Sunscreen ingredient may pose skin cancer risk, researchers find
Posted: May 9, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices 2 Comments(Phys.org) — As vacationers prepare to spend time outdoors this summer, many of them will pack plenty of sunscreen in hopes it will protect their bodies from overexposure, and possibly from skin cancer. But researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology are discovering that sunscreen may not be so safe after all.
Cell toxicity studies by Dr. Yinfa Ma, Curators’ Teaching Professor of chemistry at Missouri S&T, and his graduate student Qingbo Yang, suggest that when exposed to sunlight, zinc oxide, a common ingredient in sunscreens, undergoes a chemical reaction that may release unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals seek to bond with other molecules, but in the process, they can damage cells or the DNA contained within those cells. This in turn could increase the risk of skin cancer.
Ma also found that the longer zinc oxide is exposed to sunlight, the greater the potential damage to human cells.
"Zinc oxide may generate free radicals when exposed to UV (ultraviolet) sunlight," May says, "and those free radicals can kill cells."
Ma studied how human lung cells immersed in a solution containing nano-particles of zinc oxide react when exposed to different types of light over numerous time frames. Using a control group of cells that were not immersed in the zinc oxide solution, Ma compared the results of light exposure on the various groups of cells. He found that zinc oxide-exposed cells deteriorated more rapidly than those not immersed in the chemical compound.
Even when exposed to visible light only, the lung cells suspended in zinc oxide deteriorated. But for cells exposed to ultraviolet rays, Ma found that "cell viability decreases dramatically."
When exposed to ultraviolet long-wave light (ultraviolet A or UVA) for 3 hours, half of the lung cells in the zinc oxide solution died. After 12 hours, 90 percent of the cells in that solution died, Ma found.
Why does zinc oxide, an ingredient used in sunscreen to help block harmful UV rays, cause cells to deteriorate when exposed to sunlight? According to Ma, when the zinc oxide nano-particles in the solution absorb the UV rays, the reaction releases electrons, which in turn may produce unstable free radical molecules in the zinc oxide solution. Those free radical molecules then bond with other molecules and act as parasites, damaging the other molecules in the process.
Ma and his colleagues at Missouri S&T published their initial research results in the January 2009 edition of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research. The paper, titled "Toxicity of nano- and micro-sized ZnO particles in human lung epithelial cells," was the first comprehensive study ever published on this subject. Lead author Weisheng Lin was Ma’s Ph.D. student at the time. Other authors of the paper were Chuan-Chin Huang, a graduate student in biological sciences at the time, and two members of S&T’s biological sciences faculty, Dr. Katie Shannon (assistant professor) and Dr. Yue-Wern Huang (associate professor).
Now, Ma is preparing to publish his latest research results in the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. A publication date has not been determined.
Ma’s research on zinc oxide’s effect on cells is still in the early stages, so he cautions people from drawing conclusions about the safety or dangers of sunscreen based on this preliminary research.
"More extensive study is still needed," May says. "This is just the first step."
For instance, Ma plans to conduct electron spin resonance tests to see whether zinc oxide truly does generate free radicals, as he suspects. In addition, clinical trials will be needed before any conclusive evidence may be drawn from his studies.
In the meantime, Ma advises sunbathers to use sunscreen and to limit their exposure to the sun.
"I still would advise people to wear sunscreen," he says. "Sunscreen is better than no protection at all."
Besides sunscreen, zinc oxide is used in many commercial products, including plastics, paints, ointments and sealants.
Provided by Missouri University of Science and Technology (news : web)
Soy is Not a Health Food
Posted: May 8, 2012 Filed under: Food and it's Impact on Our Health, Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
The mainstream media has got news for you these days: Overweight? Try soy! Hot-flashes? Eat soy! Blotchy skin? Rub on some soy! Lactose intolerant? Soy!
With all the ads on TV and all the products popping up everywhere, you’d think soy foods were the answer to everything that ails you. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Despite the well-crafted, expensive PR campaign, soy is not a health food, and people need to know the havoc it has wrought on both our bodies and the environment.
Why Disposable Diapers are Dirty and Dangerous
Posted: May 8, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices Leave a commentin GREEN PARENTING, VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY

Babies do a lot of pooping. In fact, the average baby goes through 6-8 diapers a day. Unless you practice elimination communication, your baby will use at least 6,500 diapers before potty training around 30 months old. If you use disposables, this costs about $75–$100 a month retail, or $3,000 per child!
