Grandma’s Magic Homemade Cough Syrup that works to get rid of coughs Becomes Moms Witches Syrup

I can't believe I haven't posted this before. I have been using this syrup for at least 15 years. Yes, before babies. My husband hates it, but he too swears by it's glorious benefits, and he takes it when he's feeling ill. He actually named this syrup mom's "Witches Syrup." It fits, for a whole bunch of reasons. And so, here's more about moms Witches Syrup. 

This is a homemade "old world" cough syrup that is so super effective. My Babcia used to make it for my mom and her kids because in a small European Polish village you can't run to Walgreens. So this was the local DIY fix it cure she would make for coughs, colds, runny noses, and all things illness.

Actually she made another ugly nasty tasting version that my mom tells horror stories of. Instead my mom shared this recipe and I confirmed with grandma. 

Ugly Version #1

Grandmas ugly version starts with a Polish Classic „Kogiel Mogiel." Simple ingradients found in every old world kitchen: beat one raw egg yolk, add sugar (or honey). Then optionally add onion and garlic. Notice no real measurements here. Use what you have and make the most of it is the old world way.

And then the ultimate cooking sin, my grandma added warm milk. So even if the warm milk doesn't sound yucky, the experience of my uncles and aunts was . . . Grandma would let this recipe sit, and yes the thin layer of 'milk skin' would form. And yes, her kids had to take this with the milk skin layer and all. Yuck, ick, grossness.

Ugly Version #2

Another version of this old world homemade cough cure is starting with heating butter in a pot. Add whole milk, and warm but not boil (but I'm sure it did get boiled in Grandmas kitchen). To the milk butter base add onions and garlic. Simmer as long as 15-20 mins. Then drink the milk „broth" — with the onions and bits strained out.

I think both these above versions of the recipe didn't suit me. The milk skin forming was a no go, and the second version wasn't as tasty or quick to drink. Also, and this is a big piece of the „healing pie," I don't think our processed pasteurized milk in the USA has the same natural health benefits of the farm fresh milk my grandma got from the cow in her backyard. 

Anti-Viral and Anti-Bacterial Benefits of Onions and Garlic 

I won't go into the natural antiviral and anti bacterial benefits of onions and garlic, but they are tremendous, research them and you'll see it too. 

Add the benefits of honey - you know that honey is also a natural way to "quiet coughs." 

We take all this goodness and put it in one glass container, and let it start to ooze it's natural syrupy goodness for us to enjoy.

My son had started coughing last winter. I started my homemade onion syrup and gave him 2 teaspoons in the am and pm. His cough stopped The. Exact. Same. Day, mostly because we caught it early enough.

Grandma's Magic Homemade Cough Syrup that works to get rid of coughs, Becomes Moms Witches Syrup.

This picture shows the start of the syrup and what the base recipe looks like. 

Grandma's Magic Homemade Cough Syrup
that works to get rid of coughs
Becomes Moms Witches Syrup

Leave on the counter for as little as 20 mins to start to see syrup. Or put it in the fridge overnight and it will have formed lots of syrup.  Also, you can keep it on the counter the first night/day and then put it to the refrigerator.

Store in the fridge for 3-5 days with every new batch. Use as needed. 

For kids: 

((only for kids over the age of 2 years old since they cannot have honey. With kids 2 years old and under, use plain white sugar instead of honey.))

We take 2 teaspoons 3x a day. (If they hate the taste just have them pinch there nose and chase with a sip of orange or apple juice. Only a zip so you don't drown the syrup in juice and instead let the stomach and body absorb its natural benefits.

For adults:

Take 2 tablespoons 3x daily. I also add as a sweetener to my tea when Im sick to keeping pumping it in me.

Keep this syrup potent and fresh::

Potency is important. When someone is getting sick I would make a fresh batch. And it can be used for 3-5 days when stored in the fridge. That way you get the most anti-viral benefits from the fresh ingredients.

As for the taste

Okay, so if you do not like the flavor of onions or garlic, then no matter how much sugary stuff you add, the taste will take getting used too. If the taste is too strong I would just add more honey or sugar to your recipe. And try again. 

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Let's Get Started

Moms Witches Syrup Ingredients::

— 1 large onion, peeled and sliced thin in 1/8" slices.

