Healthy Begins Here

How to Avoid the Sneakiest Sources of BPA

2010-02-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

Our guest blogger is Jennifer Grayson, Founding editor of The Red, White, and Green and Miss Eco-Etiquette for the Huffington Post.

For those concerned about serious health conditions (breast and prostate cancer, sexual development abnormalities, and now heart disease) linked to packaging additive bisphenol A (BPA), there's promising news: Earlier this month, the FDA reversed its stance on the chemical, saying it is now "taking reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply." It's a monumental first step, as is the move by cities and states around the country to ban the suspected endocrine disruptor from baby products like formula cans and sippy cups. It could still be years, though, before we see BPA removed from thousands of other products on the market - including those canned soups that you enjoy every day for lunch (more on that later).

What has upset me most about the BPA issue is that we consumers haven't been granted the knowledge to decide for ourselves whether or not we want to buy products that are packaged with it. As with genetically modified foods, it's a consumer guessing game: To date, there are still no labeling requirements for thousands of industrial chemicals like BPA that turn up in our food stuffs and packaging. Of course, there's calorie, fat, and sodium information clearly printed on the package of every last Keebler cookie, but say you want to know if there's a toxic chemical in your can of bean soup that could to lead to breast cancer? Forget it folks, you're on your own.

Well, not any longer. Stick to these tips, and eliminate even the sneakiest sources of BPA from your diet.

Swap out your soup. A recent Consumer Reports test found BPA in 19 name-brand foods; the highest levels were in canned soup, including Campbell's chicken noodle - not the therapeutic effect you want for someone fighting off a cold. I've since switched to Dr. McDougall's BPA-free soups packaged in FSC-certified cartons, or I make my own from scratch. Which brings me to my next tip...

Beware the beans. Don't reach for canned beans to whip up that batch of black bean chili, unless you're going to buy Eden Organic - amazingly, the only brand on the market to use BPA-free cans. Westbrae Natural, for instance, says on its website that the lining of its cans is "a type of food-grade epoxy...the simplest earth friendly coating available." But, it was revealed in a follow-up phone call that its cans do, in fact, contain trace amounts of BPA. Dried beans are a safe bet, plus they're considerably cheaper.

Toss the tomatoes and tuna. You may love making pasta sauce from scratch, but even that innocent looking little can of tomato paste likely has BPA lurking in its lining. All the more reason to plant your own tomatoes, or check out the Bionaturae brand of tomato paste, which comes in a nifty little glass jar. Canned tuna, and even my favorite health food, sardines, aren't safe either. You can find tuna in glass as well, though it's pricey (but thanks to the mercury content, you shouldn't be eating it that often anyway).

Gossip, don't drink at, the water cooler. It's been well publicized that polycarbonate water bottles leach BPA, which is why Nalgene phased it out of its sports bottles. But how many of you have reached for the office water cooler to fill up your Kleen Kanteen, or have bottled water delivery at home because you think the water is "safer" than tap? Surprise - those cooler bottles are made from the same BPA-laden No. 7 plastic that was used for the original Nalgene bottles. Invest in a water filtration system or switch to a Brita pitcher, which is BPA-free.

Ditch the Diet Coke. And the regular Coke. And the Pepsi, Sprite, Fanta, Mountain Dew, and any other soda or energy drink that comes in a can, while you're at it (as if you needed more motivation to stop guzzling liquid candy, anyway). A study last year by Health Canada found that the majority of soft drinks contain BPA. If you have to get your pop fix, at least enjoy it the old-fashioned way: in a glass bottle.

Protect those pearly whites. If you wind up at the dentist with a cavity thanks to all that soda pop, make sure you ask about the sealant he's using - there is evidence that some dental sealants may contribute to BPA exposure.

Canners, be cautious. One of the surest ways to minimize BPA exposure is to favor fresh fruits and vegetables over canned goods like tomatoes, since BPA is found in nearly all can linings. And what better way to enjoy fresh produce than to plant your own garden? It's a cruel irony, however, that gardeners looking to preserve a bumper crop of beets may unknowingly be using BPA-laden home canning products: Jarden Home Brands uses BPA in the manufacture of its lids for Ball and Kerr jars. For a BPA-free option, take a look at the Weck canning jars with glass lids that are popular in Europe.

No receipt, thank you. Amazingly, the greatest threat of BPA exposure may be something we handle nearly every day: receipts. According to the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry's John Warner in a Science News article last year, "The average cash register receipt that's out there and uses the BPA technology will have 60 to 100 milligrams of free BPA." Milligrams? By comparison, the amount deemed worrisome enough by reusable water bottle manufacturer Nalgene to eliminate the chemical from its polycarbonate bottles was measured in nanograms (that's one-millionth of a milligram).

What's especially scary about the receipt scenario is that there's no way to control all the possibilities for exposure - picture waiters delivering plates of food after handling customers' checks, or shaking hands with someone who just put a receipt in his wallet. What you can control: Decline a receipt if you don't need one (save more trees, too), and wash your hands frequently (good hygiene during flu season, anyway).

Eat that pizza at the parlor. Thanks to all those BPA-laced receipts, those pizzas you order in for movie night may also be tainted, courtesy of the recycled cardboard pizza boxes they were delivered in. Surprise: The BPA doesn't magically disappear when those receipts are recycled into other paper products. (Another source of the BPA in those pizza boxes is recycled newspaper, since newspaper ink also contains BPA.) I'm not saying we should do away with pizza boxes made from recycled materials, since the environmental damage from not saving all those trees would be arguably greater than the minimal, if any, exposure to BPA from the average pepperoni pie; but if you're the type who has Domino's on speed dial, you might want to consider stopping by your local pizza joint once in a while for a slice or two at the counter.

Bottle for beer, you're in the clear. If you do wind up having that pizza delivered, at least make sure that the six-pack you serve with it is BPA-free by choosing bottled beer over cans. It's true that the majority of canned soda pop contains BPA, but beer poses even more of a risk, due to the high solubility of BPA in alcohol. Wine isn't a completely safe choice, either: BPA is also found in the epoxy linings of some wine vats used during fermentation. Short of contacting the vineyard, making your own wine, or becoming a teetotaler, there's no way to avoid this exposure, unfortunately (take comfort in the fact that the French drink four times the wine that Americans do, and live, on average, 3.5 years longer).

With BPA having seemingly infiltrated the most benign of objects, it's easy to adopt a "screw it, we're all screwed" mentality. But my goal here is not to make you an obsessive hand washer who runs screaming at the sight of a pizza box; it's to highlight just how pervasive the chemical has become, and how important it is that we consumers stand up and demand action. If a 165-pound man can consume 80 times the "safe" amount of BPA from one serving of canned green beans, then what disastrous health effects are we putting ourselves at risk for once you factor in the soup cans, the polycarbonate bottles, the soda pop, and the credit card receipts?

Remember: When in doubt, ask. Even companies implying that they offer BPA-free products can't be trusted, as so many of us learned when reusable water bottle maker Sigg came clean last year about the BPA in its liners. And if it turns out that BPA is in the product of the company you're contacting, don't be afraid to say that you'll no longer be buying that product. Until the laws change, consumer demand is the only leverage we have.

This blog was originally published on the Huffington Post as a 2 part series and was edited with permission: Part 1 and Part 2.

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90 Non-toxic Ways to Show Your Love This Valentine's Day

2010-02-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Janelle Sorensen

Marieke Kuijjer
/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Roses are red. Violets are blue.
The very best gifts
are those that don’t harm you.

Seriously, did you know that conventional flowers can be covered in pesticide residues? And flowers grown abroad often use pesticides that have been banned in the U.S. or in quantities far exceeding U.S. regulations. And that standard box of chocolates? Filled with questionable preservatives, colorings, and additives.

Show your love without causing unintended health effects by choosing one of these non-toxic options.

6 specials from Organic Bouquet (by the way, if you order from them using this referral link, www.organicbouquet.com/HealthyChildVday2010,Healthy Child gets 10% of the proceeds! That's like two gifts in one.) Choose from Dozen Roses + Free box of chocolates, Dozen Roses + Free vase, Valentine's Weekend Package (Friday gift of Roses and Saturday gift of select gourmet item or another bouquet of Roses), Extraordinary Rose Collection (3, 4 & 5-6 foot roses - World's Tallest Roses) Gift of the Month Club (Flowers or Roses of the month - 3, 6 or 12 month options), or Valentine's/ Heart themed baked goods & treats.

5 biodynamic wines sustainably selected from The Daily Green.

3 handmade ideas: AlphaMom’s Valentine's cards, a book made from a deck of cards with 52 reasons you love someone, and A Little Hut's egg carton heart

9 vintage Valentine's ideas for kids

7 organic chocolate gifts

24 ecofabulous ideas ranging from a bamboo shawl to salvaged cuff-links

14 eco-options from the Alternative Consumer like recycled knitting needles and hand-crafted jewelry boxes

13 eco-jewelry gems from Inhabitat

9 random picks:

Make a donation to a non-profit organization on behalf of the person (hint, hint, maybe an organization like Healthy Child).
Buy the person a gift certificate for an experience you can share.
Arrange dinner at a local restaurant specializing in organic or locally grown food.
Give natural body care products like Yes to Carrots.
Make your own spa kit.
Buy an organic stuffed animal.
Make a homemade meal using one of these easy recipes.
Give a coupon book (for things like back rubs, sleeping in, etc).
Buy a fruit tree (a gift that keeps on giving).

Bonus: Check out Etsy for 140,000 more hand-made ideas (note: these are not necessarily non-toxic, but many are. Ask the seller.)

A Wake Up Story

2010-02-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

Healthy Child Healthy World

With parenthood comes a most spectacular wake-up call. Are you awake?

