Top 10 Chemicals Most Likely to Cause Autism

Not surprised, but - worthy of sharing... especially since April is Autism Awareness Month and the latest stats are that 1 in 88 children are now affected with some type of ASD or Asberger's.  If you are 1 in 88, then your life will change/has changed and it is likely you will do whatever it takes to heal, recover or help your child.  Why wouldn't you?  And why wouldn't you do what you could, to prevent a learning disability (if possible)?

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Top 10 Chemicals Most Likely to Cause Autism and Learning Disabilities

This morning, the The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC) released a list of the top ten toxic chemicals suspected to cause autism and learning disabilities.

This list was published today in Environmental Health Perspectives in an editorial written by Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, director of the CEHC, Dr. Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and Dr. Luca Lambertini, also of the CEHC.

The top ten chemicals are:

1. Lead
2. Methylmercury
3. PCBs
4. Organophosphate pesticides
5. Organochlorine pesticides
6. Endocrine disruptors
7. Automotive exhaust
8. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
9. Brominated flame retardants
10. Perfluorinated compounds

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Click here for the whole post.

Endocrine disruptors  -- think of hormones, thyroid, adrenals, etc.  I've posted previously about early puberty, obesity, adrenal therapy, cheap make-up, fluoride, etc. and all the toxic chemicals that could affect our bodies, every day, if we allow them.  Again, my stand is that prevention is the key to healthy children and that is done by educating myself and sticking to our plan for our family.  Toxic chemicals are not included in the plan!

Propylene Glycol - Good or Bad

 

Propylene Glycol. Are you familiar with this ingredient? You might be if you read labels as much as we do.

Over the last 2 years, I've realized that we use many products with chemicals and ingredients that are harmful, carcinogenic and just plain old "bad" to use. Some additives most definitely are harmful and should be avoided ALL the time, whereas others are sometimes harmful - depending on individual sensitivity and then, there are those that are only harmful in certain quantities. It's frustrating to learn that "the government" would allow and permit this to happen. But, happen it does. If you don't believe me,  go grab some of your skin care or make up products and start reading the labels. When you find an additive or ingredient that you are unfamiliar with, just look it up on your favorite search engine, or look it up at Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Data Base.

Toxic personal care products... it just doesn't sound right, and - it's not.

In fact, not only can this be frustrating, but - it can be downright discouraging. Angering. Is angering a word? It makes me mad and very, very sad. Can't ignore the truth. I can't anyway. Can you?
My big question is, " How much is too much?"  I do not have that answer.

Let's learn about propylene glycol and then decide if we can ignore this ingredient.  

Ok - so what exactly is propylene glycol anyway?
A cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. In the skin and hair, propylene glycol works as a humescent, which causes retention of moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. The Material Safety Data Sheet warns users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.  Ok, I swear I learned about this in cosmetology school back in the 80's...  duh.

Propylene glycol can commonly be found in:

• makeup
• shampoo
• deodorant
• conditioner or detangler
• styling mousse
• cleansing cream
• mascara
• soap
• skin cream
• bubble bath
• baby powder
• conditioner
• toner
• after shave
• baby wipes

Also in:

• Tire sealant
• Rubber cleaner
• De-icer
• Stain removers
• Fabric softener
• Degreaser
• Paint
• Adhesives & glues
  
• Wallpaper stripper
  

Somehow, these 2 lists do not seem to go together - and they shouldn't.  Right?

Just this week, I found propylene glycol on the label of coconut.  I made the macaroons anyway and served them at a Packer party last Sunday night.  They got rave reviews and I am not buying that coconut brand again.

This week, as I was arguing strongly discussing the ingredient tricolsan and reading labels with a friend, I found more propylene glycol.  I expect it on antibacterial soap, which is banned from our home, but - I do not want it in my coconut, just to keep it moist.  I'll get some new coconut tomorrow at Whole Foods.  Whole Foods rarely let me down!

I realize that most of us can probably handle eating propylene glycol, and most of us could use it on our skin too.  But, why would we?  Why would I want to eat natural gas?  *sigh*

For children with multiple allergies, sensitivities and other challenges, again I ask:  why would we?  During this time of "healing", I choose to limit what we are exposed to --  if I can control this exposure.

We buy and eat mostly organic food and try very hard to consume living food, raw food and pure water.  Why defeat this lifestyle with unhealthy chemical additives?  Really, I don't get it.  does this build up in our bodies?  Are there any (honest) studies showing the long term affects?  If PG is immediately absorbed and keeps things from drying out, what happens on a cellular level in our bodies and in our bloodstream?  I have never-ending questions, of course.  Why is this in wet/moist pet food?  Why are we using products with PG in them?

Wait!  I do get it!  Proplyne glycol is:

• Cheap
• Easy to make
• Easy to get
• It works - it does the job
• Someone makes money off it!

Yeah - I get it...

