Your Health: BPA

You have likely seen ‘BPA Free’ stickers popping up on hard plastic bottles all over the place! Just what is this BPA? Why is it so dangerous?

What Is BPA?

Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, along with other applications.

Known to be estrogenic since the mid 1930s, concerns about the use of bisphenol A in consumer products were regularly reported in the news media in 2008 after several governments issued reports questioning its safety, prompting some retailers to remove products containing it from their shelves. A 2010 report from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised further concerns regarding exposure of fetuses, infants and young children. In September 2010, Canada became the first country to declare BPA as a toxic substance.In the European Union and Canada, BPA use is banned in baby bottles.^(Wikipedia)

Is BPA Toxic?

This is a subject of much debate. Since the FDA completed its original analysis in August, additional data on the potential health effects of BPA have emerged, linking high levels of BPA exposure to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes and even a decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy in cancer patients. The compound is also linked to developmental and brain effects in infants; BPA is known to mimic the hormone estrogen in the body, which can cause changes in developing fetuses and infants. “There is enough evidence today for the FDA to take the precaution and to certainly get BPA out of infant products,” says Urvashi Rangan, senior scientist and policy analyst at Consumers Union. “Even more, consumers should not be ingesting this substance while the science is being figured out.”(Time Magazine)

A 2008 draft report by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded that “there is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures,” and that there is “some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.”

Dr Oz suggest the BPA may be making us fat.

BPA has been linked to many health problems.

BPA is also known to have a negative effect on the environment.

In general, studies have shown that BPA can affect growth, reproduction and development in aquatic organisms. Among freshwater organisms, fish appear to be the most sensitive species. Evidence of endocrine-related effects in fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles has been reported at environmentally relevant exposure levels lower than those required for acute toxicity. There is a widespread variation in reported values for endocrine-related effects, but many fall in the range of 1μg/L to 1 mg/L.^(Wikipedia)

^{In Conclusion, The jury may still be officially ‘out’ on BPA, but it is something we should all be mindful of.}

Where do we find BPA?

BPA is hiding everywhere. It is in water bottles, milk jugs, ling of cans of baby formula, lining of many cans and many other places. Heat causes BPA to leach at up to 50% more quickly. This means, do NOT heat or reheat your foods in plastic containers. Do NOT leave water bottles in the sun. When in doubt do not reuse plastics or cans.

One easy way to identify BPA is by the recycle code on the bottom of most plastics.

In general, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are very unlikely to contain BPA. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.

Thrive & BPA

You can feel safe feeding your family foods from Thrive and Shelf Reliance. All Thrive cans and pouches are BPA FREE!! Our specially lined cans are durable, safe, and add to Thrive foods long shelf life. Best of all, with Thrive foods, you don’t have to worry about dangerous, toxic substances such as BPA leaching into your families food.

Many baby food containers  contain BPA. With Thrive foods you can quickly make healthy baby food in minutes! Just rehydrate your chosen foods and puree! No need to boil or steam! You can then freeze your homemade baby food eliminating your baby’s exposure to BPA.

How many toxic and dangerous chemicals is your family being exposed to on a daily basis? Are you or your family suffering from any health problems as a result of these toxic chemicals and compounds? What can you do today or change tomorrow to limit your family’s exposure to toxins such as BPA?

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Made in The USA

In today’s age of ‘out sourcing’, almost every product we buy has ‘made in china’ or a similar country attached. When we pick up our phone to make a customer service call, our calls are often transferred over seas. In this day and age ‘made in America’ has become something rather rare.

According to the ABC News, if every American bought $3.33 worth of American made goods every week we could create 10,000 jobs.

In many areas of the country, we know just how bad those jobs are needed. It’s basic economics. Spend money on goods made in your area, this creates jobs in your area, and stimulates the economy and helps it grow in your area.

We love our country! We have the best country in the world! So, lets show out support for our country! If spending just $3.33 on American Goods creates 10,000 jobs imagine what $9.99 would do!

We have strong work ethic standards in this country. When we buy American made goods, we know the workers received fair wages and fair conditions. When we buy American goods we know the goods meet health and other standards and regulations we have in this country to ensure quality.

So, take some time. Turn over the products on the shelf. Look for Made in The USA.

Many companies are opening, building, or reestablishing factories here in the USA. So, you will be seeing more made in the USA!

Love Chocolate? Mars Chocolate announced it’s building its first new chocolate factory in the U.S. in 35 years!

Another great way to ensure you are getting American Made goods, Shop With Shelf Reliance & Thrive.

Shelf Reliance is an American Based Business. Your personal consultant in someone you know and trust. By shopping with Shelf Reliance, you are stimulating your local economy, buying US goods, and buying delicious high quality foods.

So hop on over to My Online Store and spend your $3.33 toward the cause!

Made In America. Buy with pride in your country & your community.

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Welcome to Shelf Reliance

This is a great video telling a bit about Shelf Reliance and Thrive foods featuring Kelsey Nixon. Enjoy!

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Canada welcomes Shelf Reliance

Would you like to be one of the very first Shelf Reliance Consultants in your country?!?!? What an amazing ground floor opportunity! 

Shelf Reliance is coming to Canada! Things should be up and operational anytime now!

I can get you signed up as a Shelf Reliance Consultant Today!