Chronic childhood illnesses - asthma, allergies, autism, cancer, obesity and diabetes - are plaguing our nation, and credible scientific evidence links chemical exposure to many of these conditions. Yet, most of the roughly 80,000 chemicals in everyday products like cosmetics and food packaging have slipped through the regulatory system almost entirely unchecked for potential health impacts. Sadly, most parents are unaware and unwittingly expose their children to risky products every day.

Today, the national non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World set out on an ambitious journey to wake-up millions of American parents to these unnecessary risks through a web-based video campaign, A Wake Up Story.

This dynamic, short video seeks to inform and inspire, with Healthy Child there to teach families how to minimize risk, purchase safer products, and push Congress to enact protective legislation. Help us wake up America!

A Wake Up Story paints a vivid picture of the world we live in today - exposing our co-existence with invisible, pervasive industrial chemicals. "People are stunned to discover that the products they use all the time contain chemicals linked to cancer, infertility, and even obesity. But, it's an undeniable fact," says Christopher Gavigan, Executive Director of Healthy Child Healthy World. Gavigan stated that "we're mobilizing a movement of parents to demand protection because nothing's more important than the health of our children. And, these toxic chemicals disproportionately impact them, oftentimes causing irreversible harm."

The debate rages on: Is 2010 poised to be a year of change? Healthy Child thinks so, but with Congress deadlocked in partisan politics, it's up to "we the people" to make things happen.

Few of us have the capacity to be full-time activists. Healthy Child Healthy World is fond of this little mantra: "No one can do everything but everyone can do something." Small steps can lead up to big changes. For almost 20 years, Healthy Child has helped parents understand this new reality, taught them how to avoid exposure, and provided the tools they need to do something about it.

Join in the fight for safer chemicals and healthier children. Take a few minutes to watch the video, share it with your friends and family, and be a part of the movement.

"Together, we can change the world...one home at a time."

About Healthy Child Healthy World
Healthy Child Healthy World is a national, nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization that inspires parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals. The organization exists because more than 125 million Americans, predominantly children, now face an historically unprecedented rise in chronic diseases and illnesses such as cancer, autism, asthma, allergies, birth defects, ADHD, obesity, diabetes, and learning and developmental disabilities.

Credible scientific evidence increasingly points to environmental hazards and household chemicals as causing and contributing to many of these diseases. Healthy Child Healthy World aims to educate parents, support protective policies and engage communities to make responsible decisions, simple everyday choices and well-informed lifestyle improvements to create healthy environments where children and families can flourish. Please visit Healthy Child for more info.

BPA Linked to Heart Disease and Diabetes, Again

2010-01-29T13:45:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

Just days after the US Food and Drug Administration expressed concern about bisphenol-a (BPA) and pledged to look into potential health impacts further, a new study found links between BPA and two of the most common health conditions plaguing Americans today - heart disease and diabetes.

While the new study does not prove that BPA definitively causes these conditions, there was clearly an association. According to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, of the 1,455 adults tested, the higher the level of BPA in their urine, the higher their rates of heart disease and diabetes. The scientists also found a link between abnormal liver enzymes in people and levels of BPA, which may mean that the chemical impacts liver function.

This is the second major study showing links to these conditions. An August 2008 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that BPA, at levels well-within the range of common human exposure, suppresses levels of a hormone that protects people from metabolic syndrome (associated with obesity) and its consequences: heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

BPA is one of the highest-volume synthetic chemicals in the world, with over two million tons used worldwide each year, and the US Centers for Disease Control has found in the bodies of more than 90% of Americans. BPA leaches from polycarbonate plastic containers and the epoxy linings of canned foods and beverages. Learn more about BPA and how to reduce your exposure.

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Wax, Pesticides, and Pathogens: Quick Tips to Prep Your Produce

2010-01-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

Healthy Child Healthy World

epSos .de / CC BY 2.0

The FDA says that all fruits and vegetables, including those that are organically grown, could benefit from a thorough washing to remove soil, surface microbes, and pesticide residues. While food safety experts admit there's little chance of getting really sick, they still recommend that people with compromised immune systems or developing immune systems (fetuses and children) should thoroughly scrub all produce.

Here are some quick tips for prepping your produce.

1. Look for produce that's not bruised or dented. These blemishes are pathways for pathogens.

2. Wash your produce right when you bring it home. It's easiest and most efficient to wash everything at the same time. Store produce away from other foods like meat or fish that could contaminate them with microbes.

3. Skip the soap. The US FDA advises skipping soap since fruits and veggies are porous and can absorb soaps or detergents. Most experts agree that a quick water rinse works just fine. If you're more comfortable going the extra mile, use a non-toxic wash. Or, make your own by filling a spray bottle with 1 Tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar for every 2 cups of warm water. (Vinegar washes are not ideal for soft skinned produce like peaches or apricots). Spray, scrub (or rub briskly), and rinse.

4. Use a scrubber for produce with firmer skin, like carrots, potatoes and squash.

5. Wash foods with inedible peels. Even though you don't eat the rind, it comes in contact with your cutting board and knife, which will touch the fruit that you will eat. And, don't assume that pre-cut fruit is any safer. Who knows where employees' hands have been?

thebittenword.com
/ CC BY 2.0

6. Consider tossing the outer leaves of leafy greens, such as lettuce and cabbage before washing. And, even if you purchase greens that say "pre-washed" or "triple-washed," it doesn't mean it's free of pathogens. Wash it again for good measure.

7. If you're on the go, you can wash your produce in a public sink or purchase non-toxic disposable wipes specifically intended for washing produce.

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The Top 10 Toxic Products You Don't Need

2010-01-25T09:40:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

It's become so common in our culture to assume we need things - a lot of things. Over-consumption is not only a strain on our bank accounts and environment, it can also be harmful to our health. Whether there's a warning label or not (usually not), many of the things we buy have associated health risks.

Here are ten toxic products, in no particular order, that you don't need. And, once you read about them, you probably won't want them either. Be aware that different homes may have different products that are more toxic than these. This is just a basic list of some of the most commonly purchased products that are almost entirely unnecessary, but pose significant risks.

1. Air fresheners: Most air fresheners mask odors with a synthetic fragrance or numb your sense of smell with chemical anesthetics. But, they do nothing to eliminate the source of the odor. Also, aerosol air fresheners spew out tiny droplets of chemicals that are easily inhaled into the lungs. Instead, ventilate well and choose natural deodorizers, such as zeolite or baking soda, which contain minerals that absorb odors. How to Freshen Indoor Air Naturally includes recipes for other homemade remedies. Plants are also helpful for purifying your indoor air.

2. Drain, oven and toilet bowl cleaners: Yes, three products instead of one, but they all fit under the category of cleaners - and these are the three nastiest. Corrosive or caustic cleaners, such as the lye and acids found in drain cleaners, oven cleaners and acid-based toilet bowl cleaners, are the most dangerous cleaning products because they burn skin, eyes and internal tissue easily.

To clean extra-greasy ovens, mix together 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda, then add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to oven surfaces and let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime; and rinse surfaces well.
Prevent clogged drains by using hair and food traps.
To de-grease and sweeten sink and tub drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain followed by 1 cup vinegar; let bubble for 15 minutes; rinse with hot water. You might have to repeat the whole procedure more than once. This same mixture can be used prior to scrubbing your toilet bowl to deodorize and scour away grime.

3. Canned food: It's probably shocking to find a food item on a toxic product list, but it's no mistake. Food cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains bisphenol-A (BPA). Most experts believe this is our main source of exposure to BPA, which has been linked to hormone disruption, obesity, heart disease, and much more. Eden Foods is currently the only company with BPA-free canned foods (other than the canned tomatoes, which they haven't found an adequate substitute for given the acidity of the tomatoes). Opt for fresh, frozen, dried or jarred foods.

4. Pesticides: This is a huge category of products, but they deserve inclusion in their entirety because of how extremely toxic they are. They're made to be. That's how they kill things. But, solving your pest problem may leave you with another problem - residual poisons that linger on surfaces, contaminate air, and get tracked onto carpet from the bottom of shoes. There are so many non-toxic ways to eliminate pests and weeds - next time you need to get on the offense, check out the recommendations at Beyond Pesticides.

5. Dry-cleaning: Okay, it's a service and not a product per se, but the chemical used to do it, perchloroethylene, has been linked to cancer as well as nervous system, kidney, liver and reproductive disorders. Even bringing dry-cleaned clothes home is risky. EPA studies have found that people who reported visiting a dry-cleaning shop showed twice as much perc in their breath, on average, as other people. EPA also found that levels of perc remained elevated in a home for as long as one week after placing newly dry-cleaned clothes in a closet. A Consumers Union study found that people who wear freshly dry-cleaned clothes, like a jacket and shirt, every week over a 40-year period, could inhale enough perc "to measurably increase their risk of cancer" - by as much as 150 times what is considered "negligible risk." Try wet-cleaning, CO2 technology, or even hand-washing.

6. Bottled water: Most people buy bottled water thinking they're avoiding any contaminants that may be present in their tap water. For the most part, they're wrong. Bottled water can be just as, or even more, contaminated than tap water. In fact, some bottled water IS tap water - just packaged (in plastic that can leach chemicals into the water) and over-priced. Also, from manufacture to disposal, bottled water creates an enormous amount of pollution - making our water even less drinkable. Do yourself and the world a favor and invest in a reusable stainless steel water bottle and a water filter.

7. Rubber duckies: How does such a cute toy end up on a toxic product list? When it's made from PVC - the poison plastic. Banned in over 14 countries and the European Union, PVC, also known as vinyl, is still legally sold by U.S. retailers although it threatens environmental and consumer health at every stage of its product life cycle, according to the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice (CHEJ). When it's in your home, PVC can leach phthalates (linked to hormone disruption) and lead (a potent neurotoxicant) - contaminating air, dust, and eventually you. Go PVC-free by reading packages and avoiding the #3 in the chasing arrows symbol (usually found on the bottom of a product). If a plastic is not labeled, call the manufacturer. Learn more.

