Dilemma: A pal or a loved one is heaving around a bit too much weight. You're worried this person is tipping the scales in a dangerous direction and you want to help. Appropriate? Or not so much? Parade magazine says if done the wrong way, approaching the topic can hurt feelings and lead to resentment. But with some tact, a little nudging isn't such a bad idea. Here's how to do it.

• Well, don't nag, that's for sure. No teasing either, no mater how mild. Encouragement is the key.
  
• Stress that you care about your friend or family member's health. Talk benefits – like a lower risk of disease and higher self-esteem.
• Promise you'll be a partner in fitness. Exercise is more fun with a buddy, but it also increases the chance of success. We're all less likely to quit when someone else is in the game with us.
• Trash the temptation. If you live with your special someone, rid the cupboards of diet derailers -- chips, cookies, cupcakes, soda -- and work together to plan healthy meals.
• Motivate. Offer incentives, like compliments or gifts – how about a pedometer, a personal training session, or an offer to watch your pal's kids while he/she works out?
• Lead the way. Be a good role model by practicing good diet and fitness habits. And when roadblocks get in the way -- and they will -- just get back on track, together.

Source

I'm always skeptical of government standards when it comes to how much exposure to something is supposedly safe. Some drinks are allowed to have certain amounts of chemicals in them -- chemicals that have been linked to cancer, mind you -- just as long as they do not exceed the limits of what has been deemed "safe." The same goes for meat packaging plants; there are designated levels of "safe" rat excrement that are allowed. This time around, and with respect to the health of our hearts, it seems that the government's "safe" levels in lead exposure may not be all that (guess what?) safe after all.

Based on a report in the journal Circulation, researchers found that people who had levels of this metal from 3.6 to 10 micrograms per deciliter increased their risk of death from heart attack or stroke by 89 percent. Bear in mind, this 3.6 - 10 mcg/dL falls far below the 40mcg/dL threshold that the government has listed as being safe.

Lead is known to damage the kidneys, which, in turn, causes an increase in blood pressure and damage to the blood vessels. With that being the case, is any level of exposure truly safe? I know I have my doubts. What about you?

Source

Scientists are discovering that even though lead has been phased out of our environment, those elderly who were exposed decades ago are still feeling the effects. Apparently lead exposure back then has a strong link to their mental decline now.

This flies in the face of what many considered to be a "natural aging" of the brain's decline. However, researchers are quick to note that this is not the sole cause of mental decline as the years wear on. What they are saying is that this exposure has accumulated in their bodies, and still affects their health decades later by causing the brain to work like it's five years older. We live in a time where almost everything we touch is treated with a chemical. But the problem back then was that they didn't realize the full effects of lead.

Thankfully environmental levels dropped dramatically starting in the mid-70's so that by 1990 the amount of lead in the average American had dropped by 80 percent. However, lead in the bone which was contracted in the past can still be measured today (everyone has some level of it in their bodies). More research is needed to figure out the mechanism by which lead stays in the system and how it influences brain aging. Hopefully they can pin it down and cut lead out of our every day interactions even more.

Source

Although the Chinese-made toy recall is pretty much a second-tier issue in the media at this time, kids that have a lower exposure to the lead amount deemed safe by the U.S. government may still have lower IQs and other problems, according to a new report from the CDC in Atlanta.

The standard for lead poisoning exposure is not a new one, and it confounds me on why newer times don't dictate newer exposure guidelines for certain substances based on new rounds of evidence and research.

As more toys are "consumed" by parents for their kids, they'll still be made, by and large, in China. Are lead concerns going to vanish tomorrow? No -- and the questions and concerns should escalate from parents. Maybe change will happen.

Source

Lead poisoning has been getting a lot of attention in the media these days, what with toys, lunch boxes and even lipsticks having found to contain potentially unsafe amounts of lead. Yes, lead poisoning is a dangerous thing -- but do you know the symptoms of lead poisoning? I for one do not have a clue. Or at least I didn't until I read this post on Fitbuff.

Here are some of the symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Metallic taste
• Headaches
• Poor appetite
• Uneasy stomach
• Weight loss
• Reproductive problems.
  

Think you might be at risk? As always, talk to your doctor.

Source

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a consumer group, recently conducted testing on 33 popular lipstick brands and found that a surprising 61% contained detectable levels of lead. About 1/3 of the lipsticks exceeded the allowable level of lead in candy. While these may seem like relatively small amounts of lead, you do apply lipstick to your mouth where some of it inevitably gets ingested.

Makeup manufacturers are striking back, saying their products pass numerous inspections and meet federal standards. In addition, the FDA says that they've been aware of the presence of lead in lipstick and have no plans to address the issue.

I'm not sure, at this point, what this finding means, but I do think it's important for consumers to be informed about what's inside the products they are using. Read more about the issue at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website.

Source

More lead paint news this week, as a doll toy purchased at a Toys "R" Us locations was found to be tainted with 10 times the legally-allowed lead level.

Not only that, but in addition to the Curious George doll, vinyl lunch boxes and backpacks were also found to contain high amounts of lead as well. Do we have another toy recall headed our collective way soon? Who knows.

Marvel Entertainment had made the Curious George doll, which Sassafras Enterprises had made the tainted lunchboxes and backpacks. The Center for Environmental Health went as far as giving notice to Sassafras already that it was violating a 1986 California law that prohibits exposing consumers to carcinogens without warning.

