14 WAYS TO START GOING GREEN*

I always thought GREEN was just a color or referred to money, but I have accidentally been enlightened!  I never intended to GO GREEN, or ORGANIC or NATURAL, but slowly I am.  In almost every way.  For myself, my children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, and the world.  I am not one of those fanatics that goes to the extreme,  but I try, in my everyday live to make it all better, a little at a time.  Here are a few of the ways to GO GREEN.  Some are real EYE OPENERS!!

1- STOP JUNK MAIL

Put an end to incessant mailers and waste and save 69 lbs of junk mail sent to your home each year. Opt for e-newsletters, online catalogs and paperless billing whenever possible.  And be sure to recycle the junk mail that you do receive.

2- MAKE YOUR OWN FILTERED TAP WATER

Nearly 30 BILLION plastic water bottles are sold annually, JUST in the U.S. with less than 20% of them being recycled (which still wastes unnecessary energy).  Ironically, many bottled water companies use municipal water sources – that’s right, tap water. Learn how to save resources and money by drinking from the tap or home filtration system instead AND reduce the lead in your water as well.

To be certified in lead reduction, a filter has to be able to take water with 150 parts per billion of lead and reduce it to 10 parts per billion or less. During testing, 30 percent of the lead must be particles and 70 percent can be dissolved.

Most brands of popular water pitchers that people keep in their refrigerators DO NOT reduce lead levels.  Here are a few brands that are certified for LEAD REDUCTION.  Some have portable water bottles, to refill and filter when away from home.  Shaklee has a filter that can be used in both Britta and PUR so you don’t have to get a new pitcher…reuse the old one!!

—  CLEAN WATER, WATER FILTERATION PRODUCTS THAT REMOVE THE LEAD  —

SHAKLEE GET CLEAN WATER– http://livinggreener.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=89099 certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) to reduce up to 99% of lead

BPA FREE

REUSABLE FILER KIT with REFILLABLE FILTER HOUSING KIT, just replace the filter inside the housing – not the entire kit AND the FILTERS ARE RECYCLABLE – less waste-better for the environment!

1 filter, filters 80 gallons- Britta and PUR only filter 40 gallons and the filter housing in not reusable PLUS the Get Clean FILTER CAN BE USED IN BOTH BRITTA AND PUR systems- so you don’t have to purchase a NEW system!

NIKKEN PI MAG WATERFALL– http://nettrax.myvoffice.com/nikkenusa/ShoppingCart/Shop.cfm?CurrPage=FrontPage&NextPage=CategoryDetail&CategoryID=579&pid=65782999576124823&pwp=jotrish

KATADYN WATER PURIFICATION FILTER- www.katadyn.com

Because you never know what’s in the water, it makes sense to always protect yourself with a quality water system. A pristine stream may be safe one day and contaminated the next. It all depends upon what’s happening upstream. Microorganisms generally come from human and animal waste and are spread by rain and run-off. The EPA reports that 90% of the world’s fresh water supply is contaminated.   MyBottle Purifier is the only EPA registered bottle purification system available. Simply fill the bottle with water, insert the purification system and drink from virtually any water source. It removes all viruses, bacteria, cysts from water plus the integral carbon cartridge reduces chemicals and makes water taste better. As always, each MyBottle includes a drinking straw to use as your everyday bottle if the source water is already safe to drink.

3- REDUCE YOUR WASTE

Reducing the amount of waste you bring in and the amount of trash that goes to the landfill is an important part of any green lifestyle.  But there’s a lot more to it than just recycling plastic or throwing your trash in a bin.

Compost your food- You will be amazed at the amount of food you toss out.  And you can collect them in a sealed container right in your kitchen which is very convenient.  No meat, no dairy and no oils, but everything else is perfect!  Coffee grounds, coffee filters, tea bags, all fruit and veggies, black and white newspaper (including junk mail), lint from your dryer, ashes from your fireplace or fire pit (not charcoal), you can even add your weeds and small twigs.  Just recycle a food grade container such as a 55 gallon drum with a lid (drill large holes so rainwater can get in – cut the bottom off and place in the back corner of your yard or behind the shed.  Empty your sealed container in the barrel each time it is full adding the newspaper and ashes as you collect them.  Up north, stop adding in the fall and wait until spring…pick up the barrel and you will have yourself some homemade Compost-great to add to the garden or flower pots.

