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Lead researchers from a University of Rochester study presented a disturbing study that found that chemicals in many common household plastics may be altering male hormones in the brains of baby boys. This represents more evidence directly linking chemicals in plastics to harmful effects in humans.

Published recently in the International Journal of Andrology, the report is a clear indication of the dangers of a plastic chemical additive, called phthalates. These additives are commonly added to vinyl flooring, PVC shower curtains and many other every-day products.

The Study

It is a well-known fact that boys have different hormonal compositions than girls. These “male hormones” drive specific types of actions in young boys associated with “rough-and-tumble,” play-fighting behavior.

When these hormonal chemicals are altered, researchers have noted that boys begin to play more like little girls. This may be related to the fact that phthalates cause male hormones to behave more like the female hormone, estrogen, and therefore may reduce the male drive to “play rough.”

Dr. Shanna Swan is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and environmental medicine, as well as director of the Center for Reproductive Epidemiology at the University of Rochester. She was also the lead scientist looking into phthalate composition in urine samples of pregnant mothers. This study took the incidence of phthalates in mothers, and compared them to behavioral play in their children.

Continue reading: “Study: Chemicals Found in Common Plastics may be “Feminizing” to Boys”

Recent news from The Washington Post sheds light on a story that reveals yet another shocking example of how we, as a collective, continually sacrifice human health for profit gain. The Post states that 17,000 potentially toxic chemicals have been kept under wraps due to an obscure law that protects chemical companies.

The Loophole in the Toxic Substances Control Act

Currently there are over 80,000 different chemicals being used commercially in the United States alone. The Toxic Substances Control Act, passed in 1974, requires that U.S. companies state all chemicals that are used in the manufacturing process of their product. And yet, even with this supposed law for clarity, many consumers are unaware of the amount of chemicals in common household products.

Why is this? A “watered down” portion of the bill allows companies to hide up to twenty percent of all chemicals from the public eye. And this is not only from consumers. The law allows the chemicals to be hidden from state regulation committees, medical professionals, and even emergency response personnel.

It may sound like a conspiracy theory, but both the government and chemical companies are well aware of the fact that if the “secret 20 percent” of hidden chemicals were revealed to the public, consumers would be too afraid to purchase these toxic products. In essence, potentially toxic and lethal chemicals are hidden for business profits.

In fact, the law states that companies can keep any chemical secret if they feel that it will protect their profitability, or as the Washington Post reports, chemicals that “could harm their bottom line.” And it stands to reason that no company would intentionally hide a chemical from the public if it was completely harmless. It doesn’t take a massive leap of logic to assume that the chemicals the companies are hiding could be the most deadly and toxic of all.

Continue reading: “Report: U.S. Companies have kept over 17,000 toxic chemicals secret to protect their profits”

Many consumers are unaware that different cell phones emit different amounts of harmful radiation, particularly when used closed to the ear and head. And, the debate as to whether radiation from these cell phones can be directly linked to cancer has been circulating for years.

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Recent reports from the watchdog agency, the Environmental Working Group, show that cellphone radiation levels may vary widely according to brands, and that some phones may be dangerously high. This comes as additional clarification on reports from the EWG showing that individuals using cellphones for over ten years may have higher cancer risk than those who have not been using phones.

On the other end of the fence is the CTIA, a cellphone industry lobbying group, which fully denies the link between radiation and harmful health effects, stating that “scientific evidence has overwhelmingly indicated that wireless devices do not pose risk.”

Within these two ranges of differing opinions, what are we, the consumer, supposed to believe?

Perhaps the better questions is to ask ourselves, “Within the on-going debate and emerging research, is it helpful to know which cell phones are emitting high amounts of radiation?” The answer is an emphatic, “yes.”

Continue reading: “Study: Cell Phone Radiation May Vary According to Brand”

Learn More About Lithium Orotate

Like any medicine or substance in the natural world, awareness and care must be taken when taking herbal and mineral supplements. Lithium orotate is an extremely powerful naturally-occurring chemical, and therefore one must be educated as to the possible side effects of taking it. While we should be aware of these side effects, they are not usually common, and can also be controlled through dosage.

Dosage: Common dosages of lithium range from 120mg to 450 mg. Lithium orotate requires a lower dosage. It is recommended to start with a low dose, and to slowly monitor any side effects before increasing the dosage. What is more, side effects tend to disappear with sustained use of lithium orotate, and reputable sources state that side effects tend to be minimal, and are rarely a cause to discontinue to the use of the substance.

Continue reading: “Lithium Side Effects: What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself”

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We all understand the desire to be vibrant, healthy and at our optimal weight. Yet sadly, in attempt to lose extra weight quickly, many people turn to weight-loss drugs or cheap supplements instead of the natural methods of weight loss which take more time, but work more effectively in the long run. There are many over-the-counter weight loss drugs that stimulate the metabolic process and suppress appetite through artificial means.

One of the most popular of these weight loss drugs is called Alli, a prescription-strength version of Xenical. This drug can currently be bought over the counter, despite the fact that it is being investigated by the FDA because of orlistat, the weight-loss ingredient in Alli, that may be causing hepatoxicity (another way of saying liver damage).

Sadly, this is only one of the potential adverse and serious side effects of this and many other weight loss pills. Other effects may include hepatitis, adrenal burnout as well as other health concerns.

According to the preliminary studies of Alli, patients lost a whopping 1 pound per month on average. Is 1 pound a month really worth the risk of damaging your liver.

