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Health-Essentials.info Newsletter: November 2008

Flu shots, detoxing foot pads, irradiation of foods, Inflammatory Breast Cancer

In this issue:

Greetings again from Lincoln, Nebraska.  I sincerely hope that you are happy and doing well, and prospering in all that is good.  As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches here in the States, I'd like to wish you a very happy and thankful Thanksgiving.  May you have a surplus of things to be thankful for this year.

I'm sure you've seen it before, in one of countless movies: Man is in a river, river picks up speed, man is swept through the rapids to emerge exhausted on the other side.  That's been a fair description of my summer and fall.  Don't get me wrong: I've had a lot better time than that guy in the river; but, between filling orders and answering questions emailed in to me, things have been a lot busier here than I'm accustomed to.  So, I'm a little behind on my newsletters.

Just in case your year seems to be flying by a little too quickly, why not sit back and relax and enjoy my "September" newsletter?  I hope there will be something here that will prove helpful.

 

Could it possibly be flu season again?

(Read the full article at Could it possibly be flu season again?)

Yep!  While I wasn't looking, it sneaked up on me.  It's flu season again.  And, with the season, come those alarmist urgings to get the flu vaccine.  But let me just raise the question: Is having yourself or your kids immunized really a good idea?  Is there a better way to safeguard your health? 

Let's take a look at this.

Considering all of this, it's much better to take steps to prevent the flu — naturally.  One of the best ways to do this is simply to wash your hands regularly.  dōTERRA® offers a number of helpful products to optimize your hygiene, from On Guard Foaming Hand Wash to On Guard Hand Sanitizing Wipes.  (Read more on this at Could it possibly be flu season again?)

Adding supplements to your diet is also very helpful.  Something simple, like On Guard Protecting Throat Drops, taken at the first sign of symptoms — or, better yet, as a protective measure — can do wonders.  There is also a growing body of research that suggest that vitamin D may be a key in avoiding flu.  (Read more on this at Could it possibly be flu season again?)

And, therapeutic-grade essential oils are among the most powerful anti-infectious substances on earth.  The blend of On Guard offer a excellent protection, as well as ImmuPower.  Exodus II is another powerful oil blend that will fight infections and boost your immune system.  Many other oils are very beneficial, as well.  If in doubt, check with your Desk Reference or Modern Essentials, or send me an email.

Check out Could it possibly be flu season again? for more information on what you can do to avoid the flu this year.

 

Update on Honey Bee Colony Collapse

(Read the full article at Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder | Hive Death)

I mentioned in an earlier newsletter about the problem of honeybee colony collapse, or what is also known as hive death.  It is a continuing problem, one that has affected up to 70% of all hives, and which seems to have multiple causes.  This is not just an issue for those who like honey; it presents serious concerns for all of us — all of us who eat, that is.

It now appears that one cause of hive death is an insecticide manufactured by Bayer that causes the disorientation of bees, so they can't find their way back to the hive, and fertility issues with the queen bee.  However, in the studies submitted by Bayer during the approval process, it appears that Bayer submitted flawed studies, to play down the risk of pesticide residue in treated plants.

I would encourage you to read the article: Did Bayer Pesticides Cause the Mass Death of Bees?  It's a more important subject than would first occur to most people.

 

The low-down on detoxing foot pads

(Read the full article at The Low-Down on Detoxing Foot Pads)

You've probably seen the ads on TV for Kinoki Detox Foot Pads, or something similar.  I found the idea of detoxing in this manner fascinating, so sometime last year, I bought a few boxes, just to check them out.  In all honesty, I was never convinced they did any good.  The nice dry pad would certainly get dark and yucky by morning, but I never had any sense that I was getting any cleaner.  I finally stopped using them simply because they were so much hassle to work with every day.

Then I saw a report on Dr Joseph Mercola's website.  He reported that the results from laboratory testing were essentially the same as could be achieved just holding a pad over some boiling water.

However, there is a brand of detox pads that uses bamboo vinegar that has been fermented for nine years.  These pads appear to work on the energetic system, similarly to the way acupuncture works.  If the pads are worn on the bottom of the feet (which is associated with the kidney meridian), they tend to affect kidney function, helping to remove organic acids through the urine.  However, they had no effect on heavy metals.

To learn about effective alternative for cleansing, go to The Low-Down on Detoxing Foot Pads.  Dr. Mercola has some other tips on detoxing that you can see in the article 'Detoxifying' Foot Pads are a Scam.

 

FDA gives green light to irradiation of spinach and lettuce

(Read the full article at FDA Gives the Green Light to Irradiation of Spinach and Lettuce)

In the last few years, we've had a number of outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella in our food supply.  Many were sickened and a number died, and the cost to food producers was enormous.  So, in an attempt to ward off future outbreaks, the FDA has decided to allow irradiation of spinach and iceberg lettuce.

The U.S. government already allows food processors to irradiate some foods (read details at FDA Gives the Green Light to Irradiation of Spinach and Lettuce), but the market for irradiated foods is small, because the government also requires that these foods be labeled as irradiated.  So, the FDA is considering a proposal to weaken or change the labeling requirement.

Now, according to the FDA, the evidence is overwhelming that irradiated foods are safe.  You can learn why that just is not the case by reading FDA Gives the Green Light to Irradiation of Spinach and Lettuce.  This is something you really need to know.

The real answer to safer foods is lies in cleaning up the growing conditions and processing plants, and most certainly in returning farming to a small-scale basis.  This is just one more reason to buy locally, from farmers you know, or buy organic foods from your health food store.

(For sources and more details, go to FDA Gives the Green Light to Irradiation of Spinach and Lettuce.)

 

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

(Read the full article at Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

Breast cancer is something every woman thinks she knows all about: Look for lumps, have mammograms, see your doctor.  But none of that will save you from one silent breast cancer killer that women know virtually nothing about.  It's called Inflammatory Breast Cancer, and it's something every woman must know about. 

IBC accounts for about 6% of all invasive breast cancer cases.  Awareness of this form of breast cancer is critical because IBC is rarely seen on routine mammograms and doesn't present the usual lump women are told to look for.  Chances are, your doctor has heard about IBC in medical school, but has never seen an actual case.  As a result, it is often misdiagnosed until it's too late to treat it effectively.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive type of breast cancer.  It appears in sheets of cancer (or cancer nests).  These cancer cells clog breast tissue vessels.  It's called "inflammatory", because the breast often looks swollen and red — "inflamed".  (Learn to know the symptoms at Inflammatory Breast Cancer.)

 

Breast Awareness: Better than rigourous self-examination

In an article from the BBC News (July 15, 2008) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reveiws (July 2008, Issue 3), the recommendation is made for women to get to know their breasts, to clearly identify what is normal, and check them regularly for signs of any change, but in a way that feels natural to them.

This study pointed out that following a strict examination routine can be counterproductive, since the death rates from breast cancer were the same among women who rigourously self-examined and those who did not.  (Read more, including things to watch for, at Inflammatory Breast Cancer.)

But what about mammograms?

According to Dr Joseph Mercola, the "benefits of mammograms are highly controversial, while the risks are well established".  He notes that women have unnecessarily undergone mastectomies, radiation and chemotherapy after receiving false positives on a mammogram.  He also notes the fear factor.  According to Dr Mercola, focusing the mind on disease can actually trigger disease in the body.  (Read more at Inflammatory Breast Cancer.)

But there are safe and effective alternatives to mammography.  The option Dr Mercola recommends most highly is called thermograpy, which measures the radiation of infrared heat from your body and translates this information into anatomical images.

(Read more, included further readings and sources, at Inflammatory Breast Cancer.)

 

Housework and the Breast Cancer: The surprising health & wellness benefits

I kind of hate to break this news to you, but it seems that doing housework is actually good for you.  Its benefits are even greater than going to the gym.  Just five hours a week can reduce your risk of dying by 20-30%.

One study found that doing the kind of physical activity associated with housework protected against cancer.  It reduced breast cancer risk by 30% among pre-menopausal women and 20% among post-menopausal women.  (Get the details at Inflammatory Breast Cancer.)

The correlation between light pollution and breast cancer

In an article in the National Geographic (November 2008) noted a study that found a correlation between hight rates of breast cancer in women and the nighttime brightness of their neighborhoods.  Why?  Because light pollution reduces your levels of melatonin.  (Get the details at Inflammatory Breast Cancer.)

According to Dr Joseph Mercola, the more your sleep is disrupted by light pollution, the lower your melatonin levels and the greater your risk of developing cancer.  One reason is that melatonin triggers the nocturnal reduction of the body's estrogen levels.  Since high estrogen levels are linked to cancers, light pollution increases your risk of developing cancer.

Dr Mercola's recommendation is to sleep in a pitch-black bedroom, so dark that you can't see your hand in front of your face.  He even recommends getting rid of your clock radio and avoiding night lights.  (Get the details, source and solutions at Inflammatory Breast Cancer.)

Breast cancer is not just a women's issue

While it is true that women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than men, as estimated 1,990 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, and 450 will die from it.  The death rate among men may be the result of the rarity of breast cancer among men, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.  (Get the details and signs to look for at Inflammatory Breast Cancer.)

 

 

Well, that's it for this issue.  Hope you found something helpful here.  Let me know if you have any questions or if you have any ideas of subjects you'd like to see covered in upcoming newsletters.  Many of the things in this issue were suggested by readers.  Thanks Shirley and Betty.  I appreciate your involvement here.

Until next time,

Tom

Tom Anson | Health-Essentials.info
Health information you can use … from an alternative perspective

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