The articles keep coming, but you let them pass on by. It doesn’t matter that some medications may cause compulsive gambling or sleep driving. You don’t need to be advised to wear dark pants . . . just in case. It’s no big deal that cancer risks last long after the final dose. And you doubt that an increased chance of suicide will ever affect you, because you don’t take medications. Or if you do, it’s rare. You keep the drugs to a minimum, relying on them only when you must, only when there’s no other option. Therefore, the substances aren’t in your body, at least not regularly . . . but, actually, they are.
An analysis of “treated” water across the country found small quantities of antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones in much of the nation’s supply. Philadelphia alone had 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts. Southern California had anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications. Kentucky, Oklahoma, New Jersey, New York - all of them had similar findings. At least 41 million people are drinking trace amounts of drugs every day, and they have been for quite some time because the government doesn’t require testing. And many facilities fail to remove all pharmaceutical residues when treating the water. At small, sporadic doses, this wouldn’t be a concern, but when people are consuming the chemicals for fifty-odd years, health problems become a possibility, a very real possibility.
Now, you personally cannot restructure the water treatment plants or the watersheds supplying the country with tap. However, you can work to encourage change, and you can work to make your own water safer. Filtration systems won’t eradicate every undesired substance in your glass, but they will get rid of some. Bottled water isn’t undeniably more pure than tap, but in a questionable situation, it is the better choice. Make smart water decisions, and keep your unintentional medicating to a minimum.
You feel so eco and trendy with your plastic water bottle. Walking around with it, you scoff at the wasters carelessly throwing disposable containers in the garbage. They can’t even recycle. The fools. You are clearly environmentally superior. You save the world one refilled bottle at a time while they deplete it. You look down on them, and eco-wise, you can. You are working in the Earth’s favor; they are working against it. However, health-wise, it may be a different story. Take a closer look at your bottle. Is there a number seven in the center of the recycling symbol? If so, I hate to break it to you, but that’s not a sign of luck. In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite.
The number seven, when stamped on products, is a sign that polycarbonate plastic was used to manufacture the item. This material is found in water bottles (disposable and refillable), baby bottles, food cans, and some dental amalgams and sealants. Found in it is a chemical known as BPA. BPA doesn’t last in our bodies any longer than 24 hours but, thanks to our love affair with all things plastic, we are chronically exposed to it. It, through animal testing, has been linked to genital tract changes, prostate enlargement, low levels of testosterone, pre-cancerous breast cells, prostate cancer, early puberty and hyperactivity. It is thought to disrupt development and, as such, to be particularly dangerous to children, pre- and post-birth. No conclusive and statistically significant human risks have been found, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. Continue Reading >>
Every six months, a postcard appears in my mailbox, featuring a frighteningly happy, giant tooth and a reminder that it is, once again, time for a trip to the dentist. The notification is followed by a great deal of procrastination and a flood of distressing memories. Past visits have, after all, included unnecessary tooth-pulls (it would have come out on its own), horrible tasting cleaners (berry is NOT better than mint) and drills, very loud, very scary drills. If there is anything I can do to numb the pain of the dentist’s chair, I will do it, which is why the idea of fluoride sounds so good. Fluoride helps fight tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel and allowing damaged teeth to re-mineralize themselves. The oral-care section of every store is stocked with fluoride toothpastes and mouthwashes. It seems to be the chemical that makes mouths happy. But then, why did the Fluoride Action Network release a statement, signed by 600 health professionals, calling for an end to fluoridation? Continue Reading >>
Face it. Bottled water is so last year. It just isn’t cool to walk around with a disposable bottle anymore. Everyday the bottled water resistance builds, and the love for tap follows suit. More and more people are saving their money and turning on the faucet when they’re thirsty. And many of them prefer the taste. In a recent taste test, Time Out magazine served Londoners seven types of water, six bottled and one tap. The winner: tap water from the Thames and River Lea. Even better, most of the reviewers felt that the bottled water tasted like tap. What does that tell you? Do we suffer from the Starbucks phenomena where it must taste better simply because it costs more, but when blindfolded there’s not a shred of difference? I’d say so.
But what about all those disgusting “things” in tap water? Well, if you’re a loyal reader, as I’m sure you are, you’ll remember back in June when the Lucky Blog talked about FDA and EPA water regulations (if your memory is faulty, click here and read up). Bottled water companies are not held to the same standards as public water facilities. And, some bottled water (America’s most popular included) is actually tap in a to-go container. Not exactly what you thought you were paying for is it? If you still need a little more convincing, consider this: work is constantly being done to further clean the water coming into our homes. Dendritic Nanotechnologies Inc. recently received the go ahead from the United States Department of Defense to use its technologies to purify water. It will initially target perchlorate, a contaminant found to impede women’s health. It will also rid the water of several metals including copper, lead and chromium. Of course, they did just get started, so some patience is needed. Meanwhile, water filters are always great options for your home. Still holding out?
Globe trotters beware. How prepared are you to stay healthy in your travels this year? Whether you’re going across the state or around the world, there are certain precautions that you should take. In fact, several components to staying healthy on the road involve what you eat and drink. Taking precautions to drink only clean, filtered water and eating food that is prepared following the standard rules of thumb for sanitary, healthy eating is key. Also, if you’re traveling across the globe, make sure you receive all of the appropriate vaccines. And protect yourself against foreign pests…the flying kind. Insect repellent is an important product to have along. But remember the new laws of the air and leave anything liquid in your luggage until you depart the plane and embark on that glorious yet elusive thing…the summer vacation.
Pollutants are an inescapable fact of life. Rectifying the environmental hazards that abundant industry and overpopulation have created on public drinking water is a growing concern that many people cannot afford to ignore. The elderly and the very young are susceptible to a growing number of health concerns that can all arise from merely drinking a glass of unfiltered tap water.
And the bottled water industry is booming. Many people have changed their lifestyles to include an awareness of the toxins that are present in their daily environment. Organic is a way of life, and with a growing awareness of the foods that are being consumed comes a growing awareness of the water that sustains us. Yet the bottled water industry may be leading many consumers down the path of the overpriced and the overrated.
Bottled water is regulated by the FDA and is only obligated to meet the standard requirements for safe drinking water that the EPA has set for public use. In short, be careful what you’re paying for. To save cost, invest in a home filtration system. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulates what industrial waste and other contaminants can be present in water and at what levels it can be present for safe, human consumption. To be sure of what is in your drinking water, and what you can feasibly filter out, be an informed consumer and have your tap water tested for impurities.
It’s June 21, the first day of summer! Summer makes all of us want to get out there and get in shape. Some of us want to work off those extra winter pounds before hitting the beach, some of us want to change up our sports activities to fit the season, while some of us are just looking to start a healthier, happier lifestyle. Whatever your motivation for getting out there, exercise is a beautiful thing. It gets you happy and healthy, gives you energy and leaves you looking and feeling great. But during the crazy summertime heat remember, everything in moderation.
Summertime is great for working out, but can also be one of the most dangerous times for strenuous exercise. No matter what your level of activity, follow some basic guidelines to keep yourself safe in the heat. Always drink plenty of fluids. When you’re working out, you may not feel thirsty but it’s important to stay hydrated. Try to work out during the morning or evening when the summer heat is less harsh. Always stretch before and after a workout. And most importantly, if you feel like your body is being overworked, take a break and cool down. Dizziness, nausea and any extreme discomfort is not a sign to push harder. Check out the Mayo Clinic’s first aid guide for heatstroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps. Be aware of your body and know when to give it time to recuperate. Summer should be a time for fun, healthy reenergizing in the sun.
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