Natural Exposure to Everyday Germs May Protect Kids From Diseases As Adults

(NaturalNews) Gone are the days when play time for kids often meant getting dirty making mud "pies", splashing in mud puddles and creeks, and climbing trees -- and when children washed their hands, mostly just before a meal, it was with plain soap and water. Modern day parents often take pride in keeping their little ones squeaky clean and as germ-free as possible, dousing them with antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers. But new Northwestern University research suggests that normal exposure to everyday germs is a natural way to prevent diseases in adulthood.The study, published in the December 9th edition of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, is the first to investigate whether microbial exposures early in life affect inflammatory processes related to diseases in adulthood. Remarkably, the Northwestern study suggests exposure to infectious microbes in childhood may actually protect youngsters from developing serious illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, when they grow into adults."Contrary to assumptions related to earlier studies, our research suggests that ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases," Thomas McDade, lead author of the study, said in a statement to the media. McDade is associate professor of anthropology in Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and a faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research. He added that humans have only recently lived in super clean environments and it could well be time to put down the antibacterial soap. That's because the new research suggests that inflammatory systems need a reasonably high level of exposure to common everyday germs and other microbes to develop and work properly in the body. "In other words, inflammatory networks may need the same type of microbial exposures early in life that have been part of the human environment for all of our evolutionary history to function optimally in adulthood," stated McDade.The Northwestern University researchers specifically studied how environments early in life might affect production of C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein that rises in the blood due to inflammation, in adulthood. Research concerning CRP, which is an important part of the immune system's fight against infection, has primarily focused on the protein as a possible predictor of heart disease. Scientists previously have mostly conducted CRP research in affluent settings, including the U.S., where there are relatively low levels of infectious diseases. McDade and colleagues were interested in what CRP production looks like in the Philippines where residents have with a high level of infectious diseases in early childhood compared to Western countries. However, compared to Western countries, the people of the Philippines have relatively low rates of obesity (which is associated with CRP) and cardiovascular diseases.
How the research was conductedThe research team worked with data from a longitudinal study of Filipinos which began in the 1980s with 3,327 Filipino mothers in their third trimester of pregnancy. The mothers were interviewed about breast feeding and care giving and their households were assessed for socioeconomic levels, hygiene (including whether homes included domestic animals) and how many people lived in the home. Researchers also visited with the mothers after their babies were born and then every two months for the first two years of the children's lives. From that point on, the researchers followed up with the children every four or five years until the research subjects were approximately 22 years of age. During this entire period, records were kept on the children documenting their height and weight and any infectious diseases they contracted. Blood tests revealed Filipino participants in their early 20s had CRP concentrations on average of .2 milligrams per liter -- that's about five to seven times lower than the average CRP levels for Americans of the same age."In the U.S we have this idea that we need to protect infants and children from microbes and pathogens at all possible costs," McDade concluded. "But we may be depriving developing immune networks of important environmental input needed to guide their function throughout childhood and into adulthood. Without this input, our research suggests, inflammation may be more likely to be poorly regulated and result in inflammatory responses that are overblown or more difficult to turn off once things get started."

Ear Infections, Use a Home Remedy of Garlic Juice

(NaturalNews) Children are often plagued with ear infections and they're often taken to doctors who ply them with antibiotics. However, antibiotics destroy our healthy bacteria, which is our first line of immune defense. This leaves children, and adults, wide open for numerous health problems later in life after they've taken antibiotics. Ear infections are most often caused by a bacteria, virus, or fungus in the ear and the juice of a few cloves of raw garlic with a little water is an effective natural antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-fungal. This simple mixture can be placed right in the ear a couple times a day as an easy home remedy to beat common ear infections.However, before you do this, you should know that with ear infections, it can be painful while the garlic is killing what needs to be killed. The pain, however, generally lasts just a few minutes and when the problem is eliminated, there will be no pain even with the same dosage of garlic water. To make the mixture, juice a few cloves of garlic and strain the juice to ensure it's without chunks or solid residue. Then, add approximately five times as much purified water as garlic juice. Then simply tilt your head to the side and pour in some of the garlic water. Keeping your head cocked to the side, let the garlic juice remain in your ear for a few minutes or as long as you can stand. When you're ready, simply tilt your head to the other side to drain the remainder, and rinse your ear in your next shower. With young children, or if you have a low tolerance for pain, you may want to dilute the juice even further. It generally takes just a dose or two before the pain - and problem - are eliminated. And most would agree that the momentary pain beats having your immune system compromised for the rest of your life - whether you're an adult or child - just because your doctor didn't tell you how to replenish your healthy bacteria after he or she gave you drugs that destroyed them.If you've already taken antibiotics and are turning to home remedies as a back plan, it's important to also get started in replacing your healthy bacteria. Having an abundance of these friendly microbes in your gut will help you avoid many problems. Dr. Richard Anderson tells us that one dose of antibiotics can wipe out all of our healthy bacteria.Healthy bacteria are found naturally in raw fermented foods, including sauerkraut, kim chi, and kombucha. Quality yogurts also contain plenty of healthy bacteria, but yogurt is also mucus-forming which contributes to clogged pathways in the body. In particular, mucus-forming foods contribute to clogged sinuses - and clogged sinuses are connected with ear infections. Due to this, it's better to get your healthy bacteria from vegetable-based sources. Healthy bacteria are also available as supplements known as probiotics. Just be sure to purchase a good brand - and one with at least as much of the Bifidobacteria strain as the Lactobacillus bacteria (acidophilus, etc.) strain

