Tags: BP, Kevin Costner, oil clean up
God in the Form of Kevin Costner Saves the Gulf Posted on June 15th, 2010
If you thought heartthrob actor Kevin Costner was just a pretty face, read on. For weeks, we’ve had BP oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico with no help in sight. Save for dismal attempts at keeping oil off the shore with a series of ineffectual boom emplacements, little is being done to rectify the situation. Enter Kevin Costner, the yummy hunk and star of such great movies as Bull Durham and Field of Dreams to prove that not only can he act but he can invent. And invent he has – a slick machine that uses centrifuge to separate oil from water in a big way! In such a big way that PB has ordered 32 of his oil and water separators to help clean up the gulf mess. How quickly, you say – well according to Costner, these puppies can process 200 gallons of oil soaked water per minute. If you build it he will come. Kevin has come to clean up this mess – Bravo for him! Bravo for inspiration and practical invention.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/06/09/dnt.sylvester.costner.oil.cnn?iref=allsearch
Tags: Bisphenol, BPA, environmental disaster, plastic
BPA is not an Oil Company Posted on June 10th, 2010
If you thought that BP was the latest environmental disaster, take a look at BPA – Bisphenol A. Used in manufacturing poly carbonate plastics and epoxy resins, BPA is found in plastic goggles, baby bottles, composites and sealers used in dentistry and in the plastic tubing attached to IV bags. BPA is showing up 300 times the normal amounts in premature babies and in the umbilical cords of newborns. These compounds are used to make plastic stronger and more pliable. Bisphenol A has a similar structure to estrogen. Recent animal studies have shown that BPA even at low levels can cause cancer in the prostate gland and breast. It is also linked to disruption in brain chemistry, accelerated puberty, low sperm counts and male genital malformations. What to do? If you know your newborn has been exposed to BPA consult with a professional homeopath for the appropriate use of Lycopodium for the liver or homeopathic detox drops which can be added to breast milk or water. Limit exposures to any plastic items such as food wraps, plastic baby bottles or plastic toys known to contain BPA. Heated plastics increase the risks for BPA exposure. For adults, increase consumption of organic vegetables and fiber which is believed to detoxify estrogen. Indol 3 Carbinol (DIM), turmeric and green tea extract are all well-known estrogen detoxifiers. Re-test blood for BPA levels within 6 months. Plastics are a way of life. We enjoy their convenience and low cost. But they come with a price.
Tags: allergies
Pollen Misery Posted on June 4th, 2010
If you’re like millions of allergy-sufferers, this is not a good time of year for you. Bad enough that the temperature is rising and the mold count is high, the trees are in full bloom and you can’t see the leaves for the tears in your eyes. You are not alone. According to Richard Lockey, the director of Allergy and Immunology at the University of South Florida, 20 percent of the nation’s population is affected by pollen and 5 percent of them need some sort of medical intervention. Symptoms can include runny nose, sneezing, hives and wheezing. People stay home from work because their eyes are so swollen. It’s like having a bad cold for several weeks. What’s a person to do? Take the burden off the immune system. Take everything out of the equation that could be considered “offending” – even the cat! Try to avoid mucous forming foods like dairy products and wheat products during allergy season. Give cheese and yogurt a wide berth. Consider taking the feathers off the bed and replacing bedding with hypoallergenic, polyester fiberfill pillows and comforters. Homeopathic remedies such as mold, yeast and dust drops can be useful. I have my own formulation called “No Wheeze” which has proved to be a life-saver for many. Use an air purifier during allergy season. Consider an interesting form of treatment called N.A.E.T., an allergy desensitizing technique devised by Dr Devi Nambudripad. If used selectively, I have seen it work for certain allergies.
Tags: anti aging, BHRT, estrogen, plant based estrogen, Women
The Estrogen Dilemma Posted on May 31st, 2010
If you’re a post-menopausal woman like me you are interested in staying young, youthful and mentally sharp. I am delighted to know a brilliant researcher Dr Roberta Brinton whose seminal work involves the subject of estrogen and memory decline in post-menopausal women. You can imagine my surprise when I opened up the New York Times Magazine last weekend to find an article about estrogen featuring Dr Brinton’s work. Roberta Brinton has been a guest speaker at several of my “Anti-Aging Conferences.” Her information is spellbinding. Why just hearing her talk about ‘shooting mitochrondria’ can get anyone excited. Brinton is a brain scientist and her passion is estrogen and its relationship to brain health. Her work is important because, according to Brinton 68 percent of Alzheimer’s patients are women and 70 percent of women are “estrogen dependent.” I am one of them. At age 60 it was evident that I was not functioning well without estrogen. Now 6 years later I have energy, great mental clarity and a zest and enthusiasm enviable by many of my younger counterparts. Bio-identical, plant based hormones have improved my quality of life. Brinton and other scientists claim that estrogen improves brain function when it is added to healthy tissue, but according to the same researchers if it is added to cells that are sick or damaged, estrogen does not strengthen or repair. Therefore, according to Brinton, taking plant-based estrogen, post menopause, may be potentially useless or harmful to brain cells. Taking estrogen is every woman’s dilemma. Do you take it and feel better and weigh the cancer risk or do you not take it and decline into age-related dementia? The debate continues.
