A guy arrived to the gas station to fill his tank. When he came to the register to pay for it, he realized that he didn’t have money. And then this guy comes in.
Wednesday 28 September 2016
5 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Stop Eating Meat
We should all know by now that all food is not considered equal, especially when it comes to our health. We can also all rattle off what nutrients certain foods contain, but do we really know what eating certain foods does to our bodies over time? Or what happens if we remove certain foods from our plates?
With World Vegetarian Day on October 1, we are reminded of the benefits of choosing plant foods over animal products. Here are just some of the reactions our bodies have once we stop eating meat in favor of plant-based foods.
You will improve your heart health
It’s no secret that the leading cause of death in the U.S. is heart disease. Both cholesterol and saturated fats play a huge role in the development of cardiovascular disease, and both are found in high amounts in meat products, as well as other animal products. Plant-based foods, on the other hand, contain no cholesterol whatsoever and nowhere near the amounts of saturated fats. In fact, a 35 percent drop in blood cholesterol is possible for those switching from a meat-laden to plant-plentiful diet. Higher amounts offiber in whole plant foods also help lower cholesterol levels, leading to an overall reduced risk for heart disease over time.
You will lower your risk of type 2 diabetes
Time and time again, science has shown a link between eating meat and developing type 2 diabetes. As many as one in three adults in the U.S. have prediabetes, the stepping stone to the full-fledged condition, according to the CDC. Luckily, your trajectory can be reversed by switching to plant-based foods. In fact, by incorporating whole grains into your meals—yes, those “evil” carbs—you can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and weight gain.
You will get adequate protein from healthier sources
Perhaps the most startling thing that happens when you say goodbye to meat is that your body gets all the protein it needs from plant foods. Yes, you heard that right, the ubiquitous Protein Question is actually not worth fretting over, as a well-balanced, plant-based diet provides all the protein you need. America’s obsession with protein means people are getting at least 1.5 times more of the stuff than our bodies know what to do with. This can create consequences in the long run, seeing as animal protein has been linked to cancer, heart disease, inflammation and diabetes.
You will experience less inflammation
Acute inflammation comes as a typically normal process within our bodies, but chronic inflammation is a whole other animal. Meat, cheese and processed foods have been tied to inflammation, which can be responsible for developing—you guessed it—heart disease, strokes and autoimmune disease. Fortunately, plant foods are packed with anti-inflammatory properties, and you will see them dominate lists of anti-inflammatory foodswe all should include in our diets.
You will improve your gut health
Our gut microbiome contains trillions of microorganisms who either help or hinder our digestion and other biological processes. Diets low in fiber, like those high in animal products, were found to trigger the growth of disease-promoting bacteria in our guts, namely a toxin called TMAO. This substance ties right back to heart disease by increasing hardened plaques in blood vessels. When plant-eaters are given a meal with meat, however, their microbiomes produce little or no TMAO, thanks to a completely different ecosystem than meat-eaters. There are also plenty of vegan probiotic sources to give your gut a boost and keep it balanced and healthy.
The Truth About The Most Dangerous Vaccine Ever
One highly controversial Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, which is administered to young girls ostensibly to defend against an early onset of the only form of contagious cancer, has actually been responsible for more than 30 deaths, according to the site TruthWiki, which tracks the vaccine’s performance, as well as other controversial issues.
Those deaths have mostly resulted from blood clots in the heart and lungs, the site noted, while more than 10,000 other adverse effects ranging from anaphylactic shock to seizures have also been reported.
“Certain forms of HPV are known to cause cervical cancer by fueling the development of precancerous lesions in epithelial tissues of the vagina, vulva, oropharynx, anus and cervix,” TruthWiki noted. “Most infections however, are benign and cleared rapidly by the human immune system, and never progress to cervical cancer. A valid reason for giving CHILDREN the HPV vaccine has NEVER been established.”
The site notes that pharmaceutical companies claim that the HPV vaccine helps protect against early onset of the disease, which is sexually transmitted mainly via oral or anal sex, but that doesn’t square with why injections would be given to young girls beginning from the age of 9.
’15 types of HPV are carcinogenic’
“And just because HPV … can lead to cervical cancer, that’s just one place it can ‘lodge,’ among many other regions of the human body, male or female,” TruthWiki reported, adding that HPV vaccines are manufactured with “denatured forms and strains of the virus,” which means that they are not live strains but not all dead, either.
“[I]t’s a tricky scientific description that means they virus is weakened or dormant, so who’s to say if you get HPV cancer later in life, it wasn’t from the inoculation itself?” the site reported.
Further, the Gardasil HPV vaccine contains suspect ingredients including fragmented forms of the virus, aluminum, sodium chloride and polysorbate 80. One of the vaccine ingredients, l-histidine, can interfere with the brain’s natural defenses against metal toxins, the site noted.
“Plus, the supposed ‘benefits’ of the two known HPV vaccines, Gardasil (made by Merck) and Cervarix (made by GSK-Glaxo Smith Kline) wear off after a few years, meaning that even if they do work, the cancer only lasts a few years anyway before a normal immune system beats it, so why bother with the vaccines, which are known to be loaded with neurotoxins, carcinogens, synthetic emulsifiers and genetically modified organisms?” TruthWiki reported. “Worst yet, there are at least 120 known human papillomaviruses, so, worse than the flu shot, the HPV vaccine is a complete ‘shot in the dark.’ On top of that, only a third of those viruses are the ones typically transmitted through sexual contact. At least 15 types of HPV are carcinogenic.”
American 9-year-olds more promiscuous?
Though the existing HPV vaccines only address two types of the disease, the majority of infections actually do not cause the disease, TruthWiki reports. But the potential for becoming infected is a “big scare tactic” the pharmaceutical industry uses “to sell millions of doses across America” – a tactic that is quite successful.
“Why is HPV such a huge issue for the US, but not other countries around the world?” TruthWiki asks. “Why are our ‘numbers’ so high? It’s another scam, like swine flu vaccines, that damage thousands of humans, some permanently.”
The site goes on to say that Western medicine and “science-based” medicine has admitted that the HPV is most popular in the U.S. and mainly in the U.S. But does that then mean that 9-year-old girls in the U.S. are highly promiscuous? And is there perhaps a larger, government-Big Pharma agenda of population control based on creating infertility and cancer at stake?
12 Reasons You Can’t Lose Weight
So you’re eating well, working out, and that number on the scale still won’t budge. Even worse: Between tailgating season, Halloween, and the holidays, losing weight is about to get even harder. There is good news, though. You can take control. Just eliminate these surprisingly destructive habits and the sneaky foods that are responsible for destroying your diet.
You Eat with Your Hands
A new study suggests that people who use tongs to serve themselves food actually eat about 30 percent less of it.
You Eat Fruity Yogurt
Most fruit-flavored yogurts—and plenty of other healthy-sounding foods—are sweetened with fructose. But unlike other sweeteners, this one doesn’t tell your brain you’re full, according to a new study. The result: You end up eating way more calories than your body actually needs.
You’re Drinking Too Much
Most people overlook liquid calories entirely, says Felicia Stoler, registered dietician and author of Living Skinny in Fat Genes. So don’t expect to notice when a seemingly single-sized juice can or bottle actually contains two or three servings—and two to three times more calories. Your best bet: Replace juice with water, and eat your calories instead of drinking them, she says.
Your Fave Team is Losing
Turns out, you’re more likely to binge eat the day after your sports team bombs a big game, according to a 2013 French study.
You Hit Up Happy Hour—A LOT
People don’t realize just how many calories they drink, says Stoler. What’s more, the alcohol in your cocktail can reduce your inhibitions, so you hit the happy hour menu (hello, nachos!) even harder.
You’re Overdoing It at Breakfast
While the standard serving size for cereal is about two-thirds of a cup, breakfast bowls can hold much, much more. So when you fill yours to the brim with cereal, and top it off with milk, you could be eating twice as many calories as you think—or more.
You Treat Yourself a Little TOO Often
When you indulge in sweet or fatty foods like ice cream regularly, you end up craving larger portions to feel satisfied, says Stoler. Need a sweet treat every day? A new studypublished in the journal Food Quality and Preference found that a few bites really will satisfy you just as much as a larger serving.
You’re Guzzling Diet Soda
Drinking calorie-free sweeteners is like dumping water in your gas tank instead of gasoline, says Stoler. (For non-mechanics: It fills you up, but doesn’t keep your motor running.) When hunger strikes, drink water instead, and fill up on wholesome foods to drive off hunger pangs later.
You’re Depriving Yourself
When you cut out whole food groups (like carbs or fat, for instance) you set yourself up to binge eat them the next time you let yourself splurge. So instead of crossing them off your grocery list, entirely, learn how to manage your strongest cravings with these tips.
You Order the “Regular” Size
Think you’re in the clear because you downsized your large order of fries? Turns out, people actually consume more calories when they order regular-sized menu items than when they order portions advertised as “double-sized”, according to a new study.
You’re Staying Up Too Late
People who hit the sack on the late side tend to eat more high-fat and high-calories foods than those who tuck in earlier, according to a recent study. No wonder they also gain more weight.
You Think Working Out Gives You A “Pass”
Exercising can make you want to eat more—but that doesn’t mean you should, says Stoler. And it doesn’t help that most people grossly overestimate the number of calories they torch at the gym. The good news: Picking up the pace might actually decrease foods cravings, according to a new study.
You Eat with Your Hands
A new study suggests that people who use tongs to serve themselves food actually eat about 30 percent less of it.
You Eat Fruity Yogurt
Most fruit-flavored yogurts—and plenty of other healthy-sounding foods—are sweetened with fructose. But unlike other sweeteners, this one doesn’t tell your brain you’re full, according to a new study. The result: You end up eating way more calories than your body actually needs.
You’re Drinking Too Much
Most people overlook liquid calories entirely, says Felicia Stoler, registered dietician and author of Living Skinny in Fat Genes. So don’t expect to notice when a seemingly single-sized juice can or bottle actually contains two or three servings—and two to three times more calories. Your best bet: Replace juice with water, and eat your calories instead of drinking them, she says.
Your Fave Team is Losing
Turns out, you’re more likely to binge eat the day after your sports team bombs a big game, according to a 2013 French study.
You Hit Up Happy Hour—A LOT
People don’t realize just how many calories they drink, says Stoler. What’s more, the alcohol in your cocktail can reduce your inhibitions, so you hit the happy hour menu (hello, nachos!) even harder.
You’re Overdoing It at Breakfast
While the standard serving size for cereal is about two-thirds of a cup, breakfast bowls can hold much, much more. So when you fill yours to the brim with cereal, and top it off with milk, you could be eating twice as many calories as you think—or more.
You Treat Yourself a Little TOO Often
When you indulge in sweet or fatty foods like ice cream regularly, you end up craving larger portions to feel satisfied, says Stoler. Need a sweet treat every day? A new studypublished in the journal Food Quality and Preference found that a few bites really will satisfy you just as much as a larger serving.
You’re Guzzling Diet Soda
Drinking calorie-free sweeteners is like dumping water in your gas tank instead of gasoline, says Stoler. (For non-mechanics: It fills you up, but doesn’t keep your motor running.) When hunger strikes, drink water instead, and fill up on wholesome foods to drive off hunger pangs later.
You’re Depriving Yourself
When you cut out whole food groups (like carbs or fat, for instance) you set yourself up to binge eat them the next time you let yourself splurge. So instead of crossing them off your grocery list, entirely, learn how to manage your strongest cravings with these tips.
You Order the “Regular” Size
Think you’re in the clear because you downsized your large order of fries? Turns out, people actually consume more calories when they order regular-sized menu items than when they order portions advertised as “double-sized”, according to a new study.
You’re Staying Up Too Late
People who hit the sack on the late side tend to eat more high-fat and high-calories foods than those who tuck in earlier, according to a recent study. No wonder they also gain more weight.
You Think Working Out Gives You A “Pass”
Exercising can make you want to eat more—but that doesn’t mean you should, says Stoler. And it doesn’t help that most people grossly overestimate the number of calories they torch at the gym. The good news: Picking up the pace might actually decrease foods cravings, according to a new study.
The 10 Best and Worst Foods to Eat for Sleep
Ah, sleep. It's something we relentlessly crave, but we never seem to get enough of it. Aside from the daily stressors in life, there's one big thing that can keep you from snoozing -- your diet. Here, the best and worst foods to eat for sleep.
Best: Cereal and Milk
Your go-to breakfast staple can also moonlight as the perfect pre-bedtime snack. Eating a combination of carbohydrates and protein enables our bodies to produce the "happy hormone" serotonin, which in turn produces melatonin, a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect, explains Danielle Omar, a DC-based registered dietitian. Just stay away from sugary cereals to avoid getting a sugar high right before bed. Other safe nighttime snack bets include cheese and crackers, cottage cheese and fruit, or oatmeal with milk for a similar soothing effect.
Worst: Protein
While protein is a vital part of our daily diets, too much of it means less sleep at the end of the day. "High-protein diets have a tendency to give you more energy and not calm you down," says Dr.Michael J. Breus, author of The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan. Instead, remember to munch on a high-carb, low-protein snack that's no more than 200 calories before bed.
Your go-to breakfast staple can also moonlight as the perfect pre-bedtime snack. Eating a combination of carbohydrates and protein enables our bodies to produce the "happy hormone" serotonin, which in turn produces melatonin, a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect, explains Danielle Omar, a DC-based registered dietitian. Just stay away from sugary cereals to avoid getting a sugar high right before bed. Other safe nighttime snack bets include cheese and crackers, cottage cheese and fruit, or oatmeal with milk for a similar soothing effect.