8. Couch cushions: No, you needn't get rid of all your cushions and consign yourself to a future of discomfort. Just avoid cushions, pillows, and anything with foam labeled as meeting California TB 117, as it is likely to contain toxic fire retardants. These chemicals migrate from the foam to dust to people. In animal research, these chemicals are associated with cancer, birth defects, thyroid disruption, reproductive and neurological disorders such as hyperactivity and mental retardation. Don't worry about increasing your fire risk, data does not show that this standard has resulted in increased fire safety. Look for foam and cushions made with polyester, down, wool, or cotton as they are unlikely to contain toxic fire retardants.

9. Perfume and cologne: Colognes and perfumes may make us more attractive. But mixed in with the colors and scents are a wide variety of unattractive chemicals. Perfumes and fragrances can consist of hundreds of chemicals. Testing of Calvin Klein's Eternity by an independent lab, commissioned by Environmental Health Network (EHN), revealed that the perfume contained over 800 compounds. Among the chemicals of concern is diethyl phthalate (DEP) that is absorbed through the skin and can accumulate in human fat tissue. Phthalates are suspected carcinogens and hormone disruptors that are increasingly being linked to reproductive disorders.

It's not so simple to avoid phthalates by switching products because they are rarely listed on product ingredient labels. Phthalates are claimed as a part of trade secret formulas, and are exempt from federal labeling requirements. Find out if products you currently use contain phthalates and find safer ones on Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Searchable Product Guide website.

10. Oil-based paints and finishes: There are 300 toxic chemicals and 150 carcinogens potentially present in oil-based paint, according to a John Hopkins University study. Still interested in coating your walls and furniture with this gunk? I hope not. Look for water-based options - ideally those that are low- or no-VOC. You could also explore natural finishes like milk paint and vegetable or wax based wood finishes.

Related Topics:

Parenting, Chemicals Policy and Asking the Right Question

2010-01-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

Our guest blogger is Charlotte Brody, R.N., National Field Director for Safer Chemicals Healthy Families.

It took me a ridiculously long time to train myself to not ask my sons, "How was school?" when they got into the car or walked into the door in the late afternoon. They both seemed to be born knowing that the only correct answer to that question was, "Okay" or an occasional, "Meh".

But I kept asking, "How was school?" just as my mother had asked me, "How was school?". One day I finally realized that, while it was a comfortable routine, it never told me what I needed to know to take care of my children. If I really wanted to know if my sons needed help with homework or a problem with a teacher, I had to stop asking, "How was school?" and start the conversation in a different place.

I could do what I'd always done. Or I could change the question and get the information I needed to improve my sons' daily lives. These were my babies. I changed the question. And while my new behavior did not turn me into a perfect mother, my family's life was improved by my actions.

In 1976, two years before my eldest son was born, Congress passed and President Ford signed the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA). And for more than 30 years, TSCA has been the lousy parent that only wants to hear "okay" as the answer to "How are we doing with chemicals?". TSCA grandfathered in the 60,000 chemicals that were in use when it became law and set a ridiculously high bar for EPA to jump over before it could act (EPA has to prove the proposed restriction is the "least burdensome alternative" for eliminating "an unreasonable risk".) As a result, EPA has only required testing on 200 of the now 80,000 chemicals in use and only restricted five. And the last time the EPA tried to use TSCA to restrict a chemical was 1991.

While EPA's TSCA chemical management system has been stuck since 1991, the science on how chemicals can harm human health has grown dramatically. Some of that new science is in a report I co-authored that is being released by Safer Chemicals Healthy Families. The report, The Health Case for Reforming the Toxics Substances Control Act, documents the increase in leukemia, brain cancer, and other childhood cancers, breast cancer, autism, difficulty in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy, certain birth defects, preterm births and asthma. It shows how new scientific evidence is linking the increase in some cancers, learning and developmental disabilities, reproductive problems, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease and asthma and other diseases and disorders to chemicals. And it makes the case for chemical policy reform as a different kind of health care reform, with the potential to save the American people an estimated 5 billion dollars every year in health care costs when it is fully implemented.

Meaningful TSCA reform will give EPA the authority to ask chemical manufacturers the right questions: What is the evidence that this chemical is safe? If there is evidence that a chemical is hurting the health of people and the environment, where are these exposures coming from? Are some people being more harmed than others and how do we protect the more vulnerable? Do we need to use this chemical or are there safer alternatives? Is this chemical so dangerous that its use need to be restricted or banned?

These are the questions that I think a protective and responsible chemical management system needs to be able to ask - and that chemical manufactures need to answer. And they are the questions that parents need to know the government is addressing so we can take care of our families. Almost half of all Americans - 133 million people - now have one or more chronic disease. If TSCA reform results in a slight decrease in asthma, a few less children with leukemia, a small decline in the incidence of learning disabilities, it will not only save money on health care costs, it will alleviate the suffering of American families.

Now we need to ask Congress the right questions. Will they stand up for our health and stand up to the lobbyists for the chemical and oil industry? Will they introduce and pass a bill that gives EPA the power to protect our health? And will they do it in 2010?

Related Topics:

Obama Administration Endorses Chemical Regulation Overhaul

The opinions expressed in the WebMD Blogs are of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of WebMD and they have not been reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance or objectivity. WebMD Blogs are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on WebMD. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.

What Makes A Dry Cleaner Green?

2010-01-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

It's Not PERC.

Our guest blogger is Diane MacEachern, author of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World. She is passionate about empowering consumers - especially women - to use their marketplace clout to protect the environment.

Are "organic" dry cleaners popping up in your neighborhood? Are they legit, or another greenwashing scam? Here's the low-down.

Just because a dry cleaner claims to be "organic" doesn't mean it's free of toxic chemicals. That's because, scientifically speaking, any chemical is considered to be organic if it contains carbon. So even cleaners that use a solvent like perchloroethylene (PERC), which has been classified by the U.S. EPA as a probable human carcinogen, can claim to be organic. An ad for "green" dry cleaners doesn't necessarily mean much, either, since there is no standard definition for what makes cleaning green.

Hydrocarbon solvents are in the same boat. Hydrocarbon solvents are petroleum-based, says Sierra Club, and contribute to greenhouse gases by emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Solvents to avoid are: DF2000, PureDry, EcoSolve, Shell Solution 140 HT and Stoddard.

And that GreenEarth method you may have seen around? It does not necessarily translate into 'green-for-the-earth.' GreenEarth cleaners replace PERC with a silicone-based solvent called methyl siloxane or D5, which is similar to the base ingredients used in deodorants and shaving creams. The solvent itself is currently considered safe for the environment because it degrades to sand, water, and carbon dioxide, says the Union of Concerned Scientists, but it has caused cancer in lab animals in EPA studies. In addition, it is manufactured using chlorine, which can generate harmful dioxin emissions.

The good news? Safe, non-toxic alternatives do exist. And they are just as effective as traditional dry cleaning, minus the negative impacts on the environment.

Wet-cleaning replaces PERC with carefully controlled amounts of water and special non-toxic biodegradable detergents. Computer-operated equipment helps ensure that your delicate fabrics are cleaned without the risks to human health or the environment. You can find more details here.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning relies on high pressure to convert carbon dioxide gas into liquid that acts as a carrier for biodegradable soaps. When the washing is complete, the pressure is released, turning the CO2 back into a gas to be used again and again. One drawback: the requisite machinery is expensive, so this method costs more than PERC-based dry cleaning.

Hand wash. Keep in mind that not all "dry clean only" garments need to be professionally dry-cleaned. Green living expert and Care2.com editor Annie Bond provides safe, eco-friendly instructions on hand-washing silk, wool and rayon clothing. My daughter regularly washes her wool sweaters on the cold, delicate cycle in the washing machine, then line dries them. Cheap, effective.

The most obvious solution of all? Transition your wardrobe to wash-and-wear clothing that requires no dry cleaning. You'll save money on cleaning bills and breathe easier knowing you're reducing your exposure to questionable chemicals.

BONUS: Discover easy, simple ways to clean out your closet this season, and how your wardrobe transition can make a world of a difference, here.

This post originally appeared on Diane's blog, Big Green Purse. You, too, can have a Big Green Purse if you start using your purchasing power to show your support for safer products. Women spend $.85 of every dollar in the marketplace. That's a lot of power packed in a purse...but only if it's used in a way that can't be ignored. That's why Big Green Purse is encouraging A MILLION WOMEN to shift at least $1,000 of money they already spend for an initial $1 billion Big Green Purse impact. Want to join? Here's how.

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How Many Chemicals are You Wearing?

2010-01-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

A recent study in the UK found that the average woman wears over 500 chemicals on her body every day. Similar to the US, women douse themselves daily with perfume, moisturizer, lotion, and a wide variety of cosmetics that altogether contain hundreds of chemicals. Most of the women were completely oblivious to the number of chemicals they were putting on. Do you know how many you wear?

Take a moment to figure it out. Look at the labels of all of the products you use and count how many ingredients are listed. Then, add them all together.

Shampoo and conditioner = _______
Lotions and moisturizers = _______
Perfume or cologne = _______
Cosmetics = _______
Hair styling products = _______
Deodorant = _________
Other = ________

TOTAL = _______

Surprised? Most people are. But, don't take this number at face value. Here are some important points to consider:

Some of the ingredients may be present in several of your products, so your total number may not reflect the actual number of different chemicals you're exposed to.

"Fragrance" is considered a trade secret. So, manufacturers can use a wide variety of chemicals (sometimes over one hundred) to make up their signature scent, but they don't have to list them in the ingredients. Given this fact, the total number of chemicals you're wearing may be much larger than what you think it is.

All of the chemicals in personal care products are not bad, but there are a significant amount of commonly used ingredients that are especially risky to your health. Avoid products that contain: "parabens" (Methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butyl-parabens), coal tar colors (FD&C Blue 1, Green 3, Yellow 5 & 6; D&C Red 33), Diethanolamine (cocamide DEA, TEA and MEA are related ingredients that can be contaminated with DEA), Nonoxynol or nonylphenol ethoxylate, phthalates (can be listed as DEHP, DHP, or DBP5 or hidden in "fragrance"), DMDM hydantoin, triclosan, sodum lauryl and laureth sulfates, toluene, formaldehyde, PEGs, and anything with "glycol" or "methyl." Learn more about these chemicals and find safer products in the Environmental Working Group's Buying Guide and print a Healthy Shopping Pocket Guide, so you always have the information on hand.

It's hard to eliminate everything on this list, especially if you can't afford all the certified organic products. I've been trying to cut back and substitute in simpler, safer products for years, but I'm still wearing over 100 chemicals after my daily regimen (though, many of those chemicals are natural and only a couple of products I use contain anything listed above). I'm not perfect. I try to focus on switching what I can, using fewer products in general, using less of what I use, and even trying to make my own.

What's your regimen like? Are you willing to share how many chemicals you're wearing everyday?

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Believe It or Not: Cloned Meat and Other Sci-Fi Foods

2010-01-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

Just over 50 years ago, freeze-dried foods were fictitious victuals seen only in cinematic spaceships. Commander So-and-So would step up to a dispenser and some colorful pellets would be released onto his plate. One little zap and the pellets became a seven-course dinner. Nowadays, freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are an everyday staple. Not just for astronauts, but also campers, the military, survivalists, and even the family pantry.

Food scientists have come a long way since perfecting freeze-drying. Some of today's foods have undergone an even greater metamorphosis. Not simply freeze-dried (a process that has actually been around since the Peruvian Incas), it's modified and de-constructed and re-constructed and processed and preserved in innumerable ways.

Do you know what's been done to your dinner? Has your meal been manipulated? You might be surprised. See how much you know about the food you eat by taking this quick quiz and trying to identify which foods are fact and which are fiction.

Believe It or Not: Glowing Food and Beverages
Ever wake up in the middle of the night with the munchies and wish that half-eaten sandwich you left on your bedside table glowed so you could find it easily? No? Well, regardless, you may have this option soon. "BioLume" uses naturally occurring bioluminescence (found in fireflies, and glowing fish, squid, jellyfish, and other marine creatures) to make foods and beverages that emit their own light.

They don't have FDA approval yet, but they're working on it. And, it'll be worth the wait to have their novelty foods - like a birthday cake that has a glowing message after you blow out the candles or a glowing beverage that changes from blue to green to orange to red. Currently, they've only mastered glowing whipped creams and some beverages.

Believe It or Not: Corn that Makes Its Own Insecticide
For farm-workers tired of donning protective gear to spray toxic insecticides on vulnerable crops, this is a Godsend. Bt Corn, a genetically modified variety, produces Bt (which is toxic to insects known as corn borers) in every single cell of the plant. How is this possible? Scientists inject the Bt gene into the corn gene to create a new transgenic species. I know, it's very technical and complicated, but the corn still tastes just as good! Who cares if we don't totally understand what we're doing? The FDA has deemed it perfectly safe for human consumption.

Believe It or Not: Food Additives Made from Petroleum
It fuels our vehicles. It's the basis of the plastics that make our lives so much easier. It's a building block for many of the thousands of synthetic chemicals scientists have created in the last several decades. And, now we can eat petroleum, too! It's a natural material, right? Why shouldn't we eat it? Scientists have figured out how to manipulate the molecules to create food coloring (with added antifreeze to help the color's staying power) and preservatives that help our foods have lengthy shelf lives. Petroleum. It's what's for dinner.

Believe It or Not: Programmable Food
Programmable or "interactive" food goes way beyond just playing with your provisions. These are new foods being developed that will recognize and adjust to individual consumer tastes, allergies, and nutritional needs. One example is a colorless, tasteless drink that each consumer can design after buying it. You get to decide what color and flavor you'd like the drink to be, and what nutrients it will have in it. How? Through the magic of nanotechnology, which gives chemicals (good and bad) the ability to do things and go places in our body they've never been able to before. Programmable foods will be infused with a wide variety of nanoparticles representing different flavors, colors, and nutrients. All of the nanoparticles will be encapsulated until the consumer decides which ones to un-encapsulate (using some kind of special machine), making the food the desired flavor and color.

Believe It or Not: Cloned Meat
Did your last pork chop come from a petri dish? Cloning animals allows farmers to replicate animals with desirable traits - like immunity or the ability to produce more milk. They do it by injecting genetic material from the animal to be cloned into a donor egg (this is where the Petri dish is used). Once an embryo is successfully created in the laboratory, a surrogate mother is chosen and artificially inseminated with the clone. At $10,000 to $20,000 a pop, you likely won't be dining on clone cuisine anytime soon. But, in early 2008, the FDA declared that food products derived from the clones of cows, pigs and goats are safe for human consumption. Since then, it is becoming a common practice to use clones for breeding purposes - so, clone offspring could very likely be making an appearance in your grocery bag (albeit, unlabeled).

Though you may have guessed otherwise, all of these experimental foods are real. I didn't have the imagination to come up with anything more bizarre than what's already being done to our diets. Also, the descriptions are likely not absolutely, scientifically accurate. The processes by which these foods are created are too complicated for me to digest. And, even though the genetically modified corn and petroleum-based additives are the only ones ubiquitous in our food supply - the others could be very soon.

Wonder what impacts all of these oddities are having or could have on our health? Me too. More research is needed - particularly for potential effects on vulnerable populations like developing fetuses and babies. We are all subjects in this experiment - unwittingly participating because foods often don't have to be labeled.

What do you think? Is this progress or hubris?

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25 Tools to Help Prevent Birth Defects

2010-01-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

Healthy Child Healthy World

Every year, one in every 33 babies (about 120,000) born in the United States enters the world with a birth defect. Thousands of different birth defects have been identified and birth defects are the leading cause of death in the first year of life. Still, we don't know the cause of most birth defects - an especially scary fact for any pregnant woman hoping to protect her unborn child.

We do know that the developing embryo and fetus is extraordinarily and uniquely vulnerable to environmental exposures. Toxic exposures during these initial nine months of susceptibility can result not only in birth defects, but also can impact the function of the nervous, immune, reproductive, and other systems of the body. Some of these impacts may not become apparent until years or even decades after birth.

The US Centers for Disease Control advises pregnant women to avoid exposure to toxic substances. Here's a collection of resources to help you have the healthiest pregnancy.

Super Tools:

Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home by Christopher Gavigan. This book is the best $10 investment you can make in your child's health. Truly a must read for all parents.
ItsaBelly Baby Planners - Need a little extra help? These knowledgeable planners "take the labor pains" out of having a healthy pregnancy and preparing for your new bundle of joy.
Healthy Shopping Pocket Guides - Print these guides so you know safer products to buy when you're out and about.

Quick Articles:

Websites:

Critical Windows of Development - The most detailed information to date about the impacts of chemical exposures during specific windows of development.
Dr. Greene - Making pediatric wisdom more accessible than ever before. Addressing the connection between the health of our children and the health of the environment, to strive to make a difference for both.
WebMD Health eHome - The interactive tool to help you make a healthy home.
National Birth Defects Prevention Network - Download materials for National Birth Defects Prevention Month (January) as well as a slew of other informational resources.
The Green Baby Guide - This is a great blog with real-life advice, tips and product recommendations that are affordable and easy. (And, their blog roll lists some of the best grean and healthy parenting blogs out there!)
And, of course, bookmark HealthyChild.org so you always have easy access to the tips and tools that will protect your child's health his whole life long. Sign-up for our newsletter, so you never miss a beat.

Learn more about birth defects using the following resources:

You Can’t See, Smell or Taste It, But It’s the Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer

2010-01-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

National Radon Action Month

Healthy Child Healthy World

Eddie had never heard of radon until his doctor diagnosed him with radon-induced lung cancer. He didn't smoke, so the diagnosis was entirely unexpected. Eddie quickly learned that you can't see, smell, or taste radon, but it can be present at a dangerous level in your home.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 20,000 Americans each year. Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk, and testing radon levels in your home can help prevent unnecessary exposure. Don't wait until it's too late.

Four Things You Can Do

1. Test your home.

The US EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that all homes in the U.S. be tested for radon. Testing is easy and inexpensive.
Purchase a test kit from your local home improvement or hardware store. Many kits are priced under $25.00. You can also order them from the National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University (KSU) or radon testing companies.
Open the package, place the radon detector in a designated area, and, after a set number of days, send the detector back to a lab for analysis. The lab will then inform you of your radon test results.
Another option is to hire a qualified tester.
For additional information on obtaining test kits and test kit coupons, visit National Radon Program Services. Contact your state radon program - details available from the EPA at"Where You Live" - for more information about obtaining test kits from your state or from a radon testing company or laboratory in your area.

2. Attend a National Radon Action Month event in your area.

Look for radon events in your community. Contact your state radon program for more information about local radon activities.

3. Spread the word.

Tell your family and friends about the health risks of radon. Encourage them to test their homes.
Plan an activity in your community to help raise awareness.
Write an op-ed or letter to the editor. View tips and a sample op-ed and letter to the editor from EPA's National Radon Action Month Event Planning Kit.
Attract media attention by working with a local official to get a radon proclamation. View tips and a sample proclamation from EPA's National Radon Action Month Event Planning Kit.

4. Buy a radon-resistant home.

If you are considering buying a new home, look for builders who use radon-resistant new construction.

Learn more by calling 1-800-SOS-RADON.

Information provided by the US EPA National Radon Action Month campaign.

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Secret Chemicals in Household Products

2010-01-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

What You Don't Know Could Hurt You

by Janelle Sorensen

What's in your paint, detergent, art supplies, furniture, and textiles? You probably don't know, since there's typically no ingredients list on the label. But, even if you wanted to know - you don't necessarily have the right to know. Even more disturbing, the government agency in charge of regulating the chemicals in these products doesn't always have the right to know.

According to a new report released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), "The public has no access to any information about approximately 17,000 of the more than 83,000 chemicals on the master inventory compiled by the EPA and Industry has placed 'confidential business information' (CBI) claims on the identity of 13,596 new chemicals produced since 1976 - nearly two-thirds the 20,403 chemicals added to the list in the past 33 years. "

"Off the Books: Industry's Secret Chemicals" highlights the profound gap in the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a law written over 30 years ago to regulate toxic substances in order to protect health and the environment, that allows chemical manufacturers to keep secrets.

TSCA is generally recognized as the weakest environmental law - largely because it places the burden of proof on the EPA instead of manufacturers. Essentially, a chemical is innocent until proven guilty - which can takes decades to do. Under the secrecy provision outlined in this new report, any company can claim confidentiality and it is up to the EPA to prove within 90 days that transparency would compromise profits. With thousands of new chemicals being introduced annually, and thousands of old ones to keep up with, there's simply no way for the agency to meet its own regulatory demands.

Chemical secrecy is a glaring flaw in a regulatory system aimed at protecting human health and the environment from toxic chemicals. An example of what secrecy can lead to is described in the report:

In 2005, under pressure from environmental health advocates and the EPA, Great Lakes Chemical phased-out the neurotoxic and persistent brominated fire retardant PentaBDE. At the same time, the EPA expedited the approval of Firemaster 550, a replacement fire retardant made with confidential ingredients.

Dr. Linda Birnbaum, EPA's top expert on fire retardant at the time, and now Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institutes of Health, was worried that Firemaster 550's ingredients might present health risks similar to PentaBDE. She complained publicly that its chemical contents were confidential, even to her, the EPA's leading scientist on flame retardants.

Industry had good reason to conceal the ingredients in Firemaster 550. Had Birnbaum and other EPA scientists known the identity of the chemicals in Firemaster 550, the product would have come under serious scrutiny within the agency. But with CBI protection, EPA scientists were helpless to do anything.

In 2008, Duke University scientist Heather Stapleton cracked the chemical code for Firemaster 550, finding that it contained a brominated phthalate and brominated benzoate. The brominated phthalate was later detected in high concentrations in Boston- area households and sewage sludge from the Bay Area.

If you think about it, we shouldn't be too terribly surprised that so much would remain secret from consumers. It's only been 20 years since the food labeling law was enacted to let us know what ingredients were in the products we were eating every day. Still, it was a battle for consumers to win the right to know what was in their food and it has been a battle trying to get the same transparency with other products.

Regardless of consumer rights, isn't it simple common sense that the regulatory agency should have a right to know?

The failings of TSCA that have been identified by the Government Accountability Office, Congressional hearings, and independent investigations have always still rested on the assumption that there was a comprehensive public inventory. Someone was keeping track of the most basic information. Clearly, that assumption was wrong.

How many more flaws will have to be pointed out before this archaic law is re-written? The problems have been identified. Now is the time for solutions.

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Post Holiday Detox

2010-01-05T16:33:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

As much as we promise ourselves we won't over-indulge during the holidays (cue inner voice: "this time I really, really mean it!"), most of us are guilty of a bit of seasonal gluttony. Instead of berating yourself for succumbing again, take a more positive approach. Be thankful for what you are able to enjoy and balance your indulgences with the following rejuvenating practices. You might even consider making these the basis of a new family routine. Keep yourselves healthier by helping your body flush out the environmental contaminants you are exposed to every day.

• Sweat it out. At least three times a week (but ideally every day), work up a good sweat. Exercise is the healthiest thing you can do for your body for a variety of reasons, and when sweat comes out, toxins do too. No need to get a gym membership, make it simple family fun by taking a vigorous hike or bike ride together.

• Flush it out. Drink plenty of water every day, especially before, during, and after exercising (drop in a wedge of lemon for added benefits). Eat cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) and high fiber foods to keep your systems flowing.

• Love your liver. Your liver is your body's toxin filter. Keep it healthy by limiting alcohol, caffeine, refined sugars, saturated fats and medication. Look into herbs or supplements to support general liver health. (Talk to your physician before starting supplements or herbs).

• Relax. Your mental well-being is inherently connected to your overall health. Stress slows down detoxification, among other things. Keep family stress levels low, so all your body's systems are in prime working condition, by taking time to cuddle and read with your kids, or by doing yoga and meditation together.

• Breathe deeply. Oxygen is essential to cleansing and feeding your body's cells. Whenever you think of it throughout the day, take some deep cleansing breaths to oxygenate your body.

• Soothe. According to Diana Carswell at the Washington Post:

"The body can efficiently expel toxins through the pores of the skin. To hasten this process, combine in a bath 1 cup of Epsom salts and 1 to 2 tablespoons of an essential oil, such as lemon, jojoba, rosemary or olive. The ingredients' stimulating properties naturally draw toxins out. (Just be sure to test the oil first to make sure you're not allergic by applying a small amount to the underside of your forearm.) Another option is to exfoliate the skin, which increases respiration and removes toxins. Combine 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 tablespoon cornmeal and several drops almond oil with enough milk to form a paste. Apply by hand to the entire body (excluding the face) with gentle, circular motions. Rinse, then brush the skin using a loofah or sponge."

Aaaaaahh... These tips will not only help you detoxify your body, incorporating them into your daily life will also lead to greater overall health and happiness. Enjoy!

Note: While these tips are applicable to your entire family, more extreme detox diets are not intended for children or pregnant women.

This was originally posted at Healthy Child Healthy World.

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How to Grow Organic Food Indoors

2009-12-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

ccharmon / CC BY-ND 2.0

Most of us have houseplants, but have you ever considered growing edibles indoors? Better yet, how about growing delicious, organic produce? Forget the gardener's woes of winter's inhospitality. Forget the city-dweller's complaints about the confines of yard-less living. There are no excuses anymore for not having a bountiful garden. And, growing produce indoors not only provides you with healthy, affordable organics year-round - the plants will also help keep your indoor air clean, which is especially important during stuffy, winter months.

Here's how to get started:

1. Pick a place. You can grow a wide variety of herbs, vegetables, and even fruits in containers on windowsills, shelves or tables. R.J. Ruppenthal, author of Fresh Food from Small Spaces: The Square-Inch Gardener's Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting, even has tips for using closets and empty bathtubs. Your only limitation is your imagination.

2. Start simple. Ensure immediate success by beginning with surefire winners like herbs, sprouts and lettuce. Take it up a tiny notch by growing a pizza garden (basil, oregano, cherry tomatoes) or a salsa garden (cilantro, onion, tomatoes, peppers). There are specific varieties of vegetables and fruits that fare best in containers. You can find a list of them and the specific size of container they need at Garden Guides. Find seeds on-line or look for a local organic nursery or seed company that you can visit in person. Check out the list of suppliers at GreenPeople.org.

3. Collect containers. Almost any type of container can be used to grow your plants: terra cotta pots, ceramic pots, wooden window boxes, metal tubs, glass bowls, ice cream buckets - pretty much whatever you have on hand. Choose the appropriate size based on each seed's recommendations. Some plants will have to start out in peat pots and transplanted, some can go straight into the container. Drainage holes aren't necessary if you don't over water, but that's hard to tell unless you're an experienced gardener. So opt for something with holes (or make a few yourself using a drill or hammer and nails) and place a pan underneath to catch excess water.

4. Select soil. Many commercial potting soils have synthetic additives. So, to truly grow organic, you need to look for the "OMRI Listed" label. The OMRI-Organic Materials Review Institute-determines which products can be used within the national organic program.

5. Find a fertilizer. Again, to really grow organic, make sure you're using an OMRI-listed fertilizer. Some plants only need to be fertilized when you sow the seeds, but others like more regular feeding. Read your seed package or talk to your local nursery to learn what's best for the varieties you've selected.

6. Look for light. Some plants need more light than others. Many will fare well in a sunny window and many like the added boost of a grow light. Some species don't need light at all (like mushrooms!) Check out these organic mushroom indoor growing kits.

7. Prepare for pests. Growing indoors means far fewer potential pest problems, but you should still be ready to battle bugs (without toxic chemicals). For example, whiteflies and mealy bugs can be controlled with a yellow sticky trap or diluted rubbing alcohol (though test your plant to make sure it won't get burned).

Whether you decide to grow leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, and endive; herbs like basil, thyme, and parsley; or produce like cherry tomatoes, dwarf beets, and blueberries, indoor organic gardening can save you money and protect your health. Also, it's fulfilling, fun, and the food is delicious!

Additional Resources:

The Bountiful Container - The essential reference book for growing organic indoors by Rose Marie Nichols McGee and Maggie Stuckey.
Indoor Organic Gardening - A quick, but detailed article about growing organics indoors.

Is Soy Healthy For Your Family?

2009-12-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Our guest blogger is Alan Greene, MD, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, Attending Pediatrician at Packard Children's Hospital, and Senior Fellow at the University California San Francisco Center for the Health Professions. He is also founder of DrGreene.com and author of Raising Baby Green and Feeding Baby Green .

I love biting into a steaming ear of roasted corn on the cob, picked fresh that day in an organic cornfield. This is completely different from slogging down a super-size soda sweetened with high fructose corn syrup that has been chemically derived from genetically modified corn and different from gorging on a dozen donuts made with corn syrup, modified cornstarch and a dozen unhealthy ingredients. Is corn healthy? It depends on how we grow it, how we process it, and how we eat it. How much do we eat? What other ingredients are in our corn-containing foods? What other nutrients are in our diet? Are we allergic to corn? Has the corn been fermented into whiskey?

Corn (and popcorn) can be a wonderful, delicious, healthful addition to our diets, or it can be an over-consumed, unhealthy ingredient in junk foods that are blights on our society. It can even be turned into non-foods such as plastics, papers, or fuels. In the right amounts and in the right ways, corn is a healthy food for most people, but not for all people. It has been an important source of nutrition for thousands of years.

I started a discussion on soy by talking about corn, because corn is more familiar to most Americans. Most of us can recognize a corn stalk. Most have eaten a kernel of whole corn. Most have had a slice of cornbread. Corn doesn't feel mysterious, exotic, or foreign. Despite the recent explosion of soy-containing foods in the U.S., soy remains less familiar. Many of us wouldn't recognize a soy plant if we drove by a field, or couldn't identify a soybean on a plate with great certainty. Tofu, tempeh, edamame, and miso don't sound as down-home as corn on the cob. Even soymilk might sound strange. We didn't grow up with it. We understand, perhaps, how we milk a cow; but how do you milk a soybean?

Soy is a marvelous, protein-rich, whole food with health benefits far beyond what corn might offer. I'm thrilled when families I work with make organic soy a part of their diets. In fact, soy is a key part of the diet among the longest-lived people of the world. For large parts of the world population, soy and the foods made from it are more familiar than corn. And it's been an important source of human nutrition for thousands of years. But as with corn, the 20th and 21st centuries have seen a variety of new ways to grow, modify, and process soy. It has crept hidden into our diets in more ways than most people suspect. Is soy healthy for your family?

I love sipping a glass of organic soymilk, made from whole soybeans. This is completely different from scarfing down a bag of greasy potato chips made with partially hydrogenated soybean oil that has been chemically derived from genetically modified soy plants and different from gorging on heavily processed convenience foods containing hydrolyzed vegetable (soy) protein, textured vegetable (soy) protein, or soy protein isolates and concentrates. Is soy healthy? It depends on how we grow it, how we process it, and how we eat it. How much do we eat? What other ingredients are in our soy-containing foods? What other nutrients are in our diet? Are we allergic to soy?

Soy can be a wonderful, delicious addition to our diets, with proven health benefits. It can be a valuable alternative to animal proteins. And soymilk from whole soybeans can be a great alternative for those who are lactose intolerant. But soy derivatives can also be over-consumed, unhealthy ingredients in junk foods that are blights on our society. They can even be turned into non-foods such as breast implants, candles, plastics, and fuels. In the right amounts and in the right ways, soy is a healthy food for most people, but not for all people.

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10 Tips to Detoxify Your Diet

2009-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

I will openly admit I love cheese puffs, cheese curls, pretty much any kind of baked cheese snack - the more neon in color, the better. I also really love artisanal cheeses - and, oddly, cheese puffs, cheese curls, and their brightly colored cousins really taste nothing like any type of real cheese. How do we come to crave these fake flavors? (I know I'm not the only one). More importantly, when did food become so un-natural?

And, our food hasn't simply become more synthetic than ever before, it's also laced with ingredients and contaminants that pose distressing health risks. They aren't like salmonella, e-coli, or other pathogenic pollutants that can cause immediate illness or even death. These toxic impurities are more insidious - subtly causing harm over time.

Reduce your exposure to unwanted ingredients by following these 10 tips to detoxify your diet.

1. Ease up on animal fats. Animal products can contain synthetic hormones, antibiotics and organochlorine chemicals, such as dioxin, DDT and other pesticides, which concentrate in animal fat. The same chemicals that accumulate in animal fats are transferred to our own when we eat them. Then they linger there for years quietly causing damage. When you buy meat, poultry or dairy, look for low fat options (get the unsaturated fats your body needs from plant sources like walnuts, flax seeds, and avocados). Trim all fats and skins and broil meats and fish so that the fats drain away. Avoid frying, which will lock in the contaminants. You can also do your body a favor by reducing how much meat you eat. Making even one vegetarian meal a week can make a big difference.

2. Select safer seafood. Eating seafood is the primary way we are exposed to methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin. Fish can also be contaminated with PCBs, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Environmental Protection Agency have declared a probable carcinogen. Use the Environmental Defense Fund's Safe Seafood Selector to find species that are lowest in chemical and heavy metal contamination and that are fished in ways that are not harmful to our Oceans. Or access the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch, one of the more popular seafood guide's online, who have now made it possible to get their website information with ease when you're standing in front of the seafood case by using their free iPhone app.

3. Go organic. According to the Environmental Working Group, you can lower your pesticide exposure by 90 per cent simply by avoiding the most contaminated conventionally grown produce: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, carrots, and pears. If you're really craving one of these foods, opt for organic. Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables that have the lowest levels of pesticide residue include: onion, avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelon, broccoli, tomato, and sweet potato. You can download the EWG pocket guide that lists these and the dirty dozen from Foodnews.org.

4. Prep your produce. Wash all fruits and vegetables well to remove surface chemicals (and pathogens). It's easiest and most efficient to wash everything right when you bring it home. You should even wash foods with inedible peels - like melons, bananas, and oranges. If there's a contaminant on the surface, you can get it on the knife you use to cut it or on your hand, and then spread it to the part you eat.

5. Ban the can. Canned foods and beverages are lined with a resin that contains bisphenol-A, a hormone-disrupting chemical that's building up in our environment and our bodies. Most manufacturers are beginning to explore safer alternatives, but in the meantime you should choose foods that are fresh, dried or frozen or packaged in glass jars or tetra packs.

6. Bulk up. Bulk foods are often less processed so you reduce your exposure to questionable food additives. Buying it bulk can also save you up to $500 a year! Bulk cook staples like beans and other legumes and store them in your freezer in serving sizes that are appropriate for your family size. You can also buy dried pasta, nuts, seeds, and many other staples in bulk.

7. Cook your cuisine safely. If you enjoy grilling or well-done meat, be advised - you are adding to your cancer risk. Grilling creates smoke laden with carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which end up on the surface of whatever you're cooking. When meat, chicken and fish are cooked at high temperatures for a long time (aka "well-done"), it creates carcinogenic heterocyclic amines, or HCAs.

8. Read a food label - for real. Ever stop to read the ingredients label on packaged, processed foods? It's usually a mouthful of words most of us have a hard time pronouncing, so what exactly are you eating? You can learn which food additives are safe and which are not by visiting The Center for Science in the Public Interest's food safety guide, but it's even easier to simply choose whole foods. Whole foods are not processed, so they have all their natural nutritional gifts. Look for foods made from whole grains (think whole wheat bread, oatmeal and brown rice) - and it should say "whole" on the label. Make more foods from scratch (it's easier than you think). You'll end up saving money, eating healthier and reducing all the waste created from packaging and processing foods.

9. Wet your whistle with water. Americans drink an overwhelming amount of sodas, sports drinks, energy boosters, juices (that often contain little juice), and other bottled beverages. The first problem with this is that most of these drinks are loaded with sweeteners and artificial flavors and colors. The second is that they're bottled in plastic, which can leach additional chemicals into the drink. Your body is 70-75% water, so hydrate it with water! And, skip the single-use bottled water. Again, it can be contaminated by the plastic bottle. Also, it's less regulated than tap water. Make an investment in a water filter and reusable stainless steel water bottles. They quickly pay for themselves.

10. Eat-in more often. When you eat at a restaurant or pick something up from a deli you have very little control over what you're getting. Save money and protect your health by making food at home. When you do go out, make healthier choices.

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Serenity Now: Make Your Own Face Masks, Foot Scrubs and More

2009-12-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

LukaIsntLuka
/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Like most moms, I love a good pampering session. I spend so much time caring for my family that the brief (and far too few) moments I take to indulge in my own well-being are relished mini-vacations. Previously, I'd pop over to Target and pick up products that had just the right scent. Or, sometimes my husband would buy me a gift certificate for a spa day. Now I know too much about the risks of chemicals in products - and, like many others, we simply don't have the cash for conscious coddling.

But, I'm not going to go without. Taking care of yourself is extremely important (despite what my Midwestern Lutheran upbringing taught me). You know how you're instructed to place the air mask on yourself before anyone else in the event of an airplane crash? That's because you're better equipped to care for others if you've taken care of you. Taking care of you should be a top priority (though, just like any other mom, I know how quickly it drops on the to-do list).

Right now, schedule yourself an at-home spa day. The holidays are a perfect time to do so because you may have some time off of work (or someone else who can watch the kids for a few hours does). And, the holidays are stressful, so you deserve a moment of release.

You don't need to break the bank. And, you don't need to expose yourself to questionable chemicals. Here are some DIY recipes to get your gorgeous self glowing again. (Hint, hint - some of these make great gifts, too!)

Refreshing Orange Scrub
(from Noreen Finneran's Incredible Edible Spa)

½ of an orange
4 T. Cornmeal

Squeeze orange juice and pulp into a bowl and add the cornmeal. Mix into a paste. Apply onto freshly washed face and body. Scrub gently for 2-3 minutes. Rinse, tone, moisturize.

Chocolate Facial Mask
(from Practically Green by Micaela Preston)

2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
2 T plain yogurt
1 T honey

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Apply to face and neck, avoiding eye area. Kick back, relax and enjoy the delicious aroma for about 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Lavender-Honey Milk Bath
(from the National Honey Board)

3 T. dried lavender flowers*
1-1/2 cups whole milk, cream or combination
1/3 cup honey

Process lavender flowers in a blender until they become a powder, turning off the blender and scraping down the sides as necessary. Whisk together lavender powder, milk and honey in a glass bowl, then pour into a jar. Before each use, shake the jar and pour half of the mixture into the bath. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Makes enough for 2 baths.

*Dried lavender flowers can be found in the spice section of gourmet and specialty stores.

Smoothing Skin Lotion
(from the National Honey Board)

1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix together honey, vegetable oil and lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

Avocado Foot Softener

2 T cornmeal
2 T mashed avocado or avocado oil
Mix ingredients in a small bowl until they form a paste. Apply to feet, working the gritty paste into calluses and rough spots, and up and around the toes. Rinse with warm water and dry feet thoroughly. For maximum softening, repeat once or twice a week.