Another way to reduce your wastes is by purchasing items that are concentrated,

Buying less bottles means less to toss out!

For instance Shaklee sells Basic H2- (http://livinggreener.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00015) a highly concentrated cleaner- one bottle makes 48 gallons – – makes 214 bottles of ready to use All-Purpose Cleaner (less than $0.05 a bottle) and over 5,800 bottles of window cleaner ( less than $0.01 a bottle) and 36 bottles of Degreaser (less than $0.33 a bottle)

And a powerful Germicide called Basic G – EPA APPROVED   (http://livinggreener.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00525)  a highly concentrated germicide-one bottle makes 64 gallons, that not only kills over 40 microbes, pathogens and fungi, but keeps killing them for up to 3 days! (Bleach only lasts for 1 hour)

4. CONSERVE ENERGY

From oil to natural gas, energy is getting harder to produce and more costly. It accounts for 21.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year and over 90% of all greenhouse gasses. Do your part to conserve energy and save money (you could reduce your bills by 50%) Unplugging your computer, charger cords, toaster, coffeemaker, and anything else that actually stay ON when it’s off can really help to reduce your bill.

Buy solar everything- spot lights, garden lights, porch lights, pond pumps, motion lights, etc.  Invest into alternative energies or other sustainable ventures if you are able, solar, windmill, and water. Help reduce your CARBON FOOTPRINT. Replace your refrigerator or freezer if it is over 10 years old.  Contact your electric company for any saving incentives they may be offering.  Ours will not only PICK UP our old refrigerator or freezer but pay us $50 , plus with our new appliance we can save up to $150 a year on our energy costs!

Replace each old light bulb as it burns out with a new LED light bulb.  Your initial cost will be greater, but the bulb will last for years and will reduce the amount of electricity that you once use for that old bulb.

Here is some real info on these new fangled LED lights.  Check at your local store where they have the LED light display to learn about the difference of the colors of soft, natural, sunlight, and bright white.

Cost Comparison between LEDs, CFLs and Incandescent light bulbsThe following comparison charts illustrate the value of the latest LED bulbs when compared with CFLs and incandescents for overall efficiency as well as cost-effectiveness.

Notes:
– Cost of electricity will vary. The figures used above are for comparison only, and are not exact. Residential energy costs among the various states range from 28.53 cents (Hawaii) to 6.34 cents (Idaho) per KWH.
– The cost per bulb for LEDs may vary. We used the figure of $35.95 (for a 60 watt equivalent LED bulb) as an average among lighting retailers.
– Estimates of bulb lifespan are projected, since it would take about 6 years of continuous lighting to test. Some manufacturers claim the new LED bulbs will last up to 25 years under normal household use, but this is not proven.
– Bulb breakage and bulb replacement costs have not been factored into this comparison chart. Incandescent bulbs and CFL bulbs are more easily broken than LEDs, which increases their cost of use.

5. CONSERVE WATER

An estimated 50% of all household water usage is wasted. It goes down the drain while we wait for it to warm up or evaporates too quickly. In an era when our fresh water supply is diminishing due to pollution and drought, it’s important to conserve all the water we can, as well as learn about and put to use grey water AND rainwater to great recycling practices.

WATER HEATER-Replace your old inefficient water heater with an ON DEMAND INSTANT tank-less hot water heater.  Be sure to check the reviews, or ask around and see if any one you know has one and which one.   Our friends have a summer cottage and they have ONE, it provides all of the hot water to the sink, shower and washer-instantly, and only when needed.  No more 40 gallons of hot water sitting being heated and reheated until you finally need it.

WATER REDUCERS-Replace your sink screens and shower heads with a new water reducing screen-  there are several types.  ( https://www.gpconservation.com/neoperl-106400.html?gclid=CjwKEAjwxtKeBRDMzoeQmYn5uHcSJACGCF3DG4PIBjJU7DwAd5V8gdoMOt1jYCUgHA2o6pr_gSf2JBoCpGPw_wcB )  Also, check with your local electric or water company as they may offer you FREE water reducing products as part of grants they have received.

