Green Health

Sun Exposure and Cataracts – How to Protect Your Eyes

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 18 million people around the world who are blind due to cataracts. Five percent of those 18 million people can attribute their cataract-caused blindness directly to exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also notes the correlation between ultraviolet radiation and eye problems, including cataracts. The WHO and the EPA further suggest protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation to prevent eye damage. The WHO has developed a UV index to indicate when the risk of damaging rays are highest. The UV index refers to the level of UV radiation present under different conditions. For example, the UV index is higher when you are around a reflective surface such as water or snow than when you are surrounded by grass and soil. Symptoms of over-exposure to UV radiation include puffiness and redness (photoconjunctivitis), and /or darkened, spotty vision. While normal vision usually returns if the person does not repeatedly experience UV exposure, permanent damage can be done by repeated or prolonged exposure. How Can You Protect Your Eyes? Your vision is precious, so it's worth it to take some steps toward preventing eye damage from the sun. Here are some precautions you can take. * ...

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Is UV Protective Clothing Worth Buying – Pros and Cons

All clothing protects you from the sun to some extent. UV protective clothing, however, has a specific, protective scale not unlike sunscreen. A lot of UV protective clothing actually contains sunscreen in the fabric itself. Some garments are said to be UV protective due to their weave, color, and/or reflective nature. SPF and UPF are acronyms you will see as you look into UV protective clothing. SPF stands for "sun protection factor," and it's what you see on lotion, sunscreen, and other topical protectors. SPF is measured by how long it takes your skin to turn red in the sun. UPF stands for "ultraviolet protection factor" and refers specifically to the amount of UV radiation that can go through fabric and burn your skin. Therefore, you are going to see UPF more frequently in reference to UV protective clothing. If you are considering purchasing this protective clothing, here are some pros and cons to keep in mind. Pros * When you wear UV protective clothing, you need not be concerned about rubbing potentially harmful chemicals into your skin. The chemical content of sunscreen has come under scrutiny lately, and many people are concerned about its safety. * Comfort is a factor - applying sunscreen can be ...

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Superfoods – Summer Berries

Berries are some of the most healthful foods, and summer is the season of the berry. From strawberries to blueberries to cherries, summer brings these healthful fruits to our tables. They are more affordable in summer, being in season. Here are some of the more commonly available berries and their health benefits. 1. Strawberries These popular fruits are the base for desserts and snacks that range from simple to decadent. Like most berries, though, their health benefits are best obtained by eating them raw. These tasty fruits have high levels of vitamin C, antioxidants and phenols. They also contain notable amounts of manganese. Their red color indicates their high concentration of antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins. These and other nutrients, such as potassium, combine to make strawberries helpful in preventing cancer, decreasing inflammation, and protecting the heart. They are even implicated in promoting joint health. Harvard Medical School recently found new evidence that strawberries are good for cardiovascular health. The berries lowered participants' blood levels of a kind of protein known as C-reactive protein. The presence of this protein indicates blood vessel inflammation, so lower blood levels indicated that the strawberries decreased blood vessel inflammation. 2. Blueberries Blueberries get their dark color from anthocyanins as well (they actually ...

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How Healthy Is Organic?

Organic foods are generally better for you because they are free from pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. Many organic stores strive to sell products that don't contain high fructose corn syrup. While these qualities are good, the fact of the matter is that these qualities alone don't always mean that organic foods are good for you. Choosing organic is a great start to eating healthy but there are some other things you should be aware of when it comes to organic foods. Sugar Sugar tastes great but its not exactly good for you, no matter if it's organic or not. Sugar causes highs and lows for people, which leads to overeating and mood swings. New studies have shown that the primary cause of obesity isn't fat, it's actually sugar. A chairman for the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health says that fat is not the problem when it comes to obesity. The key to battling obesity in America is for people to cut back on their consumption of sugary beverages, potatoes, pasta, white bread, white rice and sugary snacks. Cutting back or altogether eliminating these products from your diet is a good way to prevent problems with weight, diabetes ...

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Concerns Over Hair Straighteners

A health hazard alert has been sent out to salons across the United States by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, regarding the risks that popular hair straightening products may have on salon employees and customers. This alert includes the popular Brazilian Blowout. The federal agency warned that formaldehyde, which is a common ingredient in numerous hair treatments, could lead to nose and lung issues while increasing the risk of cancer. The agency started out with a nationwide investigation of complaints by salon operators and employees of symptoms related to the use of chemical straightening procedures, that are typically referred to as keratin-based or Brazilian. This was after many state investigations and international actions to stop these products. The federal agency is a branch of the United States Department of Labor. The largest investigation that has been published as of today is the Environmental Working Group's which looked into chemical hair straightening treatments and revealed many complaints related to hair loss, burning eyes, noses and throats, blisters, vomiting, and headaches in women who had been given or received a Brazilian style straightening treatment. The investigation discovered that numerous top salons across the country provide treatments without acknowledging the concerns about ...

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