Archive for the ‘general’ Category

FIBER—more interesting than grandma knew

Insoluble fiber is what grandma may have called “roughage” and promoted to keep the bowels regular. She was right about that, but there is more to the story—there are other factors affecting regularity (e.g. see the September 22nd newsletter about constipation) and who knew that fiber is a PREbiotic (the probiotic bacteria in our gut can digest some of that fiber that we can’t and turn it into fatty acids that promote health of the lining of the digestive tract). Also, there is another important category of fiber, soluble fiber.

A primitive natural diet contains lots of fiber from vegetables, fruits, seeds, and whole grains. However, modern processing of foods often purposely removes the fiber. An example is when whole wheat flour is turned into white flour by removing the bran layer. Curiously, if a manufacturer (for marketing reasons) wants to increase the fiber amount on the nutrition facts panel, they can add powdered trees, corn husks or cotton. That powder is called Cellulose gum. It is also used as a thickener and stabilizer in many food products and beverages as well as in personal care products like shampoo and in some laundry detergents.

Cellulose gum does not have nutritional value but appears to be relatively safe. However, it isn’t a food, and the studies on its safety were mostly done on animals. Some people who eat a lot of foods containing that fiber experience gas and bloating. It can interfere with nutrient absorption and for some lead to forgetfulness, exhaustion, and headaches. Another issue is the company the gum keeps. I.e. the processed foods that use cellulose gum may have removed other natural nutrients from the product ingredients and typically add in food processing chemicals like colors, flavors, conditioners, and preservatives which may have sketchy health effects.

Real foods that are rich in insoluble fiber:

  • Fruits (1 cup of raspberries contains 2.4 grams)
  • Nuts (1 ounce of walnuts contains 2.5 Grams)
  • Seeds (1/2 cup of cooked quinoa contains 2.5 grams)
  • Vegetables (1 cup of cooked Kale contains 5.1 grams)
  • Legumes (1/2 cup cooked lentils contains 3.8 grams)
  • Whole grain foods (1 cup whole wheat pasta has 2.2 grams)

The recommended daily fiber intake for men is between 30 and 38 grams. For women, it’s between 21 and 25 grams. You can see that if you ate the foods in the example list above (18.5 grams total), you are well on your way. Note that: a serving (2) Twinkies contains zero fiber, beer has none, bacon has none, a small personal size bag of Cheese Doritos does have 1 gram and 1 cup of Kraft mac and cheese contains 2 grams (you’d get a lot more if you ate the box).

Next week, we’ll look at soluble fiber.

 

5 G — more Electromagnetic Fog not proven safe?

When Stephanie McCarter, MD was on the October 18 HBN show, we discussed that humans are electrical creatures and that there are many worrisome health effects of electromagnetic frequencies (EMF). For example, she pointed out that EMF disrupts the operation of the mitochondria (the power source in our cells) and even interferes with our vitamin D receptors. It is a scary thought that the emissions from baby monitors are not good for baby. Dr. McCarter noted that glyphosate (in Roundup) brings heavy metals into the body and that changes the electrical dynamics.

Below is supplemental information that I copied from her lecture slides.

  • SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF EMF SENSITIVITY:
    • Insomnia
    • Short-term memory loss
    • Headaches/Dizzy
    • Anxiety/Depression
    • Irritability
    • Fatigue
    • Vertigo/ Tinnitus
    • Brain Fog
    • Sound/Startle Sensitive
    • Skin Changes-Itching/Flushing/ Burning/Numbness
    • Visual Changes
    • Cardiovascular changes: angina, palpitations/ arrhythmias
    • Digestive problems: Nausea / indigestion / diarrhea
    • Sensitive to Weather changes
  • FACTORS THAT INCREASE EMF SENSITIVITY
    • Physical Exposure to EMF Fields, Chemicals, Molds, Heavy Metals
    • Increased exposure to toxins and / or reduced rate of Detoxification
    • Co-infections
    • Depleted Nutrient Status
    • Colon imbalance (bacteria/ yeast overgrowth)
    • Imbalance of body’s energy centers
    • Lack of personal boundaries / depletion of inner energy
  • TREATMENT MODALITIES (note that 80% of EMF sensitive patients are also chemically sensitive.)

