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 CURRENT EVENTS

7/28/10  

Hi!  I've been away for awhile but am still tracking the various assaults on our health and wellbeing .... from the Gulf Coast BP Oil Spill on April 20, 2010 to the continuing adulteration of our food supply.  Ironically I attended a protest against offshore oil drilling on the beaches of Naples, Florida in March 2010.  One month later... the worst environmental disaster ever admitted to!  

HOWEVER, to lighten up a bit, I came across this article about a very successful study helping people lose weight and keep it off.  It was funded by the NIH... CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY.  UNFORTUNATELY they took the free website down when the study was over.  I wrote to the authors of the study asking why the NIH wouldn't make the website available to the general public, especially considering we funded it!  Oh well, I guess they are not really serious about the program  "Healthy People 2000" that had to be renamed "Healthy People 2010" and will soon be renamed "Healthy People Never!"

 

ONE MORE THING!

Another study documents loss of plankton in the ocean.. very sad to observe over time... I hope the 1973 movie Soylent Green wasn't on to something! CLICK HERE for article on news.discovery.com July 28th, 2010.

 

5/8/10 

WOW here is a twist!  The "American Cancer Society" is criticizing a government panel's recommendation to limit exposure to known or suspected carcinogens, including plastics components, pesticides, vehicle exhaust and many of the 80,000 industrial chemicals that we are exposed to DAILY. CLICK HERE for the full report.

Why would the American Cancer Society be obstructive in urging people to reduce their risk of cancer?  

Why doesn't the ACS recommend avoiding pesticides when they recommend "5" servings (the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM) of fruits and vegetables per day?  And why don't they stress the importance of WHOLE fruits and vegetables that are allowed to ripen on the vine, to maximize antioxidant and phytonutrient content?  

Why do the criticize "tobacco" but forget to mention that it is the 500+ chemicals added to cigarettes that are really the threat to health versus the simple tobacco plant?

I have no idea why they are falling short......  But I would love to find out!

 

CLICK HERE for  Denise Grady's complete story in the New York Times.
May 6, 2010
 

U.S. Panel Criticized as Overstating Cancer Risks

By DENISE GRADY

A dire government report on cancer risks from chemicals and other hazards in the environment has drawn criticism from the American Cancer Society, which says government experts are overstating their case.

The government’s 240-page report, published online Thursday by the President’s Cancer Panel, says the proportion of cancer cases caused by environmental exposures has been “grossly underestimated.” It warns of “grievous harm” from chemicals and other hazards, and cites “a growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to cancer.”

Children are especially vulnerable, the panel says. It urges the government to strengthen research and regulation, and advises individuals on ways to limit exposure to potential threats like pesticides, industrial chemicals, medical X-rays, vehicle exhaust, plastic food containers and too much sun.

A cover letter urges President Obama “most strongly to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation’s productivity, and devastate American lives.”

Nearly 80,000 chemicals are in use in the United States, and yet only a few hundred have been tested for safety, the report notes. It criticizes the nation’s regulatory approach, calling it reactionary rather than precautionary, which means that the government waits for proof of harm before taking action, instead of taking preventive steps when there is uncertainty about a chemical. Regulation is ineffective, the panel says, in part because of inadequate staffing and financing, overly complex rules, weak laws, uneven enforcement and undue industry influence...

 

 

 

 

3/1/2010

We've talked about  "endocrine disruptors" before.  These are mostly man made chemicals released into our environment that have devastating effects on our bodies, even at low doses.  They often mimic hormones and disrupt development and function of the nervous system/brain, immune and reproductive systems.  Phthalates are linked to ADD and ADHD, BPA is linked to reproductive development disruption, etc. etc. Marla Cone writes about phthalates and ADD/ADHD in Environmental Health News 1/29/2010. Theo Colburn has developed a database tracking how these chemical affect the developing fetus.  CHECK OUT criticalwindows.com.

 

1/26/10  

Medical Radiation dosing and flaws found to be lethal...   I always was nervous working in the radiation oncology clinic!  

Here is why....NEW YORK TIMES Article 1/23/10

 

 

12/29/09

See Dr. Mercola's comments on a clear, easy to remember list of "foods to avoid" that won't completely freak you out!

CLICK HERE for full article.

 

Avoid These 7 Foods and You're Off To A Healthier New Year Posted by: Dr. Mercola
December 29 2009 | 122,337 views


 

1. Canned Tomatoes

The expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A

The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Acidity -- a prominent characteristic of tomatoes -- causes BPA to leach into your food.

2. Corn-Fed Beef

The expert: Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of books on sustainable farming

Cattle were designed to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. A recent comprehensive study found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

3. Microwave Popcorn

The expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group

Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize -- and migrate into your popcorn.

4. Nonorganic Potatoes

The expert: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board

Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes they're treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting.

5. Farmed Salmon

The expert: David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany

Nature didn't intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT.

6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones

The expert: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers.

7. Conventional Apples

The expert: Mark Kastel, codirector of the Cornucopia Institute

If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides with Parkinson's disease.
Sources:   Yahoo Shine November 24, 2009
 


 

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bottle..."  it doesn't have to meet standards that are any higher than

tap water!.  Be sure to look for REVERSE OSMOSIS filtered water

because that will take out the radioactive Strontium 90 and also

traces of pharmaceuticals.  Click HERE for EWG's latest research.

 

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8/22/08

Naturally occuring antioxidants from FRUITS and VEGETABLES may

 help protect against lung cancer in smokers... so UNTIL you quit, be

sure to eat plenty of these foods...

 

Antioxidants May Protect Smokers from Lung Cancer

By Kimberly Beauchamp, ND

 

Quit smoking now—the best bet for better health

Smoking increases the risk for several cancers and heart disease, in addition to causing emphysema and other chronic airway diseases. People who quit smoking lower their chances of developing these diseases and can actually repair some of the damage that smoking has caused.

If quitting smoking proves an insurmountable task, though, there are some things that smokers can do that may help protect them from the effects of cigarette smoke.

Flavonoids—nature’s cancer fighters

Flavonoids are plant-derived compounds that are capable of scavenging free radicals in the body. Studies have shown that flavonoids have anticancer properties, but most of these trials have used amounts of flavonoids much higher than those typically found in the diet. The new study, published in the journal Cancer, aimed to determine if flavonoids could protect against lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers, by comparing the amount and types of flavonoids eaten by 558 people with lung cancer and 837 healthy people.

Smokers who ate more of certain flavonoids called catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, and kaempferol, as well as more vegetables, tea, and wine were less likely to develop lung cancer than smokers who ate less of these flavonoids and foods. Surprisingly, the protective effect of these foods and flavonoids was not seen among nonsmokers. “These results may reflect the finding that these flavonoid compounds are strong antioxidants against free radicals generated by tobacco smoking,” said the authors.

Dr. Lise Alschuler, author of Alternative Medicine Magazine’s Definitive Guide to Cancer, 2nd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing, commented, “These findings underscore the significant anticancer properties of flavonoids. Even a relatively small amount of dietary flavonoids exerted significant effects. This effect was most obvious in smokers likely due to the fact that smokers are typically severely depleted in antioxidants and have high exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.”

Where to find lung-healthy flavonoids

• Epicatechin and catechin are plentiful in green and black teas, with lesser amounts in chocolate, grapes, and apricots. To boost the flavonoid power of tea, add lemon juice before drinking.

• The main sources of quercetin and kaempferol are apples and red onions.

(Cancer 2008;112:2241–8)

Kimberly Beauchamp, ND, earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. She cofounded South County Naturopaths in Wakefield, RI. Dr. Beauchamp practices as a birth doula and lectures on topics including whole-foods nutrition, detoxification, and women’s health.

Copyright © 2008 Healthnotes, Inc., dba Aisle7. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Aisle7 content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Aisle7. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Aisle7 shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Aisle7 and the Aisle7 logo are registered trademarks of Aisle7.

CLICK HERE to link to Kimberly's article and reference on

EmersonEcologics.com.               

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7/17/08

I just had to "weigh in" on the discussion of the latest study looking at "low carb",

"low fat" and  Mediterranean diets' impact on weight loss, blood cholesterol and

blood glucose control.  The study did not measure %body fat changes, homocysteine

levels or LDL particle size or oxidative status!  All this time and money and it really

is not conclusive or useful.  One of the most frustrating things was that it was reported

in so many different ways with various conclusions.

 

The "bottom" line for me was that they did not even measure percent body fat lost

versus lean body mass lost!  So some of the 12 pounds lost for people on the "low

carb" diet could have been a significant amount of muscle.  Muscle, or lean body

mass, is always a risk if you restrict carbohydrates to the point that you have to

devour protein to make enough carbohydrate for the brain!).

 

I absolutely support the Mediterranean diet as the healthiest of three diets studied.

It is based on whole plant based foods, heatlhy fats and restricted meat intake.  It

provides the most antioxidants, phytochemicals and fiber which have been shown

to be the real champions in fighting heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

 

One source (Calorielab.com) reported that the study was funded by the research

center started by Dr. Robert Atkins.  That certainly would be a conflict if true.

 

The study was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine

(volume 359: 229-241, July 17, 2008 Number 3).     

 

CLICK HERE for full article.

 

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GLOBAL WARMING has begun affect us in many ways including more severe

weather, droughts and crop loss, but this latest finding was a bit of a surprise!

CLICK HERE  for the whole story on www.time.com ...

Warmer Temps, More Kidney Stones

Tuesday, Jul. 15, 2008 By LAURA BLUE

 

In early July, when a former government employee accused Dick Cheney's office of deleting from congressional testimony key statements about the impact of climate change on public health, White House staff countered that the science just wasn't strong enough to include. Not two weeks later, however, things already look different. University of Texas researchers have laid out some of the most compelling science to date linking climate change with adverse public-health effects: scientists predict a steady rise in the U.S. incidence of kidney stones — a medical condition largely brought on by dehydration — as the planet continues to warm.

Kidney stones are already more common in the warmer Southern states than in the North. Urologists even talk about a "kidney stone belt," a high-risk zone through the South where populations are more likely to develop stones — crystallized chemicals (usually calcium, phosphates and oxalates from an ordinary diet) that form in the urinary tract, and often cause sharp, intense pain when they pass. The Texas researchers used regional data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to predict how this belt might grow, publishing their report this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. By 2050, the research suggests, 56% of Americans will live in regions encompassed by the kidney stone belt, compared with 40% in 2000. And by 2095, the belt should expand to 70% of the population.

 

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Although healthcare practitioners have known for years, the FDA has

finally admitted to the dangers of mercury containing "amalgam"

fillings....  CLICK HERE or read below

 

Reuters

Mercury teeth fillings

may harm some: U.S. FDA

By Susan Heavey Wed Jun 4, 7:48 PM ET

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Silver-colored metal dental fillings contain mercury

that may cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses, the

Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday after settling a related lawsuit.

As part of the settlement with several consumer advocacy groups, the FDA agreed

to alert consumers about the potential risks on its website and to issue a more

specific rule next year for fillings that contain mercury, FDA spokeswoman Peper Long

said. Millions of Americans have the fillings, or amalgams, to patch cavities in their teeth.

"Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous

systems of developing children and fetuses," the FDA said in a notice on its Web site.

"Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more

sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury

bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their

health practitioner," the agency said.

The FDA said it did not recommend that people who currently have mercury fillings

get them removed.

The FDA must issue the new rules in July 2009, Long said.

Such a rule could impact makers of metal fillings, which include Dentsply International

Inc and Danaher Corp unit Kerr.

The new rule will give the agency "special controls (that) can provide reasonable assurance

of the safety and effectiveness of the product," Long said.

The lawsuit settlement was reached on Monday with several advocacy groups, including

Moms Against Mercury, which had sought to have mercury fillings removed from the U.S. market.

While the FDA previously said various studies showed no harm from mercury fillings, some

consumer groups contend the fillings can trigger a range of health problems such as

multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. In 2006, an FDA advisory panel of outside experts s

aid most people would not be harmed by them, but said the agency needed more information.

Mercury has been linked to brain and kidney damage at certain levels. Amalgams contain half

mercury and half a combination of other metals.

Charles Brown, a lawyer for one of the groups called Consumers for Dental Choice, said the

agency's move represented an about-face. "Gone, gone, gone are all of FDA's claims that no

science exists that amalgam is unsafe," he said in a statement.

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. analyst Ipsita Smolinski said the FDA is not likely to outright ban the

fillings next year but will probably call for restrictions.

"We do believe that the agency will ask for the label to indicate that mercury is an ingredient in

the filling, and that special populations should be exempt from such fillings, such as: nursing

women, pregnant women, young children, and immunocompromised individuals," Smolinski

wrote in a research note on Wednesday.

Fewer patients have been opting for mercury fillings in recent years, instead choosing lighter

options such as tooth-colored resin composites.

Only 30 percent of fillings given to patients were mercury-filled ones as of 2003, according to

the American Dental Association (ADA). Other options include glass cement and porcelain as

well as other metals such as gold, but they cost more and are less durable, the group has said.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Carol Bishopric)

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Pharmaceutical drugs found in

drinking water... yuk! 

Drug Traces Common in Tap Water

Published: March 10, 2008

Filed at 12:09 p.m. ET

A vast array of pharmaceuticals -- including antibiotics, anti-convulsants,

mood stabilizers and sex hormones -- have been found in the drinking water

supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.

To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in

quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also,

utilities insist their water is safe.

But the presence of so many prescription drugs -- and over-the-counter medicines

like acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- in so much of our drinking water is heightening

worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.

In the course of a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered that drugs have been

detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas --

from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, Ky.

Water providers rarely disclose results of pharmaceutical screenings, unless pressed,

the AP found. For example, the head of a group representing major California suppliers

said the public ''doesn't know how to interpret the information'' and might be unduly alarmed.

How do the drugs get into the water?

People take pills. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes

through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged

into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking

water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove

all drug residue.

Read HERE about the issue and 

 HERE... about  how REVERSE OSMOSIS

can remove these traces of pharmaceuticals.

Reverse Osmosis also removes RADIOACTIVE

elements such as Strontium 90 (also found in

drinking water through the work of the RPHP.

Read the press release HERE.

 

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 LONDON - Following a diet abundant in fruits and vegetables, shunning smoking and drinking and exercising regularly will add at least 14 years to a person's life, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council.

1/8/08

 

 

 

LONDON - Following a diet abundant in

fruits and vegetables,

shunning smoking and drinking and exercising regularly will add

at least 14 years to a person's life, according to a new study by

researchers at the University of Cambridge and the

Medical Research Council.

 

 

 

12/11/07

ONCE AGAIN...

Studies link RED MEAT to INCREASED CANCER RISK...

CLICK HERE for links to news stories.   Beef...

it's NOT what's recommended for dinner!

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 11/18/07

Global Warming... Does it really matter? 

Check out this report...  Click on the headline below.

 

UN Panel Offers Dire

Warming Forecast

By ARTHUR MAX,
Posted: 2007-11-17 19:58:33
Filed Under: Science News, World News

VALENCIA, Spain (Nov. 17) - The Earth is hurtling toward a

warmer climate at a quickening pace, a Nobel-winning U.N. scientific

panel said in a landmark report released Saturday, warning of

inevitable human suffering and the threat of extinction for some species.

Photo Gallery: Effects of Global Warming

2007: Warmest Year Ever? Ian Waldie, Getty Images
 

Britain's Meteorological Office reported in January that 2007 is likely to the 

 the warmest year ever recorded. El Nino and high levels of greenhouse

gasses are raising global temperatures enough to break the record set in 1998.

    4 of 17
 
 

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ONCE AGAIN!

Evidence indicates that toxic chemicals in

our environment / food / water cause illness,

hormonal disruption and even obesity!!

The story is covered in USA Today  

August 2007 and other news sources...

 

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ORGANIC FOODS are found to be healthier for you, and more nutritious! 

The BUZZ this July...

undefined
 
 
Valerie Elliott, Consumer Editor
 

Organic fruit and vegetables may be better for the heart and general health than

eating conventionally grown crops, new research has found.

A ten-year study comparing organic tomatoes with standard produce found that they

had almost double the quantity of antioxidants called flavonoids which help to prevent

high blood pressure and thus reduce the likelihood of heart disease and strokes.

Alyson Mitchell, a food chemist, who led the research at the University of California,

believes that flavonoids can also help to stave off some forms of cancer and dementia.

She found that levels of quercetin and kaempferol, both flavonoids, were on average 79

and 97 per cent higher, respectively, in organic tomatoes. Her findings are due to be

published in full in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry...

 

CLICK HERE. for more articles demonstrating the superior nutritional value of organics.

 

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PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED.                     

Maintain ACCESS TO NUTRITION SUPPLEMENTS, learn how the                     

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS plans to gain complete control over food and                 

nutrition supplements worldwide.

 

Listen to *Rima E. Laibow*, MD  explain the history and global intervention

of the Codex Alimentarius.  Her website is HealthFreedomUSA.org.

I found this information upsetting...  Check it out for yourself.

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Thank you HOMETOWN NEWS!   Hometown News printed my Rant/Letter to the Editor

about the misleading and dangerous assumpton that Nuclear Power is a safe and clean

alternative fuel... Click below to link to Hometown News online.  Feel free to rate the article!

Posted: 2007 Mar 09 - 01:26

 

 

To the editor

 

 

Hello.

I am a qualified, credentialed nutritionist here in Palm Beach County and need to rant about

recent discussions stating that nuclear power is a safe and clean alternative to power plants

that emit greenhouse gases.

Radiation has always caused cancer and always will. Children are particularly vulnerable.

Just investigate the cancer clusters in Port St. Lucie around the nuclear power plant there.

Or around the Turkey Point power plant in Homestead or the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant

in Tom's River, N. J.

I worked personally with scientists Ernest Sternglass and Jerald Brown on the "Baby Teeth"

study that demonstrated absorption of radioactive material into children's teeth (and subsequently

into bones, soft tissue, etc.) and into our drinking water, particularly around nuclear power plants.

A similar study in the 1950s and 1960s led to a ban on above-ground nuclear testing.

The current study led to a lawsuit in Port St. Lucie citing radiation as the direct cause of a local

child's leukemia.

I know this may be a sensitive, political issue, however, I implore you to research the facts and

find a way to continue to bring this information to the forefront.

Visit the Web sites radiation.org or NutritionMission.org/ Radiation Poisoning for more information.

Thank you.

 

Beth Ellen DiLuglio, MS, RD, CNSD, CCN

Singer Island

 

 

 

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WHY are studies still condoning the use of weight loss diets that dangerously

restrict all carbohydrates, even healthy whole food sources, while encouraging

EXCESSIVE INTAKE of animal based fats and protein ?

JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE LOSES WEIGHT, it does not mean that it is a healthy way

to do it.

I cannot believe that these studies do not measure or even ADDRESS two MAJOR

risk factors for heart disease, CRP (C-Reactive Protein which measures inflammation) and

HOMOCYSTEINE (an amino acid, a byproduct of meat metabolism, that is correlated more

closely with heart attack and heart disease than cholesterol levels).

These high protein, low carbohydrate diets also make the blood very acidic which is a

major risk factor for osteoporosis... Not to mention diabetics who follow this high protein,

low carbohydrate diet put themselves at significant risk for kidney failure!

Here is a current article and a very well balance reply from

Dr. Howard Eisenson, director of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ABC NEWS ARTICLE from abcnews.go.com March 7, 2007.

 

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 AND YOU THOUGHT THAT TRANS FATS were bad !!

Just when we seemed to have gotten the use of unhealthy TRANS FATS under control,

PROCESSED FOODS are now starting to contain another unhealthy additive called

INTERESTERIFIED FATS.  They were designed to take the place of TRANS FATS in

processed foods that require a longer shelf life.  Apparently these new altered fats

significantly lowered HDL and raised glucose levels... obviously unhealthy changes!

 

As the study below was financially supported by the Malayasian Palm Oil Board, we will

wait for the results to be repeated and verified before recommending that people avoid

interesterified fats.  HOWEVER in keeping with my basic philosophy, we should avoid

processed foods and concentrate on natural, unprocessed, whole foods...

 

Read for yourself the article in Nutrition and Metabolism  (nutritionandmetabolism.com) and it's

CONCLUSION:

A natural saturated fat, palm olein, was compared to two forms of modified replacement fats, one containing trans fatty acids, the other interesterified with 18:0. Both modified fats adversely altered metabolism of plasma lipoproteins and blood glucose in humans. Further investigation is warranted before interesterification is disseminated as the process of choice for replacing partial hydrogenation as a primary means for hardening vegetable oils for use in foods

 

 

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COULD it be true that

 

 90% of the ocean's edible species may be gone by 2048
Updated 11/3/2006 7:44 AM ET

E-mail | Save | Print | Reprints & Permissions | 

Subscribe to stories like this Subscribe to stories like this
The world's fish and seafood populations will collapse by 2048 if current trends in habitat destruction and overfishing continue, researchers say.
 Enlarge By Dani Cardona, AP
The world's fish and seafood populations will collapse by 2048 if current trends in habitat destruction and overfishing continue, researchers say.
 
 HUNGRY FOR FISH

As supplies dwindle, the American appetite for seafood grows. U.S. annual consumption per person:

1960: 10.3 pounds

1970: 11.8

1980: 12.5

1990: 15.0

2000: 15.2

2004: 16.6

Source: National Marine Fisheries Service
 
A worker guides a haul of black cod from the hold of a tender at Petersburg, Alaska, on Oct. 2.
 Enlarge By Klas Stolpe, AP
A worker guides a haul of black cod from the hold of a tender at Petersburg, Alaska, on Oct. 2.
 
 
By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

Oversight of commercial fishing must be strengthened or there may

eventually be no more seafood.

That's the conclusion of a report in today's Science journal that predicts

90% of the fish and shellfish species that are hauled from the ocean

to feed people worldwide may be gone by 2048.

Even now, 29% of those species have "collapsed," meaning a

90% decline in the amount being fished from the sea, said

Boris Worm, lead author and a professor of marine conservation

biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.

"It is a very clear trend, and it is accelerating," Worm said.

The paper represents four years of work by an international

team of researchers at various universities who analyzed

ocean species diversity over the past 1,000 years.

The team concludes that this trend can be reversed.

"We need to implement sustainable fishing methods,

create marine sanctuaries where species can replenish

themselves and limit pollution from coastal areas," said

Heike Lotze, a marine ecologist at Dalhousie University.

"If the habitat is gone or the water's destroyed," the fish

populations can't bounce back, she said.

"We know how to do this. But it must be done soon," Worm said.

"With each species that is lost, the opportunity for the system

to repair itself is diminished."

The findings are too pessimistic and not true of the USA, said

Steve Murawski, chief scientist for the National Marine Fisheries

Service, which oversees fishing regions in U.S. waters.

Murawski said "aggressive fisheries management" is reducing

the percentage of U.S. overfished species, which he estimated

is now 20%. U.S. fishing regions represent about 10% of the

world's catch.

Worldwide, overfishing is a big part of the problem, the researchers said. "Every year it's estimated that

human beings remove 150 million metric tons of life from the seas," said Joshua Reichert, environment-program director

at Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia.

But fishing isn't the only problem, the report states. The destruction of

coastal areas, estuaries and reefs by dredging, building and pollution

destroys nursery habitats for young fish.

As marine species disappear, the ability of others to survive is further harmed

by the drop in the ocean's overall productivity and stability, the researchers found.

Fish and seafood are key protein sources for a world that's expected to add

another 3 billion people by 2050. But it's also a problem for people who don't

eat fish. Sixty percent of Americans live within 60 miles of a coast. Declines in

marine biodiversity can:

•Increase coastal flooding because of the loss of floodplains and erosion

control provided by the wetlands, reefs and underwater vegetation that are a

cornerstone of marine life.

•Reduce water quality by destroying the plants, shellfish and fish that are the

ocean's biological filtering apparatus.

•Increase beach closure because of harmful algae blooms, such as red tide,

facilitated by diminished filtering

 SHOULD WE REVISIT THE 1970's SCI-FI CLASSIC FILM 

"Soylent Green" ??!!  What would

Charlton Heston, AKA "Thorn" say now ?!

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How much is TOO MUCH?

Because pesticides have only been used to kill pests for less than a generation, we really don't know how

much the human body can handle, especially children.  Of course "pesticides" were originally formulated

to kill humans, being used as weapons of war... but how much does it take to make us sick? 

Ultimately WE DON'T KNOW!  Our bodies, under ideal circumstances can "detoxify" a certain amount of

pesticide, but we must be in good nutritional status and have plenty of nutrients, antioxidants and

phytochemicals available.

We should demand that the EPA take appropriate, not innappropriate action..

"Government scientists are blowing the whistle on the Environmental Protection Agency's attempt to allow

the continued use of 20 highly controversial organophosphate pesticides without conducting adequate

safety testing. Previous research indicates that these pesticides pose serious health hazards, especially to

babies in the womb, infants and children. EPA scientists report that they are being pressured to skip key risk

assessment tests. This controversy comes on the heels of the EPA's new rule which would allow the

intentional dosing of pregnant women and children with pesticides."

CLICK HERE for the full story from Organic Consumers Association and

the chance to send a letter to the EPA

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Parkinson's Disease AGAIN linked to pesticide exposure... even low level home exposure...

From medicalnewstoday.com: 

Pesticides Linked To Parkinson's Disease

Main Category: Parkinson's Disease News
Article Date: 26 Jun 2006 - 10:00am (PDT)

Exposure to pesticides is linked to a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, say researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, USA. People with low level exposure to pesticide sprays have a 70% increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease when compared to people with no or very low exposure.

Read HERE about the Annals of Neurology article dated June 26, 2006.

  ************************************************************************************************* 

Read HERE about the role that HORMONES and SLEEP play in maintaining a healthy weight.

 

 

 

Fat Hormones Exposed
Researchers zero in on the main culprits of overeating.
AOL Diet and Fitness
 
By AMY PATUREL, M.S., M.P.H.

Why do you find yourself heading for a pint of Chunky Monkey after a full dinner (and when you're already

busting out of your pants)? Researchers are convinced it has a lot to do with hormones. According to

Andrea Giancoli, M.P.H., R.D., of the American Dietetic Association, hormone levels fluctuate based on how much sleep you get, how many calories you take in (and when) and what those calories consist of.

Now it seems researchers are zeroing in on four so-called "fat hormones."

In fact, some might argue that the growing body of research linking weight loss with adequate sleep,

low stress and an optimistic outlook falls under the larger umbrella of these four hormones. The details:

Ghrelin: A hormone secreted by your gut (tummy and intestines), ghrelin rises when you haven't noshed

in a while and falls after a midday meal. The trick to keeping ghrelin levels in check? "Don't starve yourself,"

says Giancoli, "and get enough sleep." Ghrelin levels are higher in people who get less sleep.

Leptin: Leptin is produced by fat cells and it signals the brain to stop eating. When you lose weight, you

lose leptin, too. The result: rebound weight gain. To lose weight and keep it off, strive for slow steady

weight loss -- no more than one to two pounds per week, says Giancoli.

Obsetatin: Recently identified by Stanford researchers, obestatin slows down the digestive process.

Scientists are still entrenched in the journey of discovery on this one, but it holds promise. It's probably a

safe bet that what keeps this hormone in check is the same as the others: adequate sleep, balanced diet

and minimal stress.

Cortisol: Low on energy and high on stress? Your cortisol levels are likely to climb through the roof.

Cortisol increases blood sugar, which gives you energy, but also makes you hungry. Still some research

indicates that cortisol has no connection to obesity. My anxiety-induced binge fest begs to differ. So until

researchers tease out the truth, relax!

************************************************************************************************** 

Please contact your congressman to SUPPORT LABELING of GENETICALLY ENGINEERED foods here in

the U.S.A....

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) recently introduced two bills related to GE crops and foods in the

House of Representatives. One bill, HR 5269, The Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act of 2006,

would require mandatory labeling of all GE foods; the other, HR 5268, The Genetically Engineered Food Safety

Act, would require mandatory, pre-market safety testing of GE foods.

We need you to contact your Representatives and encourage them to support these important bills!
 
Take Action Now! Contact your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor and support HR 5268 and HR 5269!     The Center for Food Safety Campaign ends on December 1, 2006.

Tell me more

******************************************************************************************* 

We all KNOW that smoking is not good for our health... but here are two EXCELLENT reasons to

QUIT NOW!

Protect infants from second hand smoke and

Protect your family from the anguish.

******************************************************************************************** 

Did you know that the diesel engine was originally designed to run on VEGETABLE OIL ? 

Yes, Frederick Diesel designed his new engine to run on peanut and vegetable oil... he proudly

showcased it in the early 1900's until he mysteriously disappeared.  Apparently his body was never

found.  The diesel engine was converted to run on petroleum products.... hmm.....

Read HERE about 2 guys from Ohio running their Volkswagen Jetta on SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil).

You can also read more in a book called "From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank" which I have shared with

many of my students.

Straight vegetable oil may be better than BIODIESEL if the BIODIESEL is made from virgin crops...

better to make biodiesel from algae... a technology showcased by GREENSHIFT, the only stock I own!

*********************************************************************************************

Finally someGOOD news !   More research supporting the health benefits of a plant based diet, specifically

how a Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia... CLICK HERE.

**********************************************************************************************

They did what?   The infamous "they" have now found a way to splice a worm gene into cloned pigs

to raise their Omega-3 fatty acid content.... Hasn't anyone told "them" that you just need to feed the animal

differently to alter its Omega-3 and Omega-6 content?  And of course such tunnel vision ignores the

downside of raising animals in mass quantities and the negative health effects of the meat itself.... 

I find it mad science....  which apparently, according to the 3/27/06 Forbes.com article,

is federally funded (!?)

*******************************************************************************************

In a study involving 23 elementary school-aged children, eating an organic diet was found to significantly

lower exposure to organophosphorus pesticides...

********************************************************************************************

EPA Plan Would Allow Industry to Pollute Communities With Dangerous Chemicals Without Notifying

The Public

13 JAN 2006 | EPA's proposed rollback of the Toxics Release Inventory, the nation's premier right-to-know

pollution law, would terminate reporting of all pollution and disposal information for 228,000 pounds of five

persistent bioaccumulative toxics at 123 facilities in 35 states.

• EWG Investigation
• News Release

***********************************************************************************************

Junk Food Marketing.... is it making your children sick?

Read the Institute of Medicines recent press release...

How marketing influences children and youth is the focus of the IOM report, Food Marketing to Children

and Youth: Threat or Opportunity? The report provides the most comprehensive review to date of the

scientific evidence on the influence of food marketing on diets and diet-related health of children and youth.

The study was requested by Congress and sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC). 

The report finds that current food and beverage marketing practices puts children's long-term health at risk.

If America's children and youth are to develop eating habits that help them avoid early onset of diet-related

chronic diseases, they have to reduce their intake of high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks, fast foods,

and sweetened drinks, which make up a high proportion of the products marketed to them.

**************************************************************************************************

ALERT: U.S. PROPOSES DOUSING WILDERNESS AREAS WITH PESTICIDES

Click Here to Sign Petition
(your info will not be shared - privacy policy)

Note: Public comment period ends Jan.9,2006

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has proposed to apply massive amounts of pesticides to public lands

in 17 Western states. The BLM claims these pesticides need to be applied to forests, rangelands and aquatic

areas in order to reduce the risk of fire and slow the spread of invasive weeds. Under the proposal 932,000

acres would undergo chemical application in 17 western states, including National Monuments and National

Conservation areas.

An integral part of this proposal involves aerial spraying of toxic pesticides, which increases negative impacts

on non-targeted vegetation, wildlife, and people, including recreationists, tourists, and native peoples (pesticide application areas

include Alaska, where native fishing and plant gathering is widespread).

The pesticides that would be used include persistent and mobile chemicals, including known developmental and reproductive

toxins. The list of pesticides includes 4 new chemicals and 14 other pesticides, including 2,4-D, bromacil, chlorsulfuron, diquat,

diuron, fluridone, hexazinone, teburthiruon, triclopyr, and picloram. The proposal would also allow the use of "new chemicals that

may be developed in the future."

Fortunately, the proposal also includes an analysis of possible outcomes of using nonchemical means of managing these areas

and offers an option (Option C) wherein traditional methods of vegetation management are used on public lands, not the use

widespread application of toxic chemicals.

*********************************************************************************************

SOS!    SAVE ORGANIC STANDARDS!!!

Click HERE for full story...

SOS Update October 6, 2005

Over the past week, Organic Consumers Association network members have deluged the U.S. congress with over 90,000 emails and over 15,000

telephone calls. Thank you for your support. This nearly unprecedented grassroots upsurge has temporarily rattled Congress and the industry,

delaying the initial Sneak Attack in the Senate on organic standards, resulting in a compromise amendment (H.R. 2744) September 21 calling

for “further study of the issue.”

Unfortunately we expect another, possibly even more serious, Sneak Attack in the House/Senate Conference Committee over the next week as

Congress members put the final wording together for the 2006 Congressional Agriculture Appropriations Bill (for a list of committee members and

contact info, click here). Therefore OCA is now calling on consumers and the organic community to apply pressure to their House of Representatives

members as well as their Senators to stop the Conference Committee from degrading the standards. In addition we urge everyone to start applying

pressure to the Organic Trade Association, who are unfortunately spearheading this Sneak Attack. We ask everyone who has read our SOS Action

Alert and signed our petition to Congress to call your House of Representative member 202-224-3121, as well as the OTA: 413-774-7511.

(If you are an organic business, please sign on to the petition to stop the OTA rider here)

Background of the Sneak Attack

After 35 years of hard work, the U.S. organic community has built up a multi-billion dollar alternative to industrial agriculture, based upon strict

organic standards and organic community control over modification to these standards.

Now, large corporations, such as Kraft, Wal-Mart, & Dean Foods--aided and abetted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and members of the

Organic Trade Association, are moving to lower organic standards by allowing Bush appointees in the USDA National Organic Program to approve a

broad list of synthetic ingredients and processing aids that would be allowed in organic production. Even worse these proposed regulatory changes

will reduce future public discussion and input and take away the National Organic Standards Board’s (NOSB) traditional lead jurisdiction in setting standards.

What this means, in blunt terms. is that USDA bureaucrats and industry lobbyists, not consumers, will have near total control over what can go into

organic foods and products. (Send a quick letter to your Congresspersons online here)

During the next week, acting in haste and near-total secrecy, the U.S. Congress is being lobbied by industry to vote on a rider in the House/Senate

Conference Committee to the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that could take away control over organic standards from the National Standards Board

and put this control in the hands of federal bureaucrats in the USDA (remember the USDA proposal in 1997-98 that said that genetic engineering, toxic

sludge, and food irradiation would be OK on organic farms, or USDA suggestions in 2004 that heretofore banned pesticides, hormones, tainted feeds, and

animal drugs would be OK?).

For the past week in Washington, OCA has been urging members of Congress not to reopen and subvert the federal statute that governs U.S.

Organic standards (the Organic Food Production Act: OFPA), but rather to let the organic community and the National Organic Standards Board resolve

our differences over issues like synthetics and animal feed internally, and then proceed to a open public comment period. Unfortunately most members

of Congress seem to be listening to industry lobbyists more closely than to us. We need to raise our voices.

(Send a quick letter to your Congresspersons online here)

In the past, grassroots mobilization and mass pressure by organic consumers have been able to stop the USDA and Congress from degrading organic standards.

This time Washington insiders tell us that the "fix is already in." So we must take decisive action now. We need you to call your Congressional Representatives

and Senators today. We need you to sign the following petition and send it to everyone you know. We also desperately need funds to head off this attack in the

weeks and months to come. Thank you for your support. Together we will take back citizen control over organic standards and preserve organic integrity.

Call the Capital Switchboard here: 202-224-3121, and tell your Congresspersons not to support any ammendments to the ag appropriations bill that would

lower organic standards. You can send a quick letter to your Congresspersons online here: www.organicconsumers.org/rd-ofpa.htm

 CLICK HERE for related Press Releases.

 

***************************************************************************************************

TOXIC ELEMENTS found in the cord blood of newborn infants... 

 CLICK HERE for full story.

 Toxic elements found in infants' cord blood

By Christine Stapleton

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, July 14, 2005

 

 

 

In a benchmark study released today, researchers found an average of 200 industrial compounds, pollutants

and other chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of newborns, including seven dangerous pesticides — some

banned in the United States more than 30 years ago.

The report, Body Burden — The Pollution in Newborns, by the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental

Working Group, detected 287 chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborns. Of those chemicals,

76 cause cancer in humans or animals, 94 are toxic to the brain and nervous system and 79 cause birth

defects or abnormal development in animal tests.

 

• 76 chemicals that cause cancer in humans or animals.
• 94 that are toxic to the brain and nervous system.
• 79 that cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests.

 

 

READ MORE ABOUT HUMAN EXPOSURE TO INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS AND CARCINOGENS  from the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals

**********************************************************************************************

DANGERS of Atkins' diet revealed...

 Judge Orders Atkins Nutritionals
to End Secrecy and Produce
Internal Business Records

Ruling Is the Latest Legal Victory
for Former Dieter Suing Atkins

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA—A Florida judge has ordered Atkins Nutritionals to produce internal business

records as well as other evidence sought by plaintiff Jody Gorran, a former dieter who is suing the weight-loss

corporation. Gorran developed a near-fatal artery blockage after following the high-fat Atkins diet for

two-and-a-half years, and his lawsuit, filed last year, has withstood repeated attempts at dismissal. In the

face of Atkins’ repeated refusal to produce documents and answers to questions in the discovery phase of the

case, Gorran filed a motion to compel.

In a hearing today before Palm Beach County judge Susan Lubitz, Gorran’s motion to compel was successfully

argued by Dan Kinburn, associate general counsel for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Gorran

believes that Atkins Nutritionals’ internal business records are crucial to his case because they will likely show

that the corporation engaged in deceptive commercial speech not protected by the First Amendment.

In another recent victory for the former dieter, Atkins Nutritionals has agreed to produce documents and other

evidence relating to the dangers of the diet. “It has taken a judge’s order, but now Atkins Nutritionals can no longer

conceal its biggest business secret: its strategy for marketing a dangerous diet. Soon, the public will learn that the

low-carb plan is all about hype, not health,” says Jody Gorran.

In his lawsuit, Gorran contends that the Atkins diet caused him to develop severe coronary artery disease,

including dramatically elevated cholesterol levels, crushing chest pains, and a potentially fatal arterial blockage

requiring an angioplasty and a stent. A heart scan done prior to Gorran beginning the diet showed no signs of

heart disease. He is asking that all Atkins products and books be required to carry warning labels, and he is

seeking less than $15,000 in damages.

For an interview with Jody Gorran, or Dan Kinburn, contact Jeanne S. McVey at 202-686-2210, ext. 316 or jeannem@pcrm.org.

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that

promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition. PCRM also conducts clinical research studies,

opposes unethical human experimentation, and promotes alternatives to animal research.

###

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20016
Phone: 202-686-2210 | Email: pcrm@pcrm.org

 

 ******************************************************************************************

Super Size Me !

Is a ground breaking film that I have shared with my college nutrition classes.  I was truly astounded at the damage that a

junk food diet can cause...  Below is a clip from the website...

"Why are Americans so fat? Find out in Super Size Me, a tongue in-cheek - and burger in hand -- look at the legal, financial and

physical costs of America's hunger for fast food.

Ominously, 37% of American children and adolescents are carrying too much fat and 2 out of every three adults are overweight

or obese.  Is it our fault for lacking self-control, or are the fast-food corporations to blame?

Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock hit the road and interviewed experts in 20 U.S. cities, including Houston, the "Fattest City" in America.

From Surgeon Generals to gym teachers, cooks to kids, lawmakers to legislators, these authorities shared their research, opinions

and "gut feelings" on our ever-expanding girth.

During the journey, Spurlock also put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald's for an entire month with three

simple rules:

1) No options: he could only eat what was available over the counter (water included!)
2) No supersizing unless offered
3) No excuses: he had to eat every item on the menu at least once

It all adds up to a fat food bill, harrowing visits to the doctor, and compelling viewing for anyone who's ever wondered if man could

live on fast food alone.

The film explores the horror of school lunch programs, declining health and physical education classes, food addictions and the extreme measures people take to lose weight and regain their health.

Super Size Me is a satirical jab in the stomach, overstuffed with fat and facts about the billion-dollar industry besieged by doctors, lawyers and nutritionists alike. "Would you like fries with that?" will never sound the same"

AND

Check out great healthy alternatives for School Lunch Programs...

Nutritional Resource Foundation & Natural Ovens Bakery have partnered up to bring you nutritional fresh whole food guidelines designed

to help you take the needed steps in improving school breakfasts, lunches, and snacks.

The information packet outlines relevant topics such as "Improving the School Nutrition Environment” & “Six Essentials for Healthy

Students."

It's an in-depth guide to what needs to be done, from the ground up, to foster a healthier, more productive environment in our kids'

schools.

The guide comes with a 14 minute DVD that covers the six-year experience with the Appleton, Wisconsin Alternative School.

This was the school featured in the movie that got amazing results with "troubled" teens by changing their diet!

The DVD shows you just how powerful fresh whole foods can be to the lives of our youth.

For more info, click here for the Schools page at the Natural Ovens Bakery site.

To download the packet, without DVD, click here.

