Green Health Spot

Is ADD Caused by Your Child's Environment?

Attention Deficit Disorder is a problem with many children. New research indicates that common household products may be related to your child's ability to focus in school.  Most parents don't realize that their kids are being exposed to various chemicals daily in their home and school. If your child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, there are a few things to consider before you ask the pediatrician to prescribe Ritalin or the like. Phthlates, a additive to plastics to allow plastics to become softer and more flexible have been implicated in ADD in children. The phthlates are disrupting normal hormone synthesis and transmission leading to neurological toxicity or ADD. Phthlates are a fat soluable toxin which has also been implicated in the development of diabetes. 

So let's think about this....if phthlates are in molded plastics and soft plastic things like vinyl or flexible plastic toys you can imagine that your child has been exposed to a lot of phthlates in the short amount of time that they have been around. Also, since phthlates are fat soluble molecules the exposure to them can easily be stored in our fat cells and one of the biggest repositories of fat in your body is your brain. Apparently, mothers who test high in phthlates while pregnant will have children who score worse in aggression, attention and conduct than those children whose mother's had low levels of phthlates. 

If you are like me and was born in the 60's when the use of plastics was just starting to get integrated into everything we eat, drink and put on our skin. When I was a kid, Coke came in glass bottles or aluminim cans. Now even our water bottles are plastic. So not only is ADD and ADHD being diagnosed at record levels, so too is autism (something almost unheard of 25 years ago) and childhood obesity. 

No we can't blame it all on phthlates but it's a start to keep your kids healthy in the future. Remember that food colorings have also been implicated in ADD/ADHD so if your child is predisposed to have attention or focus problems, cutting out the Skittles and M&M's would be another step in the right direction. Lastly, I've found that many children in my practice who have temperment issues and frequent meltdowns or who deal with anger issues are vitamin B12 deficient. Particularly the methyl form of B12 injections can benefit them. Usually in these cases oral B12 supplements don't seem to work well. The most common form of B12 injections is in a cyano form meaning that the binder is bound to cyanide rather than methyl groups. The methy B12 is MUST more effective in children with temperment problems. A trial injection will give you a hint on whether or not this may be helpful for your child. Methyl B12 needs to be compounded by a pharmacy and are usually given in very small syringes with a very thin needle and is virtually painless. 

Parents can check their beauty products, skin products for chemical contamination on the Environmental Working Group's website.  The Cosmetic Safety Database is an invaluable resource for choosing healthier products for our kids.  Try and choose products that are 5 or less on the toxicity scale, preferably 3 or less.

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Gut Bacteria and Breast Health: Is There a Link?

Gut Bacteria and Breast Health: Is There a Link?

This article above agrees with much of what I've been telling my patients for years. Women with frequent use of antibiotics have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer. I am certain this also applies to men and their risk for breast or prostate cancer. Initially, there seems to be little relationship between the digestive system and your breasts (or prostate). However, beneficial bacteria known as probiotics in the digestive system have many responsibilities in your continuing health including metabolizing estrogens and helping your body eliminating the excess. Additionally, these friendly bugs help bolster your immune system, reduce inflammation, activate enzymes, prevent yeast overgrowth and help your body absorb vital nutrients. Frequent use of antibiotics, steroids like prednisone, drinking tap water containing chlorine or chloramine, eating a low fiber diet all contribute to compromised probiotic levels in the digestive system.

Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, yogurt, kim chee, miso and other naturally fermented foods are helpful in keeping adequate amounts of probiotics around in the digestive system. Always, after any antibiotic use I recommend a month of replenishment of a potent mix of prebiotics and probiotics to help prevent yeast, and assist in keeping your protective enzymes up in the digestive system. My favorite supplement for this is HMF Replete. I recommend it for 4 weeks, one packet per day after use of antibiotics. Also, it's always great to take an occasional packet every once in awhile to keep  your digestive system balanced and efficient at doing what it does best, which is to eliminate what your body no longer needs. Not all probiotics are created equal. In my practice, where I test patients for bacterial overgrowth in the digestive system and the adequacy of probiotic protection in their digestive system, many people are astounded that they've faithfully taken their over the counter probiotics for years only to find out that they don't culture successfully out of the digestive system. Meaning that the probiotics they've believed to be protective all these years were actually either dead or minimally useful.

