The two best-studied offenders are bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. BPA mimics estrogen and has been shown to disrupt hormone and reproductive system function in animals. Research by the National Toxicology Program found a moderate level of concern about its “effects on the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and children.” Phthalates have been shown to disrupt the endocrine system and have led to malformations in the male reproductive system in animals. Studies in humans have found associations between high phthalate exposure and a variety of health concerns including low sperm quality, high waist circumference and insulin resistance.

Researchers are still debating whether phthalates and BPA actually cause these health problems and, if so, how much exposure is necessary to trigger them. While these issues are being figured out, some experts recommend taking a preventive approach: “Minimize contact of food with problematic plastics as a precautionary measure to protect your health,” suggests Rolf Halden, PhD, adjunct associate professor of environmental health sciences at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Here are six simple tips for reducing your exposure to the potentially harmful chemicals in plastics.

1. Know the code. Look on the bottom of your plastic to find the recycling symbol (a number between 1 and 7 enclosed in a triangle of arrows). The code indicates the type of plastic you are using and can give you important clues about safety. “We generally say 1, 2, 4 and 5 are considered to be the safest,” says Sonya Lunder, senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group. Try to avoid using plastics with 3 or 6, as these leach chemicals that may be harmful. Number 7 is an “other” category that includes BPA-containing plastics called polycarbonates. These plastics, which you should avoid, will have the letters PC printed underneath the 7.

2. Reconsider the microwave. Heat can increase the rate at which chemicals like BPA leach from plastic. Containers labeled “microwave safe” have been tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and found to leach extremely small amounts, which the FDA has determined to be safe. However, some experts advise people to keep plastic out of the microwave altogether. “I don’t microwave anything in plastic,” says Lunder. “It’s really easy and fast to put my food into a ceramic or glass container and heat it that way.” And never put plastic wrap on top of your food in the microwave, since it can melt. Use wax paper or a paper towel instead.

3. Use it for its intended purpose. Plastics that are designed for single use should only be used once. “Plastic breaks down over time,” Lunder explains. “Some aren’t designed to withstand heating and cooling.” Most plastics with recycling code number 1 are intended for single use, such as disposable water bottles. And that takeout container from six months ago? Toss it. In general they’re fine for refrigerating leftovers, but aren’t designed for heat exposure or long-term use.

4. Wash by hand. Only put plastics into the dishwasher if they have a dishwasher safe label. If you want to be extra-cautious, wash all plastics by hand or use only glass and ceramic plates and dishes. In the dishwasher, plastics are exposed to detergents and heat, which may accelerate the leaching of BPA from food containers.

5. Do not freeze. Only put plastics in the freezer if they have a freezer-safe label. Freezer temperatures can cause plastics to deteriorate, which increases the leaching of chemicals into the food when you take containers out of the freezer to thaw or reheat.

6. Don’t panic. Cutting down on exposure to potentially harmful chemicals in plastics can benefit your health. But as Dr. Halden reminds us, “Many things in your life pose a much higher risk than exposure to plastics, such as smoking, poor diet and even driving a car.”

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/womens-health/plastic-container-safe

See also:

•Allergic conjunctivitis
•Allergic reactions
•Allergy testing
•Allergy to mold, dander, dust
•Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
•Contact dermatitis
•Drug allergies
•Food allergies
•Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Allergies are relatively common. Both genetics and environmental factors play a role.

The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances, such as bacteria and viruses. It also reacts to foreign substances called allergens, which are generally harmless and in most people do not cause a problem.

But in a person with allergies, the immune response is oversensitive. When it recognizes an allergen, it releases chemicals such as histamines. which fight off the allergen. This causes itching, swelling, mucus production, muscle spasms, hives, rashes, and other symptoms, which vary from person to person.

Common allergens include pollen, mold, pet dander, and dust. Food and drug allergies are common. Allergic reactions can also be caused by insect bites, jewelry, cosmetics, spices, and other substances.

Some people have allergy-like reactions to hot or cold temperatures, sunlight, or other environmental triggers. Sometimes, friction (rubbing or roughly stroking the skin) will cause symptoms.

