Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Bayer Pesticides Linked to Devastating Collapse of Honeybee Populations

Bayer Pesticide Chemicals Linked to Devastating Collapse of Honeybee Populations

by David Gutierrez

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/z024362.html
(NaturalNews) German government researchers have concluded that a bestselling Bayer pesticide is responsible for the recent massive die-off of honeybees across the country's Baden-W�rttemberg region. In response, the government has banned an entire family of pesticides, fueling accusations that pesticides may be responsible for the current worldwide epidemic of honeybee die-offs.

Researchers found buildup of the pesticide clothianidin in the tissues of 99 percent of dead bees in Baden-W�rttemberg state. The German Research Center for Cultivated Plants concluded that nearly 97 percent of honeybee deaths had been caused directly by contact with the insecticide.

"It can unequivocally be concluded that a poisoning of the bees is due to the rub-off of the pesticide ingredient clothianidin from corn seeds," said the federal agricultural research agency, the Julius Kuehn Institute.

The pesticide was applied to rapeseed and sweet corn seeds along the Rhine River Valley, which borders Baden-W�rttemberg to the west and south.

"Beekeepers in the region started finding piles of dead bees at the entrance of hives in early May, right around the time corn seeding takes place," said Walter Haefeker, president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association.

A total of two-thirds of all bees in the entire state are believed to have been killed by the chemical.

"It's a real bee emergency," said Manfred Hederer, president of the German Professional Beekeepers' Association. "Fifty to 60 percent of the bees have died on average, and some beekeepers have lost all their hives."

Clothianidin, marketed in Europe under the brand name Poncho, is a widely used insecticide in the neonicotinoid family. Like all neonicotinoids, it is a systemic pesticide that is applied to the seeds of plants and then spreads itself throughout all plant tissues. Based on nicotine, the neonicotinoids function as neurotoxins that attack the nervous systems of insects such as honeybees.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified clothianidin as "highly toxic" to honeybees. The chemical was approved for U.S. use in 2003 and German use in 2004.

Clothianidin manufacturer Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of chemical giant Bayer, blamed the honeybee deaths on incorrect application of the pesticide. Before seeds are sprayed, a fixative should be applied to keep the poison from spreading into the rest of the environment. In the current situation, Bayer says, the fixative was not applied and clothianidin spread into the air.

But beekeepers and pesticide critics rejected this explanation, calling for Germany to follow France's footsteps in banning the chemical - and indeed, all neonicotinoids.

"We have been pointing out the risks of neonicotinoids for almost 10 years now," said Philipp Mimkes, spokesman for the Coalition Against Bayer Dangers. "This proves without a doubt that the chemicals can come into contact with bees and kill them. These pesticides shouldn't be on the market."

While stopping short of a total ban, the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety acted quickly upon release of the study data, placing a provisional ban upon all seven pesticides in the neonicotinoid family. These chemicals may not be used in Germany until the manufacturers can supply enough data to convince the government that they are safe.

The seven provisionally banned pesticides are the clothianidin-based brands Poncho and Elado; the imidacloprid-based brands Antarc, Chinook and Faibell; methiocarb-based Mesurol; and thiamethoxam-based Cruiser

Six of the seven products are made by Bayer, while Mesurol is manufactured by Syngenta.

Bayer's neonicotinoids have been blamed for killing honeybees before, most notably in France. There the company's best-selling pesticide, imidacloprid, was banned from use on sunflower seeds in 1999 after being blamed for killing off a third of the country's honeybees. In 2004, France extended the ban to sweet corn seeds. The government rejected Bayer's application for clothianidin use in France only a few months ago.

In North Dakota, a group of beekeepers is suing Bayer, alleging that imidacloprid was responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in that state in 1995. One-third of North Dakota honeybees died that year after imidacloprid was applied to rapeseed there.

Imidacloprid is marketed in France under the brand name Gaucho, but is also sold as Admire, Advantage, Confidor, Hachikusan, Kohinor, Merit, Premise, Prothor, and Winner.

Around the world, honeybee stocks are in decline, which scientists have warned could have devastating impacts on global food supplies. A total of 80 percent of world food crops are primarily or exclusively pollinated by honeybees, amounting to 130 crops and $15 billion worth of food each year in the United States alone.

Yet two million honeybee colonies have been lost in the United States in recent years, with massive dieoffs also reported across Europe and in Taiwan, where 10 million bees recently disappeared over the course of only two weeks.

"If nothing is done about it, the [British] honeybee population could be wiped out in 10 years," warned U.K. Farming Minister Lord Rooker in 2007.

While in many cases bees have actually been found dead, as in the Baden-W�rttemberg incident, beekeepers have been particularly alarmed by CCD, in which the bees simply vanish, leaving empty hives behind them.

Neonicotinoid pesticides have been suggested as a possible cause of CCD, with advocates of this theory noting that since the pesticide spreads through all plant tissues, bees might be exposed through the pollen of treated plants. At least one study concluded that neonicotinoids are likely to become concentrated in bee hives in high levels, transported by contaminated pollen.

A number of studies have found that in low doses, neonicotinoids produce symptoms consistent with CCD. Termites exposed to imidacloprid experienced disorientation and immune system failure, while bees exposed to low levels of the chemical experienced impaired communication, homing and foraging ability, flight activity, and olfactory discrimination and learning.

Sources for this story include: www.guardian.co.uk. pubs.acs.org, www.allheadlinenews.com.

Lignans provide breast health

Lignans Shown to Provide Great Benefits for Breast Health

by Barbara L. Minton (see all articles by this author)


(NaturalNews) Most women who worry about the health of their breasts have a yearly mammogram and hope for the best. That's about all they can do since the traditional medical model offers nothing in the way of preemptive strategy. And it's readily apparent that mammograms were designed to recruit patients into the lucrative cancer treatment machine, not to actually help women. After all, as many of us learned when we were kids, radiation causes cancer. On the other hand, the world of natural health offers tremendous evidence that there are many ways to prevent and cure breast cancer. One of the best ways is to make sure that your levels of lignans are high.

Human lignans are created when natural plant compounds locked into the cellular matrix of certain seeds, beans, legumes, fruits and vegetables are acted upon by bacteria in the digestive tract. These compounds resemble the shape and structure of estrogen and have some of estrogen's functionality. Due to their resemblance to estrogen, lignans are able to compete with estrogen for estrogen receptor sites on breast tissue. When lignans block these receptor sites they reduce the amount of estrogen that can be received in the breast tissue.

