Go organic, inside and out while pregnant: Chemicals in personal care products can affect the development of your baby!

(Natural News) A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives has revealed that a mixture of endocrine disrupting chemicals found in various industrial and food sources may affect fetal development among pregnant women. The researchers screened for up to 27 chemicals — including seven drugs, 14 industrial chemicals, and six sociocultural chemicals like alcohol or caffeine — as part of the study. The experts identified 11 endocrine disrupting compounds following the screening process.

Four chemical mixtures were developed from the initial 11 chemicals. The resulting mixtures were also been tested on human fetal testes. The scientists observed that the mixtures inhibited testosterone production in human fetal testes. The research team also developed a mathematical equation that determined the potential side effects of a mixture of endocrine disruptors. According to the experts, the study serves as the pioneering research on how a mathematical equation can predict the onset of adverse medical conditions following chemical exposure.

“There is a very precise critical window during the first trimester of fetal development during which simultaneous exposure to weak doses of multiple endocrine disruptors may represent a risk to the development of the child’s genitals and reproductive system. It is particularly concerning as the individual potency of these chemicals can be exacerbated by up to a factor of 1,000. All the experimental data from different models lead us toward the same conclusions. This experimental proof of concept study shows that intensifying research into identifying the real mixtures to which individuals are exposed, and testing the effects on appropriate models, is a necessity,” study leader Bernard Jégou states in a press release.

Endocrine disruptors may impact brain health, study finds

Another study shows that prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors not only affects reproductive health, but may also impact brain development. A team of scientists pooled data from the EDEN Mother-Child Study Group with a total cohort population of 529 young boys born between 2003 and 2006 and their mothers. According to the researchers, all of the mothers had been exposed to endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A, triclosan and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). The findings showed that the chemicals induced behavioral problems in young boys.

“Exposure to bisphenol A was associated with increased relationship problems at three years and hyperactivity problems at five years,  thus confirming that the effects of bisphenol A on the behavior observed in laboratory animals also occur in humans at low levels of exposure,” the researchers explain.

Likewise, the scientists observed that exposure to DBP is associated with increased emotional and relationship problems such as internalizing behavior at three years old. 

Triclosan is also found to raise the odds of emotional problems at ages three and five. The research team adds that the chemical is shown to reduce in head circumference at birth.

According to the experts, triclosan interacts with the thyroid axis, which plays a central role in fetal brain development. However, the findings did not show a direct correlation between endocrine disruptors and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder. (Related: Plastics chemicals BPA, BPS linked to altered brain development.)

“The observed associations between BPA, MnBP, and behavior in boys are consistent with previous findings. Further health impact assessment studies based on dose–response functions corrected for exposure misclassification are required to quantify the public health burden possibly entailed by such associations,” the researchers report in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal.

The shocking TRUTH: Where does your favorite bottled water actually come from?

Our water at Suburban comes from Mountainwood Springs in NJ, an actual natural spring-not a manufactured one!

(Natural News) An animated map generated by Business Insider has provided an overview on where the most popular bottled water brands actually came from.

According to the map, Dasani Purified Water comes from a local water supply, while Nestlé’s Pure Life Purified Water takes its supply from a local well or municipal water source. Likewise, Aquafina’s Purified Water uses public water sources in all of its 40 bottling facilities across the U.S. In addition, Smartwater’s Purified Water comes from municipal water systems.

On the other hand, Poland Spring’s Natural Spring Water uses eight various springs in Maine for its production. These springs include the Cold, Bradbury, Evergreen and White Cedar springs as well as the Spruce, Garden, Clear and Poland springs. Deer Park’s Natural Spring Water also takes its water supply from various springs across the country.

In addition, Ozarka’s Natural Spring Water was found to use water from three various springs in Texas: Roher spring, Moffit spring, and Piney woods spring. As with other spring water products, Crystal Geyser’s Natural Spring Water makes use of springs spread across the country as their sources.

Questionable water sources may imperil consumers

Just last year, a study carried out by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences revealed that public drinking water supplies across the U.S. have extensively high levels of  industrial chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs).

The chemicals have been used over the past 60 years in various industrial and commercial products such as food wrappers, iron cast pots and pans, and clothing. PFAS have been previously linked to a host of adverse health conditions such as cancer, obesity, and high cholesterol.