Worst: Protein
While protein is a vital part of our daily diets, too much of it means less sleep at the end of the day. "High-protein diets have a tendency to give you more energy and not calm you down," says Dr.Michael J. Breus, author of The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan. Instead, remember to munch on a high-carb, low-protein snack that's no more than 200 calories before bed.
Best: Passionfruit
Though not always available in the nearest supermarket, it's worth finding if you're in need of some serious shuteye. Passionfruit contains somniferum, which has sleep-inducing properties. Omar recommends eating the fruit as is, or try it as a juice or tea.
Though not always available in the nearest supermarket, it's worth finding if you're in need of some serious shuteye. Passionfruit contains somniferum, which has sleep-inducing properties. Omar recommends eating the fruit as is, or try it as a juice or tea.
Worst: Alcohol
Sure, your eyelids may start drooping after that second glass of wine, but chances are you'll have a restless night of sleep once you turn in. "After drinking alcohol, usually you get drowsy and fall asleep," says Omar. "But you don't get into the REM stage of sleep." When that happens, you're kept from achieving a deep, uninterrupted sleep -- as the bags under your eyes will tell you the next day.
Sure, your eyelids may start drooping after that second glass of wine, but chances are you'll have a restless night of sleep once you turn in. "After drinking alcohol, usually you get drowsy and fall asleep," says Omar. "But you don't get into the REM stage of sleep." When that happens, you're kept from achieving a deep, uninterrupted sleep -- as the bags under your eyes will tell you the next day.
Best: Bananas
Often called "a pill in a peel" by experts, bananas contain high levels of magnesium, a mineral that acts as a muscle relaxant, which can help us start snoozing faster. Also extremely helpful is the whopping 422 milligrams of potassium one banana contains, since studies have shown potassium can help regulate sleep patterns and nerves.
Often called "a pill in a peel" by experts, bananas contain high levels of magnesium, a mineral that acts as a muscle relaxant, which can help us start snoozing faster. Also extremely helpful is the whopping 422 milligrams of potassium one banana contains, since studies have shown potassium can help regulate sleep patterns and nerves.
Worst: Fatty Foods
The fattier your dinner is, the less sleep you'll get, warns Dr. Breus. Eating foods high in fat (especially ones that are greasy or fried) will likely cause uncomfortable heartburn or stomach issues when you lie down. Stick to low-fat snacks and make sure to eat at least two hours before hitting the hay.
Best: Cherry Juice
A 2011 study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that tart cherry juice is a great sleep aid. Adults who drank two glasses of cherry juice daily slept an average of 39 minutes longer than usual. Turns out cherries boast some of the highest levels of melatonin among natural foods, explains Dr. Breus. Try a small nighttime smoothie to start dreaming with 1 cup concentrated tart cherry juice, half a banana, 1/2 cup soymilk, and 5 crushed ice cubes.
The fattier your dinner is, the less sleep you'll get, warns Dr. Breus. Eating foods high in fat (especially ones that are greasy or fried) will likely cause uncomfortable heartburn or stomach issues when you lie down. Stick to low-fat snacks and make sure to eat at least two hours before hitting the hay.
Best: Cherry Juice
A 2011 study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that tart cherry juice is a great sleep aid. Adults who drank two glasses of cherry juice daily slept an average of 39 minutes longer than usual. Turns out cherries boast some of the highest levels of melatonin among natural foods, explains Dr. Breus. Try a small nighttime smoothie to start dreaming with 1 cup concentrated tart cherry juice, half a banana, 1/2 cup soymilk, and 5 crushed ice cubes.
Worst: Spicy Food
Not only will that Thai takeout leave your mouth on fire, it may cause nightmares, says Dr. Breus. "I've had patients who've said when they eat a spicy meal it affects their dreams at night." Backing up these claims is a study published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, which found that subjects who ingested Tabasco sauce and mustard with their dinner had elevated body temperatures during their first sleep cycle, causing sleep disruption and more awake time at night.
Not only will that Thai takeout leave your mouth on fire, it may cause nightmares, says Dr. Breus. "I've had patients who've said when they eat a spicy meal it affects their dreams at night." Backing up these claims is a study published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, which found that subjects who ingested Tabasco sauce and mustard with their dinner had elevated body temperatures during their first sleep cycle, causing sleep disruption and more awake time at night.
