Melanoma,
the deadliest kind of skin cancer, has become an American epidemic.
A new CDC report shows that melanoma cases have doubled over the past 30 years -- and 65,000 Americans will get the life-changing diagnosis this year alone.
But before you run to slather sunscreen all over yourself, there's something you need to know.
Nearly everything you've been told about how to prevent skin cancer, especially melanomas, may be wrong.
We've been lied to for decades about how to be safe in the sun -- and this new CDC report proves that people are dying as a result.
Ten years ago Harvard professor Dr. Edward Giovanucci stood up at a meeting of top cancer scientists and told them they were full of it. He declared that their overly aggressive recommendations on avoiding sun exposure were going to cause 30 times more deaths than they prevented.
They nearly laughed Dr. Giovanucci out of academia -- but now he looks like a genius.
Because a growing body of evidence is proving that reduced sun exposure may be causing the spike in melanoma cases throughout America.
If sunscreens were the silver bullet for preventing skin cancer, we should have seen the melanoma rate bottom out years ago. Americans are buying nearly $1 billion worth of sunscreen every year -- compared to just $18 million in 1972 -- and the FDA is recommending it for everyone over six months old
But sunscreen sales and skin cancer rates have risen at the exact same time And researchers are finding that people who spend the most time avoiding the sun may have the highest risk of developing a deadly melanoma.
While people who work outside get 3 to 10 times as much UV exposure annually as indoor workers, their rates of the most deadly kinds of melanomas (cutaneous malignant melanoma, or CMM) are typically lower than people who work in offices.
That comes from a study by Dianne E. Godar, a chemist with the FDA, and previous research by the World Health Organization has found the same thing.
In fact, a study published in The Lancet a decade ago also found a "decreased risk of melanoma" in people who work outdoors. The researchers said that chronic sunlight exposure seemed to have a "protective effect."
Now I'm not saying that spending too long in the sun without protection is safe. Because it isn't. Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer, especially if you get a burn.
But getting the right type of sun exposure at the right time can also prevent skin cancer -- and that's something that plenty of scientists and doctors have forgotten.
The UVB rays from the sun help your body fill up its stores of vitamin D. There have probably been more studies on vitamin D (the "sunshine vitamin") than any other vitamin, mineral or hormone that your body requires. And it's been found time and time again to be one of the most potent cancer fighters out there.
So when we cover ourselves with sunscreen all the time -- or completely avoid the sun -- we promote skin cancer in two ways.
First, we prevent our bodies from making enough vitamin D. Second, many sunscreens contain an ingredient -- a form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate -- that can actually promote skin cancer.
To make sure your body has a healthy supply of vitamin D, your skin should be exposed to the sun for around 10 to 20 minutes each day (depending on how fair you are). Make sure you don't burn.
And when you're getting sun exposure, remember that UVB rays are what you want, because they allow your body to make vitamin D.
You can find out the hours when the sun is at the right angle to provide you with those UVB rays by going to the United States Naval Observatory website. Simply put in the date, your state and town name, and click "compute table."
Then look down the middle column until you find a number at 50 or higher and look in the left column for the time (it uses military time). This time of the year in the U.S. you'll probably find that those beneficial 50-or-over UVB rays will be shining from 10 A.M. to around 4 P.M.
My Comment:
A new CDC report shows that melanoma cases have doubled over the past 30 years -- and 65,000 Americans will get the life-changing diagnosis this year alone.
But before you run to slather sunscreen all over yourself, there's something you need to know.
Nearly everything you've been told about how to prevent skin cancer, especially melanomas, may be wrong.
We've been lied to for decades about how to be safe in the sun -- and this new CDC report proves that people are dying as a result.
Ten years ago Harvard professor Dr. Edward Giovanucci stood up at a meeting of top cancer scientists and told them they were full of it. He declared that their overly aggressive recommendations on avoiding sun exposure were going to cause 30 times more deaths than they prevented.
They nearly laughed Dr. Giovanucci out of academia -- but now he looks like a genius.
Because a growing body of evidence is proving that reduced sun exposure may be causing the spike in melanoma cases throughout America.
