I was recently informed that the FDA is targeting intravenous (IV) vitamin C by notifying small pharmacies that they will no longer be allowed to manufacture or distribute injectable vitamin C. IV vitamin C is only available to physicians, and must be administered by a physician. It has been used successfully, and safely, for many years. So why the FDA attack now?

First of all, vitamin C cannot be patented. It is a natural vitamin, of course. So Big Pharma cannot make much money from it. The FDA wants to put IV vitamin C through the new drug approval process, but because National Institutes of Health (NIH) refuses to fund IV vitamin C studies, this could mean that it never makes it that far. New Drug Approval, and Investigational New Drug approval are expensive processes, costing millions of dollars in research.

This has struck a nerve with me because I, myself, have used IV vitamin C many times. In fact, after I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, IV vitamin C played a big role in my healing. At the same time, this therapy also helped to lower my hepatitis C viral load. It is truly an amazing, holistic treatment.

People use IV vitamin C for many health conditions. Infections particularly benefit from this therapy. Cancer is another illness in which people utilize IV vitamin C as part of treatment. IV vitamin C can also be found as part of the Myer’s Cocktail—a combination of injectable magnesium chloride, vitamin B complex, and vitamin C. This therapy is used for a wide range of conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome and other infectious diseases.

Check out this video that I found on the Vitamin C Foundation’s website. It highlights the story of a man on his deathbed who was brought back to health with IV vitamin C, even after his doctors gave up on him.

The Alliance for Natural Health has done a great job by providing an online form that you can fill out to be sent to an FDA representative asking that the sale and manufacture of IV vitamin C, along with the other ingredients in the Myer’s Cocktail, continue to be allowed.  Please take a moment to click here to fill out the form!

For more information, as provided on the Alliance for Natural Health website, click here.

Together, we can make a difference. Please, help me spread the word about this. It’s an important issue for all of us to take action on. Thank you!

Yours in health,

Brenda Watson

Share this Post...

Big Pharma, chronic fatigue syndrome, FDA, Health, hepatitis C, infections, infectious diseases, injectable vitamin C, intravenous vitamin C, IV vitamin C, Lyme disease, magnesium chloride, manufacture, Myer’s Cocktail, natural, physician, research, therapy, viral load, vitamin, vitamin B complex, vitamin C studies

In a recent study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, meat and poultry samples were tested for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria associated with a wide range of human diseases, including MRSA infection, the most dangerous drug-resistant Staph infection.

In the study, almost half the meat and poultry samples were found to be contaminated with S. aureus, and over half of those bacteria were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a major health risk, as doctors are running out of antibiotics that will treat these infections. That these bacteria are found on over half the meat at the supermarket is a scary thought.

The bacteria probably come from the food animals themselves, according to the researchers, and proper cooking should kill the bacteria. But cross contamination can occur when preparing the meat, so care needs to be taken during food prep.

A major culprit in bacterial resistance is the overuse of antibiotics in food production. “The fact that drug-resistant S. aureus was so prevalent, and likely came from the food animals themselves, is troubling,” said Dr. Lance B. Price, lead researcher of the study. These animals are exposed to constant low doses of antibiotics, which can trigger the development of antibiotic-resistance in bacteria.

As a matter of fact, consumer groups have recently sued the FDA over the excessive amount of non-therapeutic antibiotics used in animal-food production. The FDA has produced draft guidelines for the phasing out of non-therapeutic antibiotics in food production, but the consumer groups want to put more pressure on the FDA to act with urgency.

In the meantime, I recommend avoiding meats raised with antibiotics. Look for antibiotic-free or organic meat. Those animals are not given antibiotics unnecessarily, and so don’t contribute to the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are haunting our hospitals.

Share this Post...

antibiotic-free, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, antibiotics, bacteria, contaminated, cooking, cross contamination, dangerous, diseases, doctors, FDA, food, health risk, infections, meat, MRSA, organic, overuse, poultry, resistant, S. aureus, Staph, Staphylococcus aureus

This week’s “Renew You” Challenge is about reading food labels.

The Corn Refiners Association has petitioned the FDA requesting to use the name “corn sugar” instead of high fructose corn sugar (HFCS). Really? Corn sugar does sound healthier than high fructose corn sugar, and that’s the point.

Unfortunately, changing the name of this harmful ingredient would probably result in some people seeing it as a healthier, more natural sweetener. With all the media awareness around the negative aspects of high fructose corn syrup, I’m sure there would be a big push to let people know the deception behind the term ‘corn sugar.’

Fortunately, it is likely that this name switch will not actually come to pass, and you will never see corn sugar in an ingredient list. The request probably did more damage than anything, and hopefully taught the HFCS producers a lesson about trying to pull a fast one on us.

The challenge this week is to check the ingredient labels on everything you eat and buy. Become familiar with what ingredients are in your food. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, look it up. Find out what is really in your food, and compare similar foods to find the best alternative. You’ll be amazed at what you learn.

Share this Post...

Corn Refiners Association, corn sugar, FDA, healthy, high fructose corn sugar, ingredient, labels, natural, sugar alternative, sweetener

Well folks, it looks like BPA is back in the news, and the news is not good. In one of the first studies of its kind, scientists from the University of Michigan and the Harvard School of Public Health looked at how exposure to the chemical Bisphenol A affected the sperm count and quality in otherwise healthy male adults, and here’s what they found:

Of the nearly 200 men that participated in the study by providing urine and sperm samples, those with the highest levels of BPA had significantly lower sperm counts as well as a notable increase in damage to healthy sperm DNA, which scientists believe has to do with how BPA affects healthy hormone function in the body and can interfere with normal growth and development.

One of the reasons I think this is really interesting is because most of the studies about BPA so far have looked at how BPA affects babies in the womb, or how it affects developing children and adults—but few have looked at the effects of exposure at such an early stage. So for couples out there who are trying to get pregnant, this is definitely something to think about.

Folks, BPA is everywhere. It’s in hundreds of products like canned foods and beverages, along with plastic baby bottles and reusable water bottles. In fact, more than 2 billion pounds of it are produced annually according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who describes BPA as a “reproductive, developmental and systemic toxicant”. Even the latest report from the President’s Cancer Panel cautions against using products made with BPA. But with all that said, the FDA is still dragging its feet about BPA and only just this year decided to update the warning on its website about BPA—talk about a day late and a dollar short!

Even though further research is needed to determine the full effects of BPA exposure at the reproductive stage and throughout human life, I for one wasn’t surprised to see BPA once again in the hot seat. For some really good tips on how you and your family can reduce BPA exposure, check out Environmental Working Group’s Consumer Tips to Avoid BPA Exposure.

Share this Post...

Adults, babies, baby bottles, beverages, bisphenol A, BPA, canned foods, cautions, Children, consumer, damage, development, DNA, effects, environmental protection agency, environmental working group, exposure, FDA, growth, healthy, Hormone, hormone function, lower, male, normal, plastic, pregnant, President’s Cancer Panel, products, reduce, reproductive, research, scientists, sperm, sperm count, tips, toxicant, warning, water bottles, womb

Did you ever stop to think that all those bottles in your medicine cabinet might not be as safe as you thought? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s true. Just because your doctor prescribed it or you found it on the shelf at the pharmacy doesn’t mean it comes with a “100% safe” guarantee. But you don’t have to take my word for it—look at the facts and see for yourself!

Just last year the FDA reported over 1,700 drug recalls. That’s more than four times the recalls reported in 2008. Not only that, but the number of recalls and warnings just keeps growing. This year there were nearly 300 recalls in January alone, and it’s not just those odd drugs we don’t hear about too much or don’t know what they do. It’s big-name drugs that a lot of people use every day—like Tylenol®, Motrin®, Celebrex® and Avandia®. So what’s going on here??

Experts say it has to do with several things, but a big reason seems to be bad manufacturing practices. Generic drugs in particular are in high demand (accounting for almost 75% of prescription drug sales), so a lot of companies are competing to be the first to bring a generic version of a drug to the market, and when they do they don’t always think about the best way to make that drug, or they’re cutting corners trying to save money and time, and that leads to problems later on. In other words, big drug companies are taking a gamble with your health just to make money. I don’t know about you, but that scares the heck out of me.