Will that do the trick, or are more lead-based paint recalls on the horizon? My guess is that these items were made in China like all the others. What is is with lead being in so many toys these days? Talk about being incredibly annoying to millions of parents.

Source

There will be a shortage of toys this coming holiday season due to underestimated demand and the whole toy recall thing -- you know, because of the lead paint and toxic plastic used in the production of some children's play things. "Say it isn't so," you might be saying. Me? I say this is the best news I've heard in a while.

I'm always looking for excuses to not buy toys. We already have a house full and in my opinion, they are a grand waste of money. Most toys, with the exception of imagination-builders like blocks, puzzles, and games, have a shelf life of a few hours for my two guys. I can't begin to list off all the trinkets we've brought home that ended up swiftly stuffed into some toy bin without a second thought. So yes, I like that the toys shelves may be a little bare this year. "See kids, no toys, sorry."

Now don't think I'm a Grinchy old mom or anything. I love presenting my kids with gifts that make them happy, and Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. Learning about this trouble with toys just gives me more motivation to be creative, to purchase items for my kids that have a little more staying power and really matter in the long run. I'm thinking physical fitness here. Just imagine the possibilities.

Source

It looks like China is using Mattel's apology to reinforce the feeling around the world that Chinese exports are generally safe. While I applaud the effort, it's hard to see how China sees exports as being safe.

While trust may change on that topic after a period of time without some kind of product recall, the fact is that too many recalls have come out of that country in the last year. Albeit, these were from American firms many of the time, but the actual product maker or producer was a Chinese company or firm.

Are both American companies and Chinese exporters to blame here? You bet -- and it will take a while for the trust level to be built back up in countries around the world.

Source

Industry professionals from the Fashion Jewelry Trade Association told a congressional committee this past week that lead needs to be a component in fake jewelry for children even though lead poisoning and other problems were possible. Say what?

But, after reading the tired line, it made sense. It comes down to cost problems instead of, you know, protecting the health of your own consumers. Basically, the quote was this: "The total elimination of lead in jewelry, particularly jewelry that is not intended for young children, would impose difficulties and costs on the industry and adversely affect quality and costs to consumers." What absolute hogwash.

that is, unless his argument that lead is harmless when covered (plated) in kids' jewelry stands as 100% true. But, we all know that kids' jewelry remains in 100 perfect condition while being used right? Sigh -- do these 'experts' live in the real world, or some perfectionist play world?

Source

I came across this article about a study that concludes teen girls (and adult women as well) who spend too much time talking with friends about their problems may face a higher instance of depression. If it's true, I find this news is some of the most disappointing I've heard in ages. In fact, I find it kind of depressing all on its own.

Apparently both girls and boys (and men and women) vent about their problems with friends, which helps form stronger bonds and also should make them feel better. But study results showed that, often when teen girls share their negative feelings, it only leads to additional discussion and more negative feelings. For some, the pattern continues and ends in depression.

The piece does say that many of the girls who became depressed were prone to sadness and anxiety anyway. It also makes sure to point out that talking about their feelings doesn't automatically lead to depression for girls, but that it is a possible outcome. Personally, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my girlfriends to talk to about problems with relationships, friendships, work and even just a bad day. It definitely has never made me feel worse. How about you? Have you ever found that venting has made you more unhappy about a certain situation?

Source

If living better for your own health isn't enough motivation, what about living better for your children's health? Your kids watch and learn from everything you do, so are you showing and teaching them the right eating and health choices? Things you may not even think about, like reaching for the salt shaker all the time or piling your plate high with meat and potatoes (while leaving out the vegetables and grains) soak into your children's sensitive personalities and help to form the habits and lifestyle perspectives they will carry with them through life. Are your kids soaking up good stuff or bad?

And remember that making an effort to be a good role model for your kids and leading by example won't just help them, it will help you too!

Source

I once had a friend who liked that "new car smell" so much he actually found an air freshener scented like it and put it in his old beater car. He loved it. But have you ever thought about why new cars smell the way they do? And they usually smell that way for weeks, if not months to a year or more (depending on how many fast food meals and to-go coffees you spill!). Unfortunately, it's due to chemicals used during the manufacturing process like bromine, chlorine, and even lead that give off harmful fumes for up to 3 years.

Suggestions for limiting your exposure include avoiding sunny parking spots whenever you can, using a screen on the windshield when you park, and then letting the car air out before you get in. Click here for a listing of the 10 worst cars tested, and the 10 best.

Source

This is a little shocking -- there were recently 21 multivitamin products (for adults and children) that were independently selected and tested by ConsumerLab.com. Now, this is quite normal for competitive purposes and such.

But, this test was looking for -- and found -- unacceptably high levels of lead in addition to too much or too little of a particular ingredient as stated on the packaging. Nice. Quality. Control. Not.

It's hard to believe anything on any food labels these days (there are so many flat-out lies it can make your skin crawl), but vitamins are not immune to shabby practices as well. No big news here.

Source

To me this is just sad: in a new study published by the American Journal of Public Health many children diagnosed with lead poisoning continue to live in poisonous environments for as long as 6 months. And by "many" they mean as much as 82%! That's disgusting.

Apparently, the majority of the children dealing with these "long clean-up times" are living in low-income rental units and the landlords just don't have the money to take care of the situation. The number of homes taking 6 months or longer to become lead-safe has dropped in recent years, but it still remains a significant problem.

There are currently no government programs available to help landlords or homeowners make their buildings safe if they're not able to do it on their own. I'm not usually one to advocate government funding, but in this case maybe they should step in and help out -- for the kids.

Source