Do You Keep Your Potatoes In The Fridge? Here’s Why You Really Shouldn’t

WHEN it comes to keeping our food fresh many of us rely on our trusty fridge. 

However there is one food you should certainly not refrigerate. 

According to the Foods Standards Agency, potatoes should NEVER be kept in a fridge. 

The FSA website adds: "The most important food not to keep in the fridge are potatoes. 

"When these are stored in the fridge, the starch in the potato is converted to sugar. When baked or fried, these sugars combine with the amino acid asparagine and produce the chemical acrylamide, which is thought to be harmful."

Acrylamide is a chemical used in industrial processes – such as the production of paper and plastics -and has also been linked with cancer. 

According to the Foods Standards Agency, potatoes should NEVER be kept in a fridge Getty

The cancer.gov website says: "Studies in rodent models have found that acrylamide exposure poses a risk for several types of cancer."

Yikes. 

It’s not just refrigerated potatoes that contain higher levels of this potentially harmful chemical - chips and French fries have also been found to contain higher levels of acrylamide compared with other foods.

However, don’t panic just yet – you can still eat your favourite foods. 

The FSA says: "The Agency does not advise people to stop eating any of these foods, but you should follow Department of Health advice from the NHS Choices website on eating a healthy, balanced diet. 

"We also recommend that, when making chips at home, they are cooked to a light golden colour. 

"However, manufacturers' instructions for frying or oven-heating foods should be followed carefully."

While more research is needed to determine the risk of cancer in humans, whatever you do, keep your potatoes in a cool, dry place, that ISN’T your fridge.

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10 Foods Made In China That Are Filled With Plastic, Pesticides And Cancer Causing Chemicals

Recently I was reading an article on AltHealthWorks.com about a fake rice being produced in China. The rice is being made out of plastic believe it or not and no one is doing anything about it. Naturally, as a health advocate and researcher of food and how food is processed I thought to myself, this is going WAY too far.

Plastic rice? Ingesting even small amounts of plastic is horrible for the digestive system and hormones. The BPA (chemical) in plastic mimic’s estrogen and this hormone skyrockets in the body when BPA is ingested. Ingest plastic rice and you’re basically asking to die young of breast cancer.

Every once in a while I would hear something crazy from China like this and was always weary of food from China for this reason. You have to think, not only is the food being shipped from the other side of the world (just think of what could happen during that time and possible exposure or contamination) but beyond that look at what certain Chinese companies are doing to food. Making it fake, and as cheap as humanly possible. China is using their innovative methods that they use to make cheap technology products, toys and other consumer products and applying that mindset to food, which is absolutely dangerous.

1.Tilapia Fish:

Tilapia is commonly fish-farmed in China. These fish are some of the worst, most toxic and unhealthy fish that you can come across. A tilapia fish will eat anything, comparable to a bottom-feeder fish and fish farming is a small pool of waste water that the fish live in. It’s one of the worst fish purchases you could buy and it’s commonly known that in China the sea-food farmers won’t even let their children eat the seafood that they farm, that should tell you something. 80% of the Tilapia in America come’s from China.

2. Cod Fish:

Cod is another type of fish that is fish farmed in China. This fish is not healthy and lives in it’s own waste. Currently just over 50% of American Cod come’s from China.

3. Chinese Apple Juice:

Believe it or not approximately 50% of the apple juice sold in the United States come’s from China. China is the LARGEST pesticide producing country in the world and they haven’t even begun to address pesticide or chemical residue on foods. I recommend completely avoiding apple juice, for yourself and your children. Fruit juice is too rich in sugar and is better mixed with vegetable juice for your blood sugar levels.

4. Processed Mushrooms:

US inspectors have found tainted mushrooms from China. Some manufacturers in China go so far as to label these processed mushrooms organic to increase their profits. If you do a google search you’ll find that there are many “mystery mushrooms” in China, completely fake. 34% of processed mushrooms are from China. Do your best to know your source, buy local and true organic!

5. Chinese Garlic:

Us inspectors have also found tainted garlic from China. Garlic from China is sprayed with chemicals more than abundantly and this garlic leaves a bad aftertaste, that of a chemical concoction. 31% of Garlic sold in the US is from China.

