Last spring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter. The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon.
All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.
But, no! As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, "Wow!
I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something.
Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with "Oh no, what should we do?" But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, "Wow, that's interesting! How can I help you?"
One thing's for sure - life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. What's not preordained is our response. We can choose to be frustrated or fascinated.
No matter what the situation, a fascinated "Wow!" will always beat a frustrated "Oh, no."
So the next time you experience one of life's unexpected gusts, remember that little girl and make it a "Wow!" experience. The "Wow!" response always works.
Rob Gilbert
Editor of "Bits & Pieces"
Monday, October 13, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Antioxidants Attack Cancer Cells
A New Discovery Has Been Made About How Antioxidants Attack Cancer Cells
by: Russell Johnston
http://www.naturalnews.com/024447.html
(NaturalNews) There's a new reason, and a big one, to think that we benefit
from free-radical-inhibiting antioxidants. We've long thought that by
reducing free radicals, antioxidants can help prevent cancer, of course. But
a recent experiment at Johns Hopkins and published in the March 14 issue of
Science shows how antioxidants may be doing much more: interfering with the
growth of cancers that are already established, and potentially, even
reversing them once established, by knocking out communications signals
between cancer cells that encourage cells to grow and divide. Those
communications signals turn out to be... free radicals, which the cancer
cells often produce in abundance. Runaway cell division was actually slowed
when cancer cells were introduced to the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine,
under experimental conditions. This now demonstrates the existence of a
mechanism that can allow a simple antioxidant to slow down or reverse a
cancer that's already in place.
Genetically altered connective tissue cells expressing the cancerous
H-RasV12 gene, together with non-cancerous cells were used in the study. The
cancer cells produced an abundance of superoxide, a well-known free-radical.
But cells' Ras or Rac1 genes produced proteins that blocked this signal and
kept the cell from turning cancerous, as did doses of other protein
inhibitors. However, it was considered more significant that antioxidants
could also inhibit runaway cell proliferation.
At least in the case of cancers produced by the model H-RasV12 gene, other
cells are influenced to become cancerous "at a distance" if free radicals or
protein-inhibitors aren't present in sufficient numbers to step in and stop
the process.
Kaikobad Irani cautiously summarizes his research by saying that "Control of
signaling pathways involving oxidants may explain why some antioxidants
appear to prevent development of certain cancers." If you're equally
inclined to caution, you may wish to make sure you're getting plenty of
antioxidants.
There are plenty of sources of antioxidants in a good diet, of course, but
by far the most potent and effective antioxidant known to science is as
cheap and available as a long, dark night: that is, melatonin. Turning your
light switch to the off position earlier, keeping it off longer, and making
sure that you are always sleeping in real darkness are excellent natural
ways to boost your melatonin production. Even occasional changes in your
routine, staying up for a couple of extra hours, can reduce your melatonin
for weeks, just as jet lag does.
About the author
Russell Johnston is a private health researcher and writer with a background
in the philosophy and history of science. He began DarknessHeals.com in
order to help publicize dramatic recent medical research showing the
extraordinary importance sleep and chronobiology have for everyone's health.
by: Russell Johnston
http://www.naturalnews.com/024447.html
(NaturalNews) There's a new reason, and a big one, to think that we benefit
from free-radical-inhibiting antioxidants. We've long thought that by
reducing free radicals, antioxidants can help prevent cancer, of course. But
a recent experiment at Johns Hopkins and published in the March 14 issue of
Science shows how antioxidants may be doing much more: interfering with the
growth of cancers that are already established, and potentially, even
reversing them once established, by knocking out communications signals
between cancer cells that encourage cells to grow and divide. Those
communications signals turn out to be... free radicals, which the cancer
cells often produce in abundance. Runaway cell division was actually slowed
when cancer cells were introduced to the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine,
under experimental conditions. This now demonstrates the existence of a
mechanism that can allow a simple antioxidant to slow down or reverse a
cancer that's already in place.
Genetically altered connective tissue cells expressing the cancerous
H-RasV12 gene, together with non-cancerous cells were used in the study. The
cancer cells produced an abundance of superoxide, a well-known free-radical.
But cells' Ras or Rac1 genes produced proteins that blocked this signal and
kept the cell from turning cancerous, as did doses of other protein
inhibitors. However, it was considered more significant that antioxidants
could also inhibit runaway cell proliferation.
At least in the case of cancers produced by the model H-RasV12 gene, other
cells are influenced to become cancerous "at a distance" if free radicals or
protein-inhibitors aren't present in sufficient numbers to step in and stop
the process.
Kaikobad Irani cautiously summarizes his research by saying that "Control of
signaling pathways involving oxidants may explain why some antioxidants
appear to prevent development of certain cancers." If you're equally
inclined to caution, you may wish to make sure you're getting plenty of
antioxidants.
There are plenty of sources of antioxidants in a good diet, of course, but
by far the most potent and effective antioxidant known to science is as
cheap and available as a long, dark night: that is, melatonin. Turning your
light switch to the off position earlier, keeping it off longer, and making
sure that you are always sleeping in real darkness are excellent natural
ways to boost your melatonin production. Even occasional changes in your
routine, staying up for a couple of extra hours, can reduce your melatonin
for weeks, just as jet lag does.
About the author
Russell Johnston is a private health researcher and writer with a background
in the philosophy and history of science. He began DarknessHeals.com in
order to help publicize dramatic recent medical research showing the
extraordinary importance sleep and chronobiology have for everyone's health.
Vitamin D a key player in overall health
Vitamin D a key player in overall health of several body organs, says UC
Riverside biochemist
http://www.physorg.com/news142791717.html
Essential for life in higher animals, vitamin D, once linked to only bone
diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis, is now recognized as a major
player in contributing to overall human health, emphasizes UC Riverside's
Anthony Norman, an international expert on vitamin D.
In a paper published in the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, Norman identifies vitamin D's potential for contributions to good
health in the adaptive and innate immune systems, the secretion and
regulation of insulin by the pancreas, the heart and blood pressure
regulation, muscle strength and brain activity. In addition, access to
adequate amounts of vitamin D is believed to be beneficial towards reducing
the risk of cancer.
Norman also lists 36 organ tissues in the body whose cells respond
biologically to vitamin D. The list includes bone marrow, breast, colon,
intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and the uterus.
According to Norman, deficiency of vitamin D can impact all 36 organs.
Already, vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle strength decrease,
high risk for falls, and increased risk for colorectal, prostate and breast
and other major cancers.
"It is becoming increasingly clear to researchers in the field that vitamin
D is strongly linked to several diseases," said Norman, a distinguished
professor emeritus of biochemistry and of biomedical sciences who has worked
on vitamin D for more than 45 years. "Its biological sphere of influence is
much broader than we originally thought. The nutritional guidelines for
vitamin D intake must be carefully reevaluated to determine the adequate
intake, balancing sunlight exposure with dietary intake, to achieve good
health by involving all 36 target organs."
Vitamin D is synthesized in the body in a series of steps. First, sunlight's
ultraviolet rays act on a precursor compound in skin. When skin is exposed
to sunlight, a sterol present in dermal tissue is converted to vitamin D,
which, in turn, is metabolized in the liver and kidneys to form a hormone.
It was Norman's laboratory that discovered, in 1967, that vitamin D is
converted into a steroid hormone by the body.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 200 international units (IU)
for people up to 50 years old. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is
400 IU for people 51 to 70 years old and 600 IU for people over 70 years
old. Norman's recommendation for all adults is to have an average daily
intake of at least 2000 IU.
"To optimize good health you must have enough vitamin D," he said. "Vitamin
D deficiency is also especially of concern in third world countries that
have poor nutritional practices and religious customs that require the body
to be covered from head to toe. Ideally, to achieve the widest frequency of
good health by population, we need to have 90 percent of the people with
adequate amounts of vitamin D."
About half of the elderly in North America and two-thirds of the rest of the
world are not getting enough vitamin D to maintain healthy bone density,
lower their risks for fracture and improve tooth attachment.
"There needs to be a sea change by various governmental agencies in terms of
the advice they present to citizens about how much vitamin D should be
taken," Norman said. "The tendencies of people to live in cities where tall
buildings block adequate sunlight from reaching the ground, to spend most of
their time indoors, to use synthetic sunscreens that block ultraviolet rays,
and to live in geographical regions of the world that do not receive
adequate sunlight all contribute to the inability of the skin to
biosynthesize sufficient amounts of vitamin D."
Found in minute amounts in food, vitamins are organic substances that higher
forms of animals need to grow and sustain normal health. Vitamins, however,
are not synthesized in sufficient amounts to meet bodily needs. Therefore,
the body must acquire them through diet or in the form of supplements.
Because it is found in very few foods naturally, milk and other foods (often
orange juice) are fortified with vitamin D.
While deficiency of vitamin D impacts health negatively, ingestion of
extremely high doses of vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia, a condition in
which the blood's calcium level is above normal. The highest daily 'safe'
dose of vitamin D is 10,000 IU.
"More than ever we need to increase the amount of research on vitamin D,
with more funding from government agencies and pharmaceutical companies, to
meet the challenge of preserving or improving the health of everyone on the
planet," Norman said.
Source: University of California - Riverside
Riverside biochemist
http://www.physorg.com/news142791717.html
Essential for life in higher animals, vitamin D, once linked to only bone
diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis, is now recognized as a major
player in contributing to overall human health, emphasizes UC Riverside's
Anthony Norman, an international expert on vitamin D.
In a paper published in the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, Norman identifies vitamin D's potential for contributions to good
health in the adaptive and innate immune systems, the secretion and
regulation of insulin by the pancreas, the heart and blood pressure
regulation, muscle strength and brain activity. In addition, access to
adequate amounts of vitamin D is believed to be beneficial towards reducing
the risk of cancer.
Norman also lists 36 organ tissues in the body whose cells respond
biologically to vitamin D. The list includes bone marrow, breast, colon,
intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and the uterus.
According to Norman, deficiency of vitamin D can impact all 36 organs.
Already, vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle strength decrease,
high risk for falls, and increased risk for colorectal, prostate and breast
and other major cancers.
"It is becoming increasingly clear to researchers in the field that vitamin
D is strongly linked to several diseases," said Norman, a distinguished
professor emeritus of biochemistry and of biomedical sciences who has worked
on vitamin D for more than 45 years. "Its biological sphere of influence is
much broader than we originally thought. The nutritional guidelines for
vitamin D intake must be carefully reevaluated to determine the adequate
intake, balancing sunlight exposure with dietary intake, to achieve good
health by involving all 36 target organs."
Vitamin D is synthesized in the body in a series of steps. First, sunlight's
ultraviolet rays act on a precursor compound in skin. When skin is exposed
to sunlight, a sterol present in dermal tissue is converted to vitamin D,
which, in turn, is metabolized in the liver and kidneys to form a hormone.
It was Norman's laboratory that discovered, in 1967, that vitamin D is
converted into a steroid hormone by the body.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 200 international units (IU)
for people up to 50 years old. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is
400 IU for people 51 to 70 years old and 600 IU for people over 70 years
old. Norman's recommendation for all adults is to have an average daily
intake of at least 2000 IU.
"To optimize good health you must have enough vitamin D," he said. "Vitamin
D deficiency is also especially of concern in third world countries that
have poor nutritional practices and religious customs that require the body
to be covered from head to toe. Ideally, to achieve the widest frequency of
good health by population, we need to have 90 percent of the people with
adequate amounts of vitamin D."
About half of the elderly in North America and two-thirds of the rest of the
world are not getting enough vitamin D to maintain healthy bone density,
lower their risks for fracture and improve tooth attachment.
"There needs to be a sea change by various governmental agencies in terms of
the advice they present to citizens about how much vitamin D should be
taken," Norman said. "The tendencies of people to live in cities where tall
buildings block adequate sunlight from reaching the ground, to spend most of
their time indoors, to use synthetic sunscreens that block ultraviolet rays,
and to live in geographical regions of the world that do not receive
adequate sunlight all contribute to the inability of the skin to
biosynthesize sufficient amounts of vitamin D."
Found in minute amounts in food, vitamins are organic substances that higher
forms of animals need to grow and sustain normal health. Vitamins, however,
are not synthesized in sufficient amounts to meet bodily needs. Therefore,
the body must acquire them through diet or in the form of supplements.
Because it is found in very few foods naturally, milk and other foods (often
orange juice) are fortified with vitamin D.
While deficiency of vitamin D impacts health negatively, ingestion of
extremely high doses of vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia, a condition in
which the blood's calcium level is above normal. The highest daily 'safe'
dose of vitamin D is 10,000 IU.
"More than ever we need to increase the amount of research on vitamin D,
with more funding from government agencies and pharmaceutical companies, to
meet the challenge of preserving or improving the health of everyone on the
planet," Norman said.
Source: University of California - Riverside
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Vital Role of Cholesterol in Health
Byron Richards, CCN
"A significant new discovery about the importance of cholesterol to nerve and
muscle health has just been made. The researchers discovered that
cholesterol is vital to the structure of key proteins involved with nerve
transmission. The finding is groundbreaking, its implications in the
context of widespread high doses of statin drugs in the general population
is alarming.
We have known for a very long time that small fragments of cholesterol (not
HDL or LDL, which are large transport vehicles) are required for every cell
in your body to have a three dimensional structure. Scientists estimate
that you have around 6-8 ounces of this structural cholesterol in your
cells, and without it you would be flat as a pancake on the floor.
Nerve cells are known to have higher amounts of this type of cholesterol, as
nerve cells do not split and divide like other cells and so need the extra
cholesterol to liver longer. One of the very adverse side effects of statin
drugs to lower LDL cholesterol, especially when given in the now commonly
used high doses, is that the important cholesterol in cell membranes is
lowered. In the case of nerves this results in early onset nerve death,
poor function, depression, nerve symptoms, and suicide. Such nerve symptoms
will be progressive and worsen as time goes along, especially when the dose
of a statin is raised.
In the case of muscles, various mechanisms of statin toxicity have now been
identified. These factors reduce energy, muscle health, fitness, and
generally make it harder to be healthy.
The new study adds a brand new explanation for nerve and muscle related
problems from taking statins. Researchers studied the structure of a common
and important neurotransmitter receptor called the nicotinic acetylcholine
receptor. Problems with this receptor's function drastically alter nerve
transmission. Such difficulties are found in chronic inflammation,
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and
addiction issues (alcohol, nicotine and cocaine).
The new discovery is that cholesterol fragments are absolutely vital to this
receptor working correctly and are part of the protein structure of this
receptor. This is a sweeping scientific discovery. It immediately offers a
new explanation as to why statins have so many devastating nerve and muscle
side effects. It also adds clarity to the issue as to why low cholestereol
causes cancer and early risk for death.
Cholesterol is vital to the healthy function of your body, actually core to
survival. You want good levels of HDL and LDL because you are healthy, not
because you have drugged them to look better on paper. The idea of
cholesterol fitness, like physical fitness, is a proper way to look at this
issue."
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Getting rid of fears
"Most fears cannot withstand the test of careful scrutiny and analysis. When we expose our fears to the light of thoughtful examination they usually just evaporate."
Jack Canfield
Speaker and Author
See more of Jack Canfield at: http://www.reachmy2008goals.com
Jack Canfield
Speaker and Author
See more of Jack Canfield at: http://www.reachmy2008goals.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The secret of the achiever
"Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting."
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
1749-1832, Poet, Dramatist and Novelist
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
1749-1832, Poet, Dramatist and Novelist
5 Ways to Keep BPA Out of Your Food
With new studies linking bisphenol A, a chemical found in the linings
of food and beverage cans, to diabetes and heart disease, you may be
wondering what you can do to minimize your exposure. Here are some good
rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA:
1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars
Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA, because
the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from
the lining of the can.
2. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned
In addition to their BPA-free benefit, fresh produce usually has
more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning.
3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles
Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA.
4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid
An assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid
formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.
5. Think in terms of moderation
Follow a sensible approach, eating less of those foods that are
higher in BPA.
Sources:
a.. U.S. News & World Report September 17, 2008
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008;
300(11):1353-5
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008;
300(11):1303-10
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It's finally becoming more common knowledge that plastic is not
an inert substance, which is what its manufacturers would like you to
believe. Plastic contains chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which mimic
hormones in your body. Even tiny concentrations can cause problems, and you're
likely being exposed from all angles. Aside from canned goods, they're found
in reusable food containers, plastic wraps, water bottles, personal care
products, you name it.
Plastic is used everywhere.
The Many Health Hazards of Bisphenol A (BPA)
Plastic is so prevalent that according to a Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) study, BPA was detected in the urine of 95 percent of people
tested!
This is alarming when you consider the problems it's been linked
to, including:
a.. Structural damage to your brain
b.. Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired
learning
c.. Increased fat formation and risk of obesity
d.. Altered immune function
e.. Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development,
disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction
f.. Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual
behavior
g.. Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
h.. Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production
I've already discussed the dangers of using plastic containers
and bottles on several occasions; anytime you eat or drink something out of
plastic, you risk exposure. Plastics that are worn out or scratched may
leach even more chemicals into your food, as do hot beverages. Just by
drinking coffee from a plastic-lined paper cup, you could be exposed to 55
times more BPA than normal.
But what's your risk when you use canned goods?
Independent laboratory tests conducted by the Environmental
Working Group (EWG) detected BPA in over half of 97 cans of name-brand
fruit, vegetables, soda, and other commonly eaten canned goods.
