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How Bad Is Food Contamination from China?
2007-09-02 02:04:00
Over the past few months Chinese products (and Chinese food imports in particular) have taken a beating in the world press.So how bad is it?The simple truth is that no country in the world can guarantee their products to be 100% safe. Yes, but isn't food from China more dangerous than from anywhere else? Not necessarily.
More About: Food , Public policy , Mina

Children Inherit the Taste for Junk Food
2007-08-31 00:45:00
I've always loved the Biblical quote that says that the sins of the parents shall be visited upon their children -- even unto the third and fourth generation. It's always seemed so apt when referring to diet and nutrition. My main reference was the Pottenger cat study that found that cats fed diets of 100% cooked food could not reproduce by the third generation -- a marvelous example of passing sins along.Well, now it looks like there's another.  
More About: Children , Food , Taste , Junk , Junk Food

Olive Oil under Attack
2007-08-24 11:29:00
Who would have guessed? Olive oil is now under attack. In an article in Reader’s Digest titled, The Great Olive Oil Misconception, Dean Ornish takes on this staple of the Mediterranean Diet. In the article, Dr. Ornish expressed a number of concerns about olive oil. I also went online and found articles and interviews where he expressed several more. Let’s take a look as his concerns and see how they stack up.
More About: Under , Attack , Live O

Colon Cancer, a Dietary Shocker
2007-08-20 05:00:00
This is shocking! A study recently released by the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes that diet plays a major role in colon cancer! Who would have believed it? Thank goodness we have researchers who can uncover such things for us. While there is no shortage of evidence linking the so-called Western diet to an increased risk for developing colon cancer, the study is among the first to examine the impact of such a diet on survival among patients treated for the disease. Who knew?
More About: Cancer , Colon Cancer , Colon , Dietary

Flouride in Water
2007-08-15 05:53:00
In the last two weeks more than 600 professionals have urged Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted. They cite new scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. Supporters include a Nobel Prize winner, three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride's toxicology, two officers in the Union representing professionals at EPA headquarters, the President of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, and hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and environmental professionals, worldwide.
More About: Water

Posture and Back Pain
2007-08-14 08:00:00
Okay, admit it. How many of you grew up with the admonition from your parents, “Sit up straight; Don’t slouch; You’ll ruin your posture?!” Well, as it turns out, mother may not have known best. New research suggests that the traditional upright position with the back at a 90-degree position in relation to the legs, most often assumed by sedentary office workers worldwide, may actually cause back pain and possible future spinal weakness or damage.
More About: Pain , Back , Back Pain

Avandia: Guns for Hire
2007-08-12 01:18:00
Who should you listen to? A meta-analysis of previously published studies on the efficacy and safety of the diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone )written by the whistle blower, Dr. Steve Nissen, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine has revealed a disturbing trend of increased heart attack risk. The study reported a 43% increase of heart failure, 15.2 times the risk compared to an older drug, Glucotrol along with a 9.5 times greater risk of liver damage.
More About: Hire , Guns , Diabetes

Chronic Fatigue (CFS)
2007-08-03 10:08:00
Chronic fatigue (CFS) is one of those conditions that responds extremely well to the Baseline of Health Program. Why? Quite simply, the Baseline of Health Program works so well with CFS because it is non-specific in its approach. It is not designed to address specific conditions or symptoms, but rather, to raise the health and performance of all major systems in the body at one time – thus allowing the body to perform as it was designed to do. This turns out to be the perfect approach for conditions such as CFS that have wide ranging symptoms and no known specific cause. In fact, a quick look at the suspected causes shows how the Baseline of Health Program actually addresses each and every one of them.
More About: Chronic Fatigue

Obesity is Contagious
2007-08-01 05:00:00
A recent three-decade long study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has reported that the risk of obesity increases the more obese your family and friends are. The word contagious was even used. The bottom line is that overweight people tend to hang out with other overweight people. If your spouse becomes obese your chances of weight gain increase by 37%, but if your friends become obese your chances of doing the same increase by an astounding 171%. In other words, as the philosophers say, “Environment is stronger than will.”
More About: Obesity

Surprise! Cars Cause Heart Disease
2007-07-31 08:32:00
According to a study recently published in the American Heart Association’s Journal, Circulation, the closer people live to roads with heavy traffic and high air pollution, the greater their risk of developing atherosclerosis (hardened arteries), which can lead to heart disease and stroke. So what is it in automobile exhaust that causes atherosclerosis? Quite simply, it’s anything that makes its way into the bloodstream that can cause damage to the lining of the arteries, thereby triggering plaque build up to repair the damage.
More About: Cars , Disease , Heart Disease , Ease

Cancer: the Blind Leading the Blind
2007-07-31 05:57:00
An advance copy of an article in the September 1st issue of Cancer was just released detailing the results of a survey that explored some of the cancer “myths” that many people naively believe in. "A substantial proportion of people have some inaccurate beliefs about cancer risk," said lead researcher Kevin Stein, the director of the Behavioral Research Center at the American Cancer Society. Let’s explore some of those “inaccurate beliefs.”
More About: Blind , Leading , Lead

Vitamin C Does Not Prevent Colds?
2007-07-23 05:54:00
A few years ago, studies debunking alternative health treatments came along maybe every six months. Lately, though, it seems like I could do a blog a day rebutting some new piece of nonsense. I’m beginning to think that it’s actually a requirement that researchers must get a partial lobotomy before they can receive grant money to perform a study.So what’s today’s nonsense?
More About: Vitamin C , Vitamin , Vent

What about Microwave Cooking?
2007-07-21 04:24:00
I’m frequently asked about microwave cooking and if the “radiation” from the microwave is dangerous. Actually, the problems with microwave cooking have nothing to do with radiation. There is no radiation used in microwave ovens. Nevertheless, the problem with microwaved food is similar to the problem with irradiated food. Although the actual processes are different, the results are similar—they are disruptive to the fundamental structure of the food itself. Microwave ovens cook by creating friction in molecules causing them to spin rapidly first in one direction then another, switching directions millions of times a second. The friction caused by all this molecular agitation heats the food, but it also changes the food. With what result?
More About: Cooking , Wave , Cookin

Fruits and Veggies under Attack
2007-07-20 21:42:00
Yesterday, the Journal of the American Medical Association published the results of a study that found that recurrence and survival rates among women who had previously had breast cancer were no better for those who ate nine or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables than for those who ate just five. Researchers emphasized such nutrient-dense vegetables as dark, leafy greens, sweet potatoes and carrots and didn't count iceberg lettuce and French fries. A serving was a half-cup.
More About: Fruits , Under , Attack , Atta

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
2007-07-10 05:00:00
DVT (aka VTE, venous thromboembolism) occurs when blood platelets stick together and form clots which either block local circulation or break away to lodge in other organs such as lungs (Embolism) brain (Stroke) or heart (Heart Attack). DVT is an issue among not only airline travelers, but potentially all those who sit immobile for extended periods of time (4 hours or more) according to WHO (World Health Organization). The use of birth control pills and those with blood abnormalities, such as a tendency for easy clotting, have also an increased risk.
More About: Deep , Thrombosis , Vein

How Pharmaceutical Companies Influence Doctors
2007-07-07 01:26:00
Here’s an interesting site you might want to take a look at. Although designed for doctors, the information is fascinating for the layperson as well. The MGH Institute of Health Professions, an academic affiliate of Massachusetts General Hospital, launched a new continuing education documentary and interactive website designed to educate doctor/prescribers about drug industry influence.  Ironically, the program is funded by Pfizer as a result of the Neurontin settlement.
More About: Companies , Doctors , Pharmaceutical , Doctor , Influence

Toxic Babies
2007-07-06 04:31:00
A benchmark investigation of industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides in umbilical cord blood reveals that involuntary levels of hundreds of toxic chemicals are rising in newborns. Not so long ago, scientists believed that babies were protected from pollution outside of the womb by the mothers’ immune system and the placenta. Not so. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) commissioned lab tests on 10 random Red Cross cord blood samples and were astonished to report that each blood sample averaged 200 chemical contaminants including mercury, Teflon, and pesticides.
More About: Babies , Toxic , Babi

Children's Eating Habits, A Question of Will
2007-07-05 18:51:00
An Associated Press review  of 57 government nutrition education programs (including videos of dancing fruit, prizes for eating well, and even giving away free fruits and vegetables in school – all at a cost of over $1 billion a year) found overwhelming failure when viewed against the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. In some cases, the children became even less willing to eat good food by the end of the program. Pundits have immediately chimed in with their theories as why the programs have failed, including:
More About: Question , Habits , Public policy , Eating , Abit

Mandatory Health Care
2007-07-05 06:18:00
Massachusetts is the first state to mandate health care for every citizen, and the health care insurers and providers are going nutso in an attempt to capture their share of what is now a huge captive market. Their sales pitches on radio, TV, the internet, and through targeted mailings are backed by strong messages from state health insurance officials that those without insurance may, come January, face the first phase of tax penalties that back up the mandate.
More About: Health , Health Care , Care , Public policy , Tory

Aspartame in the News
2007-06-30 18:49:00
Italian researchers published a new study last week that showed aspartame – widely used in soft drinks – might cause leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer in rats. The FDA is unmoved. Despite this new evidence, they have no plans to change their stance on the safety of aspartame use in foods despite pleas from the Center for Science in the Public Interest to review the safety of the suspect sweetener. (Note: the European Food Safety Authority is equally culpable.) I find it especially disturbing that the FDA is not only ignoring this new study, as well as all the previous studies, reporting the dangers of aspartame, but that they have also ignored their own studies proving that aspartame triggers brain tumors and many other health issues.
More About: News , In the News , The News , Spar , Aspartam