Probiotics are living things, they are optimally refrigerated and the dose on the side of the package should be rated at expiration date rather than production date. Keeping your gut healthy and ensuring your digestive system is working smoothly and effectively is one step toward reducing your risk of breast cancer as well as other hormonally related cancers such as uterine, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Further Reading:

5 Easy Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer

What is a Normal Bowel Movement?

Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer and Acne: How are they related?

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Will You Develop Cancer in the Future?

 Over 90% of illness are caused by preventable means, so says the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). So too, whether or not you will be developing cancer in the future has almost everything to do with your environment. This was reported by the New England Journal of Medicine after a study of almost 45,000 sets of twins. Who gets cancer and who doesn't? It all depends on you and what you choose to put in your mouth, what you inhale, what exposures you have in your work, home and hobbies. It depends on whether you smoke, drink diet sodas, eat a lot of ham, salami or bologna. It depends on whether or not you smoke, eat lots of tuna, microwave in plastic or live in low sun locations. Do you wear your bra over 8 hours a day? Do you have constipation? Do you eat eggs, dairy, and cheese ladened with hormones and antibiotics. Do you take antibiotics every year? Do you exercise? Are you overweight? Are you anxious or depressed? Do you drink a large amount of alcohol, even occasionally? 

If your answer to any of these questions is "yes" then you can help improve your future health and cancer risk by eliminating your health risks. It's true at first glance everything seems to cause cancer and is there really anything we can do about it? Haven't we all heard about those people who live a pristine life yet still get cancer? In the past few years as I treat and recover more and more autistic children who are so very sensitive to their environment and detoxing their small bodies, I learn that the environment has a huge effect on our bodies as well. It just doesn't show up in adults quickly as it does in little children. In adults, environmental toxins show up in our bodies first as fatigue, immune problems, anxiety and depression, thyroid and adrenal problems, blood sugar problems etc. Then eventually after the body has been worn down from the environmental toxins we see cancer as a possible outcome. 

Of course my work here is to try to get you to understand some of the things you can do to reduce your risk. Knowledge is power, my friends. Do your genes matter? Well, to a certain extent but it is FAR outweighed by what you choose to do every day. The air you breathe, water you drink and food you eat all make a far greater impact. 

Start now! Make a commitment every day or every week to take one step closer to ridding your home, office and hobbies of problematic, cancer causing chemicals. Change out foods with food coloring, additives, and preservatives with those that are organic or contain none. Choose make-up with no lead in your lipstick or mercury in your mascara. Choose your healthiest foods without hormones and antibiotics. Avoid antibiotics when you can, there are almost always herbal alterntatives that are just as effective and do not destroy all your immune defenses. Commit yourself to a medication free, dark leafy greens rich life. Learn to love fiber, eliminate sugars, sodas and embrace water. Eliminate the GMO (genetically modified) corns, soys and other grains from your diet. Replace your teflon pans and cookware. Replace your plastic bottles with BPA free choices. Take action now, one step at a time and your future can be a wonderful and healthy one.

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Is Your Thyroid Being Weighed Down By Your Carpet?

 Odd question to ask, right? Well, not so odd if you knew about the connection between the chemicals in your carpet and it's impact on your thyroid function. There are, unfortunately a number of things that impact thyroid function. Some examples include raw cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, soy products, your teflon pans and chemicals from a number of sources, particularly your carpet and furniture.  Below is an article by Jennifer Thomas of HealthDay News. Very informational to help you keep your thyroid healthy. In the article she talks about perfluorinated chemicals which are in the halide family. Halides displace iodine usage in the thyroid because they get integrated into the making of the thyroid hormone because they are chemically similar to iodine. Iodine is the primary element integrated in the thyroid hormone. Additionally these same chemicals affect iodine/iodide receptors in your body like the breast, prostate and uterus. Fibrocystic breast disease can be affected by these same chemicals as do other hormonally active disease that are affected by iodine usage.

Chemicals found in carpeting, non-stick cookware and fabrics are linked to an increase in thyroid disease, new research suggests.

