By Michael Roizen, M.D., And Mehmet Oz, M.D.


Use eco-friendly household cleaners

When Mr. Fred Rogers came into living rooms around the country (and the world), he spoke to children with a directness, kindness and respect that was, and still is, pretty unparalleled. His remarkable instinct for what would make a child happy and healthy shines through in the recently released documentary on his life titled "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

That is a great question. But when it comes to bringing cleaning products into your home, take a moment to think about how they might affect your children (and you) and ask, "Do I really want you to be my neighbor?"

A recent Canadian study asserts that commonly used household cleaners may be causing weight gain in children by altering their gut microbiota, and calls disruptive, gut-altering chemicals (such as triclosan) "obesogens." The researchers say that such ingredients increase some types of gut bacteria and decrease others, and that interferes with healthy absorption of nutrients and management of glucose levels. They also say that in households that opt for eco-friendly products, the odds that toddlers living there would be overweight or obese are greatly reduced.

Are you worried that those high-powered bacteria-killing products (bacteria on the counter and in your gut) are needed to keep the house clean? They are not! Products such as apple cider vinegar and lemons do as good a job, if not a better, of KO-ing disease-causing bacteria. Dr. Oz's favorite spray cleaner: Mix 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap; 2 cups hot tap water; 3 tablespoons white vinegar; 1 tablespoon borax.

© 2018 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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