Your World and You: Tips to Improve Your Family’s Health – Issue 46 (Premium)
Environmental and Nutritional Tips to Improve Your Family’s Health
This feature highlights reports, studies, and feedback on efforts that can make a positive impact in our quest for health. Topics we cover in this issue are included below. We invite you to share material with us that you think would be of interest to our readers.
Articles in this issue
- Vaccine safety: “Both sides of the same coin” by Andrew Campbell
- A cool study. Probiotics with herbal formulation = increased longevity
- Some children’s brain disorders linked to common toxic exposures
- The poison in popular popcorn
- Food Babe on 75 ways to eat organic on a budget
- Antipsychotic med use in children increases risk of diabetes & weight gain
- Think twice about tonsil and adenoid removal
- How much fluoride is in your drinking water (USA)?
- Key tips on reducing cell phone radiation
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Vaccine safety: “Both sides of the same coin” by Andrew Campbell
Here’s a short excerpt from the editorial:
There are many physicians who question the need for 49 doses of 14 vaccines before age 6 years. In 1953, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended 16 doses of 4 vaccines between ages 2 months and 6 years. In 1983, the CDC recommended 23 doses of 7 vaccines for this age group.
“Consider the following statistics regarding chronic diseases affecting children:
- 1976: 1 child in 30 was learning disabled; 2013: 1 child in 6 was learning disabled.
- 1990s: 1 child in 555 developed autism; 2013: 1 child in 50 developed autism.
A cool study. Probiotics with an herbal formulation = increased longevity
The study used fruit flies, but researchers point out that the fruit fly is “remarkably similar to mammals with about 70% similarity in terms of their biochemical pathways, making it a good indicator of what would happen in humans.”
In the study, probiotics were combined with the herbal preparation Triphala, and the fruit flies fed that concoction lived remarkably longer than those that did not have the supplements. “The effects in humans would likely not be as dramatic, but our results definitely suggest that diet specifically incorporating Triphala along with these probiotics will promote a long and healthy life.”
Triphala, is a formulation made from amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki, fruits used as medicinal plants in Ayurveda, a form of traditional Indian medicine. Three probiotic strains, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum and Bifidobacteria longum spp. infantis were used. Prakash hopes their formulation could have interesting applications in a number of human disorders such as diabetes, obesity, neurodegeneration, chronic inflammation, depression, irritable bowel syndrome and even cancer.
Read the full article in Nature
Read ScienceDaily article on this study
Children’s brain disorders linked to common toxic exposures
Exposures of pregnant women and children to common thyroid-hormone-disrupting toxins may be linked to the increased incidence of brain development disorders, according to a review published in Endocrine Connections. The review describes how numerous, common chemicals can interfere with normal thyroid hormone actions, which are essential for normal brain development in fetuses and young children, and suggests a need for greater public health intervention.
In this review, researchers examine published evidence of the wide variety and high number of endocrine disrupting chemicals, from pesticides to chemicals used in the manufacture of drugs, cosmetics, furniture and plastics, that can all interfere with thyroid hormones.
The poison in popular popcorn
The problem with popcorn is PFAS, toxic man-made chemicals, used in microwave popcorn. (Read details on PFAS here.)
Emily Scarr, State director of the nonprofit PIRG says:
We’re pushing to ban PFAS chemicals in food packaging, but in the meantime, here are a few things to know:
- PFAS chemicals are linked to serious health problems, including cancer.
- Studies indicate that two kinds of PFAS chemicals — PFOA and PFOS — can cause tumors, reproductive and developmental issues, liver and kidney problems, and immunological effects in lab animals. Findings also linked the chemicals to low infant birth weights, cancer and thyroid hormone disruption.
- Every microwavable popcorn bag tested in 2017 came back positive for PFAS.
The Center for Environmental Health tested a range of microwave popcorn brands sold at dollar stores. Every brand the group purchased tested positive, including Act II, Orville Redenbacher’s, Pop Secret, Clover Valley, Lowrey’s, Regal Cinemad Pop Weaver. - We recommend making your own.
