wellnessindie.com » toxins

Yet Another Reason To Avoid Soda

Jeff — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:27:14 +0000

As if there could be any more reasons to avoid soda altogether, a recent study conducted by microbioligists from Hollins University discovered that 48% of the soda fountain machines at various restaurants they tested contained coliform bacteria. Pretty gross, huh? Hold on, that’s not even the bad part. This bacteria is typically found in feces. And to make matters worse, this family of bacteria were resistant to the 11 antibiotics tested. The water and ice tested negative, so no one is sure of the source. The scientists’ best guess is that the bacteria have been growing in the plastic tubing that hook to the soda fountains. The findings were published in the International Journal of Microbiology.

One word……nasty.

Sources:

The Huffington Post

ScienceDirect (abstract from study)

ABC News

One of Americans’ Favorite Snacks Still Toxic

Jeff — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:06:21 +0000

Federal health investigators deemed that butter flavoring used in microwave popcorn is still unsafe and toxic. Back in 2004, a Missouri factory worker was awarded $20 million after developing a debilitating and irreversible lung condition, which required a lung transplant. He apparently got this from inhaling toxic fumes from the oil used to make the ubiquitous butter flavoring in popcorn. In July, 2005, another factory worker in Missouri was awarded $2.7 million as a result of developing the same lung condition. In 2007, a 53 year old self-professed popcorn addict developed severe breathing issues from inhaling the fumes from butter popcorn after taking it out of the microwave. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a toxic chemical named diacetyl was the culprit. Consequently, popcorn manufacturers were forced to switch flavor ingredients.

According to a recent report from NIOSH, the diacetyl substitute closely resembles…..well, diacetyl. And, these new substitutes come with the same dangerous side effects as well. Tell your friends, family, and co-workers. As the saying goes, “caveat emptor.”

Sources:

MSNBC: March, 2004

The Independent: September, 2007

Sphere: December, 2009

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Wellness Primer

Jeff — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:34:08 +0000

If you’re new to the whole idea actually living a healthy lifestyle, it can be a daunting (and at times, seemingly impossible) undertaking. Misinformation is ubiquitous, so consumers feel confused and powerless when it comes to their health. You don’t have to feel confused and powerless though. Information is the key and the first step toward empowerment and optimal wellness.

What is wellness? Merriam-Webster defines wellness as “the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal.” In my opinion, this is an over-simplified and somewhat ambiguous definition (although I do like the “actively sought” part of it). A more comprehensive definition would be something like “a complete state of optimal health that encompasses nutritional, mental and physical lifestyle choices geared towards fitness, disease prevention and reducing toxic load.” I call these the “pillars of wellness”. Idealistic? Perhaps – especially these days in a healthcare system dominated by pimped-out, greedy politicians as well as crooked food and drug lobbyists. But, this is the true essence of wellness. And, it’s more than just compartmentalizing health into a few actions like exercising, or eating salad a few days a week. It’s a lifestyle choice – all of the pillars of wellness work together synergistically. Each one has an absolute effect on the other, so while isolating one may be a start, it’s not the way to achieve optimal wellness. So, the next logical question is how do you attain this elusive goal of optimal wellness?

Our actions are born from our thoughts, so the first thing the should happen is a total shift in perspective and the way you think about your health. This sets a strong foundation for enabling you to make sound choices as you begin to adopt a healthy lifestyle. I cannot overemphasize this enough. It’s hard for many people to unlearn much of what they’ve been taught as popular health strategies are challenged. But, being open-minded and receptive to new ideas is imperative if you are to embrace true wellness. Contrary to mainstream opinion, this approach to wellness does not mean living on the fringes. It does not mean eschewing all conventional medicine in lieu of herbs, acupuncture and raw foods. For instance, if you had an acute injury or illness, it wouldn’t be a good idea to discount all the advances that have been made in modern medicine. By the same token, if you have an autoimmune disorder like diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or 2), it would be in your best interest to explore natural therapies before popping a pill.

And therein lies my point. These ideologies don’t have to live in a vacuum. They don’t have to compete, constantly espousing the shortcomings of one another. The best of each could coexist if consumers like you and I were informed of all our options, both allopathic and alternative. Ah, but there’s the rub. Full disclosure conflicts with the very foundation of capitalism. For many industries, an uninformed customer is necessary for long-term growth. Millions of dollars are spent annually on propaganda marketing budgets. Imagine that you were told that Vitamin D cured cancer or fish oil prevented heart attacks (disclaimer: I’m just using these for illustrative purposes). How do you think that would affect a multi-national pharmaceutical company’s stock price? Suffice it to say that their shareholders would not be very happy. So, there is absolutely a vested interest in keeping consumers in the dark, which means that it’s incumbent upon you to educate yourself. Lobbyists own politicians, so you can’t really count on reliable information from government either. At the very least, you can start to ask the right questions to your health providers.

As the adage goes, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. So if you’re ready, let’s get started.

Nutrition 101

Fitness 101

Supplements 101

Prevention 101

Mind & Body 101

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BPA-Containing Baby Bottles Banned in Chi-town

Jeff — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:58:10 +0000

According to NYTimes.com, Chicago has become the first U.S. city to outlaw baby bottles and sippy cups that contain bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been linked to diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and liver disease ⁽¹⁾. This toxic chemical is used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics (e.g. – bottles, containers), and can be leached into the liquid inside the bottle, especially when heated. The FDA is aware of this, but continues to declare BPA as safe. Big surprise, huh?

I first read about BPA a couple of years ago, right around the time my daughter was born. So needless to say, my wife and I made the easy decision to purchase all BPA-free bottles. Our daughter was breastfed, so it was important for us to keep her milk as pure as possible since it needed to be heated sometimes.

BPA isn’t exclusive to baby bottles and cups. It exists in virtually all plastic containers, which is why I use my own bottle (glass or Sigg) to transport my water. And I’d recommend that you do the same. Because we are constantly bombarded with dangerous toxins daily in our food, air, cosmetics, building materials, it’s imperative that we limit our exposure whenever possible. The American Chemical Council as well as other industry groups continue to deny that this problem exists, but it’s painfully obvious that their loyalties lie with manufacturers, not consumer health. However, science supports the adverse health affects of BPA and it’s good to see that local governments and municipalities aren’t waiting for the sluggish and bureaucratic FDA to ban BPA nationwide.

According to a recent evaluation by the National Institutes of Health ⁽²⁾, to reduce yours and your infants exposure:

Don’t microwave plastic bottles and containers as BPA can break down and leach into the contents
Polycarbonate containers that contain BPA usually have a #7 on the bottom
Reduce your use of canned foods (the resin on the inside of the can containers BPA)
Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, especially for hot food or liquids
Use baby bottles that are BPA free

You can be proactive about your health and not have to wait for any governing body to govern what goes into your body. So, make a conscious decision for you and your family to limit your toxic exposure. Saying ‘No’ to BPA is a good start.

References:

⁽¹⁾ http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/300.11.1353

⁽²⁾ http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-bpa.cfm

BPA Linked to Impotence