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Supporting migrant adolescents

Thu, 02 May 2024 19:00:59 +0000

There is a public health crisis in America right now among the migrant population. Chicago is dealing with a measles outbreak. Many parts of America are similarly affected, according to the CDC Measles Dashboard. Health care for migrant children and adolescents in Chicago and other sanctuary cities needs greater focus with increased federal funding. Texas has transported over

Supporting migrant adolescents originally appeared in KevinMD.com.

When Does Old Age Start? It Depends on Who You Ask

Thu, 02 May 2024 17:45:35 +0000

The goalpost for old age has been moving. Until now.

Prospects for Crohn's Relief Brighten With New Advancements

Thu, 02 May 2024 16:59:13 +0000

More than 1 million Americans live with Crohn’s, a chronic and sometimes crippling bowel disease that affects the intestines and leads to digestive issues. But in 2024, breakthroughs could bring relief in different ways. Here's what to know.

We are all concierge doctors now

Thu, 02 May 2024 11:00:35 +0000

I never wanted to be a formal concierge doctor. Most of us are familiar with those plans that make physicians limit their patient panel to several hundred patients, and each one of them agrees to pay several thousand dollars for the privilege of access to their physician at all times. Sure, after over 30 years

We are all concierge doctors now originally appeared in KevinMD.com.

Truth or TV: Is Grey's Anatomy's Parkinson's 'Cure' Real?

Thu, 02 May 2024 07:17:35 +0000

How realistic is the Grey’s Anatomy episode that shows a Parkinson’s disease cure? A neurosurgery professor weighs in.

Natural Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis

Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive and terminal genetic disease that causes an overproduction and buildup of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and other organs that lead to chronic inflammation and, eventually, a deterioration of lung function.

The disease requires daily breathing treatment for up to five hours a day, and many CF patients end up spending a lot of time in the hospital due to respiratory distress and chronic infections. Pancreatic and gastrointestinal complications, including malabsorption of proteins and fats, and chronic liver disease are also common. The median survival age is about 35 years.¹

A 2012 paper² in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice reviewed several of the most commonly recommended nutritional supports for those with CF, including vitamins A, C and E, zinc, omega-3 docosahexaenoic (DHA), garlic, ginseng and curcumin.

According to this paper, 75% of CF patients routinely use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in addition to their regular treatment, so it’s important for health professionals to be familiar with these options.

More recently, a scientific review³ published in 2022 highlighted the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in the clinical management of CF. Removing all linoleic acid (LA) from your diet and optimizing your vitamin D level are two additional foundational recommendations that I will go over here.

Vitamins A, C and E and Zinc

Many CF patients have poor absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A and E, due to malabsorption of fats. For this reason, supplementation with these vitamins is often recommended. As a rule, patients are advised to consume between 120% and 150% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of nutrients to prevent premature death from malnutrition.⁴

The Journal of Pharmacy Practice paper⁵ cites research from 2001, which found that CF patients who received 1 milligram of beta-carotene per kilo of bodyweight per day (up to 50 mg per day) for three months, followed by a daily dose of 10 mg for another three months, experienced “a statistically significant decrease in the number of days of treatment with systemic antibiotics.”

Zinc supplementation at a dose of 30 mg per day has also been shown to reduce the average days of antibiotic use, and a pediatric study using an antioxidant-rich multivitamin supplement containing vitamins A, C, E and zinc and other micronutrients found “modest improvement” in lung function.

How to Select a Good Vitamin Supplement

Vitamin A (retinol) should not be confused with beta-carotene, which is pre-vitamin A that gets converted into vitamin A in your liver. To use beta-carotene, you need to have a well-functioning digestive tract and sufficient bile produced by your gallbladder. Specific enzymes are also needed to break down the carotene for the conversion into retinol to occur.

Most people have poor gut health, and this is particularly true for CF patients, which makes beta-carotene a poor alternative as a primary source of vitamin A. Retinol — preformed vitamin A — is found in animal products such as grass fed meat and poultry, liver, fish and raw organic dairy products like butter. This is the form of vitamin A your body can use, so make sure the vitamin A you buy specifies “retinol” or “retinoic acid,” and not just “vitamin A” or “beta-carotene.”

When it comes to vitamin C, you want to make sure it’s liposomal, as it will allow you to take higher dosages without causing loose stools. It’s also absorbed better.

While healthy people can typically get enough vitamin C from food such as red pepper, broccoli, kiwi, strawberries, citrus fruits, camu camu, rose hips or acerola cherries, if you’re ill, you need far more than what can be obtained from food (possibly except for acerola cherry, which contains 80 mg of vitamin C per cherry).

Selecting a natural supplement is particularly important when it comes to vitamin E. Studies have demonstrated that synthetic vitamin E has the opposite effect of natural vitamin E, such as increasing the risk of certain cancers rather than lowering it,^6,^7,⁸ for example. So, it’s important to make sure you’re getting a natural version.

What you’re looking for is “d alpha tocopherol.” Avoid all synthetic forms such as succinate, acetate and the racemic DL isomer. You want the pure D isomer, which is what your body can use. There are also other vitamin E isomers, and you want the complete spectrum of tocotrienols, specifically the beta, gamma, and delta types of vitamin E, in the effective D isomer.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D also plays a crucial role in the health and management of CF, offering several benefits backed by scientific research. A systematic review and meta-analysis⁹ published in January 2024 revealed that CF patients typically have significantly lower levels of vitamin D compared to healthy controls, both in childhood/adolescence and adulthood.

The prevalence of vitamin D levels considered insufficient (20–30 ng/mL) in CF patients was found to be 36% among pediatrics and adolescents and 63% among adults. Twenty-seven percent of pediatric/adolescent CF patients and 35% of adults had vitamin D levels of below 20 ng/mL, which is a severe deficiency state.

Ideally, you’d want a vitamin D level of at least 60 ng/mL year-round. To reach that level, I recommend daily walks with minimal clothing for 30 minutes before and after solar noon, for a total of one hour. During summertime, that would be right around 1 pm.

While oral vitamin D3 supplementation is an option if you cannot get enough sun exposure, you’ll miss out on many of the other health benefits that sun exposure provides. You also need to make sure you’re taking vitamin K2 and magnesium when using oral supplementation.

How Vitamin D Deficiency Impacts CF

Another study¹⁰ focused on the relationship between vitamin D levels and lung function in CF patients, specifically through the lung clearance index (LCI), a measure of lung function. The study found a strong negative correlation between vitamin D levels and LCI, indicating that lower vitamin D levels are associated with worse lung function.

It also noted that vitamin D deficiency could be particularly detrimental in patients with comorbidities such as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) and cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD).

Additionally, a pilot study¹¹ published in 2019 investigated the immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D on pro-inflammatory cytokines in the airways of CF patients infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

They found that supplementation with vitamin D led to a decrease in the levels of interleukins IL-17A and IL-23 in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC), indicating a reduction in inflammation.

These cytokines are known to play roles in the body's inflammatory response, suggesting that vitamin D supplementation can help modulate the immune response in CF patients, potentially mitigating lung damage caused by chronic infections.

These findings collectively underscore the importance of monitoring and managing vitamin D levels in CF patients, not only for bone health but also for its potential benefits in improving lung function, reducing inflammation, and enhancing the body's response to infections.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

NAC is a precursor to your body’s production of glutathione (GSH), also has an important role in the management of CF.¹² As noted in the journal Pharmaceuticals:¹³

“[NAC] has been known for a long time as a powerful antioxidant and as an antidote for paracetamol overdose. However, other activities related to this molecule have been discovered over the years, making it a promising drug for diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF).

Its antioxidant activity plays a key role in CF airway inflammation and redox imbalance. Furthermore, this molecule appears to play an important role in the prevention and eradication of biofilms resulting from CF airway infections, in particular that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa …

To do this, NAC can act alone, but it can also be used as an adjuvant molecule to known drugs (antibiotics/anti-inflammatories) to increase their activity.”

Here’s a quick overview of how NAC can be beneficial for CF patients, drawing on its various mechanisms:¹⁴

Fighting oxidative stress — There's a battle between damaging oxidative substances (ROS) and the body's antioxidants. NAC steps in as a reinforcement, helping to boost the body's antioxidant levels, especially glutathione (GSH). This helps to mitigate the damage caused by oxidative stress, which can worsen CF conditions.

Reducing inflammation — CF lungs are often inflamed, partly due to overactive immune responses that attract too many neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) to the site. These neutrophils release substances that can damage lung tissue. NAC helps calm this overreaction, reducing inflammation by modulating the production of molecules like cytokines that drive the inflammatory process.

Breaking down mucus — The thick mucus in CF can trap bacteria, creating biofilms that are hard to treat. NAC can break the sulfur bonds in the mucus, making it less sticky and easier to clear from the lungs. This action helps disrupt the biofilm structure, allowing antibiotics to reach and kill bacteria more effectively.

Enhancing antibiotic effectiveness — The presence of biofilms and thick mucus in CF lungs can make bacteria resistant to antibiotics. NAC can make these bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics by breaking down the biofilms. It can also work synergistically with certain antibiotics, improving their ability to kill bacteria.

Acting against bacteria directly — Even though NAC is not an antibiotic, it has properties that can directly inhibit the growth of bacteria and their ability to form biofilms. This adds an extra layer of defense against lung infections.

Supporting healthy immune responses — By reducing the oxidative stress and helping to manage the inflammatory response, NAC can indirectly support the body's immune system, making it more effective at fighting off infections without causing additional damage to lung tissues.

Improving cell function — On a cellular level, NAC might help correct some of the dysfunction caused by the CF mutation. It has been suggested that NAC can help with the maturation and function of CFTR proteins, which are faulty in CF, thereby helping to alleviate some of the symptoms.

Omega-3

Omega-3 is also thought to be important for CF patients because deficiency has been linked to worsened pulmonary and GI symptoms, as well as CF progression. DHA, in particular, is important, as it has a beneficial impact on lung function. Previous research has concluded that doses up to 50 mg of DHA per kilo of bodyweight is safe for CF patients.¹⁵

When it comes to omega-3, I recommend trying to get most of it from omega-3-rich seafood, such as wild-caught Alaskan salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel and anchovies. If using a supplement, avoid synthetic fish oils and opt for krill oil instead.

Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies recommended for CF include:¹⁶

Garlic, which has antibacterial effects.
Ginseng, which has antioxidant, antimicrobial and immune modulating effects. Aqueous extract of ginseng has been shown to be effective in inhibiting P aeruginosa, a bacteria often involved in chronic pulmonary infections, including antibiotic-resistant strains.
Curcumin, which has antioxidant properties. Limited data also suggests it may increase CFTR-regulated channel activity in CF patients. CFTR is a protein that, when dysfunctional, results in the development of CF symptoms.

Eliminate Linoleic Acid From Your Diet

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As important as supplementing certain nutrients might be, CF patients must also be vigilant about avoiding certain things. As explained in my in-depth review, “Linoleic Acid — The Most Destructive Ingredient in Your Diet,” linoleic acid (LA) — an omega-6 polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) — acts as a mitochondrial poison and the primary contributor to all chronic disease.

If you have CF, I strongly advise you to eliminate as much LA from your diet as humanly possible. While LA is found in most foods, by eliminating processed foods, condiments, seed oils for cooking, fast food and restaurant food, and conventionally raised pork, chicken and eggs, you can get your LA intake below 5% of daily calories, which is about what our ancestors used to get.

While there are no studies detailing direct harm caused by LA in CF, dysfunctional lipid metabolism, including LA metabolism, is a characteristic of CF. So, there appears to be a complex interaction with LA that could influence disease outcomes.

That said, considering excess LA is a primary driver of mitochondrial dysfunction, there’s every reason to believe that it will have a detrimental impact on CF. After all, health and disease prevention require you to have well-functioning mitochondria. It’s as foundational as you can get.

If you’re not sure how much you’re eating, enter your food intake into Cronometer — a free online nutrition tracker — and it will provide you with your total LA intake. Cronometer will tell you how much omega-6 you're getting from your food down to the 10th of a gram, and you can assume 90% of that is LA. Anything over 10 grams of LA is likely to cause problems.

Healthy fat replacements include tallow, butter or ghee, all of which are excellent for cooking. The table below provides a fairly comprehensive list of the most commonly consumed oils and their approximate LA content.

In general, the lowest LA-containing fats — butter and beef tallow — would be the fats of choice. These excellent cooking fats would not only be the lowest in LA, but will also provide the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, and K2. Coconut oil is also very low in LA but doesn’t provide the important fat-soluble vitamins that tallow and butter contain.

Vitamin E Prevents Oxidation of LA

If you’ve been eating a high-PUFA diet for a long time, consider taking vitamin E regularly until you get your LA down to healthy levels. As noted earlier, CF patients need extra vitamin E anyway, and this is yet another reason to make sure you’re getting enough.

High LA levels increase a potentially dangerous process in your body called lipolysis — the liberation of fatty acids from your fat cells into your bloodstream where they are mobilized. This then increases the oxidation of LA, which is precisely what you want to avoid. Ideally, you want to keep LA in your fat cells until they metabolize it with peroxisomes. Vitamin E can help neutralize this damaging effect of LA.

Due to the high LA burden, few people can get enough vitamin E from their diet to suppress the oxidative destruction caused by LA unless they're supplementing with vitamin E.

The good news is that since the supplementation is short term, you're not going to need it the rest of your life. If you can keep your LA intake to below 5 grams a day for three years, it's likely you may not even need it at all, or at most, only a few times a month.

The Story of Claire Wineland

Claire Wineland, an inspirational speaker and YouTube sensation, was diagnosed with CF at birth. At age 13, she founded the Claire’s Place Foundation¹⁷ to help families with children who have CF. She died September 2, 2018, from a massive stroke following an otherwise successful lung transplant.

In 2016, Wineland appeared in an episode of “My Last Days,” a limited CW docuseries hosted by Justin Baldoni, featuring people living with terminal illness. September 2, 2019, YouTube Originals released the documentary “CLAIRE,” directed by Nicholas Reed (above).

While filled with chronic illness, Wineland’s life was a testament to how to live life well, with purpose and gratitude. It’s a potent reminder of how we need to live life to the fullest, even though we might die tomorrow. “I’ve always loved the idea of bringing life into places where people think life doesn’t really exist,” Wineland said.

Wineland’s mother said she was convinced her daughter came into the world with a mission to share the message of “what it’s like to be blessed with life.” I couldn’t agree more.

Maine Attorney General Sues Monsanto Over PCB Contamination

Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chemical compounds that were produced by the biotech company Monsanto and were used in a wide range of products due to their capacity to withstand high temperatures and pressure. However, they were banned in 1979 after their carcinogenic potential and toxicity were revealed — although, apparently, Monsanto has known about their toxicity for decades.

Now, the biotech giant (now under Bayer) is being sued once again, this time by Aaron Frey, the attorney general of Maine. "I am taking action to demand that Monsanto pay for the harm it knowingly caused our state," he said.¹

Monsanto Accused of ‘Decades-Long Campaign of Misinformation and Deception’

On April 11, 2024, Frey filed a 47-page complaint² in Cumberland County Superior Court, accusing Monsanto of selling PCBs despite being aware of their dangers to human health, wildlife and the environment. According to an article published on Maine Wire:³

"The complaint alleges that Monsanto, despite ‘early knowledge of the grave dangers associated with PCBs,’ ran a ‘decades-long campaign of misinformation and deception’ to increase their rate of manufacture and sale of PCBs in Maine and elsewhere.

‘From 1960 to the mid-1970s alone, Monsanto sold at least hundreds of thousands of pounds of commercial PCB mixtures to customers in Maine,’ the suit reads."

PCBs have caused extensive damage to the state’s resources, polluting over 400 river stream miles and over 1.9 million ocean acres, classifying them as "impaired" due to the presence of these chemicals.

The lawsuit claims that PCB-specific fish and shellfish consumption advisories have also been issued by the state because of contamination, and the public is advised to either avoid consuming fish or to severely limit the consumption of certain fish.

PCBs: One of Monsanto’s Most Toxic Legacies

PCBs are manmade chemicals consisting of hydrogen, carbon and chlorine atoms. They have no taste or smell and have a liquid structure that’s either oily or waxy. They were first produced in 1929⁴ by the Swann Chemical Corporation.⁵ During that time, PCBs were sought-after chemicals because of their extreme resistance to high temperatures and pressure, making them valuable for use as fire retardants and insulators.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website lists some of the uses of PCBs in industrial and commercial applications, such as:⁶

Electrical and hydraulic equipment, as well as heat transfer applications
Paints (as plasticizers), plastics and rubber products
Carbonless copy paper
Pigments and dyes

After Monsanto purchased and absorbed Swann Chemical in 1935, they continued to manufacture and commercialize PCBs (sold under the brand name Aroclor), licensing these chemicals to other companies as well. Up until its ban, overall global production of PCBs was estimated to be between 1 and 1.5 million tonnes.⁷ The Maine Wire reports:⁸

"Monsanto manufactured and sold PCBs from about 1935 to 1977, during that period accounting for 99 percent or more of all PCBs used or sold within the U.S., and used PCBs in a wide variety of products, including paints, caulks, inks, dyes, lubricants, plastics, and other applications."

