Most of you are familiar with the plastic softener BPA (bisphenol A) being used in baby bottles and other products and try to avoid these products when choosing baby bottles, etc. But you may or may not realize that canned goods (including Campbell's famous canned soups) and other plastics have also been found to be lined with the potential carcinogen. And finally, this research is going mainstream in the medical literature!
Today, as I opened my email, I was bombarded with emails from my medical literature subscriptions citing the latest evidence that the BPA that lines the cans of Campbell's canned soups shows up in significantly greater amounts in people's urine after consuming canned soups. This article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and for sure will raise some eyebrows. For those unfamiliar with the toxic effects of BPA, here's a quick summary from the wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A "As it has been known to be estrogenic since the mid 1930s, concerns about the use of bisphenol A in consumer products were regularly reported in the news media in 2008, after several governments issued reports questioning its safety, prompting some retailers to remove products containing it from their shelves. A 2010 report from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised further concerns regarding exposure of fetuses, infants and young children.[1] In September 2010, Canada became the first country to declare BPA a toxic substance.[2][3] In the European Union and Canada, BPA use is banned in baby bottles.[4]" - as well as from the scientifically-based (and very reliable) organization Environmental Working Group - http://ewg.org/featured/218 "On April 16, 2008, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) raised concerns that exposure to BPA during pregnancy and childhood could impact the developing breast and prostate, hasten puberty, and affect behavior in American children. Days later the Canadian government decided to label BPA as "toxic." These actions are a historic shift from previous regulatory decisions on BPA's safety, both in the U.S. and abroad. In particular, the decision reversed the findings of a previous NTP advisory panel, whose review process was driven by a private contractor with links to BPA producers." This is a major victory for those of us fighting against sneaky corporate use of toxins in our household products. Canned foods companies will definitely feel the pressure from consumers and medical practitioners alike to reformulate their canned goods which has largely been done throughout Europe and Canada. Kudos to these researchers! Have a wonderful
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Looking for ways to keep you and your family safe from the sun's harmful rays this summer? Then read on! (Parts in red are lesser known and really important!)
Per the AMA (American Medical Association) Morning Rounds, "The CNN (5/24, Caruso) "The Chart" blog reported that, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), "sunscreens alone cannot prevent cancer," a message the group drives home in its latest sunscreen report, encouraging people to stay in the shade, don clothing protective of the sun, avoid being out in the sun from 10 am to 4 pm, in addition to the use of sunscreens. This coming Friday, May 27, has been designated by the National Council on Skin Cancer as "Don't Fry Friday." The council recommends that people who want to prevent sun-related skin damage wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses designed for UVA and UVA protection, and choose sunscreen "products with UVA filters like avobenzone and octocrylene, as well as protection against UVB rays." WebMD (5/23, Doheny) focused on the EWG's "annual guide to sunscreen products," noting that "just one in five of more than 600 beach and sport sunscreens made the cut," while 11 products were consigned to the Hall of Shame. The EWG advised consumers to avoid using sunscreen sprays because they might be accidentally inhaled. Report co-author Sonya Lunder, MPH, of EWG, explained that "sunscreens with a form of vitamin A known as retinyl palminate -- in about 30% of sunscreens -- should also be avoided because of concerns about it producing skin lesions." In addition, "oxybenzone, which EWG calls a 'hormone disrupter,' is another ingredient to be avoided, she says." Click here for EWG's best-rated sunscreens - http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach sport sunscreens/inlist=Y&utm_source=2011sunscreenfull&utm_medium=email&utm_content=second-link&utm_campaign=toxics New evidence in medical literature over the last decade suggests that chemicals in cosmetics and sunscreens can be harmful to our health (causing cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, allergies, etc). Here's an easy guide (courtesy of the Environmental Working Group) that tells you which chemicals to avoid when shopping for that new concealer or sunscreen.
Happy learning! http://www.ewg.org/files/EWG_cosmeticsguide.pdf |
AuthorDr. Maltz earned a Medical Degree and Master in Public Health from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, TX. She completed a combined Internal and Preventive Medicine Residency at UTMB in June, 2011. She then completed a 2-year Integrative Medicine Fellowship at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT, during which she simultaneously underwent an intensive 1000-hour curriculum created by The University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Program founded by Dr. Andrew Weil. Archives
October 2020
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