from ewg.org
Cell phones emit radiation to send voice and text messages to the other caller. Health risks aren’t confirmed, but some (not all) studies of frequent cell phone users suggest increased risks for brain and mouth tumors and children’s behavior problems.
Click here for more info and quick tips on how to reduce exposures.
A contaminant found in two common soda brands could be causing 15,000 cases of cancer in people a year, a new analysis finds
from rodale.com
Pay any attention to a soda label and you’ll find questionable ingredients like sugar in excess amounts, high-fructose corn syrup, or dubious artificial sweeteners. But a new analysis from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has detected a cancer-causer that you won’t ever find on the label.
High levels of a carcinogen known as 4-methylimidazole, or 4-MI, are created when certain forms of ammonia are used to create the caramel food dye used in some of the most popular soda brands on the planet. Although CSPI is lobbying the Food and Drug Administration to change label requirements, for now, it’s perfectly legal for soda to harbor hidden carcinogens without any disclosure on the label. Read more…
from jamieoliver.com
In response to requests from school districts, and the uproar from parents and activists across the country, the USDA announced yesterday that it will offer more choices to schools in the National School Lunch Program when it comes to purchases of ground beef products.
Starting from the next school year the USDA will be making adjustments so that schools can have additional options in buying ground beef products. The USDA will provide schools with a choice to order products either with or without Lean Finely Textured Beef, also known as “Pink Slime.”
from forbes.com
Back in September, the traditionally family-friendly Campbell’s Soup brand was attracting attention from moms for all the wrong reasons: A report released by advocacy group Breast Cancer Fund found the company’s soup to have some of the highest BPA levels among a variety of canned foods it tested. Of particular concern to parents was the fact that the products most appealing to children–soups and Spaghetti-O’s with fun shapes in them–ranked highest in the study. BPA (bisphenol A), a commonly used additive in food packaging, mimics human estrogen and is thought by some health advocates to be harmful to health, while others maintain that it is perfectly safe. At the time, Campbell Soup Company spokesman Anthony Sanzio said the company was confident in the safety of its products. ”The overwhelming weight of scientific evidence shows that the use of BPA in can lining poses no threat to human health,” he said. “That being said, we understand that consumers may have concerns about it. We’re very aware of the debate and we’re watching it intently.” Read more…
It's not good enough for fast-food chains, but it's ok for our schoolkids?
from takepart.com
Forget the corn dog and pizza quarrels. Healthy school lunch advocates have a bigger problem on their plates: a 7 million-pound order of connective tissue and beef scraps doused in ammonia, set to hit school lunch trays in coming months.
Despite being dropped in December by McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Burger King, the infamous concoction—known as “pink slime”—is still in high demand, thanks to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchase that will keep it on school lunch menus. Yes, keep; it’s been there for years and is set to stay. Read more…
from ucsusa.org
Monsanto Company is the dominant player in commercial genetically engineered (GE) crops, the biggest seed company in the world, and—to hear them tell it—a leader and innovator in sustainable agriculture.
Monsanto aggressively touts its technology as vital to achieving laudable goals such as ensuring adequate food production, responding to the challenge of global warming, and reducing agriculture’s negative impacts on the environment.
The reality is not so flattering. In fact, Monsanto has held back the development of sustainable agriculture, and continues to do so, in several ways. Read more…
from healthychild.org
No worries–Healthy Child Healthy World has done the hard part for you! They’ve compiled shopping guides “to help you find the best products and services that are safe, healthy, affordable and effective.” The guides cover a range of products from Home, School and Office to Baby Care. Just print these convenient pocket guides before your next shopping trip, or download the app for your iPhone, iTouch, iPad or Android, for quick and easy reference on the fly.
Creating a healthy home is a journey. There are a lot of possibilities to consider, and you won’t get there overnight. We recommend taking it slow, and choosing the options that best fit your family, your lifestyle and your budget. Every action you take will help you Protect Planet Home!
To help you get started, we’ve created three lists of ideas: Light Green are easiest to do. Dark Green require more of a commitment. And Deep Green mean you are in for the full ride. Keep in mind that Light Green ideas can have as much impact as those on the Deep Green list. Read more…
Make informed choices about what your family is eating
from nongmoproject.org
One of the most common concerns about the prevalence of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in North America is whether they are safe for our children and families to be eating.
Are my kids eating genetically engineered food?
