Do you love shopping for antiques? Is your cupboard filled with thrift store trinkets? Do you serve food out of a pewter dish that was passed down from generation to generation? Did you ever think that it might contain lead? Read on…

Not long ago, it was reported that lead and cadmium were found in children’s drinking cups given out by a fast food restaurant. Even more recently, lead was found in reusable shopping bags. Now, another report has found that many items purchased from second-hand or antique shops contain dangerous amounts of lead.

Surface lead concentrations of more than 700 times the federal limit were found on items such as toys, home décor, kitchen utensils, and jewelry. Researchers purchased items from stores in Virginia, New York and Oregon, and were able to purchase an item that contained lead from every store they visited!

Nineteen out of 27 products exceeded the federal standard for lead, which is currently 600 parts per million. One salt shaker lid contained 714 times the federal limit! Regulation of the sale of second-hand and antique items would be both difficult and expensive, so a national public health education campaign will be launched to inform consumers of the dangers of these products.

Children are especially at risk for exposure to dangerous levels of lead and should not come into contact with antiques or use products that may contain lead. Used dishes and kitchen utensils, as well as construction debris and salvage items should be avoided until tested.

Avoiding all toxins is impossible, I know, but we can all take a few steps to lessen our toxic burden. Remember to support your body’s natural detoxification processes by eating a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, getting plenty of exercise, and cleansing regularly.

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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

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I recommend eating natural foods all the time because I know foods that don’t contain toxic ingredients are better for our bodies. If you eat meat, choose natural meats from animals that haven’t been treated with growth hormones and antibiotics.

Now there are even more good reasons to go all-natural. A recent study found certain strains of E. coli bacteria that were causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women were the same strains found on antibiotic-treated chicken at the local grocery store.

Yeah. Gross.

Are you wondering, “how the heck?” Well, antibiotic-treated chicken may actually harbor bacteria that are more resistant because some bacteria can survive antibiotic treatment. These resistant bacteria live on the raw chicken and can be consumed if cross-contamination prevention is not practiced while preparing and cooking food. The bacteria can pass through the digestive tract without causing an infection in the gut, but these same bacteria can migrate to the urethra where they are not as easily tolerated, triggering a UTI.   

What to do? Here are some tips:

• Buy chicken raised without antibiotics.  If you can get organic, that’s even better.
• Prevent cross contamination by cooking chicken thoroughly, washing your hands before and after handling chicken.  Thoroughly clean all utensils, cutting board and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing food (of any kind for safe measure).
• Do not use the same cutting board or utensils for raw vegetables that you used for the raw chicken
• To avoid UTIs, wipe from front to back, urinate after intercourse, and keep your gut balanced with a healthy amount of beneficial bacteria

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The general recommendation among conventional circles of dietary fiber intake is 25 to 30 grams per day. Those in the natural health field recommend at least 35 grams per day. I created an entire diet around this recommendation: The Fiber35 Diet.

Americans struggle to consume even the lower end of these recommendations. In fact, the average dietary fiber intake is 10 – 12 grams daily. For this reason, many people take fiber supplements as a way to increase their daily fiber intake.

Fiber has long been touted for its beneficial effects, most notably for cardiovascular support. A recent analysis of seven studies on dietary fiber intake (both from food and from supplements) has found that as fiber consumption increased, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, a marker for inflammation related to cardiovascular disease) decreased.

Increase your daily fiber intake by adding plenty of fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains to your diet. If you still find it difficult to eat this much fiber, look for a fiber supplement, fiber bar, or fiber shake that can help you achieve your goal.

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We often think of processed food, in general, as being not as healthy as fresh food.  But unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see processed foods as unhealthy with labels like, “reduced fat,” “natural,” or even “organic.” The truth is, while organic processed foods may be a little better for you than traditional processed foods, it’s better to minimize their consumption altogether.

A recent report published in the Journal of the World Public Health Nutrition Association has grouped processed foods into three types:

Type One Processing does not much alter the nutritional quality of food, and can sometimes even improve it. This type of processing involves cleaning, removing inedible parts, grating, squeezing, drying, parboiling, freezing, etc.

Type Two Processing involves extracting or purifying certain substances from the original food. This may include pressing, milling, refining, hydrogenating, using enzymes or additives, etc.

Type Three Processing involves the creation of durable, accessible, convenient, attractive, ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat products that are excessive in total fat, bad fats, sugar and sodium, and low in micronutrients, other bioactive compounds and dietary fiber.

The report outlines how Type Three processed foods are the biggest problem when it comes to obesity, because the finished products, even though they are often presented as healthy, are by their very nature quite unhealthy.

Here is the report:

The Big Issue is Ultra-Processing

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This week, your challenge is to grocery shop with a plan, (or a mission, rather)! Print out this flow chart, from SummerTomato.com, and you’ll be well on your way to filling your basket with real foods. That is, unprocessed, unrefined, unadulterated real foods.

It can be hard to determine what is healthy these days. It seems like there is a healthy version of every junk food known to man. Organic chips! Natural mac-n-cheese! Gluten-free chicken nuggets! Have we forgotten that there is a plethora of whole foods, in their actual, natural form, found all throughout your local store?

Use this flowchart to help you find them! Good luck out there.

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A recent national survey of doctors and hospitalized patients found that only 48% of patients said they were involved in decisions about their treatment. What’s even more alarming, 29% didn’t know who was in charge of their case while they were hospitalized.

This got me to thinking about how we often place control of our health completely into the hands of our doctors. Now don’t get me wrong—doctors are usually an important part of our healing paths—but it is essential that we stay informed about our condition and treatment, and that we are the ones who ultimately decide what treatment we receive. 

Think about it. How often have you felt helpless in the hands of your doctor(s)? Have you ever felt like there were no real choices in the treatment of your ailment? A lot of you are probably nodding your heads.

This week, I want you to think about the role you play in the decision-making process when it comes to your health. Think about how you can strengthen that role, and become more informed and in control of your health. Some questions to consider:

• How do you communicate with your health care practitioner? Do you feel comfortable telling them everything? Or do you leave out certain details? Do you get nervous, or even angry, when communicating with him/her? Does your doctor listen to everything you have to say?
• Do you inform yourself about your health? If you have a health condition, do you know how it’s treated with standard medicine? Do you know what natural alternatives you have? Do you know your options? Do you know a lot about the condition and what may have lead to its development?
• If you are taking medications, do you know the possible side effects, or safety issues? Do you talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any concerns you may have regarding your medications, or their interactions?
• Finally, are you honest with yourself about doing all you can to better your health? Do you tend to fall into the same old patterns because they are comfortable, and you think that change is too difficult, or even impossible?

What might be stopping you from taking control of your health? Think about it. Then start thinking about how you can take more charge over your well being.

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“Renew You” Challenge – Let’s start the year off right with my weekly challenge (I mean, opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. Join us!

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re trying to eat and live healthier—maybe for a digestive condition, maybe to lose some weight (or both) or maybe because you know that you can maintain good health if you clean up your act!

One of the greatest ways to get big health benefits from the food you eat is to consume a good amount of fruits and vegetables. Government recommendations are four to six servings of fruits and veggies, and many natural health practitioners recommend up to nine servings! But children ages six to 12 only eat 1.43 cups of fruits and veggies per day, teens eat 1.76 cups, and adults only 1.81 cups per day, according to a recent report from the Produce for Better Health Foundation. Our intake is getting better, but it’s still not enough, they say.

I know that it can be difficult to get so many servings of fruits and veggies into a day. One of my favorite ways to do this is by eating a big salad for lunch. I like to prepare a big salad on Sunday that I can portion out to last me all week. That way I don’t get tired of making salad. And I add different toppings each day. Grilled chicken and bell peppers one day. Grilled wild salmon and broccoli the next. Hardboiled eggs and asparagus another day. Garbanzo beans and green beans…you get the picture. Often, just a little olive oil and lemon are all I need to dress the salad.

Not only will you receive an array of phytonutrients from the different veggies you include, but you will boost your fiber intake too (especially if you add beans to the salad).

So this week, prepare a big salad as your base on Sunday. Have the dressing on hand and choose your protein as you go. Bon appétit! Feel free to share your topping ideas in the comments.

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The television news magazine 60 Minutes recently aired a piece about the creation of the first synthetic cell. The scientist at the head of this research, J. Craig Venter, is also responsible for mapping the human genome. Over the past 15 years, $40 million and his team of researchers have created a self-replicating bacteria with synthetic DNA.

The synthetic cell Mycoplasma mycoides JCV1-syn1.0 bacterium began with the computerized mapping of the genetic code of the M. mycoides bacteria. The scientists then made some modifications to the original genetic sequence, which acts as the genetic ID code that distinguishes this bacteria from its natural counterpart. From there, the actual DNA pieces were created in lab using the four basic chemicals that make up DNA.

These synthetic DNA fragments were assembled inside yeast cells to form a complete DNA chromosome, which was transplanted to a bacterial cell similar to the M. mycoides (M. capricolum). Inside the cytoplasm of the M. capricolum cell, the DNA began the process of self-replication, resulting in the creation of a new, synthetic M. mycoides strain of bacteria.

Synthetic biology is an emerging field that comes with much controversy. Synthetic biologists tout many possible benefits of creating synthetic life forms. On the other hand, this science raises many concerns about the potential of unknown implications from creating synthetic life. Further funds are already being used to develop synthetic segments of every known flu virus for the purpose of rapidly creating new vaccines.

What this all means for the long term is difficult to say. When the human genome was first mapped, researchers thought it would result in the understanding and curing of human diseases. As it turns out, the knowledge gained from this understanding is not having the impact on human disease as was originally thought.

The more informed we are about research like this from the beginning, the more we will be able to make educated decisions about our health.

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“It is possible for a person to be too clean for their own good.” This is a recent quote from Allison Aiello, visiting associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard, who is studying the effect of frequent handwashing with antimicrobial soap containing triclosan, or 2,4,4’-trichloro-2’-hydroxydiphenyl ether. Her research has shown an increase in allergies and hay fever in children and teens with chronic use of soap products containing triclosan.

Handwashing with a powerful soap containing triclosan brings up two questions:

1. What is the effect of chronic removal of hand bacteria? We know where these hands go, especially in children (the mouth, for starters).

2. What could this chemical be doing to our body from a metabolic/hormonal perspective?

My input:
1. Science has now discovered that people normally have over a 1000 different species of bacteria not only in our intestinal tract, but also on our skin. This fact points out the normal symbiotic balance with microbes that we have evolved with for millions of years. The human/microbe symbiosis is especially important in childhood immune development. Research and clinical observations support the “Hygiene Theory,” which states that a lack of early childhood exposure to infectious and symbiotic microorganisms and parasites increases susceptibility to allergic diseases (like allergies, asthma, dermatitis, and autoimmune diabetes) by disrupting the natural development of the immune system. Children living in non-industrial countries and closer to nature generally don’t have these problems.

2. Triclosan is also used in toothbrushes, ice-making machines, and in pesticides! This type of exposure has led to research by concerned individuals who have now shown significant evidence that it is yet another toxin with hormone-disrupting qualities which could majorly affect immunity. Due to the increase in negative evidence, the FDA has decided to thoroughly investigate triclosan, but not until 2013—a decade earlier than previously planned!

So what are the solutions? First, take a high quality probiotic and also make your own cultured foods. We may soon find topical probiotics could be beneficial, as well. Second, find safe soaps and use them mostly after exposure to public places. Safe soaps (or hand sanitizers) can be found at www.ewg.org, under cleansing products – hand sanitizers. Third, get involved in social networking by joining “green”groups to help educate and promote the changes we desperately need.

http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/triclosan_fs.htm

Leonard Smith, M.D.Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years. In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe. Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.

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