Plastics | Hip Moms Go Green

Plasticizers~Hiding Where & Causing What?

Many people think of plastic just being one thing: plastic. Unfortunately, plastics are many different substances combined, and can come in many different varieties depending on how they are made, with varying levels of toxins and danger depending on how the plastic is used. One of the most common ingredients are plasticizers, particular compounds that are used to make materials more flexible. One of the most famous types of plastic, PVC, has a significant amount of plasticizer additive, although in this case the compound is used to make PVC more durable instead of flexible (with the plasticizer, PVC pipe would crack and split).

You may be surprised in the other common materials that use plasticizers, too. Some types of concrete, for example, use plasticizers to create stronger bonds and make it easier to spread out before it dries. Plasticizers are used in the manufacturing of certain types of wallboard, not because they add any permanently useful qualities, but because it allows companies to use less water so the board will dry faster.

What is the problem with these ubiquitous plasticizers? Well, they are part of a family of chemicals known as phthalates, which are made by the billions of pounds every year across the world. Phthalates have been proven to wreck havoc with the body’s reproductive system, causing everything from birth defects in males to increased chances of breast cancer. Numerous animals studies have shown a propensity for phthalates to damage the female reproductive system, the liver, and the kidneys as well.

This would not be so hazardous if plasticizers stayed sealed within plastic products, but they do not: phthalates tend to leech out of the plastic into surrounding substances, especially food or tissue. Plastic cups, food packaging, and plastic plates or dining ware

made with plasticizers are all possible contaminators of food. Even your nail polish may be a culprit. Medical devices are also suspect–you know those bags they store blood in for intravenous injection? Some are made with plasticizers, which have the ability pass into the blood, and then to the patient (so far manufacturers do not have a problem with this, since the toxins help the blood last longer in the bags).

Fortunately, not all manufacturers use plasticizers. But, you may want to skip the plastic-wrapped cheese, which has tested with some of the highest levels of leeched plasticizer compounds. When buying meat or pre-packaged vegetables and fatty foods, try to find products that are wrapped in paper products rather than the more dangerous cling wrap.

H2O Facts and Fallacies

Do you know there is a hot, new nutrient out on the market? This one can help reduce your seasonal allergies. It works wonders on heartburn. It improves your skin, regulates your bowels and can help you lose wei.ght. It can even reverse arthritis symptoms. It can even lower your blood pressure. You may not believe it, but you already have some of it at home right now….WATER!

So often the simplest things are the most critical. One I try to bear in mind is good hydration. Probably 1/4 of the time when I review someone’s lab tests I’ll see various signs of short or long term dehydration. It’s a big deal and the crazy thing is those who need it the most often do not feel thirsty.

Water Facts and Fallacies:

#1- Fallacy: Your body is 70% water just like the surface of the earth.

Fact: According to Guyton’s Physiology, the standard medical text for how the body’s functions work, we start out as infants in the low 60% range but get to the low 40% range as we age. Most adults are around half. You know how we get shorter with age? That is primarily loss of intervertebral disc space in our spines from dehydration.

Tip: Urine color is the simplest indicator of hydration. Here’s a good picture of urine colors, 1-3 represent good hydration, higher numbers mean you’re dried out. If your computer screen gets wet while doing this test, don’t blame me!

#2 – Fallacy: Distilled water leaches minerals out of your body.

Fact: You can absorb minerals from water but water enters your body from your small intestines and leaves through your kidneys and stools. It has no means of taking anything out that you already had.

Tip: Purified water is best for day to day use. I recommend home reverse osmosis systems for the simplest, most economical way to get pure drinking water. Be sure filters are changed at least twice each year or per schedule. Our family has rented a unit from Arizona Water Rentals for well over a decade, the rental cost is about the same as annual filter costs and they do all the work. Filters are a little better but don’t take out pesticides and solvents.

#3 – Fallacy: When you’re exercising you should avoid cold water since your body can’t absorb it.

