Safe Cosmetics

The world of face products and cosmetics is so huge and overwhelming that I have been putting off this very important blog. I've touched on the topic briefly in other blogs, but I'm diving in, tackling it head-on. When I refer to cosmetics in this post, it also includes face washes, shampoos, deodorants, etc.

What motivated me to finally write this post, is that I've been reading the most amazing book, "The Green Beauty Guide" by Julie Gabriel, who also has a website by the same name. I'm going to attempt to highlight the most eye-opening parts of this book, but if you are interested in natural skin care, I highly recommend reading the book (available at the library too!).

1. "Normal" skin doesn't exist. Slight dryness and oily spots are totally normal, but cosmetic companies have turned them into problem areas that need fixing. The key to remember is that when you put a product on your face (or hair) to fix a problem such as an oily T-zone or a pimple, you are simply trying to cover up the problem and not dealing with the cause.
2. Sebum is our skin's way of keeping itself moisturized. Skin care experts claim that sebum mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to form plugs in pores. So naturally they jump to the conclusion that sebum is the enemy, instead of promoting good skin care habits that would eliminate dead skill cells and bacteria buildup.
3. Our skin absorbs up to 60% of what we put on it, meaning that what you are putting on your skin, you are also putting into your body. Many of the chemicals in our skin products are carcinogenic and therefore getting into our bodies.
4. Many of the claims made by cosmetic companies are bogus. They do have to prove or back up their effectiveness claims. When a product says "dermatologist tested" what it means is, a dermatologist looked over the ingredients and deemed them safe.
5. The European Union banned animal testing 2000, but here in the US, all we do is animal testing, and most often on genetically modified mice or rabbits, and it's the only research the FDA will stand by. As I've mentioned before, the FDA is a joke. Since it's creation (67 years ago), the FDA has banned only nine personal care ingredients. It took 20 years for the FDA to ban lead, yet it is still used in millions of toys that are let into our country. And there is a ton of research out there (quoted in the book) that supports the connection between chemicals (that are allowed by the FDA) and cancer.
6. Do NOT be fooled by the claims that a product is "natural," "eco-friendly," or "organic." You MUST read the label and ingredients. Many contain "eth" chemicals that are dangerous (see below).
7. Perfumes are FULL of toxic chemicals. I began avoided them while pregnant because I learned how dangerous they can be for a fetus and have not returned to wearing them.

Okay, here's the list of chemicals you want to keep an eye out for because they have been shown to be carcinogenic:
1) Anything containing the word "ethanol" including DEA (diethanolamine)
2) 1,4-Dioxane; banned in Cali and a by-product of ethoxylation which is an attempt by companies to provide mildness to harsh ingredients. It has been proven by EPA to lead to cancer and yet it is not required to be listed on the label. Look for products with ingredients "eth" in the name--sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), oleth, myreth, ceteareth.  PEGs are very often found in baby wipes (which is why we use cloth wipes, except when on the road).
3) Phthalates: disguised as di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP commonly in nail polish) and di(2-ehtylhexyl) DEHP in perfumes). The word "fragrance" should also be a red flag for you, unless it specifically says that it comes from essential oils. Fragrance is a disguise for phthalates, which changes our hormones, making males and females more feminine. Research links phthalates to rising incidence of hormone-related conditions, including polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, and breast cancer. Recent research links phthalate use to early puberty in girls. The CDC found that phthalate levels in young women were 20x above average. Unborn baby boys are also susceptible to phthalate use. Increased phthalate levels have been shown to damage the developing testes, but also have been shown to have more systemic affects such as low sperm count, sexual dysfunction, and hormonal problems. Increased phthalate presence has also been linked to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. And yes, phthalates are in our children's toys, and yes, Europe banned them two years ago....and the US is behind the ball again...
4) Aluminum has been linked in research to breast cancer and Alzheimer's Disease. It is most commonly found in our deodorants, because it helps to clog the pores and not let sweat out. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin and it can alter the blood-brain barrier.
5) Glycol: these are in everything, from aircraft deicer fluid to baby wash. The two most common are propylene glycol (PG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). PGs are generally recognized as safe by the FDA for use in food, cosmetics, and medicines, however it was banned from cat food...hmmmmm. PEG is used in a lot of "natural" products that have to be delivered in a slippery, syrupy form. These chemicals have not been linked to cancer, but change the body's chemistry by increasing the amount of acid present, which results in metabolic problems. There has been evidence that PEGs have impurities that lead them to be toxic.
6) There are also many, many preservatives used in cosmetics that increase their shelf life. There are many natural preservatives that could be used to replace these, but aren't. One natural cosmetics expert stated that if a product is made poorly and diluted with water, then it needs a preservative, but a well made product would not need such strong preservatives.
7) Parabens (a preservative): again, these are in EVERYTHING. When rubbed into the skin, the parabens are rapidly absorbed and metabolized and stored in the body. A major study in 2002 linked parabens to proliferation of two estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cells. Parabens have also been found in breast milk and breast cancer tumors. Parabens mimic estrogen and can therefore affect our ovaries and thyroid. They are disguised as benzoic acid, isobutyl p-hydroxybenzoate and p-methoxycarbonylphenol and are strictly regulated in Europe.