Frey says that he has copies of Monsanto internal memos verifying his claims — that the company was aware of the risks of PCBs but chose to turn a blind eye for the sake of profit.

There Are Dozens of Lawsuits Concerning PCBs’ Dangers

Frey’s complaint adds to the growing list of lawsuits against Monsanto over their PCB products. In December 2023, the biotech giant was ordered to pay $857 million to students and parents from a Washington state school who claimed that the PCBs from fluorescent light fixtures triggered brain damage, autoimmune disorders and other health issues. In a CBS News article, Keri C. Hornbuckle, a professor and environmental engineer at the University of Iowa, said:⁹

"Although they were banned in 1979, they're still present in the environment. PCBs are called forever chemicals because they break down so slowly — PFAS compounds are also called that for the same reason."

In July 2023, 90 school districts in Vermont also sued Monsanto citing toxic PCB contamination of the indoor air in their educational buildings. According to an article from the Associated Press,¹⁰ students and school staff can be exposed to PCBs when they breathe in or inhale contaminated dust and vapors. Touching surfaces with their hands, then using them for eating or drinking can also lead them to ingest PCBs.

A year earlier, Vermont became the first state in the country to require older schools to test their indoor air for these chemicals. The lawsuit¹¹ states that removing PCBs can be expensive, as it could require demolishing buildings and building new ones. This could potentially cost hundreds of millions (if not billions) of dollars.¹²

Monsanto Responds, Claims Allegations Are ‘Meritless’

The Maine Wire reports that Frey is also seeking damages for the injuries and contamination Monsanto’s toxic chemicals caused to the people and the environment. This will cover the costs needed for cleaning, monitoring and mitigating the state’s waterways that have been polluted by PCBs.¹³

In response to the Maine lawsuit, Monsanto issued a statement, claiming that they have "strong defenses and will vigorously defend against these claims."¹⁴ According to their press release:¹⁵

"We will respond to the complaint in greater detail in court at the appropriate time, however, we believe this case is meritless as Monsanto never manufactured or disposed of PCBs in the State of Maine, and any PCB-containing products that could be the source of any impairments in the state were manufactured and disposed by third parties …

Under applicable law, a manufacturer of component parts is not responsible for the downstream, third-party uses of a product that it lawfully introduced into the stream of commerce and over which it has had no control for nearly five decades …

Monsanto discontinued its production of PCBs nearly five decades ago, conducted hundreds of studies about their safety, and provided warnings to its customers based on the state-of-the science at the time."

PCBs Have Been Linked to Cancer and Other Health Concerns

Despite being banned for decades, PCBs are still pervasive in the environment, mainly because they "resist degradation, rather than breaking down over time."¹⁶ As a result, they are found all over the world — every one of us has been exposed to these toxic chemicals. The EPA website explains:¹⁷

"PCBs do not readily break down once in the environment. They can remain for long periods cycling between air, water and soil. PCBs can be carried long distances and have been found in snow and sea water in areas far from where they were released into the environment. As a consequence, they are found all over the world. In general, the lighter the form of PCB, the further it can be transported from the source of contamination.

PCBs can accumulate in the leaves and above-ground parts of plants and food crops. They are also taken up into the bodies of small organisms and fish. As a result, people who ingest fish may be exposed to PCBs that have bioaccumulated in the fish they are ingesting."

PCBs have been associated with various adverse effects and several studies^18,^19,²⁰ have confirmed that they can put people at risk of cancer and other health concerns. A 2022 review²¹ published in the journal Toxics notes that they can target your nervous, endocrine (thyroid, thymus, pancreas and gonads), reproductive, cardiovascular and immune systems.²² The more they accumulate, the more dangerous they become.

In Utero Exposure to PCBs May Lead to Autism in Children

What’s alarming about PCBs is that they can even affect unborn children. According to a 2021 meta-analysis²³ that looked at 12 previously published studies, being exposed to PCBs and pesticides during pregnancy can put your unborn child at a higher risk of autism. The researchers noted:²⁴

"We evaluated the association between pesticide and PCB exposure during pregnancy and the risk of developing ASDs among different children according to available evidence from case-control and cohort epidemiological studies.

The results of the present study indicate the significance of the association between pesticide and PCB exposure during pregnancy and the risk of ASDs among children."

One Way to Reduce Your PCB Exposure: Choose Safe Seafood

Despite the ubiquitous nature of PCBs, the good news is that there are certain measures you can take to reduce your exposure. In Maine’s lawsuit,²⁵ for example, they noted that residents have been warned of PCB contamination in fish and shellfish, allowing them to make the smart choice to avoid these contaminated products.

The fact is that most major waterways in the world are now contaminated with PCBs and other toxins like mercury, heavy metals, dioxins and other agricultural chemicals that wind up in the environment. However, certain marine fish species are at a lower risk of carrying these chemicals. Your best choices are small, cold-water, fatty fish, which are an ideal source of omega-3s with a low risk of contamination.

Anchovies
Sardines
Mackerel
Herring
Wild-caught Alaskan salmon (certified)

There is a low risk of authentic wild-caught salmon accumulating high amounts of mercury and other toxins because of its short life cycle, which is only about three years. Additionally, bioaccumulation of toxins is also reduced since it doesn't feed on other, already contaminated, fish.

Boil Your Unpeeled Carrots for Maximum Nutrition

Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published June 19, 2017.

There are astonishing arrays of vegetables in the world of every shape and color, each representing an amazing commodity. It's incredible that you can put seeds in the ground, give them adequate sunlight and water, and in a matter of weeks or a few months, you have instant food, which your body needs to thrive.

Vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, nutrients and phytonutrients, such as antioxidants, sulforaphane, isothiocyanates, anthocyanins, carotenoids and a host of other beneficial compounds to provide energy, help your body fight disease, increase your immune function and perform a myriad of other tasks.

Carrots, one of the sweetest vegetables, are also one of the most popular plant-based foods. They're unique for several reasons, but perhaps one of their most important calling cards is beta-carotene, which can't be manufactured in your body, so it needs to come from your diet. In the days of the Romans and Greeks, carrots were believed to be an aphrodisiac, which may be why they purportedly were used more as a "medicine" than a food.

Here's another interesting theory: Daily Mail reports that the first carrots weren't the orange we're used to seeing today, but were developed to have an orange color as a political tribute to the Dutch House of Orange.¹

Many of the earliest Dutch citizens were involved in agriculture, and many were known to grow carrots, but up to the late 1500s carrots were usually purple, green, white and even black. In the 17th century, when the Dutch Republic was formed, carrots with high amounts of orange-hued beta-carotene were cultivated, and they caught on.²

Nutrients in Carrots

If you've noticed that "carotene" sounds like "carrot," there's a reason. The word came from the Nobel prize-winning German scientist Richard Kuhn,³ who crystallized the carotene compound from carrot roots. Beta-carotene is just one of more than 600 carotenoids, responsible for the pigment in colorful foods like dark leafy greens, tomatoes, egg yolks, fruits and salmon (the most healthy option being wild-caught Alaskan salmon).

Carrots contain higher levels of beta-carotene than any other vegetable or fruit. The reason that's significant is because beta-carotene gives (some) carrots their distinctive orange color, but also converts in your body to vitamin A, which is very good for your vision. You may have heard your mother say eating your carrots would be good for your eyesight, and it happens to be true.

Numerous minerals "up" the health aspects of carrots, such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, to help build strong bones and a healthy nervous system.

Calcium is essential for healthy heart muscles; phosphorus is helpful for softening skin and strengthening teeth, hair and bones, while magnesium plays a role in absorbing nutrients, mental development and fat digestion. Carrot consumption is also good for body-beneficial potassium, vitamins C and B6, copper, thiamine and folate. Fiber is another benefit, which helps move food through your system for easier elimination and better health overall.

How to Extract the Most Nutrition From Your Carrots

Most people assume eating carrots raw is the way to get the most nutrition,⁴ but science reveals that's not always the case. It turns out that cooking carrots whole, skin intact, without chopping, slicing, grating, shredding or peeling them, is the best way to obtain the most nutrients when they're eaten (although you should scrub them first to remove surface dirt).

Once they're cooked, they can be chopped in the manner you desire. Just before serving, add a little coconut oil and grass fed butter for the highest nutrition.

Researchers also maintain that boiling carrots in their unchopped state makes them taste better.⁵ Nearly 100 volunteers took the taste test, and 80% of them came to that conclusion. Independent nutritionist Carrie Ruxton wondered if the same benefits might come from vegetables belonging to the carrot family with a similar size and texture, such as parsnips.

In 2013, Dr. Kirsten Brandt found in an animal study⁶ that when rats were fed carrots or isolated falcarinol, they were a third less likely to develop full-scale tumors than the others.

In 2016, Brandt and colleague Ahlam Rashed, from Newcastle University's School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, concluded from another study⁷ that carrots boiled before being cut contained 25% more falcarinol, and as a result, 25% more cancer-fighting capabilities, than those chopped beforehand. Daily Mail reported:⁸

"Cut carrots have a higher surface area in contact with the water, resulting in greater loss of nutrients compared with boiling them whole. The heat softens the cell walls in the vegetable, allowing vitamins and falcarinol to leach out. Dr. Brandt said: 'The great thing about this is it's a simple way for people to increase their uptake of a compound we know is good for you. All you need is a bigger saucepan.'"

Different Veggies Require Different Preparation Methods

Different preparation methods are used on different veggies to get the most nutrition. Rodale's Organic Life asserts:⁹

"Cooking vegetables helps to soften their tough fibrous exteriors and loosen up all the nutritional good stuff that lies inside. In fact, some vegetables, such as tomatoes, are actually more healthful if you eat them cooked, because the process of cooking them boosts their level of the potent antioxidant lycopene.

The only problem is, not all cooking methods are the same. Some boost nutrient content; some take it away. Some add unwanted fat, while others add the crucial amount for your body to absorb all the nutrients in vegetables."

Broccoli is best steamed for three or four minutes to release the maximum amount of its most beneficial nutrient — sulforaphane — in a process that eliminates epithiospecifier protein, which is heat-sensitive and destroys the sulfur. Steaming it briefly also retains the enzyme myrosinase, the agent that converts glucoraphanin to sulforaphane. Further, boiling your broccoli (or microwaving it) eliminates the desirable myrosinase.

Safe Cooking Options to Retain Nutrients

What are some other healthy ways to cook veggies? Griddles or frying pans are one way — if it's stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, glass or enamel. When you use nontoxic pots and pans, most vegetables not only retain the valuable, good-for-you compounds but also make it easy to observe in the process. Rodale's Organic Life¹⁰ lists several common methods of preparing veggies, starting with baking:¹¹

"Baking, or roasting, is hit or miss. Based on the study results, bake your artichokes, asparagus, broccoli and peppers, all of which retained their antioxidant values, but not your carrots, Brussels sprouts, leeks, cauliflower, peas, zucchini, onions, beans, celery, beets and garlic, which all saw decreases in nutrient levels.

Where baking really shines is with green beans, eggplant, corn, Swiss chard and spinach, all of which saw their antioxidant levels increase after baking. Toss a handful of those veggies into your next casserole."

Steaming — Some scientists say tossing veggies with a little oil, such as coconut oil, butter or ghee, used after the heating is finished, helps boost nutrient absorption.
Sautéing — For some reason, studies don't seem to recommend sautéing, but it's interesting to note that this is the preferred method used by The George Mateljan Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to helping people cook and eat for optimal health. In fact, the site notes that it "produces a much richer flavor."¹²
Boiling — It only makes sense that if you cover your veggies with water and boil them, many, if not most, of the nutrition will dissipate. Peas, cauliflower and zucchini, in particular, lose much of what they offer. If you must boil your vegetables, save the nutrient-rich water to use for soup or sauce. Carrots, as previously mentioned, are an exception to this rule.
Frying — This cooking method is, not surprisingly, the one that fails the test in terms of retaining antioxidants and other nutritive advantages in cooked food. Frying is said to be responsible for food losing between 5% and 50% of each vegetable's nutrients.

Caveats (Like Carcinogens) to Circumvent When Cooking

Another important caveat: When you want to eat something healthy on one hand and nontoxic on the other, make sure your griddle, skillet, roaster, saucepan or any other tool you use for heating does not have a nonstick chemical coating. It's a toxin looking for a place to happen.

These nonstick options, used since the 1940s, may make cooking convenient, but the bits that peel off over time eventually get into your food and into your system, as well as release toxic fumes when heated to high temperatures. The American Cancer Society notes:¹³

"Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), also known as C8, is another man-made chemical (known as fluorotelomers) … (with) the potential to be a health concern because it can stay in the environment and in the human body for long periods of time. Studies have found that it is present worldwide at very low levels in just about everyone's blood."

Additionally, many food manufacturers recommend microwaving for convenience, even packaging foods in plastic bags or containers that can be popped into the microwave for "no muss and no fuss." But there are many problems and potential problems with microwave use: Vital nutrients might be lost, antibodies degraded, protein chemistry altered and white blood cells impaired due to thermic effects. Microwaving may also have detrimental effects on your heart.

The second problem is that many people use plastic in microwaves, which may cause the chemicals they contain to leach into your food. That's not all: There are two other things to pay attention to regarding the oils you use for cooking, as some have much higher smoke points than others. Coconut oil and butter are safe fats to use that are also very healthy for you.

The second thing to watch is the temperatures you use when you cook. Be aware that when the heat is too high, it can destroy nutrients and even create the formation of harmful (aka carcinogenic) substances. As in everything else, especially nowadays, it seems, when it comes to the foods you eat, researching as much as possible is only prudent.

Carrot Color Makes a Difference

As mentioned earlier, carrots once came in a rainbow of colors and weren't cultivated to be orange until much later. Adventurous gardeners and horticulturalists are getting into their roots, though, so to speak, and resurrecting carrot colors that are every bit as nutritious, just in different ways. You may have seen some of these colors at local farmers markets, if not in your neighborhood grocery store.

In the cultivation process, scientists have also been exploring ways to breed more nutrients into these many-colored carrots, while at the same time attempting to get consumers more interested.

There have been eye rolls, however, says Philipp Simon, plant geneticist in the horticulture department at the USDA's College of Agricultural & Life Sciences in the University of Wisconsin. He and his team have been looking to develop carrot varieties that are unusual in hue but still acceptable to people used to buying orange, while still tasting good and offering health benefits. Healthland,¹⁴ Time's food segment, lists the nutritional aspects different carrot hues offer:

Red — Lycopene and beta-carotene pigment, linked to a lower risk of certain cancers, including prostate cancer
Yellow — Xanthophylls and lutein are associated with cancer prevention and eye health
Orange — Beta- and alpha-carotene pigment provides vitamin A
White — Mild, with high fiber content
Purple — Anthocyanin, beta- and alpha-carotenes may provide extra vitamin A for heart disease protection; have a sweeter and sometimes "peppery" flavor

Healthland adds:¹⁵

"Thanks to Simon's efforts, carrots today have about 75% more beta-carotene (a pigment used by the body to make vitamin A) than the carrots available 25 years ago. His team at the University of Wisconsin partners with USDA's Agricultural Research Service, which supports scientists working on ways to improve Americans' nutritional intake."

A doctor’s digital twin [PODCAST]

Wed, 01 May 2024 23:00:13 +0000

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! We delve into the future of health care with Scott Ellner, a general surgeon. Join us as we explore how AI and machine learning are transforming preventive medicine, addressing the looming physician shortage, and tackling issues of data privacy and bias

A doctor’s digital twin [PODCAST] originally appeared in KevinMD.com.

Easing Marijuana Laws Doesn’t Mean the Drug Is Safer

Wed, 01 May 2024 22:29:06 +0000

You shouldn’t draw major conclusions about the safety of marijuana amid the recent announcement that federal regulators may reclassify the drug, experts are cautioning.

Science supports it and patients want it: Bringing whole-person care to cancer treatment

Wed, 01 May 2024 19:00:40 +0000

Patients, as the primary stakeholders in their own well-being, are increasingly showing a profound interest in holistic approaches to cancer care that extend beyond traditional medical treatments. Growing evidence supports this interest, showing that some whole-person and integrative approaches can improve quality of life and survival outcomes. Oncologists’ attitudes are shifting in the same direction,

Are Female Doctors Better? Here's What to Know

Wed, 01 May 2024 17:11:02 +0000

A new study suggests female doctors may provide patients better care, especially when those patients are women. Here's what to know.

DEA shuts down pharmacy for fulfilling addiction treatment prescriptions

Wed, 01 May 2024 15:00:54 +0000

On August 8, 2023, DEA agents shut down the Oak Hill Hometown Pharmacy in the Southern District of West Virginia. Their crime? Having filled more than 2,000 prescriptions for Subutex over more than two years “in the face of obvious red flags of drug abuse and diversion,” according to the U.S. Attorney for that district.

