(CBS) If you’re worried about being exposed to the cancer-causing compound BPA, you may already know to be wary of some water bottles and food cans.
But you’ll never guess where BPA, a.k.a. bisphenol A, is showing up now:
Cash register receipts:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20011903-10391704.html
1) Flavored Stevia. Stevia is a wonderful natural sweetener that has no calories and does not disrupt your blood sugar. The brand Sweet Leaf makes flavored stevia which can be used to spice up coffee or iced tea, oatmeal, even yogurt! (Dr. Lovick’s favorite is cinnamon!)
2) Pilates. This form of exercise has been around for over 80 years. It focuses on mindful exercise that strengthens the core abdominal muscles through controlled movement and breathing. Go to the Pilates Method Alliance to find a certified teacher near you.
3) Headache cure. Hydrotherapy is an easy and quick cure for most headaches, including some migraines. When a headache strikes, roll up some ice inside a towel and put it around your neck. Then sit with your feet in a bucket of hot water (but not so hot that it burns you!) It works fast, it is inexpensive, and there are no side effects!
At 6 months, foods are introduced into the breast feeding regime. Several qualities are desirable: 1) Generally, hypoallergenic foods should be used; 2) Easy chewability; 3) reasonably iron-rich (but not high iron); 4) Adequate fiber and fluid levels for the health of the colon.
Substantial growth and maturation of tissues occur at 9 months. Iron and zinc foods are emphasized as well as maintaining hypoallergenicity in food choices. High bulk and fiber are encouraged for good intestinal health. The intestinal bacteria change as we add more foods from bifidobacterium bifidus to E. Coli to lactobacillus species. A high fiber diet encourages smooth transformation to these bacterial types. Introduce foods one at a time, watching for reactions such as diaper rash, behavioral changes, skin rashes, ear infections, runny nose, etc.
These foods are high in zinc, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. Again, watch for allergic or sensitivity reactions to foods, such as skin rashes, runny noses,behavorial changes, etc. Protein and Iron are also emphasized.
These foods include food high in Protein. The molecular structures are getting more complex. These foods emphasize also calcium and B vitamins for growth.
At this stage, much growth is occurring. Here, we begin to fill out the Proteins so that the Protein foods can be rotated. EFA rich nuts are introduced as easy to eat nut butters.
This completes the list of foods. At this stage, any fruit or vegetable that has not appeared on the list may be added. As always watch for food reactions as these are some of the most reactive yet commonly eaten foods. Keep rotated grains and proteins in the diet.
Many patien’s try a “gluten-free” diet (wheat free), with great success in treating a variety of symptoms. The biggest complaint about this type of diet, however, is the desire for pizza. Here’s a neat alternative that both kids and adults will like!
Rice-Crust Pizza
1 cup Arborio rice
2 ½ cups water
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup (1 ounce) plus 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 large egg, beaten
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
Salt to taste
1 cup tomato sauce
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim milk mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat 12-inch round pizza pan, or baking sheet, with cooking spray.
In medium saucepan, combine rice, water and salt. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat, cover, and cook until rice is soft, 18 minutes.
In large mixing bowl, combine hot rice with 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and egg and use fork to mix until well combined. Mound rice mixture in center of prepared pan. With back of fork, spread rice out to cover pan, then make edge neat.
Bake crust until surface feels dry and firm, 18 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, green pepper and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and pepper and cook until all moisture has evaporated from mushrooms and they are browned, about 12 minutes, stirring more frequently toward the end. Add salt to taste.
Spread mushroom mixture over rice crust. Spoon tomato sauce over vegetables. Sprinkle on basil and oregano, then mozzarella and remaining tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. Bake pizza in oven until cheese is melted and starts to brown, about 15 minutes.
In Costa Rica plantains were served with every meal, this photo shows a typical Costa Rican Breakfast (corn tortillas, rice, beans, eggs, yucca root, and plantains). They taste great, much like bananas and are a great source of potassium and magnesium. I researched and found that, unlike bananas, they are an extremely low glycemic food.
