Posts Tagged ‘plastic’

Things We’ve Read – Week of December 9th

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BPA is still everywhere, and mounting evidence suggests harmful effects. (Washington Post): These days the baby aisle shelves are lined with products proudly announcing: “BPA-free.” But the chemical is found in many other common items: medical devices, dental sealants and compact discs, and even paper receipts. In short, it’s pretty hard to avoid the chemical.

Mindfulness for Fathers: 5 Difficult Feelings We Can Learn to Love (Huffington Post): What feelings and fears do guys confront when becoming a father? One dad describes how one man came to appreciate and even love what emotions he once feared.

Wall Street Mothers, Stay-Home Fathers (NYTimes): Growing numbers of women on Wall Street say is enabling them to compete with new intensity: a stay-at-home husband.”… the couples have come to question just what is male behavior and female behavior, noting how quickly their preconceived notions dissolve once they depart from assigned roles.”

High chair injuries on the rise, study finds (Today): The number of high chair-related injuries increased by more than 22 percent between 2003 and 2010, according to a nationwide study. This article covers explanations about this trend and tips for protecting your little one in his or her high chair.

7 Ways a Second Pregnancy Can’t Compare to a First (Huffington Post): What do kumquats have to do with pregnancy? An honest & funny comparison of one NYC mom’s experience with her second pregnancy vs. her first.

Green Tip: Ditch Plastic Bottles for Safer, Reusable Alternatives

BPA-free plastic

It’s important to stay well hydrated during pregnancy, but have you ever thought about the environmental or health consequences from drinking from plastic, disposable bottles?

Fifty billion water bottles are purchased in the US each year and 80% of these water bottles, or 40 billion, get thrown out in landfills. That’s 140 million daily!

It’s quite a concerning statistic as you think about the environmental legacy that you want to leave for your baby-to-be.

Furthermore, chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, that are found in some plastics are concerning researchers. Both chemicals have been found to mimic estrogen, which can negatively imbalance hormone levels in your body. A fetus or young baby is especially susceptible to hormonal imbalances given their rapid rate of development.

“Exposure to BPA and other chemicals prenatally is probably more harmful than in childhood, because there is much more vulnerability in the prenatal environment,” says Dr. Philip Landrigan, director of the Children’s Environmental Health Center at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. “The brain is very vulnerable to things like BPA and it plays out in childhood. We see a reduction in intelligence and alterations in behavior.”

To be kinder to the environment and to avoid BPA and phthalates, we recommend avoiding plastics when possible, especially when it comes to food and drink containers. Look for reusable bottle and food storage containers that are BPA-free or made from stainless steel or glass (which are naturally BPA- and phthalate-free). Some of our favorite water bottles are Klean Kanteen and Camelbak.

Check recycling numbers and remember this rhyme: “5, 4, 1 and 2 - all the rest are bad for you.” Take extra care to avoid plastics with recycling numbers 3, 6, 7. (Not to fear, Nine Naturals only uses safer plastics for its products).