British researchers analyzed blood serum levels of two types of perfluorinated chemicals in nearly 4,000 U.S. adult men and women, using data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Women whose blood levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was in the highest quartile were more than twice as likely to report having thyroid disease as those in the lowest two quartiles. The findings were similar in men, but the results were not statistically significant.

Among men, researchers found an increase in the likelihood of thyroid disease among those who had high levels of perfluoroctane sulphonate (PFOS) in their blood, but the same association was not found in women.

The researchers cautioned that while the data show an association between the chemicals and thyroid disease, they do not prove cause and effect, meaning there could be other explanations for why people with high levels of the compounds in their blood had more thyroid disease.

"We have provided the first evidence of a statistical association between PFOA blood levels and thyroid disease in the 'ordinary' U.S. adult population," said senior study author Tamara Galloway, a professor of ecotoxicology at University of Exeter. "In this type of human population research, it is not possible to be sure whether this is cause or effect. That needs more research."

The study will be published Jan. 21 in the online issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Thyroid disease is more common in women than men, and recent reports have found the incidence is rising. Among study participants, about 16 percent of women and 3 percent of men had a thyroid disorder at some point.

Perfluorinated chemicals are pervasive in industrial and consumer products, including food packaging, flame-resistant and waterproof clothing, chemical-resistant tubing and stain-resistant coatings for carpets. The chemicals are chosen for their ability to repel heat, water, grease and stains.

Previous research in animals has shown that the compounds may affect the thyroid, which helps maintain heart rate, regulate body temperature, metabolism, reproduction, digestion and mental health, according to background information in the study.

PFOA and PFOS have also been linked to cancer in animal studies, though research in humans have been inconclusive or have not found a link among the general population.

Because of concerns about toxicity, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency got commitments from eight manufacturers of PFOA to reduce emissions and usage of PFOA and related chemicals by 95 percent this year, and to move toward eliminating usage of the chemicals completely by 2015.

But that doesn't mean the chemicals will soon be gone from the environment or people's bodies. PFOA and PFOS are also found in water, air and soil, even in remote areas of the globe. PFOA and PFOS have also been detected in the blood of birds, fish and polar bears.

"The formulations used in consumer goods tend to contain more complex forms of PFOA that are quite soluble and/or volatile and can be transported around the globe via ocean currents and in the atmosphere," Galloway said. "That's why PFOA and related compounds are found in every country so far studied."

In addition, the half-life of PFOA and PFOS in the human body is 3.8 years and 5.4 years, respectively, meaning that's how long it takes for half of the chemical to disappear.

The main source of human exposure to PFOA and PFOS is unknown, but it's believed to be through diet, such as from greaseproof food wrappings, researchers said. People may also inhale household dust that contained PFOA or PFOS from fireproof or waterproof coatings on fabrics or carpeting.

"The good news is that mean exposure concentrations seem to be falling over the last few years, coinciding with voluntary reductions in usage by the main manufacturers," Galloway said.

A large study of people living in Parkersburg, W.V., near a DuPont plant that produced perfluorinated chemicals, is ongoing. The residents have higher concentrations of PFOA in their blood than the general population.

Dr. Stephen Rosen, chief of endocrinology and metabolism at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, said the study adds to a growing body of research that that suggests common household chemicals may have detrimental effects on human health.

Those chemicals include bisphenol A (BPA), which has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor with potential consequences for reproduction, and phthalates, which animals studies have also found to be endocrine disruptors.

As for PFOS and PFOA, "this is a nice preliminary study, but I wouldn't want to draw major conclusions from it," Rosen said. "However, it definitely should be studied further. These chemicals are ubiquitous in people's homes, and we need to determine if it could be a trigger for thyroid disease in people genetically predisposed."

More information

The Hormone Foundation has more on thyroid disease.

