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Health Warnings

Brands Of Guacamole That You May Want To Avoid

A recent study conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) indicates that some popular brands of guacamole contain only trace amounts of avocado, the health-promoting fruit that has traditionally served as the main ingredient in authentic guacamole recipes.

This finding is a terrible shame, since guacamole made with real avocados is one of the healthiest dips that we can eat. Avocados are abundant in vitamin E, lutein (extremely important for preserving eyesight), potassium, and dietary fiber. Avocados are also rich in healthy fats, which are essential to allowing our bodies to absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as beta-carotene and vitamin A. Read more

 

A Common Household Chemical That Can Cause Lung Damage

Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences report that exposure to a chemical found in mothballs, air fresheners, and toilet deodorizers can cause lung damage and possibly even lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

The chemical in question is called 1,4-dichlorobenzene or 1,4-DCB. If you know what mothballs smell like, you know exactly what 1,4-DCB smells like. 1,4-DCB is a volatile organic compound - a chemical that is given off as a gas from common household products. Read more

 

A Warning About Dental Freezing, Especially For Children

When I was in elementary school, I remember spending several hours following an appointment with the dentist chewing away at the inner portions of my mouth, thinking that it was neat that I could gnaw away without feeling any pain.

It just didn't occur to me that the local anesthetic that I had received made it impossible for me to feel pain while I was doing severe damage to the tissues that lined my inner mouth. Read more

 

How To Pick A Good Surgeon

A new study published in the journal Annals of Surgery indicates that for three complicated surgical procedures - heart bypass, removal of the pancreas, and unblocking carotid arteries - older surgeons have higher rates of patient death within 30 days of surgery than younger surgeons.

Specific findings of this study are as follows: Read more

 

Sunscreens May Do More Harm Than Good

Researchers at the University of California at Riverside are set to publish a paper in the journal Free Radical Biology & Medicine that indicates that sunscreens may actually be harmful to the health of your skin and make it age faster than normal.

Sunscreens contain special molecules called ultraviolet (UV) filters that are supposed to prevent ultraviolet radiation in the sun's rays from reacting with molecules in your skin and creating compounds called reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are unstable molecules that can damage your skin from the inside out and accelerate its natural aging process. Read more

 

Potential Dangers Of Using Skin-Lightening Creams

Michael Jackson and I both have a skin condition called vitiligo, a condition that results in loss of skin color in patches throughout one's face and body. Read more

 

Ways To Prevent Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning has become less of a health threat to the general population since lead-based paint and leaded gasoline were phased out in the 1970s. Still, those who work around lead, pregnant women, infants, and young children continue to be at significant risk of suffering from mild to moderate cases of lead poisoning. Unborn babies, infants, and young children are especially at risk because exposure to even small amounts can lead to permanent damage. Lead can be absorbed through the placenta and breast milk. Read more

 

Harmful Chemical In Sunscreens, Shampoos, Soaps, and Hairsprays

While I am a strong proponent of not becoming obsessed with living a 100 percent, toxin-free life, at least to a point where the obsession itself contributes to significant emotional stress, I am starting to believe that regardless of financial cost, it is necessary to avoid personal care products that contain chemicals that we know are extremely harmful to health. Read more

 

Ultrasound Can Affect Fetal Brain Development

A new study out of the Yale University School of Medicine indicates that exposure to ultrasound waves during routine ultrasound scanning can affect fetal brain development.

Lead researcher Pasko Rakic encourages pregnant women to avoid unnecessary ultrasound scans until more research is done. Read more

 

Safety Tips For Tornadoes, Thunderstorms, and Lightning

If you live in an area that experiences tornados and/or electrical storms from time to time, I hope that the following safety tips, courtesy of Environment Canada, prove to be useful for you and your loved ones someday.

Safety Tips For Thunderstorms and Lightning

  1. Before the storm hits, unplug all non-essential electrical appliances such as computers, cordless phones, and television sets.
 

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