01Nov 2018 by Angela Cummings

What are Phthalates?

Reference Document (study or article)
Phthalates are used to make plastics more flexible and resilient. They’re often called “plasticizers.” Phthalates are also found in vinyl. These chemicals are released from products easily. How can they get into our bodies? Eating: Leaching into food and beverages from plastic packaging or storage containers. Chewing on soft plastic (toys for children, etc) Breathing: Dust particles Vapors Skin: touching products made with phthalates using products made with phthalates (e.g. cosmetics, etc) How might they contribute to health conditions? Phthalates are found in nearly every U.S. person that has been tested. In addition, they’ve been found in breast milk, umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid. Phthalates pass through the body quickly through urine vs. being stored in fat cells. However, that doesn’t mean they’re “safe.” Their chemical structure is similar…
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01Nov 2018 by Angela Cummings

Reference: Mount Sinai Researchers Identify Respiratory Support as Source of Exposure to Phthalates in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Reference Document (study or article)
Source name: Mount Sinai Reference type: Press Release Date of study or article: September 26, 2018 Summary: Medical equipment such as nasal prongs that deliver oxygen and air pressure to children in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are a significant source of phthalate exposure in the NICU. In the U.S. 300,000 children are admitted to the NICU – some for weeks or months. Of those, an estimated 200,000 use such medical equipment. The heat and humidity in NICU increases the amount of phthalates released. Notable quotes:  “Our study suggests exposure to common and clinically impactful phthalates still exists, despite efforts by hospital NICUs and medical equipment manufacturers to limit exposure by changing the materials used in feeding supplies. The big takeaway is that there is still more that can be…
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30Oct 2018 by Angela Cummings

Reference: Prenatal exposure to phthalates linked to language delays in children, study says

Reference Document (study or article)
Source name: CNN Reference type: Article Date of reference: October 29, 2018 Summary: Phthalates may cause language development delays in children. That means these chemicals may be affecting children’s brain. See where phthalates can be found, and what they’re used for. The studies looked at phthalate levels in pregnant women via urine samples. Children’s age was 30 month old (Sweden measure) to 2 years old (US measure). The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics. Research was conducted in U.S. and Sweden and included 963 children and mothers from Sweden and 370 mothers and children from the U.S. Notable Quotes: “The study adds to a "body of literature suggesting that there's some impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on children's brain development," according to Braun.” Link to Reference Material: https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/29/health/phthalate-prenatal-language-development-study/index.html
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24Oct 2018 by Angela Cummings
Sugar Free Diet: How it Affects Digestive Health

Sugar Free Diet: How it Affects Digestive Health

Blog, Food
Want your digestive system to function better? Try creating a sugar free and sweetener free diet! One that is free of natural and artificial sweeteners may reduce sugar levels and man-made chemicals in your food. What’s Harmful about Natural Sugar? Natural sugar can still be a processed or refined sugar. It simply has a natural ingredient as the base. Some manufacturers call their sweeteners "natural" even though they're processed or refined. Stevia preparations are one example. And some artificial sweeteners are derived from naturally occurring substances — sucralose comes from sugar.-Mayo Clinic, Nutrition and Healthy Eating Too much natural sugar and artificial sweeteners may affect our digestive system, leading to diabetes, immune system illnesses, inflammation, and other health conditions. In addition, natural sugar and artificial sugar are processed by the…
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19Oct 2018 by Angela Cummings

How to know if your feminine care products have chemicals?

Blog, Personal Care Products
Women spend about six days of the month using feminine care products, over a 40 year period. That’s 2,880 days or 69,120 hours of maxi pads and tampons sitting on our skin. Since harmful chemicals can be absorbed through skin and travel into the bloodstream, I wanted to steer clear of them. But I ran into some challenges. Let’s look at what maxi pads and tampons are made of, and how we can find nontoxic feminine care products. What chemicals are in feminine care products? Standard feminine care products are made from synthetic material (polyester), which is an oil byproduct made of oil and chemicals. Polyester is used both the covering and filling. Plus, pads and tampons often contain fragrances, and have plastic backings and packaging.  How patterns can help…
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11Oct 2018 by Angela Cummings
Are Essential Oils Chemical Free? (And How to Choose Good Ones)

Are Essential Oils Chemical Free? (And How to Choose Good Ones)

Blog, Fragrances, Health
Essential oils have become popular in the last few years. Some people have reported better sleep, feeling calm, and relief from pain. They’re used in homemade and store bought perfumes, cosmetics, and air fresheners. They’re used in food (in small amounts). They’re used in pesticides. Often thought of as “safe” and “natural,” essential oils have become a “go-to” for healthier living. It’s not that cut-and-dry, though. Essential oils are complicated. Their strength, chemical composition, interactions with the body, and affects on indoor air quality and health are becoming better understood. This has uncovered negative health effects. We can use these findings to our benefit, by strategically choosing which chemical-free essential oils to use, if any. What are Essential Oils Made of? Man-made chemicals. Standard essential oils are made of a…
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05Oct 2018 by Angela Cummings
How can I prevent breast cancer?

How can I prevent breast cancer?

Blog, Health, Personal Care Products
Get this: “About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.” That means anyone is a candidate. While self examinations, such as Serena Williams and the I Touch Myself Project promotes are critical to early detection of breast cancer, prevention is also critical. Over 102 chemicals in our everyday products have been linked to breast cancer. Personal care products are among the common causes. We’ll discuss the types of products linked to breast cancer and ways to reduce your risk of illness. Types of personal care products linked to breast cancer Personal care products are often made of chemicals that cause hormone disruption such as increased estrogen levels. Increases in estrogen have been linked to breast (and other types of) cancer. Other health…
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28Sep 2018 by Angela Cummings
What type of plastic is nontoxic?

What type of plastic is nontoxic?

Blog, Food
Can we buy nontoxic plastic? Getting plastics out of our homes and environment can be a trick. Plastics are all around us. Whether it’s our food packaging, dishes and cups, or food storage containers, plastic plays a huge role in our lives. We might look for nontoxic plastics instead of getting rid of plastics altogether. Let’s find out if that’s possible. What is plastic made of? Oil and chemicals. Crude oil (oil from the earth) is refined. Part of that refined oil is used as oil in our car engines. It’s refined again (or more) to become gasoline that fuels our cars. It’s refined further to become a key ingredient in plastic. The refined oil is mixed with a variety of man-made chemicals, to become plastic. BPA is one of…
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04Sep 2018 by Angela Cummings
21 “Free and Clear” Laundry Detergents Rated A’s and B’s

21 “Free and Clear” Laundry Detergents Rated A’s and B’s

Blog, Cleaning
When we buy “free and clear” laundry detergent, most of us want overall healthy products. Not detergents that are free of dyes and fragrances, but still filled with harmful chemicals. Feel good about your laundry detergent, and know that what you’re buying are healthier options based independent, 3rd party, nonprofit health ratings. 21 Free & Clear Laundry Detergents Rated A or B Here are 21 laundry detergents rated “A” or “B” on the nonprofit, Environmental Working Group (EWG)’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. Attitude Little Ones Laundry Detergent, Fragrance Free - Abiokleen Free & Clear Laundry Liquid – ADr. Bronner's Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner – AFit Organic Laundry Detergent, Free and Clear - AGreen Shield Organic Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear - AGrabGreen 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Powder, Fragrance Free - AMeliora…
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