Even worse, the FDA says it hasn’t seen any “alarming patterns” in the recent recalls. What?? Isn’t it alarming enough that we have all these recalls in the first place?! Thankfully, I’m not the only who thinks so. Lawmakers introduced two new bills this year demanding stricter FDA regulations for drug manufacturers, so hopefully this means that change is on the horizon.

In the meantime, when it comes to your health, always remember to stay informed. Do your research. Know exactly what you’re putting into your body before you take something. And remember to take good care of your body from the get go with healthy diet and lifestyle choices—that way you can avoid taking unnecessary drugs that might be more damaging to your health than you might think!

Share this Post...

Avandia, bills, body, care, Celebrex, companies, damaging, diet, doctor, drug, drug manufacturers, drug recalls, drugs, FDA, generic, Health, informed, lawmakers, lifestyle, manufacturing, medicine, money, Motrin, pharmacy, prescribed, prescription, regulations, research, safe, sales, stricter, Tylenol, unnecessary

It’s a scary thing to think about: the meat industry giving antibiotics to livestock in order to increase food production and profit. But it happens all too often, and the result has been a serious impact on human health.

Decades of unnecessary drugs being pumped into our meat have caused a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which means that when we get sick and really need antibiotics to fight disease, they’re not going to be as effective as they should. But recently the FDA made a decision that I think is a big, giant step in the right direction.

The agency issued new guidelines in an effort to motivate the food industry change its ways, basically stating that antibiotics should only be given to food animals to protect their health, and that the use of antibiotics in animals should always be overseen by a veterinarian. Bravo, FDA!

Even though it’s just the first step, it’s one that’s been a long time coming, and I’m definitely going to be watching to see what develops from the FDA’s decision.

Share this Post...

animals, antibiotic, antibiotic-resistant, antibiotics, bacteria, disease, drugs, FDA, food, guidelines, Health, human, industry, livestock, meat, production, profit, Veterinarian

Is it just me, or is it harder and harder these days to make sure our kids are eating healthy? Especially when new studies like the one I just read about can make even the most health-conscious parents think twice about what they’re putting on the table.

Recently the California-based non-profit Environmental Law Foundation tested over a hundred different fruit juices and packaged fruit products for kids, and what they found was that many of those products contained lead—a toxic metal that can cause severe developmental and behavioral problems in young children, along with hearing and kidney damage, poor muscle coordination, and more.

For the majority of the products tested, an individual serving contained lead above the recommended daily limit for young children (0.5 micrograms, per the FDA), and that’s just one serving! Of course, experts like those at the Children’s Environmental Health Center and the American Academy of Pediatrics are now saying that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children, something I agree with whole-heartedly.

What’s more, a lot of the products tested and found to contain lead are those you might not expect, including many organic and natural brands like Hansen’s Natural Apple Juice and Full Circle Organic Bartlett Pear Slices. And it’s not like it says it on the label either! Which means most of the time no matter how vigilant parents are, lead and other toxins can make their way into our children’s food without us even knowing about it.

So where do we go from here? Well, ELF plans to continue its research and hopes that by involving California’s attorney general it will get companies to step up their processing methods and hopefully eliminate lead from their products. In addition, experts from the Center for Science in the Public Interest will continue to investigate why some products contain lead and some manufacturers manage to avoid it entirely, which means taking a look at the crops as well as the individual manufacturing processes. Not soon enough, I say!

Share this Post...

American Academy of Pediatrics, behavioral problems, California, Children, children’s, Children’s Environmental Health Center, daily limit, developmental, eating, environmental, exposure, FDA, Fruit, healthy, hearing damage, juice, kidney, kids, labels, lead, lead exposure, methods, muscle coordination, natural, organic, packaged, products, toxic metal

Notable News – This story really shocked me, so listen up ladies! Even though your lips may be one of the last places you’d expect to find toxic metals, a new FDA study might have you thinking twice before you apply your favorite shade.