Lemon Facial Toner

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
grated zest of one lemon
1 cup distilled water
2/3 cup witch hazel

Shake well before use. Apply with cotton balls until face is clean. Keeps one month.

Banana Hair Mask

1 banana
3 T mayonnaise
1 1/2 T olive oil
1-2 drops of essential oil (optional - if you'd like to cover up the banana smell)

Mash ingredients, or puree in a blender, until creamy. Apply to hair, cover head with a thin tightly woven towel. Let sit for 15-30 minutes - in the sun if possible. Rinse completely and shampoo as usual. Depending on how long your hair is, you will have 1-4 applications from this recipe. Store any remaining mixture in the refrigerator for another day.

Do you have any DIY recipes for personal care products? Share them with us in the comments!

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Super Ornamentals

2009-12-18T07:13:00.000-08:00

Growing Fresh Air with 8 Powerful Plants

by Janelle Sorensen

What do you do when you become allergic to the air? When your lungs begin to shut down because the air is too contaminated? Kamal Meattle suffered from this fate and guess what his solution was? Grow new air. Based on years of NASA studies, other scientific research, and 15 years of his own testing, Meattle discovered that three common houseplants, used strategically throughout a home, could vastly improve the indoor air quality.

Here's the breakdown:

Areca Palm is "The Living Room Plant" - This plant is a daytime oxygen factory and Meattle recommends having 4 shoulder height plants per person.

Mother-in-Law's Tongue is "The Bedroom Plant" - This plant is an evening oxygen factory and Meattle recommends having 6-8 waist-high plants per person.

Money Plant is "The Specialist Plant" - This plant is the filter that removes formaldehyde and other volatile organic chemicals from the air.

If maintained appropriately, Meattle claims you could live inside a bottle with a cap on top and these three plants would generate all the fresh air you need.

Not looking to live in a bottle? These plants will certainly still improve your indoor air quality (even if you don't have quite so many). And, if you're not satisfied with just three options, other new research has identified five "super ornamentals" that demonstrated high effectiveness of contaminant removal.

These include the purple waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternataa), English ivy (Hedera Helix), variegated wax plant (Hoya cornosa), Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus) and the Purple heart plant (Tradescantia pallida).

Of the 28 plants tested, these five were effective at reducing levels of a number of common household VOCs, including benzene, toluene, octane, alpha-pinene and TCE. The work, funded by the University of Georgia's Agricultural Experiment Stations, was published in the August 2009 issue of HortScience.

Ready to grow your own fresh air? NASA studies recommend that you use one good-sized houseplant in a 6 to 8-inch diameter container for every 100 square feet of your home. Though, additional research is being done to identify exactly how many of each type of species is necessary for remediation (as in Meattle's work). You should also be sure to keep the foliage clean and dust free (so the leaves can do their job). And, keep the top of soil clean and free of debris, as in some cases, that's where the bulk of the filtering is taking place.

The healthier your plants, the more vigorously they'll grow, and the better they'll clean the air for you.

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Cloudy With A Chance of Toxics

2009-12-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

Our guest blogger is Elizabeth Grossman, author of Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry and High Tech Trash: Digital Devices, Hidden Toxics, and Human Health, and other books. She writes about environmental and science issues for the Washington Post, Salon, Mother Jones, the Nation, Grist, and other publications from Portland, Oregon.

To melting ice caps, rising sea levels, acidifying oceans, and storm surges, add lung diseases and kidney stones to the expected effects of climate change. At a November 19th briefing in Washington, researchers from the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment, representatives of the American Medical Association and American Public Health Association detailed the likely negative health effects of global warming. These are conditions, reported Paul Epstein, Associate Director of the Harvard center, to which children, the elderly, and poor are especially vulnerable.

Rising temperatures, ozone and sulfur dioxide levels, along with particulate and other pollutants released by forest fires, will create conditions that are expected to increase rates of hospitalization for respiratory diseases, among them pneumonia, asthma, and chronic lung disease. Increased heat exposure, noted the researchers who've described these effects in a letter to President Obama, is also likely to increase the incidence of kidney stones.

These are just some of the adverse health impacts associated with climate change.

In addition to the effects noted at the November 19th briefing - and those prompted by impacts of drought and altered insect patterns - rising temperatures are already triggering environmental conditions that have less visible but potentially profound health implications.

For traveling with global air and ocean currents are a soup of environmentally persistent synthetic chemicals whose behavior and effects are being exacerbated by climate change. Scientists tracking these chemicals around the globe are discovering that the movement of these long-lasting substances - manufactured materials that have no natural origin - is being accelerated by effects of rising temperatures. Researchers are also finding that global warming is increasing human and wildlife communities' vulnerability to these chemicals' biological impacts.

One of the places this is happening most dramatically is in the Arctic. Thanks to patterns of atmospheric circulation, whatever is released into air and oceans in the Northern Hemisphere, eventually moves north. includes persistent pollutants

After drifting north over months, years - and even decades - these chemicals typically become lodged in ice, snow, and permafrost. But as temperatures rise, these contaminants are being released as glaciers, polar sea ice, and permafrost melt. At the same time, climate change is prompting earlier Arctic springs, longer summers, and increased precipitation. More rain and snow and greater and faster snowmelt are causing erosion along polar riverbanks, lakes, and coastlines. Consequently, soil-bound contaminants are being washed into nearby water along with whatever pollutants arrive with the precipitation itself.

Further south, extreme storms like Hurricane Katrina can similarly release contaminants previously held in place by soil and send them into adjacent air and water. Some of these chemicals will later move into the atmosphere and back down to Earth again with moisture. Raining toxics sounds a bit extreme, but that's what it amounts to.

What makes these chemicals' behavior of even greater concern is that they are finding their way into our food, our bodies, and the innermost workings of living cells.

This is happening because many of these persistent synthetic chemicals are fat-soluble. In the Arctic - and in more temperate latitudes - these chemicals are accumulating in fat cells and thus climbing the food web. Arctic animals, particularly top predators like polar bears, with their large fat stores have among the highest levels recorded of some of these mobile persistent pollutants.

Meanwhile, seasonal climate changes are adding to these animals' vulnerability. As altered temperature patterns change timing and location of food sources, some animals in polar regions north and south must migrate farther to find food. The lengthened hunting trips increase the animals' stress levels and their reliance on stored body fat. Because fat cells serve as a reservoir for many contaminants, when fat is broken for energy, the toxics are also released, exposing the animals from within. There is concern that such toxics release is happening in people as well - concern underscored by the fact that a number of these chemicals appear to disrupt hormone activity with results that include adverse impacts on metabolism, including fat production.

There is no quick fix for these problems but it is worth noting that our reliance on fossil fuels has helped make petrochemicals the foundation for the overwhelming majority of our synthetic materials - manufactured substances that go into everything from computers to cosmetics. And petrochemicals have particularly problematic environmental and health impacts. To begin stem this tide, as we begin to shift away from fossil fuels and create new materials - alternatives to those with adverse environmental and health impacts - among the questions we must ask to help ensure new materials' safety must be: how a substance behaves biologically - its impact on living cells - and how it behaves physically, including its possible contribution to the impacts of climate change.

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Baby Food: Homemade or from a Jar?

2009-12-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

A Commonsense Approach to Cancer Prevention?

2009-12-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

by Christopher Gavigan

Like the out of control cell growth at the root of the disease, cancer itself has become rampant in our population. And, while new treatments are curtailing mortality rates (which are still at an abominable 1,500+ people daily), an increasing number of people are still being diagnosed. Without knowing statistics, most of us can tell how invasive it's become. Almost everyone's lives have been touched by cancer these days - compared to a generation ago when it was still a relatively new disease.

In a December 6th New York Times op-ed, Nicholas Kristof cites Dr. Philip Landrigan, the chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Mount Sinai , saying "that the risk that a 50-year-old white woman will develop breast cancer has soared to 12 percent today, from 1 percent in 1975. (Some of that is probably a result of better detection.) Younger people also seem to be developing breast cancer: This year a 10-year-old in California, Hannah, is fighting breast cancer and recording her struggle on a blog...Childhood leukemia is increasing by 1 percent per year." And, that's only one tiny snapshot of how cancer is impacting the population.

In 2009, the National Institutes of Health estimated the 2008 overall annual costs of cancer were $228.1 billion. That includes health care costs, as well as loss of productivity due to illness or death. Many billions more are spent every year on research to find new treatments and cures for cancer. It's one of the most common diseases and one of the most costly. Why, then, is there so little focus on prevention?

Typically, when cancer prevention is discussed, it involves lifestyle factors such as quitting smoking or using sunscreen. Over time, the discussion has even merged with the world of nutrition with new research being done regarding cancer-preventing diets, finding foods and herbs and the like that appear to have protective qualities.

But, we're still missing a major piece of the equation. Conspicuously absent from the conversation are avoidable environmental and chemical risks. What good is it to eat well and exercise in an attempt to stay healthy, if all of your best efforts are counterbalanced by subtle, on-going exposure to carcinogens in everyday products? This is the not-so-new frontier of prevention through carcinogen reduction (Dr. Samuel Epstein, international leading authority on the causes and prevention of cancer, has been preaching this commonsense approach for over two decades).

What can you do?

Purge plastics. Kristof's op-ed, titled "Cancer From the Kitchen," outlines how to reduce exposure to carcinogens in from plastics used for storing and serving food. The doctors he asked said "avoid microwaving food in plastic or putting plastics in the dishwasher, because heat may cause chemicals to leach out. And the symposium handed out a reminder card listing 'safer plastics' as those marked (usually at the bottom of a container) 1, 2, 4 or 5. It suggests that the 'plastics to avoid' are those numbered 3, 6 and 7 (unless they are also marked 'BPA-free')."

Eat healthy. Opt for more organic, whole foods. Ease up on animal fats. And, start reading labels. You are what you eat!

