SZONE.US Forums - Health http://www.szone.us/ Who we are, what we are, and what we need en Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:57:09 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.szone.us/images/misc/rss.jpg SZONE.US Forums - Health http://www.szone.us/ Diet pill failure shows how drugs fall short by William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. http://www.szone.us/f20/diet-pill-failure-shows-how-drugs-fall-short-william-campbell-douglass-ii-m-d-49215/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:22:27 GMT *Diet pill failure shows how drugs fall short *There may come a time when a pill will help make you less fat. But if you keep eating McCrap, no drug in the world will make you healthy -- and all you have to do is look at the results of an aborted drug experiment to see why. The drug was called rimonabant, and it was supposed to help people lose weight AND stop smoking. It never reached market here -- and was suspended shortly after being approved in Europe -- after patients in a clinical trial began killing themselves. Diet pill failure shows how drugs fall short

There may come a time when a pill will help make you less fat.

But if you keep eating McCrap, no drug in the world will make you healthy -- and all you have to do is look at the results of an aborted drug experiment to see why.

The drug was called rimonabant, and it was supposed to help people lose weight AND stop smoking.

It never reached market here -- and was suspended shortly after being approved in Europe -- after patients in a clinical trial began killing themselves.

In industry-speak, that's known as a "setback."

But beyond that, the researchers also found that while the drug did help some patients lose weight -- those who didn't commit suicide, anyway -- it didn't actually prevent any of the problems associated with obesity.

In fact, the study of 18,695 patients found no difference between the drug and the placebo on cardiovascular risk. Researchers say 3.9 percent of those taking rimonabant suffered a heart attack or stroke, versus 4 percent of those on the placebo.

The study was cut short after 14 months, but researchers now say they wish they could see what would have happened if the study had gone 33 months as planned... and I can only assume they don't mean they wanted to see more suicides.

They seem to think that, over the longer term, patients who lost weight with rimonabant would have had fewer heart problems than those on the placebo.

Fat chance.

The evidence is pretty clear, because it's been studied before. Last year, researchers found that dieters who lost weight with the drug Meridia actually had a HIGHER rate of cardiovascular problems than those on the placebo.

If it's not obvious to these people by now, it never will be. But the simple fact is you cannot and will not be healthy if you eat poorly, no matter what you weigh -- or what drugs you take to get there.

Throwing my weight around,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/diet-pill-failure-shows-how-drugs-fall-short-william-campbell-douglass-ii-m-d-49215/ How drug companies always win http://www.szone.us/f20/how-drug-companies-always-win-49214/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:20:24 GMT


How drug companies always win

Talk about stacking the deck and loading the dice -- a new study shows that when Big Pharma plays the research game, they win nearly every time.

You might even say they have it down to a science -- with more science put into gaming the system than you'll ever see in their phony baloney drug studies.

Researchers looked at 546 drug trials and found that 85 percent of all industry-funded studies came up roses for the drug that was tested. Drug studies by nonprofit groups and non-federal organizations that received Big Pharma funding for their research also turned out positive 85 percent of the time, according to the study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

It's a run of "luck" so impressive that if Big Pharma were a blackjack player, he'd be found behind the casino with broken arms and cracked ribs.

The feds at least know how to make it LOOK like a fair fight -- government studies only come up positive for the drug 50 percent of the time. And nonprofits and other groups have positive results 61 percent of the time when they get no Big Pharma bucks.

Of course, those are only the published studies... because we know how Big Pharma loves to sweep negative results under the rug. And that carpet must be pretty lumpy by now: The researchers behind the new analysis also found that only 32 percent of Big Pharma-funded studies are published within two years.

A drug could fail 100 times... but if those studies don't get published, the feds may never find out about them. Then, they approve the med based on the baloney research that DID get published.

And you can bet they'll never bother to check under the rug.

Throwing my weight around,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.
 ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/how-drug-companies-always-win-49214/ <![CDATA[What's the connection between politics and health?]]> http://www.szone.us/f20/whats-connection-between-politics-health-49213/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:17:33 GMT What's the connection between politics and health?

Q: I'm a new subscriber to Nutrition & Healing, and really enjoy reading it. I have to say, though, I'm surprised to see so many politically based articles. I'm not sure I see the connection between politics and nutrition (and healing).

Dr. Wright: Diet, exercise, vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and other natural substances are all necessary for optimizing your health and treating illness, and those things are all the primary focus of Nutrition & Healing. But close attention to politics is just as important, which is why we also regularly feature articles relating to political issues that relate to health care. Over several generations, attention to health care politics has fallen by the wayside for many people. As a result, various layers of government (especially los Federales) now dictate to us what health care we may and may not have.

It'll likely take quite a few years to restore the degree of health care freedom citizens had during the first 100 years the United States existed. But right now, we need to focus all of our efforts on keeping the small amount of health care freedom we still have. This includes being aware of what legislation is coming before Congress and the House of Representatives. Remember -- these elected officials are in place to represent your opinions and beliefs. But they can't do that accurately unless you and I are aware of what's going on and make our positions known to them. Our government is, after all, "of the people, by the people, and for the people."


Bear in mind we are not addressing anyone's personal situation and you should rely on this for informational purposes only. Please consult with your own physician before acting on any recommendations contained herein.

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien
 ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/whats-connection-between-politics-health-49213/ <![CDATA[Will they be deaf before they're 20? iPod & headphone use]]> http://www.szone.us/f20/will-they-deaf-before-theyre-20-ipod-headphone-use-49212/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:14:48 GMT Dear Reader,

You probably already suspected it was true.

Watching your kids or grandkids go around with those little white headphones jammed in their ears all day, you can't help but wonder what it's doing to their hearing.

After all, the music is so loud, you can hear it from across the room -- and those things are right in their ears!

Will they be deaf before they're 20? Should they really be listening all day like that?

But you don't want to nag, knowing they're just going to roll their eyes and say you're out of touch. "Besides," they'll challenge you, "can you prove it?"

Well...yes. Now you can.

For the proof, we look to a 24-year study of 8,710 adolescent girls, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The girls, who started the study at an average age of 16, had their hearing tested at the beginning of the study in 1985.

Between then and the end of the study, high-frequency hearing loss nearly doubled. This kind of hearing loss results from excessive noise exposure -- like cramming little headphones into your ears and pumping up the volume.

Between 2001 and 2008, the number of girls listening to music on personal devices such as iPods went from 18.3 percent to a whopping 76.4 percent. In that same time, high frequency hearing loss shot from 12.4 percent to 19.2 percent.

Girls (now women, of course) using the devices were 80 percent more likely to have impaired hearing. Some of them reported experiencing tinnitus -- all but one with the condition were headphone users.

It's best to use headphones in moderation -- and to keep the volume at a "conversational" or slightly higher level -- any higher and the ears are overworked, leading to damage down the road.

It can be tricky, though, to communicate that to kids, who imagine they're immune to such ailments as hearing loss.

Why not ask the kids if they'd like to give their ears a little break and listen together -- plug that iPod into the stereo and enjoy their music with them. Hey, you might even find a new favorite band!

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/will-they-deaf-before-theyre-20-ipod-headphone-use-49212/ <![CDATA[Magazine's baseless attack on supplements,supplement-hating campaign over pukeweed]]> http://www.szone.us/f20/magazines-baseless-attack-supplements-supplement-hating-campaign-over-pukeweed-49201/ Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:54:54 GMT Magazine's baseless attack on supplements

Whatever you do, don't take pukeweed -- also known as vomit wort.

Somehow, I didn't think you'd need a warning over that one -- the name alone is a deterrent -- but Consumer Reports seems to think you might.

In fact, they've practically organized an entire supplement-hating campaign over pukeweed and a handful of other equally obscure herbal remedies. And the press is just eating it up -- the campaign, that is... not the pukeweed.

In an age where stories are reduced to headlines running along a TV news ticker, the Consumer Reports "exposé" led to dire warnings that made it sound as if every supplement is tainted, contaminated and dangerous.

But unless you're a big believer in germanium, chaparral, or bitter orange, there's not much to worry about here.

The biggest name on the list is colloidal silver, the supplement that'll win you a quick audition for the Blue Man Group because of the color it'll turn your skin. But really, anyone who's still taking silver at this point is beyond even my help.

I've gotten some flack for my stance on this dangerous remnant from the days of alchemy, but I don't care. There's not a single credible study out there that proves it works, and plenty on its dangers.

Of the dozen names on the Consumer Reports terrorist supplement watch list, only three really approach common use: Kava, yohimbine and comfrey. And somehow, they manage to get it wrong three out of three times.

Consumer Reports warns against swallowing comfrey -- but most people use it in a lotion, something even the magazine admits is safe. Yohimbine is a natural aphrodisiac that's far safer than any sex drug on the market. And kava, a natural alternative to anti-anxiety meds, has been the victim of a Big Pharma smear campaign.

Listen, I'm happy to bust shady supplement makers when they make unrealistic claims or get caught selling tainted vitamins. You know I do it all the time.

So do yourself a favor and get your nutritional advice from someone you trust -- namely, me -- and save Consumer Reports for the next time you need a toaster oven instead.

Weeding out the pukeweed,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/magazines-baseless-attack-supplements-supplement-hating-campaign-over-pukeweed-49201/ Tylenol linked to asthma in kids http://www.szone.us/f20/tylenol-linked-asthma-kids-49200/ Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:52:11 GMT Tylenol linked to asthma in kids

If all the recalls and the already well-known side effects haven't been enough to convince you to ditch the Tylenol for good, maybe this will: Researchers say acetaminophen may be responsible for up to 40 percent of all wheezing and severe asthma cases in teens.

Researchers looked at 320,000 teens in 50 countries and found that 11 percent of all kids had breathing problems. But those who took acetaminophen at least once a month had DOUBLE the risk of those problems.

And guess what? A third of American kids take Tylenol at least once a month. No wonder asthma in adolescents is spiraling out of control!

The study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine also found that kids who took Tylenol were more likely to suffer allergic nasal congestion and the itchy skin condition eczema.

Another study in the same journal found yet another connection between this bad med and bad breathing. Ethiopian researchers say babies given Tylenol in their first year had up to seven times the risk of wheezing problems between the ages of 1 and 3 years old.

Despite all the bad news, painkiller-loving "experts" are lining up to defend the med, saying that the studies don't show a clear link, more research is needed, clinical trials, keep using it, don't panic, blah blah blah.

But really, who cares at this point? There have been so many studies showing how bad this med is -- bad for adults, worse for kids -- that any reason to stop giving it to a child, and stop taking it yourself, is good enough in my book.

And if your kid breathes easier, you will too.



Weeding out the pukeweed,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.
 ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/tylenol-linked-asthma-kids-49200/ State experiments with weight-loss surgery http://www.szone.us/f20/state-experiments-weight-loss-surgery-49196/ Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:44:59 GMT State experiments with weight-loss surgery

South Carolina wants state workers to shape up... but don't expect the government to actually go through the trouble of teaching good health.

Nope, they're going to offer free stomach-shrinking surgeries for employees instead.

It's like an episode of Oprah: You get a Lap-Band... and you get a Lap-Band... and you get a Lap-Band!

But unlike a prize-winning Oprah audience, plenty of people who want this surgery will be shut out. You see, it's actually a miniature experiment in healthcare rationing -- because the state only has enough money for 100 surgeries, which cost $24,000 each.

Who will get it? Who will decide? What criteria will they use? Will patients be encouraged to pork up so they can appear needier than the rest? Will "who you know" play a role?

Maybe they can turn it into a reality TV show where contestants lie, cheat, deceive and seduce their way to a taxpayer-funded surgery.

Maybe Oprah can host.

Striking with surgical precision,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/state-experiments-weight-loss-surgery-49196/ U.S. employers push increase in cost of healthcare onto workers http://www.szone.us/f20/u-s-employers-push-increase-cost-healthcare-onto-workers-49123/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:04:07 GMT U.S. employers push increase in cost of healthcare onto workers As employers struggle with rising healthcare costs and a sour economy, U.S. workers for the first time in at least a decade are being asked to shoulder the entire increase in the cost of health benefits on their own. The average worker with a family plan was hit with 14% premium increase this year, pushing the bill to nearly $4,000 a year, according to a survey by the nonprofit Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust. Los Angeles Times (http://lapd.com/r/A/NzAxOTM/MTI3NzM4/0/0/aHR0cDovL21vYmlsZS5sYXRpbWVzLmNvbS93YXAvbW9iaWxlU2VhcmNoL25ld3NTZWFyY2gvdGV4dC5qc3A_c2lkPTI5NCZxPWhlYWx0aGNhcmUmc3Q9bmV3c1NlYXJjaCZuaWQ9MjA2OTAzMDUmY2lkPTE2Njc3JnNjaWQ9MTAzMiZpdGg9MA) Newsletter from LAPPL; About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The... U.S. employers push increase in cost of healthcare onto workers

As employers struggle with rising healthcare costs and a sour economy, U.S. workers for the first time in at least a decade are being asked to shoulder the entire increase in the cost of health benefits on their own. The average worker with a family plan was hit with 14% premium increase this year, pushing the bill to nearly $4,000 a year, according to a survey by the nonprofit Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust.
Los Angeles Times

Newsletter from LAPPL;
About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at LAPPL - Los Angeles Police Protective League

Los Angeles Police Protective League
1308 West Eighth Street
Los Angeles, California 90017
phone: (213) 251-4554 ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/u-s-employers-push-increase-cost-healthcare-onto-workers-49123/ FDA and USDA censorship are just plain wrong http://www.szone.us/f20/fda-usda-censorship-just-plain-wrong-49115/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:42:31 GMT Stand up speak out

Something important happened last month. Something that could mean big things for the fight to choose what's best for our own families -- without government censorship of valuable information.

But you probably didn't hear about it.

For three years, a group of almond growers has been fighting to keep their products unadulterated -- currently, they're required to sterilize their almonds either through steaming, irradiation, roasting, or treating them with propylene oxide, a known carcinogen that's been banned in the EU. Treated almonds can still be called "raw," meaning health-conscious consumers who want unadulterated food are more or less being duped.

An exemption was made for small-scale growers -- but they were forbidden from saying their almonds hadn't been treated.

Now, these growers have won the right to take their challenge to federal court. They'll be able to argue why the regulation should be thrown out -- and it could mean big things for the future if it is.

Do you think FDA and USDA censorship are just plain wrong -- and harmful to your health? You can help create change. The Free Speech About Science Act is currently in committee, so be sure to let your representatives know how you feel about it. Learn more about the act, and what you can do to support it, here.

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/fda-usda-censorship-just-plain-wrong-49115/ Unknown chemical seeps into cereal http://www.szone.us/f20/unknown-chemical-seeps-into-cereal-49114/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:34:36 GMT Unknown chemical seeps into cereal

If you've been taking my advice, the recent Kellogg cereal recall had no impact at all on your breakfast... because you wouldn't have been eating that carb-loaded sugary garbage in the first place.

And if you didn't listen to me, well, I hope the nausea and diarrhea caused by the chemical contamination have passed by now.

Kellogg says it's only temporary.

The company recalled 28 million boxes of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops (aka Sugar Corn Pops) and Honey Smacks (aka Sugar Smacks) -- which can cause worse things than nausea and diarrhea if you eat it every day -- because of a sickening smell and taste, most likely caused by the chemical 2-methylnaphthalene.

I'd like to say it's a dangerous chemical, but the truth is, we don't know much about it at all -- despite the fact that it's been a part of your life for decades now.

Just don't make the mistake of thinking this is limited to cereal, because as I've warned you before, there are tens of thousands of completely unregulated and virtually untested lab creations in your clothing, your furniture, your home -- and now, they're even in your food. (Read more here.)

The companies that make them are only required to tell the feds when they learn that something is dangerous... so they simply make sure they never learn anything about them at all.

It's a government-sanctioned culture of ignorance.

That allows the industry to make the most ludicrous claims with a straight face. They can say that they have no data proving, for example, that bisphenol A is dangerous because they probably really don't have much data on it at all.

And then the government just takes them at their word (and ignores real, damning data from everyone else).

Even worse, the industry can actually ignore the feds when asked about its chemicals. The EPA has been asking for 16 years for data on 2-methylnaphthalene, the newest "secret ingredient" in breakfast cereal.

I hope they're not holding up anyone's breakfast waiting for a response.

On the other hand, they can say with a straight face that there's no evidence 2-methylnaphthalene is worse than anything else in cereal.

And you know? That might even be true.

Popping off on Corn Pops,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/unknown-chemical-seeps-into-cereal-49114/ Common food laced with dangerous toxins http://www.szone.us/f20/common-food-laced-dangerous-toxins-49113/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:58:34 GMT Common food laced with dangerous toxins

Every time I think soy can't possibly get any worse, a new study proves me wrong. The latest research shows just how much this dangerous non-food sucks -- literally.

Researchers have found that soy plants can actually slurp toxic chemicals right out of the groundwater and then store them inside the soybeans.

That's right -- hexane may not be the worst thing in your veggie burger after all! (Click here to read more about this dangerous chemical found in soy.)

Researchers from the University of Toledo in Ohio grew two sets of soy crops: One in soil tainted with common pharmaceuticals, and a second irrigated with water contaminated with three drugs (carbamazepine, diphenhydramine, and fluoxetine) along with the two widely used antimicrobial compounds that I've been warning you about: triclosan and triclocarban.

Don't think for a moment that the study in Environmental Science & Technology was some overblown lab simulation, because U.S. waters are overflowing with this junk and so much more. Studies have consistently found antibiotics, sex-change hormones and rocket fuel in our water, just to name a few.

In other words, the "contaminated" water in this lab experiment was probably much CLEANER than what's actually used to irrigate the soy fields!

The researchers found that the tainted water had a much greater impact on soy plants than drug-laced dirt. In fact, once the crops matured, the researchers found triclosan and triclocarban inside the soybeans themselves.

That's right -- those are the same beans that are found in everything from common packaged foods to cattle feed. And if the cows are eating it, so are you if you eat their beef and drink their milk.

The study also found both antimicrobials and carbamazepine in root tissues, stems and leaves -- something to remember next time you hear a veg-head push soy leaves as the next big green for your salad.

But of course, even "clean" soy raised in perfect conditions will give your body a massive estrogen kick -- and that's why all that soy in the food chain is directly responsible for much of our overall poor health (and for the early puberty in girls that I told you about on Wednesday).

If you want to keep your family safe, keep soy off the plate and install a reverse-osmosis water filter on your home.

I'm not done with chemicals yet -- keep reading for the latest breakfast outrage.

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/common-food-laced-dangerous-toxins-49113/ <![CDATA[Natural migraine relief by Christine O'Brien]]> http://www.szone.us/f20/natural-migraine-relief-christine-obrien-49085/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:17:29 GMT Natural migraine relief

Q: What natural remedies are there for migraines? I don't want to take any drugs.

Dr. Wright: To stop migraine headaches in their tracks a relatively rapid intravenous injection of magnesium and vitamin B6 may be all you need. For more information on obtaining this treatment, contact ACAM: (800)532-3688 or www.acamnet.org.

