Its That Time of Year Again
If you're already missing summer, here's something else we'll all be missing soon -- that extra boost of vitamin D we get from the summer sun.
Our bodies can only make vitamin D when exposed to direct sunshine. So from now until probably next June, the only way for you to get enough vitamin D is to take a supplement. A minimum of 2,000 IU per day taken with a meal that contains fat to maximize absorption is what most alternative doctors recommend. And if you feel like you are trying to fight off a cold or flu then you can increase your vitamin D to 4,000 to 6,000 IU per day until you feel better.
Just how important is vitamin "D" be for your body? Well, besides bolstering your immune system against colds and viruses this winter, it can also help make your heart healthier, your bones denser, protect you from getting various types of cancer, and help prevent depression.
Getting enough sun in the next few weeks is especially difficult if you live in a latitude north of, say, Atlanta, because no matter how bright those winter days might seem, the seasonal slant of the earth won't allow you to get sufficient sun exposure.
That's when vitamin-D rich foods come in, such as egg yolks, salmon, and canned tuna, along with vitamin D supplements.
Toothpaste....Does it Matter What You Use?
It's a witches' brew of dangerous ingredients
that we put in our mouths twice a day.
Yes, I'm talking about toothpaste.
The Cornucopia Institute has just release a shocking report about what we're squirting on our toothbrushes. And it discovered things that you wouldn't want to put on your hands, let alone in your mouth.
These are chemicals that can mimic estrogen, mess with our hormones and even cause cancer.
And one ingredient that the FDA has recently banned (Triclosan) in antibacterial soap is still allowed in toothpaste! Does that make any sense?
So, here's what the American Dental Association, as well as the companies that manufacturer these products, don't want you to know.
Toothless regulations
We don't give a lot of thought to toothpaste. And apparently neither does the FDA!
Any toothpaste that contains fluoride lands in the hazy regulatory world of a drug/cosmetic combo (one without fluoride is just considered a cosmetic). Either way, the FDA gives these products little attention.
You might think it doesn't really matter that much. After all, it's only in our mouth a minute or two, and we spit it out, right?
Not exactly.
Even if you don't swallow one bit of toothpaste, many of the chemicals it's made from can easily pass from the lining of your mouth directly into your bloodstream. Mouth membranes are highly efficient at absorbing chemicals and drugs, which is why sublingual (under the tongue) meds are so effective.
And if you take a trip to Europe and buy some toothpaste there, you'll find some of the exact same brands sold here in the U.S., only with different ingredients! Apparently what we're allowed to buy in America is just too dangerous to be sold abroad.
When you see what the Cornucopia Institute discovered, it becomes even more outrageous that the FDA isn't paying attention.
For example:
Yes, I'm talking about toothpaste.
The Cornucopia Institute has just release a shocking report about what we're squirting on our toothbrushes. And it discovered things that you wouldn't want to put on your hands, let alone in your mouth.
These are chemicals that can mimic estrogen, mess with our hormones and even cause cancer.
And one ingredient that the FDA has recently banned (Triclosan) in antibacterial soap is still allowed in toothpaste! Does that make any sense?
So, here's what the American Dental Association, as well as the companies that manufacturer these products, don't want you to know.
Toothless regulations
We don't give a lot of thought to toothpaste. And apparently neither does the FDA!
Any toothpaste that contains fluoride lands in the hazy regulatory world of a drug/cosmetic combo (one without fluoride is just considered a cosmetic). Either way, the FDA gives these products little attention.
You might think it doesn't really matter that much. After all, it's only in our mouth a minute or two, and we spit it out, right?
Not exactly.
Even if you don't swallow one bit of toothpaste, many of the chemicals it's made from can easily pass from the lining of your mouth directly into your bloodstream. Mouth membranes are highly efficient at absorbing chemicals and drugs, which is why sublingual (under the tongue) meds are so effective.
And if you take a trip to Europe and buy some toothpaste there, you'll find some of the exact same brands sold here in the U.S., only with different ingredients! Apparently what we're allowed to buy in America is just too dangerous to be sold abroad.
When you see what the Cornucopia Institute discovered, it becomes even more outrageous that the FDA isn't paying attention.
For example:
·
DEA (diethanolamine): This
is a "foaming agent" you'll find it in lots of brands of toothpaste.
DEA exposure has been linked to liver cancer and thyroid problems in mice. The
European Union considers it a harmful substance capable of causing
"serious health damage."
