LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

Healthy Living in a Toxic World

AVOID THIS IN PREGNANCY TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD

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We used to believe that the placenta filtered out most of what mom was exposed to and kept the developing baby safe.  We’re starting to realize just how incredibly far from the truth this really was.

For me, the first slap upside the head was the 10 Americans’ Study done by Environmental Working Group (EWG.org).  They found an average of 200+ chemicals in the cord blood of newborns, meaning that these toxins had passed into the baby and the baby was exposed in the womb.  The long term results of some of these exposures may be impossible to quantify.

However, this particular study is able to quantify at least one aspect of exposure to BPA in the womb.  Some scary aspects to this study:

  • 97% of the pregnant moms had BPA detected in their urine
  • Each 10 fold increase in BPA levels worsened anxiety and behavior scores in 3 yr old girls

For years, the FDA stated that BPA was safe for use in food products.  The Susan G. Komen Foundation still does not acknowledge that BPA may contribute to breast cancer (I call them “slow learners…”).  In the past few years, however, the FDA has changed its stance and have begrudgingly agreed that BPA is toxic in a variety of ways, but that it is not too ubiquitous in our products and our lives to do anything about it.  So much for your tax dollars at work.

So what can potentially pregnant (and, quite frankly, all of us) do to lower exposure to BPA?  These items produce some of the highest levels of exposure and shoudl be avoided as much as possible:

  • plastic water bottles / polycarbonate plastics
  • canned goods (the liner is frequently made with BPA)
  • thermal credit card receipts

 

 

INDUSTRY SPONSORSHIP AND SELECTION OF COMPARATORS

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Drug research a house of cards? I know most of us look at the drug companies with a certain degree of skepticism, but if the general public knew the full truth they’d be disgusted. Drug trials started but never published because the data was not good, marketing departments actually conducting clinical trials, poor choice of comparible interventions or placebos…and on and on.

This particular study looked at how many studies out of 577 were funded by more than one drug company and compared two products from different manufacturers head to head.  The likelihood of a really meaningful outcome in this scenario is higher.  So how many trials met the criteria?  18.  Just a hair over 3%.  Remember that when you see that drug commercial..

BASIS FOR MANY DRUGS FLAWED?

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Basis for many drugs flawed? I’ve mentioned before the idea of using surrogate end markers in studies to say a drug is effective. Basically, we ASSUME that if a marker (like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, A1C, plaguing in the carotid arteries in the neck or HDL level) gets better, then we jump up and down and say the drug is effective and we’re saving lives. Perfect example is statin class of drugs and cholesterol. Looking at the numbers of actually preventing cardiac deaths, statins really suck, but they ARE good at lowering cholesterol!!

The bottom line is that the only way to ensure that an improved marker will lower your risk of something is to do it with lifestyle. Anything else may kill you faster than it saves you.

Read entire article here

BUT MY PRESCRIPTION IS FDA APPROVED…

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Apparently, there are still many people who believe that, because a drug is approved, that it must be both really effective and without serious side effects. Must be pretty dark in that cave.

The reality is far from the perception. There are no shortage of accusations and historical examples that the FDA’s job of regulating drugs is under strong influence from the drug companies themselves. Kind of like the proverbial fox guarding the hen house.

Many drugs that are approved are later pulled off the market or giving black box warnings years after their initial approval. Frequently, much damage occurs before the mistake is realized. Vioxx was a perfect example, with estimations of over 100,000 heart attacks related to its use before it was pulled off the market.

As far as efficacy, many times a drug is approved without any advantage over currently available, cheaper drugs. These are referred to as the “me too” drugs.

So, in this particular study, authors questioned almost 3,000 adults and found that misinformation is quite common. 39% believed that the FDA only approves drugs that are extremely effective. One quarter of the group believed that the FDA only approves drugs that are without significant side effects. A little misguided, but probably not surprising given the money the drug companies spend on direct to consumer advertising to steer the sheep towards new drugs.

Furthermore, when these participants were educated about the realities, they were more likely to chose a drug with a longer history of safer and a drug with documented positive outcomes (in this case a drug preventing heart attacks vs just lowering cholesterol).

September 4, 2000 Research Update

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Physicians’ Group Complains About ‘Milk Moustache’ Ads

As many of you may have figured out, I am no big fan of milk. It has probably been one of the best marketing campaigns of the 20th century, and yet there is no data to support benefits of milk. On the contrary, many studies point to the harmful effects of the allergens, pesticides, hormones and other chemicals in cow’s milk.

For the second time, the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine has filed a petition with the US Federal Trade Commission complaining that the “milk moustache” advertisements produced by the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board amount to false advertising. The group says that the ubiquitous ads send the false impression to minorities and women that cow’s milk is healthful. It has sent the FTC an 11-count petition questioning the validity of scientific research that links milk consumption to a lowered risk of osteoporosis. The complaint also asks for a ruling on whether the advertisements ignore the possible dangers of milk’s high fat content. At least one independent organization appears to support the physicians’ group’s position on the accuracy of the ads. “nutrition Navigator,” Tufts University’s online rating guide to nutrition Web sites, rates the Web site of the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board as “not recommended — unacceptable accuracy.”

