Healthy World Watch August 14th, 2009

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Healthy Child

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Top Tips

• Baby got a booty rash? Have no fear: SafeMama just released her diaper cream cheat sheet! A short list of diaper rash creams that are better for your baby’s bottom (effective and free of nasty chemicals like parabens).
• Did you know synthetic food dyes are added not only to Fruit Loops and Popsicles, but also to butter, the skins of fruit and the casings of hotdogs? Use IATP’s Smart Guide to Food Dyes to learn about health concerns and their Brain Food Selector to find safer food.
• Looking for something new and natural to do with your kids? Check out The Magic Onion’s tutorial for making a moss garden in a jar. Simply gorgeous (and gorgeously simple)! There are a ton of other great ideas, too. Enjoy!

Recent Research

• Levels of contaminants in breast milk are more complicated than once thought; instead of a constant decline during nursing, levels may fluctuate from beginning to end, finds a new study that contradicts the long-held belief that the pollutants steadily wane. The pollutants include flame retardants, dioxins and pesticides. Sometimes, concentrations actually increased over the course of breast feeding. This new research doesn’t change the benefits of breast milk. Breast feeding is still the best food for infants. Tighter regulations of chemicals are likely a more effective way to protect infants from contaminants than pump and dump.

Other News

• Connecticut bans BPA use in manufacturing of food and drink containers, including baby bottles and sippy cups. Just days later, Schenectady County in New York bans children’s beverage containers that contain BPA.
• The FDA bans injecting chicken eggs with antibiotics as a human health threat but backs down when industry groups — known collectively as 'Big Chicken' — squawk.
• Pesticides in your peaches? Five of the more than 50 pesticide compounds found on domestic and imported peaches headed to U.S. stores exceeded limits set by the EPA, while six of the compounds present are not approved for use on peaches in the United States.