The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Preventing breast cancer: 20 risk factors

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Breast Cancer Fund is an organization that works to identify – and advocate for elimination of – the environmental and other preventable causes of breast cancer. It says:

Research has taught us that many widely understood risk factors play a role, including our genetic makeup and whether or not we've had kids or breast-fed.

But these risk factors don't explain it all. A substantial body of scientific evidence indicates that exposures to common chemicals and radiation, alone and in combination, may contribute to the unacceptably high incidence of breast cancer.

Here are risk factors the Breast Cancer Fund offers in its article “How to Prevent Breast Cancer: 20 Risk Factors”:

1. Cook with stainless steel. Aluminum may be a risk factor for breast cancer. To be cautious, avoid aluminum pots and pans and aluminum-based deodorants.

2. Use natural sunscreens. Many sunscreens contain chemicals that may be breast cancer risk factors.

3. Check your old foam furniture. Old foam mattresses and furniture can contain PBDEs, flame retardants that may be a breast cancer risk factor.

4. Minimize car exhaust. PAHs in vehicle exhaust are a breast cancer risk factor, particularly at certain vulnerable moments in life. Minimize your exposure.

5. Eat soy, but not too much. Natural plant-based estrogens in soy may provide healthy benefits in low doses, but may be a risk factor for breast cancer in higher doses.

6. Avoid CT scans and x-rays. Some common medical procedures may come with a high dose of radiation, a known breast cancer risk factor. There are alternatives.

7. Check older toys. Exposure to phthalates in plastics, present in many older – and not so old – toys and children's products, could be a breast cancer risk factor.

8. Avoid synthetic hormone replacement therapy. If you use HRT, use estrogen-only formulations to avoid a well-documented breast cancer risk factor.

9. Recycle batteries. Some batteries and other consumer products contain cadmium, which has been linked to early-onset puberty, a risk factor for breast cancer.

10. Eat clean fish. Some fish can be contaminated with PCBs and dioxins, both breast cancer risk factors. Learn how to choose safe, nontoxic fish.

11. Be wary of dry cleaning chemicals. PERC, a chemical used by many dry cleaners, and in some carpet cleaners and spot removers, may be a breast cancer risk factor.

12. Use natural cosmetics. Some beauty products contain toxic and endocrine disrupting chemicals that may be breast cancer risk factors.

13. Avoid bleach and chlorine. Bleached products, including some tampons and household disinfectant bleaches, may be harmful.

14. Use natural pesticides. Some chemical pesticides contain endocrine disrupting chemicals that can harm human health, as well as kill insects and rodents.

15. Avoid weed killers. Herbicides do more than kill weeds. Some may mimic hormones, a breast cancer risk factor.

16. Use nontoxic cleaning supplies. Warning labels on cleaning products are there for a reason: Some contain breast cancer risk factors. Use alternative green cleansers or do-it-yourself cleansers instead.

17. Avoid canned food. The lining in canned food can leach chemicals. Choosing farmers' market-fresh vegetables is a better choice.

18. Choose truly “microwave safe” containers. Even so-called "microwave safe" plastic can leach chemicals into your food. Choose glass or ceramic bowls instead.

19. Drink safe water. Bottled water may contain Bisphenol A or other contaminants, while filtered public tap water is closely monitored for safety.

20. Choose BPA-free baby and water bottles. Bisphenol A has been linked to a variety of health problems, and may be a risk factor for breast cancer. Start early – for your daughter’s sake.

See the article for details on each risk factor.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How often should you clean your refrigerator?

One of the most popular articles I’ve written as a consumer journalist was about food storage.

I invited an inspector from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to examine my family’s cupboards and refrigerator. He then told me what we were doing right and what needed improvement.

My column appeared in The Spokesman (Spokane, Wash.) Review. People talked about it for months. They especially mentioned the refrigerator. I’d had some vegetables from the garden that were dried up and inedible. The newspaper held the article for several months so people thought I’d had the old vegetables in my refrigerator all winter.

Before the days of frost-free refrigerators, sorting, defrosting, and cleaning the refrigerator was a weekly event.

Now most people either sort it out weekly and wipe up the spills, let it go until company comes and more room is needed, or deal with the bad stuff when it’s spoiled.

A thorough cleaning – defined as emptying out the fridge, cleaning out the interior surfaces, removing the bins and shelves, and washing and drying them – is needed twice a month, recommends Washington State University Extension.

Doing a thorough cleaning twice a month reduces the risk of microbial contamination. The areas showing greatest levels of contamination are the fruit and vegetable bins, the bottom shelf, and the meat bin.

Recent research conducted by Tennessee State University, Kansas State University, and RTI International found that consumers don’t realize that their own refrigerators can contribute to an increased potential for food borne illness occurring in their own home.

WSU Extension also suggests that consumers buy a refrigerator thermometer to they can make sure that the temperature of the refrigerator is below 40 degrees. This prevents microorganisms from rapidly growing and multiplying.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How often should you change your bed sheets?

My daughter recently had a discussion with her friends on how often you should put clean sheets on your bed.

Some said weekly. Others said twice a month. One said she did it every so often.

My daughter suggested I blog about it.

A poll on mothering.com reported 227 readers washed their sheets as follows: weekly, 32 percent; twice a month, 30 percent; monthly, 29 percent; and other, 9 percent.

Washing your sheets once a week is good, recommends Bedding Care.com. Having a few different sets that you rotate is helpful. If you wash a set of sheets once a month, and use others the rest of the month, they last longer because the fabric has a chance to rest.

Microbiologist Zehava Eichenbaum, associate professor at Georgia State University, said a normal family should change sheets once a week. Eichenbaum did tests in an Atlanta, Ga., home for the CNN article “How to Germ-Proof Your Home, Without Going Overboard."

If anyone in the family has allergies, wash your sheets at least once a week. Family Doctor.org recommends using 130-degree to 140-degree water to get rid of dust mites.

If you sleep in the nude, you should change your sheets twice a week, recommends Michael Breus, Ph.D., sleep specialist, in the WebMD video “How Often to Change Your Bed Sheets." Breus also suggests buying two mattress pads and washing one of them weekly, too.

If someone in the family has H1N1 flu, referred to as “swine flu” when it first appeared, people should avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating themselves, the Centers for Disease Control recommends. They should wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub immediately after handling dirty laundry.

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This recommendation also should be followed if anyone in the family has Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, local health departments recommend.

In an article, “How to Treat Your Sheets,” Bedding Care.com recommends using only non-chlorine bleach on colored sheets, and bleaching white sheets only when strictly necessary as bleach weakens fibers.

A natural way to brighten whites is by adding ¼ cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle, washing in warm water, then tumble-drying or sun drying to increase the effect.

My next post will be on “How Often Should You Clean Your Refrigerator?”

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Tell makers of household cleaners you want to know what’s in the cleaners you use

Household cleaner manufacturing giants want to keep secret the chemical ingredients in their products and the health risks they pose.

But you can take action to let these corporations know you want the truth.

Tell them consumers need a full list of ingredients and disclosure of their impacts to health. Armed with this information, consumers can make safe choices about what products to bring into their homes.

Tell Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Church and Dwight, and Reckitt-Benckiser to follow the law requiring them to disclose the chemical ingredients in their products and the health problems they cause.

Earthjustice, a public interest law firm that works to protect the environment, offers an Action Alert you can use to send an e-mail to these corporations to let them know you want action on cleaning ingredient labeling.

Take action on this important issue today.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What to buy a baby boomer mom for Mother’s Day

About 35 million baby boomers are mothers.

What kind of gifts do baby boomers like to receive on Mother’s Day?

Flowers, chocolates, and perfumes are always popular as are jewelry, candy, clothing, housewares, and gift certificates.

Books, music, or an MP3 player also may be good selections. Amazon.com has a special category listing these gift ideas called “Great Gifts for Your Baby Boomer Mom.”

From their list, here are some gifts that I thought would make good Mother’s Day presents:

“Herstory: Women Who Changed the World” by Deborah Ohran

“The Beatles Anthology” by Beatles

“Connections and Reflections: Mothers and Daughters in Their Own Light, in Their Own Words” by Catherine Koemptgen

“A Hard Day’s Night” DVD ~ Lionel Blair

“Gutsy Women: Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road (Travel Tales) (No. 1) by Marybeth Bond

“Boomer Babes: A Woman’s Guide to the New Middle Ages” by Rosemary Rogers

“Flashing on the Sixties” by Lisa Law

Personal Handheld Organizer by Palm

MP3 Player

“Blue” by Joni Mitchell

Thinking about getting your boomer mom a toaster? Think again. The worst Mother’s Day presents, according to a survey reported on in the article “Mother’s Day: Outside-the-Box Gift Ideas,” are:

• Nothing: 16 percent

• Household appliances: 11 percent

• Cooking/cleaning supplies: 7 percent

• Socks: 6 percent

• Non-fitting clothes: 6 percent

These articles on Mother’s Day gifts also looked useful:

“How to Create a Gift Basket for a Baby Boomer (Female)” – eHow.com

“Books for Grownups April 2009” – AARP and Publishers Weekly

“Mother’s Day Gifts: Recession Friendly Digital Gifts for Mom and Grandma” – Demystifying Digital.com

“Creatively Simple, Inexpensive Mother’s Day Ideas” – Stretcher.com

“Mother’s Day Gifts to Dazzle Mom” – News4Jax.com

“How to Celebrate Mother’s Day” – eHow.com

“How to Give the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift” – News4Jax.com

“Buy Beverly’s Book” – Boomer Diva Nation.com

“Top 10 Mother’s Day Gifts for Business Women” – About.com

I hope these ideas are helpful.

Just under half – 48 percent – of those whose mothers are alive will send cards for Mother’s Day while 47 percent will buy their moms a present and the same number will call their moms, a 2008 Harris Poll reports.

Three in ten – 29 percent – will take their moms to lunch or dinner while 26 percent will buy or send their moms flowers.
 
One in ten will cook for their moms while 2 percent will take them to a museum, show, or event and 5 percent say they’ll do nothing for their moms.

More than half of women – 53 percent – will buy their moms a present compared to 41 percent of men. Half of men will call their moms as will 45 percent of women.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Baby boomer alert: Watch out for household products that could injure or kill your child or grandchild

Each year, poisonings from consumer products found in the home kill about 30 children and result in more than two million calls to poison control centers across the nation.

More than 90 percent of the calls involve poisonings in the home. Every year an estimated 80,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for unintentional poisonings.

March 15 to 21 is National Poison Prevention Week, which aims to help prevent childhood poisonings.

Children younger than age 5 account for the majority of the non-fatal poisonings. A recent review conducted by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 70 percent of poisonings involve children 1 to 2 years of age.

Oral prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and supplements were involved in more than half of the incidents.

“Awareness and action are the keys to preventing unintentional poisonings,” said Nancy Nord, acting chairman of the commission. “Children act fast. So do poisons. That’s why we urge parents, grandparents, and caregivers to have layers of poison prevention protection in the home.”

The commission recommends that parents, grandparents, and caregivers immediately take these three steps.

1. Keep medicines and household chemicals in their original, child-resistant containers.
2. Store the potentially hazardous substances up and out of a child’s sight and reach
3. Keep the national toll-free poison control center telephone number, 800-222-1222, handy in case of a poison emergency.

Additional poison prevention tips to check during National Poison Prevention Week are:

• When hazardous products are in use, never let young children out of your sight, even if you must take them along when answering the phone or doorbell.

• Keep items closed and in their original containers.

• Leave the original labels on all products, and read the label before using.

• Always leave the light on when giving or taking medicine so that you can see what you’re dispensing or taking. Check the dosage every time.

• Avoid taking medicine in front of children. Refer to medicine as "medicine," not "candy."

• Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and safely dispose of unneeded and outdated medicines.

• Don’t put decorative lamps and candles that contain lamp oil where children can reach them. Lamp oil can be very toxic if ingested by young children.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

A cleaning tip for baby boomers

You can be kind to the planet and to your wallet at the same time by using homemade cleaning products.

In a recent article, Consumer Reports offers seven environmentally friendly and less toxic products in the article “Seven Ways to Green Clean – and Cut Costs.”

The recommendations are:

• Make your own air freshener using baking soda, vinegar or lemon juice, and hot water.

• Reduce the amount of laundry detergent you need to use by adding baking soda or washing soda.

• Put vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a safe, eco-friendly window cleaner.

• Use cream of tartar to lifts stains from sinks and tubs and removes spots from aluminum pans.

• Use baking soda to clean up in the kitchen.

• Try borax, water softener and sanitizer, in the bathroom.

• Avoid splashing household cleaners on your skin or in your face, and check labels to see if respiratory masks, rubber gloves, goggles, or other protective measures are recommended.

See the article for the recipes for these homemade cleaners.

For more information on homemade cleaning products, see the Green Buying Guide on www.GreenerChoices.org, and see Consumer Reports’ new report on glass cleaner warnings.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Tips for baby boomers on how to buy auto insurance, carpet, or bicycles and select a kennel, housecleaner, or appliance repairer

One of the best consumer resources available for baby boomers is Checkbook magazine. It provides ratings of local businesses in seven areas of the country: Boston, Chicago, Delaware Valley, Puget Sound, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C.

The new Winter/Spring 2009 issue covers these topics:

• Supermarkets: Which stores have the best prices based on a 152-item shopping list.

• Auto Insurance companies: Steps that will help consumers save hundreds of dollars a year, and ratings of companies selling auto insurance.

• Kennels: Local kennels ratings, and a price comparison showing that some of the higher-rated facilities have below-average prices.

• Carpet stores: Stores named that rate best for quality of advice, ease of shopping, reliability of delivery, and quality of installation and that have the best prices.

• Housecleaners: Information on how to decide whether to hire a housecleaning company or an individual housecleaner, a listing of how companies rate for quality and price, and how to avoid a mess with any cleaner.

• Bike shops: A listing of the top shops in the areas for purchases and repairs, and a discussion of online bicycle shopping.

• Major appliance repair: A rating of appliance repair shops, those that receive praise and some that arrive late, miss appointments, overcharge, and fail to get the appliance operating properly after many tries.

Other topics include ratings of upholsterers, window washers, and shoe repair shops.

Checkbook magazine is available for $10 at Barnes & Noble and Borders. Or become a subscriber at www.checkbook.org/ for $30 for two years.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

100 ways baby boomers can improve their lives in 2009

It’s often difficult to remain cheerful in these turbulent economic times. News of more job layoffs. Banks and other financial institutions continuing to have problems. Businesses closing.

Although the news can be discouraging, it’s important to think through what’s positive in your life and how to get more joy and satisfaction.

Here are 50 ways to improve your life this year:

 

Health

• Read novels to reduce stress.

• Walk, walk, walk.

• Use less toxic products, especially for cleaning your home and on your body.

• Eat more vegetarian meals.

• Plant fruit trees.

• Buy organic food.

• Talk honestly to your doctor about your health needs.

• Try yoga.

Community

• Talk to your neighbors.

• Find a rewarding volunteer activity.

• Move to a walkable neighborhood.

• Contribute to your city or county government.

• Take a walk in a park once a week.

Finances

• Compare prices before you buy.

• Pay off your credit cards.

• Complain when something you buy or a service isn’t right.

• Figure out ways to simplify your life.

• Read Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound.”

 

Joy

• Read “Finding Joy: 101 Ways to Free Your Spirit and Dance With Life” by Charlotte Davis Kasl.

• Sign up for the lessons you’ve always wanted to take.

• Say “I love you” to someone you love every day.

