When you bite into an apple you think you’re just eating an apple right?
Wrong!
If your apple is a conventionally grown apple it’s most likely come with a side serving of fries, and by fries I mean chemical residues such as pesticides and herbicides.
Today we’re chatting about chemical residues in fruit and vegetables and what you can do to reduce your exposure.
In this Eco Chat episode I discuss:
To download your FREE Dirty Dozen Fridge Memo click here.
In today’s episode I’m chatting to Erica Brooke from ‘Erica Brooke 100% Natural Skin Care.’
Erica has a huge passion for natural skincare and green chemistry and is on a mission to help with nasty chemicals from skin care and deodorants.
Erica’s natural deodorant creams in particular are gaining a solid reputation in the natural body care space and today we’re chatting about all things deodorant, including:
You can follow Erica and view her entire range of natural body products at www.ericabrooke.com.au. Enter discount code HOMEDETOX15 to save 15% off your first order!
You can read Erica’s blog on performing a pit detox here.
Erica is also a guest expert in my Home Detox Boot camp. Normally interviews like these are just part of the exclusivity of the Home Detox Boot camp, but I really wanted to share this one today because deodorants are something that all of us are applying to our bodies day in and day out which is why it’s so important to switch to a natural one! I wanted to share Erica’s story and her tips for doing the pit detoxes and also why you should switch to a natural deodorant with everyone! But of course, if you are keen to hear from a lot more of my guest experts on the topic of removing toxins from your home and your life, be it personal body care, cleaning, household, kitchen…everything, head on over to www.homedetoxbootcamp.com and pop your name on the waiting list so that you are notified when I open it for next round which is hopefully going to be later in 2016.
So it is true!
We have 1,000 new pets but they’re probably not the kind of pets that generally spring to mind. I’m talking my favourite kind of pets….productive pets….. That’s right! Pets who contribute more than love to a household. Yes indeed, we’re the proud new owners of a worm colony…. a.k.a. a worm farm!
In this episode I chat all things worm farms, including:
I purchased my worms from here and my TUMBLEWEED Can-O-Worms worm farm and worm blanket from here.
Well hasn’t this past week been a storm in an egg cup!!
If you’re in Australia and have been following the media recently you’ve no doubt noticed all the kerfuffle over eggs. Supermarkets chains selling caged eggs have come under fire and the degree of greenwashing going on by brands labelling their eggs as free range, when they’re anything but, has once again come to the fore.
In this edition of Eco Chat I chat about what you're really buying when you purchase caged or free range eggs and I share my top 7 Reasons Why You Should Consider Keeping Chickens.
To access the Choice Free Range Egg Buying Guide click here.
If you’ve been thinking that it’s about time for you to get your hands dirty and have a go at growing your own produce, then today’s episode is for you. We’re talking about the things you need to consider when planning your garden to ensure your efforts don’t go to waste and you’re rewarded with a bumper crop!
After spending time outside on and off these past couple of weeks getting our garden ready for our autumn/winter crop with my husband Paul, I’ve decided to bring him on the show to chat about what to consider when planning your organic veggie garden because his thumbs are greener than mine!
Paul discusses the following five things to consider when planning your vegetable garden:
If you enjoyed this podcast I’d like to let you in on a little secret as I have some big news coming next month. I’ve been tinkering away on a new offering for a while now (actually it’s been in my head for almost three years) and I’m getting close to bringing it out into the world.
I can’t reveal too much yet, but if you’re someone who’s been craving a return to nature, to simplicity, to a more meaningful life… this is for you.
The offering will have a vegetable gardening component to it so if you enjoyed today’s topic and are keen to become a little more self sufficient make sure you head over to lauratrotta.com and subscribe to ensure you’re first to know when my new offering is ready.
If you love eating food and you have a social conscience, then today’s episode is for you. I’m talking wholefoods and how you can cook for a cause!!!
If you listened to my recent episodes on fluoride in drinking water you would have heard that our society’s obsession with sugar and processed foods is playing havoc with our teeth. But it’s not only that, eating a diet high in processed foods has been identified as the main factor causing so many modern health issues like obesity, diabetes, heart conditions, spectrum disorders, infertility and so many more.
Not to mention the environmental issues of eating processed, and highly packaged foods.
Eating a diet rich in wholefoods is essential for our health and that of our environment.
But what exactly are wholefoods?
In this episode I chat about what wholefoods are and I introduce you to a project by the Aussie Wellness Women that is attempting to raise $200,000 for the Luke Batty Foundation, by selling a gorgeous wholefoods cookbook "From Our Kitchen To Yours".
You can purchase your copy of "From Our Kitchen To Yours" by the Aussie Wellness Women for $19.95 here.
Here we are in the final episode of my 3-part feature on fluoride in drinking water and boy have we covered a lot!
If you’re listening to this episode and haven’t yet listened to podcast episode 21, the Case For Fluoride with Dentist Dr Agim Hymer and podcast episode 22, The Case Against Water Fluoridation with Toxicologist Dr Peter Dingle, stop right now and go and listen to these first.
I also encourage you to head here to get your hands on my FREE summary on this 3-part feature on Fluoride In Drinking Water. This download wraps everything covered in this 3-part feature in an easy to digest guide, plus it also contains a review on water filtering systems should you decide to head down that route.
In this episode I re-visit some of the key issues and arguments both for and against water fluoridation as discussed in the previous two episodes. I share a personal experience where my diet impacted my teeth and I also review water filtering options.
Recommended Resources and Products:
Fill2Pure Water filter Jug
Fill2Pure Stainless Steel Drinking Bottles with Inbuilt Filter
Ceramic Fluoride Water Filter
EcoCocoon Stainless Steel Water Bottles
I Quit Sugar Recipe Books and 8 Week I Quit Sugar eCourse
Small Steps To Wholefoods eCourse
Do you avoid drinking tap water because of the presence of fluoride in your local water supply?
Are you unsure whether or not fluoride in drinking water is good or bad for your health?
Do you want to avoid drinking water that contains fluoride but aren’t sure how you can best protect you, and your children’s teeth, without using fluoride?
If that’s you, you’re in the right place!
Click here to download your FREE eguide on everything you need to know about fluoride in drinking water.
In this three-part series on fluoride in drinking water, I’m chatting to both an acclaimed dentist and toxicologist in an effort to uncover the facts and find the information so you can make an informed choice about your drinking water that best suits you and your family.
In Part 1 of my feature on Fluoride in Drinking Water, where I chatted with my guest, acclaimed dentist Dr Agim Hymer, we covered the history and reasons behind adding fluoride to drinking water and the case for water fluoridation. You heard this perspective directly from a medical professional who is deep in the trenches facing the issue of tooth decay in our population day in and day out.
Today, we’re switching to the other side of the fence and I’m chatting with toxicologist, Dr Peter Dingle.
Dr Peter Dingle has spent the past 30 years as a researcher, educator, communicator and author. Formerly an associate professor at Murdoch University, Dr D has written more than a dozen books on living well.
Dr Dingle regularly appears on state and national media. He was the presenter on the award-winning SBS program, “Is Your House Killing You?” and appeared regularly on ABC’s “Can We Help?” Dr Dingle is also the grandfather of the acclaimed “Living Smart” program and the creator of the “StarFoods” food rating system.
Recognised as one of the most informative and entertaining health speakers in Australia, Dr Dingle aims to cut through medical and health myths to give you the real facts on evidence-based wellness. He is known for his straight-shooting style, sense of humour and the occasional magic trick or juggling display.
In this interview you'll hear Dr Dingle's thoughts on:
You’ve now heard both the case for and against the addition of fluoride to our drinking water supply and while both of my guest experts sit on different sides of the fence, they clearly both agree that we should be doing everything we can to clean up our diets and just eat real food.
Stay tuned to the final instalment in this 3-part series on fluoride in drinking water where I wrap up the issue and provide an overview of water filtering options, should this be something you’d like to consider in your household.
You can also download your FREE eguide summarising the findings from this feature here.
Do you avoid drinking tap water because of the presence of fluoride in your local water supply?
Are you unsure whether or not fluoride in drinking water is good or bad for your health?
Do you want to avoid drinking water that contains fluoride but aren’t sure how you can you can best protect you, and your children’s teeth, without using fluoride?
If that’s you, you’re in the right place!
In this three-part series on fluoride in drinking water, I’m chatting to both an acclaimed dentist and toxicologist in an effort to uncover the facts and find the information so you can make an informed choice about your drinking water that best suits you and your family.
In this first interview, where I’m chatting with Dr Agim Hymer from First Bite Dental, we discuss:
In this three-part series on fluoride in drinking water I’ll be chatting to both an acclaimed dentist and toxicologist on the issue.
There will be a fabulous freebie on fluoride in drinking water available, where I’ve summarized all the findings, both for and against, including the best ways you can remove fluoride from your drinking water should you choose to do this, and this will be available for you to download here after Part 3 of this investigation goes live in mid March 2016. If you’re reading this before that date you can still enter your details and it will be emailed to you as soon as part 3 is LIVE!
