Cell phone radiation

With the death of Sen. Kennedy recently, the brain cancer and cell phone issue has been brought up front again. While surely the cell phone companies are behind the fact that the real statistics and effects of radiation are not openly published, it's something each of us should be aware of. No matter how much Wailana yoga we do, if we aren't aware of the effects of this on our health, there's only so much we can do.

Here's a helpful article from yahoo news on it:

Cell phones and radiation: 10 best and 10 worst
By Lori Bongiorno
Posted Tue Sep 8, 2009 10:14pm PDT
Related topics: Health, Safety, Cell Phones
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How much radiation does your cell phone emit? It's easy to find out the answer thanks to the Environmental Working Group's new online guide to cell phone emissions.

The non-profit research and advocacy group ranked over 1,000 different cell phones according to radiation levels. It looked at the publicly available, but difficult to find, specific absorption rate (SAR) for each phone. SAR is a measure of how much radiation is absorbed by the body when the phone is sending a signal to the network. (Your phone only emits radiation when you talk or text.)

The jury is still out on whether cell phone radiation is harmful to human health, but it certainly won't hurt to limit your exposure to cell phone radiation when you can. Several research teams from different countries report a higher risk of developing brain and salivary gland cancer among high-volume, long-term cell phone users compared to people who use cell phones less often, according to EWG. For example, a 2009 scientific analysis of studies done in Sweden and several other European countries found a consistent pattern of an increased cancer risk after more than 10 years of mobile phone use.

"The data is still conflicting and the science isn't settled," says Jane Houlihan, research director at EWG. "But there is enough evidence now that it makes sense for people to take personal action while the teams of scientists and health agencies sort through the data." Houlihan also points out that health agencies in six different countries are warning people to cut their exposure to cell phone radiation, particularly when it comes to children.

Taking personal action can be as simple as adding radiation emissions to the list of criteria you use when purchasing a new cell phone, especially when it's for your child.

How much of a difference can choosing a low-radiation phone make? High-radiation cell phones on EWG's list emit eight times more radiation than those on the low end of the spectrum.
cell phones

10 best phones (lowest radiation)

1. Samsung Impression (SGH-a877)
2. Motorola RAZR V8
3. Samsung SGH-t229
4. Samsung Rugby (SGH-a837)
5. Samsung Propel Pro (SGH-i627)
6. Samsung Gravity (SGH-t459)
7. T-Mobile Sidekick
8. LG Xenon (GR500)
9. Motorola Karma QA1
10. Sanyo Katana II

10 worst phones (highest radiation)

1. Motorola MOTO VU204
2. T-Mobile myTouch 3G
3. Kyocera Jax S1300
4. Blackberry Curve 8330
5. Motorola W385
6. T-Mobile Shadow
7. Motorola C290
8. Motorola i335
9. Motorola MOTO VE240
10. Blackberry Bold 9000

Can't find your phone? Check the entire list of 1,000 phones or search for your model. If your cell phone isn't on EWG's list, then search the Federal Communications Commission website to get your phone's SAR value. You can then compare it to the models in EWG's guide to see how it stacks up against the competition.

Buying a new cell phone isn't your only option for limiting your exposure to cell phone radiation. Keeping your phone away from your head and body is the best thing you can do.

Here are some tips adapted from EWG's guide to reducing cell phone radiation exposure:

* Use speakerphone or a headset. There's no consensus on whether it's safer to go with a wired or wireless headset, but headsets emit less radiation than cell phones.

* Send text messages instead of talking. Phones use less power and therefore emit less radiation to send text than voice. It also keeps radiation away from your head.

* Stay off the phone when you have a poor signal. Your phone will emit more radiation to get the signal to the tower when there are fewer signal bars on your phone.

Exercise!!

I read an article today about how the greatest risk factor is the lack of exercise. It has only just fueled my passion for getting kids started on exercise early. We do a mix of Wai Lana Little yogis with soccer, swimming, tennis, and hopefully some martial arts soon.

I'm so glad I started practicing yoga exercise. Had I not been so depressed and willing to try out anything back then - a couch potato and TV freak with weight problems who happened to stumble upon Wai Lana Yoga's PBS series, I'm sure I would have way worse health problems today and in the future. How thankful am I? You can't even imagine. It is absolutely horrible to be in a situation of feeling so utterly helpless, - as if unable to stop yourself from the downward spiral of depression, over eating, and lethargy. I credit Wai Lana fully for having given me the motivation and help to actually get out of that situation I was in before.

