Diet Dangers--Things to Avoid to Lose Weight

 Dieting is one of the most challenging behavior modification acts to perform. Unlike quitting smoking, where the smoker can give up cigarettes altogether, the dieter has to eat to live. I can't give up food but I can avoid certain pitfalls. Here's my diet danger watchlist. Diet Problems

Long-Term Use of Melatonin as Sleep Aid May Create Increased Tolerance and Dependency

Melatonin, or N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a naturally occurring hormone, that is used by an increasing number of people as a sleep aid. From personal experience and talking to others who've used it, I found that taking melatonin nightly to aid sleep can have adverse effects. These include increased tolerance, dependency, failure to address underlying sleep problems and altered sleep patterns. Many people take melatonin by itself or in combination with other ingredients in such sleep aids as Alteril. Melatonin is used for a variety of sleeping problems: to help people get to sleep, stay asleep and sleep better. Melatonin is available over the counter in the US, but in other countries by prescription only. Read more Long-Term Use of Melatonin as Sleep Aid Creates Increased Tolerance and Dependency

CPSC Releases Toy Safety Guide

CPSC Releases Toy Safety Guide The Consumer Product Safety Commission and other safety watchdog organizations have released a toy safety guide for parents. Here are facts about toy-related injuries. In 2010, the CPSC reports 251,700 toy-related injuries were treated in emergency rooms, of which 181,500 were younger than 15 years old. Thirty-five percent of toy-related injuries were by children younger than 5. Those numbers have not changed significantly from the 2006 to 2009 totals. Non-motorized scooters, small balls, magnets and balloons are the toys children most commonly injure themselves on. Read more....

Risks of Homemade Teeth Whiteners

If you are deciding whether to make your own teeth whitener, purchase one at the store or see your dentist for professional whitening service, consider the risks of homemade teeth whiteners. What could be risky about  something you make yourself, you ask? There are three risk factors involved with homemade teeth whiteners: ineffective cleaning agents, improperly handled chemicals and potentially harmful ingredients. We'll look at them in order of risk level. Read more...

Chuck E. Cheese's Recalls Light-Up Rings and Star Glasses

Chuck E. Cheese Recalls Light-Up Rings and Star Glasses from Birthday Party Prizes and PTA Promos
Chuck E. Cheese's is recalling 1.1 million light up rings and 120,000 clear red-tinted star glasses, due to potential for injury. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall came after two incidents with batteries from light up rings.
Read More

Children and Teens: Cell Phone Texting Safety

Children, Teens and Parenting: Cell Phone Calling, Texting and Picture Message Safety
Cell phones are an interesting phenomenon. Never before have conversations been able to be conducted with such privacy. Privacy is a good but can be dangerous, too. Especially for teens and children who don't haven't learned to protect themselves.
Read More

Health Dangers, Diet and Weight Loss: Restaurant and Fast Food

Health and Nutrition: Restaurant Food Dietary and Health Risks
Americans eat in restaurants and consume fast food at a higher rate than almost any other country. While we are generally aware that eating restaurant foods is less healthy than 'home-cooked', just what are the specific nutrition and health risks?
Read More

Parenting Health Help: The Danger of Second Guessing, Questioning or Undermining Each Other

Parenting Issues: The Danger of Undermining, Questioning or Second Guessing Your Spouse
Each parent approaches parenting with their own unique spin. Parents need to respect and affirm each other. There are very few issues that require one parent to question another parent about in front of the children.
Read More

Health Hazard: BPA Found in Canned Foods

Dangerous Levels of BPA, Bisphenol A, Found in Canned Foods
Consumer Reports magazine has just published findings that the BPA, or Bisphenol A, a toxin found in plastics is being used in canned goods. Highest levels of BPA have been found is canned soups, tuna and green beans.
Read More

Birth Control Pill: Hormonal Imbalance and Irregular Periods

Birth Control Pills, Hormonal Imbalance and Health Concerns
I object to birth control for ethical and religious reasons. But I also object to birth control pills in general on the basis of the numerous hormonal and health issues that they cause.
Read on...

Swimming Lessons and Water Safety

Summer Swimming and Water Safety Tips
My advice on water safety? Get the kids familiar with the water. Teach them about the dangers. But most importantly, teach them to navigate safely in the water. Every child should have swimming lessons until he can swim safely.
Read on...

Amniocentesis: Genetic Testing, Ethics and Health Hazard

Amniocentesis: Genetic Testing
In amniocentesis a large needle is inserted into the amniotic sac. Amniotic fluid is drawn out and analyzed for genetic abnormalities. Amniocentesis can be very dangerous to the fetus. This is my experience with amniocentesis.
Read on...

Pregnancy Health Help: Placenta Abruptio

Placenta Abruptio: Pregnancy Bleeding and Miscarriage
With our fourth child, I suffered a placenta abruptio at 26 weeks gestation. This is when the placenta tears. What happened was that I woke up in an enormous pool of blood. I hope that my story helps you in some way.Read on...

Obstructive Sleep Apnea- OSA; Health Advisory

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Deadly Sleep-Disorder
Do you know someone who snores heavily, seems to stop breathing during sleep,dreams vivdly or is constantly tired? Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)can be life-threatening, but is treatable without surgery, drugs or needles.
Read on...

Breast Cancer, Mammograms and Thermography

Mammogram Dangers: Breast Thermography Safer Alternative Exam
Are there safer alternative breast exams than the yearly mammogram? Yes: breast thermography.

Read on...

Sunscreen Dangers and Health Advisory

Sunscreen Dangers and Health Advisory
Commercial sunscreens contain dangerous ingredients that may do more harm than good.Consider sunscreens organic sunscreens or other ways to protect from sun.
Read on...

Alteril Sleep Aid Scam

Alteril Warnings: Internet Sleep Aid Scam Alteril (Somnia Lateril) an apparently natural OTC sleep aid is marketed on television and on the internet with infomercials.Supposedly containing L-tryptophan, Alteril also induces sleep with Melatonin; dangerous! Dozens of reports call Alteril a scam. Alteril has dangerous reported side effects. Caveat Emptor!Read more

Green, Healthy Cosmetics and Beauty Products

Safe, Healthful, Non-Toxic Cosmetics / Beauty Grocery List
Definitive list of unsafe skin care, hair care and beauty products. Avoid toxins, carcinogens, products tested on animals,environmentally dangerous beauty product and cosmetic health hazards. Plus, lots of inexpensive, 'green' healthy alternatives!
Read more...

Unsanitary Work Environments

The Most Unsanitary Spot in the Home or Workplace
description of the desk as the dirtiest spot in the home or office. Details on how to clean it and keep it more sanitary.
View more...

Melamine Tainted Baby Formula Alert

Chinese Baby Formula Tainted with Melamine: 54,000 Babies Ill
Sanlu baby formula contaminated with melamine, a plastic, is causing infants in China develop kidney stones and renal failure. The minister of product safety Changjiang has resigned, but 54,000 babies are now ill.
View more » Another Reason to Breastfeed Your Baby!