ulew

What Is Organic?

amanda — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:49:11 +0000

Certified Organic products are grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, or GMO’s*(see definition below). It is an innovative method of farming and production and is increasingly being recognized as being on the leading edge of food and fiber technology into the future. Organics is not just chemical free by testing. It is about the way the product ingredients have been grown, prepared, processed and packaged. The whole system is linked.

What is a GMO?

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or microorganism whose genetic code has been altered (subtracted from, or added to either the same species or a different species) in order to give it characteristics that it does not have naturally.

Scientists can now transfer genes between species that otherwise would be incapable of mating, for example, a goat and a spider. This is what we call transgenesis. Little is known about the long-term effects of such manipulations on humans, plants, animals and/or the environment. And while some see GMO’s as the way to the future, others believe that scientists have gone too far, tinkering with the essence of life.

Beware of “Natural Products”!

tracy.graham — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:47:01 +0000

I have learned to be careful when it comes to so called “Natural Products”. For years I paid a premium price for a brand of body care which led me to believe it was natural and safe. Once I became educated on what was truly safe, I was very angry that I had wasted my money and been misled by slick advertising. I learned that true safe products needed to have a certified organic label. But now, certain companies are trying to get around the organic label as well. It is frustrating to again be in the position of having to pay very close attention to claims – this time of organic. For instance – this just in: WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Organic Consumers Association (OCA), along with certified organic personal care brands Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Intelligent Nutrients, and Organic Essence, today filed a complaint with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), requesting action on the widespread and blatantly deceptive labeling practices of leading “Organic” personal care brands, in violation of the federal organic law. The complaint, filed on behalf of the estimated 50 million consumers of organic products, urges the USDA to regulate cosmetics as they do food. The complaint argues that, because of USDA inaction, products such as liquid soaps, body washes, facial cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizing lotions, lip balms, and make-up are advertised, labeled and marketed as “Organic” or “Organics” when, in fact, the products are not “Organic” as understood by reasonable consumers. Check out the story.

The Truth about our “Scents” of Smell

tracy.graham — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:16:09 +0000

Our sense of smell is deeper and more complex than you might think. Your nose incorporates thousands of olfactory nerves. While your tongue has the proficiency to taste sweet, sour, salt, and bitter, it is your sense of smell that creates all the delightful flavors you encounter.

The olfactory bulb is part of the limbic system in your brain. It also controls digestion, libido, and emotions, so it is not your creativity that scents evoke emotion. Aromas actually trigger the release of chemicals in the brain that establish a feeling of well being. Scientists say a typical response to an aroma takes just four seconds.

The ancestry of using scents therapeutically, aromatherapy, goes back over 4,000 years. The early Egyptians used aromatic botanicals for massage, embalming, medicine, and cosmetics. So it is no surprise that manufacturers today lure us to buy their products through an infusion of many pleasing smells.

Advertising would have us believe that they are smells from nature contributing to our beauty, peace and success. Scented products are appearing everywhere – from the fake butter on your movie popcorn to air fresheners, perfumes, fabric softeners, on your dry cleaned clothing and even in your doctor’s office. Retail stores are using fragrances to lure us in. It is important to realize that fragrances are dangerous and they are fake. A new term “fakegrances” has appeared on the scene. If a scent is not from pure essential oil, it is most likely a “fakegrance”.

So exactly what is in a fragrance?

It is a mix of synthetic chemicals, designed to mimic natural scents from nature such as foods, fruits and flowers. According to the Environmental Working Group, fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic. The EWG states, “Fragrance formulas are considered to be among the top five known allergens and can trigger asthma attacks.” Symptoms reported to the American Food and Drug Administration include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Some may affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity and irritability. The only way to be safe is to avoid all fragrances and look for products that derive their scents from plant-based ingredients and pure essential oils.

All offerings at Ulew Natural Products are free from artificial and harmful fragrances. Pure plant-based essential oils give our products their wonderful smell and help keep us healthy. Try them and see for yourself. You’ll never go back to “fakegrances” again.

