sugar intake to 20-32 grams (5-8 teaspoons). It is important to consume natural sugars found in fruits, vegetables and dairy, while avoiding added sugars found in foods such as desserts, sodas and energy drinks. Main complications from energy drink consumption develop because of the high concentration of different ingredients that act to stimulate the body and mind.

The ingredients in energy drinks all have specific effects and can affect a person differently, depending on their characteristics. Focus on trying to get enough sleep, proper nutrition and exercise regularly to keep your energy level up.

What to do if you REALLY need an extra boost???

There’s no doubt that life in general – and modern life in particular, places incredible demands on our individual resources. Let’s face it, life can be exhausting! Plus when you’re parenting 4 tiny humans you can bet your lucky stars momma needs some extra energy!

When it comes time for an energy boost, it’s most likely the best solution isn’t a “pick me up” that is full of synthetic ingredients and refined sugar, that gives you a quick buzz then causes you to crash.

However there IS a natural way to get more energy. Modere’s Energy Shot has only natural ingredients, with none of the junk! One 90ml bottle a day:

• promotes a natural energy boost

• promotes alertness and concentration

• delays fatigue

• naturally stimulating

• revitalizes mind and body

• helps you meet mental and physical challenges

It contains natural caffeine from Guarana and Green Tea, acai berries and B1 vitamins, and a range of other fruit extracts with NO artificial colors or other junk ingredients!! They are the perfect replacement for mainstream energy drinks or coffee.

Other natural ways to boost your energy

• Stay hydrated – regularly drink filtered alkaline water

• Consume protein with every meal (snack on nuts and low GI fruit)

• When working from a desk, get up every half hour for fresh air and stretch your legs

Give it a try! Use this link & get $10.00 OFF your first purchase: CLICK HERE

Posted in Clean Living, Health | Tags: Boost Energy Levels, Clean Living, Energy, Families, Fit Moms, gluten free, Healthy Energy, Healthy Lifestyle, Live Clean, Low Energy, More Energy, Natural Energy Boost | Leave a comment |

Gluten Free Gingerbread

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Daniel & April

Gluten Free & Vegan Gingerbread This recipe makes moist and cake-like gingerbread that packs a sneaky serving of black beans in each bite. They are loaded with protein, fiber, and nutrients for a healthier treat. (I’ll be adding another more crisp option)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans , or 1 (15 oz.) can drained and rinsed

• 1/2 cup gluten-free flour blend

• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil

• 3/4 cup coconut sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses

• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon coarse granulated sugar , for topping (optional)

Instructions

1 Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. In the bowl of a large food processor fitted with an “S” blade, combine the black beans, flour, oil, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, baking soda, vanilla, molasses, and vinegar. Process until a smooth batter is formed.

2 Pour the batter into the lined baking dish and sprinkle the top with the tablespoon of coarse sugar, if desired. Bake until the top feels firm to a light touch, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before removing the bars from the pan and slicing.

3 These bars will keep well at room temperature for up to 48 hours tightly covered, but for best shelf life keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Posted in Family, Recipes | Tags: clean, Clean Living, Delicious, Families, Family, Fit Moms, Foodie, Gingerbread, gluten free, Gluten Free Gingerbread, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Recipe, Live Clean, Moms, no cheap ingredients, Paleo, recipe, Recipe of the week, recipes, smart, Tasty, Visalia, Yum, Yummy | Leave a comment |

Custom Calendar

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Daniel & April

Here’s a simple way to make a fancy customized calendar/event board. If you’re tired of everyone in your family clipping everything to the refrigerator & it falling off each time someone opens it…. then this DIY is for you!

Materials Needed

  • 24 x 36 piece of sheet metal (tip: find a slightly damaged one for a discount)
  • Dark Colored Sharpies
  • Long Ruler or straight edge
  • 24 x 36 Poster Frame w/ glass or plexiglass (I found a nice one for under $20 at WalMart)
  • Spray Paint

First decide which direction you want your calendar to be… vertical or horizontal.

I went with vertical. Then I marked out my calendar heading, days columns & date boxes using a ruler & a dark colored sharpie marker on my piece of sheet metal. (You can choose to paint your sheet metal first but I wanted the original silver color.) I only taped off a border & sprayed it a brownish copper.

Next I took a part my inexpensive frame and painted it an antiqued silvery copper. After it dried for a few hours I placed my plexiglass back in the frame & my marked out sheet metal.

FYI: You can choose to write your days of the week (Sunday, Monday etc) on the sheet metal or you can go with Magnets with the days of the week printed on them.

Finally you can hang it up. Be sure to use good nails & place it on at least one stud if you want it to hold a lot of items.

