- DEAR FRIEND,
- The next time you are at the
grocery store look around at what people are loading into their carts. What a sad
picture it presents. A typical example is a mother I saw with one child in the cart
and one in arms. Her groceries consisted of canned baby formula, white bread, hydrogenated
peanut butter, processed hydrogenated cheese spread, several six packs of sodas, TV
dinners, canned vegetables, several bags of hydrogenated corn and potato snacks, hot dogs
and white buns, marshmallows, instant cocoa drink, Kool-Aid, boxed cake... not one food
recognizable as coming from nature. No fresh vegetables. No fresh
fruits. No fresh meats.
- This is not an exception.
It is enough to make one wonder whether there is any hope. These same people are
fighting weight problems, are wondering why they are short of breath and have this nagging
pain in their chest, have to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes in order to stimulate a
bowel movement, can no longer perform activities due to the pain in their joints, are
impotent, aging prematurely, spend more money on doctoring than they do on groceries, and
make discussion of their aches and pains their social entertainment.
- If asked why they don’t
make more healthy food choices, they argue they can’t afford it. 'Scuze me, but
what a crock. Healthy foods are too expensive, but $50,000 for bypass surgeries or
tens of thousands for joint replacements or $100,000 for cancer treatment is affordable?
- If ever we need to engage our
intelligence it is when we make food selections. Instead we send our brain on
vacation and let food industry experts fill our head. Through the millennia, the
creative pursuit of food is, in fact, likely the principle reason we have developed the
intelligence we have. Now, instead of using our brain to seek healthful foods and
avoid dangerous ones, we engage it only in our specialized areas of work, then use the
money earned to buy whatever the food industry panders.
- In our modern synthetic plastic
environment, all cocooned from nature, we think we have escaped the jungle and its
hardships and dangers. But, all we have really done is change the scenery. Our
safety in the swaddling arms of modern technology and experts is an illusion.
- We need to use foresight and
judgement to protect ourselves and our families from the very real commercial monsters
lurking in the shadows at the grocery store. Perhaps our enemy is not now furry with
large canines, but it is every bit as dangerous, and even more cunning and
devious—having even the ability to attack us and make us enjoy it—only to create
the lethal consequences 20 years or so later in our lives. Think about this the next
time you let food fabricators make your taste buds do cartwheels with their latest
melt-in-your-mouth pseudofood. Food selection is where some real brain power
should be used.
- Incidentally, men, don’t
assume that food shopping is just the woman’s responsibility. In primitive
societies men were the primary hunters and food gatherers and protectors of the family.
If you are simply sending money to the grocery store, you are not doing your job.
- Make grocery cart filling a
challenge. See how much you can make it look like you just harvested crops from a
farmer's field. As for cost, figure that replacing cans, boxes or bags of chemical
potpourri pseudofoods with real fresh food will save you thousands in eventual medical
bills, prevent immeasurable suffering and misery and extend vital, full, active life.
- Happy Hunting!
-
- Your home may have asbestos
coming from the insulation in your walls, radon leaking up from the basement, and
synthetic chemicals wafting toward you from your carpets, paints, furniture... it’s
enough to make you want to run outside for a gulp of fresh air. And that’s of
course exactly what you should do—or, as we’ve mentioned before in the Health Letter, at the very least be sure
ventilation in your home is plentiful even in the coldest months.
- Also, be sure that one of your
most intimate environments within the home, your bed, is as clean and natural as
possible. Sheets, pillows, and comforters made of organic (no dyes or pesticides) or
minimally treated cottons are available now from several mail order houses. If you
spend eight hours in bed, doing relaxed deep breathing, make sure you’re breathing
and swaddling yourself in the purest possible surroundings. (Resource A)
- Replacing potentially toxic
home products can be expensive, so it only makes sense to redesign the areas of the home
where you spend the most time first, then gradually replace and update to more ecological
and healthy home products as you can afford it. We’ve talked before about
replacing light bulbs to full-spectrum healthier bulbs—beginning in the areas of the
home where you spend the most time, then gradually working throughout the home.
(Resource B) The same can be true for replacing carpets (best to replace with hard
surfaces), furniture, paints, and so forth.