Their glycemic index rating is 34 on most scales…this is lower than most beans! You can find them in many supermarkets. They ripen fast like bananas.
When they are ripe, peel them. The skin is tougher than bananas, so you may need a little help from a knife.
There are a variety of ways to cook them. But the way I like is healthier than the fried version usually served in restaurants.
Cut them into roughly 1 inch slices and boil for 5 minutes.
They can be served in a stir fry, added to oatmeal or they can be served plain as a great side dish.
My kids even love them and they are one of the best carbohydrates I have ever found for keeping blood sugar stable.
In Good Health,
Dr. Alan Christianson
Calcium
As long as we’ve known about heart disease we’ve known that cardiovascular plaque is calcified. Over the years I’ve heard many speculate that if calcification hurts their heart, should they not take calcium? Now it appears these concerns may have some merit.
In a meta-analysis of eleven clinical trials totalling about 12,000 patients, calcium supplementation to raise heart attack risk by 20% to 30% according to Ian Reid, MD, of New Zealand’s University of Aukland.
In the studies, the participants took at least 500 mg of calcium without vitamin D. It has been speculated that the food based calcium absorbs more slowly. The rapid rise of blood calcium with calcium supplements can be the trigger for vascular damage. Editorials with the article also brought forth data showing that the bone protecting benefits with calcium appears minimal in recent studies.
What should be done? Dietary calcium really does revolve around dairy foods. Other foods have some but much less. Calcium fortified foods would also assimilate more slowly and may be a good option for those who are dairy intolerant. These include orange juice, soy and rice milk. Water soluble calcium such as calcium citrate may be less of a culprit. You may know your cholesterol or blood pressure, but what is your vitamin D score? It is probably more important. Get tested and take enough to be in the optimal range of 55-80.
These issues are also thought to be more related to insoluble calcium such as calcium carbonate or oyster shell calcium.
More info: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_101638.html
Folic Acid
The B-vitamin folate is important for preventing neural tube defects in infants and has been fortified in grains since 1990. Over this time frame such birth defects have reduced by 19%.
Yet for non-pregnant women and men, this may not be a good thing. The form of folic acid added to grains is folic acid, the synthetic form of folate. Since the 1950’s it was known in the test tube, folic acid fueled the growth of many cancers cells especially colon cancer cells. In fact, most chemotherapy drugs work by blocking folic acid.
Since fortification with folic acid began, it appears colon cancer has risen by 15000 cases per year even after factoring in improvements in screening. Other studies have suggested links between folic acid and lung and prostate cancers.
What to do?
Folic acid is added to processed grains, which means primarily white flour, instant oatmeal and white rice. This is just one more reason to avoid processed grains and eat exclusively whole grains.
Paradoxically, folate from foods is important and likely lowers the risk of many of the same cancers for which folic acid raises the risk. Good sources include leafy greens, lentils, beans and citrus fruits.
When our livers process natural folate, they convert it into a compound called 5 methyltetrahydrafolate. (MTHF). Many professional supplement manufacturors are switching to MTHF in their B-vitamin and multivitamin supplements since this form would not raise risks.
More info: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/cancer/articles/2009/11/17/folic-acid-fortification-might-boost-cancer-risk.html
Although the data is evolving on these risks, the earliest red flags were from nearly a decade ago. Since that time Integrative Health has only used water soluble calcium with vitamin D and has used exclusively converted or low dose folate in our multivitamins.
My stance is that even if the risk is small or hypothetical, it is best to be prudent when it comes to health.
Health News You Can Use Vol 4
Heart disease from calcium and cancer from folic acid?
Calcium
As long as we’ve known about heart disease we’ve known that cardiovascular plaque is calcified. Over the years I’ve heard many speculate that if calcification hurts their heart, should they not take calcium? Now it appears these concerns may have some merit.
