Simple Change Could Reduce Obesity in U.S. by 20 Percent

Simple Change Could Reduce Obesity in U.S. by 20 Percent

According to a new study, a ban on fast food advertisements in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent. In addition, the study reports that eliminating the tax deductibility of television advertising would also result in a reduction of childhood obesity.

The study’s authors found that a ban on fast food television advertisements during children's programming would reduce the number of overweight children ages 3-11 by 18 percent, and would lower the number of overweight adolescents ages 12-18 by 14 percent.

Should the U.S. pursue this path, they would be following Sweden, Norway and Finland, which are thus far the only countries to have banned commercial sponsorship of children's programs.

Research indicates that there is an 80 percent chance an overweight adolescent will be an obese adult. Over 300,000 deaths can be attributed to obesity and weight in the United States every year.

Sources:
Science Daily November 19, 2008
The Journal of Law & Economics November, 2008

Adolescent exposures to cosmetic chemicals of concern

Adolescent exposures to cosmetic chemicals of concern

From http://www.ewg.org/reports/teens?t=1224725979

By Rebecca Sutton, Ph.D., Staff Scientist, September 2008

Laboratory tests reveal adolescent girls across America are contaminated with chemicals commonly used in cosmetics and body care products. Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected 16 chemicals from 4 chemical families - phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks - in blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls aged 14-19. Studies link these chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption. These tests feature first-ever exposure data for parabens in teens, and indicate that young women are widely exposed to this common class of cosmetic preservatives, with 2 parabens, methylparaben and propylparaben, detected in every single girl tested.

This work represents the first focused look at teen exposures to chemicals of concern in cosmetics, exposures that occur during a period of accelerated development. Adolescence encompasses maturation of the reproductive, immune, blood, and adrenal hormone systems, rapid bone growth associated with the adolescent "growth spurt," shifts in metabolism, and key changes to brain structure and function. Alterations in an array of sex hormones, present in the body at levels as low as one part per billion (ppb), or even one part per trillion (ppt), guide this transformation to adulthood. Emerging research suggests that teens may be particularly sensitive to exposures to trace levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals like the ones targeted in this study, given the cascade of closely interrelated hormonal signals orchestrating the transformation from childhood to adulthood.

During this window of vulnerability to toxic assault, adolescent girls typically experiment with an increasing number and variety of body care products. Teen study participants used an average of nearly 17 personal care products each day, while the average adult woman uses just 12 products daily. Thus, teens may unknowingly expose themselves to higher levels of cosmetic ingredients linked to potential health effects at a time when their bodies are more susceptible to chemical damage.
Cosmetics and other personal care products are an alarming example of government and industry failures to protect public health. Federal health statutes do not require companies to test products or ingredients for safety before they are sold. As a result, nearly all personal care products contain ingredients that have not been assessed for safety by any accountable agency, and that are not required to meet standards of safety. To protect the health of teens and all Americans, we recommend action:
The federal government must set comprehensive safety standards for cosmetics and other personal care products.
Teens should make healthy choices for themselves by reducing the number of products they use, and by using our Shopper’s Guide to Safe Cosmetics to select safer products.
Companies must reformulate products to protect consumers from exposure to potentially toxic chemicals, untested ingredients, and noxious impurities.

Teen Girls' Body Burden of Hormone-Altering Cosmetics Chemicals

Laboratory tests reveal adolescent girls across America are contaminated with chemicals commonly used in cosmetics and body care products. Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected 16 chemicals from 4 chemical families - phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks - in blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls aged 14-19. Studies link these chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption. more

Wondering about Milk?? Is it REALLY good for me??

Here’s an opinion from a world renowned physician.



NATURE'S PERFECT FOOD? A SECOND OPINION! Julian Whitaker, MD, is the founder and editor of the largest read health newsletter in the world, Health & Healing. This month his lead topic is MILK and the Dairy Education Board. Here are pages 1-4 of Dr. Whitaker's 8-page newsletter. I heartily recommend that you consider subscribing. Whitaker's alternative medicine advice is right on the money and 532,000+ monthly readers have benefited from his brilliant recommendations. Call 1-800-539-8219 to subscribe! (12 issues - $39.95 per year)
(REPRINTED: PERMISSION OF JULIAN WHITAKER, MD)







Dr. Julian Whitaker's Health & Healing


TOMORROW'S MEDICINE TODAY 

October 1998 Vol. 8, No. 10 



Dear Reader,

In the movie Men in Black, the character played by Tommy Lee Jones draws the distinction between a "person" and the mass of "people." He states, "A person is smart, but people are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it." In other words, we do a whole lot of things as "people" we would never do as "persons."

Health & Healing readers are "persons." You are making the effort to educate youself, refusing to buy the prepackaged party line dished out by the conventional medical establishment and media. You think for yourself and take control of your own health. Yet there are some areas that are so ingrained that we all revert to "people" thinking. Let's discuss one of them in this first story. 

FOOD SAFETY 

MILK IS "UDDER" NONSENSE

Is cow's milk an appropriate food for humans? The "people" answer is "of course," but the "person" answer is "no, it is not good for humans." Cow's milk is species-specific food for calves. It is no more appropriate to drink the milk of cows than it is to drink the milk of other mammals. We do it because we've always done it. It's a "people" thing, and on close inspection, you'll see that all our beliefs about milk are "udder" nonsense. 



Milk Myth #1: Milk Helps Build Strong Bones

American parents pass this myth on to their children, and misguided nutritionists reinforce it. Actually, milk and other dairy products weaken the bones and accelerate osteoporosis. That's right, consumption of milk causes the very condition it's advertised to prevent.

As I'll explain in the next story, osteoporosis results from calcium loss, not insufficient calcium intake. And dairy products, because of their high protein content, promote calcium loss. Studies examining the incidence of osteoporosis have found that high consumption of dairy products is associated with high rates of osteoporosis. If you want strong bones, don't drink milk.



Milk Myth #2: Milk is the Ultimate Health Drink

The notion that milk is healthy for you is, again, "udder" nonsense. While eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains has been documented to lower the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and cancer, the widely touted health benefits of dairy products are questionable at best. In fact, dairy products are clearly liked as a cause of osteoporosis, heart disease, obesity, cancer, allergies and diabetes. Dairy products are anything but "health" foods.

The association with heart disease is particularly strong. While we've always known that high-fat dairy products, such as whole milk and cheese, are significant contributors to high cholesterol levels and heart disease, William B. Grant, Ph.D., summarizes the mounting evidence that nonfat milk is also a major player in bringing on heart disease. Writing in Alternative Medicine Review, Dr. Grant points out that nonfat milk, which contains substantial amounts of dairy protein, is very low in B vitamins. The metabolism of all this protein in the absence of B vitamins contributes to the buildup of homocysteine, a marker for heart disease. 



Milk Myth #3: Milk is Necessary for Growing Children

Oh really? Here are three reasons kids and milk don't mix. First, milk is the leading cause of iron-deficiency anemia in infants, and, in fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics now discourages giving children milk before their first birthday. Second, it has been shown that milk consumption in childhood contributes to the development of Type-I diabetes. Certain proteins in milk resemble molecules on the beta cells of the pancreas that secrete insulin. In some cases, the immune system makes antibodies to the milk protein that mistakenly attack and destroy the beta cells.

Third, milk allergies are very common in children and cause sinus problems, diarrhea, constipation and fatigue. They are a leading cause of the chronic ear infections that plague up to 40% of all children under the age of six. Milk allergies are also linked to behavior problems in children and to the disturbing rise of childhood asthma. (Milk allergies are equally common in adults and produce similar symptoms.) Even so august an authority on children as the late Dr. Benjamin Spock changed his recommendations in his later years and discouraged giving children milk. 

MILK MYTH #4: Milk is Pure and Wholesome

As if milk weren't bad enough already, the chemical giant, Monsanto Company, and the FDA have made it far worse. In 1994 the FDA approved the use of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST), a genetically engineered hormone from Monsanto that increases milk production in cows by 10-25%. Milk from cows treated with rbST contains elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), one of the most powerful growth factors ever identified.

IGF-I occurs naturally in both cows and humans and, in a fluke of nature, is identical between these two species. While IGF-I doesn't cause cancer, it definitely stimulates its growth. Recent studies have found a seven-fold increase in the risk of breast cancer in women with the highest IGF-I levels, and a four-fold increase in prostate cancer in men with the highest levels. Not only does rbST elevate your exposure to these growth factors, it also increases infections of the cow's udders. Therefore, cows treated with rbST are given more antibiotics, so higher traces of these drugs, as well as pus and bacteria from infected udders, are found in their milk.

