Yummy way to maintain brain health!

Turns out that eating yellow curry boosts brain power! In a study, eating curry boosting brain performance in the elderly and reduced the build-up of amyloid plaques (A cluster of protein that is found in dense deposits within an Alzheimer's disease patient's brain and one of the two brain abnormalities that define Alzheimer's).

If you aren't a huge fan of curry, even an occassional dish has health benefits. "What is remarkable is that apparently one needs only to consume curry once in a while for the better cognitive performance to be evidenced..." (::New Scientist)

Curry is being shown to fight cancer too. This one case of where the yummy thing is the good thing for you too! Gotta love that!

Carpet

So, one thing that I want to do is tear out every last piece of carpet in our house. Our carpet is beyond awful. We have a big house though (we share it with my parents) and carpeting is going to be a major expense.

Recently, in one of my many magazines, I read that people with allergies, asthma and sensitivities to chemicals should consider removing the carpet from their homes. I was floored (pun intended!).

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission did a test of chemical emissions from carpets. Dozens of chemicals released from carpets were observed and 31 were positively identified. "Of the chemicals released, most notable are styrene and 4-PC, both of which come from the SB latex backing that is used on 95% of carpets." BuildingGreen.com).

It should also be noted that: "It is not at all clear that the carpet itself is the biggest IAQ problem in new carpet installations. The carpet industry is quick to point out that carpet adhesives and seam sealants emit far more pollutants, especially in the first few weeks after installation. Carpet cushions, or pads, may be at fault as well."

Read a complete article outlining the concerns at BuildingGreen.com.

Their final conclusion?

A rash of alleged health problems with carpet have yet to be properly explained, suggesting that all carpets, and especially the less expensive synthetics, should be used with great caution. In addition, the relatively short life expectancy of most carpet and the heavy dependence on fossil fuels as a raw material make it incumbent on those specifying carpet to see that it will be maintained and protected for a long, safe service life. The recommendations that follow are far from exhaustive, but they are a step towards safer, better floorcoverings.

There are many non-toxic flooring options (including carpets) and thankfully more and more are appearing. Samples include wool carpets, recycled fiber carpets, bamboo, cork and linoleum flooring. Here are a few links to companies that promote and sell eco-friendly, non-toxic flooring:

Eco-Wise
Eco by Design
Green Building Supply

And for great non-toxic carpet cleaning, household and personal product options, you know where to find me. ;)

Say no to processed meats

"For those who like meat, sausage, salami, hot dogs, and other processed meat products made from beef and pork hold a strong allure. But satisfaction of these cravings seems to exact a high price. Evidence that processed meats raise the risks of getting cancers of the stomach, colon, pancreas and blood continues to accumulate.

The participants who reported the highest intake levels of processed meats had a 68 percent higher risk compared with those reporting the lowest intake, while high intakes of red meat were associated with a 50 percent higher cancer risk, compared with the lowest intake levels.

These findings indicate, quite clearly, that it is safer to curb your cravings for sausage, hot dogs, and the like by enjoying nitrite-free alternatives made with poultry or fish. And they confirm that fish presents the lowest cancer risk possible among sources of animal protein.

It also makes sense to avoid deep-fried meat, fish or poultry products entirely, because their oil-soaked batters deliver loads of pro-inflammatory (hence cancer- and heart disease-promoting) omega-6 fatty acids and heat-damaged fatty acids.

Most Americans consume omega-6 fatty acids in enormously excessive amounts, thanks to their dominance in the oils used most commonly in home cooking and in packaged, prepared, and restaurant foods (i.e., vegetable oils from soy, corn, canola, safflower, sunflower, and cottonseed)."

::VitalChoice.com article

Cleaning products and asthma

Recent studies in Britain have found that cleaning products increase wheezing in toddlers, which is a precursor to developing asthma.

The study of 14,000 children up to the age of three and a half, published in the journal Thorax found that exposure to household products such as bleach, aerosols, carpet and window cleaners increased the risk of wheezing.

Cases of asthma have more than tripled since the 1970s, with 1.4 million people affected.

::Medical News Today

It doesn't end with kids...

The European Respiratory Society held their 15th Annual Congress in Copenhagen on 17-20 September 2005. During the Congress, a few studies were presented showing that houseworks products like cleaning sprays, air fresheners and even floor levelling compounds are not risk-free. In fact, some of them may be responsible for almost one in five new cases of asthma!


:: EPHA Environment Network

And it doesn't end with asthma...

Most people spend more than half of their lives indoors. The significance of indoor air-quality, has become more important in recent years as a result of efforts to make our homes more energy efficient. As we tighten up our homes to prevent heat exchange, we also prevent air exchange and pollutants released into the home environment are trapped for long periods of time. Second-hand cigarette smoke, gas stoves, and wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are major sources of indoor air pollution. But home products like cleaning agents, aerosols, air fresheners, and disinfectants contribute to the problem. These products may also contain hidden cancer-causing ingredients.

::Cancer Prevention Coalition

Hard work, food and faith add up your years

From MSNBC.com:

Faith and spirituality were cited most often by people over the age of 100 as the source of their longevity, according to a survey sponsored by a unit of UnitedHealth Group.

In a survey of 100 people between the ages of 100 and 104, 23 percent said faith rather than genes and good medical care were responsible for their long life.

Other factors given included hard work, a healthy diet and ”living a good, clean life.”

::Complete article

Non-noxious nails, please.

Having well-manicured hands no longer has to mean nasty chemical smell headaches and worries about just how toxic and cancerous are these fumes. I first started a search for healthier nail colors when I got pregnant with Amira. At the time, I found Acquarella. I wasn't encouraged. I felt like the polish chipped or peeled off too easily. Recently, I thought I would try again. I used EWG's Skin Deep database to check out some of the least toxic options.

The brand with the lowest toxicity in their database is HoneyBee Gardens. We have to remember that, at least as of right now, there isn't a nail polish out there that doesn't have some ingredients that aren't of health concern. But, some are definitely much lower than others, and HoneyBee is one of them. HoneyBee Garden's Non-Peel Off WaterColors Nail Enamel contain no toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (which are some of the worst offenders). The cherry on top is that this nail polish doesn't require toxic nail polish remover - simply use isopropyl rubbing alcohol. I tried their Vintage Merlot color and have been enjoying it. You can check out their nail polishes here. They are $6.99 a bottle. They are also selling their polish under the name Naturella (in sets).

Other lower toxic brands include Peacekeeper Nail Paint, Refreshingly Free Nontoxic Nail Polish, and Peelable Toe Shades. There are more brands out there, simply do a Google search on non-toxic nail polish and you can research your options.

Oh, the most toxic brands? The worst is OPI with Cover Girl and Urban Decay not far behind.

Dry eyes

I have ocular rosacea as an added complication to my skin rosacea. One symptom of ocular rosacea is dry eyes. Turns out, rosacea or not, over 20 million Americans suffer from dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome makes you sensitive to light, can cause blurred vision and as you might expect, the feeling of dry and itchy eyes. For some, it feels like there is something caught in their eye. For me, when my symptoms are at their worst, my eyes feel like when you are terribly tired and I just want to keep them closed. Women get dry eye syndrome about 2 to 1 over men. Without treatment, worse case scenario is infection or vision impairment.

For immediate relief, eye drops are recommended. Avoid products that have steriods in them (like the Visine that "Gets the Red Out". Avoid products that have preservatives as well. There are products that have single-serving vials - which helps ensure that your eye drops don't get contaminated.

Eye drops are only a short term solution (the equivalent of a band-aid at best) and resolving the underlying causes for dry eye syndrome is essential. You need healthy amounts of essential omega-3 fatty acids. Taking a high quality cod or fish oil is a perfect way to get your omega-3s. (Recommended brands include: Carlson, Nordic Naturals, Spectrum Essentials - whatever brand you get... one of these or another - make sure they purity tested and have removed PCBs, dioxins, mercury, lead and other contaminants.)

In addition to getting your omega-3s... get plenty of lutein, vitamin C, dark berries, and avoid trans fats.

Lutein - lutein-rich foods include kale, collard greens, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts and egg yolks (particularly raw egg yolks).

Dark berries - blueberries, cranberries, bilberries and others.

In addition to making certain I include these foods in my diet - I take a supplement that contains lutein, concentrated blueberry powder, dried bilberry extract and vitamin C.

Of course, these recommendations are good for everyone's eye health and protection - not just those of us with dry eye syndrome.