So here's my latest finds that are about as natural as you can get:
Natural Being, using Manuka honey from New Zealand
Suki, the latest rage among celebs but have very good natural care products, with the exception of 1-2 products.
Dr. Hauschka: the end-all and be-all of healthy cosmetics. It falls WAY above my price range, but maybe someday :)
Origins is pretty good in eliminating the major players like DEA, parabens, phthalates, but still have a few questionable ingredients, usually low on the ingredient list, but nonetheless they are there. Many of their simple products, like "Checks and Balances" facewash, are fairly safe.

And if you have others you love, let me know!

If in question about any of your cosmetics and skincare products, please consult www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. It allows you to type in products as well as ingredients to find out how safe or unsafe they are. It also tells you why a chemical is unsafe.

This book has been a fabulous read, and I'm going to try a few new strategies (found in her book), on how to improve my skin. If you struggle with your skin, it is worth your time. I'm hoping for good results!

Toothpaste

Nothing is more refreshing than a good toothbrushing each morning and night. You get the wonderful fresh breath that's hard to get any other way. However, very few people realize that dangerous chemicals are lurking in their toothpaste. I'll tackle them one-by-one, starting with fluoride.

Fluoride: please see my previous blog on this, but I've stumbled across more research to support my concern. A study of the University of Michigan in 1997 found that the use of fluoride actually increased tooth and bone decay. This was supported by another research study in 2008. A research study at the National Center for Toxicological Research reported correlation between decreasing fertility rates in women and increasing fluoride levels. There is so much more research out there, but I won't bore you. Just realize that fluoride may not be all it is cracked up to be.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate: ANYTHING containing the word "sulfate" should be avoided. It is a serious irritant. Also, "laureth" indicates that a process call ethoxylation occurred, which releases carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane into the product, although it does not have to be reported on the label because it is released during manufacturing.

Sodium saccharin: This is a sweetener that is used to make toothpaste taste better, even though there are studies that date back as early as 1970 that link saccharin to cancer in animals. There have been recent studies that link it to bladder control issues as well.

Dyes: Most of the toothpastes on the market have multiple dyes in them to make them visually appealing.

I haven't used a fluoride toothpaste in over a year and haven't heard any complaints from my dentist yet! My favorite is Tom's of Maine, their fluoride-free, sulfate-free version. Do not be fooled, not all of the Tom's brand are safe, in my mind. Most of them contain sulfates, so read the label.

If you feel the need to use a fluoride rinse, please consider using one that is free of artificial dyes. I was so excited to finally find one at PCC made by Natural Dentist. Yes, the price is a bit high, but my husband's dentist insists he use one, so we budget for it.

It is not only important to take care of our teeth, but also our little one's. We primarily use a fluoride-free paste for my son, but because my naturopathic pediatrician does feel that a small amount of fluoride won't hurt him, I compromise and give him fluoride toothpaste 1-2x/week. And the amount is the size of a lentil. And I still feel guilty. But I'm trying to not be overly paranoid and still protect my son's teeth. I had serious fluorosis (damage to the teeth from excessive fluoride) until I had veneers put in, and I don't want him to have to go through that.

I'm off to brush my teeth and say goodnight....

Lent, Revisited...

Okay, so an update....after I gave up the sugar, I started to fall back into old habits of eating everything BUT the sugar. It became more of a stress rather than a positive thing in my life. So I had to alter things a bit...I re-included less refined sugars such as agave, date sugar and maple sugar, as well as molasses (in my BBQ sauce) because it actually has healthy minerals. I also re-included homemade desserts using these sugars...I think baking is one way I de-stress and I'm always coming up with ways to make old recipes more healthy, and that's something I really enjoy doing and sharing.

I gave up sugar originally because I thought I should give up a vice for Lent, but really, sugar isn't my enemy like it used to be (back in the day when I had no idea what high-fructose corn syrup was). Sugar used to hold a power over me, but it no longer does. I continue to eliminate it where ever it shouldn't be, like in my ketchup, but I'm okay with an occasional homemade cookie (nothing overly processed like Girl Scout cookies, which just make my stomach hurt).

And I really have enjoyed using the alternate sugars. I highly recommend those above as well as brown rice syrup. I made the most fabulous peanut butter cups the other day using the maple sugar...yum! Let me know if you want the recipe :)

Microwaves

I was doing some reading online tonight about the chemicals in plastic and came across an article discussing the use of microwaves. I don't like microwaves. When I was pregnant I avoided them like the plague. If I absolutely had to use one, I'd hit start and book it to the next room. While many scientists claim that we are not to be concerned about the radiation from microwaves, there is some research to indicate otherwise. But this is not my latest concern.

