Cancer is the second leading cause of illness and death in the United States, accounting for one in four deaths. One-third of all cancer deaths can be prevented with lifestyle changes and early detection. Cancer control month highlights advances in fighting cancer. This includes prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer.
What are the Key Statistics about Cancer?
• After heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
• Over a lifetime, about 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women in the United States will develop cancer.
• Cancer rates and deaths have been on the decline since the early 1990’s.
• One third of cancers detected will be related to overweight or obesity, physical inactivity and nutrition.
According to Dr. Mercola
40 Women With Breast Cancer Had This "Cosmetic Ingredient" in Their Tissues
New research has detected the presence of paraben esters in 99 percent of breast cancer tissues sampled. The study examined 40 women who were being treated for primary breast cancer. In 60 percent of cases, five of the different esters were present.
Parabens are chemicals with estrogen-like properties, and estrogen is one of the hormones involved in the development of breast cancer.
The study notes that:
"Variation was notable with respect to individual paraben esters, location within one breast and similar locations in different breasts.
Overall median values in nanograms per gram tissue for the 160 tissue samples were highest for n-propylparaben and methylparaben; levels were lower for n-butylparaben, ethylparaben and isobutylparaben...
The source of the paraben cannot be identified, but paraben was measured in the 7/40 patients who reported never having used underarm cosmetics in their lifetime."
Sources and Dangers of Parabens
Deodorants and antiperspirants are some of the primary sources of parabens, but the fact that even those who reportedly never used them still had parabens in their breast tissue clearly demonstrates that these chemicals, regardless of what products they're added to, can, and apparently will, accumulate in breast tissue.
It's important to recognize that whatever you spread on your skin can be absorbed into your body and potentially cause serious damage over time, as this research demonstrates.
To learn more about the potential toxicity of your cosmetics, read the Environmental Working Group's extensive Skin Deep Report. Parabens inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds, and are used as preservatives. On the label they may be listed as:
- E 216
- Butyl paraben
- Ethyl paraben
- Methyl paraben
- Propyl paraben
- Isobutyl paraben
These chemicals are commonly used in:
- Deodorants and antiperspirants
- Shaving gel
- Toothpaste
- Lotions and sunscreens
- Make-up / cosmetics
- Pharmaceutical drugs
- Food additives
Studies have shown that parabens can affect your body much like the estrogens, which can lead to diminished muscle mass, extra fat storage, and male gynecomastia (breast growth). Other studies besides the one featured here have also linked parabens to breast cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has linked methyl parabens in particular to metabolic, developmental, hormonal, and neurological disorders, as well as various cancers.
How to Avoid Some of the Most Common Culprits
Avoiding parabens and other harmful chemicals requires becoming an avid label reader. Beware that products boasting "all-natural" labels can still contain harmful chemicals, including parabens, so make sure to check the list of ingredients. Another alternative is to make your own personal care products. In many cases it's much easier than you might think. Michael DeJong, environmentalist and author of books on green living has a book called Clean Cures, which is chockfull of affordable, easy, natural remedies you can prepare at home to treat ordinary ailments with items you have in your own refrigerator and pantry.
When it comes to deodorants, one option is to skip it altogether. Simple soap and water works quite well. For some additional odor-protection, try a pinch of baking soda mixed with a small amount of water.
Beware: There's a Brand NEW Class of Cancer-Causing "Estrogens"...
Recent research has also confirmed the existence of a previously unknown class of cancer-causing materials that can be found in thousands of consumer products. Some of them are even added to supplements and foods as "nutrients." These estrogen-mimicking compounds are: metals.
Yes, a broad range of metals have been shown to act as "metalloestrogens" with the potential to add to the estrogenic burden of the human breast, thereby increasing the risk of breast cancer. The following metals have been identified as being capable of binding to cellular estrogen receptors and then mimicking the actions of physiological estrogens:
- Aluminum
- Antimony
- Arsenite
- Barium
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Lead
- Mercury
- Nickel
- Selenite
- Tin
- Vanadate
According to Green Med Info:
"... [E]xposure to sodium selenite (and sodium selenate) is difficult to avoid, as it is the primary source of supplemental selenium in mass market vitamins, foods, beverages, etc. The same is true for inorganic forms of chromium, copper, nickel, tin and and vanadium, which you will find on the labels of many mass market multivitamins. Another daily source of metalloestrogen exposure for millions of consumers is aluminum-based antiperspirants."
Cadmium Linked to Higher Breast Cancer Risk
A recent study published in the journal Cancer Research indicates that women whose diets contain higher levels of cadmium are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer. Cadmium is a heavy metal long known to be carcinogenic, and, as you can see by its inclusion on the list above, it's also been identified as a metal that can bind to estrogen receptors, effectively mimicking the female hormone estrogen. The study found that among close to 56,000 women, those with the highest intakes of cadmium were 21 percent more likely to develop breast cancer .
Cadmium leaches into crops from fertilizers, or when rainfall or sewage sludge deposit it onto farmland. Potatoes and whole grains are a couple of the primary sources cadmium, but it's also present in air pollution from the burning of fossil fuel, and can therefore also be inhaled. According to the Los Angeles Times:
"The study offers new evidence in a large human population that environmental chemicals that mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen may contribute to women's risk of certain cancers, including endometrial and breast cancers.... The finding comes just three months after the Institute of Medicine, a prestigious body of independent biomedical researchers, concluded that a host of other factors — most within a woman's power to control, such as obesity and hormone-replacement medication — were the most important sources of breast cancer risk.
The report they're referring to is Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued in December of last year, which discusses environmental impacts on breast cancer risk.
The report is a step in the right direction, as it recognizes the need to further investigate the role environmental toxins play in the development of breast cancer. This is important, because while individuals can do their best to avoid harmful chemicals, if we really want to quell the rise in cancers of all kinds, we must remove chemicals linked with cancer from consumer products, manufacturing, and other sources of exposure.
 Top 10 Reasons to Love Your Kidneys
To help raise awareness and appreciation for all the vital functions the kidneys perform, the National Kidney Foundation offers 10 reasons for Americans to love their kidneys and take steps now to preserve kidney health: The kidneys...
- Filter 200 liters of blood a day, removing two liters of toxins, wastes and water
- Regulate the body’s water balance
- Regulate blood pressure by controlling fluid levels and making the hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict
- Support healthy bones and tissues by producing the active form of vitamin D
- Produce the hormone that stimulates bone marrow to manufacture red blood cells
- Keep blood minerals in balance
- Keep electrolytes in balance
- Regulate blood acid levels
- Remove drugs from the blood
- Retrieve essential nutrients so that the body can reabsorb them
Why Are the Kidneys So Important?
Most people know that a major function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body. These waste products and excess fluid are removed through the urine. The production of urine involves highly complex steps of excretion and reabsorption. This process is necessary to maintain a stable balance of body chemicals.
The critical regulation of the body's salt, potassium and acid content is performed by the kidneys. The kidneys also produce hormones that affect the function of other organs. For example, a hormone produced by the kidneys stimulates red blood cell production. Other hormones produced by the kidneys help regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism.
The kidneys are powerful chemical factories that perform the following functions:
* remove waste products from the body
* remove drugs from the body
* balance the body's fluids
* release hormones that regulate blood pressure
* produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones
* control the production of red blood cells
Where Are the Kidneys and How Do They Function?
There are two kidneys, each about the size of a fist, located on either side of the spine at the lowest level of the rib cage. Each kidney contains up to a million functioning units called nephrons. A nephron consists of a filtering unit of tiny blood vessels called a glomerulus attached to a tubule. When blood enters the glomerulus, it is filtered and the remaining fluid then passes along the tubule. In the tubule, chemicals and water are either added to or removed from this filtered fluid according to the body's needs, the final product being the urine we excrete.
The kidneys perform their life-sustaining job of filtering and returning to the bloodstream about 200 quarts of fluid every 24 hours. About two quarts are removed from the body in the form of urine, and about 198 quarts are recovered. The urine we excrete has been stored in the bladder for anywhere from 1 to 8 hours.
What Are Some of the Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease is defined as having some type of kidney abnormality or "marker" such as protein in the urine and having decreased kidney function for three months or longer.
There are many causes of chronic kidney disease. The kidneys may be affected by diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Some kidney conditions are inherited.
Others are congenital; that is, individuals may be born with an abnormality that can affect their kidneys. The following are some of the most common types and causes of kidney damage.
Diabetes is a disease in which your body does not make enough insulin or cannot use normal amounts of insulin properly. This results in a high blood sugar level, which can cause problems in many parts of your body. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease.
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is another common cause of kidney disease and other complications such as heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood against your artery walls increases. When high blood pressure is controlled, the risk of complications such as chronic kidney disease is decreased.
Glomerulonephritis is a disease that causes inflammation of the kidney's tiny filtering units called the glomeruli. Glomerulonephritis may happen suddenly, for example, after a strep throat, and the individual may get well again. However, the disease may develop slowly over several years and it may cause progressive loss of kidney function.
Polycystic kidney disease is the most common inherited kidney disease. It is characterized by the formation of kidney cysts that enlarge over time and may cause serious kidney damage and even kidney failure. Other inherited diseases that affect the kidneys include Alport's Syndrome, primary hyperoxaluria and cystinuria.
Kidney stones are very common, and when they pass, they may cause severe pain in your back and side. There are many possible causes of kidney stones, including an inherited disorder that causes too much calcium to be absorbed from foods and urinary tract infections or obstructions. Sometimes, medications and diet can help to prevent recurrent stone formation. In cases where stones are too large to pass, treatments may be done to remove the stones or break them down into small pieces that can pass out of the body.
Urinary tract infections occur when germs enter the urinary tract and cause symptoms such as pain and/or burning during urination and more frequent need to urinate. These infections most often affect the bladder, but they sometimes spread to the kidneys, and they may cause fever and pain in your back.
Congenital diseases may also affect the kidneys. These usually involve some problem that occurs in the urinary tract when a baby is developing in its mother's womb. One of the most common occurs when a valve-like mechanism between the bladder and ureter (urine tube) fails to work properly and allows urine to back up (reflux) to the kidneys, causing infections and possible kidney damage.
