What You Should Know About Hand Sanitizers and Your Health

by Janelle Sorensen

Michela Mongardi / CC BY 2.0

Are you carrying around hand sanitizer yet? During cold and flu season, especially during these days of pandemic flu, it's a smart, preventive tool to protect your health. But, what exactly is it? Are there any risks you should be aware of? Are some options safer than others? Read on to find out.

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers
Most hand sanitizers are made from 60-90% ethyl alcohol (to be effective, the alcohol content must be over 60%.) Ethyl alcohol is an anti-microbial that's been recommended as a hand sanitizer for over 100 years and it's preferable to other alcohols because it doesn't dry out skin as badly.

Should you worry about applying alcohol to your skin? When used as directed, the alcohol in hand sanitizers poses no risk. What's absorbed into the blood is comparable to a tiny sip of wine and you don't have to worry about residue on your skin because it evaporates within seconds of drying. However, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can pose a serious poisoning issue to children under 6 if they ingest it. To be safe, hand sanitizers should be stored out of children's reach and used only with supervision.

In addition to alcohol, hand sanitizers can include:

• Glycerin - speeds repair of the skin's protective barrier
• Isopropyl Myristate - facilitates absorption
• Dimethicone - reduces sanitizer's greasy feeling
• Aloe vera gel - soothes skin
• Propylene glycol - antifungal
• Tocopheryl Acetate - acts as an antioxidant and moisturizer
• Triethanolamine - helps maintain pH of the product
• Carbomers - thickeners
• Aminomethyl Propanol - adjusts acidity
• Fragrances - make it smell nice. (But, fragrance mixtures are considered proprietary and manufacturers are not required to disclose what's in them. Approximately 1/3 of the 3,000 most common fragrances are allergens, asthmagens or respiratory irritants. Fragrances are also often where hormone disrupting phthalates hide.)

Alcohol is a serious microbial that wipes out germs and doesn't give them an opportunity to build up a resistance, but read your labels to find out if there are any extra ingredients you don't approve of. Here are some options to check out:

• Surya Brasil's Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
• All Terrain Hand Sanz
• Burt's Bees Aloe Vero & Witch Hazel Hand Sanitizer (bonus points for using alcohol made from corn and while they do use fragrance, they never use phthalates)
• EO Hand Sanitizing Spray (bonus points for using non-GMO, corn-based alcohol)
• JAO Hand Refresher
• Method Hand Sanitizer (bonus points for corn-based alcohol, points docked for fragrance and dyes)

Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizers:
Some alcohol-free hand sanitizers rely instead on the antibacterial properties of chemicals like Triclosan and Benzalknonium Chloride. Ironically, both of these chemicals have promoted the growth of antibacterial-resistant strains of bacteria. In addition, they are both rated as a high hazard in the Cosmetics Safety Database. Instead, look into some of these options that rely on all natural ingredients with antimicrobial properties.

• CleanWell
• Grandma Minnie's Kid Gloves Hand Sanitizer
• Clean George (has ECOCERT*, Certified Organic, FSC* Certified ingredients)

Make Your Own?
The question with making your own is if you feel confident it's going to be effective. It's the case with some natural brands, too - there haven't been conclusive studies demonstrating their efficacy as hand sanitizers. But, even the claims that alcohol-based products kill up to 99.9% of germs is also a bit flawed (the tests were done on inanimate objects and not actual hands). Do your research, assess your needs, and make an informed choice.

If you decide to make your own, consider this recipe from Melissa Breyer of Care2.com:

"Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, a New Jersey pediatrician who dispenses natural health advice on his blog, recommends his tried-and-true recipe for homemade hand sanitizer called thieves oil. His formula calls for cinnamon bark, lemon oil and eucalyptus. As legend has it, a group of 15th century European perfumers-turned-grave-robbers were able to defend themselves against the demons of bubonic plague (and other assorted bacterial maladies one might encounter while removing jewelery from corpses) by dousing themselves in a blend of essential oils, hence the name "thieves oil."

Now there are any number of stories circulating about this legend, and just as many recipes, many of them with a vinegar base. But going on Dr. Rosen's fail-safe recipe and the proven efficacy of cinnamon oil, I like the formula which includes equal amounts of cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus, clove, and rosemary therapeutic grade essential oils. Mix them with jojoba or olive oil as a carrier, and use on hands as a sanitizer. (Note: pure essential oils can be very potent; it's important to test some on a small patch of skin to check for any adverse reactions.)"

How to Use Hand Sanitizers Effectively
Just with any soap or cleanser, it only does the job if you do it right.

How much should you use? Vigorously rub all sides of your hands with enough product to get them wet, and rub them together until they are dry. According to the C.D.C. guidelines for alcohol-based hand sanitizers, to be most effective, a dime-size dollop of alcohol gel should be rubbed into the hands for 30 seconds. For other hand sanitizers, you may need to contact the manufacturer to find out how to properly use the product.

Keep in mind that washing your hands is the best bet. Hand sanitizers don't cut through dirt and grime well, so soiled hands should be washed first if the sanitizer is to be effective. And, if you have access to wash your hands, you don't really need a hand sanitizer (except in isolated situations). If you're on the go and you know you won't be near a sink (especially with young kids whose hands are bound to get dirty) - you may want to bring wipes and a hand sanitizer. Then you can wipe the dirt and grime off before applying the sanitizer.

Additional Resources:

• GoodGuide's top rated hand sanitizers
• EWG's Cosmetics Safety Database
• Alternatives to Antibacterials and Disinfectants

Chemicals in Everyday Products Turning Boys into Girls?

by Christopher Gavigan

Neil Mallett
/ CC BY-SA 2.0

A new report from the Danish Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), highlights the critical risks facing toddlers from gender bending chemicals in everyday products. Chemicals like phthalates (found in PVC and fragrances), parabens (found in lotions and sunscreens), and pesticides are increasingly being linked to hormone disruption - and two year olds have more in their blood than any previous generations.

What does it mean?

• Today's boys have less sperm. Sperm counts are falling so fast that young men are about half as fertile as their fathers (and have about one-third the amount of sperm per milliliter as a hamster if you care to compare.)


• More boys are playing like girls. The DEFRA report highlights research from Rotterdam's Erasmus University that found that boys whose mothers were exposed to certain hormone disruptors were more likely to dress up in girl's clothes and play with dolls and tea sets.


• Fewer boys are being born. According to coverage of the report in the Telegraph, "A Canadian Indian community living on ancestral lands at the eastern tip of Lake Huron, hemmed in by one of the biggest agglomerations of chemical factories on earth, gives birth to twice as many girls as boys. It's the same around Seveso in Italy, contaminated with dioxins from a notorious accident in the 1970s, and among Russian pesticide workers. And there's more evidence from places as far apart as Israel and Taiwan, Brazil and the Arctic."


• Boys' unmentionables are getting smaller. Scientists at the University of Rochester in New York discovered that boys born to women exposed to phthalates had smaller penises and other feminization of the genitals.

Many of the chemicals being criticized have received their fair share of criticism in the past. What's new about this report is the emphasis on "chemical cocktails" - or the fact that these chemicals mixed together are far worse than they are alone. And, this is how we are exposed to them - in mixtures from our everyday environments - not isolated like they are often tested in the laboratory. Beyond the machismo these occurrences may invoke in many a male, the overwhelming concern is the threat to reproduction.

What can you do?

Reduce your exposure to hormone disruptors like pesticides, plasticizers, and chemically-laden personal care products.

• Eat organic food, whenever possible. Some of the offending chemicals mentioned in this report are stored in fat. So if you eat meat, choose low-fat cuts and remove excess fat. Also, choose low-fat dairy products.


• Avoid using plastic containers, especially for food and beverages. Use glass or stainless steel instead.


• Find safer personal care products. Cut back on how many and how much you use. And, maybe even try making your own (simple olive oil makes a wonderful skin moisturizer).


• Avoid using pesticides. Don't give pests food or shelter. Clean up spills immediately, fix leaks, repair cracks, and mend torn screens. Yank weeds or pour boiling water on them instead of resorting to herbicides.


• Find safer toys, teethers and clothes for your family. Help friends out, too by sharing some handy pocket shopping guides.

12 Ways to Keep Your Toy Box Safe and Eco-friendly

by Janelle Sorensen

Toy recalls from reputable brands make headlines almost every day. And, even though recalls are difficult to keep up with, they still only address a limited amount of risks. In fact, there are a wide variety of synthetic chemicals or heavy metals that could be used in your child’s toys - many of which we have limited understanding of potential health and developmental impacts. And, what about the bigger environmental picture of the pollution created when making or disposing of toys? When did playtime become so complicated?

garryknight /
CC BY-SA 2.0

Here are 12 ways you can reclaim the fun and reduce the worries when it comes to playtime. Make your toy box healthier for your child and the planet.

1. Go au natural. Look for toys made of natural materials like solid woods (with no finish or a non-toxic finish) and organic textiles (cotton, wool, felt, etc).
2. Simplify. Buying fewer toys is much better for the planet (and your pocketbook!
3. Re-purpose. Can something you already have be used as a toy? An empty box or set of stainless steel bowls can provide hours of happy play.
4. Look for items that will last. High quality toys may cost a bit more, but they will last much longer and can be handed down to younger children. Likewise, you’re more apt to get money back out of them if you decide to sell.
5. Read labels. What’s this toy made of? Where does it come from? Get to know a toy before you buy it.
6. Look for local. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by buying local. If you’re looking at global supplies, opt for European, Canadian or Japanese imports as other countries may have lax toy regulations.
7. Opt for open-ended toys. Look for items that encourage creativity and are capable of being used for many different types of play. Wooden blocks, colorful scarves, smooth stones, and even cardboard boxes can be the foundation for innumerable creative adventures.
8. Avoid cheap jewelry and kids’ cosmetics. Both of these types of dress-up products are high-risk. Cheap jewelry often has high lead levels and kids’ cosmetics can have any number of questionable chemicals.
9. Purge plastics. Okay, this is near impossible these days, but make your best effort. If you do buy plastic, look for safer plastics like those labeled #1, 2, 4, or 5 in the chasing arrows symbol usually found on the bottom of the product. Not labeled? Call the manufacturer.
10. Text for Healthy Toys. HealthyToys.org is a database to help you find safer toys. You can even access it from your mobile phone. Just text key words and you’ll receive information immediately regarding any testing that’s been done.
11. Print a pocket guide. Download the Healthy Toys Pocket Shopping Guide (PDF file) so you always have tips and safer toy recommendations on hand.
12. Sign-up for recall alerts. The Consumer Product Safety Commission posts recalls online, as does the website recalls.gov. If a toy you own is recalled, take it away immediately and follow the company’s instructions on how to get a safe replacement.

Bonus tip: Have fun! Play time isn’t about what you have, it’s about what you do. Get down and dirty with your kids. Laugh and simply enjoy spending time together.

Related Topics:

• Beware Toxic Toys
• VIDEO: Child-Safe Toys
• 10 Affordable Ways to Make Your House – And the World – Safer and Healthier

Does Your Child's,Halloween Face Paint Contain Lead and Heavy Metals?

Healthy Child Healthy World

sara.atkins/
CC BY 2.0

According to recent product tests, many children's face paints contain lead, which can impact brain development at extremely low doses, as well as nickel, cobalt and chromium, which can cause rashes and lifelong skin sensitization. Because these substances are not listed on product labels, parents shopping for Halloween make-up have no way of knowing which products are safe. While this is particularly concerning for parents at this time of year, the lack of cosmetic safety standards is a problem that extends to all cosmetics sold in the United States.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of nonprofit health and environmental groups, sent 10 children's face paints to an independent lab to test for heavy metals, and also reviewed ingredient labels of Halloween products sold at a seasonal holiday store. The findings include:

• Ten out of 10 children's face paints contained lead at levels ranging from .05 to .65 parts per million (ppm)


• Six out of 10 children's face paints contained the potent skin allergens chromium, nickel and/or cobalt at levels ranging from 1.6 to 120 ppm - far exceeding safety recommendations of industry studies of 1 ppm


• Snazaroo Face Paint, labeled as "non-toxic" and "hypoallergenic," contained some of the highest levels of lead, nickel and cobalt found in the study

sara.atkins/
CC BY 2.0

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control specifically recommends that parents avoid using cosmetics on their children that could be contaminated with lead. "Lead is dangerous to the developing brains of children at any level. It is now widely accepted in the scientific community that there is no threshold level below which lead is safe," said Dr. Phil Landrigan, Director, Children's Environmental Health Center Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Nickel, cobalt and chromium are top allergens in children, and early-life exposures increase the chance that kids will become sensitized and develop contact dermatitis. None of the four heavy metals found in the face paints were listed on product labels because contaminants are exempt from labeling laws.

sara.atkins/
CC BY 2.0

The report also found several other hazardous ingredients in Halloween hair-color sprays and make-up products, including butane (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic), thiram (possible carcinogen), alumina (toxic to the brain), propylene glycol (possible carcinogen) and the dyes pigment green 7 and pigment blue 15, which are not approved by FDA for use in cosmetics.

"Parents should not have to worry that face paint contains lead and other hazardous substances. Companies are not making the safest products possible for children, even though children are particularly vulnerable to toxic exposures," said Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics from the Breast Cancer Fund.

