Bottled water in your car... Dangerous! Have you ever received one of these e-mails? I wanted to know the fact and fiction over water bottles and all plastics for that matter.

You can find a segment on it in my "Your Family" area of our website. It includes a numbers guide for safer plastics and the ones to avoid. The numbers are often found right on the plastic, inside the "recycle symbol."

It's true that a heated plastic water bottle can leach chemicals into the water, however the chemical of big concern, Bisphenol A or BPA, is not traditionally used in making one use water bottles.
The most likely source of BPA exposure is from the lining of Canned foods and sodas.

A couple of extra tid bits I wanted to mention, but couldn't squeeze in... there's just never enough time :-)...

There's a bill in the State Senate that could eventually ban BPA in kids products.
There's also a group fighting the ban, because they say there in not enough BPA in products to cause any harm.
The FDA is reviewing newly released information. Even if they ban BPA it could take years.

If you prefer to "err on the side of caution"... here are a few ways to minimize your exposure. Watch for the number 7 in your plastic recycle symbol. Not every 7 is made with BPA, but it should send off a red flag. If you're interested in continuing with the product, our dietician expert suggest calling the company to confirm.

When possible prepare or store food, especially hot items, in glass, porcelain, or stainless steel containers.
If you have polycarboanted plastic containers (made with BPA) do not microwave or put them in a dishwasher with hot water.

These tips on how to avoid BPA laced cans were offered by Nutrition Action Health:
Look for BPA free cans. Eden foods is one company BPA free.
Buy soup that is dried or in cartons.
Switch to fresh or frozen vegetables.
Buy tuna or salmon in pouches.

Bottled water in your car... Dangerous! Have you ever received one of these e-mails? I wanted to know the fact and fiction over water bottles and all plastics for that matter.

You can find a segment on it in my "Your Family" area of our website. It includes a numbers guide for safer plastics and the ones to avoid. The numbers are often found right on the plastic, inside the "recycle symbol."

It's true that a heated plastic water bottle can leach chemicals into the water, however the chemical of big concern, Bisphenol A or BPA, is not traditionally used in making one use water bottles.
The most likely source of BPA exposure is from the lining of Canned foods and sodas.

A couple of extra tid bits I wanted to mention, but couldn't squeeze in... there's just never enough time :-)...

There's a bill in the State Senate that could eventually ban BPA in kids products.
There's also a group fighting the ban, because they say there in not enough BPA in products to cause any harm.
The FDA is reviewing newly released information. Even if they ban BPA it could take years.

If you prefer to "err on the side of caution"... here are a few ways to minimize your exposure. Watch for the number 7 in your plastic recycle symbol. Not every 7 is made with BPA, but it should send off a red flag. If you're interested in continuing with the product, our dietician expert suggest calling the company to confirm.

When possible prepare or store food, especially hot items, in glass, porcelain, or stainless steel containers.
If you have polycarboanted plastic containers (made with BPA) do not microwave or put them in a dishwasher with hot water.

These tips on how to avoid BPA laced cans were offered by Nutrition Action Health:
Look for BPA free cans. Eden foods is one company BPA free.
Buy soup that is dried or in cartons.
Switch to fresh or frozen vegetables.
Buy tuna or salmon in pouches.

SO AFTER OUR SEGMENT THIS MORNING ON "IN DOOR PLANTS THAT WON'T DIE"... OK WELL YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, VERY RESILIENT... MY BROWN THUMB AND I WILL BE SHOPPING FOR A FEW THIS WEEKEND.

LORI ANN ASMUS OF EMERALD CITY INTERIOR LANDSCAPING WAS NICE ENOUGH TO OFFER UP THIS LIST OF PLANTS TO GET US STARTED:

CHINESE EVERGREEN aka "MARIA" or "SILVER QUEEN"
ZZ PLANT aka "FAT BOY"
RHAPIS EXCELSA aka "LADY PALM"
SATIN PATHOS
SANSEVERIA aka "SNAKE PLANT"
POTHOS aka "GOLDEN"

IF YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO CATCH LORI ANN'S TIPS, CHECK OUT OUR SEGMENT ON QUICKLINKS.

I just love cozying up with a comfy pair of jeans. But finding that perfect pair can be quite difficult, if fact I'm not sure I've ever had the perfect pair of jeans.
How can something be so comfortable and so uncomforatble at the same time! For me, it's because I'm usually pulling up the jeans every few minutes, re-adjusting the belt, or so it seems. I carry my extra weight in my thighs. So the pair of jeans that fit my thighs are usually too big for my waste! Turns out I'm not the only one longing for the "Perfect Pair." The topic is so popular, we decided to do a "Maximize Your Assets" segment on our Morning Show. Paula, Our Human Resources gal went shopping, trying on four pairs of jeans from $30 to $341. Boy was she rockin in her $341 Rock & Republic's. Paula had never tried on a Jean this expensive, but she was so impressed she bought them!... says she wore them all weekend, even thining about being buried in them!!!! She's joking of course, but maybe there's something to be said for jeans with a high price tag. We got the low down on the high prices from Dara Denim Store owner Jessica Horton. Paula got the jeans half off since the store is holding a big sale right now. Dara Denim is located at 2404 K Street. Phone number 444-1188.

Check out our Morning Show segment on "Maximizing Your Assets."
Paula takes you through her choices and the winner. Dara Denim owner Jessica Horton explains what your paying for. Is it just brand name, fabric, or both?
Jessica also offers a guide to finding your best pair.
For example, search for a pair of jeans with a Lycra/Stretch between 1-3%, Jessica recommends 2%. Your jeans should be about 1/8" from the floor. Jessica says bell bottoms can actually sweep the floor. Jessica tells us, if your pants need a belt, they're not the right pair for you. Watch the segment for info. on which alterations work for jeans and which don't.

Jessica was also nice enough to list a few jeans popular by age group:
Teens: Miss Me, Sang Real, Abercombie
Young Adults: Rock & Republic, Peple's Liberation, William Rast
Moms: Red Engine, David Kahn, Not Your Daghter's Jeans

If you're like me, you're spending a lot of time in doors these days.
Big reason why we, on the Morning Show, decided to do a segment on beneficial plants... the kind that can help filter some of the pollution and toxins floating in side our homes.
Interior landscaping expert Lori Ann Asmus joined us for the interview.
To get her advice go to our "Quicklinks" section on FOX40.com
Here's additional info. from literature supplied to me by Lori Ann.

Which Indoor Plants work best at reducing toxins/pollutants?

Virtually every tropical indoor plant and many flowering plants are powerful removers of indoor air pollutants.
Here are just a few:
Peace Lily
Dracaena
Palms
Rubber Plants

Some studies suggest one plant in a room can reduce toxins by about 10%-12%.
How many plants should you have in each room?

As many as you can afford. One potted plant per 100 square feet of floor space can help.
Try for at least 1 per average room, 2 even better.

If you're worried about mold growing in your plants, here are a few tips to prevent that:

Don't over water
Don't leave stagnant water in the tray.
Go for expanded clay.
Go for shell pebbles.