6. Chicken:

In 2013 the US Department of Agriculture approved the sale of Chinese chicken in America. Many food safety experts are concerned with the quality of this chicken as China is a country where avian influenza and food-borne illness are common. Beyond that, China produces more pesticides than any other country in the world and is polluted by not only that but mass production and industry.

7. Plastic Rice:

As I mentioned previously in this article, fake plastic rice is being produced. It is believed that it is actually made from potatoes and a fake sythetic resin. When boiled the rice stays hard and doesn’t cook like regular rice. It is believed that long-term effects of this food could be cancerous.

8. Mud (Sold As Black Pepper):

A vendor in China collected mud and sold it as black pepper, and also took flour and sold it as white pepper. Call it whatever you want and sell away! The Chinese don’t have a lot of due diligence in their food and safety regulatory systems. Not that these are always great, just look at America! we have standards but very low standards at best.

9. Industrial Salt:

Industrial salt is unfit for human consumption yet Industrial salt was sold as table salt for 13 years! Industrial salt can cause both mental and physical issues, hypothyroid problems as well as reproductive system disorders.

10. Green Peas:

Yet another crazy out of this world scenario… I need a t-shirt that say’s “Only in China” at this point. Green peas in China were found in 2005, and may be still produced today. These fake peas were created with snow peas, soy beans, along with green dye and sodium metabisulfite (a chemical that is used as bleach and as a preservative). This dye is banned to use on produce because it may cause cancer, as well as inhibit the body’s natural ability to absorb calcium. These green peas also didn’t soften when boiled and the water turned an unnatural green color. So, avoid green peas from China.

In my humble opinion food from China is some of the worst food you can get on the planet. As I have mentioned, China produces more pesticides than any other country in the world, meaning your food is most likely to be laced with pesticides. It is one of the most polluted regions in the entire world. 70% of rivers are polluted, the air is toxic and the sheer volume production of products there leaves a lot of toxic chemicals and by-products as waste that leak into the environment.

Take this one fact, the air in Beijing China is so polluted that breathing it actually does as much damage to the lungs as smoking 40 cigarettes a day, says a new study as of 2015. From China? just avoid it.

How can you tell if your apple juice, garlic or mushrooms are from China? it’s difficult to tell. This is why I recommend shopping locally at your farmers market and getting to know your farmer or supplier. Ask questions at your health food or grocery store, ask questions and do your research. Use your cell phone to google it in the store!

Here’s even more foods to avoid from China: AltHealthWorks.com

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Aspartame Is, By Far, The Most Dangerous Substance On The Market That Is Added To Foods

Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. It was discovered by accident in 1965 when James Schlatter, a chemist of G.D. Searle Company, was testing an anti-ulcer drug.

Aspartame was approved for dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated beverages in 1983. It was originally approved for dry goods on July 26, 1974, but objections filed by neuroscience researcher Dr. John W. Olney and consumer attorney James Turner in August 1974, as well as investigations of G.D. Searle's research practices caused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put approval of aspartame on hold (December 5, 1974). In 1985, Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The NutraSweet Company separate subsidiaries.

Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious, including seizures and death. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as part of aspartame dangers are: 

Headaches/ migraines	Dizziness	Seizures	Nausea	Numbness
Muscle spasms	Weight gain	Rashes	Depression	Fatigue
Irritability	Tachycardia	Insomnia	Vision problems	Hearing loss
Heart palpitations	Breathing difficulties	Anxiety attacks	Slurred speech	Loss of taste
Tinnitus	Vertigo	Memory loss	Joint pain

According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame: 

Brain tumors	Multiple sclerosis	Epilepsy	Chronic fatigue syndrome	Parkinson's disease
Alzheimer's	Mental retardation	Lymphoma	Birth defects	Fibromyalgia
Diabetes

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. The book Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by James and Phyllis Balch lists aspartame under the category of "chemical poison." As you shall see, that is exactly what it is.

What Is Aspartame Made Of?

Aspartic Acid (40 percent of Aspartame)

Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi, recently published a book thoroughly detailing the damage that is caused by the ingestion of excessive aspartic acid from aspartame. Blaylock makes use of almost 500 scientific references to show how excess free excitatory amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid (about 99 percent of monosodium glutamate or MSG is glutamic acid) in our food supply are causing serious chronic neurological disorders and a myriad of other acute symptoms.

