Today, I read an article regarding various "everyday" chemicals linked to insulin production and increased risk of obesity and diabetes.  AWESOME!  Not really.  I decided to just copy and paste the list of advice on avoiding these chemicals into today's blog post.  Here it is, courtesy of Yahoo!  with a couple inserted comments from me where I just couldn't resist!  (Read their whole article at https://www.yahoo.com/health/chemical-exposure-linked-to-rising-obesity-213844225.html):
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1. Do not mix heat with plastic. “Plastics are more likely to leach out of containers when heated,” says Gore. “Experts suggest avoiding putting plastic containers in the microwave or dishwashers with very hot water, for instance.”   (Note from me:  replace your plastic with glass and ditch the microwave altogether).

2. Ditch the plastic water bottle. When you’re on the go, Gore advises to sip water from either a reusable metal or glass water bottle. “Not only will you decrease leaching of chemicals (that can be obtained in a plastic bottle), you’ll also reduce your contribution to environmental plastic waste that is filling landfills and polluting our oceans.” However, if a plastic bottle of water is your only option, keep it out of the sun or a heated environment (like a hot yoga class) to avoid leaching.  (Note from me:  I LOVE Lifefactory glass water bottles.  They also make baby bottles and glass "tupperware." lifefactory.com).  

3. Scrub your produce. “Many pesticides are known EDCs,” she says. “Rinsing fruits and vegetables — tap water is fine — before eating can help to minimize exposure to these chemicals.”  (Note from me: I use table salt and warm water to scrub my produce - works well and non-toxic).

4. Eat fresh over processed foods. “Processed foods may have additives, and the food may come into contact with containers or machinery that might result in some leaching. And if possible, avoid meats that come from animals treated with hormones or antibiotics.”  

5. Store food in BPA-free glass or stainless steel bowls and containers. “Although some manufacturers have removed BPA from food and beverage storage containers, we do not always know what has replaced the BPA or whether it has been tested as an EDC."

5. Tidy up your home. “Keep your house clean. Also, plug holes under sinks and in the kitchen to minimize pests in order to avoid a need for chemical pesticides.”  (Note from me:  to make your own at-home sanitizer, use distilled water mixed with lavender or tea tree essential oils).

6. Take action. “Chemicals can be added into food storage containers without any required testing for safety,” explains Gore. “Therefore, contact your elected representatives to ask for improved testing of chemicals that are used in the food industry, before they are introduced.”

The latest Health Magazine offered DIY yogurt facial masks, so I tried them out and found they were surprisingly easy and effective!  Here they are in case you want to try them.  You'll need an inexpensive, small tub of plain  Greek yogurt and...

Banana and Turmeric
Health advised mashing half a ripe banana, mixing with yogurt and stirring in a tablespoon of turmeric, smearing it on your face (ok, they didn't say "smear") and leaving it on 10 minutes.  The potassium in the banana is supposed to slow the growth of blemish-causing bacteria and the turmeric supposedly curbs oil production.  Two comments:  yogurt is MESSY and overly ripe bananas smell terrible so my advice is don't go too ripe and less is more insofar as the yogurt.  A thin sheen worked fine for me.  My skin definitely felt tight and smooth and refreshed afterwards.


Lemon Juice, Honey and Cinnamon
For this one, Health said grab your yogurt and stir in 1 tablespoon each of lemon juice and honey and "a dash" of cinnamon.  I am not sure what "a dash" is, so I did 1 tablespoon of everything and may have over-cinnamon'd but it worked fine.  Same comment as above regarding less is more with the yogurt.  You leave this one on 15 minutes and remove with a washcloth and warm water.  It's supposed to increase circulation and make you glow.  I'm not sure about the circulation but my skin felt soft and nice after I tried it so I would probably try it again.

Avocado and Olive Oil
Aak!  OK., this one did NOT work for me but I bet it would be fine for those with very, very dry or mature skin.  You mash up half an avocado into your yogurt and add a tablespoon of olive oil, put it on your face for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water.  I felt like I had an oily, messy face and the avocado kept falling off in clumps.  Maybe you have to lie down and be very still while wearing this one.  This was way over moisturizing for me.  I tried it a day later with the rest of my avocado and grape seed oil instead of olive oil, and it was less oily but the avocado was still messy.  I'm "eh" on this one.  Let me know if you try it and you like it.

Today's blog post isn't by me.  It's by one of the most ethical (and beautiful) men I know:  Larry Lee, the Executive Director of the New York Asian Women's Center.   Larry is one of those amazing people who devotes their life to giving back to the community and making other people's lives better.  On a daily basis, he deals with abuse of all kinds, yet he is always smiling and always ready with a cheerful word and a helping hand.  He doesn't let it bring him down.  When I first started out on my journey to make a film about elder abuse, Larry was the first person I went to for advice.  NYAWC is one of only two centers for Asian women that provides resources for abused elders in the entire country.  Larry shared with me a speech he wrote for a City Hall Father's Day Rally.  He focused on why MEN should be fighting to end the abuse against women and, although it's not Father's Day, everything he said resonates and holds true today, too; it also parallels why all of us - however young we may be - also should be working to protect our elders.  We are them.  They are us.  We are all human and we depend on each other for our support and our joy and our survival.  So, in Larry's words:

The 6th Annual NYC Father’s Day Pledge to End Violence in our Homes, Schools and Communities
June 10, 2015 (delivered on)

My mother’s father was a mean man.  I don’t know if he ever struck my grandmother but he was very emotionally abusive. He would take the family’s food money to gamble.  He and my grandmother had 6 children. Their children adored her and hated him.

I didn’t know him well.  I heard that in China as the son of a rich man He was carried everywhere.  His feet never touched the ground.  Then at 15 he came to New York City.  Working as a laundryman his feet never left the ground.  He hated the job and resented his position.  At every dinner he drank an 8 ounce glass of whiskey.

He and my grandmother moved in with us when he was close to 60 years of age.  Soon after my grandmother developed Alzheimer’s and it got progressively worse.  She kept leaving on the gas burners unlit and would wander from the house.

Most amazingly my grandfather nursed and protected her.  My uncles were shocked and thought it was poetic justice – the abuser who hated being subservient was the caretaker to his victim. 

My grandfather’s life is full of irony.  Our response to domestic violence is also ironic.  Society treats women unequally.  Salaries are lower; chances for advancement are fewer; and, educational opportunities are restricted.  Yet, we are surprised that this inequality expresses itself in our homes and families.  The public perpetuates a systemic power differential.  But, we are shocked when a person with the societally endowed upper hand takes advantage of someone with less power.  American society condones hundreds of millions of people having fewer chances than others.  But, we are outraged when this lack of opportunity contributes toward violence.

If my grandfather can change, so can many others.  But, it is difficult.  The abuser feels justified while living in a sexist society that entitles male privilege over women’s well-being.  To prevent and reduce domestic violence all people in our society must be treated equally.  Bringing about this change is everyone’s responsibility. 

Speech by Larry Lee, Executive Director, New York Asian Women’s Center
http://www.nyawc.org