Do You Know About Henrietta Lacks? Posted on May 19th, 2010
Henrietta Lacks was a poor woman living in rural Maryland. In 1951 Henrietta was diagnosed with cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore. When Lacks arrived at the hospital complaining about a “knot inside her, the doctors who treated her, had been trying to grow cancer cells in petri dishes for some time. All of their attempts failed until the arrival of Henrietta Lacks. The cells from her tumor were harvested without her permission, grew and multiplied like “crabgrass” and their descendants are still growing to this day creating major medical breakthroughs. Millions of these cells have changed hands – for big bucks. The HeLa line as it is termed, has been used for research on polio, salmonella, tuberculosis, herpes and many strains of cancer – all very exciting. Sadly, Henrietta Lacks descendants live in abject poverty, several of them ill and unable to pay their medical bills. For a mother as famous to the scientific world as Henrietta Lacks, surely someone could have seen fit to provide for the Lacks’ lineage. This well written book by Rebecca Sloot (Crown 2010) focuses on difficult issues such as the patient identity, issues of privacy and consent and who has access to treatment. This compelling tale is full of scientific intrigue that continues behind the hallowed bastions of research. But thanks to Henrietta, her cells have transformed medicine for us all.
Tags: Candida Albicans, sex, Women
50 Years on The Pill Posted on May 10th, 2010
Today is Mother’s day. Fifty years ago today marks the anniversary of that provocative announcement that introduced “the pill” to the world. That announcement gave women a new “take” on sex, fertility, career and their world. The pill meant reassurance and control. Today, a world without “the pill” is unimaginable. It is used to treat acne, skip periods, plan children and give women freedom in the bedroom. The pill took away the stigma of an unwanted pregnancy (in the 50’s and 60’s that was huge) and the fear of a back alley abortion or giving a baby up for adoption.
I remember being a nervous bride at the age of 21, and asking my doctor for a prescription for “the pill.” Ortho Novum it was called then – little pink pills in a round container. My time on the pill did not last long. In those days, there was far more estrogen than contained in the pill today. I felt bloated and miserable and stopped taking it after 3 months or so. Then there was the condom, spermicidal foam, the IUD, the diaphragm and a lot of prayer. Finally after the birth of my second child I had a tubal ligation. That sealed the vault on the worry of an unwanted pregnancy forever. Even though the pill has been around for 50 years and has opened a centuries-needed doorway to female equality in a man’s world, sexual liberation has come with a price. Girls are now “estrogenized” early and becoming sexually active in their teens, there are more sexually transmitted diseases and estrogen in birth control pills ends up in the drinking water. In 2008, Americans spent $3.5 billion on birth control pills and the one pill, Ortho Novum that was available when I was a young woman, has blossomed into 40 varieties today. There is no question the pill has enabled women to shed the shackles of a life sentence to domesticity. Thanks to the pill, we have emerged from the shadows of our significant others to find our own place in the world. There are issues with the pill however. There are side effects that range from annoying to dangerous, e.g. weight gain, acne, irritability, anxiety, memory loss, lost hair, yeast problems, etc. The dangerous ones are myocardial infarction, thromboembolic disease, cerebrovascular disease, carcinoma, metabolic disorders (diabetes), hypertension, headaches, amenorrhea, disorders of lactation, and infertility. The pill disrupts the female endocrine system because it contains synthetic estrogen. The dilemma that every woman faces, how to enjoy sex and not get pregnant continues – pill or no pill.
