Eating out makes significant contributions to the obesity epidemic worldwide, and a new study has found eating restaurant meals also leaves you more open to phthalate exposure. What are phthalates and why does this matter?

Phthalates are a chemical added to plastics to make them flexible. They are commonly found in shower curtains, moisturizer, perfumes, hard packaging, and various plastic containers, but testing has also found them in milk and spices. They’ve been linked to cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes and endocrine disruption. They’ve been banned in children’s products in the U.S., and the Centers for Disease Control has issued recommendations for further study of the chemicals. This new study found that people who regularly ate at restaurants, fast food places, and cafeterias had levels of phthalates 35 percent higher than those who only consumed food at home. Senior author Ami Zota, an assistant professor of environmental and occupational health at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University says,

This study suggests food prepared at home is less likely to contain high levels of phthalates, chemicals linked to fertility problems, pregnancy complications and other health issues…Our findings suggest that dining out may be an important and previously under-recognized source of exposure to phthalates for the U.S. population.”

Recommended: How to Detox From Plastics and Other Endocrine Disruptors

Phthalates and Food

Researchers from George Washington University and the University of California Berkeley and San Francisco examined data collected from 10, 253 people during 2005 to 2014 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. While findings indicated there was an increase in phthalate levels overall in those who routinely ate out, the study identified teenagers as particularly vulnerable. Adolescents who consumed most of their food outside of the house experienced phthalate levels 55 percent higher than peers who ate at home. That dramatic increase may have long-reaching effects, as adolescents are one of a few populations particularly susceptible to hormone disruptors, as lead author of the study Dr. Julia Varshavsky, of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health notes.

Pregnant women, children, and teens are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of hormone-disrupting chemicals, so it’s important to find ways to limit their exposures…”

Phthalates do not bond to the plastics they make flexible, so they are especially problematic when paired with hot food, as heat is one way to remove them from the plastics. Some phthalates are also fat-soluble, leaving milk and other lipid-rich foods a likely source of them.

Phthalates have been banned for specific uses, and government reports, like the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (Chap) on Phthalates have actually made it clear that they are harmful to human health. Yet they are still in a large variety of products, especially those that are absorbed into the body through digestion or the skin. There are other alternatives available, like natural polymers or bio-plasticizers based on vegetable oils, though these other options are expensive. It’s unlikely that dining establishments, especially those focused more on profit margins, will be willing to make the switch without significant pressure.

Sources

• Dietary sources of cumulative phthalates exposure among the U.S. general population in NHANES 2005–2014 – Environment International
• What Are Phthalates? Dining Out ‘Raises Level Of Chemicals Linked To Cancer’ – Newsweek
• Phthalates are everywhere, and the health risks are worrying. How bad are they really? – The Guardian

A lawsuit was filed in 2010 by the little-known Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT). This not-for-profit group sued 90 coffee retailers, including Starbucks, on grounds they were violating a California law that requires companies to warn consumers about the chemicals in their products that could cause cancer. The law is often called “Prop 65.” A judge just ruled that Starbucks and other coffee sellers need a cancer warning on coffee sold in California. The ruling calls for fines as large as $2,500 for every customer exposed to the chemical since 2002 at the coffee shops. Any civil penalties, which will be decided in a third phase of the trial, would likely be massive in California, with a population of nearly 40 million.

One of the chemicals in coffee that’s problematic is acrylamide, a byproduct of roasting coffee beans that is present in high levels in brewed coffee. Acrylamide isn’t just in coffee. The National Cancer Institute says it’s also often found in French fries, potato chips, crackers, bread, cookies, cereals, canned black olives, and prune juice. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been considering issuing guidelines on the acrylamide content in food for some time.

Related: Advanced Glycated End Products

Aside from food, the other main source of acrylamide is cigarette smoke—though people are exposed to substantially more acrylamide from tobacco smoke than from food, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle said that Starbucks and the other companies did not prove there isn’t risk from carcinogens produced by the coffee roasting process. This ruling could potentially expose the companies to millions of dollars in fines. Starbucks and other defendants have until April 10 to file objections.