If sunscreens were the silver bullet for preventing skin cancer, we should have seen the melanoma rate bottom out years ago. Americans are buying nearly $1 billion worth of sunscreen every year -- compared to just $18 million in 1972 -- and the FDA is recommending it for everyone over six months old
But sunscreen sales and skin cancer rates have risen at the exact same time And researchers are finding that people who spend the most time avoiding the sun may have the highest risk of developing a deadly melanoma.
While people who work outside get 3 to 10 times as much UV exposure annually as indoor workers, their rates of the most deadly kinds of melanomas (cutaneous malignant melanoma, or CMM) are typically lower than people who work in offices.
That comes from a study by Dianne E. Godar, a chemist with the FDA, and previous research by the World Health Organization has found the same thing.
In fact, a study published in The Lancet a decade ago also found a "decreased risk of melanoma" in people who work outdoors. The researchers said that chronic sunlight exposure seemed to have a "protective effect."
Now I'm not saying that spending too long in the sun without protection is safe. Because it isn't. Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer, especially if you get a burn.
But getting the right type of sun exposure at the right time can also prevent skin cancer -- and that's something that plenty of scientists and doctors have forgotten.
The UVB rays from the sun help your body fill up its stores of vitamin D. There have probably been more studies on vitamin D (the "sunshine vitamin") than any other vitamin, mineral or hormone that your body requires. And it's been found time and time again to be one of the most potent cancer fighters out there.
So when we cover ourselves with sunscreen all the time -- or completely avoid the sun -- we promote skin cancer in two ways.
First, we prevent our bodies from making enough vitamin D. Second, many sunscreens contain an ingredient -- a form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate -- that can actually promote skin cancer.
To make sure your body has a healthy supply of vitamin D, your skin should be exposed to the sun for around 10 to 20 minutes each day (depending on how fair you are). Make sure you don't burn.
And when you're getting sun exposure, remember that UVB rays are what you want, because they allow your body to make vitamin D.
You can find out the hours when the sun is at the right angle to provide you with those UVB rays by going to the United States Naval Observatory website. Simply put in the date, your state and town name, and click "compute table."
Then look down the middle column until you find a number at 50 or higher and look in the left column for the time (it uses military time). This time of the year in the U.S. you'll probably find that those beneficial 50-or-over UVB rays will be shining from 10 A.M. to around 4 P.M.
My Comment:
Most
sunscreens are filled with harmful chemicals. Try to buy a natural sunscreen
that doesn’t include harmful chemicals. Costco is now selling a natural
sunscreen called Honest mineral sunscreen. It is SP50. After getting about 20-30
minutes of exposure you can use the sunscreen to protect your skin if you know
you are going to be out in the sun for too long. Or just use it for the more
sensitive areas as you get more tanned with frequent exposure.
What
Is a Normal Blood Pressure Range?
By
Jenny Thompson at Health Science Institute
If you're treating your high blood pressure with prescription drugs, there's something you need to know before you swallow that next pill.
You've probably been told that lowering your blood pressure to a "normal" range will help you avoid a heart attack or stroke.
But what you haven't been told is that doctors can't even agree on what a normal range is. They're using targets that are too low... that have been scientifically debunked... and that may be exposing millions of patients to cognitive decline and even Alzheimer's disease.
Most doctors still think of blood pressure readings like their golf scores -- the lower the better. They'll pump you full of diuretics, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers until you hit some "ideal" target like 120/80.
But the science behind what many doctors call normal blood pressure is shaky at best. And treating your blood pressure to ridiculously low levels could literally starve your brain and leave you at risk for dementia and Alzheimer's.
That's because as you age, too low blood pressure can cause your brain to get an insufficient supply of blood. Studies out of both Italy and the Netherlands found that seniors who had the lowest blood pressure (which they achieved by taking prescription drugs) were far more likely to suffer from cognitive decline and dementia.
So could skipping those dangerous meds... even if you have blood pressure that's a little high by today's standards... be the key to preventing Alzheimer's? Believe it or not, the answer appears to be yes.
An international research team recently analyzed medical records for nearly 30,000 people and found that those with higher blood pressure were also much less likely to have Alzheimer's.
"Our results are the opposite of what people might think," admitted Dr. Paul Crane, a University of Washington associate professor and one of the study's co-authors.
Allowing your blood pressure to creep north of the 120/80 ideal target may seem frightening. But even some of the country's top cardiologists admit that what we're defining as "normal" blood pressure these days was practically pulled out of thin air.