Food Babe on 75 ways to eat organic on a budget
“In hopes to mitigate the initial money pains of buying organic, I want to share the top organic money saving ideas that I’ve gathered from my friends and family members. And, let me tell you, I learned a lot myself while putting together this list and combining everyone’s tips into one cohesive guide. I can’t wait to put some of these new ideas into practice.”
Antipsychotic med use by youth increases risk of diabetes and weight gain
The prevalence of childhood obesity has more than tripled from 1971 to 2011 and is now at epidemic proportions, contributing to rising rates of type 2 diabetes in youths. A new study is the first to show that even short-term treatment with antipsychotic medications commonly prescribed off-label to treat nonpsychotic disorders associated with disruptive behavior, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in youths can increase body fat and decrease the body’s sensitivity to insulin, important early steps in the development of risk for diabetes. [Editor: These are often prescribed for Tourette syndrome, as well.]
Think twice about tonsil and adenoid removal
Sometimes tonsils and adenoids have to come out. No doubt! But, it is worth giving careful thought to the procedures.
Removing tonsils and adenoids in childhood increases the long-term risk of respiratory, allergic and infectious diseases, according to researchers who have examined — for the first time — the long-term effects of the operations.
The researchers suggest renewed evaluation of alternatives to these common pediatric surgeries that include removal of tonsils (tonsillectomy) to treat chronic tonsillitis or adenoids (adenoidectomy) to treat recurrent middle ear infections.
How much fluoride is in your drinking water (USA)?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers a state-by-state map that allows you to search your area for the amount of fluoride that is being added to your drinking water. The site suggests that if your state does not participate in sharing this information then to contact your municipal supply.
While the CDC promotes the addition of fluoride in drinking water, many of our Latitudes.org readers want to avoid it.
The Fluoride Action Network offers their “top ten” ways to reduce exposure to fluoride. Check it out.
Key tips on reducing cell phone radiation
From the California Department of Public Health
How can you reduce your exposure?
Keep your phone away from your body. Keeping your phone just a few feet away from you can make a big difference.
- When you talk on your cell phone, avoid holding it to your head—use the speakerphone or a headset instead. Wireless (Bluetooth) and wired headsets emit much less RF energy than cell phones.
- Send text messages instead of talking on the phone. • If you are streaming or if you are downloading or sending large files, try to keep the phone away from your head and body.
- Carry your cell phone in a backpack, briefcase, or purse; NOT in a pocket, bra or belt holster. Because your phone’s antenna tries to stay connected with a cell tower whenever it’s on, it emits some RF energy even when you are not using it. It does not emit RF energy when it’s in airplane mode. (Airplane mode turns off cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.)
Reduce or avoid using your cell phone when it is sending out high levels of RF energy. This happens mainly when:
- You see only one or two bars displayed. Cell phones put out more RF energy to connect with cell towers when the signal is weak. If you must use your phone when the signal is weak, try to follow the other guidance on this page.
- You are in a fast-moving car, bus, or train. Your phone puts out more RF energy to maintain connections to avoid dropping calls as it switches connections from one cell tower to the next unless it is in airplane mode.
- You are streaming audio or video, or downloading or sending large files.
To watch movies or listen to playlists on your phone, download them first, then switch to airplane mode while you watch or listen. Don’t sleep with your phone in your bed or near your head. Unless the phone is off or in airplane mode, keep it at least a few feet away from your bed. Take off the headset when you’re not on a call. Headsets release small amounts of RF energy even when you are not using your phone.
Children’s risk
Children may be more at risk for harm from exposure to RF energy because: RF energy can reach a larger area of a child’s brain than an adult brain.
A child’s brain and body grow and develop through the teen years. During this time, the body may be more easily affected by RF energy and the effect may be more harmful and longer lasting.
A child who uses a cell phone will have many more years of exposure to RF energy in his or her lifetime than someone who started using a cell phone as an adult. There is not a lot of research about the effects of cell phone RF energy on children or teenagers, but a few studies have shown that there may be hearing loss or ringing in the ears, headaches, and decreased general well-being.
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