COUGHS, COLDS & CONGESTION: LEARN NEW HOME REMEDIES FOR YOUR KIDS

It’s that time of year again for many of us – less daylight, busy holiday schedules and colds and flus making the rounds.  The discomfort (and even pain) associated with congestion is one of the most common symptoms.  (Not to mention that the inability to breath is just plain annoying.) This post featureshome remedies for congestion that will hopefully get you breathing right and on the fast track to healing the next time you’re battling congestion.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #1 – Tomato Tea

From Earth Clinic, a great site for home remedies, the top choice for sinus congestion is a recipe called “Jean’s Famous Tomato Tea“.  This recipe has received rave reviews for its ability to clear congestion. (Follow the link to read more from Jean and all the feedback from others at Earth Clinic.)

TOMATO TEA RECIPE

2 cups V8 Juice?2-3 cloves Garlic crushed (use more if you can)
?2 T Lemon Juice?Hot Sauce (the more the better, so as much as you can handle)
Mix and heat in a pan or in the microwave.
Sip slowly and re-warm as needed to get the full effects of the fumes. Let it sit in the back of your throat to bathe it. Suck the fumes through your sinuses and also down into your lungs. Its all natural and healthy, so drink as much of it as you want or need until you are SURE the infection is gone. This is past the time when you “feel better.”
This appears to be the best recipe, but from the comments, people often don’t have the right ingredients. Don’t let that hold you back. Use whatever you have available. Below are some substitutes that may not work as well or as fast, but will still help. I’ve listed them by their likely effectiveness:

Tomato Tea Ingredient Substitutes:

V8 Juice – tomato juice, vegetable juice, canned or fresh tomatoes crushed, tomato soup (if really desperate, try another kind of fruit juice, vegetable soup or even chicken soup. You’re aiming for high Vit C content)
Garlic – garlic in olive oil, dehydrated garlic, garlic salt (aiming for the strong anti-bacterial/fungal effects)
Lemon Juice – Fresh lemons, bottled juice, limes, lime juice, oranges, frozen lemonade
Hot Sauce – ANY kind of hot sauce works, fresh hot peppers, cayenne pepper, dried pepper flakes (if really desperate, try horseradish, black pepper or even mustard. You’re aiming for the highly anti-bacterial/fungal properties of capsaicin which is found in hot peppers, and its effectiveness at clearing out the sinuses.)

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #2 – Apple Cider Vinegar

Whether you drink it, inhale it, gargle it or squirt it up your nose, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is another popular choice for treating congestion. For drinking, some folks take a shot of it straight up, others add lemon juice and cayenne, or mix it with water and honey. Popular proportions on Earth Clinic are 6 ounces of water, two tablespoons ACV, two – four teaspoons honey, consumed warm, every 6 to 8 hours.
To inhale ACV, boil some ACV on the stove and breathe the fumes, or mix a drop or two in your saline nose spray. (Make sure not to overdo it, and keep things clean.)  Read more about ACV and sinus congestion at Earth Clinic.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #3 – Steam – With or Without Herbs

A hot, steamy shower is a godsend when you’re stuffed up, but you can sneak it a little relief in a much smaller area by using a bowl of boiling water tented with a towel. Take a large bowl and add fresh or dried herbs such as eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint or New England Aster. (A few drops of high quality essential oils may also be used, or you can skip herbs altogether, but in my experience they do help.) Pour in boiling water. Lean over bowl and inhale as best you can, tenting your head with a towel to trap the vapors.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #4 – Hot Tea – Herbal or “Regular”

Hot tea with lemon and honey has been a congestion fighting favorite of mine for years.  Momma always stocked Lipton tea bags, but now I buy my black, green and oolong in bulk, and sometimes enjoy some tulsi(holy basil) tea blends as well.  Lemon is a great mucus clearer on it’s own, and con provide extra vitamin C, and honey is naturally antibacterial, so do include them in your brew.

For extra “oomph”, try herbal tea such as mullein, sage, ginger, peppermint, chamomile, eucalyptus, wild thyme and blackberry. (Source – New York Sinus Center.)

To make an herbal tea, cover 2 teaspoons dried leaves or 1/4 cup fresh leaves with 1 cup boiling water, steep for five to ten minutes, then strain and enjoy.  (For ginger root, use about a 1/2 inch piece of fresh root, or 1/2 tsp-1 tsp of dried root bits.)  I like to steep in a tea pot or cover my tea mug to keep the vapors from escaping. If you’ve really got a stubborn cough or cold, check out the recipes for Cough-Be-Gone and Sore Throat Syrup and Cold and Flu Tea.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #5 – Foods

Livestrong.com suggests the following foods to help fight sinus congestion:

Pineapple

Omega 3 Fatty acids (found in cold water fish, nuts, eggs, fish oil, cod oil and flaxseed)

Garlic

Fluids (see hot tea)

Spices and Herbs

Vitamin C

Apple Cider Vinegar

The Holistic Herbal suggests limiting the following foods to reduce mucus:

Dairy products

Grains

Sugar

Potatoes and other starchy root vegetables

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #6 -DIY Vapor Rub

Simply take a small amount of coconut oil or palm shortening (about an ounce) and add a good quality essential oil (eucalyptus, mint or wintergreen)  (7-10 drops or more if needed) to get the strength you want and mix well.  Never use essential oil directly on your skin – always use a carrier oil.  Spread on the chest area or dab under the nose. I have found that oil pulling will also help loosen mild congestion, as will salt water gargles, but these are generally less effective than the above remedies, at least for me. Mountain Rose Herbs carries the herbs, spices and oils mentioned above, as well as tea making equipment, salve containers and just about anything else you need to make your own home remedies.

Author,
By Laurie of CommonSenseHome.com

QUENCH SUMMER’S THIRST WITH SAFER DRINKING WATER

No matter where you are in the country these days, chances are it is hot. From pediatricians to summer camp counselors the advice is currently the same: Make sure you keep hydrated. There are some 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth, but when it comes to summer thirst, it’s the tap water that matters. And while most tap water is fit to drink, that’s not always the case.

Though water companies and municipalities check and purify their water, a lot can happen between those tests and your tap. Water may pass through old lead pipes. It might acquire toxic vinyl chloride from PVC pipes. It could be over-chlorinated or contain bacteria picked up along the way. Here’s how to keep your family hydrated with safe water:

First, get a Consumer Confidence Report from your water supplier. All public water systems serving at least 15 connections and 25 year-round residents must supply these annual reports, which summarize your water’s quality at the source.

To make sure it’s arriving in a similarly drinkable state, test your water at a lab like Suburban Water Testing Lab or National Testing Labs or ask your supplier or environmental officials to direct you to a local lab. Testing is tricky because you’ll need to specify the contaminants to check for. Here’s some guidance:

Always test for lead, which remains all too common in water supplies.

If your water company disinfects with chlorine, check for trihalomethanes, toxins created when chlorine reacts with natural organic chemicals in water.

If you live in an agricultural area, look for pesticides.

If you live in an industrialized or urban area, or near a waste dump, research your neighborhood on the Environmental Defense Fund’s Chemical Scorecard which summarizes local toxic releases. Test for any pollutants the Scorecard lists for your zip code.

Well water is different than municipal water. Private well owners should check for nitrates and bacteria. For more information, visit the EPA’s website for private well owners.  If your kids are at a summer camp with well water and you’re concerned, ask the camp owners if they’ve tested their water.

If your water has specific issues, like discoloration or odors, consult this EPA Home Water Testing Fact Sheet to see what your test should cover.

Results will dictate what if any further steps to take. If you need filtration, our Find the Right Water Filter Easy Step will help you secure a safe water supply—the only kind worth drinking to!

Special thanks to Aisha Ikramuddin, who wrote the original June 2007 post from which this has been adapted.

Author,

Alexandra Zissu

4 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CHILD’S ASTHMA TRIGGERS

Some 6.8 million American children have asthma. Help your child breathe easier with these asthma-fighting tips:

TOP TIPS FOR BEATING SEASONAL ALLERGIES

Are you or your loved ones sneezing, wheezing and reaching for tissues? Welcome to spring – and seasonal allergies.

Every year, pollen and mold trigger uncomfortable allergic reactions from February to early summer across the United States. In severe cases, it can take allergy shots and prescription medications to alleviate the symptoms. For those seeking relief without visiting a doctor, try these tips:

Neti Pot

This teapot-like device can relieve congestion and sinus pressure by flushing mucus out of nasal passages. When used correctly, neti pots are generally considered safe, even for children. To prevent infection, prepare a saline nasal rinse at home. Use distilled or boiled and cooled tap water and clean the device thoroughly between uses. For a hassle-free option, try a ready-to-use nasal spray, available for purchase in drug stores.

