Breast Cancer Fund – Education and Awareness

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there has been no better time to consider the impact our environment may be having on our risk of developing this disease.

The Breast Cancer Fund (www.breastcancerfund.org) are at the forefront of providing awareness and information about the prevention of this disease.

What do they do?

The Breast Cancer Fund’s aim is to transform how our society thinks about and uses chemical and radiation with the goal of preventing breast cancer and sustaining health and life.

Pretty powerful stuff!

Backed by the scientific evidence of the links between breast cancer and environmental factors, the Breast Cancer Fund’s website is packed with information on:

• Breast Cancer and Our Environment
• Chemicals and Radiation
• The Biology of Breast Cancer
• Reducing Your Risk
• Campaigns to make products safer

Have a look at the website www.breastcancerfund.org and see what you can learn today about reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Safe Beauty Products for Your Family

In our last post, we were talking about the potential health hazards found in the ingredients in many beauty products.

Now we’ve found a great way to help you avoid unsafe ingredients and the beauty products in which they are found. The best part is that you can carry it with you at all times on your phone!

It’s called EWG’s Skin Deep app. Here’s how it works:

By typing in the name of your product or scanning the barcode, the app searches the EWG’s database and returns a rating on your product based on health hazards associated with the ingredients on the product. You can then decide whether or not this is the best beauty product for you before you head to the checkout. Their database is constantly updated, so if your product doesn’t return a result, it is added to their “to do” list so they can investigate and provide this information in the future.

EWG (Environmental Working Group) is an organisation driven by providing information to consumers to empower them to make informed decisions on the products they use on their bodies. They also advocate for responsible corporate and government policies to protect the vulnerable among us. Their website www.ewg.org also has a wealth of information on skin care, fragrances, make up, oral care and products for babies and men.

Let us know what you think of this app and website. Have you found anything surprising about the products in your bathroom?

Beauty – At What Price?

We know that to look after our health, it is important to get adequate nutrition, exercise and rest. And while it’s important to consider what we put into our bodies through our food, it is equally important to pay close attention to what we are putting on our bodies by way of cosmetics and toiletries. The chemicals found in these products are easily absorbed by our skin and can be delivered to our bloodstream, so it pays to be aware of the ingredients in the products you are using.

Here, we have listed the Top 10 Chemicals to Avoid in your cosmetics. Have a read and see if you can start to take your beauty product shopping more seriously.

Chemical	Examples	Reasons to Avoid
Urea	diazolindyl urea, imidazolindyl urea	Preservatives that release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
Parabens	butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben	Preservatives that are linked to breast cancer.
Phthalates	di-butyl-phthalate, di-ethylhexyl-phthalate	Used as a plasticiser. Known to cause damage to liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system. Suspected of causing birth defects, lowering sperm counts and a breast cancer risk.
Petroleum By-Products	mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin, dipropylene, glycol, butylene glycol, disodium EDTA, tetrasodium EDTA, trisodium EDTA, polybutene, triclosan, polyethylene	Clogs pores, exacerbates acne. Highly likely to contain carcinogens that are linked to breast cancer.
Propylene Glycol and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)		Made from the same chemical that is used to make anti-freeze. Penetrates the skin easily and is linked to damage of the liver, kidneys and brain.
Sodium Laurel	Laureth Sulfate	Absorbed into the body and mimics the activity of estrogen, causing PMS, decreased fertility in men and in increase in breast cancer.
Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA)		Can react with other ingredients to form potent carcinogenic chemicals
Synthetic Fragrances	parfum, vanillyl butyl ether	Fragrances are known allergens and can cause asthma.
Synthetic Colours	FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Red 40	Cause skin irritation and sensitivity.
Mica		Irritant to the skin and the fine dust can be problematic as it is inhaled. There is no valid data on the safe amounts of Mica for dry cosmetics such as eye shadow and powder
Nanoparticles		When particles are broken down into nanoparticles, they are very easily absorbed into the skin. Nanoparticles of zinc oxide and aluminium can collect in part of the brain and cause cell death, according to new research.

Electronic Devices and Sleep – Is it Really That Bad?

Many of us use a laptop, tablet or iPhone in bed, just before sleeping. And, whilst we suspect this isn’t the best way to wind down at the end of the day, do we know just how damaging this practice can be on our bodies, minds and sleep health?

Charles Czeisler, of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, says “Exposure to artificial light before going to bed can increase alertness and suppress the release of melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone”. Without melatonin, our bodies don’t get the right signals to go to sleep.

  

Still need more convincing to avoid electronics in bed? Here are some other reasons:

• ·         Lying with your head propped up on a pillow places unnecessary pressure on your neck, resulting in poor sleep, neck tension and headaches.
• ·         Rolled shoulders = decreased lung capacity
• ·         Your mind is still very active whilst reading or playing games on a device and doesn’t have a chance to wind down.