As part of the study, the research team pooled data from more than 36,000 water samples collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) between 2013 and 2015. The research team found that the chemicals detected at the minimum reporting levels were seen in 194 out of 4,864 water supplies in 33 states across the U.S. The experts also noted that 75 percent of all the detected chemicals came from drinking water from 13 states, which include: California, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Alabama as well as Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Other states included New York, Georgia, and Minnesota as well as Arizona, Massachusetts, and Illinois.

In addition, the researchers found that 66 of the public water supplies evaluated had at least one water sample that measured at or above the safety limits set by the EPA. The highest levels of chemicals were observed in watersheds near industrial sites, military bases, and wastewater treatment plants. These water supplies cater to six million people, the experts said. (Related: Many Man-Made Chemicals Detected in Drinking Water Supplies.)

“For many years, chemicals with unknown toxicities, such as PFASs, were allowed to be used and released to the environment, and we now have to face the severe consequences. In addition, the actual number of people exposed may be even higher than our study found, because government data for levels of these compounds in drinking water is lacking for almost a third of the U.S. population — about 100 million people,” said lead author Xindi Hu.

“These compounds are potent immunotoxicants in children and recent work suggests drinking-water safety levels should be much lower than the provisional guidelines established by EPA,” senior author Elsie Sunderland added.

Sources include:

BusinessInsider.com

News.Harvard.edu

Food wisdom: How to avoid GMOs and toxic herbicides

(Natural News) This may seem like a simple question for our long-time readers, but many new readers are asking, “How do I avoid GMOs?”

It’s not just the GMOs themselves, of course, that people wish to avoid. It’s also the toxic, cancer-causing herbicide known as glyphosate that frequently saturates both genetically engineered crops and non-GMO crops alike. Glyphosate was recently added to California’s Prop 65 list of known cancer-causing chemicals.

In this short video, I explain the simplest ways to avoid GMOs and glyphosate. They include:

• Buying certified organic produce.
• Looking for the “Non-GMO Project Verified” logo on grocery products.
• Growing your own food.

 Follow more news on organics at Organics.news.

Desperate: Dairy study claims drinking more milk will reduce diabetes, hypertension

(Natural News) Thanks to a rapidly growing community of health-conscious consumers, the dairy industry has seen its profits plummet over the last several years. Though raw milk was once a wholesome, nutrient-rich drink, today’s milk is pumped with hormones, sugar, and other health damaging substances. The idea that we need to consume calcium-rich milk to sustain healthy bones is quickly fading. Therefore, the industry is coming up with other ways to make sure we drink some every day.
According to new research, conducted by scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS), people who drink at least eight ounces of milk every day have a 12 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes and a six percent lower risk of hypertension.


For both studies, the researchers analyzed data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study of 63,257 middle-aged and elderly Chinese, enrolled in the study between 1993 and 1998. All participants had no history of hypertension or cardiovascular diseases when they signed up.
Additional information was collected during two follow-up interviews, conducted between 1999-2004 and 2006-2010. The study was a collaboration with the Singapore Ministry of Health, funded by grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.


To standardize the study methodology, the researchers focused on only one racial group to rule out dietary differences that arise from cultural factors. However, Prof Koh Woon Puay, who led the research, noted that the health benefits of milk are applicable to all racial groups and ages. Dietary intake patterns were determined using a 165-question survey.

Ice cream to reduce the risk of diabetes and hypertension — Really?

These two NUS studies are the first-of-their-kind to show a positive effect of milk on high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes in an Asian population that traditionally has a low consumption of dairy products. Similar observations were made for the regular consumption of other dairy products such as yogurt, Milo, Yakult, Ovaltine, Horlicks, frozen yogurt, and ice cream, reported Straits Times.


Yes, you read that right. If we believe these recent research papers, then ice cream, among other highly processed dairy products, will protect your body against hypertension and type 2 diabetes. This smells like dairy industry-funded research. Don’t you think?
The researchers also considered the use of butter in bread and dairy products in cooking procedures of local dishes to get an accurate estimate of the total dairy intake among the Chinese population living in Singapore.


“Our findings indicate that drinking a cup of milk daily may be beneficial for health; thus those who do not have a problem tolerating dairy products may enjoy it as a potential healthy choice,” said the study’s authors, Dr. Talaei and Prof Koh.


Today, the number of people with diabetes has skyrocketed in America, with some 30 million people living with the disease. This is more than three times the number recorded in the early 90s, according to the 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report.