Now you just decorate it how you choose by using window markers, chalk markers or dry erase markers. You can choose to write the dates in each month or go with magnets. I made my own magnets to match my decor. Here’s a link to a kit to make your own: Blank Magnet Sheets

Posted in DIY, Organization | Tags: Calendar, California, Crafting, Crafts, DIY, Families, Family, Get Organized, Moms, organizer, safe, smart, Tulare, Visalia | Leave a comment |

Cucumber Greek Salad

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Daniel & April

This Cucumber Greek Salad is light and refreshing, and full of healthy ingredients. With minimal prep, it makes an easy side dish for any meal!
🕑10 minutes

Ingredients: Vegetarian, Gluten free
∙ Serves 8

Produce

2 Cucumbers
2 tsp Oregano, dried
1/2 Red onion
4 Roma tomatoes

Condiments

1 Black olives, pitted and sliced
1 1/2 tbsp Lemon juice

Spices

1 Salt and pepper

Oils & Vinegars

1/4 cup Olive oil

Dairy

1/2 cup Feta cheese

Posted in Clean Living, Health, Recipes | Tags: California, Clean Living, Delicious, Exeter, Families, Family, Fit Moms, Fresh, Fresh Cucumbers, gluten free, Greek Salad, Healthy Lifestyle, Lifestyle, Live Clean, Mediterranean, Moms, no cheap ingredients, recipe, Recipe of the week, recipes, Tasty, Tulare, Visalia | Leave a comment |

VBS 2017

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Daniel & April

There’s a few Vacation Bible School’s going this summer! Check ’em out!

June 12 – 16 Sierra Baptist Church
9:30AM – 12:00PM

June 19 – 23 Faith Baptist Church
9:00AM – 12:00PM

June 27 – 30 Evangel Assembly Of God
9:00AM – 12:00PM

Posted in Family, Kids Activities, Summer | Tags: California, Faith, Families, Family, FREE, Jesus, Love Life, safe, smart, Summer, Tulare, Vacation Bible School, VBS, Visalia | Leave a comment |

Dollar Days Summer Movies

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Daniel & April

Woohoo cheap summer fun! Great way to beat the heat!

Family fun movies playing on Tuesdays & Wednesdays for the summertime!
Admission to the Summer Movie Express is only $1. Tickets available for purchase at the box office and all movies start at 10:00 am. Each week both movies play on both days. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Will Rogers Institute.

Week 1
Tue. Jun 6 to Wed. Jun 7
Both movies play on both days
Kung Fu Panda 3
Ice Age: Collision Course

Week 2
Tue. Jun 13 to Wed. Jun 14
Both movies play on both days
Trolls
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Week 3
Tue. Jun 20 to Wed. Jun 21
Both movies play on both days
Monster Trucks
Penguins of Madagascar

Week 4
Tue. Jun 27 to Wed. Jun 28
Both movies play on both days
Rio 2
The Boxtrolls

Week 5
Tue. Jul 4 to Wed. Jul 5
Both movies play on both days
The Secret Life of Pets
Sing

Week 6
Tue. Jul 11 to Wed. Jul 12
Both movies play on both days
Kubo and the Two Strings
Ratchet and Clank

Week 7
Tue. Jul 18 to Wed. Jul 19
Both movies play on both days
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
The Adventures of Tintin

Week 8
Tue. Jul 25 to Wed. Jul 26
Both movies play on both days
Happy Feet Two
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

Week 9
Tue. Aug 1 to Wed. Aug 2
Both movies play on both days
Storks
The Lego Batman Movie

Posted in Family, Kids Activities, Summer | Tags: Beat The Heat, Families, Family, Family Friendly, Family Movies, Kid Movies, Moms, smart, Summer, Visalia, Wheelchair Accessibility | Leave a comment |

Are You Consuming Fake Sugar?

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Daniel & April

As few as one diet soda daily may increase the risk for leukemia in men and women, and for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in men, according to new results from the longest-ever running study on aspartame as a carcinogen in humans. Importantly, this is the most comprehensive, long-term study ever completed on this topic, so it holds more weight than other past studies which appeared to show no risk. And disturbingly, it may also open the door for further similar findings on other cancers in future studies.

 

The most thorough study yet on aspartame done, on over two million people, in years

For this study, researchers prospectively analyzed data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study for a 22-year period. A total of 77,218 women and 47,810 men were included in the analysis, for a total of 2,278,396 person-years of data. Apart from sheer size, what makes this study superior to other past studies is the thoroughness with which aspartame intake was assessed. Every two years, participants were given a detailed dietary questionnaire, and their diets were reassessed every four years. Previous studies which found no link to cancer only ever assessed participants’ aspartame intake at one point in time, which could be a major weakness affecting their accuracy.

 

One diet soda a day increases leukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas

The combined results of this new study showed that just one 12-fl oz. can (355 ml) of diet soda daily leads to:

– 42 percent higher leukemia risk in men and women (pooled analysis)
– 102 percent higher multiple myeloma risk (in men only)
– 31 percent higher non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk (in men only)

These results were based on multi-variable relative risk models, all in comparison to participants who drank no diet soda. It is unknown why only men drinking higher amounts of diet soda showed increased risk for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Note that diet soda is the largest dietary source of aspartame (by far) in the U.S. Every year, Americans consume about 5,250 tons of aspartame in total, of which about 86 percent (4,500 tons) is found in diet sodas.

 

Confirmation of previous high quality research on animals

This new study shows the importance of the quality of research. Most of the past studies showing no link between aspartame and cancer have been criticized for being too short in duration and too inaccurate in assessing long-term aspartame intake. This new study solves both of those issues. The fact that it also shows a positive link to cancer should come as no surprise, because a previous best-in-class research study done on animals (900 rats over their entire natural lifetimes) showed strikingly similar results back in 2006: aspartame significantly increased the risk for lymphomas and leukemia in both males and females. More worrying is the follow on mega-study, which started aspartame exposure of the rats at the fetal stage. Increased lymphoma and leukemia risks were confirmed, and this time the female rats also showed significantly increased breast (mammary) cancer rates. This raises a critical question: will future, high-quality studies uncover links to the other cancers in which aspartame has been implicated (brain, breast, prostate, etc.)?

There is now more reason than ever to completely avoid aspartame in our daily diet. For those who are tempted to go back to sugary sodas as a “healthy” alternative, this study had a surprise finding: men consuming one or more sugar-sweetened sodas daily saw a 66 percent increase in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (even worse than for diet soda). Clearly the healthiest soda is no soda at all.

Here’s just a few of the other possible side effects:

We need to stop looking for quick easy fixes and get back to enjoying real food and real activities. We can’t expect great health and an enjoyable life when we don’t fuel our bodies right.

Posted in Clean Living, Family, Health | Tags: Aspartame, Clean Living, Dangerous Hidden Ingredients, Fake Sugar, Families, Family, Fit Moms, Healthy Lifestyle, Live Clean, safe, smart, Sucrolose, Sugar | Leave a comment |

Easy Breakfast Cups

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Daniel & April

Breakfest-Muffins1This recipe has saved our morning sanity. It’s so easy and we make a bunch all at once so we have 1 – 2 weeks worth of breakfasts DONE and ready to go.

Our mornings start bright and early at 5:15am so it’s a huge time saver when you have kids to get ready and get out the door!

Ingredients:

12 Eggs
Cheese (Any Type, Your Choice)Sausage Bits, Bacon Bits (Pre-Cooked)
Diced Onions
Potato (Cubed, or Shredded, dehydrated or slightly pre-cooked)
Fresh Salsa
Olive Oil
Muffin Tin

Directions:

Lightly spray or rub down your muffin tin with olive oil. Simply add a few onions, bacon bits, cheese, and potatoes to each cup. Then crack 1 egg over each cup. Place in oven at 325 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Just pull side of egg cup with a fork and if the cup comes up easily its done cooking.

Tah-Dah! You just made breakfast for a week!

In our house we make 2-3 dozen every Sunday. We just store them in baggies in the fridge. Each morning we just pre-heat our toaster oven while we are making our coffee and pop 3-6 into the oven to warm. By the time our coffee is ready so is breakfast!

You can mix and match different veggies and meats into your cups each week to spice it up. Or even scramble your eggs before and just pour them in for a different texture! This recipe is so easy you can even let your kids help out. The tasty possibilities are endless!

Posted in Recipes | Tags: Breakfast, California, clean, Clean Living, Delicious, Easy, Exeter, Families, Family, Fit Moms, Food Lover, Foodie, Fresno, gluten free, Healthy, Healthy Breakfast, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Recipe, Iowa, Kids Cook, Kids Recipe, Live Clean, Missouri, Modere, Mom On A Mission, Moms, no cheap ingredients, Paleo, Paleo Breakfast, recipe, Recipe of the week, recipes, Simple, smart, Tasty, Tulare, Visalia, Yum | Leave a comment |

Clean Living For Pets

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Daniel & April

As a family we are committed to living the healthiest life possible and that includes our furry family members too.

If you care for your fur-babies like we do then you’ll want to take a moment to read this research.

Toxic-Dog-Chews

 

THE MOST DANGEROUS PET CHEW EVER: RAWHIDE!

How can one of the most popular chew sticks on the planet be so dangerous for your pets, you ask? I mean, most dogs chew on rawhide for hours on end, and not only does it keep them busy, but they seem to last forever.

Well if you understood what it took to make this toxic “raw” leather stick, you would quickly understand what the problem is.

Aside from the horror stories circulating all over social media these days, of pets needing emergency surgery after consuming rawhide, the majority of pet parents today, especially the newbies, believe that this chew is some sort of dried up meat stick. Let me debunk that myth right away!

