Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter produced by the human body and is also a naturally occurring component of many healthy whole foods. It occurs in protein-containing foods such as cheese, milk, mushrooms, meat, and fish as well as some fruits, nuts, and vegetables. The glutamate from whole foods is slowly assimilated and broken down so […]
Eating real food without harmful chemicals that undermine health is one of the most important things you can do to nourish and protect your family. Eating organic, whole, unprocessed foods really pays off! It may seem more expensive but what is truly costly is the price we pay for doctor’s visits, sick days and resulting […]
So you have completed the removal of all pesticides, harmful cleaning, and laundry products from your home. You have dramatically improved your home’s air quality! You are off to a good start in creating your healthy home!!! Now it is time to take on another critical category–synthetic fragrance. When we see this single word fragrance […]
Nontoxic Air Fresheners It is estimated that 75% of US households use some type of air freshener. Air Fresheners are among the most toxic products found in our homes. They are a primary source of 100’s of harmful volatile organic compounds VOCs and some of these create what are called secondary reaction products if there […]
It’s that time of year again. A time for peace and joy, gift-giving and feasting, winter sports and cozy fires. And while it’s not uncommon to come down with a virus this time of year, it’s not inevitable either. In fact, we have a good bit of control over how our bodies resist cold and […]
With the gift-giving season upon us, we all love to fill our homes with the lovely scents and aromas of Christmas. The inviting warm glow of candlelight sets the mood for the season’s celebration. For many of us scented candles are a favorite go-to gift, so it is important to make sure that the candles […]
Sometimes getting started in a new area of health or wellness can feel overwhelming without any road map. That is where books can be life-changers, inspirations and overall guides to becoming healthier versions of ourselves as individuals, parents and business owners. We put this post together to share our very favorite books – ones that […]
Eating healthy, delicious meals shouldn’t feel overwhelming, especially around the holidays! Whether you are hosting family and friends this year or bringing a dish to share, these simple sides are sure to be crowd-pleasers. Make sure to use all organic ingredients! EASY CRANBERRY RECIPE What You’ll Need: 2 packages 10 ounce frozen cranberries or fresh […]
The ill effects of plastic on humans (cancer, birth defects, and hormonal imbalances) have largely been swept under the proverbial plastic industry rug. Sure, we all heard about the dangers of BPA a few years back, but once BPA-free products started hitting the shelves, many people were falsely comforted and forgot about avoiding plastics. And […]
Does this sound like you? After reading up on how harmful most conventional cleaning products are and learning about #TossTheToxins, you’ve decided to give them up and switch to safer options (like Branch Basics, naturally). You know what to get rid of, what to replace it with, and you’re jazzed to start creating a healthier […]
We get so many questions about which “green” mattresses are truly non-toxic and wanted to share what we (the founders + our team) use in our own homes, and why choosing a safer mattress is so important. Given that we spend at least one-third of our lives in bed, your mattress is probably the most […]
Even though we’ll spend at least one-third of our lives in bed, few of us think much about the safety and purity of our bedding. And while news has gotten out about the deplorable amount of harmful chemicals allowed in mattresses, there’s still not much awareness about toxins hidden in bed linens. You read right; […]
The prospect of home renovation is intimidating in and of itself, but when you are committed to using the healthiest building materials available, it takes the intimidation factor to a new level. I know because we recently completed a renovation on our new home—and even as a healthy home advocate I had my work cut […]
With Fall around the corner and the weather cooling off (at least everywhere but Texas!!), we still find a huge urge to be outdoors. Whether it’s grilling, after dinner walks, picnics in the park, we try to find time to get outside! While we have so much control over our indoor home environments, many times […]
If you aim to eat a diet rich in nutrient-dense whole foods, then you probably take extra steps to avoid ingredients like food dyes, MSG, artificial flavors and preservatives. However, the term “natural flavor” found on a wide variety of organic, gluten-free, and all-natural packaged foods, typically doesn’t sound the alarm for most health-conscious consumers. […]
Is your first go-to when you get a headache taking Aleve, Advil, or some other pain medication? Did you know that a headache is our body’s way of telling us something is not right? A headache is not a medication deficiency. Taking a pill will only address the symptoms not the cause. Usually there is […]
We get the question “What makeup do you use?” very often, so we’ve finally sat down and compiled a beauty product list! Our clean living mission started after we healed our bodies and removed toxic chemicals from our homes. While our products focus on cleaning, we are passionate about every product we bring into our […]
For the past two decades, doctors have been telling us to lather up with sunscreen to protect our skin and prevent skin cancer. In the past five years, however, studies are showing that we may need to forgo the sunscreen so we can get enough Vitamin D. Confused about what to do? Read on to […]
Swimming is one of the great pleasures of summer, especially if you’re a kid and/or live in a hot and humid climate. However, the chlorine used to treat most public and private swimming pools is a harmful chemical. This leaves us in a bit of a quandary: do you risk it for the sake of […]
Even though sunscreens do block Vitamin D absorption, they still have their place in keeping us healthy and preventing skin cancer. However, most commercial sunscreens out there are just loaded with harmful, hormone-disrupting chemicals, which studies have shown can negate their protective benefits and actually cause certain types of cancer. A decade ago it was […]