In his recent book, MILK - The Deadly Poison (Argus Publishing, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1998), Robert Cohen, a tenacious investigative reporter, describes a level of corruption between Monsanto, the FDA and the Department of Agriculture that, in my opinion, warrants formal investigation and action against several individuals involved. This book documents how data were falsified and studies fabricated, and tells how the scientific community and public have been misled regarding rbST, its effects on our health, and the amounts of this hormone present in milk. Folks, you won't believe this book. Robert Cohen gives names, dates and document numbers that are irrefutable.

As you would expect, Monsanto is playing rough. In Florida, they put pressure on a FOX television station, which then fired two award-winning journalists with over 20 years experience for attempting to report on the dark side of bovine growth hormone. These two reporters are now suing the network. Monsanto has vigorously attacked those who simply want to label their dairy product as "hormone free." This whole mess is disgusting. It shouldn't surprise you that all of Europe and Canada have banned this hormone and we are the only major industrial country espousing and using it. To get a copy of the June/July 1998 issue of SunCoast Eco report, in which this story is reported, send a check for $3 to Editor-SunCoast Eco Report, P.O. Box 35500, Sarasota, FL, 34278. If you have access to the Internet, for more information on the suit, go to www.foxBGHsuit.com. 



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIMITING YOUR DAIRY INTAKE
To start with, knock off drinking milk altogether. Fluid milk is likely to be the most highly concentrated, easily absorbed source of growth hormones. Instead use soy milk or rice milk in your coffee, cereal and cooking. You'll find dairy-free cheeses, ice cream and drinks in your health food store.

Use all dairy products sparingly, and be sure to avoid products from hormone-treated cows. A growing number of dairies offer organic or hormone-free dairy products.
For a list of those studies discussed in this article, send a self-addressed stamped article to: CF/Phillips Publishing, 7811 Montrose Road, Potomac, MD 20854.
A few months ago I joined Robert Cohen as a board member of his newly formed Dairy Education Board. I strongly recommend that you get more information on the dangers of dairy products by reading Cohen's book, available from the Dairy Education Board, 1-888-NOTMILK (888-668-6455).

That, my friends, represents half of the October Health & Healing digest.

Dr. Whitaker dedicates the remainder of this issue of his newsletter to osteoporosis and heart disease. I would like to quote just a portion of Whitaker's comments about bone disease:

"In only two generations, the rate of hip fractures in the U.S. has quadrupled, and it is currently one of the highest rates in the world. Americans are also near the top of the chart for dairy consumption. Would someone out there please tell me why we keep telling our children that dairy foods strengthen their bones? Excess protein intake-not only from milk but all animal protein sources-increases the need for calcium to neutralize acidic protein breakdown products, destroying bone in the process. A lifetime of a high-protein diet usually eats away at your bones. Lower protein vegetarian diets are associated with significantly higher bone mineral density. So the first and most important dietary step is to eat less protein. This generally means cutting down on milk...Although dairy products contain calcium, little of it is deposited in the bones-instead the calcium is used to neutralize the acidity brought on by milk protein."

I conclude today's column by echoing the advertising slogan of the national fluid processors, the marketing arm of America's dairy industry:
MILK?   WHAT A SURPRISE!


Robert Cohen
Executive Director
Dairy Education Board
http://www.notmilk.com

BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | EXPOSÉ: CHEMICALS IN OUR FOOD | PBS

Do YOU Need a Multi-Vitamin????

The question about multi vitamin use is more about understanding what it means to be taking one, and do you really need it? Americans spend over $21 Billion dollars a year on dietary supplements. There are literally dozens and dozens of vitamin manufacturers, and what many people don’t realize is that it is up to the individual manufacturer to make sure that their supplements are safe, effective and that the label is truthful and not misleading.

Do You KNOW what’s really in your supplement???

We rely on the vitamin company to provide a high quality product. The manufacturers rely on a “certificate of analysis” to confirm that the raw ingredients are safe and effective. The certificate comes directly from the supplier of the raw materials. There is currently no requirement to perform an independent third party verification to validate that the raw materials in the supplements are what they say they are, or in the stated amounts as indicated on the label.

In addition, manufacturing supplements is a very complex process. The slightest oversight, human error, or cost cutting practice can lead to a substandard product which may turn out to be dangerous.

Chances are if you are choosing a supplement on price alone, which is typical at a chain drugstore or large discount mart, there’s a good chance that the supplement has not been verified through a rigorous quality control process. It is also likely that it will be made from primarily synthetic ingredients.

Understand that the meaning of the word supplement is to do just that…be supplemental to the diet. No supplement should take the place of a high quality, unprocessed whole food diet.

