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Healthy World Watch March 26th, 2010
Kathryn Meigel
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Top Tips
- Ever wonder if there is one simple solution for all of your household cleaning efforts? Vinegar. With the ability to kill bacteria, mold, and germs and has a 100% safety record, vinegar is the ideal cleaning solution.
- Treehugger has compiled The Green Baby Checklist. From environmentally friendly diapers to BPA-free bottles and toys here is a great place to start if you’re expecting a baby or buying for someone who is.
- Earth Hour is this Saturday! Don’t forget to turn your lights off at 8:30pm local time and speak out against climate change.
Recent Research
- BPA found beached and at sea. Researchers have just found high concentrations of bisphenol A, an estrogen-mimicking building block of polycarbonate plastics and food-can coatings, in beach sand and coastal seawater around the world.
- Studies suggest obesity prevention needs to start early, during infancy and even before birth. Dr. Elsie M. Taveras of the Harvard Medical School, states “it used to be taboo to label a child under 5 as overweight, thinking it was too stigmatizing”, but as 1 in 10 toddlers are now overweight we need to reassess our efforts. Researchers think the focus should be on a mother’s health during and even before pregnancy. A new study conducted by the Institute of Medicine is looking at the role of sleep and early feeding patterns of infants.
- Phthalates exposure may double breast cancer risk ... or not. Researchers conducting a study of phthalate exposure and breast cancer among Mexican women reported that metabolites of one type of phthalate are associated with at least twice the risk of breast cancer, while other types appear to lower risk. After adjusting for other risk factors, women in the highest third of exposure to MEP had twice the risk of breast cancer relative to women in the lowest third. Among premenopausal women, those with high exposure had a 4-fold increased risk of breast cancer.
Other News
- Article highlights how BPA-free receipts are good for health and business. An Appleton Post-Crescent article explains a little known – yet large – source of BPA in the context of an innovative local paper company that manufactures a BPA-free alternative.
- PepsiCo pulls sugary drinks from schools worldwide by 2012. In efforts to fight childhood obesity, The World Heart Federation’s fight to remove sugary beverages from schools has seen some success. PepsiCo’s move impacts primary and middle school students. Pekka Puska, president of The World Heart Federation hopes other companies feel pressure to stop marketing to children. Puska states this is just one step forward in battling childhood obesity, which can lead to diabetes and heart ailments, students need to eat better and exercise.
- Practicing healthy hygiene. Most parents consider germs public enemy #1, but germs may be getting a bad rap. Plenty are harmless and can even help children stay healthy. Recent research shows that a child growing up in a home that's too sanitary may not get enough practice battling germs.
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Posted by Janet on 03/26/2010 at 07:27 AM
I am so glad to see vinegar getting some much deserved attention! It is my absolute favorite cleaning product. I use it for everything. My husband just laughs at how much vinegar I use in a week.