— 3-8 garlic pieces (use what your tastes allow). Peeled and sliced thin. I also slam with the side of a knife to release its essence.

— Honey (organic, pure, no additives or other ingredients is best). 

(( When making this for kids under 2 years old, So Not Use Honey. Instead use white sugar.))

— OR alternative to honey is pure white sugar or natural cane suagr. Approximately 1-2 cups.

In a glass container, add one of the onion slices, then top with 1-2 Tablespoons honey or sugar, add next onion slice and some of the garlic, top again with honey or sugar.

Keep alternating slices of onion plus the garlic and add honey. Layer until the jar is full to the rim, and top with more sugar to the very, very top. Seal air tight. The onions will 'melt' as the syrup forms and the jar won't be full to the top. We use the glass jar and lid with rubber seal. But a simple jar and tightly closing lid works great!

Syrup will begin to form within a few minutes, with a first spoonful ready in 20 mins. 

We keep it in the refrigerator for the 3-5 days, and take the syrup cold (helps with the flavor). I also add to my herbal tea in the evenings during winter.

Here is what it looks like when The Moms Witches Cough Syrup is starting to form:

Moms Witches Cough Syrup
Grandmas Magic Homemade Old World Cure

That ooey-gooey syrup is the "magic medicine" that forms. You will scoop up this syrup by the spoon full. Unless you like raw onion, don't eat the onions or garlic. ((I however do eat the juicy small oniony bits.))

Enjoy often in the cold season. We do!

Tags: being a mom, homemade cough syrup, old world recipies, healthy eating, natural remedy.

Make mistakes, breathe, reflect and Laugh. Out. Loud. 

Kids Shoes for the Very Young Under 2 year old crowd

When my munchkins were little I really took time to think about their little feet and best bets for when they learn to walk.

The Mix of advice from the grandmas and the experts helped me make my mommy plan.

Barefoot is best. 

In safe places where we know there is no glass or HOT ground (in summer), well you can find us barefoot. The days gone by that meant - for my grandmas generation - you were too poor to own shoes. To her horror I let my kids run around barefoot, and they run fast!!

Mommy too walks barefoot whenever I can. In the yard we are constantly barefoot.

In the house we can be barefoot or with house slippers. 

We dont tend to wear socks or shoes at home to prevent bacteria from transferring indoors. We also dont wear socks on bare floors due to slip and fall danger.

Always be sensible about kids feet. 

Shoes matter for long lifetime impact and a pain free life. Stride rites are a great brand, as are Hannah Anderson. However sometimes the trendy design like a boot or clog is just too difficult to flex their foot in and makes tripping easy.

Stylish is fun, but comfortable is first.

We do not, ever, wear flip flops. Not for mom or the kids. Slides have a tendency to make kids trip when the tips get folded under. Flip flops flip right off when running and making scrapes so much more common. Gym shoes for running activities are always a great choice, for the 3 tear old and up crowd. But what a out the 2 year old and under kids. For these soft soles with snug fits are great for foot formation AND comfort.

As for Shoe Brands for kids:

'Skidders' are great for under 2YO -- rubber bottom and sock top. 

Great for in and outdoors w safety non skid. These flexible shoes allow babies feet to grip and get a good feel for standing and those first steps.

Also great for little feet are Soft sole leather bottoms with soft tops: 'Robeez' -- We loved them. 

These are fab for dry weather in and outdoors, altho use caution on playgrounds. The leather or soft bottoms can be slippery on some jungle gyms at the park. But for a walk around the block on cement is perfect.

Then the 3+ crowd believe it or not I love 'crocs.' 

As long as they are sized perfectly. Kids can put them on and off, and manage them alone. We are croc converts! Great for their foot shape growth, as long as they are snug. When we have hikes or we trek in wet and dry conditions like running thru sprinklers, snug crocs are a safe bet, and more durable them the more common "wet socks" or snug wet shoes that I have found fall apart after use in a season around chlorine water mix.

Where to buy?

Frequently you can find these in big box over run stores like Big Lots or TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Target recently carries Skidders.

For off mark brands, check the sole attachment and make sure the glue is durable. No separation should occur with slight pressure from your fingers. And when you do find the shoes on sale, but 1 size up for next year. You'll be thankful your not scrambling for another shoes when that growth spurt happens.


Make Mistakes, breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud.

Why we Eat Cereal for Dessert, and NOT for Breakfast (Making a Better Choice)

The demands of the world dictate that cereal must be consumed by children. How could I be so cruel and keep such a treat away from them? Those circular colorful treats, that taste sweet, and even change the color of the milk... We like them as a topping on yogurt or as a dry snack. I know, are you reading the right blog? YES! I am the same mostly healthy mom trying to accommodate my children/s demands and their healthy needs. Can you imagine such a conversation at home "Hey Kids, We aren't ever eating cereal again for breakfast?" Oh the Drama. . . But When I DID SAY "What do you guys think of moving Cereal to Dessert Time?" was a success.

I recently picked up a thrift store copy of the book "Eat This Not That, Supermarket survival guide." I saw this book authors presentation on some talk show years ago... it was informative, extremely. We put in so many unknown ingredients into our bodies when we eat packaged foods. I can't even pronounce some of the ingredients!
 

So when I came across the book I purchased it. Just initially thumbing thru I saw the few packaged items I do purchase listed and they're great alternative ideas. As well as some great sauces and condiments that are referenced (which I have totally forgotten about as a nice way to dress up meals and for sides). These said sauces and condiments are a nice way to substitute flavor as you remove unnecessary calories to help in weight loss/maintenance.

I recently lost over 25 pounds last year, and not intentionally which is the ironic part. It was totally accidental loss... I swapped white sugar for agave nectar in my coffee, I added more fruits to my day as a snack, I stopped buying kid selected desserts and went back to old habits of only High Quality Desserts. I Made a lot of other changes in our home before this 25 pound weight loss and you can read about them here.

As we all should know weight gain, and excess weight gain especially, comes from
1. Eating Larger portions (calories) then our bodies and activity levels need, and
2. Eating excess amounts of sugar, often unknown quantities to us!

(*As an Aside: I read an awesome article in National Geographic magazine on the history of sugar and how we have arrived at our current American sugar intake levels. The results were SHOCKING as consumers average 22 teaspoons of added sugar per day!  I personally lost over 25 pounds this last year and I credit my number 1 reason for successfully loosing the weight and keeping it off is switching from white sugar to agave nectar. I'll have to write a separate post about this amazing life changing step that I took. And NO I didn't completely cut out sugar/y sweets because I want to enjoy the finer things in life....see the post.)

In "Eat This, Not That" the authors cover many packaged products, including cereals. The little thought bubble inserts are loaded with helpful information on MAKING A BETTER CHOICE. The book lists brands of popular cereal, and their top nasty ingredients and grams of sugar per serving. On the opposing page they list alternative brands and better choice ideas in the cereal category including healthier or better ingredients and lower sugar quantities. However the best information on this page was our life changing decision... "Treat Cereal as Dessert."



Our visit to Wagner Farm, where a cow took great interest in us. We always ask the kids "Where did our food that we are eating come from?" If they can't tell me it is usually a quick way of identifying "highly processed" foods, like cereal.

Cereal has just as much sugar as Desserts do. Do you serve ice cream for breakfast, eclairs, chocolate cake perhaps (and I am sorry to say toaster strudels, donuts and the like fall into the dessert category). Well for us, NO WE do NOT serve dessert for breakfast, so why should I serve cereal with the same amounts of sugar in it?

I bookmarked this page, and after dinner shared it with the family at the dinner table. I read from the book to the kids. Even my 5 year old son understood what it meant to eat one bowl of cereal or 3 candy bars... he responded "mommy, my tummy would hurt!"

Good Bye Cereal
Cereal is a great marketing campaign, similar to Orange Juice, making it a "Must Have Staple" in the American diet. Granted serving cereal is Easy and fast, and that has helped maintain the popularity. But serving sliced apples and peanut butter (which I have served for breakfast) is full of healthy natural sugars, and is in NO COMPARISON to cereal so much healthier for the breakfast eater. My kids feel full longer eating real foods - and not cereal. They don't have that pre-lunch crash after eating a sugary breakfast either.

Once last thing. My kids were all over this "Cool" idea of "eating cereal for breakfast" when we first agreed to it. And for the first 2 weeks (only) they requested cereal for dessert. Then the idea sort of lost it's appeal, I don't know why? It could be because when I do serve dessert at home 2-3 times per week, it is good quality dessert. We don't serve too many refined sugar treats. Instead we use/purchase desserts made with fine quality ingredients: real creams (not cool whip), butters (not margarines), and high quality sugars. The taste of the desserts are amazing, and sometimes very simple.