"It is clear the system is broken - we need to update the laws so that companies are required to remove lead and all other harmful substances from body-care products, and make the safest products possible." In the meantime, here are some tips for a safer Halloween:

Choose costumes without face paint or masks (which can also have toxicity problems, as well as safety concerns due to interference with vision and breathing), or make your own face paint from natural products and ingredients.

sara.atkins/
CC BY 2.0

Founding members of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics include Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, Breast Cancer Fund, Clean Water Fund, Commonweal, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, National Black Environmental Justice Network, National Environmental Trust and Women's Voices for the Earth.

Take Action!
Support safety: Sign the Petition for Safe Cosmetics, which calls for the removal of toxic chemicals in all cosmetics and personal care products - from face paint to baby shampoo, and body lotion to deodorant.

Additional resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Lead Prevention Tips
• FDA: Hypoallergenic Products

Green Halloween: Costumes, Treats and More

by Janelle Sorensen

Healthy Child Healthy World

Halloween is creeping up fast, but if your kids are like mine (they can't decide on a costume), then you still have time to pick an earth-friendly option. And, if you are like me (procrastinate until the last minute), then you still have time to buy healthy treats. Here's a quick rundown of some of the great green ideas that have been shared with me over the past few weeks:

• TREATS: The Tranquil Parent has some tasty ideas for healthier treats in addition to our own blog on Thinking Outside the Candy Box and Sustainablog highlights a really great reusable Halloween bag to carry your haul in.


• CRAFTS AND DÉCOR: The Tree Hugging Family has been posting awesome green Halloween ideas all month like non-toxic face paints and recycled Halloween crafts. Find wonderfully wicked green décor over at Green Living.


• COSTUMES: The Green Baby Guide has some interesting ideas for DIY costumes and even though TeensyGreen doesn't celebrate Halloween, she still shares some great ideas and resources for doing it green including the Inhabitots Green Halloween Contest. Amy from Craft Magazine sent me cute costume ideas (Bee, Monkey, Lego, Sushi, Pirate) that can be made from materials you probably have lying around your house (or you can easily pick up from a thrift store).

For a ton of other great ideas visit Green Halloween or the Retro Housewife.

Happy Haunting!

Getting Your Child's School or Day Care Center to Clean Green

by Janelle Sorensen

Photo: Healthy Child Healthy World

You've made the switch to safer cleaners at home, but what about when your child is off at daycare or school? The chemicals in institutional cleaning products can cause a wide range of major health problems for children, including respiratory irritation and increased risk of cancer.

Luckily, safer cleaning products are now widely available and cost effective. As a result, child care centers and schools across the country are switching to green cleaners to improve health, increase staff performance, lessen adverse environmental impacts, reduce potential liabilities, and save money. (Yes, switching to green cleaning does have all of these benefits - talk about win, win, win.)

How do you get your childcare provider or school to make the switch?

1. Get informed. Use the resources listed below to get up to speed on the benefits of going green and the tools available to help schools and child care centers make the switch. It's much easier for them to address the "problem" if you have solutions in hand.


2. Inform others. Once you understand the problem and solution, talk to other parents, teachers, the school nurse, anyone who'll lend you a sympathetic ear. You want to have an influential group of people to help support your effort as you move forward.


3. Talk to someone with the authority to do something. That may be your school's superintendent, a school board member or the manager of your child care center, or they may direct you straight to whomever is in charge of maintaining the facility.


4. Approach every person you talk to as an ally, not an enemy. Remember the fundamentals of How to Win Friends and Influence People - like not criticizing people, showing appreciation for their work, smiling. Trust me, you will get much farther much faster if you employ kindness, gratitude, and diplomacy. You want to be seen as an invaluable asset, not as an incessant nag.


5. Give people the benefit of the doubt that they are doing their job to the best of their ability. School and child care professionals are typically overworked, underpaid, with a lot to do and inadequate funding to get it done. Make yourself available. Keep asking "what can I do to help?"

Here are some resources to get you started:

Creating Healthy Environments for Children: Easy Steps for Homes, Child Care Centers and Schools
Cleaning For Healthy Schools Toolkit
Healthy Schools Network Guide to Green Cleaning
Healthy Schools Campaign Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools
Green Clean Schools Free Webinar Series
ChildSafe Cleaning Products

Cold and Flu Season Survival Guide: 10 Easy Steps

by Janelle Sorensen

'Tis the season of sniffles, sneezes, fevers, and flu. And, this year brings an epidemic that has every parent on high alert. At my house, we're in the midst of virus cycle number one and I just pulled out the vaporizer for the first time of the season. As my daughter and I waited for the little engine to warm up after months of sitting idly in the basement, we spoke glumly about how much we despise the string of illness and misery fall and winter inevitably brings. This winter we are fighting back, and you can too. Keep your family in tip-top shape by following these easy tips.

1. Get plenty of Zzzzz
Studies show that sleep deprivation can make you more susceptible to illness by reducing the number of cells in your body dedicated to fighting things like microbes. The average adult needs about 6-8 hours of sleep. A newborn may need up to 18 hours a day, toddlers require 12 to 13 hours, and preschoolers need about 10 hours. If your child doesn't nap, try putting him or her to bed earlier.

2. Bust a family move
Exercising increases your sickness-fighting cells. Get the whole family in the habit of exercising together to improve your health and to enjoy some quality time together. Try walking, hiking, biking, yoga, or just crank up some fun music and have a dance-off.

3. Engage in germ warfare

Pete Markham /
CC BY-SA 2.0

• Make sure everyone washes their hands often with soap. Ditch the antibacterials because research shows plain soap is just as effective. Sing the ABC's while vigorously lathering palms, between fingers, around nail beds, and the backs of hands. Pay particular attention to hand hygiene before and after each meal, after playing outside, using the bathroom, handling pets, blowing noses, and after being anywhere in public.


• When you're out and about, carry non-toxic wipes or hand sanitizer with you for quick cleanups. Check out CleanWell's plant-based, biodegradable products, All Terrain Hand Sanz Fragrance Free Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer, or EO Hand Sanitizer.


• If someone in the family gets sick, keep his toothbrush separate from everyone else's. Give it a good soak in boiling water or run it through the dishwasher after the illness isn't contagious anymore to get rid of any lingering germs or viruses.


• Wash your hand towels in hot water every three or four days during cold and flu season.


• Sneeze and cough into your arm or a tissue. Coughing into your hands puts the germs right where you can spread them to any object (or person) you touch.

4. Drink up
You have probably heard how important it is to drink plenty of fluids when you are ill, but it's just as important for preventing illness. Adequate hydration keeps the tissues of the respiratory system moist, which prevents microbes from settling in. Hydration also helps the immune system work properly. Opt for fresh, filtered water.

5. Air out
Open a window or two in your home just a crack for a few minutes each day. You'll let out indoor air pollutants that may be stressing your immune systems as well as chase away germs.

6. Keep it cool
An overheated home promotes dry air, the perfect environment for viruses to thrive. And when your mucous membranes (i.e., nose, mouth, and tonsils) dry out, they can't trap those germs very well. Lowering the heat in your house 5 degrees and using a room humidifier helps maintain a healthier level of humidity in the winter. Buy a hygrometer to measure humidity and keep your home at around 50 percent.

7. Relax
Declare a family time out each day. During these few minutes have everyone close their eyes, breathe deep, and think happy. Meditation reduces stress. Reduced stress means less susceptibility to illness.

8. Pump up with produce
Carrots, kiwis, raisins, green beans, oranges, strawberries: they all contain such immunity-boosting phytonutrients as vitamin C and carotenoids. Cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, are good sources of betacarotene and help protect against free-radical damage. They also contain vitamin C and calcium. Try to get your child to eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day. Eat at least half of them raw and when you do cook them, be careful not to overcook. Overcooking destroys the immune enhancing properties. Learn more about feeding your immune system.

9. Go easy on the sweets
Sugar makes the body acidic, just the way pathogens like it (they thrive on sugar). So especially during cold and flu season, reduce sugar intake (that includes corn syrup and HFCS, as well).

10. Take a supplement
According to Dr. Alan Greene, "most kids today do NOT get the micronutrients they need from what they eat. Not by a long shot. By some estimates, only 2% of kids regularly eat the recommended number of servings of different food groups. A daily multivitamin/mineral is more than just a safety net for occasional nutritional shortages, it is an important tool to support healthy growth and a healthy life for your child." Talk to your physician about your child's specific nutritional needs and check out Dr. Greene's Nutritional Supplements.

Related Topics:

• Healthier Hygiene
• Antibacterial Cleaners

"Eat Healthy" Helps Parents Make Every Bite Fast, Frugal, Fun and Eco-Friendly

by Christopher Gavigan

Amazingly, my toddler, Luke, eats EVERYTHING you put in front of him (except avocados, sadly). I don't know how we lucked out with such an open-minded, open-mouthed child, but I have great empathy for the parents of finicky eaters. As if simply finding something healthy that children will eat wasn't hard enough, today we also have to worry about allergies, food recalls, chemical contaminants, packaging, and more. How did the simple act of eating become so difficult?



A lot of parents have told us they're concerned about these issues and want their family to eat healthier, but have a limited budget. And like all parents, they just don't have the time to seek out high quality information or research how to make better choices. With all this in mind, Healthy Child Healthy World started Eat Healthy, our new program that makes food fast, frugal, fun and eco-friendly! Need a recipe for a kid-friendly salad or want to make your own baby food? Looking for quick tips on safer, healthier foods for children? Concerned about chemicals in cans and plastic containers? Look to Eat Healthy for simple solutions to address our complex world of food.

With tips and ideas from experts like Myra Goodman, cookbook author and co-founder of Earthbound Farm (the world's largest grower of organic produce), and Raising Baby Green author Dr. Alan Greene, and recipes from celebrity moms such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Meryl Streep and the "Renegade Lunch Lady" chef Ann Cooper, Eat Healthy is a comprehensive, easy-to-read online recipe and healthy food guide. It's filled with easy, delicious (yet kid-friendly) recipes; essential reading and advice about today's most worrisome food issues; food and nutrition videos; and even downloadable pocket shopping guides like Healthy School Lunch and Healthy Formula & Food, so you can always keep the wisdom of Eat Healthy with you.

Other Eat Healthy resources include:

• Tips to take to the grocery store, including the most and least pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables and the best healthy, kid-approved snacks



• Eight simple steps for making healthier, greener food choices for your family's diet



• Quick and easy recipes for eating right on a budget



• A checklist of fish that is safe for children, teens and women of child-bearing age



• How to limit your child's intake of food additives

Eat Healthy is also an interactive space for parents and caregivers to share their recipes and tips, too. Your child's favorite snack could be the answer for another mom in search of fun, healthy mealtime ideas. Your low-cost, eco-friendly storage idea may be just the solution for the dad who just purged all his plastics.

Visit Eat Healthy today to explore the resources and recipes. And, get involved by attending one of the many exciting Eat Healthy events we're hosting. We've lined up some of your favorite experts on children's health and put together fantastic giveaways loaded with goodies from our trusted, non-toxic product partners. So mark your calendars today for these not-to-be missed events!

Join a Live "Eat Healthy" Web Chat on theMotherhood.
We'll have live text chats on theMotherhood:

• September 28th, 1:00 pm EST: "Raising Baby Green" with Dr. Alan Greene on children's nutrition


• October 7th, 1:00 pm EST: "Cooking Organic" with Myra Goodman, cookbook author and co-founder of Earthbound Farm, the world's largest grower of organic produce

Twitter the Night Away with Healthy Child.
Join our "Eat Healthy" Twitter Party, October 15th at 9 pm EST. Hosted by health and nutrition experts, we'll share a feast of information about healthy, eco-friendly eating and loads of fun prizes from Earthbound Farm, Klean Kanteen, thinkbaby, Clif Bar, Dr. Alan Greene, PlanetBox, Plum Organics and Healthy Child Healthy World. Follow the #EatHealthy hashtag to dish with your fellow parents on how to make healthy eating, fun, fast, affordable and eco-friendly.

Share Your Favorite Recipes for a Chance to Win!
Have a fun, healthy recipe for a snack or meal your kids can't get enough of? Looking for recipe ideas to share with your readers? Healthy Child Healthy World wants to know!

Send us your favorite recipe from your collection or post your top pick from our recipes for a chance to win an Eat Healthy gift bag - a reusable Whole Foods Market "I used to be a plastic bottle" recycled grocery tote loaded with goodies, including copies of The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook by Myra Goodman and Dr. Alan Greene's new book Feeding Baby Green, an 18 oz. Klean Kanteen, a stainless steel PlanetBox lunchbox, a thinkbaby Feeding Kit, nutrition bars for the whole family from Clif Bars, snacks from Plum Organics, a perfectly portable Healthy Child Healthy World paperback and a "Healthy School Lunch" Pocket Shopping Guide.

There are two ways to enter:

1. Submit your recipe to Eat Healthy.


2. Post your favorite Eat Healthy recipe on YOUR blog and email us at recipes@healthychild.org with the link.

On November 6th, one winner will be randomly selected to win the Eat Healthy gift bag.