Defendants failed to satisfy their burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that consumption of coffee confers a benefit to human health.” – Judge Elihu Berle

Starbucks and the other defendants lost the first phase of the trial because it failed to show that the level of acrylamide in coffee was below levels that pose significant risk of cancer. In the second phase of the trial, the defendants failed to prove there was an acceptable “alternative” risk level for the carcinogen, according to court documents showed.

Recommended: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Several defendants settled the case before Wednesday’s verdict. They agreed to post warnings about the cancer-linked chemical and they agreed to pay millions in fines.

Source:

• Coffee Warning? What You Need to Know About Acrylamide – Shape
• Starbucks coffee in California must have cancer warning, judge says – Reuters

GMO Arctic apples are being sold on Amazon. There is no notice that the food is GMO. There’s nothing illegal about this; GMO foods do not have to be labeled.

If you’re wondering what they look like and what to watch out for, here they are:

Arctic apples have been genetically engineered not to brown. They are devoid of the enzyme that causes apples to oxidize when the flesh comes in contact with air. Retailers, restaurants, and other foodservice sectors have expressed interest in using the GMO apples. Expect to see them in hospitals, restaurants, schools, vending machines, and anywhere you may see presliced apples.

Right now three new genetically engineered, non-browning apples have been approved: Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and recently the addition of the Fuji. Gala apples are next. Only Goldens and Granny trees have been in the ground long enough to produce fruit in commercial quantities by next fall.

Recommended:

• How to Avoid GMO Apples
• Understanding and Detoxifying Genetically Modified Foods
• Doctors Against GMOs – Hear From Those Who Have Done the Research

It is not news that the United States has worse infant outcomes than other developed and affluent nations, but a new study has found that to be true even for babies born full term. Recent reports on the state of women’s health care in the U.S. have confirmed again and again that the standard model of care for pregnant women in this country is lacking. Neha Bairoliya of the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, one of the co-authors of the recent study, identified two factors in the higher infant mortality rates in the U.S., “…congenital malformations, which patients cannot really do much about other than ensuring adequate screening during pregnancy, and high risk of sudden unexpected deaths in infancy, which should largely be preventable through appropriate sleeping arrangements…We also found a shockingly large number of babies dying from suffocation, which suggests that parents either use covers that are not safe, or let children sleep in their own beds.”

These observations highlight what is a big misconception in conventional healthcare in the U.S. – issues from co-sleeping are a symptom, not the problem.

image credit: Mom Loses Custody Of Her Kids Because Of Something You've Probably Done

Cosleeping and Infant Mortality

The most prevalent cause of infant death identified in the study was SUID (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy), a categorization of infant deaths where the cause can be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, accidental deaths like suffocation or strangulation, homicides, and sudden natural deaths. Several studies over the past 5 years have linked cosleeping to SIDS. So why are rates of SIDS and infant mortality so much lower in places notorious for cosleeping?

Related: Common Bad Parenting Advice You Should Ignore

Infant Mortality in Other Countries

Cosleeping is widespread in Japan. Often, parents are still sleeping in the same bed with school-age children. Yet, infant mortality rates in the country do not reflect the conventional  U.S. wisdom. In Japan, less than 3 infants per 1000 live births die, compared with around 7 for the United States. Why?

We don’t know for sure. We do know that the Japanese sleep on a harder mattress that’s on the floor, two of the cosleeping best practices. They are also less overweight or obese than Americans, leaving a baby less likely to be suffocated by a parent rolling over in the middle of the night. Maternal smoking is drastically less in Japan, and more than 90% of women initiate breastfeeding. All of these are factors in reducing infant mortality rates.