Studies have shown that women with the highest levels of lignans in their breasts have the highest levels of breast health. Secoisolariciresinol (SDG) is the natural lignan found in high levels in flaxseed. Studies have shown that when these lignans are present in high amounts in the blood and urine, women have a reduced risk of many chronic diseases including breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Flaxseed and its primary lignan SDG have a variety of effects on estrogen metabolism and receptors. When transformed into mammalian lignans by the action of intestinal bacteria they become known as phytoestrogens. The effects of this transformation are readily seen from research findings.

Research findings document the benefits of lignans for breast health

Human-derived breast cancer cells were kept in culture and incubated with mammalian lignans plus estradiol, the most aggressive form of estrogen. Estradiol and the mammalian lignans each stimulated the proliferation of cells, but when combined, no stimulation was seen. The results of the study indicate that mammalian lignans prevent or reduce the binding/metabolism of estradiol within these cells.

Lignans were shown to stimulate the production of sex hormone binding globulin. This globulin, produced in the liver, tightly binds estrogen and reduces the amount of free estrogen circulating in the body that is able to enter tissue. This action effectively reduces the stimulatory effect of estrogen on tissue growth.

In postmenopausal women estrogen is produced through a process called aromatase, the conversion of other hormones to estrogen. When incubated with mammalian lignans, aromatase is inhibited. This action is similar to that of the aromatase inhibiting drugs such as Arimidex and Femara, often prescribed for women who have had breast cancer and want to prevent a recurrence. However, these drugs have horrible side effects.

The highest phytoestrogen consumption and concentrations in biological fluids are seen in countries where cancer incidence is low. The lowest concentrations were found in breast cancer patients or in women at high risk for breast cancer. These findings led researchers to investigate the effects of the SDG found in flax and mammalian lignans for its protective effects in animals. The animals were given a flaxseed supplement along with a carcinogen and a high fat diet. The result was a highly significant reduction in size and number of breast tumors.

A component in the spread (metastasis) of cancer is the ability of tumors to manufacture new blood vessels for themselves from pre-existing blood vessels in a process known as angiogenesis. Animals implanted with a human-derived breast cancer cell line displayed potent metastatic activity. When supplemented with flaxseed meal, they showed significant reduction in tumor growth rate and metastasis. However, the specific protective components of the flaxseeds were not discernible from these two studies.

Two studies attempted to ascertain the most preventive component in flaxseed. In the first, animals were given a breast cancer-causing chemical for 13 weeks, then supplemented with either flaxseed oil containing only trace amounts of SDG, flaxseed meal, or pure SDG. All three supplements reduced tumor size, but only the animals supplemented with pure SDG showed a reduction in both tumor size and the average number of new tumors formed.

In the second study, pure SDG extracted from flaxseed and fed to carcinogen induced animals resulted in a 46% lower number of tumors compared to those not receiving SDG.

In human studies, researchers directly examined the influence of flaxseed and its lignans on breast health in postmenopausal women by expressing the relationship of dietary and urinary lignan concentrations. They used women in Eastern Finland where dietary lignan intake is typically above that of women in the U.S. They found that higher blood concentrations of SDG were linked to a highly significant reduction in breast cancer risk.

Twenty-eight healthy postmenopausal women were studied to determine if flaxseed supplementation altered the metabolism of estrogens. They completed a series of 7 week supplementation periods where they ate their usual diet, took a 5 gram/day supplement of flaxseed meal, or took a 10 gram/day supplement of flaxseed meal. During the periods when the women consumed the flaxseed supplements the concentration of properly metabolized estrogen in the urine increased, with 10 gram/day producing the greatest increase. Additionally, the ratio of properly metabolized estrogen to improperly metabolized estrogen increased with flaxseed, with the 10 gram/day dose eliciting an increase significantly greater than the 5 gram/day dose.

These researchers also evaluated the effects of flaxseed and wheat bran fiber supplementation on estrogen metabolism in 16 healthy premenopausal women for a period of 8 menstrual cycles. The women ate their usual diet and specially prepared baked goods containing either 10 grams ground flaxseed, 28 grams wheat bran fiber, 10 grams ground flaxseed plus 28 grams wheat bran fiber, or no added lignan or fiber source for two consecutive cycles. Only the two treatments where flaxseed baked goods were consumed produced significant alterations in urinary markers of estrogen metabolism. Both resulted in significant increases in proper estrogen metabolism, and the ratio of proper to improper metabolism. Because the flaxseed used in this experiment was low in omega-3 fatty acid and in fiber relative to the wheat bran, the findings reinforce the assertion that SDG is the primary estrogen metabolism modifier present in flaxseed.

Other research compared the effects of flaxseed and soy upon estrogen metabolism. Postmenopausal women received a placebo muffin, a muffin with 25 grams of ground flaxseed, or a muffin with 25 grams of soy daily for 16 weeks. At the end of this period, only the group receiving the flaxseed muffin showed significant increases in good estrogen metabolism and metabolic ratio.

Research also suggests that breast tenderness and pain, known as cyclical mastalgia, may carry an elevated risk of breast cancer. 116 women who had experienced severe cyclical mastalgia for the preceding 6 months were supplemented with flaxseed (25 grams/muffin) or placebo muffins over 3 menstrual cycles. At completion the reduction in breast pain, swelling and lumpiness was significantly lower in the women eating the flaxseed muffin. These women showed an increase in urinary mammalian lignans and a change in circulating estrogen level.

In still another investigation, 39 women newly diagnosed with cancerous breast tumors consumed a muffin containing 25 grams of ground flaxseed meal, or a placebo muffin during the time period following their diagnosis until their surgery. At both points analyses were performed to assess the rate of tumor cell proliferation. In the flaxseed muffin group, factors indicative of tumor growth fell by 21-33%. These women also showed a significant increase in urinary lignans.

These findings are similar to those seen in women with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen under similar conditions. Flaxseed SDG exerts actions like those of tamoxifen without the side effects. They are nature's selective estrogen receptor modulators. Flaxseed lignans are chemically similar to tamoxifen, but because they occur in nature they are easily identified and used by the body. And because they are naturally occurring, the body does not build resistance to them as it does to foreign substances like tamoxifen. Women taking tamoxifen build resistance to the drug and it becomes ineffectual after five years, leaving them vulnerable.

How to make sure you get enough lignans

In order for lignans to effectively compete with estrogen for the estrogen receptor sites, there must be a large number of lignans in the body. This can be accomplished by consistently eating a diet high in lignan precursors including flax seeds or other high lignan producing foods such as garlic, carrots, broccoli, asparagus, and dried apricots and prunes. It can also be accomplished by using high lignan flax oil. High lignan flax oil works well bonded with organic low fat cottage cheese, as the Budwig protocol for cancer prevention and cure has documented.