Spring Cleaning

Good housecleaning habits can help keep allergies at bay:

Keep windows and doors closed when possible and leave shoes outside.

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean floors and carpeted surfaces.

Regularly launder outdoor play clothes, bed sheets and pillowcases. Machine dry instead of using the clothes line. Pollen and mold can cling to fabric when it dries slowly.

If your pets spend time outdoors, consider bathing them more frequently during allergy season.

OTC Medications and Herbal Supplements

Antihistamines, nasal steroids, decongestants and cromolyn sodium are all common over-the-counter medications used to treat the symptoms of allergies. Available in spray or capsule form, they work by blocking the release of histamines that trigger allergy symptoms or lowering mucus and sinus pressure.

In clinical trials, some herbal supplements and nutrients, such as butterbur, have shown potential for curbing allergy symptoms. But they may not be as effective or safe as medication, especially for long-term use during allergy season.

Avoid Triggers

If you know what causes your allergies, take steps to avoid the triggers:

Check local weather reports for pollen and mold counts and stay indoors when they’re highest, generally at midday and in the afternoon. Plan kids’ outdoor playtime for the morning.

When you garden or mow the lawn, wear a face mask and goggles to block pollen and mold from entering your nose, mouth and eyes. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends a NIOSH-rated 95 filter mask.

Minimize other allergy triggers such as foods, insect bites and chlorine, which can exacerbate symptoms.

Author,

Megan Boyle

STRAWBERRIES TOP THE LIST OF WORST FRUITS AND VEGGIES FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUES

One of your kid’s favorite fruits is hiding a dirty secret.

Of all the fresh fruits and vegetables available for sale in the United States, sweet, sun-kissed strawberries are the most likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues, according to EWG’s 2016 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

This year, for the first time strawberries top EWG’s Dirty Dozen list of produce with the highest amount of pesticide, even after you’ve washed them. Other dirty produce includes peaches, nectarines and apples – previously No. 1 for five years running. Click here to see the full list.

EWG analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose tests found nearly 150 different pesticides on thousands of produce samples from 2014, the most recent year available. Nearly three in four fruit and vegetable samples contained residue from at least one pesticide.

But the results aren’t all bad. EWG’s Clean Fifteen list names the produce with the lowest amount of pesticide residues. Avocados lead the pack, with less than one percent showing any traces. Sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, frozen sweet peas and onions rank among the clean fruits and veggies as well. Click here to see the full list.

EWG’s 2016 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce aims to help parents make healthy shopping choices. Here are our top tips for putting this information into action:

Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, regardless of where they fall on these lists. The nutritional payoff is worth it.
To limit pesticide exposure, buy organic produce whenever you can. But if your options or budget are limited, focus on choosing organic versions of the Dirty Dozen to get the biggest benefit for your family.
Always wash fruits and veggies before eating, whether they’re “clean” or “dirty,” organic or conventional. Rubbing produce under running water removes not only pesticide residue, but also dirt and germs from handling.

US researchers confirm Zika causes birth defects

The mosquito-borne Zika virus causes birth defects, including a syndrome in which babies are born with unusually small heads, US health authorities attributing scientists confirmed on Wednesday after months of debate and uncertainty.


"Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have concluded, after careful review of existing evidence, that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects," said a statement from the federal agency.


The decision was based in part on a series of studies in Brazil, where thousands of babies were born last year with birth defects, coinciding with a spike in Zika virus infections among the general public.


"This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak," said CDC chief Tom Frieden.


"It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly."


There was no "smoking gun," or single piece of evidence that offered conclusive proof, said the full report, published in New England Journal of Medicine.


Rather, the decision was made based on "increasing evidence from a number of recently published studies and a careful evaluation using established scientific criteria," said the CDC.


Further studies are being launched to "determine whether children who have microcephaly born to mothers infected by the Zika virus is the tip of the iceberg of what we could see in damaging effects on the brain and other developmental problems," Frieden added.


Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in Uganda, but the virus was poorly understood and symptoms have typically been mild, including rash, joint pain and fever. Most of those infected report no symptoms at all.

