Many plastics, in particular molded products, such as baby bottles and water jugs, contain man-made estrogens called xenoestrogens. There appears to be a strong correlation between the proliferation of xenoestrogens in our environment (plastic is just one culprit) and the humongous increase in breast cancer. This is because xenoestrogens are fat soluble and they tend to gravitate to where women have many estrogen receptors and fat--namely the breasts.

Really, the above is only one example of why to avoid plastic. The reason I've chosen to include a blurb on the dangers of plastic on my site is because people tend to use plastics to store food in and, now that most homes have a microwave, to cook in. I cringe to think that I used to heat up baby bottles in the microwave. There's probably nothing worse you can do to plastic than heat it up. The plastic is getting into your food! And even quicker and in greater quantities when it is heated.

We live in a plastic world. Even I cannot do entirely without plastic. But I have significantly reduced the amount I use. I try to store juices in glass bottles instead of plastic pitchers, for instance. I heat up my youngest son's milk in a glass measuring cup before pouring it into a bottle or sippy cup. Leftovers are still being stored in plastic containers in my fridge, but I transfer the food to a non-plastic bowl or plate before popping it in my microwave. I save glass jars and containers so that I am able to store more and more foods in them rather than in plastic.

I've also become a sniffer. Before I buy anything plastic that will be used for food, I smell it first. If it has that strong plastic smell, forget it. If you can smell it, it makes sense to me that those molecules already are floating around and will be absorbed into food.

I encourage you all to make similar changes. The negative effects of toxicity are usually accumulated over a period of years before disease is fully developed. Because of the delay, it's easy to shrug off warnings of health risks or procrastinate in making changes. Don't make those mistakes.

OTHER HEALTH HAZARDS

Well, I'm sure there are many, but a few come immediately to mind. Producers and retailers are not required to make the public aware that foods contain or have been treated with the following:

pesticides--virtually all non-organic foods contain pesticides, even meat, because the animals eat pesticide-contaminated feed.
antibiotics--non-organic meat, eggs, all animal products should be held under suspicion. Antibiotics are regularly administered to sick animals , and often to healthy ones as well, to make up for their ill treatment and living conditions which promote disease. Tumors are simply cut off before packaging.
hormones, sedatives, and other drugs'administered routinely to "factory-farmed" animals.
irradiation--fruits, vegetables, and sometimes meat are increasingly being irradiated today.
genetic engineering'foreign genes (including from insects and viruses) are being inserted into plants so that they tolerate higher levels of chemicals without themselves being destroyed. No long-term studies are being conducted to determine how this will affect human beings or animals, since it is assumed safe. Currently it is not required that genetically engineered foods be labeled as such.

"DIET" FOODS

Be aware that some of the substitutes for fat and sugar in regular supermarket "diet" foods are not healthier. The substitute for fat in fat-free mayonnaise and salad dressings, for instance, is sugar (corn syrup, usually) Reduced-fat mayonnaise and fat-free salad dressings which do not contain harmful ingredients can be purchased at health food stores and co-ops. Also, reduced-calorie margarines are a no-no. They contain hydrogenated fats, which is more harmful to your body than the saturated fat and cholesterol in butter. Always use butter over margarine of any kind, just use it sparingly or avoid it altogether. Aspartame and saccharin may save on calories but are harmful to your health. Choose sodas sweetened with fruit juice and naturally sweetened treats. Sure, they are higher in calories, but if you're not consuming these things in large quantities and are eating a low-fat diet, you should be noticing that calories aren't an important issue any longer. (I haven't needed to count calories for years now.)

ONE MORE THING: ALUMINUM

There is aluminum in regular supermarket baking powder. This is toxic to your body! Studies are showing a strong link between aluminum and Alzheimer's, a degenerative brain disease. Aluminum-free baking powder is very inexpensive and can be purchased in any health food store or co-op and is often available in bulk food sections. Avoid cooking in aluminum cookware, as the aluminum does get into the food. Canned foods, especially acidic ones, are a problem, although manufacturer's of healthier alternatives are using steel or cans with a lined interior to reduce or prevent poisoning. Aluminum is also found in most, if not all, commercial antipersperants.

SHOP AT NATURAL FOOD STORES

I encourage you to do as much of your shopping as your budget will allow at natural food stores and co-ops. Much of the food items sold in these establishments are not only organic, but they are careful of the environment and avoid animal cruelty. Factory farming practices in this country today are shameful--look into it, you'll see. Organic foods aren't probably 100% pesticide-free, simply because the soil and water everywhere has become contaminated, but traces of pesticides are always less damaging then consuming huge quantities on food purposely treated with chemicals. Always wash your produce! Also, there are dishonest men and women in the world--yes, even in the health food industry, I'm afraid. Such people may say their product is organic, when it actually isn't, and they haven't been caught yet. Choose products from reputable sources whenever possible.

I know that organic and healthful foods are usually more expensive than stuff you buy at the regular supermarket. In the longrun, however, you may be saving on costly doctor bills and lost work/lost pay, not to mention you and your family will look and feel better. Not only that, I find I am actually only spending slightly more on groceries because I am eating more deliberately than ever, so I am eating less, wasting less, etc. And there is no doubt that I even save money, when I consider how much I used to spend on those unplanned trips to the store to satisfy my unwieldy sugar addiction!

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