KAAT Health and Wellness

SV:Hello! jdent A gift! 2012 - 1 - 13---14:33:55

2012-01-13T00:32:00.001-06:00

Hi, good luck!

Dear friend
I am one of the members of www.ausuke.com,and here I will tell you a good news: this website is holding a 10-year anniversaries now, all their products sold on discount with free shipping costs.
www.ausuke.com is a reliable online shopping platform and this is a valuable chance, hope you will grasp it!

Thanks & Best Regards! apolise@hotmail.com

Toxic Scents Stink!

2011-06-24T14:36:00.001-05:00

If you use products made by SC Johnson like Glade®, Windex®, Fantastik® or Pledge®, you may be exposing yourself to toxic trespassers. You won't find them listed on the label, but galaxolide and tonalide are toxic fragrance ingredients that enter our bodies without our knowledge or our consent.

Galaxolide and tonalide:
•    Are linked to hormone disruption and increased risk of breast cancer
•    Build up in our bodies—they're showing up in blood, breast milk, and even newborns
•    Don't break down easily in the environment
•    May make our bodies more vulnerable to other toxic chemicals by weakening our body's defenses

Worst Offenders for Pesticide Residues

2011-06-24T14:31:00.002-05:00

98% of apples sampled by the USDA contained residues of 56 different pesticides! Mmmhhh, that's no good. Pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems, including brain and nervous system toxicity, cancer, hormone disruption, and skin, eye and lung irritation. That doesn't mean you should stop eating apples, but it might give you an added incentive to buy organic whenever possible.

The following lists compiled by the Environmental Working Group will help you, your friends and your family make informed decisions. The "Dirty Dozen" includes fruits and vegetables that carry high levels of pesticide residues, while the "Clean Fifteen" have few residues. Here's to our health!

Dirty Dozen: Buy these organic

Apples
Celery
Strawberries
Peaches
Spinach
Nectarines (imported)
Grapes (imported)
Sweet Bell Peppers
Potatoes
Blueberries (domestic)
Lettuce
Kale/Collard Greens

Clean Fifteen: Lowest in pesticides

Onions
Sweet Corn (if it's not organic then it's GMO though)
Pineapples
Avocado
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Mangoes
Eggplant
Cantaloupe (domestic)
Kiwi
Cabbage
Watermelon
Sweet Potatoes
Grapefruit
Mushrooms

Interesting Information on Toxins

2011-06-23T10:26:00.001-05:00

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved approximately 3,000 food additives, preservatives and colorings for use in the food supply. The average person will ingest 140-150 pounds of additives and chemicals every year, creating a serious imbalance within the body. Because toxins from food and household products are fat-soluble, the body will naturally create fat to safely store the toxins and protect the body. This toxic fat will block nutrients, rob your energy, contaminate your cells, affect your moods and contribute to a host of symptoms and disease.

Shaklee Vitamins for Candida Yeast Syndrome

2011-04-30T07:57:00.002-05:00

From LIVESTRONG.COM BLOG

Overview

Candida is a living organism that is present, and in most cases harmless, in everyone. In certain cases, an overgrowth can happen when the body's natural defenses are compromised, such as when there aren't enough good bacteria in the gut. According to the United Kingdom's National Candida Society, this imbalance can be caused by an overuse of antibiotics; the consequential decrease in defense in the gut can allow Candida yeast to turn into fungus and multiply. There is not much evidence to support the diagnosis of Candida overgrowth, but nutritionist Diane Petoskey recommends a 16- to 20-week regimen to kill the Candida and bring the body back into balance using Shaklee's Vita-Lea multivitamin along with nine other Shaklee supplements.

Optiflora Two-Part Probiotic and Prebiotic System

Petoskey recommends Shaklee Optiflora two-part prebiotic and probiotic system. The Optiflora system supports the growth of healthy microflora in the colon to fight against Candida. Thirty minutes before eating breakfast, take two probiotic capsules on an empty stomach with 4 oz. of water and 1 level tsp. of prebiotic powder. In the evening, take another probiotic capsule with 4 oz. of water and 1/2 tsp. of prebiotic powder 30 minutes before eating dinner.

Garlic Complex

Shaklee's Garlic Complex may help rid the body of Candida. It contains a potent amount of allicin, a compound that maintains healthy levels of good microorganisms in the body. Nutritionist Ellie Cullen describes garlic as being powerful enough to "eat up" the invading fungal Candida. Take three tablets with each meal.

GLA Complex

GLA Complex by Shaklee contains gamma linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that helps the body to regulate normal body processes. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, GLA inhibits the growth of Candida in the body. Take two capsules with each meal.

Sustained Release Vita-C 500 mg

Shaklee's Sustained Release Vita-C tablets offer 500 mg of vitamin C in a delivery system that releases the equivalent of 1.5 oranges every hour for five hours. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, vitamin C helps to reduce inflammation caused by Candida overgrowth. Take two tablets with each meal.

Zinc Complex

Sherridan L. Stock, B.Sc., reports in the "International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" that Candida syndrome is commonly associated with a zinc deficiency. Shaklee's Zinc Complex provides 100% of the daily recommended value of zinc. Take one capsule with breakfast and one with dinner.

Vita-E Complex

Shaklee combines powerful complementary ingredients in its Vita-E Complex. Vitamin E and selenium work together to act as antioxidants and to support immune function, according to the UMMC. Take one capsule with each meal.

Carotomax

CarotoMax by Shaklee is a unique carotenoid antioxidant blend that maintains the long-term health of areas commonly affected by Candida. Take one capsule with each meal.

OmegaGuard

Inflammation caused by Candida overgrowth may be reduced with omega-3 fatty acids. Shaklee's OmegaGuard contains seven types of ultra-pure, pharmaceutical-grade omega-3 fatty acids. Take one capsule with each meal.

OsteoMatrix

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy reports that many people with Candida overgrowth are also deficient in calcium. OsteoMatrix by Shaklee provides 100% of the daily recommended value of calcium along with 100% of the recommended amount of magnesium, which helps to balance calcium intake. Take two caplets per meal and two before bed.

candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast candida yeast

Read Your Labels

2011-01-19T20:28:00.000-06:00

Make sure you are reading your labels...

What's Really In This: Kellogg's Smart Start Cereal / Fitness

10 Nutrients That Every Child Needs

2010-12-28T22:20:00.002-06:00

Calcium: Builds strong bones and teeth, promotes healthy nerve and muscle function, helps blood clot, and helps the body convert food into energy.

