Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Rate of Autism Disorders Climbs to One Percent Among 8-year-olds
The rate of autism in children is on the rise and no one seems to know conclusively what causes it. There are many theories including genetic links, environmental factors, and vaccinations. What is alarming is that now 1 in 110 U.S. children have been classified with ASD or related disorders. This is a 57% increase from only 4 years earlier.
My personal belief based upon clinical knowledge and experience is that the source of this problem is primarily from an external source, and that source is environmental toxins and possibly the additives in vaccines. We know what is being pumped into the air, water, and soil in unprecedented amounts. Tons of industrial waste, pesticides, solvents, plastics, heavy metals, raw sewage, and pharmaceuticals are now in our food and water supply. Crops are grown with genetic modifications in soil fertilized with human sewage and irrigated with water containing and wide slew of toxicants including a stew of prescription drugs.
A wide range of toxins, totaling nearly 300, was found in the cord blood of newborns. The baby has already been exposed to the mother's toxins. After birth it will suckle mother's milk from a breast most likely filled with toxins. Breast tissue is mainly fatty and that's where the body stores toxins. Most likely mom uses an antiperspirant containing aluminum and this easily transfers to the breast. If the baby takes formula then it gets a whopping dose of fructose which was found to contain mercury.
Next baby gets his vaccinations. There is a lot of controversy and denial of any link between vaccines and autism but one thing is very clear. The levels of mercury in vaccines far exceed the dose which the CDC deems as safe. While there may not be a absolute direct link logic dictates that this is a potentially dangerous scenario. Also take into consideration the load of multiple doses of vaccine.
One answer is for parents to undergo an exam and detoxification program before getting pregnant. Children can also benefit from this program whether or not they have ASD or a related condition.
My office offers this service. Please be in touch for more information.
Rate of autism disorders climbs to one percent among 8-year-olds
My personal belief based upon clinical knowledge and experience is that the source of this problem is primarily from an external source, and that source is environmental toxins and possibly the additives in vaccines. We know what is being pumped into the air, water, and soil in unprecedented amounts. Tons of industrial waste, pesticides, solvents, plastics, heavy metals, raw sewage, and pharmaceuticals are now in our food and water supply. Crops are grown with genetic modifications in soil fertilized with human sewage and irrigated with water containing and wide slew of toxicants including a stew of prescription drugs.
A wide range of toxins, totaling nearly 300, was found in the cord blood of newborns. The baby has already been exposed to the mother's toxins. After birth it will suckle mother's milk from a breast most likely filled with toxins. Breast tissue is mainly fatty and that's where the body stores toxins. Most likely mom uses an antiperspirant containing aluminum and this easily transfers to the breast. If the baby takes formula then it gets a whopping dose of fructose which was found to contain mercury.
Next baby gets his vaccinations. There is a lot of controversy and denial of any link between vaccines and autism but one thing is very clear. The levels of mercury in vaccines far exceed the dose which the CDC deems as safe. While there may not be a absolute direct link logic dictates that this is a potentially dangerous scenario. Also take into consideration the load of multiple doses of vaccine.
One answer is for parents to undergo an exam and detoxification program before getting pregnant. Children can also benefit from this program whether or not they have ASD or a related condition.
My office offers this service. Please be in touch for more information.
Rate of autism disorders climbs to one percent among 8-year-olds
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Secrets of sleep - The Man Who Never Slept
If 6 months of no sleep killed this man, then how does chronic long term sleep deprivation affect those of us to always stay up too late? There are those of us consistently getting less than 7-8 hours of solid sleep every night. That's what is needed to maintain brain health, blood sugar and insulin levels, neurotransmitters, and more. The research is screaming out to us.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
CTV News | The Liberation Treatment: A whole new approach to MS
A new study and theory of the cause of MS has led scientists to the discovery that excess pooled iron in the brain could be the cause. Based upon these findings a new diagnosis and surgical treatment has been devised.
Before trying surgery try these tips and strongly consider spinal manipulation to correct improper spinal curvatures. The chiropractic adjustment provides three major functions:
1) Puts a quick stretch in the muscle. This helps spastic muscles relax through a neurofeedback loop.
CTV News | The Liberation Treatment: A whole new approach to MS
Before trying surgery try these tips and strongly consider spinal manipulation to correct improper spinal curvatures. The chiropractic adjustment provides three major functions:
1) Puts a quick stretch in the muscle. This helps spastic muscles relax through a neurofeedback loop.
2) Restores Range of Motion to the joints
3) Provides a barrage of info to the brain via activation of joint mechanoreceptors
These 3 benefits of the adjustment can help the smooth muscle of the blood vessels to relax. It also has a profound effect on the autonomic nervous system, meaning relaxation of smooth muscle (e.g. veins) and increased blood flow. Restoration of normal spinal biomechanics and supporting soft tissue structures can go a long way in helping many health problems. Hans Selye stated that postural deformities are the beginning of the disease process.
CTV News | The Liberation Treatment: A whole new approach to MS
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 07, 2009
Men Are From Mars -- Neuroscientists Find That Men And Women Respond Differently To Stress
Male and female brains respond differently to stress. Men go into fight or flight mode and women respond emotionally. This can effect how treatment is geared for different people.
Here is the most important part of the article. Read just this if you don't want to read the whole piece:
Men Are From Mars -- Neuroscientists Find That Men And Women Respond Differently To Stress
Here is the most important part of the article. Read just this if you don't want to read the whole piece:
"FIGHT OR FLIGHT: Certain events act as "stressors," triggering the nervous system to produce hormones to respond to the perceived danger. Specifically, the adrenal glands produce more adrenaline and cortisol, releasing them into the bloodstream. This speeds up heart and breathing rates, and increases blood pressure and metabolism. These and other physical changes help us to react quickly and effectively under pressure.
This is known as the "stress response," or more commonly, as the "fight or flight response." But if even low levels of stress go on too long, it can be detrimental to one's health. The nervous system remains slightly activated and continues to pump out extra stress hormones over an extended period, leaving the person feeling depleted or overwhelmed, and weakening the body's immune system.
STRESS-REDUCING TIPS: There are several easy, practical things people can do to reduce the amount of stress in their lives. (1) Be realistic and don't try to be perfect, or expect others to be so. (2) Don't over-schedule; cut out an activity or two when you start to feel overwhelmed. (3) Get a good night's sleep. (4) Get regular exercise to manage stress -- just not excessive or compulsive exercise -- and follow a healthy diet. (5) Learn to relax by building time into your schedule for reading or a nice long bath.
Men Are From Mars -- Neuroscientists Find That Men And Women Respond Differently To Stress
Friday, December 04, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Chelation Therapy Drug Found Safe and Beneficial for Children With Autism | Reuters
Chelation therapy is very effective for removing heavy metals from the body. Chelating agents such as DMSA bind with metals and are then excreted from the body. Heavy metal toxicity has been implicated as a cause of autism and is also associated with many other conditions .
What is very notable about this study is the dramatic effect of DMSA on the body's levels of glutathione. Glutathione is the body's most important anti-oxidant found in every cell. It's very powerful and effective but it's also easily depleted. When it becomes depleted you have less defense against the bad guys. A three day treatment of DMSA raised glutathione levels in children for 1-2 months duration.
Today it's even more important to think about getting garbage out of our system than what to put in. Heavy metals and other environmental toxins deplete glutathione and other antioxidant levels thus lowering the immune system. These toxins often have no metabolic pathway to be broken down and freely circulate through the blood stream or get stuffed into fat and joints. If you're chronically sick and cant' figure out why this could very well be the reason.
The Integrative Health Center offers lab testing for heavy metals and detoxification programs as part of the The 4R Program for good health.
Chelation Therapy Drug Found Safe and Beneficial for Children With Autism | Reuters
What is very notable about this study is the dramatic effect of DMSA on the body's levels of glutathione. Glutathione is the body's most important anti-oxidant found in every cell. It's very powerful and effective but it's also easily depleted. When it becomes depleted you have less defense against the bad guys. A three day treatment of DMSA raised glutathione levels in children for 1-2 months duration.
Today it's even more important to think about getting garbage out of our system than what to put in. Heavy metals and other environmental toxins deplete glutathione and other antioxidant levels thus lowering the immune system. These toxins often have no metabolic pathway to be broken down and freely circulate through the blood stream or get stuffed into fat and joints. If you're chronically sick and cant' figure out why this could very well be the reason.
The Integrative Health Center offers lab testing for heavy metals and detoxification programs as part of the The 4R Program for good health.
Chelation Therapy Drug Found Safe and Beneficial for Children With Autism | Reuters
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Reflux esophagitis due to immune reaction, not acute acid burn
In an interesting study scientists have found that GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux, occurs not as a result of stomach acid burning the esophagus, but by a different mechanism. GERD spurs the release of cytokines which in turn attract inflammatory cells. Heartburn and chest pain are the typical symptoms.
What is not addressed is why there is GERD in the first place. Reflux can only occur due to a weak gastroesophageal sphincter. This is the muscle the closes off the stomach contents to the esophagus once food has entered. The gastroesophageal sphincter, like the whole body, is under control of the nervous system. If the nerve supply to the sphincter is impaired then the function of the sphincter will be impaired and acid can escape the stomach and go back up to the esophagus, triggering the release of inflammatory cytokines.
