Are Chemicals In Your Blood?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts a large, ongoing survey that has found 148 chemicals in Americans of all ages, including lead, mercury, dioxins and PCBs. Other scientists have detected antibacterial agents from liquid soaps in breast milk, infants' cord blood and the urine of young girls.

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My Comment:

One interesting highlight from the story:

"Take bisphenol A. It's a basic constituent of the polycarbonate plastics found in many baby bottles, sippy cups and juice bottles. The CDC has found BPA in 92 percent of Americans age 6 and older who were tested. Patricia Hunt of Washington State University began studying BPA exposures in unborn rodents, which she followed into adulthood. The results were striking. Almost half the eggs of female mice exposed to low doses of BPA during gestation carried extra copies of chromosomes or were missing chromosomes. "

Two step solution to the problem:

1. We should be mindful of all the chemicals that are in our household and take steps to minimize exposure.
2. Maintain a healthy gut. Our body will be better adept at naturally eliminating some of these toxins from our body if we have a healthy gut.

Vitamin D may help fight tuberculosis, study finds

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - African immigrants with low levels of vitamin D are much more likely to be infected with tuberculosis, a finding that suggests the vitamin may help prevent and treat TB, Australian researchers said on Monday.

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My Comment:

Another reason to get your Vitamin D tested.

You should have your blood level of vitamin D monitored about once every 6 months. Ask for the 25(OH)D test, also known as the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test.

If your test shows a level lower than 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/l), you have a higher than average risk for prostate and breast cancer, as well as autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

If your test shows a level higher than 70 ng/ml (175 nmol/l), you have a high risk of suffering from kidney stones, heart disease, and bone loss. Please know that while having too little vitamin D in your blood is a huge problem, having too much vitamin D in your blood can cause equally dangerous health problems.

A healthy range for the vast majority of people is between 35-50 ng/ml (87.5-125 nmol/l).

Black Death did not kill indiscriminately, experts say

The Black Death that decimated populations in Europe and elsewhere during the middle of the 14th century may not have been a blindly indiscriminate killer, as some experts have believed.

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My Comment:

Here's the key part of the story...

"DeWitte analyzed skeletons unearthed from the East Smithfield cemetery in London, dug especially for plague victims and excavated in the 1980s, for bone and teeth abnormalities that would show that people had health problems before they died of plague.

She found such abnormalities in many skeletons, suggesting these people had experienced malnutrition, iron deficiencies and infections well before succumbing to the Black Death."

This is the same with most "deadly" diseases like the flu and many of the other diseases that the medical community likes to scare us into getting vaccinations for. In general, if you are healthy and are not depleted in any nutrients, like Vitamin D, and you have a healthy gut (plenty of good bacteria), your body is quite capable of fighting off "deadly" diseases.

Tests find hazardous levels of mercury in tuna sushi

Recent laboratory tests performed for The New York Times found so much mercury in tuna sushi that a regular diet of even two or three pieces a week at some restaurants could be a health hazard for the average adult, based on guidelines set out by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Eight of the 44 pieces of sushi The Times purchased from local restaurants and stores in October had mercury levels so high that the Food and Drug Administration could take legal action to remove the fish from the market.

Although all the samples were gathered in New York City, experts believe similar results would be observed elsewhere. "Mercury levels in bluefin are likely to be very high, regardless of location," said Tim Fitzgerald, a marine scientist for Environmental Defense, an advocacy group that works to protect the environment and improve human health. Most of the stores and restaurants in the survey said the tuna The Times had sampled was bluefin.

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My Comment:

Here are the important highlights of the article:

• The city has warned children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding not to eat any fresh tuna or Chilean sea bass or several other fish it describes as "too high in mercury."
• Studies have found high blood mercury levels among people eating a diet rich in seafood.
• Some environmental groups have already sounded the alarm. Environmental Defense, the advocacy group, says no one should eat bluefin tuna.

Saltwater Showing Remarkable Uses in Curing Kids Colds

For parents worried about how to treat children's colds now that some medicines have been called into question, the answer may be a dose of salt water.

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My Comment:

We've had great results using a Nettie Pot. You mix up some warm water and sea salt, and then pour it into one nostril and it goes out the other nostril (leaning over the sink). It works wonders!

Here's a link to the specific one that we use:
SinuCleanse Nasal Wash System, Unbreakable Neti Pot With Salt Packets

FDA: Cold Medicines Too Risky for Toddlers

The FDA will declare Thursday Parents should not give sniffling babies and toddlers over-the-counter cough and cold medicines -- they're too risky for children under 2. They also question of children under 6 are too young for over the counter cold medicine.

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My Comment:

Highlights from the article:

For now, FDA's first official ruling focuses on youngsters under 2, warning that "serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur."