Related: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

The Problem with Cosleeping

The conventional American lifestyle is very much at odds with the safest cosleeping practices. Roughly one-third of adults in the United States are obese, a risk when it comes to cosleeping. Cosleeping literature also cautions against using alcohol and drugs while sleeping with baby, and that warning doesn’t even address the complications that pharmaceuticals could pose. Seven of every ten Americans are on a prescription medication, which disrupts the connection between mom and baby. That connection is a crucial part of successful cosleeping.

The Trade-off

When done safely, cosleeping is hugely beneficial to both parents and baby. Both parties get more sleep, mothers are more likely to breastfeed, and research indicates that children who cosleep are more independent later in life. Touch and closeness are integral to the human experience, especially for babies.

It’s infuriating that this study chose to concentrate on cosleeping as a key reason why the U.S. lags behind other affluent (and some not so affluent) nations when it comes to infant mortality. Cosleeping is the better option for your baby and for you but you have to be healthy enough to safely do it. This is the actual issue here. Why are so many Americans not healthy enough to cosleep safely?

Sources:

• U.S. infant mortality high even for full-term babies – Reuters
• Cosleeping Around The World – The Natural Child Project
• Japanese Parenting: Co-sleeping For Your Baby’s Health and Wellbeing – Well-Being Kid
• Bed-sharing, Co-sleeping, or Separate Sleeping? – Ergo Baby
• The vast majority of American adults are overweight or obese, and weight is a growing problem among US children – IHME

Have you ever wondered why autoimmune disorders are more likely to affect women? Or why middle-aged men have more heart attacks than their female peers? Our hormones do so much more than just regulate our moods…and they might also explain why some conditions are disproportionately associated with one sex over the other.

Inflammation

An examination of 250 years of mortality data has found that women are more likely to survive extreme conditions like famine and disease than men. One possible reason for this is the hormone estrogen, which boosts the immune system. While that’s good news for all of us ladies out there, estrogen is a double-edged sword. The same hormone that makes women less susceptible to bacterial and viral infections also leads to autoimmune disease, which conventional medicine believes is simply the immune system attacking its own healthy tissue, otherwise known as an “overactive immune system”.

On the other side of the same coin, testosterone has its own benefits, and drawbacks. In 2018, a study of mast cells, immune cells that release histamines, produce a signaling molecule designed to tone down inflammation when exposed to the hormone. Testosterone may also play a role in combating depression, as men suffering from depression typically have low testosterone levels. But that suppressed immune response can keep the body from reacting to potential health hazards, including pathogens. This results in many men ignoring subtle immune system warnings until it’s too late.

Must Read: What Causes Chronic Inflammation, and How To Stop It For Good

Heart Disease

Men are more likely to experience heart attacks earlier in life than women, and both testosterone and estrogen play a role in this. Having too much or not enough testosterone puts men at greater risk (and likely women too, though studies are scarce). And estrogen stops white blood cells from adhering to the insides of blood vessels. This prevents dangerous blockages from occurring. For women, after menopause, the risk of heart disease rises significantly as estrogen decreases.

Autoimmune Disease, Estrogen, and Candida

Studies suggest that estrogen’s ability to increase immune system response leads to an overactive immune system, a.k.a. autoimmune disease. We suspect there is much more to it than this. Candida overgrowth is largely misunderstood and typically ignored within the conventional medical community. Research shows estrogen supports the growth of Candida. Anyone with autoimmune disease has Candida overgrowth. This is why women are far more likely to live with autoimmune disease.

Must Read: Fungal Infections – How to Eliminate Yeast, Candida, and Mold Infections For Good

Hormones Matter More Than We Think

Do we truly know how our modern conveniences – processed foods, multitudes of plastics, birth control – change us hormonally? Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States for both men and women, and yet no one is treating it hormonally. Without an understanding of the body as a holistic system, we will never be able to properly address modern health concerns.