Chiropractic addresses this problem by going to the source, to the nerves that control the sphincters.
Reflux esophagitis due to immune reaction, not acute acid burn
What is not addressed is why there is GERD in the first place. Reflux can only occur due to a weak gastroesophageal sphincter. This is the muscle the closes off the stomach contents to the esophagus once food has entered. The gastroesophageal sphincter, like the whole body, is under control of the nervous system. If the nerve supply to the sphincter is impaired then the function of the sphincter will be impaired and acid can escape the stomach and go back up to the esophagus, triggering the release of inflammatory cytokines.
Chiropractic addresses this problem by going to the source, to the nerves that control the sphincters.
Reflux esophagitis due to immune reaction, not acute acid burn
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Common chemical found to feminize boys' brains
Estrogenizing chemicals are now ubiquitous in our food supply and are causing boys brains to be feminized. But they are also a severe tax on the entire system, especially the liver and kidneys. There is no metabolic pathway for them to follow and be excreted so they are continually circulated throughout the body. As decades go by the effects can be cumulative, called bioload. More men are developing breasts and breast cancer for example. The main source of these chemicals is PVC plastics found almost everywhere, from food packaging to may household items.
Yet another reason to educate yourself on what you're up against regarding environmental pollutants and what you can do about it. Today a detox program is essential for every person right from the womb.
Common chemical found to feminize boys' brains
Yet another reason to educate yourself on what you're up against regarding environmental pollutants and what you can do about it. Today a detox program is essential for every person right from the womb.
Common chemical found to feminize boys' brains
Flu Shot Victim Desiree Jennings CURED of “untreatable” Neurological Disorder
Desiree Jennings, a 25 year old Washington Redskins cheerleader, took a flu shot in August 2009. Ten days later she was afflicted with a neurological disease called dystonia. This was diagnosed by doctors at Johns Hopkins University. See the video below.
More recently her condition worsened to the point that she was having trouble breathing and felt she might soon die. She ended up at the office of Dr. Rashid Buttar and here is the result of his treatment. Listen to the interview.
And here she is after treatment:
More recently her condition worsened to the point that she was having trouble breathing and felt she might soon die. She ended up at the office of Dr. Rashid Buttar and here is the result of his treatment. Listen to the interview.
And here she is after treatment:
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Researchers Explore Growing Ocean Garbage Patches - NYTimes.com
There's a garbage patch in the ocean twice the size of Texas!! Just ask any Texan and he'll tell you just how big that is. And that's only one of them! In some spots there's more plastic in a sample of water than there is water. Little fish eat the plastic, big fish eat the little fish, and we eat the big fish. What's wrong with a little plastic in the diet? For one, neuroendocrine disorders. See this link: http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/news/20091111/study-high-bpa-linked-to-sex-issues-in-men?src=RSS_PUBLICThe end of the world as we know it......and I don't feel fine. We must always be doing what we can to detox in the face of such massive and pervasive environmental destruction.
Researchers Explore Growing Ocean Garbage Patches - NYTimes.com
Researchers Explore Growing Ocean Garbage Patches - NYTimes.com
Monday, November 09, 2009
NEW CHEMICAL TOOLKIT MANIPULATES MITOCHONDRIA, REVEALS INSIGHTS INTO DRUG TOXICITY
Mitochondria are the powerhouses of every cell. They turn our food into usable energy. Mitochondrial function can be disrupted by taking common prescription drugs which prevent mitochondria from communicating with the cell's nuclear genome.
Statins and blood pressure medications interfere with mitochondrial energy levels. This might explain the cause of muscle fatigue when taking these drugs.
Some drugs actually increase mitochondrial function and decrease toxic load. One of these compounds is found in Green Tea. That would explain why Green Tea has for a long time been anecdotally credited with normalizing blood sugar and increasing energy levels. Type 2 diabetes is associated with a decrease in mitochondrial genetic expression and may be helped by regularly drinking Green Tea.
HMS Press Release
Statins and blood pressure medications interfere with mitochondrial energy levels. This might explain the cause of muscle fatigue when taking these drugs.
Some drugs actually increase mitochondrial function and decrease toxic load. One of these compounds is found in Green Tea. That would explain why Green Tea has for a long time been anecdotally credited with normalizing blood sugar and increasing energy levels. Type 2 diabetes is associated with a decrease in mitochondrial genetic expression and may be helped by regularly drinking Green Tea.
HMS Press Release
Trigger for brain plasticity identified
Plasticity is the brain's ability to reform and rebuild as needed. External activities drive this mechanism. The best way to achieve plasticity is through new and challenging activities which require mental exertion. Crossword puzzles, learning a new language, or counting backwards are examples. Learning a new physical activity will also lead to greater plasticity. If you want a healthy brain as you age get moving and start something new!
Trigger for brain plasticity identified
Trigger for brain plasticity identified
Study Identifies Protein that Produces ‘Good’ Fat
Most people don't know there are actually two types of fat, white and brown. White fat is the notorious storage tissue most of wish we had less of. And then there's brown fat. The role of brown fat is to expend energy, thus burning fat! The bad news is that most adults no longer have brown fat. The good news is that the precursor to brown fat is still there and can be stimulated by a bone-inducing protein called BMP-7. BMP-7 drives precursor cells that give rise to mature brown fat cells.
According to the lead scientist on this study, “Diet and exercise are still the best approaches for weight reduction in the general population,” Tseng said. “However, for people who are genetically predisposed to obesity, these approaches may have very little effect.”
"BOSTON – Aug. 20, 2008 – A study by researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center has shown that a protein known for its role in inducing bone growth can also help promote the development of brown fat, a “good” fat that helps in the expenditure of energy and plays a role in fighting obesity."
Joslin Diabetes Center | For the Media
According to the lead scientist on this study, “Diet and exercise are still the best approaches for weight reduction in the general population,” Tseng said. “However, for people who are genetically predisposed to obesity, these approaches may have very little effect.”
“As we learn more about the controls of brown fat development, medical interventions to increase energy expenditure by brown fat inducing agents, such as BMP-7, may provide hope to these individuals in losing weight and preventing the metabolic disorders associated with obesity,” she said.
"BOSTON – Aug. 20, 2008 – A study by researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center has shown that a protein known for its role in inducing bone growth can also help promote the development of brown fat, a “good” fat that helps in the expenditure of energy and plays a role in fighting obesity."
Joslin Diabetes Center | For the Media
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Saturday, November 07, 2009
AGE OF AUTISM: Autism Research Institute on Chelation Therapy Studies for Individuals with Autism
Glutathione is the primary naturally occurring antioxidant in every cell in the body. In states of dysfunction and disease nutrients are always in a depleted state.
Glutathione levels are often depressed in autism patients. They are elevated significantly with chelation therapy. This finding agrees with the Remove part of my FourR treatment protocol. By removing toxins the body is able to function normally.
AGE OF AUTISM: Autism Research Institute on Chelation Therapy Studies for Individuals with Autism
Glutathione levels are often depressed in autism patients. They are elevated significantly with chelation therapy. This finding agrees with the Remove part of my FourR treatment protocol. By removing toxins the body is able to function normally.
AGE OF AUTISM: Autism Research Institute on Chelation Therapy Studies for Individuals with Autism
Saturday, October 31, 2009
iTWire - CDC: 28% U.S. adults don't get enough sleep 50% of time or more
Do you get 7 good hours of sleep per night? Or are you surfing the net or watching TV very late? This area of health is one of the easiest to take control of and yet we seem to selling ourselves short. Sleep is such a critical area of health. Lack of it has been associated with obesity, diabetes, neurological disorders, and more.
iTWire - CDC: 28% U.S. adults don't get enough sleep 50% of time or more
iTWire - CDC: 28% U.S. adults don't get enough sleep 50% of time or more
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Could my child's ADHD drug be causing mood swings, aggression? - CNN.com
Let's hear from a Psychiatrist on this issue.
Could my child's ADHD drug be causing mood swings, aggression? - CNN.com
Could my child's ADHD drug be causing mood swings, aggression? - CNN.com
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Juggling Enhances Connections In The Brain
Juggling is just another activity that will enhance brain function. The brain needs stimulation! Think and move to create new pathways and better brain and total health!
Juggling Enhances Connections In The Brain
Shared via AddThis
Juggling Enhances Connections In The Brain
Shared via AddThis
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Placebo effect is in the spine as well as the mind | Science | Reuters
I've always been perplexed at medicine's shunning of the placebo effect. It's the greatest proof that the mind can be trained to produce the greatest healing effects! Why treat placebo as an anomaly?? Every one of our 100 trillion cells contain memory and intelligence. Use the power!
Placebo effect is in the spine as well as the mind | Science | Reuters
Placebo effect is in the spine as well as the mind | Science | Reuters
Monday, October 12, 2009
ADHD medication turning children psychotic | News.com.au Top stories | News.com.au
There are much better way ways to deal with this. ADHD drugs fit like keys into brain receptors. When the drugs wear off a new dose is needed to fit into the lock. Exercise and specific brain friendly nutrients build new neural pathways and create more of the natural brain pharmaceuticals that the brain needs to function normally.
ADHD medication turning children psychotic | News.com.au Top stories | News.com.au
ADHD medication turning children psychotic | News.com.au Top stories | News.com.au
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
9NEWS.com | Colorado's Online News Leader | Chronic injuries may be relieved with Graston Technique
An excellent soft tissue technique for healing sports injuries.