Experts recently retested 20 different lipsticks first tested in 2007, and guess what they found? Even higher levels of lead than in the previous study. I don’t know about you, but it sounds to me like that’s a little backwards!

On average, the lipsticks contained 1.07 parts per million (ppm) of lead, which is 10 times more than the FDA-recommended limit for candy… but the FDA claims that because lipstick isn’t ingested, there is no comparison. What?! Who says lipstick isn’t ingested?? And if that’s what they’re basing their recommendations on, doesn’t it make you wonder about all the other sources of lead we might be exposed to without even knowing it?

Now, I’ve seen several reports on this subject, and in every one they downplay the risk—well I say no way! Lead is a potent neurotoxin, which means it can cause serious damage to the brain. Not only that, but it can be stored in the body (especially the bones) for years. So do your research and make sure the lipstick you use isn’t one of the ones that were tested, and when you’re shopping for lipstick or any cosmetics, always choose a responsible company. Come to think of it, that’s good advice for all products!

Share this Post...

brain, contain lead, cosmetics, FDA, lead, lipstick, neurotoxin, potent neurotoxin, toxic metal

You know how I feel about toxins, right? Right. So when I heard that the FDA had finally updated its warning about one of the most harmful toxic chemicals out there today, I thought to myself, “It’s about time!”

The folks at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been dragging their feet for some time now on the issue of bisphenol A (or BPA for short). BPA, which I’m sure you’ve heard of by now unless you’ve been living under a rock, is one of the most prevalent chemicals in use today, and it’s found in 90% of the population—which means yes, it’s probably inside you right now!

BPA is used in the lining of canned foods and in many hard plastic products like those reusable water bottles you see everywhere. One of the most concerning uses of BPA, however, is its presence in plastic baby bottles and ‘sippy’ cups, as well as in containers for infant formula and food.

Whereas before they said BPA was ‘safe’ for infants, the FDA has since changed its tune. Now when you go on their website and research BPA, you can see that their new statement says they are concerned about the “potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and young children”. So as a result the FDA is now supporting the removal of BPA from containers that are used by infants. Well, thank goodness!

But still, let’s not forget how BPA affects adults too—another study just came out that confirmed the link between high BPA levels and cardiovascular disease, showing that people who have the highest amounts of BPA in their urine also had the highest rates of heart disease. How’s that for a wake-up call? Just something to keep in mind the next time you consider buying canned foods or filling up your water bottle.

Share this Post...

baby bottle, behavior, bisphenol A, BPA, BPA levels, brain, canned foods, cardiovascular disease, chemical, Children, drinking water, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, heart disease, infant, infant formula, infants, plastic, plastic water bottles, prostate, sippy cup, toxic chemicals, toxins

Notable News   -   I was reading the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) the other day and I have to say, I almost fell out of my chair when I read an article telling people to flush their unused prescription medications down the toilet if they were expired or no longer needed. Let me repeat – down the toilet!

I mean, we’re talking about pain-relieving opiods and other controlled substances, which I don’t have to tell you are extremely harmful to kids and pets, even in low amounts!

Don’t get me wrong – yes, it makes complete sense to recommend flushing away dangerous drugs to keep them out of the hands (and paws) of our little ones, but is there not a better way to get rid of these drugs? Even though a lot of them aren’t included in the pharmaceutical take-back program offered by some cities and counties, I still believe there has to be a better way – don’t you?

The topic of harmful pharmaceuticals in the public water supply is receiving more and more attention lately. Even the JAMA article acknowledged this, stating, “…the FDA is sensitive to concerns about the small potential risk to people and the environment of having these drugs flushed into the water supply and hopes to develop long-term solutions. However, at least for the short-term, the agency is more worried about life-threatening risks from accidental ingestion of these medications.”

Unbelievable!  This short-term thinking is one of the main problems with health care today. I’m fuming. Anyone else?

Share this Post...

accidental ingestion, dangerous drugs, drugs in water supply, FDA, harmful pharmaceuticals, kids and pets, life-threatening risks, pharmaceutical take-back program, prescription medications