New research is now indicating that microwaves affect the quality of our food. Several studies have indicated that microwaves convert particles in our food to carcinogens. This is very controversial, but when you think about, injecting waves of radiation into our food, can't be go, can it? I've already discussed how radiation affects our brains, which are at least protected by bone and CSF fluid. Our food is right there on the plate, with no protection. One study found that 93% of nutrients were lost with microwaving. It is also important to know that the risks of microwaves increase with packaged foods, such a popcorn (which typically has palm oil on it, which is bad enough for you, without also placing it in the microwave). And of course we all know not to put plastics in the microwave, but popcorns bags contain BPA and release it during popping. We invested in an awesome air popper last year because my husband kept bugging me to buy popcorn which I wouldn't because of the bag issue. The air popped takes a bit to get used to, but with a smidge of real butter and salt, I swear it's better than the packaged product. Additionally:

• A 1999 Scandinavian study of the cooking of asparagus spears found that microwaving caused a reduction in vitamin C[6] .
• In a study of garlic, as little as 60 seconds of microwave heating was enough to inactivate its allinase, garlic’s principle active ingredient against cancer[7] .
• A Japanese study by Watanabe showed that just 6 minutes of microwave heating turned 30-40 percent of the B12 in milk into an inert (dead) form[8] . This study has been cited by Dr. Andrew Weil as evidence supporting his concerns about the effects of microwaving. Dr. Weil wrote:
• “There may be dangers associated with microwaving food... there is a question as to whether microwaving alters protein chemistry in ways that might be harmful."
• A recent Australian study[9] showed that microwaves cause a higher degree of “protein unfolding” than conventional heating.
• Microwaving can destroy the essential disease-fighting agents in breast milk that offer protection for your baby. In 1992, Quan found that microwaved breast milk lost lysozyme activity, antibodies, and fostered the growth of more potentially pathogenic bacteria[10] .
• Quan stated that more damage was done to the milk by microwaving than by other methods of heating, concluding: “Microwaving appears to be contraindicated at high-temperatures, and questions regarding its safety exist even at low temperatures.”
  • Another study about breast milk/infant formula by Lee in 1989[11] found vitamin content becomes depleted by microwaving, and certain amino acids are converted into other substances that are biologically inactive. Some altered amino acids are poisons to the nervous system and kidneys. (Numerous authors mention this study, yet I was unable to find the original article/study, so I cannot personally validate.)
    Although many of the above studies are not new, there is certainly ample evidence that microwaving is NOT good for your food.

Other research from Russia has found the following:

• Russian investigators found that carcinogens were formed from the microwaving of nearly all foods tested.
• The microwaving of milk and grains converted some of the amino acids into carcinogenic substances.
• Microwaving prepared meats caused the formation of the cancer-causing agents d-Nitrosodienthanolamines.
• Thawing frozen fruits by microwave converted their glucoside and galactoside fractions into carcinogenic substances.
• Extremely short exposure of raw, cooked or frozen vegetables converted their plant alkaloids into carcinogens.
• Carcinogenic free radicals were formed in microwaved plants—especially root vegetables.
• Structural degradation leading to decreased food value was found to be 60 to 90 percent overall for all foods tested, with significant decreases in bioavailability of B complex vitamins, vitamins C and E, essential minerals, and lipotropics (substances that prevent abnormal accumulation of fat).

These particular findings are especially controversial, because even though they are cited in multiple articles and websites, the actual source is not traceable.

There is a study that I will conduct when I get home from vacation and share with you: take two identical plants and feed one with purified water (which is all we use in our house, except for washing dishes) and feed the other with microwaved water...can't wait to see the results for myself.

There is good news though! Using the conventional oven does not damage the food in the way that microwaves do. Microwaves damage the DNA in food whereas heating alone via an oven does not.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/18/microwave-hazards.aspx

Vaccines are being linked to breast cancer

It seems like an unlikely connection, doesn't it? I was skeptical when I first read the headline...and I will also let you know that I did try to track down any other research on this connection, but I found only one other site and it only briefly mentioned the connection. Here's the claim: a large number of studies have shown the connection between free iron concentrations in breast tissue and stimulation of aggressive, deadly cancer cells, thus the claim that iron is needed for cancer development. In addition, a recent study found that women with breast cancer had 4x the amount of aluminum in nipple fluid (I'll save the overuse of aluminum for another post). These women with breast cancer also had 5x the amount of ferritin, which is an iron transport protein. BUT iron intake does not necessary correlate with free iron in the body. Stay with me....so what is important to know, is how free iron (iron not being used for other bodily functions) comes to be (it is this iron that has the potential to cause cancer). A few ways have been determined: 1) alcoholic intake greater than 20g alcohol/day resulted in a significant increase in free iron in women's breast tissue 2) excessive estrogen in the body (don't forget that soy is an estrogenic and imitates estrogen) 3) both alcohol and aluminum can displace iron, raising levels of free iron. SO I hope you are now asking, where are the levels of aluminum coming from? Well, it is likely coming from your antiperspirant, but more alarmingly, aluminum is in almost all vaccines. Yes, the same aluminum that has been linked to Alzheimer's...A recent study that is currently being published, found that infants have 20x the amount that FDA deems safe and that a six month old has 50x the amount deemed safe. Yikes!

Does that make sense? I just tried explaining it to my husband and it took a few tries, but I think I finally made sense :)

This if fairly new research, but I'm hoping we hear more about this in the next few months, but I have such little faith in mainstream media so we'll see.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/18/vaccines-increase-cancer-risk.aspx

I saw the sun today!

Okay, it was a fleeting moment, but thoughts of sunscreen, bug spray, and hats came swirling through my brain. The sunscreens that are readily available on the market are so unhealthy. They contain a vast array of chemicals, including parabens. The FDA has failed to regulate sunscreens, although this is reportedly supposed to change this summer. The chemical of most concern is benzophenone-3 (BP-3). Some studies have reported that it is an estrogenic mimic and therefore affects the hormones in your body. It causes the release of free radicals when it comes in contact with the sun. Free radicals are one of the causes of cancer. I copied the below from: http://www.skinbiology.com/toxicsunscreens.html. These are some of the critical things I want to get across:

Chemical sunscreens have three primary defects: 

1	They are powerful free radical generators.	Their free radical generation increases cellular damage and changes that lead to cancer. Psoralen - such a compound that is used to treat psoriasis increases skin cancer rates 83-fold.
2	They often have strong estrogenic activity.	Estrogenic - "Gender Bending" - chemicals interfere with normal sexual development - Engendering a host of secondary medical problems - see more below.
3	They are synthetic chemicals that are alien to the human body and accumulate in body fat stores.	The human body is well adapted to de-toxify biologicals that it has been exposed to over tens of millions of years. But it has often has difficulty removing new and non-biological compounds such DDT, Dioxin, PCBs, and chemical sunscreens.

Chemical Sunscreens Include:

Benzophenones (dixoybenzone, oxybenzone)

PABA and PABA esters (ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB,  glyceryl PABA, p-aminobenzoic acid, padimate-O or octyl dimethyl PABA)

Cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate)

Salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate)

Digalloyl trioleate

Menthyl anthranilate

Avobenzone [butyl-methyoxydibenzoylmethane; Parsol 1789] - This is the only chemical sunscreen currently allowed by the European Community. However, its safety is still questionable since it easily penetrates the skin and is a strong free radical generator. 

Europe is always leaps ahead of the US. So if something is banned there (as most of the above chemicals are), I won't touch it with a ten foot pole. For example, the banned BPA years before the US even began to debate it. 

An interesting statistic from the above site is this: the highest rate of melanoma occurs in the countries of heaviest sunscreen use...

For you parents out there: I love California Baby sunscreens. For us and babies, I love the Badger brand which can be purchased online.

Enjoy the sun this spring/summer, but also don't forget the best way to get vitamin D is 15 minutes of direct sunlight without the sunscreen :)

a few resources:
http://greenlivingideas.com/2008/06/03/chemical-free-sunscreens/
this is a really interesting article on sunscreen

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/
my go-to website! It let's you check the sunscreen you have to make sure it is safe to use.

http://www.ewg.org/newsrelease/whichsunscreenssafest
the science on the sunscreens

Processed vs Natural Foods

I've been putting off this blog because I knew that it would take me time to organize my thoughts so that I wasn't just rambling off gibberish. But I just read about Weight Watchers, who is changing their tune on calorie counting, and I was motivated to get my thoughts onto out.

After years of struggling with my weight, I can tell you that no amount of calorie counting helped. All it did was make me crazy about the amount of foods that I was eating. And I was enticed by low calorie foods...but then just ended up eating the whole bad and still not feeling satisfied. As I became more well-read and spent time researching organics and healthy foods, it came to may attention that it was not about how much you are eating (well, that is important, but not as important) as what you eat. Processed food is the enemy. Literally. It contains large amounts of sodium and additives. Even organics, which I am a HUGE proponent of, contain unnecessary preservatives and additives when processed. As I started reading labels, I started realizing that I had thought I was eating well because I had been buying organics and shopping at Trader Joes, but turns out, I was consuming a bunch of crap along with my snacks.

So now, we have almost no processed foods in the house. We have bread and pasta, and of course cereal and milk for my husband, but that's about it. Every once in awhile I'll buy chips or crackers, but only ones with minimal ingredients that I can pronounce. Even after years of shifting how I eat, I STILL read my labels anytime I buy something in a box or a bag.

Nothing proved to me that I was onto something as much as when I moved in with my husband a few years ago. Prior to that, he lived on Subway, sandwiches from Safeway, and takeout Teriyaki. And peanut and butter sandwiches. Prior to having me cook all his meals, his resting blood pressure was 122/80, which used to be considered healthy, although now is considered borderline high. Within a month, his blood pressure was 110/70. That's a HUGE shift and is in the healthy range.

My take home point is this: all calories are not created equal. Meats should be grass-fed, organically raised to avoid antibiotics which mess with our metabolisms. Fish should not be farm raised--again, these animals are fed grains (that are genetically modified--see previous post on this!) and are not healthy and are bad for our bodies. Be careful with protein powders. Many of them have artificial sweeteners which also have a bad effect on our bodies and our metabolisms. Grains should be whole and as unadulterated as possible: quinoa, barley, whole grain rice, etc. These are more filling, healthier for our digestive tracts and don't raise our blood sugars. And I have a sweet tooth. So I even converted our sweets to less processed and organic. We started enjoying Alden's Organic Ice Cream out of Oregon. It is minimally processed and delicious. At first, I was nervous. I was a Dreyer's Light kind of girl; 120 calories or less please! These new ice creams were much higher in calories, coming in at 180+ calories. But I will tell you this: I was much more satisfied with my little scoop of a high quality ice cream than a half-gallon of the Dreyer's Light (or other similar ice cream which is mostly air, by the way). (And yes, embarrassingly enough, I could put away a whole half-gallon if I was really in the mood). But now, I'm satisfied with so much less because there are less chemicals telling my body that I want more (this is real, btw--chemicals are added to processed and fast foods so that they are more appealing to our bodies and signal us to crave more). Also watch out for Weight Watcher packaged foods, or foods marketed for weight loss. Read those labels...there is an INCREDIBLE amount of chemicals in those foods. And once you start eating whole, natural foods, these foods taste gross!

There is also research out there that supports the fact that our bodies read different calories differently. Our bodies are meant to consume whole foods. A 100 calorie apple is a better choice than a 100 calorie bag of cookies. The apple provides all sort of nutrients and is more filling than anything processed. Don't go overboard, but you can eat more food when it's unprocessed than if it is. I can attest to this. I initially lost 12lbs when I shifted the way I ate.

That said, we're not perfect and of course we order out pizza once in a while. But that is the exception. Our investment as a family is in our health (and Jackson's college education). Pay for it now or pay for it later. I think the state of our healthcare would be very different if we focused on pushing for healthy foods instead of trying to figure out how to pay for our rising costs. Ah, but that's another post for another day.

Please let me know if you have questions. I feel VERY strongly that eating this way will change our health and our lives, and the lives of our children.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/09/weight-watchers-finally-recognizes-calorie-counting-doesnt-work.aspx
http://www.drgreene.com/blog/2011/01/05/dr-greene’s-parenting-predictions-2011

Lent Begins...

Today was a big day for all those Catholics out there. Today was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, a time of reflection and preparation for Easter (my second favorite time of year, after Christmas). For Catholics, it also is a time of sacrifice as we remember Christ's sacrifice for us. We are encouraged to give up a vice for 40 days as our own sacrifice. In the past, every time I've chosen to give something, it's appeal has taken over and I haven't succeeded. So then I took to adding something positive into my life (which is how I finally got back into going to church years ago). But this year, I'd really like to give up sugar, the processed, added kind. I know how bad it is for me, and I preach against it, but I have such an addiction to it, although it is significantly better than in the past. There has been research indicating that a part of the brain that "lights up" after drug use, also "lights up" after food bingers eat high sugar, high fat foods. Giving up a sugar addiction can be as difficult as giving up a drug addiction. 

I've given up sugar before. It was at a time when I felt out of control with sugar. I would have one bite and not be able to stop. I'd spend all day craving it and then just eat until I felt sick. When I gave it up, it was brief, but I felt so amazing. I was less tired and had much more energy. When I returned to eating sugar, I was (and am still) able to eat much less to get the same enjoyment. So now I'm doing it again, but this time to see if it improves my skin. Sugar causes inflammation in the body, and that includes on the surface of the skin. So, 40 days and 40 nights...hoping I can do it! 

Chemicals and Fertility

Consider this BPA, part II. New research has come out putting numbers to how badly our health is being affected by the chemicals in our homes and in our foods. The chemicals of greatest concern are affecting our hormones, which regulate our entire body systems. I didn't know this, but 1 in 6 American couples struggle with fertility. That's a very high number. BPA and phthalates are mostly to blame, and I'll include parabens too. These things are EVERYWHERE! Your shopping receipts, plastic toys and containers, and most concerning, all of our self-care products. Recently, BPA has been found in 90% of babies umbilicals cords. That's just incredible to me! That says something about how much of these products we have in our own systems. Recent studies have confirmed that BPA negatively impacts the following: 1) sperm concentration, 2) sperm count, 3) sperm vitality and motility. In women, higher levels of BPA increase your risk for unsuccessful IVF. In a recent study, all the women undergoing IVF had detectable levels of BPA in their urine and the number of retrievable eggs was inversely related to the amount detected. Basically, the more BPA in your system, the less eggs available for insemination. Interesting.

Phthalates are another scary group of hormones, mostly because in the US, companies are not required to include them in their ingredient list or on their label and are often disguised under other names. They can also be found in your vinyl shower curtain and are released from the moment you open the plastic wrap (we LOVE our cloth shower curtain). Phthalate exposure is connected with undescended testes in babies (more common than you would think), testicular atrophy, and decreased sperm counts. Phthalates can be found in vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastics, soap, shampoo, deodorants, fragrances, hair spray, nail polish, plastic bags, food packaging, garden hoses, inflatable toys, (and shhhhh.....sex toys). Other chemicals that are less well known, but also linked to fertility include Bovine Growth Hormone, which is pretty much given to every milk-producing cow to increase its production (another great reason to go organic on your dairy products), fluoride, MSG, and non-fermented soy products (which have lots of hormone-like substances which interfere with your natural hormones).

New research is coming out about the importance of Vitamin D prior to pregnancy. And surprisingly, it's important for the guys too. A study in 2008 found that men with a vitamin D deficiency had more trouble impregnating their partners. AND a study in 2009 discovered that sperm have a vitamin D receptor. Crazy!

Moral of the story, as you will hear me say (or see me type?) over and over, watch what you are bringing into your home and putting in your bodies. Read your labels and ask questions...and I'll try to fill in the blanks.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/08/7-surprising-sperm-killers-that-could-leave-men-shooting-blanks.aspx

Skin Care Products

I just discovered an awesome website; http://thegreenbeautyguide.com/, it is a site devoted to healthy, chemical free skin care products. I have struggled with my skin ever since I started college. As if living on my own, in a new city, with no friends wasn't enough, life handed me a cruel twist...acne. I used ProActiv with great success until I got pregnant. I had read that salicylic acid and benzoic peroxide were products that could affect my growing baby, so I got rid of the product. While I was researching this, I found out that most of the ingredients in conventional, store-bought products are linked to cancer. Lovely. Since then I have only used products where I know what the ingredients are and subsequently continued my struggle with acne. I chose health over beauty, but it's so hard everyday. Thank god for good (chemical-free of course) makeup. Okay, so back to my point...I came across this website because I got a mailing from ProActiv today, trying to entice me back...and I was tempted. So I Googled the ingredients in ProActiv and was reminded of why I don't use that product anymore. In some of the posts about the ingredients, one woman wrote about this site and how much it has helped her. So I ordered the book from the library and am going to give some of her ideas a try...at this point, I'll do just about anything. I'll keep you posted!

Jackson's First Birthday

Today we celebrated my son's first birthday (he actual birthday was the 3rd), and it was a big success. As we approached this day, I spent many hours worrying over what he would eat for his cake. I knew I didn't want a HFCS infested cake from the grocery store, but PCC doesn't do specialty cakes. I knew that I REALLY wanted to spoil myself and order a Whole Foods cake for us but I really want to be careful about exposing Jackson to sugar. One night I was talking with my older neighbor who was telling me about the cake that her daughter made for their kids' first birthdays. I was nervous, but I gave it a try. Here's the recipe...it was FANTASTIC and Jackson loved it.

2.5c thinly sliced carrots

2.5c apple juice concentrate
1.5c raisins
2c whole wheat flour
.5c wheat germ
2tbsp baking powder
1tbsp cinnamon
.25c vegetable oil
2 whole eggs
4 egg whites
1tbsp vanilla extract
.75c unsweetened applesauce

1. Combine carrots with 1c plus 2tbsp of juice concentrate in medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, until carrots are tender, 15-20 min. Puree in the food processor until smooth. Add the raisins and process until finely chopped. Let mixture cool.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 9 inch square pans with either vegetable spray or by coating thinly in butter.
3. Combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Add 1.25c juice concentrate, the oil, eggs, egg whites, and vanilla and beat just until well mixed. Fold in the carrot puree and applesauce. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.
4. Bake for 35-40 min.