There are no government safety standards limiting the amount of
BPA in canned food, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safety
standard is 25 times the dose NOW KNOWN to cause birth defects in lab
studies. Their safety standard for BPA has not been updated for 20 years.
But studies in the past decade have shown that low-level
exposures to BPA may actually be MORE dangerous than high-level exposures!
Where traditional toxicology asserts that higher doses does
greater harm, bisphenol A tests show that low doses can be the most toxic of
all, partly because at low levels it can fall below the radar of your body's
natural detox mechanism.
For example, one study found that a low dose of BPA produced a
70 percent higher growth rate of prostate cancer cells in lab animals than
did higher doses (Wetherill et al. 2002). In another; lower doses of BPA
resulted in higher rates of breast cell growth that can precede cancer
(Markey et al. 2001).
Then again, just last month the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) published a study that found higher urinary BPA
concentrations were associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes in
adults.
Perhaps our dependency on plastic plays a larger role than
anyone ever imagined in the rise of the big three: cancer, heart disease and
rampant diabetes?
BPA and Your Baby - What's the Risk, and What's the Solution?
As usual those most at risk are children and fetuses, which is
why it's appalling to think that these chemicals are commonly used in
everything from the infant formula, to the bottle it's served in, to the
teething rings, and the toys your baby plays with on a daily basis.
Sadly, of all foods tested, infant formula was among the top
three foods that had BPA levels of highest concern.
Just one to three servings was found to contain BPA levels that
have caused serious adverse effects in animal tests. And, for 1 in 3 cans of
infant formula, a single serving was found to contain enough BPA to expose
an infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government's traditional
"safe" level of exposure for industrial chemicals!
Although the article above recommends using powdered infant
formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid varieties to cut down on BPA
exposure, I want to remind you that nothing beats breast feeding when it
comes to feeding your baby.
Breast milk contains antibodies, immunoglobulins, white blood
cells, lactoferrin, lysosomes, bifidus factor (which helps friendly bacteria
grow in the intestines to ensure acid environment), vitamin B12 binding
protein, and many, many other substances. It also contains essential fatty
acids that help bolster your baby's body against the impact of toxic
chemicals.
And of course, if a mother follows my dietary recommendations,
she will have the best chance of being optimally healthy, and her breast
milk will be even more nutritious.
So remember that if you want the very best by far for your
babies, breastfeed them if at all possible. But if you are going to use
commercial formulas, then using a powdered formula may reduce your baby's
exposure to BPA. According to the EWG's calculations, babies fed
reconstituted powdered formula likely receive 8 to 20 times less BPA than
those fed liquid formula from a metal can.
However, a far better option than commercial formula would be to
try the Infant Formula Fortification Protocol developed by Dr. Patricia Kane
and myself. In addition, the Weston A. Price Foundation has its own infant
feeding recommendations, which are another healthy option.
10 More Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA
1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby
2. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace
them with glass varieties
3. Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic
ones
4. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic --
containers
5. IF you choose to use a microwave, don't microwave food
in a plastic container
6. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee
mugs rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups
7. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything
covered in it)
8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid
of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher,
and don't wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more
chemicals to leach into your food
9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a
reverse osmosis filter instead
10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or
your children's, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain
BPA
In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your
food or beverages, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the
recycling label No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.
Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and
No. 4 do not contain BPA (however they may contain other unsavory chemicals
that you're best off avoiding by using glass instead). If in doubt, remember
this handy saying from The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy:
"With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for
you."
of food and beverage cans, to diabetes and heart disease, you may be
wondering what you can do to minimize your exposure. Here are some good
rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA:
1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars
Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA, because
the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from
the lining of the can.
2. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned
In addition to their BPA-free benefit, fresh produce usually has
more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning.
3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles
Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA.
4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid
An assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid
formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.
5. Think in terms of moderation
Follow a sensible approach, eating less of those foods that are
higher in BPA.
Sources:
a.. U.S. News & World Report September 17, 2008
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008;
300(11):1353-5
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008;
300(11):1303-10
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It's finally becoming more common knowledge that plastic is not
an inert substance, which is what its manufacturers would like you to
believe. Plastic contains chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which mimic
hormones in your body. Even tiny concentrations can cause problems, and you're
likely being exposed from all angles. Aside from canned goods, they're found
in reusable food containers, plastic wraps, water bottles, personal care
products, you name it.
Plastic is used everywhere.