Zika was first identified in Brazil in early 2015, and a surge in infants born with microcephaly began nine months later, in September.


Brazil has confirmed 907 cases of microcephaly and 198 babies with the birth defect who have died since the Zika virus outbreak started, officials there said last month.


The Brazilian health ministry said it is still investigating 4,293 suspicious cases.


"The severe microcephaly and other brain anomalies that have been observed in many infants are consistent with an infection occurring in the first or early second trimester of pregnancy," said the report in the New England Journal of Medicine.


Until now, no mosquito-borne virus has been known to cause birth defects, and the last infectious pathogen known to cause an epidemic of birth defects was the rubella virus more than 50 years ago.


Experts reviewing the evidence of microcephaly in Brazil found a similar increase in the birth defects in French Polynesia, which was hit by an outbreak of Zika in 2013 and 2014, though the number of microcephaly cases was small, totaling just eight.


Microcephaly is a rare defect that occurs in six out of every 10,000 births in the United States.


The lack of clarity on whether or not Zika could be established firmly as a cause of birth defects may have contributed to poor public understanding of the virus and its risks, the report said.


A recent poll of Americans found that one in four were unaware of any association between Zika and birth defects, and one in five believed, wrongly, that there was a vaccine to prevent it.


Women who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant are advised to avoid the more than 30 places in Latin America and the Caribbean where Zika is circulating, and to wear mosquito repellant if they live in those areas.


While is now known to Zika cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects, the actual risk of such birth defects remains unknown.


Indeed, some women who were infected with Zika while pregnant gave birth to apparently healthy children.

The CDC said it would not change it recommendations for women who are or want to get pregnant. They should continue to avoid traveling to Zika infected areas. Their partners should either use condoms or abstain from sexual contact while the woman is pregnant.


"Establishing this causal relationship between Zika and fetal brain defects is an important step in driving additional prevention efforts, focusing research activities, and reinforcing the need for direct communication about the risks of Zika," said the CDC.


"While one important question about causality has been answered, many questions remain."

FDA TAKES A BABY STEP TO LIMIT ARSENIC IN RICE CEREAL

The Food and Drug Administration has for the first time proposed a limit to the amount of inorganic arsenic that manufacturers can allow in infants’ rice cereal. The question is whether the new “action level” – 100 parts per billion – is low enough to protect children’s health?

Before taking action, the agency tested 76 samples of infants’ rice cereals and found that nearly half met the proposed action level. Most were at or below 110 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic, just 10 percent above the proposed limit. You can read the FDA’s full risk assessment report here.

Rice and other plants take up arsenic from soil and irrigation water, but rice absorbs much more than other crops, potentially endangering people who eat a lot of rice or rice-based foods. Arsenic exposure can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular and lung disease, diabetes and cancer, especially of the bladder, lungs and skin.

The FDA is particularly concerned with children’s exposure, which can be two-to-three times higher than adults’ and typically peaks when a baby is around eight months old. Studies suggest that in addition to increasing the risk of cancer, arsenic exposure during pregnancy and childhood can lower a child’s IQ.

At the 100 ppb limit in rice cereal intended for infants and young children, the FDA’s proposal mirrors the one set by the European Union in June of last year. The EU also mandated limits for white rice (200 ppb), parboiled rice and brown rice (250 ppb) and processed foods made with rice, including pasta, crackers and rice cakes (300 ppb).

Experts in arsenic and its health effects have criticized the EU limits as too high to offer meaningful protection. Healthy Child Healthy World also questions their effectiveness. At 100 ppb, the FDA’s proposed maximum is only slightly lower than the current average for baby cereals on the U.S. market. Most companies won’t need to do anything to comply.

A lower level would do more to protect infants. At 90 parts per billion, manufacturers would have to buy rice grown in less contaminated areas or mix it with other grains in order to drive down the amount of arsenic in baby cereal.

Even then, Healthy Child Healthy World recommends that parents limit the amount of rice cereal they feed babies. Here are steps parents and pregnant women can take to protect their little ones from arsenic exposure.

The FDA will accept and consider public comments on its draft proposal through July 5. Click here to tell FDA to take stronger steps to limit babies’ exposure to arsenic.