Desserts We buy:
- Lindor or E. Wendel High Qulity Chocolate Bars, and each person gets 2-3 squares for dessert. Our local fruit store carries these brands, but Godiva, and even Hersey's are "better" qulity chocolates.
- Assortments of nuts or shelled Pistachios. These always go fast.
- Desserts from international bakeries and friends travels like Truffles from France and Baklava from the Middle Eastern Grocer on my monthly visit.
- Angel Wings, or Chrusciki,  from our local bakery. A light butter treat thats great with coffee or tea.
- Good quality ice cream, gelatos and Italian ice.
- Cakes from our local bakery (not Jewel or chain store bakeries). Including Apple Pie, Fruit Pies, Small Tortes made with fresh ingredients.

THE NO COST DIFFERENCE OF QUALITY DESSERT

We have a small local bakery and a nearby international grocer that bakes there own bread and desserts daily. The ingredients are high quality and sometimes pricier then some items that sit on shelves for a few days. But in the end THE COST IS THE SAME. Why?

First of all we eat less dessert, only 2-3 times a week and the servings are small. So we consume less calories less often.

Second, because we are eating small portion and less often we are basically spending the same amount of money, just the per serving price is higher, however the quality is far improved. Quality matters (said the women who lost 25 pounds!) because your body processes natural sugar differently then highly processed ingredients that maintain a products shelf life. Your also consuming less unnatural ingredients which is also better for your body and weight loss / weight maintenance.

As I said before, helping the kids make a change to Eating Cereal for Dessert is also a great way to move away from eating cereal for breakfast.

Good luck in making changes at home for healthier eating. It's not always easy, but the journey is fun.

Orignal Post April, 2014
Make Mistakes. Breathe, Reflect, and Laugh.Out.Loud.

Melon Ball-er for Cantaloupe

I saw this little bit of advice once upon a time and its fabulous! We use a melon baller for our cantaloupe snacks. It just makes snacking easy (for mom) and fun (for the kids).

areyousureaboutthatblog Using a Melon Baller for well a Cantaloupe Melon Snack.

I halve the Cantaloupe, spoon out the seeds, and melon ball the rest. The seeds go in our compost pile, and melon balls are usually one in a few minutes, leaving just a few bits for tomorrow's breakfast accompaniment with a few frozen grapes. 

This just makes my "fruits at every meal" that much easier to accomplish.

Make mistakes. Breath. And Laugh.Out.Loud!!!

Making a Healthy Food Change S-L-O-W-L-Y but Permanently

Examples Of Best, Great, and Good,

So now that you have paid attention to what’s around you, here's my simple category system that helped me manage my changes. I want you to know there is NOT ONE CHOICE on healthy living. We all live different lifestyles, some are fast paced, some are pay check to pay check, most are too stressful, so making a difference in your life and your families life is a process and there are always Good, Great and the best Choice. Understand that picking anyone of these choices IS A BETTER choice then doing nothing.


Example 1 - Fruit

Light Syrup/Heavy Syrup means that the fruit is canned in Corn Syrup. Usually High Fructose Corn Syrup (Read XXX on HFCS). Canned fruits in their Natural juices are best. Since there is no added preservatives. So what was in your closet? Clearly if it’s Natural Juices that’s great. And even if you have light or heavy syrups that’s OKAY too. Yeah – really. The next time you are preparing to serve the syrup canned fruit, simply rinse the fruits and dispose of the syrup before serving or baking. Yeah that’s it – rinsing the fruit and getting rid of the syrup in it IS the difference. You have just made a healthier eating choice!

 
More details on the fruit choices we make everyday... You know you should eat 5 fruits a day. (I am going to assume you do eat fruits, if not, this is an important place to start!). Eating a good variety of fruits doesn’t mean you have to buy all organic fresh fruits. But you have several good and better options:

Best
But fresh fruits (and vegetables). Make sure to wash them with running tap water and scrub the skin with a sponge. If you want to buy organic start simple. What do you eat at home? Try to buy those items fresh, and if possible try to buy 1 or 2 fresh fruits organically grown (see side bar on the top 12 preservatives used list) and switch to organic. Organic Fruits and Veggies are naturally grown, preservative and pesticide free. A BETTER choice then preservative sprayed fruits and veggies.

