Links to Make You Think...

Just a little something to keep your brain churning this weekend....

Big news on the BPA-front this week.  A joint study by the Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Spring Institute, published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal confirmed that food packaging is a major source of exposure to BPA in humans.  There is good news though - by avoiding BPA-laden food and enjoying a fresh food diet instead, test participants experienced a 60% drop in BPA-levels!!  For tips on how to reduce your own exposure to BPA be sure to read the post over at Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families.

More fuel in the food coloring wars:  An FDA advisory panel agreed that further study on the link between food coloring and childhood hyperactivity is warranted but fell short of requiring warnings on food package labels. Meanwhile, look for products that are dye-free or use natural coloring ingredients and avoid artificial food coloring as much as possible.

Given the rash of negative environmental events lately, the smart ladies of the Green Moms Carnival ask the question "Is your environmental glass have full or half empty?" My crazy schedule left me unable to participate this month but it was a treat to read the uplifting, optimistic thoughts from these very passionate eco-bloggers.  Harriet of Climate Mama said she is inspired by teachers and kids who feel empowered to “change the world.”  Linda of Citizen Green celebrates the bike trails and hybrid busses and wind farms in her community.  Deanna of Crunchy Chicken reached out to neighbors to develop a sharing network in her neighborhood.  Some days it's easy to think that our world is going to hell in a hand-basket but I agree wholeheartedly - it's time for hope, not despair!!

Comments

[Sarah]

Thanks for sharing this. I checked out the list of things to do to reduce your BPA exposure on the link you provided and I was quite excited to see that we already do all of them!! It's a good reminder of one of the reasons it's worth it to take the extra time to cook from fresh ingredients etc.

[EJsmom]

thanks for the info...i am all for living healthy :)

if it's not too much to ask, please visit my site and it will really be encouraging to hear what you have to say... or rather, to read what you have to write. not to mention the wisdom you can share with my kiddos.

thanks!
http://alettertoej.wordpress.com/

[Micaela]

Sarah - how great that you are already working to reduce your exposure to BPA. Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to worry about these things and we could trust that the products we buy are safe? That's why we need toxic chemical reform!!

[Sarah]

We are big coconut milk fans...do you happen to know if there's another way coconut milk is packaged that doesn't use a can? Do co-ops usually sell in this format? Or where might we get coconut milk guaranteed to be BPA-free?
Thanks for any info!