Harnessing U.S. health care’s resources to navigate the next decade

Wed, 01 May 2024 11:00:02 +0000

American health care faces persistent issues with consolidation, workforce shortages, integration of new technologies, and unrelenting economic pressure. In 2023, technologies such as clinical decision support (CDS) and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools continued to emerge rapidly, offering both promise and risk. Meanwhile, even as long-standing care and business models are upended, the ripple effects

How One Woman’s Mission to ‘Rewild’ Urban Spaces Is Saving Native Bees

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

There’s a small but growing movement in Boulder, Colorado, to "rewild" urban spaces by reintroducing native plants. Their goal is to provide wild pollinators with a natural habitat that allows them to thrive for many generations to come. Spearheading this mission is Andrea Montoya, whose advocacy program, Pollinator Advocates (PA),¹ aims to reintroduce thousands of native plants to public spaces around Boulder.

In an article in Modern Farmer,² Montoya says, "I am positive that [this led to] an empiric increase in the numbers of insects and hummingbirds in our neighborhoods. We are currently working with entomologists on setting up surveys across the city."

Turning an ‘Ecological Graveyard’ Into a Thriving Ecosystem

A gardening enthusiast, Montoya is no stranger to the field of health care, as she spent decades working as a physician’s assistant, providing support to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Her life changed after her retirement in 2015, when she decided it was time for her to help heal "our Great Mother."

In 2018, while out on a walk with her grandson, Montoya came across a native bee house at the library, which triggered a deep fascination with these natural pollinators and prompted a research deep dive. She studied Ecological Sciences³ and even took courses at the University of Chicago, where she learned from local experts.

Montoya’s new insights opened her eyes to the reality that her own densely packed neighborhood — a concrete jungle of houses and buildings — was an "ecological graveyard." "The more I read about these native bees and plants and ecosystems, the more I realized that the reason why pollinators were so in decline is because they lost habitat," she said.

This realization sparked her community activism. In 2019, she began giving out native plants to her neighbors and then recruited volunteers to plant in small public spaces — creating what’s called "pocket parks." The process helped educate them about pollinators and their importance to a thriving ecosystem.

Montoya launched the Pollinator Advocates program in 2021. Drawing on her Polish and Mexican heritage, she harmoniously connects with people from diverse backgrounds. She has given in-depth training to nearly 50 community members. Together with these dedicated individuals, Pollinator Advocates was able to reintroduce thousands of native plants to yards and parks around the city.

Nearly Half of Our Bee Colonies Were Lost in 2023

It may seem like a small initiative. However, 35% of the world's crops (fruits, vegetables and legumes) and 75% of flowering plants rely on honeybees and other pollinators to reproduce. This type of program is one of the most crucial movements we should actively support.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 1 out of every 3 bites of food you eat come from pollinators⁴ — and likely more if you consume a whole food diet. So, the knowledge that we’re losing these insects and wildlife at an increasing rate should be a cause for alarm.

Wild honeybees, in particular, have suffered drastic population losses in the past decade. In fact, the loss of wild bees has caused farmers to rely on rented bees to help pollinate their crops. These rented bees are managed by commercial beekeepers who move their hives from one location to the next in trucks.⁵

Last year, a survey⁶ by the University of Maryland and Auburn University found that 48.2% of managed honeybee colonies were lost from April 2022 to April 2023, which is 9.2% higher than the previous year. This was nearly as high as the highest annual loss on record, which occurred between 2020 and 2021. According to an Associated Press article:⁷

"Honeybees are crucial to the food supply, pollinating more than 100 of the crops we eat, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus and melons. Scientists said a combination of parasites, pesticides, starvation and climate change keep causing large die-offs.

‘This is a very troubling loss number when we barely manage sufficient colonies to meet pollination demands in the U.S.,’ said former government bee scientist Jeff Pettis, president of the global beekeeper association Apimondia that wasn’t part of the study. ‘It also highlights the hard work that beekeepers must do to rebuild their colony numbers each year.’"

Millions of Human Deaths Are Linked to Loss of Pollinators

A 2022 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives⁸ estimates that the loss of food production due to lack of pollinators led to 427,000 excess annual deaths, mostly from chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), around the world.

The researchers created a model that demonstrated the impact insufficient pollination had on global human health, and found that between 3% and 5% of fruit, vegetable and nut production is lost. This causes a loss of nutrition and an increase in associated diseases. They reported:⁹

"Our results underscore the importance of pollinators for human health and increase the urgency of implementing pollinator-friendly policies to halt and reverse the trends of pollinator declines.

Diverse research investigating the optimal policies to benefit pollination have shown remarkable consensus around a short list of highly effective strategies: increase flower abundance and diversity on farms, reduce pesticide use, and preserve or restore nearby natural habitat."

In an article published in Common Dreams,¹⁰ Amy van Saun, senior attorney for the Center for Food Safety, comments on this study, stressing that toxic chemical pesticides are the primary culprit to the declining bee population:

"Imagine a world with no apples, melons, squash, broccoli or almonds. Three quarters of the crops we consume rely on pollinators, and if we're going to save them from extinction, scientists agree — we must ban the pesticides largely responsible for their demise."

Neonics Are the Biggest Threat to Pollinators

Unfortunately, many Americans are unaware that a majority of soybean, corn, canola and sunflower seeds planted in the U.S. are precoated with neonicotinoid insecticides, or "neonics."¹¹ As van Saun further elaborates in her commentary, these toxic chemicals are the most linked to pollinator decline. They are so deadly that a single corn kernel treated with them can carry enough poison to kill more than 80,000 honeybees.¹²

Neonics can also accumulate in the environment quickly, contaminating soil, surface water and groundwater, harming species that live in these ecosystems. And what’s worse, neonicotinoids do not help farmers at all.

According to a 2014 investigation¹³ conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, treating soybean seeds with neonicotinoids provides no significant financial or agricultural benefits for farmers. In an article posted on their site, Jay Feldman, executive director of the nonprofit org Beyond Pesticides, comments:¹⁴

"This report demonstrates, yet again, the need for EPA to ask the very important question of whether a chemical is truly necessary and efficacious before introducing it into the environment. And because treated seeds are mostly exempt from federal pesticide laws under the treated article provision, this oversight has allowed a dangerous chemical to be used largely unregulated, wreaking havoc on the nation’s pollinators."

‘It’s a Chance to Right a Wrong as Humans’

Going back to local initiatives to safeguard the future of bees and other pollinators, Montoya says she takes pride in their advocacy program, seeing that it’s now "bigger than she could have imagined." It’s not always smooth sailing, though, and they do encounter hurdles along the way. One of the most notable challenges is helping people overcome their fear of insects.¹⁵

"When going into communities to talk about pollinators, she starts with the less anxiety-inducing species: butterflies and hummingbirds. If the conversation is going well, she’ll pull up a picture of a native bee — from the millimeter-long Perdita minima to metallic green sweat bees or a lumbering bumble bee. Seeing these insects in less frightening ways can open people’s minds to the benefits and beauty of native pollinators."

If you’re in Boulder, consider joining the Pollinator Advocates Program; they’re accepting applicants until May 5, 2024.¹⁶ Individuals 18 years old and above can join, even those who are novices at gardening.

The program is sponsored by the city and participation is free. However, there is a time commitment on your part, so make sure you have the time before you join. The rewards are worth it, since you will contribute to improving your local community’s wild pollinator habitat.

Let’s Save the Bees — Three Ways You Can Help

Even people living outside Boulder can engage in small but impactful practices that help save the bees. Montoya recommends three strategies:¹⁷

Stop using toxic chemical pesticides and turn to natural pest management options instead — The best pest management strategy is to create a native habitat, since there are more beneficial insects that can prey on and eliminate harmful ones.
When adding plants to your garden or farm, plant regionally native plants that bloom across as much of the season as possible — "Plants that need the native soil don’t really need all the nutrients in a food garden bed," Montoya advises. Make sure to put 100 to 300 feet between your native plants and veggie beds to ensure they all thrive.
Leave some patches of bare soil — Many native bee species nest in the ground. Don’t add mulch, thick cover crops or plastic covering to the soil.

Celebrate World Bee Day on May 20

In December 2017, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared May 20 as World Bee Day.¹⁸ This was initiated by the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association to raise awareness about the significant impact of bees and other pollinating insects and wildlife, most of which are threatened with extinction from manmade factors.

The date they chose also has significance, because it "coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard, while needing so little attention." According to the UN website:¹⁹

"The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries. We all depend on pollinators and it is, therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity."

There are several more ways you can help protect our pollinators, not only on World Bee Day but every day. Here are some suggestions from Slovenia’s Ministry of Agriculture:²⁰

Plant nectar-bearing flowers in your garden, yard or balcony to help feed the bees, and be sure to avoid using toxic pesticides and herbicides that might hurt pollinators. If you have a farm, large or small, be sure to incorporate flowers that support the wild bee population. The following video, made by Project Integrated Crop Pollination, demonstrates helpful planting practices.

Buy honey and other hive products from local beekeepers to help keep them in business.

Teach your children about the importance of bees and beekeepers.

Set up a beehive.

Preserve meadows and sow wildflowers in your garden, making sure the wildflower mix you choose contains flowers native to your area. Non-native plants do not contribute as much toward the care and feeding of local insects, as they are not able to adapt and feed on whatever is available. Hybridized plants also do not provide proper nourishment and can be likened to "junk food" for insects, as they do not provide much in terms of nourishment.²¹

Wait to cut meadow grass until the nectar-bearing plants have finished blooming, so as not to rob bees of crucial nourishment.

If you’re using a nontoxic pest control product, make sure to spray it when there's little to no wind, and either early in the morning or late at night, when bees are not actively foraging.

Blooming plants and trees that must be sprayed with pesticides should be mulched before spraying to avoid attracting bees.

You Really Don't Need to Drink Eight Glasses of Water Each Day

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published May 27, 2017.

The common mantra that you need to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to stay healthy and hydrated may be one of the biggest health myths out there. Most days I personally do not drink any water as I eat so much fruit. However, on the three days of week I sauna i typically drink a quart of water.

While drinking pure water as your primary beverage is undoubtedly one of the most important cornerstones of health, there's a misconception that you need to be chugging down water all day to stay well. In fact, a report from The National Academy of Sciences concluded that most Americans are not walking around dehydrated on a regular basis. They noted, "The vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide."¹

The report added that while 80% of Americans' total water intake comes from water and other beverages (including caffeinated beverages like coffee, which do "count" in your total fluid intake, contrary to popular belief), 20% comes from the food you eat.

Is There Scientific Basis for 8x8?

The recommendation to drink eight 8-ounce glasses (known as 8x8 for short) of water a day is often stated as scientific fact. But is it actually based on science? In a review published in the American Journal of Physiology, Dr. Heinz Valtin of Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire, set out to answer this question.

He was unable to find any published literature notating the origin of the rule, but potentially traced it back to an apparently offhand comment made by the late influential nutritionist Fredrick J. Stare, who was said to be an early champion of drinking at least six glasses of water a day. A book by Stare contains this (unreferenced) passage:²

"How much water each day? This is usually well regulated by various physiological mechanisms, but for the average adult, somewhere around 6 to 8 glasses per 24 hours and this can be in the form of coffee, tea, milk, soft drinks, beer, etc. Fruits and vegetables are also good sources of water."

The New York Times suggested, meanwhile, that the source of the 8x8 myth may have been a Food and Nutrition Board recommendation made in 1945, which suggested people should drink 2.5 liters of water a day, which amounts to more than 84 fluid ounces. But, the Times continued, "They ignored the sentence that followed closely behind. It read, 'Most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods.'"³

Many Myths Regarding Water Consumption Prevail

After a thorough review of the literature as well as discussions with experts, including nutritionists and colleagues, Valtin still could find no further basis for the water recommendation that's become a 21st-century mainstay. He wrote:⁴

"Thus I have found no scientific proof that we must 'drink at least eight glasses of water a day,' nor proof, it must be admitted, that drinking less does absolutely no harm.

However, the published data available to date strongly suggest that, with the exception of some diseases and special circumstances, such as strenuous physical activity, long airplane flights, and climate, we probably are currently drinking enough and possibly even more than enough."

Interestingly enough, Valtin also put to rest some myths regarding water consumption, such as that waiting to drink until you're thirsty is too late, because by then you're already dehydrated. In reality, your body's physiologic thirst mechanism is triggered before you're dehydrated.

As Valtin said, this makes perfect sense: "[T]hirst is so sensitive, quick, and accurate that it is hard to imagine that evolutionary development left us with a chronic water deficit that has to be compensated by forcing fluid intake."⁵ Valtin even suggests the idea that dark urine means dehydration is a myth, noting that the depth of color in urine is inversely linked to urinary volume, which varies significantly from person to person.

While I believe checking your urine's color is a simple way to ensure you're drinking enough water (looking for a pale yellow color), Valtin notes that moderately yellow urine may be fine and should not necessarily be interpreted as "dark," although some people might take it that way. "Therefore," he states, "the warning that dark urine reflects dehydration is alarmist and false in most instances."⁶

Are We Becoming 'Waterlogged'?

Dr. Timothy Noakes is a professor of exercise science and sports medicine at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, who is perhaps best known for the book, "Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports" — the best resource I know of for this topic.

It suggests that overhydrating will actually worsen athletic performance, not improve it. According to Noakes, the first drinking guidelines put out by The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) said that runners should "drink regularly during exercise," which is fair advice. But then an individual working for the U.S. military published a paper saying that U.S. soldiers should drink 64 ounces of water per hour in order to improve performance.

Though the paper was not based on concrete evidence, it was widely embraced by the military, and then filtered through to the American College of Sports Medicine's guidelines for runners. ACSM still recommends drinking "ahead of thirst," a move that Noakes says impairs exercise performance.

He uses the example of African hunters who were able to chase down an antelope for four to six hours in midday heat, without a source of fluids until after the hunt ended (when they would drink the animal's blood and intestinal water). While most runners drink only when thirsty, some (over 36%) instead drink more than their thirst dictates, often to a set schedule.⁷

This, in turn, not only may reduce their athletic performance but also put them at risk of exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH). In hyponatremia, your cells, including those in your brain, swell with too much water, which can be fatal. There are also reports of asymptomatic hyponatremia, which can have consequences of its own. According to Valtin:⁸

"[D]ilution of the plasma as reflected in mild, largely asymptomatic hyponatremia is said to be common in general practice. Moreover, nonfatal hyponatremia has been reported in a variety of circumstances. In the majority of patients, hyponatremia reflects an excess of water in the body rather than a decrease in sodium.

Therefore, urging a high fluid intake on absolutely every person may well run the danger of inducing water intoxication and potentially serious sequelae, not only in the elderly but also in healthy young persons."

The Benefits of Drinking Enough Water

There are clearly disadvantages to not drinking enough water, as your body is made mostly of water. In fact, your body consists of about 42 liters (11 gallons) of water, which accounts for between 50% and 70% of your body weight. Your blood is 85% water, your muscles 80% water, your brain 75% water and even your bones are 25% water,⁹ which signals the importance this fluid plays in your health.

What happens if you don't drink enough? The No. 1 risk factor for kidney stones is not drinking enough water, for starters. There is also some research showing that high fluid intake is linked to a lower risk of certain types of cancer, such as bladder cancer and colorectal cancer.¹⁰

Even the risk of fatal coronary heart disease has been linked to water intake, with women who drank five or more glasses of water per day reducing their risk by 41% compared to women who drank less. Men, meanwhile, reduced their risk by 54%.¹¹ Your body also needs water for blood circulation, metabolism, regulation of body temperature and waste removal.

If you are dehydrated, even mildly, your mood and cognitive function may suffer. In fact, according to a study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior, dehydrated drivers made twice the amount of errors during a two-hour drive compared to hydrated drivers.¹² So the issue isn't that water isn't important for optimal functioning; it's that you may not need to chug water and carry a bottle with you wherever you go in order to stay adequately hydrated.

It's unclear how many Americans are truly dehydrated, but it's more common among the elderly and children. One study even suggested more than half of American children are dehydrated, while about one-quarter do not drink water on a daily basis.¹³ However, some have suggested that the value of the study used to denote dehydration may have been overly conservative — 800 mOsm (mean urine osmolality)/kg or higher, when 1,200 mOsm/kg may still be within the normal range.¹⁴

So How Much Water Do You Need?

Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of pure water a day may not be likely to cause you harm; it's just that the evidence is lacking on whether that is the magic number for everyone, and most likely it appears that it is not. The reality is that some people may be dehydrated and would benefit from drinking more water each day, and from making water their primary source of fluids.

However, as the Times put it, "[A]s people in this country live longer than ever before, and have arguably freer access to beverages than at almost any time in human history, it's just not true that we're all dehydrated."¹⁵ Your water requirements vary depending on your age, activity level, climate and more. But you needn't get bogged down with trying to figure out the exact amount your body needs or tracking how many glasses you've consumed in a day.

There's no need for that because your body will let you know. Simply using thirst as a guide to how much water you need to drink is a simple way to help ensure your individual needs are met, day by day. As mentioned, you can also use the color of your urine as a guide. If it is a deep, dark yellow then you are likely not drinking enough water.

If your urine is scant or if you haven't urinated in many hours, that too is an indication that you're not drinking enough. Based on the results from a few different studies, a healthy person urinates on average about seven or eight times a day. Ultimately, however, listening to your body and letting your thirst be your guide is your best solution for getting the water your body needs each day.