·
Formaldehyde: The
same stuff used in embalming fluid is also given off from certain preservatives
commonly used in many cosmetics, including toothpaste. These
formaldehyde-releasing preservatives continuously give off small quantities of
this carcinogen. Ingredients to watch out for include chemical names ending in
urea, as well as Bronidox and glyoxal.
·
Parabens: These commonly used
preservatives (such as methylparaben) are known to mimic estrogen and are
linked to cancer as well as developmental problems in children. Parabens can
easily enter the body through gum and mouth tissue.
·
Triclosan: Found in several
brands, including Colgate Total, triclosan was recently banned by the FDA for
use in pump soap and body washes, but unbelievably not toothpaste! This
chemical is an antibacterial agent that has been found to affect hormones,
including those that regulate our reproductive system and thyroid function.
They also contribute to the major problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria,
even at low levels.
But the most common toxin found in the lion's
share of toothpastes would have to be fluoride. For years I've been warning you
about the danger of fluoride exposure in water and dental products. It's been
linked to everything from brain damage to cancer and most recently diabetes.
You don't want (or need) fluoride in your toothpaste! And that's doubly true
for kids.
Now, if you're wondering if that American Dental Association (ADA) seal somehow means your toothpaste is safe, well, it doesn't. The ADA is practically supported by the cosmetic industry, even earning thousands of dollars a year from every ADA seal product as a "maintenance fee."
A better idea would be to check out your brand at the Cornucopia Institute's guide to toothpaste. And here's a tip: Two of the lowest ranking brands are Colgate and Crest!
Now, if you're wondering if that American Dental Association (ADA) seal somehow means your toothpaste is safe, well, it doesn't. The ADA is practically supported by the cosmetic industry, even earning thousands of dollars a year from every ADA seal product as a "maintenance fee."
A better idea would be to check out your brand at the Cornucopia Institute's guide to toothpaste. And here's a tip: Two of the lowest ranking brands are Colgate and Crest!
Shocking cause of common respiratory infections
revealed
If you're still drinking and cooking with unfiltered tap water, I've got some news this morning that's going to make you sick.
I don't mean that as a figure of speech. Your tap water could LITERALLY be making you sick!
A horrifying new analysis finds hundreds of thousands of American seniors have been hospitalized with serious and even deadly respiratory infections because of nasty bacteria lurking in their supposedly clean drinking water.
Well, my friend, your water might look clean. It might have no smell at all. And it might taste pure and fresh as a mountain spring.
But clearly, it's NOT clean!
Over 15 years, 617,291 seniors were fighting for their very lives because of three nasty germs that live in the water system, with most infected byPseudomonas aeruginosa, a pipe-loving bacteria known to cause an especially nasty form of pneumonia.
The rest of those folks were sickened either by the Legionella pneumophila that causes Legionnaire's Disease or Mycobacterium avium.
These germs thrive in pipes because they form what's known as a biofilm, or that slick and shiny sticky layer you find in places that are damp all the time. Those slick spots aren't simply wet; they're breeding grounds for bacteria, where they form, grow, thrive... and spread, right to your kitchen sink.
All three of these germs are known to cause nasty respiratory infections, and the numbers in the new study no doubt only scratch the surface. It includes ONLY the folks who were hospitalized for these infections and had the diagnosis confirmed by lab tests.
Who knows how many others suffered from milder infections that didn't require hospitalization or were treated with antibiotics without ever getting a lab test to confirm the germ.
Throw them into the mix, and I'd bet the TRUE number is well into the millions.
Because they can live anywhere in the system... from the water plant to the water main to the pipes that travel to your home... treatment alone can't keep them out.
That's why it's time to break out the big guns to protect yourself and your family, and I don't mean those little filter pitchers you can buy at Walmart.
Buy a real filter that sits on or under the counter, but it must remove most if not all contaminants and bacteria. Unfortunately, fluoride is very difficult to remove and those filters will cost more. Don’t rely on tab water for your family and avoid buying water that comes in plastic bottles when possible. Pure clean fluoride free water is so important for your family’s health.
If you're still drinking and cooking with unfiltered tap water, I've got some news this morning that's going to make you sick.
I don't mean that as a figure of speech. Your tap water could LITERALLY be making you sick!
A horrifying new analysis finds hundreds of thousands of American seniors have been hospitalized with serious and even deadly respiratory infections because of nasty bacteria lurking in their supposedly clean drinking water.
Well, my friend, your water might look clean. It might have no smell at all. And it might taste pure and fresh as a mountain spring.
But clearly, it's NOT clean!
