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BPA in Our Food

by Paula Gallagher | November 8, 2010

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical that has been linked to a wide array of health issues such as reproductive abnormalities, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. It is used to harden plastics and line containers and is not something that I would want to ingest ever, never mind on a daily basis. I have written about this topic before and it still amazes me that BPA has not been banned. Although, many companies have taken BPA out of baby bottles, which is a small step forward, the stuff that goes into the bottles may still contain this cancer-causing chemical. A University Texas study found that Enfamil baby formula had higher levels of BPA than a can of V8 juice.

Here is a scary stat: 90% of newborns have levels of BPA in their teeny little bodies. Welcome to the world, little ones. With technological advances, there should be no reason why BPA is needed to line cans, or to be used at all, for that matter.

Read this blog from takepart.com about the foods that contain BPA.

In the meantime, breastfeed your babies if you can, and limit canned foods of all kinds.

Tags: bisphenol A, bpa, enfamil
Posted in Green Living, Health Concerns |
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Diaper Bags: Go Natural

by Paula Gallagher | September 9, 2010

All moms know that a properly packed diaper bag can make or break your day, when you are dealing with small children and babies. A diaper bag is not just a portable changing station, but it can also be a first aid kit, a small kitchen, and a toy store. However, there are things in your diaper bag that you may not be considering. Chemicals like phthalates (the “ph” is silent) are used to make plastic flexible and stabilize fragrance, while bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make plastics hard. There are also parabens, preservatives in lotions and shampoos. All these chemicals are going straight into your baby, and while there has been a push for regulation on BPA in baby bottles and water bottles, we still need to be conscious of what we are putting in and on our babies.

Here are a few things that you can do to make your diaper bag safer and greener:

Diaper Creams:  If your little one has a diaper rash, air time is really the best medicine. Free them of their diaper for 5 or 10 minutes per day and you will notice a huge difference. (more…)

Tags: bisphenol A, bpa, diaper bags, hylands, pthalates, teething
Posted in Green Living, Health Concerns |
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Chemicals and the Future of our Children

by Paula Gallagher | April 22, 2010

The Disappearing Male is a documentary about the effects of man-made compounds, like BPA and phylates, and their effect on children, especially boys. It is eye opening and scary at the same time. Today is Earth Day, so do yourself a favor, and watch this watch this video. It will make you think twice about the water bottles you drink from, the plastic bags that you use for sandwiches and the reusable plastic containers that you stick in the microwave.

Tags: bpa, earth day, phylates
Posted in Pharmacy & Compounding, Stress Management & Lifestyle |
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The Disappearing Male: Are Chemicals to Blame?

by Paula Gallagher | January 29, 2010

So I am on a documentary kick right now. Here is another documentary that demonstrates the link between chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA) and their effect on male genes. Currently, the FDA has not banned use of BPA (found in many plastics, can linings, etc.), even though they are now “warning” the public to avoid it.

Here are a few ways to avoid BPA:

1. Read labels. Many products are labeled BPA-free.

2. Avoid canned foods when possible. Eat fresh whenever possible.

3. Never microwave plastic. (NEVER!)

Please leave a comment about what else you can do.

Tags: bisphenol A, bpa
Posted in Diet, Health Concerns |
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