If I weren't so tired from trying to regain our son's health, I would go back to school and further my education so that I can understand all the "why's".  For now, I will simply continue reading labels and making the best possible decisions for my family that I can.  What else can I do?  I do not have the answer as to whether this is a good or bad additive; however, I avoid it, if I can.

It's Veteran's Day...  say a prayer for those who are serving and those who have served.

MSG Revisited

I decided to go visit an old friend - an old website that is: Truth In Labeling. When I first accepted the fact that something was not right with Nicolas, I eliminated a lot of ideas in the back of my mind. Then I had to face the harsh reality that perhaps, just maybe - his MMR (which contains MSG) had a little something to do with "it". At that time, I didn't know what "it" was. Anyway - a few months later I realized that Nick has a definite sensitivity to MSG. That's when I stumbled across Truth In Labeling and learned how to read food labels. Hubs realized it too, after Nicolas ate what we were told were "safe" hot dogs. That was last winter and the last time we trusted anyone else with his diet.


I've blabbed about MSG before, here at Created Chaos, but - since MSG is still everywhere, and because I am so tempted during the holidays to eat junk, I thought I might need a little reminder of just exactly what I'm dealing with.

Oh - here is a link to a convenient little flier that you can print out and take with you when you go grocery shopping, so that you can check the labels for MSG. Remember - just because it doesn't say MSG, doesn't mean it's not in the product. Read the label carefully.

IF MSG ISN'T HARMFUL, WHY IS IT HIDDEN?

Alert: H1N1 Vaccines: MedImmune’s H1N1 vaccine contains monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed protein gelatin, and various forms of phosphates. New government studies indicate that about 1 in 100 children have autism disorders. That's up from 1 in 150. And our FDA refuses to take neurotoxic glutamic acid and neurotoxic aspartic acid out of formula fed to infants, out of the food their nursing mothers eat and pass on to them, and out of vaccines where the neurotoxic glutamic acid is mainlined to children.

Do NOT Let Your Child Get Flu Vaccine -- 9 Reasons Why

Watch this!

This year it is more important that you protect your children and loved ones from the flu vaccines than influenza itself. This article on Lew Rockwell discusses how:

1. The swine flu is simply another flu. It is not unusually deadly.

2. This is the first time both seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines will be administered. Both seasonal flu and swine flu vaccines will require two inoculations. This is because single inoculations have failed to produce sufficient antibodies. This is an admission that prior flu vaccines were virtually useless. Can you trust them this time?

3. Adjuvants are added to vaccines to boost production of antibodies but may trigger autoimmune reactions. Some adjuvants are mercury (thimerosal), aluminum and squalene. Why would you sign a consent form for your children to be injected with mercury, which is even more brain-toxic than lead?

4. This is the first year mock vaccines have been used to gain FDA approval. The vaccines that have been tested are not the same vaccines your children will be given.

5. Over-vaccination is a common practice now in America. American children are subjected to 29 vaccines by the age of two. Meanwhile, veterinarians have backed off of repeat vaccination in dogs because of observed side effects.

6. Modern medicine has no explanation for autism, despite its continued rise in prevalence. Yet autism is not reported among Amish children who go unvaccinated.

7. Researchers are warning that over-use of the flu vaccine and anti-flu drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza can apply genetic pressure on flu viruses and then they are more likely to mutate into a more deadly strain.

8. Most seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus strains tested from the United States and other countries are now resistant to Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Tamiflu has become a nearly worthless drug against seasonal flu.

9. Public health officials are irresponsible in their omission of any ways to strengthen immunity against the flu. No options outside of problematic vaccines and anti-flu drugs are offered, despite the fact there is strong evidence that vitamins C and D activate the immune system and the trace mineral selenium prevents the worst form of the disease.

For even more reasons, please review the full article on LewRockwell.com.

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Reminder: How to Protect Yourself without Dangerous Drugs and Vaccinations

There will always be threats of flu pandemics, real or created, and potentially toxic vaccines will continue to be peddled as the solution until enough people realize there’s a better, safer, saner way.

You can break free of the drug-solution trap right now by following these natural health principles. I have not caught a flu in over two decades, and you can avoid it too, without getting vaccinated, by following these simple guidelines, which will keep your immune system in optimal working order so that you're far less likely to acquire the infection to begin with.

• Optimize your vitamin D levels. As I've previously reported, optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of ALL kinds, and vitamin D deficiency is likely the TRUE culprit behind the seasonality of the flu -- not the flu virus itself.
  
  This is probably the single most important and least expensive action you can take.
  
  I would STRONGLY urge you to have your vitamin D level monitored to confirm your levels are at a therapeutic level, which is between 50-65 ng/ml. I also recommend using a reliable vitamin D lab like Lab Corp, if you’re in the U.S. Sometime this fall, we hope to launch a vitamin D testing service through Lab Corp that will allow you to have your vitamin D levels checked at your local blood drawing facility, and relatively inexpensively.
  