SOURCES: Tamara Galloway, Ph.D., professor, ecotoxicology, University of Exeter, England; Stephen Rosen, M.D., chief, endocrinology and metabolism, Pennsylvania Hospital, and clinical associate professor, medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia; Jan. 21, 2010, Environmental Health Perspectives

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Cell Phone Radiation 8 Ways to Reduce Your Exposure

This is a great article from the Environmental Working Group on some steps to reduce your cell phone radiation exposure. I don't know about you but I can't stand how my cell phone heats up next to my head. It just doesn't feel right. Cell phone radiation is suspected to be related to increased rates of brain cancer. If kept near the groin area in men (like in a pocket or on the belt) there is noted decrease in fertility and testicular concerns. Cell phones are a necessary part of our daily lives now, so let's try to keep ourselves as healthy as possible while using them. As with all radiation, the damage is cumulative so the more you use them the more your body will suffer from the effects. The University of Pittsburg has voluntarily put our recommendations on safer cell phone use. 

via www.enviroblog.org

Research has not yet established whether cell phone radiation is harmful. But. Some studies are troubling enough that we recommend reducing your exposure by buying a low-radiation phone or making some simple changes in the way you use your phone.

If you're one of those people who like to understand the "why" of it all, you'll appreciate the first post in this series where we explain the science of cell-phone radiation exposure.

No need to panic and ditch your phone (we at EWG certainly aren't giving up ours). Here's how to protect your health and stay in touch.

1. USE A HEADSET OR SPEAKER
   

   Headsets emit much less radiation than phones. Experts are split on whether wired or wireless headsets are safer. (Check out the EWG website for a guide to headsets). Some wireless headsets emit continuous low-level radiation, so take yours off when you're not on a call. Using your phone in speaker mode also reduces radiation to the head.

2. LISTEN
   
   Your phone emits the most radiation when you talk or text but much less when you're receiving messages. Listening more and talking less reduces your exposures.
3. TEXT
   
   Phones use less power (which means less radiation) to send text instead of voice. Also, texting keeps the phone -- the radiation source -- away from your head.
4. PHONE AT ARM'S LENGTH
   
   Hold the phone away from your torso when you're talking with headset or speaker, not against your ear, in a pocket, or on your belt, where soft body tissues absorb radiation.
5. BUY A LOW-RADIATION PHONE
   
   Not all phones are created equal: Look up your phone on EWG's buyer's guide. (Your phone's model number may be printed under your battery.) If you're in the market for a new phone, find one that emits the lowest radiation possible and still meets your needs.
6. WEAK SIGNAL? STAY OFF THE PHONE
   
   Fewer signal bars mean the phone has to step up its emissions to contact the tower. Call when your phone has a strong signal.
7. SKIP "RADIATION SHIELDS"
   
   Radiation shields such as antenna caps or keypad covers reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit at a higher power with higher radiation.
8. LIMIT CHILDREN'S PHONE USE
   
   Young children's brains absorb twice as much cell phone radiation as those of adults. EWG joins health agencies in at least 6 countries in recommending limiting children's phone use, such as for emergencies only.

To look up the radiation level of your phone, find a headset or read our research, visit EWG's cell phone report

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It's About Time!--FDA Issues Warning About BPA Exposure

 

via www.cbsnews.com

After significant pressure from environmental and health organization, the FDA has finally reversed it's position on the health impact of BPA or BisPhenol-A.  Nothing moves as slowly as the FDA does, well maybe molasses in January, but nothing else.  BPA is used as a plastic hardener and is found lining food/soda cans and in #3 and #7 plastic containers.  Studies have shown that BPA is related to cancers, obesity, heart disease and diabetes and has been know to be highly estrogenic since the 1930's. The FDA's reversal of position is, according to them, because  "They have new evidence that makes them worried, but they don't have enough proof to justify pulling the stuff, so what do you do?" said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "You want to warn people, but you don't want to create panic."

Of course, WE all know this is OLD news. Maybe the FDA has just gotten wind of the toxicity of BPA but there have been countless articles and studies on the toxicity of BPA for years, especially in the past 2 years. So, maybe new evidence to the FDA means new to them because their antiquated computers aren't hooked up to the internet, but this is in no way NEW. The FDA's previous stance on the safety of BPA relied heavily on 2 studies (funded by the chemical companies that make BPA). Canada banned BPA in baby bottles in 2008 and major retailers like Toys R Us eliminated from their stock all baby bottles that contained BPA that same year. Currently, BPA is approved as a food additive and manufacturers are not required to tell the FDA which foods contain BPA. Here is a link published by the Health and Human Services on how to minimize BPA exposure in your children. The Environmental Working Group's test results of foods tested found:

• Of all foods tested, chicken soup, infant formula, and ravioli had BPA levels of highest concern. Just one to three servings of foods with these concentrations could expose a woman or child to BPA at levels that caused serious adverse effects in animal tests.
• For 1 in 10 cans of all food tested, and 1 in 3 cans of infant formula, a single serving contained enough BPA to expose a woman or infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government's traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals. The government typically mandates a 1,000- to 3,000-fold margin of safety between human exposures and levels found to harm lab animals, but these servings contained levels of BPA less than 5 times lower than doses that harmed lab animals.

