The Best Breakfast and Removing Mercury Fillings

These areticles were taken from from Dr. David Wiliams' newsletter called Alternatives.  I thought they were interesting enough to pass on to you.

The Best Breakfast for Kids

Question: You routinely talk about having a protein shake for breakfast. I have two school-aged children, both active and healthy, although my older one has asthma. Is this something you would recommend as a breakfast for them, as well? —J.K., Temecula, CA

Answer: Yes, I would, but I don't know if I would use it exclusively for breakfast. It is important that your children get adequate amounts of fat in their diets. Fat from meat, butter, coconut oil, olive oil, cream, etc. are necessary to not only help stabilize their blood sugar levels, but for proper growth and well-being. Some of these items can be added to morning shakes, but they shouldn't always be substi­tuted for a more complete breakfast. It's hard to beat the benefits of eggs and bacon in the morning.

Raw Milk for Asthma

  Researchers in Switzerland recently studied the protective effects that raw milk consumption had on asthma. The study involved 8,334 school-aged children in the rural regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Blood samples were obtained for evaluation from 7,606 of the children. And, over 800 samples of cow's milk were collected and ana­lyzed for bacterial counts, whey protein levels, and fat content. It was a very well-run study and the results were impressive to say the least. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 11;128(4):766-773)

  Compared to children who drank only pasteurized, store-bought milk, the children who drank raw milk several times a week were 40% less likely to have asthma, and those who drank raw milk daily were 50% less likely to have asthma. The raw milk obvi­ously had more bacteria, which influences the gut flora and immune system, just as we've discussed previously—but there was another factor involved.

  When milk is heated through pasteurization, it lowers both the whey content of the milk and de­stroys several other important proteins.

   One of the proteins pasteurization destroys is lactoferrin. Lactoferrin has many benefits including inhibit­ing the growth of pathogenic bacteria, encouraging the growth of probiotic bacteria, and helping our body make lactase, the enzyme necessary to digest the milk sugar lactose.

This study showed that raw milk contained 2,866 times the amount of boiled milk and 8,026 times the amount contained in UHT milk (ultra-high temperature treated milk—the kind that doesn't require refrigeration and has a long shelf life).

Glutathione Is Important, Too

Pasteurization also destroys two proteins (bo­vine serum albumin and B-lactogobulin) that play a crucial role in helping boost glutathione levels. Glutathione is present in every cell of your body and is essential for life itself. It influences the aging process, your immune system, and the strength and integrity of every single cell. There is a direct correla­tion between glutathione levels and longevity.

The link between glutathione levels and asthma has just recently been outlined in an extensive report from researchers at Emory University. Glutathione in the fluid of the lung helps keep mucus fluid, and, when it combines with nitric oxide, it acts as a bronchodilator. It stimulates the exact same receptors in the lungs as the asthma drug albuterol.

Studies show that asthmatic children have signifi­cantly lower levels of glutathione in their lungs as compared to children who don't have asthma.

In addition to drinking raw cow's or goat's milk, you can raise glutathione levels by consuming crucifer­ous vegetables. Studies show that raw goat's milk is even more effective than cow's milk. You can also increase glutathione by consuming un-denatured whey protein powder, like Designer Whey by Next Proteins. Also, bone broths (drdavidwilliams.com/ bone-broth-recipe) are a good source of glycine, which is needed to produce glutathione.

So, an occasional protein shake for breakfast is a healthy option, though I would prefer that all kids eat a breakfast that contains protein and fat. And for your child with asthma, raw milk for breakfast would be one of the best ways to increase glutathione levels and reduce asthma attacks, but if raw milk isn't available, then a daily protein shake, either as an occasional breakfast or afternoon snack, is a good idea.

Removing Amalgam Fillings

Question: I have several amalgam fillings. I asked my dentist last year to remove them, but he says they are safe and best left in place. It's not that easy to find someone who is willing to remove them. What can I do? —Mary F., Sidney, NE

Answer: Amalgam fillings have been used for over 150 years and contain a mixture of primarily silver and mercury with small amounts of copper, tin, cadmium, and other metals. Mercury makes the filling soft and pliable, and while it can kill any bacteria that could lead to an infection in the tooth, it is also toxic to the nervous system, thyroid, immune system, and even beneficial microbes throughout the body.

Whether or not your fillings should be removed depends on a few factors. First, some individu­als are far more sensitive to mercury toxicity than others. Having said that, though, mercury is toxic to everyone. Also, the number of fillings you have can make a difference. And the age of the fillings can be a factor. Mercury vaporizes, and most of the time, fillings tend to vaporize less with age.

Personally, if I had several fillings and suffered from either an autoimmune disease or progressive neurological problem, I would seriously consider having them removed. (If you have cancer, though, I would wait until it was in remission before remov­ing any amalgam fillings. The extra stress and toxic burden from the released mercury is not something you want to subject your body to.)

Safe and Stable? Yeah, Right!

The amalgam controversy is well known among dentists these days, and most have started to use composite fillings. Like you mentioned, however, getting someone to remove them is another story.

The American Dental Association (ADA), the FDA, and other organizations continue to state that amal­gam fillings are safe and the mercury "combines with other metals to render it stable and safe." However, when these same fillings are removed, the ADA has a very strict "no touch" protocol for handling amalgam. It has to be stored underwater in sealed containers and disposed of as toxic waste. I guess once it gets in your mouth it miraculously transforms into a nontoxic substance. Yeah, right.

How to get your fillings removed safely

  Dentists who remove perfectly fine fillings without a good reason can risk losing their license to practice. The fact that mercury is extremely toxic, and that you want the fillings removed to restore or protect your health, aren't considered good enough reasons. But... if you go to another dentist and tell him or her that you'd like the fillings removed for cosmetic reasons or to eliminate that "metallic" taste in your mouth, they can be removed without too much hassle.

  I'm of the opinion that any good dentist should be able to remove amalgam fillings as long as a dental dam is used along with lots of suction. The suction should be enough that the mercury vapors or particles aren't inhaled or swallowed.

Prior to and afterward, I recommend taking a high-quality multivitamin/mineral complex and a quality pro­tein powder. Amino acids and minerals help compete for binding sites with the mercury, making it harder for the metal to stay in the body. I also suggest taking a probiotic and consuming fermented foods. You want to replenish any bacteria than may be lost and provide a boost to your "second immune system"—the gut.

Additionally, it would be wise to consume cilantro, garlic, and spirulina powder. All three have been shown to be natural chelators that can pull mercury from the nervous system and other tis­sue and eliminate it from the body. Finally, be sure to add alpha lipoic acid (600 mg a day) and N-acetylcysteine (500-1,000 mg a day). Both are very powerful antioxidants, which help mitigate mercury toxicity and remove it from the body. (Altern Med Rev 02;7(6):456-457)

Until Next time, stay healthy and happy
JD Roma

The information on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician (preferably a Naturopath).