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Green Living Now News, Edition Ten

Live "Beneficial Bacteria" Cultures in Most Yogurts? Not so.

If you're like me, you've probably heard that yogurt is good for your digestive and immune systems. That's what the yogurt makers tell us. Yogurt is supposed to contain "friendly bacteria" (acidophilus and bifidus) something we all need, especially when taking antibiotics.

But here's the problem-most commercial brands of yogurt contain only a very small amount of these beneficial bacteria. Some yogurts don't have any. How could that be? Well, in order to increase the shelf life of yogurt, manufacturers often "heat-treat" it. This destroys the friendly bacteria that may have been in the
yogurt originally.

All yogurt is "made with active cultures" (the good bacteria), or else it wouldn't be yogurt. So, just because the label says it's made with active cultures, doesn't mean the active cultures are still active.

Then there's the problem of sugar. Most yogurts are loaded with it. And, sugar is one of the worst things for your digestion and your immune system. Sugar actually feeds the bad bacteria-the ones you're trying to get rid of.

Beneficial bacteria is something we all need. It keeps the "bad" bacteria in check.

Some benefits from consuming friendly bacteria are:

- Build a stronger immune system
- Get rid of candida (thrush)
- Helps beat irritable bowel syndrome
- Clearer skin (some studies indicate that acne is due to an imbalance of good and bad bacteria. Probiotics balances the two).
- Prevent "travelers tummy" (eating or drinking contaminated food/beverages)
- Repopulate your gut with the good bacteria after dose of antibiotics (antibiotics kill both the "good" and the "bad" bacteria, leaving an imbalance in your system.)
- More energy. 80% of our energy is used to digest and eliminate our food. When we have digestive stress, more energy is needed.
-Taking probiotics helps reduce the energy needed back to 80% (which seems like a heck of a lot to begin with…)

What to do?

Plain Organic Yogurt or Kefir, not heat treated

Look for yogurt and kefir (a yogurt like drink) that doesn't contain sugar (not an easy task), or at least yogurt/kefir that is not heat treated.

I really like Butterworks Farm's organic yogurts. They're a Vermont Farm, and are truly dedicated to the health and happiness of their dairy cows, and to us-their customers. They have plain yogurt too. No heat treatments. And Helios's
Organic Kefir is another favorite of mine.

Stoneyfield Farms Organic yogurt is also good, and does not use heat treatment either. (Stoneyfield products are available at most stores. Ask your grocer to carry the Butterworks Farms one too).

Organic Sauerkraut

If you don't like yogurt or kefir, you could eat some organic sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage. All they use is salt to ferment the cabbage. Sauerkraut contains L. plantarum, a friendly bacterium that helps destroy salmonella, candida, and E-coli. What a powerhouse. I've just started eating a little each day. I got the Flack Family Farm's homemade sauerkraut. Another terrific Vermont Organic Farm. The stuff was so alive that when I opened the top it was bubbling like a volcano set to explode. Very tasty too. (Available at some natural food stores. If not, request it.) If they can figure out how to ship it to individuals, I'll carry it at www.greenlivingnow.com

Probiotic Supplement

Finally, you could take a probiotic supplement to increase the good bacteria. Be sure to choose one that is refrigerated, or enteric-coated, that has an expiration date. Some probiotic supplements have such low potencies, and aren't very fresh, that they are ineffective. I've used Jarrow Formulas, and I've read about the Garden of Life's Primal Defense, which also seems good. (Available at most natural food stores. I plan to add some to my site.)

2. UK Watchdog Group Says Two Expensive Beauty Products Make False Claims

Two expensive beauty product companies were found lying about their product's benefits, according to a UK advertising watchdog.

Proctor & Gamble UK's Pantene Pro-V, and Estee Lauder's Body Performance Anti-Cellulite Visible Contouring Serum claims were found to be "misleading" and "unsubstantiated". So says the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). According to their website, The Advertising Standards Authority
is the independent body set up by the advertising industry to police the rules laid down in the advertising codes. The claims made by the multi-billion dollar companies were not backed up by science.

Imagine that, an independent self-regulating system for the private sector that actually does what it says it's going to do, self-regulate. Fascinating.

Estee Lauder Cream

The expensive Estee Lauder cream claimed that it might help to reduce the fatty tissue that dimples women's thighs, a.k.a. cellulite. The label says, "This multi-action serum with our exclusive thermogenic complex and potent Asian herbals melts away the fatty look of cellulite. Refirms and tightens to help keep that dimpled look from coming back." It also claimed that 83% of women who used the product had seen a reduction in the appearance of their cellulite (the footnote added that this claim was based on a 46 person test over a 4 week period).

The advertisement was ruled misleading because the advertisers had not proven that the serum actually reduced cellulite or dimpling. Estee Lauder refused to accept the ruling.

Pantene Pro-V

The advertisement for Pantene Pro-V promised that the shampoo would make hair "up to ten times stronger" and would "put back what life takes out" of your hair. The ASA ruled that these claims were also misleading. Proctor & Gamble (P & G) said that the second claim was just "puffery". But, the ASA said it "was capable of being interpreted literally as a claim about hair repair and was therefore misleading." Additionally, P & G's advertisement for Pantene Pro-V said the product contained key amino acids that were supposed to make hair "spring back to life". They even showed a woman pulling on her hair in the ad. An independent expert said that the shampoo could not replenish amino acids. He went on to
say that if it could, it would be a scientific breakthrough which would require a lot of evidence-evidence that he had not seen. The ASA ruled that the commercial was in breach of broadcasting rules and should be banned.

Other Offenders

Chanel claimed that its "Precision Age Delay" skin care product would "delay time" by "stimulating cell vitality". The ASA found that the scientific evidence did not substantiate the claims.

Max Huber's "Crème de la Mer" was promoted with the line, "Do you believe in miracles? Because something has happened here that can not be explained. If miracles are defined as unique events that appear inexplicable by the laws of nature, then surely Crème de la Mer is a miracle…But facts are facts and certainly the proof can be seen on the faces of those who use it." Facts, indeed.
There weren't any to prove that the face serum delivered nutrients to the skin as the advertisement indicated. Nice copywriting though.

Another false claim…Dior's NoAge Essential Cream said it ensured 'perfect defense (skin) cells to keep your skin looking younger by optimizing the life expectancy of your cells". The product was supposed to instantly transform the skin by "re-pulping" and "retexturing". Again, there was no evidence to substantiate those claims.

So, what have we learned?

Don't trust manufacturers and advertiser's claims. Too many times, we consumers have been fooled into shelling out a lot of money for products that don't do what they say they're going to do. And, in the case of organic and natural products, aren't what the label says they are. If the product says organic and pure, it better have organic and pure ingredients without the toxic synthetic stuff. Trying to find the products that live up to the label claims has been a challenge. It's why I created Green Living Now. I do that research for you, so you don't have to (unless you're an information junky like me).

If you want really high quality, pure, organic personal care products, check out what I use.

3. Women, Burn Your Bras!

No, I don't mean burn them literally (too many toxic chemicals) but you might want to stop wearing them.

Here's why:

Wearing A Bra May Contribute to Cancer Growth

Some have said that wearing a bra may cause cancer. Many Allopathic (western) medical doctors disagree. While bra wearing may not cause cancer, it may contribute to it. How?

Breast Tissue Can't Excrete Toxins As Well

Wearing a bra prevents your body from excreting dangerous cancer causing chemicals. Normally the lymph fluid washes away the waste materials and other toxins from your breasts. Bras, especially push-ups (sorry Victoria's Secrets fans) inhibit this action. This means that toxins start to accumulate in your breast, which can help cancer develop. Makes sense to me. Every time your breasts
bounce, while moving, walking, running, etc. it gently massages them and helps increase the lymphatic flow which cleans away the toxins. So, bounce away!

Slight Increase in Temperature of Breast Tissue

Wearing a bra slightly increases the temperature of the breast tissue. And, women who wear bras have been found to have higher levels of the hormone prolactin. Both of these may play a role in breast cancer formation.

In the early 1990's, Medical Researcher, Sydney Singer, created the first comprehensive study on bra wearing and cancer. Previously his wife had discovered a breast lump, but got rid of it in two months by abandoning her bras, doing regular breast massage and exercise, drinking only purified water, and taking some herbs and vitamin and mineral supplements. He studied 4,500 women in 5 cities across the United States about their habits in purchasing and wearing bras. Here's what he found:

3 out of 4 women who wore a bra 24 hours per day developed breast cancer

1 out of 7 women who wore bras 12 hours or more, but not to be, developed breast cancer

1 out of 152 women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day got breast cancer

Only 1 out of 168 women who wore bras rarely or never were diagnosed with breast cancer

More Scientific Evidence

As early as 1930, a paper was published making a connection between corsets and breast cancer. In 1978, a CA doctor published a paper linking bras with elevated breast temperature, and suggested the connection with breast cancer. In 1991, researchers at Harvard University published a medical journal article on breast cancer risk. As a side issue they mentioned that the women in their study who did not wear a bra had a 60% lower rate of breast cancer than bra wearing women. That same year, Japanese researchers did a study in which they proved that wearing a bra actually increases breast sagging, rather than prevent it.

Seems to me the lesson learned is: Don't' wear a bra, or if you do, be sure it's for less than 12 hours per day. And no push ups, or underwires.

So, if you're like me, you're wondering how to go bra-less without attracting unwanted staring.

Try wearing a camisole instead.

Or, if you only want one layer, get some breathable surgical tape, and put a small patch on each nipple.

Wearing thick sweaters, sweatshirts, and suit jackets works pretty well.

And, there's a bra called, "Barely There" that is supposed to be less
restrictive. I haven't tried it yet.

If you work at home, like I do, you don't have to worry too much, until you go out the front door, or receive a delivery, or greet your neighbors, or walk the dog. Happy bouncing to you!

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