AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION…

By Liberty Goodwin, Director

Toxics Information Project (TIP)

A NEW YOU FOR THE NEW YEAR?

This month, we address the time-honored resolutions of being more healthy - and less weighty - that so many make on January 1st. Some of the helpful options may be different than you’d guess.

NO (WEIGHT) GAIN EXERCISE CAN BE PAINLESS & FUN!

TAKING AWAY THE CURSE OF THE TV

PROBLEM: Admit it - it’s hard to detach the kids from the “idiot box”, because a. They like it and b. It gives you free time to do other things.

QUICK TIP: Kids exercise, dance & yoga videos and DVDs are a great way to keep your children in shape (while out of your hair). Visit Fitness Beginnings www.fitnessbeginnings.com/index.html, where they have over 100 such. Some are designed for teens - and there is no law saying we older folks can’t join in the fun, too!

STRIKE IT HEALTHY: BOWLING

PROBLEM: It’s too cold out there for outdoor exercise in January!

QUICK TIP: Like an obesity-fighting group in Ontario, Canada, bowl over those pounds! Choose Ten Pin or Duckpin. Expense? Least costly examples: Sun. to Thurs. $1.99 each per game. M-F before 5 p.m. from $3.25 per person per game. By the lane: $10 per 1/2 hour for a lane, up to five persons. Shoe rental from $2 to $4.50. See a list of RI bowling lanes in our 2008 TIP Healthy Holidays Handbook, online at: www.toxicsinfo.org/basicInfo/HealthyHolidaysHandbookHtml.htm

DANCE AWAY THOSE DIET BLUES

PROBLEM: Bowling just isn’t my thing, I can’t afford it, or just want some variety. (And it is still cold out there). (And I can’t stop eating)

QUICK TIP: Dancing is a healthful, fun activity that burns off the fat. Don’t worry about learning steps. Try Contra Dancing - the caller tells you exactly what to do, & friendly folk lead you along. LOCAL OPTIONS:

Rehobeth, Massachusetts, Goff Hall, Bay State Road. Second & Fourth Fridays, a few on the 5th Friday. 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Admission: $7.00; $4 for ages 16 and under; $15 for families with children under 16. Contact Shawn via E-Mail, shawnkendrick@comcast.net or phone: 508-252-6375 Website is: www.contradancelinks.com/rehoboth.html. Once a month, usually Second Sundays, a potluck at 6 pm precedes a "Community Dance, 7 p.m. Admission is Free. For schedule & info, call Bob Elliott, at 508-669-5656, or E-Mail: Judith, schrierwilde@gmail.com Website: www.contradancelinks.com/jammers.html

Brown University, Sayles Hall, 79-81 Waterman Street on the Green, Providence, RI. Usually held the 1st & 3rd Fridays when Brown is in session. Time: 8pm - 11pm, Price: $7.00 general, $5 students. Email: contradance@brown.edu. Web: www.contradancelinks.com/brown.html

TWO SURPRISING CULPRITS IN THE DIET WARS

CAN PLASTICS MAKE US FAT?

www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Obesity-Plastic-Epidemic14jan08.htm

PROBLEM: Studies show that mice & rats become more obese as adults if fed low levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical in hard, clear plastic items & the lining of canned goods. The US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention found BPA in the bodies of about 93% of Americans tested.

QUICK TIP: Avoid canned goods as much as possible - favor fresh and frozen vegetables and other foods. Make sure baby bottles and other plastic drink containers are NOT recycling numbers 3, 6 or 7.

DRINK DIET SODA - AND GAIN WEIGHT!

www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/dietsoda.aspx

PROBLEM: Diet soda may not have the sugar or calories of regular soda, but it’s chock-full of health-draining chemicals, like caffeine, artificial sweeteners, sodium and phosphoric acid. Worse - recent research shows that diet soda may actually cause you to gain even more weight!

QUICK TIP: Ditch the “Diet” drinks. Instead, imbibe filtered tap water, fruit juice, milk (hormone & antibiotic-free, such as Little Rhody) or veggie juice or soup. I save vegetable cooking water in a glass jar in the fridge & drink it (or use it for cooking rice, etc.). I also enjoy Pacific Foods Carrot Ginger soup cold from the container. If that’s too far out for you, try a V-8!

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Liberty Goodwin is Director of the Providence-based Toxics Information Project (TIP). Contact her at: 401-351-9193 or liberty@toxicsinfo.org to submit a query or a TIP about healthier household choices. Visit TIP’s website: www.toxicsinfo.org for a wealth of info on keeping healthy in a toxic world.

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