BPA's

Hello Everyone,

From time to time there's things that come across my awareness that I feel are important for you to become aware of, as well.

Today's topic is BPA's. You can click on the link and learn what BPA's are and what they are used in. For our discussion, they are primarily used in plastics - enormous quantities of them and they are ubiquitous. According to Wikipedia:

"Bisphenol A is used primarily to make plastics, and products containing bisphenol A-based plastics have been in commerce for more than 50 years. It is used in the synthesis of polyesters, polysulfones, and polyether ketones, as an antioxidant in some plasticizers, and as a polymerization inhibitor in PVC. It is a key monomer in production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins.[4] Polycarbonate plastic, which is clear and nearly shatter-proof, is used to make a variety of common products including baby and water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, lenses, CDs and DVDs, and household electronics.[5] Epoxy resins containing bisphenol A are used as coatings on the inside of almost all food and beverage cans.[6] Bisphenol A is also a precursor to the flame retardant, tetrabromobisphenol A, and was formerly used as a fungicide.[7]

Global production of bisphenol A in 2003 was estimated to be over 2 million metric tonnes (t).[8] In the U.S., it is manufactured by Bayer MaterialScience, Dow Chemical Company, General Electric, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, and Sunoco Chemicals. In 2004, these companies produced just over 1 million t of bisphenol A, up from just 7,260 t in 1991. In 2003, annual U.S. consumption was 856,000 t, 72% of which was used to make polycarbonate plastic and 21% going into epoxy resins.[5]"

For you to do: switch to glass or stainless steel, but stop using those water bottles. That's for starters. Change the containers for your children, as well.

Since they are used on the inside of almost every packaged food, stop buying and using packaged foods. When you microwave something, do it in glass, take it out of the packaging or trays.

These are only starters, but the more you are aware, the more you can avoid them.

They are endocrine disruptors. This is the most insidious of preys, as the endocrine system: your hormonal system runs your body - all of it. This means not just your reproductive system, your adrenals, your heart beat; the endocrine system is your master switch.

Folks, what you can do is weed the toxins out where you can as you become aware of the. Don't go into fear, just simply choose again and move on.

Thanks for reading!

Kath

REnew Yourself!

Greetings Everyone!

A good day to be alive, yes? YES!

I love to report serendipitous events. So here's how today's blog came about. I was searching for a detox system to start the New Year off. So I wandered into Sprouts, a local health food store, and right inside the door was a display of "kits". Guess I'm not the only one?

I chose the organic one, of course, and having read all the whole herbs included, I threw it into the cart.

This morning I read the directions, but not only that, there was included a DVD in the kit. So I watched it and met Barbara Watson. This lady knows her stuff.

I am, by no means, a clinical nutritionist, a doctor, or herbalist. I am a lay person on all these counts. But I do have a background in science (premed and nursing); I do have an extensive background in herbs as a organic grower; and I have my intuition which functions perfectly.

For the past year I've been conducting a research project of my own regarding nutrition and auto immune diseases. It's been a very interesting and enlightening journey. One thing leads to the other as what you ask to know is answered.

My hypothesis has been that we are so toxic (exposed to and consume) that our immune systems are simple pooped out. They are gasping, "Enough!" It's what I call (see previous blog) the "Drip, Drip, Drip Syndrome".

Certainly there are "tolerable" amounts of any poison(s) that the body can adjust to, eliminate and transmute. But toxins in the water, food, air, skin care products, everywhere have caused American bodies to reach "critical mass" of sick.

Back to Barbara Watson. In her video she explains so clearly and simply how the body disposes of toxins (her 7 channels of waste elimination) and how we can support them back to health.

Further she describes a load of symptoms that in listening to them I can say almost everyone I know has those complaints.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It's primary functions are protection from external toxins and elimination through perspiration of internal toxins. So whenever you apply to your skin a product that contains mineral oil or other petroleum based product which blocks the pores from perspiration, you hinder a fundamental and primary function of toxin elimination.

Take Home #1 for Today: Go through absolutely every skin care, hair care, sun screen, lotion and potion in your cupboard and throw out anything with mineral oil or petroleum. This includes children's products! And get rid of anything that is a "deodorant" . Deodorants were designed to stop sweating. Instead, use a "deodorant" which has no synthetic chemicals in the formulations.

Barbara Watson talks about how toxins and a poor digestive/elimination system back up and have effects on the skin. She advocates probiotics as a daily supplement! These supplements such as InLiven and Fast Track by One Group are essential to daily INTERNAL cleansing.

Take Home #2 for today: Start today and eliminate as many toxins as you can from your own internal and external environment. How?
Stop using plastic to heat your food.
Get rid of your plastic water bottle and replace it with stainless steel or glass.
Eat/use/consume only organic products whenever possible. The strategy for today is "pick your poison". I personally love a lovely glass of wine. But I can drink organic milk, eat organic produce (or grow my own); I can insist on organic meat, chick, and wild raised fish.

All things affect everything else. The human body is a most miraculous "machine", but we are at "critical mass" of toxic.

Be critical about what's in the products you consume. Read the labels. Buy organic whenever possible and even better, certified organic if you can find it. You can send me an e-mail and I will send you the list of toxins that are in your skin care products.

Beauty beings as an inside job.

Thanks for reading!

Kath