Here's the cream cheese frosting...
.5 c apple juice concentrate
1lb light cream cheese
2tsp vanilla
.5c finely chopped raisins
1.5tsp unflavored gelatin (I omitted this)

I'm lazy, so I just mixed everything together at the same time. But if you going to use gelatin, blend all but 2 tbsp of the juice in a food processor. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir gelatin into the 2tbsp of leftover juice in a small saucepan and let stand one minute to soften. Heat to boiling and stir to dissolve gelatin. Beat the gelatin mixture into the cream cheese mixture until well blended. Refrigerate just until the frosting begins to set, about 30-60 minutes.

So, yes, the juice concentrate does still have sugar in it, my in brain, it's better than the processed white stuff. And everything was organic. Jackson loved this cake, as did I. Although, the Whole Foods cake was the highlight of the day :)







recipe from "Best-Odd Recipes" cookbook

BPA in Receipts

So this is a topic I was informed about quite awhile ago, but it's been in the news again so I'm going to address it. In our receipts, the chemical and hormone-disruptor BPA is present. Researchers have found such high levels in our (Americans) blood, that they discovered that it is seeping into us through our fingertips from touching BPA infested receipts. BPA is a reproductive, developmental, and systemic toxicant in animal studies and is weakly estrogenic. There are significant concerns about its potential impact particularly on children’s health and the environment. PCC banned the substance from their receipts immediately when this study was released and recently, the EPA announced an action plan for BPA. Additionally, a major suppliers for the receipt tape, Appleton Paper, has announced that it is discontinuing the use of BPA, although I'm not sure the timeline for this. I post about this just to create awareness. I touch my receipts as minimally as I have to and toss them into the garbage, not the recycle because then the BPA can get back into our recycled products.

A side note on BPA: it's in the lined cans that contain food (beans, tomatoes, tuna, etc) and it's in the lining of the cans of infant formula. Eden Organics has not had BPA present in their cans for a while now and Muir Glen banned the use in their cans for last years harvest, which is now hitting stores. No specific labeling exists, but if the expiration date is in 2013 (for the Muir Glen products), there is a chance that the product is BPA free. They reportedly will announce when they have completed the transition to the new cans.

We have primarily converted to dried beans, although if I'm planning a meal last minute, I'll use the Eden Organics beans. They also have very yummy diced tomatoes that are fabulous in stews and soups! Try them out and enjoy!

Genetically Engineered Foods

I got my PCC newsletter yesterday and I finally sat down to read it tonight. I couldn't even finish it because I'm so upset about the state of our food in this country. We are so money driven and greedy, that in order to make an extra buck, our government has okayed the use of genetically engineered crops as a way to increased production on corn, soy, cotton, and now beets and alfalfa. Here are the numbers: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 93% of U.S. soy, 93% of U.S. cotton, 95% of U. S. sugar beets (2010 harvest), and 86% of U.S. corn grown is GMO. It’s estimated that as much as 90% of U.S. canola is GMO.
(http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/nongmo/foods.html)

Let's outline the dangers of GE crops and exactly what they are. CE crops are foods that have their DNA altered in a lab by a scientist. They do this to create the "perfect food" that has no blemishes, or ripens perfectly, or is resistant to certain types of bugs, etc. This sounds great, right? The problem is the DNA is not natural, as it would occur in our environment. It should also be noted that one of the leading reasons behind having to develop GE crops is that the current crops have become resistant to the pesticides that are being used, and they've only been in existence for about 30 years. So, in another 30 years, we'll have to come up with something else to defeat the new strain of bugs.

The latest controversy is regarding Monsanto, the agricultural giant who is behind wanting to make GE alfalfa and sugar beets commonplace. They have genetically engineered their crops to be "Roundup Ready" which will allow the crops to survive being drenched in the pesticide glyphospate so that they can kill all weeds (and all other green, living organisms in the area) without killing the crops. What's more unbelievable, is that the USDA approved Roundup Ready before they had conducted a full environmental study, as required by law. A government agency that was blinded by cash and side stepped the law...awesome. The USDA was designed initially to protect us. The famous author and activist said this: "The USDA's decision to allow unlimited, nationwide commercial planting of Monsanto's GE Roundup Ready alfalfa without any restrictions flies in the face of the interests of conventional and organic farmers, preservation of the environment, and consumer choice. USDA has become a rogue agency in its regulation of biotech crops and its decision to appease the few companies who seek to benefit from this technology comes despite increasing evidence that GE alfalfa will threaten the rights of American farmers and consumers, as well as damage the environment". 


There have been several concerns raised from many different organizations about the impact these foods will have our on health. When GE soy production was approved in UK, soy allergies jumped 50%. Other issues included IBS, headaches, and chronic fatigue. Several studies have indicated that the presence of the specific pesticide in Roundup increases the risk of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Other studies have demonstrated that the presence of this pesticide is present in the blood of people who consume the products sprayed. If you read the labels, you will realize that soy and corn are in just about every processed food. And most animals, unless organic grass fed, are eating foods that contain GE crops. Another GE crop is the sugar beet, so unless you are eating cane sugar, you are getting a nice dose of GE crops as well. Non-organic canola oils are also GE. 