Medical Imaging Scan Equivalent to 725 Chest Xrays

(NaturalNews) Researchers from Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina have discovered that the tests administered to a person undergoing a heart attack emit radioactive elements at levels equivalent to 725 chest X-rays. The aggregate average of radiation administered is about a third of what nuclear power plant workers are allowed to be exposed to annually. Dr. Prashant Kaul, author of the research study, indicated that doctors typically fail to identify any other tests a heart attack victim may have already received when administering their own. As a result, patients are being exposed to high levels of radiation that far exceed safe maximum levels.The research team accumulated and analyzed data from over 64,000 patients who had undergone treatment for heart attacks between 2006 and 2009. The team discovered that patients underwent an average of seven tests utilizing ionizing radiation, the kind that is capable of penetrating tissue and damaging DNA cells. The vast majority of the tests were chest X-rays, followed by catheter procedures and computed tomography, also known as CT scans. According to the American Heart Association, the aggregate number of medical tests given each year that involve some sort of radioactive exposure has skyrocketed, increasing 700 percent between 1980 and 2006. Most of these tests deal in some way with heart disease as it is one of the fastest growing disease epidemics in America. Improvements in scanning technology have resulted in a sevenfold increase in radiation exposure compared to diagnostic scans performed in 1980. The New England Journal of Medicine reported in August that roughly 4 million Americans are exposed to dangerously high levels of radiation each year due to such medical testing procedures. The obvious threat from radioactive testing procedures is the potential for increased rates of cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that a person subjected to a CT scan may develop cancer at some point in his or her life due to the amount of radiation emitted from the test. For this reason, doctors should be cautious in advising patients to undergo such tests unless absolutely necessary. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an alternative technology that involves no ionizing radiation. MRIs utilize magnetic fields to generate images that are typically clearer than those produced by a CT scan. Ultrasound is another option that uses sound waves to form images. Heart ultrasounds work especially well at assessing the heart for possible risk factors before a heart attack occurs.
Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/heal http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-Emitti...
Mammography Causes Breast Cancer
A new study presented on December 1 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) verified that annual mammography screenings may be responsible for causing breast cancer in women who are predisposed to the disease. Epidemiologist Marijke C. Jansen-van der Weide from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands suggests that doctors should be very cautious when screening younger women, especially those under age 30.There are many conflicting reports about the benefits of mammography screenings, particularly among younger women below the age of 40. Because there is a high risk among women with genetic or familial predispositions to breast cancer when getting mammograms, Dr. Jansen-van der Weide and her research team are suggesting that these women get an alternative screening. Ultrasounds, MRIs, and heat thermography screenings are some alternatives that do not expose patients to radiation.The study evaluated women in the high-risk group and determined that low-dose mammography radiation increased these women's risk of developing breast cancer by 150 percent. Women under 20 who have had at least five mammograms are 2.5 times more likely to develop breast cancer than high-risk women who have never undergone low-dose mammography screenings.Study authors emphasized the fact that doctors should be cautious in administering mammograms to younger women, especially those with a family history of breast cancer. Moderate- to low-risk women were not evaluated in the study. Alternative screening methods were encouraged in order to reduce the risk of women in high-risk groups from being harmed by radioactive exposure.
Comments by Mike Adams, the Health RangerWhat this study really reveals is that there is no reason for any women to ever receive a mammogram ever again. Ultrasound and thermography should now be the new standard for breast cancer detection screenings, as they do not subject women to excess radiation.This study also reveals that mammograms are really "repeat business machines" for the cancer industry. When enough women are subjected to mammography, a windfall of future cancer patients is absolutely assured, and this translates into billions of dollars in profits for the businesses invested in cancer: Big Pharma, mammogram machine manufacturers, and so on.In fact, mammograms represent the slickest marketing gimmick we've ever seen in modern medicine. It's a technology that recruits new patients by actually causing the disease is claims to "detect." No wonder all the cancer industry non-profit groups donate so much money to breast cancer screening -- it's the best way to keep their sponsors in business!Just take a look at the Susan Komen for the Cure non-profit, and you'll see that a huge percentage of all the money they raise for "finding a cure" is really redirected to funding "free breast cancer screenings" that target poor women. The purpose of this whole scheme is to herd more women into extremely profitable (and extremely dangerous) cancer treatment cancers that generate billions for the cancer industry.
Sources for this story include:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_relea...

Rebounding on a Mini Trapoline Helps Lymphs to Flow and Fight Disease

(NaturalNews) Rebounding is a great exercise for the entire body, especially the lymphatic system. Rebounding involves jumping on a mini-trampoline; this promotes circulation. The body contains 5-6 quarts of blood, which is circulated by the heart. But without the lymphatic system, the body cannot effectively eliminate toxins. Exercising on a rebounder for 5-20 minutes at a time will promote the flow of lymph, thereby eliminating toxins. Poor lymph flow is common in sedentary people; this is one reason why less active individuals are more susceptible to illness. Sedentary people who live on junk food are often unwell because the body sends all the toxins and waste to the lymphatic system. The lymph flow is poor due to a lack of exercise, so toxins accumulate in the body. The lymphatic system is a major dumping ground for toxins and waste products. The lymphatic system can only be kept flowing by 3 means:1. Gravity, 2. Internal massage of the lymph ducts, and 3. Exercise by rebounding or similar means. When you use a rebounder, it promotes circulation through the body's lymphatic system. As you begin to exercise, the toxins are moved to the lymph ducts, which transport the toxins to the kidney and liver. Rebounding serves as an insurance policy against many serious diseases. Rebounding is not only great exercise, but it is fun too. Rebounding for Cancer: According to Linda Brooks (www.wholelife.com), "The practice of rebounding against cancer is done using the 'health bounce,' where the feet are kept on the mat and a gentle bouncing motion is maintained for up to two minutes. A stabilizer bar is available for attachment to the rebounder to add security, safety, and balance when needed by those who are weak or unsteady. If endurance is low, start with less time than two minutes and work up to the optimal two minutes over a period of a few weeks."Bouncing on a rebounder for two minutes every hour is good therapy for preventing or treating cancer. One hour after rebounding, white blood cell count normalizes. Rebounding every hour will keep your immune system in optimum running condition, as rebounding will flush the lymphatic system. It is important to breathe deeply when using the rebounder, and you must exhale fully to allow for proper oxygenation of the blood. Practicing proper breathing techniques can help you to breathe effectively when you are exercising on a rebounder. Rebounding for Candida: Can exercise cure Candida? Many researchers say "yes." Jumping on a rebounder for 5 minutes is comparable to walking for 2 miles. Rebounding eliminates pressure at the joints and it promotes faster weight loss. For best results, exercise for 5 minutes; then, as you build stamina, gradually increase the time, rebounding for up to twenty minutes at a time. Rebounding also increases white blood cell count, thereby strengthening the immune system. By increasing immunity, the body is equipped to fight off Candida naturally. Rebounding is great for the elderly too. Adding a stability bar to the rebounder will help avoid falls. It is a fun and relaxing way to become stronger and healthier. Benefits of Using the Rebounder:Rebounding can ease symptoms and it cures many diseases, including allergies, arthritis, Candida, cancer, fibromyalgia, depression and stress. By using a rebounder you will increase your energy, hasten metabolism, improve your balance, build bone mass, lower cholesterol, stabilize blood pressure and increase circulation, and you will enjoy improved function of the lymphatic system.

Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome Naturally

(NaturalNews) Irritable bowel syndrome affects thousands of people, who sometimes think they have stomach problems. It is often the result of stress; an ache in the lower abdomen may begin in the morning and worsen during the day, leaving the person feeling like her insides are being twisted. Irritable bowel syndrome is often difficult to diagnose and treat. Symptoms include bloating, cramping, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea and sometimes the pain can be debilitating. The condition is becoming more common as lifestyles are becoming more pressurized and stressful. Slowing down, dealing with stress and finding out about food sensitivities are some of the ways of dealing with IBS. Stress and Irritable Bowel SyndromeIBS seems to affect more women than men and begins before age 35 in 50% of cases. It may follow a bout of bacterial gastrointestinal infection. Sometimes, a sufferer may be unable to digest gluten which can lead to symptoms that are similar to IBS. Other causes can include overeating, eating too quickly, too much fat in the diet, artificial sweeteners, antidepressant medication and certain antibiotics that alter the balance of bacteria in the intestines.Watch out for the following symptoms that may indicate IBS:- abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks out of a year (not necessarily running consecutively)- pain that is relieved by having a bowel movement- irregular bowel movements- constipation- mucous in the stool- bloating- changes in the appearance of bowel movements. Suggestions for Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome- By process of elimination, try to discover food sensitivities and stay away from these foods.- Increase water intake, and make sure water is clean and pure.- Gradually increase intake of foods rich in fiber such as wholegrain health bread, brown rice, oats and bran rich cereals.- Raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of fiber.- Some IBS sufferers find that steaming or cooking vegetables makes them softer and easier to digest.- Stay away from carbonated drinks and fatty foods and limit dairy products.Try gentle, stress-relieving exercises such as yoga, deep breathing exercises, swimming or walking. Stress and mind-body treatment options have proven successful in treating IBS. Consider going for a therapeutic massage or reflexology treatment to unwind and de-stress. Take the time to sit down and enjoy meals quietly; wolfing down food while on the go will not help an individual with IBS.A course of pro-biotics may help to restore overall intestinal health, reduce bloating and normalize bowel movements. Probiotic supplements come in powders, liquids or capsules. Natural, unsweetened yogurt, kefir, miso or kombucha also contain helpful pro-biotics. If constipation is a problem, a fiber supplement may help.

Four Cancer Surviors Who Used Natural Treatments

NaturalNews) Four very different individuals used four very different plans that have one thing in common: they cure cancer. These amazing stories can offer hope to individuals who are battling cancer. These stories profile the methods used by individuals who developed unique and natural treatments for cancer. Living Proof - A Man's Unusual Prescription for Bone Cancer: In 1995, 54-year-old Michael Gearin-Tosh was diagnosed with myeloma, a form of cancer affecting the bone marrow. Myeloma is one of the most deadly forms of cancer. Faced with the prospect of chemotherapy, he decided to create his own natural protocol which included:1. Gerson therapy entails juicing fresh fruits and vegetables; it is combined with three coffee enemas per day (www.gerson.org).2. Regular acupuncture treatments.3. He consumed enormous amounts of vitamin C, as prescribed by Dr. Linus Pauling.4. He performed Chinese breathing exercises, a practice used for thousands of years. For one hour a day, he visualized inhaling oxygen through his toes.According to Gearin-Tosh, "I imagined the heroic Imperial Russian armies that defeated Napoleon in 1812 marching through my body, looking for white cancerous cells to hunt out and destroy."Doctors gave him little likelihood of surviving no more than one year without chemotherapy. More than 7 years after that prediction, he wrote his book - a success story that will touch anyone who has fought cancer, along with friends and family members of a cancer patient. A Woman is Cured of 3rd Stage Cancer Using Nigella Sativa: Nigella Sativa (or black seed, as it is more commonly called) is a well-documented cure for many forms of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. Black seed is used to treat everything from migraines to cancer. A woman in Yemen, suffering from 3rd stage cancer, sought a natural treatment. She was advised to take black seeds with honey three times a day, in addition to garlic and honey, also taken three times per day. Her husband faithfully crushed the seeds and mixed them with honey. He also crushed the fresh garlic and mixed it with honey. After three months, her cancer disappeared. The woman has continued to use honey and garlic, even after the disappearance of her disease. Breast Cancer Cure Using a Natural Diet: Marilyn Brent, breast cancer survivor, has shared her story of survival using a natural cancer plan developed by Solomon J. Wickey. Her plan was very simple, comprised of the following elements:1. Drink fresh carrot and celery juice every day (1 pint each)2. Maintain a healthy diet with no animal proteins, no sugars, salts, eggs, dairy, white flour or peanuts.3. She also took some herbs for 9 weeks, which consisted of: 1 tsp red clover blend, 1 tsp whole apricot extract, 6 food enzymes, 6 parsley, 6 pau d'arco. 4. She avoided cooking in the microwave. She also walked daily, drank only pure water and prayed a lot. Read her entire story here: http://healingplan.synthasite.com/t... Amanda's Cure for Cervical Cancer: Amanda says she cured her cervical cancer with a raw vegan diet, meditation and yoga. Her cancer diagnosis served as a wake-up call about her unhealthy diet. According to Amanda, "A raw food vegan diet is based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, and seaweed."
Read more cancer cures here: http://www.holisticvoice.org/Amanda...
Resources: http://healingplan.synthasite.com/t... http://www.aloedeca.com/northameric... http://www.healingcancernaturally.c...

