Take the
Toxic Twelve Ingredient List with you when you shop for personal care products.
What you put on your skin is quickly in your blood
stream. The average person is exposed to at least 126 chemical per day through
the personal care products they use. Print out the list from my article
"Toxic Chemicals in Your Skin Care? Watch out for these chemicals that can
make you sick!" This is critical information for your health and your
family.
TV Show on Cellphone Dangers uploaded
With more countries issuing advisories against children
and pregnant women using cell phones, now is the time to educate yourself on
the most insidious toxin of this century. The TV show outlines the problem, the
impacts, the research, tips to minimize your exposure and patented
technologies. The one hour TV show is broken down into several segments and is
available on www.livinghealthiernow.com.
See the previous articles on this topic or visit the website for more links, TV
clips and research.
Bottled Water Dangers
The most recent report on bottled water showed that it is
much more risky than tap water. The bottle water industry is unregulated, while
the tap water industry is highly regulated. Still, the best solution and most
economical is a great filtration system that you maintain. Learn more about the
importance of water and how to comparison shop for a filtration system in my
previous articles or under the water link at www.livinghealthiernow.com.
Back to School Lunch Tip
Lobby for healthier school lunches and no soda or junk
food vending machines. There are many organizations pushing for changes including
Obama. Schools that made drastic changes to their menus and cooking styles
along with using an organic food supply noticed significant behavioral
improvements. It is something you can implement at home too. I know packing
healthy lunches is a challenge. I remember trading the "healthy
stuff" for Zingers when I was a kid. Still, it is worth the effort for the
long term health of your child.
Wonder if your food is still safe to eat?
Check
out http://www.stilltasty.com/ It is a
great website that gives you lots of food safety facts that will definitely
keep you safe and save you money. Take time to clean out your fridge today. An
opened bottle of ketchup is safe for 6 months. Forget buying the jumbo size if
you are not going to use it in 6 months. I’m afraid to look to see how old the
ketchup is in our fridge……..
Want a free way to boost your immune system?
Start
mediating for 10 minutes per day. Your immune system functions better when you
are not stressed. Stress causes your body to be flooded with stress hormones. Meditation
is a mental discipline
to get beyond the thinking mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness.
Look on the internet, get a video or book from the library or attend a class to
find a style that works for you. You will be calmer, plus feel and look better!
Fire Safety Tips
Did
you replace the batteries and test your smoke detectors last month? If not, do it
right now! Consider getting better quality smoke detectors. If you have
children, consider getting ones that flash a bright light too. Our kids slept
right through the fire alarm which is scary! Make sure everyone knows the
escape plan and where to meet outside. Also, consider adding smoke detectors.
Most homes are built to minimum specifications. Our house only has one smoke
alarm on the entire first floor! When lack of time is your enemy, effective and
quick warning can be the difference between life and death.
Fire Extinguishers
It
is a good idea to replace chemical fire extinguishers every few years,
especially if you have not been turning them upside down a few times to keep
the chemicals loose. Apparently, just sticking the fire extinguisher in your
closet and forgetting about it for years can result in the extinguisher not
working when you need it most. Make sure you have enough too.
Check Power Strips
Feel
all your power strips every month. If they feel hot, open them up and see if
they are “fried”. They create a huge potential for a fire. Be especially
careful around the holidays too with all the extra lights.
Cellphone Dangers Update
Some
states are now trying to get warning labels on cell phones. With more countries
issuing advisories against children and pregnant women using cell phones, now
is the time to educate yourself on the most insidious toxin of this century.
Check out a TV show outlining the problem, the impacts, the research, tips to
minimize your exposure and patented technologies. The one hour TV show is
broken down into several segments and is available on www.livinghealthiernow.com. See
the previous articles on this topic or visit the website for more links, TV
clips and research. With the average teen spending four hours a day texting
next to vital organs, it is critical to learn ways to minimize your risk.
Check your water bottle expiration date and
resin code
Studies
show that the amount of toxins in bottled water go up 90% after 6 months. Many
expiration or use by dates are set for 2 years. To be safe, drink only water
that is within 18 months of the expiration date.
Get a Number 5 (resin code) reuseable water bottle. Polypropylene plastic water bottles are made with fewer
chemicals than other types of bottles.
Get outside and get back to nature
Fall is the perfect time to be
outside. Except in extreme conditions, outdoor air quality is generally better
than indoor air quality, plus you get the benefit of reconnecting with the
earth's magnetic energy and the sun's infrared energy. Plus, if you are lucky
enough to be in the woods or by the ocean, you will get the benefits of
negative ions in the air!
Smoke
Detector Battery Replacement Time! Stock up on batteries right now and actually
put fresh batteries in your smoke alarms this fall. Yes, they remind us to do
it twice a year, but how many of us really make the effort. Stop delaying as it
can cost a life of someone you love. Also, most manufacturers recommend
replacing the smoke detector units even 7 years. Be sure to check how old your
units are and what your manufacturer recommends.
Get a
Carbon Monoxide Detection Unit. Carbon Monoxide is the silent killer that you
hear in the news every winter. Get a unit if you don't have one.
Buy
Energy Star Appliances: Considering new applicances? If yours are more than 10-15
years old, you should consider it based on energy savings alone. Look for
Energy Star appliances that will show you how much the appliance will cost to
operate each year. That definitely needs to be a factor in your decision. The
Energy Star program involves the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of Energy to help you save money and protect the environment with
more efficient products. In 2008, the program saved enough energy to avoid
greenhouse gas emissions equal to 29 million cars and saved $19 billion on
utility bills! www.energystar.org
Check out
your metal water bottle - some older ones contain BPA too! You threw away your
plastic water bottles because of the variety of health concerns about
bisphenol-A a few months ago. If you purchased a metal water bottle by Sigg ,
make sure
it was made after 8/08. Prior to that date, the aluminum bottles contain BPA in
the epoxy liners.
Research
your sunscreen
Check out www.ewg.org and
see how your sunscreen stacks up. Avoid spray sunscreens (too much is inhaled
and it is bad for the environment). Use at least 30 SPF. Make sure it protects
against the UVA rays (not just the UVB rays). Want to know what ingredients to
avoid, check out the article Summer and Toxic Chemicals.
Research your personal care products
Check out www.cosmeticdatabase.com to see how
they stack up. What is on your skin is in your system in 30 seconds or less. In
the UK, there are over 1100 banned chemicals while in the US there are 10!
Known toxic chemicals can impact your hormones, immune system, reproductive
system and more. Unfortunately, organic and natural labeling is often
misleading. Look for independent third party certification like EcoCert. Look
for the Skin Care Article.
Look
carefully at the products you use on your yard and garden
Herbicides
and pesticides can be very dangerous to kids, pets and you! Go as natural as
possible. Check out the article Summer and Toxic Chemicals.
Don’t keep bottled water in the trunk of your car.
Critical
with the summer heat. When most plastic bottles are heated above 80 degrees,
chemicals from the plastics can leach into the water. Best bet for your wallet,
your health and the environment is to filter your own water and tote it in reusable
containers. Look for my water articles on the importance of water and how to
comparison shop water filtration systems.
Don’t
reuse disposable plastic water bottles.
You may
think you are being green, but they are not designed to be reused.
Be
careful transporting food in the summer.
Heading to a
cookout or potluck? Transport your food in the main compartment of car and not
in your trunk due to the higher temperatures. Don’t arrive late to eat either.
You don’t want to eat food that has been sitting out or had flies on it.
Spring
Clean out your old sunscreens.
Well it is
embarrassing to admit how old some of the sunscreens are in my cabinet – might
be able to donate some to a museum! Time to pitch them. Don’t take chances with
sunscreen over a year old. Remember, you don’t know how long it was on the store
shelf.
Want
to be happier and less anxious?
Don't watch the news or read the newspaper for 2 weeks
and see if you notice a difference.
Try drinking more good quality water all through the day.
(Check out the water articles under the Water Tab.)
Want to save money and energy and eat
healthier in the process?
Dig out your crock pot. Not only do most recipes call for
lots of good veggies, but most do not require you to add any oils. Plus, on a
cold winter night - what beats a warm crock pot meal?
Want
to know how to be healthier when eating out?
Did you know that sit down restaurants can be as bad for
your waistline as fast food? Check out the book "Eat This Not That"
by David Zinczenko. You will be amazed how simple changes to what you order can
save you hundreds of calories and fat and ultimately pounds. I was amazed to
see how some of the "healthy" things I was ordering were actually not
very healthy at all.