Great
Do you buy canned fruits? You have 2 options here.
Can you buy frozen fruits? Frozen fruits are cleaned and frozen at the peak of freshness. We don’t know yet if any9like they loose when heated) nutrients are lost because of freezing , but they are more beneficial then canned fruits. I recognize that sometimes the frozen version of fruit is out of season and too expensive so look at option b.

Good
Or If you prefer canned fruits buy fruits that are preserved in their natural juices. This way you not adding “preservatives” or added sugar to your diet. If natural juices are hard to come buy then but fruits canned in light syrup and rinse the fruits before serving. YES – get rid of the canning syrup – its not good for you.


How I learned about these options. Many places. i read reliable websites, and watch local TV that has educational tid bits. The organic advice comes from a afternoon news broadcast on WGN-TV Channel 9 in Chicago about the 12 most pesticide-laden foods. The Natural Juice versus corn syrup from the Book Mommy Made. To learn more here are some resources:

ü Mommy and me book
ü WGN TV Article & Book: induce "panic if it ain't organic," according to Renee Loux, author of "The Balanced Plate" (Rodale, $22.95). WGN TV Article web site: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2007/09/best-foods-to-b.html
ü Sited Environmental group - The Environmental Working Group – great resource!

Bag It, How to Get Rid of Plastic in your Life

Enjoying our summer vacation from school, with a lot of playing outside, and on these horribly hot days, we catch a movie on Netflix. Recently we watched "Bag It" an excellent movie about the life cycle of those uber convenient plastic bags carried by nearly every grocery store. Super Informative, non-preachy, funny approach and shocking, scarily shocking.


I had already done quite a lot to make changes so we waste less, and remove excess environmental toxins from our home. I also had a fabulous conversation with our first pediatrician about childhood diseases like Austism and ADHD and it's relation to environmental toxins. Our pediatrician enlightened me saying that it is NOT the vaccines on.. their.. own.. causing illnesses. Instead we need to look at all the toxins in our lives like, laundry detergent, boxed foods, plastic use, cleaning chemicals, even our clothes. She said if we take ALL those toxins into consideration, we can see how much toxicity is in our bodies...and then in our little tiny babies bodys that just can't filter it out fast enough.

Thats one reason why my A-Ha moment was so shocking! I had already done so much for a healthier life, I guess we had become a dreaded - content.

Later in this blog I'll recap some facts about those little plastic conveniences that have saturated our lives. But on to the I had a big A-Ha moment mid-way thru the movie... right in the part where the director was getting a blood test to monitor his chemical levels. Blood samples were taken before, and then after, eating for 2 days out of plastic containers - food storage, baby sippy cups, aluminum cans (turns out their lined with plastic), etc. No surprise, his toxicity level went up, shockingly fast too.

...And it hit me, my kids are drinking everyday from those disposable kids cups with lids, plastic cups that we reuse. Yes there BPA free, but Bag It has made it very clear that all forms of plastic are toxic, even BPA free.

I got up, left the living room and walked to the kitchen, I grabbed a garbage bag and started throwing out the kids cups. I called in my oldest son to help me, and the 3 year old tagged along. WE threw out all those plastic conveniences! From the cupboard, dishwasher, in the "deli" cups left around the house...all gone. Now the documentary makes it clear these plastics do not actually get recycled, they end up in a landfill in China (I know, what? Why China? See the movie!)...but they are not staying in my house...

But the Good News is that the environmental toxins we absorb are REVERSIBLE.

So Now What Do I Do??

No more plastic cups, geez now it'll be spills, breaks and chaos around any drinks we have at home? Well, not really. I learned when my eldest was in preschool that they can pour their own beverages into cups, limit spills, wipe up their own mess, etc., etc.

1. -- Instead of plastic sippy cups WE USE: Cups, you know those ceramic "coffee" cups. Safe, non toxic, and fairly durable since itll take a pretty big hit before they break.

2.-- Do not heat any food in plastic. Not in the microwave or oven. Here we've reverted to ol' skill methods, WE USE: the pan! Just like my 80 year old grandma still does, we re-heat leftovers on the stove. It's easier than you think, and tastier.