HAPPY CHANUKAH

The Perils of Chanukah
Last year, my daughters lit candles for the first night of Chanukah in our living room and then went to the dining room to eat Latkes and apple sauce. Lizzy smelled the fire and we put it out, but not before a wooden table and curtain were destroyed. Last year, my kids enjoyed one night of oil-saturated potato latkes, the traditional Chanukah meal. Chanukah is the eight-day holiday Jewish people celebrate each winter. Chanukah is called "the festival of lights" because in Jewish homes, candles are lit on menorah's for eight consecutive nights to celebrate the re-dedication of the darkened temple which was miraculously illuminated for eight nights by the tiny amount of oil found in a container. Chanukah is not the healthiest of holiday celebrations because when candles are lit, celebrants traditionally eat latkes while opening presents. Anybody who has ever eaten a Chanukah latke knows that the oil so contained in each latke could provide the energy needed to light their home for a day. Latkes are made by grating potatoes, onions,and adding an egg, matzoh meal, salt and pepper. The potato patties are then fried in oil. Healthy? No way. Delicious? You bet! For the past dozen years, I've given up latkes. I no longer eat eggs and have not found an adequate replacement---until now. My very dear friend Brad Wolff has created a vegan recipe for eggless latkes. You'll find the recipe on his website:http://www.yidelsvittles.com NOTE: One of Brad's ingredients is chickpea flour. I did not have chick pea flour but I did have a bag of dried chick peas and a VitaMix machine. Suggestion: do not make chick pea powder at 4 AM or you risk waking up everybody in the house with a staccato-like machine gun racket. Brad makes his living by catering vegan-style weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Holidays and special occasions. OK. You've read today's column right to the very end. It will all be soon. My Chanukah gift to you is this little joke:*************************It was two days before Chanukah and Mr. Feldman, quite downcast, was trudging home. "Where will I get money to buy presents for the holiday?" he asked himself sadly, thinking of his wife and children. On the way, he passed a church, in front of which was a sign: Five Hundred Dollars Cash To Anyone Who Joins This Church Today! Here was the solution to Feldman's problem! He went in, joined, and was given the five hundred dollars as the sign promised. That evening, at supper, he told his family how he had come by his sudden wealth. "And here's the money," he announced grandly, waving the money before them. "Darling," said his wife, "you remember that coat you promised me three years ago? Well it's on sale at Macy's." "How much is it?" "Only two hundred and fifty dollars, and it's worth at least three hundred and fifty." Feldman peeled off five fifties and gave them to her. The son spoke up. "Pop, for a long time I've been saving up to buy one of those English bikes with ten gear shifts. I already have most of the money, but I need a little more.""How much more?" "One hundred and fifty dollars." Feldman handed over the money. "Daddy," said his teen age daughter, "next week our school is having the most important dance of the whole year. If I don't have a new dress, I'll simply die." "Don't die Sweetheart. How much is the dress?""Only a hundred dollars, Daddy dear." Feldman handed over the remaining money, leaned back and grinned. "It never fails," he announced. "The minute we Gentiles have a little money, you Jews take it away from us!"*************************Robert Cohen http://www.notmilk.com

Snack Your Way to Health With Nuts

(NaturalNews) Eating a diet high in walnuts may decrease cholesterol and fight inflammation, two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to a study conducted by researchers from Harvard University and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."Consumption of nuts has been associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease events and death," the researchers wrote. "Walnuts in particular have a unique profile: they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which may improve blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease risk factors."Walnuts are also considered good dietary sources of fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin E and other antioxidants. Researchers analyzed the results of 13 different studies conducted on a total of 365 participants who had obtained between 10 and 24 percent of their calories from walnuts for four to 24 weeks. They found that participants on a high-walnut diet underwent significant decreases in total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol."When compared with control diets, diets supplemented with walnuts resulted in a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol and in LDL-cholesterol concentrations," the researchers wrote.The researchers also found other indicators that even though a high-walnut diet is high in fat, it seems to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease rather than raising it."Other results reported in the trials indicated that walnuts provided significant benefits for certain antioxidant capacity and inflammatory markers and had no adverse effects on body weight," the researchers wrote.The researchers called for "larger and longer-term trials" to further understand the heart benefits of nut-rich diets.Prior studies have linked diets high in nuts and berries to a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms related to cardiovascular disease. Other nuts previously linked to improved cardiovascular health include macadamia nuts and almonds.Diets high in walnuts may also reduce the risk of breast cancer, studies show.
Whether you are trying to lose weight or just eat a healthier diet, snacking can be a huge problem. No matter how hard you try to plan your day out and have healthy meals on hand, there are always times where you just need a snack. Pistachio nuts are a snack that can provide great nutrition and get you through to your next meal without a lot of calories. They taste great too. Pistachios have over 30 vitamins and nutrients including vitamin B6, copper, manganese, thiamin, dietary fiber and protein. They also have a high amount of antioxidants and are the only nut to have significant amounts of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin which may reduce the risk of macular degeneration.Pistachio nuts have also been shown to improve cardiovascular health. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, pistachios may lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. The pistachio nut is low in calories which makes it an ideal choice for a healthy snack. It is often called the "skinny nut" because it has fewer calories and less fat than many other nuts. It also has protein and dietary fiber which help you feel full which is exactly what you need when you are eating a snack. A handful of pistachio nuts can get you through to the next healthy meal with very few calories and a whole lot of taste.Lastly, there is a psychological reason that pistachio nuts make a great snack. If you eat pistachios that are still in the shell, you will be forced to eat them slowly. This way you will only eat what you need to satisfy your hunger and not keep eating because you are bored or nervous. The shells also give a reminder of how many nuts you have eaten. Since snacking is often psychological as much as it is hunger, pistachio nuts are a great weapon against excessive snacking. When you put everything together, it is easy to see why pistachio nuts can be a great snack. Put a handful in a bag and keep them handy for whenever you feel the urge to snack. They really can help you snack your way to health. If you want to get the benefits of pistachios more frequently than snack time, you can add them to cereal, put them on yogurt, or use them in main dishes. You can find recipes for pistachio dishes at many sites on the Internet.

ACS Chief Sends Mixed Messages on Mammography

Dr. Otis Brawley, Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society, voiced strong support for annual mammography for women beginning at age 40 in an Op-Ed piece published November 20, 2009, in newspapers nationwide. This position is in sharp contrast to his statement about mammography made in the New York Times on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. On that day he told women "We don't want people to panic, but I'm admitting that American medicine has overpromised when it comes to screening. The advantages to screening have been exaggerated." Dr. Brawley has known about the questionable benefits of screening for more than a decade. Regarding mammography, his words in the August 2000 issue of Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America were, "There has been considerable debate about the benefit:harm ratio of mammography screening for women below the age of 50 years, and about what proportion of the observed benefit arises from screening that occurs after these women have entered their 50s." The burden of proof of "the benefits outweighing the harms" rests with those making the recommendations--the American Cancer Society and its Chief Medical Officer in this case. Dr. Brawley has voiced doubt about the benefits of mammography, and now appears conflicted by communicating two opposing stands in less than a month. The American Cancer Society, on the other hand, has remained steadfast in a position that enhances the profits of breast cancer-related businesses, regardless of the effects on women.
Adequate scientific evidence to stop mass screening programs, such as mammography, has been readily available for more than three decades. In 1976 Pietro M. Gullino presented his findings on the natural history of cancer, showing "early detection" is really "late detection," at the Conference on Breast Cancer: A Report to the Profession, sponsored by the White House, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society. He explained: "If the time required for a tumor to double its diameter during a known period of time is taken as a measure of growth rate, one can calculate by extrapolation that two-thirds of the duration of a breast cancer remains undetectable by the patient or physician. Long before a breast carcinoma can be detected by present technology, metastatic spread may occur and does in most cases." This report was subsequently published in the journal representing the American Cancer Society (Cancer 1977 Jun;39(6 Suppl):2697-703).
This largely invisible natural history of breast cancer was further explained to doctors and scientists in 1997 in an article published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology titled, "On the growth rates of human malignant tumors: implications for medical decision-making." The authors, Friberg and Mattson concluded, "Most tumors are several years old when detectable by present-day diagnostic methods. This makes the term 'early detection' questionable." (J Surg Oncol. 1997 Aug;65(4):284-97).
For a cancer in the breast to grow from one cell to one centimeter in diameter--a size that can be detected by breast self-examination or mammography--on average takes ten years. Unfortunately, when the cancer is still so tiny that it cannot be detected, it nevertheless has already spread (metastasized in medical terminology) to other parts of the body in virtually every case of true cancer (as opposed to the latent forms of cancer). It is the cancer cells that have spread to, say, the liver, lungs, bones, and brain, that kill the patient, and not the cancer cells confined to the breast.
Just as tragic is the devastation to the lives of millions of women with indolent cancers (the latent forms) that would have never appeared in their lifetime if no one had been busy looking for them with screening programs. Once found, these nonthreatening lesions are aggressively treated with life-changing surgeries, radiation treatments, and/or chemotherapies.
The American Cancer Society and its representatives need to provide an unambiguous message to women that screening mammography is a blunt technology, and that even after four decades of use the evidence has not shown that the benefits outweigh the harms. Understanding the natural history of this disease could lead to no other conclusion.
John McDougall, MD www.drmcdougall.com

A Healthy Diet Can Prevent Depression

(NaturalNews) The World Health Organization predicts that depression will become the second highest cause of the global disease burden by 2020. Why is this? Many people consume a diet high in bad fats, fried, refined and sugary foods. Studies show that such a diet can certainly increase the risk of depression. When that happens, an individual will usually make an appointment to see a doctor who typically ends up prescribing anti-depressants, resulting in potential long term mental and physical health problems. It is a fact that a diet high in vegetables, fruits, and fish helps to prevent depression. According to the findings of a study conducted by researchers between 1985 to 2004, the results of which have been published by the British Journal of Psychiatry, scientists have concluded that there is a definite relationship between poor dietary choices and depression. Based on these published results, health advocates in Britain will soon be recommending diets high in unprocessed foods specifically to prevent depression.What Foods Contribute to Depression?What humans eat controls the levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which regulate behavior. Neurotransmitters are closely linked to mood. Studies show that the neurotransmitters most commonly associated with mood are dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. When the brain produces serotonin, tension is eased and a person may feel happier. When it produces dopamine or norepinephrine, individuals tend to be more alert and tend to think and act more quickly. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables raises the level of trytophan in the brain thereby increasing serotonin production which has a calming effect. High protein foods, on the other hand, promote the production of dopamine and norepineprine, which promote alertness. Eating junk, sugary foods reduces the levels of these hormones in the brain, thereby increasing stress and tension, and reducing joy and alertness. Mediterranean Diet - Helps Prevent Depression The Mediterranean diet, as described by Dr. Sanchez-Villegas, has nine main components: 1. High ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids; 2. High intake of legumes 3. High intake fruit and nuts 4. High intake of cereals 5. High intake of vegetables 6. High intake of fish 7. Moderate intake of alcohol 8. Moderate intake dairy products 9. Low intake of meatIn his research, Dr. Sanchez-Villegas wrote that the diet "was thought to reduce inflammatory, vascular, and metabolic processes" that may be involved in the risk of clinical depression. In contrast to the Standard American Diet (SAD), the diet of the Mediterranean people includes primarily fresh, seasonal vegetables and freshly caught fish rather than canned or imported produce. The diet eliminates fried foods that have been cooked or baked in rancid vegetable oils or trans fats.

Avoid the Sodium Saturation Point

(NaturalNews) The dangers of an eating regimen that's high in sodium are well known, and given the recent report that the number of people afflicted with diabetes is set to double in the next 25 years, it's never been more important to get control of the amount of sodium in our food. According to a recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care, the number of people with diabetes is set to double (approximately) in the next 25 years if changes are not implemented, going from 23.7 million to 44.1 million by 2034. What's worse, that rate could be even higher if obesity rates do not come down, as obesity dramatically increases the likelihood of developing diabetes. We traditionally associate diabetics with sugar intake and their need to be watchful of how much sugar they're eating. But this report reminds us that diabetics have to be just as vigilant with their sodium intake, as sodium has a major impact on blood pressure levels. And according to a study published in the British Medical Journal, high salt intake, perhaps the biggest indicator of whether or not someone develops high blood pressure, is directly linked to both stroke and cardiovascular disease. That there is a direct link between sodium intake and heart complications is not breaking news; this link has been known for some time. But what may come as a surprise is that a modest cut-back in sodium consumption reaps major benefits.According to European researchers, the amount of sodium the average Westerner consumes is about 10 grams, or two teaspoons (if you ask most health officials, this is a rather charitable assessment). But if people were to cut back their average salt consumption by a teaspoon (or five grams), their risk for stroke would drop by nearly a quarter (23 percent), and their risk for cardiovascular disease would drop by almost 20 percent! The researchers came to these conclusions after analyzing the results of 13 separate studies that looked at the diets of 170,000 people who had suffered a stroke or who had cardiovascular disease.If the Diabetes Care study proves to be true, this country will have a real epidemic on its hands and make our current health care crisis look like child's play (i.e., the spending on diabetes care alone will triple to over $330 billion). Fortunately, several cities are taking this issue seriously and have passed (or are passing) laws that require restaurants to provide nutritional information to their menus. Preliminary reports indicate that people are changing their menu selections as a result. But seeing as how legislation by its very nature moves slowly, there are things you can do right now to start cutting back on sodium. These include buying as little processed foods as possible, using flavorful, sodium-free spices more often in cooking (e.g. basil, curry, bay seeds, oregano, etc.), purposely forgetting to put the salt shaker on the table when setting it, and using low sodium condiments and sauces with sandwiches and dinner entrees. For instance, instead of mayo on your sandwich, try some horseradish spread (80 mg of sodium in one tablespoon of regular mayo; 40 mg of sodium in one tablespoon of horseradish); and instead of a buttery sauce on your protein entree, give it a citrus splash by squeezing out some fresh lemon or orange juice.Be creative. But more than anything else, be cutting back. Sources:http://www.naturalproductsmarketpla...http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...http://diabetes.webmd.com/diabetes...http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life...http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/f...http://www.medicinenet.com/script/m...

Cereal Adds Found to Promote Childhood Obesity

(Natural News) According to a study by the Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy, marketing trumps nutrition when it comes to selling sugar-laden, empty calorie cereals to America's children. Kelly Brownell, the author of the Yale study, charges that one of the culprits behind America's escalating childhood obesity epidemic is the high sugar content of these cereals. The least nutritious cereals are the most frequently advertised to children. Ms. Brownell explains, "If one looks at the rank order list of the worst nutrition cereals, it's stunning how the worst cereals are marketed so aggressively to children." The Yale study found that the average American preschool child sees 642 entertaining cereal ads a year. Advertising is tailored to fit its audience. The cereals with the most sugar and least nutrition are aimed at impressionable children, while more nutritious cereals with high fiber and low sugar content are aimed at adults. On the other hand, cereal manufactures claim they are making their cereals more nutritious while reducing their advertising to children. However, Brownell's study reveals a different scenario. "Cereals marketed to kids have 85 percent more sugar, 60 percent more sodium and 65 percent less fiber than those aimed at adults."Yet, cereal industry spokesperson Elaine Kolish, proclaims that "Froot Loops, Cap'n Crunch, and Cocoa Puffs, are cereals that have merit." Kolish continued, "I don't know how they came to their conclusion that they are the least nutritional products. Because cereals for kids that are advertised in our program are low in calories, and they provide an important source of these nutrients for kids' diets."Brownell makes an important point: "There are ways to train kids to eat healthier food. It's all about what they're exposed to." In addition to obesity, researchers at Children's Hospital in Boston have discovered other health issues associated with diets high in sugar and starches. High glycemic index (GI) diets cause blood sugar spikes commonly associated with diabetes. The researchers also determined high GI diets create more oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been implicated in a growing number of diseases and health issues.To counter oxidative stress, the USDA recommends a whole food diet high in anti-oxidants.
Sources for this article include:http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?s...

In Praise of Seaweed

In Praise of Seaweed
The term "seaweed" is imprecise and some people find it deprecatory: why weed, they ask, and not vegetable? I don't agree. The seaweeds are ancient and highly successful plants. They evolved between 150 and 200 million years ago. By comparison, mammals only arrived 70 millions years ago and homo sapiens has been around just 250,000 years. Seaweed actually refers to a large class of multi-cellular marine plants, the red, green and brown algae. (Some people also include blue-green algae in this group.) There are 1,500 to 2,000 species of brown algae alone (Hoek 1995). e in this group.) There are 1,500 to 2,000 species of brown algae alone (Hoek 1995). The seaweeds are ancient and highly successful plants. They evolved between 150 and 200 million years ago. By comparison, mammals only arrived 70 millions years ago and homo sapiens has been around just 250,000 years.
Seaweed gets a bad rap. There are actually a variety of seaweeds that can be eaten or used in medicine. The one that I am consuming at the moment is Alaria esculenta, which is more commonly known as bladderlocks, dabberlocks or winged kelp. It is similar to the Japanese seaweed called "Wakame," which is best known as the tasty green stuff that floats on the top of miso soup. Alaria is a kelp that grows best in cold northern waters and not surprisingly, therefore is part of the traditional diet in Greenland, Scotland, Iceland and Ireland. In North America it grows in Alaska, Labrador and northern New England.
Alaria's fronds attach to rocks below the low-water mark and eventually can grow to around 10 feet in length. I recently purchased some alaria from the Maine Seaweed Company. This is a small company run by Larch Hanson of Steuben, Maine and is not to be confused with the much larger Maine Coast Sea Vegetable Company down the coast in Franklin. Larch harvests wild seaweed from the pure waters of Gouldsboro Bay and sells it to serious seaweed lovers via the Internet. I was astonished at the size of the package he sent me.
Alaria can be eaten raw if it is presoaked and marinated. I tried this, dressing the chopped fronds with sesame oil, lemon juice, tamari sauce and roasted sesame seeds. I liked the taste and texture but it caused some gastric distress. I have now taken to boiling the seaweed for half an hour and then, after it has cooled, trimming away the central stalks. My advice, if you take up the seaweed habit, is to start introducing it into your diet slowly: as you develop a taste for it, you may be tempted to eat it in bulk as you would, say, spinach. You definitely want to let your digestive system adjust to this new and unusual item.
Seaweed has zero fat and cholesterol and is a good source of beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), vitamin K, niacin, pantothenic acid and phosphorus, and a very good source of riboflavin, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper and manganese. It is famous for its abundance of iodine. It may surprise you then that I started my seaweed adventures with Alaria esculenta because it has a relatively low iodine content. Since I intend to eat seaweed regularly I do not want to overdose on this necessary, but also potentially toxic, mineral.
Seaweed can be mixed into a more conventional green salad (such as baby spinach or arugula leaves), green beans, etc. All in all, alaria is a very nice addition to the diet and definitely a dinner conversation piece.
TO BE CONTINUED, WITH REFERENCES, NEXT WEEK/ Ralph W. Moss PhD www.cancerdecisions.com