FDA is worried that parents haven't gotten that message despite all the publicity last fall. They may still have infant-targeted drugs at home, or they may buy drugs meant for older children to give to tots instead, said Dr. Charles Ganley, FDA's nonprescription drugs chief.

Girls age three hitting puberty

Shocked doctors blame hormones in food and water for some British toddlers showing signs of breast growth.

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My Comment:

I am not sure what is causing this.

However, it wouldn't surprise me if it was...

• Due to the hormones that are pumped into animals that we eat.
• Due to hormones entering into our water supply
• Soy formula and soy milk... as they are loaded with phytoestrogens

Poor kids.

Are You Eating Rotten Meat?

Another reason to buy grass fed beef that is raised locally and butchered locally.

70% of ALL Beef and Chicken has been treated with Carbon Monoxide Gas. It makes meat look good even though it may have spoiled. The practice of treating meat with carbon monoxide gas could hide the growth of pathogens such as Clostridium Botulinum, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7.

Watch Video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVTUIld-pRw

Greenwich, Conn. School Bans Desserts

More and more children are now facing obesity and Type-2 diabetes, so how do we get our kids to eat healthy, especially when they're not at home? As CBS 2 HD recently found out, there's a school in Greenwich that's trying to change the trend by banning certain food.

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My Comment:

While I agree that children should avoid junk food and that if they eat healthy they'll be better off in school. Schools should make it a priority to create an environment that fosters optimal learning. Food can definitely play a role in creating an optimal environment.

However, everyone has a different idea on what is "junk food" and everyone has a different idea on what is "healthy food".

I don't know if the school is actually "banning" desserts, I think they are no longer offering them as an item they carry in the cafeteria. I'm guessing kids can still bring Twinkies to school. (and the entrepreneurial kids will bring extra Twinkies to sell to their classmates)

Here's a great story on one of my "health food heroes"...
In 1976, biochemist Paul Stitt started Natural Ovens Bakery, which now bakes 40,000 loaves of nutrient-packed whole grain bread a day. He bravely disputed the common practice of making foods that people can't stop eating just to stay in business. "Nutrients have everything to do with brain functioning. The brain works beautifully when enough nutrients flow," says Paul. Paul's wife, formerly a corrections officer, started a program to modify criminal behavior through diet. Nearly 84 percent of those in the program stayed out of trouble. Natural Ovens also developed a wellness and nutrition lunch program with no chemical additives, and lots of fruits and vegetables. The school had a whopping five-year success with no drop-outs, drug or behavior problems.

For more information and to view a great video:
http://healthcorner.walgreens.com/display/558.htm

Stop giving antibiotics for colds and coughs, doctors told!

Doctors are to be told to stop prescribing antibiotics for coughs, colds and sore throats because over-use of the drugs is fuelling the spread of killer hospital superbugs.

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My Comment:

I thought they've been telling doctors to stop prescribing too many antibiotics for years. I guess it takes awhile for change to occur. Maybe stories like this will at least help parents make intelligent decisions.

Enjoy the sun on doctor's orders

For optimum health, get as much sun as you can. (without getting burned).

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Bad foods that are actually great for your waist

If you've been avoiding burgers, ice cream, and pizza thinking you're doing your waistline a favor, don't. They can actually help you lose weight -- and keep it off, too. Here are the hidden slim-down perks of five foods that get a bad rap and the best way to add each one back into your diet.

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My Comment:

I'm glad there is some reporting out there that indicates the fact that eating fat and protein can help people lose weight and that eating a high carb diet (low fat) may cause people to gain weight.

I don't agree 100% with some of the details of the story.

It indicates that people should eat lean cuts of beef. I wouldn't worry too much about the fat in beef - it's going to help stabilize your blood sugar. Ideally, you should be eating grass-fed beef. Grass -fed beef will naturally be lower in fat and it will contain CLA (a natural fat burning substance).

The story says:
"make an omelet or veggie frittata with two to three egg whites to every one yolk to keep the calories low"

I say:
"make an omelet or veggie frittata with two to three egg yolks to every one white to keep the fat high"

Here's how I make scrambled eggs for 3 people:
0. Wash eggs (to reduce salmonella risk)
1. In a bowl, crack one whole egg.
2. Add a splash of water
3. Add 4 yolks
4. Mix well with sea salt and pepper
5. Add 3 whole eggs.
6. Gently mix
7. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat
8. Pour in eggs
9. Reduce heat to medium-low
10. Stir frequently
11. Remove when eggs are about 80% done - the will finish cooking on your plate

Overcooking eggs will make them difficult to digest.

Undercooking is best. Just make sure you get them from a trusted source.