Must Read: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

Sources:

• Why Women’s Immune Systems Are Stronger Than Men’s – Discover Magazine
• Women are More Likely to Survive Famine and Disease Epidemics Because They are ‘Hardier”, Study Finds – Independent 
• Testosterone may protect men from autoimmune diseases – Ars Technica
• The heart attack gender gap – Harvard Health Publishing
• Candida and Hormones – HormonesBalance.com
• The Largely Unknown Health Epidemic Affecting Almost ALL Americans – Body Ecology

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is the most commonly used herbicide in the world. Nearly 300 million pounds of Roundup is sprayed on U.S. farms every year. A small Indiana study found that more than 90 percent of pregnant women had glyphosate in their urine. They also found that higher concentrations of glyphosate correlate to earlier deliveries.

Researchers recruited 71 pregnant women in central Indiana. The women provided two urine samples and two drinking water samples from their homes and answered questions about what food and beverages they consume and the kind of stress they deal with, as well as where they lived. Researchers tested the water and urine samples for glyphosate. Then researchers divided women into four groups based on how much glyphosate was in their urine. Researchers later used medical records after birth to determine their pregnancy length.

The study found that 93 percent of the women had detectable glyphosate in their urine and those who lived in rural areas more glyphosate in their urine than the suburban residents did.

Related: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

The study also found that women who drank more than 24 ounces of caffeinated beverages daily had shown greater levels of glyphosate. The good news is that none of the drinking water samples had detectable glyphosate levels in them, but this looks like bad news for coffee addicts.

Only two of the women in the study gave birth prematurely, but researchers found that women with more glyphosate in their urine delivered earlier than women with less, on average. Glyphosate was not found to lead to correlate with low birth weight or head circumference.

It was mind-boggling that glyphosate was so prevalent in urine samples . . . but it was a pleasant surprise that none of the drinking water came out positive,” – Lead author Shahid Parvez

The link between caffeine intake and high glyphosate levels in urine surprised the researchers.

Related: Glyphosate Drenched Crops

It makes sense to us since there are many different food products imported from Southeast Asia and South America but we don’t know what they contain. It indicates a need to think about these food products, such as coffee beans and other drinks that we import.” – Parvez

Most of the women were white. The sample was small. The study is limited by its small size and lack of geographic and racial diversity.

More research needs to be done, but the precautions are common sense. Be vigilant and careful, especially those living in areas where corn and soybeans are grown.”

Related: Monsanto’s Glyphosate, Fatty Liver Disease Link Proven – Published, Peer-reviewed, Scrutinized Study

Sources:

• Glyphosate exposure in pregnancy and shortened gestational length: a prospective Indiana birth cohort study – Environmental Health Journal
• Heavily used herbicide tied to shorter pregnancies – ReutersHeavily used herbicide tied to shorter pregnancies – Reuters

There are more reasons than ever to filter tap water for drinking and cooking. Tap water is commonly contaminated with heavy metals, chemicals, and radioactive elements. Toxic water has been found in many cities across the U.S., from the Flint crisis to many communities who may not even know hazards in their water. The utility companies are doing a lot of shady business to hide this information from the consumers for the sake of saving their pockets. Luckily, it is possible to take the situation into your own hands by filtering your water at home. With so many water filters out there, the only next step is choosing the right one. Expert information such as from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) can help you make the right decision for you.

Contaminants that Hide In Tap Water

When it comes to hazards in tap water, there are different contaminants to be aware of.

Recommended: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

Fluoride: Fluoride is a toxic substance that has been added to public water supplies since 1945, and became a nationwide phenomenon in the 1960s when society was tricked to believe that it helps prevent cavities in teeth. While there is a very small benefit to applying fluoride straight on the teeth, it is a very health-damaging substance. Worst of all, drinking it has no benefits to teeth. (When comparing decay rates for fluoridated and non-fluoridated countries, the results are similar).

The harm, however, is significant. Fluoride is toxic in any amounts, and it is impossible to predict the dose of it a person is receiving on a daily basis when drinking unfiltered tap water. Fluoride causes arthritis-like symptoms. It is toxic to the brain, and it may increase the risk of cancer, especially bone tumors, and lung, and bladder cancers.

