Articles by Donna DiMarco

We are all familiar with the dangers of pesticides in our foods.  Not only are they toxic to us, but many of these chemicals have shown up in the umbilical cord blood of  newborns.  That means the toxins are being passed on to the child before it even takes a breath.  Some people believe that the toxic exposure to the fetus may be one of the reasons for the rampant rise in autism and ADHD. 

Pesticide exposure puts us at risk of particular cancers.  The pesticides are similar in structure to hormones, especially estrogen; it is therefore linked to breast, prostate, uterus, and ovarian cancers.  They are called xenoestrogens and they wreak havoc on the body so they must be avoided as much as possible.

But in these economic times, many people are complaining that they can’t afford organic produce; we are all in the same boat.  Hopefully, this list put out by the Environmental Working Group may help you make better choices as to the pesticide exposure to the produce you purchase

Many people think that washing and peeling will help.
When the items in this list were tested it had  already been taken into account how people typically wash and prepare produce (for example, apples are washed before testing, bananas are peeled).  While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them.  Peeling may reduce exposure, but it will also remove the valuable nutrients and fiber with the peels.  The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

How This Guide Was Developed

The produce ranking was developed by analysts at the not for profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) based on the results of nearly 87,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2007.   Be sure to visit their sites at www.ewg.org.  and  www.foodnews.org

Keep in mind that this is only measuring the pesticide exposure. Many foods, like corn and soy are grown from genetically modified seeds that have weed killers placed within the genes of the plant so that the plant can withstand heavy chemical spraying.  The weeds will die but not the plants.  I avoid these also. 

Another thing is that organic produce is grown on nutrient rich soil, not depleted, over-worked soil with chemical fertilizers added, just enough to make the plants grow.  These nutrient deficiencies are reflected in the produce.  Just one more reason to buy organic if possible.

Be sure to choose from the bottom of the list; for example, conventional onions may not be as bad as conventional apples or peppers.  The last 15 items may be the safest to purchase, but if you want the items on the top 15, be sure to spend the money on the organic.  It isn’t worth the risk- your health is worth the extra money.

Stay Healthy!
Donna

RANK   FRUIT OR VEGGIE   SCORE

1.   (worst)  Peaches                       100 (highest pesticide load)
2.   Apples                                         93
3.   Sweet Bell Peppers                     83
4.   Celery                                         82
5.   Nectarines                                   81
6.   Strawberries                               80
7.   Cherries                                      73
8.   Kale                                            69
9.   Lettuce                                       67
10.   Grapes- Imported                     66    
11.   Carrots                                     63
12.   Pears                                        63
13.   Collard Greens                         60
14.   Spinach                                    58
15.   Potatoes                                  56
16.   Green Beans                           53
17.   Summer Squash                      53
18.   Hot Peppers                             51
19.   Cucumbers                             50
20.   Raspberries                            46
21.   Grapes – Domestic                 44
22.   Plums                                     44
23.   Oranges                                 44
24.   Cauliflower                             39
25.   Tangerine                              37
26.   Mushrooms                            36
27.   Bananas                                34
28.   Winter Squash                      34
29.   Cantaloupe                           33
30.   Cranberries                          33
31.   Honeydew Melon                  30
32.   Grapefruit                             29
33.   Sweet Potatoes                   29
34.   Tomatoes                             29
35.   Broccoli                                 28
36.   Watermelon                         26
37.   Papaya                                20
38.   Eggplant                              20
39.   Cabbage                              17
40.   Kiwi                                      13
41.   Sweet Peas-Frozen              10
42.   Asparagus                            10
43.   Mango                                   9
44.   Pineapple                              7
45.   Sweet Corn - Frozen             2
46.   Avocado                                 1
47. (best)  Onions                        1 (lowest pesticide load)

Too many women still confuse detection with prevention.  They are NOT the same.  Mammography can only detect cancer - there is no way it can prevent it once it’s already in the breast.  This problem is perpetuated by the media, which persists in sending out this wrong-headed message.  Further, mammography is also being promoted as a one-size fits all screening tool, even though we know that it does not work as well on women who have dense breast tissue, which is a common condition for premenopausal women and women who still continue to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Women are being lulled into a false sense of security by merely having a mammogram. Ionizing radiation is the only thing we know that definitive causes cancer (think Hiroshima). Radiation is cumulative in the body and is stored in the breast tissue. For some women, a sonogram may be a better screening tool. Since most breast cancers have a long latency period before they are diagnosed (10-20 years), some breast cancers have been caused by the amount of radiation a woman has been exposed to over many years. What is even more problematic is the idea that younger women with either a genetic mutation or a significant family history are encouraged to be screened beginning in their 30’s.  We simply don’t know that exposing these women to radiation so early will be the key that unlocks the gene that triggers a breast cancer. 

Here’s the criteria I use to determine the effectiveness of a mammogram. I tell women to get a copy of the radiologist’s report.  If the radiologist indicates that the breast tissue is very dense, then the benefit of mammography is limited.  By the way, density of breast tissue may change with a women’s menstrual cycle.  That’s why the best time for a woman to have a mammogram is after she’s had her period, but of course, no one tells women this either. Because of this, I created a handout “Getting the Best Mammogram”. I also created another handout “What Type of Screening Is Right For You?”, to help women make sense out of which is the best screening tool for them. I will gladly email these handouts to anyone who is interested.

I encourage women to educate themselves about breast cancer. Awareness of breast cancer is not the same as understanding the underlying issues. Sadly, education is not high on the list of priorities for doctors or most national breast cancer organizations that merely espouse conventional screening and treatment modalities. In these difficult times of managed care, it’s incumbent for all women to be proactive and engaged about their healthcare.
_______________

Sandra Blank
Executive Director
Florida Breast Cancer Resource Network
Email: bcfbcrn@aol.com

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is the time of year we hear how important it is for all women to examine their own breasts; and for those in the high risk category or in their forties it is the time where we are encouraged to begin getting mammograms. 

The premise is that if we detect breast cancer early enough we could prevent dying.  I don’t know about you but I think that finding out you have something is NOT preventing it.

Did you ever notice that we rarely hear about how to prevent breast cancer?  Think about it, how many times this month have you read that there is a correlation to iodine deficiency and breast cancer?  How many times have you been encouraged to have adequate vitamin D levels to prevent breast cancer?  According to a study in the Annals of New York Academy of Science, breast cancer death rates in white women also rise with distance from the equator and are highest in areas with long winters (Ann N Y Acad Sci 1999;889:107-19.). 

What about the fact that obesity, especially belly fat, acts to produce more estrogen, which increases the risk of breast cancer in some women?  I haven’t heard that mentioned this month.  I’ve also never heard any organization warn against hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills, both which are known to increase the risk of breast cancer.  This month have you read that many countries are banning the use of Bovine Growth Hormone from the food supply? 

I’ve never heard it mentioned that that the use of pesticides, plastics, and other xenoestrogens (toxic estrogen mimickers) can lead to additional hormone imbalance.

What about the toxic load from our polluted environment that may activate a genetic predisposition to breast cancer?  Have you been warned about this lately?  Have you been warned about the hazards of toxic cosmetic ingredients, air fresheners, paints, dry cleaning, cleaning products, etc? 

Let me clarify myself; detecting cancer early increases the chances of survival up to 98% but this is NOT prevention.  And as I mentioned in a previous article, mammograms increases the risk of breast cancer significantly, so why expose yourself to a carcinogen to prevent the disease?

Maybe if some of the money used in developing more ways to slash, cut and burn breast cancer victims were earmarked to telling the public about what really causes breast cancer, we would see the numbers decline.

A great resource is The Florida Breast Cancer Resource Network.  Sandra Blank, the Executive Director, is a wealth of information.  If you, or anyone you know, has been told they have breast cancer I suggest you give her a call at (800) 696-8349.
 

Let me suggest an important book by Dr Sherry Rogers called Detox or Die.  Dr. Rogers outlines a direct relationship between toxins and cancers of all kinds.  This is an important book for those who seek health and wellness.  She also gives you step by step instructions how to identify toxins, where to look, what to avoid and how to detox your life.

Stay Healthy,
Donna

I was sent this link to pass on.  I believe not enough women understand about inflammatory breast cancer.  This news brief does a good job of getting the word out.  Please view it and have all your female friends view it as well.

http://komonews.s3.amazonaws.com/ibc/komo_ibc.wmv

Thanks,

Donna

By Donna DiMarco

Remember when we all used IODINE? Every family had a bottle in the medicine cabinet. I remember always being afraid of the burning sensation it caused so when given the choice, I opted for mercurochrome. (We didn’t know about mercury toxicity then.) What we did know was that iodine was the best to kill germs but mercurochrome didn’t hurt. What happened? How did iodine, a historically safe substance, become a bad guy while mercury, a known toxin, is still being used in dental amalgams and certain vaccines?

Back in 1948, Wolff and Chaikoff published a paper based on a study they did on rats. Basically, they stated that after injecting a certain threshold amount (20 to 35 ug percent) of potassium iodide into the rat’s peritoneum, the iodine would no longer be bound to the thyroid, causing hypothyroidism and goiter (Wolff-Chaikoff Effect). They erroneously concluded that the inorganic iodine was stopping the thyroid from working properly. This was totally untrue. The truth is that the thyroid iodine level reached its maximum. No more was needed. Wolff and Chaikoff went on to conclude that if it happened in rats, it should happen in humans as well. And so began the bad rap for iodine. Dr. Guy Abraham, M.D. calls it “Medical Iodophobia …the unwarranted fear of using and recommending inorganic, non-radioactive iodine/iodide within the range known from collective experience of three generations of clinicians to be the safest and most effective amounts for treating symptoms and signs of iodine/iodide deficiency (12.5-50 mg./day)”

But history and experience tells a different story. Way back in the early 1900’s, the mid-western states noticed an increased incidence of goiter in their population. But some determined scientists came across the research of both Coindet and Boussingault who each identified the correlation between iodine and goiter. As a result, in 1924 the state of Michigan, decided to add iodine to salt so the population would have a minimal source in their daily diet. The results were amazing. The incidence of goiter was reduced by 75% by 1928 and by 1951, less than .5% of school-aged children had goiter. Shortly after, the rest of the United States and Switzerland followed suit and the incidence of goiter reduced significantly, along with cretinism and myxedema. What a great solution! Or was it?

This minute amount of iodine prevented goiter but what about all the other cells and organs that need iodine? The rest of the body was never considered. If a small amount eliminated goiter, that was all the body needed. Not true! This marvelous body of ours will do what it can to survive. Like a wilted flower that perks up after a little watering, the thyroid stops complaining (goiter symptoms) with a little iodine, but that small amount is insufficient for growth and wellness. In fact, we later learned that iodine is needed all over the body. The organs with the greatest demand quickly light up when radioactive iodine 131 is injected into the body.

As a result, the RDA was set at the amount needed to prevent goiter without concern for other body tissue requirements. Those levels still stand at 150 mcg/day for adult men and women, 220 mcg/day during pregnancy and 290 mcg/day during lactation. Still believing that goiter prevention was the gold standard for determining sufficient intake, little was done to insure sufficient iodine for the masses until the1960’s when iodine was added to baked goods as an anti-caking agent.

This provided a great iodine supply since 1 slice of bread supplied up to 150 ug of iodine (the RDA‘s magic number!). Since so many people ate bread even if they didn’t eat salt, all was well.

Not so fast! In 1980’s some brilliant minds felt that the amount of iodine in baked goods might be dangerous so they took all the iodine out and replaced it with bromide. Bromide is a halogen (from bromos, the Greek word for “stench” due to its strong odor). According to the PDR for Nutritional Supplements, it has no known actions for dietary supplements and no known supplemental use. It use to be sold in an effervescent granule form for upset stomachs but is no longer available. As I stated, bromide is a halide, which means that it is in the class of elements with fluoride, chloride and iodide. The similarity of these four elements presents us with a problem; they are able to fill the iodine receptor sites (dressed up as iodine if you will), but do not offer the benefits that iodine offers. In fact, some people have so much of the halides that the iodine is rendered helpless. With iodine being taken out of bakery products and the increased consumption/exposure to halides, it’s no wonder that the National Health & Nutrition Survey (NHANES) showed that iodine levels in the United States declined 50% while thyroid illness, thyroid cancer and other autoimmune thyroid disorders, breast, prostate, endometrial and ovarian cancers increased.

Iodized salt wasn’t enough. Salt is sodium chloride. Yes, chloride is a halide that blocks the iodine receptors so only 10 % of the iodine is bio-available. Total body iodine deficiency was eminent, but not as visible since goiters disappeared.

The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that an iodine deficiency is the world’s greatest single cause of preventable mental retardation. We know that iodine is essential for normal growth and development. Deficiency can result in cretinism, mental deficiency, delayed physical and intellectual development and ADHD, but what are we doing to insure every pregnant mother, every child gets an adequate iodine intake?

Our schools are filled with increasing numbers of students with hyperactivity disorders. A recent Italian study demonstrated that if a woman is iodine deficient during pregnancy she has a greater chance of having a child who will suffer from ADHD. High incidence of ADHD was unheard of years ago! Maybe removing the iodine from bread provoked the deficiency that lead to ADHD. A strange coincidence indeed.

The relationship between breast cancer and thyroid problems dates back over 100 years, but even with breast cancer in high numbers today, thyroid function and/or iodine levels are rarely mention, if ever checked. Yet the countries where iodine consumption is the highest has the fewest incidence of breast cancer. This was always attributed to their increased consumption of soy, the lack of hormone-rich beef and dairy, and/or the greater consumption of vegetables, but these may not be the only reasons. Maybe it is the increased consumption of fish and seaweeds, both high in iodine.

When iodine is ingested, approximately 6 mg. of iodine is taken up by the thyroid; the rest of the entire body takes up 8 mg. approximately. Research has shown that of that remaining 8 mg. approximately 5 mg will go to the breast leaving 3 mg. for all other organs. They also found that the larger the breasts, the greater amount of iodine is needed. Well, if there is a correlation between iodine deficiency and thyroid function, and a correlation between thyroid function and breast cancer, and the breast is the second largest storer of iodine it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that women with iodine deficiency may have a greater incidence of breast cancer.

Some doctors believe that iodine is stored in the prostate, like the breasts store it in women. If that is true, then the rampant iodine deficiency would explain the increases in prostate cancer.

Even if doctors ignore this information and never test for iodine levels, surely some check the thyroid at least! The problem is that too many doctors think that testing T4 and TSH levels correlate to sufficient iodine levels. This is incorrect. A recent study conducted in Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC stated it this way “…TSH and T4 are not appropriate markers of UI (urine iodine) concentrations in this population. Monitoring the status of iodine nutrition of individuals in the United States may be important because serum TSH and T4 concentrations do not indicate low iodine status.” In fact, just the opposite may be true. Dr. Guy Abraham, M.D., the man who brought iodine supplementation into the forefront, brought to my attention that by suppressing TSH we are decreasing the amount of iodine that can get into the cell. There is a feedback mechanism that works this way: If the thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones, TSH levels will increase to stimulate more production, but that same TSH also allows more iodide to get inside the cells since a deficiency was sensed. When the thyroid hormones increase, the pituitary reduces the amount of TSH released and the amount of iodide allowed into the cells diminishes. So by giving thyroid hormones supplementally may actually be depleting the cells of iodine.

72% of the world’s population is affected by iodine deficiency, but why?

There are many reasons why iodine deficiency still occurs. Less than 50% of households in United States use iodized salt. Many people with hypertension are afraid to use salt so on medical advice they avoid it. Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., the author of the book Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, (and whose lectures and conversations contributed greatly to this article) recommends Celtic Sea Salt for those who use salt. Be sure to look for his latest book on the benefits of salt entitled Salt Your Way to Health. In it he states that most of the nutrients are processed out of regular table salt but Celtic Sea Salt maintains a good mineral supply. It is also free of sugar and not processed (color is not as white as table salt). If you look carefully at your own brand, you might find that the second ingredient is dextrose-a sugar!

A goitrogen is a substance that decreases iodine uptake as well as inhibits iodine from binding where it is needed. Goitrogens have become commonplace in our lives and are major causes of iodine deficiency.

Goitrogens include:

• Chlorine derivatives in pools, cleaning products, water supply, steam from dishwasher, sucrolose (Splenda).

• Fluoride in water supply, toothpaste, dental treatments, mouthwash.

• Bromide in some soft drinks (Mountain Dew & some Gatorades), baked goods, pesticides, hot tubs, fumigants used on produce, and some medications.

It takes large amounts of iodine/iodide to displace these imposters. This must be done with a careful eye. In some cases detoxification symptoms can occur once iodine intake begins mobilizing them.

Other reasons for iodine deficiency include:

• Declining mineral levels due to soil erosion and poor farming techniques.

• Failure to eat sufficient iodine-containing foods.

• Exposures to chemicals and toxins.

• The use of radioactive iodine used in diagnostic testing, which exacerbated an iodine-deficient state.

• A combination of any or all of these.

•  Whatever the cause, iodine deficiency must be identified and corrected.

How Can We Test Iodine Levels?

In the past we would paint a spot of iodine on the stomach in the evening, wait until morning to see if it disappeared. If it was all gone we needed iodine. If it remained, we would interpret that to mean that the body had enough so the iodine wasn’t absorbed. We now realize that iodine can be stored in the skin so residual staining may only mean that the skin has a supply while the body is lacking.

Here’s a better way. Iodine deficiency can be detected by an iodine overload test developed by Dr. Guy Abraham M.D. of California and is offered by FFP Laboratory in North Carolina. It is very user friendly so compliance is high. Simply, urine is collected first thing in the morning and saved for a spot test. (Dr. Jorge Flechas, M.D. just shared at a lecture that this spot test showed that women with breast cancer retain more iodine than women without breast cancer). Then 50 mg. of potassium iodide and iodine in combination is ingested. Urine is then collected throughout the day until the first urine of the next morning. A small sample, plus the first sample (spot test) is shipped to the lab.

If the body has sufficient iodine at least 90% will pass out of the body in the urine. If the body is deficient, some of the iodine will remain in the body to compensate for the deficiency. The more that remains, the greater the need for iodine/iodide. I have had several people have a level of 10% and one person even lower. After iodine/iodide supplementation, their health status was significantly improved. Without an initial baseline test and follow-up tests to monitor progress I would have no idea how great the need for iodine was, how long to give it and how much to give. So first establish baseline levels. Then supplement with liquid, capsules or tablets of iodine/iodide combination.

Be sure to monitor levels every 3-4 months to adjust the dose. Be aware of some possible side effects like runny nose, increased salivation, sinus headaches and metallic taste. These symptoms are temporary and due to the fact that iodine is mucolytic (breaks down of mucous), and they typically disappear after 2 weeks. Drinking lots of water can help. There are some people who are truly allergic to iodine, but Dr. Brownstein states that of the 3000 or so people he treated with iodine, he only had a few with a true iodine allergy; most people who react to shellfish or iodine in contrast solutions used in x-ray procedures react to the organic forms of iodine, not the inorganic form. Use care here.

Here’s what iodine can do:

• Elevate pH- a typical American diet tends to leave us in a more acid state. Oxidative stress, bacteria, and other opportunistic infections tend to thrive in an acid environment. Iodine can help bring the serum pH up to 7.4 so the body can maintain optimum function.

• Is needed to produce thyroid hormones- T3 is called triiodothyronine.

• Prevents goiter, autoimmune thyroid conditions, thyroid and other cancers, hypothyroidism

• Is antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic

• Is a mucolytic agent (breaks up mucous)

• May effect the pituitary-adrenal axis recovery in response to stress

Therapeutic Actions:
• Antibacterial
• Anticancer
• Anti parasitic
• Antiviral
• Mucolytic Agent
Conditions treated with Iodine
• Breast disease
• Dupruyten’s contraction
• Excess mucous production
• Fatigue
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Hemorrhoids
• Heachahes and migraine headaches
• Keloids
• Ovarian Cysts
• Parotid Duct stones
• Peyronie’s
• Sebaceous cysts
• Thyroid disorders
Taken from Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, Medical Alternative Press, 2004, Pages 20, 38-39
As you can see, iodine has a history of beneficial use and physiologic need. Some old information cast a shadow on this important mineral. Fear drove the exclusion of iodine from the standard diet. The addition of goitrogens in the food supply and the environment, along with depleted soil, fear of salt, goitrogenic medications and medical imaging methods added to the problem. People like Dr. Guy Abraham, Dr. David Brownstein, and Dr. Jorge Flechas have paved the way to put an end to all the misinformation in the medical community, to make public the more aware of the importance of iodine for vibrant health, and to prevent medical problems that might affect future generations. I choose to join the cause as well. It is important to know that if you have auto-immune thyroiditis iodine could make it worse. Have your doctor run a TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies) blood test. DO NOT TAKE IODINE IF IT IS POSITIVE. Talk to your doctor about how to deal with that issue. I hope that this article will open some eyes, stimulate some questions, but ultimately result in better health for you and your patients
1. Abraham, Guy, The Safe and Effective Implementation of Orthoiodosupplementation in Medical Practice. The Original Internist, 11:17-36, 2004. Also, conversations and fax.
2. Abraham, Guy, The Wolff-Chaikoff Effect: Crying Wolf? www.optimox.com
3. Brownstein, David, Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, Medical Alternative Press, Pages 20, 38-39, 80-81, 2004. Also conversations and lecture notes.
4. Flechas, Jorge, Iodine Seminar, given at Bio-energetic Conference in Orlando Florida, May 22, 2005.
5. Oketlund M.D., The Clinical Utility of Fluorescent Scanning of the Thyroid. In Medical Applications of Fluorescent Excitation Analysis. Editors Kaufman and Price, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL pg 149-160.
6. PDR for Nutritional Supplements; First edition, Medical Economics, 2001, p 73
7. Soldin OP, Tractenberg RE, Pezzullo JC. Do Thyroxine and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Levels Reflect Urinary Iodine Concentrations? Ther Drug Monit. 2005 Apr;27(2):178-185.
8. Vermiglio F, et al, Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in the offspring of mothers exposed to mild-moderate iodine deficiency: a possible novel iodine deficiency disorder in developed countries.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Dec;89(12):6054-60.
9. Wolff, J. and Chaikoff, I.L., Plasma Inorganic Iodide as a Homeostatic Regulator of thyroid Function. J. Biol. Chem, 174:555-564, 1948.

 

Don’t Lie Down!

By Teresa Biber M.S., CCC-SLP

Remember when our mothers used to warn us to “wait thirty minutes before going into the water before eating or you might get a cramp and drown.” Fortunately for those rebellious youngsters who refused to listen, there has yet to be a documented death attributed to swimming right after eating. Yet to this day most people probably will refrain from doing so. What our mothers should have told us was, “Don’t lie down for at least 2 hours after eating.” That warning would have been much more biologically correct and ultimately saved a lot more lives! I am amazed at the number of patients I encounter daily, both young and old, who admit to lying down right after eating. The simple truth is, this is not only unwise but potentially very dangerous. 

 When we eat a meal, our digestive system begins the process of breaking down the food, using acid pumps. This pumping action is meant to stay in the stomach where the lining is especially designed to manage the highly acidic environment. This is achieved by a closed valve like structure at the top of the stomach called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. This acid is not meant to travel beyond that sphincter because the more delicate lining of the esophagus can be seriously damaged as a result. Normally, as long as the body is upright, as in sitting or standing, the acid stays in the stomach and does its job. This process can take up to a couple of hours depending on the amount and type of food being digested. When we lie down before this process is completed, the pressure and pumping action in the stomach will push through the lower esophageal sphincter and propel the acid right into the esophagus often times all the way up into the throat. It can even enter our lungs. None of us would ever dream of pouring acid down our throats or into our lungs, but that is what we are doing when we lie down too soon. This phenomenon is called gastroesophageal reflux or

GER. It is also commonly referred to as simply, acid reflux. The scary part is many of us never feel anything until it is too late. The constant damage to the lining of the esophagus and throat has been linked to esophageal cancer as well as other cancers of the throat, mouth and tongue. Erosions in the esophagus can also cause strictures and internal bleeding. Other problems include bad breath, difficulty swallowing, chronic sore throat, chronic cough, voice changes, laryngitis and hoarseness. GER has been linked to asthma and lung damage causing nocturnal suffocation, increased cough and wheezing. The constant pressure and inflammation of the acid at the top of the esophagus may cause the formation of a pouch called a Zenker’s diverticulum. This “sac” forms in the throat and fills with food and liquid. The consequence is an uncomfortable lump like feeling during eating and drinking often combined with coughing and choking. The result can be a very serious and life threatening aspiration pneumonia.  You will have GER if you lie down after eating    and many times if you simply “follow the rules” and wait 2 hours you can avoid many of these serious health consequences. However, sometimes the lower esophageal sphincter becomes relaxed and stays open instead of closed.  When this happens, your esophagus, throat and lungs are no longer protected from the pumping up of acid. This is a condition known as Gastroesophageal Reflex Disease or GERD. This is more serious and you shouldsee a physician, typically a gastroenterologist,if you suspect you have GERD.   GER can also occur as a result of other factors even when sitting up. Some people may experience this as the classic “heartburn” but just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean it is not happening. In fact many people are asymptomatic” meaning they have no symptoms.  Common causes of GER include:  ? Carbonated beverages? Chocolate? Caffeine? Fried and fatty foods? Spicy foods? Citrus products? Tomato products? Peppermint? Smoking? Alcohol? Excess weight or pregnancy  If avoid these things you will significantly decrease your chances of

GER. The bottom line is GER and GERD can cause some extremely serious and life threatening health consequences. The

American

College of Gastroenterology reports that 60 million Americans report frequent heartburn.  So; “Don’t lie down for at least 2 hours after you eat or drink”. Your mother told me to tell you so! Special thanks to Hari Singh, M.D.Images courtesy of National Library of Medicine 

By Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC.

There are many factors that affect a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer; age, genetics, alcohol, diet, etc. We all know about the increased cancer risk to smokers. We also know that there is a direct relationship between adipose tissue (stored fat) and breast cancer believed to be due to the increased production of estrogen from these fat cells (If you have a hip to waist ratio of .81 you are 7 times more likely to get cancer than if it were less than .73.) Simple solution- lose weight and quit smoking. There are some things you can control.

It is believed that estrogen, the hormone that keeps menopausal women sane, prevents hot flashes and night sweats, and mellows out our temperaments, causes breast cancer when there is constant exposure into the receptor sites of certain cells. The longer we expose these cells to estrogen, the greater the cancer risk. When a woman becomes pregnant, estrogen levels diminish and progesterone (pro-gestation) increases. Therefore, if a woman never has a child, she’s never had a break from estrogen exposure. The more children she has the less her chance of getting breast cancer. We can also conclude that the longer a woman either produces estrogen (naturally delayed menopause) or supplements with estrogen (intentionally delayed menopause by taking estrogen pills usually from horse’s urine, which is many times stronger than human estrogen) the greater the chance of breast cancer, as well as other diseases.

Menopause is nature’s way of keeping our hormones in balance, and to borrow from an old commercial, “It’s not good to fool Mother Nature!” The body naturally counters estrogen with progesterone. Often progesterone levels diminish and you need to add a bio-identical progesterone, NOT progestin, to keep estrogen in balance.

Estrogen receptor sites are conformed to receive estrogen for normal body function, but they can also filled with substances that look similar to but are not exactly estrogen. They have a similar enough configuration that the receptor sites welcome them in. But since they are not bio-identical estrogen they may have many undesirable side effects, one of these side effects is cancer. These false estrogens, or xeno-estrogens are found in many places. One major source is pesticides; yes, our monthly house spray, those cans of flying insect spray, or just the old roach spray is full of xeno-estrogens. And don’t think the toxic gas that is used in tenting houses dissipates quickly; it’s been known to remain for years. Some people with environmental illnesses can’t live in a house that has ever been tented. Now with the scare of West Nile and Malaria from mosquitoes, sprays are dropped from planes and we have no control. I understand the risks of these diseases, but we do pay for it with our health. Some exposure is inevitable and beyond our control.

Another source is plastics: plastic bottles, plastic wrap, plastic bags, plastic storage containers all contain the same dangerous substances. Even if recipes recommend covering food with plastic wrap before warming in the microwave, don’t do it. The toxins and vapors drip down into the food. How many of us have heated something a little too long in a plastic container and the plastic melted just a little. We’ve all done it. What’s even scarier is that most IV tubes used in hospitals are made of plastic. Try making a list of all the plastic you are exposed to. Store food in glass jars, reheat in non-plastic containers and never cover food to be reheated with plastic wrap.

Hormones or hormone-like substances are taken into our bodies through food as well. Animals are given Bovine Growth Hormone to increase mass; cows are forced into a permanent lactation state to produce milk. These hormones can be ingested and received in the receptor sites. Animals are fed grains that have been sprayed with pesticides. In fact, studies have shown that farm raised fish, like salmon and tilapia, have tested positive for pesticide content. It comes from the spraying of the food they are fed. Try to buy Alaskan salmon, non-farm raised fish, organic meats and poultry and organic eggs, and avoid milk.

Other sources of xenoextrogens are dry cleaning chemicals. When you bring home your dry cleaning, remove the plastic bag and let the clothes hang in a garage or the patio for about a week to allow the chemicals to escape. Never wear clothes right from the cleaners. Or better yet, buy clothes that you can launder yourself.

Gasoline fumes are also a dangerous source. When pumping gas, stand away from the fumes. But there are other petro-chemical sources all around us that you may not have thought of. I use to apply baby oil to my body after a shower until I read that it contains mineral oil- a petroleum product. Consider the many moisturizing creams that have a petroleum base. Even some expensive names have mineral oil in it. Try using natural moisturizers from the health food store. Remember petroleum jelly? What were we thinking, it was right in the name?

Stain protective sprays for furniture and carpets provide a constant source of fumes. As is polyurethane coating we put on wood. These things can out-gas for years to come. Tests have shown that the chemicals used to pressure treat wood gives off toxins for 20-30 years after being treated. Think of the children who play on jungle gyms or sit on picnic tables made from arsenic-treated wood. They are under constant exposure to toxins. Always use a tablecloth on wooden picnic tables and if you are wearing shorts or a swimsuit, avoid direct contact with wooden furniture.

If you have a cabinet full of cleansers and cleaning fluids, consider natural cleaners like baking soda and white vinegar. Your house may smell like a Greek salad but you’re reducing your toxin exposure.

What about nail polish and nail polish remover? There’s a company in Boca Raton called No-Miss, Inc. that makes healthier nail polish and remover. It is free of formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl-pthalate. I’ve tried it and it works great and they have a wide selection of colors and their nail polish remover doesn’t take my breath away. Their website is nomiss.com but you can pick it up at most large health food stores. While you’re there, check out the natural lip colors as well.

Consider your room deodorizing sprays and dispensers. Try using natural essential oils for fragrance. It can also be very therapeutic.

The list goes on and on. In my practice I spend a lot of time trying to remove these toxins from my client’s bodies since they are related to many other illness as well as breast cancer, including high cholesterol, high triglycerides and excess weight (the body tries to hold fat to give the toxins a place to be stored without harming the body).

I know you can’t stay away from all of these substances. We will always have environmental pollution, molded plastic in our cars, paint, sealers, varnishes, and cleansers, etc., but you can take some steps to minimize your exposure. Yes, it takes a little effort and time, but the benefit is certainly worth it. You’re worth it. Take a step today toward a healthier life.

Donna