In a meta-analysis of eleven clinical trials totalling about 12,000 patients, calcium supplementation to raise heart attack risk by 20% to 30% according to Ian Reid, MD, of New Zealand’s University of Aukland.
In the studies, the participants took at least 500 mg of calcium without vitamin D. It has been speculated that the food based calcium absorbs more slowly. The rapid rise of blood calcium with calcium supplements can be the trigger for vascular damage. Editorials with the article also brought forth data showing that the bone protecting benefits with calcium appears minimal in recent studies.
What should be done? Dietary calcium really does revolve around dairy foods. Other foods have some but much less. Calcium fortified foods would also assimilate more slowly and may be a good option for those who are dairy intolerant. These include orange juice, soy and rice milk. Water soluble calcium such as calcium citrate may be less of a culprit. You may know your cholesterol or blood pressure, but what is your vitamin D score? It is probably more important. Get tested and take enough to be in the optimal range of 55-80.
Folic Acid
The B-vitamin folate is important for preventing neural tube defects in infants and has been fortified in grains since 1990. Over this time frame such birth defects have reduced by 19%.
Yet for non-pregnant women and men, this may not be a good thing. The form of folic acid added to grains is folic acid, the synthetic form of folate. Since the 1950’s it was known in the test tube, folic acid fueled the growth of many cancers cells especially colon cancer cells. In fact, most chemotherapy drugs work by blocking folic acid.
Since fortification with folic acid began, it appears colon cancer has risen by 15000 cases per year even after factoring in improvements in screening. Other studies have suggested links between folic acid and lung and prostate cancers.
What to do?
Folic acid is added to processed grains, which means primarily white flour, instant oatmeal and white rice. This is just one more reason to avoid processed grains and eat exclusively whole grains.
Paradoxically, folate from foods is important and likely lowers the risk of many of the same cancers for which folic acid raises the risk. Good sources include leafy greens, lentils, beans and citrus fruits.
When our livers process natural folate, they convert it into a compound called 5 methyltetrahydrafolate. (MTHF). Many professional supplement manufacturors are switching to MTHF in their B-vitamin and multivitamin supplements since this form would not raise risks.
Alan Christianson, N.M.D., has been practicing in the Scottsdale area for over 14 years. He has completed ‘The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease’ which is available for pre-sale on Amazon. He practices at Integrative Health along with Drs. Ann Lovick and Phil Wazny. 480-657-0003. www.integrativehealthcare.com
Over the next several months I read every word written by Dr. Abraham and his colleagues. I also read all of their references that were available. Most referred to their own statements from other sources. I also read everything I could find from every other source on human iodine requirements. My conclusion was quite clear, iodine at these new proposed doses was not justified and I have since counseled patients and peers against it.
I imagine most who have entertained these ideas had no idea how radical some of the essential underlying concepts are. I could not make this stuff up. He rightfully states that the whole body of his work depends on the points 6 and 7 to be valid.
These last points are so extreme, they deserve a few direct quotes from Dr. Abraham’s work:
“The theory of evolution does not offer an intellectually satisfying answer to this paradox (humans needing iodine levels greatly in excess of what is found in sea water, as Dr. Abraham proposes). . . .Therefore, the original planet earth contained a topsoil rich in iodine, and all elements required for perfect health of Adam, Eve and their descendants. . . . A sequence of events followed, culminating in the worldwide flood 4500 years ago. Following this episode, the receding waters washed away the topsoil with all its elements into oceans and seas. The new topsoil became deficient in iodine and most likely other essential elements, whose essentialities are still unknown.” 3
“Iodine neglect in the 1930’s by thyroidologists progressed to medical iodophobia in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Following World War II, there was a systematic attempt to remove iodine from the food supply of Christian America. Iodophobic misinformation, well synchronized with the introduction of alternatives to iodine supplementation in medical practice, strongly suggest a well planned conspiracy by agents of foreign powers planted at strategic positions in academia and the regulatory agencies.” 4
The Iodine Project’s claims that ‘iodophobia’ is part of a large conspiracy beginning in the 1930′s. He discusses how in the 1960′s Americans nearly became released from the “zombifying” clutches of iodophobia:
“In the early 1960’s, potassium iodate was added to bread as a dough conditioner. This was an oversight by the agents of foreign powers planted at strategic positions in academia and the regulatory agencies. . . . This amount of the dezombifier iodine in a major staple food of Christian America could not be tolerated for long. “ 5
Point 1: Dr. Abraham states that his focus on iodine began after learning about the role of high dose iodine in treating fibrocycstic breast disease in women.