More Evidence Showing Vitamin D Combats Cancer

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I strongly recommend getting sensible sun exposure each day, and one of the reasons why is because it helps naturally optimize your vitamin D levels. Low vitamin D levels are linked to an increased risk of cancers,¹ while vitamin D can attach to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in your cells, setting off a series of signals that may affect how they grow, develop and survive.²

In this way, vitamin D acts like a brake on the process of cell growth in many tissues of the body, helping to control the speed at which cells multiply. This is particularly important when it comes to cancer because one of the key features of this disease is cells growing out of control. Moreover, vitamin D has been observed in animal studies to help delay some age-related changes by activating another important pathway via the vitamin D receptor.

This pathway involves a molecule called Nrf2, which plays a crucial role in protecting your body from oxidative stress and DNA damage — two factors that are commonly linked to the development of cancer.³ Overall, evidence continues to accumulate showing that vitamin D is a strong ally to combat cancer.⁴

Vitamin D Reduces Cancer Mortality

Worldwide, cancer is the No. 2 cause of death, behind only cardiovascular disease.⁵ Meanwhile, the global prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (defined as a level of less than 20 ng/mL) and insufficiency (defined as a level of 20 to less than 30 ng/mL) is 40% to 100%.⁶ Although increasing vitamin D levels may help to reduce cancer deaths, health officials rarely recommend optimizing levels for this purpose.

For example, research has shown that once you reach a minimum serum vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL, your risk for cancer diminishes by 67%, compared to having a level of 20 ng/mL or less.⁷

A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Ageing Research Reviews also found vitamin D3 supplementation reduced cancer mortality by 6%. This wasn’t considered statistically significant, but when only studies involving daily vitamin D intake were analyzed, cancer mortality dropped by a significant 12%.⁸ According to the researchers:⁹

“From a biological perspective, it is plausible that a sufficient vitamin D status has an impact on cancer prognosis: by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), the active hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) influences signaling pathways that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell survival, and thus acts as an anti-proliferative agent in many tissues and can slow the growth of malignant cells.”

Other research also supports vitamin D’s role in protecting against cancer death. In one study of 25,871 patients, vitamin D supplementation was found to reduce the risk for metastatic cancer and death by 17%. The risk was reduced by as much as 38% among those who also maintained a healthy weight.^10,¹¹

What’s particularly noteworthy is this study only gave participants 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily and didn’t measure their blood levels. Despite these research flaws, a significant benefit was still found. However, other research has found even more striking benefits, including a GrassrootsHealth analysis published in PLOS ONE.

It showed women with a vitamin D level at or above 60 ng/mL (150 nmol/L) had an 82% lower risk of breast cancer compared to those with levels below 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L).¹² Meanwhile, risks of lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer and lymphoma are higher in people with low vitamin D levels, while having higher levels is associated with a better prognosis in cases of breast and colorectal cancers.¹³

The Ageing Research Reviews study further revealed that daily vitamin D supplementation was particularly beneficial for people aged 70 and over, as well as those who took vitamin D daily and were later diagnosed with cancer. Study author Ben Schöttker, Ph.D., with the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, further explained:¹⁴

“This does imply that basically everyone aged 50 and older, including people who have never had cancer, might profit from vitamin D supplementation if they are vitamin D insufficient … Doctors cannot know who might develop cancer at a later time.”

Vitamin D Has Anticancer Effects Against Many Types of Cancer

A mini review on the impact of vitamin D on cancer, published in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, pointed out that while vitamin D is widely recognized for its essential role in regulating the balance of minerals in the body, a deficiency has been linked to the onset and progression of various cancers.¹⁵ Vitamin D targets cancer in multiple ways, including:¹⁶

Anticancer effects, which means it targets different stages of cancer development and progression, including the initiation, growth and spread of cancer cells.
Antimetastatic effects, which refers to the ability to stop cancer cells from spreading from the original tumor site to other parts of the body. Since metastasis is often responsible for the fatal outcomes of cancers, preventing the spread can significantly improve survival rates.
Anti-tumorigenic, meaning vitamin D helps prevent tumor formation or the growth of tumors. This can involve mechanisms like inducing cell death in cancer cells, blocking cell cycle progression, or inhibiting pathways that fuel tumor growth.

The review highlighted vitamin D’s role against the following cancers:¹⁷

Breast	Prostate	Bladder
Colon	Glioblastoma	Melanoma
Squamous cell carcinoma	Ovarian	Multiple myeloma
Osteosarcoma	Head and neck

In terms of breast cancer, the leading cause of death for women globally, vitamin D deficiency is common among patients, and those who are deficient are more likely to have more aggressive and harder-to-treat subtypes of breast cancer, such as higher grade and estrogen receptor-negative tumors.

The study also highlighted the role of genetic differences in the VDR that could influence breast cancer risk. In particular, in certain populations like North Indian women from New Delhi, variations in the VDR gene were identified as potential risk factors.¹⁸

In prostate cancer — the most common cancer in men — low levels of vitamin D were linked to high levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate which is associated with the progression of prostate cancer.¹⁹ In addition, vitamin D may influence the activity of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which is known as a longevity protein. Optimizing your vitamin D levels may help boost your body’s natural cancer defenses, in part, via mechanisms involving SIRT1.²⁰

Additional research suggests there may be considerable variation in how different individuals' genes respond to vitamin D supplementation, which might explain why not everyone benefits equally from extra vitamin D.

For best results, the scientists suggest vitamin D supplementation should be personalized and “advocate for options tailored to individual vitamin D needs, combined with a comprehensive intervention that favors prevention through a healthy environment and responsible health behaviors.”²¹

Why Sun Exposure Is the Best Source of Vitamin D

On a typical sunny day, your body may produce up to 25,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D,²² although many people aren’t in the sun enough to optimize their vitamin D levels. However, I strongly recommend getting your vitamin D from proper sun exposure, if possible, as it provides benefits beyond vitamin D optimization.

Higher levels of vitamin D may even serve as a marker for healthy sun exposure, which in turn may be responsible for many of the health benefits, which include reduced risk of cancer and increased longevity, attributed to vitamin D. Regular sun exposure, for instance, enhances production of melatonin — a potent anticancer agent.²³

Near-infrared rays from the sun penetrate deep into your body and activate cytochrome c oxidase, which in turn stimulates the production of melatonin inside your mitochondria. Your mitochondria produce ATP, the energy currency of your body. A byproduct of this ATP production is reactive oxidative species (ROS), which are responsible for oxidative stress.

Excessive amounts of ROS will damage the mitochondria, contributing to suboptimal health, inflammation and chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and thrombosis (blood clots). But melatonin essentially mops up ROS that damage your mitochondria. So, by getting plenty of sun exposure during the day, your mitochondria will be bathed in melatonin, thereby reducing oxidative stress.^24,²⁵

If you’re unable to get adequate sun exposure each day, vitamin D supplementation may be necessary. Keep in mind that 20 ng/mL, which is often used as the cutoff for vitamin D deficiency, has repeatedly been shown to be grossly insufficient for good health and disease prevention, which means the true prevalence of people without optimal levels of vitamin D is even greater.

The only way to determine how much sun exposure is enough and/or how much vitamin D3 you need to take is to measure your vitamin D level, ideally twice a year. Once you’ve confirmed your vitamin D levels via testing, adjust your sun exposure and/or vitamin D3 supplementation accordingly. Then, remember to retest in three to four months to make sure you’ve reached your target level.

The Optimal Vitamin D Level for Cancer Prevention

The optimal level for health and disease prevention, including cancer prevention, is between 60 ng/mL and 80 ng/mL (150-200 nmol/L), while the cutoff for sufficiency appears to be around 40 ng/mL. In Europe, the measurements you're looking for are 150 to 200 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L respectively.

It’s important to remember that calcium, vitamin D3, magnesium and vitamin K2 must be properly balanced for optimal overall health. Your best and safest bet is to simply eat more calcium-, magnesium- and vitamin K2-rich foods, along with sensible sun exposure.

However, if you find supplementation is necessary after a serum vitamin D test, also supplement with magnesium and vitamin K2 (MK-7) to ensure proper balance. You’ll also want to ensure you’re following an overall healthy lifestyle to reduce your cancer risk as much as possible. As researchers explained in Nutrients:²⁶

“Vitamin D supplementation is not the magic pill that miraculously solves the cancer burden or that can replace a healthy lifestyle. It is necessary to foster a good environment and invigorate a healthy lifestyle, including a high-quality diet and physical activity. Both have been proven to confer health benefits in many diseases, including cancer, and are the best preventive measures available.”

Situational judgment tests in health care admissions [PODCAST]

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:00:05 +0000

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join us as we delve into the evolving landscape of health professional admissions processes, focusing on the use of situational judgment tests (SJTs) like Casper and PREview. Our guest, Emil Chuck, a health professional advisor, sheds light on the effectiveness and

NIH’s Eliseo Pérez-Stable, MD, Talks Health Disparities, Biology, Behavior, and Culture

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:06:41 +0000

Eliseo Pérez-Stable, MD, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, talks about health disparities and how his studies aim to improve interventions in clinical settings and across communities.

Reclaiming humanity in health care

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:00:05 +0000

Why aren’t we physicians kinder to ourselves? Why aren’t we kinder to our colleagues? Why aren’t we kinder to our patients? I tend to think the answer to all of the above questions is a disrespect many of us have for what we consider being human. For some reason, many of us in health care

Reclaiming humanity in health care originally appeared in KevinMD.com.

New ‘FLiRT’ Variants Spark Summer COVID Surge Warning

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 17:16:30 +0000

A data scientist who has accurately predicted COVID waves since the beginning of the pandemic warns that a surge is on the horizon.

Empowering patients to discuss sexual health

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:00:21 +0000

I’m sure you can picture it. You’re sitting in an exam room wearing a paper gown, waiting for your health care provider to walk in the room. There are a few colorful posters on the wall about flu season, health screenings, and a discount prescription program available to patients. But all you can think about

Empowering patients to discuss sexual health originally appeared in KevinMD.com.

How Your Calcium-to-Phosphorus Impacts Your Health

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

One of the biggest lessons along my health journey is that health is not found at the extremes, and that finding balance is not only more sustainable, but also more health-promoting.

This applies to exercise — balancing working out and providing your muscles with an effective stimulus to elicit change, with enough recovery, food, rest and relaxation. And to food choices, like macronutrients (for ex. balancing protein with enough carbs) and micronutrients (like mineral balance).

Today, I want to briefly touch on why we should consider balancing dietary calcium and phosphorus for optimal long-term health.

From my own experience, working with clients, and course students, many people have very imbalanced calcium to phosphorus ratios. Meaning, they consume very high levels of phosphorus, and low levels of calcium — which is not promoting optimal health.

Western Diets Are High in Phosphorus

It is very easy to get phosphorus in Western diets, as phosphorus is high in meat, grains, and beans. Plus, inorganic phosphorus is high in a lot of preservatives and packaged food (which has a 100% absorption rate¹). And so many individuals eat packaged food daily!

“In many Western communities, phosphorus intake is high whereas calcium intake might be low ... These types of dietary habit may lead to the lower dietary Ca:P ratios that were recently observed in many countries.

Furthermore, recent evidence from Poland revealed that among 10% of young girls and boys, the dietary Ca:P ratio was lower than 0.25. These results support previous findings among young women in the USA.” ~ Kemi, V. and Lamberg-Allardt, C., 2006

This does “not” make meat and grains “bad” foods (I eat meat and sourdough bread). But we believe these phosphorus-rich foods should be balanced with sufficient dietary calcium. Ideally, the calcium to phosphorus ratio (Ca:P) is close to 1 or above (Ca:P >= 1).

And many people are consuming a Ca:P < 1, especially now that “dairy-free” is all the rage and is promoted as “healthy.”

On one extreme, the carnivore diet, which is an all meat diet, the Ca:P is very imbalanced, as meat is a phosphorus-rich food. On the other extreme, a grain-based diet, the Ca:P is again very imbalanced as grains are another phosphorus-rich food.

Then, searching through more of the “mainstream” (where dairy is “bad”), I searched “dairy-free meal plan” on DuckDuckGo and the first thing that came up was this “1,200 Dairy-Free” meal plan from a popular website, EatingWell. I have so many issues with this meal plan (such as — no one should be eating 1,200 calories).

But after inserting all the meal ingredients into Cronometer, I calculated a Ca:P = 0.3:1, and the total calcium content was just 600 mg! Most people are “not” consuming enough calcium, and have imbalanced Ca:P ratios.

Low Dietary Calcium Leaches Calcium From Your Bones

Calcium gets a lot of bad rep these days, and some fear eating too much of it due to the fear of calcification (a buildup of hardened calcium deposits in tissues that can interfere with function).

But dietary calcium is not the cause of calcification. Instead, low-dietary calcium can be one of the contributing factors. Calcium is so vital for proper function that the body tightly regulates the blood calcium concentration.

“Ca and P have opposite effects on serum PTH (S-PTH) concentration, as dietary P has been found to increase S-PTH concentrations by decreasing serum-ionised Ca concentration and by directly affecting PTH secretion ... while Ca administration has been demonstrated to decrease S-PTH ... continuous excessive PTH secretion increases bone turnover and releases Ca and P from bone.” ~ Kemi et al., 2009

With inadequate dietary calcium to satisfy the body's calcium needs, the parathyroid glands release parathyroid hormone (PTH) into the blood to bring calcium level back up to normal by increasing calcium absorption from our food and by dissolving calcium from the teeth and bones. When we don't consume enough dietarily, calcium gets mined from our skeleton.

Plus, when PTH is elevated from low-calcium intake, we are in a systemic, proinflammatory state that can accelerate the degenerative aging process.²

“It is extremely important to realize that calcium deposits in soft tissues become worse when the diet is low in calcium ... It is counterproductive to eat a calcium-deficient diet, since that leads to an increase in intracellular calcium at the expense of calcium from the bones.” ~ Dr. Ray Peat

While there is plenty of literature documenting the human health benefits of a dietary Ca:P >= 1,³ it is not discussed in mainstream or many “alternative” health communities. However, it is well-known, often discussed and well-documented that this Ca:P should remain balanced for other animals such as:

Dogs^4,⁵
Cats^6,⁷
Dairy goats⁸

The “Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats”⁹ published textbook recommends a Ca:P ratio of 1.2:1. And the Merck Vet Manual recommends a 1.2-1.5:1 for dairy goats.¹⁰

My Personal Experience

I personally saw an improvement with oral health after reversing out of a carnivore diet (very high in phosphorus and usually low in calcium). I not only re-added carbs, but I also added in dairy over time to ensure a Ca:P > 1.

During carnivore (and “dairy-free” keto) days, I would frequently develop hard plaque (aka tartar or calculus) on the inside of my bottom row of teeth. And I would pluck this off my teeth, daily.

Looking back, this was a clear sign that my body was borrowing calcium from the skeleton to maintain calcium homeostasis since we didn't consume enough dietarily to balance all of that phosphorus. The calcium was “mined” and then released into my saliva. And guess where saliva pools in our mouths? Right on the back side of your front, bottom teeth.

With a balanced Ca:P intake, I no longer get that plaque buildup! These type of dietary changes won't necessarily be “felt” in the short-term. But they can have profound implications on long-term health. And please don't let this overwhelm you!

How to Normalize Your Ca:P Balance

There are very simple solutions to regaining Ca:P balance. Here are my top tips:

• Track a typical day of eating in a food tracking app such as Cronometer. The app will tell you your total phosphorus and calcium intake. Divide your total calcium intake by your total phosphorus intake to get your calcium to phosphorus ratio. Ideally this ratio is close to or slightly above 1.

• You may be eating too much meat! Not because of saturated fat. Not because of cholesterol. But meat is a phosphorus-rich food, and we believe it should be balanced with sufficient dietary calcium. So, it can be beneficial to swap some of your meat intake for some dairy to still ensure you eat enough protein while maintaining a balanced Ca:P.

It's not about avoiding foods that are higher in phosphorus. It's about including foods higher in calcium to make the overall ratio in balance.

• Currently can't tolerate dairy? There are other ways to boost your calcium intake! Other favorites include homemade eggshell powder, well-cooked collard greens, pearl powder, or bone meal powder from a trusted source.

I completely understand that keeping track of these type of nutrient ratios can get overwhelming. But if you are looking for additional information on the Ca:P ratio, calcium-rich foods, and how to make sure these minerals remain in balance, check out our course!

In the Nutrition section of our course, Rooted in Resilience, we include over 100 meal plan options, all of which contain balanced calcium to phosphorus ratios — making it easy to implement these important nutrition principles into your busy schedule. We also include an entire module on calcium, the Ca:P ratio, and tips to reintroducing dairy.

Of course, it's never one thing. Calcium is not the only nutrient that works to suppress the anti-metabolic parathyroid hormone (PTH). We also need adequate levels of magnesium and vitamin D (25-D) to keep the PTH levels in check. Plus, vitamin K2 to ensure calcium goes to the right places (like bones and teeth). It can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Eating real, whole foods, tuning into cravings, and providing adequate fuel is a pretty fool proof formula for regaining control of your health.

Transform Your Health — One Step at a Time

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Ashley and her sister Sarah have put together a truly groundbreaking step-by-step course called “Rooted in Resilience.” They have compiled what clearly is the best application of Dr. Ray Peat’s work on Bioenergetic Medicine that I have ever seen.

