Health in the News
Toxtown:
Are you confused about the volumes of information concerning environmental toxins and not sure where to look for reliable info? Excellent information in a fun format on the Web may be found at: toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/city/main.html. Not all the information found at this Web site will sadden the heart about the state of mother earth. Infrared rays to heat the exterior of planes may soon replace the de-icing chemicals that pollute the ground water.
Why buy organic? Will Popeye grow up to get cancer?
There’s yet another good reason to grow organic or spend extra money to buy it. Most of us know about the high risk of pesticide residues in grapes from Chile (79%), but what about leafy greens? In FDA studies the most frequently found leafy green to contain the more potent pesticides is: a) Lettuce; b) cabbage; c) kale; d) spinach. Yes, spinach (d) is laden with the most potent pesticides, organophosphates (neurotoxins).
Unexpected gifts from layoffs:
In these unsure economic times many individuals have lost highstress jobs. “The costs of health care for U.S. workers with high levels of job stress are nearly 50 percent higher than those for other workers.” (NCCAM Summer Newsletter). In short, stress is a significant public health problem, but being forced to find a less stressful job may actually reduce health costs to you.
Something fishy:
A study of 815 elders over four years revealed that 131 developed Alzheimer’s disease after four years of the study. Based on dietary history it was found that this was 60% less likely to happen to those who ate fish. The study concluded that it was the fatty acids consumed at least weekly, oil-based salad dressings, and nuts that may reduce risk. However, the beneficial effects may be counterbalanced by heavy metals such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. (July issue, Archives of Neurology).
Looking for lycopene in only one place?
“Free radicals” once roamed the United States; but on a molecular rather than political level, free radicals roam through the body causing havoc, increasing the risk of cancer, heart disease and fibromyalgia to name a few. Tomatoes are not the only source rich in the free-radical-fighting nutrient lycopene. Watermelon, red grapefruit and guava are also rich sources of the most important singlet oxygen scavenger that can “leap tall buildings with a single bound,” i.e. one molecule of lycopene can scavenge multiple singlet oxygen molecules. Lycopene is not abundant in most plant-life and can’t be made in the human body.
Compiled by Margaret Arthur, M.D.
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