According to a 2010 study, one-third of U.S. mothers are cutting back on basic necessities (such as food, utilities, and childcare) to buy diapers for their children. But as much as disposable diapers cost individual families, they cost us even more as a nation and as a planet.
For International Real Diaper Week, consider these alarming facts you may not know about disposable diapers:
Disposable Nation
Approximately 90% of Americans use 18 billion single-use, plastic diapers a year. This generates 7.6 billion pounds of garbage each year—enough waste to fill Yankee Stadium 15 times over, or stretch to the moon and back 9 times. Every year.
Disposable diapers are the 3rd largest consumer item in landfills, and represent 30%of non-biodegradable waste. The only other items that outnumber the amount of disposables in landfills are newspapers and beverage and food containers.
160 Uses for Coconut Oil
Posted: May 4, 2012 Filed under: In The Kitchen with Millie- How To's, Non-Toxic Choices, Skin Care Leave a commentBy Jennifer – Hybrid Rasta Mama
Coconut Oil – An Overview
Offering a myriad of health benefits, coconut oil is affordable, readily available and completely natural. I use it for EVERYTHING. Literally. I buy it in 5 gallon increments and keep it all over my house. I even have some in the car. So here is a little information to inspire you to check out this amazing oil!
Coconut Oil Is:
- Anti-bacterial (kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum diseases, and other bacterial infections)
- Anti-carcinogenic (coconut oil has antimicrobial properties so it effectively prevents the spread of cancer cells and enhances the immune system)
- Anti-fungal (kills fungi and yeast that lead to infection)
- Anti-inflammatory (appears to have a direct effect in suppressing inflammation and repairing tissue, and it may also contribute by inhibiting harmful intestinal microorganisms that cause chronic inflammation.)
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Anti-microbial/Infection Fighting (the medium-chain fatty acids and monoglycerides found in coconut oil are the same as those in human mother’s milk, and they have extraordinary antimicrobial properties. By disrupting the lipid structures of microbes, they inactivate them. About half of coconut oil consists of lauric acid. Lauric acid, its metabolite monolaurin and other fatty acids in coconut oil are known to protect against infection from bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi and parasites. While not having any negative effect on beneficial gut bacteria, coconut oil inactivates undesirable microbes.)
- An Antioxidant (protects against free-radical formation and damage)
- Anti-parasitic (fights to rid the body of tapeworms, lice and other parasites)
- Anti-protozoa (kills giardia, a common protozoan infection of the gut)
- Anti-retroviral (kills HIV and HLTV-1)
- Anti-viral (kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other viruses)
- Infection fighting
- Has no harmful for discomforting side effects
- Known to improve nutrient absorption (easily digestible; makes vitamins and minerals more available to the body)
- Nontoxic to humans and animals
Daily Dosage:
Here is a chart outlining the recommended daily dosage of virgin coconut oil for persons over the age of 12. Coconut oil may be consumed by children under 12 but it is advisable to check with a healthcare practitioner on the proper dosage. Any good naturopath will have the information at the ready. (Starting at 12 months of age, I gave my daughter one teaspoon per day and she weighed about 16 pounds at that time.)
Weight in pounds
Number of tablespoons of coconut oil daily
175+ 4
150+ 3 1/2
125+ 3
100+ 2 1/2
75+ 2
50+ 1 1/2
25+ 1
Type of Coconut Oil to Use:
- Virgin (unrefined) coconut oil tastes and smells coconutty and is great for cooking and baking where you want that flavor. You can use it for anything but it will impart a coconut taste (mild) and odor (pleasant in my book)! Unrefined coconut oil retains the most nutritional value and is superior to refined oil.
- Expeller pressed (refined) coconut oil can be used for anything. It does not have a coconutty smell or taste. It is still outstanding to use but does lose some of it’s health properties during the refining process.
- Food grade should always be used.
Millie; I use Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil and Cream
160 Uses for Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil for Personal Hygiene/Body
1. Age Spots (also known as liver spots) – applying coconut oil directly to the age spot will help it fade.
2. After Shave – coconut oil will help heal your skin after shaving without clogging pores. Great for razor burn!
3. Baldness – apply three times a day to affected area of hair loss. Coconut oil supports cell regeneration.
4. Birth Marks – can be used after a laser removal treatment to aid in healing. Can also be applied after an apple cider vinegar treatment to help support and aid the fading process.
5. Body Scrub – mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell.
6. Bruises – applied directly to the bruise, coconut oil enhances the healing process by reducing swelling and redness.
7. Bug Bites – when applied directly to a bug bite, coconut oil can stop the itching and burning sensation as well as hasten the healing process.