Best: Warm Milk
Most of us were fed warm milk as babies and toddlers to help us fall asleep, but the science behind why the drink makes us sleepy is lacking, says Dr. Breus. "There's not enough tryptophan in a glass of warm milk -- you'd have to drink a gallon and a half of it to feel any effect." It's likely that warm milk works as a placebo for inducing sleep because it's comforting. Hey, whatever works, right?
Worst: Caffeine
The effects of caffeine may be obvious, but what's not so obvious is that the stimulant stays active in our bodies for eight to ten hours. "The effects vary from person to person, but by the afternoon you should cut off the caffeine," says Omar. And that doesn't just mean that third cup of coffee after lunch. "That means chocolate too!" she says.
The effects of caffeine may be obvious, but what's not so obvious is that the stimulant stays active in our bodies for eight to ten hours. "The effects vary from person to person, but by the afternoon you should cut off the caffeine," says Omar. And that doesn't just mean that third cup of coffee after lunch. "That means chocolate too!" she says.
The Top 12 Worst Chemicals in Your Home
WORST CHEMICALS EVER?
When the United Nations comes out with a report calling something a "global health threat," we should probably be more than a little concerned. And that's exactly what happened in early 2013 when the World Health Organization and the UN Environment Programme applied the term to a class of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors. The reason: A growing body of research is linking these potent chemicals, which interfere with the endocrine system that regulates your hormones, to global rates of chronic disease and infertility.
"Never has there been a time in history that the disease burden of the human population is predominantly chronic disease, not communicable or infectious disease," Thomas Zoeller, PhD, professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a coauthor of the report, told us at the time. "We can't prove that this is related to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, but we can't continue to deny their impact."
Now the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Keep a Breast Foundation are sounding alarm bells about the health threat of these chemicals. Of the roughly 80,000 chemicals used in everyday goods, 1,300 or so are considered endocrine disruptors, also called hormone disruptors. The nonprofits just released a report outlining the "Dirty Dozen," a list of endocrine disruptors that highlights the worst of the worst—and the ones you're most likely exposed to every day. Here's how to avoid them:=
"Never has there been a time in history that the disease burden of the human population is predominantly chronic disease, not communicable or infectious disease," Thomas Zoeller, PhD, professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a coauthor of the report, told us at the time. "We can't prove that this is related to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, but we can't continue to deny their impact."
Now the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Keep a Breast Foundation are sounding alarm bells about the health threat of these chemicals. Of the roughly 80,000 chemicals used in everyday goods, 1,300 or so are considered endocrine disruptors, also called hormone disruptors. The nonprofits just released a report outlining the "Dirty Dozen," a list of endocrine disruptors that highlights the worst of the worst—and the ones you're most likely exposed to every day. Here's how to avoid them:=
BISPHENOL A, OR BPA
What it does: Perhaps the most widely studied endocrine disruptor on the market, BPA actually started out in the 1930s as a synthetic estrogen given to women. So it's no surprise that this hormonal chemical has been found to act like estrogen, with current exposure levels leading to things like decreased sperm production in men, early puberty in girls, and fertility problems in both genders, or that animal studies have linked it to greater chances of miscarriage. BPA also interferes with metabolic hormones and plays a role in heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Where it's found: BPA is found in the linings of food cans, and it's used as a coating on receipts. The chemical is still used in some plastic products and as a flame retardant, as well, but thanks to the lack of laws requiring companies to disclose how BPA is being used, it's impossible to know all the places where the nearly 3 billion pounds of the chemical produced each year wind up.
Easiest way to avoid it: Opt for fresh, frozen, or homemade versions of your favorite canned foods. You can also limit additional exposures by rejecting unnecessary receipts when shopping.
Where it's found: BPA is found in the linings of food cans, and it's used as a coating on receipts. The chemical is still used in some plastic products and as a flame retardant, as well, but thanks to the lack of laws requiring companies to disclose how BPA is being used, it's impossible to know all the places where the nearly 3 billion pounds of the chemical produced each year wind up.
Easiest way to avoid it: Opt for fresh, frozen, or homemade versions of your favorite canned foods. You can also limit additional exposures by rejecting unnecessary receipts when shopping.
DIOXINS
What they do: Dioxins and dioxinlike compounds like PCBs and the pesticide DDT are known to cause cancer, but they're also considered one of the most toxic classes of chemicals known to man. Among their hormone-related effects: decreased fertility, diabetes, endometriosis, immune system problems, lowered testosterone levels, miscarriages, and reduced sperm counts and quality.