USE A RAIN BARREL- for emergency and non-emergency use. Collect your rainwater in a good food-grade container, aim your downspout into it and direct the overflow away from your foundation, or purchase a good rainwater.  Rainwater is better for your plants, minerals and nutrients are readily available for plants to use as opposed to city water which is full of Chlorine, Floride and other toxins, which actually block the receptors in plants making it harder for them to absorb the nutrients from the soil.  Add Shaklee’s Basic H2 to your rain barrel to help reduce the growth of algae, as a surfactant to make your water wetter so you can water less, and as a soil amender to reduce the soils hydrophobic condition. In emergencies, rainwater can be use to flush toilets, washing, and if filtered a Katadyn water PURIFICATION system or the Big Berkey water PURIFICATION system for drinking and cooking uses. (water filtration pitchers should not be confused with a water PURIFICATION system-  A FILTRATION SYSTEM removes chemical and odors from CLEAN water, a PURIFICATION SYSTEM removes harmful TOXINS and DISEASES from rain, steam, lake and pond water) To prevent MOSQUITOS, keep leaves and debris from entering the barrel, prevent overflow from your rain barrel,  and do all this MAINTENANCE FREE….Attach a rainwater diverter system to your downspout and attach to your rain barrel.  You can even attach it to an open top barrel and still get the same results. The RainReserve Diverter is MADE IN THE USA – ( http://www.rainbarrelsnmore.com/diverters%20n%20more.htm ) does all that and more! Available in several kits-it is the ONLY diverter that guaranteed to be Freeze-Proof and UV Resistant that has an automatic overflow, separates the leave and debris from the rainwater and returns back down your downspout.  Made from 100% corn resin and other recycled materials.  Comes with a 1 year warranty.

USE A SOAKER HOSE- for watering- use with your rain barrel or from the spigot on your home, turn the hose so the holes are pointing down to eliminate evaporation and give plants a good drink!

DISCONNECT DOWNSPOUTS- disconnect your downspouts- aim them in a flower bed or out into your yard or into a rain garden.  Use that water to cut down on your outdoor watering while reducing the amount of water the cities have to clean before it can be returned to the lake or streams.

Some folks have even gone to the extreme of having their rain barrels hooked up to their homes for all of their washing, and bathing and toilet uses.

6. GREEN YOUR TRANSPORTATION

Bicycling, walking, carpooling or riding the bus are the best ways to commute sustainably. Inflating your car tires, driving slower and combining trips will help you save gas when driving is necessary.

And for long distance travel, take the train or purchase carbon offsets which invest your money into alternative energies.

7. EAT ORGANIC, LOCALLY-GROWN OR HOME GROWN. 

One of the most important ways to GO GREEN is with food. Most of our food and meals come from a minimum of 1,500 miles away. Much of what ends up on our plate has traveled around the world to reach you. And yet way too much of it is VERY unhealthy for us.

Purchase foods that are non-GMO, labeled USDA Certified ORGANIC with the USDA symbol, or start your own garden from seeds or plants both labeled Organic and non-GMO.

Use the Compost that you made – a natural fertilizer, to till into your soil and reduce the need for added fertilizers.

8. GO CHEMICAL FREE

Now you can replace toxic chemicals and choose sustainable options. You’ll not only limit disposable containers, and save money; you’ll create a healthy living environment for your family.

There are many non-toxic, natural ways to fertilize and rid your lawn, garden, and flowerbeds of weeds, as well as getting rid of unwanted pests including insects, moles, chipmunks, mice, and even deer.

FERTILIZERS & DISEASE CONTROL-Concentrated Compost tea can be diluted and poured directly on plants or added to a sprayer that attaches to your hose like Ortho or Miracle Grow, although commercial sprayers are very accurate, these work just fine when using Compost Tea. Compost tea will not burn plants so be sure and spray the leaves of plants as well-bugs don’t like it! Other natural fertilizers to just place on, in, or around plants include, crushed egg shells, the water from the boiled eggs(cooled), wood ashes, Epsom Salts-for plant starters. To prevent or control  blackspot a spray composed of one part milk and two parts water is the best answer to these disease. This simple solution, if applied weekly, will control blackspot as well as any synthetic fungicide.