- Home construction itself can be
healthier. If you are thinking of building or adding on to your home, there are some
significant new healthy and environmental options out there—with more being added all
the time. The healthy ecological home is the latest in the residential building
industry, and it’s a welcome trend. (Resource C)
- A builder in Vermont can build
a passive solar house with all walls ventilated—a house that "breathes" for
people who are extremely sensitive to environmental toxins. This builder also may
be an excellent source of information about common household toxins, in case you suspect
you may be affected by something in your home, but want to learn more. (Resource D)
- Another builder, Michael Sykes,
has patented a building system which relies on a double shell—extremely sturdy
design—and with proper location and advantageous placement on your land can save 90
percent on heating and cooling. This Enertia design (discussed in Vol. 7 No. 12) can
be purchased in pre-engineered and pre-cut kits. (Resource E)
- In Missoula, Montana, a
recently finished 2,400-square-foot demo home boasts products made from recycled
materials, such as carpeting made from recycled plastic pop bottles and recycled paint, as
well as floor tiles made from auto windshield glass. Not necessarily non-toxic,
these "ReCraft 90" homes are certainly Earth-friendly. (Resource F)
- Earthships are homes built by
Mike Reynolds which use tires filled with dirt for the walls, plus aluminum cans—a
passive solar design. Mr. Reynolds is still building and may have ideas you could
incorporate into your living space, even if all you need is a back-yard shed.
(Resource G)
- Eco-Home Network wants to
coordinate ecological home projects which are being tried or successfully used around the
country, to be sure that each one serves as a model for the others to follow so planners
and builders can all learn from each other. (Resource H)
- As long as consumers continue
to buy homes with construction wood treated with chemical preservatives, poisonous
insulation, synthetic and toxic materials throughout, and no solar or environmental
features—that’s what the builders will build. If we want something better
we must ask for it—and the building industry will be forced to respond to the
consumer demand.
- Reference:
- A)
For information on
cotton goods for home and bath contact the following mail order houses: Garnet Hill, 262
Main Street, Franconia, NH 03580;
- Vermont
Country Store’s catalog Voice of the Mountains, P.O. Box 3000, Manchester Ctr.,
VT 05255-3000;
-
Ecosport, 28 James Street, South Hackensack, NJ 07606;
- Organic
Cottons, 104 Clearfield Lane 1C, Gatesville, PA 19320. Ecosport and Organic Cottons
both offer organic cotton fabric by the roll.
- B)
Full-spectrum light
bulbs: (see Healthy Alternative Store * above).
- C)
Contact the following
building material resources for information: Rocky Mountain Institute, 1-303-927-3851; Real
Goods,1-800-762-7325; Sunelco, Inc., 1-406-363-6924; Solar Components Corp.,
1-603-668-8186.
- D)
Steve VanDusen, RR1,
Box 2076, Huntington, VT 05462.
- E)
Enertia Building
Systems, Inc., Rt. 1, Box 67, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
- F)
The Center For
Resourceful Building Technology, P.O. Box 3866, Missoula, MT 59806.
- G)
Solar
Survival-Architecture, P.O. Box 1041, Taos, NM 87571.
- H)
Eco-Home Network, 4344
Russell Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
-
- SICK BUILDINGS
- According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, up to 30% of new or remodeled buildings trigger illness in some of
their occupants. Individuals can exhibit any of a range of symptoms including
headaches, respiratory irritation, asthma or flu-like symptoms, chest tightness and
fatigue.
- Toxins that emanate from within
buildings are being gassed off from building materials and circulated through ventilating
systems. These hazards are of increasing concern, particularly as we tighten
buildings to increase energy efficiency.
- Be sure your home and work
places are adequately ventilated with outside air. This can mean windows cracked and
outside air ducted into the ventilation system to permit an appropriate number of air
exchange locations.
- If you find yourself
chronically sick or not responding positively to dietary and lifestyle improvements, give
consideration to the microenvironment of your home and workplace as a possible cause of
your problem. (Resource I)
- Reference:
- I)
The Environmental
Protection Agency: 1-202-382-4700.
