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INTEGRATIVE HEALTH EDUCATION
A monthly review
of 150 medical journals
Volume 9
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Number 9
� October 2008
EDITOR’S NOTE
Dirt Poor
The September issue of the National
Geographic journal has two articles on our dwindling top soil: “Our
Good Earth: the future rests on the soil beneath our feet”
(page 80) and “Dirt Poor: Haiti has lost its soil” (page
108.) They are stark reminders of what could happen to our own
topsoil in the USA if we continue on the path we are on. As “city
slickers” we have become detached from the realities of food
production and sustainability. We have been conditioned to
depend and trust those who mass-produce food to maximize
profits, not our health. (See below.)
Big Food pretty much dictates to farmers
how they are to run their farms and what crops to plant. If Joe
Farmer does not go along, there are other farmers who step in,
often cutting corners that affect food and soil quality. For
example, Walmart has told farmers that it will not pay more than
10% surcharge for organic crops. This does not fairly compensate
the efforts that farmers put into organic farming. So, what are
they going to do? They will role over and go along with what Big
Food wants or other farmers will step in and take the
deal.
Short-term mass-production hurts the land
in the long run. Pesticides and planting only crops that are
subsidized by the Farm Bill (corn and soy) also end up hurting
the consumer because they are turned into cheap High Fructose
Corn Syrup and Trans-fats. People are economically driven to eat
the cheaper foods packaged full of chemicals like preservatives
and colorants and who knows what else. Food processing also
takes out many nutrients; for example grains lose significant
amounts of fiber and micronutrients like vitamin B complex. (See
below.)
This whole mess is part of the problem that
has driven our economy to its knees. Agrobusiness operates under
the same shady principles that rule Wall Street. For that
matter, so do Big Pharma and Insurance companies.
What can we do? In my opinion we need to
learn to be self-sufficient ASAP.
Start by buying local produce and
meat raised by people you can look in the eyes when you ask
them how they are raising crops and animals. Do they use
pesticides? Do they truly allow their poultry to be free-range?
Do they give their animals antibiotics, hormones or steroids?
Local farmers have a stronger commitment to safeguarding their
lands’ topsoil. Consuming local food also saves the environment
by cutting down on the fuel to import it from far away places.
Think about it: as much as I like bananas like everyone else, it
no longer makes sense to eat them unless you live in Florida or
Hawaii.
It turns out that local food has no hidden
costs like mass-produced food does, so it is cheaper to eat the
former. Besides, fuel may soon be so expensive that we may be
forced to eat local, anyway.
If you want to read more about these issues
check out “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara
Kingsolver (HarperCollins, 2007,) “Seeds of Deception:
exposing industry and government lies about the safety of the
genetically modified foods you are eating” by Jeffrey Smith
(Yes! Books, 2003) and “Collapse: how societies choose to
fail or succeed” by Jared Diamond (Viking, 2005.) If you are
thinking that “Collapse” couldn’t happen in the USA you may have
forgotten about the dustbowl in Oklahoma during the Great
Depression. Check out the movie “Grapes of Wrath” if you
don’t want to read the book.
Hugo Rodier, M.D.
B careful
We have a significant lack of B vitamins in
our society from milling grains, soil depletion and
gut-absorption problems (anti-acid pills, antibiotics, seizure
and diabetes medications, alcohol, tobacco, heavy metals, etc.)
It turns out that some of us are genetically more at risk of
serious consequences, which are even more likely when we eat
poorly. Food determines how your genes are copied. Bad food
makes you more susceptible to DNA mutations leading to cancer
and poor DNA copying making chronic diseases more likely (“Genome
Health Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics: diagnosis and
nutritional treatment of genome damage on an individual basis,”
J. Food Chemical Toxicology 2008;46:1365.)
We are also more vulnerable to
environmental toxins when we are so genetically predisposed. We
have even more trouble detoxifying chemicals in the environment
that are causing DNA mutations, like the plastic in chemicals
Bisphenol, BPA. Mothers who are so genetically predisposed
must get plenty of vitamin B in their diets to fuel methylation
in the Liver to get toxins out of their body. Then, their
children will have a lower risk of getting neurological and
metabolic problems (“Maternal Nutrient Supplementation
Counteracts BPA-induced DNA Hypomethylation in Early Development,”
J. Proc Nat’l Acad of Science 2007;104:13056.) BPA also
increases the risk of heart attacks and diabetes in adults for
the same reasons (JAMA 2008;300:1353.)
Now you know why Refined grains make you
obese: intra-individual changes in DNA methylation
(indispensable for copying DNA) are worse when we lack B complex
in our diets (JAMA 2008;300:2877.) No wonder that by
supplementing B vitamins like folic acid, B-12, choline and
betaine lowered the risk of mice becoming obese (International
J. of Obesity, July 2008.)
“The dose does not make the poison”
As an environmental doc I have been worried
that this old dogma has been around far too long. Why? It has
been financially beneficial to hide the extent of chemicals in
the environment harming our health (Book “The Secret History
of the War on Cancer,” Devra Davis; 2008.) Since the 16th
century most people have maintained that “the dose makes the
poison,” meaning that any substance may be harmful at high
doses, even water and oxygen. The FDA has operated under this
antiquated dogma since its inception, despite solid evidence
that some chemicals may be toxic at very small doses,
too.
The “U” shaped-curve of toxic
exposure is now felt to be a more accurate approximation of what
is going on: at very small doses (the beginning of the “U”
curve”) chemicals may escape detection and detoxification in our
body so that no initial reaction is seen when exposed. But, in
the long run (the end of the “U” curve) said tiny exposures may
cause significant damage. The same toxins at a more detectable
mid-range level may then be properly eliminated (the bottom of
the “U” curve) before damage occurs.
Skin-deep dermatology advise?
I am sure you have heard that food has
nothing to do with acne.
Hopefully we will soon put to rest that
disturbing notion. (“Diet-Acne Association
Gains Footing in Literature,” J. Family Practice News, June
15th, 2008, p15.) Sadly, many people, especially
teenagers would like to believe they may eat anything they want
and still have “totally awesome” skin. Simply put, our
skin is a major detoxifying organ that will struggle to clear
the garbage we eat, particularly when we are having intestinal
problems like IBS and constipation. (“Skin Problems May
Provide Clues to GI Disease,” J. Family Practice News, March
15th, 2008, page 25.) In those cases the skin ends up
picking up the slack in the “exhaust-pipe”
department.
The article “Acne Vulgaris: a disease of
western civilization” (J. Archives of Dermatology
2002;138:1584) hits it right on the head. So, the more processed
food we eat the more likely we are to have a whole lot of
problems besides acne. Think of your skin as a reflection of
what is going on inside your body. If we get acne we are at risk
of other diseases with time.
Many feel that milk is the main
culprit (J. American Academy of Dermatology 2008;58:787.) I
agree. It is full of hormones, steroids antibiotics and
who-knows what else. Every one of those chemicals may stimulate
the growth of bacteria on our skin. Besides, milk has too much
fat and sugar, which also exacerbate acne. In fact, eating the
right sugars or a low glycemic diet improves acne (J.
American Academy of Dermatology 2007;57:247.) Eating the right
fats, that is nuts, avocados, fish, olives and avoiding
Trans-fats and saturated fats also improves our skin.
No doubt you may be told that acne is a
hormonal issue: absolutely. The more refined sugars we eat the
more hyperinsulinemic we become. The extra insulin produced
upsets ovarian and testicular function leading to hormonal
imbalances that increase toxicity issues particularly in the
skin and gut. This has been widely documented. In its worst form
it is called PCOS in women.
Try to stay away from antibiotics to treat
acne; they destroy intestinal flora, which has been associated
with a host of problems, including Lupus as kids grow up (J.
Chest 1999;115:1471.) Review previous issues to learn about
other items that help acne, like the bush Berberine.
There are no shortcuts: healthy skin comes
from healthy diets. Anybody who tells you differently is trying
to sell you something. At least that is what the masked man sort
of said in “The Princess Bride.”
Telegraphed articles
Stress in pregnancy and cesarean sections increases risk of
asthma in kids. Exposure to micro-organisms in birth canal
improves kids’ immune system
JAMA 2008;300:29
Prebiotic oligosaccharides (fiber) in newborns reduces
allergies in 1st two years of life; fiber feeds
probiotics or healthy organisms who are key to the immune
system.
J. Nutrition 2008;38:1091
Vitamin E and resveratrol (nutrient I grapes and peanuts)
inhibit human breast cancer cell growth.
J. Nutrition and Cancer 2008;60:401
Melatonin 6 mg helps reflux
J. Alternative Therapies 2008;14:54
Citrus pectin (fiber) chelates lead in hospitalized kids
with toxic levels
J. Alternative Therapies 2008;14:34
“The
Fragile Mind: early life stress and inflammatory disease.”
Stress in children may predispose them to inflammatory diseases
when they grow older.
J. Endocrinology 2008;149:2724
“Progesterone
and Estrogen Regulate Oxidative Metabolism in Brain
Mitochondria.” Translation: your hormones affect your
brain-energy function.
J. Endocrinology 2008;149:3167
“Progesterone
and Progestin Receptors in the Brain: the neglected
ones,”
J. Endocrinology 2008;149:2737
“Nutritional
Hormesis.” Pesticides and food additives and
preservatives even in small doses have a negative impact on
our bodies.
European J. Clinical Nutrition 2007;61:147
Hyperactivity in children has been associated with chemicals
above.
British Medical Journal 2008;336:1144
A
low glycemic index diet, fiber (fenofibrate) and the antioxidant
CoQ10 (it improves mitochondrial function) help the heart
pump blood more efficiently.
J. Diabetes Care 2008;31:1502
“Fatty
liver” is now seen in about 50% of children over the age of
5 who are obese and in 10% of all children: “Experts predict
those who have [fatty liver] as a kid may need a transplant by
their 30s and 40s.” Amazing…
American Liver Foundation report in Salt Lake
Tribune, September 8th, 2008.
High sugar in the blood associated with more clotting
problems.
J. Diabetes Care 2008;31:1590
Vitamin K improves bone density.
AJCN 2008;88:356
Omega 3 oils lower risk of Macular Degeneration
J. Ophthalmology 2008;126:826
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