  If you are coming down with flu like symptoms and have not been on vitamin D you can take doses of 50,000 units a day for three days to treat the acute infection. Some researchers like Dr. Cannell, believe the dose could even be as high as 1,000 units per pound of body weight for three days.
  
  However, most of Dr. Cannell's work was with seasonal and not pandemic flu. If your body has never been exposed to the antigens there is chance that the vitamin D might not work. However the best bet is to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D around 60 ng/ml.

• Avoid sugar and processed foods. Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately, and as you likely know, a strong immune system is key to fighting off viruses and other illness. Be aware that sugar is present in foods you may not suspect, like ketchup and fruit juice.

• Get enough rest. Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you're tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu. Be sure to check out my article Guide to a Good Night's Sleep for some great tips to help you get quality rest.

• Have effective tools to address your stress. We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness.
  
  If you feel that stress is taking a toll on your health, consider using an energy psychology tool such as Meridian Tapping Techniques, which is remarkably effective in relieving stress associated with all kinds of events, from work to family to trauma.

• Exercise. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads. You can review my exercise guidelines for some great tips on how to get started.

• Take a good source of animal based omega-3 fats like krill oil. Increase your intake of healthy and essential fats like the omega-3 found in krill oil, which is crucial for maintaining health. It is also vitally important to avoid damaged omega-6 oils like trans fats found in most processed foods, as it will seriously damage your immune response.

• Wash your hands. Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. Be sure you don't use antibacterial soap for this -- antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good. Instead, identify a simple chemical-free soap that you can switch your family to.

• Eat garlic regularly. Garlic works like a broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacteria, virus, and protozoa in the body. And unlike with antibiotics, no resistance can be built up so it is an absolutely safe product to use. However, if you are allergic or don't enjoy garlic it would be best to avoid as it will likely cause more harm than good.

• Avoid hospitals and vaccines. In this particular case, I'd also recommend you stay away from hospitals unless you're having an emergency, as hospitals are prime breeding grounds for infections of all kinds, and could be one of the likeliest places you could be exposed to flu bugs of all kinds.
  
  As a side note, please beware that 21 different pediatric Tylenol products have been recently recalled due to the possibility of bacterial contamination. So, if your child comes down with cold or flu symptoms, make sure you do not give him or her a potentially contaminated product.
  
  Better yet, help your child recover using more traditional cold and flu remedies, such as, hydrogen peroxide solution in the ear, zinc lozenges, high quality raw honey, or a homemade cough syrup. For more information and instructions, please see this previous article: Is Honey More Effective Than Cough Medicine?

Last but not least, if you do end up being coerced to take the swine flu shot, I strongly recommend you review Dr. Blaylock’s recommendations, which may alleviate some of the associated health risks.

Are YOU Protected From Mercury?

I guess that's a silly question and I should come up with a better title for this post. Maybe I will.

So, where or how does one get mercury poisoning? Shots - right? Oh, but they removed all the mercury (thimerosol) from vaccines and immunizations - right? So, then - where does it come from!??!

((Choking))

I know, I have a bit of an attitude. Even though it's calm and quiet here, I know that today will be filled with drama and squeeling -- oh, and crying too. Not a day goes by without tears (Nick's, that is)...


Back to the mercury. Time to tell it like it is - no different than any other post. Below are a few facts about mercury from the SafeMinds website.

What is mercury?
Mercury is a developmental toxin that occurs naturally in the environment, as well as produced by human activities that increase occurrence in the environment. It exists in several forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds.

What are the effects of mercury exposure?
Mercury in all forms is an acknowledged neurotoxin. High levels of mercury in the blood-stream of unborn babies and young children impairs brain development. Mercury has been linked to NDDs, such as mental retardation, Attention Deficit Disorder, autism and other impairments affecting behavior, mental and emo-tional health. According to the EPA, 1 in 6 women of child-bearing age already have levels of mercury in their bodies considered harmful to unborn children.

What is thimerosal?
Thimerosal contains ethyl-mercury, a documented and dangerous neurotoxin. It is used as an inexpensive preservative in vaccines. Developed in the 1930’s and marketed by Eli Lilly, thimerosal has never been tested using modern safety standards.

What amount of mercury in vaccines is safe?
The National Academies of Science set the safe standard for thimerosal based on The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guidelines for methyl-mercury, 0.1 micro-grams per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day. Some vaccines, like the flu shot, contain as much as 25 micro-grams of mercury, over 10 times the safe limit for an infant.

Protect Yourself

10 Sources of Mercury That You Can Do Something About!

By Katie Weisman, SafeMinds Environmental Committee

Mercury is dangerous. Most of us know it but few of us really have a handle on all the places it is present in modern life. Few of us know how much mercury it takes to pose a threat or how to reduce our exposure. This new ongoing series of articles will clarify these issues and help you to protect yourself, your family and our planet.

These are potential sources of mercury that you need to be aware of. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but is intended to outline key exposures for large populations.

1. Fish consumption
2. Dental amalgam
3. Vaccines
4. Fluorescent Lighting
5. E-Waste
6. Batteries
7. Thermometers and Thermostats
8. Emissions and Occupational Exposures
9. Fungicides/Disinfectants and Paints/Glues
10. Plastics, Bleach and Other Chlor-Alkali End Products

Mercury has been used in the past in many more products than it is today and with far less attention paid to its toxicity. From candles to fishing sinkers to the children’s sneakers with the “light-up” heels, mercury has been removed from many consumer products. However, you need to be aware that the old chemistry set or blood pressure gauge sitting in your grandparents’ attic may be a threat.

• When mercury is present in the body either from recent acute exposure or long-term chronic exposure, it can exponentially increase the adverse affect of other toxins 10-fold to 100-fold in a process known as “synergistic toxicity.”
• Autism is closely correlated with a lessened ability to excrete toxins.

There is much evidence that autism is triggered by a toxic overload which adversely affects organs throughout the body, including the brain. Research indicates that several toxins and biological agents could be contributing to a toxic overload causing autism, including but not limited to:

• ethylmercury in vaccines
• methylmercury and other forms of mercury in the environment
• organic pesticides
• bisphenol A in plastics
• aluminum hydroxide (used in vaccines to stimulate an immune response)
• certain viruses

Q: Why am I on the mercury bandwagon again?

A: Come on over and live at our house for day and you'll know why.

I Have Been Waiting for This, Sadly

I was waiting and wondering when this would surface...

"A warning that the new swine flu jab is linked to a deadly nerve disease has been sent by the Government to senior neurologists in a confidential letter.

The letter from the Health Protection Agency, the official body that oversees public health, has been leaked to The Mail on Sunday, leading to demands to know why the information has not been given to the public before the vaccination of millions of people, including children, begins.

It tells the neurologists that they must be alert for an increase in a brain disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which could be triggered by the vaccine.

GBS attacks the lining of the nerves, causing paralysis and inability to breathe, and can be fatal.

The letter, sent to about 600 neurologists on July 29, is the first sign that there is concern at the highest levels that the vaccine itself could cause serious complications.

It refers to the use of a similar swine flu vaccine in the United States in 1976 when:

• More people died from the vaccination than from swine flu.
• 500 cases of GBS were detected.
• The vaccine may have increased the risk of contracting GBS by eight times.
• The vaccine was withdrawn after just ten weeks when the link with GBS became clear.
• The US Government was forced to pay out millions of dollars to those affected.

Concerns have already been raised that the new vaccine has not been sufficiently tested and that the effects, especially on children, are unknown."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206807/Swine-flu-jab-link-killer-nerve-disease-Leaked-letter-reveals-concern-neurologists-25-deaths-America.html#ixzz0OSz2HxPO

Toxic Toys? Oh yes!

I have always thought that there was a piece of the puzzle that I have been missing in regards to Nick's regressive health condition, a.k.a. his autism or ADHD. Five years ago, there were no signs or symptoms. The photo below is from a NICU reunion at the hospital where Nicolas was born. It was a fun, fun day with lots of activities, snacks and a time to see nurses and old friends. Maybe this was more than 5 years ago... Andrew was but a teenager. Doesn't really matter; Nicolas was a normal, happy little boy. There were no "episodes" or humiliating or embarrassing moments. No meltdowns, screaming or drooling either. Just a nice afternoon. What the heck happened?




When I look back and search for reasons and conditions, there are many to be found. Surgeries, medications, metal fillings, the MMR, etc.

And, when I look at his immunological system, his individual areas of concern and try to understand what is happening on a cellular level, it gets deep. It's been an education all over again, plus more than what I ever knew before, from taking high school chemistry and biology, that's for sure. In college, I took accounting classes and in cosmetology school, we did learn some about overall health relating to massage, etc. - but those were the 80's and much has been discovered since then. Still, both Nick's DAN! Dr. and I think we're missing something. He thinks it is allergy related. I am unsure. He thinks it is corn. It is not corn. I have done so many corn tests... it's silly.

I have just kind of put this on the back burner and been focusing on removing metals from Nick's body for now. Most days it is a fight just to get all his ala carte supplements in him... Until today. Today I am supposed to be packing to go up north to our cabin, cleaning, cooking, preparing, etc. So far, I have played with the bird... and read an article that I can't stop thinking about.

I peeked over at Age of Autism, one of my favorite places to be reminded that I am not alone. Our story is not unique and there are so many families who have lost children at younger ages than Nick. But, not to think about now. Now I am wondering about toxic toys.

Ever hear of toys being toxic? Did you know that toys can be toxic? Yes, that is what I said.

Go over to Age of Autism and read about the toys and lead levels. Then read the comments. If you have kids, you should read it. It your kids play with toys, you should read it.