• Have coffee or lunch with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

• Relax by soaking in the bathtub.

• Laugh out loud.

• Sleep in once a week.

• Hold a baby.

• Remember to get as much joy as you can from the present, rather than worrying about the past or future.

• Visit a farm.

• Watch movies that are fun.

• Stop being a perfectionist.

• Visualize daily what you’d like your life to be like.

• Surround yourself with people who are positive.

• Spend a realistic amount of time using the computer.

• Don’t think about work when you leave for the day.

• Pursue your dreams.

• Enjoy the wonders of nature.

• Give up nagging.

• Figure out ways to enjoy your children more.

• Reduce the amount of television you watch.

• Take care of yourself.

• Don’t dwell on your mistakes.

• Pace yourself.

• Be open to new ideas and activities.

• Let go of disappointments and negative people from the past.

Home

• Turn on your favorite music when you clean house.

• Organize one spot or cupboard in your house weekly.

• Use lights and plants to make your home more enjoyable.

• Remodel a room.

• Buy a pretty new bedspread.

• Organize your photos.

• Recycle.

Here are additional suggestions from the article “50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2009” in U.S. News and Reports:

Money

• Recycle old gadgets for cash.

• Choose “Obama” stocks.

• Advance your career online.

• Put your cash in safe accounts.

• Start your own nonprofit.

• Drink screw-topped wines.

• Lose the ‘microwave’ mentality.

• Make friends at work.

• Watch television free online.

• Try that home before buying.

Health

• Bike to work.

• Use glass to store food.

• Take an afternoon nap.

• Get paid for good health.

• Walk the cravings away.

• Get a new toothbrush.

• Move to Vermont.

• Get your eyes checked.

• Add obstacles to your jog.

• Get fit as you get older.

The brain

• Read Edgar Allan Poe

• Publish your book yourself.
  

• Go back to school for new skills.

• Study philosophy.

• Save that November 5 newspaper.

• Silence noise pollution.

• Finish a crossword puzzle.

• Start using Twitter.

• Learn Russian

• Keep a “clothes hanger” journal.

The world around you

• Learn about Abraham Lincoln.

• Plant a square-foot garden.

• Hypermile when you drive.

• Help those hit by the recession.

• Switch to a push mower.

• Air dry your laundry.

• Practice spreading tolerance.

• Ditch the phone while driving.

• Get your news online.

• Buy laptops for kids.

 

Play

• Learn to play bridge.

•  Visit Alaska.

• Celebrate the life of Miles Davis.

• Take a “staycation.”

• “Geotag” your digital photos.

• Watch the Beatles “Let It Be.”

• Teach your kids to cook.

• Play a fake musical instrument.

• Read the book before you see the movie.

• Try your hand at pottery.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What you can do to help your appliances last longer

Do you vacuum the dust from the compressor coils of your refrigerator several times a year? Do you remove the lint from your dryer's lint filter after each use to keep air flowing freely.

These are two of the tips from the article "Help Appliances Live Longer" in the January 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.

Among the other tips are:

Range

• Never cover drip pans with foil, which can short-circuit the burner.

• Keep reflector bowls beneath burners shiny, which helps them reflect heat.

• Periodically clean gas burner ports with a needle.

Refrigerator

• Clean door gaskets with mild detergent and water.

• Check gasket seals by closing doors on a dollar bill. Replace gasket if the bill falls out.

Oven

• Check door seals for damage. If heat is escaping, adjust or replace the gasket.

Washing machine

• Remove grit from screens where the hoses attach to the water supply.

• Don't load beyond the washer's recommended capacity.

• Install the washer on a level and well-supported floor.

• Follow detergent directions.

Dryer

• Clean the entire exhaust duct to prevent fire each year.

See the articles "Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires" and "Dryer Vent Cleaning: How to Get Lint Out of Your Dryer Vents" for details on how to clean your dryer vent.

This drawing illustrates the suggestions of the Consumer Product Safety Commission on dryer vent cleaning as described in the first article above.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist