Annapolis

Health

Health Column | April 2009

By Jackie Janosik Buan

Sporting the Green Look

Clothing made with organic, sustainable, eco-certified or recycled materials is all the rage. Manufacturers in the apparel industry are making “fleece” jackets from recycled plastic bottles, Air Jordans without solvent-based glues, T-shirts out of soy and bamboo. While others are reclaiming old buttons, rivets and zippers for jeans and unusable second-quality fabrics for new board shorts.

The surging popularity of organic material (fibers grown without pesticides or herbicides) proves that more and more consumers want to know the source of their clothing. Eco-wear is moving from the luxury market into mainstream department and retail stores. “Farmers and retailers are starting to work hand-in-hand to drive the conversion to and expansion of the organic cotton market [one of the most popular organic fibers],” said LaRhea Pepper, executive director of the Organic Exchange (a nonprofit organization committed to expanding organic agriculture). Even the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, recently purchased 12 million pounds of cotton from farmers who are changing over from conventional to organic farming. According to the OE’s Organic Cotton Farm and Fiber Report, the number of organic cotton farmers worldwide increased 152 percent from 2007 to 2008. And that’s good news, considering the OE claim that “conventional farming devours roughly one-third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers to produce enough cotton for a single T-shirt.”

Thinking about shopping for organic cotton garments? Here’s how the Organic Trade Association defines the four levels of organic labeling:
100 percent organic must contain 100 percent organically produced cotton, including any sewing thread.
Organic cotton must contain at least 95 percent organically produced cotton.
Made with organic cotton must contain at least 70 percent organically produced cotton.
Made with x percent organic cotton must contain the percentage of organically produced cotton indicated.
For more questions and answers about all things organic, check out "http://www.ota.com"

Darker Days Ahead for the Eco-Bulb?

Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, use just a quarter of the electricity and last up to ten times longer than standard incandescent bulbs (1,500 hours vs. 10,000), says the federal government. So why are Americans reluctant to make the switch from the Edison-style filament bulb to the squiggly coiled CFL?

Perhaps it’s because of the higher price tag or the unflattering bluish glow or the rumored health problems such as migraine headaches and skin irritation.

A mixed bag of recent research drew different conclusions regarding CFLs’ alleged health-hazard claims. A National Institutes of Health-funded study says CFLs should not aggravate skin rashes in people with certain skin disorders. The NIH considers them to be a safe substitute for incandescent bulbs. Meanwhile, across the pond, British researchers at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) warn that some CFLs with the coil clearly visible, can emit ultraviolet radiation that could damage the skin if positioned too close to the body. The agency offers precautionary advice to protect people who suffer from lupus and other medical conditions that cause sensitivity to ultraviolet light. One last bit of advice from the Brits at HPA: Until future advances in CFL design overcome the current problems, don’t spend more than an hour within a foot of the suspect CFL. Better yet, use an encapsulated CFL where the outer layer of glass looks more like a standard bulb.

The real health concern, however, may come after the bulbs have burned out. CFLs contain mercury. Who knew? The amount is minute, just enough to cover the tip of a pen. But, according to Stanford University research, that’s enough to contaminate up to 6,000 gallons of water beyond safe drinking levels. The danger occurs when the bulbs are used up, tossed out and possibly broken in the process. The Environmental Protection Agency actually suggests a 19-step process if you should break one ( HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/" www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/). It includes first airing out the room for a quarter hour, wearing gloves, double-bagging the refuse, using duct tape to lift residue from carpet, and throwing away contaminated clothing or bedding. What is this, Silkwood?

In the meantime, the EPA, CFL manufacturers, local municipalities and landfills are studying the problem to come up with a viable and safe disposal policy for these “environmentally friendly” light fixtures.

What’s Brewing with Green Tea?

Mice and men (and women) from Beijing to Bethesda have been consuming green tea during extensive clinical trials and studies to determine if it really could be a magic bullet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the results of these studies suggest that green tea may be useful for a number of health conditions. Here are just a few:
Atherosclerosis: The antioxidant properties of green tea may prevent atherosclerosis, particularly coronary artery disease. High cholesterol: It may lower total cholesterol and raises HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Cancer: Cancer rates tend to be low in countries such as Japan where people regularly consume green tea. Emerging studies suggest that the polyphenols in green tea help kill cancerous cells and stop their progression. Inflammatory Bowel Disease: It may help reduce inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Diabetes: Traditionally, green tea has been used to control blood sugar levels. It may help regulate glucose in the body. Liver Disease: One study showed that men who drank 10 cups of green tea a day are less likely to develop liver problems.

The University of Maryland Medical Center has a few warnings, however. They state: “People with heart problems, kidney disorders, stomach ulcers, and psychological disorders (particularly anxiety) should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid green tea.” And don’t forget that, like many teas, green tea is loaded with caffeine. So those 10-cups-a-day test cases may have experienced irritability, insomnia, heart palpitations, and dizziness.
Possible weight loss, however, may turn out to be the biggest boon to the green tea industry. A recent study conducted by researchers at Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University evaluated 132 obese adults. All consumed a calorie-consistent daily diet and participated in 180 minutes a week of moderate-to-intense exercise. Some of the test subjects drank green tea with 625 milligrams of the antioxidant catechins daily. Those that did not, lost slightly more than two pounds. Those who did, lost 4.4 pounds. The green-tea group also had larger declines in total abdominal fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat, and triglycerides. Let the bandwagon-jumping begin.

Annapolis resident Jackie Janosik Buan enjoys researching all things holistic and healthy.
This material is simply a discussion of current trends, information, and practices. Please seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes in your diet or beginning any new practices.

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