9NEWS.com | Colorado's Online News Leader | Chronic injuries may be relieved with Graston Technique
Shared via AddThis
9NEWS.com | Colorado's Online News Leader | Chronic injuries may be relieved with Graston Technique
Shared via AddThis
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Paralyzed Rats Regain Their Footing : Discovery News
Gradually more of this type of research is showing that the nervous system is not static and fixed. Its is capable of repair and regeneration. The more there is motion the more there is life!
Paralyzed Rats Regain Their Footing : Discovery News
Shared via AddThis
Paralyzed Rats Regain Their Footing : Discovery News
Shared via AddThis
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Do Brains Shrink as We Age? - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com
Great news and more evidence for people who stay mentally and physically active! Keep your brain healthy with 7 hours good sleep, lots of water, healthy fats, aerobic exercise, spinal adjustments, and new brain activities like learning new languages!
Do Brains Shrink as We Age? - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com
Shared via AddThis
Do Brains Shrink as We Age? - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com
Shared via AddThis
Your shower may be blasting you with germs: study | Lifestyle | Reuters
Your shower head is a breeding ground for Mycobacterium avium, which is linked to pulmonary disease. People with compromised immune function or with pulmonary problems such as asthma and COPD should especially beware of this. It may be a good idea to change the shower heads every few months or rotate two of them, letting one soak in a chlorine solution to kill the bacteria. Make sure to rinse the chlorine thoroughly before reinstalling.
Your shower may be blasting you with germs: study | Lifestyle | Reuters
Shared via AddThis
Your shower may be blasting you with germs: study | Lifestyle | Reuters
Shared via AddThis
Sunday, September 13, 2009
'Make a date with dates to protect your arteries' | Health | Jerusalem Post
Dates, loaded with sugar, do not raise blood sugar. Not only that, they also protect against damaged cholesterol.
'Make a date with dates to protect your arteries' | Health | Jerusalem Post
Shared via AddThis
'Make a date with dates to protect your arteries' | Health | Jerusalem Post
Shared via AddThis
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Study Reveals How Much Cellphone Radiation You’re Getting | Gadget Lab | Wired.com
As cellphone use continues to increase, especially in younger people, the risks of brain cancers also increase. We have not yet seen large numbers of cases but many experts believe the next decade or two will see more people affected with chronic use. The best option for health is not to use a cell or cordless phone at all. Today that doesn't seem to be a realistic option. The next best options are minimizing talk time, using the speaker phone, or using an air tube wire to your ear.
Study Reveals How Much Cellphone Radiation You’re Getting | Gadget Lab | Wired.com
Study Reveals How Much Cellphone Radiation You’re Getting | Gadget Lab | Wired.com
Monday, September 07, 2009
Approaching Epidemic: Brain Damage from Mobile Phone Radiation
Do your kids use cell phones? Approaching brain damage epidemic!
Do your kids use cell phones? Approaching brain damage epidemic! Approaching Epidemic: Brain Damage from Mobile Phone Radiation
Shared via AddThis
Do your kids use cell phones? Approaching brain damage epidemic! Approaching Epidemic: Brain Damage from Mobile Phone Radiation
Shared via AddThis
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Friday, September 04, 2009
Higher Cancer Rates In Under-18 Cell Phone Users - The Philadelphia Bulletin Archives
If you can't keep your kids away from cell phones, at least teach them how to use them more safely. Firstly, limit talk time to an absolute minimum. Are there plans that allow for only certain numbers like home and emergency? Use what's called an air tube instead of a wired ear piece.
Higher Cancer Rates In Under-18 Cell Phone Users - The Philadelphia Bulletin Archives
Shared via AddThis
Higher Cancer Rates In Under-18 Cell Phone Users - The Philadelphia Bulletin Archives
Shared via AddThis
Thursday, September 03, 2009
A Simple Answer to a Medical Mystery
FOX CHANNEL 9 –The Rusten family of Minnesota can attest first hand to the benefits of pediatric chiropractic care. Evan Quinn Rusten was diagnosed with severe acid reflux, along with food allergies, and infant clubbed feet, among other conditions. The Rusten’s spent thousands of dollars a month on doctors appointments and prescriptions trying to find answers. After months of research, the Rusten’s went to the chiropractor. After the chiropractic adjustments all illnesses disappeared. The nervous system controls all the functions of our bodies infant and adult alike. Chiropractors are the only ones who can locate and correct these interferences in the nervous system. For the Rusten's this was an amazing transformation for the children; relief and hope for the parents.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Dr. McGrath's Corner
Underarm hygiene is a very important topic. Most of use antiperspirants which contain some form of aluminum, parabens, and petroleum products. In an effort to stay dry we are potentially subjecting ourselves to breast cancer. In my opinion it's better to be wet than sick and then dead. It's better to use a natural deodorant like the one I've recently discovered. It's always best to be informed about what you use on your body and what you put in your body!
Dr. McGrath's Corner
Shared via AddThis
Dr. McGrath's Corner
Shared via AddThis
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
EWG Report || BodyBurden 2 - The Pollution in Newborns
287 toxins found in the cord blood of newborns! We are up against the plague of environmental toxins from before birth. Detoxifying on an ongoing basis is critical to health.
EWG Report || BodyBurden 2 - The Pollution in Newborns
Shared via AddThis
EWG Report || BodyBurden 2 - The Pollution in Newborns
Shared via AddThis
Monday, August 31, 2009
Many Californians with medical debt are insured
The sad state of US healthcare. How can 2.2 million or 13% of non-elderly citizens WITH health insurance be in medical debt??? Something has to change!
Many Californians with medical debt are insured
Shared via AddThis
Many Californians with medical debt are insured
Shared via AddThis
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
U.S. Carbonated Soft Drink Sales Falling Since 2005
Great news! Since 2005 American's consumption of soft drinks has been decreasing every year. Let's keep it going and reduce flavored and sweetened sodas to ZERO! The health benefits from that alone would be enormous and I'm not exaggerating one iota.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Lunch ladies no longer serving up fried foods to students | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
How American Health Care Killed My Father - The Atlantic (September 2009)
A poignant commentary on the sad state of American Health Care. The author is a voice for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who die every year due to hospital errors and hospital derived infections.
How American Health Care Killed My Father - The Atlantic (September 2009)
Shared via AddThis
How American Health Care Killed My Father - The Atlantic (September 2009)
Shared via AddThis
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D
Vitamin D is hot again and here is another reason why.
Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D
Shared via AddThis
Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D
Shared via AddThis
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
9 Drug-Free Approaches to Managing ADHD
Drugs for ADD and ADHD fill receptor sites in the brain to produce temporary effects. When the drug wears off the problem is still there and a new dose is needed. Over time the brain's receptor sites can become sensitized to the drug and the dose. Either more drug is needed or a different drug is needed. Now the studies are saying that "....more than 60 percent of the children on stimulants stopped taking the medication within eight years. What's more, the medications used in the study might have stunted participants' growth, researchers concluded."
No parent wants to stunt their kids growth just to get them to concentrate and behave normally. There are better ways to deal with ADD/ADHD. The best way is to build new neural pathways and receptor sites with various brain excercises and to fill those sites with nutrients which will make a permanent change for the better without side effects. The practitioner is seek out is an expert in functional neurology and a clinical nutritionist. My office provides both services.
Please contact me if you need someone in your area.
No parent wants to stunt their kids growth just to get them to concentrate and behave normally. There are better ways to deal with ADD/ADHD. The best way is to build new neural pathways and receptor sites with various brain excercises and to fill those sites with nutrients which will make a permanent change for the better without side effects. The practitioner is seek out is an expert in functional neurology and a clinical nutritionist. My office provides both services.
Please contact me if you need someone in your area.
Report: Swine Flu Vaccine May Be Deadly
"British medical authorities are warning that there could be a link between the swine flu vaccine, which is expected in October, and a deadly nervous disorder...."
This news is sure to make already nervous people frustrated and scared, but it's nothing new. The best way to combat any infectious agent is to maintain and strong immune system. Get 7 hours sleep, drink 2-3 liters of water a day, excercise, eat a healthy diet, get fresh air and sunshine, modify stress, and detoxify. If you're like most people you're not doing these things. Start adding in and changing what you can. See a professional nutritionist for the best advice.
Remember that all of us are surrounded by the same bacteria and viruses all the time. Some of us get sick and others don't. This is very important to understand and remember: only sick and weak people get sick. Strong and healthy people stay well. Bacteria and viruses cannot affect you if you are healthy.
For the elderly or immunocompromised they also must do what they can to build strength of their natural immune system.
Don't rely on medications and vaccinations to keep you healthy. There is a place for medicine but it's not in the realm of prevention. Medicine often has unwanted side effects. In this case it's death!
Health comes from within and you can help create it by treating your body right.
This news is sure to make already nervous people frustrated and scared, but it's nothing new. The best way to combat any infectious agent is to maintain and strong immune system. Get 7 hours sleep, drink 2-3 liters of water a day, excercise, eat a healthy diet, get fresh air and sunshine, modify stress, and detoxify. If you're like most people you're not doing these things. Start adding in and changing what you can. See a professional nutritionist for the best advice.