Happy and Healthy Eating All!

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You

10 Tips to Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy

Healthy Child Healthy World

Bonbon / CC BY 2.0

1. Eat the healthiest, safest foods.

These eight simple steps will help you reduce your exposure to synthetic pesticides and guard against certain cancers and high dioxin intake. Increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes and fiber may help eliminate toxins.

2. Feast on folic acid before conceiving and while pregnant.

Sources include dried beans and peas, citrus fruit, spinach and broccoli. Adequate folic acid early in a baby's development helps prevent neurological defects, such as spina bifida. Note: too much folic acid may pose it's own risks, so talk with your doctor about how much you need.

3. Reduce consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and quit smoking.

Women who smoke during pregnancy (or are exposed to secondhand smoke) are more likely to give birth to small babies with low birth weight. Alcohol and caffeine lower overall health and can negatively impact a fetus.

4. Cut down your intake of animal fats and fish to reduce dioxin, PCB and mercury exposure.

Trim fat and skin from meats well. Limit consumption of fatty and predatory fish, such as tuna and salmon, to once a month at most; alternatives include flounder and sole. (Use Seafood Watch to learn about which fish are safest to eat.) Broil fish and meat, so that fat drips away from the food. Choose skim dairy products.

5. Drink pure water.

Test drinking water for lead, chlorine byproducts (trihalomethanes) and pesticides. If there are contaminants, install an appropriate water filter and use a stainless steel water bottle to keep yourself hydrated on the go.

6. Test old paint for lead while planning your pregnancy.

Lead is stored in the bones and can be passed to a developing baby through the placenta. The EPA maintains a list of certified labs where you can send paint samples. Removal of lead paint must only be done by a professional and pregnant women should stay away from the area until it is thoroughly cleaned. See Detecting and Removing Lead Paint for more information and resources.

7. Get smart about plastics.

Some plastics cause dangerous pollution during manufacturing and some contain chemicals suspected of causing harm - especially to kids. Avoid those numbered 3, 6, or 7 (PC). These resin codes are typically on the bottom of an item in a triangle of arrows. When using any plastic, be safe by not using in the microwave or with hot food (the heat promotes leaching). Discard or stop using for food and beverages when the product begins to have signs of wear and tear.

8. Use fewer personal care products.

Many personal care products contain chemicals that disrupt hormones your baby will rely on for proper development. And others contain carcinogens and neurotoxicants, among other things. The best thing for you and baby is to reduce how much you use and to use Skin Deep to find the safest products.

9. Clean without toxic chemicals.

You don't need a chemical arsenal to keep your home clean. Basic ingredients like baking soda and vinegar can tackle most household chores. Or, you can look for natural products at the store (don't be fooled by marketing, though. Check the label for ingredients and use Seventh Generation's Label Reading Guide.)

10. Find out what chemicals are in your local air, water and soil.

Start in your backyard, by finding out what's in the soil. Sign up for air quality alerts at AirNow.gov.

Related Topics:

• Give Your Baby the Best Start
• The Best Non-Toxic Ways to Clean Your Home

Keeping Toys Clean to Make Playtime Pure

by Christopher Gavigan

Alex Lee/ / CC BY 2.0

Like most toddlers, my son puts everything in his mouth. One of his favorite "chew toys" is his Thomas the Tank Engine. I don't know what makes that particular toy so interestingly orally tactile, but maybe he'll divulge the secret when he learns to talk.

We're very careful about what toys he plays with since we know there's a good chance they're going to get sucked on (use HealthyToys.org to find safer toys for your child). We don't want him mouthing toys that could expose him to lead or phthalates - which, unfortunately, are present in many children's products.

But even safe toys need a good cleaning now and then. Dust contaminated with pollutants like lead or flame retardants, allergens and asthmagens can all build up on them over time. Many parents reach for toxic bleach or antibacterials, but they are absolutely unnecessary and pose their own health risks. You can keep your child safe and their toys clean with some simple, non-toxic cleaning solutions.

It is generally recommended that you clean your toddler's toys about once a month. If your child has a lot of toys and you have little time, just clean the toys that are most frequently played with.

Use these tips to keep playtime pure fun.

Unfinished Wooden Toys

Regular care: Clean with a damp sponge, but do not soak - and dry off immediately afterwards. Excessive moisture can damage unfinished wood. If you are concerned about bacteria - pop the toy in your microwave for about 30 seconds. The heat will kill the bacteria that can be hiding inside the toy. (I say "inside" because the wood's surface forms a hostile environment for bacteria, so they migrate to the interior - unlike plastic, which is impenetrable so the bacteria just multiply right on the surface. And if the toy is pine, the natural pine oil will serve as another disinfectant).

Periodically rubbing with olive oil (once or twice a year) will keep the wood beautifully buffed and provide some protection.

Stains: Use fine-grade sandpaper to remove any discolorations or stains. After sanding, the toy should be washed, dried, and set out for several hours (or heated in the microwave) to eliminate bacteria that may have been released from the interior of the wood. This also applies to a toy that has suffered water damage.

Finished/Painted Wooden Toys

Regular Care: Wash quickly with soap and water, but as with unfinished wood, do not soak them as it can damage the toy.

Stains: Spray with a 50/50 mixture of white distilled vinegar and water, wipe and dry. You can also try using baking soda as a gentle scouring agent. Just be sure not to press to hard as you could rub through the finish.

Stuffed Toys and Other Textiles

Regular Care: Most stuffed toys and textiles can be tossed in your washing machine, but read the tag to find out for sure (though, often the tag will discourage you from washing even though it would work just fine). For stuffed animals, you can protect them by enclosing them in a pillow case before putting them in the wash. Use a non-toxic laundry detergent (conventional brands may leave unwanted residues and chemical treatment agents that you don't want lingering in the fabric) and dry using low heat (or leave outside in the sun). Just make sure it doesn't take too long to dry as that can promote mold growth.

To treat dust mites (which are a special concern for parents with children who suffer from asthma or allergies) freeze the toy for 24 hours.

Stains: The remedy for this truly depends on the textile you're working with. Do a little on-line investigation to find what works (and then leave a comment here to let us know what your problem was and what was an effective solution!)

Plastic Toys

Regular Care: Use hot soapy water to clean small toys by hand. Rinse off large toys outside using a bucket of hot, soapy water and a garden hose. If a plastic toy seems to be getting worn and scratched, it may be time to re-purpose or recycle the toy (if you can). Scratches in plastic can become harbors for bacteria - not the type of toy you want your toddler sucking on.

Stains: Again, this depends on the type of plastic (though, generally, stains on plastic are often there for good). Let us know your tip in the comments below.

A good all-purpose disinfectant: 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons white vinegar and 3 to 4 cups hot water in a spray bottle. For extra cleaning power, add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap to the mixture.

But, remember - there's no need to get obsessive about how clean your child's toys are. Disinfecting everything may compromise they're immune system's development (see "Why Dirt is Good"), and the other contaminants? Well, you just do your best to reduce exposure. And at the end of the day (or beginning or middle), make sure you're pulling out the toys to laugh and play together.

Related Topics:

• Give Your Baby the Best Start


• The Best Non-Toxic Ways to Clean Your Home

Hand Washing Double Bonus

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: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care.

kokopinto / CC BY-SA 2.0

Hand washing does something cool that I bet most parents never think about. Most parents do know that hand washing before eating can greatly reduce the risk of bacterial and viral infections and is a cost-effective way to keep your family healthier. Hand washing can save your family tissue-strewn days dealing with runny noses or tummy-ache days dealing with with diarrhea. It can also help prevent pinworms, one of the most common parasitic infections in kids. But hand washing isn't just for reducing cooties and germs. It's an important step in protecting your child from toxic chemicals in the environment.

A recent study of chemical flame retardants known as PBDEs illuminated an important route of exposure in kids: dust to hand to mouth. PBDEs are known to disrupt hormones in people and other animals. These chemicals have been added to many household items - especially those made from petroleum products that would otherwise be very flammable. They are found in carpets, computers, and the foam in chairs, beds, and other furniture. The PBDEs are gradually released over time, where they end up in house dust.

The chemicals stick to their hands with dust or with direct contact. They get into their bodies when their hands come to their mouths when eating, especially with finger foods. Children average 10-fold higher estimated exposure than adults.

Clean hands before eating offers the invisible bonus of lowering exposure to PBDEs and other chemical pollutants. House dust and germs may be worse in the winter. Read more about arsenic and the importance of spring and summer hand washing.

Stapleton, HM, SM Kelley, JG Allen, MD McClean and TF Webster. Measurement of polybrominated diphenyl ethers on hand wipes: Estimating exposure from hand-to-mouth contact. Environmental Science and Technology. 2008; 42(9):3329-3334.

Last reviewed February 2009. As research is on-going, you may want to check several sources for the latest information.

Related Topics:

• Healthier Hygiene
• Antibacterial Soap: Do You Need It to Keep Your Home Clean?
  

New Resources to Help You Understand Toxic Flame Retardants

by Christopher Gavigan

There is a major battle underway in the State of California to amend a decades old provision requiring manufacturers to add flame retardants to children's products made using polyurethane foam (car seats, breastfeeding cushions, and much more). California is the only state in the country that requires this and it has led to the use of millions of pounds of halogenated flame retardants (which are the cheapest, but also pose a variety of health risks). Since manufacturers don't like making different products for different states, it means that children's products sold across the continent have flame retardants added to them - even if California is the only state to require it. This issue impacts all of us and many people think the practice is a completely unnecessary risk to children's health and development.

Two new fact sheets developed by the Consumer Federation of California help make the issue clear. Here are some highlights from what they've put together:

Toxic Flame Retardants Endanger Public Health
Halogenated fire retardants - the least expensive and most likely chemicals used to meet this regulation - have been linked to endocrine disruption, neurological and developmental impairments, cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities such as attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity, and a host of other health disorders.

When certain fire retardant chemicals burn, they form highly toxic dioxins and furans. In November 2006, the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine published an analysis of 32 studies that found that fire fighters have significantly elevated rates of four types of cancer: multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate, and testicular cancer, likely resulting from chemical exposures. For that reason, many firefighter groups across the nation have been active in support of efforts to reduce or eliminate the use of certain toxic fire retardants in consumer products.

Low-income residents and communities of color are the most likely to be exposed to these chemicals and fall victim to these diseases as they purchase products laden with the toxins at the big box stores. Other communities can opt out by purchasing more expensive imported or toxic-free product lines of baby products. Furthermore older or second-hand products are more likely to have crumbly foam that will escape and cause the greatest health hazard.

As a result of these public health dangers, both the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the International Association of Firefighters have also opposed their use in favor of other, less toxic, but fire-safe, alternatives.

Toxic Flame Retardants and Fire Safety Alternatives
Children's products such as strollers and changing pads do not pose a fire hazard. According the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there is no evidence that these toxic chemicals actually reduce fire deaths in California; they just slow them for an estimated six to twelve seconds.

Fire deaths declined by 38% in California from 1980 to 1999; but the decline was similar or even greater in other states that don't have standards leading to the use of these toxic chemicals. Considering that most victims of fires die from smoke inhalation and not the actual flames, alternative fire-fighting measures like smoke detectors and sprinkler systems have proven more effective.

In fact, the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association has NEVER been sued by anyone, anywhere, because their "flame retardant free" products were associated with a fire hazard.

Related Topics:

• Video: Safer Bedding for Children
• Give Your Baby the Best Start
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

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's Your Favorite Eco-Friendly Toy?

by Christopher Gavigan

Tiffany Washko / CC BY 2.0

I think every parent has a favorite eco-friendly toy. The kind of toy that makes you feel so good watching your child play with it that you're desperate not to get rid of it the moment they grow out of it. The charming giraffe, the wood blocks from Grandpa, the cotton baby doll that either ends up as a decoration on a shelf or gifted to a close friend or relative. Well, now you can nominate it for the Second Annual Best Green Toys Contest sponsored by Eco-Child's Play and The Goddard Schools for Early Childhood Development.

Toys must meet the following criteria:

• the toy is eco friendly
• the toy is affordable (under $25)
• the toy encourages creative, social, and engaging play activities
• the toy is interactive and lends itself to child-initiated play
• the toy is appropriate for preschool to early elementary school-aged children

According to the Eco-Child's Play announcement the top green toys will be awarded the Eco Friendly Toy seal and listed in the Top Ten Eco Friendly Toys of 2009. In addition, preschoolers at participating Goddard Schools will get to play with the Top Ten and then name the "Local Preschoolers Picks" for the top kid's choices.

The contest is open to environmentally safe toy submissions until October 1, 2009, and the winners announced at the end of October. To enter, download the Eco Friendly Toy Test entry form and read the guidelines.

Now they need your help!

What's your favorite eco-friendly toy under $25? Please leave your nominations at EcoChild's Play. Personally, I nominate Green Toys, Inc and their "Indoor Gardening Kit". This earth, social, and health conscious company actually makes all toys in California from recycled milk jugs. No batteries here. The toys are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastic, tie downs, or cellophane. Of course they meet all safety requirements, as well has having NO traces of phthalates, lead, or BPA. Good for the earth, and great fun for you kids.

If you're on Twitter, please complete and Tweet this using the hashtag #bestgreentoys @EcoChildsPlay: I nominate ______ for the #bestgreentoys contest.

If you know a green toy company, reach out to them to enter the contest by sending them a link to this post.

There is a Flickr stream set up (bestgreentoys) for you to upload a picture of your child with their favorite green toy (tagged with #bestgreentoys) to suggest that the company should enter the contest. And we have a Best Green Toys Facebook Page (please become a fan and upload pictures and leave comments).

I can't wait to see all the nominations. Regardless who wins, I'm sure it'll be an awesome list of wonderful, safe, eco-friendly toys.

Related Topics:

• Video: Child-Safe Toys
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Organic Lunchbox Challenge

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: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care.

Students I speak with observe that school food is often either unappetizing (overcooked cafeteria veggies) or unhealthy. Tasty junk food at school has become a magnet for kids across the nation, encouraging nutrition choices that hurt kids now, and build unhealthy habits for the long run.

Thankfully, a growing wave of school boards is starting to tackle the issue, one school district at a time. A quick phone call to your school board could help tip them into action.

But even when action is taken, there is usually a lag of a year or more before the menu actually changes. The Organic Lunchbox is something simple you can do in the meantime to provide your children delicious food that gives them energy for today and builds healthy, vibrant bodies for tomorrow. I'm encouraging parents everywhere to give their children at least one serving of organic food every day this year. Here's why, then how:

Background

Toxic chemicals are toxic.

We know that pesticides and other chemicals (such as mercury) that can contaminate our food supply cause serious health problems if the exposures to these chemicals are high enough. These problems include cancers (such as brain cancer, breast cancer, and childhood leukemia), behavior problems, ADHD, learning disabilities, genital abnormalities, and reproductive problems.

We know that the very problems that can be caused by these environmental chemicals are increasing in our society and in our children. We know that childhood brain cancer and leukemia have each increased by more than 50 percent since 1975. We know that autism diagnoses have increased 10 times since the 1980's.

We know that children have higher exposures to pesticides and other chemicals than do adults, and that even at the same exposures, they are at higher risk.

We've known from several good studies that pesticides and toxic chemicals aren't just in the environment - but get into our developing children's bodies. Some kids have high levels and others quite low. What's different between these kids? Is there anything simple and practical that parents can do to lower their own children's risks? A provocative study was published in October 2002 in the Environmental Health Perspectives, the journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH. Here, children were divided into two groups: those who ate mostly conventional foods and those who ate mostly organic foods. All urine for 24 hours was collected from each child. Children who ate conventional diets had mean pesticide concentrations in their urine 9 times higher than the children who ate organic! Their levels indicated that they had exceeded safe exposure levels set by the EPA and were at increased risk to their health. By contrast, those children who ate organic foods were well within the EPA levels deemed to cause negligible risk. Feeding children organic foods is something simple and practical parents can do right now to protect their children and help them build healthy bodies.

The Organic Lunchbox

I recommend that children get a variety of healthy foods. Together, the foods below would make an ideal lunch, loaded with body-building vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other important nutrients (perhaps some that haven't even been discovered yet). I'm asking parents to include at least one of these items every day. Even adding one of these a day could make a big difference for our children and our environment:

A Serving of Organic Fruit. This might be an organic apple, organic grapes, or a bag of organic cherries from the local farmers' market. Thankfully, organic produce is available at more and more grocery stores as well. And the more that people ask for organic produce, the more available it will be. There are so many types of delicious fruit! My kids love kiwi bowls. Take a kiwi, cut it in half, and scoop out the yummy treasure using the thick skin as a bowl.

A Serving of Organic Veggies. This might be a bag of small carrots from Earthbound Farms. Some kids like veggies (and even fruit) better if they are sent with a dip. A variety of dressings or yogurts can make tasty dips. Ants on a log are a perennial favorite (raisins on a peanut butter - or cream cheese - filled celery stick). My kids sometimes enjoy fresh sugar snap peas to munch, or English peas to shell and pop into the mouth - we get them both at the farmers' market. Or you might get veggies in as a snack food, such as Just Veggies, or in a drink (such as carrot orange or carrot berry juice).

A Serving of Organic Whole Grains. The easiest way to get this in is as a bread, a cereal, or a cracker. I like breads from Rudi's Organic Bakery. The French Meadow Bakery also makes some delicious organic breads. A simple sandwich can be a convenient centerpiece to a great lunch. Keep in mind, though, that not all lunches need a centerpiece. A hunk of bread along with the other items in the lunchbox can make a perfect lunch without a 'main dish'.

An Organic Calcium Source. Two out of three kids in the U.S. do not get enough calcium in their diets! School-age children need at least 800 mg daily through age 8, and 1300 mg daily from age 9 to 13. A glass of milk has about 300 mg; a serving of yogurt about 400 mg; a slice of cheese might have about 200 mg. Those who don't get calcium at lunch are unlikely to meet their daily needs. Lunch might include a serving of Stonyfield Farm organic yogurt - in a cup, as a fun Squeezer, or as an organic drinkable yogurt. Organic cheese is another good option. For kids who don't do dairy, there are many other calcium options, including green vegetables, or even calcium enriched juices.

An Organic Source of Lean Protein. You may have already provided your child with protein by giving them yogurt or a simple sandwich with Organic cheese. If there is not another protein source in the lunchbox yet, consider a hardboiled egg (perhaps an organic egg high in DHA), organic beans, or a sandwich with lean organic meats.

They DON'T Need: added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrups), added fats (especially partially hydrogenated fats), lots of artificial colors and other chemicals, or foods grown with pesticides, antibiotics, or hormones.

The Evil Twin

Let's compare the commonsense, tasty lunch above with a popular prepackaged combination lunch-in-a-box, the kinds some kids fight over in the grocery store aisles. The one in front of me contains hot dogs, with cola to drink, and candy for dessert.

The Organic Fruit? None. There is no fruit at all. 0% of the daily requirement for vitamin C (among many others).

The Organic Vegetable? None. There is no vegetable, unless you count the catsup. 0% of the recommended servings of vegetables. Less than 2% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A.

The Organic Whole Grain? None. There is no whole grain. Only highly processed, nutritionally depleted white bread, with insufficient fiber.

The Organic Calcium Source? There is a small amount of calcium, but not close to the amount needed at lunch to meet the day's requirements - it leaves them needing to catch up.

The Lean Protein Source? No lean protein source here. The saturated fats are artery-clogging and fattening even to kids. What protein there is comes from mechanically separated turkey and pork treated with sodium diacetate, sodium erythorbate, and nitrites. We know nothing about how the animals were raised.

It Also Contains: caffeine, chemical preservatives such as potassium sorbate and calcium proprionate, artificial chemical flavors, artificial chemical colors, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, added sugar, dextrose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup - about 12 teaspoons of sugars, and more saturated fat than anyone should eat at a meal.

All of the vitamins or minerals whose levels are disclosed on the package are quite low. It would take 10 of these meals to give a day's supply of calcium or iron, 50 meals to get a day's supply of vitamin A, and you would never get enough vitamin C - no matter how many of these you ate. Ten of these meals would supply almost 5000 calories, almost 200 gm of fat, and 8500 mg of sodium. This is part of what we mean by empty calories.

This may seem like an unfair comparison, but children eat food like this evil twin every day - food that they purchase at school, or pack along with them. The number one food kids eat? French Fries!

The Lunchbox Challenge

Let this be the year where you give your child at least one serving of organic food a day. The Organic Lunchbox is one great option. If packing lunch doesn't work well for your family, consider starting the day right with a serving of organic food for breakfast. The research is clear that whether and what a child eats at breakfast makes a difference in learning, behavior, and test scores all morning long.

Isn't it great that choosing healthy delicious food can make a real difference for our children today - and in years to come when they have walked out their childhoods, out of our homes, out of our reach, but never out of our hearts!

Last reviewed January 2005. As research is on-going, you may want to check several sources for the latest information.

Related Topics:

• Organic Foods Slideshow: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Healthy Body Care Tip #5: Antibacterials Are Not the Answer

by Christopher Gavigan

There is no doubt that personal hygiene is important to good health, but how much is enough? Sales of personal care products for children have jumped significantly in the past decade in part because marketers continue to redefine the "needs" of children in order to increase profits. One of the biggest new "necessities" is antibacterial products. Marketers have done a brilliant job at making parents feel like they need a scrupulously sanitized home and if you scrub enough with enough antibacterials and disinfectants you can rid the world of germs and bacteria and keep your family safe and healthy.

Guess what? Antibacterials are not all they're cracked up to be. Consider these facts, shared with Healthy Child by Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides:

• The most common illnesses (colds, flu and gastrointestinal upsets) are caused by viruses. Antibacterials have little or no effect on viruses.
• Antibacterial products target good bacteria as well as bad, but our bodies need those good bacteria. They help us digest our food, for example, and keep harmful microorganisms from entering our bodies through our main orifices like our mouths and nose.


• The bad bacteria we encounter typically have no impact on a healthy immune system. In fact, only 1 percent to 2 percent of microbes are likely to make us sick.


• Bacteria are so prevalent and reproduce so fast that it's impossible to eliminate them anyway. In addition, a large number of recent studies have found substantial evidence that certain antibacterial products actually promote the emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotic medications and antibacterial cleansers


• Research shows that plain soap and water is just as effective for hand washing as products containing triclosan. The Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee, which advises the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), voted 11-1 that antibacterial soaps and washes were no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections-both work equally as well.


• The overuse of triclosan (and other antibacterials) could potentially be increasing the incidence of allergies. The "hygiene hypothesis" theorizes that there is a correlation between too much hygiene and increased allergies and asthma. Studies have found an increase in the frequency of allergies, asthma and eczema in persons who have been raised in more sterile and hygienic environments. Through over-cleaning ourselves, The theory states, the body's immune system is not challenged, and thus it is prevented from developing and maturing.


• Even the American Medical Association concludes, "Despite their recent proliferation in consumer products, the use of antimicrobial agents such as triclosan in consumer products has not been studied extensively. No data exist to support their efficacy when used in such products or any need for them...it may be prudent to avoid the use of antimicrobial agents in consumer products."
  

Visit Healthy Child Healthy World to learn safer ways to keep germs at bay.

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• Antibacterial Soap: Do You Need It to Keep Your Home Clean?
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Healthy Body Care Tip #4: Make it Yourself

by Christopher Gavigan

With a growing awareness of the questionable chemical concoctions manufacturers are allowed to sell to unassuming consumers, kitchen cosmetics are increasingly in vogue. While there are certain things that don't translate well to homemade, there are plenty that you might find superior to their store bought counterparts.

Instead of relying upon synthetic chemicals to clean or soothe the skin, you can use natural ingredients that have been relied on for centuries. Things like extra virgin olive oil which attracts external moisture without clogging pores or compromising skin function, calendula which is an extremely gentle way to treat skin irritations and minor infections, and chamomile which is a useful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent.

Here are a few simple recipes to get you started.

Baby wipes:

1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
1 Tbsp. Calendula oil
2 tsp. organic liquid soap
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls)
1 plastic container that the roll fits in

Cut roll in half and remove center cardboard. In plastic container, mix liquid ingredients, and place half of roll in container (cut side down). Put on lid and tip upside down until paper towels are fully saturated. To use, pull out from center.

Rash Soother: Protect skin and prevent rashes by rubbing a little olive oil on your baby's bum after each changing. At the first signs of redness, bathe your baby in warm water with a little baking soda or apply a small amount of aloe vera gel.

Oatmeal Baby Bath: 1 cup whole oats. Whirl in blender or food processor until they become powder. Mix as desired into bath water. The oatmeal softens the water and your baby's skin (you may be tempted to try it yourself!)

Baby Oil: Almond oil, olive oil, apricot oil, or calendula oil.

As with any product, the first time you use something on your child, watch closely for any type of reaction. For more recipes and tips pick up a copy of Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home or visit HealthyChild.org.

Related Topics:

• Healthier Hygiene
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• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
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8 Great Family-Friendly Foods that Help Fight Cancer

by Sheryl Crow

Being diagnosed with cancer was a life changing experience for me, as it is for anyone. One of the most significant shifts has been in the way I look at my body and what I put in it. When I was undergoing radiation, I began working with Nutritionist Rachel Bellar in order to eat foods that would help boost my immune system.

After working with her, I learned how to eat "defensively." I had never understood before how vital food was for protecting the body from sickness and disease. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, serious diseases that are linked to what we eat are the culprits in three out of four American deaths each year. And, recent research estimates that 35% of cancer deaths could be prevented through improved nutrition.

We truly are what we eat and what we put in our bodies matters to our long-term health. Rachel taught me this and I am so grateful to have worked with her. Her in-depth knowledge of how certain foods and spices are vital to promoting wellness throughout the body has become an integral part of my lifestyle after surviving cancer.

Even more importantly, having cancer made me re-think and re-define family - resulting in my greatest joy, my son Wyatt. As parents often joke, kids don't come with instruction manuals. Parenting is a constant challenge of self-education. One thing I do know, though, is that Wyatt is benefiting from what I learned from Rachel. And, I feel like I am giving my son one of the greatest gifts a mother can - the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

Here are some of our favorite foods that pack enormous nutritional value (including anti-cancer benefits), and the ways we make them fun and tasty for both of us. Truly, toddler tested, mother approved.

