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Dear
Friend,
Over time, I have become skeptical of
the media. When I say media, I don't just mean newspapers, tabloids and
television, but respected and erudite scientific publications as well.
Now, I know we are supposed to be suspicious
of things we read and hear, but when the sources of information are apparently
objective and dispassionate it is easy to set aside caution and be swept along
to the point of conviction.
My suspicion began the first time I was
interviewed for a magazine. When I read the resulting article it was nothing
like anything I had ever said. Quotes were distorted, facts inaccurate,
important information omitted and unimportant information sensationalized.
Most writers like to take editorial privilege and they do. Plus they can be
incredibly sloppy.
Not only can what you say be twisted and
distorted, but you can also simply be censored. If what you have to say does
not fit with conventional thinking, whether it is true or not, whether it will
benefit the readers or not, whether it will even save lives or not, is not
important. The media, even the scientific media, is supported by money derived
from conventional thinking. If they publish information that might disrupt this
balance, they can have advertising dollars dry up or be ostracized by their
professional communities. For example, eight TV stations recently refused to
air paid advertisements by a consumers group advocating a Canadian-style health
care system.
The information available to the masses goes
through a filtering and censoring process. Be careful of what you hear and
read. Don't be swept along by the media self-interests.
The information that is printed is also
always contested. For every idea I glean from the literature and reveal in the
Health Letter ' breast feeding increases IQ, mammograms increase the risk
of cancer, atherosclerosis is caused by oxidized cholesterol, etc. ' there is
always dissention somewhere by a scientist and his better studies.
So if you seek truth from the media, it is
futile. Not only is selected information not given to you, it may be distorted
if it is printed, and you can always count on an opposing, equally learned
opinion in print somewhere.
Each of us must empower ourselves with the
insight and judgment to evaluate the merit of ideas and information. That's
what the Health Letter is about.
I know the Health Letter is also
media. But I hope you see and use it as a tool to build your own philosophy,
your intuitive, logical filter, through which you can sort information and
control your own health destiny.
Growing Hair
Let me begin by saying that men who are
losing or who have lost their hair, and believe that because of this they are
less than they once were, should give the issue further thought.
Set aside all the commercial propaganda
designed to convince men to buy surgeries, toupees and other products.
Consider this: Probably the most well-known face on the planet, and one thought
to be highly attractive, is that of Michael Jordan. He hasn't a single strand
showing on his dome. He had hair, shaved it and is arguably more attractive.
Sean Connery has been voted by women's magazines to be the sexiest man on
Earth. He has lost much of his hair. Yule Brunner and Tally Savakis were also
thought to be highly attractive and sexy by many women, yet were completely
bald. So having hair is not essential to attractiveness.
If a person has attractive features such as
beguiling eyes (Jack Nicholson), a magnetic personality (Michael Gorbechev), an
athletic body (Hulk Hogan), high intelligence (Isaac Asimov), or other features
that make them comely to others, whether or not they have hair is immaterial.
Think about it. Have you ever met anyone with or without hair that would or
would not make you like them if they did or did not have hair? Individuals you
believe to be attractive wouldn't really become more attractive if they had more
hair. Neatness, intelligence, kindness, wit, compassion and fitness, are the
things we are measured by, not by the facade of the number of strands of hair we
have.
Nevertheless, most of the 40% of men who
have lost hair would like it back. If a person is obsessed with his thinning
crop, rather than have this obsession become a body dismorphic syndrome (a
pathologic preoccupation with a perceived body fault), and become depressed and
feel victimized and helpless, attempting to do something about the problem may
be necessary to maintain overall health.
There are a variety of surgical techniques,
but by far the most popular is hair transplantation. Small sections of hair are
surgically removed from the back and sides of the head and transplanted into the
areas of hair loss. You are your own donor. Usually these transplants are
in the form of plugs containing several hairs, although the technique has been
refined such that even single hairs can be transplanted. Usually in conjunction
with hair plug transplantation, sections of the balded area are surgically
removed. The scalp at the edges is then dissected away from the skull and
pulled together, thus bringing areas of natural hair closer together.
The cost is usually based on each transplant
and not on the number of hairs in the plug. An average cost of $10,000 to
$15,000 is not unusual. Once these grafts are made they are permanent and will
continue to grow (but not spread) throughout life. With this procedure you can
expect to be out of commission for one to two years, having to wear hats or
toupees to cover the surgeries. If transplants are performed before the total
amount of hair genetically programmed to be lost is lost, plugs can become
apparent as the natural surrounding hair fades. The result can be a very
visible transplantation that looks somewhat like the hair plugs seen on dolls.
When this occurs you are faced with either more surgery to attempt to make your
scalp look natural, or you end up being even more self-conscious than before you
had the surgery done.
Remember, surgery ' any surgery ' is never
without risk. Infection, delayed healing, scarring, sensitivities to drugs and
anesthetics, and botched surgical procedures are very real risks that must be
fully measured before beginning these procedures.
About two million men have had this
procedure done. Some are satisfied, some are not. When contemplating this, try
to talk to as many different surgeons as possible before making a decision. A
starting point may be resource A.
UpJohn Pharmaceutical developed a product
cleared by the FDA for hair regrowth, called Rogaine. The ability of Rogaine to
stimulate hair regrowth was discovered serendipitously when Rogaine (Minoxidil)
was originally being used as a high blood pressure medication. UpJohn has made
a huge investment in the fading egos of balding men. They even ran 12-page ads,
at a cost of $70,000 per page, in 20 medical journals. Their marketing costs
are enough to stagger the imagination.
Rogaine must be applied daily and will
restore hair growth in about a third of those tested, will produce fuzz in
another third, and has no effect on others. One to six months after you
discontinue it, your baldness will be back to its original state...the perfect
money-making drug. If used at the time that most hair loss begins for men,
when they are 35 to 40, UpJohn would make $30,000 to $50,000 per patient per
lifetime. In 1990 alone they sold 140 million dollars worth.
If you will recall my previous cautions
about any topically applied material ' that the skin is an absorbing organ ' you
will see the potential dangers in Rogaine. Minoxidil is known to cause hair
growth not only on the vertex (the back top of the head), but between the
eyebrows, the upper cheeks, the back, arms and legs. It can cause rapid heart
beat, nausea and vomiting. Any drug consumed or applied daily is highly risky.
Considering that a balding man may be perfectly healthy, he will become a
patient if he uses Rogaine, since it is available only through physicians.
Making life-long patients out of healthy people is bad but profitable medicine.
High quality wigs and toupees are available
at a cost ranging from $4,000 to $5,000. Most individuals find these to be
uncomfortable and certainly potentially embarrassing if dislodged in public.
Some make no pretense about their wearing a wig and take it on and off as if it
were a hat. Noted examples include Sean Connery, Willard Scott and Burt
Reynolds. For them, evidently toupee wearing or going natural are both
comfortable options. Again, consider that the public perception of them does
not seem to change whether they are toupeed or bald. Do you think the publics
perception of you will be different whether you are hirsute (hairy) or bald?
Here are some things that you can personally
try that might help slow or reverse hair loss:
1) A healthy life can mean healthy skin
and healthy hair. Regular exercise; eating fresh, whole, natural foods;
controlling stress; and getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine do much to make
a healthier you and a healthier hair follicle.
2) Massaging the scalp daily for five
minutes with the fingertips, brushes, or vibrators has reportedly restored hair
to many individuals. Since it is argued that hair loss is in part a function of
decreased circulation to the scalp, massage will help rejuvenate vasculature in
the scalp and theoretically help retard hair loss and possibly even restore
growth. Use the fingertips to deep massage. Also grab handfuls of hair and
gently tug at the scalp. Brush the dry scalp vigorously with a natural bristle
brush. (Resource B) A small hand-held vibrator with rubber fingers is helpful
for variety and when the arms and fingers get tired. (Resource C) Don't just
work the bald areas, but the entire scalp and especially the margins. Hair
regrowth occurs in the reverse pattern it is lost, i.e. from the margins in.
3) Saw palmetto lipid extract is believed
to have an anti-testosterone effect by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme
which forms testosterone metabolites. The loss of hair in men with pattern
baldness (androgenetic allopecia) is believed to be due to a genetic timing
mechanism that results in a testosterone effect on the hair follicles causing
them to atrophy (wither and shrink). Testosterone, the same hormone that
creates libido and beards, triggers male pattern baldness. Castrated men do not
bald. Saw palmetto is the same herb extract that has been used successfully for
older men with prostate problems. (Health Letter, Vol. 5 No. 2; 7, 7)
Taking saw palmetto as a dietary supplement and by mixing one capsule with
Dermal, a natural skin oil, and massaging into the scalp before bedtime may
inhibit the effects of testosterone and thus reverse hair thinning. (Resource
D) Several drops of Dermal are placed in the palm of the hand and then a
punctured saw palmetto capsule is squeezed onto the palm. Once mixed, they are
then massaged into the scalp. The oils may stain a little, so be prepared to
use old pillow cases.
4) Keeping the scalp deep cleaned has also
been reported to retard balding. The theory here is that by removing the
testosterone-laden sebaceous material from the pores, hair follicle life is
extended. The most common product used for this is Tween 80. It is used in
most of the shampoos and lotions on the market that are touted to affect
balding. Usually such hair regrowth products are extremely expensive ' and
illegal according to the FDA ' since no drug has been approved for a claim of
hair regrowth other than Rogaine (which doesnt mean other things may not work,
only that they have not spent the $150 million to prove it to the FDA). The
active ingredient, Tween 80, can be purchased quite inexpensively and simply
massaged into the scalp before the morning shower. (Resource E)
5) Use shampoos that are natural and
mild. Castile soaps, pine tar soaps, and natural shampoos are available that
are gentle on the scalp and less likely to cause sensitivities or allergic
reactions. (Resource F) Some hair loss may not be genetic, but rather a
reaction to the noxious chemicals in commercial hair shampoos and dressings.
6) Nutritionally, it is important to
eliminate all foods containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Eat
foods rich in essential fatty acids from both the omega-6 and omega-3 families.
All whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and particularly avocados, nuts, flax seed
oil and fish oils are rich in these fatty acids. Squeezed essential fatty acid
oils can be used for salad dressings or mixed with other not-to-be-cooked
foods. (Resource G) Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables will also
increase antioxidants in the diet. Many scalp problems, including dandruff, are
a result of oxidative rancidity of scalp oils and can be relieved by topical
antioxidants such as shampoos containing selenium. A supplement of natural food
from vitamins A, C and E along with a multivitamin/mineral supplement would be
wise not only for hair health, but for overall health. (Resource H)
7) Regular aerobic and weight-bearing
exercise will also help increase circulatory health and potentially keep the
vessels of the scalp more elastic and healthy as well.
8) The newest technology that is currently
undergoing review by the FDA is the use of very light electromagnetic
stimulation ' called pulsed electrostatic field electrotrichogenesis.
Electromagnetic applications have been known to speed the healing of fractured
bones and even cause the regrowth of limbs in animals. The technique for hair
regrowth involves putting the head under an electromagnetic dome, similar to
hair dryers found in beauty salons, for 12 minutes each week. One controlled
study of 56 men showed hair regrowth or no further loss in 96.7%. Another study
is underway at 16 investigational sites involving 300 males and 300 females.
The technology is not yet approved in the U.S., but it may be possible to be a
part of a study at this time by calling the company. (Resource I)
It is interesting to note in this and other
hair regrowth studies that a certain percentage (25.6% in this study) of those
receiving the placebo, or no treatment, will experience hair regrowth. Thus,
simply the belief that your hair is going to regrow may cause it to regrow.
That is likely the reason so many products can claim success and a good reason
to maintain positive mindedness.
Reference:
International Journal of Dermatology,
July-August, 1990: 446-;
Clin. Plast. Surg 1985, 12: 243-;
The Body Electric - Electromagnetism and
the Foundation of Life, R. O. Becker. New York: Quill, 1985.
A) Ellias Thomas Group,
1-800-362-HAIR; Baylor Hair Research and Treatment Center in Dallas,
1-214-820-4247.
B) Natural Bristle Brush: Yerba
Prima, 740 Jefferson Avenue, Ashland, OR 97520, 1-503-488-2228.
