Most people are aware of the benefits of eating in a healthy way, and they regularly see labels at the grocery store promoting organic vegetables, free-range chicken, cage-free eggs, meat and dairy products produced without antibiotics, and other healthy choices.
But there are ordinary products we use every day that may pose a health risk to us. Yet, there are healthy alternatives to those products as well.
Who would even think that shampoo or sunscreen could be hazardous to your health? After all, these products are supposed to keep us clean, and help prevent sun damage that can lead to cancer. Yet, many such products have chemicals in them that have been linked to various health issues, including cancer.
The Marin Cancer Project has published a list of chemicals that may have negative health effects: www.nwhealth.edu/healthyU/stayHealthy/cos2.html. Sadly, if you go to the local pharmacy or cosmetic store, most of the products will have at least one of those chemicals on the label. So what can consumers do to avoid them? One solution is to buy organic, chemical free shampoos from a supplier such as Alamo Organics. Local natural markets may sell other brands. A sure bet is plain old castile soap — you can make your own shampoo using it as a base: http://ecobites.com/eco-news-articles/holistic-beauty/359-diy-shampoo-recipes.
Unfortunately, cosmetics aren't the only danger. If you cook with non-stick cookware, or eat microwave popcorn, chances are that you have been exposed to perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA), which is a toxicant and carcinogen that has been linked to birth defects, cancer, and an increase in lipid levels, as well as possibly suppression of the immune system and liver problems.
Manufacturers of the coatings used on cookware say that it is at high temperatures that PFOA is released, and that if the pans are used at proper temperatures, there should be no leeching of the chemical into food. I don't know about you, but I don't remember the last time I checked the actual temperature of a stovetop pan before tossing my bacon and eggs in to fry. Instead, if you really hate scrubbing pans, but don't like the idea of ingesting toxins, you could try some of the newer non-stick ceramic-coated pans, such as Cuisinart's Greenware, or StarFrit Eco Friendly Cookware, or 18/10 stainless steel, which presumably do not leech any harmful substances into your food. Glass bakeware, such as Pyrex, is also considered safe, and is still made right here in the good old U.S.A. And, an old-fashioned popcorn popper might be a good investment, too.
These are just two examples of how common everyday activities can potentially harm us if we are not alert to danger. No one can protect us if we do not educate ourselves. The best advice my mother ever gave me when teaching me to shop was "read the label" and the best advice I ever got about eating was from Jack LaLanne, the famous fitness expert, who said "shop the outside aisles of the supermarket where the fresh foods are."
Perhaps we should all become more aware of what's in our foods, our beverages, our cookware, our furnishings, and our clothing. Technology isn't always good. But, in the information age, we are just a few mouse clicks away from finding ingredient lists, material safety data sheets, and, thankfully, more eco-friendly, and less toxic, alternatives to the things that we use every day that might be harming us.
Anne Springer is the public relations director of SeniorCare Inc., your local Area Agency on Aging. To reach SeniorCare, call 978-281-1750.
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