A rawhide stick is not the by-product of the beef industry nor is it made of dehydrated meat. Rather, rawhide is the by-product of the “Leather Industry”, so theoretically it is a leather chew. Sounds awesome, right?

“Producing rawhide begins with the splitting of an animal hide, usually from cattle. The top grain is generally tanned and made into leather products, while the inner portion, in its “raw” state, goes to the dogs.” TheBark.com

So, how does this leather, which is conveniently rolled up into pretty shapes, actually get made into those rawhide chews?

Follow along my friends and I will enlighten you on how this hide travels through a leathery process where it transforms from hide to a not-so beautiful, colorful, chew stick. Here is a paraphrased tutorial that was explained by the whole dog journal several years back:

STEP 1: Normally, cattle hides are shipped from slaughterhouses to tanneries for processing. These hides are then treated with a chemical bath to help “preserve” the product during transport to help prevent spoilage.

(No one wants to purchase a black, spoiled rawhide stick!)

Once at the tannery: the hides are soaked and treated with either an ash-lye solution or a highly toxic recipe of sodium sulphide liming. This process will help strip the hair and fat that maybe attached to the hides themselves.

(No, no one wants to see a hairy hide…)

Next on this glorious journey, these hides are then treated with chemicals that help “puff” the hide, making it easier to split into layers.

The outer layer of the hide is used for goods like car seats, clothing, shoes, purses, etc. But, it’s the inner layer that is needed to make the rawhide. (Oh and other things like gelatin, cosmetics, and glue as well!)

STEP 2: Now that we have the inner layer of the hide, it’s time to go to the post-tannery stage! Hides are washed and whitened using a solution of hydrogen peroxide and/or bleach; this will also help remove the smell of the rotten or putrid leather. Bonus!
(Research also shows that other chemicals maybe used here to help the whitening process if the bleach isn’t strong enough.)

STEP 3: Now it’s time to make these whitened sheets of this “leathery by-product” look delicious! So, here is where the artistic painting process comes in.

“Basted, smoked, and decoratively tinted products might be any color (or odor) underneath the coating of (often artificial) dyes and flavors. They can even be painted with a coating of titanium oxide to make them appear white and pretty on the pet store shelves.” – whole-dog-journal.com

“…the Material Safety Data Sheet reveals a toxic confection containing the carcinogen FD&C Red 40, along with preservatives like sodium benzoate. But tracking the effects of chemical exposure is nearly impossible when it’s a matter of slow, low-dose poisoning.”– thebark.com

Ok, now that these hides have been painted, it’s time for the final process.

STEP 4: Getting it to last forever!

Because the FDA does not consider these chews to be food, really it’s a free for all when it comes to the manufacturers of these leather strips, and the products they may want to add to these chews, to get them to last forever. Any sort of glue can be added here to get these bad boys to never come apart.

When tested: Lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium salts, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals have been detected in raw hides. So it’s safe to say that any sort of glues can be used as well!

Finally, it’s time to package and attach all the glorious marketing labels to the product.

Check out the fine print warning that’s attached with some of these rawhides:
“Choking or blockages. If your dog swallows large pieces of rawhide, the rawhide can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract. Sometimes, abdominal surgery is needed to remove them from the stomach or intestines. If it isn’t resolved, a blockage can lead to death.“

(Oh, how lovely…)

And there it is! It’s now ready to be shipped to store shelves where it can be purchased for our loving animal companions.

How do proactive veterinarians feel about these chews?

Here is world-renowned veterinarian Doctor Karen Becker’s take on the matter:

“The name ‘rawhide’ is technically incorrect. A more accurate name would be processed-hide, because the skin isn’t raw at all. But the term “rawhide” has stuck.

Rawhide chews start out hard, but as your dog works the chew it becomes softer, and eventually he can unknot the knots on each end and the chew takes on the consistency of a slimy piece of taffy or bubble gum. And by that time your dog cannot stop working it — it becomes almost addictive.

At this point, there’s no longer any dental benefit to the chew because it has turned soft and gooey, and, in fact, it has become a choking and intestinal obstruction hazard.“

P.S. Ready for the jaw dropper?

An investigation by Humane Society International stated in their report, “In a particularly grisly twist, the skins of brutally slaughtered dogs in Thailand are mixed with other bits of skin to produce rawhide chew toys for pet dogs. Manufacturers told investigators that these chew toys are regularly exported to and sold in U.S. stores.” – dogingtonpost.com

Posted in Clean Living | Tags: Chew Toys, Clean Living, Clean Living For Pets, Dog, Dogs, Families, Family, Fit Moms, Fur-Babies, Furry Family, Healthy Lifestyle, Live Clean, Love Life, no cheap ingredients, Pet Safety, Pets, Puppies, Puppy, Raw Hide, RawHide, safe | Leave a comment |

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