8. Burns – apply to burn site immediately and continue applying until healed. Will reduce the chances of permanent scarring and promotes healing.
9. Chapstick – just rub a little into lips and it not only acts as a softening agent but it also has an SPF of about 4 so you get a little protection!
10. Cradle Cap – having issues with dry skin on your baby’s scalp? Coconut oil will not only nourish your baby’s skin, it also helps eliminate cradle cap. Just rub a teaspoon onto scalp daily.
11. Dandruff – coconut oil soaks into the scalp moisturizing dry skin and relieves symptoms of dandruff. It also helps to control oil secretion from the scalp, another leading cause of dandruff
Is Common Sense Really THIS Uncommon?
Posted: May 4, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
Really? Are we so dumb that we can’t figure this out without a post from Treehugger???
How about NOT using ANY? In a public bathroom, don’t use one, shake your hands off.
At home, NEVER use them, never buy them. Use an old fashioned dish towel to dry hands or dishes. Buy cotton terry dish clothes, they really soak up moisture.
To wash dishes, use an old fashioned dish cloth. Don’t buy plastic Scrubbies. It is possible to mostly avoid plastic in the kitchen.
Flawed Info on Fooducate today…
Posted: May 2, 2012 Filed under: Food and it's Impact on Our Health, Non-Toxic Choices Leave a commentHigh Fat Food – Straight to Your Bloodstream

We know that greasy burgers and fries are no health food. But in this 2 minute ABC news clip from food coach Lori Corbin, you can actually see how all that saturated fat affects the bloodstream. In realtime.
The fat globules clog the blood vessels, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. But the buildup also has cognitive side effects- look for the rats swimming through a maze towards the end of the video.
Reminder: not all fats are created equally. Fat is an essential part of our diet. You just need to choose the healthy type that is commonly founds in nuts and seeds, avocados, and fish.
To View the Video and read article…
Are you Feeding your Kids Twinkies for Breakfast?
Posted: April 27, 2012 Filed under: Food and it's Impact on Our Health, Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
We all know it’s the sugar in children’s cereals that makes them popular. And cereal makers, more than anyone, are aware of the singular appeal of sugar amid the myriad of ingredients in today’s breakfast cereals.
Parents may indulge their children with sugary cereals from time to time, but most parents would forbid a breakfast diet of Twinkies or chocolate chip cookies. But according to a new study by the Environmental Working Group, they may be The three most sugary cereals, Honey Smacks, Wheaties Fuel and Golden Crisp, each contain over 18 grams of sugar per 1 cup serving, which is about 56% of sugar by weight. This is about five teaspoons of sugar – the same amount as a Hostess Twinkie, and more than 5 chocolate chip cookies. And with today’s oversized cereal bowls, a typical serving size is likely to be double that amount, or closer to two cups of cereal.unknowingly feeding their children the equivalent amount of sugar.
Millie; Remember that the cereals themselves are 100% carbohydrates, so along with the sugar you are eating ALL carbs for breakfast.
Absurd American Cancer Society Ad
Posted: April 27, 2012 Filed under: Food and it's Impact on Our Health, Non-Toxic Choices Leave a commentSo…I guess their logic is that ALL that cancer research funded by all those people walking for cancer is going to strengthen someone’s immune system. eh?
We know how to cure cancer, we know how to prevent cancer. It’s very simple. Repair or maintain an intact immune system. Here’s how;
Minimize carbs (yes, ALL carbs, even from fruits and veggies) make them no more than 20% of your daily caloric intake. Lean heavily toward green leafy veggies, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, dark colored berries, peppers.
Get plenty of fat! This is crucial. The right fats contain nutrients that help build an immune system. A cow that has been in the sun for a few years has soaked up all that Vitamin A and D from the sun…you need these specific fats to nourish you. Minimize vegetable oils, NEVER heat or cook with them…and I do mean olive oil as well as any other veggie oils. Eat the foods that these oils come in; avocado, olives, sesame…that way the oils are fresh, not rancid. As soon as the fat molecules in liquid oils are exposed to oxygen they are rancid. This makes them carcinogenic. Then heating them further damages them, making them more toxic to the body.
Eat ONLY grass fed or organic meat. This is so important that even though a vegetarian diet is not healthy and does not meet all of your nutrient needs that if you are going to eat feed lot meat then you are better of being a vegetarian. Feed lot meat is simply too toxic, contains antibiotics and growth hormones and lacks the right type of fats to build an immune system.
You can prevent cancer, or heal cancer…by changing your nutrition, truly meeting your nutrient needs and feel incredibly different along the way. By eating correctly you can all of the energy you need to zip through every day, wake up raring to go and reaching your correct weight. All on 2000 calories a day.