How Aspartate (and Glutamate) Cause Damage

Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters in the brain by facilitating the transmission of information from neuron to neuron. Too much aspartate or glutamate in the brain kills certain neurons by allowing the influx of too much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals, which kill the cells. The neural cell damage that can be caused by excessive aspartate and glutamate is why they are referred to as "excitotoxins." They "excite" or stimulate the neural cells to death.

Aspartic acid is an amino acid. Taken in its free form (unbound to proteins), it significantly raises the blood plasma level of aspartate and glutamate. The excess aspartate and glutamate in the blood plasma shortly after ingesting aspartame or products with free glutamic acid (glutamate precursor) leads to a high level of those neurotransmitters in certain areas of the brain.

The blood brain barrier (BBB), which normally protects the brain from excess glutamate and aspartate as well as toxins, 1) is not fully developed during childhood, 2) does not fully protect all areas of the brain, 3) is damaged by numerous chronic and acute conditions, and 4) allows seepage of excess glutamate and aspartate into the brain even when intact.

The excess glutamate and aspartate slowly begin to destroy neurons. The large majority (75 percent or more) of neural cells in a particular area of the brain are killed before any clinical symptoms of a chronic illness are noticed. A few of the many chronic illnesses that have been shown to be contributed to by long-term exposure to excitatory amino acid damage include:

Multiple sclerosis (MS)	Parkinson's disease
ALS	Hypoglycemia
Memory loss	AIDS
Hormonal problems	Dementia
Epilepsy	Brain lesions
Alzheimer's disease	Neuroendocrine disorders

The risk to infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and persons with certain chronic health problems from excitotoxins are great. Even the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), which usually understates problems and mimics the FDA party-line, recently stated in a review that glutamic acid should be avoided by women of childbearing age.

Aspartic acid from aspartame has the same deleterious effects on the body as glutamic acid isolated from it's naturally protein-bound state, causing it to become a neurotoxin instead of a non-essential amino acid.

Aspartame in diet sodas, or aspartame in other liquid form are absorbed more quickly and have been shown to spike plasma levels of aspartic acid.

The exact mechanism of acute reactions to excess free glutamate and aspartate is currently being debated. As reported to the FDA, those reactions include:

Headaches/migraines	Fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain)	Anxiety attacks
Nausea	Sleep problems	Depression
Abdominal pains	Vision problems	Asthma/chest tightness

One common complaint of persons suffering from the effect of aspartame is memory loss. Ironically, in 1987, G.D. Searle, the manufacturer of aspartame, undertook a search for a drug to combat memory loss caused by excitatory amino acid damage. Blaylock is one of many scientists and physicians who are concerned about excitatory amino acid damage caused by ingestion of aspartame and MSG.

A few of the many experts who have spoken out against the damage being caused by aspartate and glutamate include Adrienne Samuels, Ph.D., an experimental psychologist specializing in research design. Another is Olney, a professor in the department of psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University, a neuroscientist and researcher, and one of the world's foremost authorities on excitotoxins. (He informed Searle in 1971 that aspartic acid caused holes in the brains of mice.)

Phenylalanine (50 percent of aspartame)

Phenylalanine is an amino acid normally found in the brain. Persons with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize phenylalanine. This leads to dangerously high levels of phenylalanine in the brain (sometimes lethal). It has been shown that ingesting aspartame, especially along with carbohydrates, can lead to excess levels of phenylalanine in the brain even in persons who do not have PKU.

This is not just a theory, as many people who have eaten large amounts of aspartame over a long period of time and do not have PKU have been shown to have excessive levels of phenylalanine in the blood. Excessive levels of phenylalanine in the brain can cause the levels of serotonin in the brain to decrease, leading to emotional disorders such as depression. It was shown in human testing that phenylalanine levels of the blood were increased significantly in human subjects who chronically used aspartame.

Even a single use of aspartame raised the blood phenylalanine levels. In his testimony before the U.S. Congress, Dr. Louis J. Elsas showed that high blood phenylalanine can be concentrated in parts of the brain and is especially dangerous for infants and fetuses. He also showed that phenylalanine is metabolized much more efficiently by rodents than by humans.