Where they're found: Municipal waste incineration produces large quantities, but chemical bleaching of paper and wood pulp accounts for huge quantities in the air and water. Dioxins build up in the fatty tissues of animals and are very widespread in the food supply.
Easiest way to avoid them: Reduce your consumption of fatty meat and dairy products.
Where they're found: Municipal waste incineration produces large quantities, but chemical bleaching of paper and wood pulp accounts for huge quantities in the air and water. Dioxins build up in the fatty tissues of animals and are very widespread in the food supply.
Easiest way to avoid them: Reduce your consumption of fatty meat and dairy products.
ATRAZINE
What it does: Most of the research on atrazine's hormone-mimicking effects has been conducted in fish and frogs. Like a freaky science-fiction plot, the chemical causes male fish and frogs to turn into females. Research into humans, however, has shown that the pesticide increases the activity of genes that cause infertility.
Where it's found: Atrazine is the second most widely used herbicide in the United States (behind glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup), according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and 86 percent of it is applied to corn.
Easiest way to avoid it: Go organic! Organic farmers are prohibited from using toxic synthetic herbicides like atrazine. And eat less meat. Despite corn's reputation as serving as the building block for numerous processed-food ingredients, 80 percent of U.S.-grown corn is sold both domestically and internationally as animal feed, according to the National Corn Growers Association. Eating tons of factory-farmed meat simply increases the demand for atrazine among corn growers.
Where it's found: Atrazine is the second most widely used herbicide in the United States (behind glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup), according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and 86 percent of it is applied to corn.
Easiest way to avoid it: Go organic! Organic farmers are prohibited from using toxic synthetic herbicides like atrazine. And eat less meat. Despite corn's reputation as serving as the building block for numerous processed-food ingredients, 80 percent of U.S.-grown corn is sold both domestically and internationally as animal feed, according to the National Corn Growers Association. Eating tons of factory-farmed meat simply increases the demand for atrazine among corn growers.
PHTHALATES
What they do: Like BPA, phthalates have come under a lot of scrutiny in recent years, after studies revealed that boys born of women with high phthalate exposures suffered from abnormalities in their genitals. The chemicals interfere with testosterone and estradiol, a hormone that affects breast development. Studies have found that women who develop breast cancer have higher levels of certain types of phthalates than women who are cancer free.
Where they're found: Phthalates are used in a vast number of consumer products: flooring, shower curtains, synthetic leather, and other products made with PVC vinyl, where phthalates are used to keep the plastic flexible; in any product with a synthetic fragrance, where phthalates are used to keep the scent from dissipating; and nail polishes, paints, and furniture finishes, where phthalates keep the materials from chipping. They've also been detected in some plastic cling wraps and food containers, as well as pesticides.
Easiest ways to avoid them: Avoid anything with a synthetic fragrance, say "NO!" to vinyl products, and always store your food in glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers.
Where they're found: Phthalates are used in a vast number of consumer products: flooring, shower curtains, synthetic leather, and other products made with PVC vinyl, where phthalates are used to keep the plastic flexible; in any product with a synthetic fragrance, where phthalates are used to keep the scent from dissipating; and nail polishes, paints, and furniture finishes, where phthalates keep the materials from chipping. They've also been detected in some plastic cling wraps and food containers, as well as pesticides.
Easiest ways to avoid them: Avoid anything with a synthetic fragrance, say "NO!" to vinyl products, and always store your food in glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers.
PERCHLORATE
What it does: Perchlorate can interfere with your thyroid, the gland that regulates the hormones that regulate your metabolism. The chemical, a component of rocket fuel, impairs your thyroid's ability to take up iodine, which the gland needs to function properly.
Where it's found: Perchlorate contamination exists anywhere rockets were tested, made, or taken apart, and it's used in fireworks and safety flares. It washes out of soil and gets into groundwater, but no one knows how long this persistent toxic chemical takes to break down. You're most likely exposed to perchlorate through food; eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels. Water is another source of exposure for people living in certain areas. The EPA estimates that 20 million Americans live in areas with excessive levels of the contaminant in their drinking water.
Easiest way to avoid it: The chemical is nearly impossible to avoid in food, and the water filters that remove it are expensive. EWG recommends getting good amounts of iodine, which can boost your thyroid function even in the presence of perchlorate. Iodized salt is a good source, as are seafood, kelp, and grass-fed dairy products.
Where it's found: Perchlorate contamination exists anywhere rockets were tested, made, or taken apart, and it's used in fireworks and safety flares. It washes out of soil and gets into groundwater, but no one knows how long this persistent toxic chemical takes to break down. You're most likely exposed to perchlorate through food; eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels. Water is another source of exposure for people living in certain areas. The EPA estimates that 20 million Americans live in areas with excessive levels of the contaminant in their drinking water.