If it all seems a bit overwhelming, maybe just start with being more thoughtful about the use of your cell phone. E.g. keep it away from your body, use the tube type earbuds and don’t have it on your night stand when you sleep.

The Bitter Truth about Sugar and Your Immune System

And so it begins…first the taste-testing of treats we buy to give to little goblins on Halloween… then maybe we eat some leftovers (to protect kids from eating too much?)…holiday spreads and parties…Thanksgiving pecan pie…Christmas cookies and on and on it goes…the wall-to-wall sugarfest that the holidays have become. As we will see, sugar interferes with immune function and right at a time we get less sun which results in less vitamin D—an important key to immunity. No wonder there is a “colds and flu season” [Note: quotes from here on are copied from an article by Essential Formulas, the fine folks who bring us Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics.] Most people don’t realize that sugar can have short-term and long-term impacts on the immune system in both children and adults. “While the relationship between sugar and immunity is complex and not fully understood, there are some ways in which excessive sugar consumption is known impact immunity. [Bill, probably no need to proof this copied part.”

Weakening Immune Function

High sugar intake can lead to chronic inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation can impair immune function and make the body more susceptible to infections. Excessive sugar consumption may also reduce the ability of white blood cells, which are critical for fighting infections, to function effectively.

Imbalanced Gut Microbiota

Sugar can promote the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut and reduce the population of beneficial bacteria. An imbalanced gut microbiota can compromise the immune system since a significant portion of the immune system resides in the gut. Read about probiotics and immune function.

Nutrient Competition/Depletion

Consuming sugary foods and beverages often means consuming empty calories, which can displace nutrient-dense foods from the diet. A diet lacking essential nutrients can weaken the immune system.

Blood Sugar Spikes

High-sugar foods with a high glycemic index can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, followed by crashes. These fluctuations can stress the body and potentially impair immune function.

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Excessive sugar consumption is linked to weight gain and an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. People with obesity and metabolic syndrome often have impaired immune function.

How to Counteract the Effects of Sugar on Immunity

Reduce Added Sugar Intake

Limit sugary foods, snacks, beverages, and processed foods with added sugars. Read food labels to identify hidden sugars. Avoid high-fructose corn syrup and processed sugars, and look for foods using natural fruit sugars, monk fruit, or stevia.

Choose Whole Foods

Choose whole grains over refined grains to help stabilize blood sugar levels, and if you have a sweet tooth, satisfy it with whole fruits, which provide fiber and nutrients along with natural sugars.

Promote a Healthy Gut

Include fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains to support a diverse and healthy gut microbiota. Consider incorporating probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables to promote beneficial gut bacteria, and take a high-quality probiotic supplement containing pre-, pro-, and postbiotics.

Balanced Nutrition

Prioritize nutrient-dense foods that provide essential vitamins and minerals, such as lean proteins, vegetables, and nuts.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Combine a balanced diet with regular physical activity to help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Monitor Blood Sugar Levels

Aim for balanced meals and snacks with carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar levels.

While sugar can potentially weaken the immune system when consumed in excess, adopting a balanced and nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle can help counter its adverse effects and support overall immune health.”

Pain leads to life passion

My migraines started in college. They were the classic most uncomfortable type—sensitivity to light, sounds, smells, and stomach-churning pain. Heat on the back of my neck and ice on my forehead helped a little. Doctors could only offer the latest pain killer (they didn’t work & upset my stomach). New medications are more effective but still don’t fix the root cause. If I asked doctors what was causing the problem, they looked at me like I was speaking Klingon. Many years later (still suffering) I noticed a Let’s Live magazine that mentioned migraines on the cover. The article was about tyramine, an amino acid (especially high in red wine and certain foods like aged cheese) that can trigger migraines. Avoiding tyramine helped a little bit but the big benefit of the article was to wake me up to the idea that something I was doing or eating might be responsible. So, not knowing what that might be, the next time I had headache, I simply ate nothing. The next day I was not only headache free, but also felt fantastic (fasting can do that). Fortunately, in 1981 I discovered a pioneer functional medicine doctor (Don Mannerberg, MD) who tracked down the source of my problem. It turns out that I was deficient in magnesium and selenium, sensitive to some foods and had intestinal yeast overgrowth. Implementing those changes, got the headaches down to one per month. Those were so regular on the calendar that I figured out it must be related to hormones. Indeed…I needed progesterone. Thankfully, I haven’t had a migraine in 40 years! (My sweet husband wants to claim some of the credit. OK) Occasionally, I will do get a visual disturbance that is an aura (sign of a impending migraine). When that happens, I figure out what rule I’m breaking and stop it.

Can laughing cure a cold?

The saying is, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Is that just an old wives’ tale? Maybe not.  The Mayo Clinic says the concept is no joke and lists many physical benefits such as stress reduction, immune boosting, relief of pain, blood pressure reduction, and stimulation of several key organs. Even the Bible says, in Proverbs 17:22, “A joyful heart is good medicine…” Personally, I’m taking no chances.

What is my favorite TV show? Something classy on NPR? Nope. I think The Big Bang Theory is the funniest, most imaginative sitcom. I don’t care that they are reruns. Even if I do remember an episode, it is usually only the main plot points, and I can still appreciate the hysterical dialog and great acting. Likewise, my favorite author? Something sophisticated like Hemingway, Harper Lee, or Shakespeare? No, it is Dave Barry. He is the longtime humor newspaper columnist and author of many hilarious books. (I believe I’ve read them all and now, some twice.)

Here is part of what Dave says in the section titled “A Cold Cure?  Who Nose?” (from his collection of columns entitled, Bad Habits.) “I say we give the medical community two more weeks to cure the common cold, and if it doesn’t, we turn the problem over to a more competent outfit, like the Sony Corporation.” He then does a spoof of a commercial for fictional Phlegm-B-Gone that instantly cures a lady with a cold so bad that she is on the floor with a 112-degree fever and can’t move her left side. Barry mocks his wife for still getting colds even after taking vitamin C pills the size of toaster ovens. Then he closes the column with this: “My approach is to drink large quantities of beer. Since I started drinking large quantities of beer, I have not had one cold that I remember clearly.”

Of course, my point is not to drink beer for prevention, it is to laugh. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to read my HBN library article on the immune system and the one on Colds / Flu (that one links to my remedy kit list).

Oh, and why did I pick the Minions for the graphic? Because, just looking at them makes me laugh.

Be ready for whatever disease or variant is going around!

I asked Jane Orient, MD on HBN this week, what we should do to prevent covid (given her conclusion that the covid-19 vaccines and boosters will NOT prevent us from contracting the disease). She warned that we must be protected with adequate blood levels of vitamin D–and she supported that advice with results shown during the pandemic. I thought this week might be a good time to do a review of vitamin D and especially the great many dramatically important ways that we benefit from it.  By the way, I adapted the above graphic (thank you) from Pfizer’s article which (not surprisingly) discussed the vaccine and not nutrition.

Nature’s original plan was that plants and people would get sunshine. In our modern industrialized world, most humans get very little. Typically we live and work indoors, drive to work and, when outside, have been conditioned to cover up, stay in the shade and apply sunscreen. (READ HERE about the toxic substances in sunscreens which can be absorbed into circulation and ironically cause cancer.) Sunshine delivers healthful energy waves. A good quality far infrared sauna can replace some of the energetic waves, but sun also stimulates our skin to turn cholesterol into vitamin D. Without significant sun exposure or supplementation, it is hard to get sufficient vitamin D because food is not a good source.

