A new study commissioned by Organic Consumers Association finds that some leading "organic" brand personal care products that are not USDA certified contain the carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane. Although 1,4-dioxane is commonly used in conventionally produced personal care products, the USDA National Organic Program prohibits the use of Dioxane in organic products seeking certification by the USDA. The study found that many well known "organic" brand name companies' personal care products including shampoos, body washers and lotions make use of the toxic practice known as ethoxylation. Some unscrupulous "organic companies" use Ethoxylation as an easy way to make harsh chemicals feel soft.

This shameful practice involves using the cancer-causing petrochemical Ethylene Oxide, which produces Dioxane as a by-product. Dioxane not only causes cancer as well as kidney, neurological and respiratory damage but it is also a major groundwater contaminant according to the California Environmental Protection Agency. For a complete list of tested products and test results click on link here.

What Can You Do About It?

Boycott deceitful "organic" companies that have betrayed our trust in their products--they have been poisoning us and the environment. It's unforgivable how some companies are exploiting unsuspecting consumers who pay a premium for products they believe are free of harmful chemicals that can cause cancer and pollute the environment. It's time to take action; use your purchasing power and boycott unscrupulous companies who use toxics out of greed and at the expense of our health and that of the environment. Reward companies who are true to the organic movement and truthful in their claims about the products they make.

The best way to ensure that products have been produced in accordance to the USDA National Organic Program is by purchasing only products emblazoned with the USDA certified organic label. As Ronnie Cummins, Executive Director of the OCA, said in a statement: "The practice of ethoxylating ingredients or using other petroleum compounds must end for natural personal care, and is that much more outrageous in so-called 'organics' brand products." The OCA recommends avoiding products with unfamiliar and unpronounceable ingredients. Read labels carefully and avoid buying products that contain ingredients with words such as “myreth,” “oleth,” “laureth,” “ceteareth,” or other words ending in “eth” (which implies the ethoxylation process that generates 1,4-Dioxane).

Shame on companies deceiving consumers and selling products containing carcinogenics. Boycott these decietful companies until they publicly commit to stop using toxicants in their products that poison consumers and the environment:

Citrus Magic
NutriBiotic
Nature's Gate Organics
Giovanni Organic Cosmetics
Kiss My Face
365* Everyday Value by Whole Foods
Circle of Friends
Aura Cacia
Alba
Ecco Bella
Ecover
Earth Friendly
Shikai
ShenMin
Seventh Generation
Sea-Chi Organics
Rainbow
Planet
Emerald Forest
Healthy Times
Jason
Life Tree
Method

A new study counters the myth that people who are obese and people who smoke cost more to treat for healthcare than thin non-smokers do. The study, conducted by the Netherlands' National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, found that unhealthy people are cheaper to treat because they die younger, and dead people don't need healthcare. What this ridiculous study didn't take into account was that dead people don't also don't contribute to the economy or pay taxes.

New research suggests that some of the differences between humans and chimpanzees thought to be genetic may in fact be diet related. In a study by German and Chinese scientists, four groups of mice were fed, respectively: 1) normal lab-mice pellets; 2) the same diet as zoo chimpanzees (fruits, vegetables and yogurt); 3) food from the scientist's cafeteria; and 4) all McDonald's diet. The most surprising finding is that mice expressed various genes differently depending on diet; and in the case of some genes showed some of the differences between human and chimpanzee genes thought to be determined by DNA rather than diet. Another likely take-away: The expression of genes, especially in the liver, of vegetarians is likely to differ from the expression of genes in the livers of people who eat a standard American diet. In other news, zoos feed yogurt to Chimpanzees. ; )

Newsweek reports on recent testing that shows humans carry around potentially toxic chemicals in our bodies that come from ordinary household cleaners and objects. From the article: "Hundreds of animal and test-tube studies suggest that low-dose exposures, particularly during gestation, may later lead to breast and prostate cancer, abnormalities in the reproductive tract and behavioral problems, among other things."

