A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) reported three cases in which young boys aged 4-7 began to grow breasts after using skin care products containing lavender oil and tea tree oil. The doctor in the case contacted a governing agency which tested the oils on in vitro cells and found that they acted as estrogen. The oils appear to be endocrine disruptors.

Let’s first get an understanding of what the endocrine system is. The endocrine system consists of glands—the pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal. These glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream and each controls organ function in the body. One hormone will stimulate growth, another controls the maturation of sex organs, yet another controls metabolism, etc.

During recent decades, millions of tons of man-made chemicals have been produced and released into the environment. Many of these chemicals can be found in personal care products such as soaps, lotions, cosmetics, and perfumes. The danger is that many of these chemicals act as synthetic hormones and disrupt normal endocrine function—hence the name endocrine disruptor.

The danger is two fold. Scientists do not know what long-term effect these chemicals will have on the environment because testing was sketchy at best prior to approving their use. Secondly, testing that has been done after the fact has shown that these endocrine disruptors wreak havoc on human beings and animals. They are responsible for such things as a fish having male and female sex organs, little girls going through puberty at age six, declining sperm counts, infertility, and little boys growing breasts.

Until now, lavender oil and tea tree oil have been considered pretty innocuous stuff in the world of homeopathy. They’re mainly used as additives to personal care products such as soaps, lotions, etc. In the NEJM article, the amounts were negligible, and breast growth stopped when product use was discontinued.

It’s not entirely certain that the tea tree and lavender oils were the culprits. The products were used on the children by their parents and doctors never had a chance to test them. The case has garnered attention because all three children presented at the same clinic in a very short time period. The one thing that came out of the study is that further research is needed, and that is being done.

In the meantime, there are known endocrine disruptors that you should try to eliminate from your environment:

• Buy organic produce from your local farmer’s market. It’s free of pesticides.
• Get plastic out of your diet. Stay away from prepackaged and canned food. The chemicals from the packaging can leach into the food.
• Drink milk that’s free of bovine growth hormone. It causes mastitis in cows and can be passed on to humans.
• Buy your personal care products from the health food store. They will be made with natural organic ingredients.

In general, it’s better to substitute natural products for synthetic products whenever possible. Keep in mind that what you flush or rinse away remains in the environment.

Today’s young people may be the first generation to not outlive their parents. Why? Heart disease. Regardless of what disease-du-jour is currently getting attention in the media, more people die from heart disease than any other illness. Lifestyle, diet, and genetics have created a perfect storm of conditions that have enabled heart disease to rise to the number one spot on the deadliest killer list.

Fortunately, there is much good scientific information available. In particular, excellent data about diet has been gleaned from the Framingham Heart Study. This ongoing study was initiated in 1948. Researchers have followed a group of 5,209 people and their descendents in an extensive study looking closely at lifestyle and genetics. The study has identified many heart disease risk factors such as hypertension, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and physical inactivity.

The good news is that the body almost always responds to changes in diet and lifestyle. As long as you’re breathing, there is hope. You can take control of your health any time you want to by making good choices about what you eat. Heart disease can be prevented and even reversed by taking charge of your diet.

Researchers believe that a plant-based diet is the healthiest diet for your heart. Don’t think ‘plant based’ has to mean vegetarian. Although a vegetarian diet is considered the best possible choice from a heart healthy point of view, you can eat meat and keep your heart healthy.

Think of meat as a garnish and vegetables as the main dish. Plan meals so that there are three vegetables for a serving of meat. If possible, remove all oils from your diet. This may seem severe, but research has shown that people with a blood cholesterol level of 150 or lower do not have heart attacks. If you have a history of heart disease in your family, this may be the trick that lowers your risk for heart disease.

Something else you can do is to eat as many raw vegetables as possible. Raw vegetables are preferable to cooked vegetables because cooking vegetables removes some nutritional value. Cooked vegetables do not give the full benefit of the interaction of fiber, phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins as raw vegetables do.

It is interesting to note that while heart disease is prevalent in the West, it is not common in other parts of the world. In Africa and Asia there is a very low incidence of the diseases we see frequently in the United States such as heart disease, prostate and ovarian cancer, and diabetes. When looking at the planet’s population as a whole, the West is in the minority as far as these diseases are concerned.

Lastly, an easy way to get heart healthy nutrients in your diet is to add flax. Flax is a seed that is valuable for its oil which contains Omega 3. Sprinkle flax seeds in your salads or add the oil to smoothies. Bottled flax oil is available at your health food store. Add a teaspoon or two of flax oil when you’re mixing the smoothie. You won’t taste the flax, and your heart will thank you. Keep in mind that flax looses all its nutritional value if it is cooked.