And though the FDA action focuses on baby cereal, its report highlights the serious risks of cancer for anyone who eats rice frequently. There’s no easy fix for this, but the agency’s report does confirm some good news: Cooking rice in extra water and then draining it is an effective way to lower the amount of arsenic your family consumes.

EWG RANKS CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR BABIES

Every parent knows that caring for a new baby requires lots and lots of cleaning. But can washing up the milk and spit-up introduce your baby to potentially harmful chemicals?

For its spring 2016 update, EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning analyzed more than 400 new cleaning products and formulations, including ones marketed for new parents and their babies’ needs.

The guide looks closely at product ingredients, labels and online transparency, then ranks products with a letter grade from A (best) to F (worst). Of course, some of the products are better than others. Click here to view the list of cleaning products for babies.

Products that score poorly contain such hazardous ingredients as the allergenic preservative methylisothiazolinone (MIT) or sodium borate (borax), which can disrupt hormones and harm the reproductive system.

Poorly rated products use sparse or vague terminology – such as “biodegradable surfactants,” “fragrance” and “fabric brighteners” (also known as optical brighteners) – but do not disclose specific ingredients on the label. Visit the guide’s Label Decoder to learn more about what these terms mean.

Almost half of the products EWG analyzed failed to display a complete list of specific ingredients anywhere. Manufacturers can get away with this legally, since virtually no federal or state laws require manufacturers to disclose their cleaning products ingredients.

Products with better scores contain ingredients with fewer health hazards and make more ingredient disclosure on the package and on the company website.

The cleaning products for babies are among 406 new products from 85 brands just added to EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. The new products were available in stores from October 2015 to February 2016 or were submitted directly to EWG by manufacturers. EWG evaluated and rated the products according to the Guide to Healthy Cleaning methodology.

For more information on the cleaning products for babies – as well as those for your whole household – visit EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

FIND SAFER BABY FORMULA

Debating between breast feeding and formula feeding? Healthy Child recommends breastfeeding if possible for at least the first 12 months of life. We’re in good company here – the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization agree.

However, there are important and valid reasons a family might need to use formula.

It’s important to consult with your pediatrician to pick the best and safest option for your baby, especially in light of increasing recalls on infant formulas. The number one thing to keep in mind is to choose organic to avoid pesticide residues, synthetic hormones, and genetically modified ingredients, among other concerns.

Here are other considerations when shopping for baby formula and baby bottles:

When deciding between powdered and liquid, read up on the issues with either to make an informed choice. Powdered isn’t a sterile product and has been subject to recalls in the past due to contamination, so might not be the right choice for very young infants. (For best powdered formula preparation practices, turn to this World Health Organization guide.) If you opt for liquid formula, make sure it comes in a BPA-free container.

Use distilled or filtered water for preparing formula. There are many reasons to do this, including that fluoride found in municipal drinking water can harm rather than help baby’s teeth. The American Dental Association suggests mixing formula with water that either is fluoride-free or has low concentrations of fluoride.

Choose glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free bottles with silicone nipples.

Do not heat water or formula in plastic. If you’re using a plastic bottle, heat in glass first then transfer to the bottle.

If you’re using plastic, wash bottles with a mild plant-based detergent by hand to prevent degradation. Replace bottles and nipples when they become worn.

You may see DHA and ARA mentioned on product packaging. These fatty acids, vital for brain and eye development, are most efficacious as naturally occurring components of breast milk; artificial versions have not been shown to have the same developmental results. There has been some concern regarding the method used to extract them for use in formula, but they’re difficult to avoid as nearly all formulas are fortified with them. Still, these nutrients are vital for healthy development and manufacturers continue to look for natural, effective sources, so do a little research to see what the latest recommendations are from sources like the FDA and American Academy of Pediatricians.

Formula contains added sugar to help babies digest proteins. The FDA doesn’t set an amount of sugar per serving or specify which sugars can be used. Discuss with your pediatrician to determine how much is too much and which kind (i.e. sucrose or lactose) is preferable for your baby.

FIVE NATURAL REMEDIES FOR EAR INFECTIONS

Fever, headache, tugging at the ear, crying more than usual and trouble sleeping – most parents recognize that these dreaded symptoms mean an ear infection.

More than 80 percent of children will get at least one ear infection by age three, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates. That makes them the most common reason parents take young kids to see a doctor.