With Shelf Reliance, as you share your passion for cooking, learning and preparedness in comfortable home settings, you’ll experience the fulfillment of teaching others how to be self-reliant. While there is no shortage of direct sales companies, never has there been an opportunity to sell such a practical product as essential to life as Thrive foods.

You can work your Shelf Reliance business part-time or full-time. You truly are your own boss. It is an amazing opportunity to earn money and free and reduced price foods and preparedness products for you and your family.

With Shelf Reliance, there is no required meetings, no stock to keep, & no minimum orders. You simply share Shelf Reliance and Thrive with your friends and enjoy the foods!

This is NOT a saturated market!

You can learn more about joining my team here.

Please, contact me for more details!

Training is so easy! With conference calls, consultant forums, & much more, I will be helping you every step of the way!

Would you or someone you know enjoy making some extra money? Would you like free food? Would you love to say you were one of the first Shelf Reliance Consultants in your country?

Contact me today!

~ Go to TawnysThrivingHome.com to shop products and get the best deals on food storage and emergency preparation products.~

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Farmers Trading Tractors for Oxen

An interesting article from earlier this month in UK based Daily Mail. I am curious why US based news groups are not covering such an interesting and “sign of the times” type articles.

When farmers Danielle and Matt Boerson realised they could no longer afford to run their tractors, they took the bull by the horns – and ditched them for oxen.

Soaring petrol prices had become so high that the couple, who run an 80-acre farm near Madison, Wisconsin, were forced to get rid of their two tractors, hay baler, plough and rotavator.

So they took a course at the agricultural institute in traditional farming techniques.

Cheap: A pair of plough-ready oxen cost $3,000 (£1,800) – roughly the same as a second hand tractor

‘It gave me the confidence that, yes, I could do this’, Danielle told the Times. ‘It just required a lot of concentration and a firm voice.’

Read More…

From experience, I can tell you, farming eats up a LOT of fuel. I have been wondering myself lately, ‘How long will we be able to continue farming with these fuel prices?’.

Thankfully, Many farmers are choosing to look into alternate means. Such as these farmers and their oxen. Many may also turn to draft horses.

With this change in farming practices, we can expect to see a shift in the ways our food is supplied. Foods will need to be farmed on a smaller scale and more locally. This may mean more eating “in season”. This also means a great flux in prices based on supply and demand. For example, during a dryer year, their will be less of certain crops, driving up the price. And off-season crops will be near impossible to come by.

The other alternative, is to continue with larger scale farming practices using fossil fuels. With this option, as the price of fuel goes up, so will the price of foods. great amounts of fuel is uses in the production and shipping of products that are not grown locally or in-season.

In any case, now is the opportune time to be investing in food. Our world is changing. We need to be prepared. It is time to start becoming more self-reliant. What will your family do if the leading national supplier of tomatoes stopped producing nationally and only supplied on a small scale to their local areas? What if the price of tomatoes sky rocketed and you could no longer get tomato paste for all your quick recipes? What if winter brought a spike in egg prices making them hard to come by? What if milk became a luxury your family couldn’t afford? Invest in these foods now, and you will have them later.

We all have a tendency to take our food supply for granted. None of us remember a time our grandparents knew, when food was hard to come by.

Now is the time to prepare for your family. Stock up on shelf stable foods. Have emergency supplies on hand. Use coupons to allow you to stock up on necessities like toothpaste, toilet paper, and first-aid supplies. Become familiar with recipes that can be cooked using shelf stable ingredients. Start a “Home Store Binder” and include everything you need to prepare your family. Keep check list of what is in your home store, supplies you need, emergency information, survival articles, recipes, canning guides, and more in your binder for easy reference.

Become Prepared.

As my dear friend always says “If my kids have to stand in line to get food from the government, I feel like I have failed them.”

~ Go to TawnysThrivingHome.com to shop products and get the best deals on food storage and emergency preparation products.~

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CHOOSE what is best for your family

Call me old-fashion, but, I am not one who likes to be “told” how to care for my family.

I am a big advocate for families researching their options and making the decision they feel is best. I don’t always agree with others decisions, but at least the decision is theirs to make.

This holds especially true for me when it comes to the wonderful world of food and nutrition.

This article was of particular interest to me, and I felt it might be interesting to you as well.

FDA conducts armed sting on Amish farmer for selling milk.

A group of more than 1000 DC and Maryland consumers are irate at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) attempt to shut down their food supply by conducting a sting operation of their private buying club.

Members of the private group contract with an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania to obtain fresh milk and other products from his farm. The FDA planted a spy in the group in October of 2009 to gather evidence against the farmer, for alleged illegal interstate commerce of raw milk.

Claiming that transportation of raw milk across state lines constitutes illegal interstate commerce, the FDA conducted many sting operations and raids against US farmers, providing consumers with fresh milk or fresh milk products.

Read More Here…

Government and other control of our food system is a very real thing. We often take the flow of food to our grocery store and homes for granted. We feel we have a “right” to choose the foods we feed to our family. But the fact of the matter is this is just not true.

A well stocked pantry and Home Store insures you can provide your family with fresh and healthy foods, even if the food supply is changed by one force or another. It is your food insurance.

Starting your Home Store is easy. And with Shelf Reliance, you earn rewards while building your Home Store using the Q. Let me help you and your family create a food storage plan today.

~ Go to TawnysThrivingHome.com to shop products and get the best deals on food storage and emergency preparation products.~

~Always be in the know… Sign Up for my Newsletter~

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