CBS News did a very interesting quick and dirty test to illustrate the ease of getting BPA in our diet, as well as how easy it is to reduce your over-all body load. A reporter ate a tuna sandwich which has been known to contain high amounts of BPA and had her blood drawn. After 2 days of avoiding plastics and other known sources of BPA her blood was tested again. The results were astounding. After her BPA-tuna sandwich her BPA levels were 5 times that of the average woman and 2 days later her levels were much lower than average. It has been found that 90% of American women have some level of BPA in their system. BPA has been known to lead to early puberty in boys and girls, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancers. BPA is found in the plastic lining of many canned foods, particularly acidic foods such as tomatoes. Tuna, as demonstrated, has high BPA contents, not to mention mercury. Find out how much tuna you can safely take in on a weekly basis by reading about our tuna calculator. 

If you are trying to watch your weight, prevent heart disease, diabetes and cancer I suggest removal of all BPA containing products from your diet. Try to store most things in glass containers and minimize the usage of canned foods.

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The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating - NYTimes.com

via well.blogs.nytimes.com

Today, the NY Times published a great list of healthy and delicious foods to get you on track. Here is their article: 

(This post was originally published on June 30, 2008, and recently appeared on The New York Times’s list of most-viewed stories for 2009.)

Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores. I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.

1. Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
   How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
2. Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
   How to eat:Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
3. Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
   How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
4. Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
   How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
5. Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded withantioxidants.
   How to eat: Just drink it.
6. Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
   How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
7. Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
   How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
8. Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
   How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
9. Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
   How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
10. Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
    How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
11. Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
    How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

You can find more details and recipes on the Men’s Health Web site, which published the original version of the list last year.

In my own house, I only have two of these items — pumpkin seeds, which I often roast and put on salads, and frozen blueberries, which I mix with milk, yogurt and other fruits for morning smoothies. How about you? Have any of these foods found their way into your shopping cart?

Dr Wang: Lately I've been talking a lot about foods to avoid. This is a great list of some good for your health foods. To this list I would add dark chocolate, green tea for the anti-oxidants, broccoli and garlic. Once you get started thinking about it, there are really a lot of foods that are healthy and good for you.

It just takes a little bit of effort to eat outside the box initially. One of my favorite salads is a beet and carrot salad. I call it a "liver" salad because the ingredients are all terrific for getting the liver and gall bladder going. Just one word of warning....beets come out the same color they go in. So don't freak out if your urine or stools turn bright pink. Enjoy, the beet salad is really delicious and easy to make.

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Two All-Beef and Ammonia Patties?....Does That Sound Appetizing?

Restaurant chains and beef processors defended their products' safety Thursday after a report that an ammonia treatment thought to kill harmful germs in meat isn't as effective as the industry and regulators believed.

via abcnews.go.com

It's hard to imagine how far reaching the introduction of ammonia to beef products can be on our health as a nation. Not to mention how it is now determined that the ammonia added is not as effective in killing harmful germs like e. coli and salmonella.

First of all, virulent strains of e. coli and salmonella would not be overrunning our food supply if we weren't so cavalier on adding antibiotics to everything cows eat. This just breeds overgrowth of hearty strains of bad bugs.

Second, ammonia is never fully cleared out of the beef so you get a dose of ammonia every time you eat your favorite fast food burger. Ammonia is categorized as a high health hazard to humans and has been documented to have effects on the GI, liver, nervous, reproductive systems if ingested. If inhaled it is known as a irritant to the skin and respiratory system.

Finally adding ammonia to our food is really a short-sighted way of looking at food safety. We are just opening up a whole can of worms for development of super-bug strains not to mention the long term health risk of consuming ammonia in your beef.