There are also a number of high lignan SDG products formulated as capsules, the best known of which is Brevail made by the Barleans Company. Barleans also makes top quality organic high lignan flax oil as does Spectrum. These are available at health food stores or from online retailers.

Lignans pass through the body in a 24 to 48 hour period, so care must be taken to eat foods containing lignan precursors on a daily basis. Supplementing with high lignan flax oil or a lignan capsule formulation insures that you will get a quantifiable amount everyday.

Since lignans are created by the action of intestinal bacteria upon the lignan precursors found in certain vegetables and fruits, supplementing with probiotics is a good idea for keeping your intestinal tract well populated with these friendly bacteria. It is crucial to do so following use of antibiotics.

Unlike the diet of our ancestors, today's western diet does not include much in the way of high lignan foods. Add to that the fact that we are not generally as active as our ancestors and hopefully eat less. So the amount of lignans available to us from our food is small. Much of this research suggests that this decreased intake of foods containing lignan precursors has left women without the ability to modulate estrogen naturally.

Reference:

Results from these studies may be viewed in detail at (www.brevail.com)

Berries contain many anti-cancer compounds

Source:

(http://fst.osu.edu/caffre/inthenews.html)

(NaturalNews) Black raspberries provide a powerful mix of cancer-inhibiting compounds. New research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center was conducted to test the effect of black raspberries on the genetic activity of rats provoked to develop cancer of the esophagus.

The researchers split the rats into two groups. One group was fed a normal diet while the other was fed a diet with 5 percent freeze-dried black raspberries. After two weeks, half of the rats in each group were injected with a chemical carcinogen that induces esophageal cancer.

After a week of carcinogen application, the rats' health was examined. Judging by appearance, the esophageal tissue of the rats that ate black raspberries was more normal and healthy compared to the other rats. In an earlier study, the berry-fed rats had a 60 percent reduction in tumors.

On the genetic level, the findings were astonishing. The researchers were able to measure the activity levels of the 41,000 genes in each of the rats. In the rats without the preventative benefits of the berries, the activity levels of 2,261 genes changed by at least 50 percent. Predictably, those genes are responsible for such things as cell proliferation, inflammation, and cell destruction: actions that are common during cancer development. Amazingly, one fifth (462) of those carcinogen-effected-genes were expressed at normal levels in the rats fed black raspberries.

Black raspberries, in addition to other berries, have multiple mechanisms of prevention. The result is a beneficial effect throughout an animal's genome due to the collection of vitamins, minerals, phytosterols and phenols in the berries.

"This suggests to us that a mixture of preventative agents, which berries provide, may more effectively prevent cancer than a single agent that targets only one or a few genes," said Gary D. Stoner, a professor of pathology, human nutrition and medicine at the University.

A similar companion study tested a single chemoprevention compound in the rats with the same ailment. Of the stated 462 genes, 53 were kept at normal activity levels by this agent alone.

Concerning this, Stoner said, "What's emerging from studies in cancer chemoprevention is that using single compounds alone is not enough." He went on to say that berries are not enough either: they only partially prevent tumors. He recommended finding other foods to combine with berries.

Other foods to consider are mushrooms, grapes, cruciferous vegetables, flax, and many more.

Cadbury Chocolate Recall - Contains Poisons

Source: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/consumer/recalls&id=6414729

A Cadbury spokesman says preliminary results show its Chinese-made chocolates contain the industrial chemical melamine.

The spokesman said Monday it was too early to say how much melamine the chocolates contained. He declined to give his name because of company policy.

Cadbury said earlier the tests "cast doubt" on the safety of its Chinese-made products but didn't elaborate.

China's recent food safety scandal started with the discovery of melamine in baby milk powder. Four deaths have been blamed on the bad milk, and some 54,000 children have developed kidney stones or other illnesses after drinking the contaminated baby formula.

Magnetic Air Car Could be Ready by 2010

magnetic air car

Source: http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/29/magnetic-air-car-could-be-ready-by-2010/#more-1204

Last week, I took a trip down to San Jose for West Coast Green, an environmentally-focused conference with an emphasis on sustainable building. One booth stood out from the crowd—Magnetic Air Cars, Inc.. The San Jose-based company claims that it is working on the world’s first fuel-less car.

The Magnetic Air Car uses three on-board substations to harness compressed air. The resulting airflow is channeled, modulated, and converted to torque that propels the car.

According to company representative Paul Donovan, the car uses a silicon salt battery that has 30% more mass power than a lead acid storage battery and can charge completely within an hour. The 95 percent recyclable battery can also can be used in a temperature range from -40 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius.

Though the Magnetic Air Car has not yet been tested, Donovan hopes to have it ready for production by 2010. The company plans on building its first prototype at Club Auto Sport in San Jose in the near future.

The car draws comparisons to Tata Motors’ compressed-air powered vehicle, but Donovan says that the Tata Motors design uses pistons while the Magnetic Air Car design uses magnetic technology.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any more details available on the Magnetic Air Car at this time. But if the prototype is successful, I’m sure we’ll hear plenty more about this company.

10 Steps on Staying Healthy with Water

10 STEPS ON STAYING HEALTHY WITH WATER

1. Proper hydration with water is essential. Most of us need at least six
to eight 8-ounce glasses of good, clean drinking water daily. Coffee,
alcohol, and sodas or other sugary beverages do not count toward our
daily two quarts of liquids as they do not hydrate our tissues and often
have the opposite effect, causing dehydration. Water is the best choice
for proper hydration. However, herbal teas and fresh juices do count
because of their high water content; furthermore, fresh fruits and
vegetables in the diet do add to our water intake. Water is second in
importance to air, which we need by the minute. We can survive about a
week without water, whereas most of us can live as long as six weeks
without food. Water supports our immune system and flushes toxins from
the lymph system and body. Our bodies are about 70% water‹10 to 12
gallons! In fact, brain and muscle are about 75% water and blood is 85%
water content. Except for bone and fat tissue, most of our body is water.

2. Finding the right water balance for each of us is also important. This
is based on our body size, level of physical activity, exercise and
sweating, the local climate, and our diet. A diet that is dry and high in
proteins and fats creates a need for even more water to flush these foods
healthfully through our system. The average American drinks only 4.6
servings/cups of water a day, or 36 ounces. That¹s a bit shy, especially
when most of us do not consume our share of fresh fruits and veggies.
Water drinking should be a habit, something we do without having to think
about it. Only one third of Americans claim they drink eight glasses of
water a day; 28% have three or fewer servings, and nearly 10% say they
don't drink water at all. The most frequent reason given by Americans for
not drinking water is lack of time, as reported by 21% in a recent
survey. Like anything, preparation saves time and allows us to engage in
these healthier habits. Prioritize water hydration. And during hot
weather, drink 2 to 3 glasses more than usual. When we have a cold, or
for many illnesses and symptoms, like headaches and allergies, it is
helpful to hydrate the body fully with water and herbal teas. We can know
this by our urinary output, generally every couple hours during the day.