These days, however, pediatricians are intervening less in the healing process and prescribing far fewer antibiotics. Globally, taking antibiotics when they aren’t strictly necessary is contributing to the buildup of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a problem that threatens the health of both children and adults.

If your child has an ear infection, pediatricians may suggest medicated eardrops, nasal spray or over-the-counter pain relievers to ease your child’s discomfort. Tylenol and Motrin are often recommended for fever pain.

Consult a health care professional first if you suspect your child has an ear infection or if your child experiences new or escalating symptoms, especially a rising fever or fluid seeping from the ear. For more natural steps you can take, here are some options to consider. Note that these approaches have varying degrees of effectiveness.

Things that work

Time

In most cases, time is the best cure. Symptoms often clear within 72 hours. Warm compresses and steam inhalation may alleviate pain as you wait it out.

Prevention

These steps can lower the odds that your child will develop an ear infection in the first place:

Avoid secondhand smoke. Studies show that children exposed to cigarette smoke develop more ear infections.

Practice good hygiene. Encourage kids to wash their hands frequently. Avoid playtime with sick children. Thoroughly clean bottles, which harbor more bacteria than sippy cups.

Breastfeed if possible. Breastfed babies are less likely to contract viral or bacterial infections, including ear infections. For bottle-fed babies, sitting or being held upright while eating has been shown to decrease infection rates.

Limit pacifier sucking by babies over six months old. Evidence suggests that it increases the risk of recurrent ear infections.
Vaccinations are also protective. Studies show that kids who are up to date with their shots – especially for pneumonia, meningitis and flu – get fewer ear infections.

Things that might work

Researchers have explored a variety of alternative measures to prevent ear infections. Although clinical data shows mixed results, these are generally safe to try.

Vitamin D

Studies suggest that children with recurrent ear infections are more likely to have low vitamin D levels. When researchers gave vitamin D supplements to kids with recurrent infections in two separate studies (here’s one), they got fewer new infections during the study period.

Researchers still lack evidence to show cause and effect, but many kids are low in vitamin D, so a supplement will likely offer other health benefits. Babies need 400 IU (10 mcg) per day, and daily supplements are especially important for breastfed babies. Everyone else needs 600 IU (15 mcg) per day, which generally requires taking a daily supplement during the winter months.

Probiotics

Researchers have also studied oral probiotics and nasal sprays for preventing ear infections. More research is necessary to determine which strains of bacteria might be most helpful, whether it’s best to administer them as a spray versus oral supplements, and the best dose. But probiotics are generally low-risk and offer other health benefits, such as aiding digestion.

Vitamins and Nutrients

Some studies suggest that common vitamins and nutrients such as zinc, vitamin A and omega-3 fish oils may help kids stay healthy and prevent ear infections, but the evidence is mixed. Be sure to read bottle labels carefully for the appropriate dose for children.

Xylitol

Surprisingly, several studies have shown that this natural fruit sugar, common in sugar-free foods, can also help prevent ear infections. Xylitol inhibits bacterial growth, which is one reason why toothpastes and gums made with xylitol are good for teeth.

Several studies found that giving kids xylitol – as gum, syrup or nasal spray – prevented recurrent ear infections, but mainstream doctors caution that they need more data before they’ll routinely recommend it.

To produce a preventive benefit, most of the studies to date have found that it is necessary to give xylitol to kids five times a day (approximately 10 grams per day total). At this dose, kids generally had a 30 percent decrease in recurrent ear infections. Gum and lozenges appear to be more effective than syrup, although syrup may be the only realistic option for young children.

Physicians and parents know that such frequent treatments can be a challenge for busy families, and lower doses may not be helpful. A recent study that gave kids xylitol three times a day (15 grams total) did not show any preventive benefit.

Be aware that some kids may develop digestive problems when given xylitol, particularly in higher doses.

Not enough evidence

Other herbs and alternative treatments

Most herbal supplements have not been rigorously tested for preventing or treating ear infections. The NIH Center for Complementary and Integrative Health offers these tips for parents considering herbal supplements for children.

Osteopathy, chiropractic and traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine all suggest alternative approaches for ear infections. These options have been little studied and may vary from one provider to the next. High cost or low availability may make them impractical for some families.