One account of a case of extremely high phenylalanine levels caused by aspartame was recently published by the Wednesday Journal in an article titled "An Aspartame Nightmare." John Cook began drinking six to eight diet drinks every day. His symptoms started out as memory loss and frequent headaches. He began to crave more aspartame-sweetened drinks. His condition deteriorated so much that he experienced wide mood swings and violent rages. Even though he did not suffer from PKU, a blood test revealed a phenylalanine level of 80 mg/dl. He also showed abnormal brain function and brain damage. After he kicked his aspartame habit, his symptoms improved dramatically.

As Blaylock points out in his book, early studies measuring phenylalanine buildup in the brain were flawed. Investigators who measured specific brain regions and not the average throughout the brain notice significant rises in phenylalanine levels. Specifically the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and corpus striatum areas of the brain had the largest increases in phenylalanine. Blaylock goes on to point out that excessive buildup of phenylalanine in the brain can cause schizophrenia or make one more susceptible to seizures.

Therefore, long-term, excessive use of aspartame may provide a boost to sales of serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac and drugs to control schizophrenia and seizures.

Methanol a.k.a wood alcohol/poison (10 percent of aspartame)

Methanol/wood alcohol is a deadly poison. Some people may remember methanol as the poison that has caused some "skid row" alcoholics to end up blind or dead. Methanol is gradually released in the small intestine when the methyl group of aspartame encounters the enzyme chymotrypsin.

The absorption of methanol into the body is sped up considerably when free methanol is ingested. Free methanol is created from aspartame when it is heated to above 86 Fahrenheit (30 Centigrade). This would occur when aspartame-containing product is improperly stored or when it is heated (e.g. as part of a "food" product such as Jello).

Methanol breaks down into formaldehyde in the body. Formaldehyde is a deadly neurotoxin. An EPA assessment of methanol states that methanol "is considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. In the body, methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde." They recommend a limit of consumption of 7.8 mg/day. A one-liter (approx. 1 quart) aspartame-sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol. Heavy users of aspartame-containing products consume as much as 250 mg of methanol daily or 32 times the EPA limit.

Symptoms from methanol poisoning include headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness, vertigo, chills, memory lapses, numbness and shooting pains in the extremities, behavioral disturbances, and neuritis. The most well known problems from methanol poisoning are vision problems including misty vision, progressive contraction of visual fields, blurring of vision, obscuration of vision, retinal damage, and blindness. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, causes retinal damage, interferes with DNA replication and causes birth defects.

Due to the lack of a couple of key enzymes, humans are many times more sensitive to the toxic effects of methanol than animals. Therefore, tests of aspartame or methanol on animals do not accurately reflect the danger for humans. As pointed out by Dr. Woodrow C. Monte, director of the food science and nutrition laboratory at Arizona State University: "There are no human or mammalian studies to evaluate the possible mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic effects of chronic administration of methyl alcohol."

He was so concerned about the unresolved safety issues that he filed suit with the FDA requesting a hearing to address these issues. He asked the FDA to:

"...[S]low down on this soft drink issue long enough to answer some of the important questions. It's not fair that you are leaving the full burden of proof on the few of us who are concerned and have such limited resources. You must remember that you are the American public's last defense. Once you allow usage (of aspartame) there is literally nothing I or my colleagues can do to reverse the course. Aspartame will then join saccharin, the sulfiting agents, and God knows how many other questionable compounds enjoined to insult the human constitution with governmental approval."

Shortly thereafter, the Commissioner of the FDA, Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr., approved the use of aspartame in carbonated beverage. He then left for a position with G.D. Searle's public relations firm.

It has been pointed out that some fruit juices and alcoholic beverages contain small amounts of methanol. It is important to remember, however, that methanol never appears alone. In every case, ethanol is present, usually in much higher amounts. Ethanol is an antidote for methanol toxicity in humans. The troops of Desert Storm were "treated" to large amounts of aspartame-sweetened beverages, which had been heated to over 86 degrees F in the Saudi Arabian sun. Many of them returned home with numerous disorders similar to what has been seen in persons who have been chemically poisoned by formaldehyde. The free methanol in the beverages may have been a contributing factor in these illnesses. Other breakdown products of aspartame such as DKP (discussed below) may also have been a factor.

In a 1993 act that can only be described as "unconscionable," the FDA approved aspartame as an ingredient in numerous food items that would always be heated to above 86 degree F (30 degree C).