1. Whole Grains

• What to look for: whole grain breads, pastas, brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, etc.
• How to make it: quinoa crusted chicken fingers, whole grain pita personal pizza, steel cut oatmeal cookies, vegetable barley soup

2. Beans

• 

  Photo: pizzodisevo
  What to look for: garbanzo, navy bean, kidney beans, lentils, etc.
• How to make it: hummus (use whole grain pita or raw veggies for dipping), puree navy beans and add to mashed potatoes, black bean nachos

3. Berries

• What to look for: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• How to make it: whole grain berry muffins, yogurt berry parfait

4. Tomatoes

• 

  Photo: The Ewan
  What to look for: tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato juice (cooking releases the cancer-fighting lycopene)
• How to make it: pasta and pizza sauce, creamy tomato soup

5. Cruciferous Vegetables

• What to look for: cabbage and members of its family including cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts
• How to make it: steam it and serve warm or cold (in funny shapes for tentative toddlers), also good in stir fry, and soups

6. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

• What to look for: spinach, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, kale, leaf lettuce
• How to make it: use to wrap favorite cheese or chicken, chiffonade and toss into pasta or pizza sauce, toss into green smoothies

7. Grapes and Grape Juice

• 

  Photo: artslyz
  What to look for: red or purple grapes (the dark colored skin is the main source of nutrition)
• How to make it: Enjoy as is, frozen grapes are a great summer treat (but can be a choking hazard for small children)

8. Walnuts

• What to look for: whole, natural walnuts without additives or preservatives
• How to make it: add walnuts and bananas to oatmeal, crush and toss into pastas and salads, mince and add to muffins and pancakes

However you decide to fix your food, eat a healthy, diverse diet. And remember, real foods, not supplements, are best for your body. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that at least 2/3 of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans. Start your children young and let them reap the rewards of healthy eating habits for a lifetime.

Related Topics:

• Nutrition to Help You Fight Cancer
• WebMD Video: Eating the Right Foods After Cancer
• Health eHome
• WebMD Cancer Message Boards
• Get the latest information from our Cancer newsletter

Healthy Spoonfuls: 3 Ways to Feed Your Baby the Best

by Christopher Gavigan

Photo: LilySusie

A baby's first bites of solid foods are thoroughly entertaining to watch. New flavors and textures provoke faces that are both adorable and incredibly funny. What's not so funny is that in some instances, there are invisible contaminants, fillers, and unhealthy ingredients hiding in those tiny spoonfuls of food. And if your baby is eating non-organic food, he's also eating pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and synthetic preservatives and additives.

While traces of contaminants are tiny, they build up quickly in a child's diet as children eat more food pound for pound than adults. In fact, children one through five years of age eat three to four (or more) times as much food per pound of body weight as an average American adult. In addition, their developing bodies are more vulnerable and less able to detoxify.

Because there is a growing body of evidence showing these toxins can impair child health and development, common sense compels us to minimize exposure whenever possible. Especially during pregnancy and infancy when their bodies are most vulnerable, we need to take precautionary action - a "better safe than sorry" approach and choose an organic diet for our little ones. Not only does an organic diet reduce exposure to contaminants and synthetic additives, some studies also show that organic foods are healthier and have more antioxidants and added nutrition.

There are a variety of options and many opportunities to take toxins off the menu. Here are some easy ideas for feeding your baby an organic, safe and healthy diet:

1. Store bought. With the growing interest in organic foods, there is also an increase in availability of pre-made organic baby foods. Some are on the shelf right next to their conventional counterparts and other can be found in the refrigerated or frozen food sections. Look for names like Plum Organics, Happy Baby, Homemade Baby, Tasty Baby, or Sprout Baby Food.

2. Delivered. Referred to as "baby food catering", home delivery services are the pinnacle of convenience. Service providers include Bohemian Baby and Pomme Bebe.

3. Homemade. Not nearly as intimidating as it sounds, homemade baby food is the freshest and most inexpensive option (with the added benefit of having the least impact on the environment). My wife makes all of our son's food and has been super charged with how easy and enjoyable it's been. She uses fruits and veggies with a variety of colors and tastes then adds in probiotics and flax seed oil for additional nutritional benefit.

To make your own, pick one time a week to cook and puree selected foods and then freeze in an ice cube tray for handy serving sizes. WholesomeBabyFood.com offers age appropriate recipes, as well as tips for cooking and storing food. You can also get a handy, portable food grinder and freezer storage trays at Fresh Baby. Find local, organic food in your neighborhood using the Eat Well Guide, which lists not only grocery stores, but also co-ops, farmer's markets, and CSAs (where you buy a share of food from a local farm).

Photo: LilySusie

Organic on a Budget: For many parents, buying all organic all the time is a financial impossibility, so keep this in mind: certain foods have higher levels of chemical residues including meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy, as well as apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries - so focus on getting the organic versions of these items. Some foods typically have very low levels of residues and are okay to purchase conventionally grown, including avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, kiwis, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and eggplant.

You can also invest selectively. We have committed to trying to feed our son 100% organic for at least his first year (yes, I said "trying," no one's perfect). When they get older, choose the foods they eat the most of. If they eat a ton of apples, make sure you're buying them organic even if you can't buy everything organic. Overall, just do the best you can and concentrate on consistently providing a healthy, fresh, well-balanced diet for baby and family. Bon Appetit!

Sources:

• Consumer Reports. Better for Baby? Our analysis finds organic food is safer for children. January 2006.
• Landrigan, P. et al. Children's Health and the Environment: A New Agenda for Prevention Research. Environmental Health Perspectives. June 1998, 106, 3, 787-794.
• Virginia Worthington. Nutritional Quality of Organic Versus Conventional Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. April 1, 2001, 7(2): 161-173.
• Lombardi-Boccia, G. et al. Nutrients and Antioxidant Molecules in Yellow Plums from Conventional and Organic Productions: A Comparative Study. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2004, 52, 90-94.
• Asami, D. et al. Comparison of the Total Phenolic and Ascorbic Acid Content of Freeze-Dried and Air-Dried Marionberry, Strawberry, and Corn Grown Using Conventional, Organic, and Sustainable Agricultural Practices. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2003, 51, 1237-1241.

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• Health eHome
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The Eco-Layette: Safer Fabrics for Your Baby and the Planet

by Christopher Gavigan

Dressing newborn babies is a fine art. Getting tiny flailing limbs to shimmy down a long sleeve. Easing a floppy little head through a neck hole. Keeping their infinitesimal socks from falling off their feet. Just when you get it figured out, new tests begin; including the mastery of stain removal and the miraculous feat of keeping a toddler clothed at all. No matter which skill you are perfecting, you will always need to know how to select the safest fabrics.

Many new parents assume that cotton is the best fabric for their baby's clothes and bedding because it's a natural fiber, but conventionally grown cotton is one of the most pesticide intensive crops grown in the US. After the cotton is picked and milled into fabric, a soup of chemicals that are known to harm human health are used to dye and finish the fabric. Chemicals like formaldehyde and urea resins are used to increase stain resistance, wrinkle-proofing, and even disinfecting. Most "finishing" chemicals contain volatile organic compounds that are often sensitizers and suspected carcinogens. Often, the clippings from fabric mills are so loaded with chemicals they are handled like toxic waste, while the products made from these materials are considered safe to bring into our homes.

Now take a deep breath and relax - your baby is okay. There are safer options and solutions other than immediately ripping the onesie off your baby. Residues on baby clothing and bedding are minimal and have only been shown to cause contact dermatitis (generally in people with sensitive skin). Still, we really don't know what long term health impacts may arise from the subtle, but constant exposure to chemicals in clothing and bedding.

Luckily, we don't have to wait to find out. We can select safer fabrics today:

Organic Cotton: Perhaps the most obvious choice is organic cotton, grown without the use of pesticides. Look for options that are not only grown organically, but are also untreated (i.e. they are finished and dyed using natural, non-toxic processes). You can also look for organic, untreated wool which is naturally fire-resistant and a good choice for children's sleepwear.

Bamboo: Another fabric increasing in popularity is made from bamboo, which has a natural softness and sheen similar to silk or cashmere. Bamboo is completely biodegradable and can be grown without pesticides or chemicals. Look for fabrics certified by Oeko-Tex which ensures that fabric made from bamboo fibers is chemical-free.

Hemp: Surprising to some, hemp is another option and is naturally pest resistant so requires few, if any, of the pesticides used on conventional cotton. Still, there's no certification process, so you can't be sure that the hemp has been grown pesticide-free.

More options: Other choices include linen, soy, inego (corn-based), and even recycled plastic (which Patagonia has been using in their fleece for quite some time). Given the textile industry's penchant for pollution and people's growing concern over the health of the planet, new eco-fabrics are popping up everywhere. You just need to do a little research.

While the availability of safer fabrics is increasing, you may find that your baby budget needs to increase in order to purchase them. Unfortunately, green garments typically are more expensive than their conventional counterparts. For example, a conventional cotton onesie costs about $2; an organic cotton onesie is about $15-$20 (although through some persistent hunting I did find some for $5); and a bamboo onesie will cost you about $20 - $25.

The good news: Eco-fabrics, in addition to being safer for your baby and the planet, are also more durable, meaning they'll last longer (if you master stain removal). Still, babies grow out of clothes extremely fast, so what good is durability? Hold on to them for potential siblings, trade with friends and family, sell them at consignment shops or on-line. They are beautiful, high-quality garments meant to last, and healthier for the planet, which our children will inherit.

If you can't afford organic, natural fibers, don't fret. The big rule is to always wash all fabrics, stuffed toys, linens before they come in contact with your little one - preferably in a non-toxic laundry soap. Also, the greenest option is also the cheapest option: buy second hand. Gently used clothing has typically been washed enough times already to eliminate any fears of chemical residues. So don your green-halo and hit the thrift stores, Craigslist, Freecycle, or Ebay. With the money you save, treat your baby to a luxurious untreated, organic cotton blanket that he'll use for years.

You can start your eco-layette today by visiting the following sites: CottonMonkey.com, Babysoyusa.com, Bamboosa.com, Ecowise.com, Greenbabies.com, Kee-ka.com, KidBean.com, Nuiorganics.com, Positively-organic.com, Purebeginnings.com, Sagecreeknaturals.com, Speesees.com, Underthenile.com.

Sources:
Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry Transforming the Textile Industry Health and Environmental Impacts in Finishing Industry (RTF) Chemicals and Textiles Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Children

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The ABC's of a Healthy and Green Baby Shower

by Christopher Gavigan

Especially during pregnancy, it's usually best to keep it simple, healthy, and pure. Here's our simple approach - with help from the ABC's - to plan a baby shower that celebrates the life and health of the baby, as well as the Earth she'll be living on.

Ask everyone to forgo fragrance. Avoid exposure to phthalates by making it clear in your invitations that this event is scent-free.

Buy eco-friendly decorations. Use potted plants, artfully arranged twigs, rocks and shells or even crystal bowls filled with seasonal fruit (a la Martha Stewart) for lovely, natural decorations.
Clean up using eco-friendly supplies. Look for natural products or use kitchen ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

Dish up food on compostable or reusable dishware. Use your good china to really make the day feel special (and reduce an enormous amount of waste). Or go second best by using eco-friendly disposables. Check out the Biodegradable Store, EarthShell, or Royal Chinet.

E-vite your guests. Using email invitations (like evite.com) is a great way to quickly get the word out and track RSVPs. It's also better for the environment (no paper, no waste, no fuel emissions from sending invites, etc).

Find the most natural setting. If you can have it outside, great! If not, at least choose a venue that will respect your green ideas.

Get your green game on. Choose waste-free games and provide green prizes like natural personal care products or soy candles.

Have a good time. This goes without saying, but really - after all this planning - just enjoy yourself during the party.

Inform your guests that this is a green shower. Make sure your requests are clear, so none of your guests feel awkward from missing the memo.

Judge not. Make sure that no matter what shade of green a guest is, she feels welcome and appreciated.

Know your guests. Some may take a little more cajoling to make the green jump.

Look for local. Whether it's food or flowers, try to find all of the products you need from local vendors.

Make it a learning experience. You've taken all this time to make it green, share your newfound knowledge with your guests.

Need help? Ask! Hosting a green baby shower can take a lot of preparation. Have a team to help.

Opt for organic. Look for foods and beverages with the USDA Certified Organic seal.

Plan far in advance. Coordinating any type of party takes time. When you're trying to make it as healthy and green as possible, you should start even earlier.

Quench your thirst with pure beverages. Keep mom and all her adoring guests healthily hydrated with filtered water (not bottled). Have a pitcher and plenty of glassware available.

Register for green gifts. Make it easy for your guests to find the perfect green gift by having the mom-to-be register at on-line stores such as Maple Grace, Our Green House, or Better for Babies.

Strive for zero-waste. Use dishware instead of disposables. Look for products and packaging that are recyclable or compostable.

Try not to get neurotic. Do what you can and let go of what you can't.

Unwrap. Encourage guests to rethink wrapping. Use a baby blanket, a pretty silk scarf, or a recycled paper gift bag.

Ventilate. Keep fresh air flowing by opening a window (even just a crack, for a few minutes if it's winter.)

Write eco-friendly thank yous. Use e-cards to send your thank yous. Some services will even allow you to embed a video. (Your guests would love to see your new baby!)

eXamine gifts. I know you're never supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth, but after your guests leave, decide which gifts are keepers. Just because your Aunt Mary gave you a bottle of expensive baby lotion (with risky chemical ingredients) doesn't mean you should slather your new baby in it for sentiment's sake.

Yank some plugs. (Hey, there aren't many verbs that start with "y".) Save some energy by unplugging unnecessary electronics and appliances.

Zip your memories. Have everyone email you their images and video and then zip them into a file to send to everyone else. You'll save the memories of the day and save paper and chemicals by allowing everyone to only print what they love.

Related Topics:

• Getting the Baby Shower You Want
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A Baby-Making Story (Rated E for Everyone)

by Healthy Child Healthy World

Photo Credit: Guido

Peruse pregnancy books from the past and you'll find a wide array of ridiculous advice like avoiding automobile travel and sewing machines and even sporting events (the excitement was not suitable according to a 1950 publication called The Canadian Mother and Child). Just as our understanding of the physical capacities of a pregnant woman has changed drastically over the past century, so too has our understanding of the biological development of the baby.

Photo Credit: Guido

For example, the placenta used to be considered a powerhouse of protection against fetal damage, screening out anything bad in the mother's bloodstream and even independently generating necessary nutrients if mom fell short. Now we know the placenta is not an impermeable barrier and that the developing fetus is extremely vulnerable. We know we have a heightened responsibility during pregnancy to protect the miracle happening within the womb. Dr. Theo Colburn, President of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange and Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida, Gainesville, writes in Healthy Child Healthy World about the magic and fragility of those nine months of development.

The making of a baby is like a fairy tale in some ways. Fairy tales are about giants and broken eggs and interesting animals, and things that no one will ever see. The story of the construction of a baby is about infinitesimally small things, so small that it is hard to believe, which makes it like a fairy tale. Instead of an egg breaking in the baby-making story, an egg, a single cell, begins to split over and over again until it forms a hollow ball of cells, at which time the cells begin to move about to form buds that become hands, feet, fingers, toes, arms, legs, and eventually organs and bones and muscle, and even a heart and a brain, which are all very real. That part of the story can be seen with microscopes and has been described with pictures in hundreds of textbooks in many languages.

When one asks, "What caused that single cell to split and keep splitting until it morphed into a baby?" the baby-making story begins to read like a real fairy tale. It is hard to believe that in the invisible universe where the egg is developing, there are hormones operating in the part-per-trillion range. And that each hormone is programmed to exert its influence on the construction of the baby only during rigid windows of time. No other period in the baby's life is as fragile as during those early days when its organs and brains are being constructed and programmed. And just as there are fairy-tale villains, there are many modern chemicals that can enter the womb environment and disturb its sacred hormonal balance.

As the body of research linking chemicals in everyday products to developmental disruption increases, it becomes clearer and clearer that a healthy pregnancy starts with a healthy environment. Start (or continue) making yours cleaner, greener and safer by picking up a copy of our book and visiting the Health eHome.

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The Chemical Legacy of the "Perfect" Lawn

Our guest blogger is Dr. Warren Porter, Professor of Zoology and Environmental Toxicology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.


On the tenth of February, 1997, in Madison Wisconsin, where I live, the Wisconsin State Journal was running a series of articles on our schools. We have many schools of national excellence in Madison, and we are very proud of them. But this particular issue was entitled, "Cost of Accommodating: As special education grows, so does the cost of staffing." There was a chart with statistics that are very chilling. From 1990 to 1995, in the Madison school district, by disability we had an increase of 87 percent in the emotionally disturbed category over a five year period. The learning disabilities category jumped 70 percent and birth defects increased 83 percent in a five year period.

This was astonishing, so I began to dig further. We were having big increases in the state of Wisconsin. California was having big increases. Pennsylvania was having big increases. Iran, where my wife is from, was having big increases. Australia, which I had visited a couple of years earlier, was having big increases. Something was happening to our children.

We have known for decades that many pesticides are neurotoxins, they are that way by design. Studies have also shown links between pesticide use and childhood cancers. We have also shown that mixtures of common herbicides and fertilizers found in groundwater can change aggression levels, learning abilities, hormone levels and immune function in rats and mice. Pesticides are a molecular bull in a china shop when they penetrate the human cell. Depending on where they end up in the cell, they can kill it or mutate the genetic coding - and children don't have the enzymes to defend themselves.

Recently my research team bought one of the most commonly used lawn chemical mixtures right off the shelves of a local store instead of buying ultra-pure active ingredients, which is what EPA registers. We found that the mixture, at minuscule amounts well below what is considered safe by the EPA, could induce abortions and resorptions of fetuses in mice. And of particular importance, we saw things that are not typically seen in toxicology, namely that there was an inverse dose response. That is, the greatest effect was at the lowest dose. This is because natural hormones in the body work at the low parts per billion to parts per trillion dose levels. Our research was only at the high end of the physiological dose range and as we go down in dose we were approaching the most sensitive middle range.

This is a disturbing finding, to say the least. As consumers we are repeatedly told that chemical exposures are too small to cause any harm, and many people are comforted by that thought. Now we have found some chemicals are more toxic at infinitesimal levels than they are in higher quantities. This fundamentally shifts our understanding of toxicology. We can longer hide behind the argument that "the dose makes the poison." Now, we must face the reality that some poisons are simply poisons and that we have to abandon these chemicals altogether.

As a nation, we spend more than $2 billion dispensing more than 80 million pounds of pesticides on our lawns and gardens, but the tide is shifting. Nevada now offers a $1,000 incentive for homeowners to remove their grass and 80 cities in North America have banned the use of lawn pesticides. Both Ontario and Quebec have banned the cosmetic use of pesticides. Home Depot in Canada is voluntarily pulling pesticides from the shelves and replacing them with safer alternatives. In my hometown of Madison, Healthy Lawn Teams continue to promote pesticide-free neighborhoods and students at the University are pressing for safer lawn care practices on campus.

Each one of us has a role to play in breaking the habit. If you haven't switched to organic lawn and garden care, now is the time. If you have, now is the time to start working with your neighbors or your local school or hospital.

Get started by visiting the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns.

Resources:
Facing Scientific Realities, Debunking the "Dose Makes the Poison" Myth by Warren Porter, PhD


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• Get the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter in your inbox weekly

Organic: A Choice For Our Children

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: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care.


As parents, we want to feed our children healthy food. What parent would turn down the chance to give a child delicious, healthy food that is convenient, a good money value, that the child loves - and then responds with a, "Thank you, Mommy, that was great! May I help clean up?"

In practice, though, many powerful forces determine our food choices. Our children have tasted artificially flavored, partially hydrogenated, day-glow snack foods and clamor for more. Our kids tell us that their friends' "parents let them eat" the latest processed food fashion. Huge sums of money pay for artists, musicians, toy manufacturers, psychologists, and marketers to work together to carefully manipulate your child's food preferences.

We're busy and want something simple, quick, and preferably inexpensive. We return to the ruts of the unhealthy foods we ate ourselves as kids or that we know our own kids will like. We feel guilty because of our busy lifestyles and don't want to say "no" to our kids - especially if it means yet another battle.

And the last straw - we hear conflicting information about what is healthy. High carb or low carb? Low fat is good for kids. Low fat is bad for kids. Sugar doesn't affect behavior. Sugar causes ADHD. Aspartame is totally safe. Airplane pilots aren't allowed to eat foods containing aspartame because it affects their judgment.

Phew! What's a parent to do? Thankfully, making healthier food choices is simple and clear. Increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the diet makes the diet healthier. Especially in our antibiotic-flooded age, eating foods that contain live active cultures of beneficial bacteria makes our diet healthier. Decreasing artificial chemicals in the diet and the environment, makes us all healthier.

Nutrition is not an all-or-none activity. The goal is to keep making choices that make the diet a little better.

A Stitch in Time
DDT used in the United States before 1966 may have caused an epidemic of premature births that has only now been detected! According to a fascinating study published in the July 14, 2001 issue of The Lancet, scientists who studied stored cord blood samples from mothers who had delivered at that time found elevated levels of DDT breakdown products among the group who had premature deliveries or low birth weight infants. This would make DDT responsible for a host of medical problems and the deaths of many children - but the link wasn't proven until more than 30 years later! DDT use in the United States was stopped in 1972 because it caused reproductive damage to birds (the bald eagle and brown pelican were nearly extinct), but DDT is still widely used in developing countries for insect control. I'm certain that the dangers of some chemicals in common use in the United States today will be proven in the future. I believe that toxic chemicals are one of the biggest health threats to our children. We may not prove the links until they are grown, but we must not wait until then to provide them with safe food, water, air, homes, and schools.

On a personal note, my wife has now recovered from a very malignant form of breast cancer. She has no family history of the disease, but toxic chemicals were used on her farm when she was a child.

What we now call 'conventional farming' is actually something very new. In the 20th century, our naïve optimism about science led to the over-exuberant use of antibiotics, infant formulas, surgery, pesticides, hormones, and fossil fuels. It's time to bring this back into balance.

Organic food has long been the standard for human nutrition. In contrast, many chemicals and hormones introduced post World War II do not have proven long-term safety. Some of them may be fine. Time will tell. I prefer organic for children where there is a good choice.

With the dramatic increase in organic farming in recent years, the new generation of organic farmers is developing innovative and earth friendly ways to increase yields and improve flavor. What is organic and why is it so important for our children?

Organic Defined
Organic refers to the way agricultural products - food and fiber - are grown and processed. It is an ecological system that relies on healthy, rich soil to produce plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of innovative practices that work with nature, instead of against it, such as crop rotation, cover crop planting, beneficial insect release and composting. In the case of livestock, no antibiotics or synthetic hormones are permitted. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic practices mean:

• No pesticides to contaminate our soil and water or injure farm workers
• No fertilizers to runoff and contaminate rivers, lakes and oceans
• A healthier and more sustainable environment for us all

Pesticides In Our Food and Environment
Chemicals used in conventional farming pose many risks to human health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with evaluating pesticides and setting "acceptable risk" levels of exposure. EPA's tests have largely been conducted on fully grown adult men or non-human animal species, exposing them to one chemical at a time. Evidence now shows that chemicals in combination - the way we are usually exposed to them in everyday life - may exponentially increase health risk.

Additionally, many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Now the EPA considers 33% of all pesticides as potentially cancer-causing.

Why Organic Especially for Children?
Children are developing organs to last a lifetime. Due to their smaller size, fast-growing speedy metabolisms, and less varied diets, infants and children are more vulnerable to health and developmental damage. In 1993, a congressionally mandated study by the National Academy of Sciences expressed concern that existing methods of risk evaluation for pesticide exposure were failing children. More recently, the Consumers Union and Environmental Working Group have released studies confirming that children are overexposed even if their exposure is within legal limits.

The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 mandated a review of agricultural chemicals in light of this new information about risk assessment. Included in this act is a requirement to impose a 10-fold margin of safety to protect children when setting standards for the use of pesticides on food. While safety standards have become more strict, buying organic products, if they are available and you can afford them, and supporting organic agriculture may be your best protection.

Why Does Organic Cost More?
Organic products do tend to cost more than their conventional counterparts. To some extent, this is changing as production capacity and demand for organic products increase, improving production efficiencies and lowering prices at the checkout. In addition, many involved in organic are striving for a sustainable agricultural system - one which is ecologically sound as well as economically viable. Paying farmers a fair price for their products is an important tenet for many involved in organic agriculture.

Raising a family on a budget can pose challenges at times. Watching pennies and doing "the right thing" for our families can sometime seem in conflict. For example, in the case of organic foods and fibers, it's understandable to question if the benefits are really worth the extra cost. Looking beyond the price of an organic product and considering the true value, may shed light on the subject. When considering products for your children, organic may indeed be a far better value.

An Opportunity to Support a Healthier Tomorrow
Our children are our most treasured resources, and we have the opportunity to protect them. By reducing toxic exposure, organic products can help us raise healthy, strong children. Through nurturing the soil and keeping toxic and persistent chemicals out of the environment, organic agriculture is one thing we can support to help us pass along a healthy and safe planet for future generations. The cost may be a little more, but the value for you and your family may be far greater.

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A Green Guide to Poison Prevention

by Janelle Sorensen

Did you know this is National Poison Prevention Week? I am personally thankful for the many Poison Control Centers across the country. When my older daughter was about 4, she climbed on top of our kitchen counter and reached high into the cupboard where we kept her vitamins, grabbed them, jumped down, and ate them all. I found her peacefully sitting on the couch next to the empty bottle, asked her what she had done, and called Poison Control (that number, by the way is 1-800-222-1222, keep it handy, you never know when you'll need it). The woman I spoke with asked me some questions about the brand of vitamin and my daughter's age and size. And, after a few tense moments of waiting while she entered the information into her computer, she kindly told me my daughter would be fine. Phew!

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), almost 2 1/2 million poisonings are reported each year - that's a call every 13 seconds. More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home and almost 50 percent occur in children younger than six years old.

The AAPCC recommends a lengthy list of actions including locking cabinets, only using toxic products when you can completely focus on the task at hand, and keeping an ever watchful eye on your children. Great tips in general, but every parent knows how quickly distractions occur and how easy it is to forget taking precautions sometimes (hey, we're busy and sleep deprived and multitasking to the best of our abilities). So, I have a simpler suggestion - go green. Green products don't rely on the toxic chemicals used in conventional products. So, if you opt for green, non-toxic options, you're reducing the possibility of poisonings, reducing the number of precautions you need to take, and reducing worries.

What's poisoning our children and how do we prevent it?

Personal Care Products. Shampoos, lotions, and cosmetics contain hundreds of synthetic chemicals (read the labels to get a glimpse inside). Three steps can help you reduce this risk: eliminate unnecessary products (how many face creams do you really need?), look for natural and organic products (visit cosmeticsdatabase.com), and get back to the basics (olive oil makes a great moisturizer and I've heard you can wash your hair with baking soda if you really want to simplify).

Cleaning Products. Instead of worrying about “safe” use and proper storage of cleaning products, stop buying toxic products and make the switch to green cleaners or use basic ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. (If you mix up your own cleaner, label the bottle and list what ingredients you used.)

Pesticides. In 2006, there were over 77,000 calls regarding potential exposure to pesticides. Again, the advice is to lock up these poisonous products, but you can avoid having them altogether by taking preventative steps to avoid pests and using safer methods for killing them if you still end up with a problem. Visit BeyondPesticides.org for more information.

Plants. Plants are beautiful additions to any home and actually help purify your indoor air, but some can be poisonous for children and pets. Safe plants that have been shown to help clean up indoor air include Chinese evergreen, arrow head vine, English ivy, and spider plants.

Arts, Crafts, and Office Supplies. Kids love crafting, but chemicals in materials can end up being absorbed by their skin, eaten (if your kids are young), or inhaled. So avoid the risk and go green with your crafts and your office by selecting supplies made of natural materials.

This is actually just the beginning of a very long list of the many different potentially poisonous materials we have in our homes the AAPCC receive calls about. It doesn't make sense to me that we so nonchalantly bring these things into our living spaces and keep them (and use them) around our children. Especially when we now know that it's not always the dose that makes the poison. For very young children or the developing fetus, small exposures can have lifelong negative health impacts even if there's no immediate signs of poisoning. In these cases it's the timing that makes the poison.

Your safest bet for poisoning prevention AND good health in general is to go green. Start using the Health eHome and HealthyChild.org today. If you're already taking steps to create a healthier home, kudos. Keep making progress and share your knowledge with friends, family, neighbors, and your community.

Related Topics:

• Health eHome
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• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
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Dose Doesn't Always Make the Poison

Our guest blogger is Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, a pediatrician, epidemiologist, and internationally recognized leader in public health and preventive medicine. He is currently the Ethel H. Wise Professor of Pediatrics, Chair of Community and Preventative Medicine, and Director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

It goes without saying that it is imperative to know the appropriate dose of any medication you need to take. Take too little and you may feel no relief; too much and you could become sicker. In fact, it's actually quite marvelous that some things can be poisonous in large doses, but beneficial in small. Still, this rule does not always hold true.

For centuries, the basic tenet of toxicology has been "the dose makes the poison." Increasingly, scientists are finding "the timing makes the poison" - in other words, it's not just how much you are exposed to, but also when the exposure occurs. This new rule is especially important for fetuses who are uniquely susceptible to exquisitely small amounts due to their developing systems. In fact, many of these prenatal exposures leave the mother unscathed while causing injury to her fetus.

The growing brain appears to be the most sensitive, but scientists are also extremely concerned about the newest animal research suggesting that chemicals can alter gene expression. In essence, a single chemical exposure during a critical window of development can turn a gene on or off and subsequently predispose people to disease. Although the DNA is unchanged, isolated genetic alterations can be permanent, placing all subsequent generations at greater risk of diseases. Toxic exposures during these moments of heightened susceptibility can cause disease and disability in childhood and throughout life.

Though some chemicals connected to negative health or development impacts are now regulated in the United States, many remain unregulated Adverse health effects have been linked to chemicals at exposure levels commonly found in our everyday environments. Moreover, tests for developmental effects are not routinely required before a chemical is used in everyday products. So, we have an incredible gap in understanding because 80% of major chemicals in commerce have never been tested to see if they damage early development - the period of highest vulnerability.

What can you do to protect yourself and your children (whether you have kids now or are planning on having them in the future)? Prevent unnecessary exposures. Use the Health eHome and visit HealthyChild.org to find out how.

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• Health eHome
• Toxins and Pregnancy
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
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Environment and Cancer: Myths Vs Facts

Our guest blogger is Devra Lee Davis, PhD, MPH, Director, Center for Environmental Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and author of The Secret History of the War on Cancer.

At the Center for Environmental Oncology, our mission is helping to make prevention the cure for cancer. We translate scientific findings into educational materials and public policy recommendations to provide information on practical actions people can take to reduce the risk of cancer. Knowledge about cancer risks can empower people to make healthier choices for themselves their families and communities.

Myth: Chemical flame retardants in furniture and plastics are a "necessary evil" for preventing house fires.

Toxic flame retardants, long-lived chemicals that can accumulate in people and other animals, threaten the health of adults, children, the environment, and wildlife and are not proven to prevent fire deaths. Brominated Tris, a chemical used to make children's sleepwear fire resistant in the 70's, was banned in 1977 after it was found to damage DNA in laboratory tests and shown to leach into children's bodies. Its replacement, chlorinated Tris, was later banned after it was found to also damage DNA. (1)

Today, because of California law, much furniture and bedding foam is treated with a brominated chemical called poly brominated diphenyl ether (PBDE). PBDE's structurally resemble chlorinated Tris, which was a widely used fire retardant in furniture. Like chlorinated Tris, PBDE was recently deemed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to be "a probable human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence in animals." (2) most chemicals in this family, when tested in animals, have been found to cause health problems like cancer, sterility, thyroid disorders, endocrine disruption, and developmental impairment or birth defects, even at very low doses. (3, 4) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that residues of these and other persistent organic chemicals are found in children and women of reproductive age and in breast milk. (5) An analysis of fire data from 1980 to 2002 showed that, among the eight most populated states in the U.S., the rate of reduction of fire deaths in California (the only state with regulations leading to the use of fire retardant chemicals) is similar to seven other states that do not regulate the flammability of furniture. (6)

Myth: Asbestos, a known carcinogen, has been banned in the US.

Although restricted in use, asbestos is not banned and can sometimes be found in old brakes, roofing tiles, cement and insulation. Asbestos, the name given to a number of naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation and high tensile strength, is found in many products today, including roofing shingles, pipeline wrap, ceiling and floor tiles, paper and cement products, and in automobile parts such as the clutch, brake and transmission. Additionally, the EPA reports that 35 million American homes may be contaminated with asbestos in their attics in the form of Zonolite, the trade name for one specific type of insulation that was sold in the 1960s through 1980s and can contain an asbestos fiber called tremolite.

Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed. When inhaled, asbestos fibers can lead to serious lung diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. If it must be disturbed or removed, asbestos should be handled only by a licensed inspector. Children should never play in attics or other areas where asbestos products have been used. (7) According to reports from several national cancer institutes (8), one in three cases of mesothelioma—a lethal and rare cancer uniquely tied with asbestos exposure—occurs today in a person who has never worked with asbestos, indicating that environmental exposures may play a role.

Myth: Personal care products are always safe to use.

The FDA does not have the authority to require safety testing on personal care products. Many of the products that women, men, and children use every day contain known and suspected cancer-causing agents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has undertaken a human biomonitoring study, reports that some of the toxic chemicals found in personal care products - including those that can cause cancer, interfere with hormone function and cause birth defects - are ending up in our bodies. (9, 10) These toxic chemicals include: lead in lipstick, phthalates and formaldehyde in nail polish, and parabens, used as preservatives in many products. the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics created Skin Deep Database, which can be searched to evaluate make up; skin-, hair-, eye-, nail-, baby-, and oral-, care products; and products containing fragrance.

Myth: Diagnostic radiation is safe for adults or children.

In 2007, the American College of Radiology (ACR) noted that in the past quarter century, the amount of radiation the U.S. population receives each year from medical imaging has increased fivefold. (11) Just this past month, the FDA issued an advisory to physicians regarding the inappropriate use of diagnostic radiation in children (12), while the Image Gently national campaign is encouraging pediatricians to use as low as reasonable achievable doses. (13)
A single CT scan of a child's stomach or head can be equivalent to between 200 to 6,000 chest X-rays. (14) One group of researchers, recently estimated that in one year, 700 people will die from cancers associated with head CT's and 1,800 will die from radiation-induced cancer from abdominal examinations carried out when they were infants. (15) If a CT scan is recommended for a healthy individual, especially a child, it is important to consider whether another diagnostic tool, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or ultrasound (neither of which involve radiation) could be used, instead.

References

1. A. Blum and B.N. Ames, Flame Retardant Additives as Possible Cancer Hazards: The main flame retardant in children's pajamas is a mutagen and should not be used. Science 195, 17. (1977)
2. The National Academies, Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering and Medicine,"The Science Behind Today's News," [Website]
3. J.A. Dye, M. Venier, C.R. Ward, L.Y. Zhu, R.A. Hites, L.S. Flame retardants in animals: Pet cats in the U.S. have high polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) serum levels. Birnbaum Society of Toxicology. Annual meeting Abstract number 853. (2007)
4. Tomy, G. T.; Palace, V. P.; Halldorson, T.; Braekevelt, E.; Danell, R.; Wautier, K.; Evans, B.; Brinkworth, L.; Fisk, A. T., Bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and biochemical effects of brominated diphenyl ethers in juvenile lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Environmental Science & Technology, 38, (5), 1496-1504. (2004)
5. Schecter A, Pavuk M, Papke O, Ryan JJ, BirnbaumL, Rosen R. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE's) in U.S. Mothers' Milk. EHP 111(14)1723-1729. (2003)
6. California fire deaths compared to other states: National Fire Protection Association, Fire Death Rates By State, [Website]
7. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/help.html#pastandpresent http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html
8. Davis, Devra. The Secret History of the War on Cancer, Basic Books, New York. (October 2007), pps. 310, 471.
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals [Website] (2001-2004)
10. Malkan S. Not Just Another Pretty Face: The Ugly Truth about the Cosmetic Industry. New Society Publishers; 1 edition (November 1, 2007)
11. Amis, E S, Butler, P. F., and Applegate, K.E., et al. (2007) American College of Radiology White Paper on Radiation Dose in Medicine. J AM Coll Radiol, 4, 272-284.
12. US Food And Drug Administration: FDA Public Health Notification: Reducing Radiation Risk from Computed Tomography for Pediatric and Small Adult Patients [Website]
13. American College of Radiology, Image Gently Campaign, [Website]
14. Brenner D, Elliston C, Hall E, Berdon W. 2001."Estimated risks of radiation-induced fatal cancer from pediatric CT." AJR 176(2): 289-96.
15. Brenner, D, Elliston C, Hall E, Berdon W., "Estimated risks of radiation-induced fatal cancer from pediatric CT." AJR 176 (2): 289-96/

Related Topics:

• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Cancer Newsletter - Get the latest information in your inbox

Kate Hudson Says You're in Charge!

Healthy Child Healthy World

What are you in charge of? Your life, your home, your purchases, and so much more. It's not as though you needed permission, but it's important to remember nonetheless - especially as you start to create a cleaner, greener, healthier home. You're going to encounter a lot of rules - do this, don't do that, avoid this, buy that - but you need to take charge and choose what's right for you.

As Kate Hudson says in our book, "When it comes to living a healthier life, I really feel you have to call your own shots. You have to begin by deciding to make positive changes. I started by making certain things myself. I've made lotions, candles, homeopathic remedies, and aromatherapy treatments, mainly as fun hobbies that then developed my interest in the types of ingredients used in products and their effects on us and the environment...It's all about taking charge...I can do something - quite a lot, actually."

She's right. You'll find that small actions quickly turn to habit and before you know it, you're feeling healthier and happier than ever. Many of the ideas will help you save money, too! Want to make your own lotion like Kate? For less than a dollar per bottle and with only three ingredients, you can make a natural moisturizing lotion. Replace that apple cinnamon plug-in air freshener with some real sliced apple and cinnamon - just simmer in some water on the stove to make the whole house smell like apple pie. Simple tricks like these save you money, reduce your exposure to unnecessary chemicals, and help protect the planet.

Where should YOU start creating a healthier home? Take the Health eHome quiz to find out.

*****

Kate Hudson's quote taken from Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.

Related Topics:

• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter

No One Can Do Everything

by Christopher Gavigan

Eat your (local and seasonal) vegetables. Clean the kitchen. Pay your bills online. Life is filled with demands, tasks, and responsibilities. All these big and little things we're supposed to do everyday, and the list is always growing. Toss in loving and attending to your children's needs, and each day becomes a whirlwind of activity. There never seem to be enough minutes in the day.

As if you didn't have enough to worry about already, there is a constant onslaught of fear-based headlines about chemicals in plastics, toxics in toys, and contaminants in food - all of which can make you confused, overwhelmed, and near immobile. What are you supposed to do? What's important? What do you do first? Who has time to research all of these issues?

Every so often something comes along that actually makes your life easier. Right now is one of those times.

WebMD has aligned with Healthy Child Healthy World, a nonprofit leader dedicated to inspiring parents to protect children from harmful chemicals, to bring you the all new Health eHome. This interactive, educational tool offers you the easy tips, practical solutions, and most trusted advice about healthy, safe, environmentally sensible living. (Life just got easier.)

Explore it, bookmark it, and refer to it whenever you read an alarming headline, hear a fellow parent express concern, or see a product claim that makes you wonder what you can realistically do to protect your health. We know you're busy and you have better things to do with your time, so we'll try to make it all quick, easy, and maybe even entertaining (RSS this blog for that part).

And if we inspired you to be even more interested about nontoxic options and safer products (it's ok to be an uber-greenie), there is MORE, much more, to discover at HealthyChild.org, our nonprofit's main site.

Please always remember, while trying to protect your health and the planet can seem very overwhelming, every little bit you do helps. Promise. Try to live with this mantra in mind: No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

So, visit the Health eHome when you can get those free 10 minutes and pick one thing to do today. It matters! And you'll be joining a movement of parents eager to create a healthier tomorrow for our children.

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• Health eHome
• How Healthy is Your Home?
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The Benefits of Breast Milk Outweigh Any Risks

Our guest blogger is Sandra Steingraber, PhD, a biologist, award-winning author, mother of two, and cancer survivor. Formerly on faculty at Cornell University, she is currently Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York.

Stories in the media about the chemical contamination of human milk have made many mothers wonder if bottle-feeding might be an equally healthy alternative to breastfeeding. It is not.

The choice is very clear: Your own breast milk is, hands down, the best food for your baby - far better than its inferior pretender infant formula. This is the conclusion I reached after more than two years of studying the data on the chemical contamination of breast milk. It's why I nursed Faith for more than two years.

Let's first look at the benefits breast milk offers your baby. And then we'll examine the contamination issue.

Breast milk is not just food. It is also medicine. It swarms with antibodies and white blood cells drawn from your own body. By drinking it, your infant comes to share your immune system.

And benefits mightily from it. Breastfed infants:

• have lower rates of hospitalization and death;
• develop fewer respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, ear infections, and meningitis;
• succumb less often to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; and,
• produce more antibodies in response to immunizations.

Studies also consistently show that children who were breastfed as infants:

• suffer less from allergies, asthma, diabetes, colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis;
• have higher I.Q. scores; and
• are less likely to develop obesity and cancer.

Breast milk even contains special substances that help guide the development of the brain after birth. And breastfeeding protects your own health. You will:

• bleed less after childbirth;
• lose less blood during the chaotic days of early motherhood, because breastfeeding suppresses menstruation;
• be at lower risk for hip fracture after menopause; and
• have lower rates of ovarian and breast cancer.

And there are practical benefits, too. Breastfeeding can be done one-handed. (Indeed, I'm nursing my son as I'm writing these words.) Bottle-feeding, which takes two hands, makes multi-tasking impossible. Breast milk is so digestible that comparatively little comes out the other end. Less poop. And it has no offensive odor. Really.

On the other hand, the chemical contamination of breast milk is not a trivial issue. When it comes to persistent organic pollutants, breast milk is the most contaminated of all human foods. It typically carries concentrations of organochlorine pollutants, such as dioxin, PCBs and DDT, that are ten to twenty times higher than those in cow's milk. And children who were breastfed as babies have higher levels of chemical contaminants in their bodies than those who were formula-fed. (Remember, in spite of this fact, breastfed children are healthier, less prone to cancer, and smarter.)

Breast milk is particularly vulnerable to chemical contamination because it exists one rung higher on the human food chain than the food that we adults eat. For chemicals that magnify as they move up the food chain - and the most serious toxins do - our breasts offer the poisons one more chance to concentrate.

DDT and PCBs remain the most widespread contaminants in human milk around the world. Other common contaminants of mother's milk include ingredients of flame retardants, pesticides, wood preservatives, toilet deodorizers, and dry-cleaning fluids.

Take these steps to provide your baby with the best nutrition possible:

Breastfeed. Your milk is unsubstitutable. Your baby needs it and will thrive on it. Indeed some researchers believe that breast milk can actually help "rescue" the baby from certain kinds of prenatal toxic damage. The healing powers of breast milk are unsurpassed.

Continue to avoid home and garden pesticides after your pregnancy. These chemicals can easily find their way into your milk through breathing and skin contact. For information on alternatives to pesticides, see Pest Control Without Pesticides.

Eat healthy by choosing a low-contaminant diet. While most chemical contaminants in breast milk are drawn from fat reserves that have been laid down over the mother's lifetime, you can at least reduce your current daily intake of harmful chemicals by:

• eating organic when possible. See Why Go Organic and Ten Fruits and Vegetables to Buy Organic.
  
• watching your fish consumption. The U.S Food and Drug Administration advises nursing women to avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. But, the Environmental Working Group and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group recommend greater caution, suggesting that nursing mothers avoid tuna steaks, sea bass, oysters from the Gulf Coast, marlin, halibut, pike, walleye, white croaker and largemouth bass.

Continue to avoid dry-cleaning fumes and other solvents from paints and finishes , glues and other building products.

Support efforts to phase out any and all toxic chemicals that accumulate in mother's milk. To help, contact Making Our Milk Safe (MOMS). Enjoy these days as a soon-to-be lactating mother. You are in full bloom.

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: Breastfeeding Help at Home
• New Breastfeeding Push at Hospitals
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How the First Family Copes with Asthma

Healthy Child Healthy World

The Obama's have been on a dog hunt for several months now as a reward for Malia and Sasha's patience throughout the long campaign. There have been many recommendations for a first canine, so why is it taking so long to find just the right one? Well, as a matter of fact, it needs to be hypoallergenic because young Malia suffers from asthma.

According to the First Lady, in a piece she wrote for our book, it all started with a family outing to the circus when Malia was about three years old. Her breathing became more and more strained until they rushed her to the emergency room where the doctor diagnosed her with asthma.

Everyone who's been through it knows that an asthma diagnosis begins a complete shift in lifestyle. For the Obama family, it was no different. How have they coped? "Since then, we've worked to stay ahead of it," writes First Lady Obama. "We take Malia to the pediatrician regularly to ensure she has whatever treatment she requires. She had an inhaler for a while, but hasn't needed one for a year or two now. We keep our house dust- and dander-free, and don't bring in anything that will disrupt her."

She advocates for the same type of simple prevention for others in the same position. "Parents of children with asthma need to know how to reduce the chances of an attack if it happens, and when to go to the hospital. Irritants and allergens in the air, such as smoke, dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches, mold, and pollen, can make attacks more likely. So parents who have children with asthma should keep houses clean of potential triggers."

In addition to reducing these more commonly recognized allergens, you can also help everyone breathe easier by following these simple steps:

1. Open your windows. Chemicals like respiratory irritants build up in your home if there is no ventilation. By opening your windows, you will let fresh air in and allow polluted air a way to exit. Check AirNow.gov and Pollen.com for information regarding outdoor air quality in order to make sure you are opening your windows at the best times.

2. Reduce dust and other particles on your floor. Twice a week, use a damp mop or use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters capture 95 percent of all particles. Consider replacing wall-to-wall carpeting, a pollutant trap, with washable area rugs.

3. Avoid all chemical pesticides. Pesticides are poisons. There are safer alternatives to keep pests under control.

4. Use least-toxic, mild, or non-toxic household cleaners. Conventional cleaners can irritate airways. Instead, use basic kitchen ingredients or buy "green" cleaners that are made with less toxic ingredients.

5. Use natural personal care products. Cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, and perfumes can all contain a multitude of chemicals that can irritate the respiratory system. Look for products with ingredients you can pronounce and use less. Refer to Cosmeticsdatabase.com for the safest options.

*****

Michelle Obama's quotes taken from Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: Asthma Triggers in Children
• WebMD Slideshow: Pets and Allergies
• Hypoallergenic Dogs and Dog Allergies: FAQ
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Eco-Conscious Conception

by Christopher Gavigan

Photo: Healthy Child Healthy World

By now it should be quite clear that what's best for the planet is also what's best for our health. Polluted air, water, and soil eventually lead to polluted people because, like every other creature on this big blue globe, we depend on air, water, and soil for survival. Unfortunately, we've hit a point of planetary overload. Now, every corner of the Earth is contaminated to some degree and every single person carries a personal body burden of industrial chemicals, most of which didn't exist two generations ago. Worst of all, babies born today have over 200 toxic pollutants pulsing through their delicate, tiny bodies.

What is this doing to our health? We don't know for certain, but strong scientific evidence tells us many diseases and disabilities have direct links to contaminants in our environment. In fact, our children may be the first generation in two centuries to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. This is largely due to the obesity epidemic, which is increasingly tied to our daily exposure to chemicals .

Many people start living a more conscious, greener life after they become parents. They try to reduce exposure to risky chemicals and buy safer alternatives, even if it costs 15 cents more. I see that extra cost as an investment in my child's "health savings account." The obvious fragility of your offspring triggers an uncontrollable need to be the protector, and to ensure a decent planet for their future. But in reality, if you wait until you first hear the heart beat or hold your tiny newborn child, then you've missed a critical period of protection. Family planning in a polluted world means becoming eco-conscious and detoxifying your life long before you start getting re-"productive".

Human Development 101

Since most of us forget the lessons of our high school health class roughly three and a half minutes after it's over, here's a mini refresher:

Human reproduction is a delicate and startlingly quick process. Most women don't even know they're pregnant until they have been for a month or so, but during that short period a baby is going through some of the most dramatic changes of his or her life. In just a few short weeks, even though the developing baby is still tiny, it has a heartbeat and the nervous system, stomach, lungs, liver, and pancreas have all started to form.

Because so much is happening so quickly, these first weeks are a particularly vulnerable period in human growth; the most hazardous period in your life. Each development relies on precise, successful development in the previous stage. If an environmental factor, such as a chemical contaminant in the mother's body, interferes with growth during a critical period of development, the child may be permanently affected. All this responsibility, and you probably don't even know you're pregnant yet.

What Can You Do?

Since nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended, living an eco-conscious, healthy lifestyle may be the best thing you can do to prepare your body for having children, planned or not. This goes for the gentlemen too - toxins are known to affect the health and mobility of sperm. Start now to prevent birth defects or other unintended long-term ailments and consequences in the future. Give yourself at least three months to detoxify your body before you begin trying to have a baby.

Remember, no matter when you start, use Healthy Child Healthy World's 5 Easy Steps to make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time. And if you are pregnant now, I strongly encourage you to start today. The little happy faces in your near future will thank you.

Related Topics:

• Health Guidelines Ignored Before Pregnancy
• WebMD Slideshow: Fetal Growth and Development
• Get the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter in your inbox weekly

Chemicals in Everyday Products and Children's Health: A Small Dose of the Facts

Our guest blogger is Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, a pediatrician, epidemiologist, and internationally recognized leader in public health and preventive medicine. He is currently the Ethel H. Wise Professor of Pediatrics, Chair of Community and Preventative Medicine, and Director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Patterns of illness in American children have changed dramatically in this century. The ancient infectious diseases have largely been controlled. The major diseases confronting children now are chronic and disabling conditions:

• Asthma incidence has more than doubled;


• Leukemia and brain cancer have increased in incidence, brain cancer by nearly 40% over the past three decades;


• Neurodevelopmental dysfunction is widespread;


• Incidence of hypospadias, a birth defect of the reproductive organs in baby boys, has doubled.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Chemical toxicants are known and suspected to contribute to causation of these pediatric diseases. They deserve great attention because they are generally preventable sources of harm. Children are at risk of exposure to over 15,000 high-production-volume synthetic chemicals, nearly all of them developed in the past 50 years. These chemicals are used widely in consumer products and are dispersed in the environment. More than half are untested for toxicity.

Children are especially sensitive to environmental toxins.

• Pound for pound of body weight, children have greater exposure to pesticides because they drink more water, eat more food and breathe more air than adults.


• Their unique behaviors put them at higher risk. They live and play close to the floor; and they constantly put their fingers into their mouths.


• Children's metabolic pathways, especially in the first months after birth are immature. Generally they are less well able to metabolize, detoxify, and excrete toxicants than adults and thus are more vulnerable to them.


• Children are undergoing rapid growth and development, and their developmental processes are easily disrupted. From conception and throughout fetal development, exquisitely small toxin exposures can cause permanent impacts.


• Since children have more future years of life than most adults, they have more time to develop chronic diseases that may be triggered by early exposures.

Our children are our future. Our responsibility as the adults of our society is to care for our children, protect their health, and guide them to successful adulthood. One of the simplest steps parents can take is to create a healthy home. Get started today.

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