WEED KILLERS-You can use vinegar as a  Herbicide.  Vinegar is a very inexpensive, environmentally safe AND a great way to naturally kill weeds. It is very easy to use, and it will not harm the environment. Simply place some undiluted household vinegar in a pump sprayer or mister/sprayer bottle and spritz weeds to SATURATE their leaves. Usually within 3 to 48 hours the plant growth will wither and die. Young seedlings less than two weeks old will be killed entirely, but older weeds will have their top-growth killed and may still resprout from the roots.  Placing 1 teaspoon of Shaklee’s organic Basic H2 per each gallon of vinegar will help cut the oils on the leaf of the plants for better absorption (twice as much Basic H2 is needed when spraying Poison Ivy)  Research has shown that using vinegars with 10, 15, or 20% acetic acid concentrations(found in farm supply stores and also used for canning) have had an 80 to 100% kill-rate with many common weeds. Regular household vinegar is only 5% acetic acid concentration but yet has successfully killed the top growth of Canadian Thistle, one of the most noxious weeds in the U.S. but it did have regrowth from the root.  Respraying the young regrowth of any plants that regrow may need to be down every couple of weeks for these tougher plants.  Adding 1-2 cups of Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salts) to each gallon of Vinegar is not necessary but can be done to quickly return the pH of the soil for planting.  

PEST REPELLANTS- Those new electric pest repellents really work!  Place a couple in the garage, shed or attic wherever you have an electrical outlet.  Moth balls and cotton balls soaked in Peppermint Oil have been know to rid your attic and shed of unwanted mice.  Castor Oil poured in Mole, Vole, and Chipmunk holes makes them move out!  Chopped up Citrus peels around the garden area keep dogs, cats and other critters out.  Crushed egg shells around the bottom of plants keeps the slugs and snails away AND fertilizes you plants! To keep deer from eating your plants hundred of techniques have been tried and used.  Some folks swear by the old tin pans banging in the wind, others say human hair sprinkled around is the best, but I think if they can’t SMELL the plant, they won’t eat it.  So I have found their predator-Coyote Urine (http://www.legupenterprises.com/Coyote-Urine_c9.htm)  works great, but the smell is very repulsive.  Placing it in the 30-day bottles is a much better idea, but you do have to have them hanging every 4-5 feet around the area.  I have also found that the of all of the soaps out there, IRISH SPRING ORIGINAL bar soap, has such a strong smell, once you grate it up on the tops and bottoms of plants that they have no idea there is “cotton candy” beyond that smell!!  Although it has to be applied a couple times a week, it is still a great deterrent.  To keep the bugs off YOU and your pets, including Mosquitos and black flies, spray yourself with full-strength or diluted Basic H2 by Shaklee ( http://livinggreener.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00015 ) or make up this mixture of Homemade Mosquito Repellant – just 3 ingredients! 15 drops of Lavender Essential Oil, 3 – 4 Tbsp Homemade Vanilla Extract, 4-5 Tbsp. Lemon Juice in 8 ounces of distilled water in a spray bottle.

9. CHOOSE NATURAL PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS AND SUPPLEMENTS

There have been over 70,000 NEW chemical compounds invented since 1950 and dispersed into our environment, and only a fraction of these have actually been tested for HUMAN TOXICITY.  We are, by default, conducting a massive clinical toxicology trial, and our selves, our children and their children are the experimental animals. (source: Herbert L. Needleman M.D., Phillip J. Landrigan M.D., Raising Children Toxic Free)    Asthma, once a rare disease, has increased and almost quadrupled in the last 20 years.  Asthma DEATH in children and young people dramatically increased  118% between 19080 and 1993 and the numbers keep going up. Over 150 chemicals (in products) found in the home are connected to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders.  Household Chlorine Beach which claim to disinfect, are classified as PESTICIDES under the Federal hazardous Substances Act.