Diketopiperazine (DKP)

DKP is a byproduct of aspartame metabolism. DKP has been implicated in the occurrence of brain tumors. Olney noticed that DKP, when nitrosated in the gut, produced a compound that was similar to N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor causing chemical. Some authors have said that DKP is produced after aspartame ingestion. I am not sure if that is correct. It is definitely true that DKP is formed in liquid aspartame-containing products during prolonged storage.

G.D. Searle conducted animal experiments on the safety of DKP. The FDA found numerous experimental errors occurred, including "clerical errors, mixed-up animals, animals not getting drugs they were supposed to get, pathological specimens lost because of improper handling," and many other errors. These sloppy laboratory procedures may explain why both the test and control animals had 16 times more brain tumors than would be expected in experiments of this length.

In an ironic twist, shortly after these experimental errors were discovered, the FDA used guidelines recommended by G.D. Searle to develop the industry-wide FDA standards for good laboratory practices.

DKP has also been implicated as a cause of uterine polyps and changes in blood cholesterol by FDA Toxicologist Dr. Jacqueline Verrett in her testimony before the U.S. Senate.

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Conventional Tampons Are Toxic And Not Sustainable

By Dr. Mercola

The fact that personal care products like lotion, deodorant, and cosmetics often contain toxic ingredients is becoming more common knowledge. As a result, many men and women alike have chosen to opt for natural alternatives and some companies have even removed questionable ingredients.

The same cannot be said, however, for most feminine hygiene products, including tampons and pads. Classified as medical devices instead of personal care products by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), companies do not have to disclose the ingredients they contain.

Most tampons, for instance, are made from cotton, rayon, or another pulp fiber, but these materials may contain toxic disinfection byproducts from the chlorine bleaching process, including dioxins and furans, as well as pesticides from non-organic, often genetically modified (GM) cotton. 

Meanwhile, from a sustainability perspective, disposable tampons and pads are far from being environmentally friendly, but available alternatives have not been widely accepted into the mainstream…

It May Take Centuries or More for a Tampon to Degrade in a Landfill

Feminine hygiene pads alone are a multi-billion dollar industry. Another 100 million women use tampons globally, and it’s estimated that one woman uses 11,000 tampons in her lifetime. Each of those tampons, along with pads, can take centuries to break down in a landfill, especially if they’re wrapped in plastic before being thrown away.1

While many municipalities are discussing methods to discourage the use of plastic bags, plastic-laden feminine hygiene products “add the equivalent of 180 billion bags to our waste stream,” according to Naturally Savvy.2 Alternative reusable options include silicone menstrual cups and cloth pads and liners. Sophie Zivku, communications and education director for DivaCup, told The Guardian:3

“The paper feminine hygiene industry has done a very good job of convincing women that their period is something [which] should be out of sight and out of mind, something they shouldn’t talk about…

Think about the advertisements we see – it’s all about silent wrappers, discrete and smaller products that are easier to hide or dispose of, and concealing the fact you have your period. Without opportunities for positive period talk, women and girls may not have the opportunity to learn about or even ask about other, more sustainable options.”

Your Vagina Is Especially Vulnerable to Chemicals and Irritants

If there’s one place where you want to be sure only the purest of materials are introduced, it’s your vagina. Vulvar and vaginal tissues are more permeable than the rest of your skin, making them especially vulnerable to chemicals and other irritants. 

With mucous membranes, numerous blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels, the vagina provides a direct entryway for chemicals to circulate through the rest of your body. Plus, tampons are left in place for hours at a time, for several days each month, adding quite a bit of cumulative exposure time. 

This is why, when creating my line of premium feminine hygiene products, my team sourced only 100% hypoallergenic organic cotton for tampons and covered them with a special cotton safety layer to help prevent fibers from remaining inside your body.

Research has shown that not only are chemicals rapidly absorbed and circulated through the rest of your body via your vagina, but some chemicals, like hormone-mimicking substances, may lead to “higher than expected exposures” in the rest of your body. 

For instance, a vaginally applied dose of estradiol resulted in systemic estradiol levels 10 to 80 times higher than resulted from the same dose taken orally.4Another area of concern surrounds cancer-causing chemicals, of which little research has been done regarding their direct exposure to the vagina.

Studies show that dioxin, a potential byproduct of the chlorine-bleaching process, collects in your fatty tissues, and according to a draft report by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), dioxin is a serious public health threat that has no "safe" level of exposure! Published reports show that even low or trace levels of dioxins may be linked to:

• Abnormal tissue growth in the abdomen and reproductive organs
• Abnormal cell growth throughout the body 
• Immune system suppression 
• Hormonal and endocrine system disruption 

FDA Recommends No Dioxin in Tampons, But Trace Levels Exist

The FDA has stated that while bleaching of wood pulp was at one time a potential source of dioxin in tampons, chlorine-free methods are now used for bleaching and purifying the wood pulp used in many tampons. The Agency's official stance is that there are no expected health risks associated with trace amounts of dioxins in tampons,5 but trace amounts do exist…

The FDA recommends that tampons be free of dioxin, including TCDD and TCDF, as well as pesticide and herbicide residues. But this is simply a recommendation, not a requirement. 

“Chem Fatale,” a report on the potential health effects of toxic chemicals in feminine care products,6 revealed testing has shown that toxic chemicals do exist in tampons, despite the FDA’s recommendations:

• A 2002 study found small but detectable levels of TCDF in all four brands of tampons tested7
• A 2013 study detected pesticide residues in o.b. tampons (the only brand tested); the levels were low (some as low as 1 part per million),8 but still show that some exposure is occurring (and many pesticides are considered possible carcinogens and endocrine disruptors)

Non-Organic Cotton Is Considered the ‘World’s Dirtiest Crop’

What else is lurking in your feminine hygiene products? If you use non-organic versions, pesticides. One of the primary reasons why organic cotton is better, even for clothing but especially for tampons and pads, is because of what it doesn’t contain, namely a heavy load of some of the most hazardous insecticides on the market. 

According to the Organic Trade Association:9

“Cotton is considered the world's 'dirtiest' crop due to its heavy use of insecticides, the most hazardous pesticide to human and animal health. Cotton covers 2.5% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world's insecticides, more than any other single major crop.

Aldicarb, parathion, and methamidophos, three of the most acutely hazardous insecticides to human health as determined by the World Health Organization, rank in the top ten most commonly used in cotton production. All but one of the remaining seven most commonly used are classified as moderately to highly hazardous.

Aldicarb, cotton's second best-selling insecticide and most acutely poisonous to humans, can kill a man with just one drop absorbed through the skin, yet it is still used in 25 countries and the US, where 16 states have reported it in their groundwater.”

Not to mention, 91 percent of the cotton planted in the US is genetically modified.10 The 2002 introduction of Monsanto’s Bt cotton, which is genetically modified to produce a toxin from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that is deadly to the bollworm, was supposed to lead to a reduction in the use of insecticides on cotton crops for farmers in the developing world (where 99 percent of all cotton farmers reside).11

But Bt cotton requires more pesticide sprayings than indigenous cotton—MANY times more. Bt cotton has created new resistant pests,12 and to control these, farmers must use 13 times more pesticides than they were using prior to its introduction.13

Plus, with all of the health risks emerging from consuming GMO foods, what might the consequences be of inserting a GM tampon into your vagina for days each month? Such questions have yet to be answered…

Hormone-Disrupting and Carcinogenic Chemicals May Lurk in Tampons

Aside from pesticides, traces of dioxin, and GMOs, if you’re using scented tampons, be aware that such products may contain any of the nearly 3,000 fragrance chemicals in use. But, again, they probably won’t be listed on the label. An analysis by Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), which acquired public patent documents held by Proctor & Gamble (the maker of Tampax and Always), showed the following chemicals may also be in your tampons:14

Creped cellulose wadding	Meltblown polymers	Chemically stiffened fibers, polyester fibers, peat moss, foam
Tissue wraps and laminates	Super absorbent gels and open-celled foams	Myreth-3-myristate (as lubricant) (US Patent # 5,591,123)
Natural and synthetic zeolites (as odor-absorbing particles) (US Patent # 5,161,686)	Alcohol ethoxylates	Glycerol esters, polysorbate-20 (as surfactants to disperse fragrance)
Unnamed antibacterial agents (US Patent # 8,585,668)	Cancer-causing chemicals such as: styrene, pyridine, methyleugenol, and butylated hydroxyanisole (scented products)	Phthalates of concern (DEP and DINP) (scented products)
Synthetic musks (potential hormone disruptors) (scented products)	Numerous allergens (scented products)

Superabsorbent Fibers in Tampons May Increase Toxic Shock Syndrome Risk

Tampons can create a favorable environment for bacteria growth. Micro tears in your vaginal wall from tampons may allow bacteria to enter and accumulate. One recognized risk from tampon use is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), which may be caused by poisonous toxins from either Staphylococcus aureus (staph) or group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria. 