Once again, I feel let down by the manufacturers and those with money and power. My heart aches and I am too tired to be angry.

Could this be the piece of Nick's puzzle that I am missing?

I have been focusing on so many areas... and for good reason. I am so aware of neurodiversity and what a joke it is if you're not just like everyone else. That's a bunch of garbage.

I have never been a follower and even in the salon industry - I have never gotten a trendy cut or new style when everyone else does. I can't stand the thought of being a carbon copy. In fact, Olivia and I are growing our hair as long as we can stand it, and then we will donate it. I haven't had so much as a trim in over 16 months. My hair is driving me nuts; but, I know there are people who would give anything just to be healthy enough to grow and have hair, so I am not complaining. Livi's hair is nearly down to her waist and mine is just the middle of my back. I trim hers every other month, to keep the ends clean looking. Speaking of hair, I have worked with hair and nail chemicals for almost 25 years. I wonder about all those chemicals and odors.

And, I wonder about the toys my kids play with. Do they contain high levels of lead? I am going to look at this possibility next week, after we get home from selling our cabin. You can bet I'll be blogging about it too.

Oh, the cabin is a rustic structure, by the way. No indoor plumbing. I haven't been up there in 8 years. One final trip is in order and I will bring home a few dishes and so forth... it's a 5 hour drive, one way. Wish me luck and pray for us. Safety and the sale. We NEED to sell. I am trusting that this is God's perfect timing, of course. I also trust that the things I discover along the way are meant to have a cause and reaction. Lead in toys? I don't know... but - I will find out.

Good-bye Aluminum Cookware

Interesting article about aluminum toxicity. We avoid metals as much as possible, including using aluminum-free baking soda. I just realized that I have 2 roasting pans that I bake meats in, that are aluminum. My grandmother always used them and they cook and bake wonderfully. But, so does glass. Good old glass to the rescue again!




The following is pretty interesting, if I don't say so myself!

"Aluminum can also accumulate in the brain causing seizures and reduced mental alertness. The brain is normally protected by a blood-brain barrier, which filters the blood before it reaches it. Elemental aluminum does not pass easily through this barrier, but certain compounds contained within aluminum, such as aluminum fluoride do. Interestingly, many municipal water supplies are treated with both aluminum sulfate and aluminum fluoride. These two chemicals can also combine easily in the blood. Aluminum fluoride is also poorly excreted in the urine.

When there is a high level of absorption of aluminum and silicon, the combination can result in an accumulation of certain compounds in the cerebral cortex and can prevent nerve impulses being carried to and from the brain properly. Long term calcium deficiency can further aggravate the condition. Workers in aluminum smelting plants on a long term basis, have been know to experience dizziness, poor coordination, balance problems and tiredness. It has been claimed that the accumulation of aluminum in the brain could be a possible cause for these issues.

It is estimated that the normal person takes in between 3 and 10 milligrams of aluminum per day. Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element produced by the earth. It can be absorbed into the body through the digestive tract, the lungs and the skin, and is also absorbed by and accumulates in the bodies tissues. Aluminum is found naturally in our air, water and soil. It is also used in the process of making cooking pots and pans, utensils and foil. Other items such as over the counter pain killers, anti-inflammatory products, and douche preparations can also contain aluminum. Aluminum is also an additive in most baking powders, is used in food processing, and is present in antiperspirants, toothpaste, dental amalgams, bleached flour, grated cheese, table salt, and beer, (especially when the beer is in aluminum cans). The biggest source of aluminum, however, comes from our municipal water supplies."

How is it that neither my college-aged son nor his girlfriend have heard of aluminum toxicity? My mother has never heard of it either. What about the American public?

I only knew that aluminum was in deodorants, because I once worked in a salon that sold "rocks" as an alternative to traditional roll-ons, solids or spray deodorants. I didn't question things back then (obviously) like I do now.

"Autopsies on a large amount of people who have died of Alzheimer’s disease showed accumulations of up to four times the normal amount of aluminum in the nerve cells in the brain, especially in the hippocampus which plays a central role in memory.

So what products should we be avoiding?

Aluminum Cookware - A study done by the University of Cincinnati Medical Center showed that using aluminum pots and pans to cook tomatoes doubled the aluminum content of the tomatoes, from 2 to 4 milligrams per serving.

Antacids - Many name brand antacids contain aluminum hydroxide. Aluminum free antacids are also available such as Alka-Seltzer, Alka Mints, Di-Gel tablets, Maalox caplets, Mylanta gel caps, Rolaids tablets, Titralac, and Tums E-X.

Antidiarrheal Products - Watch labels carefully for any mention of aluminum salts. Products containing loperamide such as Imodium AD usually do not contain aluminum salts.


Containers - Aluminum coated waxed containers, used especially for orange and pineapple juices, cause juices inside to absorb aluminum. Beer and soft drinks that are stored in aluminum cans also absorb small quantities of aluminum. Bottled beverages are better.

