Health & WellnessS


Microscope 2

The role of fungus in cancer

Dr. Joseph Mercola
Mercola.com
Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:01 UTC
fungus cancer
Oftentimes, even the most unlikely-sounding theories can be scientifically validated if you just wait long enough. That certainly rings true for recent headlines declaring fungi and bacteria may be playing a role in the development of certain types of cancer, combined with previous research showing baking soda may be a useful remedy.

In 2011, ScienceBasedMedicine.org shamed Dr. Oz for allowing me on his show,1 and one of the "reasons" given was that I had at one time published information about a novel hypothesis — the idea that cancer could be caused by common fungi and might be treatable with baking soda.

Two early proponents of this hypothesis were Tullio Simoncini2,3 and Mark Sircus.4 As you might expect, they were unsuccessful in their attempts at getting the conventional medical establishment to take the hypothesis seriously and have been maligned and marginalized for promoting these ideas.
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Sun

How sun exposure can affect your microbiome

Linda Carroll
NBC News
Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:30 UTC
sun exposure
A bit of sun might help diversify the bugs in your gut, a study published Thursday suggests.

Brief exposure to ultraviolet rays not only bumps up vitamin D levels, but could also lead to a more varied collection of gut bacteria, according to the Frontiers in Microbiology study.

On the surface, sunlight and gut microbes seem to have nothing in common — after all, your gut bacteria are unlikely to find themselves catching some rays.

Comment: Because the science on the microbiome is still in its infancy, researchers are still trying to figure out what exactly is the ideal for microbiome diversity. Is it that diversity is superior for health, or is there a wide range of variation in levels of diversity that still result in healthy humans? This said, it seems to almost be a no-brainer that moderate sun exposure is vital for human health. If it helps the microbiome, all the better.

See also:

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Pills

Meth - not Fentanyl - driving overdose deaths in Western US

Erin Schumaker
ABC News
Fri, 25 Oct 2019 03:16 UTC
Packets of fentanyl and methamphetamine
© CBP Handout via ReutersPackets of fentanyl and methamphetamine, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection say they seized from a truck crossing into Arizona from Mexico, is on display during a news conference at the Port of Nogales, Ariz., Jan. 31, 2019.
Although fentanyl use remain a pressing concern in the United States, a government report that details regional differences in drug overdose deaths shows that in much of the country, methamphetamine is a bigger killer.

In the majority of states west of the Mississippi River, methamphetamine was the most common drug implicated in drug overdose deaths, according to the report, which utilized data from 2017, the latest available, and which was released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In states east of the Mississippi River that trend was reversed, with fentanyl the most common drug implicated in overdose deaths in 2017.

"What's interesting is that the patterns are different across the U.S.," said Dr. Holly Hedegaard, an epidemiologist at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics and co-author of the report.
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Evil Rays

Scientific American issues severe warning on 5G dangers

Terence Newton
Waking times
Thu, 24 Oct 2019 18:49 UTC
Space radiation
© NASA / NICER
In a recently published article entitled, We Have No Reason to Believe 5G is Safe, Scientific American (SciAm) magazine issued a stern warning about the known and potential dangers of 5G technology.

Of particular significance is the fact that SciAm is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States, founded by inventor and publisher Rufus M. Porter in 1845, and running monthly since 1921. It is a highly influential publication, widely reputed for its rigorous scientific standards, and lauded by today's fact-checkers as highly credible and staunchly pro-science.

In the article, University of California, Berkeley public health researcher Joel M. Moskowitz argues that 5G, along with previous w-fi and cellular technology, is much more harmful than the government and telecomm industry wants the public to believe.
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Bulb

Leg exercises are critical for brain and nervous system health


Science Daily
Wed, 23 May 2018 00:00 UTC
Squats
In a new take on the exercise truism 'use it, or lose it,' researchers show neurological health is an interactive relationship with our muscles and our world
Groundbreaking research shows that neurological health depends as much on signals sent by the body's large, leg muscles to the brain as it does on directives from the brain to the muscles. Published today in Frontiers in Neuroscience, the study fundamentally alters brain and nervous system medicine -- giving doctors new clues as to why patients with motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy and other neurological diseases often rapidly decline when their movement becomes limited.

"Our study supports the notion that people who are unable to do load-bearing exercises -- such as patients who are bed-ridden, or even astronauts on extended travel -- not only lose muscle mass, but their body chemistry is altered at the cellular level and even their nervous system is adversely impacted," says Dr. Raffaella Adami from the Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.

