The Dirty Truth About Soap!

So we are not talking about all soap...just those that are sold with the toxic subtances called triclosan and triclocarban. There is a lot of fuss about using anti-bacterial soap as a means to protect against infection. This may be appropriate in hospitals where exposure to the staph bacteria may prove to me deadly to some patients. In most cases, particularly outside a clinical setting, infections such as these can be prevented by washing hands and cleaning wounds immediately.

The research on these 2 substances spells problems for the endocrine system. It is estimated that we absorb roughly 60 percent of the substances that come in contact with the skin. This number was estimated from lab studies and is thought to be an underestimation considering the shear number of chemical exposures that each person has on a daily basis. The stratum corneum, which is the most superficial layer of the epidermis, is a less effective barrier than it has been assumed to be. This means that certain compounds are finding their way into the body through the skin, even though this is clearly not the only avenue of exposure. Triclosan and triclocarban are very pervasive in the environment and as a result they have been found in drinking water which provides another route of contamination. The main effect of these 2 chemicals is their influence on hormonal regulation which alters function and cell signaling. This disregulation can lead to disease which is even more problematic when we consider that these chemicals have been found in human breast milk and urine in multiple studies.

So how do you avoid these chemicals and still stay safe from bugs? Consider first that these are anti-bacterials so they miss the whole spectrum of infections that occur from viral exposures. Also, hand and wound washing with soap and water using rubbing action and running water will eliminate both bacteria and viruses. Be sure to coat the whole hand and wound with soap and rub under running water for at least 20 seconds. The soap will "cleave" the microorganisms as well as oils and dirt and the running water will wash them away. And in studies, homes that use regular soap showed to have no higher incidence of infection than homes that use anti-bacterial soap. So save your home, the environment and your body from exposure to this unnecessary harm by ditching the soaps with these 2 chemicals in it.

Go Meatless at Least 1 Day a Week!

Meat consumption in the US may not be the highest but it ranks up there with Australia and the UK For both human health and the environment, we could really benefit by seeing these numbers go down. As of 2005, the average comsumption of meat in the US was about 1/2 pound per day. This quantity of meat accounts for the entire protein need for the average individual and perhaps a bit more. When you take into account the other sources of protein in the diet, many individuals may be consuming significantly larger amounts of this macronutrient than they need. Why is this a big deal? Because high meat consumption is associated with increased risk of heart disease, obesity and some forms of cancer. In addition, our environment takes a huge hit in relation to energy consumption and pollution related to the production of animal products.

So what would be a good approach? Making a pledge to avoid eating dairy and meat products at least 1 day each week. The Environmental Working Group has collected some rather compelling data on the reasons we should all aim for this goal as well as some great tips to help you to this end. Consuming meat can make the shopping bill more expensive especially if you choose organic so this decision to cut back can be helpful on the pocket book. And eating conventionally raised animal products means that you are ingesting copius amounts of anti-biotics, hormones and pesticides that add even further to the health risks of high animal consumption. The statistics on how meat production equates to energy usage is staggering. If a family of 4 skipped meat and cheese for 1 day a week it would be the equivalent of taking a car off the road for 5 weeks out of the year. And when you add the health benefits of moderating meat consumption it seems inarguable to do it any other way. Follow the link above to find tips on how you can make it happen for your health and the health of the environment in which we live.

Healthy Immunity!

When most people think about the immune system, they think about flu shots and the sniffles that come with the advent of fall. This is one aspect of the manifestation of the immune system being challenged. Our immune system's are also called upon to address changes in cell turn-over and pick out the bad ones that are starting to make abnormal changes that can lead to cancerous cells. In addition, our body must cope with environmental toxins which the lymphatic system must work hard to eliminate so they don't disrupt our body's normal functions. Part of the immune system's arsenal is the process of inflammation which is intended to be short lived so it can serve it's purpose of fighting and eliminating foreign invaders and other damaging substances. If this process goes unchecked it can create an environment for disease rather than successfully manage the imbalances that will occur in the normal course of human life. However, even in this modern society, there are lifestyle choices you can make that support the health of the immune system with it's demanding job.

Having a vibrant immune system is dependent upon multiple factors and does not rest only on one healthy behavior. As with any aspect of health, it's the lifestyle habits that make the greatest impact and the complexity of the immune system demands this approach. So rather than waiting til the fall bugs are in full swing, make steps to boost and normalize immunity so the many functions of this system are in top shape. The following steps not only improve it's fighting capacity, but also potentially prevent and manage autoimmune responses. This is when the immune system starts to identify your body's own tissues as foreign and continuously mounts an anti-body attack which allows inflammation to persist.

