Healthy by Nature radio show this week: In the last half of the program we talk with nutritionist, Lani Jacobs-Banner, about ingredients to avoid in common body care products. But first, Jay Cohen, MD talks about his latest book, Prostate Cancer Breakthroughs: New Tests, New Treatments, Better Options — A Step-by-Step Guide to Cutting Edge Diagnostic Tests and 8 Medically-Proven Treatments. He also wrote What You Must Know about Statin Drugs & Their Natural Alternatives among others. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.

Note: We just found out that when readers have replied to the newsletter directly, those emails have never been forwarded to us. So, my sincere apologies if you sent a question or comment and never heard back. We are fixing that function.
 
 Michael Douglas talks about throat cancer
This is one of two articles caught my eye in the newspaper this week. But, I thought what they didn’t say was more important than what they did report.

What they DID say: Articles at first quoted Michael as saying that he didn’t regret smoking (which is a major cause of throat cancer) because his throat cancer had been caused by the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) which he contracted via oral sex. My first thought was: Geesh, what will his movie star wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, think about what that implies. (A. She is a carrier of a sexually-transmitted disease or B. He has been shopping around. By the way, in case this crossed your mind, his convincing portrayal of Liberace in the TV movie came after the throat cancer. )  Later Mr. Douglas walked back that explanation and said he was just stating a fact that the virus may be a cause of some generic person’s throat cancer. The oral sex / virus connection is certainly more titillating than smoking as a self-inflicted cause of throat cancer. It also adds to the hype over the controversial HPV vaccination. However, later in the article, it is noted that 75% of sexually active men and women will contract HPV at some point and that most all of them clear their infection on their own in a couple of years.

What they DIDN’T say: Prevention and recovery from both viruses and cancer depend on a properly functioning immune system. (See more below on that.) Another common cause of throat cancer is chronic heartburn. (I should probably insert a plug here for my book on digestion, Natural Alternatives to Nexium…and other Acid Blockers.)

Genetics and Cancer
What they DID say: Gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer are more common in black women than previously thought. The article said that, by getting the genetic testing done, women of color would then know to get more frequent screening and could decide on other “preventive” steps which may include anything from hormone drugs to the unimaginable Angelina Jolie route of preemptive double mastectomy.

What they DIDN’T say: These scary reports never seem to mention that having the mutated genes does not guarantee the disease will develop. Diet and lifestyle factors determine whether genes are active or stay quietly in the background. They might also mention that the radiation from frequent x-rays is itself a cause of breast cancer. The article also failed to mention the key fact that upwards of 75% of African-Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D is vitally important to the proper functioning of the immune system, which is of course our best protection against cancer. I can’t over emphasize how crucial vitamin D is for a great many important health functions. Although we all should have our blood levels checked, it is even more critical for blacks whose dark skin slows the formation of the sunshine vitamin.

Immunity. There is a long list of nutritional factors that improve immune function. Here is a very recent article that points again to the omega-3 fats. Fish oil that is high in the DHA component was shown to make B immune cells more active and effective. LINK.
 
What’s up?
Check this link for events in June.
 
Last Week
LINK to Archive. Sherry A. Rogers, M.D. returned to discuss her latest book, How to Cure Diabetes. She says: “Yes, you really can. The Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine state that taking diabetes medications not only fails to prolong life, but actually increases heart disease, cancers, and Alzheimer’s. And compared with taking nothing, they actually increase the risk of death 22%.” We talked about the hidden causes of diabetes, and how to reverse the disease. Dr. Rogers is the author of a number of books including “Is your Cardiologist Killing You?” and “Pain Free in 6 Weeks“. This is the link to subscribe to her newsletter.

Please help spread the good word-forward this newsletter to friends and family.
My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book: Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The contents are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Copyright 2013 Martie Whittekin, CCN