Updated with notation on whether each ingredient is gluten or dairy.

There are so many everyday household products that contain gluten. So many. Things like price stickers, stamps, envelopes, medicine, vitamins, protein shakes, energy bars, even toothpaste. Although most stamps and envelopes are now gluten free, there are still some older brands that contain gluten (a call to the company can verify this). Soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, lip balms, children’s stickers, mouthwash, detergents, lotions, moisturizers, and sunscreens can also contain gluten. Manufacturers don’t always clearly label their products “gluten free” or “dairy free”, which is why we quickly need to become a label-reading aficionado! We love Acure shampoo, face wash, moisturizer, and scrubs. Himalaya or Epic Dental Toothpaste. Health Food stores carry allergen-free brands, but I find products to sometimes be cheaper on Amazon.com read more

Contributed by Jonathan G.

There are some fruits and vegetables that are higher in pesticides than others. These are the produce we should buy organic. The cleanest non-organic produce according to testing by the Environmental Working Group are onions, sweet corn, and pineapples.

Some of the dirtiest produce on their list are apples, celery, and red peppers. read more

Monterey Bay Aquarium has a great comprehensive list of which fish are sustainable and which we should avoid eating due to over fishing. If you are ever on the central coast of California, you must visit the Monterey Aquarium, it is just spectacular with the largest amount of marine life displayed in the country. For an additional fee, you can also go scuba diving. Worth the trip! read more

There are more bacteria strains in your body than there are cells in your body. Would you believe 80% of our immune system is in the gut. It all begins at birth. A baby born via natural childbirth is exposed to it’s mothers’ bacteria, which then begins colonization in the baby’s GI (gut) of good bacteria. As the baby grows and begins to mature many other factors come into play, like antibiotics (kills all good bacteria), chlorinated water, pesticides, sugars, overly processed foods. We begin to create a host of bad bacteria and yeast as time goes by. This snowball effect continues through our adult life which creates disease due to our weakened immune system. read more