Solution: buy organic, grass-fed beef. Grass fed beef doesn't get antibiotics therefore they are not at risk for developing super-bugs in their digestive systems. The cows are healthier from the start, aren't pumped full of hormones and live a happier life. Grass fed beef are the true "Happy Cows" of California.

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Popular kids’ trinkets loaded with toxic metal - Kids and parenting- msnbc.com

via www.msnbc.msn.com

China is changing from manufacturing from toxic lead to toxic cadmium! Some of the pieces tested contained a whopping 91% cadmium! Cadmium toxicity has been linked to learning disabilities in children and can be deadly. You parents out there should familiarize yourself with the sources of your children's toys and trinkets. If your child is a mouther and likes to put toys and things in his/her mouth, this is particularly important.

Cadmium is 7th on the CDC's most hazardous substance list. There is currently NOTHING that is keeping these products from reaching our store shelves and your child, so please be careful!

7 Highly Toxic Foods to Remove From Your Diet

A friend forwarded this great article to me over the weekend and I thought I would share it with you. In the Fairy Tale of Snow White, she is poisoned by an apple. The metaphorical poisoned apple has increasingly become a reality tale, taking center stage in the poisoning of our food supply either in the growing of the food or the processing and presentation of the food. 

Taking steps to cleaning up your diet from chemicals and genetically modified foods (GMO) can be overwhelming.  Chemicals and pesticides get into our food through many hidden avenues. Armed with information we can all make better choices for our future health.  This article below helps you to get started on making better food choices. The article was published in Prevention Magazine.

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables and meats that are raised, grown and sold with minimal processing. Often they're organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today's food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe -- or not -- to eat. We asked them a simple question: "What foods do you avoid?" Their answers don't necessarily make up a "banned foods" list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health -- and peace of mind.

The Endocrinologist Won't Eat Canned Tomatoes

Fredrick Vom Saal, Ph.D., is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A. 

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says Vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi. 

Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

The Farmer Won't Eat Corn-Fed Beef

Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. "We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure," says Salatin.

The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers' markets and nationally at Whole Foods. It's usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don't see it, ask your butcher.

Budget tip: Cuts on the bone are cheaper because processors charge extra for deboning. You can also buy direct from a local farmer, which can be as cheap as $5 per pound. To find a farmer near you, search eatwild.com. 

The Toxicologist Won't Eat Microwave Popcorn

Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., is a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group.

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize -- and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body for years and accumulate there," says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.

The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes or soup mix. 

Budget tip: Popping your own popcorn is dirt cheap.

The Farm Director Won't Eat Nonorganic Potatoes

Jeffrey Moyer is the chair of the National Organic Standards Board.

The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes -- the nation's most popular vegetable -- they're treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. "Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won't," says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention). "I've talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."

The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn't good enough if you're trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.

Budget tip: Organic potatoes are only $1 to $2 a pound, slightly more expensive than conventional spuds.

The Fisheries Expert Won't Eat Farmed Salmon

David Carpenter, M.D., director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, published a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.

The problem: Nature didn't intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. "You could eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer," says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. "It's that bad." Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.  

The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it's farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon. 

Budget tip: Canned salmon, almost exclusively from wild catch, can be found for as little as $3 a can. 

The Cancer Researcher Won't Drink Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones

Rick North is project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.

The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate and colon cancers. "When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract," says North. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. "There's not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans," admits North. "However, it's banned in most industrialized countries." 

The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products. 

Budget tip: Try Wal-Mart's Great Value label, which does not use rBGH.

The Organic-Foods Expert Won't Eat Conventional Apples

Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness, is codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods. 

The problem: If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don't develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it's just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers," he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson's disease.

The solution: Buy organic apples. 

Budget tip: If you can't afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them. But Kastel personally refuses to compromise. "I would rather see the trade-off being that I don't buy that expensive electronic gadget," he says. "Just a few of these decisions will accommodate an organic diet for a family."

For more reading on Toxic foods, read our articles on "The Most Toxic Food You Can Eat" and "Which Fruits and Vegetables You Should Eat Organic" 

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