BPA’s and Infants

December 3, 2009 by Tania Reuben
Filed under Diva Musings

Where Are Babies Exposed and How to Reduce Exposure?

Many parents have replaced their polycarbonate baby bottles, but they may be unaware that BPA contaminates liquid baby formula sold in metal cans. For babies not being breastfed formula may make up 100% of a baby’s diet over her first 6 months of life, choose your baby formula carfeully in order to minimize potential exposure to BPA’s.
Glass and Stainless steel are the safest and most durable option. Some metal water bottles are lined with an epoxy-based enamel coating and could leach BPA, as we’ve seen recently in the news with the Sigg scandal. Be sure to avoid them.
If you are a nursing mom be aware of potential exposure in your pumping system, be sure the storage you are using is BPA-free.
Never microwave baby food or drinks in any plastic containers, heating increases BPA leaching.
Canned foods are one of the biggest sources of BPA exposure – with so much of the exposure on this topic focusing on plastic containers this fact can get overlooked. BPA’s is used in the epoxy liner of most canned foods, be sure to limit the use of canned goods as much a possible. EWG tested 97 canned foods and found detectable levels of BPA in more than half of the foods. Canned meats, pasta & soups fared the worst in testing. Pregnant women and children should limit their consumption of canned foods to avoid BPA.

More About Plastic:

With BPA’s in the headline now for some time, most manufacturers now make BPA-free baby plastic bottles. If you are using plastic, be sure the bottles you are using are BPA free.
Polycarbonate plastics are rigid, transparent and used for food storage containers and water bottles, among other things. Trace amounts of BPA can migrate from these containers, particularly if used for hot food or liquids.
Avoid polycarbonate for babies food and drinks. This plastic might be marked with the recycling code #7 or the letters “PC”.
Wash plastics on the top shelf of your dishwasher or by hand. Avoid using old and scratched plastic bottles.

If you must use plastic:

Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are better choices because they do not contain BPA
Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.

A note about sourcing: A good deal of the information in this piece came from the EWG, I went back and just couldn’t find the exact pages. My sincere apologies for not having direct links and let me know if you stumble on it – I’d love to add it/them.

Welcome back to PND. It's good to see you again!BPA’s and Infants

Tags: Babies, Bisphenol A, BPA, danger, Estrogen, Exposure, fertility, Infants, plastic, Reduce

Do you have a Hormone Deficiency?

September 4, 2009 by Tania Reuben
Filed under Health & Wellness

3 Comments

Recently I found myself in my Doctor’s office getting a pre-op examine required for ear surgery. While waiting I found a pamphlet full of questions about hormones.

I had time to kill – I answered all the questions and to my surprise found out that I was at risk in a couple of categories, a conversation with my doctor resulted in some blood work being completed. My blood levels indicated numerous deficiencies!

I’m in my thirties – young and healthy – there is no way I would ever guess that at this age I could have a hormone imbalance!

Here are the questions you’ll want to answer to see if you might have deficiencies.
Select the number that best describes how you feel.
If your scores are in the probable or higher in any category, you might want to make an appointment with your doctor.

PROGESTERONE

1 2 3 4 – My breasts are large?
1 2 3 4 – My close friends complain I’m nervous and agitated?
1 2 3 4 – I feel anxious?
1 2 3 4 – I sleep lightly and restlessly

The following questions are for women who have not yet reached menopause and menopausal women who are taking hormone replacement therapy (estrogen or estrogen and progesterone)

0 1 2 3 4 – My breasts are swollen and tender or painful before my period…
0 1 2 3 4 – And my lower belly is swollen…
0 1 2 3 4 – And I’m irritable and aggressive…
0 1 2 3 4 – And I lose my self-control…
0 1 2 3 4 – I have heavy periods…
0 1 2 3 4 – And they are continuously painful.

Add up your overall score.
Post menopausal women not treated with hormone replacement therapy (estrogen or estrogen and progesterone):
4 or less – Satisfactory
5- 8 – Possible Progesterone deficiency
9 or more – Probable progesterone deficiency

Menstrual women and menopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy (estrogen or estrogen and progesterone):
10 or less – Satisfactory
11 – 20 – Possible Progesterone deficiency
21 or more – Probable progesterone deficiency

TESTOSTERONE

(Men and Women)
0 1 2 3 4 – My face has gotten slack and more wrinkled.
0 1 2 3 4 – I’ve lost muscle tone.
0 1 2 3 4 – My belly tends to get fat.
0 1 2 3 4 – I’m constantly tired.
0 1 2 3 4 – I feel like making love less often than I used to.

(Men Only)
0 1 2 3 4 – My breasts are getting fatty.
0 1 2 3 4 – I feel less self-confident and more hesitant
0 1 2 3 4 – My sexual performance is poorer than it used to be.
0 1 2 3 4 – I have hot flashes and sweats
0 1 2 3 4 – I tire easily with physical activity

Add up your overall score.
Women:
5 or less – Satisfactory Level.
6 -10 – Possible Testosterone deficiency.
11 or more – Probable Testosterone deficiency.

Men:
10 or less – Satisfactory Level.
11 – 20 – Possible Testosterone deficiency.
21 or more – Probable Testosterone deficiency.