3. EXERCISE‹every month I tell you to move your body! Create a consistent
and sometimes challenging program. It¹s so important to your health. And
remember that when you exercise regularly and sweat, you need more fluid
replacement. Drink before (2 cups 1-2 hours before) and after your
workout (1-2 cups), and during exercise if it¹s appropriate. Drink cool
temperature water, and don¹t depend on thirst to tell you; drink anyway!
Take your walks, go on hikes, ride a bike, and work out with weights at
home or at a gym. Even try something new, like a yoga class. Stretch out
your body and stay flexible and youthful. Before and during exercise,
drink fluids and particularly water, to reduce body temperature, moderate
cardiovascular stress and improve performance. After a strenuous workout,
it's important to replace the fluids you've lost.

As Jack LaLanne says in his recent Share Guide (May/June 2002)
interview, "Exercise is king, Nutrition is queen. Put them together and
you have a healthy kingdom." (A less patriarchal word for what men and
women share could be a "sharedom" or "equi-dom," or make one up you like.)

4. Good, clean water is not a given. Most city waters, and even wells,
are suspect for contamination with microbes and chemicals. I believe it
is wise to invest in an appropriate filtration system since water is such
an important component of our body. The best is a Reverse Osmosis unit or
a Solid Carbon block type filter; what¹s most effective for your home use
depends on what your water concerns are and how much water you need. (See
references in the Safe Water Tips at the end of this newsletter.) Many
people also buy bottled water from natural springs, or water bottled
after filtration. If you use a consistent brand, check it out by calling
the company and asking for a report. You may also want to look into an
alkaline water unit. There is interesting research on drinking water that
is more alkaline or that contains added bicarbonates (and may include
calcium and magnesium salts), and on this water¹s balancing, healing
effects.

5. Dehydration is a very common problem that nearly every one of us
experiences at some time. Every cell in our body requires water to
function‹to bring in nourishment and carry away toxins. When these
functions aren't performed fully due to dehydration, a range of symptoms
can occur. At even 1% dehydration, most people get thirsty, which is the
body's warning sign. Dehydration can cause dry mouth, flushed skin,
fatigue, lightheadedness, headache, or impaired physical performance, as
well as lapses in concentration. Headache may be a sign of increased
toxicity. Other problems from more chronic dehydration include
constipation and poor digestive function, dry and itchy skin, a reduction
in urine output, and even an increased incidence of painful kidney
stones. Remember my favorite slogan, "Dilution is the solution to
pollution." So, drink your water!

6. Add some nutrients to your water and it may make it healthier and more
palatable for you. Some folks do not like to drink plain water; they just
have distaste for it. If so, try various bottled waters to see if there
is one you like. Add some lemon, lime, or a tea bag to give it some
flavoring. Water can also be flavored with some orange or apple juice, or
some nutrient powders like Emergen-C or another vitamin/mineral
combination available at your store. My family starts each day with
nutrient-rich water and juice. Warming drinks include herbal and green
teas, lemon water, chai, and vegetable broth. Starting the day with a cup
of hot water can awaken you and your digestion. Hot water sipped through
the day is a popular therapy for illness in Asia.

7. The best time to drink water is first thing in the morning--ideally
two or three glasses. I also encourage people to drink between meals
rather than too much while eating, as increased fluids dilute the
strength of our digestive juices and lower the efficiency of digestion
and assimilation. For those working to lose weight, drinking a couple
glasses of H2O about 30 minutes before meals will hydrate the tissues,
calm the appetite and likely lower the amount of food consumed. Water is
also so important to healthy skin and good circulation, to staying young
and healthy. To summarize, the ideal times to drink water are:
o First thing in the morning, when you wake up
o Mid-morning
o Mid-afternoon

8. Water and weight loss is an important topic, so here¹s a bit more.
Focus mainly on vegetables and other wholesome foods and away from
processed and sweetened high-calorie foods and snacks. Definitely switch
from the caloric, sugary sodas and other drinks to pure Water. And drink
several glasses when arising and 30 minutes before planned meals. Make
this a priority, and make it fun and tasty. Review Tips number 6 and 7
above for further ideas, plus number 3 for your exercise motivation.
Carry water with you so you have it available. Have a couple fruits
daily, plus make and consume homemade vegetable soups.

9. Kids need water too. Children don¹t handle heat and dehydration as
well as adults, and the younger they are, the greater the concern.
Diarrhea and subsequent dehydration and malnourishment may be the number
one cause of death in kids throughout the world. Elders need water too.
They are also sensitive to dehydration and the effects of hot weather.
Heating and cooling of the body can be accomplished with warm or cool
foods and beverages. This is a natural inclination, yet it may need to be
developed in this world where kids (and all of us) are exposed to
relentless advertising. Drinking warm/hot water and teas is a good habit
for those living in the colder climates. Adding splashes of juice is
helpful in getting kids to drink water instead of sugary beverages. Also,
adding a nutrient powder, many of which are nicely flavored, provides a
good start to a child¹s day, or as replenishment after a busy or active
time. For children who are overweight or who are fixated on sodas and
sugary drinks, it will be a great lifetime health benefit to switch them
to water and lighter drinks, such as juice and carbonated water
combinations. Be a good example by drinking your water too!

10. Other General Ideas on Water. o Water your flowers and plants. o Use
aromatherapy and flowered sprays to mist the air and your body, and like
plants, you can hydrate yourself. o With airplane travel it¹s easy to
experience dehydration, so drink your water and avoid salted foods and
alcohol beverages. o Many medications, such as diuretics, can cause
dryness, while others can cause water retention and bloating. Learn about
any medicines you take, even the natural ones. Mainly, when we take meds
or eat too much junk, we usually need to drink lots of water. o The
containers from which we drink water are also important. I prefer glass
or the harder and more stable poly-carbonate plastic rather than
polyethylene material which emits plastic into the water more readily.
Particularly avoid all plastic containers for lemon water or the Master
Cleanser, because the acids in the lemon even leach more toxins. o Bathe
your body regularly. Soak in water for the relaxation and healing it
generates. Regular sweating, as in saunas, physical work, sweat lodges,
hiking, or eating chili peppers may help us to live long and
healthfully! Swimming is a great recreation and exercise. Find a lake,
river, or the ocean and have some great swim fun this summer.

Stay Healthy.
Blessings in Love and Life,
Dr. Elson

Argisle Tip: Freeze plastic bottles of water in your freezer for future
use and to keep your fridge cool if electricity goes out. Plus, you have
drinking water as it melts. You can also use them behind your neck to
cool you down or to keep your picnic cooler cold for your day on the
river, at the lake, or at the beach. Play, get wet with the hose, and get
water between your toes. It takes water to grow a rose...

Water, Water by Bethany Argisle and Elson Haas
Flow, trickle, float.
Sail on a boat
Expand, freeze and thaw, wash your veggies when raw
Emotional expression comes through well-watered organs,
like the kidneys and bladder.
Let it flow, let it grow
Oh, eyes when dry do not cry,
Brains that are dry strain in pain
Drinking alcohol, eating breads and sugars dehydrate.
Make a dip-in-water date.
Add lemon and herbs to water, and drink plenty
You are a moist cellular being
There is dew, there are reservoirs, the entire world of water
is a reflection of Earth¹s two thirds content
All creatures live in or near water and depend upon it
Water is lifeÃ…
Water your plants, wash your pants, bathe your body
We all require water to thrive and survive. Be Wet and Be ALIVE!

SAFE WATER TIPS (for Travel and Suspicious Water) Excerpted from The
Staying Healthy Shopper's Guide by Elson Haas, MD. (Celestial Arts Press,
1999).

1. Avoid drinking tap water as your main source of drinking water,
especially water with chlorine and fluoride.
2. Drink either bottled water or filtered water, depending on your
family's needs and budget.
3. Consider having your regular drinking water professionally assessed,
particularly if you have a well. Sources: National Testing Lab at 800-458-
3330 and www.ntllabs.com and Suburban Water Testing at 800-433-6595 and
www.H2Otest.com.
4. If you want to use a filtration system and you're puzzled about which
one to use, choose the reverse osmosis with a post-carbon filter. You may
also want to make sure you get enough minerals in your diet or as a
supplement.
5. If you must drink tap water, avoid the first morning's water and boil
it for 10-20 minutes.
6. Avoid using tap water in baby formulas and young children's foods.
Never use hot tap water, which can contain even more lead and bacteria.
7. If you shower regularly with chlorinated water, invest in an
inexpensive dechlorinator and filter attachment for the shower.
8. When traveling, be extra careful about contaminated water. When
camping, boil your water for 15 to 20 minutes, use iodine tablets, or an
appropriate travel filtration system with a very fine filter.
9. Read up on drinking water issues in books such as Your Bodies Many
Cries for Water by Batmanghelidj, Healing Waters by the Keegans and The
Healing Energies of Water by Charlie Ayrie.

AND REMEMBER: It¹s still a great time to do a cleansing/detox program if
it¹s right for you. Check out the Master Cleanser and other cleanses as
well as the how-tos of cleansing in several of my books, including The
Detox Diet, Staying Healthy with the Seasons, or The False Fat Diet. If
you have any health conditions, you may wish to go more carefully,
utilizing professional guidance with someone who is experienced in
detoxification practices.

About the submitter:
Submitted by Elson M. Haas, MD, who can be reached at:
http://www.elsonhaas.com

Berry Recipes

Berry Recipes

Wild Berry Smoothie with Chocolate Curls
Serves 2

1/4 cup of the following:
wild blackberries
wild blueberries
wild blue huckleberries
1 blood orange
1/2 cup spring water or fresh celery juice
1 handful cashews
1 tbs. cacao powder
1 tbs. yacon root powder
1 handful spinach

*Blend everything until combined and garnish with
chocolate curls from your favorite raw chocolate.
We used the Righteously Raw 90% Cacao Bar
and delectable Cru Cacao truffles.

= = =

Wild Berry Cobbler with Maca Custard Cream
Serves 2

Crumble Crust
1 cup unsoaked almonds
2 tbs. coconut flakes
1/2 cup and 1 tbs. dried mulberries
1/4 tsp. vanilla powder
1 tbs. yacon syrup
1/4 tsp. Premier mineral salt

*Process everything in a high speed blender or a food processor. Set aside.

Wild Berry Filling
1/4 cup of the following:
wild blackberries
wild blueberries
wild blue huckleberries
wild red huckleberries
1 tbs. yacon syrup

* Let these berries marinate for 2 hrs. in a bowl at room temperature. After drain the berry juice into a high speed blender container with half the berries. Blend until smooth. Mix the smooth berry mixture with the whole berries.

Maca Custard Cream
2 frozen bananas (chopped)
1 tbs. maca (any type, I prefer macapunch 6:1 extract)
1 tsp. maca bites
1 handful macadamia nuts
1 tbs. lucuma powder
1 tbs. coconut oil
1/3 cup water

*Blend everything in a high speed blender or food processor till a melted ice cream consistency. Set aside.

Assembly: Take a 6 inch round glass pie pan or a small glass bowl. Put a handful of the crust in it and begin pressing it into the bottom of the bowl. Add more crust if needed. Line only the bottom part of the pan or bowl. Do not put crust on the sides. Now, add the berry filling into the bowl and put into the freezer for 3-4 hours until hard. Take it out and put the other half of the crust on top. Press it down and put into freezer for another 30 mins until set. When you are ready to enjoy it, take a knife and run it along the sides of the bowl/pan until the cobbler will release. Take a plate, cover the top of the cobbler bowl and slowly flip it so the cake pops out of the bowl and on to the plate. Cut it in half and pour the custard cream in the center. Garnish with fresh berries and orange zest.

8 Holistic Remedies You Need In Your Medicine Cabinet

8 Holistic Remedies You Need in Your Medicine Cabinet
Stock your medicine cabinet with the remedies that naturopathic doctors use in their own homes and recommend to their patients for pain relief, colds, insomnia, athlete's foot and other ailments.
By Kate Hanley

http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/9-Holistic-Remedies-You-Need-in-Your-Medicine-Cabinet.html?tmpltdoc=/ecs/templates/twoColumnPrintable.html&printView=1
http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/9-Holistic-Remedies-You-Need-in-Your-Medicine-Cabinet.html

Concerned about overuse of prescription meds? Wary of ingredients in over-the-counter cold medicines? Pharmacy sections are being stocked with more and more natural remedies that can provide gentle yet effective relief for everyday ailments. But the sheer number of holistic healthcare products that line your pharmacy̢۪s shelves can be overwhelming.

We consulted Dr. Jen Johnson, a naturopathic doctor in Westport, Conn. and Rebekah Azarelli, a homeopath in Brooklyn, N.Y., for the remedies they use at home and most recommend to their patients. They list these nine all-natural remedies as effective essentials in a well-rounded first aid arsenal.

