Why not use antibacterial soaps? First, regular soaps do the same thing just as well. Antibacterial soaps do not get rid of germs any better than regular soaps and water. In fact, it’s more of a marketing device than anything else.
Second, we don’t need to introduce more antibacterial chemicals into the environment, making them less effective. The environment is already choking on them and their usefulness in fighting disease continues to be diminished as a consequence. Third, the ingredients could contribute to harmful hormonal changes, especially if used over a long period of time. Taking a closer look, the manufacturers haven’t proven that the antimicrobial ingredients are safe for daily use over a long period of time. That’s why the FDA is issuing a final rule which will ban antiseptic wash products like bar soaps, foam, gel hand soaps and body washes that contain antibacterial active ingredients—including triclosan and triclocarban. Read the article here.
0 Comments
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is the organization that annually produces their Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists of non-organic fruits and vegetables. By referring to their reports, consumers can learn which kinds of produce should be purchased organic and which non-organic are relatively safe for your family. Now the EWG has investigated hummus and issued their report.
The good news here is that there is an organization we can trust to inform consumers about what foods are safer and which should be avoided. The article lists the brands with the highest and lowest percentages of glyphosate. This is the chemical in Roundup herbicide that has been linked to cancer. Hummus can be a very healthful part of our diet, so knowing which brands are safest is important, especially because toxic chemicals can accumulate in our body over time. Read the EWG report here. It’s no wonder that many of us are interested in learning more about sleep. Since 1991, the National Sleep Foundation has conducted polls to study American’s sleeping habits. One highlight from 2020 is that significant numbers of people in America feel sleepy about 3 days per week, which negatively affects their daily lives.
When it comes to which position is best for sleeping, medical science tells us that sleeping on our back is healthiest. However, it must not be very comfortable, because only 8% of us sleep that way. On the other hand, sleeping on our stomach is considered the least healthy due to the way it positions the spine, neck, and arms and presses on the stomach. Side sleeping benefits include better digestion, enhanced brain power, keeping snoring to a minimum, reducing pressure on the heart. There are ways to keep the body in alignment—sometimes difficult when sleeping on the side—which are explained in the article. Also detailed are the pros and cons of each side. If you or a friend or family member would like to talk to Dr. Taketa-Wong about this or any other health question, we offer a no-charge phone consultation called the Personal Health Strategy Session. Please call our office at 808-425-2987 or text FREE CONSULT to that number for more information or to schedule a free consultation with the doctor. Mahalo! Read the article here. While there are many potential contributors to autism, medical science is increasingly looking at environmental exposures as a potential culprit. This new study adds to a growing body of evidence that prenatal exposure to certain chemicals may impair social development. Importantly, folate may protect against the harmful effects of phthalates. The research focused on boys since autism is four times more common in boys.
Phthalates are widely used in certain plastics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, food packaging, and medical devices. They act as endocrine disruptors, altering the proper functioning of hormones. It's possible the chemicals could impact mothers' thyroid function or reduce the production of androgen hormones during pregnancy—both of which are crucial for babies' brain development. In addition, some phthalates have already shown anti-androgenic effects. Androgen hormones regulate the development of male traits and reproduction. Phthalates can also reduce testosterone in baby boys, which would help explain the difference seen between the sexes when it comes to autism. The new study adds to the conclusions of previous ones. A 2009 study of 4,779 children found that those who lived in homes with polyvinyl chloride flooring, a source of phthalates, were more likely to be diagnosed with autism. A 2010 study found links between higher levels of certain phthalate metabolites during mothers' third trimester and autism traits in 137 children ages 7 to 9. The good news from the new study is that it reinforces prior research, confirming that mothers who took recommended doses of supplementary folate during their first trimester were less likely to have boys who later exhibited autism traits. If you or a friend or family member would like to talk to Dr. Taketa-Wong about a medical condition, we offer a no-charge phone consultation called the Personal Health Strategy Session. Please call our office at 808-425-2987 or text FREE CONSULT to that number for more information or to schedule a free consultation with the doctor. Mahalo! Read the article here. Most people assume that standard medical advice is based on substantial amounts of scientific research. However, like most assumptions, this one, too, is wrong. In fact, researchers recently discovered that nearly “….400 routine practices were flatly contradicted by studies published in leading journals.” The study included scientists from universities in Oregon, Illinois, and Maryland.
Of more than 3,000 studies published from 2003 through 2017 in JAMA and the Lancet, and from 2011 through 2017 in the New England Journal of Medicine, more than one of 10 amounted to a “medical reversal” -- a conclusion opposite of what had been conventional wisdom among doctors. Here are just two: (1) Peanut allergies occur whether or not a child is exposed before age three (2) Keeping your dwelling free of dust mites, cockroaches, and mice does NOT protect against asthma attacks. The article has a total of 10 findings. The following link is to the meta research that the researchers conducted where all of the findings can be reviewed. https://elifesciences.org/articles/45183?utm_source=content_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=fulltext&utm_campaign=12-June-19-elife-alert You can read the article here. I am always mystified at the lack of scientific research into healing modalities that have a proven track record over hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. While acupuncture has been gaining ground when it comes to research, acupressure has barely been studied. Regardless, I certainly see no reason not to try it if you have a headache.
