Exposure to Chlorine in Indoor Pools May Lead to Asthma

I have mentioned before the problems of environmental exposure to metals and chemicals and your health. Constant, continual exposure to any chemical can be problematic. It seems that research is bearing this out with regard to chlorine exposure and indoor pools. Note that this is continued repetitive exposure.

Swimming pool use link to asthma

“The Belgian study found rates of childhood asthma and wheeze rose by around 2-3% for every indoor swimming pool per 100,000 people. The researchers believe the key could be exposure to chlorine, which is used to keep pools clean. The study, by the Catholic University of Louvain, appears in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The researchers say the long-term effects of chlorine by-products on children’s respiratory health should be thoroughly evaluated, and that pools should be properly ventilated and levels of chlorine by-products regulated. A study published three years ago by the same team produced evidence that chlorine in pools can react with sweat or urine to create harmful fumes which can damage lungs. They found found that children who regularly attend indoor pools accumulate proteins known, in high quantities, to cause damage to cells in the lungs.”

Another Reason to Avoid Processed Sugar!

We have known for some time that over-consumption of processed sugars and corn syrup in foods has led to increased chance of “Syndrome-X” (insulin sensitivity and resistance,) which may lead to diabetes. We also know that insulin is the hormone that signals your body to store fat. Now, this is new evidence that sugar consumption can aid cancer cell growth!

More Evidence that Sugar Feeds Cancer

I find Dr. Mercola’s statements compelling: “Getting back to the study, though, I find it somewhat tragic that this is not really new information. The article mentions Otto Warburg, who was the German physician that was awarded a Nobel Prize over 75 years ago for first uncovering cancer cells’ massive dependence on sugar as a fuel source. Yes, you read that correctly. Physicians have been exposed to this information for 75 years, when most of your great grandparents were alive and kicking. It is reassuring to have Harvard researchers confirm this again, though. But do you think for one moment this will change the clinical protocols for the average oncologist? Don’t hold your breath. It is just shocking to me that they don’t understand this basic fact and integrate it into their treatment program.”

If we do not learn from history, we will be compelled to repeat it! Cut out processed sugars!

Prediabetes May Raise Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

“Pre-diabetes,” or what some call “Syndrome-X” appears to have a link to later development of Alzheimer’s Disease. It adds incentive to those that need to avoid processed sugars and increase exercise to lower blood sugar levels.

Prediabetes may raise risk for Alzheimer’s

“A ‘silent’ condition called prediabetes might put otherwise healthy seniors at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a study suggests today. Researchers will present findings from that study, and several others, at the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders this week in Madrid. The new findings bolster the theory that diabetes or even a precursor condition might somehow set the stage for Alzheimer’s disease, says Ronald Petersen, a spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Association, which sponsored the meeting. If true, that theory has sobering implications for the USA, which is in the midst of a diabetes epidemic. Roughly 61 million American adults have diabetes, or higher-than-normal blood-sugar levels.”

Traditional Naturopath Podcast #2

The Traditional Naturopath Podcast – 2 – (07/15/06)
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Show Notes:
Health from a natural perspective… enjoy the sun and let your body manufacture Vitamin D. It all depends on moderation! Vitamin D is necessary to prevent osteoporosis. Guidelines on getting enough sunshine. Problems with sunblock that contain titanium oxide that can lead to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as other neurological damage. Whatever you eat, put on your skin, or absorb into your body can effect you! Be smart! Pay attention to what you take into your system! You can get sunblocks that do not contain titanium oxide. Tart, natural cherry juice can treat muscle pain! Natural remedies are best! Drug advertisements can drive you crazy! The issue of isolating one element of a natural remedy to produce a new drug. How the enzymes and natural components of a food work synergistically to be a benefit. The commercialization of natural remedies. Cough syrups with codeine proven ineffective by a study in England. General guidelines to improve your immune system. Physical activity helps the elderly live longer… stay active! Drinking tea as a benefit to fighting cancer, especially in women! Benefits of stevia as a sweetener. It is 300 times sweeter than sugar… use just a little! Strengthen your heart muscle and your teeth! Join us next week! Remember YOU are the person most responsible for your health!

Drinking Tea May Fight Cancer… Especially for Women!

A new study in China indicates that drinking tea is good for you! In fact, it may help fight cancer!

Drinking tea may stave off bile stones and cancer

“In the new study, the researchers examined the effects of tea consumption on the risk of biliary tract cancers and biliary stones. Included in the study were 627 patients with biliary tract cancer, 1,037 with biliary stones, and 959 comparison subjects. The team obtained data on demographics, medical and dietary factors, and tea consumption. Tea drinkers were defined as those who drank at least one cup of tea per day for at least 6 months. Of the 959 control subjects, 394 (41 percent) were ever tea drinkers. In women, drinking at least one cup of tea per day for at least 6 months seemed to cut the risks of bile stones by 27 percent, gallbladder cancer by 44 percent, and bile duct cancer by 35 percent. In men, tea drinking had a similar effect, but not of the magnitude seen in women.”

Physical Activity Helps the Elderly Live Longer

This should come as no big surprise to most folks. However, there has been a general perception in the past that one should be less active as one grows older. Not if you want to live a long, and healthy life! Physical activity keeps the blood moving, supports bone strength, and has countless other benefits for the aging.

Physical Activity Helps Elderly Live Longer

“Elderly people who are physically active are much more likely to live longer than elderly people who are not physically active, according to a six-year study carried out by researchers at the US National Institute on Aging. You can read about this study in more detail in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 12 July issue.”

Codeine in Cough Syrup is No More Effective Than A Placebo

Standardized tests at Manchester University in England have done a study that suggests that the standard treatment for coughs – codeine cough syrups – are no more effective at reducing coughs than a placebo!

Lead researcher Dr. Jaclyn Smith said: “Codeine has long been considered the standard anti-cough agent against which others are measured, but until now little has been known about its impact in patients with chronic lung diseases.

“‘From a statistical standpoint there was really no difference between codeine and the placebo – despite the fact that the dose of codeine used far exceeds that in over-the-counter cough remedies.’ She added: ‘The effective treatment of chronic dry cough is an important unmet need in patients with chronic respiratory diseases, post-viral coughing and persistent coughing of unknown cause. Studies of cough in other clinical situations are urgently needed if codeine is to be continued to be used as a remedy.'”

Codeine ‘does not relieve cough’

What would benefit a persistent cough? Reinforce your natural immune system, for instance:

  • Eliminate processed sugars from your diet.
  • Get the right amount of sleep.
  • Eat garlic regularly.
  • Reduce stress in your life.
  • Consume a high-quality fish or cod liver oil daily.
  • Wash your hands regularly, using ordinary soap, not anti-bacterial soap.
  • Exercise regularly – take a walk in the sunshine!
  • Cherry Juice for Muscle Pain

    A new randomized, placebo-controlled study demonstrates that cherry juice may be a good natural treatment for muscle pain caused by exercise.

    Cherry Juice May Prevent Muscle Damage Pain

    “Historically, a number of approaches to prevent exercise-induced muscle pain and damage have been examined, but few have been effective. Declan Connolly, associate professor of education and director of the human performance laboratory at the University of Vermont and colleagues at New York Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma and Cornell University, evaluated the efficacy of a fresh, highly-concentrated, specially-processed tart cherry juice blend in preventing the symptoms of muscle damage in a randomized, placebo-controlled study in 14 male college students. ‘The anti-inflammatory properties of cherry juice have been examined before, but the focus of this research was on a new area – muscle damage repair,’ said Connolly. ‘Only two species of mammals suffer this type of muscle damage – horses and humans.'”

    This type of natural treatment is fascinating, in that it, obviously, has no side effects and contraindications as drugs would have.

    “According to Connolly, next steps include identifying funding sources and collaborators to continue study of the cherry juice’s effectiveness in muscle damage repair and possibly arthritis, as well as research involving race horses.”

    The Sun and Vitamin D

    I have pointed out before that we are very much Vitamin D deficient in the United States. This is a natural result of the barrage of warnings that we get to stay out of the sun. Normal, unshielded exposure to the sun, especially about 20 minutes a day on the face and upper body causes the body to naturally produce Vitamin D. Not getting enough sun can lead to Vitamin D deficiency. And, Vitamin D deficiency leads to a variety of health problems, not the least of which is brittle bones.

    A scientist is being ostracised for actually recommended moderate amounts of sunlight! How did we get to this stage?

    What’s Wrong With a Little Sunshine?

    Add this hysteria to keep people out of the sun with the fact that there is evidence that current sunscreens may be harmful in and of themselves, and you have another healthcare crisis brewing! Using a toxic sunscreen loaded with titania (titanium oxide) may lead to neurological damage, according to EPA researchers. Titania, the same material used to make white pigment for paint, is also found in sunscreen formulations, which claim to absorb ultraviolet light. Such “protection from the sun” comes at a price according to recent research: Toxicity when titania is intermingled with various cell types, including skin, bone and liver. Scientists exposed titania nanoparticies (some 30 nanometers in size) to the microglia cultures (cells that protect brain neurons) taken from mice. Over the short term, the mouse microglia protected neurons from titania by releasing natural chemicals to destroy them. Because it takes more than hour for those microglia to do the job, however, scientists believe this prolonged chemical reaction sets the stage for oxidative stress, the root of conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

    Study shows nanoparticles in sun cream may affect mice brain cells

    “The Study, carried out by Bellina Veronesi of the US Environmental Protection Agency and published on the website Nature.com, looked at the affects of nano-sized Titania, now commonly used in sun cream formulations and often labelled titantium oxide, on cultures of microglia mice cells. Although Veronesi has stressed that the research does not necessarily imply that the Titania grains are harmful to the human body and other experts have aired caution over the interpretation of the findings, it does add to a growing body of research that suggests potential risks might exists when certain compounds are reduced to nano size.”

    What is the bottom line? Moderation! Keep your sun exposure reasonable, to produce enough natural Vitamin D, but not so much that you get burned. Simple. So, why is that so hard?

    Episode One of The Traditional Naturopath Podcast!

    The Traditional Naturopath Podcast – 1 – (07/08/06)
    Click on the “Play” button (the triangle pointing to the right) below to play it as Streaming Audio.

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    Show Notes:
    Join Dr. Bill Bailey for the first Traditional Naturopath Podcast! Dr. Bill explains the difference in Allopathic Medicine and the Naturopathic approach to wellness. We also talk about the direction future podcasts will take and briefly cover some interesting topics like: aloe vera and it’s uses, beautyberry as a natural mosquito repellent, using the herb coleus forskohlii to reduce blood pressure, and a quick introduction to probiotics and it’s usage in regard to diarrhea.

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