A specific allergy is not usually passed down through families (inherited). However, if both your parents have allergies, you are likely to have allergies. The chance is greater if your mother has allergies.

Allergies may make certain medical conditions such as sinus problems, eczema, and asthma worse.

After retracing her day, Charlene realized that the three delicious tangerines were the culprit. She thought she was just enjoying a very tasty, healthy snack, but she was also triggering pain.

Some experts say that citrus and other foods may trigger headaches because the people consuming them may have an enzyme deficiency. The enzyme they are lacking is necessary for neutralizing amines in foods. Some foods have large quantities of amines, and without the enzyme, headaches (and even migraines) can be stimulated.

Still, gobbling up an orange (or three) might seem harmless. If you are one of the 28 million Americans who suffer from migraines, taking note of how foods affect your body could be critical in preventing future headaches. One new theory is that craving certain foods could also signal a coming migraine. These kinds of migraines are also made more unpredictable because eating the food may not trigger pain every single time, and because food could team up with other triggers (like bright lights or stress) to induce a migraine.

Some other foods and beverages thought to trigger headaches include:

• Aged cheese and those cheeses containing tyramine, a natural substance that builds up as food ages. Tyramine in high levels has been shown to cause hypertension, which is a particular concern for people who take MAO inhibitor medication to treat migraines. Blue cheese, brie, cheddar, Stilton, feta, gorgonzola, mozzarella, muenster, Parmesan, Swiss, and processed cheeses often contain high levels of tyramine.
• Other salted, cured, processed, and canned foods that are high in tyramine. Take note of how your body reacts when you eat pickles, olives, and canned soups. Beans can also contain headache-triggering tyramine, especially fava, pinto, garbanzo, and lima beans.
• Alcohol, which could prompt headaches as it is metabolized in the body. Pay particular attention when you drink red wine, beer, whiskey, and champagne, which have been identified as triggers.

There is a long list of foods that headache and migraine sufferers say cause their pain. Some of them might surprise you, including:

Peanuts and peanut butter
Potato chips
Pizza
Fresh fruits like kiwi, plums, and raspberries
Bread and crackers

source http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/foods-that-could-trigger-a-nasty-headache-507285/

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Water’s latest promo video features the well-drilling work we fund in the forgotten Central African Republic.

Directed by Simon Willows, “Time Bomb” track donated by Beck.

LEAN PROTEIN
To put it simply, protein takes a lot of effort for the body to break down and digest. A lot more than, say, fat. So while your body is working hard to process that protein, you’re burning calories. HG tip — eat fish! Chances are you’re not getting enough of it. Not only is fish a fabulous source of lean protein, BUT many types are full of those Omega-3 fatty acids you’re always hearing about. Beans are also a wonderful source of protein. And it’s no secret how we feel about our friend the soybean. (Let’s have a cheer for veggie patties and soy-meats!)

WHOLE GRAINS
Belly fat is not particularly cute on anyone (except maybe babies), so it’s exciting news that whole grains can do a number on that stubborn flab around your midsection. One of the easiest ways to get whole grains into your diet? Oatmeal in the morning. Quaker’s Simple Harvest Multigrain Hot Cereal is really good and just full of grains. Also, Kashi GoLean’s Hot Cereal packs in 7 whole grains and a big 5 – 7g fiber! Mmmmm…

GRAPEFRUIT
Ever since you were a kid popping Flintstones Chewables, you’ve known that Vitamin C is good for you — and that certainly hasn’t changed. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant AND has been shown in studies to help burn fat. So, if you’re looking for a snack, how’s about a nice, juicy grapefruit? The theory is that grapefruit helps to lower insulin levels, which keeps you from being hungry all the time! We know it smacks of classic diet food, but those Ruby Reds are MIGHTY delicious! If it’s too sour for you straight, sprinkle it with some no-calorie sweetener like Splenda or stevia.