C) Hand-held vibrator:
Wahl, 2902 N. Locust St., P.O. Box 578, Sterling, IL 61081, 1-815-625-6525.
D) Dermal (If this product
is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
E) Tween 80: ICI Americas Inc.,
1-800-634-8310.
F) Castille soaps (If this
product is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
G) E.F.A. (If this product
is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
H) Food ACE (If this
product is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
I) Current Technology
Corporation: Suite 1250, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada, V6C 2V6, From U.S.A. only, 1-800-661-4247.
Chlorine in Your Shower
Chlorine is added to municipal water
supplies because it kills living things. Does that sound like a warning to
you? Of course it is argued that chlorine is added at a very low level so that
it only kills pathogenic microorganisms. The safety of chlorine is as debatable
as the argument that pesticides are safe because they are only added to our
foods at levels to kill bugs, but not us.
True, the data may not all be in, and those
fearing chlorine may not have the proof, but neither do those who suggest it is
perfectly safe. While scientists debate back and forth the validity of their
statistical analyses, we can use common sense caution and not be unwitting
subjects of a gigantic experiment being performed on society.
Chlorine is a biocide, a life killer. That
is enough to make me want to avoid it at any level, other than that at which it
is found as a background level within our natural environment. As mentioned in
our recent article on high blood pressure, as a component of sodium chloride
(salt), chlorine may be a culprit in high blood pressure. As an oxidant,
chlorine also has the capability of oxidizing various life chemicals (such as
cholesterol), creating free radicals within the body which are now believed to
be the basis for many disease mechanisms.
Not only should you be drinking purified or
distilled water rather than municipal, chlorinated and fluoridated water
supplies (Resource J), but you should avoid pools and spas treated with
chlorine, since you can absorb as much chlorine through the skin as you can by
drinking it. Chlorine in your shower water is, thus, also a danger. Theres an
additional danger. Inhaling the chlorinated steam in your hot shower is the
equivalent of drinking eight glasses of chlorinated water.
For pools and spas, consider switching to
hydrogen peroxide or ozone generators. To learn how to use hydrogen peroxide,
obtain the hydrogen peroxide booklet from the Wysong Library. (Resource K)
Ozone generators are commercially available. Low-cost sources for ozone
generators for home water purification are available. (Resource L) Filters are
also available which remove chlorine at the shower head. (Resource M)
Reference:
J) Purified or distilled water: (If
this product is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
K) Wysong Library: 1880 North Eastman
Road, Midland, MI 48640, 1-800-748-0188.
L) Ozone Generators for home water
purification: Ozotech in Yreka, CA, 1-916-842-4189.
M) Filters for shower heads:
CuZn Water Filtration Systems, P.O. Box 3210, Fayetteville, AR 72702.
Ramadan and Cardiovascular Disease
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam
and consists of fasting for a four-week period every year. A common practice is
to eat one large meal after sunset and an optional lighter meal before dawn.
In a study of 24 Ramadan fasting men and
women, the important biological markers for risk of cardiovascular disease were
decreased during the month.
As I discuss in The Synorgon Diet,
eating the largest meal in the evening can cause increased weight gain. In this
study it was shown that even though these individuals fasted, their weight
remained essentially the same. This is likely a result of eating the main meal
in the evening.
Thus we have two conflicting
recommendations. One is that if you want to reduce weight, the largest meal
should be eaten in the morning with little or nothing eaten in the evening. On
the other hand, this study indicates that if you want to decrease cardiovascular
disease, the largest meal, preferably the only meal, should be eaten in the
evening. Since many individuals with cardiovascular disease are overweight,
this presents a dilemma. But not if you convert the diet as much as possible to
raw, whole, natural foods. By doing so, you will achieve both objectives,
maintaining normal weight and decreasing risk of cardiovascular disease
regardless of when you eat.
For those of normal weight who are at risk
of cardiovascular disease, however, eating the majority of the food in the
evening may help reduce risk.
Treating Hay Fever
Allergies, either to natural foods or to
natural pollens, result from a defective immune system. Our immune system may
be damaged as a result of various vaccinations we have received, or as a result
of modern environmental stresses and improper diet.