Stock your medicine cabinet with these holistic health remedies and rest assured that the next time you feel a cold coming on, your child falls off her bike or you have trouble sleeping, you̢۪ll have just the thing on hand to ease your ills. You̢۪ll find most of these products at your local health food store, natural pharmacy, or vitamin store.

1. Vitamin C

Treats: Cold and flu

Directions: 3-5 grams per day at first sign of illness

Why it works: Vitamin C specifically targets and nourishes immune cells, better preparing them to fight off invaders..

2. Hot water bottle

Treats: Upset stomachs, menstrual cramps and insomnia

Directions: Fill with hot water, lie down and apply to abdomen.

Why it works: The insulated bottle retains heat well while radiating it into tissues, gently relaxing muscles and calming the nervous system.

3. Neti pot

Treats: Stuffy nose and allergies

Directions: Dissolve one teaspoon non-iodized salt in warm water in the neti pot and rinse both nostrils every day at bedtime or in the shower until symptoms subside.

Why it works: Flushing the nasal passages opens, cleans, and tones them. A neti pot is specially designed to make it easier to get the fluid into the nasal passages, and it's easy to clean.

4. Vitamin B-complex

Treats: Fatigue

Directions: Take one capsule a day of the highest-quality supplement you can find. (Look for a mark that says â€Å“USP verified†on the label, which indicates that the supplement’s purity, potency, and quality has been rigorously researched by the United States Pharmacopeia, a non-profit public health organization.)

Why it works: B-complex provides energy at the cellular level to your glandular system — which regulates your hormone levels and the overall functioning of your body.

5. White vinegar

Treats: Athlete̢۪s foot

Directions: Soak feet in 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water, 15 minutes daily for one week.

Why it works: White vinegar is a natural anti-fungal.

6. Elderberry syrup

Treats: Colds and flu

Directions: Follow the instructions on the label. Azarelli recommends Honey Gardens Apitherapy Elderberry Syrup, but advises that it shouldn̢۪t be given to children less than one year old, because it contains honey, which carries a small risk of botulism for young babies.

Why it works: The elderberry plant's antiviral properties and antioxidants boost the immune system.

7. Arnica

Treats: Bruises and swelling; great for pain relief after childbirth

Directions: Apply arnica oil or arnica gel or cream to the skin at the affected area. If there is any broken or abraded skin, Azarelli recommends taking the homeopathic remedy Arnica 30c in pellet form (available at The Vitamin Shoppe and many health food stores), as topically applied arnica can irritate an open wound.

Why it works: Arnica (Arnica montana) has been used for pain, inflammation, bruising and other conditions since the 1500s and remains popular today. Arnica should only be taken internally in the highly diluted form common to homeopathic remedies.

8. Chamomile tea

Treats: Insomnia

Directions: Drink a cup of chamomile tea, taking the time to savor its aroma and enjoy its taste, before bedtime. Chamomile tea bags are readily available at most major food and drug retailers.

Why it works: The herb chamomile soothes the mind and the nervous system to help you get to sleep.

Kate Hanley is a freelance writer who specializes in exploring the mind-body connection.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

RAW FOOD: GO RAW NOW

ORGANIC RAW FOOD DIET HEALS YOUR LIFE

Toxic Metals and Mental Health

Toxic Metals and Mental Health
by Mark D. Filidei, DO
San Francisco Preventative Medical Group
345 West Portal Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94127
http://www.sfpmg.com

http://alternativementalhealth.com/articles/article-toxicmetals.htm

The term “heavy metals” refers to elements of specific weight
characteristics. Toxic heavy metals are, unfortunately, present in our
air, water, soil, and food supply as a byproduct of our industrialized
society. In fact, contamination is so pervasive in our environment that
it is no longer a question of whether one has been exposed to toxins, but
rather the level of exposure. People who have acute toxicity from heavy
metals – such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium – may exhibit
obvious and classical symptoms of poisoning. But toxicity from chronic
low-level exposure is much more insidious in its presentation. Chronic
low-level exposure can lead to a wide array of problems, ranging from
neuropsychiatric disturbances such as aggressive behavior, memory loss,
depression, irritability, and learning deficits, to physical
manifestations such as liver and kidney dysfunction, fatigue, infertility,
gout, hypertension, headache, and candida (yeast) infections.

Even though efforts are under way to curb the output of toxins and heavy
metals into the environment, the problem is far from being resolved.
Today, even in the United States, thousands of tons of toxic industrial
wastes, including heavy metals, are dumped into the environment every
year. We are left with a legacy of years of industrial pollution and toxic
substance use that haunts us to this day. Perhaps the two most widespread
and significant heavy metal toxins are mercury and lead.

Lead

It is estimated that about 64 million homes in the United States still
contain lead paint and that 5 to 15 million of these have been identified
as "very hazardous" by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. According to the EPA, an estimated 1.7 million children are
currently affected by lead toxicity in United States, and almost 900,000
of all children affected are under the age of six. This statistic is very
important because the symptoms of lead poisoning in children are
strikingly similar to several psychiatric "diseases" that are on the rise
in the U.S. Children with high lead levels can exhibit lower IQ scores,
learning disabilities, hyperactivity, aggressive or disruptive behavior,
and difficulty maintaining attention. A child exhibiting this type of
behavior today would likely be sent to a doctor's office, diagnosed with
attention deficit disorder, and promptly started on Ritalin or other
psychoactive drugs.

Children with high lead levels are much more likely to drop out of school,
have reading disabilities, and exhibit criminal behavior. Herbert
Needleman, M.D., a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the
University of Pittsburgh, conducted a study of nearly 2,000 children in
Boston. He found that girls with elevated levels of lead were more likely
to be dependent, to be poor at concentration, and to "display an
inflexible and inappropriate approach to tasks," while boys were more
likely to have difficulty with simple directions and sequences of
directions. Dr. Needleman concluded: "…Our findings would appear to add
to the weight of evidence that even a lower level of exposure to lead, or
its correlates, place children at increased risk of difficulties in
school."

It is important to note that childhood exposure to lead can result in
adverse effects well into adulthood. A study by Stokes, et al, showed that
a group of 281 young adults who had been exposed to lead as children
showed significant adverse neurobehavioral effects 20 years after
environmental exposure. While lead has been eliminated from the nation's
gasoline supply, the major source of contamination is lead-based paint,
which was composed of up to 50% lead. Flakes and microscopic dust from the
paint continue to contaminant homes for many years, and can be released in
larger amounts during renovations. Additional sources of lead include
water pipes, pesticides, factory emissions, cosmetics, and some folk
remedies.

In addition to being a cellular toxin, lead competes with calcium in the
body, which can cause various malfunctions in calcium metabolism including
a decrease in neurotransmitter (chemicals that relay messages along nerve
cells) release and blockade of calcium channels. The central nervous
system appears to be affected to the greatest degree by lead toxicity, and
this can explain the many neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with
exposure to this heavy metal.

