Teflon Troubles

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a plan whereby DuPont and other makers of Teflon-coated pans and consumer products will eliminate a dangerous chemical from consumer products by 2015. The chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid, is found in the blood of 95 percent of Americans, as well as in the blood of polar bears and marine animals.

The chemical has been linked to cancer and birth defects, especially for mothers who work at plants that make Teflon. Teflon is the coating used in nonstick cookware, but it’s also used in stain-resistant carpets and clothing, microwave popcorn bags, fast food containers, pizza boxes and many other household items.

Of course the makers of Teflon say there’s not enough of the chemical in household items to warrant eliminating their use, but when a Teflon-coated pan is overheated the fumes have been know to kill small birds.

It’s hard to say how this will shake out and whether people will stop using their Teflon pans. But it is good to know that the industry seems to be willing to make changes to eliminate this chemical, which is good news.

(You can read more about the plan in the Washington Post.)

Healthy Food Doesn’t Always Come Cheap

My favorite article today comes from AlterNet, talking about how the average cashier at a Whole Foods Market would not be able to afford to shop there, assuming that person was the sole breadwinner for a family of three.

The fact that wholesome, natural foods often cost more than junk food and lower-quality products is hardly news. But it is interesting to think about the connection between sustainability and offering workers a living wage. I guess I assumed that companies that support good agricultural practices and organic, healthy food that is more accessable would also think to pay their workers enough that they could afford to eat it.

Eating within your means is often a problem for people who want to eat healthier but are afraid they can’t afford it. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your natural foods dollar.

• Buy local. Farmers markets and farm stands have much better prices than the grocery stores, and the food is better quality, too.
• Buy seasonal. Whether shopping at a farm stand or a store, try to stick to the produce that is in season. It will be a lot cheaper and taste better.
• Bulk bins are our friends. Every natural foods store on the planet has a bulk foods section, and it’s a great place to save money because you aren’t paying for packaging. Buy dried beans, grains, spices and cereals here to save big bucks. My local natural foods store (about as far from a chain as you can get) also has bulk peanut butter, trail mix, coffee and more.
• Buy independent. Or at least compare prices if you have more than one option for natural foods. The chain stores have incredible buying power, but, as this story suggests, they may be more interested in profit than they are in keeping food affordable. A co-op might be a better option. You might have to pay a little to join but you’ll make it back in savings.
• Take advantage of sales. Like other stores, natural food stores have sales. Check the website or sign up for the store newsletter, then buy lots of whatever you need that is on sale. Sometimes stores also offer coupons and customer appreciation specials (my co-op has 10 percent off weekends a few times a year).
• Go unprocessed. Just like in the regular store, the more raw, unprocessed things you can buy, the cheaper and healthier your trip will be. Stear clear of the frozen meals, prepared foods, deli items, crackers and chips to save big bucks.

  Yes, natural foods, especially organic foods, tend to be more expensive. But if you can afford it, the expense is worth it for a better eating experience, healthier foods and a healthier planet.

Another Reason to Drink Water

As if you needed anohter reason to try to drink more water, some scientists are pointing to mineral water as an important source of calcium.

Getting enough calcium is one of the keys to preventing osteoporosis, a brittle-bone disease that is largely preventable and the cause of numerous broken bones in the elderly. It is recommended that people get at least 1,000 miligrams of calcium a day, but about 75 percent of Americans don’t meet that.

Depending on the brand, drinking enough mineral water can get you up to half of your intake for calcium. Other great sources are broccoli, dairy products, fortified orange juice, seasame seeds, tofu and beans.

The New Face of Diabetes

The must-read article of the day is this one from the New York Times about diabetes reaching epidemic proportions in the city.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, which is usually related to obesity and lack of exercise, used to be called adult-onset diabetes, but the name was changed as now children as young as 7 have the disease. There is no cure, though diabetes can be managed through diet, exercise and insulin shots.

Over the course of a lifetime with diabetes, complications can include heart disease, stroke, blindness and amputations. According to the article, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults and accounts for nearly 70 percent of all amputations.

The article predicts that in another 50 years if trends continue, the average American worker will be obese, missing a limb and blind or with limited vision.

Obviously this disease will have a major toll even for people who don’t have it, at those who do drain social welfare programs, fill hospitals and require huge amounts of assistance to be able to work or function.

This story should be a real wake-up call to those with diabetes or at risk for diabetes, as well as parents who allow their children to watch too much television and eat all sorts of junk food. This is their future if we don’t change our attitudes about diet and exercise.

Keeping Your Resolve

New Year’s resolutions are horrible things. At least the way most people do them is horrible. Somehow at the beginning of the year we get the idea that we should be able to change our lives for the better in a sort of all or nothing way that makes no sense.

If you’ve been living in an unhealthy way for many years, what makes you think you can suddenly start eating more vegetables and exercising every day just because its January first instead of December thirty-first? And when you flub up one day, why does that mean you don’t have to try any more?

I have a list of, I think, 21 “resolutions” for this year. I know I’ve already “broken” two of them. One was that exercising every day one; I blew it yesterday because I had a migraine.

But I haven’t lost hope, and that’s the key. Healthy living is not made or broken in one day. You might not be able to eat healthy every day, but the point is you’ve got to try again the next day, and the next and the next, until you’ve made a habit of eating more healthy foods on the whole than you do unhealthy ones.

If you’re still thinking about resolutions, resolve to try harder this year. Say “I’ll try to eat more vegetables every day” or “I’ll try to run a mile every day.” That way if you fail one day, your whole year isn’t blown. You can always try again the next day.

Here’s to a healthy, happy 2006 for one and all!