Recent Headlines
Recent Headlines on …. AUTISM
Autism up 78% – 3/29/12 – Studies now show that one in every 88 kids has some form of autism. One in every 54 boys and one in every 252 girls. Our society is obviously doing something majorly wrong – too many toxins and poor nutrition are significant contributors.
Kids with autism found frequently to be zinc deficient - From my experience, the vast majority of children are zinc deficient. As zinc is a critical nutrient for babies’ brains and nervous systems, it would not surprise me if zinc deficiency contributed to the development of autism.
On …. SUGAR and ARTIFICIAL SWEETNERS
Sugary drinks associated with increased heart disease - large study of male health care professionals who drank just an average of 1 sugar drink/day had a 20% increased risk of heart attack than those who never drank them.
Sugar should be regulated as a toxin
Diet soda linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome – Best to not drink any pop at all though. See above article
Kellog’s Honey Smacks and Post Golden Crisp are more than 50% added sugar by weight - That means when you hold a box of the cereal, half the weight is due to sugar alone. Far more of a dessert item than a something to sustain and nourish them at school.
Sugar may be more addictive than cocaine - article in the Bloomberg Report
On …. MILK
Pasteurized milk linked to cancer - likely due to the high amounts of estrogen found within milk from factory farmed cows. Raw milk contains much lower levels. Today’s processed milk is very different from the milk our grandparents drank.
Let Them Drink Milk! – Queen Elizabeth drinks raw milk and fed her sons raw milk when they were growing up
On …. VACCINES
Vaccines concerns by Mercola
Flu shots contain more that 250 times the EPA safety limit for mercury
Shocking news about the Gardisil vaccine - contaminated with recombinant (genetically modified) HPV DNA
Recent whooping cough outbreaks likely due to mutated pertussis strain - very interesting. The new mutated strain produces more toxin, is more dangerous, and is not prevented by the current DtaP vaccine.
New information on the MMR, autism and Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s research
Combination MMR-V (measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox) vaccine found to be associated with a much higher risk of febrile seizures than just giving them in two separate shots (6/28/10) – Avoid this combination vaccine!
WHO scandal regarding H1N1 “pandemic” – Advisors received kickbacks from H1N1 vaccine manufacturers
Rotovirus vaccine (Rotarix) found to be contaminated with a Pig Virus - FDA “asks” doctors to use the other rotovirus vaccine instead. They say the pig virus is not dangerous – how do they know? How do they know that it won’t recombine with the live rotavirus in the vaccine to form a novel Swine gastro flu?
February 2009 – “Accidental” contamination of flu vaccine with live bird flu virus
On …. TOXINS
Prenatal exposure to pesticides used on crops can harm the developing fetus’s brain
Toxins in plastics leach into our food causing a cumulative effect over time and from multiple toxins. I’m sure there is also a generational effect especially since plastics often contain hormone disruptors.
More on the dangers of genetically modified foods - to our crops, to our bodies and our children’s bodies, to our environment and to our future
Arsenic and lead levels in juice confirmed by Consumer Reports
BPA levels increased 1200% by eating canned food for 5 days. BPA is found in the lining of most canned soups, canned vegetables and pop cans, like Coca Cola cans.
Increased Risk of Asthma Associated with Tylenol Use - studies have been done over the past several years, in multiple countries, consistently suggesting an increased risk of asthma associated with Tylenol use. This article referred to was published by the AAP (the American Academy of Pediatrics.)
Think Johnson’s and Johnson’s baby shampoo is safe because it doesn’t cause tears? It contains carcingens and is also highly allergic to many babies and children. UPDATE: As of November 1st, J&J stated they will no longer be selling baby shampoo with formaldehyde releasing preservatives.
Prenatal pesticide exposure documented in 3 long term studies to lower the IQ of children. Since these pesticides have been banned for residential use, essentially the only place these mothers could have been exposed to them is through the pesticides found on non-organic foods. Study 1. Study 2. Study 3.