Remember that all of us are surrounded by the same bacteria and viruses all the time. Some of us get sick and others don't. This is very important to understand and remember: only sick and weak people get sick. Strong and healthy people stay well. Bacteria and viruses cannot affect you if you are healthy.
For the elderly or immunocompromised they also must do what they can to build strength of their natural immune system.
Don't rely on medications and vaccinations to keep you healthy. There is a place for medicine but it's not in the realm of prevention. Medicine often has unwanted side effects. In this case it's death!
Health comes from within and you can help create it by treating your body right.
Healthy Living: Pain reliever acetaminophen is safe when used properly - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin
Healthy Living: Pain reliever acetaminophen is safe when used properly - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin
The power of glutathione again! This is the most powerful and plentiful antioxidant in the body. Drugs can deplete. So can toxic overload, stress, poor sleep and diet, etc. Without enough of this powerful compound which protects every cell in the... body you are susceptible to many diseases. But if you eat and supplement to replenish it you stand a much better chance of good health!
Posted using ShareThis
The power of glutathione again! This is the most powerful and plentiful antioxidant in the body. Drugs can deplete. So can toxic overload, stress, poor sleep and diet, etc. Without enough of this powerful compound which protects every cell in the... body you are susceptible to many diseases. But if you eat and supplement to replenish it you stand a much better chance of good health!
Posted using ShareThis
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Appetite-loss closely linked to deaths in elderly
Interesting study. On the other hand it's been proven that those who restrict calories experience longer and healthier lives.
Appetite-loss closely linked to deaths in elderly
Shared via AddThis
Appetite-loss closely linked to deaths in elderly
Shared via AddThis
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Are Sports Drinks Actually Good for Kids?
Should the parents of young athletes stock their refrigerators with sports drinks? The answer is a qualified yes.
FDA: Arthritis drugs pose cancer risk to children
Today the FDA reported that a class of drugs call TNF Blockers can lead to cancer in children. These drugs are used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammatory bowel disorder, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory diseases.
Are we finally ready to take a look at some non-drug interventions? First we have to ask some good questions. Why do so many children suffer from arthritis? Diseases of the old are now in the domain of the young. Arthritis, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis. These diseases are supposed to take decades to develop. Why are our young people getting them? There are much better ways than taking a drug for these problems. The answer is simple but requires just a little bit more effort than relying on a pill! Are we willing to eat right, sleep right, and excercise just a bit? Just that alone would go such a long way towards better health.
Are we finally ready to take a look at some non-drug interventions? First we have to ask some good questions. Why do so many children suffer from arthritis? Diseases of the old are now in the domain of the young. Arthritis, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis. These diseases are supposed to take decades to develop. Why are our young people getting them? There are much better ways than taking a drug for these problems. The answer is simple but requires just a little bit more effort than relying on a pill! Are we willing to eat right, sleep right, and excercise just a bit? Just that alone would go such a long way towards better health.
Monday, August 03, 2009
7 in 10 U.S. Kids Have Low Vitamin D
Vitamin D is big in the news again. At one time pushed aside for newer and more exciting nutrients Vitamin D is making a comeback in our recognition of its importance. It functions more like a hormone, triggering many critical functions in our bodies. That 70% of U.S. children are deficient is shocking and does not bode well in the already dismal picture of the health of Americans, and now especially children. What kind of future is possible with so many kids developing diseases of old age? Juvenile diabetes, obesity, and even osteoporosis has reached epidemic proportions and Vitamin D deficiency is one piece of the missing nutritional puzzle in these diseases and more. Get your kids outside to play and get them off the junk food! The richest country in the history of the planet is eating itself to death!
7 in 10 U.S. Kids Have Low Vitamin D
Shared via AddThis
7 in 10 U.S. Kids Have Low Vitamin D
Shared via AddThis
Tiger Woods: "Chiropractic it's as important to my training as practicing my swing"
"Being a Chiropractic patient has really helped me immensely...lifting weights and seeing a Chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I've been going to Chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It's as important to my training as practicing my swing."Top Professionals in every sport are under chiropractic care to increase health and performance. Behind every great champion, there is a chiropractor.Tiger Woods• American Professional Golfer• Currently the World No. 1• Highest-Paid Professional Athlete in 2008 (Estimated $110 million)• Fourteen Professional Major Golf Championships• 67 PGA Tour Championships• More career major wins and career PGA than any other active player• PGA Player of the Year – 9 times• Associated Press Male of Athlete of the Year• Sportsman of the Year more than once• In 1995, he proudly appeared on the Chiropractic Centennial Foundation’s (CCF) Tournament of Roses Parade Float
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Omega-3, -6 levels linked to bowel health
Increased intakes of omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid may double the risk of ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease, says a Pan-European study.
On the other hand, the highest intakes of omega-3 were associated with 77 per cent reduction in the risk of the disease, according to findings of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) with 203,193 men and women published in Gut.
Read here for sources of Omega-6:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-6_fatty_acid
Omega-3, -6 levels linked to bowel health
Shared via AddThis
On the other hand, the highest intakes of omega-3 were associated with 77 per cent reduction in the risk of the disease, according to findings of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) with 203,193 men and women published in Gut.
Read here for sources of Omega-6:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-6_fatty_acid
Omega-3, -6 levels linked to bowel health
Shared via AddThis
Blood Pressure Reduction Through Chiropractic
Good Morning America news story about a medical study indicating the reduction of blood pressure from one chiropractic adjustment.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Ankles: A Balancing Act
Ankles sprains are the most common injury for physically active people. Professor Jay Hertel of the University of Virginia demonstrates four balancing exercises to strengthen ankles.
Balance training is a supremely low-tech but increasingly well-documented approach to dealing with unstable ankles.
Here's the key paragraph in the article:
Balance training is a supremely low-tech but increasingly well-documented approach to dealing with unstable ankles.
Here's the key paragraph in the article:
Why should balance training prevent ankle sprains? The reasons are both obvious and quite subtle. Until recently, clinicians thought that ankle sprains were primarily a matter of overstretched, traumatized ligaments. Tape or brace the joint, relieve pressure on the sore tissue, and a person should heal fully, they thought. But that approach ignored the role of the central nervous system, which is intimately tied in to every joint. “There are neural receptors in ligaments,” says Jay Hertel, an associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Virginia and an expert on the ankle. When you damage the ligament, “you damage the neuro-receptors as well. Your brain no longer receives reliable signals” from the ankle about how your ankle and foot are positioned in relation to the ground. Your proprioception — your sense of your body’s position in space — is impaired. You’re less stable and more prone to falling over and re-injuring yourself.
It's all about the nervous system and central integration. The human body is a receptor based system. Information is received from sensory stimulii which includes balance and sense of position in space. That information is sent to the CNS, the spinal cord and brain, for processing and motor output. With less or aberrant info coming in there will be less or aberrant info going back to organs, joints, and other body structures. Weakness and instability will lead to more weakness and instability as the body tries to compensate in order to maintain balance both structurally and functionally. Professor Hertel mentions ligamentous receptors but there are also receptors worth mentioning in the joints and muscles. The excercises he reccomends are very advanced and at the same time relatively low tech. They demonstrate a real understanding of anatomy, physiology, and neurology.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Patients Not Informed of Abnormal Lab Results
A study published last month in the Archives of Internal Medicine reveals primary care practices sometimes do not inform patients of abnormal lab results or do not keep a record of the patient being informed. About 1 of every 14 abnormal tests was not reported to the patient.
I tell all my patients to request a copy of their lab results and have the doctor review it with them. It's pretty easy to determine if one of your readings is too high or low because it will fall outside the normal ranges and appear in a separate column or will be highlighted. Make sure you understand what that means.
My own mother was a victim of non-disclosure of her lab results. The tests showed a high probability of aggressive cancer. Her doctor told my brother, a physician, that everything was alright and he took the doctor's word for it. More than a year passed and indeed an aggressive cancer spread throughout my mother's body. By the time surgery and chemo were scheduled it was really too late to stop it. We only found out the truth about the lab results by accident.
This is why I always reccomend that my patients actually see their results and discuss them with the doctor. You must insist upon it! It could save your life.
I tell all my patients to request a copy of their lab results and have the doctor review it with them. It's pretty easy to determine if one of your readings is too high or low because it will fall outside the normal ranges and appear in a separate column or will be highlighted. Make sure you understand what that means.
My own mother was a victim of non-disclosure of her lab results. The tests showed a high probability of aggressive cancer. Her doctor told my brother, a physician, that everything was alright and he took the doctor's word for it. More than a year passed and indeed an aggressive cancer spread throughout my mother's body. By the time surgery and chemo were scheduled it was really too late to stop it. We only found out the truth about the lab results by accident.
This is why I always reccomend that my patients actually see their results and discuss them with the doctor. You must insist upon it! It could save your life.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Shifting America from sick care to genuine wellness
I felt this was worth re-printing in its entirety. For years those of us in the alternative and complementary health fields have been saying this. Now that our health and the health system has been pushed to the brink we're willing to look at this on the National level. But please tell me who will lead this call to preventive health? Medical doctors by and large are not trained this way and medical schools don't teach it.
Washington, DC — With the Senate health committee convening daily to craft a comprehensive health reform bill, the basic outline of this landmark legislation is now clear.