Here are some things you can do to try to
bolster the health of your immune system and get allergy relief:
1) Do the obvious things we continue to
harp on in the Health Letter to achieve Synorgonic balance. Don't smoke,
dont over-eat, exercise, get fresh air and sunshine daily, and maintain control
of your life. Avoid the four white poisons ' white sugar, white flour, white
salt and refined oils. (Especially hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated
oils.)
2) The antioxidant vitamins and
bioflavanoids as found in a variety of fresh, natural fruits and vegetables may
be very helpful.
3) Take antioxidant and bioflavanoid
supplements: Quercetin 800 mg daily (Resource N), Citrus Bioflavanoids 600 mg
daily (Resource O), Pycnogenol 75 mg daily (Resource P), Vitamins A, C, and E '
food-derived. (Resource Q)
4) Some respected researchers, including
the Nobel Prize winning Linus Pauling, recommend 15 to 20 grams of synthetic
vitamin C daily (That is 15,000 to 20,000 mg). (Resource R)
5) Take a multivitamin mineral formula.
(Resource S)
6) Take licorice root, a natural
antihistamine, 450 mg three times daily. (Resource T)
7) Take in essential fatty acids high in
omega 3 fractions. This would include flax seed oil, fish oil and canola oil.
(Resource U)
8) Be sure to get plenty of rest and
eliminate as much physical and emotional excessive stress as possible. Allergy
is in itself a stress and if your body is exhausted and trying to combat other
stresses it will succumb much more easily to allergy, and the allergies will be
much more severe and difficult to eliminate.
For particularly difficult cases contact a
specialist called a clinical ecologist. For a reference to one near you call
the American Academy of Environmental Medicine at 303-622-9755.
Reference:
N) Quercitin (If this product is not
available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at 1-800-748-0188.).
O) Citrus Bioflavanoids (If this
product is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
P) Pycnogenol (If this
product is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
Q) Food ACE (If this
product is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
R) Synthetic vitamin C (If
this product is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
S) RDA Multivitamin (If this product
is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
T) Licorice (If this product
is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
U) E.F.A. (If this product
is not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
Increasing Gall Stone Surgery
With the introduction of laparoscopic
cholecystectomy, a method by which gall stones can be removed by inserting
fiber-optic viewing tubes and miniature instruments through a small incision,
hospital cost and stay can be significantly reduced over the standard open
abdominal surgical procedures. Though this procedure has been shown to be safe
and effective, the enthusiasm for this new technology has actually resulted in
increased cases of gall bladder surgery and thus actually increased the net
national expenditure.
It seems that doctors and patients, both
enthusiastic for this new quickie technology, have gall bladder surgery
performed now for indications that would not have resulted in gall bladder
surgery before this technology.
All surgeries have attendant risks
regardless of how simple they may be described to be. Before submitting to
surgery be sure to become fully informed on your condition and request of your
physician where you might find medical articles about your condition to
research.
Miscounting Calories
As described in detail in my recent book,
The Synorgon Diet, How To Achieve Healthy Weight in a World of Excess,
counting calories is not the solution to weight maintenance problems. In a
recent study, a sampling of 40 diet and health type foods were purchased for
evaluation. The disparity between actual calories in the food and those
reported on the label demonstrated that most products contain more calories than
reported. Some were in error by more than 20%.
Since manufacturers know consumers are
reading calories, but know that fat and sweet keep the customer coming back, it
is easy for manufacturers to simply tell consumers on the label what they want
to read, and put in the package what they want to taste. The end result is that
you never know for sure what you are getting in a processed food. Yet another
argument for converting your diet increasingly to fresh, raw, whole, natural
foods as they are found in nature.
College Underworld Life
Although fraternity hazings were outlawed in
the 1980s, the practice continues to this day. The initiation rituals of
fraternities are an attempt to convert neophytes to a new belief system. Young
men join such fraternities and put up with initiation rituals because belonging
to a fraternity is believed to enhance ones masculine identity and sexual
desirability.
These rituals are not without their
dangers. Young people entering college and parents sending their young adults
off should be aware that hundreds of cases of deaths and serious injuries have
resulted from fraternity hazing.
The types of injuries that have been
reported result from beatings, paddlings, motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian
accidents and falls from heights, chemical burns, branding and immolation, cold
exposure, heat exhaustion, acute ethanol intoxication, food and laxative
poisoning, gun shots, asphyxia due to drowning, asphyxia due to food bolus,
compression asphyxia, electrocution, cannon and beer keg explosions,
exacerbation of pre-existing cardiac and hematologic disorders and an array of
other forms of physical, sexual and psychological torture.
Reference:
Journal of the American Medical
Association, April 28, 1993: 2113
Prenatal Ultrasound
Ultrasound screening for congenital
anomalies, multiple pregnancies, fetal growth disorders, placental abnormalities
and estimation of gestational age has greatly accelerated since the advent of
the technology.
Although it may seem benign and even
entertaining to watch your child suck its thumb or give you a wave from the
womb, a study of over 15,000 pregnant women showed that such screening did not
improve perinatal (after birth) outcome.
This is a classic example of bandwagon new
technology medicine. At a time when unnecessary testing, overtreatment and
concern about medical cost is growing, this and all medical technologies should
be carefully scrutinized. Screening the more than 4 million pregnant women in
the United States increases medical expenditures by $1 billion. Since the test
results in no improvement in health, that is $1 billion spent for nothing.
This is not to mention the possible dangers
of ultrasound on a developing fetus (Health Letter, Vol. 6 No. 6) or the
risks of overtreatment due to false positive diagnoses.
To quote the authors of this recent study in
the New England Journal of Medicine, The adoption of routine ultrasound
screening in the United States would add considerably to the cost of care and
pregnancy, with no improvement in perinatal outcome.
Reference:
New England Journal of Medicine,
September 16, 1993: 821-
Unproven Medicine
The alternative medical community is
criticized by conventional medicine as fleecing the public by using unproven
therapies. Here is an interesting quote in a recent issue of the New
England Journal of Medicine from a professor of medicine: It has become a
truism that not only does the United States spend more money on health care than
do other industrialized nations, but also a substantial portion of this sum is
wasted on unproved and ineffective diagnosis and therapy. He is speaking here
about conventional, not alternate medicine. As we have shown repeatedly
before in the Health Letter, much of conventional medicine has neither
been proven safe or effective. Don't assume any therapy is either safe or
effective, be it conventional or unconventional, until you become convinced by
being provided appropriate evidence.
Reference:
New England Journal of Medicine, October
21, 1993: 1268
Economic Health
Many financial advisors are saying the U.S.
stock market is poised for a dramatic fall. As a result, advisors are saying to
put your investment money elsewhere in the world.
Take a clue from the 80% decline since 1990
in foreign investments in the U.S. and 350% increase in U.S. pensions invested
abroad.
David Muller, a U.S. international
intelligence expert turned financial guru, produces a newsletter called
Foreign Markets Advisory. In his newsletter he describes a model portfolio
of investments in a variety of stocks and mutual funds around the world. All of
these stocks can be purchased domestically, however. In the last year,
subscribers who invested in his portfolio recommendations earned 45.4% after
commissions! (Resource V)
Reference:
V) Foreign Markets Advisory, PO Box
75, Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039-9827, 1-703-425-5961, Fax: 703-425-6263.
Seizure Treatments
A low carbohydrate diet combined with taking
1 gram of the amino acid Taurine before each meal and 100 mg of manganese daily
may decrease the need for seizure medications.
Reference:
Health Revelations, September, 1993: 8
Breast Feeding and Cancer
Over 1500 women were studied in Britain to
determine a relationship between breast cancer and breast feeding. The results
demonstrated that for those women who breast fed babies a minimum of three
months the risk for breast cancer was significantly reduced. We reported
similar findings in the Health Letter (Health Letter Vol. 1 No. 4;
2, 9; 3, 6; 4, 6; 6, 9) and this is further confirmation of those findings.
Reference:
British Medical Journal, July 3, 1993:
17-;
Journal Watch, August 14, 1993: 28
Overweight Children
Parents should be extremely diligent in
helping children maintain normal weight. In a recent study of over 10,000
children it was found that there were severe adverse effects on social and
economic development for those overweight. Overweight children completed fewer
years in school, were less likely to get married, and had lower income and
higher rates of poverty as adults. These effects were more serious for those
overweight than for similar individuals with chronic conditions such as asthma,
musculoskeletal abnormalities and other chronic health conditions.
Reference:
New England Journal of Medicine,
September 30, 1993: 1008
Baby Blues
Postpartum depression may be helped by
eliminating sugar and caffeine from the diet, and taking 5 mg of folic acid per
day, 100 mg of zinc, 50 mg of manganese, and a combination tablet of the amino
acids phenylalanine and tyrosine taken one-half gram before each meal. The
later amino acid supplement should not be taken if you are on any MAO (monoamine
oxidase) inhibitor antidepressant medications.
Reference:
Health Revelations, September, 1993: 8
Hemorrhoids
Applying a small amount of corn starch after
bowel movements and prior to going to bed is reportedly better than the use of
salves, prescription medications, Preparation H and even surgery.
Reference:
Health Alert, October, 1993: 5
Estrogen and Osteoporosis
Although estrogen therapy in post menopausal
women may slow or even reverse the loss of bone in the years immediately
following menopause, there is little effect on bone density once the age of 75
years is reached. A recent study of 212 women showed that bone preservation up
to age 75 required long-term estrogen treatment. Since estrogen is a powerful
hormone linked to a variety of cancers such as breast cancer, estrogen therapy
as a solution to osteoporosis is of questionable safety and value since the
majority of fractures occur after age 75 anyway. An alternate solution is
converting the diet to emphasize whole, fresh, natural foods in variety, regular
daily exercise including weightbearing exercise and daily exposure to
full-spectrum sunlight. (Wysong Health Letter, Vol. 7 No. 2) Calcium
supplements, particularly in the form of calcium citrate malate, have also
proven to be of benefit. (Wysong Health Letter, Vol. 4 No. 10; 6, 5; 7,
2) Natural progesterone therapy as an alternate to estrogen is both safer and
effective. (Ill discuss this in more detail in a coming issue).
Reference:
New England Journal of Medicine, October
14, 1993: 1141
Depression as a Cause for Heart
Attack
A recent study of 222 patients who survived
a heart attack and were subsequently discharged from the hospital found that
those who were most depressed were most likely to die from a subsequent heart
attack within six months. Although the recommendation of conventional medicine
is that patients be monitored for depression and treated with pharmaceuticals,
this may not be the right approach. A heart attack can certainly bring a person
face to face with their mortality. Unless given an opportunity to feel as
though they can control their own future health destiny by receiving appropriate
counseling regarding life-style changes and dietary changes, they may simply
feel helpless. With helplessness, as we have discussed before in the Health
Letter, comes depression and a high susceptibility to disease. If you have
had a heart attack you need to learn how to affect future health by relatively
simple dietary and life-style changes. The Health Letter discusses these
changes on a continuing basis and the Wysong library has several publications
that would greatly benefit people who have had a heart attack. By learning,
you take the first step in regaining control. With control, depression loses
its grip.
Reference:
Journal of the American Medical
Association, October 20, 1993: 1819
Keeping Arteries Elastic
The ability of arteries to expand and
contract with each heart beat and as a response to metabolic and exercise
demands is very important in maintaining health. An inflexible pipe-like artery
is susceptible to plugging from atherosclerotic plaque, to tears, to ballooning,
and to high blood pressure. Researchers have recently discovered the obvious:
as you get older, if you continue regular vigorous exercise your arteries will
remain more elastic just as will the rest of your body. Make exercise, both
aerobic and weightbearing, a part of your daily life.
Reference:
Science News, October 16, 1993: 246
Smoking and Hearing
Exposure to cigarette smoke chemicals in the
womb can lead to hearing difficulties for a child later in life. If you are
pregnant, dont smoke, and don't breathe the smoke of those who do. An even
better suggestion is if you are alive and want to stay that way, don't smoke and
don't breathe the smoke of those who do.
Reference:
Science News, July 10, 1993: 23
Nutritional Treatment of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an inflammatory reaction in the
skin and can be very chronic and difficult to cure. Here is a formula used in
over 500 psoriasis patients:
Vitamin D3. 1,200 IU
Beta Carotene 25,000 IU
Pantethine 1,800 mg
Zinc 50 mg
Shark Cartilage 4,500 mg
Super EPA 2,400 mg
Borage Oil 2,400 mg
Fumaric Acid.. 500 mg
This formula is a daily dose. The Fumaric
acid under the trade name Psorex should be started at 500 mg daily for one week,
2 capsules daily the second week and increasing the dosage one capsule per week
to a maximum dose of 4 capsules daily. Also try to get at least a half-hour of
unshielded sunlight daily.
Reference:
Health Revelations, August, 1993: 4
More on Red Wine and Heart Disease
Since reporting the effect of moderate
amounts of wine on heart disease a couple of issues back, the literature has
exploded with further information. It has all been positive.
Our researcher discovered that the LDL
cholesterol (see Lipid Nutrition page 51) is protected from oxidation by
resveratrol, a component of red wine. If you will recall from previous issues
of the Health Letter, it is the oxidation of the cholesterol that is
within our foods that is the fundamental cause of heart disease and not
cholesterol per se.
Reference:
The Lancet, April 24, 1993: 1104
Retin A Dangers
Tretanoin is a topical medication for various
skin conditions, including acne and the removal of wrinkles. It is, however, a
teratogen (birth-defect inducer). Reports in the literature have associated
diaphragmatic hernias, pericardial (the sac around the heart) defects,
malposition of the heart, arm size reduction, absence of the radius and ulna
(forearm bones), fusing of the bones in the hand and a variety of other
malformations in bones of the limbs, chest and back.
If you are using this product, you must be
absolutely sure you are not pregnant and are not going to get pregnant. Also
understand that any compound that causes birth defects has the potentiality for
causing harm to you also.
Reference:
The Lancet, May 22, 1993: 1352
Exercise Bikes and Kids
Over 2000 admissions of children to the
emergency room each year are a result of accidents with stationary home exercise
bikes. Usually the injuries are damages to the hands and fingers, with many of
them being amputations.
This danger is preventable by making sure to
use bikes that use spokeless wheels, totally covered chains and wheel and pedal
locks. Be very careful when children are playing near the bike when in use and
do not let them on bikes unless attended.
Reference:
American Journal of Disease in
Childhood, September, 1992:1016-
Adult Onset Diabetes and Vitamin E
Individuals with adult onset
non-insulin-dependent diabetes may benefit by taking supplemental vitamin E. In
a study of 25 individuals broken into a control group and a diabetic group, it
was found that the diabetic cohort (group) taking 900 mg. of DL alpha tocopherol
acetate per day (that is a synthetic form) experienced an improvement in their
condition.
Vitamin E is known to help maintain the
healthy status of biological membranes and reduce their susceptability to
oxidative damage. By helping maintain the integrity of cells membranes it is
believed that the cell glucose uptake mechanism, which is located in the
membranes, is maintained in better order and thus glucose control is better
achieved.
Although the synthetic form of vitamin E was
used in this study, use the D Alpha Tocopherol natural form of vitamin E as a
supplement since it has been proven to be far more effective than the synthetic
versions. For resources of the natural form of vitamin E see resource W.
Reference:
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
May, 1993: 650-
W) Natural Vitamin E (If this product is
not available locally, contact the Healthy Alternatives Store at
1-800-748-0188.).
Exercise and Hypertension
As discussed before in the Health Letter
(Vol. 2 No. 9; 7, 6) hypertension (high blood pressure) is a problem requiring a
multifaceted approach to its solution.
Some of the changes necessary to decrease
high blood pressure, such as reducing weight, alcohol and salt consumption, and
relaxation, require often times considerable education, motivation and
fortitude, all of which add up to behavioral readjustment which is not always so
easy. Exercise, however, is something you can do immediately ' and experience a
result almost immediately. Even if you do nothing else and remain overweight,
sustained exercise will still create immediate benefits and lower blood
pressure.
Whether you have hypertension or not,
everyone should be engaged in a regular exercise program consisting of at least
30 minutes two or three times a week. Weight-bearing combined with aerobic
exercise is the best and can yield incredible metabolic, physical and
psychological benefits.
Reference:
Lancet, May 15, 1993: 1248
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