Doing your Homework

If you are going to invest in a supplement of any kind do your homework, and ask the right questions. You cannot assume that the vitamin manufacturer has your best interest at heart.

There are many high quality manufacturers around and you want to make sure that the company you choose follows the ISO guidelines, is in full compliance with current NSF Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and adheres to pharmaceutical grade quality standards. NSF International is an independent, not-for-profit organization. This recognized body of audit and inspection is one of the most comprehensive and quality-driven initiatives in the nutrition industry.

Steps to finding a good quality supplement:

Find one that is made from all natural, non-synthetic, whole food ingredients. A high quality supplement will be free from allergens and additives.

Be sure that the manufacturer is obtaining the best quality raw ingredients. Manufacturers that are ISO 9000, ISO 9001 or NSF certified are good starting points.

There’s no substitute for a healthy whole food diet. However if you are looking for some added insurance an all-natural supplement may be warranted. Just be sure it’s the right one for you. You should NEVER take a supplement simply because it was recommended to you by a friend or relative. What is appropriate for one person may not be safe for another. The wrong supplement can have serious after effects.

Always check with a competent healthcare practitioner who is well educated about vitamin/mineral supplementation. The right supplement can do a world of good when used properly.

Women Are Tired of Being Tired

WE ARE TIRED OF BEING TIRED

We are tired of arguing with the blood tests our doctors hold out in front of us to show that there is nothing wrong. We know that we shouldn’t have to feel the fatigue, low libido, anxiety, depression and even hair loss that have become a part of daily life. In fact, you can even throw in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis, chronic insomnia, weakened immunity and numerous other symptoms. So if your blood tests are normal, what is going on? Well, it may likely be a gland, and don’t assume it is the thyroid.

ADRENAL FATIGUE SYNDROME

The adrenal glands are essential for our day-to-day ability to handle stress. They adapt to our environment and our sensory awareness, maintaining a constant state of readiness for any stress that our brain identifies. Stress is something that can vary from person to person, including what may trigger a stressful response. Once you decide that something is stressful, the adrenal glands will release a cascade of chemicals into the blood that will alter the function of every cell in your body. This “fight or flight” response is intended for short- term change, but in our present world, it may become a long-term adaptation, changing the very nature of who you are. The adrenals are actually a part of the kidney meridian and, in fact, lie on top of each kidney. The adrenal cortex releases hormones. These hormones control muscle tension levels, blood pressure, circulation, and water retention and maintain your pH balance. They are made from cholesterol, so if you are on the fat-free path, blood pressure medication is in your future. These hormones are also strongly triggered by stress.

ADRENALS AND CORTISOL

The second group of hormones are known as the glucocorticoids, the most important of which is cortisol. They provide your body tissues with ready energy to combat the effects of stress. Once stress occurs, they begin to break down available stores of fat and protein for energy and tissue building. So again, if you have low levels of fat and protein in your diet, your body will cannibalize your own tissue. These hormones also dampen inflammation and depress immune responses. High cortisol levels can exhaust DHEA production. In fact, our very body metabolism is determined by the balance between DHEA and cortisol. If the adrenals are healthy, then cortisol enables a woman’s body to produce progesterone even after menopause, making up for the drop in ovarian function. This can be important, as post-menopausal progesterone maintains emotional balance through a calming action, so low levels can cause anxiety. Cortisol also cycles numerous times through the blood, so its effects, whether positive or negative, can be long term.

THE SEARCH FOR EUPHORIA

The final group of hormones are the androgens, such as DHEA. In females, DHEA is thought to increase sex drive and libido. DHEA also helps with weight loss by maintaining lean muscle mass, but it also increases the turnover rate of bone cells, which can lead to osteoporosis if high levels are maintained over time.

The adrenal medulla is the trigger for determining how strongly we will react to stress. It secretes hormones, known as the catecholamine. These include epinephrine or adrenalin, and nor epinephrine. The presence of these chemicals will produce a euphoric feeling and also will increase heart rate and respiration and decrease unnecessary functions such as reproduction and digestion. But the positive effects these chemicals produced in the first 30 minutes of stress are replaced by negative and damaging changes when the stress is sustained for longer periods of time, and this is what leads to adrenal fatigue syndrome. Adrenal depletion is not viewed by the medical community as a condition that merits significant attention, yet possibly 75% of symptoms begin as a result of adrenal fatigue.