Don't
drink enough water because you don't like the taste, hate paying bottled
water prices, or are concerned for the environment?
Check out the two part series on Water this month. Learn
why it is so critical for your health, how much does your body typically need,
the various water options, about systems that make good water great, and how to
shop for a filtration system.
Learn
About Toxic Products in your home right now
Go to www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm
to learn more about the products and chemicals you have in your house. It
details what is in the products, potential health problems and how to use and
handle them safely. The website is hosted by US Department of Health and Human
Services. It will really make you wonder if you even want these products in
your house and will help you to understand some of the health implications that
result.
If you do
clean out these products, contact your local government about collection sites
for toxic chemicals. Do not throw them into the regular trash or put them down
the drain. Go with "green" non-toxic products whenever possible.
Sleep
better by cleaning out your bedroom of certain devices
Do not talk
on the cell phone or work on the computer several hours before bed. Keep TVs, cell
phones, cordless phones and computers out of the bedroom. Keep your alarm clock
at least 3 feet away. Read "Cell phone could be damaging your sleep"
at NBC-2.com.
Learn
about the sources of wireless information around you
Go to http://www.antennasearch.com/ to learn
about the current towers and antennas in your area as well as proposed ones. We
will be uncovering the hidden health risks of this invisible electropollution
in the weeks ahead.
You
need to drink more water than you think. Don't wait till you are thirsty.
We are
typically chronically dehydrated which creates problems throughout your body
(which is mostly comprised of water). Drink about 1/2 ounce per pound per day
of good clean water. Visit www.watercure.com/wondersofwater.html for
more information.
Review
the Tips for Safer Cell Phone Use article
This article
contains many critical tips that I was unaware of until recently. Did you know
cordless phones have the same electromagnetic radiation dangers as cell phones?
Do not sleep with one next to your bed like I’ve done for the past 5 years.
Not feeling well might be linked to indoor
pollutants exposure.
Formaldehyde is found in new carpets and drapes. Lead is
found in tap water and house pant. Trichloroethylene is found in dry cleaning. Plus,
consider the chemicals in your furniture, dry wall, hardwood floors, cleaning
products and more. Open windows, get lots of houseplants, use good quality
water and air filters.
Plastic Bottle Dangers
Just in case you missed it - do not use plastic bottles
with the recycling
number of 7. They contain bishenol-A (BPA) which mimics the
hormone estrogen. Stainless steel or glass containers are safer choices, plus
you will help save the planet too!
Drycleaning? Try a green version
instead.
These companies use a solvent that is non-toxic to your
skin, gentle on clothing and safer for the environment. Most of them cost about
the same as you are paying now. Definitely look for them. Here is one company www.greenearthcleaning.com.
Plant a Veggie Garden.
Gardens have
so many benefits. First you know your food is organically grown and pesticide
free. It will look and taste great. More importantly, gardening has great
health benefits too. It is great relaxation (except when weeds overtake my
garden!). You can start small with container gardening and then expand down the
road. Get your kids involved too. They might even start eating more veggies
since they helped grow them!
Put up some bird houses and maintain a
birdbath.
Make them if
you want. Birds help eat insects and are fun to watch.
Check out the article Shopping Checklist for
Home Air Units.
Based on
where you live, your house is either going to be sealed up tightly with the air
conditioner running or have the windows wide open. Regardless, indoor air pollution
is much worse than outdoor air pollution. Breathing cleaner air is important
for your health, but all air units are not created equally.
Ride your bike, but don’t forget your helmet.
Sometimes as
adults, we tend to think only kids need helmets. A ski helmet saved my life
last year because accidents do happen. Make sure your helmet is certified by
the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or the American Standards
Institute (ANSI). Most importantly, take the time to make sure it fits. It should
fit snugly and be level on your head. Make sure the chin strap is tight enough
too. If it won’t stay in place, it won’t do its job when needed. I know this
sounds like a “no-brainer” (pun intended), but look around and you will be
amazed at the lack of helmets or poor fitting ones.
Sunglass time is year round!
Get in the
habit of wearing sunglasses even on overcast days and in the winter. While you
don’t have to spend hundreds of $ on a pair, be sure to make sure they block
99-100% of the ultraviolet (UV) rays. I keep several pairs around, so I always
have one with me. A hat will give you additional protection. Don’t take chances
as repeat exposure can result in cataracts, macular degeneration and even
blindness.