Fact: Here’s a case where you can trust your instinct. Which would you drink first on a hot day? The absorption rate is the same regardless of the temperature. And drinking cold water lowers your core body temperature which improves your performance and heat tolerance.

#4 – Fallacy: Spring water comes from high mountain springs.

Fact: Unless it says “purified by distillation” or “reverse osmosis”, it is tap water with a picture of a mountain. Do you buy bottle water? Take the time to watch ‘Tapped’. Bottle water is a disaster for your health since it is unregulated and full of toxic plastic by products, and it is a source of huge amounts of pollution and carbon. Learn so much more by watching Tapped the Film.

Tip: Drink your water from glass or stainless steel containers. Avoid plastic. Trace amounts of plastic residue have been shown to promote breast and prostate cancer, cause thyroid disease and disrupt male and female fertility.

#5 – Fallacy: If you drink when you’re thirsty, you’ll get enough water.

Fact: Your thirst is unfortunately a poor indicator of hydration. If you lose as little as 3% of your body’s fluids your thirst can become unreliable. Look at your urine color and plan to consume 1/2 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight daily. This is 3-5 quarts for most of us.

#6 – Fallacy: You get lots of fluid from coffee, tea, juice, soda, etc.

Fact: Caffeine is a diuretic, you pee out more than you get. Sugar makes fluid absorb poorly. If you’re still drinking soda I don’t know what to say, but I’ll still try to help

Tip: You can help your water intake by consuming herbal teas and soups.

Tip: Most who are well hydrated need to urinate at least every few hours. I’ve known about a dozen people who bragged about their ability to thrive in Arizona on little water intake and how they urinate only once or twice a day. All but one went on to have massive kidney stones. The other, I hope I’m wrong, but I think he’s next.

# 7 – Fallacy: When you run, bike, hike in the heat, you need to consume as much water as you can.

Fact: Here’s a tricky one. We can lose water at an amazing rate when we’re out sweating in the heat. Unfortunately we can’t absorb it as quickly. If we take it in too fast, it stays in our intestines. This can case us to get cramps, diarrhea and dangerously low sodium levels. No matter how hard we sweat, we can absorb no more than 22-28 ounces per hour. Do not go under or over this when out in the heat. If you’re active for more than an hour you’ll need electrolytes with this, that’s another topic. Easiest solution is Endurolytes caps or powder by Hammer Nutrition. We stock it and so do REI and most bicycle shops.

Tip: Don’t use tap water for cooking or making coffee or tea. Use purified water.

Tip: Run your water for 10 seconds before showering; most wastes concentrate in your water lines when they sit overnight.

Guest Post by:

Dr. Alan Christianson, NMD, is founder and president of Integrative Health clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. Integrative Health offers a fresh approach to living well by using a novel formula for science-based natural medicine. The team of physicians discovers the cause of each patient’s troubling symptoms and protects their long-term health and quality of life.

Dr. Christianson’s primary focus is diagnosing hidden cases of thyroid disease and assisting those already diagnosed to resolve hypothyroid symptoms including weight gain, fatigue and hair loss.

Currently, he is co-authoring ‘The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid’, for Penguin publishers, due for publication in mid-2011.

You can purchase Stainless Water Bottles at Reuseit.com.

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the day we celebrate the ways we can protect our earth and show how important it truly is. To be mindful of our precious resources and wildlife is at the forefront of today’s message. If I had one wish it would be that the readers of Hip Moms Go Green treat Earth Day like they would New Year’s. Make a “re:solution” to start making change somewhere in your life and the process can evolve to things like: planting an organic garden, buying local and organic foods, getting picky about the things you recycle, stop buying processed or chemical ridden foods, avoiding GMOs, unplugging your appliances, buying natural household cleaners, stop spraying toxins in the air, and useing less water. Whew! I know that list was long and it could have gone on all day, but I had to stop somewhere.

