Health Information
The depression pill epidemic
According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, and increased 18% between 2005 and 2015.1 In the U.S., an estimated 17.3 million American adults, or 7.1% of the adult population, experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2017.2 The highest rates are reported among those aged between 18 and 25.3 Questions abound, however, over whether clinical depression is actually increasing, or whether people are simply being inappropriately diagnosed, and even more importantly,...
read moreCanola oil — When a great oil isn’t so great after all
Table of Contents What is canola oil? How is canola oil used? Composition of canola oil How is canola oil made? Is canola oil safe? Side effects of canola oil Warning: This oil comes with potentially damaging side effects due to either the ingredient it’s made from or the manufacturing process used to extract it. Because these negative effects overshadow the potential benefits, I do not recommend this oil for therapeutic use. Always be aware of the potential side effects of any herbal oil before using. Canola oil is widely promoted as...
read moreStudy links irregular sleep to diabetes and obesity
Understanding the reasons we sleep has been a subject of study for years. Although scientists haven’t yet discovered all that occurs during sleep, there have been unique discoveries leading to a better understanding of cognitive1 and physical health.2,3 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds 1 in 3 Americans doesn’t get enough sleep4 and note insufficient sleep is linked with a wide variety of health problems.5 For example, getting less than five hours of sleep each night may double your risk of heart disease or stroke.6...
read moreNanoparticle additives in your food
Processed food is the antithesis of a healthy diet for a number of different reasons, the addition of unregulated and often undisclosed chemicals being a significant one. Besides preservatives, emulsifiers, colors and flavors, which are generally listed, there are any number of others that do not have to be disclosed, as they’re considered “processing aids.” Additives are used in food processing to slow spoilage, prevent fats and oils from going rancid, prevent browning, and fortify or enrich the food with synthetic vitamins and minerals to...
read moreThe most dangerous ‘nonprofit’ harming your health
The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Their mission, according to their website,1 is “to provide science that improves human health and well-being and safeguards the environment.” The organization was founded by Alex Malaspina, a former senior vice president at Coca-Cola Co. and a regulatory affairs leader. While he founded ILSI in 1978, his ties with Coca-Cola were not severed. Coca-Cola awarded scientists the inaugural ILSI Malaspina International Scholars...
read moreBuried reports hide details of medical device failures
According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission,1 the medical device industry has developed and sold an enormous number of products they feel play a crucial role improving the ability to diagnose and treat illness. However, there are a relatively small number of large diversified companies supplying these devices specific for therapeutic use. In a report to Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission stated:2 “The industry is distinctive both for its tendencies to make frequent, incremental changes to its products and its...
read moreGenetically edited babies might die young
In 2018, He Jiankui, a Chinese scientist, claimed to have created the world’s first gene-edited babies. He modified the DNA of human embryos during in vitro fertilization by disabling a gene called CCR5, which could potentially make the babies resistant to infection with HIV.1 The babies, twin girls known as Lulu and Nana, were born in 2018,2 and a third baby with an edited CCR5 gene is due to be born in 2019.3 He’s team received major backlash from the highly controversial move, as while the technology to genetically edit human...
read moreTesting reveals PFOA chemicals in US food supply
Per- and polyfluoroalykyl substances1,2 (PFAS) are widely used chemicals that make products water-, oil-, grease- and stain-resistant. The chemicals are also used in firefighting foam. One type, perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA, is commonly found in older nonstick cookware. PFOA and its cousin perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are associated with a wide array of health problems, including cancer, immune and thyroid dysfunction, low birth weight and more.3 Disturbingly, because PFAS chemicals take thousands of years to degrade, and are found...
read moreWhy mosquitoes develop resistance to pesticides
Despite their tiny size, mosquitoes have been called the world’s most dangerous creature because they spread deadly diseases. More than half the people on Earth live in an area where disease-carrying mosquitoes are present and, every year, mosquitoes cause millions of deaths from diseases like malaria, dengue and yellow fever.1 Insecticides are considered to be one of the primary defenses against insects like mosquitoes, but they come with their own set of risks, not the least of which is the potential for resistance. The growing...
read moreHow to use the top 10 medicinal plants and herbs
Before the advent of drugs, plant remedies were the go-to medicines, and they can serve you just as well today as in the past. While there are many thousands of plants, any one of which can serve a medicinal purpose, some are better known than others, and can provide relief from common ailments. Here, I’ll review the use and benefits of 10 important herbs and medicinal plants, many of which you can grow yourself to ensure you always have some on hand. No. 1 — Aloe vera Aloe vera1 is a succulent plant well-known for its soothing qualities,...
read moreHomeopathy for asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition affecting the airways. Inflammation makes your airways swell, triggering wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing. Symptoms may range from mild to severe and may happen rarely or every day. For most people, the condition starts during childhood and becomes a lifelong condition. The goal of conventional medicine is to manage symptoms and avoid exacerbations, which are called asthma attacks. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),1 7.9% of adults and children currently...
read moreProtect your gums and your brain with K2
Has it ever occurred to you that the overall picture of your dental health is really a reflection of your physical health? That’s the premise of Dr. Steven Lin, a dentist who uses a holistic approach and who says less-than-stellar oral health results from issues in other parts of your body. According to Lin, if people view their mouth as the “gatekeeper” of their gut and keep their microbiome balanced and healthy, the positive results will show themselves in a healthy mouth — teeth, gums and all — and a healthier body...
read moreWeekly health quiz — Magnesium, measles and grounding
1 Which of the following nutrients helps shuttle magnesium to the cells that need it most, thereby augmenting the benefits of magnesium and reducing symptoms of magnesium deficiency? Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 escorts magnesium to the cells that need it most, thus ensuring that the magnesium you’re getting, whether from foods or supplements, is being used as efficiently as possible. Vitamin B6 thus helps augment the many benefits of magnesium. Learn more. Calcium Vitamin K2 Vitamin D 2 Which of the following scenarios will grant you lifelong...
read moreDr. Weil on the development of integrative medicine in modern practice
Dr. Andrew Weil, director of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, is one of the true pioneers of this field, having advocated holistic approaches to health for about 50 years. “I was always interested in science and biology,” Weil says, and “I have a lifelong interest in plants … that led me to be a botany major at Harvard as an undergraduate and started me on a career interest in medicinal plants.” Fascinated by mind-body interactions, Weil began studying alternative medicine in college. After...
read moreIntroduction to myasthenia gravis — A rare, neurological autoimmune disease
The immune system plays an important role in keeping your body healthy. It helps protect your organs and tissues from disease-causing foreign bodies such as bacteria and viruses. To do this, your immune system releases specific antibodies that work to prevent infections.1 In certain situations, however, your immune system turns against your own body, causing autoimmune diseases to develop. Examples of autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis.2 There is no known cure for autoimmune diseases. Instead,...
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