So my take home message is this: read your labels. The more organic foods you eat and the less processed foods you eat, the more likely you are to stay away from these foods. PCC is the only company (that I'm aware of ) that has required it's food producers to verify on a regular basis that they are indeed non-GMO producers. We live in a world that experiencing an Autism epidemic, staggering increases in cancer and other deadly diseases, as well as increasing hyperactivity in children. There are likely many causes, but one of the things that corresponds to these increases in disease, is also the increase in poor food choices and options in our grocery stores. There is a reason the saying "you are what you eat" gained such popularity. It is true. Be good to your body and be good to your health. Here's to yummy, healthy foods!

Radiation in our Environment

We've all heard of radiation. At the very least, we all know that it is a viable option for cancer treatment. Well I've been hearing more and more about how overly present it is in our daily lives. It is emitted from our cell phones, our wireless modems, our laptops, our cordless phones, and even our baby monitors. It is impossible to avoid all of these things in our daily lives, but my goal is to share the evidence with you as to how dangerous radiation can be. There is no question that the items above (and others) emit radiation. The debate begins when we try to tease out how much radiation is considered safe. In my brain, if something is powerful enough to kill cells in my body (cancer treatment), I don't care the amount, I don't want it near me or my baby. But to avoid radiation would mean living out on 100 acres with no electronics.  I LOVE my gadgets and don't think I could live without my iphone, so the next step is to be smart about exposure. Recently the National Institutes of Health released data reporting that less than an hour of cell phone exposure to one side of your head can speed up brain activity. This is the first study to indicate brain changes with low level radiation exposure. The authors are careful to state that the study does not attempt to create a causal link between exposure and problems later in life. However, scientifically speaking, radiation alters the contents of the cell that it is targeting. This is not disputed. So, it makes sense that the changes in the brain from the cell phone exposure is actually damage to the cells themselves. Cancer cells are mutated normal cells. Something alters those cells to make them cancerous. Radiation has the potential to be a culprit. Currently, the Environment Working Group is working to make it a requirement for companies to disclose how much radiation their cell phones emit.

Several states have recently passed laws outlawing talking on the cell phone while driving. While I fully support these laws, there is a side-effect. We now all have Bluetooths that, while handy, also emit radiation. And many people have them on constantly, so they are constantly emitting radiation on that side of the brain. The easy alternative is to use the hands free set that plugs into the phone. Beyond the concern of cell phones near your (or you baby's) brain, there is also the concern of where they are when you aren't talking on them. Are they in your pocket? Bad idea. Are they next to you at your desk? Trying moving it further away. Does it sit in your console in your car? Try placing it over in your passenger seat. There have also been serious concerns raised over pregnant women's exposure. Radiation has the potential to affect the growing baby, even though it is fully enveloped in the womb. There has been some research that indicates that fetuses exposed have higher rates of hyperactivity and challenges with appropriate social behavior later in life. It is equally important to keep our babies (and older children) away from cell phones (and the other items mentioned above).

A quick note on the other radiation emitting devices mentioned above: On my current to-do list is to find a phone with a cord and to donate our cordless phone. My son does not get to be near the cell phones or the computers, except when we Skype with the grandparents.  I really try to not only keep the cell phone away from my son, but I try to not even talk on it when he's around, especially if I'm holding him. My husband used to keep his phone on at night in case of emergencies, but would leave it by his bed because it is also his alarm in the morning. Now, we leave my phone on, but out in the living room, and he puts his phone on airplane mode so that it is not transmitting a signal and therefore not emitting radiation. We do not keep our computers on unless we are using them. When they are on, we try really hard to not have them on our laps (super important if you are pregnant). My dream is to someday have a house big enough that we actually have an office and can keep our laptops plugged in to the internet cable and not use a wireless modem. If our room was closer to my son's we would not use a baby monitor, but that is not how our house is laid out. We do use a baby monitor, but it is as far away from the crib as possible.

What is scary to me, is that we can't avoid radiation. What makes life so convenient, like WiFi and our cell phones, is also posing a huge health risk to us. We can't avoid these things, but we can try to cut down on our exposure.

There's an analogy I have not yet used on this blog that I find applies to many things I talk about. Smoking. It was not initially considered dangerous. It was promoted in so many ways. When a few people began to question it's safety, society was outraged. And of course it's now common knowledge how dangerous they are. What will it take for our society to realize the dangers of pesticides, radiation, additives in our foods and vaccines, fluoride in our water, etc? This is my personal crusade...

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/cellphone-use-tied-to-changes-in-brain-activity/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/06/03/cell-phone-use-during-pregnancy-can-seriously-damage-your-baby.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/10/30/children-should-not-use-cell-phones-but-my-today-show-interview-does-not-support-that.aspx