We are constantly bombarded with gloom and doom news stories warning us that heart disease is America's number one killer, followed closely by cancer. What's more, there's a worldwide epidemic of diabetes and fear mongers are also warning that swine flu, H1N1, is lurking around every corner about to plunge us into a pandemic. But what is really the biggest threat to your health? According to epidemiologist and researcher Steven Blair, the gravest public health problem of the 21st century is Americans' physical inactivity and it poses the greatest risk of ill health to Americans. Simply put, sitting on your butt instead of moving your body in your daily life and exercising can be deadly.

Unfortunately, an enormous number of Americans, around 50 million, are living sedentary lives. That puts these coach potatoes at increased risk of health problems and early death, Blair recently said in an address to the American Psychological Association's (APA) 117th Annual Convention held in Toronto. "Over the past few decades, we have largely engineered the need for physical activity out of the daily lives of most people in industrialized societies," he stated.

Blair pointed to research showing that around 25 to 35 percent of American adults are inactive. They work sedentary jobs, engage in no regular physical activity program, are generally inactive around the house and most don't even do their own yard work. "Given that these individuals are doubling their risk of developing numerous health conditions compared with those who are even moderately active and fit, we're looking at a major public health problem," Blair said in a statement to the media.

A professor of exercise science and epidemiology at the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, he is recognized as one of the world's leading experts on exercise and its health benefits. Blair was the senior scientific editor of the 1996 U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health.

His extensive research comes involves the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS), an ongoing study started in 1970 which includes more than 80,000 people. In addition to keeping track of the participants medical histories, scientists periodically have measured the participants' body composition and body mass index (BMI). Each volunteer in the study also underwent a stress test.

The results, Blair told the APA, show that the fitness level of the research subjects has turned out to be a significant predictor of life span. For example, a follow-up study of 40,842 ACLS participants concluded a poor fitness level accounted for about 16 percent of all deaths in both men and women -- and these are deaths that most likely would have been avoided if these people had simply spent about half an hour a day walking. What's more, this percentage of deaths was significantly higher than when other risk factors were considered, including obesity, smoking, high cholesterol and diabetes. The ACLS also found that men who were only moderately fit lived six years longer than men who would qualify as sedentary couch potatoes.

Blair revealed that exercise can help beat breast cancer, too. An examination of 14,811 women patients in the ACLS showed that those who very fit were 55 percent less likely to die from breast cancer than women who were not in good shape. This huge reduction in breast cancer deaths was calculated after the researchers controlled for BMI, smoking, family history of breast cancer and other possible risk factors. Blair also explained in his APA presentation that recent emerging evidence shows exercise is good for brain health and can delay the mind's decline.

"We need numerous changes to promote more physical activity for all, including public policies, changes in the health care system, promoting activity in educational settings and worksites, and social and physical environmental changes. We need more communities where people feel comfortable walking," Blair said in a statement to the press. "I believe psychologists can help develop better lifestyle change interventions to help people be more active via the Internet and other technological methods."

Awesome moms

I was reading about these mothers who became medalists after having children. It gave me a glimmer of hope. Or maybe I should just stop being silly and face the music with this one. Hatha Yoga is already my favorite exercise, and I'll be happy if I ever look half as good as Wai Lana Easy does.

It was rain-raining here all day. My hands are all cracked and dry from all the cleaning I've been doing. I have these silly cleaning binges every now and then. I just get totally obsessed with cleaning and can't stop until my hands are all cracked and painful. Needless to say, everything and everyone is sparkling clean. Except for me. Shower time now! I'll do a tape of Wai Lana Yoga Products after.

Love to all

Flu prevention tips

I've been getting the kids used to a less-hot version of the ginger tea recipe from Wai lana.

I like this little article from Sanjay Gupta to parents on the swine flu too:

Now, over the past eight years, I have grown accustomed to being engaged in these sort of discussions where I am asked about everything the "media" have reported over the past few months, and asked to defend things point by point. It can be a challenging task.

This time, however, the topic was H1N1, or swine flu.

I spent the weekend thinking about what I was being told, and realized there was a larger point here.

People were scared, more than I had seen in a long time. And, health care professionals were blaming the media -- accusing them of being alarmist.