Is your Baby’s Bathtime Safe?

tracy.graham — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:52:04 +0000

It seems that the more sophisticated our body products become, the closer we must look at what is actually in them. We have gone from the days of plain old lye soap to products of every type catering to every group, young and old alike. The most concerning groups of body products are those targeted at babies and children. At a time when young bodies are growing and developing, our children are being exposed to countless chemicals – the result of which is still totally unclear. What is clear is that babies may be exposed to several products at bath time, several times a week, in addition to other chemical exposures in the home and environment. Those small exposures add up and may contribute to later-life disease.

The March 2009 Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report, “No More Toxic Tub”, has just been released and the findings are disturbing. Not only are known cancer-causing chemicals such as formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane being found in products advertised as “safe and gentle”, but these chemicals are not disclosed on product labels because they’re contaminants, not ingredients, and therefore (unlike other countries) are exempt from labeling laws in the U.S. Manufacturers can easily remove the toxic byproduct, but are not required by law to do so.

Since we can not count on our systems to ensure ingredient safety, we must fend for ourselves. The mission of Ulew Natural Products is to find and offer safe cosmetics. Our products are the cleanest around. Good, food-grade, quality natural ingredients – including and especially our baby products. Help your children get a good healthy start in life!

Visit our full line of baby products.

Read the full article, see the safety guide to children’s personal care products and find out what you can do here.

Natural and Organic doesn’t always mean Safe – Especially with Cosmetics

tracy.graham — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:22:44 +0000

Although the FDA has strict guidelines for foods and supplements labeled as organic, there are no similar guidelines for other personal care items, especially cosmetics, that are labeled as either organic cosmetics or natural mineral cosmetics. Nevertheless, you might be prone to think that by simply labeling something as organic or natural it is a surefire guarantee that the product is good for you and the environment. But a little due diligence regarding the meaning behind “pure”, “natural”, and “organic” as it relates to natural cosmetics might just open your eyes to a practice that is confusing, and in some cases potentially harmful.

Because of the lack of government standards, these marketing tricks are in place to take advantage of the growing consumer awareness of the benefits of using products, such as natural cosmetics, that are safe as well as actually 100% natural and organic.

You might not be surprised to learn that one of the top-selling shampoos in the United States (Clairol Herbal Essences) contains over 12 synthetic petrochemicals that have been linked to moderate deep skin toxicity levels. But would you ever think that top-selling “natural” brands, correctly claiming to be made with all natural ingredients, have been shown to contain the synthetic chemical carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.

To address issues such as this (since the government has been too slow to respond), new industry standards are emerging in the natural cosmetics industry that are designed to help consumers relate to the differences between truly natural and organic products and ones that merely claim to be natural without providing the benefits generally associated with such products. But this self-regulatory effort can, at times, seem to be more confusing that not having any standards at all when different meanings and standards are attributed to the same words when applied to different products.

Enter The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. This watchdog organization is an advocate for standardization regarding ingredients found in natural cosmetics leading to a industry-wide acceptance delineating which safety of products labeled as natural cosmetics.

Ulew Natural Products (retailer of organic cosmetics) has embraced the stated goals of The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. From its inception, Ulew Natural Products has offered full disclosure in regard to the ingredients found in their organic cosmetics. This attention to detail speaks volumes as to Ulew Natural Products’ commitment to assure its customers that all Ulew Natural Products products are safe.

As Kandy Bernal, co-founder of Ulew notes, “Cosmetic companies use synthetics and fillers in their products to keep costs down and give themselves the greatest profit margin possible. They are spending pennies on the dollars you spend at your local drug or department store to buy their products. What you are paying for is an image of beauty perpetuated in advertisements. You are not usually paying for quality with most commercial cosmetic brands. There are natural alternatives that are better for you and your skin. Inform yourself, read labels, and investigate products if they don’t list ingredients.”