The full packet with the accompanying DVD is $25. To obtain it, please contact:

Melissa Luedtke
Nutritional Resource Foundation
920-758-2500 ext. 131
NRF@naturalovens.com

Don't forget to pass this on to your local PTA, teachers, parents, school board members, city council members, students, mayor,

or other influential representatives or organizations.

*******************************************************************************************

EPA WILL USE POOR KIDS AS GUINEA PIGS
IN NEW STUDY ON PESTICIDES

Study Launch Date Suspended Until Early 2005
Offers Public Comment Period

 

Note: This alert now contains a new Question & Answer section that will be regularly added to as this issue progresses

11/16/2004: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Bush appointees, is seeking input on a new proposed

study in which infants in participating low income families will be monitored for health impacts as they undergo exposure

to known toxic chemicals over the course of two years. The study entitled Children’s Environmental Exposure Research

Study (CHEERS) will look at how chemicals can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed by children ranging from babies to 3

years old.

For taking part in these studies, each family will receive $970, a free video camera, a T-shirt, and a framed certificate of appreciation.

In October, the EPA received $2.1 million to do the study from the American Chemistry Council, a chemical industry front group that

includes members such as Dow, Exxon, and Monsanto (see full list of members on sidebar of this page). Critics of the research, including

some EPA scientists, claim the study's funders guarantee the results will be biased in favor of the chemical industry, at the expense of the

health of the impoverished children serving as test subjects.

For 30 years the ACC has known the high level of toxicity of the specific chemicals being "studied" in this project. These are some of the

most dangerous known chemicals in household products. The ACC knows full well the intensel

 

Healthy lifestyle

adds 14

extra years to life... CLICK HERE

 

 

Published: March 10, 2008

Filed at 12:09 p.m. ET

A vast array of pharmaceuticals -- including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones -- have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.

To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe.

But the presence of so many prescription drugs -- and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.

In the course of a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas -- from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, Ky.

Water providers rarely disclose results of pharmaceutical screenings, unless pressed, the AP found. For example, the head of a group representing major California suppliers said the public ''doesn't know how to interpret the information'' and might be unduly alarmed.

How do the drugs get into the water?

People take pills. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove all drug residue.

 

Exposure to common chemical

may be harmful

By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY
Americans are exposed to far more of a controversial chemical than previously thought —
levels that likely surpass the government's current safety standard and which have been

shown to cause harm in animals, according to a joint statement issued Thursday by

38 leading scientists.

While the chemical, bisphenol A, is hardly a household word, it is found in nearly every home —

 and nearly everybody. Government tests have found bisphenol A — used in plastic baby bottles,

dental sealants and linings of metal cans — in 95% of people studied.

While scientists haven't yet conducted definitive studies in people, animal tests have linked

bisphenol A — which acts like a hormone — to problems such as obesity, early puberty,

hyperactivity, and abnormal sexual behavior and reproductive cycles.

In their joint statement, however, scientists say they took a conservative approach,

including only statements backed by many strong studies.

Scientists agreed that even very low doses cause profound effects on laboratory animals,

particularly during pregnancy and infancy. The chemical can permanently rewire genetic

programming before birth,potentially predisposing exposed animals to cancer.

Bisphenol A also changes brain structure, body size and behavior in animals studied,

scientists said.

 

 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

Please read our privacy statement.
Copyright © 1997-2008. Emerson Ecologics, LLC.  All rights reserved.
phone: 1-800-654-4432  e-mail: cs@emersonecologics.com
www.emersonecologics.com

 

SMMC Nutritionist Named 2007 Nutrition Ambassador Finalist 

 July 17, 2007     Beth Ellen DiLugio, MS, RD, CNSD, CN, finalist in the 2007 Nutrition Ambassador Program

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – St. Mary’s Medical Center has announced that Critical Care Dietician Beth Ellen DiLuglio, MS, RD, CNSD, CN, is a finalist in the 2007 Nutrition Ambassador Program, established by the Nestlé Nutrition Institute.            

The Nutrition Ambassador Program recognizes professionals in the field of nutritional science who clearly demonstrate an exceptional commitment to clinical nutrition and its practical application. Registered dietitians with more than three years of clinical experience and an emphasis in pediatrics or nutritional support were invited to apply for the Nutrition Ambassador Program Scholarship.  

“We’re very proud of Beth’s national recognition as well as of her contributions here at the hospital.  She has played a vital role in the implementation of nutrition best practices at St. Mary’s and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital while serving as a nutrition resource throughout the medical center and in the community,” said CEO Davide Carbone. 

Carbone also pointed out that DiLuglio was instrumental in helping St. Mary’s Medical Center and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital be among the first medical centers in Palm Beach County to be trans-fat free. When she got word of the Nestle award, DiLuglio commented, “The most exciting thing I find about being a dietitian is the opportunity to continue expanding my knowledge and understanding of nutrition as a sophisticated science. I hope nutritionists and nutrition-based companies will continue educating themselves in this area and pick up the torch as progressive leaders in the field of clinical nutrition.”

To be a finalist in the Nutrition Ambassador program, DiLuglio submitted an essay describing how nutrition support practice could be improved over the next five to seven years. She was one of ten finalists invited to Nestlé Nutrition’s headquarters in Glendale, Calif., where she presented her essays to a panel of judges that included last year’s winners.

Scott Teresi, RD, Innovation Manager of Nestlé Nutrition, said, “The judges saw a real passion and energy in Beth Ellen that bodes well for the future of her profession. It was inspiring to meet such a forward-thinking clinician.”

DiLuglio also was recognized recently by St. Mary’s Medical Center for leading the clinical nutrition staff to a 100% accuracy in obtaining prealbumin (a hepatic protein) levels—a sensitive method of assessing the severity of illness due to malnutrition in critically or chronically-ill patients.

 Nestlé Nutrition, part of Nestlé S.A., the world’s largest food company, is dedicated to infant, healthcare, and performance nutrition and weight management. With 140 years of global food experience that began with the creation of the world’s first commercial infant food, Nestlé is a leader in worldwide food and nutrition research. Nestlé Nutrition – HealthCare offers unique products and programs that encourage appropriate nutrition, from health supplements to critical care nutrition, for people facing a variety of health challenges.

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