Reduce the Risk of Cancer with Vitamin D

Dr. Ben Kim--A summary of key points from Dr. Holick's lecture: (to watch video, click on this site: http://drbenkim.com/dr-michael-holick-vitamin-d.htm
Vitamin D is essential to building and maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles.
There is a strong association between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of requiring a C-section.
In addition to taking a multivitamin (typically containing 400 IU of vitamin D) and getting some vitamin D from meals, pregnant women should be taking a minimum of 1000 IU of vitamin D per day.
If you give lactating women between 4000 and 6000 IUs of vitamin D per day, through breastfeeding alone, their babies can get all of the vitamin D that they need.
Infants need vitamin D at birth.
There aren't too many foods that are naturally rich in vitamin D. Oily fish like wild salmon contain about 500 to 1000 IUs per serving (3.5 ounces), so you would have to eat salmon almost every day to barely get enough vitamin D to meet all of your needs.
Wild salmon get their vitamin D from the food chain, where it's abundant. Food pellets that are fed to farmed salmon don't contain vitamin D, so farmed salmon typically provide 100 to 250 IU of vitamin D per serving, which is only 10 to 25% of the vitamin D found in wild salmon.
In the summer, UV-B rays from the sun can create all of the vitamin D that we need if we get some exposure on our skin.
In the winter, the further away we get from the equator, the less chance we have of being exposed to UV-B rays to make vitamin D in our skin. For example, in Boston, you can make all the vitamin D that you need in the spring, summer, and fall months, but from about November to February, you can't make any at all from sunlight exposure.
Above 35 degrees north latitude and below 35 degrees south, you can't make any vitamin D from sunlight exposure from November to February.
Excessive exposure to sunlight increases risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, which is relatively easy to detect and treat if detected early enough.
Using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will decrease your ability to make vitamin D via sunlight exposure by 99%.
The key to responsible use of sunlight to ensure optimal vitamin D status is to make sure that you don't get sunburned.
Getting enough sunlight (1 MED) to create a light pinkness in skin tone creates around 20,000 IU of vitamin D in your system.
Aging decreases our ability to produce vitamin D via sunlight. A 70-year old has a 70% reduced ability to produce vitamin D via sunlight compared to a 20-year old. So the older we get, the more likely it is that we will need to get some of our vitamin D from supplementation.
Obesity increases the need for vitamin D intake and/or creation via sunlight because storage of vitamin D in fat cells reduces the amount of vitamin D that's available to the rest of the body.
For most people and locations, during the summer, a good amount of sunlight exposure is 5 to 15 minutes on the arms and legs, two to three times a week. After this amount of time, sunscreen can be used to help prevent premature aging and increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer.
People with darker skin tone need significantly more sunlight than Caucasians to produce optimal vitamin D levels.
The best blood test to assess vitamin D status is 25 hydroxy D.
Dr. Holick believes that most people (adults and kids) should be supplementing with a minimum of 1000 IU of vitamin D per day in addition to the vitamin D found in a multivitamin and a couple servings of foods that contain vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common among all races, even in the summer.
Many people that exhibit symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia may actually have osteomalacia, which is caused by vitamin D deficiency.
Higher levels of vitamin D (within the normal range) are associated with optimal lower extremity function (healthy bones and muscles in your legs).
Optimal vitamin D status reduces risk of fracture as you age.
You want your 25 hydroxy D level to be above 30 ng/ml. The optimal range is likely between 50 and 60 ng/ml.
For every 100 IU of vitamin D that you ingest, you raise your blood level by 1 ng/ml.
Optimal vitamin D status is associated with a decreased risk of breast, colon and prostate cancers.
For more information on Dr. Michael Holick and his research on vitamin D, view:
VitaminDHealth.org
To review these and other essential guidelines on ensuring adequate vitamin D status, view:
How to Make Sure that You Are Getting Enough Vitamin D for Your Best Health
For a look at the 100% whole food vitamin D supplement that I use and recommend, view:
100% Whole Food Vitamin D-3

Groundbreaking New Research Declares Mammograms Cause Breast Cancer

(NaturalNews) Ever since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force took a look, finally, at the scientific evidence and announced new recommendations earlier this month for routine mammograms -- specifically that women under 50 should avoid them and women over 50 should only get them every other year -- the reactions from many women, doctors and the mainstream media have reached the point of near hysteria (http://www.naturalnews.com/027558_m...). Not getting annual mammograms, some say, means countless women will receive a virtual death sentence because their breast tumors won't be discovered. But what is rarely discussed about mammograms is this: the tests could actually be causing many cases of breast cancer. In fact, a new study just presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), concludes the low-dose radiation from annual mammography screening significantly increases breast cancer risk in women with a genetic or familial predisposition to breast cancer. This is particularly worrisome because women who are at high risk for breast cancer are regularly pushed to start mammograms at a younger age -- as early as 25 -- and that means they are exposed to more radiation from mammography earlier and for more years than women who don't have breast cancer in their family trees."For women at high risk for breast cancer, screening is very important, but a careful approach should be taken when considering mammography for screening young women, particularly under age 30," Marijke C. Jansen-van der Weide, Ph.D., an epidemiologist in the Department of Epidemiology and Radiology at University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, said in a statement to the media. "Further, repeated exposure to low-dose radiation should be avoided." Dr. Jansen-van der Weide and colleagues analyzed peer-reviewed, published medical research to investigate whether low-dose radiation exposure affects breast cancer risk among high-risk women. Out of the six studies included in this analysis, four looked at the effect of exposure to low-dose radiation among breast cancer gene mutation carriers. The other two studies traced the impact of radiation on women with a family history of breast cancer. The researchers took the combined data from all these research projects and then calculated odds ratios to estimate the risk of breast cancer caused by radiation.The results? All the high-risk women in the study who were exposed to low-dose mammography type radiation had an increased risk of breast cancer that was 1.5 times greater than that of high-risk women who had not been exposed to low-dose radiation. What's more, women at high risk for breast cancer who had been exposed to low-dose radiation before the age of 20 or who had five or more exposures to low-dose radiation were 2.5 times more likely to develop breast cancer than high-risk women not exposed to low-dose radiation. Bottom line: any supposed benefit of early tumor detection using mammograms in young women with familial or genetic predisposition to breast cancer is offset by the potential risk of radiation-induced cancer. "Our findings suggest that low-dose radiation increases breast cancer risk among these young high-risk women, and a careful approach is warranted," Dr. Jansen-van der Weide said in the press statement.
The mammogram scam exposed: Incredibly, although it is rarely reported in the mainstream media, the new study follows on the heels of several others that have already sounded the warning that mammograms may cause breast cancer. For example, NaturalNews covered a Johns Hopkins study published earlier this year in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (http://www.naturalnews.com/025560_c...) that warned radiation exposure from annual mammograms could trigger breast malignancies in women with a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancers who have altered genes (identified as BRCA1 or BRCA2).And it may not be only women with a familial risk for breast cancer who are at extra risk from mammography radiation. As NaturalNews covered last year, a report published in the American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine found breast cancer rates increased significantly in four Norwegian counties after women there began getting mammograms every two years. In fact, the start of screening mammography programs throughout Europe has been linked to an increased incidence of breast cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/024901.html).
Comments by the Health Ranger, Editor of NaturalNews.comMammogram pushers now have nothing left to stand on. The complete and utter hoax of mammography has now been wholly discredited through a flurry of groundbreaking studies performed by conventional medicine researchers! Yes, even the industry's own former advocates now admit mammography harms far more women than it helps.Why? Because mammography causes the very disease it claims to "detect". It's much like a clever sleight-of-hand magician's trick where they reach for your ear and suddenly produce a coin that was presumably hidden there. But as everybody knows, they put it there themselves! Mammograms offer a similar kind of sleight-of-hand trick (or sleight-of-breast, as the case may be) by actually generating the very disease they claim to find. If so many women hadn't already been harmed by mammography, the whole thing would be quite hysterical."Early detection saves lives," they say. Except they stupidly forget to tell women the other side of the story: "Mammograms cause cancer." And if you're gullible enough to actually irradiate your breasts every year, don't be surprised -- shocked! -- if they someday find tumors in them.

