We all know (to one degree or another) the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. And since so many people struggle with obesity or simply being overweight, weight loss supplements and programs are everywhere, many making unfortunately miraculous claims and suggesting that they're some sort of universal solution.

One new option includes an electronic implant in the nervous system. This has shown some success along with side effects, which is common to any drug option that likewise blocks natural signals. And interestingly, in its first trials, placebo worked almost as well. So is it really worth having a nervous system implant?

We sell weight loss supplements, and believe that each can play a unique role in helping with weight loss. They do this by providing the body with nutrients that help the body in natural processes that assist with losing weight. In some cases, this involves brain signals; in others it involves metabolism, and so on.

But we acknowledge that these are part of a larger process of making new life choices, and are supportive of those choices. This can involve some level of exercise or activity, sleep, food choices, and more. We believe that education plays its own role in making the right choices when you're ready for change.

On that note, we are working on an in-depth article that will teach the basics about several areas of weight loss. Our goal will be to provide an honest look at several elements that play roles. We will post here once we've finished this article, and hope it will support you on your own weight loss journey if you're on one.

Do you have any topics you think ought to be considered in this article? We'd love to know so we can look at including them.

Did you know that thousands of children each year are exposed to laundry pods, prompting calls to poison centers across the United States? In fact, at least one child has died from ingesting a pod, underscoring the danger of surrounding ourselves with poisonous chemicals. Especially when we design them in a way that makes them look like candy!

But in our opinion, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Most people over the age of 5 aren't likely to eat laundry pods, but almost everyone uses laundry detergent, and most of these are still highly toxic.

True, we're not in the habit of drinking them, but we wash our clothes with them, and these detergents never fully wash out. That's why you can smell them after a load of laundry is done. And while some people like the smell, others recognize how unnatural they are, and don't feel well when breathing them.

The fact is, if they're toxic and you're exposing them to your skin all day and breathing them all day, you are chipping away at your health on a daily basis. We wonder why we're unwell these days, why so many immune systems are compromised. We don't think it's just about laundry detergent, but about all the chemicals we're exposed to along with inadequate nutrition. But we think that laundry detergent is part of the problem.

This is why we're such big fans of detergentless laundry systems like EcoWasher, which we use and love in our own homes and encourage our loved ones to use as well. So ... what about EcoWasher for you?

I'm a fan of Consumer Reports, as I think they can do the kind of testing that helps to educate consumer buying decisions. But their tests aren't always perfect, especially when they don't understand the factors outside what they're testing. And in a recent review of detergent-less laundry systems (like the one we sell, the EcoWasher), they really missed the boat and unfortunately misled consumers.

So here we'll take a look at their comments on these systems and share what you really need to know.

Let's start with how detergent-less systems work. In short, they run cold water through a system that produces ozone and other oxidative elements in the water that are meant to not only pull dirt from laundry but also help to disinfect.

Much larger systems are used in hospitals and hotels to help with the laundry cleaning process, and ozone is used in water by the food industry and in air purification when people are not around to breathe it in heavy doses. Smaller home units have only become available in the last couple years. We retail the EcoWasher because it works on both high-flow and low-flow washing machines; has a model for those with hard water; and also offers a "nano-silver" option for those who are interested.

While other companies may make bolder claims about its cleaning power, the most accurate idea is that this ozonated or oxidated water replaces the need for detergent. And since it works better in cold water, you never need to run warm or hot loads of laundry again. Just these two points would save most families $100+ per year (and in some cases much more), and there are other reasons why it saves you more money and offers other benefits to health and the environment.

The problem with the Consumer Reports review is that they purposely stained a bunch of fabric and tried washing it with an ozone laundry system and were disappointed with the results because apparently they were expecting the ozonated water to be a miracle worker. (Well, it kind of is if you look at all the benefits. Read on.) From the article, they did not bother comparing this with the same swatches cleaned only with detergent. Detergent-less laundry doesn't claim to remove deep stains. In fact, we advise that you pre-treat as always. And yes, some stains could remain, as always.

