The only drawback is that like all other protective laws, it will take a long time to go into effect.

The ban on BPA in babies’ and childrens’ products goes into effect in July 2011, while the ban on BPA in sports bottles doesn’t take effect until July 2012.

Banning BPA is a huge step in protecting our youth.

We’ve written before about how the chemicals in cosmetics can mimic estrogen and completely disrupt a child’s system – making them more prone to cancer, reproductive problems, miscarriage, obesity, and hyperactivity. BPA also mimics strong sex hormones and can disrupt a child’s system from infancy.

Although I’m always in favor of less government interference, I see this ban a good sign. Since the FDA refuses to protect consumers from dangerous products, the States are taking action to protect citizens from those who care more for profits than for offering safe products.

Washington is the 5th to ban BPA in children’s products and the second to impose the ban on sports bottles. Read the whole story from the Washington Toxics Coalition.

Remember, the ban doesn’t take effect for more than a year. Parents still need to check labels and markings and avoid plastics that contain BPA. To be safe, why not go back to glass baby bottles? They worked for a long, long time before people started using plastic.

I happen to love tomatoes – tomato sauce, tomato juice, or fresh tomatoes off the vine. Can’t stay I’m fond of the “store bought” fresh tomatoes. They taste a bit like I would expect styrofoam to taste, but the cherry tomatoes I grow outside my office door in summer are like having my own private “candy tree.”

Tomatoes from my garden

Tomatoes, like other red and purple fruits, are full of antioxidants. That’s one good reason to indulge. But new studies show they’ll also lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

The bad news is that you need about 4 a day to do the job, but the good news is that eating cooked foods made with tomato paste and tomato sauce give you the equivalent without the bulk.

Of course, when the tomatoes are ripe in my garden, 4 a day is not a problem!

For more about the study, read this article from Frank Mangano.

Here’s another one. Perhaps not a deadly threat, but a threat to be concerned about if you have young children, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system in your household.

The FDA announced yesterday that foods containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein manufactured by Las Vegas-based Basic Food Flavors Inc. are being recalled.

It seems that after finding salmonella in one of the foods, they investigated, tested more foods, and ultimately found salmonella in the company’s processing equipment.

If you buy processed foods, read the full Newsmax story and get a link to a list of the foods that have been recalled.

Once again, the safest way to eat is to cook your own food. It’s not always fun, and it’s definitely not always fast, but you and your family will get better nutrition.

The denture adhesive Poligrip contains 38 milligrams of zinc per ounce. If used sparingly by a person who gets very little zinc in his or her diet, it’s safe. After all, zinc is a necessary mineral in our bodies. We need between 8 and 11 milligrams daily.

But… it turns out that most people get a fair amount of zinc from the foods they eat, and many don’t use Poligrip sparingly. The result: users are suffering from neurological damage and blood problems.

Rather than come under more fire from the FDA, (see the article on Avandia) GlaxoSmithKline is phasing Poligrip out of its line. At present there are 75 lawsuits pending against Glaxo – alleging health damages mainly related to nerve damage.

So what can a denture wearer use instead? Proctor and Gamble’s Fixodent contains half the zinc of Poligrip, and Vitanetonline offers a safe alternative that’s zinc-free.

Worse, GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Avandia, knew about the heart attack risks years ago but did not inform the proper authorities. At this point they’re still denying any wrongdoing, and they have agreed to do a test. But… they agreed back in 2007 and it hasn’t been done yet.

But who would take part in the test? I’m with Frank Mangano – I wouldn’t want to be one of the lab rats. Frank’s article points out that natural and safe diabetes control alternatives are available – such as Alpha-lipoic acid supplements and garlic.

Last April I reprinted a long article about the dangers of aspartame and urged our readers to avoid those products that contain it – such as diet pop.

Apparently enough people have become outraged at its continued use in American “foods” that sales have declined, because the manufacturers have come up with a new way to foist this poison off on us.

They renamed it. Now it’s called Amino Sweet – but it’s just as dangerous as it always was.

To learn a little of the history of this dangerous drug – and why it was approved by the FDA, read this article from the Health Freedom Alliance.

And… keep reading those labels. It’s more important now than ever.

I wrote about the dangers in plastic water bottles a long time ago, and then later reflected on the plastics in other food containers.

By now we know that they’re unsafe – especially if the plastic is allowed to heat, as in water bottles left on the car seat in summer. We also know that if we store food in plastic containers, we should remove it to a glass or ceramic bowl before heating in the microwave.

But what about that plastic storage container? And what about the plastic bags holding our kid’s sandwiches and cookies as they go off to school each morning?

What about those toys that your baby might be chewing on even as you read this? What about the remote control that sits in your hand the whole time you’re in front of the TV? What about the headphones you might wear for hours a day?

None of us know what kinds of toxic chemicals were used to create those items, nor do we know how much toxin is being transferred to us.

I’ve been on a campaign to reduce the use of plastic in my household, and I’ll have to say, it’s not an easy task. I started with leftover storage – by buying two boxes of wide mouth canning jars. I bought the pint and the half pint sizes. And… I save the big pickle jars for leftover soups, etc. But habits are hard to break and I sometimes find myself reaching for a plastic container. This change will take some time.

Today I came across an entire website devoted to plastics. Among other things, it outlines which plastics are known to be safe, which are definitely dangerous, and which are unknown quantities.

The site is called Bad Plastics, and it’s worth visiting.

Apparently so, when taken in moderation. A new study published by the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture reveals that the hops in beer contain dietary silicone. Silicone is essential to the the connective tissues of our bones, tendons, arteries and lungs, and helps prevent osteoporosis.

According to the report, light beer – as in light colored – is more beneficial than dark beer, because it is processed at lower temperatures. Apparently the high heat that produces dark beer destroys much of the silicone in the hops.

Our modern diet is otherwise not rich in this essential nutrient, because silicon is found primarily in unrefined grains and cereal grains – and those aren’t aren’t something most of us consume on a daily basis.

So, drink up. But don’t do what a friend of mine once did.

When the reports came on TV that red wine was good for your body, he went out and bought a whole gallon – and drank it the same day.

Uhhh… that report also said “in moderation.” But I guess my friend had gone to the kitchen for a snack when they mentioned that.

A few weeks ago I wrote about studies showing that the resveratrol found in grape juice has powerful anti-oxidant properties that switch on your immune system and keep your blood flowing smoothly. Grape seed is also a component in natural remedies for improving eyesight.

Now new studies reveal that the polyphenolds in grape juice can prevent such common diseases as dementia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Of course, purple grape juice isn’t the only source or polyphenols, just as it isn’t the only source of reservatrol. They can be found in most blue and red berries, many nuts, green tea, dark chocolate, coffee, and even beer.

But it was grape juice used in a small 12-week study of elderly adults with declining memory. Those who received grape juice rather than a placebo showed significant improvement in verbal learning skills, and in memory.

Fortunately for all of us, studies are ongoing. Now that researchers have seen proof that grape juice and other foods can prevent disease and degeneration, they’re moving forward with more studies.

I have a little trouble remembering to drink green tea, even though I know I should. But grape juice is another story – I really like it!

But… this NewsMax Health Article warns AGAINST eating celery and parsley if you already have leukemia and are undergoing chemotherapy.

Apparently this flavinoid’s power to kill cancer cells is also powerful in fending off an “attack” from chemotherapy drugs. (After all, those drugs are a foreign substance.)

Other foods that contain apigenin are red wine and tomato sauce.