You see, back in the 1950s, a good reading was said to be a systolic (top number) of 100 plus your age. You could be a senior with a systolic reading of 150 or higher and nobody would think to prescribe you a pill.
That all changed a decade later when a VA hospital study claimed to prove that lowering blood pressure saves lives. And the next thing you knew, we lowered blood pressure targets and docs started handing out prescription drugs like Halloween candy.
Of course, we know now that the VA study was deeply flawed. It focused only on the bottom (or diastolic) reading, not the systolic number that is more important and that is targeted with blood pressure meds.
But between the VA study and plenty of slick drug company marketing, doctors were convinced to lower our blood pressure to unheard-of levels. And it looks like our brains... especially seniors' brains...are paying the price.
Fortunately, some doctors are waking up to the dangers of over-treating blood pressure and driving our levels too low.
A panel convened by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute now claims that people over 60 should never be given a drug unless their systolic number is over 150.
That's awfully similar to recommendations you would have heard half a century ago. And it proves that millions of Americans are taking blood pressure meds right now that they don't need.
If you might be one of them, you and your doctor need to think about ditching these drugs for good. While you can still think clearly.
New Treatment For High Blood Pressure
You could say "let a glass of tart cherry juice be thy
medicine." Especially if you have high blood pressure!
British researchers from Northumbria University have discovered that drinking just two ounces of cherry juice can do as well at reducing blood pressure as prescription drugs do.
When that amount of Montmorency cherry juice was given to study participants suffering from early hypertension, their blood pressure dropped by 7 percent, compared to those who got a placebo.
And what makes these results especially important are previous findings that lowering blood pressure by just 5 to 6 percent can significantly cut the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease.
Those amazing benefits have to do with the plant compounds "and the positive impact they exert on vascular function," said lead author Karen Keane. The presence of powerful antioxidants called phenolic acids in the juice is considered especially important in its ability to lower blood pressure.
The peak reduction was recorded during the three hours after the juice was consumed. And best of all, participants whose blood pressure levels were highest saw the biggest benefits.
But that's not all cherries can do. This bright red super-food is also:
British researchers from Northumbria University have discovered that drinking just two ounces of cherry juice can do as well at reducing blood pressure as prescription drugs do.
When that amount of Montmorency cherry juice was given to study participants suffering from early hypertension, their blood pressure dropped by 7 percent, compared to those who got a placebo.
And what makes these results especially important are previous findings that lowering blood pressure by just 5 to 6 percent can significantly cut the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease.
Those amazing benefits have to do with the plant compounds "and the positive impact they exert on vascular function," said lead author Karen Keane. The presence of powerful antioxidants called phenolic acids in the juice is considered especially important in its ability to lower blood pressure.
The peak reduction was recorded during the three hours after the juice was consumed. And best of all, participants whose blood pressure levels were highest saw the biggest benefits.
But that's not all cherries can do. This bright red super-food is also:
- High in vitamin A, potassium and fiber.
- A potent anti-inflammatory. Studies have found consuming cherries and cherry juice to be very effective in treating gout and helping muscles recover after strenuous exercise.
- A natural way to get more shut-eye. If you're having trouble sleeping, a glass of cherry juice taken twice a day for two weeks was found to increase the sleep time in older adults with insomnia by close to an hour and a half.
- Studies have also found that tart cherries can even lower your risk of having a stroke.
So if we want to stay healthy, it looks like
life might just be a bowl of cherries after all -- or a glass of cherry
juice!
Tylenol Update
"I think if Tylenol was brought to the market today, it would not be approved."
That comes from Dr. David Juurlink -- the top expert on toxic drugs at one of the largest hospitals in Canada.
For years now, Canadian health authorities have been talking about taking big steps to protect citizens from acetaminophen.
Now Canada's national health agency may be on the verge of permanently banning Extra Strength Tylenol and other high-dose acetaminophen products.
It's a move that has Big Pharma shaking in its boots -- and it's sounding a loud warning on acetaminophen that's being heard all over the world.
As a For Real Health reader, you know that I've been warning about acetaminophen for years. I've shared the stories of people who unknowingly crossed that fine line between a so-called "safe" dose, and a lethal one.
