Month: September 2006

The chemical compound used in many “air fresheners” DO NOT “refresh the air” they cause reduced lung function!

Chemical in many air fresheners may reduce lung function

“New research shows that a chemical compound found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products, may be harmful to the lungs. Human population studies at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, found that exposure to a volatile organic compound (VOC), called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) may cause modest reductions in lung function.”

“A study in California, conducted by Loma Linda University researchers, found that the high vitamin E content of pecans might reduce the risk of heart disease by slowing blood oxidation.

The researchers split 23 men and women between the ages of 25 and 55 into two groups. One group was placed on the American Heart Association’s “Step I” diet while the other group was placed on a pecan-enriched version developed by the scientists, in which pecans made up 20 percent of the diet’s calories. After four weeks, both groups traded diets.”

Pecans found to lower risk of heart disease, reduce LDL oxidation

“Blood analysis of the participants found that the pecan-enriched diets reduced unwanted lipid oxidation in the blood by 7.4 percent compared to the Step I diet, which could potentially lower risk of heart disease. The study results, published in the August issue of Nutrition Research, theorized this may be due to the pecans’ high vitamin E (gamma tocopherol) content, which is thought to protect fats from oxidation, since oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol is linked to atherosclerosis, arterial blockage, heart attacks and strokes. ‘We concluded that even though the pecan diet was high in unsaturated fats, which one may think would increase blood oxidation, that did not happen,’ said lead author Dr. Ella Haddad, researcher at the Seventh-day Adventist institution’s School of Public Health. ‘We found the opposite result: the pecan diet showed reduced oxidation of blood lipids.’ ‘These data provide some evidence for potential protective effects of pecan consumption in healthy individuals,” concluded Haddad.’

It sounds strange, but it is true! Chitosan from shellfish is the main component for this new bandage!

A shrimp bandage?

“The HemCon bandage contains chitosan (pronounced KY-ta-san), an organic substance found in crustacean shells. Scientists have long known that chitosan stops bleeding, but Wiesmann and Gregory were the first to develop a chitosan bandage. HemCon’s process starts with chitosan processed in Iceland from shrimp shells. After mixing it with acetic acid and turning it into a gel, the material is cast into tiles, each four inches square and a bit more than half an inch thick. The squares are then freeze-dried in a vacuum chamber, compressed to about half their original thickness, and backed with a thin sheet of brown plastic. Now looking like a square beer coaster-and smelling slightly of vinegar-each bandage is sealed in foil and sterilized by gamma radiation. When placed on a wound, the chitosan bandage sticks to surrounding tissue and creates a seal that blocks the flow of blood. The bandage also promotes clotting because blood cells and platelets carry a negative electrical charge and are attracted to chitosan, which bears a positive charge. Chitosan even has antibacterial properties, so it helps ward off infection until a patient reaches a medical facility, where the dressing can be peeled off easily. The bandage has stopped severe bleeding from combat wounds more than nine times out of ten, according to an Army study. Unlike a coagulant powder used by the Marine Corps, which might burn healthy tissue, the HemCon bandage causes no tissue damage.”

Strange… but true!

Normally, I try to do the Traditional Naturopath Podcast on Saturday… however, this past weekend I had to work and time got the best of me! I will get the podcast recorded in the next day or so… so stay tuned!

“A patent-pending compound isolated from fresh blackberries may inhibit the expression of genes that are associated with cancer-promoting agents. The purified compound, cyanidin-3- glucoside (C3G), inhibited tumors from growing and spreading when used in animal test models.”

Benefits of Compound in Blackberries Studied

“C3G is among a series of plant chemicals that are a subclass of flavonoids—water-soluble plant pigments known for their antioxidative and antimicrobial effects. For the study, the researchers tested mice that had skin tumors. In one group, they found a significant reduction in the number and size of skin tumors among the mice that had been supplemented with C3G, when compared to those that had not been supplemented. In another experimental model with immune-system-suppressed mice, the researchers studied lung cancer cells because of their relatively high tendency to spread to other organs. They found that the purified blackberry compound not only significantly reduced the amount of cancer cell growth in the mice, but also inhibited the spread of the cancer cells to other organs. C3G exhibited anti-cancer activity in this animal model, according to the researchers. The preventive effect of the extract may be due to the compound’s ability to control free radicals known as reactive oxygen species, which activate molecular signals involved in initiating, promoting and progressing cancer. The findings indicate a promising direction for understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of plant chemicals on human health.”

You can do it with a simple excercise that Dr. Joseph Mercola talks about in his Health Blog.

Deeply Relax and Sharpen Your Vision With This Simple Technique

“You’ve probably done it without thinking … placed your hands over your eyes when you were excited, frustrated, fatigued, or had other strong feelings. It turns out that ‘palming’ is one of the most relaxing things you can do for your eyes, and relaxation is a cornerstone of improving your vision naturally. Try this simple version of palming:

1. Rest your elbows comfortably on a table or desk.
2. Cover your eyes with your cupped palms as shown. (See the photo in Dr. Mercola’s Blog at the link above.) Add a pillow under your elbows if more height is needed to keep your back relaxed and straight.
3. Breathe deeply while you palm for a few minutes.

Over 80 years ago, ophthalmologist William H. Bates found ways to use relaxation, imagination, and other natural means to resolve nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and many other vision problems. The technique of palming to rest the eyes from all light stimulation was an integral part of his approach. He concluded from his study and treatment of thousands of eyes that tight muscles actually contort the eyes and restrict circulation. He found that palming helps those muscles relax and let go. Even Dr. Bates was surprised at what one man in his late 60’s accomplished with palming. This man had worn glasses for forty years for distance, and twenty years for reading. He was also developing cataracts. When he asked how long he could palm, Dr. Bates told him he could not overdo it.”

About a third of all cases of attention deficit syndrome are linked to lead contamination and smoking.

Smoking, lead linked to attention deficit

“About one-third of attention deficit cases among U.S. children may be linked with tobacco smoke before birth or to lead exposure afterward, according to new research. Even levels of lead that the government considers acceptable appeared to increase a child’s risk of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the study found. It builds on previous research linking attention problems, including ADHD, with childhood lead exposure and smoking during pregnancy, and offers one of the first estimates for how much those environmental factors might contribute. ‘It’s a landmark paper that quantifies the number of cases of ADHD that can be attributed to very important environmental exposures,’ said Leo Trasande, assistant director of the Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.”

Environmental “pollution” leads to many situations that are advancing sub-health conditions. Look around you and “clean up” your home and your environment… natural food is a benefit, but if you are surrounded by environmental pollution, it has less of a benefit.