Another chemical that is added to tap water on purpose is chlorine. Because it is used as a cleaner, it is added to water to “purify” it. However, it is not fully safe. It can react with water and produce toxic hydrochloric acid which causes cell damage, memory problems, and can even impair balance.

Heavy Metals: Since the Flint Crisis, this type of contaminant has been the most commonly discussed. Lead and other heavy metals can leach into the water from old pipes.

Lead, the element that poisoned Flint children, is one of the worst. It is a neurotoxin and also toxic to nearly every single organ in the human body. Lead poisoning, as well as chronic low-levels of lead exposure, can lead to developmental and behavioral issues in children, as well as brain damage at high doses. It has also been linked to cancers, kidney and heart problems, and reproductive issues.

Mercury is another extremely toxic heavy metal that is not safe at any dose. It can also cause brain damage, as well a nerve damage and cognitive disability. The many symptoms it causes include headaches, fatigue, memory problems, rashes, and mood swings.

Radioactive elements: It was recently found that 170 million U.S. people access tap water that is contaminated by carcinogenic radioactive elements. These elements come from inside the Earth when mining for gas and oil. Because they create ionizing radiation, this leads to cancers, birth defects, and even dysfunctional brain development. Elements such as radium 226, radium-228, radon, uranium, tritium, and strontium-90 increase chances of cancer even at legal limits. However, all of them are found at higher than allowed levels across the U.S. The highest number of people affected are in California, Texas, and Florida, but other states are not far behind.

Other chemicals: Many other chemicals end up in our drinking water supplies from the manufacturing industry; big corporations poisoning the environment. In one case, not that far from Flint, Michigan, an auto part manufacturing left a giant toxic plume over 50 years ago. Today, the pollution in the groundwater is still growing and affecting more households by contaminating water with a known carcinogen called trichloroethylene (TCE).

Recommended: The Best Water For Detoxifying and Drinking

Other factories left behind polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); chemicals that were used in paints and electronics until their ban in 1979. Still today, they are found in tap water as far as thousands of miles away from their main source – where they lay in landfills. PCBs are also linked to cancer risk, as well as are hazardous for the immune and nervous systems.

Although arsenic can exist from natural sources, is often used artificially by the industrial companies. Long-term arsenic poisoning is linked to cancers of skin, lungs, and bladder; and severe abdominal issues.

Other chemicals that end up in water from different toxic industries are dioxins (released when burning waste), DDT (banned insecticide), HCB (banned pesticide), dacthal (herbicide still used today), and MtBE (a gasoline additive).

What About Bottled Water?

A lot of bottled water companies take the same tap water that you have access to, filter it, and re-sell it for way more of a price (hundreds of times more expensive). They often do a bad job filtering the water. If it’s not just filtered tap water, it’s coming from companies like Nestle damaging local environment and putting local populations at risk.

Related: Drinking Bottled Water Means Drinking Microplastics, According To Damning New Study

The second, much bigger issue, with bottled water, is that other chemicals may leach from the plastic into the water. This is especially true when the bottle is left in the sun during hot weather. The chemical often found in plastics is BPA – which acts like a hormone and disrupts many functions in the body. However, even buying BPA-free is not enough. Manufacturers substitute BPA with other chemicals…that also act like hormones! A study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that over 95% of products in BPA-free plastics tested positive for these chemicals when exposed to natural sunlight.

In the end, the safest thing to do is to purchase a glass bottle and fill it with water you filtered yourself at home.

A Detailed Guide to Water Filters

To bring some clarity to choosing the right water filter for you, EWG released a buying guide. To help you choose, here are the different types of filters available, which technology they use and how it works.

First, it is important to note that the most common brand available at supermarket chains, Brita, does not filter out fluoride. The best of the filters are not usually sold at major stores and are found online.