Researchers have found that a diet rich in protein is more effective at preventing hunger pangs than diets rich in carbs and fats. The study revealed that protein suppresses hunger by regulating the secretion of a hunger-producing hormone called ghrelin, which is secreted in the stomach to stimulate hunger. When protein is consumed, the body secretes less ghrelin, which otherwise produces feelings of hunger. Fat was found to be the least effective in suppressing hunger. The take-away here is that it's important to eat a well balanced diet at every meal, consisting of real food rich in protein but also good fats and carbohydrates. Eating only protein or too much of it is not the answer to losing weight -- eating a healthy balanced diet and exercising everyday is. Both fat and carbohydrates are essential for other bodily functions.

New studies from both Sweden and India show that regular yoga provides the following benefits: lower blood sugar; reduction in weight; lower triglycerides; higher "good" cholesterol; reduction in anxiety, stress and depression; higher optimism; increase in antioxidants; and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Yet another round of research is proving the link between eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding cancer. Two sets of researchers tested broccoli, cabbage and "dark berries," and the effect these foods had on likelihood of cancer. However, the take-away on this one was this: "Cooking can reduce 60 to 90 percent of ITCs, (isothiocyanates)," which is one of the cancer-fighting properties of many fruits and vegetables. So eat foods as whole and raw as possible. Also: Scientists also continue to falsely spin their findings as "fruits and vegetables reduce cancer risk," when, in reality, the more accurate way to communicate these findings is that the unnatural absence of plentiful fruits and vegetables in the diet is a leading CAUSE of cancer.

Yet another study shows whole foods cut the risk of cancer. In this case, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found "reduced risk among adults who ate two or more servings of whole grains each day compared with those who ate less than one serving a day. They also noted about a 35 percent reduction in risk among individuals who ate the highest amount of fiber (26.5 grams per day or more) compared with those who ate the least (15.6 grams per day or less)."

A new book called Generation Digital: Politics, Commerce and Childhood in the Age of the Internet by Kathryn C. Montgomery (an expert on children, teens, media and online marketing at American University’s School of Communication) claims that online and in-game advertising by junk food companies are partly to blame for the childhood obesity epidemic. Children have become a "coveted consumer demographic" by advertisers, she says. "Kids are constantly exposed to [junk food] ads and pester their parents into buying the unhealthy foods or, having money of their own, kids completely bypass their parents and purchase the items themselves."

In the biggest study of its kind ever conducted, scientists have discovered that foods "contain up to 40 per cent more nutrients if they are grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides." The study, which was conducted at Newcastle University and funded by the European Union and food companies, found that the "health benefits were so striking that moving to organic food was the equivalent of eating an extra portion of fruit and vegetables every day."

According to Wild Oats, Americans throw away about 24% of the produce they buy because it has gone bad. They offer a large number of really good tips on how to prevent this waste. For example, they tell you what to refrigerate (Apples, Apricots, Cantaloupe, Figs, Honeydew ), and what not to (Avocados, Bananas, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Tomatoes), and which produce to separate from other "gas releasing" produce (Bananas, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuce and other leafy greens, Parsley, Peas, Peppers, Squash, Sweet potatoes, Watermelon). They also suggest which to eat first, and which to eat last. (Thanks to Almost Vegetarian)

New research shows that eating garlic is effective for lowering high blood pressure and protecting against cardiovascular disesase. The health benefits from eating garlic result when garlic is metabolized by the body and compounds in garlic enter the cardiovascular system, interacting with red blood cells. This interaction triggers a release of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a toxic compound that smells like rotten eggs, which help relax arteries. As we get older, our bodies produce less H2S. The study was conducted by the Univerity of Alabama Birmingham and funded by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health. But keep in mind that researchers used fresh raw garlic equivalent to two cloves. Forget garlic pills, they don't work. Make some hummus with fresh extra raw garlic or dressings with fresh garlic and you'll get enough H2S to keep your heart content.

A compound called lupeol, which is found in mangoes, grapes, strawberries, vegetables, olive seed, figs and saw palmeto, has been found to slow or kill the growth of cancer cells in the nose, oral cavity, throat, voice box, thyroid and salivary glands, according to research at the University of Hong Kong. Such cancers are typically caused by "smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, chewing betel nut and diets rich in preserved foods, like salted fish," according to a Reuters article.

