More than half of the antiperspirants and deodorant body sprays from over 30 common brands contain Benzene, a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). Benzene is a known class one solvent with “unacceptable toxicity” according to the FDA.
Many products have not yet been recalled, but rest assured that messaging is sure to come soon. In the meantime, become a label reader and avoid products that have at or above 2 parts per million of it. Some of these products include Summer’s Eve, Right Guard, Power Stick, Soft & Dri, and Victoria’s Secret products. Currently some products from Old Spice and Secret have been recalled as of November, 2021.
The stress related to the covid19pandemic has led to a significant increase in alcohol being used as a coping mechanism. Now there are more people interested in reducing this habit. In the United Kingdom, 1 out of every 6 drinking adults are participating in “Dry January” and will abstain from alcohol in the entire month of January.
While there may be a slight surge of alcohol use the first week of February, it is estimated that the benefits of this program will lend to physical & mental health goals with new strategies of stress management. Many Americans are expected to partake in Dry January – and all indications are that February will be wet!
Brain scans from dogs showed that their brains light up differently when hearing a native tongue vs. a foreign language. They seem to understand the difference. Their social learning skills give them a better understanding of their environment… and they’re good listeners.
Dogs are tuned to humans and their sounds – they don’t need to be trained to do so. They naturally decipher the meaning the speech and emotional content, particularly so in older dogs and dogs with longer snouts. Perhaps head shape affects listening and deciphering skills!
Words matter… Using “bioengineered food” instead of “GMO” prevents transparency in the food industry. Because it’s important to have an awareness of the food aka “nourishment” you use daily, I want you to know…
The USDA created a national bioengineered food disclosure standard in 2018 which changed the terminology of genetically modified organisms (“GMO”) to bioengineered (“BE”). Technically speaking bioengineered foods must contain modified genetic material which can leave out many products made with GMO. There are new label requirements to show if a product is “BE” or “derived from BE”. The law technically went into effect in January, 2020, but the USDA delayed enforcement until this year.
Commonly bioengineered foods include:
Alfalfa
Arctic Apple
Canola
Corn
Cotton
Bt Eggplant
Ringspot virus-resistant Papaya
Pink Pineapple
Potato
AquAdvantage Salmon
Soybean
Summer Squash
Sugar beets
Disclosures not required for animal feed, pet food, toiletries, meat-, poultry-, & egg- dominant foods. The symbol pictured here is what you will see on your packaged goods to indicate bioengineered foods or derivatives.
If you want to choose more nature foods, look for the butterfly NON GMO Project logo.
More than 1 out of every 3 people have prediabetes – and the majority of them don’t even know that they are prediabetic. One can have prediabetes for years without symptoms, so it does go undetected until there is enough damage in the body for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The risk factors of prediabetes include:
Being overweight
Being >= 45 years of age
Immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
Not being physically active at least 3 times/week
History of gestational diabetes or birthing of baby more than 9lbs
Having PCOS
If you suspect you are prediabetic, it’s important to find out to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The path is to begin the work needed to reverse this illness. There are definitive tests that will inform if you have prediabetes. Consult your doctor or medical practitioner to help select which test would be most appropriate for you.
This year I’ve completed my training and certification to become a NDPP Lifestyle Coach. I work with a CDC-approved curriculum and provide a receipt to utilize insurance and FSA/HSA accounts. While I can’t guarantee insurance reimbursement for the whole amount, many insurance companies are considering reimbursing a small amount of it. If you don’t focus on insurance reimbursement, but consider it a bonus if you get it – then this is a great educational and evidence-based program that works! There are eligibility requirements for this great program; so if you are interested, contact me for further information. The NDPP program connects one to a support group with sessions with education and guidance on diet, physical movement, stress management, motivation, nutrition, & sleep.
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