All Natural Laundry Soap for about $20.00 a YEAR!
Posted: April 25, 2012 Filed under: Going Green; How and Why..., Non-Toxic Choices Leave a commentI posted about Soap Nuts a few years ago, but wanted to update and spread the word about this awesome, all natural solution for laundry soap. I discovered Soap nuts about 5 years ago and am still using them. It is a nut that grows on a tree, is safe, natural alternatives to harmful chemicals. Soap nuts release saponin (an effective, hypoallergenic, biodegradable organic cleaning agent. If you suffer from allergies, have sensitive skin, use cloth diapers, or want to do your part for a greener earth, soap nuts fit the bill. Soap nuts leave laundry clean, fresh and soft; dishes, pots and pans sparkling clean; your hair and scalp healthy – plus offer a plethora of green household cleaning uses.
I use them for laundry primarily. In cold water I just put them in a small muslin bag (comes with the nuts) and wash a few loads with them. For hot water washes I make a liquid by pouring boiling water over a handful of nuts and let it sit over night. It makes about a quart, which I keep in the fridge. That amount will do about 20 loads of laundry.
You can use this liquid for a Mosquito Repellent, for hand soap or shampoo.
To BUY…
From Google
From Laundry Tree
From NaturOli Organic through Amazon
Here’s a Guide on Growing Soap Nuts
I have asked both Grassroots Market and Whole foods to carry these..so far no luck. BUT, if you ask each time you go in and they continue to get requests, perhaps they will get them in for us!
Don’t Get Too Carried Away When Eating Gluten Free
Posted: April 24, 2012 Filed under: Food and it's Impact on Our Health, Non-Toxic Choices Leave a commentI recently asked a blogger to feature my book, The Criterion Diet (shameless promotion here…click here to buy it) on his blog. He wrote me back and said, “I don’t promote gluten free websites any more because you people are all crazy, all you do is focus on carbs, carbs, carbs…”.
He was, mostly, correct. Almost every site you go to on the web gives you TONS of recipe desserts, waffle and pancakes…every way to replace the gluten free items you were eating that made you sick …with ones that will not cause the bloating, tiredness, dizziness, fibromyalgia, weight gain, depression etc., that glutens cause.
I politely pointed out to him that if he had he actually looked at the book, peeked inside…or even read the description, he would have realized that that is not what my book was about. I teach a Paleo diet, am a proponent of a low carb diet. I don’t teach low carb so that people can lose weight (although that is a delightful side effect of becoming well nourished and healing).
I teach low carb because it is healthy. Carbs are carbs, whether they come from a gooey cinnamon roll or an organic piece of fruit…an excess of them does damage;causing heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, mal-nutrition, weight gain, diabetes. When you take in an excess of carbs, you take in less fat and protein. And therein lies the problem.
You need a full 50% of your calories each day to come from fat; healthy, saturated fats from organic sources in order to meet your needs for the nutrients you get from that fat (Vitamins A, D and E primarily).
You need 30% of each days intake to be high quality, organic protein from grass fed animals, cage free poultry and eggs, organ meats, Traditional Bone Stocks.
The remaining 20% should be from low glycemic vegetables; green leafy vegetables should be the biggest part followed by onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, lettuces. A small serving of organic fruit, the darker colored the better (berries give a lot of nutrients making the carbs worth it!).
Notice that I said all carbs are bad for you in excess. That is a large part of the problem when people learn that they need to stop eating gluten containing foods…and all humans feel way better off of ALL grains, not just the ones that contain glutens. The focus for most people in the beginning is that they focus on all the “products” out there that are alternatives to their gluten containing counterparts.
Yes, you CAN get gluten and lactose free Oreos, Pop tarts, Cookies, pastas, cheeses, chips, cakes, mixes to cook with. But SHOULD you? No, you shouldn’t except occasionally. We all have birthdays, weddings, occasions we want top celebrate. And of course we are going to bake and celebrate in a traditional way…but on a day to day basis we need great nutrition.
So baked goods, Ezekiel Bread, gluten free cookies are all recreational foods…treat them as such, enjoy them occasionally. And use them during the time you are transitioning to a gluten free diet, they will help tremendously with the craving for glutens as the body gets rid of the mucus and our immune system calms down.
I offer a line of gluten, lactose and soy free desserts myself…for those special times. Do I eat them often? No, I do not…I eat almost perfect 98% of the time and really enjoy the great health and extremely high energy that is the result of that choice.


