The FDA, however, has a different opinion. Scientists have yet to find evidence that antibacterial soaps are any better than regular soaps. Some studies have actually shown that antimicrobial ingredients can have negative health effects.

This is why the FDA recently banned 19 chemicals that are used in these soaps. The ban includes triclosan, the most common antiseptic in hand soaps.

(By the way, according to the Mayo Clinic, triclosan is also found in certain older cookware, furniture, and toys to prevent or reduce bacterial contamination. Research has shown that it can be hazardous to human health and harmful to the immune system. It’s even been shown to affect hormone regulation in animals.)

Antibacterial Soaps Have to Adjust to New Regulations

Manufacturers have no choice but to remove the banned chemicals from their soaps. And while there are three chemicals that haven’t been banned – mainly because they are still under study – manufacturers have a limited amount of time to submit data on the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients to the FDA.

However, there’s absolutely no reason to worry. Regular soap and water are all you need to avoid spreading germs and getting sick.

Soap doesn’t have to kill germs to be effective; it just has to physically remove them from your skin!

As you go about your day, bacteria and viruses stick to the oil on your hands. Soap works by chemically breaking down the oil and “freeing” the microbes so that they can be rinsed away easily.

The more soap you use and the longer you scrub your hands, the cleaner your hands will be. This is why the CDC recommends scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds at a time before rinsing them.

Why Regular Soap is Healthier

Using regular soap is actually better for your health.

Antimicrobial soaps contain chemicals that cause mutation of bacteria and contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These ingredients have also been known to cause allergies and disrupt hormonal processes.

Triclosan, for instance, has been detected in the urine, blood, and breast milk of people who use antibacterial soap. Studies have also shown that it can disrupt hormonal processes and impair muscle function by hindering muscle contractions at a cellular level. That’s a high price to pay for something that doesn’t even work!

What are the Alternatives?

You only need regular soap and water to stay clean and germ-free. However, since the effectiveness of hand-washing depends on how long you scrub, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can come in handy when you’re “out in the wild.”

Hand sanitizers that don’t contain any of the banned ingredients will still be available in the stores. They’re also safer, healthier, and just as effective as antibacterial washes.

The post Regular Soap is Healthier and Safer than Antibacterial Soap? appeared first on Lifestyle.

The natural pigments that give fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods their bright colors are important micronutrients. Colorful foods are more nutritious and healthier for you. People who eat multi-colored meals reduce their risk of diabetes, stroke, heart attack, cancer, and other chronic diseases.

But before you start adding color to your plate, you need to know what nutrients the different colors correspond to.

1. Yellow and Orange

Orange fruits and vegetables, like oranges, apricots, carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes get their color from carotenoids, which are important antioxidants. Some carotenoids, like beta-carotene, are converted to Vitamin A by the body.

Consuming significant portions of foods high in carotenoids reduces your risk of heart attack by 36% even if you have high cholesterol. So go ahead and fill up on nectarines and pumpkins!

2. Red

Red fruits and vegetables contain the antioxidant lycopene. Antioxidants help prevent cell damage, which is why eating lots of tomatoes, beets, cranberries, strawberries, and red grapes can lower your risk of certain cancers.

3. Green

Green is the color of life. Green fruits and vegetables get their color from chlorophyll. However, many of these green foods also contain other nutrients such as folate and lutein.

Folate deficiency, which is unsurprisingly really common, causes cardiovascular and digestive diseases. Lutein deficiency, on the other hand, is associated with poor vision.

If you haven’t been eating enough greens, start adding more broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, spinach and lettuce to your diet.

4. Blue and Purple

Just like red fruits and vegetables, blue and purple produce gets its color from anthocyanins. Nutritional research has shown that anthocyanin pigments have the ability to protect against various diseases. These pigments have been linked to increased longevity, better cardiovascular health, cancer prevention, and better memory. If you want these health benefits, load up on blueberries, blackberries and eggplants.

5. White

When we think of colorful meals, we rarely think of white fruits and vegetables. However, white produce contains anthoxanthins, which are important for eye health. White plant foods are also a good source of potassium, which is necessary for the proper functioning of your cells, tissues, and organs. So don’t forget to include bananas, mushrooms, parsnips, garlic and cauliflower in your diet.

Artificial Food Colors Don’t Count!

Natural plant pigments are the only ones that are nutritious and good for your health; artificial colors don’t count.

In fact, artificial food coloring has been linked to hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children, as well as food allergies. The long-term dangers are mostly unknown because there hasn’t been enough research in this area. Their consumption has, however, increased 500% in the last five decades.

Don’t risk it. Avoid artificial colors as much as you can and instead choose high nutrient, fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods.

The post Eat the Rainbow! Why Colorful Meals are Healthier for You appeared first on Lifestyle.