I’m all about presenting balanced information to you so you can make up your own mind so without any more chatter from me, make sure you listen to Part 1 of this series on Fluoride in Drinking water where I’m chatting to a man who runs a widely acclaimed naturopathic dental practice 'First Bite Dental' in Melbourne, Dr Agim Hymer.
This issue is definitely a complex one and it’s about to get more complex because in the next episode, Part 2 of the feature on fluoride in drinking water, I’m chatting with toxicologist, and former Associate Professor and leading researcher in Health and the Environment at Murdoch University, Dr Peter Dingle, who will share all his reasonings why fluoride should be removed from our drinking water supply.
Stay tuned!
Monica Meldrum, the founder of Whole Kids is on a mission to nurture healthy kids and a healthy world.
Following an extensive corporate career in the construction industry, Monica travelled to Indonesia with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in 2000 to deliver an aid program to children living in poverty. The experience challenged her assumptions about the meaning of success and how she could make a greater contribution with her life. At the time, Monica vowed to make a difference to children’s health.
On returning to Australia and witnessing food related illnesses amongst children and an abundance of over processed, heavily marketed children’s foods, Monica launched Whole Kids.
Whole Kids has since grown to become Australia’s largest range of certified organic, additive free and allergen-friendly snacks for kids, the proceeds of which are funding kids health and environment projects nationally, through Whole Kids Small Seeds Community Grants Program.
Whole Kids was the first Food Company in Australia to be certified a B Corporation and in doing so is committed to creating a healthy life and a healthy world for kids.
In recognition of her sound business strategy and great vision for the future of Whole Kids, Monica was awarded 2015 St George Banking Group Ausmumpreneur of the Year. Monica was also awarded Emerging Entrepreneur 2013 by NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership awards for her innovation, leadership and a strong commitment to creating change for the future.
In this exclusive Eco Chat episode Monica and I discuss:
Discover Wholekids here.
Today I'm excited to be chatting with Sara Fieschi, one of my amazing Home Detox Boot Camp graduates.
Sara has spent 15 years studying, researching and teaching nutrition and food science, as she has always been interested in what we are feeding our bodies and their effects. However, after having her two children, she began to increasingly think about and question what ingredients were in her children’s wash products, and essentially what we are feeding our skin.
In early 2016, Sara joined my Home Detox Boot Camp where she soon realised that what we put on our skin is just as important as what we put in our body. She also learnt about the many worrisome ingredients in commercial soaps and felt the need to develop an all-natural alternative. And so she did, Sara is the proud founder of the natural soap business- The Australian Soap Kitchen.
In this chat Sara and I chat about her journey from Food Science Expert to mother to Home Detox Boot Camp participant to Eco Business Creator and Founder! It truly is an amazing and inspiring story.
Sara is also generously offering a 10% discount off her entire natural soap range until 29th February 2016. Just use code eco2016 in your checkout to get your hands on her nourishing, healthy and pure soaps.
Bill Statham was born in Toowoomba in Queensland and grew up on a dairy farm on the fertile Darling Downs. When he was in his twenties he told friends that one day he would write a book. At the time he had no idea what it would be about, but twenty years later this dream became a reality when The Chemical Maze - Your Guide to Food Additives and Cosmetic Ingredients was first published. Little did he realise all those years ago that it would become a bestseller and create an awareness that would change many people’s lives for the better.
And best seller it is! The Chemical Maze is now in its 5th edition, has sold around 250,000 copies worldwide in 9 languages and Bill has recently launched the latest version of The Chemical Maze App for Smartphones.
To say that Bill is making a huge difference to so many people’s lives would quite possibly be an understatement and I’m so thrilled to have Bill join me on Eco Chat today!
In this edition of Eco Chat Bill and I chat about:
- what led Bill to creating The Chemical Maze
- what additives are best avoided in food
- what additives are best avoided in cosmetics and personal care products
- the natural food additive you need to be be aware of
- why not all additives are harmful
- why you need to be aware of the potential cumulative effects of combinations of reasonably benign food additives
- how Bill keeps it real and doesn't get too obsessive about avoiding toxins in his day to day life
- what kickstarted Bill's eco journey
Click here to download your FREE eguide The Top 10 Food Additives To Avoid.
Click here to purchase The Chemical Maze books and Smartphone App and here to follow Bill Statham on Facebook.
Bill is also a guest expert on my Home Detox Boot Camp which is open for enrolment now!
A sedentary lifestyle, poor lifestyle choices and a diet rich in processed foods are the three reasons typically touted for the battle most of us face daily with the bulge.
But the weight management puzzle is a little more complicated than that…..
Researchers are finding more and more that environmental factors may have a role to play in weight management; factors including air pollution and chemicals in our foods as well as products commonly used around the home have been scientifically linked to obesity.
In this podcast I chat about the growing evidence that suggests that synthetic chemicals, and in particular, endocrine-disrupting chemicals lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, infertility, hormone-related cancers and neurological problems.
If breaking up with endocrine-disrupting and other synthetic chemicals in your home has been on your TO-DO list, check out my FREE Home Detox Training Series. A clean, healthy home without the toxic chemicals will soon be yours to enjoy.
I'll also be opening the doors to my popular Home Detox Boot Camp again very soon!
Two weeks ago the world lost one of the greatest entertainers of our generation, David Bowie.
Thousands have been mourning his passing and are visiting his birth town to mark their respect. Musicians have been playing tribute to Bowie at concerts around the world and a tribute show will be held in New York late March to celebrate his life. Just this week scientists even registered a constellation shaped like a lightning bolt in honour of David Bowie and his out-of-this-world talent.
Such is the collective love for Bowie’s art and the impact he’s had on so many; he truly was one of the world’s greatest creative minds and he’s undeniably left a legacy.
But what is legacy and what will yours be? In this Eco Chat episode Laura chats about environmental legacy and the impact modern humans are leaving behind.
She also invites you to learn how to live a bit lighter on the planet through her eco-living education products Think Global Act Local, greenHOUSE and Home Detox Boot Camp.
And for the first time, Laura is taking on a select number of clients for 1-on-1 online business coaching. But there's a catch, there's only three positions and you need to be running (or setting up) a Conscious Business or Organization. To find out more and book your FREE 30 minute Discovery Session, click here.
At the start of every year I like to reflect on the key highlights of the previous year – both personal and professional highlights.
I do this because I always find that looking back fills me with such a massive sense of achievement and pride and it also helps me to decide where to channel my focus for the year ahead.
Sure thing, I look at my wins, but I also look at my hurdles and am always amazed at how they seem to be the stages of my biggest growth and breakthroughs….. in business and in life.
Plus, I also review my data – whether it’s website stats on what content is being digested the most or what you tell me in my annual survey that you want me to focus on more for the year ahead.
So, in this Eco Chat episode review 2015, the year that was, and let you know a little of what I have in store for you in 2016.
I go through the highlights and lowlights of each quarter last year and discuss my five most popular blog posts and podcast episodes (hint: they're not what you think!).
I also reveal the findings of my recent reader survey and chat how I'll be turning this feedback into helping you make green mainstream in 2016.
And PS – in the next week, I’ll be making a super exciting announcement for those of you who want to make a decent living while saving the world, because the two aren’t mutually exclusive you know! And keep an eye out as I’ll also be re-opening the doors to Home Detox Boot Camp again real soon!
Moving to a chemical-free home has many benefits. In this episode I chat about the following six reasons why you should consider breaking up with toxins in your home:
1. Your kids won’t be guinea pigs
2. You will save money
3. Your home will be less cluttered
4. Your kids immune systems will be stronger
5. Chemical-free is kinder to our planet
6. You will reduce your child’s overall chemical load
If you're keen to learn more, you can discover my 10 Must-Have Natural Products to Clean Your Home here.
You can also jump on board my FREE Home Detox Training Series (for a limited time!) here.
Borax is one of those ‘natural’ cleaning products that can divide a room.
The ‘CAUTION Keep Out of Reach of Children’ notification on the container, teamed with the child-proof lid that even the man of the house struggles to open only adds to the ‘It must be nasty, nasty stuff’ worry passing through any concerning mum’s mind.
But is it toxic and on the ‘no-go’ list or can it hold its head up high in your green cleaning toolkit?
In this episode I take a look at what Borax is, whether or not it's safe for use in the home plus I share my thoughts on the product and how I use it in my own home.
If you're keen to learn more about detoxing your home you can also pick up your FREE copy of my eguide '10 Must-Have Natural Products for cleaning your home without harsh chemicals' here.
I recorded this podcast while on holidays with my family in Eastern Victoria, Australia. Whilst back in my hometown of Sale I immersed myself in the outdoors I grew to love so much while I was growing up.
In this episode, recorded unscripted in the Sale Common State Game Refuge, I chat about the importance of getting back out into nature - for our physical, mental and spiritual health.
Special thanks to my backing team of birdlife and cicadas!