It is so good that I am using the core of their program to teach the many Health Coaches that I am in the process of training for the new Mercola Health Clinics I am opening this fall. It took these women working nearly full-time on this project for a year to create it.

This has to be one of the absolute best values for health education I have ever seen. If you want to understand why you struggle with health problems and then have a clear program on how to reverse those challenges, then this is the course for you.

It is precisely the type of program I wish I would have had access to when I got out of medical school. I fumbled around for decades before I reached the conclusion they discuss in the course and share with you so you can restore your cellular energy production and recover your health.

Select and eat the right foods to heal your metabolism and improve glucose utilization

Balance your hormones to help reduce anxiety, weight gain and sleep disturbances

Use reverse dieting to increase your calories without gaining weight and tanking your metabolism, all while improving your energy levels

Heal your gut for proper immune function, mood and weight management

Tweak your diet and lifestyle habits to improve your mindset and mental health

Crush your fitness goals with ease and get your life back on track

Master the most essential habits for health with bonus guides, including over 100 meal plans to take the stress out of meal time planning and shopping, and so much more!

Learn more about Rooted in Resilience here.

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About the Author

Ashley Armstrong is the cofounder of Angel Acres Egg Co., which specializes in low-PUFA (polyunsaturated fat) eggs that are shipped to all 50 states (join waitlist here), and Nourish Cooperative, which ships low-PUFA pork, beef, cheese, A2 dairy and traditional sourdough to all 50 states. Waitlists will reopen shortly.

Should You Microwave Your Underwear?

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published July 26, 2017.

Washing your clothes may not be as harmless as you might imagine. Detergents deposit toxic chemicals in your washing machine, on your clothes and into the environment. However, on the opposite side, wearing clothing riddled with bacteria and soaked in sweat is not a healthy answer either.

Past studies have demonstrated microwave ovens may kill bacteria associated with the kitchen, often found on sponges and other cleaning utensils.¹ However, microwaving foods doesn't appear to have the same effect. Not only does the process change the chemical structure of the food, but the microwave has a poor track record for killing bacteria that may be responsible for food poisoning.²

The ability of a microwave oven to kill yeast in your undergarments has been demonstrated through research. While the suggestion that microwaving recently laundered and still damp undergarments to sterilize against Candida albicans,³ the yeast often responsible for vaginal yeast infections, may be quick and easy,⁴ the consequences are not.

Your Underwear May Need To Be Sanitized After an Infection

Candida albicans, the yeast that causes vaginal yeast infections, is usually found living in your vaginal area in small numbers.⁵ However, given the right circumstances, these yeast may multiply quickly, increasing your risk of developing a vaginal infection, and the irritating and uncomfortable symptoms associated with it.

Yeast enjoys living in a warm, moist environment, so even just a few drops of urinary incontinence or continuing to wear underwear in which you had been sweating may be enough to trigger an infection or keep a current infection growing. Unfortunately, just washing your underwear in the washing machine, even with hot water, may not be enough to kill those pesky bacteria and yeast.

One of the risks is re-infecting yourself after a yeast infection, or acquiring a primary infection, from underwear laden with yeast and bacteria. The type of underwear you wear may also increase your risk, as yeast tends to flourish in non-cotton, tight or dirty clothing that trap in moisture.⁶ When you choose undergarments, it's important the crotch area is made from undyed cotton that wicks away moisture and not synthetic or silk-type material that traps moisture and may irritate sensitive skin.⁷

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends the heat on hot water heaters should be set at 120 degrees F.⁸ Philip Tierno, professor of microbiology and pathology at New York University School of Medicine, disagrees, saying water temperatures need to be at least 140 degrees F to kill bacteria and germs living on your clothing.⁹

While the water in your washing machine may not be hot enough to kill most bacteria, a study from the Journal of Hospital Infection evaluated the ability of home machines to kill Staphylococcus aureus and other gram-negative bacteria.¹⁰

The intention was to determine if home washing would prevent the inoculation of patients with dirty uniforms. What the researchers found was that the bacteria were not destroyed in the washing machine, but units of bacteria did reach acceptable levels if the uniforms were tumble dried or ironed, as the material became hot enough to kill the bacteria.

Underwear Options May Create More Problems

Several other choices you make about your undergarments may also increase your risk of chafing, irritated skin or even infection. If you have a tendency to get bacterial or yeast infections, you may find wearing a thong makes the situation worse. Thongs have a unique way of transporting E. coli from the anus to the vaginal area, cautions Dr. Donnica Moore, popular speaker, women's health advocate and founder of Sapphire Women's Health Group.¹¹

Thong underwear may also be more irritating to sensitive skin as there is more contact with vaginal tissue. It doesn't mean you can't wear thongs — just that you must find the type that fits your body correctly. If it's uncomfortable, then find a different brand.

However, going without underwear during the day is not a good idea as the seams of most pants ride up into the vaginal area, creating friction and irritation to the tissue. And, without cotton to absorb moisture, the skin may also become more irritated.

However, while going commando during the day is not a good idea, it's an excellent way of allowing your genital area to get air during the night.¹² As long as you're comfortable, Moore recommends sleeping without underwear. The decisions you make about your undergarments boil down to your personal preferences and how easily your skin gets irritated or infected.

How Often Should You Wash Your Bedsheets?

Changing your underwear at least once a day and keeping them clean and dry reduces your potential for suffering from irritation or raw skin. But those little bits of material aren't the only place you could be exposed to bacteria and spores that affect your health. In warm weather you may sweat up to 26 gallons per year,¹³ making your bedsheets a veritable swamp of bacteria and phenomenal breeding ground for dust mites.

Dust mites are tiny creatures, measuring about 0.015 inches in length.¹⁴ They feed off your dead skin cells and thrive in a moist environment as they can't drink water but must absorb it through their body. Your bedsheets, mattress and pillows are the perfect environment for their growth.

You may spend up to one-third of your life in bed with these mites. Your sweat and dead skin cells also provide a bountiful culture medium for fungus and bacteria. This begs the question of how often those sheets should be washed.

Tierno recommends that to curtail this invisible advance of fungus, mites and bacteria, your sheets should be washed once a week.¹⁵ In one study evaluating the level of fungal contamination, researchers discovered up to 16 different species of fungus in each of the feather and synthetic pillows that were between 1.5 and 20 years old.¹⁶

The microbial soup in your bedsheets is a result of the bacteria living on your skin, and the fungi and bacteria resulting from your skin cells, vaginal and anal contributions, spit and sweat. Tierno believes the growth of these hitchhikers in your bed may become significant in as little as one week.¹⁷ While you may not normally suffer from allergies, exposure to these proteins may trigger an allergic response as you are almost forced to breathe in what's growing on your sheets.

Could Your Illness Have Come From Your Washing Machine?

Unfortunately, your laundry could be even dirtier after you've run it through your washing machine. Experts have found that your machine is likely teeming with bacteria that find their way onto your clothes and then onto you — and your underwear is the biggest culprit.

Charles Gerba, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, has spent years researching the germs that grow and thrive in your washing machine. Gerba says your underwear is the major problem as they often carry fecal material into the washing machines. Fecal material may carry a number of different bacteria, including rotavirus, E. coli, salmonella and hepatitis A virus. Gerba says:¹⁸

"If you wash a load of just underwear, there will be about 100 million E. coli in the wash water, and they can be transmitted to the next load of laundry. There's about a tenth of a gram of poop in the average pair of underwear.”

This means if you aren't using water heated to at least 140 degrees F, you are likely grabbing these bacteria as you transfer the clothes from the wash to the dryer. Gerba recommends washing your hands after handling your wet clothes, especially children's clothing that tend to carry more bacteria.¹⁹ A study analyzing the microbiome of different household washing machines bore out Gerba's assertions.²⁰

Analysis was performed on the incoming and outgoing water from the machines and from new cotton T-shirts washed with a regular load of laundry. The laundering process appeared to allow an exchange of microbes between the incoming and outgoing water, but the microbial variety present on the new T-shirt prior to washing was still present after the washing cycle.²¹

The researchers found the bacteria on the clothing when it enters the wash is distributed among the rest of the clothing during the wash.

Other research found clothing washed at lower temperatures resulted in clothing with the same number of bacteria as those washed in higher temperatures, as long as the clothing was dried for 30 minutes or ironed to kill the bacteria in the clothing. You may be able to reduce the bacterial load in your washing machine by routinely running it empty with a disinfectant.

However, Kelly Reynolds, germ researcher and associate professor of environmental health at the University of Arizona, cautions that unless someone in your home is sick, you may not have to be as concerned about the germs on your clothing²² as long as you practice safe hand-washing, tumble dry your clothes and routinely clean your machine.

Why Microwave Ovens Are Not Your Best Choice

Although research has demonstrated using a microwave oven to heat your undergarments after they've been washed, and while they are still damp, may help reduce the growth of Candida albicans, there are other considerations making your microwave oven a poor choice. In order to place your undergarments in the microwave oven, they must be made of cotton and not synthetic materials. Synthetic underwear may melt in the high heat you use to disinfect them.²³

However, the real problem is from the microwave oven itself. Early models of microwave ovens may have leaked frequently during operation, but modern machines undergo more rigorous testing.

However, inadvertently slamming the door, opening the door frequently before the machine has stopped or otherwise misusing the door,²⁴ may increase the amount of radiation that leaks from the machine. You can test if your machine is leaking radiation using a simple test with two cellphones.²⁵

Just like your microwave oven, your cellphone uses radiation, but at a different frequency. However, your oven should close completely and not allow radiation to escape. Place one cellphone in the oven (do NOT turn the oven on!) and call the phone.

If you hear it ringing from inside the machine your oven either doesn't contain radiation until it reaches a specific frequency, or it has developed a leak. The FDA limits the amount of microwaves your oven may leak through the life of the appliance to 5 milliwatts per square centimeters approximately 2 inches from the appliance.

However, biologists have demonstrated damaging effects at 0.01 MICROwatts, which is half a million times lower than the FDA standard. Conventional scientists and manufacturers cling to the idea these microwaves emitted from your cellphones, Wi-Fi routers, microwave ovens and wireless digital equipment, such as tablets and wireless computers, are safe since they don't cause thermal damage.

Thermal Damage Is Not the Culprit

Evaluating over two dozen studies demonstrating how you may radically reduce biological damage done by microwave radiation using calcium channel blockers, Professor Emeritus Martin Pall discovered the mechanism of how low level, non-thermal microwave exposure triggers biological damage.^26,^27,^28,^29,^30,³¹ The microwave radiation triggers changes to voltage gated calcium channels (VGCCs) embedded in cell membranes.

Pall's research demonstrates how microwave radiation causes massive biological damage, but not thermal damage. Based on the list of 123 studies and papers Pall compiled, the current established safety standards are off by a factor of nearly 7 million. Once VGCCs are activated, the ions stimulate the release of nitric oxide. This combines with superoxide to form peroxynitrate, and then forms hydroxyl free radicals.

These are the most destructive free radicals known to man that decimate mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, the core of most chronic disease. The tissues in your body with the highest density of VGCCs are your brain and other nervous tissue, like the pacemaker in your heart and your testicles. This may explain why the rates of autism, Alzheimer's, arrhythmias, male infertility and depression are rising rapidly.

Microwave radiation doesn't have the energy to directly damage your DNA in the way ionizing radiation from X- or gamma rays do, but it may cause more DNA damage over time as a byproduct of the increased production of hydroxyl free radical creation.

Without taking steps to minimize your exposure, you may risk damage to your DNA and increase your potential risk to most chronic illnesses. This type of damage may also significantly impair your ability to respond to pathogenic infectious assaults, especially parasites.

Using your microwave oven may expose you to milliwatts per square centimeter of microwave energy. Although it may sound like a small number, it is easily hundreds of thousands to millions of times higher than the density shown to trigger biological damage in hundreds of studies.

This means each time you turn on your microwave oven, you may be exposing yourself to microwave radiation densities thousands of times higher than your cellphone. This is the primary reason I strongly advise removing the microwave oven from your home.

Break the Sick Laundry Cycle

There are several ways of reducing the potential you pass along bacteria or fungi from one piece of your clothing to the next without using dangerous toxins or opening yourself up to damage from microwave radiation.

• Tumble dry — Your dryer will kill bacteria and fungi on your clothing when dried for at least 30 minutes.

• Wash your hands — It's important to wash your hands after transferring wet clothes laden with bacteria from the washing machine to the dryer in order to reduce the transfer of that bacteria to your nose or mouth, which may increase your risk of infection.

• Wash your undergarments separately — Keep your clothing with the most bacteria away from the rest of your laundry, especially the towels you use on your dishes.

• Use an additive with your dirty laundry — Adding 2 cups of 10 particles per million (ppm) of colloidal silver to the rinse cycle will infuse your clothing with silver, a natural antibacterial.³²

• Clean the machine — Clean your washing machine routinely to reduce the amount of bacteria waiting for your clothes in the machine. Consider cleaning the surface of the drum (where the clothes are washed) with white vinegar and baking soda. Next add an essential oil that has antibacterial properties,³³ such as lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, orange oils and palmarosa, to the machine and running it using hot water without a load of clothes.

Food Additive in Pizza, Pancakes Linked to Lower Sperm Counts

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On March 7, 2024,¹ Dr. Naomi Wolf sounded an alarm about a food additive that contains a known neurotoxin, and which has demonstrated the ability to cause reproductive damage in mammals after being ingested. She found the additive in a box of pancake mix in her pantry, which sent her down a trail investigating research data.

What she found was scientific evidence that has not been well publicized in the mainstream media, including an ingredient that's commonly found in commercially prepared food, including baked goods and processed cheeses. The ingredient is sodium aluminum phosphate, which the food industry claims to use as an emulsifying agent and stabilizer.

Innophos² manufactures the product and the safety data sheet states "The product meets the definition of a hazardous substance or preparation." Under health hazards, it lists damage to the eyes and irritation to the skin and respiratory system. Those working around it must avoid breathing any dust and the product should be stored in a tightly closed container.

Wolf points out that this ingredient is found in many of the food products our children are eating, and the result of this exposure may have led to long-term oxidative stress, DNA damage and a negative impact on blood testosterone levels and sperm production.³

Food Additive May Trigger Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage

Wolf cited a peer-reviewed literature review paper,⁴ which summarized details including bioavailability and absorption time for the exposure route. As the author of the paper noted, controlled human studies using this known neurotoxin have not been done, so the literature review was limited to laboratory animal studies.

Additionally, the paper reviewed intended and unintended dietary aluminum exposure in the animals since there was considerable and variable aluminum content in animal diets, which creates uncertainty about how the mammals' reproductive system would function in the absence of aluminum.

He did find that in experimental studies, males experienced a more significant effect to aluminum at lower levels than did females. The author proposed an adverse outcome pathway that included "oxidative stress as the molecular initiating event and increased malondialdehyde, DNA and spermatozoal damage and decreased blood testosterone and sperm count as subsequent key events."⁵

Past studies have evaluated the bioavailability of aluminum from drinking water but until 2008,⁶ there was little evidence of aluminum bioavailability from consumption of sodium aluminum phosphate used as an emulsifying agent in food. Using an animal study, researchers found that both water and food contribute to the typical intake and the results suggested that aluminum intake from food contributed much more to systemic circulation than did drinking water.

According to Michigan State University, the European Food Safety Authority reviewed the safety of sodium aluminum phosphate in 2018 and determined it was "safe to consume in typical quantities."⁷ "The Panel concluded that … sodium aluminum phosphate, acidic (E 541) are of no safety concern in the current authorized uses and use levels."⁸

The European Food Safety Authority defined the typical quantity, authorized use level or maximum permissible level (MPL) as 400 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of sodium aluminum phosphate. While that might sound like a lot, a 2005 evaluation of selected foods⁹ found the level of sodium aluminum phosphate could range from 1 to 27,000 mg/kg. Frozen pizza had up to 14 mg/kg, single serving packets of non-dairy creamer had up to 600 mg/kg.

The researchers found acidic sodium aluminum phosphate present in many food products, including pancakes, waffles, baking soda and frozen products. Many contained significant quantities. With the number of foods containing this agent and the number consumed per day, many are exposed to far more than 400 mg/kg from multiple sources and, importantly, aluminum bioaccumulates in the body.¹⁰

Aluminum Associated With Multiple System Issues

As Wolf notes, there are no good peer-reviewed human studies since when animal studies show that feeding aluminum damages unborn children, placentas, testes, blood testosterone and sperm, it's unethical to conduct human trials. This conundrum protects the pharmaceutical industry since they can conclude there are insufficient human studies that demonstrate harm and support withdrawing the product from the market.

Wolf writes¹¹ that the effects of aluminum have aligned with the observed decline of male morphology, including a square jaw, muscle mass and libido in males born after 2000. She suggests that exposure to aluminum may also help explain increasing rates of depression, weight gain and disinterest in sex among young men, which highly correlate with lower levels of testosterone that in turn is associated with exposure to aluminum.