GREEN TEA
Green tea is EVERYWHERE. It’s been classified as a “superfood” as it’s been linked to reduced rates of heart disease and cancer. And now it helps us lose weight too? Green tea has been shown to raise our metabolism, which is key in our battle with the bad stuff. Researchers also suspect that substances called polyphenols combined with caffeine are responsible for its fat-burning properties. If the hot murky stuff doesn’t do it for you, try HG’s Green Tea Crème Swappuccino! Only 75 calories and SO GOOD!

SPICY FOODS
You know how when you eat spicy foods, you sometimes start to sweat a little (ew)? That’s because it’s given a little kick to your heart rate. These little kicks will result in a temporary increase in your metabolism, which will help you burn fat a little easier for a bit. A quick hit with cayenne, red pepper flakes, or whatever hot sauce you fancy should do the trick and get your blood pumping. And these spices are practically calorie-free. Yes!

LIGHT DAIRY
Hey, dairy queens! Good news! It turns out that people who eat low-fat or fat-free dairy lose MORE weight than people who don’t. Sure we mentioned protein before, but it bears bringing up again since the magical combo of calcium and protein seems to work wonders. We’re WAY into yogurt, so we suggest picking up some Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt and mixing in your favorite fruits, sugar-free preserves… or whatever! Also, light string cheese is a GREAT little snack, with only around 50-60 calories and 2.5g fat a pop. Not bad for hard cheese, people.

WATER
Experts say it’s important to drink lots of water if you’re trying to burn fat Your body can’t work effectively if it’s dehydrated — not only will you FEEL like you don’t have any energy, but also your body really won’t have what it needs to function and burn off fat. Keep that machine humming — drink around 8 glasses of water a day!

CINNAMON
Sure this stuff tastes good — that’s why it’s found in SO many things. But those chefs might not know that their sprinkling of cinnamon is helping the body process sugar more effectively and lower blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can lead to the body storing more fat, so maybe put together a little shaker of cinnamon and Splenda to sprinkle on your favorite foods! Then whip up some fat-burning cinnamon toast by using your new concoction on whole-wheat bread!

APPLES
An apple a day isn’t going to keep the gym away, but it’ll probably make your diet plan more effective. Word on the street is that the pectin contained in apples limits how much fat your cells can absorb. (SWEET!) Plus it’s a naturally soluble fiber, which is always good. So next time you feel all snacky, grab whichever apple looks best to you (we love Fujis!).

Hungry for More?

Check out Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World. The book’s a New York Times Best Seller, and it’s packed with 165 super-easy and delicious recipes, survival guides for eating out, and so much more!

For a daily dose of guilt-free tips, tricks, food finds, recipes and more, visit www.hungry-girl.com and sign up for free daily emails!

source Yahoo Food

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Heart disease or cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in many countries including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, is caused by our daily habits of what we do and what we do not do. Thus, it is very much up to us to improve our habits and our lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing heart ailments and maintain a healthy heart.

Read on to learn how your everyday habits can lead to heart conditions and how you can take active steps to minimize your risk factors.

1. Eating habit
What you eat and in how much quantity has a direct impact on the health of your body’s blood pumping mechanism. According to the Framingham Heart Study, a longitudinal study that has helped scientists understand the development and progression of heart disease and its risk factors since 1948, the higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for heart disease. Following a diet low in saturated fat reduces your cholesterol levels. One such diet program known as the Pritikin Program that focuses on unprocessed or minimally processed straight-from-nature foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, starchy vegetables, lean meat and seafood, has been found to be effective in preventing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity. It is important not just to eat the right stuff but also to watch the amount of your intake. It is common knowledge that obesity increases the risk of heart disease so maintaining a healthy weight is very important to achieving a healthy heart. Read more about this at the Healthbase website.

2. Drinking habit
Although research has revealed an association between moderate alcohol consumption and lower risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), experts believe that drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day increases a person’s risk for high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease. It should also be kept in mind that moderate drinking is not risk free. Alcohol consumption can lead to several other chronic illnesses like cancer, liver cirrhosis, and trauma.