Recommended: Diatomaceous Earth – Mother Nature’s Secret Weapon: What Is It, How to Use It, Where to Find It

These filtering systems can come in forms of water pitchers, countertop faucets, under-the-sink systems, and whole-house filtration. Whenever possible, a whole house system is the best choice for health, so that there are no chemicals absorbed through the skin when showering or washing hands at different sinks in the house.

From there, you should choose which filtering technology you prefer (some use multiple) instead of focusing on the brand name itself. Each technology can also vary in quality and how well it removes every contaminant.

Carbon or activated carbon filters: Carbon removes contaminants from the water by bonding with them on a chemical level. . Some remove only chlorine, but unable to clear out the other toxins, leaving heavy metals and chemicals behind.

These filters can use a carbon block, a fibredyne block, or granulated activated carbon. The first two are more effective in general, but the second type is best at removing sediments.

On the plus side, carbon filters serve for a long time without needing replacement.

Related: Activated Charcoal is Very Popular Right Now – Here’s Why

Ceramic and mechanical water filters: Ceramic filters and mechanical filters block sediments by using tiny holes but they let all the contaminants pass. They do not remove chemicals.

Deionizing filters: These filters work through an ion-exchange process; it removes mineral salts and electrically-charged molecules from the water, but leave behind non-ionic contaminants including toxic VOCs.

Ion exchange water filter: This process replaces ions using a resin. For example, water softening removes calcium and magnesium and adds sodium.

Ozone and Ultraviolet filters: Both ozone and ultraviolet light kill bacteria and microorganisms, but do not remove chemicals.

Reverse osmosis filters: Reverse osmosis blocks any particles that are larger than the molecule of water, therefore blocking: fluoride, arsenic, and nitrates. However, it cannot block chlorine or VOCs. The other setback of this filter is that it uses a lot of water – not the best pick for the environment. This method also ends up being pricey.

Solar-powered water filters: These filters use natural solar energy to purify the water and are a good investment for camping and other outdoor activities.

Distilled water filter: Distillation heats water until vaporization happens, then condenses it back into liquid form. Distillation removes minerals, bacteria, and viruses, but not chlorine or chemicals.

Related: Symptoms of Dehydration & Benefits of Proper Hydration – Are you getting enough water?

The main advantage of distilled water is that it removes the most amounts of toxins, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and radioactive elements.

One concern some people have is that distilled water is acidic. However, if you do not let the water stay in the jug too long before drinking it, the acidity level will be lower. Also, if you take care of your digestive tract, it will also not affect anything – the body will be able to take care of it.

The Newest Player on the Market: Structured Water Filters

This type of filtration system is new, or not yet fully known, but it may become the best choice in the future.

Dr. Gerald Pollack discovered the fourth phase of water – also called structured water, living water, or exclusive zone (EZ) water. This type of water brings the water to its original state as if it came straight from a spring; it hydrates the body better and is healthier in every way.

Editor’s Comment:

I like the Berkey the best. We hope to have these on Green Lifestyle Market soon, but at this time we do not sell any water filters at all.

At my house, we have a Berkey with the fluoride-filter attachments, and we also have an AquaTru Water Filter. I like this one, and I think it does an excellent job, but Berkey water tastes better. You can taste the plastic with everything else when you do a side by side comparison. I’ve used Zero, Britta, and Pure pitcher filters as well. Zero was the best pitcher filter. Using this meter to check PPMs, both filters bring tap water down to zero.

Must Read:

• What’s the Best Water for Detoxifying and For Drinking?
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included
• Inexpensive, Easy Detox – The One Gallon Challenge

Sources:

• 12 Toxins in Your Drinking Water – The Global Healing Center
• 170 Million In U.S. Drink Radioactive Tap Water. Trump Nominee Faked Data To Hide Cancer Risk – Environmental Working Group
• Study: Most Plastics Leach Hormone-Like Chemicals – NPR
• EWG’s Updated Water Filter Buying Guide – Environmental Working Group