Yes, it will ensure access to affordable, quality care for every American. But, just as important, it will hold down health care costs by creating a sharp new emphasis on disease prevention and public health.
As the lead Senator in drafting the Prevention and Public Health section of the bill, I view this legislation as our opportunity to recreate America as a genuine wellness society – a society that is focused on prevention, good nutrition, fitness, and public health.
The fact is, we currently do not have a health care system in the United States; we have a sick care system. If you’re sick, you get care, whether through insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, community health centers, emergency rooms, or charity. The problem is that this is all about patching things up after people develop serious illnesses and chronic conditions.
We spend a staggering $2.3 trillion annually on health care – 16.5 percent of our GDP and far more than any other country spends on health care – yet the World Health Organization ranks U.S. health care only 37th among nations, on par with Serbia.
We spend twice as much per capita on health care as European countries, but we are twice as sick with chronic disease.
How can this be so? The problem is that we have systematically neglected wellness and disease prevention. Currently in the United States, 95 percent of every health care dollar is spent on treating illnesses and conditions after they occur. But we spend peanuts on prevention.
The good news in these dismal statistics is that, by reforming our system and focusing on fighting and preventing chronic disease, we have a huge opportunity. We can not only save hundreds of billions of dollars; we can also dramatically improve the health of the American people.
Consider this: Right now, some 75 percent of health care costs are accounted for by heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and obesity. What these five diseases and conditions have in common is that they are largely preventable and even reversible by changes in nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle.
Listen to what Dr. Dean Ornish told our Senate health committee: “Studies have shown that changing lifestyle could prevent at least 90 percent of all heart disease. Thus, the disease that accounts for more premature deaths and costs Americans more than any other illness is almost completely preventable, and even reversible, simply by changing lifestyle.”
It’s not enough to talk about how to extend insurance coverage and how to pay for health care – as important as those things are. It makes no sense just to figure out a better way to pay the bills for a system that is dysfunctional, ineffective, and broken. We also have to change the health care system itself, beginning with a sharp new emphasis on prevention and public health.
We also have to realize that wellness and prevention must be truly comprehensive. It is not only about what goes on in a doctor’s office. It encompasses workplace wellness programs, community-wide wellness programs, building bike paths and walking trails, getting junk food out of our schools, making school breakfasts and lunches more nutritious, increasing the amount of physical activity our children get, and so much more.
I am heartened by the fact that the major players in this endeavor – Democrats and Republicans alike – all “get it” when it comes to prevention and public health. We all agree that it must be at the heart of reform legislation.
As President Obama said in his speech to Congress earlier this year: “[It is time] to make the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that's one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.”
No question, comprehensive health reform is an extraordinarily ambitious undertaking. But what makes me optimistic is that all the major groups are playing a constructive role, including those that opposed the 1993-94 heath reform effort. Everyone agrees that the current system is broken.
Winston Churchill famously said that “Americans always do the right thing – after they’ve tried everything else.” Well, we’ve tried everything else, and it has led us to bad health and the brink of bankruptcy.
Comprehensive health reform legislation is our opportunity to change the paradigm. We are going to extend health insurance to every American. And we are going to give our citizens access to a 21st century health care system – one that is focused on helping us to live healthy, active, happy lives.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and chairs the Senate panel that funds medical research and health care..
Op-Eds by contributors do not reflect the editorial views of the Yahoo! News staff.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20090625/ts_ynews/ynews_ts408
Washington, DC — With the Senate health committee convening daily to craft a comprehensive health reform bill, the basic outline of this landmark legislation is now clear.
Yes, it will ensure access to affordable, quality care for every American. But, just as important, it will hold down health care costs by creating a sharp new emphasis on disease prevention and public health.
As the lead Senator in drafting the Prevention and Public Health section of the bill, I view this legislation as our opportunity to recreate America as a genuine wellness society – a society that is focused on prevention, good nutrition, fitness, and public health.
The fact is, we currently do not have a health care system in the United States; we have a sick care system. If you’re sick, you get care, whether through insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, community health centers, emergency rooms, or charity. The problem is that this is all about patching things up after people develop serious illnesses and chronic conditions.
We spend a staggering $2.3 trillion annually on health care – 16.5 percent of our GDP and far more than any other country spends on health care – yet the World Health Organization ranks U.S. health care only 37th among nations, on par with Serbia.
We spend twice as much per capita on health care as European countries, but we are twice as sick with chronic disease.
How can this be so? The problem is that we have systematically neglected wellness and disease prevention. Currently in the United States, 95 percent of every health care dollar is spent on treating illnesses and conditions after they occur. But we spend peanuts on prevention.
The good news in these dismal statistics is that, by reforming our system and focusing on fighting and preventing chronic disease, we have a huge opportunity. We can not only save hundreds of billions of dollars; we can also dramatically improve the health of the American people.
Consider this: Right now, some 75 percent of health care costs are accounted for by heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and obesity. What these five diseases and conditions have in common is that they are largely preventable and even reversible by changes in nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle.
Listen to what Dr. Dean Ornish told our Senate health committee: “Studies have shown that changing lifestyle could prevent at least 90 percent of all heart disease. Thus, the disease that accounts for more premature deaths and costs Americans more than any other illness is almost completely preventable, and even reversible, simply by changing lifestyle.”
It’s not enough to talk about how to extend insurance coverage and how to pay for health care – as important as those things are. It makes no sense just to figure out a better way to pay the bills for a system that is dysfunctional, ineffective, and broken. We also have to change the health care system itself, beginning with a sharp new emphasis on prevention and public health.
We also have to realize that wellness and prevention must be truly comprehensive. It is not only about what goes on in a doctor’s office. It encompasses workplace wellness programs, community-wide wellness programs, building bike paths and walking trails, getting junk food out of our schools, making school breakfasts and lunches more nutritious, increasing the amount of physical activity our children get, and so much more.
I am heartened by the fact that the major players in this endeavor – Democrats and Republicans alike – all “get it” when it comes to prevention and public health. We all agree that it must be at the heart of reform legislation.
As President Obama said in his speech to Congress earlier this year: “[It is time] to make the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that's one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.”
No question, comprehensive health reform is an extraordinarily ambitious undertaking. But what makes me optimistic is that all the major groups are playing a constructive role, including those that opposed the 1993-94 heath reform effort. Everyone agrees that the current system is broken.
Winston Churchill famously said that “Americans always do the right thing – after they’ve tried everything else.” Well, we’ve tried everything else, and it has led us to bad health and the brink of bankruptcy.
Comprehensive health reform legislation is our opportunity to change the paradigm. We are going to extend health insurance to every American. And we are going to give our citizens access to a 21st century health care system – one that is focused on helping us to live healthy, active, happy lives.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and chairs the Senate panel that funds medical research and health care..
Op-Eds by contributors do not reflect the editorial views of the Yahoo! News staff.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20090625/ts_ynews/ynews_ts408
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
How Insurance Companies Hurt Policyholders - ABC News
Every doctor and patient knows that in this three way relationship only the insurance company holds the power. Your best health insurance policy is to stay well if you can. Are there no honest institutions left anymore? Is it all a facade of greed and falsity? If so, the entire system has to crumble.
How Insurance Companies Hurt Policyholders - ABC News
Shared via AddThis
How Insurance Companies Hurt Policyholders - ABC News
Shared via AddThis
Air has elevated cancer risk in 600 neighborhoods
Particulate matter is particularly troubling. And now we have this study as further evidence. There is no way to avoid the issue of detoxifcation in our current environment. These airborne toxins are breathed in with every breathe but they also enter the water and food supply. The human body often lacks any sort of metabolic pathway to package them and get them out. They interfere with normal metabolic detoxification and destroy enzyme systems and nutrient levels. Because they body can't get rid of them they circulate perpetually through the blood stream wreacking havoc along the way. This puts a special burden on the liver, kidney, lungs, heart, and brain leading to systemic inflammation and many diseases besides cancer.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_air_toxics
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_air_toxics
Monday, June 22, 2009
Core Values: A different type of ab workout
Dr. Stuart McGill is the current foremost expert in spinal biomechanics. Here's a video that demonstrates some of his techniques for strengthening the back and core of the body.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Is Your Ab Workout Hurting Your Back?
As usual people run for the one magic bullet to fix all their problems. In this case research was done showing that one particular deep ab muscle, when strengthened, decreased back pain. So everyone ran out and worked on this muscle. That is, they overworked the muscle causing instability. The body is never that simple. Muscles work as levers. When one contracts the opposite side relaxes. Also, muscles attach to different parts of the skeleton and other structures. If one muscle is over-strengthened then some other muscle and structure will be over-weakened. The body always strives for balance structurally and physically.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
ADHD Drug Warning
A small study shows an association between ADHD medication and sudden cardiac arrest in children. According to Dr. Ashton, a medical doctor, chiropractic can help with ADHD.
Certain neurotransmitters in the brain are deficient in ADHD kids and adults. The drugs that are given will temporarily fill the brain receptor sites that help calm the person. When the drug wears off so does the effect and a new dose must be given. As we see from this study these drugs can also have a range of side effects, even sudden death in children.
There are much better ways to help ADHD children. One way is with specific excercises that create brand new neural pathways. Another great treatment is with functional lab testing
This is followed by a prescribed nutritional program to help rebuild the depleted nutrients the brain needs to replenish those critical neurotransmitters.