For years I've warned that aluminum is a serious neurotoxic hazard likely involved in the rising rates of autism and Alzheimer's. A 2020 study¹² in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease strongly linked aluminum exposure to Alzheimer's after examining the brain tissue of individuals diagnosed with familial Alzheimer's and who had a specific gene mutation that was known to increase levels of amyloid beta, leading to early onset and more aggressive disease.¹³

Aluminum levels were compared in the donor tissue against those without neurological disease diagnosis and the researchers found striking differences between the two groups. Donors with the genetic mutation had universally high aluminum content. All samples had some level of aluminum, but 42% of the samples from those with familial Alzheimer's had pathologically significant levels and the aluminum was primarily co-located with amyloid beta plaques.

As aluminum reaches the systemic circulation, it is distributed to target organs such as the nervous system, skeletal and hematopoietic system.¹⁴ Additionally, researchers have linked the bioaccumulation of aluminum to several cancers, including breast cancer and colorectal cancers,¹⁵ where it has been linked to a high rate of mutations.

Examination of colon cancer samples showed that aluminum-positive samples had a significant decrease in apoptosis and an increase in the expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule BCL-2.

Aluminum Bioaccumulates From Multiple Sources

Scientists recognize that aluminum can be spread by inhaling aerosols or particles, through the food supply and water supply, in medications, dialysis and infusions.¹⁶ Militaries from around the world also routinely disperse tiny bits of aluminum-coated fiberglass and plastic called "chaff" into the air column to shield aircraft and ships from enemy radar.¹⁷ Although this has been done for decades, there is no clear evidence that it's safe for humans or the environment.

The many exposure pathways increase the risk that toxic levels are possible, which induces a variety of effects within the body, including alterations of the immunological system, genotoxicity, inflammation, enzymatic dysfunction, metabolic derangement, necrosis and dysplasia.¹⁸ Conditions associated with high levels of aluminum include Crohn's disease, autism, osteomalacia, oligospermia, breast cancer, pancreatitis, Type 2 diabetes and infertility.

Exposure to aluminum may occur in a variety of ways, but I have warned that a significant source of aluminum exposure, and potentially one of the worst, is vaccines since injecting the product bypasses your body's natural filtering and detoxification systems.

And, since many of the vaccines that use aluminum as an adjuvant are given in childhood, the potential damage has decades to develop and present clinical symptoms. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,¹⁹ an adjuvant is added to vaccines to trigger a stronger immune response in an individual.

Christopher Exley, Ph.D., was the lead investigator in the study linking aluminum to Alzheimer’s disease. In an interview with SciTechDaily, Exley commented:²⁰

"It shows that aluminum and amyloid-beta are intimately woven in neuropathology. Either way, the new research confirms my resolve that within the normal lifespan of humans, there would not be any AD if there were no aluminum in the brain tissue. No aluminum, no AD."

In her video,²¹ Wolf mentions that aluminum is in the mRNA shots. In speaking with The Defender, Exley praised her efforts to bring news of the toxic effects to a wider audience but said that aluminum was not used in the MRNA shots as an adjuvant.

While there is no current proof the mRNA shot for COVID contains aluminum,²² the European Medicines Agency has approved the use of other COVID vaccines using complete viruses and a dual adjuvant of aluminum hydroxide-CpG 1018. Shots against COVID-19 are also approved in other countries that contain aluminum adjuvants.

The list of approved vaccines that contain some form of aluminum totals more than 25, and includes those given to children, such as diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine, hepatitis b and haemophilus influenzae type B. Other vaccines that use aluminum include tetanus, pneumococcus, meningococcal type B, hepatitis B and diphtheria and tetanus.

Wolf Labels Aluminum Chemical Warfare

Wolf likens the dropping levels of testosterone, lower sperm counts and changes in male morphology to chemical warfare on men saying, "... one thing that you really want to do to an enemy country before you invade them formally is deplete the men," adding that this war is targeting "our most vulnerable males, our preadolescent boys — in our school lunchrooms."

Aluminum is not the only chemical that's undermining male fertility. As I have reported before, phthalate syndrome is also responsible for mass sterility as researchers have recorded a drop in sperm counts by 59.3% from 1973 to 2011,²³ likely in large part due to exposure to chemicals like plastic phthalates.

Shanna Swan, Ph.D. is a reproductive epidemiologist and professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her book "Countdown" is based on a 2017 study she co-wrote, which found the most significant declines in sperm samples were in men living in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Concentrations were below 40 million per milliliter, which is considered the cutoff at which a man will have trouble fertilizing an egg.²⁴ She also found that as sperm count, testosterone and fertility were dropping, testicular cancer and miscarriage were rising, all at about 1% per year.²⁵

Yet another environmental factor that may play a significant role in declining sperm counts is electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and radiofrequency radiation from wireless technologies. Research²⁶ has found that men who use their cell phones more than 20 times a day have significantly lower sperm concentrations and sperm counts than those who use them once a week or less.

This places men at a 30% increased risk of having sperm concentration below the reference value for fertility and a 21% increased risk for having total sperm counts below the fertile range.

Tips to Reduce Exposure to Aluminum, Plastic and EMF

Wolf ends her video with a simple plea, "Friends, read the boxes; clear out your cupboards; bake from scratch; and save the hormonal levels of our men."²⁷ While it can be challenging to make changes, making one new small change every two weeks can lower the stress associated with change and can have a significant impact on your overall health within months.

Phthalates are chemicals included in plastics to make them more durable. There are several steps you can take to reduce your use and exposure to plastics and plasticizers, which I share in "Plastic Is Everywhere Now, Including Your Brain."

Finally, there are also steps you can take to reduce your exposure to EMF during the day and at night and general steps you can take in your home. As more people are working remotely, you begin to have greater control over your environment, including your exposure to EMF. Consider the steps I share in "EMFs Destroy Sperm Count."

A critical care physician’s journey through long COVID [PODCAST]

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 23:00:59 +0000

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join us for an insightful podcast episode featuring Sonali Mantoo, a critical care physician, as she shares her personal journey through long COVID. From her experience on the pandemic frontlines to navigating the complexities of long COVID symptoms, Sonali offers unique

Voices for physician mental health

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 19:00:30 +0000

I’ve been honored and privileged to have had recent conversations with two courageous women: Betsy Gall and Pamela Marie Hobby. Pamela met a medical resident who changed the course of her life on October 28, 2019, and Betsy’s life was forever changed exactly one month later, on November 28, 2019. Betsy wrote a book to

Voices for physician mental health originally appeared in KevinMD.com.

How AI is revolutionizing patient care: Exploring the Humane Ai Pin and Rabbit R1

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:00:13 +0000

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into health care transforms patient care, making it more personalized, efficient, and accessible. Two groundbreaking technologies, the Humane Ai Pin and the Rabbit R1, exemplify this shift. By enhancing communication, ensuring data security, and improving administrative and clinical operations, these devices promise a future where technology and human expertise merge to

The making of a bed: a timeless ritual passed through generations

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:00:21 +0000

Making a bed seems to be a lost art these days, an unassuming ritual. I have memories of my mother draping, folding, laying, and spreading sheets as they danced in her open-air bedroom. My grandmother passed on the technique to her. From my observations of other families, this practice varies from generation to generation. In

What Happens When You Don't Brush Your Teeth?

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published July 15, 2017.

Brushing your teeth twice a day is an indispensable health habit that affects more than just your teeth. The state of your oral health most definitely plays a role in optimizing your overall health and well-being. Regardless of your age or the number of years you've been using a toothbrush, it's a good idea to make sure you are addressing the important aspects of dental hygiene.

Bad breath, plaque, yellow teeth, tooth decay and other health problems are easily avoidable when you adopt an effective oral care routine. I hope you will take a few minutes to learn what happens when you don't brush your teeth, or don't brush them properly.

What Can You Do About Bad Breath?

If you've ever overlooked brushing your teeth before leaving the house for the day, you have probably already experienced the most common side effect of ignoring your oral health: bad breath, also known as halitosis. Without brushing, food odors will linger in your mouth, causing foul odors to emit as you breathe and speak. Some food odors may be mildly tolerable, like coffee, while others are downright obnoxious, like garlic or fish.

To prevent bad breath, not only is it important to brush your teeth twice a day, but also your tongue. Since it is actively involved in the chewing and swallowing process, food particles and odors can easily remain on your tongue after you brush your teeth.

You can brush your tongue using either your regular toothbrush or an instrument designed specifically for tongue brushing. If you are prone to foul breath and have not seen improvement through changes in your oral hygiene routine, you also may want to address:

• Alcohol consumption or smoking — The scent of alcohol and cigarettes is strong and often lingers on your breath

• Medications — Some pharmaceutical drugs cause dry mouth. Because saliva rinses odor-producing germs from your mouth, the absence of saliva may result in bad breath. If you suspect the root of your foul breath is drug-induced, see your doctor about changing or adjusting your medications

• Mouth breathing and snoring — Both of these conditions can lead to dry mouth and/or bad breath and are worthy of your time and attention to address

• Your gut health — Optimizing your gut flora will help fight bad breath because it strengthens your immune system and balances the bacteria in your gut; eating fermented foods is a great way to improve your gut and oral health

Yellow Teeth: A Sign of Poor Habits or Staining Foods and Beverages

If you have ever fallen into a pattern of brushing less frequently, you may have noticed your teeth will generally turn yellow. Your teeth take on this dingy hue due to the buildup of bacteria, food debris and plaque, which conspire to diminish the natural whiteness of your teeth. Yellow teeth or teeth stains are almost always a noticeable result of smoking. If you consume certain beverages and foods very often, they may also be contributing to the darkening of your teeth.

According to WebMD,¹ tea has the potential to stain your teeth worse than coffee. Tea boasts a higher stain potential because it contains acid, as well as tannins, plant-based compounds that make it easier for stains to stick to your teeth. "Tea causes teeth to stain much worse than coffee," says Dr. Mark Wolff, professor at New York University College of Dentistry. "Iced tea or brewed tea — it doesn't matter."²

Acidic foods can also lead to teeth yellowing or staining due to their ability to wear down your tooth enamel. Certain types of foods may cause staining due to their intrinsic properties, such as berries and curry, for example.

I have often mentioned oil pulling with coconut oil as a superb way to cleanse and flush harmful bacteria from your mouth. This is an oral hygiene habit I invest in every day. Because of its high concentration of antibacterial medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), coconut oil is ideal for oil pulling.

If you have yellow teeth, you'll be happy to know that one of the positive side effects of oil pulling is that coconut oil naturally whitens your teeth. Try it for a few weeks and see what a difference it makes!

Plaque Buildup Sets the Stage for Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Plaque is the sticky film that forms when the bacteria in your mouth build up on your teeth. If plaque remains on your teeth for too long, it begins to eat away at them, making them weak. Untreated plaque sets the stage for tooth decay and gum disease. While plaque is mostly colorless and may be hard to see, you know it's there because of how it feels. Dr. Margaret Culotta-Norton, former president of the Washington D.C. Dental Society, says:³

"Plaque makes the teeth feel rough and slimy. It feels like the teeth have 'sweaters' on them … Plaque will never go away completely, but it can be controlled with good oral hygiene and visits to the dentist."

Tooth Decay: How to Keep It in Check

You may have already suffered from one of the most common effects that result from not brushing your teeth properly: tooth decay. Tooth decay often results in the presence of cavities. Several years ago, I did an interview with Dr. Tim Rainey, a pioneer in biological dentistry, who presented the many advantages of minimally invasive dentistry.

Rainey suggests tooth decay is primarily driven by the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and acidity, which creates a pathogenic bioflora in your mouth. If you're continually lowering the pH in your mouth, you start losing calcium, which is necessary for strong, healthy teeth. A calcium deficiency results in more porous teeth, which allows plaque that has turned pathogenic to attack a weak tooth.

Once certain types of bacteria are able to penetrate your tooth enamel, they release enzymes that begin to break down the collagen in the inner structure of the tooth. Besides ensuring you brush and floss regularly, you can keep tooth decay in check by:

• Avoiding processed foods and sugar, which will help reduce the bacteria that cause tooth decay

• Eating a diet rich in fresh, whole foods, grass fed meats and fermented vegetables, all of which will ensure you get plenty of minerals for strong bones and teeth

• Balancing your consumption of acid and alkaline foods

• Brushing with baking soda at night to alkalize the pH of your mouth

• Using a water-flossing system to remove smaller food particles that may not be removed with conventional dental floss alone

If you have young children, be sure they consume any chewable vitamins prior to brushing their teeth. Chewable vitamins can be acidic, and leaving the acid on the teeth for long periods of time will very often result in tooth decay.

Periodontal Disease Can Lead to Tooth Loss

According to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP),⁴ there are several types of periodontal disease. Gingivitis, evidenced by red, swollen or bleeding gums, is the mildest form. It's possible to reverse gingivitis with professional treatment and improved oral home care. Untreated gingivitis usually advances to periodontitis, a process the AAP explains as follows:⁵

"With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response … and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed.

Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets … that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. … Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed."

If you suffer the misfortune of losing a tooth because of periodontal disease, be sure to review my past advice prior to getting a root canal or dental implant. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, you can best fight periodontal disease by:

• Using a water-flossing system to remove smaller food particles that may not be removed with conventional dental floss alone

• Adopting the practice of oil pulling, which was mentioned above

After oil pulling, you may reduce bacterial growth in your mouth even further by increasing your oral pH. To do so, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 6 ounces of water and gargle. This will alkalize the pH of your mouth. Because bacteria thrive in an acidic environment, the increased pH will discourage bacterial growth.

How the Health of Your Mouth Affects Other Areas of Your Body

Brushing your teeth regularly is important because when bacteria in your mouth isn't removed, it taxes your immune system. When your immune system is burdened, you are at potential risk for health problems in other areas of your body.

Dr. Matthew Messina, a nationally recognized spokesperson for dentistry and member of the American Dental Association, notes you should be particularly concerned if you have bacteria under the gum line with access to your circulatory system, which can be dangerous. According to USA Today:⁶

"A dirty mouth has been linked to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, heart attacks and even MRSA — in the case of dentures. MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacteria resistant to a variety of medications that can infect the bloodstream and lining of the heart."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates MRSA indeed can cause problems ranging from skin infections to sepsis and pneumonia to bloodstream infections.⁷ The fact MRSA is resistant to many of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics is also a cause for concern. Previously, I've discussed how your oral health affects the rest of your body.

Final Thoughts About Caring for Your Teeth

By now, you probably realize the importance of brushing your teeth. However, you may still be making one or more of these common mistakes when caring for your teeth:^8,⁹

Brushing less than two minutes

Keeping your toothbrush longer than three months (about 200 uses)

Using a brush that is too hard, when a soft or extra soft brush will do

Brushing up and down instead of using a circular motion at a 45-degree angle

Locking into the same routine day after day, which may lull you into complacency

Brushing more than twice a day and/or applying too much pressure, which may be hard on your gums and tooth enamel

I would add that brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride is another common mistake. To avoid exposure to fluoride and other dangerous toothpaste toxins, I recommend you use toothpaste containing natural ingredients, such as coconut oil, baking soda and essential oils. For more tips on how to brush your teeth correctly, check out the Life Hacks video featured below.

Doctors Predict Epidemic of Prion Brain Diseases

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

According to mounting data, one of the more serious side effects of the COVID mRNA jabs appears to be dementia, and worse yet, this previously untransmissible disease may now be “contagious,” transmissible by way of prions.

In my 2021 interview with Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., she explained why she suspected the COVID shots may eventually result in an avalanche of neurological prion-based diseases such as Alzheimer’s. She also published a paper detailing those mechanisms in the May 10, 2021, issue of the International Journal of Vaccine Theory. As she explained in that paper:¹

“A paper published by J. Bart Classen (2021) proposed that the spike protein in the mRNA vaccines could cause prion-like diseases, in part through its ability to bind to many known proteins and induce their misfolding into potential prions.

Idrees and Kumar (2021) have proposed that the spike protein’s S1 component is prone to act as a functional amyloid and form toxic aggregates ... and can ultimately lead to neurodegeneration.”

In summary, the take-home from Seneff’s paper is that the COVID shots, offered to hundreds of millions of people, are instruction sets for your body to make a toxic protein that will eventually wind up concentrated in your spleen, from where prion-like protein instructions will be sent out, leading to neurodegenerative diseases.

What Are Prions?

The term "prion" derives from "proteinaceous infectious particle." Prions are known to cause a variety of neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or "mad cow disease") in cattle, and chronic wasting disease in deer and elk.

These diseases are collectively referred to as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). They’re characterized by long incubation periods, brain damage, the formation of holes in the brain giving it a sponge-like appearance, and failure to induce an inflammatory response.

In short, prions are infectious agents composed entirely of a protein material that can fold in multiple, structurally distinct ways, at least one of which is transmissible to other prion proteins, leading to a disease that is similar to viral infections but without nucleic acids.

Unlike bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which contain nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) that instruct their replication, prions propagate by transmitting their misfolded protein state to normal variants of the same protein.

According to the prion disease model, the infectious properties of prions are due to the ability of the abnormal protein to convert the normal version of the protein into the misfolded form, thereby setting off a chain reaction that progressively damages the nervous system.

Prions are remarkably resistant to conventional methods of sterilization and can survive extreme conditions that would normally destroy nucleic acids or other pathogens, which is part of why prion diseases are so difficult to treat.