While the Framingham Heart Study is the longest ongoing study of a population, research into heart disease is being conducted on many fronts. Diet and lifestyle are consistent factors in every study. Controlling these two factors will go a long way in keeping your heart healthy.

Between the synapses of your brain is water—not soda or juice or sports drink—water. I’m sure you’ve heard that drinking water is important, and it is. But, do you know what happens to your body when you don’t drink enough water? Many people depend on a sense of thirst to tell them when they need a drink. Actually, by the time you feel thirsty your body has already suffered the consequences of dehydration.

When your body is not adequately hydrated, it affects your overall health. One of the first symptoms is a headache. Often people will take a couple of aspirin, when actually they need to drink a couple of glasses of water. The next time you get a headache, try this before taking medication.

Another common thing that happens when you don’t drink enough water is that you become constipated. Usually people with this problem will take a stool softener or some other medication, but again, if you drink adequate amounts of water, the problem may disappear. If not, chronic constipation can lead to hemorrhoids and eventually surgery. Isn’t drinking water preferable to that?

When lack of proper hydration becomes a chronic long-term problem, the symptoms become more systemic. It’s not uncommon for people to develop heartburn, allergies, arthritis, Lupus, and various autoimmune conditions because they don’t drink enough water. Don’t we all know someone with one of these problems? You see, you can’t flush toxins out with sugar and caffeine. Very simply, your body stops functioning properly without adequate amounts of water.

Maybe you’ve never heard this before. How can water cure all these problems? Well, don’t underestimate the power of the pharmaceutical industry. Right now there’s no money to be made by writing people prescriptions for water.

If you’re used to consuming lots of soft drinks, the taste of water may not be all that enticing. Well, there are many ways to get more water into your body. First, limit the amount of soft drinks you consume. The sugar and caffeine have to be processed by your body and this requires water—water that you’re not drinking enough of.

As a former soda and ice tea junkie, I’ll share my tips for learning to like water. I found that drinking it ice cold made tastes better. My favorite way is over crushed ice with a lemon wedge. There are water flavors that you can buy at the local health food store. Also, consider adding stevia. Stevia is a very sweet herb that is often used by diabetics as a sugar replacement. You can find it at the health food store as well.

If you’re satisfied with the taste of tap water, that’s great. If not, you have several options. Of course you can buy bottled water, but if that’s too pricey, consider purchasing a water filter to place on the taps at home. There are various water filters you can buy that filter out minerals and other additives the local water authority adds. The taste will improve immediately.

Like anything else new, adding sufficient water to your diet requires a plan. It’s not easy if you haven’t grown up doing it. Commercials are constantly peddling the latest wonder drink, and convenient snack machines sell soft drinks that make it difficult to pass up. Bring your water bottle to work and devote a month to your new habit. You’ll notice that nagging problems like headaches and indigestion disappear.

Most people don’t know that many popular health care products contain toxic chemicals. The common ingredients in things like toothpaste, deodorant, and skin care products contain chemicals that scientists have linked to health problems such cancer and learning disabilities.

Soaps and Lotions

One of the most common ingredients in shampoos and lotions is sodium lauryl sulfate. You would be hard pressed to find a skin care product that didn’t contain this chemical. Manufacturers use it because it adds thickness and lather to their formulas. However, did you know sodium lauryl sulfate’s most common industrial use is to clean oil off car engines? It’s true. Your favorite shampoo and conditioner probably have enough sodium lauryl sulfate to clean the grease pit of your local garage.

Deodorants

The most common ingredient in deodorants is Aluminium chlorohydrate. Aluminum is widely recognized as a toxin. It works in antiperspirants by blocking the sweat duct. It has been linked to increased incidents of learning disabilities, organ dysfunction, and Alzheimer’s disease. Parabens are also a common ingredient in deodorants. You would be hard pressed to find a cosmetic that doesn’t contain parabens. Parabens have been tied to breast cancer. Some scientists believe parabens interact with estrogen and cause tumors.

Toothpaste

Fluoride is commonly believed to be good for your teeth; however, it has quite a controversial history. Did you know it is registered as a pesticide for killing rodents? Many people believe it to be a carcinogen. It was originally a byproduct of the fertilizer manufacturing process. While the pharmaceutical industry promotes its use, many scientists say it is linked to learning disabilities and cancer.

So, if toxins are so rampant in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, what can the consumer do? If you’re inclined to make your own, there are many books that contain recipes for natural soaps and lotions; however, most people don’t have the time to do this on a regular basis so another good option is to buy from health food stores.

Buying your personal care products from health food stores is a new trend. It’s becoming very common for health food stores to carry several lines of skin care products. Savvy consumers realize that skin is the body’s largest organ and are not willing to risk their health unnecessarily.