Antidepressants, a Canary in the Coal Mine
2007-06-29 00:39:00
Antidepressants, one of my favorite topics, are once again in the news. I"ve already explored the connection between antidepressants and a number of personality disorders, but the new studies take us in an entirely different direction and only add fuel to the fire.Two studies released today indicate that Infants born to women taking prescription antidepressants during the first trimester of their pregnancies have an increased risk of serious birth defects. At first glance, the results seem chilling. For example:
More About: Coal Mine , Coal , Mine , Anti , Antidepressant

Everybody Start Eating
2007-06-28 06:11:00
Researchers in Germany and Switzerland just announced that among patients who had received initial treatment for a specific type of heart attack (unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction), those that were obese or very obese were less than half as likely to die during the following three years as patients who were of normal weight.
More About: Start , Eating , Everybody

The FDA Speaks
2007-06-27 06:19:00
Just a few days ago, the FDA announced its final rule establishing regulations on manufacturing practices for dietary supplements. The final rule includes requirements for establishing quality control procedures, designing and constructing manufacturing plants, and testing ingredients and the finished product. It also includes requirements for recordkeeping and handling consumer product complaints. And under the final rule, manufacturers are required to evaluate the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements.
More About: Public policy , Peak

Royal Rife Vindicated?
2007-06-26 05:00:00
Royal Rife may have been the greatest medical genius of all time. During the first half of the 20th Century, Dr. Rife perfected a methodology for using electrical frequencies to destroy a number of diseases including cancer, herpes, polio, spinal meningitis, tetanus, and influenza. The efficacy of his technology was tested and proven by the medical community. In 1931, the nation's most respected medical authorities honored Dr. Rife with a banquet billed as “The End to All Diseases.” However, by 1937 he had come under the eye of Morris Fishbein, president of the AMA. After failing in an attempt to purchase control of Dr. Rife’s technology, he subsequently proceeded to discredit Dr. Rife and end his research. For more on Dr. Rife and Fishbein, go to http://home.att.net/~bob.wallace/fishbein .html.
More About: Royal , Cate , Indica , Vindicated

Echinacea ? Again
2007-06-25 21:31:00
I’m not really sure why people are so enamored of peer reviewed studies. Depending on your methodology, you can get them to prove anything. We’ve had peer reviewed studies that prove hormone replacement therapy is helpful, that it’s harmful, that it works, that it doesn’t work, and that in only works for five years around menopause. If you can get a peer reviewed study to come out with continually contradicting results, how much value can it have?
More About: Immune System

Diabetes the Twisted Road
2007-06-20 08:19:00
Two new studies just released on diabetes should serve as a wake up call to the powers that be; but of course, that won’t happen. The National Changing Diabetes Program (NCDP) study was released today at a briefing of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. The study concluded that:
More About: Road

Two More Health Plans
2007-06-15 21:41:00
First of all, let me state that I never use this forum to talk politics except as it relates to health. It’s not that I’m apolitical; it’s just that the purpose of the Baseline of Heal th Foundation is to improve the health of its readers, not to change their political opinions. With that said… Presidential candidate John Edwards unveiled his version of a universal healthcare proposal today. And like Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama before him, it’s utter nonsense. In summary, the plan offers to:
More About: Plans , Public policy , Plan

Antibiotics and Babies
2007-06-12 08:00:00
Canadian Researchers announced today that studies prove that children who got antibiotics as babies had double the risk of developing asthma by age 7. This may come as a big surprise in parts of the scientific community, but not to anyone who has any awareness of the importance of intestinal flora, which are destroyed by antibiotics.
More About: Babies , Antibiotics , Public policy , Anti , Babi

Alzheimer's Cases to Quadruple
2007-06-11 19:05:00
Researchers presenting yesterday at the International Conference on the Prevention of Dementia in Washington DC announced, “We face a looming global epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease as the world’s population ages.” It is thought that 26 million people are living with Alzheimer's disease throughout the world today.  Yesterday’s announcement indicated that could quadruple to more than 106 million by 2050.  The biggest rise in cases, the study warned, would occur in Asia, where 48 percent of sufferers live. There, prevalence will grow from 12.65 million in 2006 to 62.85 million in 2050, accounting for 59 percent of all cases.
More About: Aging , Cases , Quad

Flax Redeemed Vis-a-vis Prostate Cancer
2007-06-04 06:45:00
Back in 2002, a series of studies started coming out challenging the safety of flax seed oil for men in regard to prostate cancer. In October of that year, I wrote a newsletter questioning the validity of those studies, and I caught a lot of grief for taking that position. People questioned my judgement saying, "Why even go there?" "Better safe than sorry." "Why not just use fish oil to get your Omega-3’s?" Even many alternative health authorities backed away from flax based on those studies.
More About: Cancer , Prostate Cancer , Stat , Rede , Prostate