SYMPTOMS OF ADRENAL FATIGUE

Some of the general symptoms of adrenal fatigue are constant tiredness, need for extra sleep, inability to cope with stress, reduced sex drive, body pain, sighing, yawning, recurrent infections, irritability, craving sweet food, irrational anxiety and digestive distress. Many current drugs, such as the statin drugs, can deplete the adrenals. Not only drugs but many substances can stress the adrenals as well, such as caffeine, alcohol, sugar and nicotine. The initial stress will cause the adrenals to go into the “Alarm Phase.” This is a normal period of resistance to the stress, intended to be of short duration, such as 30-40 minutes, and should be asymptomatic. Both cortisol and DHEA increase during this phase. High levels of cortisol will
initially cause an insulin surge, causing sugar cravings.

THE SECOND PHASE

The second phase of adrenal response is one of continued resistance, in which cortisol
remains high but DHEA decreases and we become sympathetic dominant. We are hyper adrenal during this phase, with symptoms that may include anxiety attacks, mood swings, onset insomnia, restless leg syndrome and a generally “stressed” feeling. Due to the higher cortisol levels, many patients experience “epic” dreaming, which is very exhausting. Increased cortisol levels extend the length of REM cycle sleep, allowing less time for delta wave sleep, which is the period of healing, repair and growth. Because of this, healing capacity diminishes and immunity weakens. Increased levels of cortisol also use up our stores of calcium. If there is insufficient calcium that is bioavailable, the body will cannibalize bones and other structures. Higher levels of cortisol will increase prolactin, which can cause a lack of ovulation and increases the removal of calcium from bones. High cortisol increases obesity by increasing fat deposition and the loss of lean muscle mass. It will cause headaches from vasoconstriction, negatively affect thyroid function and will , deplete emotional memory.

THE THIRD PHASE

Phase 3 is the exhaustion phase, in which cortisol and DHEA levels are both low. The person is now exhausted The adrenal is now under-functioning, and the body will enter a conservation mode. Symptoms of this phase are depression, insomnia and exhaustion, all of which can contribute to chronic fatigue syndrome. Low levels of cortisol can bring on fibromyalgia symptoms, impotence in men, panic disorders, infertility, anorexia nervosa, low white blood cell levels and low blood pressure. Sleep will be disturbed by waking up and not returning to sleep, a result of cortisol surges from the adrenals having lost their proper timed response. These surges can be worsened by hypoglycemia issues. Low levels of DHEA can cause recurring infections, arthritis, obesity and early menopause.

BACK FROM THE BRINK

Many people with these symptoms simply lie down under the weight of the stress. They give up, they cry, they feel that life offers nothing for them. Instead they feel that life and the people around them simply drain them. So the first order of business is adrenal tonics, which will conserve cortisol while nourishing and restoring the adrenal glands. Adrenal tonics increase or release available energy from our reserves. They reduce the side effects of corticosteroid drugs and improve regulation of cortisol and DHEA output. They give the adrenal glands a rest by providing temporary energy. At the same time they require high grade nutrition that will provide restoration and treatment for each body system that relies on adrenal function, in order to temporarily spare the adrenals. Providing natural chemistry in the form of herbs, compressed foods and nutritional therapy can bring someone back from the brink. .

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

The following is a list of the steps that should be taken to restore adrenal function.

First would be to focus on relaxing the mind. There are many teas and tinctures available to aid in relaxation. Speak to a healthcare practitioner who specializes in Chinese Herbs such as a Doctor of Acupuncture, or a Holistic Nutritionist. Sleep is especially important. To restore nervous system balance. It is important as it is only during sleep that neurotransmitters and hormones are synthesized and normal chemical balance can be restored.

Second, would be to restore nervous system balance. This is where minerals come into play. It is crucial to have the proper balance of minerals such as potassium and iodine. There are many herbs that can also help restore mineral balance as well. Ashwaganda and withania also provide support for the adrenal glands.

Third is to restore adrenal reserves. Herbs such as rehmannia, high grade licorice, eleuthero and ashwaganda help restore depleted adrenals.

Fourth is to balance digestive function. Digestive enzymes including hydrochloric acid, powdered digestive fiber such as apple pectin, bran, cellulose and digestive bitter formula can help normalize digestive function so that nutrients can be absorbed and utilized by the cells of the body.

Fifth and final would be to support immune function. It is essential during the recovery period to prevent the additional stress of illness. A combination of Echinacea angustbiia, and Echinacea purpurea helps regulate the activity of the immune system. Lymphatic drainage can be beneficial during this time to cleanse and remove toxins from body tissues. Galium or Phytolacca decandra are good remedies for this. In severe cases adrenal or spleen desiccate can also be used to prevent further body degeneration.