Manage pests safely. Instead of using toxic pesticides, prevent pests by keeping a clean home. Prevent weeds by using mulch and maintaining a healthy lawn. If you do have a problem, opt for non-toxic methods before reaching for chemicals.

Detoxify your beauty routine. Personal care products contain a laundry list of suspect chemicals. Reduce how much you use and to use Skin Deep to find the safest products. You can also print the Healthy Child Pocket Guide to help you on the go.

Clean without toxic chemicals. Use gentle castile soap and water - these have been shown to keep surfaces as free of bacteria as antibacterial soaps do. In fact, antibacterial soaps and disposable wipes have not proven any more effective than regular soap in preventing infections among average consumers, but raise significant concerns about developing resistant bacteria. Opt for simple kitchen ingredients for basic cleaning, like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda - or use natural, non-toxic cleaners instead.

Resources and more daily tools and information:

Healthy Eating for the Holidays: Better for You, Better for the Planet

2009-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

by Janelle Sorensen

Liz West / CC BY 2.0

Depending on whom you ask, the typical holiday dinner has roughly 4,000 calories (twice as many as an average adult needs for an entire day). Holiday meals are the pillar of the season during which most people put on about 5 to 7 pounds. It's sheer gluttony. It's not good for your health and it's not good for the planet. I love holiday food just as much as the next person (maybe even more - I'll openly admit, I have almost no will power when it comes to good food). But, I really want to be smarter - for my kids, the planet, and me. Here are the tips and tools I'm going to try this year. Join me in making this holiday season healthier for everyone!

Tips

Shop smart. If you're in charge of getting the groceries, the biggest favor you can do for yourself is to shop during off hours. Avoid the chaos of holiday grocery shopping, so you can focus on finding the healthiest foods (and not simply tossing things in your cart so you can make a fast escape). Find the greatest deals and discounts on natural and organic foods before you head out, so you can have the healthiest foods for less. Try to keep your purchases from the perimeter of the store - where all the fresh, whole foods are. Whole foods are healthier (since they haven't been processed and don't have unpronounceable chemical additives) and they are also better for the Earth since they don't have so much packaging.

Go local. Look for local, seasonal foods. One of the best gifts you can give to your community and the planet is to support your local food system. Take an Eat Local Challenge and use Local Harvest and the Eat Well Guide to find your local options (you can even map out a trip and find local foods along the way if you're traveling).

Pile on the produce. Whether you're cooking or eating, make mealtime heavy on plant-based foods. And, instead of drenching veggies in buttery gravies and saturating fruits with sugary glazes, try something simpler and healthier. For example, toss veggies in olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast them and enjoy - it's super easy and super tasty. Raising animals for meat is incredibly water and energy intensive, so the less you eat, the smaller your impact on the planet. Also, meats can have a variety of contaminants or additives (like nitrites) that pose health risks. When you do buy meat, make safer, healthier meat choices.

Spoil your dinner. You likely won't really spoil your dinner, but have some healthy snacks before mealtime and make sure your kids do too. You'll be less apt to pile your plate sky high if you're not feeling ravenous. And, your kids will probably be distracted by all the commotion, so you want to make sure they're fueled up for the fun.

Watch out for brightly colored foods and candy! Holiday treats like candy canes and candied fruits can be hard to resist. But many sweet treats have artificial colors, flavors and preservatives that have questionable safety records. Use the Brain Food Selector to find out which foods have risky dyes. Learn more about food additives at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Additional Tools

Eat Healthy - Bookmark this site because it's your one-stop shop for finding ways to make every bite fast, frugal, fun and eco-friendly. Eat Healthy has easy recipes; tips for eating right on a budget; information about how to reduce your exposure to chemicals in food, cookware, and containers; and much more.

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anna Getty - Anna's essential eco-holiday guide has mouth-watering recipes, super fun eco-crafts for the whole family, and tons of great tips for creating stylish holiday traditions without making a deep impact on the planet.

Wishing peace, joy, and good health to all this holiday season!

Related Topic:

Warm Up with Healthy Feel-Good Foods

2009-12-08T04:27:00.000-08:00

Our guest blogger is Tara DelloIacono Thies, RD, LUNA Nutrition Strategist at Clif Bar & Company.

Micah Sittig / CC BY-SA 2.0

The first of the rains were coming down this morning. I couldn't have asked for a cozier moment than when my three year old son crawled in to my bed, snuggled close, and said "cover" me. We were both enjoying the coziness that comes with the first signs of fall and winter. We continued our cozy morning with a hearty breakfast of oatmeal loaded with all kinds of goodies: raisins, almonds, honey, and a dollop of cream. This is the kind of food that warms the heart and the mind from the inside out. While my son is enjoying the flavor, I relish in knowing he is getting a nutritious start this cool fall day.

Ready or not hear comes winter. This is a good time to think about nutritious snacks that can warm you up from head to toe and keep you hydrated. It may come as a surprise that I should mention hydration during the winter, but believe it or not keeping ourselves and our kids hydrated during the winter months can be even more challenging than when the sun is beating down at high temperatures. One reason is because when it isn't hot we tend to lose that thirst sensation. Ice cold water and sun tea just don't sound as tantalizing as they did when sitting on the beach. Secondly, if we are participating in any cold weather sports we are losing water as we warm the air we breathe.

In the winter, for meal time, I am a big fan of soups, stews, and casseroles. There is an abundance of root vegetables this time of year that can accompany noodles, rice, and rolls to balance out a meal. I make it a habit to always have chicken or veggie broth on hand for a quick meal. Throw in some potatoes, carrots, shrimp, onions, and kale along with some seasoning and you have a hearty meal loaded with nutrients.

Snacking, however, is my order of business in this post and snacking on soups may sound appealing to some; but I am imagining your child on the way to flag foot ball practice with a bowl of soup sloshing around in his lap in the back seat of the car...not ideal.

Let's face it, our tastes change when winter hits, and that goes for our kids too. The foods we crave may be a little hearty but they can still be good for us. I cannot resist a good eggnog latte. In fact, I anxiously anticipate their release around Thanksgiving. Hot chocolate and eggnog can be great snacks and good for us when made with low fat milk. Eggnog can be "cut" with fat free milk to balance out the heaviness. These drinks can be put into a thermos and brought along on a family hike or cross-country ski adventure.

Naturally you will want something to accompany your beverages. Try some of these out during your fall, family fun:

Pumpkin muffins: take advantage of this seasonal favorite packed with beta carotene and dress up a muffin with some cinnamon.
Popcorn mix: toss together popped popcorn, cranberries, raisins, and nuts
All-natural graham crackers: always a great medium for almond butter, peanut butter, or try pumpkin butter and cream cheese.
Organic apples: tis' the season for apple picking . Step up these sliced morsels with peanut butter or caramel and marshmallow cream for a special treat.
Organic crispy kale: lay kale on baking sheets, spray with olive oil, add a little salt or other seasonings, and bake at 350 degrees until crispy. Then load it up in to-go bags for easy carrying.
Organic roasted pumpkin seeds: let you kids help you dig the seeds out , rinse them ,and place them on baking sheets to toast until crispy and lightly brown.

How to Choose a Water Filter

2009-12-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Healthy Child Healthy World

Richard Smith
/ CC BY 2.0

Even though the US has some of the cleanest drinking water in the world, depending on where you live, there may be contaminants of concern you'd like to filter out. After you test your water, if you find that the levels of contaminants are high, you may want to invest in a water filter. Remember, though, that in order for the filter to be effective you'll have to change filters and maintain the system, otherwise it can actually result in higher levels of contamination.

Types of Water Filters
The simplest, and often least expensive, water purifiers are those that use a carbon-activated filter. These include pitchers with built-in filters as well as those that attach directly to faucets or to plumbing below the sink. Those using granulated charcoal may be slightly less effective than solid block charcoal filters. Carbon filters will generally remove chlorine, coarse sediment, lead and some organic chemicals. The simplest types won't filter out pathogens, some pesticides and some heavy metals, but those with a combination of filters are more likely to.

The most comprehensive, and most expensive, water purifiers are reverse-osmosis systems. These purifiers push water up against a membrane. The water that does not make it through contains the contaminants and is diverted as waste water. While reverse-osmosis systems remove a wide-range of contaminants, including all heavy metals, many pesticides and asbestos, they do not remove trihalomethanes (THMs), radon and VOCs, or pesticides such as lindane and atrazine unless they also have carbon filters attached. They also waste a lot of water - a few gallons for each gallon purified is flushed away as waste water.

Distillers, contrary to popular belief, do not remove all substances from water. Distillers do remove heavy metals, asbestos, nitrates, bacteria, viruses and cysts, but do not eliminate most pesticides, VOCs, chlorine and trihalomethanes (THMs), a group of chemicals which form when chlorine reacts with organic chemicals left in the water by soil and decaying vegetation. THMs may cause miscarriages. In addition, distillation softens water, removing calcium and magnesium, which are beneficial to human health. Softened water is more likely to leach chemicals from storage containers.

Water purifiers that are labeled with "absolute one micron" will filter out cysts that have escaped disinfection by water companies. A word of caution: "Nominal one micron" will not remove pathogens!

The National Sanitation Foundation, a nonprofit organization, certifies water filters by the type of contaminants eliminated. NSF Standard 42 is used on filters that remove contaminants that reduce aesthetic quality (taste, smell, color), such as aluminum, chlorine, iron and sediment. NSF Standard 53 is the most comprehensive, used for filters that remove most pesticides, VOCs, cysts, fluoride, most heavy metals and THMs. NSF has a database of filters certified by them.

Consumer Reports has found that most under sink models are not necessarily any better than counter top units. The magazine regularly publishes ratings of water purifiers. Regardless of the type of filter you choose, remember to change the filters as often as the manufacturer suggests. Not only will clogged filters be inefficient, but they also may harbor bacteria.

Related Topic:

Video: Faucets and Drinking Water