Does this sound familiar? The last time you stopped at the store, there were just a few things you needed. You were almost out of diapers for the baby. You grabbed a box of anti-bacterial wipes, and then the kids started screaming for some fruity thing advertised on their favorite TV station. To keep a moment of peace, you quickly snagged what you could, and ran. You didn’t need much, but there’s a good chance that you got more than you expected.
According to author Leslie Garrett, you might have unwittingly put toxins, some known carcinogens and lots of nasty chemicals in your shopping cart. In her new book, The Virtuous Consumer, you’ll find out how to shop better, be healthier and make your family safer.
First, look at the labels on the products that you use most. The unpronounceable ingredients listed there might be allowable by government standards, but can potentially cause illness for your family and you. Regulation doesn’t automatically dictate a complete absence of disease-causing chemicals, and “all-natural” and “organic” don’t necessarily mean what you hope they mean. Furthermore, if the product was clinically tested, rabbits or guinea pigs may have been, well, guinea pigs in the lab. Garrett says to check labels carefully and take them with a grain of sodium lauryl sulfate.
Before you throw up your hands, take a deep (fresh) breath. There is a way you can be sure your family uses and consumes safe products. It will take some deliberation, but the good news is that it’s guaranteed to make you healthier and it will be “green.”
Start with the things that you put on your table. Garrett emphasizes that although organic shopping is great, buying directly from the source (think local farmer’s market) is better. Other recommendations? Eat less meat or go completely vegetarian. Do away with processed foods in your diet. According to Garrett, you don’t need most of those cleaning products under your sink. Some common household products (vinegar, baking soda and water) work just fine to keep things spiffy. Kids don’t need all those plastic toys, either, particularly the ones that are made overseas. And imagine how wonderful you’ll feel when you trade in your current vehicle for one that’s good for the planet.
Using humor, concrete examples and suggestions with varying degrees of difficulty, Garrett offers innovative ways to leave the planet in better shape than it was when you got here. While most of her ideas are easily doable (buy local and safely toss toxic cleaners) and can be started immediately, others require dedication and conscious effort, such as buying products made or grown within 100 miles of home or wearing only organic cotton clothing. This is both a good manual for beginners and a timely reminder for experienced eco-thinking consumers.
The Virtuous Consumer ($15.95) by Leslie Garrett is published by New World Library.