So, what are better ways to get our bodies and minds ready for sleep?

Routines! Just as they are great for getting babies and young children to sleep, having the same routine at bedtime each night helps tell our minds it is time for rest.

Consider this simple routine:

• ·         A warm shower or drink
• ·         Brush teeth
• ·         Meditation or calming music
• ·         Lights off

We challenge you to try this bedtime routine for 1 week and let us know how if you notice any differences in your sleep. Put your feedback in the comments below.

Mattress Health

In last week’s post we talked about the key considerations when shopping for a new mattress. But what happens when we get the mattress home and start using it?

A mattress protector not only to keeps visible stains off your mattress, it also protects it from bacteria, perspiration, dust mite faeces, viruses and dirt and dust.

Here are some not-so-nice facts about mattress health that you may not know.

·         The average person perspires up to 250mLs every night. Perspiration can lead to the growth of mould and bacteria.

·         Each person sheds and regrows skin every 27 days. Skin cells are the primary food source of dust mites.

·         After 5 years, your unprotected mattress could weight 50% more just from a build-up of bodily secretions, skin cells, bacteria and mould!

Yuck!

Now we know what an unprotected mattress can be like, what can we do about it?

A mattress protector is the way to go. As with most products, not all protectors are made equal. We recommend Protectabed mattress, quilt and pillow protectors because they give ultimate protection from the nasties listed above.

You can visit their website www.protectabed.com.au for more details on their products and stockists, including online stores.

Goldilocks and the Three Beds

Goldilocks had the right idea when she chose the bed that wasn’t “Too Soft” or “Too Hard” but was “Just Right”.

The right bed for you isn’t the stuff of fairy tales. By following these guidelines, you too can get a great night’s sleep whilst caring for your spine.

• ·         Your mattress should be firm but comfortable to lie on for 8 hours. It still needs to be soft enough for the heavier or wider parts of your body to sink into the mattress, maintaining the spine’s 3 natural curves.

• ·         Ensure you and your partner are not rolling towards the middle of the mattress when you’re lying down.

• ·         A mattress that can be rotated rather than turned over allows even distribution of wear on the mattress and also reduces the risk of you hurting your back whilst turning the mattress over.

• ·         The bed height is important too. Make sure it is at a comfortable height to minimise strain on your back when changing the bedding.

• ·         Whilst in the bedding store, take your time and spend 10 minutes laying on the bed with your partner to get a good idea of how suitable the bed is for you.

When was the last time you shopped for a new bed? Is it time for you to make like Goldilocks and try to find one that’s “Just Right?”

We recommend Back To Sleep Mattress and Pillow Specialists http://www.backtosleep.com.au. Because they have chiropractors conducting bed assessments (rather than a salesperson) you can get sure of getting the best advice for your mattress and ensuring a better night’s sleep.

Gluten Free Lunch Ideas for Kids

One of the hard parts of a gluten free diet for children is having nutritious and delicious food in their lunchbox every day. Here are some ideas for keeping your little ones satisfied and to keep those lunchboxes coming home empty!

  

For those that can’t do without their sandwiches, it may be worth investing in a bread maker. With the addition of preservatives in many commercially available gluten free breads, many families opt to make their own at home. A bread maker could be an essential time saving device for families with children that enjoy taking sandwiches to school.

What are the alternatives to sandwiches?

Leftover chicken legs from dinner the night before

Mini quiches

Risotto balls

Hard boiled eggs

Sushi

Gluten free pikelets with grated apple

Leftover meat, vegetable or rice from dinner

Meatballs and vegetable skewers (kids love anything on a stick!)

If they like something, write it down! Keep a little note pad in the kitchen and each time you notice something they like, write it down for future reference. Even if they have the same thing for lunch 2 or 3 times a week, it’s better that they eat something wholesome that they enjoy rather than come home hungry. You can make up any nutritional fallout when they get home in a form that they enjoy.

Let your child’s teacher know that they are not to share other children’s foods at lunchtime. Most teachers will be happy to make it a blanket rule for the whole class.

Going to a party? It pays to be a little organised. Here are some things to keep on hand or prepare in advance in readiness for a party or special play date.

Gluten free cupcakes in the freezer to grab and go.

Packets of plain, gluten free potato chips

Gluten free lollies to substitute at a party

Consider wrapping leftover mince in gluten free pastry and freezing for a take along homemade sausage roll

There is also a great series of eBooks you can download at the iTunes store called “Lunchbox Solutions”. They are filled with tasty, healthy meal options that are all gluten free.

What tips and tricks do you use to keep your kids healthy and happy? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!