If you’re ready to step up and set some New Year Eco Resolutions for the year ahead, than this episode is for YOU!
So many of us focus our new year resolutions on health areas such as losing weight, getting fitter or quitting smoking, and while these are great goals to have, it make sense to include an eco resolution or two as well.
Why?
Because we can’t be truly healthy if our environment isn’t healthy. It’s a bit of a chicken verses egg kind of thing.
In this episode I wrap up my 2015 – where I did well eco-wise and where I didn’t go so well and why. Plus, I share my green goals for 2016 and encourage you to set some too!
If you're keen to learn more about how to get healthier, save some cash and live a big lighter on the planet this year, head on over to lauratrotta.com and pick up your FREE eguide '11 Steps to Eco-fy Your Home (and Your Life!).'
Typically stretching from mid-November through to early January, the season to be jolly is a far contrast from the season to be green.
In fact, it’s fair to say that Christmas and excess go hand in hand. There’s often an oversupply of food and drink and for those of us with children in our lives, stacks of presents that can be played with once and discarded, or worse, broken shortly after receiving.
But that needn’t be the case.
You can enjoy the festive season without the wasteful trimmings and without being a party pooper. Often a little extra preparation and thinking outside the green box is all that’s needed for a sustainable Christmas.
In this podcast episode I share some tips to get you started eco-fying the three main areas of Christmas consumption – food, gifts and decorations.
PLUS if you're looking to get in Santa’s good books without costing the Earth, I have you covered!
Get your FREE eGUIDE for a Greener Christmas here.
It's my early Christmas gift to you so you can get cracking on dreaming of a green Christmas.....
When we typically first step out on our eco journeys so many of us are keen for information and have a real thirst for knowledge on how we can live cleaner and greener.
Over time this thirst can continue to grow and our quest to remove toxins from our lifestyles can be seen by others to be obsessive. Sometimes, we can start to feel isolated from family and friends who may not be as concerned, knowledgeable or interested in this way of life.
But what is obsessive?
Is it tossing out your entire Tupperware collection? Is it never wearing sunscreen when you venture in to the sun again? Is it never eating food that you haven’t prepared yourself?
In this episode I’m joined by one of Australia’s leading medical professionals, Fertility specialist, gynaecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr Natasha Andreadis to chat about this exact issue and the dilemma may people face when it comings to knowing where to draw the line on eco and low tox living.
We chat about:
To get started on removing toxins from your home environment, download your FREE eGuide 'My Top 10 Natural Products For Cleaning Your Home Without Harsh Chemicals'' here.
Keen to learn more? Join me and my Home Detox Community in my popular Home Detox Boot Camp.
If you’re really striving hard to live a greener life but feel dismayed when you see all your efforts just slip away during a busy patch …. then this episode is for you!
This time of the year is crazy in most households. Christmas breakups, school assemblies and awards nights, dance concerts, work parties….. the list goes on!
In this episode I share my top 5 tips for staying green during busy periods, including:
To help you organise your eco kitchen and reduce food waste, download your FREE printable meal planner and shopping list. Consider it an early Christmas gift from me to you.
Does the amount of plastic waste in society drive you crazy? Do you like to party and entertain, but lead a busy lifestyle and want some single-use options that aren’t going to throw your green guilt into overdrive? If that’s you, stay tuned because today I’m talking to my first real-life Eco Hero, Tina Hart from Eco Party Box.
So I brought Tina on the show as my first real life Eco Hero because she’s doing a great job at making green mainstream. Tina is a wife, mother of four and a successful ecopreneur. She created online eco biz Eco Party Box with her husband Jonathan from their home in South Australia and is a great example of someone who’s stayed true to her passions, while providing for her family.
What I love about Tina is that she is so real and she’s open and honest about the struggles she faces with living a green lifestyle. In this interview we chatted about green guilt and how Tina manages it when it hits her.
I hope you enjoy this episode and get some good takeaways.
Click here to visit Eco Party Box's website.
If your home is being overrun by your kid's toys then this episode is for YOU!
Given it’s been estimated that around $1 billion is spent in Australia annually on retail toy sales, it's not surprising that many homes (and landfills) are simply bursting at the seams with toys.
In this episode I chat about the many environmental impacts of modern toys (including the batteries they contain), eco play alternatives and even suggest some ideas for helping to stop the toy invasion from well-meaning relatives at Christmas time.
For more tips on eco-living, and to get your FREE eguide '11 Steps to Eco-fy Your Home... and Your Life!' join the conversation at lauratrotta.com