What they don't tell you about BPA

It makes me worry when they actually have someone on the local news telling you about the harms of BPA for you and your children. It makes me worry even more that no one is doing anything to get this chemical out of our everyday lives. I’m sure you have all seen the newer baby bottles that say BPA free but if you’re giving your baby formula there could be BPA in the container storing the formula. These are the people we should be protecting they can’t protect themselves. Here is just a few notes about BPA and what you probably haven’t heard before.




First of all maybe you don’t know what BPA is. BPA or Bisphenol A is a chemical compound used in making polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin in tin cans. You can also find this in food storage containers, water bottles, medical devices, CDs, and even receipts. Yes, just touching this can be harmful. In Japan they have completely banned the use of BPA and Canada has now named it a toxic chemical. So, why is the United States denying all of this and still using it in our everyday lives?



This has been linked to many health issues like; cancer, diabetes, obesity, infertility, hyperactivity, impaired learning and memory, increased aggression, and early onset of puberty. I have said for many years now there has to be a reason kids are physically maturing alot earlier and now we know.



Even though you can’t avoid this chemical completely right now there are ways to keep your young ones safe. Avoid plastics marked with 3, 6, and 7. Many companies are realizing the consumers are paying more attention to the amound of BPA they come in contact with so there are many products that will say BPA free. As for canned foods it can be a little more difficult. Canned meats, pastas, and soups have the largest amount of BPA in the can. If your rinse canned fruit or vegetables before eating it can lower the amount of BPA that you consume. If you use plastic food storage containers check the number on the bottom of the container with the ones I mentioned earlier. Do not heat these in the microwave and you should either wash them by hand or put them on the top rack in the dishwasher. I’ll be looking for new containers soon!

Fluoride toothpaste or Fluoride free?

I recently switched my toothpaste to fluoride free and a friend of mine asked if we needed fluoride to protect our teeth from decay. For once I didn't have much to say. I didn't do much research before hand but had just briefly read up on fluoride poisoning. So being me I had to look more into it and I'm worried now that I did. Not for my toothpaste but for our water! Fluoride is being added into our water and even Nursery water for babies! Too much fluoride can be harmful!
There is a pro to fluoride, but just one that I can find, which is that it helps protect the enamel on our teeth making cavities less common. However, if your an adult this doesn't really help as much as it does in children who still have growing bones. You really need to watch how much fluoride they are consuming though. You should only use a pea sized portion of toothpaste with fluoride for children to brush their teeth since they naturally swallow pretty much anything you put in their mouth.
Now lets go into the cons! Fluoride has been linked to certain cancers and Downs syndrome. It also has been linked to thyroid problems and too much fluoride can actually damage your teeth not help!
60% of Americans drinking water has fluoride in it already. Some fluoride is naturally in the water but shouldn't have more added like many places have been doing for years! Call your local water department to find out if you have fluoride added in your tap water. Fluoride can also enter through your skin while bathing. You might think that since you buy bottled water your safe from fluoride but it is also added in this water as well. Last night I was just thinking why is cancer more common? Could this be one of the reasons?

Rheumatoid Arthritis Cures

Rheumatoid arthritis can be very painful for those that suffer from this autoimmune disease. This disease causes chronic inflammation in joints. No one knows the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis.

There are many different ways to try to ease the pain. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties. You can take Ginger in capsule form, tea, or fresh. Even a dish prepared with ginger would give you a reasonable dosage. Garlic and Ginko Biloba helps with circulation which will help bring oxygen to the affected area.

The one that is definitely worth looking into is Nettle Tea which has been used for hundreds of years. This is one amazing plant and deserves its own blog which will come. It is painful to the touch due to the hairs on the stinging nettle plant but it is known to decrease the original pain. It is believed to reduce levels of inflammatory chemicals in the body. You can find nettles in a tea, extract, cream, tincture, and dried leaves.

Most people take painkillers like Tylenol, aspirin, NSAIDS, or ibuprofen which can cause ulcers and kidney damage. These painkillers tend to destroy cartilage and prevents new cartilage. The natural substance glucosamine sometimes combined with chondroitin is known to be the most potent or the miracle drug. Glucosamine is made by cartilage cells in the body which is also necessary to rebuild cartilage. It has been used to treat arthritis in racehorses and many other animals and has also been used in Spain and Italy for treating osteoarthritis since the early 80's. You can follow the recommended doses on the label or if you want more exact for your weight check out a book by Jason Theodosakis, M.D. , called The Arthritis Cure.

Thai massage is another thing to look into. This was developed by Buddhist monks in Thailand as a healing modality. This uses stretching and pressure along the body's energy lines to relieve muscle and joint tension. Thai massage is compared to yoga without any effort since the therapist will use their body to contort yours into different positions. Its purpose is to heal a person physically, emotionally, and spiritually.