Eat with health in mind!
Diet cannot be stressed enough. Our western diet promotes unhealthy fats, refined grains, sugar and artificial food compounds such as sweeteners and contrived fats. Our bodies thrive on whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and for some, small amounts of animal protein. Sugars not only tax your blood sugar regulation, they impair your immune system by stealing Vitamin C's receptors. Poor quality fats increase inflammation and make your lymphatic system work hard to get rid of them. On the flip side, essential fatty acids such as Omega-3's control inflammation and fresh produce provides the array of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals that your immune system needs to function. As well, all of these tips are important to improve the integrity of your gut which houses roughly 2/3's of your immune system's processes.

- avoid added sugar and enjoy fresh whole fruits a few times a day
- eat 5 to 9 serving of fresh vegetables in an array of colors (wash all produce well to manage the little bugs)
- eat 2 servings of fatty fish each week or take a fish oil supplement with a combined gram of EPA and DHA
- use mostly olive and coconut oils as the oil of choice
- make sure you get tested for Vitamin D levels and if your level is below 40 ng/mL talk to your doctor about supplementation
- eat good quality protein with only small quantities of lean animal protein, shooting for between 0.6 to 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day

Get your sleep!

The human body needs roughly between 7 and 8 hours a night to complete all of the cycles of sleep. Sleep is not a luxury, but a necessity. This is the phase in our daily rhythm that we perform life sustaining biological maintenance. Lack of sleep time and quality has been correlated with a number of ailments including heart disease and cancer.

Drink plenty of clean water!

Everyone should be drinking the bare minimum of 64 ounces of water a day. If you take medications this number should be higher. In addition, those who drink caffeinated beverages should increase this number by 8 ounces for each cup of caffeinated beverage consumed. Exercise also increases the body's demand for hydration above and beyond the daily recommendation. Choose a clean source of water that you know has been filtered to remove both infectious agents and chemical toxins.

Keep your body moving...of course!

Exercise not only keeps your skeleton and nervous system functional, it normalizes your hormones and immune function. Frequent and moderate levels of exercise have been shown to increase the number and circulation of white blood cells which are responsible for fighting infections.

Normalize your stress response!

Understand how you react to the stress in your life. This society is not an easy one for the human animal that was intended to have short periods of heightened stress to help it survive and long periods of calm that enable it to return to homeostasis. This is where the system is alert, but settled and able to perform digestion and other critical functions. Practices that help you return to homeostasis when you don't need to be in fight or flight are absolutely critical for health. Yoga, meditation, biofeedback therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are just a few of the avenues for understanding how to create a more healthy relationship to stress. None of us will escape the daily stressors, the difference lies in our ability to manage how it effects our own physiology.

Is Your Nail Polish Toxic?

As with many cosmetics on the market, nail polish carries with it a dose of chemicals that can cause adverse changes in the body. The majority of polishes on the market contain three highly problematic chemicals: toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate. There is abundant data on all 3 of these chemicals in the areas of organ toxicity and effects on hormone function that can lead to abnormal cell changes and ultimately disease.

Women who are exposed to these toxicants at critical developmental periods in their life are at even greater risk of contributing to the process of disease that comes with altered cellular behavior. A particularly susceptible phase of development is the adolescent years when changes in the body are rapid. Pregnancy is also a period of increased change that pre-disposes the mother to abnormal shifts in her body's function. With this comes the risk to the developing fetus which along with the mother is highly susceptible to long-term health problems. In a preliminary study conducted by the Northern California Cancer Center, 80% of nail salon workers experienced health problems related to work. These acute health symptoms related to chemical exposure at work were headaches, dizziness, difficulty breathing and skin irritations. While these health problems may not be life threatening, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and dibutyl phthalate is a known endocrine disruptor, so the effects are bigger than they appear on the surface. Each of us can easily manage our exposure to these and can take a significant role in protecting children and young adults. Ask your salon if they use cosmetics that are free of the "toxic trio" and choose polishes and removers at home that don't use these in their products. When you walk into a salon you should not get a rush of chemical smells. This is not a necessary part of "looking pretty". For more detailed information on "clean products", follow this link to an article in the San Francisco Gate that highlights some of the more thoughtful manufacturers out there!