The sad truth is many of the foods that are most popular with children contain GMOs. Cereals, snack bars, snack boxes, cookies, processed lunch meats, and crackers all contain large amounts of high risk food ingredients. In North America, over 80% of our food contains GMOs. If you are not buying foods that are Non-GMO Project Verified, most likely GMOs are present at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
It’s that time again for making new year’s resolutions. Start 2012 off right by taking that first step toward living a more healthy, natural lifestyle. Click on the Comments link and tell us what you’d like to learn more about in order to achieve your goals. We can help make it simple!
from jamieoliver.com/us
Last week Congress let us down. Big time. Lobbied heavily by the food industry–specifically frozen foods and potatoes–our elected officials secretly overruled science-based standards and a democratic process to keep salty, highly processed, fast-food-style lunch items on the tray every single day.
The National School Lunch Program (and Breakfast and Snack programs) feeds millions of kids each day and sets the rules for everyone’s school lunch. The Food Revolution will keep reporting on what’s happening and what you can do at a national and local level. Read more…
Making healthy decisions may not be foolproof, but it could mean the difference between having a significant health issue and avoiding one
from theatlantic.com
Since researchers cracked the human genome some 10 years ago, we’ve had a heightened awareness of the importance of genetics in our risk for certain diseases and disorders, both mental and physical. Subsequent studies have continued to find connections between our genetic profiles and our likelihood of developing health problems, from breast cancer and heart attack to depression, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease. Some people choose to undergo genetic tests to determine whether they carry copies of specific genes that put them at higher risk for various diseases. Knowing that one possesses copies of “cancer genes,” for example, can lead to some tough decisions about where to go from there.
A bright spot, however, is that what’s also become clear in recent years is that genetics is only half of the discussion. Our lifestyles, as doctors are keen on telling us, are important in increasing or reducing our risk of various diseases. Research in the new field of epigenetics is finding that our lifestyle choices—the foods we put in our bodies, the chemicals we are exposed to, how active we opt to be, even our social environments—can actually alter our health at the level of the gene. These choices can have big effects on our risk for disease, even if our genes seem to be working against us. So before throwing your hands up and saying, “What can I do? It’s all up to my genes,” read on. Read more…
Incorporate these raw fruits and veggies into your diet to avoid getting sick this season
from takepart.com
Raw açaí [ah-sigh-ee] is a purple berry that grows in the Amazon Rainforest and has been a staple source of vitamins and nutrients for native Amazonians for centuries. The fruit tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate, and is packed with polyphenol antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. Read more…
Turning Over a New Leaf: 10 fresh ways to experience fall’s flavors
It’s official, summer’s over. The kids are back in school; shorts and flip-flops have been pushed aside in favor of sweaters and boots; and all of the fresh fruits and vegetables you’ve been feasting on all summer long will soon be replaced with the frozen and canned varieties.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. You know you’ve done it—slowed your pace just a bit as you walked past that item in the produce section that you’ve always wanted to try, but you’re just not sure how to tell if it’s ripe or what you’re supposed to do with it once you bring it home.
Here are some quick and easy tips and ideas for some familiar and not-so-familiar seasonal favorites. These 10 items are some of fall’s finest. Their brilliant colors, fresh flavor and variety of uses will pique your sense of culinary adventure and stave off the winter blues.
from justlabelit.org
Non-GMO month has come and gone, but there’s still much to be done.
According to justlabelit.org, “A recent study shows that 93% of Americans support mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods. Yet for 20 years we have been denied that right. While our reasons for wanting to know what’s in our food may vary, what unifies many of us is the belief that it’s our right to know. Without labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods, we cannot make informed choices about the food we eat. The Just Label It: We Have a Right to Know campaign was created to advocate for the labeling of GE foods.” Read more…
from breastcancerfund.org
Bisphenol A (BPA) was considered for use as a synthetic estrogen before scientists discovered it could be useful in making plastics and resins. Its shift in application, however, didn’t change its estrogen-like properties.
Today BPA is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world, used in hard plastic bottles and dishware, drink cans, receipts, dental sealants and more.
But where it really stands out is food cans, which are usually lined with BPA.
Research suggests that food is the primary BPA exposure source for Americans and that BPA leaches from the can into the food, especially food that’s high in fat, salt, acid or all three.
Exposure to BPA not only may elevate breast cancer risk, but also may interfere with chemotherapy treatment for the disease. Read more…
from meatlessmonday.com
November is World Vegan Month, but we’re all about baby steps here. So if you’re not ready to jump into a plant-based diet with both feet, why not dip a toe in the water by joining the Meatless Monday movement?
According to meatlessmonday.com, “Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.”
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