Oncologist Prescribing Vitamin D3 for Cancer Therapy

(NaturalNews) Resounding evidence proving the effectiveness of vitamin D in slowing the onset of breast, colon, and other cancers is convincing a growing body of doctors and physicians to utilize the sunshine vitamin in their arsenal of cancer treatment weapons. In the last several years, numerous epidemiological studies have illustrated the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and serious disease, including cancer. Researchers are now focusing attention on elevated levels of "therapeutic" vitamin D, far above the government's daily recommended amounts, for use in disease treatment and prevention. Oncologist Tracey O'Connor from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo has stated that she is now having all her patients supplement with vitamin D. Since vitamin D carries no risk unless taken at enormously high amounts above and beyond what any normal person would ingest, it can only benefit those who are already healthy by preventing disease, as well as those who are sick. Recent studies have also shown that the general public is grossly deficient in vitamin D. Those with debilitating diseases have been found to be the most deficient, indicating a clear correlation between deficiency and the onset of disease. O'Connor pointed out that among women with breast cancer, about 80 percent of them are vitamin D-deficient.Current research is suggesting that healthy doses of vitamin D require a several-thousand IU daily intake rather than the two- to six-hundred IU dose that has typically been recommended. While these lower levels may prevent rickets, they do little or nothing to prevent the development of many common ailments that have become prevalent in modern society. Natural sunlight is the best way to obtain vitamin D throughout the warm months of the year. The precursor to vitamin D, ultraviolet light from the sun is absorbed into the skin where it is converted into this life-giving vitamin. The body knows when it has received enough for the day and shuts off production at the proper time, eliminating the risk of generating too much.Vitamin D3 is the next best option as it is a natural plant form of vitamin D that is readily absorbed by the body. Advocacy groups and physicians recommend anywhere from 1,000 to 50,000 IU a day of vitamin D3 depending upon a person's condition. Healthy individuals typically do well taking between 2,000 and 10,000 IU a day while someone with cancer might be prescribed as much as 50,000 IU a day as part of a cancer treatment plan

Wasting Our Children's Life

by Dr. Joel Fuhrman: Mourning the loss of a child . . . every parent's greatest fear. But as a society we have created an environment where, according to the CDC, the current generation of children will NOT outlive their parents! The poor dietary habits of children being inflicted by their parents is contributing to their obesity, chronic illness, and ill-health. It is also laying a foundation for later life cancers, violent behavior, and premature death. Our children deserve more from us. It is time to stand up as a society and take proper care of them! Let's not destroy their future with food - something that we can control. Better yet let's give them the best fighting chance for the brightest future. Poor nutrition gravely impacts children's health throughout their lives. Junk food IS life-threatening!! Take a look at the numbers.
The CDC estimates that 1/3 of children born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime, and that children born in 2000 may not outlive their parents. Can you imagine the tragedy when a child dies in middle age from a food-induced disease.
Overweight/obesity rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents in the past 20 years. These children also suffer the social stigmatization associated with being overweight.
Obesity in children increases their risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, joint problems, sleep apnea, early puberty, and several cancers.
Signs of atherosclerosis can be seen in early childhood(1-3)
Most adult cancers are linked to poor childhood nutrition. The effects of poor nutrition on the brain are dramatic too - new research links poor dietary habits to adult violence. The Cardiff University study involving 17,500 people found 10-year-olds who ate sweets daily were significantly more likely to have a violence conviction by age 34. The researchers found that 69% of the participants who were violent at the age of 34 had eaten sweets and chocolate nearly every day during childhood, compared to 42% who were non-violent.(4) Parents negligence & ignorance can not be excused When it comes to something so simple and basic that so greatly impacts the quality of a child's life, there is no excuse to be negligent. Just as a doctor takes an oath to "do no harm" with the course of treatment for his patients, so should parents have to take an oath "to do no harm" with the food choices they offer their children. Somehow we overlook that allowing our children to indulge in junk food creates an environment setting them up for childhood illnesses, later life cancers, and an overall poor quality life. We ignore the hazards of some of their food choices and, worse, actually condone behavior that is potentially very harmful to them - even life-threatening! We are the parents, and we must take control of our children's health! Indeed, we are in full control of the meals that we provide and the examples that we set. The bottom line is that we can have a major impact on the future health of our children. With the holidays upon us and the pending deluge of sweets and treats - please arm yourself with this critical information about how to protect your children's health, both mind and body, by feeding them right and educating them about the power of food. All of the science and the basic how-tos are addressed in my book, Disease Proof Your Child. This is my most important book, yet it is the one that generates the least interest. Learn more about how to protect your children's health, read: Disease-Proof Your Child, by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.