Effect of a fish-oil on serum lipids in postmenopausal women

Yet another study pointing to the benefits of fish oil on health. I usually recommend patients to use flax seed oil, as it is a plant source of the same type of fatty acids without the possibility of contamination with heavy metals. AJCN — Abstracts: Stark et al. 72 (2): 389

Soy phytoestrogens protect against LDL cholesterol damage

Soy appears to have many routes by which it improves human health. This study suggests that one of these routes is by protecting LDL damage. The “bad” cholesterol can not increase risk of heart disease if it itself is not first damaged. AJCN — Abstracts: Wiseman et al. 72 (2): 395

Magnetic fields and abnormal cell growth

There has been much controversy about the potential dangers of magnetic fields and human health. This article introduces some concepts as to how that may occur. While reading this, you must also consider that cell phones and magnets emit a magnetic field. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15238230

Physical activity and peptic ulcers

Ulcers are still a major scourge in today’s society. Many of the acid blockers were designed for short term use only, and can have long term negative health effects. This study suggests that exercise can reduce the incidence of ulcers. Combine this with the use of cabbage extract or licorice and we have a very viable solution to ulcers without harmful medications. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071012/

Antibiotics and acute bronchitis

Numerous studies have shown that antibiotics have no effect on the course of acute bronchitis. This was an analysis of several studies, once again showing that antibiotics are not needed for acute bronchitis. Not to mention the harmful effects of destroying off the body’s normal protective flora. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11034678

James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com

 

IS YOUR COUCH MAKING YOU FAT?

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Of course sitting on your couch can be making you fat if you are spending too much time on it watching Simpsons or General Hospital reruns. But it may be doing it in a way you don’t expect.

At some point, the powers that be or the manufacturers or the government or the toxic chemical companies decided that seemingly everything we come in contact with is at risk of spontaneously combusting. Maybe years ago everything actually was bursting into flames and the media just kept it quiet.

Either way, there are lots and lots of compounds put into your bedding, mattress, clothing, drapes and yes–your couch–to act as flame retardants. These compounds are well known to contribute to thyroid problems, infertility and cancer. 

This article suggests that many of the flame retardants are derivatives of the notorious bisphenol A (BPA) and can affect estrogen receptors and lead to obesity. As if we didn’t have enough in society contributing to our collective weight problems.

The bottom line is to toss your furniture or replace the padding as it becomes worn, consider a periodic detoxification program and do your best to be aware of other areas of exposure you can reduce or eliminate.

WHY YOU SHOULD EAT BROCCOLI WITH YOUR FISH

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Many people consume fish because of the mistaken idea that it is good for you.  While this can be true, in many situations this is just not the case.  There are several concerns when it comes to fish intake that you need to be aware of.

First is the difference between farm raised and wild caught.  Do NOT eat farm raised.  Period.  It is higher in omega 6 fats because they are usually fed corn and soy based diets, in stark contrast to wild caught salmon that eat a diet of algae, krill, zooplankton and small fish.  Many people think they are eating salmon because it is high in good fat, but unless they are ensuring that the fish is wild caught, they are mistaken.

It is clear that farm raised fish are higher in pesticides and other contaminants, which, without saying anything further, is a BAD thing.

The beautiful pink color of wild caught salmon is due to the carotenoids from the algae and zooplankton, most specifically astaxanthin.  These carotenoids have powerful health effects on their own.  In farm raised it is frequently a dye.  Again, NOT a good thing.

It is clear to me that few understand that there is a difference.  At restaurants, when querrieing the server, it is rare that they know whether a fish item is farm raised or wild caught.  Many don’t seem to know that there is a difference.  Even some of the higher dollar restaurants I have been to charge premium prices for farm raised fish.  If more customers where asking, the wait staff would know the answer right off the bat instead of having to ask the chef.

Finally, a concern present with both farm raised and wild caught is the mercury content.  See, animals in general do not get rid of heavy metals very good.  As a result, it bioconcentrates up the food chain.  So, as the fish gets bigger and eats more smaller fish, its levels of mercury goes up.  Thus, the larger fish like tuna, shark and halibut are known to have some of the highest levels of mercury.  It’s why chunk light tuna has less mercury than albacore, which is an older fish.

So sticking with low mercury fish is something to consider.  Disappointing for me because I prefer the solid consistency of fish like mahi and halibut.  Good thing this article throws some ideas out there..

In this particular mouse study, the use of isothiocyanates, such as those found in broccoli, lowered both the accumulation of mercury in the liver as well as the potential for toxicity in these cells.

So, if you’re going to sit down to a nice piece of grilled halibut, make sure it’s got a heaping side of broccoli…

Read more…

 

THIS COMMON CONTAMINANT CAN AFFECT FERTILITY

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I realize that my office is a single isolated system and by no means does it reflect the entire picture of what happens outside of my office.  With this in mind, I can honestly say that I have never had a patient who went through “fertility treatment” and fertility was actually addressed.

We need to understand that, when boiled down to an organism level, our body’s only goal is to reproduce and propagate the species (forget arguments about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs here).  So if a couple cannot get pregnant and do the ONE thing it is supposed to do, this is a massive red warning light that something is not right. 

So, one would think that a fertility “expert” would then dig into the more common reasons why infertility can occur.  Sadly, the couples that I have come across over the years have not had this experience.  Instead, some bloodwork is taken and they are usually given a course of Clomid or Metformin or IVF, spending thousands of dollars.  Sometimes it’s successful, sometimes not.

But, if the physiology of the couple is screaming that something is wrong, shouldn’t we pay attention to that FIRST?  Society is paying the price for forced fertility in preterm births, multiple births, obese infants and children and, in the years to come, increased rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Instead, a full evaluation should include looking at prediabetes (a major cause of infertility in women and almost completely lifestyle-mediated via polycystic ovarian syndrome), prenatal vitamins (almost all of the prescription ones are of very low quality and really, really expensive!) and toxic exposure.

The last one can be a toughie.  A detailed look at what a couple may be exposed to should be undertaken, from pesticides to fertilizers to flame retardants to BPA from plastic water bottles.  The couple should be counseled to avoid as many chemical exposures as is feasibly possible as well as recommendations on detoxification programs to help the body clear out the toxins we are exposed to that we cannot reasonably avoid.

THIS is infertility treatment.

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