Fortunately, there is an easy solution to the fast-growing problem. Not entirely surprising, the answer isn’t coming from the medical world since in more than 90 percent of all type 2 diabetes cases, poor lifestyle choices are the primary culprit. In fact, the medical world isn’t interested in preventing, reversing, or curing diabetes, since managing diabetes is so incredibly profitable for the pharmaceutical industry.


Natural News just released a new book, “Reversing Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence-based strategies for reversing type 2 diabetes that your doctor doesn’t know and drug companies hope you never find out,” that shows how you can easily prevent, reverse, or cure the disease by eating healthy foods and engaging in daily exercise.
Find more diabetes-related health news and natural prevention strategies at DiabetesScienceNews.com.

Dunkin' Donuts Dumps Artificial Colors! Hooray!

If you enjoy coffee and ice cream but loathe artificial colorings, it seems that you may be in for a treat sometime soon. Dunkin Brands Group Inc., which owns the popular Dunkin Donuts coffee chain and Baskin-Robbins ice cream chain, has announced that it plans on removing artificial colorants from the majority of its products by 2018.

Organic Authority reports that in a recent press release, Dunkin’ Brands Chairman and CEO Nigel Travis said, “This is a significant undertaking on the part of our product development teams and suppliers.”
Travis went on to state, “However, we are committed to meet the evolving needs of our customers, including their preference for more nutritional transparency and simpler ingredients, while maintaining the great taste and the fun, vibrant colors expected from Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins products.”

The research and development teams for Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins are currently re-working a host of products to meet this new goal. At Dunkin’ Donuts, donut icings, toppings, frozen beverages, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and coffee flavorings are all being revamped to become free of artificial colorants. And at Baskin-Robbins, the plan is to remove synthetic dyes from ice creams, syrups, sauces, sprinkles and beverages.

However, neither brand will be removing a selection of supplier-branded ingredients that are produced by other companies and used as ingredients in their foods, such as topping or mix-ins for ice creams. Baskin-Robbins has also noted it will take them longer to replace the artificial colorants used in the decorative elements of their famed ice cream cakes.

A number of fast-food and chain restaurants have launched initiatives to improve the quality of their ingredients in the last few years. Subway, Panera, and Taco Bell have also announced their plans to remove artificial colorings from their products, along with other questionable ingredients.
In 2015, General Mills announced it would be removing synthetic dyes and artificial flavors from its cereals. That same year, Kraft finally caved in and made a similar announcement, after refusing to remove artificial colors from its iconic macaroni and cheese product for 2 yers.

What’s the fuss about food dyes?

Artificial dyes have been controversial for many years. In Europe, many of these dyes were banned in 2008, after a study showed that they could cause behavioral problems in children. The U.S. FDA failed to administer a similar ban, even in the face of a massive petition from The Center For Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). CSPI also recently authored a report that outlined the adverse effects artificial food dyes can have on children’s health, as well as the lack of policy surrounding this issue and more, which you can view in full on their website.

The report indicates that eight separate analyses have demonstrated that removing food dyes from children’s diets can help correct behavioral issues. More concerning is the fact that many American children are consuming amounts of these dyes far higher amounts than what was used in these trials, which could indicate an even bigger problem. According to CSPI, many of these dyes “fail to meet the federal safety standard for color additives, which requires ‘convincing evidence that establishes with reasonable certainty that no harm will result from the intended use of the color additive.'” In 2008, the organization petitioned the FDA to ban Red 40, Yellow 5 and six other synthetic colors for this reason.

Some food dyes are produced with coal tar or petroleum and are known to be carcinogenic.  As Food Matters explains, Yellow 6 has been linked to tumors of the kidneys and adrenal glands, while Green 3 is linked to bladder cancer, and Red 3 causes thyroid tumors in rats.
Synthetic dyes are not as safe as they are purported to be — especially not in the amounts they are often consumed. CSPI President Michael F. Jacobson had said that major food companies “should be embarrassed” by what they are selling to the American people, especially while they are accommodating the EU and providing them with naturally-colored or dye-free versions of the same food.

While it is great that consumer demand is finally working and driving these big corporations to find natural alternatives to synthetic compounds and ingredients, it has taken far too long.
Sources:
OrganicAuthority.com
DailyMail.co.uk 
CSPINet.org
FoodMatters.com