However, TSS has also been associated with superabsorbent fibers in tampons, such as rayon, a cellulose fiber made from wood pulp. Many conventional tampons are manufactured with a blend of cotton and rayon because it costs less and absorbs more liquid. But according to the Mayo Clinic:15

“Researchers don't know exactly how tampons may cause toxic shock syndrome. Some believe that when superabsorbent tampons are left in place for a long time, the tampons become a breeding ground for bacteria. Others have suggested that the superabsorbent fibers in the tampons can scratch the surface of the vagina, making it possible for bacteria or their toxins to enter the bloodstream."

TSS can be a life-threatening condition, so it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms. Should any of the following symptoms arise while using tampons during your period, make sure you seek medical help:

Sudden high fever	Vomiting	Diarrhea
Low blood pressure	Seizures	Rash on palms or soles of feet
Muscle aches	Redness of your eyes, mouth, and/or throat

To minimize your risk of this potentially life-threatening condition:

Avoid super absorbent tampons -- choose the lowest absorbency rate to handle your flow	Never leave a tampon inserted overnight; use overnight pads instead	When inserting a tampon, be extremely careful not to scratch your vaginal lining (avoid plastic applicators)
Alternate the use of tampons with sanitary napkins or mini-pads during your period	Change tampons at least every 4-6 hours	Do not use a tampon between periods

Safer Alternatives for Feminine Care

Many of today’s feminine hygiene products are made primarily from rayon, viscose, and cellulose wood fluff pulp… not cotton — let alone organic cotton. Rayon and viscose present a potential danger in part because of their highly absorbent fibers. 

When used in tampons, these fibers can stick to your vaginal wall, and when you remove the tampon, the loosened fibers stay behind inside your body, thereby raising your risk of TSS. However, to be clear, the FDA notes that tampons made with rayon do not appear to have a higher risk of TSS than cotton tampons of similar absorbency.16

It is the absorbency level that appears to have the greatest association, with higher absorbency products linked to increased TSS risk. Fortunately, there are safer alternatives, and since the FDA regulates tampon absorbency, all tampons on the market must meet the same absorption guidelines. According to Dr. Philip Tierno, a clinical professor of Microbiology and Pathology at NYU Medical Centre, 100 percent cotton tampons “consistently test under detectable levels for TSS toxins.” 

This is just one reason why my line of feminine hygiene products is made with only certified organic or natural cotton – more naturally breathable fiber that may be healthier for your body and the earth. Not only are there NO synthetic fibers in the Mercola line of personal products, but every tampon and pad also contains a special "security veil.” 

This veil, a soft, breathable cotton cover, provides double insurance against any part of the cotton separating from the tampon or pad. My Premium Personal Care line, including organic tampons, natural cotton panty liners, and sanitary pads are also:

• Chlorine- and toxin-free – Keeps potentially dangerous substances away from your most intimate body parts 
• Synthetic-free – For a softer and plastic-less feel
• Wood fluff pulp-free – Breathable, absorbent, and saves trees, too
• Hypoallergenic and soothing – especially for those with sensitive skin 
• User-friendly – Easy and comfortable to use 

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http://articles.mercola.com

• The Guardian April 27, 2015
• Naturally Savvy May 6, 2013

• 1, 3 The Guardian April 27, 2015
• 2, 15 Naturally Savvy May 6, 2013
• 4 WomenVoices.org Chem Fatale November 2013
• 5 US FDA, Tampons and Asbestos, Dioxin & Toxic Shock Syndrome
• 6 WomenVoices.org Chem Fatale November 2013
• 7 Environ Health Perspect. Jan 2002; 110(1): 23–28
• 8 Naturally Savvy August 15, 2013
• 9, 11 Organic Trade Association, Cotton and the Environment
• 10 USDA, Recent Trends in GE Adoption
• 12 Institute of Science in Society (ISIS) June 1, 2010 
• 13 Voltairenet.org May 23, 2009 
• 14 EcoWatch July 16, 2014
• 16 US FDA, Tampons and Asbestos, Dioxin & Toxic Shock Syndrome