GROWTH HORMONE

0 1 2 3 4 – My hair is thinning.
0 1 2 3 4 – My cheeks sag.
0 1 2 3 4 – My gums are receding.
0 1 2 3 4 – My abdomen is flabby – “I’ve got a spare tire.”
0 1 2 3 4 – My muscles are slack.
0 1 2 3 4 – My skin is thin and/or dry.
0 1 2 3 4 – It’s hard to recover after physical activity.
0 1 2 3 4 – I feel exhausted
0 1 2 3 4 – I don’t like the world. I tend to isolate myself.
0 1 2 3 4 – I feel continuously anxious and worried.

Add up your overall score.
10 or less – Satisfactory.
11 – 20 – Possible GH deficiency.
21 or more – Probable GH deficiency.

DHEA

0 1 2 3 4 – My hair is dry.
0 1 2 3 4 – My skin and eyes are dry?
0 1 2 3 4 – My muscles are flabby.
0 1 2 3 4 – My belly is getting fat.
0 1 2 3 4 – I don’t have much hair under my arms.
0 1 2 3 4 – I don’t have much hair in the pubic area (0 – plenty of hair // 4 – hairless).
0 1 2 3 4 – I don’t have much fatty tissue in the pubic area (0 – padded // 4 – flat).
0 1 2 3 4 – My body doesn’t have much of a special scent during sexual arousal.
0 1 2 3 4 – I can’t tolerate noise.
0 1 2 3 4 – My libido is low.

Add up your overall score.
10 or less – Satisfactory.
11 – 20 – Possible DHEA deficiency.
21 or more – Probable DHEA deficiency.

THYROID

0 1 2 3 4 – I’m sensitive to cold.
0 1 2 3 4 – My hands and feet are always cold.
0 1 2 3 4 – In the morning my face is puffy and my eyelids are swollen.
0 1 2 3 4 – I put on weight easily.
0 1 2 3 4 – I have dry skin.
0 1 2 3 4 – I put on weight easily.
0 1 2 3 4 – I have dry skin.
0 1 2 3 4 – I have trouble getting up in the morning.
0 1 2 3 4 – I feel more tired at rest than when I am active.
0 1 2 3 4 – I am constipated.
0 1 2 3 4 – My joints are stiff in the morning.
0 1 2 3 4 – I feel like I’m living in slow motion.

Add up your overall score.
10 or less – Satisfactory.
11 – 20 – Possible Thyroid hormone deficiency.
21 or more – Probable Thyroid hormone deficiency.

ESTROGEN

0 1 2 3 4 – I’m losing hair on the top of my head.
0 1 2 3 4 – I’m getting thin, vertical wrinkles above my lips.
0 1 2 3 4 – My breasts are droopy.
0 1 2 3 4 – My face is too hairy.
0 1 2 3 4 – My eyes are dry and easily irritated
0 1 2 3 4 – I have hot flashes.
0 1 2 3 4 – I feel tired constantly.
0 1 2 3 4 – I am depressed.
0 1 2 3 4 – My menstrual flow is light (0 – Moderate // 1-3 – low // 4 – none)
0 1 2 3 4 – Women with periods: My cycles are irregular, too short (less than 27 days) or too long (more than 31 days).

Add up your overall score.
10 or less – Satisfactory.
11 – 20 – Possible GH deficiency.
21 or more – Probable GH deficiency.

A FEW MORE PERTINENT QUESTIONS

ENERGY
YES or NO – Do you have a hard time getting up in the morning?
YES or NO – Do you always feel tired or tired in the afternoon?

SEX
YES or NO – Do you lack sexual desire?
YES or NO – Does your penis or clitoris seem less sensitive?
YES or NO – Are your erections not firm enough?
YES or NO – Have you lost your attraction toward your partner?
YES or NO – Do you lack vaginal lubrication?

SLEEP
YES or NO – Do you sleep poorly?
YES or NO – Do you rarely dream?

MEMORY
YES or NO – Do you suffer from short or long term memory loss?
YES or NO – Do you have trouble concentrating?

SKIN AND HAIR
YES or NO – Wrinkles on your face along the nose, smile lines, forehead creases?
YES or NO – Do you have age spots.
YES or NO – Do you have dry, thin skin?
YES or NO – Are you losing your hair or is it turning gray?

WEIGHT CONTROL
YES or NO – Is your abdomen too plump? Is it distended?
YES or NO – Women: Are your breasts too large? Do they get larger before your period?
YES or NO – Are your buttocks and thighs too well padded? Are you pear shaped?

STRESS & MOOD
YES or NO – Do you suffer from constant fatique?
YES or NO – Do you have high blood pressure?
YES or NO – Are you anxious, nervous, or irritable?
YES or NO – Do small things set you off?
YES or NO – Are you depressed?

JOINTS & BONES
YES or NO – Do you have osteoarthritis in the hip?
YES or NO – Do you have fibromyalgia (sharp shoulder pain)?
YES or NO – Have you lost muscle mass, tone and strength?
YES or NO – Do you have bone loss of the spine, hips hands, wrist & feet?

Select your response and discuss the ailments with your physician.

This test was designed by Dr. Heroghe, a noted European Endocrinologist.

PND is not a physician and this information does not substitute a visit with your doctor. If you suspect something is not right visit a doctor to get a medical diagnosis.