When we talk about ozone laundry systems, we don't suggest that it will clean everything. We suggest that it successfully replaces detergent and the need for warm/hot water, which is a huge money saver. (See my demo of its cleaning power below.) We also suggest that:

• Your washing machine will possibly never smell again.
• Your laundry will be fluffier because it won't be matted down by chemical residue from detergent.
• You'll no longer have your skin in contact with chemical residue all day long, and you won't be breathing that residue, which is better for your health.
• Your laundry should last much longer, as hot water and detergent break down the fabrics.
• Your washing machine may last longer because it doesn't build up chemical residue.
• You will use less energy (heating water) and will stop dumping chemicals into our ground water, so it's better for the environment.

So just testing to see if a detergent-less system could remove deep stains misses so much of the point about these systems.

On a positive note, Consumer Reports did test the ambient ozone levels from these machines and confirmed what EcoWasher has told us -- that levels near the washer remain below the safety threshold set by the EPA. (Their article says "FDA," but the EPA sets these standards.) Those who are hypersensitive to ozone still won't want to use a system like this (or at least step away while it's being used), but most people shouldn't have any problem with it, and the smells (which some people enjoy) near the washer dissipate shortly after a load of laundry is done.

Of course the bottom line is whether it really cleans as well as detergent. I personally feel it cleans better. I like the non-chemical smell of my clothes afterwards. And basically we have cleaned our family laundry this water for a few years now. We would never want to go back. My son and I actually did an experiment where we rubbed top soil on three socks and washed them: one in water only; one in ozonated water; and one in water with detergent.

The water with detergent did the WORST job. Although it's hard to see in the picture below, it left some subtle stains. The water and ozonated water cleaned better, and I know from experience with our laundry for several years that -- had the socks been smelly -- the ozonated sock would have smelled fresh coming out of the laundry, and the one cleaned with water only probably wouldn't have.

Interestingly, the sock cleaned with ozone was the only one that dried wrinkled free -- a result we weren't expecting.

So you can see why I personally feel the Consumer Reports review of detergent-less laundry systems missed the mark, and why I feel this is such important technology for saving money, promoting health, and promoting a cleaner environment.

If you're an Amazon junkie and just don't want to purchase through us, then explore ozone laundry systems on Amazon. But be forewarned that when you buy below our pricing, you're probably not buying from an authorized dealer and will not get a valid warranty. Plus with us ... you can also choose a lovely little free gift, which we'll send separately. (You have to visit that link to choose your free gift and add it to your cart.)

We hope this response to the Consumer Reports article is helpful and you'll consider giving ozone laundry a try!

While we've often seen information about the benefits of dark chocolate (which comes from cacao) on the heart and circulation, we just ran across a study specific to its benefits for smokers with peripheral vascular disease, where the arteries of the limbs gradually narrow because of plaque build-up. This is similar to the problem that seems to lead to heart attacks, but causes problems in the arms and legs instead.

Dark chocolate (and not milk chocolate, which has much lower levels of cacao) helped to dilate the arteries in smokers, which of course helps with blood flow. This is another example of why cacao is being looked at by companies that believe it can become a serious medical product.

This is why we recently wrote about our excitement to carry Tru Chocolate, but we're also super excited about our own cacao supplement called CaPow! This product combines 150 mg (per tablet) of cacao with several other ingredients to provide an awesome, smooth energy boost. If you love the sensation of jitters, this one isn't for you -- but if you love just having energy and feeling awake, this is a great combo.

Of course one big draw to chocolate is the taste, and if you're looking for a treat, then we recommend Tru Chocolate. But if you're looking for the benefits of cacao without the sugar or other unhealthy ingredients, then CaPow! could be a great option for you.

Since we're sharing the study's find for peripheral vascular disease, we should point out that CaPow! isn't intended to address that or any particular disease. Those in the study would have been taking more grams of cacao in their daily dark chocolate regimen than CaPow! offers, since the purpose of CaPow! is to boost energy (and assist with weight loss). We just love to share the latest on chocolate studies, and to share the great cacao-based products we have!