My office provides these services both locally in Israel and in the U.S.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Certain neurotransmitters in the brain are deficient in ADHD kids and adults. The drugs that are given will temporarily fill the brain receptor sites that help calm the person. When the drug wears off so does the effect and a new dose must be given. As we see from this study these drugs can also have a range of side effects, even sudden death in children.
There are much better ways to help ADHD children. One way is with specific excercises that create brand new neural pathways. Another great treatment is with functional lab testing
This is followed by a prescribed nutritional program to help rebuild the depleted nutrients the brain needs to replenish those critical neurotransmitters.
My office provides these services both locally in Israel and in the U.S.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Parkinson's Disease Associated With Pesticide Exposure In French Farm Workers
Most people don't realize just how toxic our environment is. On the most elemental level-air, water, soil-there are levels and types of toxins that the human body cannot handle. Even the home has toxins we would not imagine in ordinary items such as clothing, carpets, shower curtains, furnishings, building materials and wood flooring. For most of these toxins there are no metabolic pathways in the body break down and eliminate them. They are either constantly recirculated or they are stored in joints and fat. The bioaccumulation of them eventually can lead to disease. Pay attention to small chronic symptoms and get tested. Educate yourself regarding sources of these toxins, what they are, the damage they can cause, and how you can avoid them as much as possible. Learn methods as to how to eliminate them safely and effectively.
ScienceDaily (2009-06-05) -- The cause of Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, is unknown, but in most cases it is believed to involve a combination of environmental risk factors and genetic susceptibility. Laboratory studies in rats have shown that injecting the insecticide rotenone leads to an animal model of PD and several epidemiological studies have shown an association between pesticides and PD, but most have not identified specific pesticides or studied the amount of exposure relating to the association.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090604124802.htm#
ScienceDaily (2009-06-05) -- The cause of Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, is unknown, but in most cases it is believed to involve a combination of environmental risk factors and genetic susceptibility. Laboratory studies in rats have shown that injecting the insecticide rotenone leads to an animal model of PD and several epidemiological studies have shown an association between pesticides and PD, but most have not identified specific pesticides or studied the amount of exposure relating to the association.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090604124802.htm#
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
An Ounce of Prevention; Chiropractic for Kids
Kids are increasingly using chiropractic to achieve better health. Some are more active with sports activities and some are less active, sitting in front of a computer or TV all day. Either way they need to pay extra attention to the health of their neuromusculoskeletal system.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Patients seeking solutions outside the mainstream
The trend is going towards complementary medicine because Western medicine as a whole is failing. Part of the blame goes to Western society's bad habits of overeating, poor food choices, and lack of physical activity. People are beginning to realize that medicine does not have all the answers as they increasingly seek out other solutions.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Probiotics may reduce eczema risk by 60 per cent
Probiotics literally mean "in support of life" much as antibiotics are "against life" in that they were designed to kill bacterial infections. Probiotics are also known as "good bugs" or "friendly flora" and they live in the intestinal system. There are about 3 lbs of them in the average healthy adult and there are more of them than there are cells in the body. Most people know acidophilus but there are many more types and they have different functions. They are critical for digestion and absorption, immune function, and more.
In this study they showed effectiveness in preventing eczema in infants by 58%. Many health problems have the gut as a point of initiation. The skin is the body's largest organ and eczema is an external manifestation of an internal probiotic imbalance. This study also shows the general importance of how good nutrition impacts the body in a positive way. The body's built in intelligence knows what to do with the right raw materials it needs to function.
In this study they showed effectiveness in preventing eczema in infants by 58%. Many health problems have the gut as a point of initiation. The skin is the body's largest organ and eczema is an external manifestation of an internal probiotic imbalance. This study also shows the general importance of how good nutrition impacts the body in a positive way. The body's built in intelligence knows what to do with the right raw materials it needs to function.
Magnesium may benefit blood pressure in hypertensives
Without minerals vitamins are useless and magnesium is an important mineral for many body functions. It's critical for enzymatic reactions involved in energy production, assists with the uptake of calcium and potassium, helps with nerve transmission, and helps the body maintain a normal pH.
Now researchers find that it helps reduce hypertension and the risk of diabetes.
The form you take is important for bio-availability and to prevent magnesium associated diarrhea. I recommend magnesium citrate to my patients.
Magnesium can be found in a wide variety of foods, especially dairy, fish, and meat. It can also be found in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, and beans.
Magnesium is depleted by alcohol, diuretics, fluoride, high fat and protein consumption, and excess Vitamin D and zinc. Foods high in oxalic acid such as almonds, chard, cocoa, rhubarb, spinach, and tea also hinder absorption of magnesium. These foods need not be avoided as part of a healthy diet.
Now researchers find that it helps reduce hypertension and the risk of diabetes.
The form you take is important for bio-availability and to prevent magnesium associated diarrhea. I recommend magnesium citrate to my patients.
Magnesium can be found in a wide variety of foods, especially dairy, fish, and meat. It can also be found in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, and beans.
Magnesium is depleted by alcohol, diuretics, fluoride, high fat and protein consumption, and excess Vitamin D and zinc. Foods high in oxalic acid such as almonds, chard, cocoa, rhubarb, spinach, and tea also hinder absorption of magnesium. These foods need not be avoided as part of a healthy diet.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Popular Cancer Drug Linked To Often Fatal Brain Virus
What's worse? Cancer or having your brain eaten away by a virus that's caused by the cancer drug you're taking?
While this drug seems to be right on target for lymphoma it's tied to death due to brain virus. And it belongs to a class of drugs which have also been connected to brain death (PML). It's drug relatives have already been pulled from the market.
Do yourself and favor and get yourself a toxicity test. Then detoxify through diet, chelation, etc. You have an immune system that should function properly but in today's world it may be overburdened and need some help.
Most of all don't wait until you have some type of symptoms. You must be proactive and informed regarding your health!
ScienceDaily (2009-05-18) -- A new study links use of the popular cancer drug rituximab to a swiftly moving and often fatal viral brain infection called PML. Rituximab is the most important and widely used cancer drug for lymphoma. It is also approved for rheumatoid arthritis and is widely used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus and autoimmune anemias. The results indicate a greater need for caution in prescribing the drug.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090518161158.htm#
While this drug seems to be right on target for lymphoma it's tied to death due to brain virus. And it belongs to a class of drugs which have also been connected to brain death (PML). It's drug relatives have already been pulled from the market.
Do yourself and favor and get yourself a toxicity test. Then detoxify through diet, chelation, etc. You have an immune system that should function properly but in today's world it may be overburdened and need some help.
Most of all don't wait until you have some type of symptoms. You must be proactive and informed regarding your health!
ScienceDaily (2009-05-18) -- A new study links use of the popular cancer drug rituximab to a swiftly moving and often fatal viral brain infection called PML. Rituximab is the most important and widely used cancer drug for lymphoma. It is also approved for rheumatoid arthritis and is widely used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus and autoimmune anemias. The results indicate a greater need for caution in prescribing the drug.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090518161158.htm#
Monday, May 18, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The New 'Epigenetics:' Poor Nutrition In The Womb Causes Permanent Genetic Changes In Offspring
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090413150743.htm">The New 'Epigenetics:' Poor Nutrition In The Womb Causes Permanent Genetic Changes In Offspring
ScienceDaily (2009-04-14) -- New research explains how poor maternal nutrition passes health risk across generations. The new science of epigenetics explains how genes can be modified by the environment: You are what your mother did not eat during pregnancy. ... > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090413150743.htm">read full article
Pavement Sealcoat A Source Of Toxins In Stormwater Runoff
More proof that our environment is polluted at the most basic levels. Humans, being at the top of the food chain, are subjected to the highest levels of toxins from the water, soil and air.
Pavement Sealcoat A Source Of Toxins In Stormwater Runoff
ScienceDaily (2009-04-14) -- Driveways and parking lots may look better with a layer of sealcoat applied to the pavement, but the water running off the surface into nearby streams will be carrying more than just oxygen and hydrogen molecules. New research indicates that sealcoat may contribute to increasingly significant amounts of polyaromatic hydrocarbons entering waterways from stormwater runoff. ... > read full article
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Chronic Pain Linked to Low Vitamin D
As King Soloman said, "There's nothing new under the sun" and the sun is a great source of Vitamin D, which is now back in vogue after many interesting studies that have been published in the last year. Now a depletion of Vitamin D is linked to chronic pain. Often these pain symptoms are vague and doctors have a difficult time pinning them down. As I say over and over, where there is a depletion of nutrients you will find dysfunction and disease. When a nutrient is given in medical doses the body's function will improve. Vitamin D is the celebrity nutrient of the moment.
Chronic Pain Linked to Low Vitamin D
Allison Gandey
Medscape Medical News 2009. © 2009 Medscape
Medscape Medical News 2009. © 2009 Medscape
March 25, 2009 — Inadequate vitamin D may represent an underrecognized source of nociperception and impaired neuromuscular functioning, say researchers.
"Physicians who care for patients with chronic, diffuse pain that seems musculoskeletal — and involves many areas of tenderness to palpation — should strongly consider checking vitamin-D level," Michael Turner, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said in a news release issued Friday.
