Candles are great for encouraging relaxation and creating a calm, serene environment. A candle's aroma and soft, warm glow sets a nice tone for romance, sophistication, and tranquility. Most candles today feature a variety of aromas. While refreshing they may be, the chemicals used to produce a candle's fragrance can be toxic and can contribute to air pollution. Fortunately, there are safe options, and it’s just a matter of being conscious during your purchasing decisions. (more…)
BPA, or bisphenol-A, is an endocrine disruptor you've heard me mention before. It's been shown to mimic hormones in the body – namely estrogen – and contribute to hormone imbalance. These dangers have been known for a long time. You'd think that spawn change to eliminate the use of BPA, right? Wrong. According to a new survey of over 250 brands of canned food, nearly 50% of respondents still use BPA in their products. [1] Around 109 of those surveyed did not respond, so the number of offenders may be […]
Cobalt is a naturally occurring element that does have beneficial applications. For instance, cobalt is an essential component of vitamin B12. Cobalt has been added to pigments to produce a distinct blue color. Lithium-ion batteries contain cobalt. In the medical field, cobalt-60 is used in radiotherapy and for sterilizing medical equipment. Hip replacements are also made of cobalt. Regardless of these perceived advantages, cobalt is not without its concerns. (more…)
Telomeres are the caps at the end of human DNA strands known as chromosomes that protect the DNA code of the genome. As humans age, telomeres begin to decrease in size, causing cellular aging. After telomeres reach a certain length, the cell is no longer able to divide and will die. This process has been associated with disease, aging, and death. Antioxidants are often credited as providing nutritional support that can help protect normal telomere size and function. (more…)
What could be healthier than the sweat on your brow of a great game of football or soccer? Sadly, playing on artificial turf, especially the kind used on college campuses and in the professional sports arena, may be connected to toxic cancerous material. (more…)