Easiest way to avoid it: The chemical is nearly impossible to avoid in food, and the water filters that remove it are expensive. EWG recommends getting good amounts of iodine, which can boost your thyroid function even in the presence of perchlorate. Iodized salt is a good source, as are seafood, kelp, and grass-fed dairy products.
FLAME RETARDANTS
What they do: These toxic, ubiquitous chemicals are most known for their impact on the thyroid and on female infertility. Because thyroid hormones also have an impact on your brain, one class of flame retardants, known as PBDEs, is thought to affect the IQ levels in children, which is why many chemicals in this class have been banned or are being gradually phased out. However, the replacements being used are just as toxic and exhibit the same biological activity as organophosphate pesticides.
Where they're found: Furniture, carpet padding, and even baby nursing pillows contain them. Assume that anything in your home—and your office and your car—that contains polyurethane foam also contains flame retardants. Other major exposure sources include electronics: TVs, computers, cellphones, and video game consoles.
Easiest way to avoid them: Dust and vacuum frequently. It's nearly impossible to avoid flame retardants, given their widespread use, so cleaning is your best defense. Flame retardants bind to dust as the furniture, car-seat padding, and electronics in which they're used break down.
Where they're found: Furniture, carpet padding, and even baby nursing pillows contain them. Assume that anything in your home—and your office and your car—that contains polyurethane foam also contains flame retardants. Other major exposure sources include electronics: TVs, computers, cellphones, and video game consoles.
Easiest way to avoid them: Dust and vacuum frequently. It's nearly impossible to avoid flame retardants, given their widespread use, so cleaning is your best defense. Flame retardants bind to dust as the furniture, car-seat padding, and electronics in which they're used break down.
LEAD
What it does: Despite the long list of health problems already associated with lead, researchers are uncovering still more, including the fact that lead interferes with the hormones that regulate your stress levels, according to EWG.
Where it's found: Lead-based paint remains the general public's largest source of exposure to this toxic metal. But it also winds up in drinking water from old pipes and even new brass or chrome faucet filters (including, thanks to a sources-lead">regulatory loophole, those labeled "lead free").
Easiest ways to avoid it: Get a lead-removing water filter and eat a healthy diet. According to EWG, research has shown that people who eat a healthy diet absorb less lead. But if you are renovating an older home, it's imperative that you call a lead-remediation professional.
Where it's found: Lead-based paint remains the general public's largest source of exposure to this toxic metal. But it also winds up in drinking water from old pipes and even new brass or chrome faucet filters (including, thanks to a sources-lead">regulatory loophole, those labeled "lead free").
Easiest ways to avoid it: Get a lead-removing water filter and eat a healthy diet. According to EWG, research has shown that people who eat a healthy diet absorb less lead. But if you are renovating an older home, it's imperative that you call a lead-remediation professional.
ARSENIC
What it does: While arsenic is best known for its ability to cause cancers of the skin, bladder, and lung, there is no other element or chemical known to cause as many health problems as arsenic can, according to the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program, and those include endocrine problems. Arsenic has been found to interfere with receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, including hormones that regulate your metabolism and your immune system.
Where it's found: The Centers for Disease Control says that food and water are your main exposure sources; arsenic was historically used in pesticides and it exists naturally in soil. Recent tests from Consumer Reports have found high levels of the metal in rice and apple and grape juices, and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health has found high levels in factory-farmed chicken. Though they're gradually being phased out, arsenic-based drugs are added to chicken feed in nonorganic chicken houses.
Easiest ways to avoid it: Water filters certified to remove arsenic can get it out of your water. Avoiding it in food is harder, since there's no way to know which foods contain high levels. Consumer Reportsrecommends limiting your rice consumption to two servings per week and varying your grains, along with eating whole fruits instead of drinking fruit juices. And stick with organic chicken, which are raised on arsenic-free feed.
Where it's found: The Centers for Disease Control says that food and water are your main exposure sources; arsenic was historically used in pesticides and it exists naturally in soil. Recent tests from Consumer Reports have found high levels of the metal in rice and apple and grape juices, and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health has found high levels in factory-farmed chicken. Though they're gradually being phased out, arsenic-based drugs are added to chicken feed in nonorganic chicken houses.
Easiest ways to avoid it: Water filters certified to remove arsenic can get it out of your water. Avoiding it in food is harder, since there's no way to know which foods contain high levels. Consumer Reportsrecommends limiting your rice consumption to two servings per week and varying your grains, along with eating whole fruits instead of drinking fruit juices. And stick with organic chicken, which are raised on arsenic-free feed.