TNF blocking medications in childhood and adolescence linked to Lymphoma. Remicade, Simponi, Embrel, Humira, and Cimzia linked to increased risk of T-cell lymphoma.
FDA is reevaluating the safety and effects of food dyes. Many kids and adults have behavioral changes with food dyes. Now finally they may put a warning on labels to notify potential buyers of their presence.
Non-stick pans, stain-resistant carpeting, microwave popcorn related to elevated cholesterol levels which suggests that the chemicals on these items are inflammatory and toxic, triggering the body increase cholesterol to assist with healing.
Bounce Houses found to contain high amounts of LEAD in the vinyl (8/11/10) - if your child must play in a bounce house, make sure they wash their hands after (not just use antibacterial gel). But unfortunately, it’s likely that the lead is in the air as well.:(
Chemicals in beauty products tied to early puberty in girls - links phenols, phthalates and phytoestrogens (which are all endocrine disruptors) to early breast development, early puberty, and increased healthy problems
EPA labels Bisphenoyl A (BPA) as a chemical of concern
Nutrisweet changing it’s name to AminoSweet – don’t be fooled!
High Fructose Corn Syrup Removed from School Lunch Chocolate Milk
232 chemicals and polutants found in umbilical cord blood
On …. ALLERGIC CONDITIONS
Study links type of birth (C-Section vs. vaginal) with increased risk of allergies/asthma. Babies born by C-S were found more likely to have a bacteria called C. difficile living in their guts (43%) than those born vaginally (27%) in a hospital. And, babies born at home are even less likely to be colonized with C. diff. (19%). Those who had C.diff in their stools were twice as likely to have asthma and had more food sensitivities and eczema.
Why we have so many kids with food allergies?
Two studies show Tylenol linked to increased Asthma risk (8/13/10) and to allergies and eczema - Previously other research has also tied Paracetamol (brand of Acetominophin sold overseas) to asthma
On …. PROBIOTICS and ANTIBIOTICS
Breast fed babies have a wider range of gut bacteria, and gut bacteria that are more protective, than the gut bacteria of formula fed babies
Probiotics may help kids in many ways - Yes they do!
Probiotics beneficial for premies - premature babies given probiotics gained more weight than those not given probiotics.
Study links antibiotics given in infancy to inflammatory bowel disease later in life - this is likely due to the destruction of good bacteria in the gut by the antibiotics and may partly explain the increased risk of IBD in children of mothers who have IBD.
Antibiotics provide little help to those with ear infections - During my residency, I was told that 60-80% of ear infections are viral and will resolve on their own, yet unfortunately, I believe, most doctors give antibiotics to 80% of children with ear infection. It was so rewarding last year to watch my son get over an ear infection in less than 48 hours, without antibiotics, using only vitamins/herbal supplements.
Medicine using fecal transplantation to cure people of GI infections (7/12/10)
On …. VITAMIN D
Vitamin D can prevent the flu and asthma attacks
American Academy of Pediatrics statement on Vitamin D
On …. Things That Help and Others that Don’t
Moms with gluten sensitivity have a 50% increased risk of having a child with schizophrenia
Are antidepressants no better than placebo? Interesting article on antidepressants, comparing efficacy and showing that some antidepressants work only as well as placebo, but of course with far more side effects.
Magnesium given to mom’s before they delivered premature babies showed to prevent cerebral palsy Oddly, they referred to magnesium sulfate wrongly as a drug, when actually it is a mineral. Wouldn’t want to foster the idea that vitamins and minerals could actually be beneficial. What unscienfic nonsense!
Organic eggs are well worth it! Conventional chickens are nearly 700 percent more likely to develop salmonella than organic chickens.
Organic Mattresses – I was quoted in this article in the Detroit Examiner about toxins in mattresses
Antipsychotics increase blood sugar and lipids – children on antipsychotics should routinely have their blood sugar and lipids monitored, but less than 1/3 of kids are getting tested. (my recommendation: If abnormal sugar or lipid levels are seen, the antipsychotic should be discontinued!)
Why doctors should practice lifestyle medicine
