Choose Change

we have to buy- but our choices as consumers initiates change or strengthens inertia

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You can’t be a meat-eating environmentalist. Take a stand for the planet, and ditch meat.

(Via Skool of Vegan)

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Adding to this, every time you move a step up the food chain you would lose energy. How many world’s could we feed if everyone even just cut back on their consumption of animal products and byproducts. I recognize that being a vegan is a choice, and a difficult task. Being an ethical consumer doesn’t necessarily mean to dive headfirst into veganism, it means being aware of facts like this, and taking whatever steps you possibly can to do your part. 

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Whey Safe of Dangerous? 

There are a lot of concerns being raised recently with whey protein supplements; there are valid reasons for concern. Whey is essentially isolated milk protein; cows are given antibiotics and hormones in modern farming practices. I don’t really think that’s a secret to most people, however, what may be elusive to people who are aware of this is that you actually don’t have to be concerned about whey- at least not from these factors. Whey is tested so that antibiotics are not present, and the growth hormones are in extremely low concentrations because they are transported by fat cells- and does not have an affinity to bind protein. Obviously you may be concerned about even low concentrations of hormones, however, the hormones present whey are structurally different from those in humans and essentially do not have an effect within the human body.

Are they safe? The answer is a little more convoluted, unfortunately. The final word is essentially that it is likely safe for most adults when used as recommended. However, there are many potential side effects that can be attributed to the use of whey protein.

Caution is advised for people with diabetes or low blood sugar levels because whey protein may alter blood sugar levels.

Caution is advised in people with bleeding disorders or in those taking blood thinners,, as whey protein may increase the risk of bleeding.

Whey protein may also interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using a specific liver enzyme that is also responsible for metabolizing many toxins, including alcohol and acetaminophen.

Caution is advised in people with low blood pressure/hypotension, as whey may lower blood pressure.

Caution is advised for people with stomach or intestine disorders.

Avoid using whey protein long-term and in excessive amounts- 6 month duration is the suggested time period to use whey.

It is important to be aware of this when drinking, as someone who uses whey, especially extensively, may have a lower tolerance to alcohol- from a toxicity standpoint; less available enzyme for metabolizing alcohol.

Ultimately, it is up to the consumer to decide what is best for them and their families, but the bottom line is that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that it is dangerous to human health. Are there alternatives? Of course. Vegan protein sources have been formulated to meet the demands of even the most hard-training athlete by combining rice, pea, and cranberry protein isolates to deliver a 100% amino acid score. 

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Vegan Protein

For those of us who are interested in reducing or eliminating our intake of animal products in our diet, the tricky part has always been figuring out how to get enough protein from plants. Whole-food plant proteins are healthy, but getting enough for intense physical training will probably come along with some unfavourable digestive effects (gas and bloating). Plant-based supplemental proteins can definitely help mitigate these issues, but which protein source is best? Soy is a common choice because it is extremely cost-efficient, however, soy isolate has the potential to disrupt the balance of sex hormones and is one of the most commonly genetically modified crops on the planet... 

So, what’s good and why? I’m so glad you asked:

RICE: a team of researchers from University of Tampa concluded that rice should effectively be able to replace whey as a protein isolate. In their study, two different groups of male athletes took the same amount of whey and rice protein- one per group. In higher doses (48g), rice protein is comparably effective to whey protein in increasing lean body mass, strength, and power. Most significant is the fact that whey protein is fast-digesting protein, whereas rice protein digests slightly slower and more consistently, and is hypoallergenic, as well as fat, sugar, and sodium-free. 

PEA: a common criticism of rice protein is that it is low in the amino acid lysine- important for human growth and bone health. Pea protein is rich in lysine and a number of other amino acids such as arginine and glutamic acid; both lend support during intense physical exertion and recovery. Pea protein also offers an impressive amount of crucial branched-chain amino acids isoleucine, leucine, and valine, which have been shown to contribute to muscle protein synthesis and support recovery from exercise. 

CRANBERRY: approximately 25% protein- full amino acid spectrum. It is high in fiber, containing both soluble and insoluble sources of it- both are important to digestive health. It contains omega-3/6/9 fatty acids, rich in flavonoids and containing potassium, calcium, and iron. 

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Not Enough Ethical Consumers: We Want Solutions!

While we are up to our ears in data that says that consumers will pay a premium for ethical products and that the majority consider ethical factors in their purchase decision making, the still sliver sized penetration that ethical products (such as fair trade, organic, post-recycled packaging etc.) have achieved in conventional markets suggests otherwise.  It’s time to face the fact that consumers skew themselves greener or more ethical than their actual purchase decisions belie in these surveys.  So what can we do to spur not just ethical attitudes, but ethical purchasing behavior?

Dara O'Rourke of The Good Guide says a lot in this article about the complexities of ethical consumption.  He breaks down the barriers that the modern consumer has to adopting ethical consumption like this:

1. Habitual purchasing

2. Sophisticated marketing by conventional producers

3. Lack of good information to make an ethical choice

This is a great place to start.  There are many entrepreneurs and start-ups trying to solve this problem right now – but which ones will be able to come up with really great solutions to these barriers remains to be seen.

Over the next several weeks, I will be reviewing different start-ups within this framework: which of these barriers are they addressing and how well.  At the end of these reviews, it will be interesting to draw out any themes that will reveal the trends, strengths of and opportunities in the world of social entrepreneurship focused on ethical consumerism today.

If you know of a start-up that you would like to see reviewed let me know.

‘Til then!

Maria Konizeski is a Business Strategist specializing in consulting for social ventures and digital initiatives brings a wealth of insight into both the competitive advantages and challenges of the social start-up and the current state of the digital market.

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FORMALDEHYDE-DONATING PRESERVATIVES: slowly and continuously release small amounts of formaldehyde- a known carcinogen. It can be inhaled from cosmetics through a process known as “off-gassing”. Laboratory studies also suggest that formaldehyde in cosmetics can be absorbed through the skin. There is a restriction on the amount of formaldehyde allowed in cosmetics in Canada (up to 0.2% in most products). However, there is no restriction on the low-levels of formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.

To oversimplify it, our cosmetics containing these chemicals are amazing: products never go bad!!! Your deep moisturizing lotion is being continuously infused with poisonous preservatives that kill any and all microbes and bacteria. But wait, there are good bacteria on our skin right? Oops.

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TRICLOSAN: preservative in cosmetics to prevent microbial growth and protect from spoilage. It is also used in laundry detergent, facial tissues, and antiseptics. It can pass through the skin and is suspected to interfere with hormone function; the US CDC detected triclosan in the urine of nearly 75% of those tested (2,517 people ages six and up). The EU classifies it as a skin and eye irritant and as extremely toxic to aquatic life, potentially causing long-term adverse effects in the environment. It is bioaccumulative and does not degrade easily; building up within the environment. The Canadian Medical Association has called for a ban on the antibacterial consumer products, such as those containing triclosan. Health Canada allows concentrations of 0.03% in mouthwashes and 0.3% in other cosmetics. The problem is that triclosan is used in so many products that small amounts in each product add up- especially since the chemical does not degrade. It has been flagged by Environmental for future assessment.

Personally, I refuse to put my health or the environment at risk until Government agencies inevitably decide that we should have never been using this chemical in the first place.

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TALLOW: rendered form of beef or mutton fat, processed from suet. Contains predominantly saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. The potential animal sources that can be (and are) rendered into tallow are inconceivable; ignorance is bliss?

Is it bad for you or the environment? Nope, not as far as recent scientific evidence has found. Is it gross? In my humble opinion, yes. Putting fat on my face... Being cognizant of that would make me feel like a psychopath. There are alternatives, they are just not as cheap, and it doesn't let the pet food industry subsidize the process. Are we putting the "waste-prdoduct" on our face, or are our beloved furry family members eating it? I'm honestly not sure which possibility I am more afraid of.

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Ducks coated in oil after spill in Mimico Creek | Toronto Star

Around 60 ducks have been rescued after a truck accident spilled mineral oil into Mimico Creek.

Too close for comfort!!!

Many highly regarded beauty experts say that mineral oil is safe; it is. Safety is only one concern when considering the cost of our beauty- environmental impact is something that everyone should be conscientious of. David Suzuki urges not to use products with petroleum by-products in them. Why? Many of them are toxic, and all of them have a huge environmental impact. These beauty experts that are not opposed to the use of mineral oil clearly do not live in Etobicoke!

With all the controversy and raging debates that surrounds mineral oil, two things are clear: 1. It is terrible for the environment, in general because it is a petroleum byproduct, and catastrophic locally when spills like this occur. 2. It does your skin no real or clear benefit; it’s a cheap filler.

Why are companies using it?!?!? Oh yeah- profit, which I don't need to remind you, comes out of our pockets...

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VEGAN Vs. CRUELTY-FREE

CRUELTY-FREE: for a product to be truly cruelty free, there should be no form of animal testing at any point in the products creation. Products that are not tested on animals are not necessarily vegan- commonly used animal-derived ingredients include honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen, albumen, carmine, cholesterol, gelatin, squalane, etc. If you wish to avoid these ingredients, buying a vegan product would be a good choice.

VEGAN: not only cruelty free, but also does not contain any animal ingredient or animal derived ingredients. Whether an ingredient is plant or animal derived is usually unclear; companies remove the word “animal” from ingredient labels, for obvious reasons. Animal ingredients are used because they are cheaper than plant and synthetically derived ingredients. Today’s slaughterhouses must dispose of the byproducts of the slaughter of billions of animals every year. What’s an easy- and profitable, solution? Sell them to food and cosmetic manufacturers!!!

How many of us have looked for the jumping bunny logo that means a product isn’t tested on animals, and feel proud of ourselves for our informed choice? I know I have. The product may not have been tested ON animals, but there may be animal ingredients IN it... 

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For the love of animals. Pass it on.

I'm vehemently opposed to the use of animals for cosmetic testing, as well as their utilization as ingredients. Dolphins and whales are amazing creatures, extremely social and it's cruel the ways that we, as a species, treat them.

The Cove was an important documentary that highlighted how important it is to pressure marine parks to end the captivity of whales and dolphins- marine park stocks are at an all time low because of documentaries like The Cove and Blackfish. That's amazing- there is talk of a natural marine park being park being built in Vancouver- more of a sanctuary, even more amazing.

It is clear that progress is being made, however, in order to end this horrific practice; awareness must be spread and we need to stop using ingredients that fund this slaughter. Ingredients like:

AMBERGRIS: derived from the waxy oil that coats whales stomachs. It is used to help "set" scents in perfumes- because it would be an ingredient contained within and listed as "fragrance"- it's impossible to know if the ingredient is in your product, unless it is certified vegan. CHONDROITIN SULPHATE: an important structural component of cartilage and a widely used dietary supplement for treatment of joint pain. Chondroitin 4 sulfate (otherwise known as chondroitin sulfate A or S-4 sulfate) is extracted from whale cartilage in Japan where it has been developed for medical use. It is also used as a humectant (for moisturizing effect) in cosmetics and eye lotions and as a gelling agent in food. HYALURONIC ACID: used in anti-aging products which can be derived from shark skin and whale cartilage. SPERMACETI: this was replaced with jojoba oil, but there are concerns that unscrupulous or unwitting manufacturers are still using this ingredient. Use of this ingredient is banned, but more than 20 companies have admitted to using it- some in the U.S. and E.U.!

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PARABENS: class of preservatives that are the most widely used within cosmetics and also used extensively in pharmaceuticals, as well as food additives. They are even found in perfumes, but fragrance recipes are considered secrets and recipes are not required to be revealed. An estimated 75-90% of cosmetics contain parabens; methylparaben, butylparaben, and propylparaben are some of the most common parabens in cosmetics. Parabens easily penetrate the skin, mimic estrogen, and have been detected in human breast cancer tissues, suggesting a potential association between parabens in cosmetics and cancer. Certain parabens, when applied to skin, reacts with UVB leading to increased skin aging and DNA damage. Parabens exist at low levels in foods, but are metabolized and therefore less estrogenic. However, when applied to the skin, the parabens enter the bloodstream directly- without being metabolized first, where hormones like estrogen produce effects on various organs. Studies conducted in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found multiple parabens in human urine levels, which indicates exposure despite small amounts of parabens in products.

Needless to say, maybe try to avoid parabens in your personal care and hygiene products.... 

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Many waste-water treatment plants aren't equipped to filter Micro-beads from the water and they are bioaccumulating in aquatic ecosystems.

Look for them in your products- they are one of the most environmentally irresponsible ingredients and completely unnecessary to use. It's cutting corners for more profits! 

Microbead ingredient names:

Polyethylene (PE)

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)

Nylon polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Polypropylene (PP)

How do you scrub your face and exfoliate then?!? Kaolin; compressed clay that serves the same function but is degradable in the environment. Walnut shells are another excellent alternative. Costs a little more, but you and I- and definitely this planet, are worth it.