3. Smoking habit
Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing several chronic disorders including fatty buildups in arteries called atherosclerosis, which is a leading cause of death from smoking. Many studies have shown that cigarette smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack. Studies also show that cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for stroke. Women who take oral contraceptives and smoke increase their risk of stroke many times. Smoking also creates a higher risk for peripheral arterial disease and aortic aneurysm. Also, about 22,700 to 69,600 premature deaths from heart and blood vessel disease are caused by other people’s smoke each year. So, by smoking you harm not only yourself but also your innocent neighbors.

4. Exercising habit
A sedentary lifestyle with complete physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke and is linked to cardiovascular mortality. Regular physical activity helps control blood lipid abnormalities, diabetes and obesity. Aerobic exercises such as brisk walking, jogging, skipping rope, bicycling and dancing can help reduce blood pressure and are good for your heart when done regularly for 30 minutes or longer every day or on most days. Even moderately intense physical activity such as walking for pleasure, gardening and yard work are beneficial for the heart when done regularly on a daily basis.

5. Behavioral habit
Anger and uncontrolled stress can lead to high blood pressure which in turn increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke. Anger and stress management techniques can be helpful in reducing your stress level and, therefore, your risk factor for heart disease. Some examples of reducing your stress level are practicing yoga, meditation and laughter therapy.

Prevention is much better and much less expensive than cure. Cardiac treatments like CABG (coronary artery bypass graft), cardiac valve repair, cardiac valve replacement, bypass surgery, double bypass surgery, triple bypass surgery, quadruple bypass surgery, heart transplant, and so on can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It takes discipline and perseverance to incorporate changes into your daily habits but it is not impossible to do so. So talk to your physician today about how to change your habits and your lifestyle for a healthier heart.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_562379_17.html

Even though honey has been used as a wound dressing for thousands of years, recent studies have shown that one particular type of honey seems to be more effective than others. In the beautiful, pollution-free mountains of New Zealand, a plant called the Manuka Tree grows abundantly, spawning white and pink flowers that produce a nectar that bees use to make a unique type of honey. Manuka Honey is tested for its medicinal qualities that are a result of plant-derived components, making it an extremely valuable resource. Elements such as methylglyoxal and UMF make Manuka Honey far more effective in treating infected wounds and other skin conditions than ordinary honey.

There are several reasons why Manuka Honey is ideal for medical use. Manuka Honey has an osmotic effect which draws moisture out of bacterial cells, making it impossible for the bacteria to survive. The high sugar content in Manuka Honey reduces water molecules, making it difficult for microorganisms to develop and inhibit the growth of bacteria. When moisture is drawn out of bacterial cells by osmosis, the bacteria shrivel up and die, similar to the way slugs do when salt is poured over them.

Manuka Honey is also very acidic. The low pH level in Manuka Honey inhibits the growth of pathogens. In addition, the presence of hydrogen peroxide acts as an effective antibacterial agent. The hydrogen peroxide in Manuka Honey is produced when bees add enzymes to the floral nectar. However, the hydrogen peroxide exists in a slow-release manner that is strong enough to destroy bacteria but low enough to avoid tissue damage.

Manuka Honey also has phytochemical factors which contribute to its healing ability. Some scientists believe that Methylglyoxal is responsible for Manuka Honey’s bioactive qualities while others refer to Manuka Honey’s antibacterial component as the Unique Manuka Factor or UMF. Nevertheless, Manuka Honey’s ability to destroy bacteria and heal infections is unparalleled. Even hard-to-heal wounds and antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria (such as MRSA) have not been able to combat the antibacterial properties of Manuka Honey. In addition to it’s antibacterial properties, Manuka Honey also has antimicrobial properties, making it effective in treating fungal infections as well.

Because Manuka Honey has proven to be so effective in killing bacteria, it is now being used as a main ingredient in wound dressings. Honeymark, a manufacturer of Manuka honey-based skin care products has achieved great success utilizing the powerful healing properties of Manuka Honey. “Our products heal wounds infected with MRSA and clear eczema when other products have failed,” says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. “Even fungal infections can be efficiently eradicated and it’s all because of the healing powers of Manuka Honey.”

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_566937_17.html