Don’t go there

You may see resources that recommend trying ear candling or herbal preparations that include mercury, goldenseal or colloidal silver to prevent ear infection. These are not safe for children. Don’t try them.

Author,

Megan Boyle

CLEAR ADVICE ON HEALTHY EATING: INTRODUCING EWG’S NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES

News outlets around the country covered the Obama administration’s release of new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, praising the good, scolding the bad and shining a bright light on the ugly.

And there’s certainly ugly. While the guidelines aim to reflect the most up-to-date wisdom about health and nutrition, they’re far from perfect – or unbiased. Under the influence of food industry lobbyists, the guidelines fail to encourage people to eat less meat or explain the risk of eating too much fish that’s high in mercury. They also fall short on advice about sugar. Information about drinking more water and fewer sweetened beverages is hard to find and gets low priority.

The guidelines have consequences for Americans of all ages. They help set policy, such as determining what’s served to children in school lunches and what’s covered for families on food stamps. They can also shape the guidance health care professionals give their patients. That’s a scary proposition at a time when far too many people, including growing children, suffer from chronic, preventable diseases such as obesity and diabetes that are linked to what we eat and how little we exercise.

The government’s problematic guidelines fail to provide the clear and simple advice about healthy eating that we all need. So EWG compiled its own Dietary Guidelines to help families make better food decisions, emphasizing what’s good for our health as well as the planet.

Here are the top five guidelines from EWG, based on the organization’s own research on food, meat, seafood, pesticides in produce and more. Read the full guidelines – and how you can easily apply them at home – by visiting the new EWG Dietary Guidelines web site.

Eat more vegetables and fruits. Avoid pesticides when you can.

Eat less meat, especially red and processed meat.

Skip sodas and sugary or salty foods.

Eat healthy and sustainable seafood that’s low in mercury.

Beware of processed foods with harmful chemicals.

IS MY FAMILY’S TAP WATER POLLUTED?

 The drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, has people across the country wondering: how can I tell if our tap water is polluted with lead?

As has been widely reported, lead pipes or the solder that connects them may leach lead into tap water. Municipal water utilities may be responsible for these pipes, or they may be inside your home.

How much lead is in your family’s tap water can vary considerably, from tiny amounts to concentrations well above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action limit – 15 parts per billion in water. That’s the level at which public utilities must inform the public about lead contamination and take steps to stop it from migrating from pipes into water.

But even water contaminated at lower concentrations than 15 parts per billion can be harmful, especially to kids and pregnant women. The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control says that “No safe blood lead level in children has been identified.”

Here are the questions you need to ask:

Is the plumbing in my neighborhood or home exposing my family to lead?

Ask your water provider if your tap water enters your home through a lead service line. Although most utilities stopped installing lead lines decades ago, the nation’s aging infrastructure still counts between 3.3 and 6.4 million lead service lines, particularly in older neighborhoods in the Northeast and Midwest.

A 1986 amendment to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act banned the use of lead in plumbing materials, but nearly all houses and apartments built before then still use copper pipes connected by lead solder. As these older pipes and fixtures corrode or the soldering breaks down, lead particles can get into your tap water.

Check your utility’s water report or independently test your water if you live in a structure built before 1986. Newer houses pose less risk but could still harbor lead in the plumbing: the 1986 amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act allowed “lead-free” pipes to contain up to 8 percent lead, or solder and flux up to 0.2 percent. Congress did not tighten these restrictions until 2011.

Does my water utility test its output and take measures to reduce lead contamination?

Since lead gets into water after it leaves the treatment plant, the EPA requires water utilities to test lead content in customer residences and take action if the lead level reaches 15 parts per billion in more than 10 percent of tested homes.

But the EPA regulations contain some important loopholes: they exempt water systems serving fewer than 25 people and well water from the residential lead testing requirement. This exemption affects some 40 million to 45 million Americans.

How do I get the test results for my water?

Public drinking water utilities that regularly test water for contaminants are required to disclose their results. If you live within a utility’s boundaries and do not receive this information by mail, call its local office to request a copy of the report or look for it on the utility’s website. You can call EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 to learn how to get your results.

Consider testing your own tap water if: any homes in your community test positive for lead, if your family lives in a remote or small community that does not test tap water, or if you drink well water.