How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Essential fatty acids (EFAs): Help build cells, regulate the nervous system, strengthen the cardiovascular system, build immunity, and help the body absorb nutrients. Necessary for healthy brain function and vision.
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Iron: Important for making hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying red pigment in blood, and myoglobin, a pigment that stores oxygen in muscles. Lack of iron can causeanemia, which can result in fatigue, weakness, and irritability.
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Magnesium: Keeps bones strong and the heart rhythm steady, supports the immune system, and helps maintain muscle and nerve function.
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Potassium: Works with sodium to control the body's water balance, which helps maintain blood pressure. Assists with muscle function and heart rhythm and, in later years, may reduce the risk of kidney stones and osteoporosis.
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Vitamin A: Plays an important role in vision and bone growth; helps protect the body from infections; promotes the health and growth of cells and tissues in the body, including the hair, nails, and skin.
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Vitamin C: Helps form and repair red blood cells, bones, and tissues; helps keep your child's gums healthy and strengthens blood vessels, minimizing bruising; assists with healing, boosts the immune system, and keeps infections at bay. Also helps the body absorb iron from iron-rich
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Vitamin D: Helps the body absorb minerals like calcium and builds strong teeth and bones. Essential for reaching growth potential and peak bone mass. Also functions as a hormone with roles in immune system health, insulin production, and regulation of cell growth.
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Vitamin E: Limits the production of free radicals, which can damage cells. Important for immunity, DNA repair, and other metabolic processes.
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

Zinc: Needed by more than 70 enzymes that aid digestion and metabolism, and essential for growth.
How much your child needs, the best sources, and more >

From BabyCenter: http://www.babycenter.com/0_10-nutrients-that-every-child-needs_64347.bc

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Solutions:

Shakleekids™ Incredivites™ Multivitamin/Multimineral

Comprehensive chewable multivitamin/multimineral supplement promotes healthy and strong bodies. With immune-supporting lactoferrin.

Mighty Smart™

Ultra pure DHA dietary supplement

Click image below for more children's health solutions...

A Fundraising Opportunity

2010-10-18T14:01:00.000-05:00

"Cause marketing" is where purpose, passion, and profits meet in a productive, strategically aligned partnership.

Are you looking for a fundraising idea for your non-profit group? Watch the video below.

Here is an example of a non-profit website which is provided at no cost:
http://wcmotc.myshaklee.com

How clean are your dishes

2010-09-29T11:54:00.000-05:00

NY Time story asks "How clean are your dishes".

Phosphates pose a threat to aquatic life and can end up in drinking-water reservoirs. In response to new laws, more and more makers of dishwasher detergents are reducing the amounts of phosphates in their products. But, according to a recent article published by The New York Times, "Cleaner for the Environment, Not for the Dishes," consumers claim their low-phosphate detergents aren't getting the job done.

Launched in 1991, Shaklee Basic-D® was the first patented phosphate-free dishwashing cleanser. Today, our Shaklee Get Clean® Dish Washer Automatic Powder Concentrate is a patented, high-performing, phosphate-free dishwasher cleanser. Its enzyme-activated formula removes tough stains without the need for prerinsing, leaving dishes sparkling clean. Shaklee Get Clean products do not contain phosphates—and never will.

Shouldn't everyone you know be using a phosphate-free dishwasher concentrate that leaves dishes sparkling clean?

New York TImes Article URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/science/earth/19clean.html

Best Sustainable Companies

2010-09-28T21:49:00.000-05:00

Shaklee as one of the “best sustainable companies”
The 10! Show, an NBC television program out of Philadelphia, features Shaklee as one of the “best sustainable companies”, highlighting Shaklee as an Industry Innovator. In the program, Wood Turner, Executive Director of Climate Counts, speaks to Shaklee’s environmental heritage, commitment to addressing climate issues, and the many benefits of the Get Clean Starter kit.

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video.

Automatic Dishwasher Phosphate Laws

2010-09-23T23:03:00.000-05:00

Shaklee Difference™

Laws in 17 States Limit Phosphates in Automatic Dishwasher Cleaning Agents

When Shaklee first launched our patented, phosphate-free Basic-D® in 1991, we were way ahead of trend in making available a high performing phosphate-free automatic dishwash concentrate. It wasn't until 1994 that phosphates in laundry detergents were restricted nationwide, but until recently, automatic dishwasher detergent manufacturers could include phosphates without concern for environmental regulations prohibiting or limiting the use of phosphates. There simply weren't any.

Well, that time appears to be coming to an end. As of this year, 17 states have enacted laws regarding phosphates in automatic dishwasher cleaners, 15 of them in 2010 alone.

Why the concern about phosphates? Phosphates in bodies of fresh water like lakes, streams, rivers, and creeks, act as a nutrient to organisms like algae, encouraging their growth to an extent that they can harm or threaten plant and fish life.

Shaklee Get Clean® products do not contain phosphates, and never will. And for those who are concerned about performance, Shaklee Get Clean Automatic Dish Wash Concentrate is a patented, highly concentrated, phosphate-free automatic dishwash cleanser, backed by the 100% Shaklee Satisfaction Guarantee, and selected as a 2008 recipient of the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) seal of approval. Its enzyme-activated formula removes tough stains without prerinsing, dissolving quickly and completely, without residue.

Here are the 17 states in which phosphates in dishwash detergents are now regulated. Is your state one of them?

Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, Virginia

And even if your state isn't among these, shouldn't everyone you know be using a phosphate-free dishwash concentrate?

New Study Shows 85% of Big Pharma's New Drugs are "lemons" and pose health risks to users

2010-09-03T06:58:00.000-05:00

by S. L. Baker, NaturalNews

August 18, 2010 - For years, natural health proponents have been sounding the alarm about the dangers of new drugs being pushed on consumers. But is that a one-sided, inaccurate view? Not at all. In fact, new research now shows the problems with Big Pharma's hugely hyped medications are far worse than most people have even dreamed. Independent reviewers found that about 85 percent of new drugs offer few if any new benefits -- but they carry the risk of causing serious harm to users.
According to Donald Light, Ph.D., a professor of comparative health policy at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey who authored the study, the pharmaceutical industry is a "market for lemons" and Big Pharma spends a fortune to sell those lemons to the public.

"Sometimes drug companies hide or downplay information about serious side effects of new drugs and overstate the drugs' benefits," Dr. Light, who presented his findings on August 17 in Atlanta at the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, said in a press statement. "Then, they spend two to three times more on marketing than on research to persuade doctors to prescribe these new drugs. Doctors may get misleading information and then misinform patients about the risks of a new drug. It's really a two-tier market for lemons."

Dr. Light's paper, Pharmaceuticals: A Two-Tier Market for Producing 'Lemons' and Serious Harm, is an institutional analysis of the pharmaceutical industry and how it works. He based his conclusions on a wide range of data from independent sources and studies, including the Canadian Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, the Food and Drug Administration, and Prescrire International (a French language journal which publishes extensive research on pharmacology, toxicology and pharmaceutics ). Much of research for the study was conducted for a forthcoming book Dr. Light edited, The Risk of Prescription Drugs, which is slated for publication this fall by Columbia University Press.

