Distributing samples of infant formula and marketing breastmilk substitutes to new mothers is in direct violation of the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. Israel is a signatory to the Code and the Israeli Health Ministry recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months to prevent illness and health problems in […]
Scientists have long known that human breast milk is high in dioxins, environmental contaminants that enter our diets when we ingest agricultural pesticides. Researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine exposed pregnant mice to a dioxin known as TCDD. The results showed that TCDD “caused severe defects in mammary gland development and function. […]
Breastfeeding is good for the environment and good for babies. To encourage and support breastfeeding in Israel, the breastfeeding support organization La Leche League (LLL) and Tel Hashomer/Sheba Medical Center Nursing School are co-sponsoring a conference Monday, June 1, 2009 at Tel Hashomer. The conference is open to health care professionals, nursing mothers, and the […]
Israel is in the midst of a sharav, a scorchingly hot and dry weather front typical for this time of year. We don’t want to waste resources or increase pollution by turning on air-conditioning. So how can we ensure that baby is cool and hydrated?
Breastfeeding involves no processing and no waste, and helps protect the environment, as we’ve been exploring here on Green Prophet’s breastfeeding series. Even though breastfeeding is a natural continuation of pregnancy and birth, mothers still worry about producing enough milk. An understanding of how milk production works can help mothers avoid problems and know when […]
In honor of Earth Day today, I’d like to talk about the important Middle East issue of saving water. One organization based in Israel called Paamonim, which I’ve wrote about here, helps Israeli families in debt avoid poverty, and among its tips offers many money-saving ideas. Saving water to save money and energy is not only […]
I love to cook with my microwave. Sure, it’s possible to manage without it, and there are better ways to defrost food. However, there are environmentally sound reasons for preferring it to conventional cooking: It only heats the moisture in food, so more energy is retained. Microwave cooking preserves nutrients in vegetables. And since many […]
Sometimes the urban environment is an ideal place for wild animals. Here’s an example: In 2006, Petach Tikva’s two hospitals merged to form the Rabin Medical Center. Since then, several new buildings have appeared at the Beilinson campus while the Hasharon campus, a few kilometers away, lies stagnating. The health ministry originally planned to shut […]
What you don't need when you decide to breastfeed your baby.
Israelis come from a variety of countries and their diets tend toward the eclectic. My own culinary heritage is staunchly eastern European. But while my mother rendered chicken fat from time to time, she preferred adapting traditional foods to make them lighter. Alternet‘s Terence McNally interviewed Michael Pollan, ecological food expert and best-selling author of […]
Breastfeeding is a natural and “green” way for a mother to feed her baby. Yet misconceptions about how to breastfeed and for how long pervade our modern world. These misunderstandings can lead to frustration and distress for the whole family during a challenging period. Green Prophet gives you 10 reasons to shatter any myths and misconceptions. […]
Soft drinks. Fast foods. Cigarettes. Companies that market these products are well-known for targeting children and teens in order to develop “brand loyalty.” But the campaign to capture the taste buds of future consumers begins even earlier–in the hospital nursery, where formula companies use aggressive methods to ensure that babies’ first taste of artificial milk […]
The Torah doesn’t talk much about breastfeeding, as it was taken for granted in ancient times. Moses’ mother doesn’t put bottles into the ark of bulrushes she sends down the Nile to save him from Pharaoh’s evil decree (Exodus 2). According to the midrashic commentary Moses refused to nurse from an Egyptian nursemaid, so the […]
According to surveys, Petach Tikva is the number one destination for young couples purchasing apartments, with a population that is growing at an annual rate of 2.4 percent. As part of a public improvement campaign before the recent municipal elections, the city began two new traffic circles. One is near my home at a dangerous […]