Why should we care? Never mind occasional media nonsense based on poorly structured studies, vitamin D is useful for more than just building bones. It protects against issues such as: arthritis, asthma, depression and obesity, dementia, brain shrinkage, brain health, many cancers, colds and flu, autoimmune diseases, deaths from infectious disease (think covid-19), hardening of the arteries and allergies. It also helps heart health, teeth, fertility, and benign breast lumps. Anyone with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other autoimmune disease should study the remarkable recoveries using the Dr. Coimbra protocol. Vitamin D is important for immune response. The following stat from a study should get our attention: there was 80% less breast cancer among women whose blood levels of vitamin D were above 60 ng/ml compared to the wimpy 20 ng/ml level some docs still say is okay. (I wish the cancer charities would use some of the millions they raise to spread more prevention information like this.) There is also a 5 times increased risk of diabetes if vitamin D is low. And making matters worse, 5 times increased risk of diabetes if vitamin D is low. Who would have thought that vitamin D would be an important factor with Parkinson’s Disease? These researchers found out it is. Not enough motivation? How about this article? Overwhelming Proof that Vitamin D3 deficiency causes most human diseases.

And, timely in 2020, one study showed that persons with insufficient vitamin D blood levels were almost twice (1.77x) as likely to test positive for covid-19. Also, researchers in Spain discovered that 82% of hospitalized patients with Covid-19 were vitamin D deficient. (In the Spanish study they used a very low cutoff level as “deficient”-20 ng/ml. If they looked at what nutritionists consider normal or optimum, 70-100 ng/ml, I’m betting that 100% of those hospitalized would have shown up as low in vitamin D.)

Maybe vitamin D is an even bigger deal. Read Jeff Bowles’ The Miraculous Cure For and Prevention of All Diseases—What Doctors Never Learned. Adequate vitamin D has also been shown to reduce death from “all causes.” 

All ages. Of course, children need vitamin D to build their bones, but experts also say that it seems likely that in children, deficiency of Vitamin D may well be “THE [that emphasis was in the original article] leading cause of cancer, type 1 diabetes, asthma, allergies, eczema, and possibly epidemic autism.” At the other end of the age spectrum, seniors are 3 times more likely to be dependent (versus independent) if low in vitamin D. A Stanford study said that elderly folks are more fragile because they aren’t getting enough.

How D can affect so much. Few nutrients have as much impact on our health as vitamin D. It is actually a hormone.  Nearly every cell in the body has a receptor for vitamin D and it may control how 1,000 or more of our genes behave…meaning that vitamin D can turn on the good ones and turn off those that are harmful. It also helps our DNA repair and reduces inflammation. As you likely know, it is also important to get calcium absorbed. (Not everyone knows that Vitamin K2 is needed to assure that the absorbed calcium gets into the bones, rather than causing mischief in the arteries.)

Final thought. The public has been trained to think of nutrients in the same way they think of drugs. So, they often worry about overdosing. Of course, that is possible at the very extreme, but with vitamin D, the risk is much greater from under-dosing.

Learning the hard way and teachable moments

That photo is for sure not me and not even how I hurt my back. As I discussed on the radio show this week, hurting my back (unglamorous—changing a fitted sheet on a heavy mattress) was certainly a giant pain but it also opened my eyes to some things and even inspired a little creativity.

I recently learned:

  • That the “for better or worse” vow is no joke. I am very fortunate that husband Bill has been willing to put up with my utter helplessness…in the beginning, I needed almost constant help for the littlest chores and for many runs to the dentist and doctor. He has been a sweetheart under difficult circumstances. (Yes, I would have said that even if he wasn’t proofreading this blog!)
  • I now have enormous empathy for people struggling with chronic pain—IT IS EXHAUSTING! (Give them a break when they aren’t very patient.)
  • Read the darned package notes for prescriptions or search a website like com! It is not safe to assume that the doctor or pharmacist will warn you of side effects to watch for. E.g., I was aware of the cautions about avoiding addiction to pain killers, but not that they can cause constipation.
  • I will no longer snicker during the annual Medicare physical when they ask those questions about the “activities of daily living” (e.g. getting yourself dressed, showering, preparing food, etc. (Happily, I have gradually been able to regain most of those simple abilities.)
  • Don’t be afraid to accept help. Friends and family will ask, and it might make them feel good to contribute. Perhaps make a list of some things friends and family can do. For example, take some of the burden off the caregiver who in addition to the new role likely still must do all his or her normal chores…e.g. help folding a load of laundry; make a trip to the grocery store; walk the dog; scoop leaves from the pool; change the furnace filter, etc.
  • Focus on the tiny improvements, not the seemingly endless road ahead.
  • Getting in and out of bed was the hardest thing to manage and involved a lot of screaming. It was a great help when Bill ordered a Medical Bed Assist Rail with Adjustable Heights. Our bed is tall, so I also figured out that having a little 1-foot step stool by the bed helped me start out high enough that when I sat down, I was back far enough into the bed so that I could pull in my legs. Another problem was that my jammies didn’t slide on the sheets, making it hard to scoot in or roll over. So, I put one of those thin flexible plastic dollar-store kitchen cutting mats under my rear.
  • Heat feels relaxing on muscles, but ice might be more useful to reduce swelling and inflammation on the joint injury. We really like this 3-Piece Set – Reusable Hot and Cold Therapy Gel Wrap. We have only used the cold therapy option but appreciate that the velcro holder keeps it where you want it. For heat, we have several microwave pads (rice filled, etc.) we accumulated over the years, but prefer this one because it is large enough to cover the whole lower back and is easy to hold in place even if you are up walking around.
  • In my quest to do additional things for myself, I leaned to greatly appreciate the Grabber Reacher Tool that I had previously only used to reach stuff on the top shelf of my closet. We had inherited a second one and so there is one at each end of the house. (Now my problem is how to pick up the grabber when I drop it…“Uh, Bill”.)
  • Our daughter loaned us a walker. It is a great design. It helps me stand in the best posture so I can really tool around with it and get some exercise without pain.
  • I needed to allow a LOT more time than usual to get to any appointment. Every step getting ready and into and out of the car is slooow.
  • Everything in the body is connected. E.g. I noticed that even sitting at table I can feel it in my back when I pick up a coffee mug.
  • Posture is very important to preventing trouble and to giving the body a break in healing. I learned that subtle changes in posture (made to avoid pain in the area of the injury) can strain and annoy other muscles.
  • A regular chiropractic tune-up can help prevent injury. Also be aware that nerves coming from the spine affect all the organs. Therefore, spinal irregularities can be at the root of seemingly unrelated health problems.
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  • Stem cell therapy will not keep you from doing something dumb and hurting yourself, but it will certainly help you heal faster.
  • Handy as they are, towel bars are not safety grab bars. I learned I could grab a doorknob in each hand to help me pull up off the stool. (I’m grateful that my trainer made me do the hated squats because I now know how critical those quad muscles are for standing up.)

Again, I am very blessed to have such a supportive husband. Kiss, kiss. (I only hope that when my turn comes, I’m as patient.)

Bone up on bone density

On September 20, 2023 HBN interviewed Tom Levy, MD on the topic of bone health. We went into much more depth than this blog, so please listen to that show.

Ask most people “what is needed for strong bones?” and they will likely answer “calcium”. That is partly correct, but it sure shows the tremendous power of marketing and repetition. Since 1915, the National Dairy Council (NDC) has worked hard to remind us that we need milk for general health and strong bones. Another boost for the concept came in 1956 when the “4 Food Groups” charts appeared in schools listing dairy as one of the four. The NDC has made sure that any new government dietary guidelines include generous amounts of dairy. (Of course, as you will see below, there are other dietary sources of calcium besides dairy and supplements.) For someone unaware of the government’s poor track record on health, it is tempting to buy into the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) dairy-heavy charts and pyramids. However, little of the agency pronouncements are based on science versus how much is due to industry lobbying. (It is an obvious and worrisome conflict of interest that the USDA is charged with both public health as well as the promotion of agribusiness’s various economic interests.) Given the thorough indoctrination that we’ve all received, it must have come as a shock to many listeners when on the January 15 show, Tom Levy, MD discussed his book Death by Calcium.

osteoporosis Risk factors:

  • As a Cleveland Clinic article says “being assigned female at birth” is a risk. (Apparently drag queens, etc. are not at an increased risk.) One reason may be the loss of protective estrogen during menopause. We must assume that the interference of those toxic xenoestrogens we discussed last week is also a problem.
  • Over age 50
  • Small frame
  • Smoking (and so many other reasons to quit!)
  • Family history (too late to change that factor, so work on those you can.)
  • Thyroid problems, especially overactive thyroid
  • Gut problems
  • Some medications
  • Lack of exercise (That is controversial. See “exercise” below.)
  • Inadequate vitamin D (a widespread problem that also creates other diseases)
  • Inadequate calcium intake (This is a comparatively rare issue…usually from very extreme deprivation diets and/or very poor digestion. E.g., acid blocking heartburn drugs create mineral deficiencies. It is revealing that the USA is the country with the world’s greatest dairy consumption and the highest rate of osteoporosis…second only to Japan.)

WHAT IS AND IS NOT GOOD FOR BONE HEALTH

  • Calcium. Of course, we need the mineral. It is required for life itself and is especially critical for bone during children’s growth years. Studies do not consistently show that throwing calcium supplements at osteoporosis solves the problem—even with the addition of vitamin D which aids absorption. So, the only questions are in what form we should get calcium, when, and how much? There is substantial calcium included in a varied healthy diet. Sources are certain vegetables, such as kale, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage as well as almonds and fortified milk substitutes. Then there are canned sardines and salmon with bones. The form of calcium in bone is hydroxyapatite, but some supplements are basically ground rock.
  • Other minerals. Bones require magnesium, manganese, zinc, silica, boron, potassium, phosphorus and more. (Hence another advantage of a good diet over a calcium supplement.)
  • Collagen matrix. Bone minerals are held in a collagen structure that provides a bit of flexibility to the bone. A superior source of collagen is Brightcore Revive®. Vitamin C is needed for the body to make collagen and it also performs other roles crucial to bone health. That is why Suzanne Humphries, MD wrote “Osteoporosis Is Scurvy of the Bone, Not Calcium Deficiency.”
  • Remodeling. Bones stay strong because they are constantly “remodeling”. That means that old bone is broken down, and replaced with new stronger bone. (Obviously, to build new bone, all the raw materials must be available in the body.)
  • Osteoporosis drugs. Most osteoporosis drugs stop the breakdown part of the remodeling process. That does result in greater bone density, but the bones may be more brittle and therefore more prone to breakage than natural bone. There are also disturbing side effects to the medications. Read more.
  • Vitamin K2 guides calcium into bones where it is needed and out of the cardiovascular system where it can cause hardening of the arteries.
  • Hormones also have a big impact on bones. In fact, low levels of estrogen may be the primary reason that postmenopausal women so often lose bone density. Resveratrol is good for bones in part because it acts as a gentle estrogen. A scientific human study found that “regular supplementation with 75 mg of resveratrol twice daily has the potential to slow bone loss in the lumbar spine and femoral neck”.
  • Calcium supplements. Most people would be better off eating a healthier diet rather than taking calcium supplements. For those who have reason to worry that they are not getting enough calcium for their bones and wish to supplement, I recommend Jarrow’s BoneUp. It is a complex of nutrients for bone and contains a special form of calcium that can more easily become bone.
  • Calcium side effects. The government fact sheet says, “High levels of calcium in the blood and urine can cause poor muscle tone, poor kidney function, low phosphate levels, constipation, nausea, weight loss, extreme tiredness, frequent need to urinate, abnormal heart rhythms, and a high risk of death from heart disease. However, high levels of calcium in the blood and urine are usually caused by a health condition such as overactive parathyroid hormone or cancer, not by high calcium intakes.” Tom Levy, MD in his book, Death by Calcium, states that calcium “promotes all known chronic degenerative diseases, and it significantly shortens life.” He explained on our show that in cells unneeded calcium becomes a damaging oxidant (that’s what we take antioxidants to combat).
  • Good gut ‘bugs’ will help. Our friendly bacteria are a key part of the control for virtually all systems in the body, so it should be no surprise that studies show they are involved in bone health. They also protect against “leaky gut” which is a risk for bone disease and many other problems.  A scientific study showed that taking Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics increased bone mineral content by 32%.
  • Exercise is said to be important to remind the bones that they need to stay strong. Here is what the Mayo Clinic recommends. On the other hand, a study showed minimal effect. But, what the heck, there are so many other benefits to exercise…
  • Stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is not intended to specifically treat any diagnosis such as osteoporosis. However, because these fantastic natural cells go where there is degeneration, inflammation, and other trouble and become what they need to be, I’ve heard wonderful testimonials about improved bone health as well as a great many other issues. Read more about Stem Cells. For a valuable, no cost, no obligation professional consultation call (800) 507-6509 and say Martie referred you.