So, I decided to get away from the studio, away from the talking heads discussing mortality rates, and away from the hypothetical discussions about what might or might not happen. I wanted to see for myself what was happening in emergency rooms right now.

I was most curious about pediatric ERs, because young people seem to be most affected by this, and selfishly, I was curious about my own three girls and how I should react if they become ill this fall.

What would I do without these day dream cds from Wai Lana? They're so helpful. :)

Not much else happening here these days.

Kindness

It is too bad that kindness is such a rare thing these days. People have become so caught up in themselves and their own lives that they are unable to tolerate the hardships of others. Like that story recently, of the man who slapped a stranger's two year old child. It is an embarrassing yet through provoking event. It reminds me of the saying, "Be extra kind to others, for everyone is fighting their own battle."

Anyhow, speaking of kindness, Labor day is a must to celebrate! I take every excuse to celebrate, and this is another one of those celebrations. I'm happy too because Wai Lana Supplements are on sale, 50% off on all supplements until September 14th. I want to get more of the ayurveda products of Wai Lana Coupons. I need to try out that "Female Balance" in particular.

Earth friendly, kid friendly: fun toys

I've been looking more into eco-friendly toys. That's why I have ordered one of Wai Lana Day Dream Cd's to pair up the Eco tote kit for kids from Wai Lana.

Green Toys: Eco-Friendly Fun for Kids

Toy recalls have been in the news a great deal in recent years, first for lead-based paint and later, for PVC plastic (a.k.a., polyvinyl chloride). With millions of toys being recalled to protect children from these unsafe materials, what's a parent to do? How can we satisfy a child's desire for fun while ensuring that unsafe toys don't inadvertently find their way into the playroom? Green Toys Inc., an innovative new company launched in 2008, provides the perfect solution.

The San Francisco-based Green Toys Inc. was created to satisfy the overwhelming demand from consumers and retailers for toys that are not only safe for children but good for the environment, too. All of the company's classic eco-friendly toys for tykes are made from curbside-collected plastic milk jugs that are then recycled into one of the sturdiest, most nontoxic materials available. Even better, every pound of recycled milk jugs used to make Green Toys products saves enough electricity to power a television set for three weeks, or saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries.

In keeping with Green Toys company mission to provide eco-friendly toys that promote recycling and save energy, their packaging is also designed with the environment in mind. Green Toys products are minimally packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastic, cellophane or twist-ties. And it's all recyclable to boot!

Green Toys planet-friendly products are 100% made in America -- in California to be exact, a state well-known for strict toy safety standards. Additionally, all Green Toys products are rigorously tested by independent labs (also in the U.S.A) and contain no traceable amounts of Phthalates, BPA or lead-based paint.

Their introductory products included a cookware and dining play set, an indoor gardening kit, a (green) tea set, and a sand play set. For the spring of 2009, Green Toys added a dump truck, recycling truck, tool kit, jump rope and EcoSaucer™ flying disc to their award-winning line of eco-friendly toys.

Allergies

I've had this bad case of allergies for the past few days. It might be because I cleaned out my shed outside and it was rather dusty and moldy. I've been taking Wailana bolsters and goji juice to keep my immune system up. The last thing I need now is to get sick.

Pollen has never really been a problem for me either. I used to get very bad allergies, but when I started doing neti with Wailana sands neti pots, it just became so much better. I swear my allergies could have disappeared, until now anyway. :p

Allergies are a pain. But do look into natural ways to get rid of allergies. Here's a little excerpt on allergy control:

There are also aromatherapy treatments, herbal tea treatments, hydrotherapy, and healing touch therapy that has been used as alternative treatments for allergies. It’s inevitable that you will find some of the less than conventional methods out there are not for you, it is still vital that you keep searching. When you find the alternative treatment that works wonders for you, you will wonder what took you so long to begin your search.

All of those years suffering with allergies were for nothing when there was a treatment just sitting there waiting for you. If you are currently taking medication or if your allergies are extremely severe, you must make sure that you are seeking consultation with your medical professional before stopping any prescribed treatment or medication.

Only with your doctor’s permission should you stop taking your medication. Allow your doctor to work you off the medication or take the advice of using the alternative treatments along with the prescription medication. In due time, when you find what works, you will be able to stop the traditional medication all together.