Continue reading: “Does the Weight Loss Drug “Alli” Cause Liver Damage?”

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No one likes the looks of ugly toenail fungus. Brittle, distorted and discolored toenails can be the source of major insecurity for many people, as well as a real hassle to get rid of. This form of fungus can be extremely difficult to treat, as oftentimes several forms of fungus are present in the infected toenail simultaneously.

Lets start by defining toenail fungus, listing its major causes and symptoms, as well as information on how you can naturally and effectively prevent and reduce these types of infections.

Continue reading: “The Signs of Toenail Fungus: Do You know if your feet are infected?”

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Have you ever noticed how a new shower curtain smells? There is a distinctive toxic odor in shower curtains pulled fresh from the packaging. This noxious odor is plastic softener, a potently hazard chemical compound that may be doing more than softening our curtains.

Today companies selling many of the products that we us on daily basis, spray these products down in a plethora of chemicals meant to soften the plastic, sterilize and keep things from going up in flames. One of the many down-sides to this practice is that we are literally coating our household items in a host of toxic “gender-bending chemicals.”

In fact, a scientific study ^[PDF] from the a conglomerate of environmental agencies such as The Center for Health, Environment and Justice’s (CHEJ), People for Puget Sound, the Washington Toxics Coalition, the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition and the Work Group for Safe Markets, found that the toxins coating shower curtains, flooring and many common children’s toys can lead to low birth-weight in babies.

The study also confirmed that these items may be linked to other serious health problems in both children and adults.

Continue reading: “Is Your Shower Curtain Toxic?”

The multi-billion dollar phenomenon of energy drinks has captured the attention of scientists and nutritionists across the country. One of the main reasons is taurine, a common ingredient found in the caffeine and sugar-laden concoctions.

Taurine is a free form amino acid contained in foods and manufactured in the body from the amino acid cysteine. It was first discovered in the bile of bulls, and now produced synthetically by the truckload. Since taurine is created naturally in the human body, a good diet supplies all you need.

Studies have implicated synthetic taurine in illnesses ranging from high blood pressure to strokes and seizures to heart disease. For these reasons it’s been banned in some Scandinavian countries – like Switzerland – after being linked to the deaths of three consumers.

Because taurine is utilized by the body during exercise and in times of stress, it’s become a popular ingredient in energy drinks. But taurine has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system that’s very unnatural.

Continue reading: “The Dangers of Taurine, Commonly Found in Energy Drinks”

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Are the new reforms on healthcare really reforming the way we respond to health and imbalance? Are these reforms truly making anyone healthier?

No one can deny that the healthcare issue is a serious debate, and yet what many are failing to mention is the fact that any form of healthcare reform is destined to fail, due to the inherent lack of focus on prevention and the root cause of disease. The current model in Washington takes a narrow approach, focusing mainly on one problem: the current cost and exclusivity of healthcare.

What is more, Obama’s health team is still jumping on the bandwagon of chemically-based drugs, as well as harmful antibiotics and vaccines, encouraging drug companies to reduce their prices so that more and more Americans can consume these drugs. These drugs are the cause of disease and only cover up the symptoms and never address the root cause!

Moreover, the current healthcare bill is painfully focused on appeasing the interests of the big business model of healthcare, including special interest groups and the very pharmaceutical companies that are doing more harm than good to the average American.

Some may even consider the fact that since the current chemical-based model of medicine does not treat the root-causes of disease (for example, improper digestion and elimination, leading to chronic toxicity), this so-called healthcare system is actually designed to keep people lined up at the doctor’s office.

Without a clear understanding of the root causes of disease, unfortunately, any new healthcare reform is missing the main point. On a whole, there are some 48 million Americans who lack healthcare coverage. Simply offering these individuals access to medical care is not enough. Oftentimes, the same individuals who lack decent healthcare coverage are the very individuals most prone to chronic, lifestyle-based disease issues.

Continue reading: “Why Healthcare Reform Will Inevitably Fail”

Lifestyle choices play a major role in our physical, mental and emotional health. Poor lifestyle choices will lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and a suite of other health issues.

Decision processing becomes sluggish as poor health leads to a more sedentary lifestyle. Which will then lead to reduced blood flow to the brain, thus affecting your entire body.

Performance at work, school and in the home becomes mediocre as health issues begin to consume time and finances. Self-esteem and confidence suffer, and affect even otherwise healthy relationships.

Despite the consequences of not living healthy, the number of middle aged adults in America who are obese has risen from 28% to 36% over the last 18 years, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Medicine. The study compared five lifestyle factors of a group of 7,340 middle-aged (40-74 year old) adults from 1988-1994 to a group of 7,811 middle-aged adults from 2001-2006.

5 Healthy Lifestyle Habits

• Physical activity at least 12 times per month
• Consumption of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
• Maintenance of a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 29.9)
• Moderate alcohol use, if any at all
• Not smoking

What the researchers from Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston found was that there was a 10% drop from the 1998-1994 to the 2001-2006 group in the number of middle-aged persons who undertook physical activity 12 or more times per month, and an 8% increase in obesity for the same group.

Despite the fact that tobacco use increases cancer risk, the percent of the population that smokes did not change in the seven year interval between the groups. Even while “health kicks” are on the rise, the number of people consuming five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day has dropped from 42% to 26%.

Continue reading: “New Study: Following a Healthy Lifestyle is on the Decline in the US”