TESTING

It is good to know how your done density is doing. There is a new type of highly accurate bone density screening that does not use radiation like Dexa does. EchoLight uses ultrasound. This website gives a good explanation. In the DFW area, check with the The Thermography Center. In other areas you might do an internet search for “Echolight near me”.

RESOURCES:

Estrogen-mimic toxins make MEN & WOMEN fat, sick and infertile

During the August 16, 2023 program, Anthony G. Jay, PH.D. gave us a wake-up call about a class of chemicals that are assaulting our bodies and brains. Dr. Jay is a Mayo Clinic researcher and the author of Estrogeneration: How Estrogenics Are Making You Fat, Sick, and Infertile. The quick review below is not a substitute for listening to that show and certainly not for reading his book.

What are “Xeno-estrogens”? The specific category of toxins that we discussed was xeno-estrogens. “Xeno” means “foreign”. There are an increasing number of such toxic “endocrine-disruptor” chemicals in our air, food, water, consumer products and environment. The chemicals can mess with any of our hormones (hormones are messengers in the body)—for example, the very important thyroid hormone. As you likely know, “estrogen” is a hormone that is commonly thought of as female. Actually, there are several varieties of estrogen and during most of the month, men have about the same blood levels as women. When hormones get out of balance, bad things can happen. As the name of Dr. Jay’s book implies, these chemical impersonators can cause many problems for both genders. The toxic xeno-estrogens can settle into receptors intended for the natural hormones and block the person from having their normal benefits such as fertility. (Remember that birth control pills are hormones used to upset the woman’s hormone balance on purpose.) Conversely, they can latch onto and stimulate other binding sites causing big trouble. Hormone-dependent breast cancer is perhaps the best-known example of that effect.

What problems do xeno-estrogens cause? We could start with the big picture, the environment. Xenoestrogens are making whole communities of certain wildlife infertile and killing coral reefs. In humans, the chemicals are linked to Alzheimer’s, cancers (breast cancer up 250% since 1980), depression, diabetes, early-onset puberty, endometriosis, infertility (fertility down 50% since 1960), “man boobs” (even in toddlers), miscarriage and obesity (doubled since 1980).

Testosterone supports cardiovascular health and muscle strength in both genders and improves libido (sex drive). It appears that high estrogen levels (even if from toxic chemical sources) reduce testosterone. These toxic compounds affect the way our genes behave. That process is called “epigenetics”. It is shocking and very worrisome that those altered actions caused by xenoestrogens can be passed down into many future generations.

What are the sources of xeno-estrogens? Common sources that we discussed on the show are the plastics in water bottles, the linings of cans and paper cups and packaging. BPA is a well-known member of this class, and it is also sprayed on the paper used for register receipts. Beware of products claiming to be “free of BPA because they may have simply substituted BPS or one of the other BP line that have the same effects. Look at the recycling codes for a clue. Avoid #1.  Better numbers are 3, 4 and 5. Do not store food or beverages in plastic (snap top glass is a good alternative) and certainly don’t microwave food in plastic because heat increases the leaching of chemicals into food.