But there are ways to help prevent a migraine from occurring at all or at least lessen its frequency. It all begins with avoiding allergy triggers (if you don't know what yours are, then get tested), preventing dips in your blood sugar by eating small, more frequent meals, and supplementing with 200 mg of magnesium citrate daily, 200 mg of vitamin B6 daily, 200 milligrams of vitamin B2 two to three times daily (backed up with a B-complex 50 twice daily), three feverfew capsules twice daily, and a hypoallergenic multiple vitamin-mineral.

You'll find prevention is the key in migraine therapy.


Bear in mind we are not addressing anyone's personal situation and you should rely on this for informational purposes only. Please consult with your own physician before acting on any recommendations contained herein.

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/natural-migraine-relief-christine-obrien-49085/ Pop a little pill and sit back as the pain fades away http://www.szone.us/f20/pop-little-pill-sit-back-pain-fades-away-49084/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:13:57 GMT Dear Reader,

You've got a headache. Or you woke up with an aching back. Or you conked your knee on the corner of a table.

So do you take something, or just weather the pain?

Take something, right? Pop a little pill and sit back as the pain fades away (for a little while at least).

It's so easy. But it's not so simple.

Popping that pill could open you up to an increased risk of liver failure. Kidney damage. Heart attack. Bleeding disorders.

Okay, point taken. Who would willingly subject themselves to such risks?

Millions of Americans, that's who.

No matter how much we add to the long list of risks associate with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the marketing always speaks louder. They're safe! They're effective! Keep a steady supply stocked in your medicine chest, in your purse, in your car -- you never want to be without your painkillers!

I can't help but hope we can keep chipping away, though -- especially with developments like the one I read about today.

A study of almost 38,000 Taiwanese adults (age 20 or older) who had suffered a stroke concluded that taking an NSAID in the month prior to the stroke might have led to an elevated risk of having that stroke. The risk varied from anywhere between 20 percent and a shocking 90 percent, depending on the drug.

Researchers looked at quite a few medications including celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and other oral NSAIDs, as well as some given by IV, such as ketorolac (Toradol).

So here we have one more serious risk added to the ever-growing list.

Will the news stop people from popping those pills? Probably not. Of course, some doctors are saying the lesson here is that even OTC drugs are drugs... with side effects and all.

But how do you tell that to a public that's been inundated with messages about how safe and effective these drugs are since the time they could turn on the television? I don't remember any Aleve ads telling me I might be putting myself in danger by taking it for a headache -- just that it would relieve said headache quickly and effortlessly.

This is what happens when you blur the line between medical advice and advertising so effectively -- when people hear bad news about drugs they've been taking forever, they just ignore it. Good news for the drug companies, bad news for us.

The best we can do is to keep spreading the word that we need to pay close attention to what we're putting in our bodies. Why not start by forwarding this e-mail to someone you care about?

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien

P.S. Maybe someday these risk-laden drugs will be a thing of the past. Want to know what the medicine of the future is? Click here. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/pop-little-pill-sit-back-pain-fades-away-49084/ Abuse allegations are all smoke-William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. http://www.szone.us/f20/abuse-allegations-all-smoke-william-campbell-douglass-ii-m-d-49006/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:33:16 GMT Abuse allegations are all smoke

The know-it-all Health Police are at it again -- and this time, they claim that smoking in a car with a kid is child abuse.

Anyone who thinks that smoking near a child is the same as slapping one around needs a smack of his own -- and yes, my open palm is talking to you, "Dr." Steve Field.

In a smarmy, whiny and endlessly long essay in The Observer, Field claims that "evidence from the U.S. indicates that more young children are killed by parental smoking than by all unintentional injuries combined."

Of course, the "evidence" is just SO strong that he doesn't waste one of his 1,200 words citing an actual reference -- but goes on to blame everything from deadly pediatric lung infections to crib deaths on parental smoking.

Never mind that numbers out of his own country show how crib deaths actually ROSE when the smoking rates fell.

The fact is, unless you use your cigarette to set your kid -- or your car -- on fire, you simply can't kill a child by smoking in front of him.

But while smoking in a car isn't abuse of a child -- it IS abuse of a good smoke!

Tobacco is something to be appreciated and enjoyed, not puffed on absent-mindedly as you try to control a car and a screaming kid. If you want to really savor your smokes, treat yourself to a high-quality cigar at the end of the day instead. Take the smoke into your mouth, and let your cheek tissue absorb it instead of your lungs.

Enjoyed in moderation -- I smoke three a day myself -- tobacco isn't just acceptable. It's healthy... and I can prove it with science, not fear. (Read more here.)

Burning mad over phony abuse claims,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/abuse-allegations-all-smoke-william-campbell-douglass-ii-m-d-49006/ Study finds alarming rise in early puberty-William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. http://www.szone.us/f20/study-finds-alarming-rise-early-puberty-william-campbell-douglass-ii-m-d-49005/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:30:27 GMT Study finds alarming rise in early puberty

What are little girls made of? Forget sugar and spice and anything nice -- because today's gals are packed with more hormones than a dairy farm.

And now, our kids are paying the price -- because a new study finds girls hitting puberty earlier than ever. Researchers say the number of girls sprouting breasts and pubic hair by the ages of 7 or 8 years old has DOUBLED in recent years.

Is it really any wonder? There are hormones in milk. Hormones in soy. Hormones in plastic toys. Hormones in food packaging. There are even hormones in your shower curtain.

I'm surprised they don't reach puberty while they're still in the womb!

Researchers looked at 1,239 girls between 6 and 8 years old from three locations across the nation: the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente Northern California/University of California, San Francisco.

They found that by the age of 7, 10.4 percent of white girls, 23.4 percent of black girls and 14.9 percent of Hispanic girls had breasts big enough to be considered the start of puberty.

By the age of 8, those numbers shot up to 18.3 percent of whites, 42.9 percent of blacks and 30.9 percent of Hispanics, according to the study in Pediatrics.

The researchers are collecting blood samples to find out what's making these girls bud so early, and as I told you earlier this year, urine samples in a related study revealed high levels of our three most common hormone-like substances: phenols, phthalates and phytoestrogens. (Read more here.)

There's your answer. Phenols include the bisphenol A used in plastics, phthalates are used in plastics and cosmetics, and most of our phytoestrogen comes from soy.

The researchers didn't look at boys -- but if they did, they would have found alarming numbers of them growing breasts, too, because they're being exposed to those same hormones. (Get more details here.)

If this keeps up, soon men -- real men -- will be an endangered species.

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/study-finds-alarming-rise-early-puberty-william-campbell-douglass-ii-m-d-49005/ <![CDATA[Bouncing back from hypo-adrenalism by Christine O'Brien]]> http://www.szone.us/f20/bouncing-back-hypo-adrenalism-christine-obrien-49004/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:26:38 GMT Bouncing back from hypo-adrenalism

Q: My sister couldn't figure out why she was so exhausted for months. Finally, we got the diagnosis -- hypo-adrenalism. What do you suggest?

Dr. Wright: Since the adrenal glands are the primary stress-response glands in the body, severe exhaustion can be the result if they do not operate properly. Yet effective treatment can help those with the problem feel better in a short time.

Therapy consists of DHEA, cortisol, and the use of extra table salt when seasoning food. This will help rest and repair the glands. In addition, good, basic nutrition remains important, so a diet of whole, unprocessed foods and limiting sugar and junk food is required. A quality multiple vitamin, 1 gram of pantothenic acid twice daily and additional vitamin C in the form of 1 gram three times a day of sodium ascorbate, and six or more pieces of licorice daily (without sugar or other additives) will help speed the recovery of your adrenals.

Finally, consider taking one capsule three times daily of both an adrenal glandular (composed of whole dehydrated animal adrenal cortex), and a combination of botanicals called Adren-Plus, will give you all the nutrients you need to improve your adrenal health. You can order both from the Tahoma Clinic Dispensary at (888)893-6878 or online at www.tahoma-clinic.com.


Bear in mind we are not addressing anyone's personal situation and you should rely on this for informational purposes only. Please consult with your own physician before acting on any recommendations contained herein.

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/bouncing-back-hypo-adrenalism-christine-obrien-49004/ <![CDATA[linked to Novartis AG's drug Stalevo risk of heart attack]]> http://www.szone.us/f20/linked-novartis-ags-drug-stalevo-risk-heart-attack-49003/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:22:06 GMT Dear Reader,

Increased risk of heart attack.

Stroke.

Death.

The risks associated with an unhealthy lifestyle? Yeah, sure -- but they're also risks that were recently linked to Novartis AG's drug Stalevo -- a combination of two treatments used to fight Parkinson's.

Previous trials of the combo drug hadn't shown the increased risk -- but those trials went on for six or fewer months. And once again, I'm absolutely dumbfounded at how such brief trials are allowed to determine the safety of a drug.

How can you be sure about ANYTHING in six months, let alone whether or not it's okay to start mass-distributing a laboratory concoction?

Of course, as soon as longer trials were underway, problems started cropping up.

The FDA plans to examine the connection, but they're not too enthusiastic about it. They said the findings of a few studies are not clear -- and that Parkinson's patients have heart problems anyway.

And of course they had to be sure to throw in their assurance that Stalevo is an effective treatment for Parkinson's. Wow -- they're really setting the stage for an impartial judgment, aren't they?

Still, they've agreed to look into the connection between Stalevo and increased risk of serious heart problems. In the meantime, they're urging patients not to stop taking the drug without consulting a doctor.

If you know someone taking Stalevo, why not arm him for that consultation? Simply search "Parkinson's" in the archive at www.wrightnewsletter.com and you'll find plenty of free advice on how to combat the disease. Nutrition & Healing subscribers have access to even more.

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/linked-novartis-ags-drug-stalevo-risk-heart-attack-49003/ Contribution of smoking to Diabetes http://www.szone.us/f20/contribution-smoking-diabetes-48970/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:37:40 GMT The relation between diabetes and smoking give smokers another reason to quit smoking. Besides the innumerable diseases that smoking causes, diabetes is another disease added to the list.

Diabetes is a disease related to the pancreas which is an organ behind the stomach. The function of pancreas is to release fluid called insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin helps to bring into use the sugars and fats obtained from food consumed. A person develops diabetes when the pancreas either does not make insulin or doesn’t make enough quantity of it. Diabetes is also developed if the insulin doesn’t work properly. Diabetes can further cause complications like eye disease, kidney disease, heart disease and nerve disease. The reasons for developing diabetes include family history of diabetes, obesity, physical stress, use of certain medicines, injury to pancreas, autoimmune disease, hypertension, elevated blood cholesterol, age, smoking, alcohol and pregnancy.

Research proves that smoking increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Smoking 16 to 25 cigarettes per day increases the risk of developing diabetes to three times that of a non smoker. Smoking not only increases the risk of developing the disease but also makes it difficult to manage diabetes for those who already have it. Smoking combined with diabetes may lead to retinopathy, stroke, heart disease, vascular disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and foot problems.

The probability of developing diabetes increases if combined with smoking and other risk factors are also present. Immediate Help to stop smoking must be sought after before further complications arise. ]]> Health cinder123 http://www.szone.us/f20/contribution-smoking-diabetes-48970/ Flawed Study, Bad Science—Outrageous Conclusion on Omega-3 http://www.szone.us/f20/flawed-study-bad-science-outrageous-conclusion-omega-3-a-48946/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:32:20 GMT
- Alliance for Natural Health – US - Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA -
Flawed Study, Bad Science—Outrageous Conclusion
Posted By ANH-USA On August 31, 2010 @ 2:54 pm In Heart Health, Omega-3
You may have read that eating more omega-3 fatty acids doesn’t help heart patients. You absolutely will not believe what the researchers did to arrive at this result.
The researchers fed the poor human guinea pigs margarine—yes, margarine!—otherwise known as the extremely heart unhealthy form of fat called trans fat.
In the study [1], published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers gave heart attack survivors between the ages of 60 and 80 one of four kinds of margarine: one that had additional omega-3s from fish, one that had plant-derived omega-3s, one that had both, and one without any added omega-3s (the control sample). The patients ate 4 tablespoons of it a day, on bread, for 3½ years. Researchers found no difference between the groups, no matter what kind of margarine they ate.
By now we thought that everyone, even conventional doctors, knew that margarine is made by hydrogenating oil, which creates a trans fat, which damages the heart. Did the researchers really think that adding a little omega-3 to it would make much of a difference?
The study designers also seemed blissfully unaware that there are different kinds of omega-3 fatty acids. Some are able to be utilized directly by the body, whereas others, like lenolenic acid derived from vegetable sources, need to be converted by the body before one can use them—and older people have increasing trouble making that conversion, much less older sick people.
Moreover, most fish oil is about a third DHA, two-thirds EPA. The researchers didn’t seem to know about previous research showing that only DHA helps the heart [2]; EPA doesn’t have a significant impact. It isn’t that EPA is useless—it helps other conditions such as arthritis and inflammation—but it doesn’t seem to help the heart. (Dr. Frank Shallenberger [3] discusses this research in his August 2010 RealCures newsletter.)
The bottom line: this study had a very small amount of DHA, some of it not bio-available, battling against a trans fat in elderly, sick patients. How could anyone expect an improvement? Did the researchers who put together the trial simply not know any of this and wasted the time and money? Or did they design the trial to fail?
It probably wasn’t the latter. The study’s leader, Daan Kromhout of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, noted that it’s generally recommended that people eat one or two servings a week of wild oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, or tuna. “The results of this trial do not change that,” he said, noting that there were no harmful side effects. “It’s still a good thing to eat fish once or twice a week.”
Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic said it may have been a matter of too little, too late—the dose was so tiny and the patients were enrolled many years after their initial heart attack—on average four years: “If you wait too long, sometimes you miss that window to benefit them.”
Kopecky also said he tells his heart patients to take 1,000 milligrams of fish oil daily. “The benefit potentially is so great that we tend to put patients on it quite often,” he said.
Fortunately, conventional medicine isn’t dead set against fish oil, the way it was for so many years. Perhaps this is because there is now an FDA-approved version. Being an FDA approved “drug” means that Medicare and Medicaid and the VA can use it. Too bad the FDA-approved version costs of fish oil 7 to10 times as much as fish oil supplements.

Article printed from Alliance for Natural Health – US: Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA
URL to article: Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA

URLs in this post: [1] In the study: The Associated Press: Study: More omega-3 fats didnt aid heart patients
[2] only DHA helps the heart: Docosahexaenoic acid but not eicosapentaenoic acid... [Hypertension. 1999] - PubMed result
[3] Dr. Frank Shallenberger: Dr. Frank Shallenberger's Real Cures Letter.com




Copyright © 2010 Alliance for Natural Health - US. All rights reserved.
]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/flawed-study-bad-science-outrageous-conclusion-omega-3-a-48946/ Action Alert: Genetically Modified Frankenfish! http://www.szone.us/f20/action-alert-genetically-modified-frankenfish-48945/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:28:05 GMT
- Alliance for Natural Health – US - Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA -
Action Alert: Genetically Modified Frankenfish!
Posted By ANH-USA On August 31, 2010 @ 2:55 pm In Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Food Safety, Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) | 10 Comments

Coming to you soon—and you probably won’t know that you’re eating it.
Genetically modified salmon—the first GMO animal for human consumption—is reaching the final stages in its approval. Most terrifying: they might not have to tell us if our fish is GM or not!
This week the FDA announced a 60-day period of consultation and public hearings over whether to permit a genetically modified strain of salmon (“frankenfish” to its critics) to be eaten by humans. The approval process could take less than a year, and if it gets the green light the fish could be on the market in eighteen months.
There are two sets of hearings: whether the FDA should approve this “new animal drug application,” and whether the fish (if approved) must be labeled as genetically engineered or not. Because it is new ground for the FDA and there are no regulations about genetically engineered animals, it is being evaluated as if it were an animal treated with drugs.
AquAdvantage Salmon, designed to grow twice as fast as traditional fish, is an Atlantic salmon containing the Chinook salmon growth hormone gene, plus an antifreeze protein gene from the ocean pout—an eel-like creature from a different family of marine organisms.
The fish has been created by AquaBounty Technologies [1] of Boston, Massachusetts, and was developed over the past fourteen years at a cost of $50 million. The explanation of the genetic modification on the company’s publicity literature, aimed at reassuring the public, makes no mention of the ocean pout gene: “The chinook growth hormone is the same as the Atlantic salmon growth hormone; it is simply regulated differently. Their ability to grow faster does not change the biological make-up of the fish.”
AquaBounty says the fish will be raised in inland waters to ensure that the modified salmon do not enter the oceans. The GM salmon will also be sterile, which eliminates the threat of interbreeding among themselves or with native populations, eliminating the risk to wild populations or the environment.
ANH-USA has consistently opposed genetically modified organisms [2] because of both the documented and the unknown health risks. If GMO products are approved, however ANH-USA strongly supports labeling. We do not have true health freedom if we are prevented from choosing non-GMO foods—which is precisely the result if there are no labels indicating that a particular food has been genetically modified. We do not like untested, new-to-nature substances being forced onto us, but we value the freedom of conscious consumer choice even more.
Eric Hallerman, head of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at Virginia Tech University, said, “This is the threshold case. If it’s approved, there will be others. If it’s not, it’ll have a chilling effect for years.”
One question the hearings will try to determine is whether and how AquaBounty salmon is “materially different” from regular Atlantic salmon. In past hearings on GMOs, the FDA has never found that genetic engineering in itself constitutes a material difference, and the FDA cannot require labeling based on differences in the production process if the resulting products are not materially different.
Any specific scientific data that might support material differences for this GM salmon will be released anywhere from two weeks to two days before the hearing, which will hardly be enough time for thorough scientific evaluation. The FDA says that if the Agency is unable to provide the materials before the meeting, they will be available at the hearing! This says it all about the FDA’s bias. Can you imagine telling a prosecutor or defense lawyer that the evidence would be withheld until the trial?
To date, FDA has refused to require GMO labeling based on consumer interest alone, and the courts (in Stauber v. Shalala [3] and Alliance for Bio-integrity v. Shalala [4]) have upheld the FDA’s decision.
The problem, of course, is that we don’t yet know what negative health effects such bio-engineering might cause in the salmon. We do know that genetically modified foods affect the human physiology in negative ways [5]. One example: Filipinos who ate GMO corn found that their bodies developed antibodies to Bt toxin—that is, their bodies processed the corn’s engineered traits into their guts and reacted to them. These same consumers also developed a resistance to the antibiotic ampicillin.
Moreover, there are significant nutritional differences between GM and non-GM foods generally:
  • GMO soybean varieties produce greater amounts of oleic acid than other soybean varieties. The FDA even acknowledged the differences in the oil they produce, concluding that the term “soybean oil” no longer adequately described the nature of the food but that a term like “high oleic acid” would be required to appear as part of the name of the oil.
  • Roundup Ready beans were significantly lower in protein and amino acid, according to Jeffrey Smith in his book Genetic Roulette [6].
  • In 1996, animal tests proved that there was a severe danger from genes spliced from Brazil nuts and soybeans—allergic reactions so severe that the individuals could suffer anaphylactic shock, possibly leading to death.
  • We recently reported to you that GM soy made hamsters sterile [7], but that the effect did not hit until the third generation, a frightening thought if it applies to humans.
One major problem is that the FDA has historically rushed to approve genetically modified products that are later found to be dangerous. For example, the Flavr Savr tomato was genetically engineered in the early 1990s by Calgene Inc. (now owned by Monsanto); it was designed to stay fresh on store shelves longer than regular tomatoes. Even though the FDA’s own scientific advisers were concerned over Calgene’s findings, which showed stomach lesions in lab rats that ingested the GM tomato, the Flavr Savr went to market!
The FDA should certainly have required the Flavr Savr to be labeled as GM: not only were there significant “material differences” between it and a non-GM tomato in terms of its taste, its risk of fungal diseases, and other physical problems, but more importantly, the Flavr Savr tomato was never deemed safe. According to biologist Arpad Pusztai [8], “the claim that these GM tomatoes were safe as conventional ones is at best premature and, at worst, faulty.” The tomato was withdrawn from the market in 1997.
In the case of the GM salmon, there are two different FDA hearings—one on the AquAdvantage product, and one on the need for a labeling requirement—so we need your help with a two-pronged Action Alert. Please contact the FDA and voice your opinions on genetically modified salmon and on full disclosure in labeling. As always, we’ve drafted sample letters to help you. Please TAKE ACTION now!


TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE FDA ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED SALMON
Click THIS LINK [9] to go to the AquAdvantage Salmon Hearing
Action Alert page.
TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE FDA ON LABELING FOR GMO FOODS
Click THIS LINK [10] to go to the
GMO Labeling Hearing
Action Alert page.
Once there, fill out the form with your name and address, etc., and customize your letter. We have a suggested message for you, but please feel free to add your own comments to the letter.
We’d also love to hear your comments about this article—just add your thoughts below—but remember that the messages below are only seen by our ANH-USA readers and not FDA.


Article printed from Alliance for Natural Health – US: Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA
URL to article: Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health - USA

URLs in this post: [1] AquaBounty Technologies: AquaBounty - AquaBounty Technologies

[2] ANH-USA has consistently opposed genetically modified organisms: 400 Bad Request
[3] Stauber v. Shalala: Stauber v. Shalala
[4] Alliance for Bio-integrity v. Shalala: Report on the Lawsuit
[5] genetically modified foods affect the human physiology in negative ways: Genetically Modified (GM) Food, Genetically Modified Organisms, Genetic Engineering, GM Food Crops, Engineered GMOs, Genetically Altered Foods.
[6] Genetic Roulette: Genetic Roulette - Seeds of Deception
[7] GM soy made hamsters sterile: 400 Bad Request
[8] According to biologist Arpad Pusztai: CAN SCIENCE GIVE US THE TOOLS FOR RECOGNIZING POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS OF GM FOOD? | Owen Foundation Website
[9] THIS LINK: Alliance for Natural Health USA:
[10] THIS LINK: Alliance for Natural Health USA:



Copyright © 2010 Alliance for Natural Health - US. All rights reserved.
]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/action-alert-genetically-modified-frankenfish-48945/ Latest Report on Flu Fatalities: A Shocking Fabrication http://www.szone.us/f20/latest-report-flu-fatalities-shocking-fabrication-48944/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:25:22 GMT *Latest Report on Flu Fatalities: A Shocking Fabrication* August 31, 2010 Image: http://www.anh-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/iStock_000009012363XSmall.jpg We have been telling you recently about phony data from the government. Here is another egregious example—and no one in the major media seems to know or care. For years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been citing an annual estimate of 36,000 deaths from flu. That figure has been used to justify mandatory flu vaccination for children and has been parroted the world over by news organizations that never question its validity. Last week the CDC released new figures (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-26/flu-kills-23-607-in-u-s-yearly-one-third-fewer-than-previously-estimated.html): rather than 36,000, the three-decade average is actually 23,607 deaths, a full one-third fewer people than previously cited. But even these new figures are actually *fabricated and false*. The CDC has always used a mathematical... Latest Report on Flu Fatalities: A Shocking Fabrication

August 31, 2010
We have been telling you recently about phony data from the government. Here is another egregious example—and no one in the major media seems to know or care.
For years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been citing an annual estimate of 36,000 deaths from flu. That figure has been used to justify mandatory flu vaccination for children and has been parroted the world over by news organizations that never question its validity. Last week the CDC released new figures: rather than 36,000, the three-decade average is actually 23,607 deaths, a full one-third fewer people than previously cited.
But even these new figures are actually fabricated and false. The CDC has always used a mathematical estimate based on an assumption that if a death certificate had “respiratory or circulatory disease” listed as a cause of death, then it should be counted as a “flu-related” death! The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons has been highly critical of the CDC’s methodology.
A closer examination of the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) figures shows that in 2001, there were only 257 deaths directly attributable to flu, and in only eighteen cases was the flu virus positively identified. Between 1979 and 2002, NCHS data show an average of 1,348 actual flu deaths per year—a mere 5.7% of the “new and improved” estimate.
The article, published in the British Medical Journal, concludes that “If flu is in fact not a major cause of death, [the government’s] public relations approach is surely exaggerated. Moreover, by arbitrarily linking flu with pneumonia and other lung diseases, current data are statistically biased. Until corrected and until unbiased statistics are developed, the chances for sound discussion and public health policy are limited.”
We were told in recent years that there would be so many cases of bird flu that it would stun the world. Those concerns were totally unfounded. Then there was the swine flu panic last year, with the government overbuying the H1N1 vaccine—71 million doses—to the tune of $260 million and promoting it without proper tests. Where is all that valuable medicine now? In the garbage. But the CDC goes on releasing bogus data to amp up the hysteria—an act that would have any private company or individual hauled in for fraud.
The real problem here is that our government has become a full partner with drug companies in the vaccine business. This has led to a crony capitalist environment in which the government can no longer be trusted to tell the truth.
Meanwhile, not a word from the media discussing the real influenza preventative: vitamin D.

Copyright © 2010 Alliance for Natural Health USA (ANH-USA). ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/latest-report-flu-fatalities-shocking-fabrication-48944/ Could MSM be causing that headache? http://www.szone.us/f20/could-msm-causing-headache-48864/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:05:18 GMT Could MSM be causing that headache?

Q: I thought MSM would help with my arthritis -- and it has. Trouble is, I can't deal with the terrible headaches I've been getting ever since I started taking it. My nutritionist says it's impossible for the two things to be related, but the timing and intensity were too much for me to believe that. Do you think there's a connection there?

Dr. Wright: Yes! MSM contains considerable amounts of sulfur. In all but tiny concentrations, sulfur (or sulfite) can definitely cause headaches, as well as dizziness, fatigue, wheezing, and other symptoms.

Sulfur of any sort is metabolized in the body into a harmless compound called sulfate by the enzyme sulfite oxidase. But sulfite oxidase depends on the trace element molybdenum to do its job. Without enough molybdenum, sulfite oxidase doesn't transform sulfite into sulfate efficiently, excess sulfite builds up, and any or all of the above-noted symptoms can occur.

Although there's presently no recommended daily intake for molybdenum, it's a general consensus that if there were one it would be in the neighborhood of 200-300 micrograms daily. However, it's been my experience from many cases that molybdenum absorbs poorly when taken orally. Usually at least 1,000 micrograms twice daily are needed to relieve symptoms.


Bear in mind we are not addressing anyone's personal situation and you should rely on this for informational purposes only. Please consult with your own physician before acting on any recommendations contained herein.

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/could-msm-causing-headache-48864/ potential benefits of probiotics for relieving colic http://www.szone.us/f20/potential-benefits-probiotics-relieving-colic-48863/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:02:00 GMT

Dear Reader,

He doesn't know why he's in pain -- he just is.

He can't tell you where it hurts -- so he just cries. And cries. And cries. For hours at a time.

Staring at his clenched fists and screwed-tight face, you can't help but feel helpless.

If you have a child or grandchild with colic, this scene is probably familiar. All you want to do is bring relief to the poor baby, but what can you do?

Most theories of colic have to do with food hypersensitivity or abnormal gut function.

So, could babies benefit from a supplement we adults rely upon to keep our digestive systems in tip-top shape?

That was the question on the minds of a group of researchers who recently carried out two separate studies on the potential benefits of probiotics for relieving colic.

The first was published in the journal Pediatrics. It found that a daily dose of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) -- 108 colony-forming units per day -- improved symptoms and was well-tolerated in breastfed infants.

Babies who were given the supplement went from crying an average 370 minutes per day to 35 minutes per day in 21 days with no adverse effects. In the same time frame, babies taking a placebo went from crying an average 300 minutes per day to 90 minutes per day.

All but one of the infants in the probiotic group responded to treatment (defined as a 50% reduction in crying time from the baseline time). Most of them responded within one week.

In the second study, published in Epidemiology and Infection, young children suffering from diarrhea were given a probiotic drink called Yakult. Researchers found the drink was beneficial. I checked out the ingredients for Yakult and there's a lot of sugar in there, not to mention artificial flavoring, so you might want to stick with another source for probiotics for your tummy-troubled baby.

If you're interested in learning about a few other ways to treat colic naturally and safely, subscribers can check out the September 2006 article "Herbal secrets for quieting a colicky baby" by logging on to the archive at www.wrightnewsletter.com.

Yours in good health,

Christine O'Brien ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/potential-benefits-probiotics-relieving-colic-48863/ New bacteria could be untreatable... and unbeatable http://www.szone.us/f20/new-bacteria-could-untreatable-unbeatable-48857/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:20:59 GMT New bacteria could be untreatable... and unbeatable

Remember this name: NDM-1.

If you haven't heard it yet, trust me -- you will soon. It's the name of a genetic mutation, and stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase... and it can turn any germ into a true superbug.

In fact, bugs that acquire the mutation can resist even the powerful "last resort" antibiotics that usually kill even the most hardened drug-resistant bacteria.

And right now, as I write this, thousands of people around the world are already sick, according to an alarming new warning in the Lancet.

As the name suggests, this thing started in South Asia -- India and Pakistan -- where antibiotics are cheap, available over the counter and used by everyone for every little thing.

And it's spreading fast because India is a huge destination in the so-called medical tourism industry... a cheap Third World country where you can get a quickie procedure and a vacation at the same time, all for a fraction of the price of the just the surgery in your home country.

But these people are bringing home more than just scrapbooks, souvenirs and new heart valves -- they're giving these powerful new bugs safe passage into Europe, Australia and the United States.

Naturally, instead of doing their damndest to stop this bug, India's politicians are angry that "New Delhi" has been included in the name of the mutation.

And that's not the only potential superbug on the horizon. There's also a new strain of E. coli floating around out there, and this one has some real bite. In fact, a new study in Clinical Infectious Disease finds that the strain, STS-131, is just one gene away from being untreatable.

Since E. coli is one of the bugs that can pick up the new resistance gene, let's all hope that STS-131 never meets up with NDM-1.

But I suspect it's only a matter of time.

Super serious about super bugs,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/new-bacteria-could-untreatable-unbeatable-48857/ How NOT to prevent prostate cancer http://www.szone.us/f20/how-not-prevent-prostate-cancer-48856/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:18:55 GMT How NOT to prevent prostate cancer

Sometimes, mainstream doctors manage to get it just right -- and when they do, they can expect to be ripped for it in the medical journals.

Researchers are screaming and howling over finasteride, a dangerous prostate med sold under the name Proscar.

But they're not angry over the risks and lies that surround this med... they're enraged because they think doctors aren't prescribing it often enough.

I was ready to celebrate the new survey in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, because it found that 64 percent of urologists and 80 percent of primary care physicians never prescribed finasteride to prevent prostate cancer.

Good for them, right? I guess so... but let's not be too quick to give them credit, because just about half of those who didn't prescribe it said they didn't even know the drug could be used for prostate cancer prevention.

Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss. I just hope this study doesn't inspire them to start giving this med out -- because it's bad news from start to finish.

In fact, the other half -- actually 55 percent -- said they didn't prescribe finasteride because they fear it could actually increase the risk of aggressive prostate tumors.

Researchers claim the drug actually makes those tumors easier to spot -- but really, why risk it at all when prostate cancer is such an overblown, overdiagnosed and overtreated condition in the first place?

After all, this med comes with some of the ugliest side effects a man could face: A loss of sex drive, testicular pain, breast growth and even nipple discharge.

In other words, it could turn you into a limping, leaking shemale!

So if impotence, pain in your sac and milky nipples are your thing, go right ahead and take Proscar... but if you want some real protection, follow my two-step plan for prostate health:

Step 1: Take saw palmetto.
Step 2: Skip prostate screenings.

Oh, and if you're losing your hair, don't ask your doctor about Propecia. Same drug, only the dose -- and the name -- have changed.

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. ]]> Health Steve Boren http://www.szone.us/f20/how-not-prevent-prostate-cancer-48856/