And I've told you about families devastated by the loss of a loved one who simply took one pill too many for a cold or arthritis flare-up.
Now, it looks like health officials in Canada have seen enough.
Health Canada is considering chopping the maximum daily dose of the drug from 4,000 mg (what it is in the U.S.) to 2,600 mg. On top of that, it may also no longer allow Extra Strength Tylenol to be sold anywhere. And that's big. Because that product represents a giant 90 percent of Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol sales.
Company reps and an industry trade group wasted no time in responding that such restrictions would be bad news for patients. And that when used according to the directions, the drug is perfectly safe.
Yeah, right.
It's so safe that acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S. -- and it sends 78,000 people to the ER every year.
And those ER visits and deaths are happening to people who are taking the exact dose recommended on the label.
Health Canada found that up to 20 percent of all the acetaminophen liver injuries reported came from doses smack within the current guidelines.
Dr. Eric Yoshida, who is with the liver transplant program at Vancouver General Hospital, says restrictions on acetaminophen are just "common sense." He's seen his share of Canadians with acute liver damage -- many with complete liver failure -- from taking acetaminophen.
If banning products like Extra Strength Tylenol just prevents one death, or one person from needing a liver transplant, "it would be worth it," Dr. Yoshida added.
Hopefully our neighbors to the north will follow through with these changes.
As for the FDA? Well, I wouldn't hold my breath. But a major country banning high-dose acetaminophen should be a wake-up call to doctors and patients around the world.
And hopefully this will be a reminder to everyone of how important it is to protect ourselves from acetaminophen. One way to do that is to be very sure of the ingredients in any OTC or Rx drugs you're taking.
Acetaminophen doses can add up quickly. And as many have sadly discovered, it's very easy to be just one pill away from a fatal overdose.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
"I think if Tylenol was brought to the market today, it would not be approved."
That comes from Dr. David Juurlink -- the top expert on toxic drugs at one of the largest hospitals in Canada.
For years now, Canadian health authorities have been talking about taking big steps to protect citizens from acetaminophen.
Now Canada's national health agency may be on the verge of permanently banning Extra Strength Tylenol and other high-dose acetaminophen products.
It's a move that has Big Pharma shaking in its boots -- and it's sounding a loud warning on acetaminophen that's being heard all over the world.
As a For Real Health reader, you know that I've been warning about acetaminophen for years. I've shared the stories of people who unknowingly crossed that fine line between a so-called "safe" dose, and a lethal one.
And I've told you about families devastated by the loss of a loved one who simply took one pill too many for a cold or arthritis flare-up.
Now, it looks like health officials in Canada have seen enough.
Health Canada is considering chopping the maximum daily dose of the drug from 4,000 mg (what it is in the U.S.) to 2,600 mg. On top of that, it may also no longer allow Extra Strength Tylenol to be sold anywhere. And that's big. Because that product represents a giant 90 percent of Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol sales.
Company reps and an industry trade group wasted no time in responding that such restrictions would be bad news for patients. And that when used according to the directions, the drug is perfectly safe.
Yeah, right.
It's so safe that acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S. -- and it sends 78,000 people to the ER every year.
And those ER visits and deaths are happening to people who are taking the exact dose recommended on the label.
Health Canada found that up to 20 percent of all the acetaminophen liver injuries reported came from doses smack within the current guidelines.
Dr. Eric Yoshida, who is with the liver transplant program at Vancouver General Hospital, says restrictions on acetaminophen are just "common sense." He's seen his share of Canadians with acute liver damage -- many with complete liver failure -- from taking acetaminophen.
If banning products like Extra Strength Tylenol just prevents one death, or one person from needing a liver transplant, "it would be worth it," Dr. Yoshida added.
Hopefully our neighbors to the north will follow through with these changes.
As for the FDA? Well, I wouldn't hold my breath. But a major country banning high-dose acetaminophen should be a wake-up call to doctors and patients around the world.
And hopefully this will be a reminder to everyone of how important it is to protect ourselves from acetaminophen. One way to do that is to be very sure of the ingredients in any OTC or Rx drugs you're taking.
Acetaminophen doses can add up quickly. And as many have sadly discovered, it's very easy to be just one pill away from a fatal overdose.
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).
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