December 20, 2013

More applause for the FDA! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is questioning whether the chemical ingredients in antibacterial soaps are actually safe. I tell my children twenty times a day to wash their hands. Well, we all know germs can be nasty and make us sick, and none of us here at Sunflower Shoppe wants to get sick so we choose products that do not contain potentially harmful chemicals. While the idea of antimicrobial and antibacterial soaps and cleaners is a good one, the choice of chemicals that are being used by the mass market according to recent new reports, are not. In fact, animal studies have shown these chemicals to cause hormone and metabolism disruption, plus they increase our resistance to antibiotic therapy creating superbugs that can be impossible to treat or even life threatening.

The specific chemical ingredient to look for is Triclosan in liquid soaps and Triclocarban in bar soaps. Be sure to check other products that you may use such as mouthwash, household cleaners and even laundry soap as they may also contain these harmful chemicals.

Essential oils such as thyme, tea tree, eucalyptus and lemon and others have studies to back up their effectiveness as safe alternative antimicrobials. There is a link below with a study published in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery 37 (7): 392–397 showing there were large prevailing effective zones of inhibition observed for thyme white, lemon, lemongrass and cinnamon oil. Remarkably, almost all tested oils demonstrated efficacy against hospital-acquired isolates and reference strains, several common and hospital-acquired bacterial and yeast isolates (6 Staphylococcus strains including MRSA, 4 Streptococcus strains and 3 Candida strains including Candida krusei).

Sunflower Shoppe is proud to carry health and beauty products as well as household cleaning products that are safe for the whole family, yet still tough on those nasty germs! For more information about this and other wellness topics, come see us at Sunflower Shoppe, where great health is just a way of life!

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/health/fda-to-require-proof-that-antibacterial-soapsare-
safe.html?_r=1&

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19473851

The content and opinions expressed in this “Shoppe Talk” blog are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any illness or to provide medical advice. We are not medical doctors and we do not prescribe medication. If you have any questions about the relationship between nutrition and supplements, we recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified and licensed health practitioner. Our opinions are based on the literature and data from a variety of medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, biochemists and other professional researchers. You are encouraged to make your health care decisions based on your own research and the advice of a qualified health care professional.

The post Wash the germs and chemicals down the drain – safely and naturally appeared first on Sunflower Shoppe.

November 27, 2013

There is reason to applaud the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on the recent news on trans fats. In fact, it has begun the process of banning all trans fats from our food supply – and that’s worth a standing ovation!

On November 7, the FDA announced that it has made a preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food. It has found that trans fats may be responsible for up to 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths each year! No amount of trans fats are safe to eat. Our labels may state: “Trans Fat – 0” but if there are any partially hydrogenated oils listed in the ingredients list you are consuming trans fats!

While trans fats have been in our food supply since before Sunflower Shoppe opened its doors 43 years ago, we have always maintained that this ingredient has been an unhealthy choice and have done our part to educate our customers and offer healthier alternatives.

Please visit the links below for more information about trans fats – what they are and how you can recognize them on food labels, such as pastries, frostings, margarines and some frozen foods. Pay particular attention to the foods you eat at restaurants. It’s true that some companies have stopped using trans fats, but it is always wise to ask if in doubt! The process of actually phasing out all trans fats could take years. Be sure to protect yourself and your family in the meantime.

For more information about this or other health topics, come visit us at Sunflower Shoppe – where great health is just a way of life!

http://www.fda.gov/Food/PopularTopics/ucm373922.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/health/fda-trans-fats/
http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/fda-proposes-to-eliminate-trans-fats

The content and opinions expressed in this “Shoppe Talk” blog are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any illness or to provide medical advice. We are not medical doctors and we do not prescribe medication. If you have any questions about the relationship between nutrition and supplements, we recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified and licensed health practitioner. Our opinions are based on the literature and data from a variety of medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, biochemists and other professional researchers. You are encouraged to make your health care decisions based on your own research and the advice of a qualified health care professional.

The post Cheers to FDA, Jeers to Trans Fats appeared first on Sunflower Shoppe.