Got Milk? How About Local Organic Milk?

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A milky moustache may not be all that lingers when your child swallows a glass of milk. Some chemicals hidden in milk are not so cute.

Milk lodges chemicals like PCBs, dioxins and DDE (a breakdown of the insecticide DDT) in its fat. Even though the U.S. banned many of these chemicals in the 1970s, they still linger in the soil, and today's cows munch up toxins through their food and pass it on to humans. On top of that, conventional dairy farming adds new chemicals: insecticides and the bovine growth hormone rbGH.

Milk is a vital part of young children's diets, but childhood doubles as a sensitive growth period for the brain, reproductive and immune systems. When toxins enter the picture, kids face a higher risk of cancer, thyroid and reproductive troubles as well as permanent IQ damage. What milk is safe for kids?

Conventional milk comes with the highest toxic load. "If you can find local, organic milk, that's the best," says Dr. Gina Solomon, a scientist with NRDC's health program.

Avoid bovine growth hormone (rbGH). The hormone boosts milk production, but brings a high cost to both cattle and public health. Cows "burn out" from excess milk production and with shorter lives and more disease, dairy cows get more antibiotics. The Center for Disease Control rates overuse of antibiotics as a significant public health problem since bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics. "Bovine growth hormone is definitely the worst one," says Chuck Benbrook, Chief Scientist at The Organic Center. The human impact of rbGH is uncertain, but scientists know that growth hormones can upset sperm counts and may be linked to breast cancer.

Ideally, buy organic milk for kids and pregnant mothers. Organic dairies don't use growth hormones or antibiotics on animals, and organic milk is free from extra insecticide residue. At a minimum, avoid rbGH milk. This growth hormone is banned in Europe, and several major U.S. brands now offer "rbGH-free" milk.

Choose low-fat milk for kids over age two. Toxins accumulate in milk fat, so buying skim or 1% milk lowers the chemical dose. Even organic milk can't avoid the chemical legacy of DDE, PCBs and dioxins -- for the next 50 years or more. The healthiest choice of all is local milk from grass-fed cows. Small dairies tend to be organic or follow organic practices. They're also big winners for the environment since they avoid crowded feed lots, manure lagoons and long-distance shipping. Cows on conventional or mega-organic farms eat lots of grain and corn, not a natural diet. Grazing boosts nutrition in milk by increasing key fatty acids. Omega-3 aids vision and reduces blood clots and inflammation, while CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) helps prevent tumors, obesity and viral infections. Kids and the elderly especially need these to keep healthy.

Grab a glass of organic, local milk and taste the difference!
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Experts Release Common Red Flags Of Ovarian Cancer

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by Mary Ann Childers
CHICAGO (CBS) ― Experts have issued new recommendations for women on how to catch a deadly cancer early, which could save thousands of lives every year.

CBS 2 Medical Editor Mary Ann Childers reports on the warning signs of ovarian cancer, announced Wednesday.Forty-seven-year-old Nini Lyman noticed some unusual changes in her body.

"My abdomen looked like I was three months pregnant," Lyman said.Her eating habits changed, too.

"I remember having a bowl of tomato soup and a glass of milk and it felt like I had just overeaten on Thanksgiving," she said.

She knew something wasn't right, but it took doctors two to three months to figure out it was ovarian cancer -- stage 3.

More than 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed this year, and more than 15,000 women will die of the disease.It's been called the silent killer, but, Julian Schink, M.D., chief of Northwestern Memorial Hospital's gynecologic oncology department says there are warning signs that many women and doctors often ignore.

"Ninety-five percent of women with ovarian cancer had some symptoms," Schink said.He helped develop new recommendations that spotlight the most common symptoms: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and frequent or urgent need to urinate.

The symptoms persist for weeks and often get worse."Women know their bodies better than anyone and they should listen to their body and if they have that pain or discomfort, they should seek out medical attention," Schink said.

Lyman wants women to listen, too, so they don't have to battle cancer over and over again.

She's undergoing chemotherapy for another recurrence of cancer as she prepares to celebrate her eight year of survival.

"I am happy about that, but I want a lot more," she said.Lyman is lucky. Only 45 percent of advanced ovarian cancer patients live past five years of diagnosis. But, if caught early during stage 1, close to 90 percent survive that long.
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Aromatherapy & Pregnancy

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by Teshan Laucirica

Whether planned or not, pregnancy always launches changes both physically and emotionally. These changes can start almost instantly, but are always unique to each woman. In some way, the best thing we can do is to relate our personal experiences. In this spirit, I would like to describe some of the problems that I had and the ways I used aromatherapy during my own pregnancy.

There is - still- a huge misconception that pregnancy must be a miserable experience that scars you for life. This is simply not true: there are so many simple things that can gently and deeply improve your quality of life and help you navigate the new stresses and strains of your pregnancy. It is often considered a beautiful and meaningful time in a woman's life, and is an opportunity to be full of reflection on life, its meaning, and the ways in which life changes as we grow—not simply older, but also emotionally and physically.

There are many 'contra-indicated' (to be avoided) oils that I read about. Having learned more about it now, I see that much of that is unfounded. There are definitely oils that should be avoided during pregnancy; if you think you are at risk of miscarriage or serious complications, you should be especially careful, and check with your doctor, midwife, or other professional, knowledgeable about essential oils and their effects.

For most women, aromatherapy can be used safely and effectively throughout the entire pregnancy. It can be extremely effective at allaying many of the physical and emotional discomforts associated with pregnancy. I highly recommend using your own intuition, but if you are unsure you can fall back on the common sense approach: if any oil, at any time, bothers you in any way—stop using it. Keep in mind that pregnant women often have heightened or intensified physical sensitivity and you will probably need much less of a dosage to get the effects you desire. Some normal dosages can lead to skin irritation as well as olfactory irritation.

The first thing I learned when I was pregnant was that morning sickness could last not only all day, but all night too! For many women it can be absolutely debilitating. For morning sickness, I used Peppermint in any form. Mostly I drank Peppermint tea, and sucked on peppermints. I also frequently used the oil for inhalation. Sometimes, however, a cup of tea just isn't practical while driving, taking a bus, or walking down the street, and I didn't at all have a sweet tooth for the mints. Here, inhaling the oil is definitely handy, and much better than vomiting in your car, at work or wherever!

Peppermint oil is one of the many that gets put on the do not use list. However, it can be so effective in treating morning sickness- that when its safety is compared to the pharmaceutical alternatives- it is important to weigh both sides. Is your pregnancy high-risk? Are you nauseous or vomiting so much that it could have ill effects on your pregnancy, or on your mental and physical functioning?

The second change I noticed was in the hips. Everything started to spread to make room for the baby, and that often leads to serious discomfort in the hips, lower back, legs, and feet. I learned some pelvic exercises that helped a great deal. But, I also used massage and warm baths with oils of Rosemary and Lavender. This also helped with tired achy feet and legs, as well as to prevent and relieve water retention.

Towards the end of the term, you will probably require assistance massaging anything lower than your rib cage. If you don’t have help, though, baths are still easy and will also help you stay relaxed. Blending the oils you want to use in your bath first, will greatly help reduce the risk of skin irritation, and you can also add just a tiny bit of the blend at a time.

One of the largest concerns of many women is avoiding stretch marks. They are much easier to prevent than to remove, so get started on it as early as possible. A nice blend of massage oils applied daily after bathing, but while still wet, can work marvelously. Infused oils of Calendula, St. John's wort, Roman chamomile, and Lavender are a great addition to any other base oils. You can also add a bit of Lavender, Carrot seed, and Sandalwood essential oils. Keep it light on the essential oils to prevent any skin irritation.

If your baby seems to be getting very large very quickly, you may want to increase the application to 2-3 times per day. Do not forget to treat the thighs and breasts (as I did), as they are probably growing too! And should you end up with stretch marks after all, just wear them proudly as a mark of a beautiful and miraculous experience.

Another thing I learned; that no one warned me about, was the incredible itching that takes place deep inside the breasts, where you could never get close to scratching. It usually starts sometime during the second trimester, and can last a few months. This is due to the milk glands increasing action. Though you may realize they are producing the most perfect food for your baby, that thought is not much consolation during the itchy stage. Again, there can be some relief, massaging with essential oils of Clary Sage and Lavender in a low dilution. In order to comfortably get at every area, do this while lying down. Done at least twice a day, this can help a great deal. And for those times you find yourself, despite all the massaging, in a really itchy state, keep in mind that it will end- really, it will!

I found pregnancy to be not only scary, but also very stressful. How much will labor hurt? Am I ready? What if I am doing something wrong? Should I eat that? What should I name my child? What is my life going to be like now? What if I go into labor on the bus? These very typical questions and concerns can lead to a lot of stress and emotional strain. Aromatherapy was a wonderful solace for me during the more difficult moments of my pregnancy. I used Lavender, Clary Sage, Geranium, and Roman Chamomile as an inhalant and also in baths almost every morning. It really helped me keep my 'cool' and just relax. Letting go of all the questions and worries helped me accept my discomfort as a manageable part of the beautiful process of bringing my baby into the world.

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