Why are some people more susceptible to heavy metal toxicity than others?
One must always remember that each individual has a unique physiology, and
may have an inherently strong or weak detoxification system to handle
heavy metal exposure. In addition, poor nutrition, such as iron or
calcium deficiency, has been shown to exacerbate the symptoms of lead
exposure.

Lead can be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and also inhaled
as small particles. Chronic exposure to lead can result in significant
accumulation in the brain, soft tissue, and bones. Lead that has
accumulated in the skeleton can remain there for many years, releasing
lead slowly back into the bloodstream over an extended period of time.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms of chronic lead exposure include:

Headaches

Poor memory

Inability to concentrate

Attention deficit

Aberrant behavior

Irritability

Temper Tantrums

Fearfulness

Insomnia

Lowered IQ

Difficulty with the reading, writing, language, visual and motor skills

Mercury

Mercury is considered by many to be even more toxic than lead. Although
mercury is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, mercury vapor
is easily taken in through the lungs and readily passes into the brain.
Once in the body, mercury also concentrates in the nerves, liver, and
especially the kidneys. Mercury is a potent cellular toxin and is known
to decrease neurotransmitter production, disrupt important processes
within the nerve cells, and decrease important hormones such as thyroid
and testosterone.

"Silver" amalgam fillings are the major source of inorganic (does not
contain carbon) mercury exposure in humans, while seafood and fish
constitute our largest exposure to organic mercury compounds. Amalgam
fillings actually contain approximately 50% metallic mercury, and they
continuously release mercury vapor during chewing, brushing, or when
drinking hot beverages. Studies have shown that exhaled air of subjects
with amalgam filling contains a significantly higher level of mercury than
subjects without amalgams, and there appears to be a direct correlation to
the number of amalgam fillings and the level of mercury found in both
blood and urine.

Although the presence of higher levels of mercury in people with amalgam
fillings is not in dispute, there continues to be an intense debate
regarding the health effects of this finding. While groups such as the
FDA and the American Dental Association steadfastly maintain that amalgam
fillings are safe, a growing number of physicians and researchers are
convinced that mercury from amalgam fillings poses a significant health
hazard.

In addition to amalgam fillings, common sources of mercury include
pesticides, laxatives, batteries, paper and pulp products manufacturing,
drinking water, and paint products.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with mercury toxicity include:

Insomnia

Nervousness

Hallucinations

Memory loss

Headache

Dizziness

Anxiety

Irritability

Drowsiness

Emotional instability

Depression

Poor cognitive function

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of heavy metal toxicity must take into account the exposure
history, clinical signs and symptoms, and laboratory tests. While the CDC
(Center for Disease Control) has steadily dropped the "allowable level" of
lead in the blood over the last fifteen years, there remains a problem
with using blood levels in the first place. Blood levels may not
accurately reflect the total body burden of toxic metals. High blood
levels are usually only found in acute toxic metal exposure, or in people
exposed to high levels of toxins over a long period of time. In chronic
low level exposure, however, the blood levels may actually be low due to
redistribution of the toxins throughout the body, while bone and other
tissue levels remain high.

Hair analysis is another method of determining toxin exposure that is
popular with many clinicians. Hair can be a good indicator of exposure
because it grows slowly and incorporates toxic metals into its structure
over a long period of time, and therefore may be a better measure of
actual tissue levels. There are arguments over the accuracy of hair
analysis due to the possibility of contamination from hair dyes, shampoo,
and other factors. Nevertheless, hair analysis can be a valuable
screening tool if the proper questions are asked and the proper steps are
taken prior to its use.

A more accurate method for evaluating toxic metal burden is to do a urine
challenge test with a “chelating” agent. Chelating agents bind to heavy
metals throughout the body, and then are excreted in the urine, taking the
heavy metals with them. In the urine challenge test, a chelating agent is
administered and then urine is collected and analyzed to determine the
amount and type of toxic metals that are excreted.

Treatment

The good news is that effective treatments are available for heavy metal
toxicity. DMSA is an FDA-approved chelating agent that is particularly
useful in cases of mercury exposure (it is also approved for lead toxicity
in children), while EDTA is particularly useful for lead toxicity. It
should be noted that both of these agents remove other toxic metals in
addition to lead and mercury. There are many different protocols used for
heavy metal detoxification, as well as other chelating agents, but that is
beyond the scope of this article. For more information on detoxification
protocols and testing, contact an alternative medicine physician familiar
with these procedures.

Summary

Toxic heavy metals are found in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and
the houses we live in. Toxic metal exposure can result in a wide array of
common mental health disorders that can mimic many psychiatric “diseases”
and thus lead to psychoactive prescription drug use or other unnecessary
treatments. Unfortunately, the majority of clinicians dealing with
patients who have mental health issues are unlikely to suspect heavy metal
toxicity as a cause of their patient’s problems due to a general lack of
knowledge of this subject in the medical community. Unique biochemical,
genetic, and nutritional factors can make certain people more susceptible
to the effects of toxic heavy metals, thus each case must be handled on an
individual basis. Fortunately, the number of practitioners trained in
“functional” or “orthomolecular” medicine is on the rise, and these
practitioners are very familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of
problems associated with heavy metal toxicity.

GAO Questions Plan to Ease Farms' Emissions Rules

GAO Questions Plan to Ease Farms' Emissions Rules
House Panel Wants EPA to Rethink Disclosure Changes
By STEPHEN POWERArticle
stephen.power@wsj.com
SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122221563395669421.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122221563395669421.html?mod=googlenews_wsj#printMode

WASHINGTON -- The nation's factory farms are running into resistance to their push for the Environmental Protection Agency to ease regulations requiring them to report the noxious gases wafting from their operations, some of which generate more waste in a year than the city of Philadelphia.

