Green Products Test Positive for Toxin

In the words of Will Ferrel in Anchor Man, I have an urgent and horrifying news story: A specific carcinogen has been found in a number of "green" products that I use. I bought these products thinking that I was doing myself and the environment a favor. According to the LA Times,

Many items that tested positive for the carcinogen are well-known brands, including Kiss My Face, Alba, Seventh Generation and Nature's Gate products, sold in retail stores across the nation... Of the 100 products tested, 47 had detectable levels of 1,4-dioxane, which the Environmental Protection Agency has declared a probable human carcinogen because it causes cancer in lab animals.

It turns out that the carcinogen is a by-product created during the manufacturing process when two different chemicals are combined -- It is not intentionally added to the product. Here is what the article says to look out for:

... because the vast majority of shampoos, soaps and other consumer goods do not carry the USDA organic seal, it's nearly impossible for buyers to know whether the ones they use contain 1,4-dioxane because the chemical is not listed on ingredient labels. Products most likely to contain the compound usually list polyethylene glycol or compounds with the syllables PEG, short for polyethylene glycol, -eth or -oxynol-,according to the FDA.

One thing to keep in mind is that regular soaps, detergent, etc probably contain more harmful ingredients than these natural/organic products... So in away you might still be harming yourself LESS with the natural products... Hopefully the USDA will eventually regulate on all natural products so we will know that the USDA sticker = good. To read the full article, click here.

Hat Tip: Davin O'Regan

vitamin virgin

You stop by the pharmacy on your way home from work. All you really need to do is pick up some shampoo and another box of tissues. Next thing you know, you find yourself standing in the vitamin aisle surrounded by colorful packaging marketed to women in soothing shades of pastel pinks and purples. You think to yourself, “I really should starting taking vitamins.” But where do you start? Conflicting studies come out everyday detailing new multivitamins or dietary supplements. Some scream: “Calcium supplements prevent colon cancer!!” And then, Eric Jacobs, a senior epidemiologist and vitamin specialist with the American Cancer Society says, “There is no vitamin or mineral supplement proven to reduce the risk of cancer."

Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it is marketed. The FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the market. After it reaches the market?! Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with the FDA nor get the FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements.

I’m confused. Some people swear by them. Others say they are a scam. The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate vitamins until they hit the shelves and (I assume) a consumer reports an issue. Still, I find myself, especially as we get closer to the big 3-0, thinking that I really should start taking a supplement or multivitamin. Especially with my diet I know I’m not getting enough of the nutrients I need to stay healthy (a’la a lean cuisine for lunch and some leftover chinese for dinner).

Personally, I want to make a grab for the Flintstone chewables of yesteryears (http://www.flintstonesvitamins.com/) and just call it a day.

Plant Detox

While waiting in the check out line at Whole Foods on Saturday, an article on how to detox your apartment caught my eye. According to the article, certain plants can help detoxify the air by slurping in harmful substances and fumes like formaldehydes and other toxins in rugs, furniture, etc... and emitting what all plants emit: oxygen. One of the main toxin absorbers was the common house fern. These plants are low maintenance, and they help clean the air. Real Simple (http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/0,21770,693366,00.html) has a good article about house plants. Check out Daily Tomorrow (http://www.dailytomorrow.com/2008/02/23/daily-detox-indoor-plants-for-cleaner-air/) for examples of the most effective plants for removing indoor air pollutants.

Goji Berries -- Hot or Not?

Also known as Wolfberries, these little dried fruits are praised for their many micronutrients and phytochemicals said to possibly reduce the risks of some forms of cancer. Has anyone tried these things? My mom eats them by the bag now. She thinks they are delicious, and so do some of my other friends, but I didn't think they tasted that great. They are chewy like raisins and not as sweet as cranberries. I can see how they would taste good on salads though. There seems to be some concern over pesticides and fungicides used when growing goji berries in China and Tibet, so check to see where your goji berries are from before chowing down. Has anyone else heard anything about these magical fruits?

A Spoon Full Of Sugar- Not Saccharin!

Although the below article is in relation to weight loss, I think it's important that we all consider what artificial sweeteners do to our bodies. Women especially drink diet soda and use chemically manufactured products every day and it is BAD for you! Think twice before you skimp on calories and load on chemistry.

A Purdue University study found that artificial sweeteners might actually foster weight gain by confusing the body in a way that makes it harder to burn calories. In the study, one group of rats were fed yogurt sweetened with glucose, a simple sugar with the same calories as table sugar. Another group received yogurt with saccharin. The saccharin group went on to consume more calories, gain more weight and put on more body fat. Other artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame K could have similar effects, the study said. The findings come on the heels of a separate study that linked diet soda consumption to an increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome -- a combination of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes that include abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and high blood pressure. When humans prepare to eat, their metabolism revs up and body temperature rises. The Purdue study found that the rats used to the saccharin had a smaller rise in body temperature after eating a sweet, high-calorie meal because their bodies were expecting fewer calories. Study authors Susan Swithers and Terry Davidson said they think this response both led to overeating and made it harder to burn off sweet-tasting calories.

The research might explain why other studies about the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight have largely been inconclusive, Swithers said. It might also explain in part why obesity has risen in parallel with use of such sweeteners. People can still count calories to regulate intake and body weight, Swithers said, although she acknowledged that it requires more conscious effort than consuming inherently low-calorie foods.The findings were published the February issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, which is published by the American Psychological Association.

sweating cancer?

first of all, catherine, you are so hip. like, oh my blog, i almost lost it when i saw you'd created this. this is my first time blogging, and i think i'm in love with it. thoughts on the deodorant issue. you know i have hyperhidrosis? see link: http://www.sweathelp.org/English/ so i'm always using SUPER HEAVY DUTY deodorant and even a solution that is pretty much just aluminum chloride. and i'm putting it on, like, 3 or 4 times a week before bed. i definitely think this could affect me down the road...and that is frightening. but which is worse? the fear of sweating in my day-to-day social interactions? or cancer? no one could seriously justify something so superficial with an elevated risk of developing cancer??!!...but then again, look at the tanning beds or terrible diets...things women partake in to look better that eventually make take a toll on their health...just a thought.

what a great idea!

I'm always looking for ways to make my life healthier, and having lots of ideas and reviews in one place will really make things easier. Can't wait to follow my new favorite blog!