Infant seats, bouncers, jumpers, and walkers look convenient and are marketed to parents as beneficial for their baby, but these containers come with known and documented side effects that parents should be aware of before use. Ever heard of “Container Baby Syndrome?” It’s a real diagnosis! The term “container” refers to: Car seats Strollers Jumpers […]
Our bodies have an amazing built-in capacity to adapt to our surroundings. However, this adaptive capability is being threatened everyday. Predominantly, by the unintended consequences of using products that interfere with our inherent and deep reliance on our interaction with nature. Human health relies on a biodiverse external environment that informs our internal microbiome. Overuse […]
How often do you think about cleaning your home’s walls and ceilings? Perhaps never?! Yet, cleaning them can make a big difference in your home’s air quality as porous drywall attracts a good bit of dust, mold, pollens, viruses, bacteria, VOCs (especially fragrance chemicals), and other pollutants. Better air means better health and improved immunity […]
The topic of dietary fats and oils is one of the most controversial and puzzling topics in the field of nutrition. It seems every expert has a different opinion on how much fat we should be eating, how fat impacts our health, and which foods are the healthiest source of fats. However, while everyone has […]
Having your kids home 24/7, and homeschooling, and working, and taking care of the house, and trying to keep up with the rest of life can be a little challenging at times! This COVID-19 situation has been tough on our children too, especially given that they thrive on predictability and routine; and not-so-much on extended […]
Creating a Healthy Home and completing #TossTheToxins is a process. We have found that removing harmful pesticides, cleaning products, synthetic fragrances, and personal care products is a great start and creates a dramatic improvement in your home’s air quality. From there, as we are able, we recommend getting rid of plastics – BPA / Phthalates, […]
The option to work from home is a freedom most professionals dream about. However, these days it’s become a necessity to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Yep, nobody dreamed about this happening, but here we all are…and it’s not always easy, is it? Especially with the distractions of kids at home, trying to stay […]
Staying healthy amidst a pandemic is what’s on everybody’s mind right now. However…between learning to work from home, homeschool, socialize virtually, keep our houses germ-free, and stay abreast of the news it’s easy to neglect our regular self-care regimes. Yet, making the time to care for yourself is critical during these times of stress and […]
Creating a healthy home starts with safe cleaning. With all of the products, buzzwords and claims out there it can be hard to know where to start, especially now when harsh chemicals seem like the only answer. We hope this article sheds light on how you can use Branch Basics to remove germs and keep […]
On December 4th, 2013, I found myself sitting next to my husband in the doctor’s office. We sat there shaking, unable to hold hands and filled with a complete hollowness…like if you were to poke me, I would just deflate. I stared straight at the oncologist, but once he told us that our son Kicker […]
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 […]