"Physicians who care for patients with chronic, diffuse pain that seems musculoskeletal — and involves many areas of tenderness to palpation — should strongly consider checking vitamin-D level," Michael Turner, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said in a news release issued Friday.
"For example," he added, "many patients who have been labeled with fibromyalgia are, in fact, suffering from symptomatic vitamin-D inadequacy. Vigilance is especially required when risk factors are present, such as obesity, darker pigmented skin, or limited exposure to sunlight."
Dr. Turner was lead investigator of a study published in the journal Pain Medicine in November 2008. The work suggests a correlation between inadequate vitamin-D levels and the amount of narcotic medication taken by chronic pain patients.
Required Nearly Twice As Much Pain Medication
The researchers found that patients who had inadequate vitamin-D levels and required narcotic pain medication were taking much higher doses — nearly twice as much — as those with adequate levels. These patients also reported worse physical function and worse overall health perception.
Dr. Turner told Medscape Neurology & Neurosurgery his group was surprised by the finding. "We didn't anticipate that the difference would be so high."
The investigators retrospectively studied 267 patients admitted to the Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center. They compared serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels at the time of admission with other parameters such as the amount and duration of narcotic pain medication used, self-reported levels of pain, emotional distress, physical functioning, health perception, and demographic information such as sex, age, diagnosis, and body-mass index.
Patients with vitamin-D levels below 20 ng/mL were considered to have inadequate amounts. The prevalence of low vitamin D was 26% (95% CI, 20.6% – 31.1%).
Among patients using opioids, the mean morphine-equivalent dose for the inadequate vitamin-D group was 133.5 mg/day compared with 70.0 mg/day for the adequate group (P = .001). The mean duration of opioid use for the inadequate and adequate groups was 71.1 months and 43.8 months, respectively (P = .023).
The researchers also observed a link between increasing body-mass index and decreasing levels of vitamin D.
Inadequate Vitamin D May Create or Sustain Pain
The preliminary results suggest that inadequate vitamin D may play a role in creating or sustaining chronic pain. During an interview, Dr. Turner suggested that patients with inadequate vitamin D may benefit from cholecalciferol 50,000 international units dosed according to the level of deficiency.
But he urged caution for patients with calcium- or phosphate-processing disorders. "Increasing vitamin-D levels could be problematic in patients with kidney failure or stones or primary hyperparathyroidism or sarcoidosis. This doesn't preclude increasing levels, but it might warrant discussion with an endocrinologist," he said.
For patients with adequate vitamin D looking to maintain levels, he recommends10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure with no sunscreen on the trunk and arms and legs 3 times a week.
Sun Exposure or Diet and Supplements?
It is a recommendation often made by proponents of vitamin D but hotly contested by the American Academy of Dermatology. The academy recommends that vitamin D be obtained from a healthy diet and supplements and not from unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
"Unprotected UV exposure to the sun or indoor tanning devices is a known risk factor for the development of skin cancer," dermatologists write in the academy's position statement.
Dr. Turner and his team conclude: "Prospective trials utilizing a repeated-measures design are warranted to assess the effects of vitamin-D repletion on pain outcomes and physiological measures of neuromuscular functioning among patients with chronic pain and comorbid vitamin-D inadequacy."
The researchers have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Pain Med. 2008;9:979-984. Abstract
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Serious Heart Condition Without Symptoms
This is more of a medical article than a baseball article. It contains a very important message for us all. Most of the time patients are driven to the doctor's office by pain or some other symptoms. Read this article and the comments below it. The message here is that you can have a serious condition and be ASYMPTOMATIC!!!!! That doesn't mean that you should walk around paranoid thinking something may be wrong with you even though you feel fine. It does mean that you should work on knowing yourself and your body. Move it and rest it. Fill it with good fuel and hydrate it. Get your checkup annually. Prevention is the best medicine.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090318&content_id=4010636&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090318&content_id=4010636&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Monday, March 16, 2009
7 Steps for Promoting Strong Bones
Everyone knows how important it is to have strong and healthy bones, but if you asked how that's achieved many people simply wouldn't know. Some people would say that calcium is important and therefore we should drink milk. That's not a bad start but it's still not completely correct. Calcium is important but there are many other factors that contribute to bone health.
Bone is hard tissue but it isn't like rock. Bone, like all body tissues, is constantly breaking down and rebuilding. For this to happen effectively the right conditions must be present.
1) Maximize nutrient intake
Bone is hard tissue but it isn't like rock. Bone, like all body tissues, is constantly breaking down and rebuilding. For this to happen effectively the right conditions must be present.
1) Maximize nutrient intake
- eat a well-rounded diet
- other nutrients: calcium, manganese, fluoride, boron, silica, magnesium, Vitamins C, B5, D, K, chromium, copper
- you must digest and absorb, normalize stomach acid levels
- food combining and digestive enzymes (only take if prescribed by a doctor)
- no sugar, refined starches, alcohol, caffeine, soda, especially colas
- aerobic and weight bearing
5) Develop alkaline diet
- same as the "no-no" list for anti-nutrients, but also avoid phosphoric acid found in colas which leaches calcium from the bones
- eat lots of greens, other veggies and fruits, drink 64-80 oz of water a day
- normalize cortisol levels
- if cortisol is high at night this is very harmful to bone health
- prime bone building time is at night during sleep
- test cortisol 4 times per day with a salivary test
- make your own Vitamin D
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Why Are Women So Tired?
Here is a list of 17 questions relating to fatigue. If you answer "yes" to 5 or more of them, you need further evaluation.
1)Are you lacking energy?
2)Are you pale?
3)Do you have dark circle under your eyes?
4)Do you have a decreased ability to excercise?
5)Do you have ridged fingernails and/or brittle hair?
6)Do you have shortness of breath anytime you exert yourself? (Even when going to a standing position from sitting?)
7)Does it feel like your pulse is pounding or heart racing?
8)Do you have a hard time concentrating?
9)Do you suffer dizziness or buzzing in the ears?
10)Do you have increased infections? (Including nails).
11)Is your tongue sore?
12)Do you crave starch, ice, clay, or dirt?
13)Has your appetite decreased?
14)Do you suffer dull headaches or restless legs?
15)Do you eat less than 4 cups of veggies per day?
16)Are you vegetarian?
17)Have you been yo-yo dieting?
If you answered "yes" to five or more of these questions you need further evaluation and may be deficient in iron. You should ask your doctor for a CBC, full chemistry, TIBC (RBC, Hematocrit, low iron, etc.).
1)Are you lacking energy?
2)Are you pale?
3)Do you have dark circle under your eyes?
4)Do you have a decreased ability to excercise?
5)Do you have ridged fingernails and/or brittle hair?
6)Do you have shortness of breath anytime you exert yourself? (Even when going to a standing position from sitting?)
7)Does it feel like your pulse is pounding or heart racing?
8)Do you have a hard time concentrating?
9)Do you suffer dizziness or buzzing in the ears?
10)Do you have increased infections? (Including nails).
11)Is your tongue sore?
12)Do you crave starch, ice, clay, or dirt?
13)Has your appetite decreased?
14)Do you suffer dull headaches or restless legs?
15)Do you eat less than 4 cups of veggies per day?
16)Are you vegetarian?
17)Have you been yo-yo dieting?
If you answered "yes" to five or more of these questions you need further evaluation and may be deficient in iron. You should ask your doctor for a CBC, full chemistry, TIBC (RBC, Hematocrit, low iron, etc.).
Friday, March 13, 2009
Report: Toxins Common in Baby Products
Exposure to toxins starts early in life and from unexpected sources. Vaccines which contain mercury, formaldehyde, and other toxins are given early and often. Now it seems that it's not safe to use commonly accepted cosmetics for babies because the manufacturers put out a product with highly toxic chemicals.
The best advice is to do your homework and try to avoid exposure as much as possible. It's impossible to avoid it 100% simply because our world is saturated with toxins, so don't go crazy over it.
I would suggest using something lke Dr. Bronner's or Dr. Woods soaps made from olive oil.
Report: Toxins Common in Baby Products
Of the Baby Products Tested, 61% Contained Formaldehyde and 1,4-Dioxane
By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
March 12, 2009 -- You aren’t likely to see the chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane listed on the labels of baby bath products, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there, a consumer group is warning.
More than half of children’s bath soaps, shampoos, lotions, and other personal care products tested by the group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) were found to contain 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, according to a report released today.
Both of the chemicals are considered probable carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Because they are not intentionally added by manufacturers, there is no requirement that product labels list the chemicals when they are present.
There are also no federal restrictions on allowable levels of the chemicals in body care products, but several other countries do not allow the chemicals at any level.
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane from cosmetic products. And formaldehyde is not allowed in cosmetics sold in Japan and Sweden.
“Manufacturers could easily remove these toxic byproducts, but they are not required to do so under federal cosmetics safety standards,” Sonya Lunder, MPH, of CSC and the Environmental Working Group tells WebMD.
Lunder says there is no simple way for parents to tell if the baby bath products they are purchasing contain the chemical byproducts. In an earlier test, CSC found that many products labeled “natural” or “organic” contained 1,4-dioxane.
“The main thing parents can do is use fewer body care products on their children or look for those products with fewer ingredients,” she says. “Labels that say ‘gentle’ or ‘pure’ or even ‘organic’ don’t really tell you much.”
61% of Products Had Both Chemicals
The CSC had 48 baby and child personal care products tested for 1,4-dioxane, which occurs as a byproduct of a chemical process used to make petroleum-based cosmetic ingredients gentler to the skin.
The products were chosen because they contained ingredients most likely to produce the chemical.
Twenty-eight products were tested for 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, which occurs when preservatives commonly used in cosmetic products break down.
According to the report:
Seventeen out of 28 products tested (61%) were found to contain both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
Twenty-three out of 28 products (82%) contained formaldehyde, and 32 of 48 products (67%) contained 1,4-dioxane.
Baby Magic “Soft Baby Scent” Lotion contained the highest levels of formaldehyde found in the testing. Two samples of the lotion contained 570 and 610 parts per million (ppm) of the chemical. The report noted that a formaldehyde level above 500 ppm would require a warning label in Europe.
Several samples of “American Girl” shower products, sold by Bath & Body Works, contained the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane found in the test.
Best-selling products found to contain both chemical contaminants included Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Sesame Street Bubble Bath, Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash and Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash.
61% of Products Had Both Chemicals continued...
Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Wilma Bergfeld, MD, leads the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, an industry funded, government-backed panel that assesses the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics.
She tells WebMD that if the CSC report is accurate, it suggests that manufacturers are not doing a good enough job of removing 1,4-dioxane from their products.
“Dioxane should not be in any baby care or children’s cosmetic, period, because it is possible to take it out,” she says. “Formaldehyde is a different story.”
She says the formaldehyde levels cited in the report were well within what has been shown to be safe.
The review panel recommends that formaldehyde levels in personal care products should not exceed 2,000 ppm. The highest level of formaldehyde found in any single product tested by the CSC was 610 ppm.
“We know from animal and human studies that this level is safe and can be used in all ages, with the exception of people with formaldehyde sensitivities,” she says.
Baby Care Companies Respond
The Baby Magic line of bath products has been sold since the testing was done, and a spokeswoman for Naterra International Inc., the company that now markets the products, tells WebMD that the tested lotion has been reformulated.
Melanie Dean-Valdez says the product formulations tested by the CSC are no longer being sold.
In a statement issued late Wednesday by Johnson & Johnson, the company charged that the report “inaccurately characterized the safety of our products” and “unnecessarily alarms parents.”
“The trace levels of certain compounds found by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics can result from processes that make our products gentle for babies and safe from bacteria growth,” the statement notes. "The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements for every country where they are sold.”
Limited Brands, which owns Bath & Body Works, issued a statement Thursday noting that the company complies “with all applicable regulations and is committed to selling only the safest and highest-quality products.”
More Industry Response
In an interview with WebMD, a spokesman for the cosmetics industry group Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) was highly critical of the CSC report.
“I am very alarmed that they would make these accusations and not back it up with solid science,” says chemist John Bailey, PhD. “The report included no details about how this testing was done.”
Bailey noted that the levels of the two chemicals found in the CSC analysis are well below established safety limits.
In a written statement, the cosmetics industry group characterized the CSC report as “incomplete and alarmist.”
“Allegations that commonly used baby products are somehow contaminated with harmful levels of carcinogenic chemicals are patently false and a shameful and cynical attempt by an activist group to incite and prey upon parental worries and concerns in order to push a political, legislative, and legal agenda,” the statement notes.
The CSC report calls for stronger government regulation to prohibit toxic contaminants in baby and other personal care products. And it calls on the industry to reformulate their products to remove the contaminants.
Bailey tells WebMD that manufacturers do take reasonable steps to keep levels of the chemical byproducts “well below that which would be considered harmful,” but he adds that it is unrealistic to expect that they can be completely eliminated from all products.
http://children.webmd.com/news/20090312/report-toxins-common-in-baby-products
The best advice is to do your homework and try to avoid exposure as much as possible. It's impossible to avoid it 100% simply because our world is saturated with toxins, so don't go crazy over it.
I would suggest using something lke Dr. Bronner's or Dr. Woods soaps made from olive oil.
Report: Toxins Common in Baby Products
Of the Baby Products Tested, 61% Contained Formaldehyde and 1,4-Dioxane
By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
March 12, 2009 -- You aren’t likely to see the chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane listed on the labels of baby bath products, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there, a consumer group is warning.
More than half of children’s bath soaps, shampoos, lotions, and other personal care products tested by the group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) were found to contain 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, according to a report released today.
Both of the chemicals are considered probable carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Because they are not intentionally added by manufacturers, there is no requirement that product labels list the chemicals when they are present.
There are also no federal restrictions on allowable levels of the chemicals in body care products, but several other countries do not allow the chemicals at any level.
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane from cosmetic products. And formaldehyde is not allowed in cosmetics sold in Japan and Sweden.
“Manufacturers could easily remove these toxic byproducts, but they are not required to do so under federal cosmetics safety standards,” Sonya Lunder, MPH, of CSC and the Environmental Working Group tells WebMD.
Lunder says there is no simple way for parents to tell if the baby bath products they are purchasing contain the chemical byproducts. In an earlier test, CSC found that many products labeled “natural” or “organic” contained 1,4-dioxane.
“The main thing parents can do is use fewer body care products on their children or look for those products with fewer ingredients,” she says. “Labels that say ‘gentle’ or ‘pure’ or even ‘organic’ don’t really tell you much.”
61% of Products Had Both Chemicals
The CSC had 48 baby and child personal care products tested for 1,4-dioxane, which occurs as a byproduct of a chemical process used to make petroleum-based cosmetic ingredients gentler to the skin.
The products were chosen because they contained ingredients most likely to produce the chemical.
Twenty-eight products were tested for 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, which occurs when preservatives commonly used in cosmetic products break down.
According to the report:
Seventeen out of 28 products tested (61%) were found to contain both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
Twenty-three out of 28 products (82%) contained formaldehyde, and 32 of 48 products (67%) contained 1,4-dioxane.
Baby Magic “Soft Baby Scent” Lotion contained the highest levels of formaldehyde found in the testing. Two samples of the lotion contained 570 and 610 parts per million (ppm) of the chemical. The report noted that a formaldehyde level above 500 ppm would require a warning label in Europe.
Several samples of “American Girl” shower products, sold by Bath & Body Works, contained the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane found in the test.
Best-selling products found to contain both chemical contaminants included Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Sesame Street Bubble Bath, Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash and Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash.
61% of Products Had Both Chemicals continued...
Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Wilma Bergfeld, MD, leads the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, an industry funded, government-backed panel that assesses the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics.
She tells WebMD that if the CSC report is accurate, it suggests that manufacturers are not doing a good enough job of removing 1,4-dioxane from their products.
“Dioxane should not be in any baby care or children’s cosmetic, period, because it is possible to take it out,” she says. “Formaldehyde is a different story.”
She says the formaldehyde levels cited in the report were well within what has been shown to be safe.
The review panel recommends that formaldehyde levels in personal care products should not exceed 2,000 ppm. The highest level of formaldehyde found in any single product tested by the CSC was 610 ppm.
“We know from animal and human studies that this level is safe and can be used in all ages, with the exception of people with formaldehyde sensitivities,” she says.
Baby Care Companies Respond
The Baby Magic line of bath products has been sold since the testing was done, and a spokeswoman for Naterra International Inc., the company that now markets the products, tells WebMD that the tested lotion has been reformulated.
Melanie Dean-Valdez says the product formulations tested by the CSC are no longer being sold.
In a statement issued late Wednesday by Johnson & Johnson, the company charged that the report “inaccurately characterized the safety of our products” and “unnecessarily alarms parents.”
“The trace levels of certain compounds found by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics can result from processes that make our products gentle for babies and safe from bacteria growth,” the statement notes. "The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements for every country where they are sold.”
Limited Brands, which owns Bath & Body Works, issued a statement Thursday noting that the company complies “with all applicable regulations and is committed to selling only the safest and highest-quality products.”
More Industry Response
In an interview with WebMD, a spokesman for the cosmetics industry group Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) was highly critical of the CSC report.
“I am very alarmed that they would make these accusations and not back it up with solid science,” says chemist John Bailey, PhD. “The report included no details about how this testing was done.”
Bailey noted that the levels of the two chemicals found in the CSC analysis are well below established safety limits.
In a written statement, the cosmetics industry group characterized the CSC report as “incomplete and alarmist.”
“Allegations that commonly used baby products are somehow contaminated with harmful levels of carcinogenic chemicals are patently false and a shameful and cynical attempt by an activist group to incite and prey upon parental worries and concerns in order to push a political, legislative, and legal agenda,” the statement notes.
The CSC report calls for stronger government regulation to prohibit toxic contaminants in baby and other personal care products. And it calls on the industry to reformulate their products to remove the contaminants.
Bailey tells WebMD that manufacturers do take reasonable steps to keep levels of the chemical byproducts “well below that which would be considered harmful,” but he adds that it is unrealistic to expect that they can be completely eliminated from all products.
http://children.webmd.com/news/20090312/report-toxins-common-in-baby-products
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Babies Know: A Little Dirt Is Good for You
Does your kid like to play in the dirt and then stick his grubby little fingers in his mouth? Does that send you running for the wipes? What he's doing might be just like getting a vaccination without the mercury and formaldehyde! Even I never knew that worms could be GOOD for your GI and immune system! Read on and be enlightened!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)