Healthy World Watch August 7th, 2009

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Healthy Child

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Top Tips

• Mom bloggers offered some great advice this week for making the back-to-school season green and clean. We found tips for no waste lunches, sustainable paper goods, and non-toxic art supplies.
• A detailed review of two cloth diaper brands, including a break down of costs and how they compare to disposables.
• A review of Earth’s Best Organic Infant formula, one of the better alternatives if breastfeeding isn’t working out.

Recent Research

• Bottles marked as BPA-free are still found to be leaching the chemical into liquids. Detectable levels were found in nine brands of bottles marked as ‘BPA-free.’ However this study has been met with a great deal of criticism, as many argue that the amount of BPA leached is extremely minor, and poses little threat. But for those who still want to play it safe, try one of Born Free’s glass bottle options.
• Research has found that millions of US children have alarmingly low levels of Vitamin D, a deficiency that can lead to diabetes, heart and bone problems, and high blood pressure. Scientists say less time in the sun and choosing sodas over drinks like milk, which are high in Vitamin D, might be to blame. Subsequently the American Academy of Pediatrics has doubled their recommendations for daily Vitamin D intake, and the federal government’s official guidelines are being reviewed. Many are also blaming the FDA’s unwillingness to decide on permanent sunscreen safety standards, which since 1978 have promoted avoided UVB rays, which can actually help the body produce Vitamin D, as opposed to the carcinogenic UVA rays.

Other News

• Most readily accessible play sand has been found to contain crystalline silica, a known carcinogen and lung hazard. California is the only state to require labels cautioning that the sand contains chemicals known "to cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm." There is still debate among doctors as to how serious a threat this short-term, playtime exposure might pose, but nevertheless, parents should opt for sand from the Safe Sand Company.