Deodorants - Many deodorants and antiperspirants and even some skin powders contain aluminum chlorhydrate. Aluminum in this form is more readily absorbed into the brain via the nasal passages.

Food Additives - Cake mixes, frozen doughs, self-rising flour, and sliced process cheese food all contain from 5 to 50 milligrams of sodium aluminum phosphate per average serving. Baking powder has 5 to 70 milligrams of sodium aluminum sulfate per teaspoon. Starch modifiers and anti caking agents also contain varying levels of aluminum compounds. The processed cheeses used on cheese burgers at fast food restaurants also contain aluminum, which is added to make the cheese melt better.

Shampoos - A number of anti-dandruff preparations contain magnesium aluminum silicate. Watch labels carefully for aluminum lauryl sulfate, which is a common ingredient in many popular shampoo products."

I have been using amino acids to combat metals that may have accumulated in our bodies. I am also using some Young Living oils. I'll take all the help that I can get. Acids, oils... sounds funky! Just kidding... I kid, I kid - to survive chaos, I kid...

Lastly, this article about aluminum poisoning is so informative and a bit disturbing (especially the detoxification symptoms!) , that I have to share it. Have to.

Still on the Triclosan Wagon

Too busy again... making adjustments to Nick's supplementation schedule. Trying to homeschool and work. Getting ready for another garage sale too. Still, I keep finding more information about that darn triclosan. Gotta share it. From what I read, it kills algae, is found in earthworms and stays in the soil and sediment; it's bad news for our earth.

Here is a fact sheet about triclosan, updated in March of this year. My goodness, it's nasty! Go read for yourself. An informed parent (or person) is a smart person.

You can also go here and read some more about it too. Interesting thing is that no matter how many pages I end up at or do a search on... they all seem to mention triclosan and chloroform in the same sentence. Am I so old school that this is scary? Wait - don't answer... let me live in naivety, but - only for a season. My ignorance has never been bliss. ((Sigh))

For those of us who are working so hard to help our childrens' bodies (sp?) heal and regain optimal health, it is so important that we look at environmental factors that may either be hindering or harming their health and/or recovery. (Was that one sentence?!?) Toxins in their environments... Not just irritants, but - toxins? They've gotta go. And so do I - to bed, that is. I nearly pulled a couple of all-nighters last week... and I am feeling it tonight.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms. Hope your day was special.

Triclosan - Steer Clear of It!

Are you a nail biter? My kids are nail biters, which is rather odd, since I haven't had natural nails in over 23 years... One of these days I'll boot the chemicals out the door; but - until then, please - let me cover my gray and paint my nails... it won't be long.

By the time you're done reading this, you'll run to the bathroom to check out your hand soap - I promise! Let's see if I can explain, copy & paste to get the point across: First a bit of science...

Antimicrobials are natural or synthetic substances which kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. This capability makes antimicrobials unique for the control of infectious diseases caused by a large variety of pathogenic bacteria.

Antimicrobials are pesticides and must be regulated within the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in accordance with the Federal Insecticides, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). There are more than 5000 antimicrobial pesticides registered with the EPA. When used in or on the human body, however, antimicrobials are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Antibacterials
Even though antimicrobial and antibacterial are often used interchangeably, there are many antimicrobial substances on the market designed to work specifically against bacteria. These are known as antibacterials.

Triclosan is a broad spectrum pesticide found is a many products, including soaps and toys. Despite its wide-spread use, its health and environmental impacts are only now being studied, although I don’t why.

“Triclosan is the focus of a campaign undertaken by a coalition of health and environmental groups led by Beyond Pesticides, aimed at removing triclosan from the market. Triclosan, one of the most prevalent antibacterial compounds found in products, is the focus of a campaign undertaken by a coalition of health and environmental groups led by Beyond Pesticides, aimed at removing triclosan from the market. Studies have increasingly linked triclosan (and its chemical cousin triclocarban), to a range of adverse health and environmental effects, from skin irritation, allergy susceptibility, bacterial, endocrine disruption and compounded antibiotic resistantance, tainted water, and dioxin contamination to destruction of fragile aquatic ecosystems.”

Ways We Heal

I recently posted about Sodium Laurel Sulfate in Created Chaos. I was correct in my assumption that it is a very unwanted "drug" in many of our shampoos and cosmetics. It is a drug. The FDA considers it a drug - and it's not good. I've banned it from our home. Like most things, we simply do not continue to purchase products with the formerly accepted additives or ingredients in them, such as MSG, fluoride and now, sodium laurel sulfate. Yes, it's that serious. Remember, we are healing Nicolas and preventing and preserving Olivia's health (conditions).

