Posts Tagged ‘water’

Researchers in Japan examined levels of lithium in drinking water and noted that suicide rates were significantly lower in those areas with the highest levels of the element. Lithium is a naturally occurring element that can be found in tap water and is often used to treat mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and acute mania. So should lithium be added to our drinking water? Not quite yet. There are no large-scale studies to demonstrate feasibility or safety in using lithium to this extent. However, the idea is one which will garner considerable debate. Like many medications it is yet unknown how lithium works in in the brain to treat mood disorders.

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Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that 15 brands of infant powdered formula contain perchlorate, a compound used in rocket fuel, which is also known to contaminate drinking water in many states. The concerned brands were not listed, however, the two most contaminated brands accounted for 87% of the US powdered formula market in 2000. Perchlorate was once used to treat patients with hyperthyroidism because of its ability to reduce thyroid hormone production. Perchlorate pollution is largely a legacy of Cold War rocket and missile testing.

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As counter intuitive as it might sound,  swimming lessons have been thought to increase a child’s risk of drowning. However, in this month’s Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, a study shows that children between the ages of 1 to 4 appear to have a lower risk of drowning if they have taken formal swimming lessons. The authors state that “Previous concerns have been raised about the potential for swimming lessons to increase the risk of drowning, either through increased exposure to water or through decreased parental vigilance as parents become more confident in their child’s swimming ability.”  However, these new results show that swimming lessons can, in fact, save lives.

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A new report from the Environmental Working Group, a public health watchdog organization, says that in the 10 brands of bottled water they tested contaminant levels in some samples exceeded industry and state standards. The group is concerned that fertilizer residue, disinfection byproducts, and even pain medication is leaching into our sources for bottled water. The group advocates drinking tap water over bottled water because tap water suppliers must provide information to consumers regarding contaminants, filtration techniques, and source water, whereas bottled water companies do not. EWG says, “Consumers should drink filtered tap water instead of bottled water. Americans pay an average of two-tenths of a cent per gallon to drink water from the tap. A carbon filter at the tap or in a pitcher costs a manageable $0.31 per gallon (12 times lower than the typical cost of bottled water), and removes many of the contaminants found in public tap water supplies.” Full story.

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In light of the recent attention being paid to the issue of adult and childhood obesity in the US, it is refreshing to see a product that tackles one of the causes of increased caloric intake: sugar-laden beverages. Although I have no affiliation with Ayala’s Herbal Water, I am compelled to share this simple idea to take water and infuse it with real herbs and spices. Best of all, the ingredients are organic with no artificial sweeteners, additives or preservatives of any kind. The idea is one from Dr. Ayala Cahana, a pediatrician and medical geneticist, who has a personal interest in herbs, as well as a goal to reduce the incidence of diabetes in our country. Full story.