The US Farm Bill - Our Health on the Line!

The Farm Bill in the United States has been amended 10 times since it's inception in the 1960's. Agricultural legislation began on some level during the Great Depression to stimulate this sector of the economy. It's original intention was to provide subsidies to help farmers maintain profitability in a tough job. Unfortunately, what has transpired is a large percentage of subsidized farming to the top 10 largest agricultural businesses who are not in need of the subsidies to be successful. One of the biggest concerns is the support for some of the least healthful and most pesticide-laden crops. There are also a number of positive components to the bill that are very important which support nutrition programs to low-income families and seniors.

So once again, the Environmental Working Group has done their work. They have broken down some of the key points of the bill as we come into the year 2012 when it will be coming up for review and re-implementation. Please read the following information on the current bill to decide if you would like to add your name to petition congress for a healthier alternative in the upcoming years.

What's in Your Water?

There may be a presumption by most that drinking water in this country is completely safe. From the standpoint of immediate safety from pathogens and toxicity this may be true. However, when it comes to the concern for long-term health this assumption of safety is problematic. Since testing began in 2004, water utilities have found 315 polluntants in tap water and 49 of these have been found in at least 1 location to be at levels higher than government guidelines. Of these 315 chemicals only 114 of them have set regulated levels by the EPA, which allows 200 to slip into the water supply without a second thought. The consequences of this is a significant risk to the public's state of health.

The challenge to maintaining a safe drinking water supply is that the sources are highly variable and broadly dispursed. Pollutants have been detected from industry, agricultural run-off, water treatment plants and as the result of urban sprawl. The long-term solution is limiting the production and utilization of chemicals that bring harm to humans and the environment and an understanding that our health is dependant upon the health of the eco-system. The short-term approach is to limit your use of these chemicals to reduce their pervasiveness and use a water filter that captures them so your body doesn't have to do that job. The challenge to finding an effective filter is the difference in the toxicants from one water supply to the other and the fact that many are only aimed at reducing exposure to organic compounds such as protozoa, bacteria and viruses.

We have found an outstanding resource in the Environmental Working Group which will help you not only understand the particular concerns in your area's water supply, but will lead you to a greater understanding of how the filtration process works. The EWG is a research based consumer advocacy organization. Their website provides invaluable information starting here with the drinking water database and filter guide. Use this to determine what threatens the safety of your water system and the steps you can take to dramatically reduce your exposure. Water is a non-negotiable nutrient that we all need. It's a sad reality that this is one of the avenues for pollutants to enter our bodies, but with a little education and a lot of environmental advocacy we can reduce the risk and improve health outcomes for entire populations.

Sunscreen Guide - They're Non-Toxic...and They Work!

It seems rather appalling, but there are lots of sunscreens out there that contain chemicals that cause hormone-disruption which puts people at risk for reproductive cancers. What makes that even more appalling is that many of these don't even adequately protect you against skin cancer. In fact, their misleading claims can give consumers a false sense of security that may lead them to get more sun exposure than they would otherwise get.

Since the government has no regulatory guidelines that protect consumers from the exposure to these chemicals, they have to seek other avenues to provide them with research information to keep the "body burden" of chemicals low. In addition, the claims about their ability to protect us from sun damage are significantly off the mark which can lead to sun damage and possibly skin cancer.

The Environmental Working Group, which is a research-based consumer advocacy organization puts a sunscreen guide out each year. This is compiled after review of a product's effectiveness and it's compliance to keeping the chemical burden low. Some of the key elements they are looking for is the use of mineral blockers such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide which provide a broad spectrum protection or chemicals that have been tested low on the hazardous list for creating hormone disruption as well as being more effective at blocking UVA and UVB rays. This information is important for consumers to understand. It could very well save lives. So please pass it on!

Cancer and Chemicals - A Lot of Talk About It

There should be a lot of conversation about this very topic. The flow of information on the effect of chemicals and human health is nothing new, but in the past the lay person has been relatively uninformed about the subject. Fortunately, the mounting data in the information age is making it evermore challenging for manufacturers to ignore this connection. While consumers may not be able to discern the exact impact on human physiology that these chemicals impart, they are becoming aware that they should at least ask the question of whether or not their products pose a health hazard.

The Breast Cancer Fund's President, Jeanne Rizzo is conducting a series of talks in Alaska to inform citizen's about these health hazards and how they can take steps to minimize their individual and family exposure. She was asked by the organization Alaska Community Action on Toxics to provide this educational opportunity. Listen here to Jeanne Rizzo's interview on Alaska's public radio. It's important to us to help you be as informed as possible. The present and future of our health and ecosystem hinges on our society's capacity to resolve these issues. The more we are all a part of that resolution process...the faster things will move along toward cleaning up our environment.

Falls - Steps to Preventing This Health Risk

Falls are the leading cause of death from injury in those over the age of 65. It is becoming a significant concern with an ever aging population. The precipitating factors that contribute to this incidence are numerous. The decline in health of the individual after a fall is exponential, but much of the risk to falling can be managed by taking a thoughtfully preventive approach.

Many seniors have a fear of falling so they tend to decrease their activity levels which leads to a loss of strength and balance. Certain medications can increase the chances of falling by affecting balance and issues with vision may impair their safety in movement. In addition, there are obstacles in the home that can increase the fall risk. The loss of function from a decrease in activity is perhaps the most cyclical problem when it comes to safe mobility. So what steps should be taken to prevent this risk?

First off, assessing the potential obstacles in the home is crucial. Removing area rugs, taping down or running electrical cords along walls, lowering the mattress height, using only chairs with arms and installing motion-detecting lighting will all make for safer movement.

Second of all, consult with a provider that specializes in assessing home safety and can provide modifications. Companies such as Safe At Home, can comb through every room in the house and look for problem areas. They can help obtain safer furniture and install equipment in areas that necessitate the use of stabilizing aides.

Thirdly, keep the body moving! The bones, muscles and connective tissue remain stronger and more responsive with physical activity. This not only serves to prevent falls by keeping the body more stable, but if a fall occurs the skeletal structure has more integrity to prevent a fracture. Some combination of cardiovascular exercise, strength training and flexibility training will provide the most well-rounded program for overall fitness. It would be wise to seek out a supervised exercise facility for seniors where the exercise specialists are aware of the individual participant's health concerns. In addition, they can provide specific programs that address the heightened need for seniors to maintain balance. An important part of being balanced is the function of vision. Any corrective lense or glass prescription should be kept current so the surrounding environment is not distorted which can lead to misjudgements in movement and a potential fall.

And finally, emergency alert buttons should be strongly considered for those with existing health concerns. In the event that a fall occurs, emergency personnel are moments away and can save a life or help minimize the impacts from an incident. Following these tips can manage a serious threat to the population.