This is just one of the many things we are changing in our home; things that we were not aware of, until Nick's "situation" occurred. Other things that we've either changed or added to our personal health care are: specific supplementation (and tweaking, increasing and adjusting as needed), removing artificial additives from our diets; further removal of toxins and allergens from within out home; continued chiropractic care and continued homeopathy; essential oils for treatment and prevention in healthcare. In fact, my friend - Lisa, from Pockets of Time - who uses titanium cookware (I didn't even know that titanium pots and pans existed!) that she sells, and who just sold me some fluoride free toothpaste too, is an oil lady.

I can't hear myself saying, "Hi, I am an oil lady." No - Lisa has never said that either. She's too calm, cool and collected... Unlike what I would say... I can hear myself say something like... "Hi - I don't have enough common sense to go to bed at night". But - then again, I never thought I would homeschool or have a "special" child and I never thought that immunizations were anything but good and beneficial. And I never thought I would have gray hair... or a million other things. Back to Lisa. I like her. She's sweet, pretty, has a cool new hairdo and she's not like me - she's quiet and so are her kids. She lives on a different planet than I do, one with white carpeting! Anyway, I checked out one of the blogs she follows and that's how I stay up all night... but - I like a good read and making new friends... one of whom just happens to be having a giveaway contest over at Oils for Wellness. The "joy thing" is going on over there... I think I need a hottub full of joy though!

I recently went to a local Consumer Pharmacy to check out their shampoos. The employee who helped me only recommended one product, out of the dozens of different brands. It was a shampoo bar. I took a sample from her and left. I have kids; I prefer to NOT use a bar for shampoo... am I being overly fussy? Maybe. I will try the bar. If I don't like it, I know that I can easily find personal care products elsewhere and I won't have to drive 20 miles, find a sitter, pay for parking and come home empty handed... It's often easier (less time and stress) to just order online.

As usual, Kirkman has the hypoallergenic products that I need. Kirkman also has an informative page about the various additives and ingredients in our personal care products. As usual, I am going to refer you over there. Hey - why should I re-type all the information? They've done all the work - go check it out for yourself and then read your shampoo bottle again, if you haven't already!

Good-bye - Laurel. I never want to see you again in our home!

For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.
~Ecclesiastes 7:12

Oh Laurel? Where are you? Why are you here?

Ever notice these words on your shampoo bottle ingredient label or make up labels: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate?

This additive is a cheap detergent, commonly used in cosmetics, hair shampoos, bath/shower gels, bubble baths, etc. - It is probably the most dangerous ingredient used in skin and hair-care products, from what I can tell - and no, I am not even close to being a chemist. But, I can read and I do have a brain. In addition, I HAVE A CONSCIENCE TOO!

In the cleaning industry, SLS is used in garage floor cleaners, engine de-greasers, car-wash soaps, etc. It is very corrosive and efficiently attacks greasy surfaces. Fine for your dirty garage floor, but - what about your skin?!?

Many of the salons where I once worked, used TIGI (Tony & Guy) professional hair care products.
Guess what's on the ingredient label?

Sodium lauryl sulfate is used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant. Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin. So, if you want irritated skin, use it.

A study at the University of Georgia Medical College, proved that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also showed that SLS did indeed penetrate young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop in adults.

Ever wonder how Walgreen's can offer Garnier Fructis sproducts for only 99 cents?
Cheap-cheap...

I have also seen mentioned that SLS may cause hair loss by attacking the follicle. It is actually classified as a drug in bubble baths because it eats away skin protection and causes rashes and infection to occur.

I wish I could say something otherwise, but this has to be dangerous and harmful to skin and hair. Cleaning by corrosion? Dries skin by stripping the protective lipids from the surface so it can't effectively regulate moisture.

If all that isn't bad enough... there's more! I keep finding articles regarding SLS and nitrate contamination. SLS reacts with many types of ingredients used in skin products and forms nitrosomines (nitrates). Nitrates are potential cancer-causing carcinogenics. CARCINOGENIC! Good grief...

Because of the alarming penetrating power of SLS, large amounts of these known carcinogens are absorbed through the skin into the body. A variation of SLS is SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate- SLES). It exhibits many of the same characteristics and is a higher-foaming variation of SLS.

In its final report on the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate, the Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that this ingredient has a "degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties." What's more, the journal adds, "high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration."

Interestingly, sodium lauryl sulfate "is used around the world in clinical studies as a skin irritant," notes the journal. The publication expressed additional concerns:

• Carcinogenic nitrosamines can form in the manufacturing of sodium lauryl sulfate or by its inter-reaction with other nitrogen-bearing ingredients within a formulation utilizing this ingredient.

• Other studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact. This poses the question whether it could be a serious potential health threat from its use in shampoos, cleansers, and toothpastes.


• Still other research has indicated sodium lauryl sulfate may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties.