More Evidence mRNA Shots Can Trigger Dementia

Today, there’s even more evidence to support Seneff’s theory. In August 2022, tech entrepreneur Sid Belzberg wrote² about prions.rip, a website he’d set up to collect data on the neurological side effects of the jabs. (This site is no longer live.)

Within a few months, the site had received about 15,000 hits and gathered 60 reports from people who got the jab and suffered neurological deficits shortly thereafter, including six cases of diagnosed CJD.

“Normally this disease affects 1 in a 1,000,000 people,” Belzberg wrote.³ “To get 6 cases you would need 6,000,000 hits to the site assuming everyone reports. The chances of getting 1 case in 15,000 hits is 1 in 66. To see 6 cases in 1 group of 15,000 is 1/66^6 or 1 in 82,000,000,000, or 20 times more likely to win a Powerball lottery! ...

To reiterate, CJD is an exceptionally rare disease that is now a known and established severe adverse reaction (SAE) from the DEATHVAX™. Injecting this slow kill bioweapon can cause ailments that are about as likely to develop in the real word as getting struck by lightning twice. The proof is now irrefutable.”

Frameshifting Can Result in Prion Production

In mid-December 2023, researchers reported^4,^5,⁶ that the replacing of uracil with synthetic methylpseudouridine in the COVID shots — a process known as codon optimization — can cause frameshifting, a glitch in the decoding, thereby triggering the production of off-target aberrant proteins.

The antibodies that develop as a result may, in turn, trigger off-target immune reactions. According to the authors, off-target cellular immune responses occur in 25% to 30% of people who have received the COVID shot. But that’s not all.

According to British neuroscientist Dr. Kevin McCairn, this frameshifting phenomenon has also been linked to harmful prion production — and that frame shifted prions, specifically, are infectious and can be transmitted from one person to another. As reported in the Journal of Theoretical Biology in 2013:⁷

“A quantitatively consistent explanation for the titres of infectivity found in a variety of prion-containing preparations is provided on the basis that the etiological agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy comprise a very small population fraction of prion protein (PrP) variants, which contain frameshifted elements in their N-terminal octapeptide-repeat regions ...

Frameshifting accounts quantitatively for the etiology of prion disease. One per million frameshifted prions may be enough to cause disease. The HIV TAR-like element in the PRNP mRNA is likely an effector of frameshifting.”

McCairn explained this mechanism in a February 19, 2023, interview with Health Alliance Australia (video above). In it, he noted:

“Mis-folded proteins caused by prions can impact every level organ and tissue system in the body ... [They] bioaccumulate and are resistant to degradation, thereby building up ...”

Prions may in fact be the primary molecule that is being “shed” by COVID jab recipients, and if those prions are due to frameshifting, that could be very bad news indeed, considering their implication in dementia.

Another doctor who believes we’ll be facing an “epidemic of prion disease” is Dr. David Cartland. In late February 2024, he posted⁸ 13 scientific papers linking the COVID jabs, prion diseases and CJD, noting that was just a “small selection” of what’s available in the medical literature.

Prions Implicated in Long COVID as Well

According to genomics expert Kevin McKernan, Ph.D., prions are also involved in long COVID (or as McKernan calls it, “long vax”).⁹ In one 2024 study,¹⁰ 96.7% of long COVID sufferers had received the jab. In an interview with the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), McKernan stated:¹¹

“If you frameshift over the stop codons, you’re going to be making proteins that are spike-mito proteins. When I talk to a lot of the long vax patients I hear of all these things that remind me of my time in the mitochondrial disease sequencing space ...”

McKernan claims he tried to publish a paper on this in 2021 with Dr. Peter McCullough, but the editor of the journal “stepped in and torpedoed the paper.”¹²

World’s Largest Side Effect Analysis Has Been Published

In related news, the largest study¹³ to date on the side effects of the COVID jabs was published in the journal Vaccine in February 12, 2024, and it confirms what I and many other alternative news sources have been saying all along, namely that the mRNA jabs are the most dangerous medical products to ever hit the market.

The study — performed by the Global COVID Vaccine Safety (GCoVS) Project and funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Ontario and the Canadian Health Research Institute — evaluated the risk of "adverse events of special interest" (AESI) following COVID-19 “vaccination.”

Data from 10 sites in eight countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, New Zealand and Scotland) were included, encompassing more than 99 million jabbed individuals.

Of the thousands of side effects Pfizer listed in its confidential report of post-authorization adverse events submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,¹⁴ the GCoVS focused on 13 AESIs that fall into three primary categories: Neurological, hematologic (blood-related) and cardiovascular conditions.

They calculated the AESI risk for each of the 13 AESIs based on the number of observed versus expected (OE) incidents occurring up to 42 days after injection. The “expected” number of side effects were based on vaccine adverse event data from 2015 to 2019. These rates were then compared to the adverse event rates observed in those who got one or more of the COVID jabs, either Pfizer's BNT162b2, Moderna's mRNA-1273, or AstraZeneca's ChAdOx1.

Largest Study to Date Confirms COVID Jab Dangers

The analysis¹⁵ revealed several concerning side effects, including increased risks of myocarditis, pericarditis, blood clots in the brain, and various neurological conditions. Here’s a quick summary of the findings:

• Myocarditis and pericarditis:

◦ Pfizer vaccine — OE ratios for myocarditis were 2.78 and 2.86 after the first and second shots, with the risk remaining doubled after the third and fourth shots.

◦ Moderna vaccine — OE ratios for myocarditis were 3.48 and 6.10 after the first and second shots. Doses 1 and 4 also showed OE ratios of 1.74 and 2.64 for pericarditis.

◦ AstraZeneca vaccine — OE ratio for pericarditis was 6.91 after the third shot.

• Blood clots in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, CVST):

◦ An OE of 3.23 for CVST was observed after the first AstraZeneca shot.

◦ A significant increase in CVST risk was also noted after the second Pfizer dose.

• Neurological conditions:

◦ Guillain-Barré syndrome — An OE ratio of 2.49 was observed following the AstraZeneca jab.

◦ Transverse myelitis — Risk nearly doubled with the AstraZeneca shot.

◦ Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis — OE ratios of 3.78 (Moderna) and 2.23 (AstraZeneca) were noted.

These findings really underscore the potential for serious side effects from the COVID shots, including conditions that may lead to other consequences in the longer term, such as stroke, heart attack, paralysis and death.

Effectiveness and Safety Was Wildly Exaggerated in Trials

Considering those findings, it’s no surprise to find that effectiveness and safety were exaggerated in clinical trials and observational studies. In a guest post on Dr. Robert Malone’s Substack, Raphael Lataster, Ph.D., writes:¹⁶

“An unofficial series of four crucially important medical journal articles, two by me, appearing in major academic publisher Wiley’s Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice reveals that claims made about COVID-19 vaccines’ effectiveness and safety were exaggerated in the clinical trials and observational studies, which significantly impacts risk-benefit analyses.

Also discussed are the concerning topics of myocarditis, with evidence indicating that this one adverse effect alone means that the risks outweigh the benefits in the young and healthy; and perceived negative effectiveness, which indicates that the vaccines increase the chance of COVID-19 infection/hospitalization/death, to say nothing about other adverse effects.”

Summary of Papers

The four papers in question include:

1. “Sources of Bias in Observational Studies of COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness” published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice in March 2023, co-authored by BMJ editor Peter Doshi, Ph.D., statistician Kaiser Fung and biostatistician Mark Jones, which concluded that “case-counting window bias” had a significant effect on effectiveness estimates.¹⁷

As explained by Lataster, this “concerns the 7 days, 14 days, or even 21 days after the jab where we are meant to overlook jab-related issues, such as COVID infections, for some odd reason as ‘the vaccine has not had sufficient time to stimulate the immune system.’

This may strike you as quite bizarre since all of the ‘fully vaccinated’ must go through the process of being ‘partially vaccinated,’ sometimes even more than once. To make matters worse, the unvaccinated do not get such a ‘grace period,’ meaning that there is also a clear bias at play.

In an example using data from Pfizer’s clinical trial, the authors show that thanks to this bias, a vaccine with effectiveness of 0%, which is confirmed in the hypothetical clinical trial, could be seen in observational studies as having effectiveness of 48%.”

2. “Reply to Fung et. al. on COVID-19 Vaccine Case-Counting Window Biases Overstating Vaccine Effectiveness,” authored by Lataster, which discussed how the counting window bias not only affected effectiveness estimates in observational studies but also safety estimates, suggesting a need for reassessment of vaccine safety.¹⁸ The article also addresses “the mysterious rise in non-COVID excess deaths post-pandemic.”¹⁹

3. “How the Case Counting Window Affected Vaccine Efficacy Calculations in Randomized Trials of COVID-19 Vaccines,” again co-authored by Doshi and Fung, which detailed how case-counting window issues also overestimated effectiveness in Pfizer and Moderna clinical trials.²⁰

4. A second article by Lataster, in which he highlighted and summarized the evidence showing that clinical trials were affected by adverse effect counting window issues that led to exaggerated safety estimates.²¹

“Together, these four articles make clear that claims made about COVID-19 vaccines; effectiveness and safety were exaggerated in the clinical trials and observational studies, whilst also finding time to discuss myocarditis and perceived negative effectiveness, meaning that new analyses are very much needed,” Lataster writes.²²

Resources for Those Injured by the COVID Jab

Based on data from across the world, it’s beyond clear that the COVID shots are the most dangerous drugs ever deployed. If you already got one or more COVID jabs and are now reconsidering, you’d be wise to avoid all vaccines from here on, as you need to end the assault on your body. Even if you haven’t experienced any obvious side effects, your health may still be impacted long-term, so don’t take any more shots.

If you’re suffering from side effects, your first order of business is to eliminate the spike protein — and/or any aberrant off-target protein — that your body is producing. Two remedies shown to bind to and facilitate the removal of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. I don’t know if these drugs will work on off-target proteins and nanolipid accumulation as well, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to try.

The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) has developed a post-vaccine treatment protocol called I-RECOVER. Since the protocol is continuously updated as more data become available, your best bet is to download the latest version straight from the FLCCC website at covid19criticalcare.com.²³

For additional suggestions, check out the World Council for Health’s spike protein detox guide,²⁴ which focuses on natural substances like herbs, supplements and teas. Sauna therapy can also help eliminate toxic and misfolded proteins by stimulating autophagy.

The Ins and Outs of Organic Food Labeling

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

There are many benefits to buying and consuming organic foods. For some people, the primary reason is the inhumane treatment animals experience from the moment they are born to the minute they die. Cows, chickens, pigs, sheep and other animals can feel pain and experience strong emotions and yet they are treated as inanimate objects.

The unspeakable treatment these animals endure is one tactic used by globalists to push everyone, except maybe themselves, to eat bugs and lab-grown or 3-D-printed meat and other foodstuffs. But for most people, the principal reason for buying organic food is to avoid pesticides, antibiotics, hormones and genetically engineered ingredients.

According to a 2017 survey¹ by Natural Grocers, over 90% of respondents said the main reason was to avoid pesticides and 70% said they did it to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs). While organically produced meat and produce are more nutritious, just 40% of Natural Grocers customers choose organic produce because they think it's more nutritious.

The USDA has a 2024 operating budget of $24.46 billion. Inside this bureaucratic mountain of red tape and oversight exists the Agricultural Marketing Service, which administers domestic and international opportunities for farmers and ranchers. And inside that arm is the National Organic Program (NOP) that "develops then enforces national standards for organically produced agricultural products sold within the United States."²

Despite rising consumer interest in purchasing organic products, the NOP’s operating budget to regulate the meat and produce organic market is $24 million, as compared to the $35 million allocated to the Packers and Stockyards program that regulates livestock, meat and poultry.

What Does ‘Organic’ Really Mean?

As Tenpenny notes, the organic labels on your meat and produce might not mean what you think they mean. According to information from the USDA, there are four USDA organic labels, and each has a different meaning.³

• 100% Organic — Food that qualifies as 100% organic must be made with 100% certified organic ingredients and may use the USDA organic seal or the 100% organic claim.

• Organic — The term organic identifies a product or ingredients that must be certified organic except where non-organic ingredients are allowed that are specified on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. These must constitute no more than 5% of the combined total ingredients. An organic certification means that 95% is certified organic.

• "Made with" organic ingredients — Products must have at least 70% of the product made with certified organic ingredients. The organic seal cannot be used, and the final product cannot be represented as organic.

• Specific organic ingredients — Multi-ingredient products that have less than 70% certified organic content cannot display the organic seal or use the word "organic." However, they can list certified organic ingredients on the ingredient list.

To obtain the organic seal, a farmer must have an organic systems plan that outlines how the farm operation satisfies the NOP requirements. This requires organic farmers to have a working knowledge of the multiple rules and regulations that encompass hundreds, if not over 1,000 pages. As Tenpenny notes,⁴ it can be an onerous task to keep track of the updates, including those that regulate where and how organic labels can be used.

How to Read Labels on Meat

The labeling process for meat products may be the most complex. The organic regulations prohibit labeling of any product that's been contaminated with residue of GMO or bioengineered ingredients, pesticides, hormones and antibiotics. Regulations do not allow for any residue level to be able to use the organic seal.

The USDA regulations say that inspectors look at every component of the farm operation to trace products from start to finish, including seed sources, soil, water systems, contamination and co-mingling risks.⁵ This includes what livestock are fed, but does not describe where they are fed.

Let’s talk chickens. To be designated organic, chickens must be raised organically no more than two days after they hatch. Their food must be certified grown organically without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.⁶

This is what they're fed but not how they live. Designation as free-range or cage-free describes how they live but not whether they're organically raised. Tenpenny notes that free-range is a marketing term that just means the bird has unlimited access to food, water and some outdoor access for at least 51% of their life.

Cage-free means they can roam in a building or an enclosed area with unlimited access to food and fresh water in overcrowded conditions. However, the definition of outdoor space is not defined, and cage-free hens typically do not have access to being outside.

The designations in the beef industry may be just as deceptive.⁷ Grass fed describes what the animal eats, but pasture-fed tells you where they ate it. Organic beef means that the cow eats organic feed and is not given antibiotics or hormones. This means that "grass fed" or "pasture-fed" beef may not be eating organic feed. To make this more complicated, pasture-raised and grass fed designations do not include whether the animal received hormones or antibiotics.

In the beef industry, the pasture-raised designation means that the animal had access to being outside for at least 120 days during the year. However, the outdoor designation can include living in a field or being outside in a small pen.

The pork industry has slightly more stringent regulations for USDA-certified organic designation.⁸ Pigs must be raised organically beginning in the last third of the sow’s gestation, not have antibiotics and growth hormone stimulants and must be processed by a USDA-certified organic processing plant. Additionally, organic pigs must have access to direct sunlight, exercise areas, fresh air and shade.

They must have clean dry bedding, and bedding using crop residue must be from organic crops. Additionally, their diet must be produced organically without any animal by-products, hormones or antibiotics. However, pigs are allowed to receive vaccinations, and according to a 2021 paper,⁹ the vaccination program begins at three to six weeks of age and continues through adulthood.

What Makes Eggs Organic and Humane

As Tenpenny points out, labeling should be transparent, but the food industry has made it mostly about marketing.¹⁰ Labels you might find on eggs include organic, free-range, cage-free and vegetarian. As I’ve written before, conventionally raised eggs are not the most nutritional or ethical available, and since they are an important part of a healthy diet, it’s a good thing to buy quality eggs.

Conventionally raised birds are typically loaded with antibiotics and hormones and fed poor-quality feed. The hens live in spaces the size of a sheet of paper and the vast majority are confined in battery cages.¹¹ These animals are likely the most intensively confined animals, unable to spread their wings or exhibit any typical behavior. This is what the labels on eggs mean:¹²

Free-range — Free-range eggs do not need to be organic, since they don't need to be fed organic feed. The term free-range identifies chickens who have limited access to the outdoors.
Organic — Eggs that are labeled organic must be free-range and must be raised on organic free of animal by-products but not necessarily bugs and worms, which is their natural diet. The birds must not receive hormones or antibiotics.
Other labels — Eggs can also be labeled all-natural, antibiotic-free or vegetarian. There are no strict rules about these labels so it's up to the farmer to set the standards.

Organic eggs are typically the most expensive eggs at the grocery, but the added nutrition is worth it. The USDA-certified organic label means the eggs were sourced from farmers who follow strict standards.

Ashley Armstrong, cofounder of Angel Acres Egg Co., and I are working to overturn the conventional food system, starting with eggs. Angel Acres Egg Co. specializes in the production of low-PUFA (polyunsaturated fat) eggs. We discussed the importance of low-PUFA eggs in a recent interview, embedded below for your convenience.

They ship low-PUFA eggs to all 50 states — but there is currently a waiting list as she slowly increases the number of chickens within the network to fulfill the demand. More egg boxes will be available this spring, so join the waitlist for low PUFA egg boxes here.

Download Interview Transcript

Organic Dairy

If you're familiar with the problems associated with conventional pasteurized milk, you may have started buying organic milk instead. Some milk brands on the shelf boast being DHA enriched, which a Washington Post article notes¹³ is accomplished by adding DHA omega-3 oil produced by corn syrup-fed algae.