Tags: chemical sensitivites, Dr Oz, fungus
Dr OZ on Fungus Posted on May 8th, 2010
Finally a voice of reason on the topic of fungus! Who would have believed it – today on the Dr Oz Show, the good doctor himself with a petri dish of fungus in his hand explaining the dangers of fungus, parasites and pollens which can be found in the carpeting in your home, and get into your lungs and affect your nervous system. People don’t realize that these opportunistic organisms are harbored among the fibers of your carpet and pose a health risk not only to adults but to children as well. New carpeting and other materials also out-gas for many months exuding toxic fumes and adding to the body’s already over burdened chemical load. Recent studies show that new born infants can have up to 300 chemicals in their blood stream out of some 70,000 different chemicals found in our food, air and water supply. Dr Oz is shedding light on some of these important subjects, making health education fun and provocative.
Tags: birth control pill, Hormones, sex
More Women Are Ditching the Pill Posted on April 2nd, 2010
As more women become conscious about eating organic and going pesticide, hormone and chemical free, they are having second thoughts about using the Pill. A recent study by Texas A & M University showed that more women are making the choice to scrap the pill which suppresses ovulation and are looking for chemical-free birth control options. Ovulation is a powerful time for many women who claim they have more energy and libido when estrogen levels peak, according to Jerilyn Prior M.D., of the University of British Columbia. They are also more attractive to men during this time. Studies showed that lap dancers got more tips just prior to ovulation and that the cycles of women on the pill stayed relatively flat impacting their tastes in men. Estrogen from birth control pills is passed through the urine and ends up in sewage treatment plants, affecting fragile ecosystems and in some areas, turning male frogs into female. What are the solutions to this age-old dilemma for women worldwide? George Bush said abstinence – perish the thought! IUD’s are gaining popularity but these too can have negative side effects – heavy bleeding, pain at the insertion site and the problem of becoming dislodged and traveling to other parts of the body. Condoms and spermicidal foams are a more reliable but unromantic option. I recommend that women test their vaginal mucous, chart their cycles and use a nifty testing device that shows when a woman is fertile.
Tags: childhood obesity, diet, food, Jamie Oliver
Renegade Chef Tackles School Food Programs Posted on March 27th, 2010
Finally a voice of reason in a sea of poor food choices. Renegade British chef Jamie Oliver has the gumption to tackle America’s school food program. Oliver whose voice sounds like the adorable Geiko frog, does not mince words when he sheds light on the “slop” that is served on the lunch trays of the next generation of America’s Most Talented – our future leaders, movers and shakers – our kids! Oliver has taken it upon himself to change the way America eats. His new reality show Food Revolution is going to rock a few boats. Shocking statistics show that Huntington West Virginia has the highest obesity rate in the country. Oliver, slams what the typical American Mom is serving at home. Plus he challenges the usual lunch room fare – pizza, corn dogs, mac and cheese and yes – MILK – my bête noir and common allergen for most kids. Oliver put the focus on fresh ingredients and nutritious foods – freshly prepared. Jamie Oliver will be successful because he nailed the issue. The foods that we eat reflect our level of respect. He points out the current junk our kids consume indicates a lack of respect by parents and school nutritionists – in effect “child abuse.” According to Oliver a prisoner in a jail cell is given more nutritious foods than today’s kids. Bottom line: Respect your children and feed them foods that will build body and brain to create a generation of winners – not losers.
Tags: milk, Soy, thyroid, Today Show
Milk Alternatives Discussed on the Today Show Posted on March 23rd, 2010
Yesterday the popular Today Show featured a segment on alternative milks. Good for them. As a health educator with 27 years of experience dealing with people with food allergies, many people are allergic or intolerant to milk. This can manifest in watery eyes, weight gain or digestive and respiratory problems. It is interesting to note that Sweden has the highest milk consumption in the world and the highest rate of osteoporosis. Useful alternatives are rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk and coconut milk. I am not in favor of soy milk because of its estrogenic effect – an increase in estrogen activity. Soy consumption can suppress thyroid function plus block the absorption of iron and B vitamins. Soy infant formulas are now banned in Britain, Germany and Israel. Calcium is an essential mineral and necessary for bone health but calcium can also be derived from a variety of food sources such as nuts, vegetables and certain grains or a by taking a calcium supplement. The piece was well done and offered a wide range of milk alternatives but many of them also have downsides. Skim milk, one of the “featured milks” on the program also has its downside. It is still cows’ milk – minus the excess fat. Skim milk can still cause problems for milk-intolerant people. Find out the truth for yourself. First thing in the morning when your stomach is empty, sit down to a glass of milk, wait 20 minutes and note any of the reactions described above. This is called a “challenge test” which I describe in more detail in my book “The Body Knows – how to tune in to your body and improve your health.”