If I could choose one thing for you to take action on today it would be to STOP buying bottled water. The bottles contain chemicals in the plastic and when it is heated these chemicals leech into your water and ultimately into your body. Most of us have heard of BPA which has led to fertility problems in adults and reproductive issues in children. Some of the bottles that were tested for chemicals had industrial solvents and arsenic in them as well. As if the health issues were not enough to entice you, the ecological impact surely will. We use 18 million barrels of oil just to transport plastic water bottles from place to place. The amount of plastics dumped and floating around in the ocean are somewhere around 3.5 million tons. That means the fish we eat are exposed to these chemicals as well.

What to do? You could start by buying your family stainless water bottles to use. They come in very cool designs that you and your kids will love and they can be easily cleaned with a little baking soda and water, rinsed, and they are ready to go again. I have started buying cool bottles as gifts for kids birthday parties too. Give a great gift to a child and the earth at the same time. You can go to Reuseit.com and purchase any reusable product. They have a great selection of water bottles. Some of my favorites are made by EarthLust and Kleen Kanteen. Kleen Kanteen has the best sippy cup around! Reuseit.com is offering us a 15% discount at check out today (expires at midnight 4/23)with discount code: hipmoms

I should point out that I did not turn into the way I am now over night and I still have a ways to go but, it has to start somewhere. The possibilities are enormous if everyone tries. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Nickie

Check out my video on Stop Buying Bottle Water here.

Plastics in the Ocean: Danger on the High Seas

The very qualities that make plastics so attractive to people can prove dangerous once these plastics get out of our hands…especially if they find their way into the ocean. The long-lasting, lightweight materials can float around the ocean for years and years, accumulating in larger piles while doing damage to the ecology of whatever ocean they happen to be dumped in. Every year 14 billion pounds of garbage are dumped into our oceans, a large portion of this consists of plastics.

Some plastics find their way into the seas through accidents, such as the plastic bag spill of 2000, but much of the plastic is just litter, cast carelessly aside by smaller boats and even larger manufacturers that could not care less about the viability of ocean waters. On land, these plastics can eventually be recovered, recycled, or stored in landfills, but in the ocean they are constantly moving and still very durable, so every piece of plastic added contributes to a dangerous whole.

Chemicals

The first primary danger of almost all plastics floating in the ocean are the chemicals they are made with that can leech out into the saltwater, chemicals like phthalates and other compounds that can have serious toxic effects in high concentrations. These chemicals can eventually infect surrounding plant and animal life, lowering reproductive rates and increasing die-offs.

Large Plastics

Large plastics, such as the notorious pieces of fishing net that can stretch for miles across the ocean, tend to affect larger types of marine life, such as seals, sea lions, and dolphins. If these animals do not know to avoid a particular area, they can run into large plastics, get caught in them, and drown without being able to come back up for air. Large plastics also tend to break down into smaller plastics, which can pose other types of danger.

Smaller Plastics

Small plastics share some of the same dangers as larger pieces, but also have more subtle hazards. Birds, turtles, and small fish can easily mistake small pieces for food and eat them only to choke on the inedible plastic (in the case of birds, mothers can choke when trying to regurgitate the plastic to feed it to their chicks). When small plastics breakdown, they turn into microscopic plastic pieces that are harder to see but easier to eat, and more likely to cause toxic damage to ocean life.

Plastic Masses

Most news-watching people are now aware of the massive “garbage patch” or “trash vortex” located in the Pacific Ocean, where tides have brought plastics from around the edges of the ocean into a central spot. Similar, though smaller masses are also forming in the Atlantic Ocean. While these masses may conjure images of entire islands of walkable plastic, spots that bad are very rare, and usually there are only small pieces of plastic floating here and there…for hundreds of miles. The total effect is very unhealthy to ocean life, especially the small eco-habitats that have incorporated the plastic masses and use them to hide from prey or search for food.

Check out this video on Hip Moms Go Green TV entitled, World biggest garbage dump – plastic in the Ocean.

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