• Additional studies have found that sodium lauryl sulfate is heavily deposited on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. Damage to the hair follicle could result from such deposition.
• This point alone should raise your eyebrows, at the very least...as often the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate in a shampoo formulation is a "marker" for the use of other undesirable ingredients, a "red flag", including formaldehyde-containing preservatives (e.g., imidazolidinyl urea); possible cancer-causing wetting agents (e.g., cocamide DEA); and nitrosamine-forming agents (e.g., triethanolamine).
  

It's disturbing and it angers me. Now I have to read more labels! I never knew my destiny would include spending so much time reading labels... ((sigh))

Apparently most of my friends are aware of Miss Nasty Sodium Laurel Sulfate. I never knew... that's why I am sharing this with you!

Now go read your shampoo bottle - ok?

Not only do I order Nick's vitamins from Kirkman, I am going to look at their Kirkman Clean area and I am willing to bet that I can get some SLS-free shampoo from them too. I now have a new appreciation for the phrase, "Who put the pooh in the shampoo?" Don't you?

Pollution Begins in the Womb

I've been too busy to blog this week. Geesh- that means that I am too busy. But - I picked up a couple of projects, so it was good to have some work. Did I really just say that? All kidding aside, it is good to have work, it does cost money to shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

OOOhhh, fun news! My brother and sil got a new puppy!! I love her. She's sooo sweet. I'll post some more photos of my new "niece" tomorrow (you've got to see her tail!) along with the only restaurant that Nick has been to in 4 months. It was a great experience and it's nice to be able to have some positive flowing around here, among all the negative.

IMHO...

The U.S. faces an epidemic of chronic and childhood diseases that are ofen linked to the pollution in (inside of) people. These include asthma, autism, ADHD, developmental and learning disorders, a decline in fertility, early puberty and childhood cancers. The list could go on...

"Scientists are still in the early stages of exploring the pathways through which environmental chemicals trigger diseases and disorders. This much is certain: Americans, including infants in the womb, babies and toddlers, are being exposed to a vast array of toxins that have contaminated food, water and household items such as stain-proofed fabric and foam furniture laced with flame retardants.

EWG's benchmark 2004 study, Body Burden - The Pollution in Newborns, found a total of 287 chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborns. These included eight perfluorochemicals used as stain and oil repellents in fast food packaging, clothes and textiles - including the Teflon chemical PFOA, which the Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board characterized as a likely human carcinogen, dozens of widely used brominated flame retardants and their toxic by-products; and numerous pesticides. Of the chemicals found by EWG lab tests, 180 are believed to cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests.

In a September 2008 study entitled Teen Girls' Body Burden of Hormone-Altering Cosmetics Chemicals (http://www.ewg.org/reports/teens), EWG found 16 chemicals from four chemical families -- phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks - in blood and urine samples from 20 teenage girls. Studies indicate that these chemicals, all found in personal care products, can cause a number of potential health problems, including cancer and hormone disruption.

Also in September 2008, an EWG study of Fire Retardants in Toddlers and Their Mothers (http://www.ewg.org/reports/pbdesintoddlers) found 11 flame retardants in the bodies of 20 toddlers and preschoolers. The children typically had three times as much of these hormone-disrupting chemicals in their blood as their mothers.

Other academic and government biomonitoring projects have documented similarly high levels of dangerous industrial chemicals and pesticides in people's blood and urine. For example, a team lead by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found bisphenol a, a synthetic estrogen and plastics component that has caused reproductive and neurological system damage in laboratory animals, in 93 percent of Americans over the age of six (http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/environmental--phenols1.htm).

In a pioneering December 2008 study entitled Exposure to Bisphenol A and other Phenols in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Premature Infants (http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/0800265/abstract.html) a team of scientists from the CDC, Harvard Medical School, University of Michigan schools of public health and medicine and Rush University Medical Center tested the urine of 41 premature infants being treated in two Boston-area hospital neonatal intensive care units for the presence of BPA and other plastic chemicals.

The scientists detected BPA in the urine of every infant, with a median level of 28.6 micrograms per liter, nearly 8 times the median level (3.7 micrograms per liter) found by the CDC in children 6 to 11 in the general population. The most alarming finding: the infant with the most severe exposure to BPA had a total urinary concentration of 946 micrograms per liter, 256 times greater than levels in older children tested by the CDC.

The shortcomings of TSCA are well-known. Under the law, the EPA approves an average of 700 new chemicals for commercial use each year with or without safety tests. The agency has required testing for fewer than 200 of the 62,000 chemicals grandfathered in and presumed safe by TSCA and has banned or restricted just five chemicals. TSCA is the only major environmental and public health law that has never been modernized and is widely considered to be the weakest.

Last month, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) (http://www.ewg.org/node/27538) included reforming TSCA in its 2009 "high risk" priority list, indicating it is a must-do for the Obama administration."

Looking ahead... "Our Trip to the Best Restaurant in the County", maybe even the state; "Guess What MSG Did to Me" and "A Look at Created Chaos - Shopping with Nick"...