10 Things You May Think Are Healthy...But ARE NOT

1. Antibacterial Soap & Hand Sanitizer

Many people are under the impression that using antibacterial soap will prevent them from getting sick. Yes, these products do kill bacteria and other germs, but they have no effect at all on viruses, which is what causes people to get sick in the first place.

A systematic review published in 2007 in the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases determined that antibacterial soap containing triclosan did not provide any additional benefit over regular non-antibacterial soap.(1) This is interesting because the chemical triclosan actually has been shown to have a number of adverse health effects, including antibiotic resistance and endocrine disruption. So, why are we putting it in the soap in the first place?

2. Antiperspirant
Antiperspirant is something many of us use daily to prevent sweating and thus, smelling. The problem with this product is that it deliberately stops our bodies doing what they are meant to do to dispel excess toxins. We do, in fact, sweat for a reason. Not only that, but antiperspirants contain many harmful chemicals including aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, and countless others.

Aluminum is directly absorbed by your skin and in this way enters your bloodstream with ease. A study conducted in 2001 showed that aluminum was still present in blood samples 15 days after the original application. (2) This makes the use of aluminum deodorant a very effective way to deliver aluminum to the brain. It has been proven time and time again that aluminum is a neurotoxin (3) and many believe that this is a cause for Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Your Chair
To some, this may sound absolutely ridiculous, but sitting down in a chair for long periods of time can be extremely detrimental to your health. Countless studies have shown links between excess sitting and the development of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, colon, breast, and endometrial cancers. (4,5,6)

Many experts recommend that you don’t sit for more than 3 hours a day. (7) If you have an office job, you should consider working at a standing desk, or at least getting up to stand for at least 1 minute for every 20 you are sitting, and be sure to walk around throughout the day as well. A great way to ensure this is to drink plenty of water, since this will encourage you to get up and walk to the bathroom!

4. Loofah

I will admit, this is news to me! But upon researching this, the idea that it may be an unhealthy item makes a lot of sense. A loofah is used in a hot shower, and heat and moisture is a perfect environment for mold and bacteria to grow. If this loofah is then used over any open nicks or cuts they can easily become infected.

To avoid this problem, choose a loofah made from natural materials, as these have natural enzymes that inhibit microbial growth. Be sure to fully wring out and dry your loofah in a cool, dark place.

5. Blender

Blenders are awesome tools that many people use daily to whip up a delicious, healthy smoothie. However, if it is not being cleaned properly, a blender can be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow. Often, the blender is rinsed out with water and appears clean, but the blender gasket (the rubber ring that is located under the blade) has been found to contain the third most germs of items found in the kitchen. In fact, research showed that it commonly harbored salmonella, E. coli, yeast, and mold. (8)

A simple solution is to be sure to deep clean your blender, taking it apart after each use to thoroughly wash the blade and gasket.

6. Cotton Swabs

I don’t know about you, but personally I love the feeling of cleaning out my ears; there is something just so satisfying about it. However, our bodies are almost always equipped with the tools to naturally remove toxins. Naturally, ear wax is only produced on the outer third of your ears, so when you insert the cotton swab into your ear you are just pushing the earwax into your ear canal, which can cause damage to your eardrums as well as hearing loss and infection. (9)

If you must use a cotton swab, follow the directions on the package: “Do not insert swab into ear canal. Entering the ear canal could cause injury. If used to clean ears, stroke swab gently around outer surface of the ear only.”

7. Processed Fruit Juice

More often than not, food and beverage manufacturers are dishonest about the products they produce. Quite frankly, fruit juice is a huge scam within this industry. Being promoted as a “healthy start to the day”and a “full serving of fruits and vegetables” is certainly misleading. The majority of fruit juices that are on the market today contain just as much and sometimes more sugar than the obviously sugar-filled soda pops. (10) The juices are also pasteurized, which means they have been heated to high temperatures. This process kills many of the enzymes that are required to properly digest the sugars. This is not to say that fruit in its entirety is unhealthy for you, however. Fruit in its natural form comes with the precise fiber and vitamins necessary for the body to manage the sugar it contains.

A great alternative to fruit juice is, honestly, straight up water. If you happen to have a slow juicer, this is another great option, specifically if there is an option to retain some of the pulp for the fruits that you are juicing.

8. Milk

An increasing amount of evidence has surfaced lately which demonstrates that milk doesn’t really do a body good. Here are some examples:
In a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics, Harvard pediatrician David Ludwig emphasizes that bone fracture rates tend to be lower in countries that do not consume milk compared to those that do, also noting that there are many other viable sources of calcium. (11)
Another study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, showed that dairy consumption might actually increase the risk of fractures by 50 percent. (12)
Studies have also shown that calcium isn’t as bone protective as we thought. Multiple studies on calcium supplementation have shown no benefit in reducing bone fracture risk. In fact, vitamin D appears to be more effective when it comes to reducing bone fracture risk. (13)
Studies have also shown that dairy products might increase a male’s risk of developing prostate cancer by 30 -50 percent. (14)

There are many alternatives for milk. Many people swear by the amazing nutrients and benefits that drinking raw milk can provide to the body. But milk doesn’t just come from cows, you can get milk from coconuts, almonds, rice, cashews, hemp seeds, and a few other places. These milks are readily available in stores and are very easy to make yourself. Often these milks provide even more nutrients than cow’s milk.

9. Cleaning Products

Everyday household cleaning products are absolutely loaded with chemicals that are, in many cases, quite toxic. Some of the most common chemicals being used in cleaning products that are known to be toxic are: ammonia, methoxychlor, phosphorous, sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, potassium hydroxide, formaldehyde, benzene, and chloroform, to name just a few out of literally thousands. Unfortunately in the United States, often Canada, and many other countries, toxic chemicals are not regulated at all. Generally, when you are using something to clean your environment you aren’t thinking about the shrouds of toxic chemicals that are being left behind.

Fortunately, many people have become aware of the dangers of some of these chemicals and because of this, many companies have put out safer, non-toxic alternatives that are usually just as effective. There are also many completely natural household products that can be very effective in getting the job done. Check out this link for an all-natural, homemade, all-purpose household cleaner.

10. Tap Water (And Some Bottled)

This definitely does not come with a whole heap of controversy. Yes, water is extremely important to your health, and just staying properly hydrated can ward off many negative health effects. However, it is important to ensure your drinking water is clean and safe to consume. Now here comes the controversy… approximately 67% (15) of the drinking water in the United States is fluoridated. The reason many people believe we do this is because the fluoride helps our teeth from decaying, but the “fluoride” that is added to the drinking water is actually not fluoride at all. It is a by-product of aluminum and fertilizer production and is called hydrofluoriscilic acid. This substance is too toxic to be burned or dumped, yet it is considered safe to be added to our drinking water. Seems a little bit fishy, right? There is also a lot of evidence that shows how harmful this substance can be to our health when ingested. It is banned practically all over Europe, and many Canadian cities have opted to have it removed from their municipal water supplies. Click here for many articles about water fluoridation.

Consider trying to raise awareness about this important issue within your community. With a little time and patience, you may just have a hand in getting it removed from your municipality’s water supply. If this is too much of a task to take on, there are many different water filtration systems available today that can effectively take out fluoride. Please note that pitcher type filters like Brita do not take out fluoride.

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Energy Efficient Bulbs Cause Anxiety, Migraines, Fatigue and even Cancer!

Many of us in the effort to save energy and money, replaced our old standard light bulbs with environmentally-friendly with the new generation energy saving light bulbs. However, the new generation of energy efficient light bulbs are so toxic that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created an emergency protocol you need to follow in the event of a bulb breakage, due to the poison gas that is released. If broken indoors, these light bulbs release 20 times the maximum acceptable mercury concentration into the air, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Fraunhofer Wilhelm Klauditz Institute for German’s Federal Environment Agency.

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs Can Cause:
Dizziness
Cluster headaches
Migraines
Seizures
Fatigue
Inability to concentrate
Anxiety

Here are some reasons to go back to incandescent bulbs.

1. Energy saving bulbs contain mercury. 

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that is especially dangerous to children and pregnant women. It is especially toxic to the brain, the nervous system, the liver and the kidneys. It can also damage the cardiovascular, immune and reproductive systems. It can lead lead to tremors, anxiety, insomnia, memory loss, headaches, cancer and Alzheimer’s .

2. Energy saving bulbs can cause cancer.
A new study performed by by Peter Braun at Berlin Germany’s Alab Laboratory found these light bulbs contain poisonous carcinogens that could cause cancer:
Phenol, a mildly acidic toxic white crystalline solid, obtained from coal tar and used in chemical manufacture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol).
Naphthalene, a volatile white crystalline compound, produced by the distillation of coal tar, used in mothballs and as a raw material for chemical manufacture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphthalene).
Styrene, an unsaturated liquid hydrocarbon, obtained as a petroleum byproduct (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styrene).

3. Energy saving light bulbs emit a lot of UV rays.

Energy saving lamps emit UV-B and traces of UV-C radiation. It is generally recognized that UV-radiation is harmful for the skin (can lead to skin cancer) and the eyes. The radiation from these bulbs directly attacks the immune system, and furthermore damages the skin tissues enough to prevent the proper formation of vitamin D-3.

In conclusion, these bulbs are so toxic that we are not supposed to put them in the regular garbage. They are household hazardous waste. If you break one in a house, you are supposed to open all of your windows and doors, and evacuate the house for at least 15 minutes to minimize your exposure to the poisonous gas. Unfortunately, soon consumers won’t have the option to buy incandescent lights because they won’t be available. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) mandates the phase-out of incandescent light bulbs, and favors energy-efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.

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Leading Causes of Cancer? Bacon, Ham, Sausage...and Cigarettes

Bacon, ham and sausages rank alongside cigarettes as a major cause of cancer, the World Health Organisation has said.

Its report says each 50g of processed meat a day - the equivalent of one sausage, or less than two slices of bacon - increases the chance of developing bowel cancer by 18 per cent.

Global health experts officially listed processed meat as a carsinogenic cancer-causing substance - the highest of five possible rankings, shared with alcohol, asbestos, arsenic and cigarettes.

Fresh red meat was ranked on the next level - as a "probable" carcinogen.

They said those eating a lot of processed meats should cut back, while saying the occasional bacon wrap would do little harm.

Although processed meats have been classed in the highest risk category, alongside smoking, it does not mean that each are an equal danger, experts stressed.

Dr Kurt Straif, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said: "For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed."

Red meat - under which the IARC includes beef, lamb and pork - was classified as a "probable" carcinogen in its group 2A list that also contains glyphosate, the active ingredient in many weedkillers.

The lower classification for fresh red meat reflected "limited evidence" that it causes cancer. The IARC found links mainly with bowel cancer, but also observed associations with pancreatic and prostate cancer.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has previously warned of "strong evidence" that consuming a lot of red meat can cause bowel cancer.

In 2009, it recommended eating no more than 2.5oz (70g) processed meat a week – the equivalent of three rashers of bacon – and said children should not have processed meat at all.

Professor Tim Key, from Cancer Research UK, said the links were backed by substantial evidence. He said the ruling should not mean cutting out all meats.

Current NHS advice is to limit intake of all meats to 70g a day, but there is no specific recommended limit for cured and processed meats.

The new advice from WHO suggests 50g of processed meat is enough to significantly raise bowel cancer risk, by 18 per cent.

Dr Ian Johnson, nutrition researcher at the Institute of Food Research, said: "Meat consumption is probably one of many factors contributing to the high rates of bowel cancer seen in America, Western Europe and Australia, but the mechanism is poorly understood, and the effect is much smaller than, for example, that of cigarette smoking on the risk of lung cancer.”

Scientists also looked at whether different cooking methods increased the risks of cancer. It found that methods such as barbecuing or pan-frying, produced more of certain types of carcinogenic chemicals.

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Are Antibiotics Making your Kids FAT?

Antibiotics are life-saving medicine, but their overuse has been linked to a number of health concerns, not least of which include antibiotic-resistant superbugs that kill thousands of people each year.

Now, new research adds to growing evidence that over-exposure to antibiotics contributes to another problem: weight gain.

In the largest study on the subject to date, Dr. Brian Schwartz and his researchers from Johns Hopkins found that children who take antibiotics regularly throughout their childhood gain weight significantly faster than those who do not. 

For the study a team analyzed the health records of more than 160,000 children between the ages of 3 and 18 from 2001 to 2012. They collected data on height and weight to determine body mass index (BMI), as well as antibiotic use in the previous year and any earlier years for which health records were available.

The results showed that at age 15, children who had received antibiotics seven or more times during childhood weighed about three pounds more than those who had never taken the drugs. Approximately 21 percent of the study participants -- about 30,0000 kids -- had taken antibiotics seven or more times during childhood.

Scientists have long known that antibiotics promote weight gain in animals, which is why they are given to livestock in animal feed at modern industrialized farms.

But growing evidence shows that in humans, antibiotics could lead to weight gain because of the effect they have on the microbiota or microbiome -- microorganisms that inhabit the body. Antibiotics work by killing off harmful bacteria but the medicine can also deplete "good" bacteria that are vital to health. Research shows repeated antibiotics use can forever alter the microbiome, which can change the way it breaks down food in the digestive tract, increasing the calories absorbed and leading to weight gain.

Of course, the findings don't suggest that children should never take antibiotics, but Schwarz said physicians need to be diligent in prescribing the drugs only when needed.

For parents, he gives the following advice: "Bottom line: If your doctor tells you that you or your child does not need antibiotics, don't ask for them, don't take them, don't try to find another doctor who will provide them. Eat healthy and your gut microbiota will be very good to you. Don't change your gut microbiota unnecessarily by taking antibiotics if you don't need them."

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