MERCURY
What it does: Another metal that does double the damage, mercury is a potent neurotoxin that impairs children's IQ levels. But EWG found that it also binds to a hormone that regulates women's menstrual cycles and ovulation, and it damages cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, the hormone that regulates your blood sugar levels.
Where it's found: Primarily found in seafood, mercury winds up in the environment from industrial sources, the largest of which are coal-fired power plants.
Easiest way to avoid it: Stick with low-mercury seafood choices, such as wild Alaskan salmon and farmed trout, along with seafood that's low on the food chain, such as sardines and anchovies. In general, the smaller the fish, the less contaminated it is.
Where it's found: Primarily found in seafood, mercury winds up in the environment from industrial sources, the largest of which are coal-fired power plants.
Easiest way to avoid it: Stick with low-mercury seafood choices, such as wild Alaskan salmon and farmed trout, along with seafood that's low on the food chain, such as sardines and anchovies. In general, the smaller the fish, the less contaminated it is.
PERFLUORINATED CHEMICALS, OR PFCS
What they do: PFCs—which you'll recognize through trade names as Teflon and Stainmaster—have been studied most for their impact on thyroid function and their links to hypothyroidism. The chemicals are also thought to cause infertility in both men and women. One possible reason for that, at least in women, comes from recent research in animals, which suggests that the chemicals inhibit a woman's ovaries from producing eggs.
Where they're found: PFCs are used to make your pots and pans nonstick and your clothes, upholstery fabric, carpets, backpacks, and coats water- and stain-repellent. The chemicals are also used to repel grease in food packaging like pizza boxes, fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and pet-food bags.
Easiest ways to avoid them: Avoid all of the above! Keep an eye out for anything that utilizes "Gore-Tex," "Stainmaster," or "Teflon," all trademarks for chemical mixtures that contain PFCs. And call manufacturers to question them about their use of PFCs whenever they advertise products as water repellent; some have switched to polyurethane coatings, which pose fewer health problems.
Where they're found: PFCs are used to make your pots and pans nonstick and your clothes, upholstery fabric, carpets, backpacks, and coats water- and stain-repellent. The chemicals are also used to repel grease in food packaging like pizza boxes, fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and pet-food bags.
Easiest ways to avoid them: Avoid all of the above! Keep an eye out for anything that utilizes "Gore-Tex," "Stainmaster," or "Teflon," all trademarks for chemical mixtures that contain PFCs. And call manufacturers to question them about their use of PFCs whenever they advertise products as water repellent; some have switched to polyurethane coatings, which pose fewer health problems.
ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDES
What they do: Breakdown products of these neurotoxic insecticides have been associated with lower levels of testosterone and other sex hormones, according to the Pesticide Action Network North America. Mothers exposed to organophosphates while pregnant also experience increased levels of cortisol (a stress hormone), which can increase the risks for miscarriage, preeclampsia, and developmental delays for the child.
Where they're found: Organophosphates are one of the most commonly used classes of insecticides in the U.S. and are found on a wide variety of crops.
Easiest way to avoid them: Go organic! Organic farmers are prohibited from using synthetic pesticides like organophosphates on their fields.
Where they're found: Organophosphates are one of the most commonly used classes of insecticides in the U.S. and are found on a wide variety of crops.
Easiest way to avoid them: Go organic! Organic farmers are prohibited from using synthetic pesticides like organophosphates on their fields.
GLYCOL ETHERS
What they do: These chemicals are associated with numerous health problems, but with regard to hormones, they're bad for guys' swimmers. The chemicals cause low sperm motility.
Where they're found: Glycol ethers are solvents used in a wide variety of industrial applications. But you're most likely to encounter them via dry-cleaning services and in personal care products and cleaners.
Easiest ways to avoid them: Avoid having clothes dry-cleaned (most fabrics can just as easily be hand-washed) and make your own cleaning products .
Where they're found: Glycol ethers are solvents used in a wide variety of industrial applications. But you're most likely to encounter them via dry-cleaning services and in personal care products and cleaners.
Easiest ways to avoid them: Avoid having clothes dry-cleaned (most fabrics can just as easily be hand-washed) and make your own cleaning products .
Tuesday 27 September 2016
These Instagram Photos Will Motivate You To Grab Your Bag And Go Seek For Adventures (76 pics)
‘True Living’ is an Instagram feed where adventurers from around the world post photos of their most aspiring and vivid moments.
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