- Science
News, March 27, 1993: 198
-
- DANGERS OF MEASLES VACCINES
- Vaccines can contain either
living or dead organisms, or biochemicals derived from them. The living vaccines
(modified live) have altered the disease agents so they supposedly will not cause the
disease. (Although this is not always true, since for example the modified live
polio vaccine has actually caused polio).
- When injected, or consumed
orally, this modified or dead disease material theoretically causes our body to form an
immunity to it like it would the real disease. This immunity consists of our immune
cells, such as T and B lymphocytes, learning how to directly attack the organisms or
learning how to secrete antibodies which are biochemicals that can neutralize the
disease-causing organism or toxins.
- In theory it seems extremely
rational. From a business standpoint it has been a multi-billion dollar ongoing
payday for pharmaceutical companies. Whether vaccinations have ever (or are even
capable of) eradicating disease, is highly suspect, however. (Resource J)
- It is just not as simple as it
seems. Disease-associated microorganisms and our immune system are far more complex
than we can even imagine. When we vaccinate an individual, or huge populations, it
is an experiment. We don’t know what we are doing because we simply cannot even
begin to grasp what it is that is biologically being done.
- A case in point. Prior to
the measles vaccine, many children contracted measles and simply got over it. When they
did, they had lifelong immunity to it. Earlier in life, since their mothers had
likely been exposed to, or actually contracted measles themselves, the immunity from the
mother was passed to the infant through the uterus and through the colostrum in milk,
conferring what is known as passive immunity. In effect, the maternal antibodies to
the organism simply pass to the infant to protect them without the infant actively
developing any immunity themselves. By about the age of 15 months this passive
immunity is by and large worn off and the infant, if exposed, develops a natural immunity
to the disease. If they get the disease they develop a lifelong immunity and then
pass the immunity to their young as well... and the cycle continues.
- In older children measles is
not usually a serious disease. But in children under the age of one year it can be
more serious leading to diarrhea, pneumonia, ear and throat infections and
encephalitis. The rate of infection in children under one year has changed from 3%
in 1976 to 28% just in the first half of 1993.
- The reason for this is
interesting. The introduction of the measles vaccine has resulted in an increasing
percentage of mothers who do not pass the strong passive immunity to measles on to their
children. You see, natural infection to measles creates an immunity that can be
passed to offspring, whereas the vaccines do not. As a result, infants get no
passive immunity from the mother and thus can become diseased prior to the time that their
immune system is capable of developing their own natural immunity. The result is
that infants who should be protected by their mother are instead left vulnerable to a
disease that is even life threatening if it strikes them before the age of one year.
- The solution, epidemiologists
feel, is to vaccinate children at an even younger age. But this is not as simple as
it seems. Since it is not known whether the mother has natural antibodies to the
disease, if the child is vaccinated, the vaccine can be neutralized by the natural
antibodies the child may have received from the mother. Also, when children are
vaccinated at earlier ages, there is less chance of the vaccine creating immunity since
the immune system of the infant is less capable of developing its own active immunity.
- This is an incredible entirely
man-made problem that will only be worsened by the proposed solution of more vaccination
at earlier ages. If we really don’t know what we are doing, and it doesn’t
work, should we do more of it?
- Epidemiologists look at
infectious disease as something they can eradicate. I have serious doubts about
their capabilities. When we cannot do something like eradicate a mosquito that
causes malaria, and a mosquito is to a microbe as a concord jet is to an ant, how can we
expect to eradicate infinitesimally small and ubiquitous microorganisms? It is
quixotic, ridiculous and egotistical in the extreme. We do not command our
environment. We cannot force it into submission. We are simply diminutive
parts of a complex web of life.
- Our only hope for disease
eradication will be first of all to understand that we cause disease by creating the
fertile soil within our body and our environment for its emergence. When this is
understood, and we do all that we can to preserve and protect our natural, health-giving
genetic context, then we will resist disease and enjoy the full health and vitality that
life is meant to give us.
- Reference:
- J)
Vaccination and
Immunology section in the Wysong Library catalog: 1880 North Eastman Road, Midland,
MI 48640, 1-800-748-0188.
-
Townsend Letter, May 1993: 526-
-
- WAS MEASLES VANQUISHED BY THE VACCINE?
- It is commonly believed that
the measles vaccine, as well as vaccines for other infectious diseases, are responsible
for the historical decline in mortality from these diseases.
- The following graph is commonly
presented to show the decline in measles cases by year corresponding to the introduction
of the measles vaccine. On the surface this is impressive and convincing. It
seems that the measles vaccine was remarkably successful.
- I was curious (and a little bit
suspicious) about what the mortality for measles was prior to 1960. We wrote to the
Centers For Disease Control and asked them for measles data back as far as they had it
available. We then plotted the death rate per 100,000 and the death-to-cases ratio
on a graph. These graphs follow.
- I have also noted on the graphs
the date of the introduction of the measles vaccine. Now, looking at these graphs
and the bigger picture, are you still convinced that the measles vaccine is responsible
for the demise of measles?
- The dip that coincides with the
introduction of the measles vaccine in the first graph is commonly used in medical
literature to support the use of the measles vaccine. It is nothing more than a
mere blip in an already declined disease.
- Isn’t it wonderful what
can be done with numbers, and showing only part of the picture?
- We should all be highly
skeptical about the wisdom of the current push within government to enforce mass
immunizations.
-
- BABY FEVER
- Welcome it or fight it. A high
fever in a young baby can be very alarming to parents. It is a cause for concern
because something is indeed wrong. A young infant seems, and is, quite vulnerable.
It is a time when parents are desperate for an expert somewhere to make everything all
better.
- What is lost sight of is that
fever is a manifestation of disease resistance, and not disease in itself. Many
microorganisms which can cause infections are incapable of surviving or multiplying when
the body's temperature reaches a certain threshold. The body has the ability to
react to microorganisms by raising its temperature for the purpose specifically of
limiting the infection. Thus, fever is antimicrobial. It is a natural
protective immunological mechanism. It is therefore argued that fever itself is not
something to be feared and suppressed with temperature-lowering drugs, but rather the
welcome sign of an active immune system.
- It is one thing to understand
this, however, it is another to watch the mercury in the thermometer push toward the
top.
- In some institutions, all
infants younger than two months who have fevers are hospitalized. But now, even
conventional thinkers are taking a relook at fever in infants. In a controlled study
of 747 infants who had temperatures of at least 101°, it was found that less than 15% of
these had what would be considered to be a serious bacterial illness. As a result,
it is being suggested that in young infants with unremarkable examinations, that they be
safely cared for on an out-patient basis at home without the use of antibiotics.
This study was undertaken to determine if decreased medical expenditure could result from
limiting the hospitalization of infants who really did not need it. (Note that the
concern is financial, not the health of the patients.)
- But even these results are
exaggerated according to holistically-oriented physicians. They suggest that the
choice that the parent has to make is whether they trust the human body and its natural
reaction to infection—fever—or they trust modern technological medicine with its
laboratory tests, institutional care, fever-fighting drugs, and antibiotics. These
are of course hard decisions when they are being made for your own children.
Education, however, not surrender to experts, is the best course.
- Reference:
- New
England Journal of Medicine, November 11, 1993: 1437
-
- NAPPING FOR ENERGY
- President Kennedy, Winston
Churchill, Einstein, Napoleon and Thomas Edison were all nappers. If they felt the
urge to nap they did it because it sharpened their minds and invigorated them for the rest
of the day.
- Between 1:00 and 4:00 in the
afternoon our body's biological clock slows down, sometimes creating an overpowering urge
to nap. Some societies, rather than fight it, have adapted a mid-afternoon nap as a
part of custom. Examples include the Mexican siesta and the Greek custom of closing
businesses between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m.
- Usually, if you don’t
overdo it by sleeping more than about a half hour, a mid-afternoon nap will not affect
night sleeping. If you can’t sleep in the afternoon, just simply recline, close
your eyes and relax for even 15 to 20 minutes. This simple act can dramatically
energize you for the rest of your day’s activities. You will find that even if
you are able to sleep for just a few minutes during this period of time, that after the
period of recovery of approximately one hour after the nap, you will be incredibly
energized and ready for physical and mental activity.
- Some people have utilized this
ability of the body to be dramatically invigorated with even short naps to virtually
eliminate long sleeping periods completely. They simply take naps when they are
tired and try to keep them brief and fill their days and nights with activity.
- Listen to your body's
rhythms. Take brief naps when your body urges you to do so, and notice how much
energy it will add to your life.
-
- HELPING KIDS BE ENVIRONMENTALISTS
- Hundreds of environmental
groups, teaching programs and magazines exclusively for children have emerged to increase
environmental awareness. If we make our kids environmentally sensitive, helping them
to understand they live in a finite world that demands actions now to create a future for
them and their children, great good can be accomplished. To help your child become
involved in environmental activities see resource K for a partial listing of several
organizations in which your child can participate.
- Reference:
- K)
Environmental action
groups exclusively for youth: Concern About Kids' Environment (CAKE), 29 Pine
Street, Freeport, ME 04032, 1-207-865-6263;
-
Children's Alliance for Protection of the Environment, P.O. Box 307, Austin, TX 78767,
1-512-476-2273;
- Earth
Force, 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 420, Washington, DC 20036, 1-202-667-2200;
- 4-H
Environmental Stewardship Program, National 4-H Council, 7100 Connecticut Avenue,
Chevy Chase, MD 20815;
- Kids
for Saving Earth (KSE), P.O. Box 47247, Plymouth, MN 55447, 1-612-525-0002;
- The
Natural Guard, 142 Howard Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519, 1-203-787-0229;
- Save
the Rainforest, 604 Jamie Street,, Dodgeville, WI 53533, 1-608-935-9435;
- Earth
Kids Organization (EKO), P.O. Box 3847, Salem, OR 97302, 1-503-363-1896;
- Kids
for a Clean Environment (Kids FACE), P.O. Box 158254, Nashville, TN 37215, 1-800-952-FACE;
- Tree
Musketeers, 233 Main Street, El Segundo, CA 90245, 1-800-473-0263.
-
- FINANCIAL HEALTH
- If you couple our national debt
with the current artificial prosperity of the stock market, created by individuals who are
simply investing in it because they don’t want to resign themselves to 2 or 3%
interest on CD's, with the political turmoil that exists world wide, economic stability
seems very uncertain. Some economists are suggesting that we are in for the largest
stock market crash that this country has ever experienced. Others are telling
investors to move their savings abroad into the emerging markets in the Pacific rim, South
America, Australia and elsewhere outside of the U.S. (See Health Letter Vol. 7 No. 8; 7, 11)
- If economic crisis does occur,
the value of the U.S. dollar and of bond and stock investments will certainly
dwindle. It is for this reason that many are saying that now is one of the most
opportune times in history to own some gold or silver.
- Both of these metals are
selling quite low. Some project gold, for example, which is now under $400 to reach
as high as $2000 an ounce within the next few years. Silver is at a 45-year low and
is predicted to double or triple in price. Whether this will actually happen or not
is speculation. But one thing is certain: when there is uncertainty, when paper
money declines, the price of these metals has always increased.
- Some precious metal companies
suggest purchasing gold stocks, some recommend numismatic (collector type) coins, and
still others that you take possession yourself of bullion or circulated gold and silver
coins.
- The names listed in resource L
will provide you the opportunity to speak to some qualified counselors on gold and silver
purchases. Also talk to local coin dealers. Before making any purchases it
would be best to talk to them all. After you talk to one, talk to the other asking
him or her what they think of the previous person’s recommendations which were given
to you. When you are done you will be able to make your best decision in terms of
making a purchase or perhaps not to make purchases at all.
- Having some silver coins or
gold coins in your possession, however, is probably a smart emergency measure.
Many financial advisors in fact suggest having at least 5 to 10% of the total amount of
money you have available to invest, invested in gold and silver.
- Reference:
- L)
Precious metal brokers
and dealers:
- Coin
and Bullion Reserves, 1-904-785-9546;
- Ron
Paul Precious Metals, 1-800-982-7070;
-
Blanchard Precious Metals, 1-800-880-4653;
-
Jefferson Coin and Bullion, 1-800-593-2585;
-
Investment Rarities, 1-800-328-1860.
-
- OXYGEN IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT
- In Vol. 7, No. 10 we talked
about the dwindling levels of oxygen in our environment and the consequences on
health. Recent studies have shown that the digestive
tract is one of the most sensitive tissues to deprivation of oxygen. With low levels
of oxygen, the gastrointestinal tract dysfunctions in various ways and permits the
proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and their translocation from the lumen (opening) of
the digestive tract into the body tissues, setting the stage for multiple organ failure
and disease states.
- Coal miners used to take
canaries with them into the mines because the canaries were very sensitive to carbon
monoxide. As long as the canaries did well, the coal miners
stayed. When the canaries died, the miners knew to get out. Similarly,
gastrointestinal problems may be initiated or exacerbated by low oxygen levels. This
should be an indication to us that something is wrong and it is time to make appropriate
changes. Review the Health Letter, Vol. 7,
No. 10 for recommendations on increasing oxygenation of your body.
- Reference:
- Journal
of Physiology, 1978, Vol. 234: E248;
- Journal
of The American Medical Association, September 8, 1993: 1247
-
- VACCINE-ASSOCIATED POLIOMYELITIS
- "Approximately eight
people acquire poliomyelitis in the United States each year; virtually all these cases are
vaccine related."
- Reference:
- New
England Journal of Medicine, September 9, 1993: 810
-
- INHALED STEROIDS AND CATARACTS
- Cortico steroids such as
Dexamethasone and Beclomethasone are potent steroids used both orally and in inhaled forms
particularly by asthmatics. These steroids (not the same as steroids used by
body builders) are metabolized (used by the body) by different individuals at different
rates.
- Inhaled steroids have been
associated with subcapsular lens damage leading to cataracts. Those individuals who
metabolize the steroids slowly are at greatest risk and damage has been reported in as
little as three years after inhaled steroid use, but may appear even later in life.
- Steroids can give dramatic
relief in allergic and asthmatic conditions but are a simplistic, silver-bullet,
short-sighted solution to a complex metabolic disorder. For ideas on how to build
the strength and health of the immune system and overcome allergies naturally, see
previous issues of the Health Letter.
(Vol. 6, No. 10; 6, 12; 7, 1)
- Reference:
- The
Lancet, November 20, 1993: 1507
-
- VITAMINS IN THE ELDERLY
- With age the efficiency of
digestive mechanisms decreases. Additionally, as life becomes more sedentary, less
food is eaten and thus fewer nutrients are available. Coupled with this, the modern
predominance of processed, fractionated, nutrient-stripped and embalmed, packaged food
products sets the stage for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, particularly in the
elderly. Now, recent studies have even shown that the RDAs are too low for vitamins
such as Vitamin D, riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 in the elderly.
- Everyone is aware to the
nutritional needs of youth. For young, growing bodies it is obvious that they need
lots of good nutrition. It is interesting that the demands of youth are similar to
the demands of old age, but for different reasons. In youth many nutrients are
needed because the body is doing more. In old age more nutrients are needed because
the body is doing less. As the years advance, be sure to pay special attention to
wholesome nutrition, emphasizing fresh whole natural foods and supplements designed as
natural as possible to supply a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals. (Resource
M)
- Reference:
-
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July
1993: 4
- M)
RDA™ - A
broad-spectrum multi-vitamin/mineral; Food A•C•E™ - A food-derived vitamin
A, C and E supplement with no synthetics (Contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188).
-
- THINNING THE BLOOD WITH FISH OIL
- As described in my book Lipid Nutrition, Understanding Fats and Oils in Health
and Disease, omega 3 fatty acids as found in fish oils have a beneficial effect on
blood vessels and are effective in helping to prevent heart disease. Heart disease
mortality, for example, has been reduced by 29% over a two-year period in heart attack
survivors who increased their intake of fish.
- A new study has shown that fish
oils have the ability to break up the large lipid carrying particles in the blood.
Chylomicrons and VLDLs are large lipid carrying particles that are reduced in
concentration in the blood if omega 3 rich fish or fish oil capsules are consumed.
As described in a past Health Letter (Vol. 7,
No. 4), after a high-fat meal the blood will tend to sludge, increasing the chance for
atherosclerosis to develop and tissues to become nutrient and oxygen starved. The
omega 3 fish oil factor is believed to help prevent this postprandial (after dinner)
sludging effect.
- Reference:
-
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July
1993: 68-
-
- ENDOMETRIOSIS AND DIOXIN
- Endometriosis is a condition in
which the endometrial cells (cells from the tissues lining the uterus) grow outside of the
uterus forming nodules in the fallopian tubes and ovaries. It affects about 10% of
women and can cause reproductive dysfunction. A new study has provided evidence that
dioxins, if they reach sufficient level in human fat tissue, can cause suppression of the
immune system and aberrant growth of endometrial cells outside of the uterus.
- Yet another reason to maintain
healthy body weight, and thus decrease the fat within which dioxins can accumulate, and to
increasingly clean our personal environment and use organic foods.
- Reference:
-
Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, November
1993
-
- VITAMIN C AND DIABETES
- Both glucose and vitamin C are
transported by a common mechanism into blood cells. In diabetes, if blood sugar
levels are high, the transport bridges into the cells can be flooded by glucose, thus
crowding out vitamin C. As a consequence, cells can become starved of vitamin C.
- The solution is to control
diabetes. For natural approaches to diabetes control see resource N.
Additionally, consume high levels of vitamin C foods and concentrated food source vitamin
C supplements (Resource O) to help compete against glucose for transport into cells.
- Reference:
- N)
Diabetes section in the
Wysong Library catalog: 1880 North Eastman Road, Midland, MI 48640,
1-800-748-0188.
- O)
Food
C™ - A food-source vitamin C supplement with no synthetics (Contact the Healthy
Alternatives Store at 1-800-748-0188).
- C and
Diabetes - Nutrition Research, Volume 12, Number 6, June 1992: 713-720
-
- FRUIT AND CANCER
- The National Research Council
has recommended that people consume five servings of fruit per day as protection against
cancer. Unfortunately, less than 10% of the U.S. population consumes fruits and
vegetables daily.
- The evidence is very strong
that by increasing fresh fruits, cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity, esophagus,
pancreas, stomach, colon, rectum, bladder, cervix, ovary, endometrium, breast and prostate
are all protected against. Fruit is one of nature’s most perfect foods.
By eating fruit not only is the plant not destroyed, but in a natural setting the plant is
propagated by passing the seeds in the stool. But most importantly, fruit can be
eaten as is from the vine without any processing whatsoever.
So eat lots of fruit, try to find organic local sources and give
your body what it was designed to have.
- Reference:
-
Nutrition And Cancer 1992, Volume 18, Number 1:
18-
-
- MATERNAL DEATH BY TRAUMA
- When we think of maternal
death, we normally think of complications of delivery.
- Surprisingly, as the Journal of Trauma has reported, the number one
cause of death is trauma. 46.3% of maternal deaths were attributed to trauma
including homicide and suicide. Complications of pregnancy accounted for 18.9% of
deaths and disease exacerbated by pregnancy accounted for 12.6% of the deaths.
- The traumatic injuries included
gun shot wounds, motor vehicle crashes, stab wounds, strangulation, blunt head injuries,
burns, falls, toxic exposure, drowning, and iatrogenic (doctor induced) injuries.
- Reference:
- Journal
of Trauma 1992, 32: 643-
-
- COFFEE AND BLADDER CANCER
- The prevalence of bladder
cancer is higher among coffee drinkers than non-drinkers. Coffee contains a wide
range of natural and sometimes synthetic chemicals. Subjecting the body to constant
exposure to any chemical matrix such as coffee is sure to create dangers. The
spice of life is variety. Coffee is harmless if consumed occasionally.
However, if it is consumed the first thing in the morning and throughout the day, every
day, day in and day out for decades, the body's detoxification mechanisms may be
exhausted, predisposing tissues to various diseases, including cancer.
- Reference:
-
European Journal of Cancer 288A (8/9), 1992,:
1480
-
- CHICKEN CARTILAGE FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
- A placebo-controlled study
involving 59 patients showed a statistically significant improvement in patients who took
an oral type II collagen made from lyophilized chicken sternum cartilage. No side
effects were seen.
- Reference:
- Science
1993, 261: 1727
-
- DRY EYES AND COMPUTER TERMINALS
- Many individuals report eye
fatigue after prolonged work at video display terminals. This is due in part to
drying of the ocular (eye) surface.
- The eyes are normally covered
with a lipid, aqueous, and mucin layer spread by blinking. Individuals staring at
video terminals decrease blinking and thus the rate of evaporation of this protective tear
film is increased. In severe cases, artificial tears and special spectacles may
help. Otherwise, simply moving the screen to a lower level and tilting the screen
upwards so that the eyes are partially closed when viewing the screen will help protect
the tear film on the eyes. Also, being aware that the problem can occur should
prompt you to be sure to blink frequently while working at these terminals.
- Reference:
- The New
England Journal of Medicine, February 25, 1993: 585-;
- The
American Journal of Opthamology, 1989, Vol. 108: 92
-
- PROGESTERONE AND OSTEOPOROSIS
- Osteoblasts, the cells within
bone responsible for the new formation of bone, have receptors on them that are sensitive
to progesterone, a female hormone. Progesterone can therefore act as a bone trophic
(growth hormone). Progesterone is available as an extract from the Mexican yam and
can be applied topically to the skin to assist in the prevention of osteoporosis as well
as the regulation of aging female hormones. (Resource P)
- Reference:
- P)
Es-Gen™ Body Cream
from Professional & Technical Services, 5200 SW Macadaman Ave., Suite 420, Portland,
OR 97201, 1-800-648-8211.
-
- VIGOROUS EXERCISE AND HEART ATTACKS
- 9,376 middle aged women were
followed for nine years to determine whether their level of exercise affected heart
disease. Participants were divided into categories based on
exercise intensity. The most intense group exercised at least two times a week with
high-intensity sports such as fast walking or cycling. The less vigorous groups had
activity from one time per week of vigorous activity of at least one-half hour, to
one to three half-hour events per month, to no vigorous activity at all.
- Only those in the most vigorous
exercise program had significantly less death from heart disease as well as from other
causes. It is interesting that this protective effect was independent even of other
risk factors including smoking, hypertension and body weight.
- This supports our Health Letter model that one half-hour of vigorous
exercise two to three times per week, combining both aerobic and weight training, is very
important. The exercise should be challenging and of increasing intensity.
Exercise, if you wish it to benefit you, is not something to approach with the same
pampering as we do the rest of our convenience and ease-oriented, coddled life.
- Is a half-hour of vigorous
training two to three times per week really that heavy a price to pay to extend life,
maintain youth, increase strength, elevate mood, keep an attractive appearance and avoid
crippling, degenerative diseases?
- Resolve to begin this week with
a regular exercise program consisting of three one-half hour sessions of aerobic and
resistance exercises per week.
- Reference:
- The
British Heart Journal 1990, Vol. 63, No. 6: 325
-
- WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION STATS
- The World Health Organization
ranked the U.S. as the #1 healthiest nation in 1900. Now it is 93rd.
-
- VITAMIN E AND BETA-CAROTENE AGAIN
- This time a study of 1410
people, of whom 683 already had heart attacks, demonstrated the value of high beta
carotene (pro-vitamin A) and vitamin E in protecting against heart disease. Eat your
carrots, green leafies, whole grains, and take a concentrated food source vitamin A, C,
and E supplement. (Resource M)
- Reference:
- Lancet,
December 4, 1993: 1379
-
- CENTENARIAN CHARACTERISTICS
- As a group, the very elderly
seem to have a strong attachment to freedom and independence. They are optimistic,
tend not to worry, are emotionally stable, enjoy life, are adaptable, but especially love
their autonomy. Being self-sufficient and looking forward to the future with a sense of
command is the opposite of hopelessness. As mentioned in previous issues of the Health Letter, the despair of hopelessness wreaks
havoc with our health. Diligent, continued effort should be made to get control of
all aspects of our lives. This is the theme of your "Empowerment" tape if
you will recall.
- Reference:
-
Longevity Newsletter, December, 1993: 7
-
- VITAMIN A, IRON AND ANEMIA
- A study of 251 anemic women
aged 17-35 in West Java demonstrated that if vitamin A alone was taken, 35% would become
non-anemic, 68% for those who took iron only, and 97% for who took iron and vitamin A
supplements.
- Reference:
- The
Lancet, November 27, 1993: 1325
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