3. -- Do not store food in plastic containers. I am taking this plastic issue to the next level. The heating of food, in a plastic container, cause a chemical exchange of the leaking chemicals to enter the food. Less is exchanged when the food is cold, but none the less, I'm certain it's not any healthier. WE USE: glass jars left over from jam, spaghetti sauces, etc or ceramic bowls covered by a plate. Again old school style, like our moms and grandmothers did 30-50 years ago.

4. -- Eat as natural as possible and you will buy less plastic packaging. If it doesn't come from the earth, don't eat it. Foods should be as close to their natural state as possible. And let's move away from the brown plate syndrome. When you look at your plate of food it should be colorful, not just filled with brown or yellow color foods. Meanwhile helping cut down on packaging demands.

When I started staying home to raise my son, is when I started reading more and more about the toxicity in our environment. I kept a diary, for my son of what life is like, and the changes I was making to improve our quality of a healthy life. Here are some excerpts from that diary stared a few years ago:

Bag It the Movie Suggestions, Top Ten Ideas, and more on how to live a life less plastic....

Here some facts from bigger institutions studying the impact of plastics.

The Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute conducted a study, published today in Environmental Health Perspectives. We enlisted five families for a week-long investigation. First, the families ate their normal diets. Then, we provided them with three days’ worth of freshly prepared organic meals that avoided contact with BPA-containing food packaging, such as canned food and polycarbonate plastic. Finally, the families returned to their normal diets. We measured their BPA levels at each stage.

While the families were eating the fresh-food diet, their BPA levels dropped on average by 60 percent. Those with the highest exposure levels saw even greater reductions: 75 percent.

These groundbreaking results tell us that removing BPA from food packaging will eliminate our number one source of BPA exposure.

That means you can make changes right now to reduce your family’s levels of this chemical linked to breast cancer. It's as simple as cooking at home with fresh foods and making some very basic changes in your kitchen, such as limiting canned foods, choosing glass and stainless steel food and beverage containers, and not microwaving in plastic. You might also consider eating fewer meals out—especially at places that don't use fresh ingredients.

The CDC also has some tips on lowering carcinogens in your home and life:

1. Filter your tap water. Common carcinogens in tap water include arsenic, chromium, and chemical byproducts that form when water is disinfected. A simple carbon tap-mounted filter or pitcher can help reduce the levels of some of these contaminants. If your water is polluted with arsenic or chromium, a reverse osmosis filter will help. Learn about your tap water and home water filters at EWG's National Tap Water Database.

2. Seal outdoor wooden decks and play sets. Those built before 2005 are likely coated with an arsenic pesticide that can stick to hands and clothing. Learn more from EWG.

3. Cut down on stain- and grease-proofing chemicals. "Fluorochemicals" related to Teflon and Scotchgard are used in stain repellants on carpets and couches and in greaseproof coatings for packaged and fast foods. To avoid them, avoid greasy packaged foods and say no to optional stain treatments in the home. Download EWG's Guide to PFCs.

4. Stay safe in the sun. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. To protect your skin from the sun's cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) radiation, seek shade, wear protective clothing and use a safe and effective sunscreen from EWG's sunscreen database.

5. Cut down on fatty meat and high-fat dairy products. Long-lasting cancer-causing pollutants like dioxins and PCBs accumulate in the food chain and concentrate in animal fat.

6. Eat EWG's Clean 15. Many pesticides have been linked to cancer. Eating from EWG's Clean 15 list of the least contaminated fruits and vegetables will help cut your pesticide exposures. (And for EWG's Dirty Dozen, buy organic.) Learn more at EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides.

7. Cut your exposures to BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen found in some hard plastic water bottles, canned infant formula, and canned foods. Some of these chemicals cause cancer in lab studies. To avoid them, eat fewer canned foods, breast feed your baby or use powdered formula, and choose water bottles free of BPA. Get EWG's tips to avoid it.

8. Avoid carcinogens in cosmetics. Use EWG's Skin Deep cosmetic database to find products free of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. When you're shopping, don't buy products that list ingredients with "PEG" or "-eth" in their name.

9. Read the warnings. Some products list warnings of cancer risks -- read the label before you buy. Californians will see a "Proposition 65" warning label on products that contain chemicals the state has identified as cancer-causing.