The Many Health Hazards of Bisphenol A (BPA)
Plastic is so prevalent that according to a Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) study, BPA was detected in the urine of 95 percent of people
tested!
This is alarming when you consider the problems it's been linked
to, including:
a.. Structural damage to your brain
b.. Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired
learning
c.. Increased fat formation and risk of obesity
d.. Altered immune function
e.. Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development,
disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction
f.. Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual
behavior
g.. Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
h.. Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production
I've already discussed the dangers of using plastic containers
and bottles on several occasions; anytime you eat or drink something out of
plastic, you risk exposure. Plastics that are worn out or scratched may
leach even more chemicals into your food, as do hot beverages. Just by
drinking coffee from a plastic-lined paper cup, you could be exposed to 55
times more BPA than normal.
But what's your risk when you use canned goods?
Independent laboratory tests conducted by the Environmental
Working Group (EWG) detected BPA in over half of 97 cans of name-brand
fruit, vegetables, soda, and other commonly eaten canned goods.
There are no government safety standards limiting the amount of
BPA in canned food, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safety
standard is 25 times the dose NOW KNOWN to cause birth defects in lab
studies. Their safety standard for BPA has not been updated for 20 years.
But studies in the past decade have shown that low-level
exposures to BPA may actually be MORE dangerous than high-level exposures!
Where traditional toxicology asserts that higher doses does
greater harm, bisphenol A tests show that low doses can be the most toxic of
all, partly because at low levels it can fall below the radar of your body's
natural detox mechanism.
For example, one study found that a low dose of BPA produced a
70 percent higher growth rate of prostate cancer cells in lab animals than
did higher doses (Wetherill et al. 2002). In another; lower doses of BPA
resulted in higher rates of breast cell growth that can precede cancer
(Markey et al. 2001).
Then again, just last month the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) published a study that found higher urinary BPA
concentrations were associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes in
adults.
Perhaps our dependency on plastic plays a larger role than
anyone ever imagined in the rise of the big three: cancer, heart disease and
rampant diabetes?
BPA and Your Baby - What's the Risk, and What's the Solution?
As usual those most at risk are children and fetuses, which is
why it's appalling to think that these chemicals are commonly used in
everything from the infant formula, to the bottle it's served in, to the
teething rings, and the toys your baby plays with on a daily basis.
Sadly, of all foods tested, infant formula was among the top
three foods that had BPA levels of highest concern.
Just one to three servings was found to contain BPA levels that
have caused serious adverse effects in animal tests. And, for 1 in 3 cans of
infant formula, a single serving was found to contain enough BPA to expose
an infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government's traditional
"safe" level of exposure for industrial chemicals!
Although the article above recommends using powdered infant
formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid varieties to cut down on BPA
exposure, I want to remind you that nothing beats breast feeding when it
comes to feeding your baby.
Breast milk contains antibodies, immunoglobulins, white blood
cells, lactoferrin, lysosomes, bifidus factor (which helps friendly bacteria
grow in the intestines to ensure acid environment), vitamin B12 binding
protein, and many, many other substances. It also contains essential fatty
acids that help bolster your baby's body against the impact of toxic
chemicals.
And of course, if a mother follows my dietary recommendations,
she will have the best chance of being optimally healthy, and her breast
milk will be even more nutritious.
So remember that if you want the very best by far for your
babies, breastfeed them if at all possible. But if you are going to use
commercial formulas, then using a powdered formula may reduce your baby's
exposure to BPA. According to the EWG's calculations, babies fed
reconstituted powdered formula likely receive 8 to 20 times less BPA than
those fed liquid formula from a metal can.
However, a far better option than commercial formula would be to
try the Infant Formula Fortification Protocol developed by Dr. Patricia Kane
and myself. In addition, the Weston A. Price Foundation has its own infant
feeding recommendations, which are another healthy option.
10 More Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA
1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby
2. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace
them with glass varieties
3. Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic
ones
4. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic --
containers
5. IF you choose to use a microwave, don't microwave food
in a plastic container
6. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee
mugs rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups
7. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything
covered in it)
8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid
of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher,
and don't wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more
chemicals to leach into your food
9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a
reverse osmosis filter instead
10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or
your children's, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain
BPA
In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your
food or beverages, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the
recycling label No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.
Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and
No. 4 do not contain BPA (however they may contain other unsavory chemicals
that you're best off avoiding by using glass instead). If in doubt, remember
this handy saying from The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy:
"With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for
you."
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