Comment: So spend some time away from the computer or cellphone to get active and start sweating! It's more important than you think. See also:

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Health

Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid pull J&J baby powder from shelves after FDA finds sub-trace levels of asbestos

Díamaris Martino
CNBC
Thu, 24 Oct 2019 18:15 UTC
baby powder
© Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
Walmart, CVS Health and Rite Aid are pulling all containers of Johnson & Johnson's 22-ounce baby powder after the FDA found sub-trace amounts of asbestos, the companies confirmed Thursday.

"CVS Pharmacy is complying with Johnson & Johnson's voluntary recall of Johnson's Baby Powder 22 oz. and is removing this product from all stores and from CVS.com," spokesman Mike DeAngelis said in a statement to CNBC. "We also initiated a 'Do Not Sell' register prompt in our stores to prevent the sale of this item during the product removal process."

The company is also warning customers who purchased the product from CVS locations to discontinue use and return the item for a refund.

Comment: Previously:

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Sun

How to get more vitamin D during the winter when the days shorten

Sara Tipton
Ready Nutrition
Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:00 UTC
Vitamin D
There are actually two main forms of vitamin D found in food. Vitamin D3 is a more active form and found only from animal sources. Vitamin D2 is from plant sources. Both animals and plants need sunlight or UV exposure in order to produce vitamin D.
As winter approaches, we find ourselves cooped up indoors more enjoying those hot cups of coffee or cocoa, and dismissing the idea of venturing out in the cold. However, our bodies need sunlight and vitamin D, especially in the winter when the days shorten.

It's difficult to get enough vitamin D in the winter. The days are shorter and the weather is cold and gloomy and the dreaded cold and flu season is in full swing. But you definitely should venture outside some, because so many studies show that vitamin D helps reduce the risk of colds and flu, giving your immune system a huge boost. The Vitamin D Council recommends vitamin D to help prevent colds and flu (URI or upper respiratory infections) based on the findings of two large meta-analyses (the strongest proof in medicine) published in respected medical journals. The best dose to use is unknown (as all of us are different with different body compositions), but the Vitamin D Council recommends that adults take 5,000 to 10,000 IU per day, depending on body weight. Children should take at least 100 IU/kg/day.

Comment: More reasons to increase your Vitamin D levels, (but not too much):

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Star

Is it OK to take melatonin every night?

Dr. Joseph Mercola
Mercola.com
Thu, 24 Oct 2019 00:01 UTC
melatonin
Melatonin, a hormone produced naturally by your body's pineal gland, is a popular supplement used by an estimated 3.1 million Americans.1 One of its primary roles is regulating your body's circadian rhythm, and melatonin supplements are often used as sleep aids or to help sleep problems related to shift work, jet lag and sleep disorders.

From 2007 to 2012, use of melatonin among U.S. adults more than doubled,2 perhaps because sleep troubles are so widespread. A Consumer Reports survey found 80% of U.S. adults struggle with sleep, and 20% tried a natural remedy to help. Of those, melatonin was the most popular, with 86% of those who had tried a supplement as a sleep aid choosing melatonin.3

Spending on the supplement alone reached $408 million in 2017,4 hinting at its popularity. But an important question looms: is melatonin safe for nightly use?

Comment: See also:

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Attention

18 common drugs that alter gut bacteria and increase health risks

Maria Cohut, Ph.D
Medical News Today
Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:00 UTC
gut bacteria
A new study has found that many common drugs — including those that treat diabetes, digestive problems, bacterial infections, and even depression — could actually predispose people to certain types of infection by affecting the balance of their gut microbiome.

Prescription drugs help treat diseases, ease infections, and manage the symptoms of certain chronic health conditions.

However, they can sometimes bring side effects, ranging in severity. Doctors and researchers are not always aware of all the possible adverse outcomes.

Comment: Having healthy gut bacteria is proving to be a cornerstone of our mental and physical health. Considering that these drugs have been shown to disrupt our gut bacteria, it may be wise to consider other effective alternatives to manage chronic health conditions such as; dietary and lifestyle changes, reducing overall stress and getting adequate sleep and exercise.

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Biohazard

Because no one asked: GMO avocados in development

Dr. Joseph Mercola
Mercola.com
Tue, 15 Oct 2019 00:01 UTC
avocados
Avocados not only are one of the world's healthiest fruits, they're also among the most economically important, representing a $13 billion market in 2017.1 Avocados have been enjoyed since ancient times, but their DNA has been largely foreign — until now. A group of U.S. and Mexican scientists have sequenced the genomes of Mexican and well-known Hass avocados.

Their study, published in PNAS,2 reveals "ancient evolutionary relationships" that give clues to the fruit's origins but also opens the floodgates to future genetic modification of this already perfect food. Indeed, as The New York Times put it, the research is "likely to become the foundation for breeding techniques and genetic modifications designed to produce avocados that can resist disease or survive in drier conditions."3

Comment: See also:

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