Test your water through a state-certified commercial laboratory. Labs generally recommend that you collect a sample of cold water that has sat overnight and another sample of cold water after you have run the tap for one minute. The EPA sets its action level at 15 micrograms per liter (ug/L) or parts per billion (ppb), a measurement equivalent to 0.0015 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm).

Author,

Megan Boyle

FDA-APPROVED FOOD PACKAGING EXPOSES BABIES TO TOXIC ROCKET FUEL CHEMICAL

Perchlorate, a toxic component of rocket fuel, may be harming your baby’s development – and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing it to happen, even in the face of clear health hazards.

That’s why Environmental Working Group has joined the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental and public health organizations to sue the FDA for letting manufacturers use perchlorate as a food additive.

Perchlorate disrupts thyroid function and hormone production, both essential for healthy brain and organ development. At greatest risk of harm are fetuses, babies and young children.

Millions of Americans face unavoidable exposure to perchlorate in drinking water and contaminated produce and milk. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local water utilities, particularly in California, are making major efforts to identify, regulate and clean up perchlorate in drinking water.

Yet the FDA permits manufacturers to add perchlorate to plastic packaging for powdered baby formula and foods such as rice and beans. FDA argues that perchlorate is safe in food packaging, but that position is based on a deeply flawed analysis and also ignores new science underscoring the risk.

“Banning perchlorate should be a no-brainer when you consider its threat to human health, particularly to fetal development,” said Ken Cook, co-founder and president of the Environmental Working Group. “We hope this lawsuit spurs FDA to give a new look at the science, instead of relying on its original, flawed reasoning, and to move swiftly to protect consumers from exposure to this toxic chemical.”

The Breast Cancer Fund, Center for Food Safety, Center for Environmental Health and Center for Science in the Public Interest joined EWG and NRDC in the suit, filed March 31.

The groups previously petitioned FDA to ban the use of perchlorate in food packaging, but the agency failed to respond.

INFANTS’ EXPOSURE TO TOXIC FIRE RETARDANT LINKED TO BABY ITEMS

Evidence of a chemical linked to cancer and hormone disruption was found in the urine of all babies tested for a new study from Duke University. The sources, researchers say, could be nursery gliders, car seats, bassinets and other baby products that might be treated with toxic fire retardant chemicals. The remains of a second chemical also linked to endocrine disruption were found in 93 percent of the infants tested.

The chemicals are TDCIPP (tris(1,3-dichloro-isopropyl)phosphate) and TPHP (triphenyl phosphate). Four years ago, Duke researchers found TDCIPP in 36 percent of the baby products they tested that were purchased between 2000 and 2010. In the new study, the same research group tested the urine collected from 43 babies for evidence of TDCIPP and TPHP, and the results were alarming.

Each of the babies tested had detectable levels of a chemical produced when the body processes TDCIPP, known as a metabolite. A metabolite of TPHP was detected in all but three infants.

Adding to the concern, more infants in this study had extreme levels of the TDCIPP metabolite in their urine, compared to toddlers tested in a separate study conducted last year by Duke and EWG. What’s more, the levels of both chemicals were on average higher than amounts previously found in adults.

The State of California lists TDCIPP as a known carcinogen and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission considers it a probable human carcinogen. It may also disrupt endocrine signaling – the chemical messages hormones send throughout the body – which is vital during the early stages of a baby’s development. TPHP is also linked to hormone disruption that may cause developmental or reproductive harm.

In the new study, the level of the TDCIPP metabolite in the babies’ urine was closely related to the number of infant products their parents owned. Babies whose parents reported owning more than 16 such products had on average almost seven times more of the metabolite in their urine than babies in families who owned fewer than 13 products. Children who attended daycare centers also had higher levels of the metabolite, suggesting that products there added to their exposure.

This study is not intended to be a warning to parents to avoid buying the things needed to keep their babies safe and comfortable. However, it does mean parents should consider doing their homework before shopping. Not all baby items have added fire retardants, and parents can choose items free of these chemicals.

Read this Guide to Fire Retardants in Children’s Products to learn what you need to know to minimize your family’s exposure to these toxic chemicals.

But smarter shopping may not be enough. The United States’ weak and outdated regulations fail to adequately protect babies or others who are most vulnerable from the effects of toxic chemicals. The system needs reform, so that parents can be confident that the products they buy for their newborns are safe. To learn more, visit EWG’s website on the Toxic Substances Control Act.