Buying your personal care products at the health food store is a great option. The personal care products you find at health food stores will be organic and free of harmful chemicals. If you want a wider selection of products than what is available locally, the Internet is only a mouse click away. You will find that organic products work just as well, or better than, the products you’ve used previously. Keep in mind that if demand is high enough, mainstream stores will start to carry more organic products.

Disparity in the middle of expended fuels and used up energy lead to either undernourishment or unwarranted reserves of body fat. This evident problem was resolved by dieticians by means of what most people tend to take for granted, a proper diet or the decision to settle for a regulated consumption of food by selecting what foods to eat. Typically, proper diet compels one to have vitamins, minerals and fuels by having standardized intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Choosing option of settling for a dietary habit is a tough decision due to the fact that it entails strict discipline and keen determination; unquestionably it plays a significant role to human health and mortality.

The increasing demand of people suffering from innumerable diseases involving the healthiness of their diet, has led to the development of different kinds of diets focusing on specific needs of a person. One of such diets is based on the discovery of the incredible dietary data from those parts of the Mediterranean basin, predominantly, Southern Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Turkey and Spain, where people enjoyed the lowest recorded rates of chronic diseases and the highest adult life expectancy in the early part of the century. The healthy pattern in those regions is later confirmed by epidemiological and experimental nutrition researches. This theory was conceptualized in 1960s by Ancel Keys, PhD, of the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis which during that time was based in Salerno, Italy. He construed this theory by means of the citizens’ diets which revolves around plant-based nutrients, with animal proteins playing only a marginal role.

The diet is taken into shape by an abundance of food from plant sources, together with fruits an vegetables, potatoes and breads and grains, beans and nuts and even seeds, which provide fibers and antioxidants that are protective against conjointly heart disease and cancer. It promotes minimal consumption of processed food, and instead being satisfied with seasonally fresh and locally grown foods. It substitutes olive oil as the principal fat, in exchange of other fats and oils such as butter and margarine because it is said to be a rich source of monosaturated fats which then lowers the total cholesterol. As a daily dessert, fresh fruit is preferred and sweets with considerable volume of sugar and saturated fat are to be avoided. Reasonable drinking of wine is done usually with meals; around one to two glasses per day, for men and one glass per day for women. Red wine is a rich source of flavonoid phenolics- which is a certain type of antioxidant that protects us against heart disease by increasing HDL cholesterol and obstructing blood clots.

The said diet is really popular due to its healthiness, however it is quite notable to say that lifestyle is also a crucial factor to the road of a proper diet.

There are numerous modern contraception methods, and an appropriate method is available for a particular person at different times of one’s life. You may inquire on your health service provider, practice nurse or family planning health center or clinic for information about the kind of contraception methods that are appropriate to you and are the best for your health.

Most of today’s contraceptives can be purchased only with prescription, except for condoms that can be found in most stores and can easily be purchased over the counter. Not every contraceptive is available from your local health care provider. However, they can very well be able to send you to the nearest doctor or nurse or family planning health center that might have the contraception methods you need.

You may purchase condoms (for men and even women) and spermicides over the counter without getting prescription from the doctor or family clinic. Condoms may be bought in almost any stores. Supermarkets, drug and pharmacy store definitely are selling condoms. Some places likewise have vending machines that sell and dispose condoms. You may also purchase caps and diaphragms at a drug store; however you should be aware of your size. When you order contraception, you must research on the possible adverse side effects that any method has. Seek advice from your health care practitioner or family clinic if you need assistance.

No contraceptive is really 100 percent effective, and only the use of condoms will fully protect you against sexually transmitted diseases. The effectiveness of the contraceptive that you use is dependent on how carefully and consistently you utilize the contraceptive method. However, if you do not employ any contraception method you have an 85 to 90 percent possibility of being pregnant.

Another effective method of contraception is the birth control pill. One important advantage and benefit of the birth control pill is that its effect is reversible. Once your ovulation cycle resumes you may become pregnant, albeit such scenario is unlikely to occur. You have little chance of becoming pregnant even if you try during your first cycle. Using birth control pills during your healthy reproductive stage in life will offer reliable and effective family planning. Birth control pills likewise reduce the risk of having endometrial and ovarian cancer.

The diaphragm method of contraception uses a reusable rubber cap having a flexible rim. The diaphragm is inserted in the vagina, with the vaginal muscles putting it in place. Usually utilized with spermicides, diaphragm method of contraception is 80 percent effective. Spermicides are creams, gel, suppository or tablet that inactivate sperm cells before entering the female’s uterus.

There are adverse side effects when using that diaphragm method of contraception. However, few women experience such side effects when using it. Some of the side effects brought about by the use of diaphragm include urinary tract infection, vaginal irritation which can be caused by the rubber or the spermicides employed with the contraption, and mild to serious vaginal infection.