In both his paper and his book, Dr. Light emphasizes what he dubs the "Risk Proliferation Syndrome", which refers to the way Big Pharma has grossly maximized the number of people exposed to new drugs with relatively low effectiveness but a heightened risk of adverse and often severe side effects. The pharmaceutical giants have accomplished this by failing to put each new medication on the market using a controlled, limited launch which would allow evidence to be gathered about the drug's effects, positive and negative. Instead, Big Pharma builds hugely hyped drug launches based on clinical trials that were designed in the first place to minimize evidence of harm and are published in the medical literature to only emphasize a drug's advantages.

Pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars on massive campaigns to sell a new prescription med, recruiting leading doctors to use the drug for conditions other than those for which it is approved, Dr. Light revealed. By promoting such off-label or unapproved uses, Big Pharma goes after even more sales and physicians inadvertently become what Dr. Light calls "double agents" -- they work to push sales of the new drug while they are supposed to be stewards of their patients' well-being.

And what happens when patients complain that the drug is making them sicker and/or producing side effects? Studies show their doctors usually just discount or dismiss these complaints, Dr. Light said.

According to the new study, the big drug companies are successful in getting away with selling their "lemon" drugs because of three main reasons: Big Pharma is in charge of testing their own new drugs; the pharmaceutical companies have invested millions in building "firewalls" of legal protection to hide information about a drug's dangers or lack of effectiveness; and the bar for drug efficacy is set fairly low to make it easier for Big Pharma to get a new drug approved.

Dr. Light pointed out that despite the extensive requirements for testing the efficacy and safety of each new medication, drug companies use a strategy of "swamping the regulator" with large numbers of incomplete, partial, and substandard clinical trials. For instance, in one study of 111 final applications for approval, 42% lacked adequately randomized trials, 40% had flawed testing of dosages, 39% lacked evidence of clinical efficacy, and 49% raised concerns about serious adverse side effects.

"The result is that drugs get approved without anyone being able to know how effective they really are or how much serious harm they will cause," he said. "The companies control the making of scientific knowledge and then control which findings will go to the FDA or be published."

Source: www.foodmatters.tv and www.naturalnews.com

Did You Know That Vitamin C Can Treat Over 30 Major Diseases?

2010-09-01T07:21:00.000-05:00

By Andrew Saul, PhD

Vitamin C has been known to cure over 30 major disease for over 50 years. But why haven't you heard more about it? Why haven't more doctors used Vitamin C as medicine?

Progress takes time, unfortunately. Fresh fruit was known to cure scurvy by 1753, yet governments ignored the fact for nearly 100 years. Countless thousands died in the meantime. The 19th century doctor who first advocated washing one's hands between patients died ignored and in disgrace with the medical profession. Toxic mercury was used as medicine into the twentieth century. And so it has been.

The first physician to aggressively use vitamin C to cure diseases was Frederick R. Klenner, M.D. beginning back in the early 1940's. Dr. Klenner consistently cured chicken pox, measles, mumps, tetanus and polio with huge doses of the vitamin. While vaccines are now available for these illnesses, please remember this was not the case in the 1940's.

The following is a list of the conditions that Dr. Klenner successfully treated with aggressive vitamin C therapy:

Pneumonia
Encephalitis
Herpes Zoster (shingles)
Herpes Simplex
Mononucleosis
Pancreatitis
Hepatitis
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Bladder Infection
Alcoholism
Arthritis
Some Cancers
Leukemia
Atherosclerosis
Ruptured Intervertebral Disc
High Cholesterol
Corneal Ulcer
Diabetes
Glaucoma
Schizophrenia
Burns and secondary infections
Heat Stroke
Radiation Burns
Heavy Metal Poisoning (Mercury, Lead)
Venomous Bites (insects, snakes)
Multiple Sclerosis
Chronic Fatigue
Complications of Surgery

This seems like an impossible list of vitamin C cures. At this point, you can either dismiss the subject or investigate further. Dr. Klenner chose to investigate. The result? He used massive doses of vitamin C for over forty years of family practice. He wrote dozens of medical papers on the subject. A complete list of them is in the Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C, edited by Lendon H. Smith, M.D., Life Sciences Press, Tacoma, WA (1988).

It is difficult to ignore his success, but it has been done. Dr. Klenner wrote: "Some physicians would stand by and see their patient die rather than use ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) because in their finite minds it exists only as a vitamin."

Vitamin C is remarkably safe even in enormously high doses. Compared to commonly used prescription drugs, side effects are virtually nonexistent. It does not cause kidney stones. In fact, vitamin C increases urine flow and favorably lowers the pH to help keep stones from forming. William J. McCormick, M.D. used vitamin C since the late 1940's to prevent and treat kidney stones. Vitamin C does not significantly raise oxalate levels, and uric acid stones have never resulted from its use, either. Said Dr. Klenner: "The ascorbic acid/kidney stone story is a myth."

How much vitamin C is an effective therapeutic dose? Dr. Klenner gave up to 300,000 milligrams (mg) per day. Generally, he gave 350 to 700 mg per kilogram body weight per day. That is a lot of Vitamin C.

But then again, look at that list of successes.

Dr. Klenner emphasized that small amounts do not work. He said, "If you want results, use adequate ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)."

If you want to learn more about the therapeutic uses of vitamin C, the following books are best:

How To Live Longer and Feel Better, by Linus Pauling, Ph.D., (Freeman, 1986)
The Healing Factor: Vitamin C Against Disease, by Irwin Stone (Putnam, 1972)
The Vitamin C Connection, by Emanuel Cheraskin, M.D. et al (Harper and Row, 1983)
Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C, by Lendon H. Smith, M.D. (cited above)

Source: www.foodmatters.tv and www.doctoryourself.com

Family Health & Wellness

2010-08-29T08:59:00.000-05:00

Help Your Kids Develop Healthy Habits

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), adults and kids are both at risk for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. But kids also look to their parents to help them learn to be healthy. If you're not sure how to help your family live a healthier life, follow these tips, developed by the AHA.

Set specific goals and realistic limits. Don't push your kids too far or emphasize winning. Kids need time to be kids too, and shouldn't feel pressure to stay involved in activities or excessively train. If goals or limits are drastic, you're setting your child up for failure.
Find new ways to celebrate good behavior. Our culture has enough celebrations that focus around food. Reward your child with a new toy, a special outing, or some special "Mom" or "Dad" time together. Rewarding kids with food teaches them to turn to food for reasons other than hunger and nutrition.
Make dinnertime a family time. Families who eat meals together at home consume more nutrients and less junk. Plus, it's a chance for the whole family to connect, bond, and learn from each other.
Make a game of reading food labels. Understanding food labels is an important skill for everyone to know. After learning how to as a family, challenge each other during your shopping trips to find the healthiest bread, cereal, snacks and more.
Be an advocate for healthier children. Not every family has access to the health information that you do, and only through advocacy and support can other people benefit from your knowledge and skills. Get involved with planning the school's lunches or snacks or physical activity requirements, for example.

Just Say No

2010-08-13T11:50:00.000-05:00

It may still be late summer, but this year's flu vaccine already is arriving and the CDC wants you to get yours right away.

That "you" means "everybody." For the first time, the seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for all men, women including pregnant women and children over age 6 months.

Exceptions include only those allergic to eggs or those with other health issues that make vaccination unwise.

Alternative:

A vitamin D supplement is more effective at reducing the risk of flu infection than vaccines or antiviral drugs, according to a study conducted by researchers from Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Recommendations for this season’s Flu starting in October
There is scientific evidence that links low levels of Vitamin D and low levels of Probiotics to an increased risk of many medical conditions. Vitamin D, Probiotics and Chicken soup have been effective in the past in combating viral infections like Flu.
1. Get a Vitamin D blood test 25(OH)D
2. Make sure your whole family has adequate blood levels of Vitamin D this flu season (>50-80ng/ml). Most children and adults vitamin D blood level is <30ng/ml.
3. Adult (and children >100lbs) maintenance ............ 10,000 IU daily. 4. Children's maintenance: <100lbs........................... 5,000 IU daily. 5. At the first symptoms of a cold or flu 1,000IU/ lb. daily for 7 days. Examples: 50 lb ................................................................................... 50,000IU daily. 100 lb daily ....................................................................... 100,000IU daily. 150 lb daily........................................................................ 150,000IU daily. 200 lb daily....................................................................... 200,000 IU daily. 6. And of course Chicken Soup

New Water Pitcher Coming July 14th

2010-06-30T21:38:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to to hear Shaklee has a new water pitcher coming out July 14th!

Called "Get Clean Water," it's a new multi-patented water filtration system that uses a solid block of carbon to clean your water, eliminating contaminants including up to 99 percent of lead!

Get Clean Water is the first pitcher to use a refillable carbon block filter system so there’s less plastic to throw away. And it filters 80 gallons of water per filter – double the amount of leading brands.

Plus it beats leading brands!

Certified to reduce lead
(Brita® and Pur® pitchers are not!)
Filters 80 gallons - double the water of leading brands
Only pitcher with refillable carbon block filter system
Only pitcher with an automatic meter that shows gallons filtered
Only pitcher filter made with sustainable coconut shell using a zero-emissions process
Costs only pennies a gallon

Get Clean Water goes on open order on July 14th!

EWG's latest Healthy Home Tip

2010-05-15T14:04:00.000-05:00

Give kids a green and healthy start

Babies' and children's developing brains and bodies (especially their reproductive systems) are extraordinarily vulnerable to toxic chemicals. And children's bodies may not metabolize and excrete toxic chemicals as readily as adults. So it's important for our children's long-term health that we focus on the toxic chemicals they're exposed to, and do our best to keep them away when it matters most.

Read on to learn three important ways to raise eco-healthy kids:

1. REDUCE MOM'S CHEMICAL EXPOSURES WHILE PREGNANT

Pregnancy is a critical time. A mother's chemical exposures can adversely affect her baby in many ways. Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes that are critical -- stopping smoking, cutting out alcoholic beverages, and eating right. Beyond that, here are some simple, but important steps, you can take to further reduce risks during pregnancy -- and beyond.

Go organic and eat fresh foods. Use EWG's Shoppers Guide to Pesticides to determine which fruits and veggies you should always buy organic and those with the least pesticide residue that are ok to buy conventionally grown. Choose milk and meat produced without added growth hormones. Limit canned food, since can linings usually contain the synthetic estrogen called bisphenol A (BPA).

Drink safer water. It's important for pregnant women to drink plenty of water. Use a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter pitcher to reduce your exposure to impurities such as chlorine, perchlorate and lead. Don't drink bottled water, which costs more and isn't necessarily better. If you're out and about, use a stainless steel, glass or BPA-free plastic reusable container. Mix infant formula with fluoride-free water. Get EWG's Safe Drinking Water Guide.
Eat low-mercury seafood. Choose low-mercury fish such as salmon, tilapia and pollock, rather than high-mercury tuna and swordfish.
Get your iodine. Switch to iodized salt and talk to your doctor about taking an iodine-containing vitamin. Iodine buffers against chemicals such as perchlorate that can disrupt your thyroid system and pose potential risks for your baby's brain development during pregnancy.
Choose better body care products. Just because the label says "gentle" or "natural" doesn't mean a product is safe for pregnancy. Look your products up on EWG's CosmeticsDatabase.com. Read the ingredients and avoid triclosan, fragrance and oxybenzone. Read EWG's Healthy Home Tips for more tips.
Wash maternity clothes before wearing. Clothing is often coated with chemical treatments in the factory.
Identify lead sources and avoid them. Test your tap water for lead and avoid any home remodeling if your house was built before 1978, when lead house paint was banned. Dust from sanding old paint is a common source of lead exposure.
Avoid painting and other chemical-intensive jobs when you are getting your nursery ready.
Clean greener. Household cleaners, bug killers, pet treatments and air fresheners can contain hazardous chemicals. Check out less toxic alternatives. Some ideas: vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, hydrogen peroxide to remove stains. Use a wet mop/rag and a HEPA-filter vacuum to get rid of dust -- which can contain contaminants. Leave shoes -- and the pollutants they track inside -- at the door.
Avoid gasoline fumes. Ask for your partner's help to fill the gas tank, or use full service.
Pick plastics carefully. Some plastics contain toxic chemicals, including BPA and phthalates. Don't reuse single-use containers or microwave food in plastic containers. Avoid PVC by hanging a natural-fabric shower curtain. When remodeling, go with PVC-free flooring and pipes. Learn more about choosing safer plastics.

2. FEED YOUR BABY SAFELY

Breast milk is best, but whether you're feeding breast milk or formula in a bottle, use this guide to feed your baby safely.Download EWG's Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula.

Use a safe bottle.
- Start with a clear silicone nipple. Latex rubber nipples can cause allergic reactions and can contain impurities linked to cancer.
- Use glass. Plastic bottles can leach a toxic chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) into formula and breast milk. Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles marked with a 7 or "PC."
- Don't use plastic bottle liners. The soft plastic liners may leach chemicals into formula and breast milk, especially when heated.
- Warm bottles in a pan of hot water. Microwaving can heat unevenly and cause chemicals to leach from plastic bottles into formula.
Make safe infant formula.
- Choose powdered formula. A toxic chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) can leach into liquid formula sold in metal cans. Canadian tests show no BPA leaching into powdered formula. The same brands are sold in the U.S., making powdered formula a low-risk for BPA contamination. Choose powdered formula when possible, or liquid formula in glass or plastic containers. Avoid all liquid formula in metal cans.
- Use filtered tap water. If your water is fluoridated, use a reverse osmosis filter to remove fluoride, which the American Dental Association recommends avoiding when reconstituting formula. If your water is not fluoridated use a carbon filter. If you choose bottled water, make sure it's fluoride-free.
- Learn more. Watch this short EWG video about feeding babies safely and read this Enviroblog post to learn more about choosing and using infant formula.

3. CREATE AN ECO-HEALTHY HOME

We created a short Healthy Home Checklist for you to use as you walk through your home -- and open your bathroom cabinet, look under your sink, and check those laundry supplies. It's an easy, hands-on way to create a less toxic environment for your family. When you're done, you'll breathe easier (literally!) knowing that you've tackled the toxics that matter most in your home. See the checklist online to access additional online resources.

4. CLEAN GREENER AT HOME

Cleaning might be a chore, but it doesn't have to be toxic, too! Safer products and practices are available and easy. Children accidentally exposed to harsh, corrosive cleaners can suffer burns to skin and eyes, and inhaling the fumes can cause lung damage. Exposure to low levels of these chemicals over a lifetime may increase the risk of developing serious health conditions, such as cancer or reproductive problems. Download these simple safe cleaning tips.

Less is more. Dilute your cleaning supplies according to instructions and use only what's needed to get the job done.
Open the window. Clean with windows and doors open so you don't trap air pollution inside your home.
Use gloves and other precautions. Cleaning chemicals may harm or penetrate skin and eyes -- check warning labels.
Keep kids away. Children are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals. If they like to help, let them clean with soap and water, not toxic cleaners.
Avoid "antibacterial." If your family is generally healthy, there's no need to use potentially toxic "antibacterial" products, according to the American Medical Association. Wash your hands with plain soap and water.
Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other acids. These combinations can produce deadly gases.
Don't be fooled by labels -- buy certified green products. Label claims aren't always true. Cleaning supplies certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo meet green standards.
Try natural alternatives. Experiment with non-toxic options like vinegar and baking soda.
Take care with pine and citrus oil cleaners. Avoid using these cleaners especially on smoggy days, when the ingredients can react with ozone to produce cancer-causing formaldehyde.
Skip the biggest hazards. Avoid air fresheners, use a baking soda and water paste to clean the oven and tackle toilet stains, and use a mechanical snake to unclog the drain.

Need eco-healthy products for your home and family? Click here.

May Newsletter

2010-05-14T20:01:00.000-05:00

In this issue:
- How It Works: Cinch Weight Loss
- Top Five Reasons to Love Vitalizer
- Skincare Tips for Warm Weather
- Healthy Mood Boosters
- Broccoli and Quinoa in Carrot-Ginger Sauce

To view this month's newsletter, click here

GM Crops Kill Lady Bugs; Science Suppressed

2010-05-07T21:15:00.000-05:00

A recent article in Nature Biotechnology (PDF) reveals data, formerly suppressed by the biotechnology industry, that demonstrate a transgenic variety of corn is fatal to ladybugs. In 2001, at the request of seed company Pioneer Hi-Bred International, university scientists conducted research on a new variety of transgenic corn containing the binary toxin Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1. The scientists found that nearly 100% of ladybugs fed on the corn could not survive past the eighth day of their life cycle.

Pioneer prohibited the scientists from publicizing their data and, when applying for regulatory approval for a corn variety containing the same toxin, submitted different data that made no mention of potential harm to ladybugs. Scientists are often barred from publicizing data that is unwelcome to biotechnology companies, particularly when the corporations themselves commissioned the research.

Based on claims of business confidentiality and strict contracts with researchers, companies are able to keep unwelcome data under wraps and scientists’ hands tied. Companies routinely deny scientists’ research requests and suppress research by threatening legal action, a practice one scientist describes as “chilling.”
In February 2009, 26 corn-pest specialists anonymously submitted a statement to U.S. EPA decrying industry’s prohibitive restrictions on independent research. “The risks of genetically modified crops are coming to light in spite of industry’s attempts to strangle the science,” observes Kathryn Gilje, executive director of Pesticide Action Network North America. Ireland recently banned GM crops in favor of developing agriculture that emphasizes proven agroecological solutions.

+ Read Full Article

Chemicals and Cancer

2010-05-07T08:02:00.000-05:00

New Alarm Bells About Chemicals and Cancer

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Published: May 5, 2010

The President’s Cancer Panel is the Mount Everest of the medical mainstream, so it is astonishing to learn that it is poised to join ranks with the organic food movement and declare: chemicals threaten our bodies.

The cancer panel is releasing a landmark 200-page report on Thursday, warning that our lackadaisical approach to regulation may have far-reaching consequences for our health.

I’ve read an advance copy of the report, and it’s an extraordinary document. It calls on America to rethink the way we confront cancer, including much more rigorous regulation of chemicals.

Traditionally, we reduce cancer risks through regular doctor visits, self-examinations and screenings such as mammograms. The President’s Cancer Panel suggests other eye-opening steps as well, such as giving preference to organic food, checking radon levels in the home and microwaving food in glass containers rather than plastic.

In particular, the report warns about exposures to chemicals during pregnancy, when risk of damage seems to be greatest. Noting that 300 contaminants have been detected in umbilical cord blood of newborn babies, the study warns that: “to a disturbing extent, babies are born ‘pre-polluted.’ ”

It’s striking that this report emerges not from the fringe but from the mission control of mainstream scientific and medical thinking, the President’s Cancer Panel. Established in 1971, this is a group of three distinguished experts who review America’s cancer program and report directly to the president.

One of the seats is now vacant, but the panel members who joined in this report are Dr. LaSalle Leffall Jr., an oncologist and professor of surgery at Howard University, and Dr. Margaret Kripke, an immunologist at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Both were originally appointed to the panel by former President George W. Bush.

“We wanted to let people know that we’re concerned, and that they should be concerned,” Professor Leffall told me.

The report blames weak laws, lax enforcement and fragmented authority, as well as the existing regulatory presumption that chemicals are safe unless strong evidence emerges to the contrary.

“Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for safety,” the report says. It adds: “Many known or suspected carcinogens are completely unregulated.”

Industry may howl. The food industry has already been fighting legislation in the Senate backed by Dianne Feinstein of California that would ban bisphenol-A, commonly found in plastics and better known as BPA, from food and beverage containers.

Studies of BPA have raised alarm bells for decades, and the evidence is still complex and open to debate. That’s life: In the real world, regulatory decisions usually must be made with ambiguous and conflicting data. The panel’s point is that we should be prudent in such situations, rather than recklessly approving chemicals of uncertain effect.

The President’s Cancer Panel report will give a boost to Senator Feinstein’s efforts. It may also help the prospects of the Safe Chemicals Act, backed by Senator Frank Lautenberg and several colleagues, to improve the safety of chemicals on the market.

Some 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and they include Democrats and Republicans alike. Protecting ourselves and our children from toxins should be an effort that both parties can get behind — if enough members of Congress are willing to put the public interest ahead of corporate interests.

One reason for concern is that some cancers are becoming more common, particularly in children. We don’t know why that is, but the proliferation of chemicals in water, foods, air and household products is widely suspected as a factor. I’m hoping the President’s Cancer Panel report will shine a stronger spotlight on environmental causes of health problems — not only cancer, but perhaps also diabetes, obesity and autism.

This is not to say that chemicals are evil, and in many cases the evidence against a particular substance is balanced by other studies that are exonerating. To help people manage the uncertainty prudently, the report has a section of recommendations for individuals:

Particularly when pregnant and when children are small, choose foods, toys and garden products with fewer endocrine disruptors or other toxins. (Information about products is at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com or www.healthystuff.org.)
For those whose jobs may expose them to chemicals, remove shoes when entering the house and wash work clothes separately from the rest of the laundry.
Filter drinking water.
Store water in glass or stainless steel containers, or in plastics that don’t contain BPA or phthalates (chemicals used to soften plastics). Microwave food in ceramic or glass containers.
Give preference to food grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers and growth hormones. Avoid meats that are cooked well-done.
Check radon levels in your home. Radon is a natural source of radiation linked to cancer.

Toxic Tub Report

2010-01-17T19:15:00.000-06:00

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Report: Toxic Chemicals Found in Kid's Bath Products

Children’s bath products are often marketed as safe and gentle. However, laboratory tests commissioned by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found these products are commonly contaminated with formaldehyde or 1,4-dioxane – and, in many cases, both. These two chemicals, linked to cancer and skin allergies, are anything but safe and gentle and are completely unregulated in children’s bath products.

The Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) oversees the safety of personal care products in the U.S., but lacks basic authority needed to ensure that products are actually safe. The FDA cannot require companies to test products for safety before they are sold, does not systematically review the safety of ingredients and does not set limits for common, harmful contaminants in products. The FDA also does not require contaminants to be listed on product ingredient labels.1 As a result, consumers have no way of knowing if their products contain toxic contaminants.

This report is the first to document the widespread contamination of children’s products with formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 1,4-dioxane is a probable carcinogen.2 The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission states that “the presence of 1,4-dioxane, even as a trace contaminant, is cause for concern.”3 1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of a chemical processing technique called ethoxylation used to make petroleum-based cosmetic ingredients gentler to the skin. Manufacturers can easily remove the toxic byproduct, but are not required to under federal cosmetic safety standards.

Formaldehyde is a probable carcinogen, according to the EPA,4 though the risk of cancer from absorption through the skin is not fully understood.5 The chemical can also trigger adverse skin reactions in children and adults who are sensitive to the chemical.6-9 Contact dermatitis specialists recommend that children avoid exposure to products containing formaldehyde.10 Formaldehyde contaminates personal care products when common preservatives called formaldehyde releasers break down over time in the container.

None of the products tested list formaldehyde or 1,4-dioxane on the ingredient label. They are not added to products intentionally, but are toxic byproducts of chemical manufacturing and product formulation.

To better understand the extent of the problem, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and its partner Environmental Working Group sent samples of popular children’s bath products to Analytical Sciences, an independent laboratory in Petaluma, Calif., to be tested. The products chosen for testing contained ingredients commonly associated with 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde contamination.11

61% of the children’s bath products tested for this report contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.

We tested 48 products for 1,4-dioxane. From that batch, we also tested 28 of those products for formaldehyde. Highlights of results from the independent lab tests include:

Multiple Contaminants:

17 out of 28 products tested (61%) contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
Popular products that contained both contaminants include: Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Sesame Street Bubble Bath, Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash and Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash.

Formaldehyde:

23 out of 28 products tested (82%) contained formaldehyde, at levels ranging from 54 to 610 parts per million (ppm).
Baby Magic Baby Lotion, made by Ascendia Brands, Inc., contained the highest levels of formaldehyde found in the tests.
Two samples of Baby Magic Baby Lotion contained formaldehyde at levels that would trigger warning label requirements in Europe (above 500 ppm or .05%).12
Formaldehyde is banned from personal care products in Japan and Sweden.13

1,4-dioxane:

32 out of 48 products tested (67%) contained 1,4-dioxane at levels ranging from 0.27 to 35 ppm.
Several samples of American Girl shower products were found to contain the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane found in the tests.
The European Union bans 1,4-dioxane from personal care products at any level,14 and has recalled products that contain the chemical.15

As this report shows, dozens of leading body care products for babies and children contain the toxic chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. Many of these products also contain other ingredients with known or suspected links to cancer or other serious health problems – showing that, unbeknownst to most parents, harmful chemicals in the bath may be adding up.

The evidence is compelling: The United States must reform cosmetic policies to protect people, especially babies and children, from unnecessary toxic chemical exposures.

Post Holiday Cleanse

2010-01-17T00:02:00.000-06:00

As much as we promise ourselves we won’t over-indulge during the holidays (cue inner voice: “this time I really, really mean it!”), most of us are guilty of a bit of seasonal gluttony. Instead of berating yourself for succumbing again, take a more positive approach. Be thankful for what you are able to enjoy and balance your indulgences with the following rejuvenating practices. You might even consider making these the basis of a new family routine. Keep yourselves healthier by helping your body flush out the environmental contaminants you are exposed to every day.

• Sweat it out. At least three times a week (but ideally every day), work up a good sweat. Exercise is the healthiest thing you can do for your body for a variety of reasons, and when sweat comes out, toxins do too. No need to get a gym membership, make it simple family fun by taking a vigorous hike or bike ride together.

• Flush it out. Drink plenty of water every day, especially before, during, and after exercising (drop in a wedge of lemon for added benefits). Eat cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) and high fiber foods to keep your systems flowing.

• Love your liver. Your liver is your body’s toxin filter. Keep it healthy by limiting alcohol, caffeine, refined sugars, saturated fats and medication. Look into herbs or supplements to support general liver health. (Talk to your physician before starting supplements or herbs).