Simplify your personal care with natural products.  Search local farmers markets, garden centers and local fairs for homemade organic natural soap, candles, honey, etc.  Begin taking short, efficient showers, shave your legs or face in the sink or tub before you shower to reduce water usage. Use organic products or no products at all, opt for an easy to manage haircut (or learn to cut it yourself at home). Also remember that natural, organic supplements and eating healthy food will lead to healthy skin and a healthy body.  Here is A VERY short list of some of the toxins in our everyday products include SODIUM-LAURYL/LAURYL–SULPHATE,  aka-SLS, SLES, ALS-all forms of SLS, (nearly 16,000 studies mention the toxicity of SLS, a surfactant, detergent, and emulsifier used in thousand of cosmetics, and industrial cleaners, LEAD,  PHTHALATE, NAPHTHALENE, PARABENS, PEGs, SLS, 2,4 DIOXANE,  1,4-DICHLOROBENZENE, ANTIBACTERIALS, PETRO CHEMICALS, ALUMINUM COMPOUNDS, FORMALDEHYDE (in one of over a dozen names), and PHENOL.  Some  plug in air fresheners contain chemicals that react with ozone and create FORMALDEHYDE.

In an OCA report released on March 14, 2008, at least one toxic, cancer-linked chemical was found in over 40 percent of products that call themselves “natural.”–Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call by Dr. Doris Rapp

These are just the tip of thousands of toxins, that have been found stored in our fat cells (adipose tissue).  Bioaccumulation studies have shown that some toxins are stored in our bodies for LIFE!

What you put ON your body is just as important as what you put IN your body. ( Your skin is the LARGEST organ of your body) The list of what goes on or touches your body is long, so begin replacing your toxic products with natural organic products each time you run out. The cost is irrelevant compared to the cost of the short term and long term sickness, allergies and rashes it causes you and your family. Multivitamins, Diet and Health products, Body Lotion, Body Creams, Sunscreen, Lipstick and lip moisturizers sticks, liquid and bar Soap, Shampoo, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Cosmetics, Hair Spray, Dish and Laundry Soap, clothing whiteners, dryer sheets and liquid softeners, candles, room deodorizers, germicides, and first and foremost your CLEANERS! Basically EVERY thing that you can touch or smell needs to be replaced.   The word “fragrance” on any container should make you run…1 fragrance can have up to 150 individual synthetic ingredients, that they do NOT have to list.   There are only a few REAL natural and organic companies out there. Beware of products that are just labeled Natural and Organic unless they are actually certified or you know it to be true.  Everyone is jumping on the GREEN WAGON so be cautious of the old products that now announce they are GREEN, NATURAL AND ORGANIC and have a NEW label.   I have also found that if I send an email to the company asking if they have any organic, natural products, 9 times out of 10 they do, such as Camille Beckman, I received a sample of her body butter as a present, and loved it and wanted to purchase a full size product, but I wanted a body butter that was non-toxic without PARABENS in it…and she referred me to HER organic and all natural  “Mango Beach No. 2”  so many of our beauty products have parabens in them, so I am starting to replace them, one at a time.

Start looking at the ingredients in all of the products in your home.  If you can’t pronounce it, it is probably toxic.  Here are some ORIGINAL, GREEN, ORGANIC AND NATURAL product companies that have been around for years.  Trusted, Tested, Tried, some have Patented products, and have much higher MORAL regulations for purity & quality than that which the government requires.  Here are 4 for starters!  Some of these are now carried in stores for your convenience…like Costco, Target and Trader Joe’s.

Shaklee ( www.LivingGreener.myShaklee.com )  Tom’s of Maine ( www.tomsofmaine.com ) and for the little guys as well as big guys-  The Honest Company ( www.honest.com )  (they even carry natural disposable diapers) Burt’s Bees ( www.burtsbees.com ) 

Also, MOST of our mattresses, bedding, couches, carpet and flooring (and even some of our clothing) are treated, made with or contain TOXINS, that we cannot help but touch and breathe everyday.  So check in to those natural organic products when replacing them or when trying to treat an ongoing allergy of unknown origin.

Sorry for all this bad news, but someone had to tell you!! I was just as shocked as you are right now to learn that some of my clothing, curtains, carpet, furniture and especially my MATTRESS may contain uncontrolled amounts of arsenic, phosphorus, and one of three nerve gasses!!  Watch these videos and read the article to learn more on how your cleaning products are making you sick, lysol is not to be inhaled and Johnson and Johnson lost their baby product license, baby powder has carcinogens in it-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbC1UJo3Xkc#t=78

http://www.healthsachoice.com/?s=cleaning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpsEVr12Pok#t=12

BUT in January 2014 Johnson & Johnson No More Tear Shampoo now says “improved formula” http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/business/johnson-johnson-takes-first-step-in-removal-of-questionable-chemicals-from-products.html?_r=0

10. DON’T JUST TALK THE TALK – WALK THE WALK 

Raising our kids to be health conscious and aware of the environment is very simple and can be a lot of fun. Make sure they are aware of the choices you make, and the actions you take. Make it interesting and interactive. Let them sort the trash, fill the composter and plant and water the garden.  Let them choose or make a healthy dinner, or pack their own healthy lunch. Breastfeeding, healthy care and good healthy relationships with quality bonding time are more ways to go green.

As one of the last folks off the ferry, instead of stepping over the plastic lid from a cup, I stopped, picked it up and placed it in the garbage can a whole 2 feet away!!  The older woman on the bench near me commented, “everyone on the entire boat stepped OVER that lid, but YOU stopped to pick it up” -Because I walk the walk!

11.  THINK GLOBAL – ACT LOCAL

Support locally owned business. Small businesses are more likely to support other small businesses within the community.  More likely to care for their environment and conduct business in an environmentally and responsible way. Small business also work harder for your business, contribute more to charitable causes, create more jobs, limit outsourcing and keep money circulating within a community. Sustainable communities rely on locally-owned businesses to prevail. And locally-owned businesses rely on you to succeed. Sometimes you may sacrifice a slightly higher price tag but you will get more than what you pay for.

12. EDUCATION IS UNDER RATED

Well, so far, you have read all the way to here, and look at all of the information you have learned!  Continue to educate yourself, your family, coworkers, friends and neighbors.  As you continue to  practice these ways to go green, you are likely to spark a lot of conversations.  Become familiar with WHY Living Greener matters to you and the world.   There are some great books on GREEN out there that are wonderful and fun reading.  One of my favorite is called “Green Goes With Everything” (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listing/2687293614800?r=1&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-Book_15To24-_-Q000000633-_-2687293614800)  A wonderful introduction to the toxic world IN and around you and  what parts you can change in you life to become healthier, wealthier and wiser!!

Safari, Google, and the internet are your best friend.  Look up something once a day to keep learning.  Search for  NATURAL AND ORGANIC everything and WHY.  “homemade fertilizers”,  “organic baby products”, “local homemade natural organic soap”  Here is just one site that has some great info… http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/going-green-books.html

13.  HELP OTHERS LEARN

The biggest influence you can have on others is through your actions and your attitude. Be open and honest about your choices, but without judgment. Work the topic into conversations without overdoing it. Let your example be inspiration and keep the lines of communication open so that friends or family will have a seasoned pro to turn to when they are looking for ways to go green. Share your love of your new products or foods with them, they will in turn share what you did.  Such as how the price of an Organic, Natural product was lower than the toxic one we all purchase, or was available in a larger bottle than you normally purchase!

14. VOLUNTEER IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Volunteer and help those in need. Be a part of your community, and rediscover the wonders of the world by enjoying nature walks, planting trees or organizing neighborhood cleanups, join or start Earth Day Celebrations (www.earthday.org  April 22 each year) or America Recycles Day (http://americarecyclesday.org  Nov 15th every year), in your community.  We live within a very disconnected generation. We’re over scheduled  want everything NOW, and are alway rushed.  We have among the lowest life satisfaction in the world. But those living a GREEN, SUSTAINABLE lifestyle often say the opposite – while giving credit to the interconnectedness of their lives. Make time to care for yourself and find enjoyment in your life. Make talking and laughing with loved ones a priority.

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*Any health-related topics shared on this site are solely the opinion of the author or guest author. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products or statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Sustainable Baby Steps is not a replacement for your own best judgment or a medical professional where indicated. Always consult your own opinion and/or your health care provider when making important health care choices.