Over 15 years, 617,291 seniors were fighting for their very lives because of three nasty germs that live in the water system, with most infected byPseudomonas aeruginosa, a pipe-loving bacteria known to cause an especially nasty form of pneumonia.
The rest of those folks were sickened either by the Legionella pneumophila that causes Legionnaire's Disease or Mycobacterium avium.
These germs thrive in pipes because they form what's known as a biofilm, or that slick and shiny sticky layer you find in places that are damp all the time. Those slick spots aren't simply wet; they're breeding grounds for bacteria, where they form, grow, thrive... and spread, right to your kitchen sink.
All three of these germs are known to cause nasty respiratory infections, and the numbers in the new study no doubt only scratch the surface. It includes ONLY the folks who were hospitalized for these infections and had the diagnosis confirmed by lab tests.
Who knows how many others suffered from milder infections that didn't require hospitalization or were treated with antibiotics without ever getting a lab test to confirm the germ.
Throw them into the mix, and I'd bet the TRUE number is well into the millions.
Because they can live anywhere in the system... from the water plant to the water main to the pipes that travel to your home... treatment alone can't keep them out.
That's why it's time to break out the big guns to protect yourself and your family, and I don't mean those little filter pitchers you can buy at Walmart.
Buy a real filter that sits on or under the counter, but it must remove most if not all contaminants and bacteria. Unfortunately, fluoride is very difficult to remove and those filters will cost more. Don’t rely on tab water for your family and avoid buying water that comes in plastic bottles when possible. Pure clean fluoride free water is so important for your family’s health.
Acetaminophen is in The News Again
For years, Canadian Health officials have been discussing what to do about acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol.
Just this spring, I told you how doctors, researchers and families of those who had been harmed by the drug were cheering. It looked as if Canada was on the brink of making big changes that would protect its citizens and lead the way in regulating this risky med.
But it was also something that had drugmakers in a panic.
Because if people really knew just how dangerous acetaminophen is, no one would touch it with a ten-foot pole.
A 'serious public health problem'
"It's underwhelming." That comment by Dr. David Juurlink, a drug expert with Sunnybrook Health Sciences (one of Canada's largest hospitals), kind of sums up the whole situation.
Just a few short months ago, he and many others were expecting Health Canada to finally show the FDA what safety measures were urgently needed where acetaminophen is concerned. For example, chopping the maximum daily dose from a whopping 4,000 mg (what it is in the U.S.) down to 2,600 mg.
And that would have put the kibosh on most all sales of Extra Strength Tylenol, which comprises around 90 percent of Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol business.
Another expected change was to ban giant bottles of drugs containing acetaminophen. Unbelievably you can walk into any Walmart right now and buy a bottle of 225 Tylenol pills at 650 mg each!
But none of those changes came to pass. So I'm sure that Big Pharma must have been having a party last week when the Canadian health officials finally announced what they had decided on -- which wasn't much.
For example, now drugmakers have to print "clearer warnings," especially about not taking the drug with over three alcoholic drinks a day.
Seriously?
Years ago I warned you that even "light drinking" while taking this med can up your risk of kidney disease by over 100 percent! Giving the green light to three drinks a day is practically suicide for your kidneys!
Another weak-kneed warning included marking packages with red letters saying "contains acetaminophen" like we do in the U.S.
But it's going to take a lot more than this to keep people safe.
As a For Real Health reader, you know how dangerous this drug is. Over the years I've shared many stories about people who accidentally crossed that "narrow therapeutic window" between the dose on the bottle and the dose that sends you to the ER. Or the dose that puts you on the liver transplant list.
This med is so risky that experts such as Dr. Juurlink have said that if Tylenol was a new drug, its chances of approval today would be slim to none.
Canadian regulators didn't say much about why they decided against the proposed safety changes. The only comment was some official gibberish about new research "casting doubt" on whether reducing the bottle size will prevent suicides.
But while industry groups applauded, Canadian doctors, especially ER physicians, weren't putting on any party hats.
Although Canada didn't end up leading the way in acetaminophen safety as many had hoped, it still brings this "serious public health problem" into the limelight again.
As I've told you, this drug sends around 78,000 people in the U.S. to the ER every year and is the leading cause of acute liver failure. You can take the recommended dose and still end up in trouble.
Since the drug is in hundreds of OTC and Rx products it's very, very easy to be just one pill away from a deadly overdose and not know it -- until it's too late.
And that's the warning that really belongs on bottles of acetaminophen.
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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