If you want to drink milk, consider switching to raw, grass fed milk if you can get it. RealMilk.com has a list of raw dairy farms in your area. The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund¹⁴ also provides a state-by-state review of raw milk laws.

Look for the AGA grass fed certification and search their website for AGA-approved producers that adhere to strict standards, including the cows being raised on a diet of 100% forage, never confined to a feedlot, never treated with antibiotics or hormones and born and raised on American family farms.

Organic Produce Can Be Coated in Apeel

Produce can only be labeled organic when it's been grown in soil that has not had any prohibited chemicals applied for three years before the first harvest. Pesticides also cannot be applied directly to organic produce, with the exception of Apeel.¹⁵ Apeel is a chemical that's been used on produce since 1996 to extend shelf life, but it also disrupts the human and animal gut microbiome.

The technology began with a $100,000 Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.¹⁶ Other investors have included the Rockefeller Foundation,¹⁷ the World Bank Group and Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and CEO of the personal genomics company 23andMe.

Apeel Sciences founder, James Rogers, Ph.D., is an agenda contributor to the World Economic Forum (WEF)¹⁸ and a Young Global Leader. Among the articles he has written for the WEF is one in which he hailed COVID lockdowns as a model for future action on climate change.¹⁹ In other words, climate lockdowns.

I’m not the only one questioning the motives behind this product. "Is [Apeel] another Gates/WEF plot to destroy our health? Or a distraction from worse plots?" asked Alexis Baden-Mayer, political director at the Organic Consumers Association (OCA).²⁰ Apeel appears to have slipped through some loophole at the USDA.

Here’s How to Break the Produce Label Code

So, how do you identify the fruits and vegetables you want to eat? Produce has a PLU label, which stands for price look-up. These are standardized codes used across the industry to manage the supply chain. There are more than 1,400 PLU codes assigned to a variety of produce, which you can use to help identify if the produce is organic or conventionally grown.

These codes are four or five digits long and any codes with more than five digits are not part of the standardized system. The next time you're at the grocery store, spend a minute or two looking at the food labels in the produce department to identify produce that's genetically modified, bioengineered or designated organic. Tenpenny lists the codes on produce you may want to consider:²¹

A four-digit code starting with the number 3 or 4 (3000 or 4000 series) is used for conventionally grown produce. This means synthetic fertilizers, chemicals and/or pesticides might have been used during the growth of the produce.
A five-digit code starting with the number 3 identifies fruits and vegetables that have been irradiated or electronically pasteurized.
A five-digit code starting with the number 6 identifies pre-cut fruits and vegetables.
A five-digit code starting with the number 8 is designated for fruits and vegetables that have been genetically modified or bioengineered.
A five-digit code starting with the number 9 is designated for organic fruits and vegetables.

EHRs and physician well-being [PODCAST]

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 23:00:13 +0000

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join Sara Pastoor, a family physician, who brings her expertise to the table as we explore the significant impact of EHRs on physicians’ well-being and the urgent need for change. We’ll discuss recent studies highlighting the burden and burnout caused by

EHRs and physician well-being [PODCAST] originally appeared in KevinMD.com.

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A patient presents to the emergency room of a major local hospital with ulcers on the heels of both feet. The patient is more than 40 years old, smokes, and has hypertension but is not a diabetic. It is determined that the patient has peripheral artery disease. The patient is admitted to Dr. X’s service.

Dismantling the mythical dichotomy of physician career options

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Changing the Food System From the Bottom Up

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The video above features an interview with return guest Ashley Armstrong, a certified personal trainer with a Ph.D., MS and BS in engineering, and cofounder of Angel Acres Egg Co., which specializes in low-PUFA (polyunsaturated fat) eggs. On average, her eggs contain 17 to 20 milligrams of linoleic acid (LA), which is about one-quarter of the LA found in conventional eggs.

She’s also started a new private member food system that offers milk, cheese, low-PUFA pork and low-PUFA chicken, called Nourish Cooperative. Both ship farm-fresh food right to your door.

“One of my favorite topics is essentially just returning back to how food used to be made,” Armstrong says. “One-hundred fifty years ago, the dietary linoleic acid (LA) was naturally low, so people would just go to the grocery store and their food options didn't have a bunch of linoleic acid.

It was, in my opinion, probably easier to source food back then. And now we're inundated with not just PUFAs from vegetable oils, but also from animal products as well, because some animals are just vehicles for vegetable oils. The statement that ‘You are what you eat’ has never been more true because of how much the agriculture industry has changed over the last 100 years.”

Modern Diet Is Loaded With Harmful LA

Around the advent of the American Civil War, in the 1870s or so, is when they developed the technology to extract oils from seeds. Before then, the average LA intake was less than 5 grams a day, and likely closer to 2 or 3 grams.

Today, most people exceed that by the time they’re done with breakfast. As noted by Armstrong, eggs and bacon are two sources that, today, have very high LA levels, thanks to being fed an unnatural and PUFA-rich diet.

Eggs and bacon are typically perceived as healthy food options, especially among carnivores, but what most are missing is that LA is a metabolic poison that impairs, if not destroys, mitochondrial function and, as such, conventional eggs and bacon is a recipe for ill health. The good news is there are ways to raise eggs and pork that aren’t loaded with LA, which is what Armstrong specializes in.

“I think the best thing someone can do for their health is track their food on chronometer for five days and just pay attention to the amount of PUFAs in their diet. If you can push that as low as possible, I think you're going to see improvements in your health pretty quickly,” Armstrong says.

“And you can't achieve that going out to eat at restaurants. You can't achieve that eating a ton of nuts and seeds. You can't achieve that eating conventional bacon, conventional egg yolks, conventional drumsticks and things like that.

You have to really pay attention to the types of fat you're eating. It's kind of eye-opening that food sourcing really does matter in today's day and age, because the abundance we have in these high-PUFA, high-LA options is kind of alarming and frightening.”

Fortunately, the word is starting to get out. There’s now an app called Seed Oil Scout that identifies which restaurants cook their food in seed oils and which do not. Unless you go to a seed oil-free restaurant, you can be virtually guaranteed they’re cooking in seed oil, because it’s far cheaper than cooking in butter.

Why Healthy Eggs Are so Important

Chicken eggs are an enormously important part of our diet because they contain nutrients that are really difficult to get from other foods, choline in particular. Choline, found in ample amounts in organic, pastured egg yolks, was first discovered in 1862.¹

It was officially recognized as an essential nutrient for human health by the Institute of Medicine in 1998.² Since then, we’ve learned that choline has a long list of health benefits. For example, it’s required for:

Healthy fetal development³

Optimal brain function, memory and cognition

Nervous system health — Choline is necessary for making acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in healthy muscle, heart and memory performance

Cell structure — Choline is needed for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, better known as lecithin, which is required for the composition of cell membranes

Mitochondrial function⁴

Metabolism (energy production)

DNA synthesis

Methylation reactions⁵

Cardiovascular health

Liver health, as choline is needed to carry cholesterol from your liver; a choline deficiency could result in excess fat and cholesterol buildup⁶

Research⁷ published in 2020 also concluded that choline has anti-inflammatory activity and can be particularly useful in those with insulin resistance and/or metabolic syndrome. And, while a choline supplement was good in this regard, eggs were far better.

Choline Is Required for Energy Production

Armstrong comments:

“In terms of maximal nutrients in square footage, I don't know if you can beat egg yolk. Mother nature designed the egg to protect the yolk because the yolk is the most precious part of the egg. The shell acts as a physical barrier to protect the yolk, and the egg white is very antimicrobial, antibacterial in nature to protect the integrity of the yolk.

So the egg yolk is a nutrient powerhouse. It has all of the nutrients needed to grow a chicken. From this little yolk, an entire chicken is grown. How beautiful is that? It's incredible. It contains a large amount of B vitamins, and all of the B vitamins are necessary cofactors in the steps to produce energy in your body.

If you don't have enough of the micronutrients, if you're micronutrient deficient, your metabolism won't be as robust, because you don't have the necessary cofactors to generate ATP. Choline, I think, is one of the most important nutrients that a lot of people are deficient in. In carbohydrate metabolism, carbohydrate oxidation, choline is a necessary step in energy production.”

Assuming you’re not getting choline from other sources, you need to eat at least two, probably three and more, egg yolks per day. I eat six yolks a day, but only one egg white, because I work out and walk at least five to six miles a day. The more active you are, the more choline you need to support a higher metabolic rate.

Armstrong recommends trying honey cured egg yolk. Simply place the egg yolk in a glass container and pour enough honey over the yolk to cover it. Let it cure overnight. This will firm up the yolk a bit, making it less runny. You can just scoop it out of the honey, eat it raw, and then reuse the honey to cure more yolk.

Mad Science — Transforming the Fatty Acid Profiles of Animals

As explained by Armstrong, livestock are classified into two types: ruminant animals, which includes cows, lamb, goats and deer, and monogastric animals such as chickens and swine (and humans).

Ruminant animals have a complex digestive system consisting of, typically, four stomachs. Their digestion involves a variety of microbes that help break down the food they eat. These digestive microbes also convert dietary PUFAs into saturated fats through a process called biohydrogenation. As a result, ruminant animal products tend to be lower in PUFA, even if they’re fed a high-PUFA diet.

Monogastric animals have just one stomach, and whatever fats they eat is translated into their tissues. This is why conventionally raised chicken meat and pork are so high in PUFAs.

Unfortunately, the mainstream is so convinced that saturated fat is bad and PUFAs are good that they’re creating technologies to manipulate the fatty acid composition in ruminant animals. In other words, they’re using technology to turn the saturated fats in ruminant animals into PUFAs, which is nothing short of a disaster.

“That's why I think conversations like this are so important, to spread awareness and empower those who are in food production,” Armstrong says. “Our farmers need to be educated on why we need to go back to traditional farming styles, traditional feed programs, so we can return the natural fatty acid profiles that mother nature created.”

While monogastric feed diets are already very high in PUFAs, conventional farmers are also using dried distillers grains (DDGs), made from the waste products of the ethanol industry, which is driving the PUFA content in monogastric livestock even higher.

“There are studies showing that for pigs fed DDGs, their fat composition has the same amount of PUFAs as canola oil. So we're literally transforming the fatty acid profile in our agriculture system for the worst,” Armstrong says.

This wouldn’t be quite as bad if it was given to ruminant animals, as they have the capacity to convert the PUFAs into saturated fat. Alas, they’re giving it to monogastric animals like chickens and pigs, turning those foods into something that can only harm your health in the long run. Unfortunately, there are no regulations around the use of DDGs, so we don’t know how much is being used, or who’s using it.

Barriers to Healthier Foods

Equally unfortunate is that farmers like Armstrong, who understands nutrition and wants to raise animals right, are held back in more ways than one. She can’t take advantage of government subsidized feed, for example. She also doesn’t have the benefit of scale. She explains:

“The biggest obstacle is the feed, because the big feed mills are so efficient in what they do that they can bring in massive quantities of the feed ingredients at the same time. They have that economy of scale that is really hard to have at a single farm level.

We're not bringing in truckloads of feed ingredients at a time. And the more trucking that you have in creating your feed automatically raises the prices. Anyone involved in trucking knows how expensive trucking is right now. So if there's this system set in place where massive quantities of corn and soy are trucked in at the same time, and a bunch of feed is made at the same time, that's where you can cut a lot of costs.

That's good thing, that's advantageous. But right now, I don't have enough volume to push those types of economies of scale. It's just going to be more expensive as we're starting to grow and grow.

But the more farmers that we bring into our partnership ... if we develop hubs in our area and we can create those economies of scale a little bit better ... bringing feed to a general hub, that's where we can start to lower costs over time and can get more and more competitive with the prices at the grocery store.

If anyone were to log onto my website right now and see what the price per egg box is, they'd probably be a little bit alarmed, but I'm not making a ton of money on the eggs. It is my goal to lower the costs significantly over time. We are actively making steps towards that.

One thing, for example, is we're optimizing box dimensions so that we can get better shipping rates. Another thing is our feed, hopefully in the next couple months, will be delivered in semi-trucks with an auger arm. We've been doing feed bags for years now, and that's so expensive.

The fact that now we have the option of a semi-truck, that's going to save significant costs on delivery of the feed. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I think one of the coolest things that can happen is connecting feed crop farmers with livestock farmers.

We need people to grow our feed. I don't have enough land to grow the crops for our livestock. We're not going to have feed that's sprayed with pesticides. That's unacceptable on our end. So how can we have a network of row crop farmers working with livestock farmers to produce low-PUFA, low linoleic acid food grown as nature intended?

We’re currently working on those steps behind the scenes, as well as to directly connect with the people growing the feed as well, because that's a very integral part of this ... We're just trying to replicate what mother nature did 100, 200 years ago.

It doesn't matter if the eggs are [labeled] ‘organic;’ if the chickens are still fed organic soy, it's still going to have high linoleic acid. Organic soybeans don't have low linoleic acid. A conventional and organic soybean is the same.”

Livestock Guardians

If you want to raise your own chickens for eggs, you not only need to ensure you’re feeding them correctly, but you must also protect them from predators. I’ve had at least 50 chickens killed by predators. Armstrong has now hooked me up with a livestock guard dog, a Great Pyrenees puppy named Joy. We discuss the reason for using this breed in the interview. Of course, once you have a guard dog or two, you also need to make sure you’re feeding them correctly as well.

“Feeding them what they are biologically designed to eat is very important so that they can function at their best and protect the chickens,” Armstrong says. “So, an integral part of what we do here, and this is just something that I started way back in the beginning when costs were so high.

How do I reduce costs in a way that doesn't sacrifice quality? And I was like, well, for some reason the butcher shop by me has a bunch of extra organ scraps because humans don't like organs and they've got meat scraps. So for the last two and a half years, I've gone every week to a local butcher shop, picked up beef meat scraps and beef organs ... that I feed to our chickens.

And the nice thing is that the livestock guardian dogs just munch right along the chickens. So, they get bones, they get calcium, they get all the connective tissue around the bones, they get the muscle meat, they get the organs.

And so that's an integral part of something that I'll try to set up for all of the farmers in our network — connecting to a local butcher because there is so much food waste. It allows the chickens to get a protein boost. It allows the chickens to get a nutrient intake boost, and it really helps the livestock guardian dogs as well.

I just go weekly to pick it up. I tip him and I also bring trash bags, and it's a great relationship because it costs the butcher money for garbage trucks to come take these scraps to landfill.”

Why Ashley Was Able to Make Such Brave and Courageous Choices

Ashley had been on a quest for health and wellness her whole life. She dabbled with various fad diets, but never was able to identify what truly resonated with her. While attending graduate school for her Ph.D., she chased a path in prosthetics, 3D printing and control engineering, believing it to be her passion.

Yet, deep down, she felt a disconnect, realizing she was more influenced by others' expectations than her own desires. Despite her initial excitement, a grand sense of fulfillment completely eluded her.

Her true calling came unexpectedly through her fascination with regenerative agriculture. Volunteering at local farms opened her eyes to a world where food production not only nourishes humans, but also revitalizes the soil and respects livestock. This newfound passion consumed her free time, igniting a Joy within her that academic pursuits never could.

Her story also illustrates the consequences of making similar choices. Not only did she radically improve the quality of her own life, but her choice allowed her to create a business that provides the finest commercially produced eggs in the United States. Her brand is Golden Nuggets because that is what they are.

They literally are golden nuggets of nutrition that are rarely available outside of growing your own chickens. Her eggs help people avoid one of the most potent metabolic toxins in their diet. So not only can you improve your own life by making brave and courageous choices, but you can also improve the lives of many others.

It is highly probable that her story will resonate very powerfully with you and offer both insight and inspiration as she describes her journey to reclaim her Joy.

By setting aside the advice of others to unearth her own truths, she embodies the essence of bravery and courage. Choosing to walk away from years of hard work influenced by the expectations of others, she exemplifies a profound example of someone rediscovering her Joy. It's difficult to envision a more fitting example of a return to Joy.

Very similar to Ashley, I also made a courageous and brave decision a few days after our interview that will have profound implications on the future exciting trajectory of this site. I suspect it will radically increase your ability to experience Joy.

In the video segment above, Ashley reflects on the timeline of her decision, considering how just a few years ago, her health was far from ideal. She struggled with mitochondrial energy production, and her body was in a low thyroid state. Your body prioritizes energy for essential tasks, and decision-making requires significant energy.

Your brain consumes about 20% of your body's energy despite being only 2% of its weight. Ashley simply would not have had enough cellular energy to supply her brain to make a decision like she did unless she improved her health. Factors like excess linoleic acid, estrogen and endotoxins were depleting her cellular energy, which is crucial for making energy-intensive decisions.

Her transformation underscores the power of nurturing your health to gain the energy necessary for making significant life changes. Avoiding dietary pitfalls like seed oils played a key role in this journey, enabling her to tap into a newfound capacity for brave decisions — a testament to the profound impact of regaining cellular energy on her ability to navigate life's choices.

It is my sincere desire and hope that you consider her journey to inspire and empower you to make similar choices in your own life and reclaim the Joy that you deserve. Imagine experiencing the nearly limitless Joy that Ashley has with her 1,000 chickens and four Livestock Guard Dogs below.