Monthly Archive for October, 2008

7,000+ kids rushed to ERs due to Cough/Cold drugs

Over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medications are causing severe adverse reactions in children and even death. A research study conducted by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than 7,000 children are rushed to ERs nationwide each year because of reactions to these drugs. Looking at 63 emergency rooms they found that 5.7% of all medicine-related visits were by children 12 years or younger. The cases included both presrciption and non prescription products but the researches said most of them were OTC drugs.

Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, public health commissioner in the city of Baltimore, MD, and the leader of a coalition of pediatricians, petitioned the Food and Drug administration (FDA) to restrict promotion of the cough/cold products. He fiked the petition after four children in Baltimore died after ingesting the drugs. “It’s time to pull the plug on the marketing of these products,” he said.

The CDC said last year that at least 1,500 children younger than 2 yers of age had complications from these drugs and an FDA review review showed there were many cases of convulsions, heart problems, breathing problems, neurological complications and other reactions, including 123 deaths in 2004 and 2005.

Published on October 21, 2008 in Children. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Chemical Cuisine: A guide to food additives

Here is a list of the most common food additives seen in our grocery stores today.  Some of them can be beneficial, some of them you should simply cut back on and others should be completly cut out of your diet. 

SAFE:

Alginate, Beta-carotene, calcium propionate, carrageenan, citric acid, EDTA, etyl vanillin, ferrous gluconate, gelatin, glycerin (glycerol), gums (arabic, furcelleran, ghatti, guar, karaya, locust bean, xanthan), latic acid, maltodextrin, modified starch, neotame, octfiber, phosphates, phosphoric acid, polysorbate 60, 65, 80, posassium sorbate, sodium ascorbate, sodium citrate, sorbic aid, starch, thiamin momonitrate, vanillin, and wheat fiber.

CUT BACK:

Corn syrup, dextrose (corn sugar, glucose), fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, maltitol, mannitol, polydextrose, salt (sodium chloride), sorbitol, sugar (sucrose), and xylitol.

CAUTION: 

Artificial food colorings (citrus red 2, red 40), brominated vegetable oil, butylated hydroxytoluene, quinine.

CERTAIN PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID:

Artificial colorings (yellow 5), artificial and natural flavoring, caffeine, carmine, casein, cochineal, gums, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, lactose, MSG, mycoprotein, quinine, sodium benzoate, soduim caseinate, sulfites.

AVOID:

Acesulfame potassium, artificial colorings (blue 1, blue 2, green 3, red 3, yellow 6), aspartame (NutraSweet), butylated hydroxyanisole, olestra (Olean), partially hydrogenated oil, potassium bromate, propyl gallate, saccharin, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, and stevia.

Keep in mind this is not a complete and comprehensive list, but a more detailed list can be found at www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm

Published on October 21, 2008 in Wellness Lifestyle. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Getting sick…

Occasionally we get a member who calls in wanting to reschedule because they are sick, after our Dr. and staff had reassured them that while under chiropractic care they would be healthier than ever.  We tell our members this because it is true, chiropractic care does help us stay healthy and well.  However, sometimes the body, according to the Principle of Limitation of Matter, has other ideas.  And our members need to understand this. 

When we do get sick, we assume there is something wrong with us, and that we are supposed to do something to fix it.  When this matter arises, we remind you that there is an Intelligence ruling your body.  Each has his or her very own internal Wisdom, and ultimately, that Innate Intelligence force knows what is best for your body at that particular moment in time.  For example, when you get a fever, do you realize it is actually beneficial?  That innate wisdom is at work raising your body temperature to burn off the germs that have invaded your body.  And the watery eyes that come along with that fever of yours?  Eyes are very temperature sensitive, so when the fever is present, your eyes are producing tears to constantly cool them down.  All of your body’s energy is directed to fighting off the offending invasion so your appetite is supressed.  Muscles are made to shiver to produce work, which then produces heat, which is what caused the fever in the first place. This is true for your kids too!

If your symptoms include coughing, diarrhea or increased breathing….all of these functions are designed to eliminate the germ even faster. Just like your muscles, your immune system needs to be exercised in order to operate at it’s highest level.  With our Innate Intelligence at work again, our built-in “clock” temporarily lowers our immune system, allowing the immune system to “flex its muscles” a little, which really is a good thing!!  

Although nobody enjoys being sick, you do need to realize that having the occasional cold or flu is a very important part of staying healthy, that the body won’t be at its best without it.

Published on October 21, 2008 in Wellness Lifestyle. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Toxic Chemical in Canned Formula Exceeds Safe Levels

Lab tests of ready to eat canned infant formula conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a certified commercial laboratory, reveal that a plastics chemical (bisphenol-A or BPA) leaches from the metal can linings into the formula. This could expose some bottle fed infants to BPA in excess of doses that caused serious adverse effects in tests done on animals. Two separate groups of BPA experts, both sponsored by the National Institutes for health, expressed grave concerns and concluded that there is “some risk” of these levels of exposure harming brain development and adversely affecting behavior.

The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit advocacy and research group based in Washington, DC, noted that its analysis of BPA levels in ready to eat formula with government data on infant formula consumption show that: one in every 16 infants fed this formula would be exposed to BPA at doses exceeding those that altered testosterone levels, affected neurodevelpoment, and caused other permanent harm to reproductive systems; at the highest BPA levels found in formula (17 parts per billion) nearly two- thirds of all infants fed ready to eat formula would be exposed above doses harmful in animal tests.

The Toxic Substances Control Act of the United States does not require that chemical companies prove their products are safe before they are sold, even when those chemicals end up in people’s bodies, as in the case of BPA. This law was passed in 1976 and is the only major public health and environmental statute in this country that has never been updated.

Published on October 21, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Canadian Researcher Links DPT Vaccine to Asthma

Asthma researcher, Anita Kozyrskj, Ph.D of the University of Manitoba faculty of Pharmacy, has found that delaying routine vaccinations of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) in a child by more than 4 months can reduce their risk of asthma by 50%. She studied the immunization and health records of 14,000 children born in Manitoba in 1995. She found that nearly 14% of children who recieved their first shot of DTP at 2 months of age developed asthma compared to only 5.9% of children who received their first vaccinations four months later.

In the United States the recommendations for DPT are 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and between 15-18 months followed by a booster at 4-6 years old. Dr. Kozyrskj was studying those from Manitoba where the reccommendations are for 2, 4, 6, and 18 months of age.

Published on October 21, 2008 in Vaccine Information. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .