Your World and You: Tips to Improve Your Family’s Health – Issue 1 (Premium)
Environmental and Nutritional Tips to Improve Your Family’s Health
This feature highlights reports, studies, and feedback from families on efforts that can make a positive impact in our quest for health. We invite you to share material with us that you think would be of interest to our readers.
Topics featured in this article:
- Think Twice about Toddlers and Tablets
- FDA Taking a Look at ‘Antibacterial’ Soap
- Functional Impairment in Electrohypersensitivity
- Large Scale Studies on Vitamin Supplements are Flawed
- Cheerios are Now GMO-Free
- Are Pesticides in Drinking Water Making People More Allergic?
- A Parent Pursues a Dental Appliance for Persistent Tics
1) Think Twice about Toddlers and Tablets
Daniel Amen, MD, warns that too much screen time for babies and toddlers, especially touch screens, is delaying the development of fine motor skills and muscle strength. Amen points out that the American Academy of Pediatrics advises children under 2 should avoid all digital devices. The position paper by the American Academy of Pediatrics is here.
2) FDA Taking a Look at ‘Antibacterial’ Soap
According to the FDA, every day, consumers use antibacterial soaps and body washes at home, work, school and in other public settings. Especially because so many consumers use them, FDA believes that there should be clearly demonstrated benefits to balance potential risks. In fact, there currently is no evidence that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soap products are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Antibacterial soap products contain chemical ingredients, such as triclosan and triclocarban, which may carry unnecessary risks given that their benefits are unproven. The Environmental Working Group says triclosan is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and low levels of triclosan may disrupt thyroid function.
There are indications that certain ingredients in these soaps may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and may have unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern to FDA. See the FDA press release.
3) Functional Impairment in Electrohypersensitivity
Sweden recognizes electrohypersensitivity as a functional impairment. Olle Johansson of the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm answers questions in this video on how people recognize they are hypersensitive to electromagnetic radiation, what can be done about it, how many are affected, and more. He notes that in Sweden is not considered a disease, but rather a disability that allows for certain benefits. Click to watch the video:
