Back to School is here and children are excited or defeated depending on which grade they are in. And that leaves parents scrambling to purchase supplies from big box stores in a mad dash. But if you'd like some tips on how to make their time at school safer, less toxic, and kinder to the environment, stick around. You've trusted Mamavation to …
It’s Settled. Probiotics Work & Here’s 70+ Brands Ranked on Quality & Science
Probiotics are a $50 billion dollar industry. And that's for good reason. Since 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been studying bacteria and their impacts on our health, isolating over 2,000 strains of human bacteria and studying them. Those findings have fundamentally changed our understanding of how the body works. But which …
Bread, Tortillas, Wraps & Bagels–Bakery Brands Ingredient Investigation
Bread, tortillas, wraps & bagels are a family staple for school lunches, summer picnics, barbecues, and warm weather meals. With so many options, there are limitless possibilities of meals that can be made. Although these products can fill up your family’s hungry bellies, they can also be full of unhealthy additives and chemicals that you may …
Best & Worst Coffee Brands–How to Buy the Safest Coffee
When asked most people would describe their coffee fairly simply: hot, black, sweet, creamy or expensive. Coffee has the most magical smell drawing you into a cup of creamy bitterness that gives you that morning shot of energy you needed to get out the door. And if you drink one cup, perhaps you drink 2-4 more cups throughout the day. There are …
50+ Salad Dressings & Marinades Without Additives & Chemicals
So you've opted for a salad. Good job picking a healthier meal with more fiber and nutrients. But are you pouring on an unhealthy dose of chemicals, artificial coloring, and high-fructose corn syrup on top? That certainly could be the case if you're using store-bought salad dressing. So where are all the better store-bought salad dressings and …
Study Shows Organic Dairy Safer for Sulfa Allergy & Everyone Else
It's settled. Organic milk is better than conventional for so many reasons! Not only is it more nutritious, but it contains fewer toxins and has the ability to capture carbon. But there is something very sinister hiding inside some conventional milk that could harm you--trace amounts of sulfa antibiotics. This isn't just a problem for allergy …
Non-GMO Chips & Salsa: 100+ of Your Favorite Brands Ranked by Ingredients
If I'm being honest, chips & salsa are one of my favorite snacks. Now that I’m feeding a growing family who also loves tortilla chips, finding the healthiest chips & salsa has been a priority. Mamavation investigated over 100 products to satisfy this growing question--which brands have the safest non-GMO chips & salsa? You’ve trusted …
50+ Non-Toxic Hair Styling Products You Can’t Live Without!
Beautifully shiny and coifed hair can take a lot of work, and a lot of hair products. But have you ever stopped to consider if your hair care products are safe? Do you really know what’s in them? I don't know about you, but I see no reason to add harmful chemicals to my daily routine if I can find non-toxic alternatives. Good news! Mamavation has …
How Toxic Is Your Hair Dye? Best & Worst Hair Color Brands
Do you hate your gray hairs or just want a change? Hair dyes or hair color are one of the most amazing inventions of all time--it's a product that makes us feel younger, more confident, and exciting. Naturally, the best way to get rid of that unwanted silver hair is with hair color. But if you’re trying to live a clean and non-toxic lifestyle, hair …
Best Natural & Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaners 2022
Cleaning dirt & grime just got serious. Studies have shown that the proper cleaning of your home can result in less exposure to notoriously nasty hormone-disrupting chemicals like phthalates, PFAS "forever chemicals," fire retardants, and other VOCs. Using eco-friendly non-toxic all-purpose cleaners is the safest way to clean and remove these …
Could Your Disposable Plates Be Making You Fat & Sick? These Brands Won’t.
Do you still use paper plates? Don't worry, we won't call the green police on you. But if you do, there is something you need to know. A dangerous chemical known as PFAS (short for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) was recently found in paper plates and other disposable food wares. These substances make your disposable plates, bowls, and other …
Dangerous Chemicals in Food Packaging: Grocery Stores & PFAS
One important contaminant that is not transparent in our food system is the use of "indirect additives" coming from packaging, storage & cooking. And it's quite a conundrum because these "indirect additives" get into our food whenever heat, acid or fat are in the mix, which is quite commonplace. Unfortunately, there was no way to find out other …