Headaches have many different potential causes, so I take a holistic approach to identifying the underlying causes and treating them. Headaches can be caused by lack of sleep, stress, tight muscles, dehydration, hormonal imbalances, allergies, toxins and many other factors. When a patient complains of headaches, I do a thorough medical history and physical exam and put on my “medical detective hat” to look for clues as to the underlying causes. By treating the underlying causes with ongoing dietary and lifestyle improvements and natural medicines (medical grade supplements, herbs, vitamins, and homeopathics) my patients have been able to significantly reduce or permanently eliminate headaches and migraines. While this article includes some information about massage therapy and other related practices, its main value comes from the illustrations and instructions about how to use acupressure points to relieve headaches. Read the article here. This article covers natural treatments such as acupuncture, massage, tai chi, qi gong, food selection, supplements, and more. As medical knowledge increases and old stereotypes and prejudices are put to rest, we are going to find increasing acceptance of natural therapies. This is good news for patients.
In working with breast cancer patients (and other cancers as well), I have utilized several natural treatment protocols to help them manage their symptoms and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and medications. These therapies are not meant as a substitute for standard care, but rather serve to lessen its severity. One of the therapies I use is a Hawaiian herb that helps reduce nausea, maintain appetite, and enhance energy levels. I have seen my cancer patients do much better with their chemotherapy – and even radiation – when they are able to have natural treatment included. Read the complete article here. DID TEEN REALLY GO BLIND FROM A DIET OF POTATO CHIPS AND FRIES? IF SO, WHAT CAN WE LEARN BY IT?10/25/2019 It was only one incident and there are researchers who question the case study from the Annals of Internal Medicine, but the boy from England was basically eating a diet of mostly French fries and potato chips, began to lose his vision at age 15, and by age 17 he was legally blind. The cause was optic neuropathy (damage to the optic nerve) created by lack of necessary vitamins and minerals.
Scientists at Tufts University in the U.S. want to know more about how the teen ended up with permanent vision loss from diet alone, since the condition is uncommon and usually temporary. At the same time, they agree that poor quality diets can increase the risk of vision problems as we get older, including age related macular degeneration (AMD). In studies, people who ate plenty of vegetables, beans, fruits, whole grains, and seafood have a lower risk of AMD. Those who consumed a diet high in red meat, processed meats, and refined carbohydrates (white bread, chips, crackers, and sweets) have a higher risk of AMD and also some forms of cataracts. The findings are in line with what we know about food and health in general. Most of the damage to our vision happens slowly over time, and once it occurs, it’s too late to reverse the harm. To protect your eyes as throughout your lifetime, please choose to eat healthfully now. Read the article here Let’s begin by talking about mercury, so it’s clear why this information is so important. Mercury is a neurotoxin. It can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in small children and pregnant moms. In a child’s developing brain, mercury can obstruct nutrient absorption, causing learning disabilities and developmental delays. (NOTE: There is an excellent table in the article that spells out recommended servings of tuna.)
In fetuses and infants, high amounts of mercury can not only lead to cognitive problems, but cerebral palsy, deafness, and blindness. In adults, mercury poisoning can affect fertility and blood pressure. It can also cause memory loss, tremors, vision loss, and numbness of the extremities. Now, what about tuna? Mercury is an industrial chemical that can get released into the environment and settle in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Bacteria in those waters absorb it, small fish consume the bacteria, bigger fish eat the smaller fish, and so on up the food chain. Large fish, like tuna, can have dangerously high mercury concentrations. However, they can still be safe to eat in certain amounts. There are two main types of canned tuna. Chunk light comes from skipjack tuna, a smaller species, and typically contains 0.12 parts per million (PPM) of mercury. Albacore is a larger species and has higher mercury levels, about 0.32 PPM. There is an excellent table in the article that spells out recommended servings. Safer fish that have good amounts of protein and omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, herring, sardines, and anchovies. They contain less mercury as they are lower in the food chain. It is best to avoid exposure to mercury as much as possible, but if you already have symptoms of mercury poisoning, there are safe ways to naturally detoxify your body. These include supplements that can support the body’s detoxification pathways and help pull heavy metals out of the body, homeopathics that support detox pathways, treating any constipation, and more. Read the article here. Inflammation is our body’s natural response to infection and injury. It means that our immune system is protecting us by sending cells to fix the problem. The process often involves warmth, swelling, and redness. Once the problem is resolved, the inflammation disappears. However, chronic inflammation is like an ongoing state of emergency and can lead to long term damage to the heart, brain, and other organs as well as conditions like arthritis.
Some of the common signs of chronic inflammation include constant fatigue and insomnia; depression, anxiety, and mood disorder; constipation, diarrhea, and acid reflux; weight gain; frequent infections. That’s why it’s important to get control of chronic inflammation. However using anti-inflammatory drugs—whether prescribed or OTC—are not safe long term, leading to potential damage to organs and blood vessels. This article describes 8 natural supplements and herbs that reduce chronic inflammation. The list includes omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin, zinc, cat’s claw and more. I do recommend consulting with a doctor prior to trying the recommended supplements. While not in the article, dietary improvements can also make a big difference. Foods that cause inflammation include sugar of all kinds, processed meats, and processed grains (pasta, pastries, white bread, breakfast cereals, snacks, sodas, etc.). Anti-inflammatory foods include green leafy vegetables, fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines, nuts like almonds and walnuts, fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. Read article here. |
Location |
|