• Relax. Your mental well-being is inherently connected to your overall health. Stress slows down detoxification, among other things. Keep family stress levels low, so all your body’s systems are in prime working condition, by taking time to cuddle and read with your kids, or by doing yoga and meditation together.

• Breathe deeply. Oxygen is essential to cleansing and feeding your body’s cells. Whenever you think of it throughout the day, take some deep cleansing breaths to oxygenate your body.

• Soothe. According to Diana Carswell at the Washington Post:

“the body can efficiently expel toxins through the pores of the skin. To hasten this process, combine in a bath 1 cup of Epsom salts and 1 to 2 tablespoons of an essential oil, such as lemon, jojoba, rosemary or olive. The ingredients' stimulating properties naturally draw toxins out. (Just be sure to test the oil first to make sure you're not allergic by applying a small amount to the underside of your forearm.) Another option is to exfoliate the skin, which increases respiration and removes toxins. Combine 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 tablespoon cornmeal and several drops almond oil with enough milk to form a paste. Apply by hand to the entire body (excluding the face) with gentle, circular motions. Rinse, then brush the skin using a loofah or sponge.”

Aaaaaahh…..These tips will not only help you detoxify your body, incorporating them into your daily life will also lead to greater overall health and happiness. Enjoy!

Kick start healthy eating for the whole family using these yummy, nutritious recipes from Eat Healthy:
Chicken and Veggie Meatballs
Lemony Zucchini and Basil Quinoa Pilaf with Chicken

Note: While these tips are applicable to your entire family, more extreme detox diets are not intended for children or pregnant women.

Article from: Healthy Child Healthy World

GMO Corn

2009-12-16T10:40:00.000-06:00

Study Proves Three Monsanto Corn Varieties' Noxiousness to the Organism

Friday 11 December 2009

by: Le Monde with AFP | Le Monde

GMO cornfields in Canada. A new European study "clearly reveals ... new side effects linked with GM maize consumption" affected the liver and kidneys, but also other organs for three Monsanto GMO corn varieties. (Photo:DawnOne)

A study published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences demonstrates the toxicity of three genetically modified corn varieties from the American seed company Monsanto, the Committee for Independent Research and Information on Genetic Engineering (Criigen, based in Caen), which participated in that study, announced Friday, December 11.

"For the first time in the world, we've proven that GMO are neither sufficiently healthy nor proper to be commercialized. [...] Each time, for all three GMOs, the kidneys and liver, which are the main organs that react to a chemical food poisoning, had problems," indicated Gilles-Eric Séralini, an expert member of the Commission for Biotechnology Reevaluation, created by the EU in 2008.

Caen and Rouen University researchers, as well as Criigen researchers, based their analyses on the data supplied by Monsanto to health authorities to obtain the green light for commercialization, but they draw different conclusions after new statistical calculations. According to Professor Séralini, the health authorities based themselves on a reading of the conclusions Monsanto has presented and not on conclusions drawn from the totality of the data. The researchers were able to obtain complete documentation following a legal decision.

"Monsanto's tests, effected over 90 days, are obviously not of sufficient duration to be able to say whether chronic illnesses are caused. That's why we ask for tests over a period of at least two years," explained one researcher. Consequently, the scientists demand a "firm prohibition" on the importation and cultivation of these GMOs.

These three GMOs (MON810, MON863 and NK603) "are approved for human and animal consumption in the EU and especially the United States," notes Professor Séralini. "MON810 is the only one of the three grown in certain EU countries (especially Spain); the others are imported," he adds. A meeting of EU ministers over MON810 and NK603 is scheduled Monday.

BPA Study

2009-10-10T13:51:00.000-05:00

Pregnant women exposed to chemical more likely to have aggressive girls: study
By Camille Bains (CP)
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Pregnant women exposed to a common chemical found in plastics are more likely to have daughters with aggressive and hyperactive behaviours, suggests a new study that tested two-year-olds.

The University of North Carolina study, which included a senior scientist from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, is the first to examine the link between exposure to bisphenol A during pregnancy and behaviour problems in kids.

The results are consistent with other studies showing the impact of the chemical on juvenile female animals.

Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, has also been linked to reproductive problems and diabetes.

It's used to make hard, clear reusable water bottles, baby bottles and resins that line the inside of metal food and beverage cans.

Last October, Canada became the first country in the world to ban BPA-containing baby bottles. Some U.S. jurisdictions, including Cincinnati, have legislation that bans or limits the use of the chemical in consumer products.

Bruce Lanphear, a Simon Fraser University professor of children's environmental health, said the study suggests pregnant women start thinking about the effects of bisphenol A long before they lug home baby bottles.

The study, published Tuesday in the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives," measured the BPA levels in urine samples taken from 249 pregnant women in Cincinnati at 16 and 26 weeks pregnancy and again when they gave birth.

Lanphear said the women were followed from early pregnancy until their children were two years old.

He said the chemical concentrations between 13 and 16 weeks of pregnancy were most strongly associated with behaviour problems in girls, but the study found no significant effect on boys.

The girls will be tested again when they're five, at an age children's behaviours tend to be more stable, said Lanphear, who is also senior scientist at the Child and Family Research Institute at B.C. Children's Hospital.

He noted that industry initially fought results of various studies that suggested there were only inconsequential links between lead-based paint and children's behaviour and that pattern appears to be repeating itself for companies producing plastics using bisphenol A.

"What we found over the past 10 or more years is that the kinds of subtle shifts in behaviours or cognition in very young kids oftentimes become manifest as (psychological issues) in older kids and adolescents," Lanphear said.

"At a minimum, we should ask industries to begin to label their products as to whether they contain bisphenol A so we give families a choice when they make purchases."

"Environmental chemicals should be tested for their safety or their toxicity before they're marketed."

Rick Smith, executive director of Toronto-based Environmental Defence, called the study significant, saying the chemical industry can no longer point to animal studies as not being applicable to human health.

"Not only does this underline the importance of getting the chemical out of baby bottles but we now need to take the next step and get it out of other areas where kids are exposed, most notably infant formula containers," Smith said.

However, the American Chemistry Council expressed its reservations about the research pointing out what it called "significant limitations" in the study design and its inability to establish cause-effect relationships.

"The results of this preliminary, and severely limited study cannot be considered meaningful for human health unless the findings are replicated in a more robust study," the group representing the industry said in a statement Tuesday.

In February, researchers at the University of Guelph warned that parents should get rid of anything containing bisphenol A that will be used by babies or pregnant women.

A study by a toxicologist and a graduate of the southern Ontario university found that the chemical lingers in the bodies of newborns and infants.

Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

More Than Half Million Kids Get Bad Drug Reactions

2009-09-29T22:38:00.000-05:00

Study Shows Side Effects, Bad Drug Reactions Send Half a Million US Kids to The Doctor Each Year

More than half a million U.S. children yearly have bad reactions or side effects from widely used medicines that require medical treatment and sometimes hospitalization, new research shows.

Children younger than age 5 are most commonly affected. Penicillin and other prescription antibiotics are among drugs causing the most problems, including rashes, stomachaches and diarrhea.

Parents should pay close attention when their children are started on medicines since "first-time medication exposures may reveal an allergic reaction," said lead author Dr. Florence Bourgeois, a pediatrician with Children's Hospital in Boston.

Doctors also should tell parents about possible symptoms for a new medication, she said.

The study appears in October's Pediatrics, released Monday.

It's based on national statistics on patients' visits to clinics and emergency rooms between 1995 and 2005. The number of children treated for bad drug reactions each year was mostly stable during that time, averaging 585,922.

Bourgeois said there were no deaths resulting from bad reactions to drugs in the data she studied, but 5 percent of children were sick enough to require hospitalization.

The study involved reactions to prescribed drugs, including accidental overdoses. They were used for a range of ailments including ear infections, strep throat, depression and cancer. Among teens, commonly used medicines linked with troublesome side effects included birth control pills. Bad reactions to these pills included menstrual problems, nausea and vomiting.

Children younger than 5 accounted for 43 percent of visits to clinics and emergency rooms; followed by teens aged 15 to 18, who made up about 23 percent of the visits.

Similar numbers of hospitalized children — about 540,000 yearly — also have bad reactions to drugs, including side effects, medicine mix-ups and accidental overdoses, recent government research suggests.

The new report indicates children at home are just as vulnerable.

Michael Cohen, president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, said a common problem involves giving young children liquid medicine. Doses can come in drops, teaspoons or milliliters, and parents may mistakenly think those amounts are interchangeable.

Cohen said doctors should be clear about doses and parents should be sure before leaving the pharmacy that they understand exactly how to give liquid medicine.

By LINDSEY TANNER AP Medical Writer
CHICAGO September 28, 2009 (AP)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpts from www.doctoryourself.com: The Journal of the American Medical Association states that over 100,000 deaths annually are due just to normal, expected side effects of prescription drugs. Vitamins are a vastly safer alternative. Over a twenty-four year period, vitamins have been connected with the deaths of a total of eleven people in the entire

United States

Prescription Drugs: 100,000 deaths = 1 year
Vitamins: 11 deaths = 24 years

Mercury in Our Fish, “NOT OK”, in Our Pregnant Women and Children, “OK”

2009-09-29T21:15:00.000-05:00

Flu Vaccines: Pregnancy and Children What You Need to Know - SafeMind's

In March of 2001, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement warning pregnant women and young children not to eat fish containing high levels of mercury because it causes neurological problems in children.

Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that these same women and young children should get seasonal influenza vaccines. Many seasonal influenza vaccines contain mercury, from the preservative thimerosal, in amounts exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended safe levels.

SafeMinds is deeply concerned that the risks of mercury-containing seasonal influenza vaccines outweigh the benefits for pregnant women, infants and children. Mercury is known to be highly toxic to brain tissue and can interrupt critical stages of brain development.

A large-scale scientific study in approximately 50,000 pregnant women and their infants over five flu seasons found no difference in the risk for developing influenza illness among those who received the influenza vaccine during pregnancy and those who did not receive the vaccine.

Reviews in the medical journal The Lancet found a lack of health benefit of influenza vaccine for children under two and significantly increased rates of vaccine related adverse events in children.

Help us spread the word about this - download the SafeMind's flu brochure here or request copies mailed to you at no charge to distribute in your community.

My Comments:
It's about preventative care, which would include proper nutrition and rest, washing hands, and chiropractic care. My family also takes lots of vitamins (especially C) and minerals to make up for what is depleted in our food and soil. Then we also take a herbal blend that helps boost the immune system and probiotics. No vaccines, prescriptions, or OTC medications for us. To your health!

Obesity and cancer

2009-09-25T07:14:00.000-05:00

Obesity could become top cancer cause for Western women

I believe there is more to it then what is mention in this article. Here is a link to a great call about The Role of Nutrition When Faced with Cancer. It covers what one should do whether or not you have cancer. http://kaatowens.com/main/page_articles__info_audio.html

Current vitamin D doses insufficient for mothers-to-be

2009-09-22T21:06:00.000-05:00

More great info on the importance of Vitamin D

Current vitamin D doses insufficient for mothers-to-be

Shared via AddThis

Rx for a Healthier Life

2009-09-22T21:05:00.000-05:00

Not your standard prescription from the doctor...better.

Shaklee Videos: Rx for a Healthier Life?

Shared via AddThis

The Hidden Truth About Enriched White Flour

2009-09-22T13:31:00.000-05:00

The Hidden Truth About Enriched White Flour

Posted using ShareThis

Hand Washing Double Bonus | Healthy Child Healthy World

2009-09-21T16:46:00.001-05:00

We've tried to instill good hand washing in our boys by having them wash their hands before they eat. We've been doing this since they've used their hands to eat.

Hand Washing Double Bonus | Healthy Child Healthy World

Posted using ShareThis

Where It Started

2009-09-21T15:24:00.001-05:00

Back in 1999 I was exposed to some chemicals while my company was renovating the building. Several co-workers and I became very sick. My life after that had changed. I had a hard time going about my normal everyday activates. If I caught a whiff of anything I would get a severe headache, often a migraine. I also had asthma which required me to use inhalers. Forget trying to clean the house. I had to get a heavy duty mask to wear just to clean. Then during my research on the chemicals I was exposed to and my symptoms from it, I started to research natural cleaning products and natural living. I started to switch my cleaning products to green ones, like Seventh Generation. These products were pretty expensive for what you got and there was no cleaning power. Then, I tried making my own natural cleaners for a little while. For me this became somewhat bothersome to have to look at a 'recipe' any time I wanted to clean something. Plus, I was going through baking soda like crazy and we didn't care for the smell of vinegar. Then I had caught the Going Green episode on Oprah and saw Shaklee. I thought to myself, I can't believe I forgot about Shaklee! We used it growing up. I immediately called my cousin and order the starter kit and shortly after was so excited to share these wonderful products with everyone that I became a distributor. When I became a distributor, I received a book called 'What We're About'. Because of my experience and research I have become very passionate about health and after reading this little booklet I found that Shaklee's beliefs and values were the same as mine. In the end, this horrible experience I went through brought me to consciously review what I use for my family, from food and nutrition to personal and home care. And most importantly be able to share this information with family and friends.