Food additives like red food color and food contaminants such as many pesticides (especially on grains) and herbicides (think Roundup) have estrogenic effects. Therefore, whole, natural, organic food is best. Dr. Jay says to avoid soy foods (unless fermented) because they are too strong a source of plant estrogens. Body care products (e.g., sunscreen, shampoo, and creams) with fragrances, parabens and other additives have estrogenic effects. Topicals are a big problem because they absorb directly into circulation with no chance of being detoxified in the gut. Also, watch out for laundry detergent and household cleaning products. Wash new clothing because it might have been treated with xeno-estrogenic chemicals. Interestingly, marijuana smoke is estrogenic, but not the edibles. This website has a list of sources of toxic estrogens (and it is where I borrowed the graphic). Here is another site.

How to detoxify xeno-estrogens. The best place to start, of course, is to avoid taking more in. Besides careful shopping for food and body cane, also use a water filter because the compounds are now in tap water. We should also remember that our fat cells make estrogen which, even though it is natural, adds to the total estrogen load. Eating a lot of good green foods is a positive start to detox (and weight loss). Dr. Jay says that the Far Infrared Sauna is a big help in detox. Exercise regularly.

Learn about “forever chemicals” from the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit that works to inform and advocate to protect about such issues.

Copyright Martie Whittekin, 2021 and 2023

Autism and vaccines?

We should remember that a “conspiracy theory” is no longer a theory when the conspiracy can be proven…not matter how loud the objections. There are plenty of real conspiracies and you will see one below. Likewise, contrarian news isn’t DIS-information if it is based on facts not just official talking points. What I see as the problem these days is that government authorities, mainstream media, big tech and a variety of self-appointed “experts” have decided (more or less in a vacuum of their own prejudice not tempered with data or other viewpoints) what is a “fact”. Then they will not even LOOK at the evidence against their position, let alone engage in an honest debate.

Sometimes attempts to cut off debate become very bold and emotional, especially when the establishment stands to lose money or power. For example, with covid-19, anyone who, no matter how impressively qualified, dared to ask any questions about the new vaccines was quickly dismissed as being unforgivably “antivaxx”. Very often the folks asking the questions are not against vaccines in general, just worried about this brand-new relatively untested type. However, as you will see below, even if some folks were nervous about the whole giant child vaccine program, they might have good reason to be.

I ran across a shocking example of how the truth gets shut down right in front of us. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr wrote a fascinating report about a top secret 2000 Simpsonwood vaccine safety review. Apparently, in response to exploding and otherwise unexplained epidemics of autism and other neurological disorders, the Centers for Disease Control organized a secret conclave of various government agencies, medical experts, world authorities and pharma reps. It was determined that the cumulative amount of mercury contained in the complete children’s vaccine program had not been calculated and was what was causing neurological damage! (Each individual shot might have been safe for most kids, but incredibly, the total hadn’t been considered.) It seems that there was too much concern about professional embarrassment, financial loss and lawsuits to do the humane thing and announce the findings from that analysis. So, the news of the conference was hidden until it was leaked by a whistleblower. Mr. Kennedy says that in 2005, he and Jake Tapper, who was then ABC’s senior producer, were coordinating a journalistic / broadcast expose of the Simpsonwood findings. Sadly, the network pulled the plug on the broadcast because the pharmaceutical companies with their giant advertising budgets wanted them to censor it. After that, Jake would no longer even talk to Robert Kennedy. And since then, never mind the indisputable science that heavy metals cause nerve damage, anyone who even hints that vaccines containing them might cause nerve damage are met with browbeating, attempted humiliation and cancellation.

Well, so much for government agencies’ supposed dedication to public health, or for traditional standards of journalism, or really any kind of decency and integrity. Hearing about that incident and the shockingly flagrant Trusted News Initiative , it is not hard to believe that the government would hide covid-19 information and other vaccine problems from us. As further evidence, the US’s world record high death count is due in large part to the government’s blatant squashing of access to even the most responsible information about early treatment. Whatever their motivation, the feds tolerated NO distraction from their “get fully vaccinated” mantra.

Copyright Martie Whittekin, CCN 2022 &2023


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