Reuters
Factory farms are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to ease regulations on their reporting of emissions of noxious gases, but a Government Accountability Office study questions that proposal.
A report due out Wednesday from federal auditors says the EPA lacks information and a clearly defined strategy for effectively regulating mega-farms that have become controversial in some communities because of their potential effect on the environment.
The report by the Government Accountability Office is being published as a House oversight panel convenes a hearing Wednesday to pressure the EPA to rethink a proposal that would exempt certain large factory farms, called "concentrated animal-feeding operations," from having to report emissions of airborne pollutants from their operations.
The GAO report also questions the EPA's proposal, saying the agency "does not have the information it needs to effectively regulate" emissions from factory farms.
Federal officials familiar with the GAO study said it represents the most extensive assessment of the growth of large-scale animal-feeding operations, which according to the GAO can generate as much as 1.6 million tons of manure annually. That is more than one and a half times the waste produced each year by the city of Philadelphia. According to the GAO, the number of concentrated animal-feeding operations more than tripled between 1982 and 2002.
Persuading the EPA to ease reporting requirements of their emissions levels has been a major goal of some agriculture lobbying groups. In 2005, the National Chicken Council, the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the National Turkey Federation petitioned the agency to exempt poultry growers from reporting requirements for ammonia emissions, saying the application of such requirements "does not improve environmental or public-health outcomes in any way" and creates overly severe burdens for tens of thousands of family-run businesses that operate poultry farms.
The GAO report notes that factory farms typically minimize potential environmental problems by retaining manure in storage facilities and disposing of it by spreading it on nearby cropland as fertilizer. But the report adds that such large volumes of manure can degrade air quality, by emitting "unsafe quantities" of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter.
The EPA's proposal, announced in December, would exempt animal-feeding operations from reporting emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide above 100 pounds per day. A spokesman for the EPA said Tuesday that the goal of the proposal is "reducing reporting burdens and protecting public health and the environment." According to the GAO report, EPA officials who reviewed the auditors' findings acknowledged that no national inventory of large animal-feeding operations exists, but that the agency is working with states to develop one.

Factory Farming Waste More Than Some Cities

Report: More factory farming but oversight lags
By ERICA WERNER

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gdDdJvrh2hGb5mQ3Fbz6UHrx-gewD93CRQVG0

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some huge livestock farms produce more raw waste than cities as large as Philadelphia or Houston. But federal regulators are failing to control pollution from the gigantic operations or assess health risks from the enormous quantities of manure they produce, according to congressional investigators.

The Government Accountability Office report on the raw waste is to be released Wednesday to a House committee hearing on federal oversight of factory farms.

The conclusions fueled concerns about a proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule change that would eliminate one of the few federal oversight mechanisms over air and water pollution from big farms.

The rule would eliminate a requirement that farms report to federal, state and local officials when air emissions of hazardous substances like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide exceed certain levels.

EPA proposed the rule change in December, contending the requirement created an unnecessary burden for farms and that the emission release reports usually weren't needed or acted upon.

"It is unclear to us" how EPA reached that determination, GAO said, noting that a national association representing emergency responders has said in comments to EPA that the reports are needed.

"This GAO study confirms that the Bush administration's plan to exempt industrial-sized animal feeding operations from emissions reporting requirements is nothing more than a favor to big agribusiness," said Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Dingell has summoned EPA officials to answer questions on the proposed rule change at his hearing Wednesday.

An EPA spokesman noted Tuesday that the proposed exemption was limited, as it would apply only to emissions from animal waste.

"How soon Congress forgets that it directed EPA to expeditiously resolve confusion over animal waste emissions reporting requirements" under federal law, said EPA spokesman Tim Lyons. "EPA moved forward responsibly and proposed a rule that achieved the goal of reducing the reporting burden and protected public health and the environment."

The GAO report said that no federal agency collects data on the number, size and location of "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations," as the big farms are known. Using more general Agriculture Department data for large farms as a proxy, GAO said the number of large farms that raise animals increased 234 percent from about 3,600 in 1982 to about 12,000 in 2002.

The number of animals on the farms also increased, and with them the amount of animal waste, which can be prodigious. The report said a large farm with 800,000 hogs or a beef cattle farm with 140,000 head of cattle could each produce more than 1.6 million tons of manure per year — 1 1/2 times more than the annual sanitary waste produced by the city of Philadelphia, and slightly more than the 1.4 million tons produced by the city of Houston every year.

In one example, GAO said that five contiguous North Carolina counties in 2002 had an estimated 7.5 million hogs that could have produced as much as 15.5 million tons of manure. Agriculture experts and government officials told investigators that raised concerns about overapplication of manure to cropland in those areas and the release of excessive levels of pollutants.

EPA doesn't limit the amount of air pollution this waste can emit, and a 2003 rule to require permits for waste discharges into water was partly overturned in court. EPA has been reworking the water discharge rule for several years but has not yet finalized it.

Without federal guidelines, states have been moving on their own, the GAO found. Officials in California, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and North Dakota reported developing state air regulations for certain pollutants emitted by factory farms.

Organic Vegetables are Better for Fighting Cancer

Organic Vegetables are Better for Fighting Cancer

http://www.mercola.com/2003/apr/26/organic_vegetables.htm

Conventional agriculture, which depends on heavy applications of chemical
fertilizers, chemical pesticides and irrigation, may inhibit plants’
natural production of cancer-fighting flavonoids, while organic
agriculture, which does not use synthetic pesticides or chemical
fertilizers, may actually promote the production of flavonoids.

Flavonoids are plant by-products believed to protect the plant from
insects, bacterial and fungal infection and photo-oxidation. These plant
chemicals are also thought to be useful in preventing cancer and heart
disease and combating age-related neurological dysfunctions.

Flavonoids work by protecting the cell against damage caused by active
oxygen radicals. Oxygen radicals can cause cancer and are also associated
with cardiovascular disease and age-related nerve cell damage.

In studies comparing conventional farming with organic and sustainable
(environmentally sound) farming of berries and corn, organic and
sustainable produce was significantly higher in flavonoids than
conventional produce.

Although previous studies did not evaluate flavonoids, results indicated
that conventionally produced foods had higher levels of nitrates and
synthetic pesticides and fewer total solids than organic foods.

The natural compounds showed various functions in the cell, including the
potential to kill cancer cells or prevent them from spreading. Using plant
chemicals in the treatment of cancer could enhance cure rates if combined
with standard treatment methods, according to researchers.

Other studies have shown that flavonoids have protective effects against
cardiovascular disease and cancer, although separate studies have found
that the compounds have no effect, and a few have suggested they could
have harmful effects.

Plant chemicals may also be useful in combating age-related neurological
dysfunctions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, which
are associated with long-term oxidative stress.

There is substantial evidence to suggest that flavonoids, which are more
plentiful in organic than conventional foods, are effective in the fight
against cancer, heart disease and age-related neurological dysfunction.
Additionally, increasing evidence indicates that organic farming gives
high yields and is more beneficial to the environment than conventional
farming.

According to researchers, supporters of genetically modified foods often
deny or ignore this large body of evidence.

Journal Agricultural Food Chemistry February 26, 2003;51(5):1237-41

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

The reasons why you should seek organic foods whenever possible continue
to increase; however, don’t become overly distressed if you can’t get
them. It is far better to get fresh vegetables, whether organic or not,
and consume no sugar then eat cooked vegetables and have sugar regularly.
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