We excrete iodine in our urine but variable amounts leave though our bowels and sweat. Sudden large doses can result in fecal loss 400 fold above normal. It has been stated that unless fecal and urine levels of iodine are measured, urine is not an accurate biomarker when iodine intake is changed abruptly such as after a loading dose. 14
The CDC has also documented that a population’s 24 hour urinary iodine output levels are only meaningful when iodine intake has been steady for six months or greater. One does not reach steady state in 24 hours. 15
Point #4: Due to predictable thyroid toxicity, no nutritional organization has endorsed intakes of iodine above 600 mcg daily.
| Group | Recommended Intake (mcg/kg/day) | Upper limit of safety (mcg/kg/day) | Iodine Project proposed intake (mcg/kg/day for a 60 kg adult female) |
| age 13-adult | 2 | 30 | 208 – 833 |
Point #5: The Wolff Chaikoff effect, AKA the ‘iodine escape mechanism’, has been verified in vitro and in vivo and is present in all humans without exceptions or variations. Were such a ‘fuse’ not in place, normal variation of iodine intake could induce cardiotoxic hyperthyroidism. This effect is used when managing patients in a state of hyperthyroid storm. One can suppress thyroid hormone synthesis with pharmacologic doses of iodine more quickly than with thionamide drugs due to the Wolff Chaikoff effect.
This also enables a single high dose of potassium iodine (SSKI) to prevent thyroid cancer after radiation exposure. After taking enough SSKI, the thyroid iodine uptake is temporarily blocked due the Wolff Chikoff effect. This prevents the thyroid from absorbing environmental radioactive iodine for roughly three weeks.
Point #6: Religious belief, or lack thereof, is a personal matter. Yet modern medicine is based on biology and biology is based on evolution. If someone is unwilling to acknowledge the existence of planet earth prior to 6000 BC, then I see little basis on which to have a rational discussion regarding matters of science.
Point #7: As Naturopathic Physicians, we love to be the purveyors of arcane knowledge that flies in the face of conventional wisdom, I know I do. Because of this eagerness, I think we can be vulnerable to embracing such ideas too uncritically. As Carl Sagan said, great claims require great evidence.
The claim that the last 80 years of accumulated iodine knowledge duplicated from hundreds of researches in thousands of studies worldwide is all part of a ‘foreign conspiracy’ would require massive evidence which I find lacking.
Fibrocystic breast disease can usually be treated with therapeutic doses of Vitamin E, EPO, a diet high in fiber and avoidance of methyl xanthenes. (Tori Hudson, ND: personal communication, April 26, 2010) If considering iodine for resistant cases, pre-screen for antibodies and monitor thyroid function.
Breast cancer risk can be lowered by exercise, caloric balance, low fat diet, healthy use of soy and cruciferous veggies and trading alcohol for tea.
Neither require a treatment with a significant risk for generating thyroid disease. Finally, thyroid function does not improve when iodine consumption exceeds established ranges.
Given that risks of high dose iodine are irrefutable, long term intake should be kept at levels of roughly 150 mcg although episodic intake of up to 1000 mcg is tolerable by most without thyroid antibodies.
What is the most widely used psychoactive drug on the planet?
The funny thing is that caffeine does not actually give you a boost if you use it daily. It only seems like it does because it reverses caffeine withdrawal side effects. Here’s one the best papers I’ve seen that clarifies this:
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