According to a recent survey by Scarborough Research, San Francisco and Seattle have the highest percentage of organic consumers with 35 and 32 percent, respectively. Not surprisingly, the survey also found that, "organics consumers are 272 percent more likely than the average consumer to have shopped at Whole Foods during the past week. By contrast, they are 21 percent less likely to have shopped Wal-Mart Supercenter during this timeframe." To find out how other cities rank check out the above link.

An Ohio State University study suggests that powerful anthocyanins, responsible for the deep dark blue, purple and red colors in fruits and vegetables, may lower the risk of colon cancer. These potent compounds found in cherries, grapes, blueberries, blackberries, purple corn, elderberries, eggplants and other red and purple produce, were found to slow the growth of cancer in rats and human colon cancer cells. According to the researchers, “all fruits and vegetables that are rich in anthocyanins have compounds that can slow down the growth of colon cancer cells, whether in experiments in laboratory dishes or inside the body.”

A study of almost 1,800 children by the University of Colorado and University of Florida finds that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids lowers risk of developing diabetes by preventing inflammation in the pancreatic insulin-producing cells. Omega 3 fatty acids keep the body from attacking the cells responsible for insulin production such as in an autoimmune response. According to the study, the amount of omega-3s in foods today is significantly less than the amount found in food a century ago; "the foods we are eating now are qualitatively much different than those produced on a 1900s-era farm." The scientists add that "animals commercially raised today, are often fed grains rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which can promote inflammation." Previous research studies on animals have shown that the inflammation in the insulin-producing cells triggers diabetes.

A new study by Kasier Permanente found that the correlation of alcohol consumption and breast cancer is linked to the quantity of alcohol, and not affected by the source -- hard liquor, beer or wine. The study of 70,033 multi-ethnic women, who received health examinations between 1978 and 1985, shows that 2,829 of them developed breast cancer by 2004. Researchers found that drinking three or more alcoholic beverages a day increases breast cancer risk as much as smoking an entire packet of cigarettes or more per day.

When you go to the store, conventional foods are on average cheaper than organic. But when you weigh all costs associated with foods -- farm energy use, tax-funded subsidies for non-organic, etc. -- organic is cheaper for the public overall. One study noted, for example, that if U.S. organic food consumption grows by just 10 percent by 2010, we will eliminate the need to pay for, import, then later breathe, 2.9 billion barrels of oil per year.

Junk science degrades the public's ability to sort out facts from falsehoods. A recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that fat people are the cause of the obesity epidemic. That's right, the "researchers" from the highly acclaimed Harvard Medical School and the University of California found that fat people, not poor diet and sedentary lifestyle are to be blamed for making others fat. A recent article by Mike Adams of News Target.com perfectly illustrates the facts behind junk science and talks about how a manufacturer of aspartame funded its own research to show that aspartame is safe for consumption.

The United States spends more on heath care than any other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) country, according to a new study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Princeton University. Another study by the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that health care premiums have gone up by 79% since 2001.

Americans spend 15.3% of our gross domestic product on health care. The tragic irony is that both high health care costs and poor health result from overconsumption of junk food, which many people buy because it's cheaper. Here's an oversimplified summary of the problem:

1. U.S. taxpayers pay for subsidies to food companies (including farmers) that make the most unhealthy food much cheaper than healthy food.

2. In order to save money, the public eats cheap, subsidized junk food.

3. All this junk food creates an epidemic of preventable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and others.

4. These tens of millions of people, sick from bad food, overburden our health care system and needlessly drive costs through the roof

5. Meanwhile, doctors radically overemphasize drugs and technolgy, while neglecting advice about diet and excercise.

6. The end result is an unhealthy nation that spends more than anyone else on "health."

We have robots that assist surgery, incredible advances in drugs and probably more MRI machines than the rest of the world combined. But we don't have enough doctors qualified to advise patients on how to stop eating themselves to death.

My column for today's issue of the Vegetarian Organic Life newsletter, about the dangers of common food additives, pointed to recent research in Britain about the dangers of -- and widespread overconsumption of -- these chemicals and substances lurking in our food supply. What I didn't mention was our own government's total failure to protect Americans from additives. An FDA Q&A page reveals how lax the government is about this vital health issue:

"Do color additives in food cause hyperactivity?

Although this theory was popularized in the 1970's, well-controlled studies conducted since then have produced no evidence that food color additives cause hyperactivity or learning disabilities in children. A Consensus Development Panel of the National Institutes of Health concluded in 1982 that there was no scientific evidence to support the claim that colorings or other food additives cause hyperactivity. The panel said that elimination diets should not be used universally to treat childhood hyperactivity, since there is no scientific evidence to predict which children may benefit."

This is yet another reason why you cannot trust the FDA. While the UK government is funding new research and discovering the facts about additives available in the supermarkets today, the U.S. government points to inadequate studies conducted a quarter of a century ago to support it's claim that additives are OK.

A research project carried out for the past 27 years, which compares two side-by-side fields -- one organic, one conventional -- has found that organic fields out-produce conventional ones, and are nearly drought-proof as well. The project, supervised by Dr. Paul Hepperly, research director of the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, found that an organic field with identical crops catches up with the conventional field in five years, and dramatically out-produces it in ten years. Best of all, the organic field becomes nearly drought resistant, while the conventional field remains vulnerable.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have found that eating flaxseed can provide relief to postmenopausal women who don't take estrogen and experience hot flashes. Participants who completed the trial showed on average a 57% decrease in the frequency of hot flashes.

A food coloring called Red 2G, used to color hamburger meat and breakfast sausages, has been found by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to cause cancer by disrupting the genetic materials of cells.

A 10-year study found that levels of the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol were between 79 and 97 per cent higher in organic tomatoes compared with conventionally grown -- that's almost twice the antioxidants.

The American College of Nutrition has found that vegetables were healthier in the 1950s than today. The decline in the nutritional value of common vegetables is due largely to the development of crop strains that provide higher and ever higher yields. The short-term solution: Buy as much of your produce as possible at farmer's markets -- or grow it yourself.

A dramatic increase in childhood food allergies in the U.S. may be linked to genetically modified foods. Since 1996, food scientists have been inserting bacteria, virus and other genes into to the DNA of soy, corn, cottonseed and canola plants, and allergies have risen dramatically since then.

The image of the America food and beverage industry is declining rapidly as consumers increasingly make the link between unhealthy foods and the industry that knowingly makes it unhealthy in order to boost revenue. A recent I-Rep, Ipsos’ biannual survey on perceptions of leading industries and large companies found that "trans-fats, obesity and poor nutritional value" are increasingly associated with the industry that sells it all to us.

New research in Britain has found that a food preservative called sodium benzoate -- commonly used in sodas like Fanta, Pepsi Max, Sprite, Oasis and Dr Pepper, as well as thousands of canned and jar food products -- can actually "switch off" important functions of DNA, leading to cirrhosis of the liver, Parkinson's and other diseases. Sodium benzoate mixed with vitamin C has previously been found to cause cancer. So now the list of diseases cause by soft drinks looks like this:

* cirrhosis of the liver
* Parkinson's
* diabetes
* obesity
* cancer
* hyperactivity

Millions of people drink soda every day. In addition to causing all these diseases, soda displaces water in the diet, which of course is needed for healthy functioning of all human organs.

Children conceived during summer (June through August) tend to score lower on math and language tests. The likely reason: Seasonal pesticide use.

NewScientist reports that "record levels of synthetic fragrances from everyday cleaning, deodorising and beauty products have been found in the breast milk of American women." The report is based on study conducted by Kurunthachalam Kannan of New York state's Department of Health. He found that levels of artificial chemicals called polycyclic musks, which may cause developmental and reproductive problems, are five times higher in American women today than levels in European women studied almost ten years ago. This high concentration is almost certainly the result of the widespread use of these chemicals in everyday household products.

Bristol University researchers have found that high blood pressure, or hypertension, is triggered by problems in the brain, not the heart as previously believed. For researchers, their finding suggests new areas for drug research that would enable people to survive toxic diets longer. For you and me, nothing has changed: Avoid hypertension by eating well and exercising regularly.

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