Drugs and toxins, especially heavy metals such as LEAD and MERCURY, can also cause kidney problems. Using large numbers of over-the-counter pain relievers for a long time may be harmful to the kidneys. Certain other medications, toxins, pesticides can also cause kidney damage.
The chelating agents we use, especially EDTA, help remove the heavy metals and allow for a healthier, better functioning kidney. EDTA is actually, in and of itself, beneficial for the kidney.
The National Kidney Foundations urges all Americans to love their kidneys. To learn more about Chronic Kidney Kidney risk factors, prevention and treatment, visit www.kidney.org
Source: www.kidney.org
 In an article published in the November 15, 2010, issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers have found that mercury is likely to be one of the multiple causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Mercury is one of the most toxic natural substances. It poses a danger to humans and may lead to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. After a systematic review of existing experimental and clinical research literature, researchers associated with the Viadrina European University, the Samueli Institute (Virginia, USA), Northeastern University (Boston, USA) and the University Hospital Freiburg found that the symptoms and features of the Alzheimer’s disease were reproduced or accelerated when mercury was introduced.
Mercury binds tightly to selenium, a naturally occurring metal found in our diet that is important for good health. Proteins associated with selenium form a class of molecules that help prevent damage due to oxidative stress, which is the stress that occurs when metabolism takes place. Oxidative stress leads to cell death and thus aging. When mercury binds to selenium, this process may be accelerated, as are other degenerative processes in the brain.
The experimental research literature indicates that animal and cell models reproduce all the features of Alzheimer’s disease when mercury is given. For instance, one of the more widely known uses of mercury is in amalgam dental fillings, the most common type of fillings used by dentists. Studies of low-dose human exposure, such as to dentists and their staff, show that exposure to mercury is significantly correlated with neurological or psychological harm, or both.
Mercury can be introduced to the body in several ways because it evaporates at room temperatures. It can be taken up as a gas, reaching the brain directly, via the nose, or indirectly via the blood. It then crosses the blood-brain barrier and gets trapped inside the brain, where it can accumulate over long periods of time.
“The situation is similar to the early 1970s regarding smoking: enough experimental evidence existed, but human studies were inconclusive at the time and were under attack by groups with a vested interest,” said Professor Harald Walach, PhD, Viadrina European University and Samueli Institute Fellow. “To wait until irrefutable evidence has accumulated is not the best option in view of what we already know about the toxicity of mercury. The removal of inorganic mercury from ecological cycles might prove to be the easiest and most effective public health measure to contribute to the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.”
*All contents copyright 1995-2010 Life Extension Foundation. All rights reserved.
Mercury is a neurotoxin and also effects many other tissues. It is not safe at any level. Period. That is not only my opinion, it is also the statement of the World Health Organization. One of the biggest sources of mercury is amalgam fillings, also erroneously called silver fillings, which is about 50% mercury. It is well established that the mercury in these fillings can vaporize just by being exposed to warm food and liquids. That vapor can go directly into the brain. Numerous animal studies have shown this, so it is no surprise that mercury is linked to dementia. The good news is that fewer dentists are placing new amalgam fillings. If you have any in your mouth, I recommend you have them replaced, and ONLY by a biological dentist who is trained in the proper removal of amalgam fillings. We use protective nutritional protocols during replacement to help protect you from any possible mercury exposure, and most people will need some type of chelation treatment to get the mercury safely out of the body. Mercury also gets into the environment, and therefor food supply, by the ever more used burning of coal for fuel and other industrial sources. To one degree or another, we are all exposed and all effected by mercury and getting it out of your body will help you be healthier.
After my last blog and email blast many people have had questions on Chelation Therapy, so I want to share some of my thoughts.
Health is a by-product of restoring the eco-system of the body. One of the most disruptive insults to the body is a high heavy metal burden--most importantly lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. Heavy metals can interfere with all of the biochemical processes of the body, and there really is no safe level of them. (Do not confuse a normal range that shows up on a laboratory test with an optimal level.)
So the first questions people usually ask about chelation are: when to start, when to stop, and how frequent should their treatments be. While we all have a certain level of metals in our body, I like to use some testing or markers that we can use to track improvement. In our office we use a couple of different instruments to estimate the health, or compliance, of the arteries. It has been said long ago that you are as young as your arteries, and that is true. We also use challenge (chelation) urine tests to try and draw out the heavy metals to give us a better estimation of body burden, since many people have poor mechanisms for excreting heavy metals. Some other doctors use hair analysis, which may have some utility in certain cases, but I believe a better estimation on the body burden of metals is done with a challenge--or provoked urine test.
How frequent the treatment should be depends on the amount of metals in the body or the level of vascular dysfunction. It also depends on the condition of the patient. Some patients are very sensitive to the chelating agent, so they will have a slower, or more protracted, chelation schedule.Those with a very high metal level or poor vascular health may need to have more frequent treatments. Everyone’s treatment protocol is prescribed on a case-by-case basis. In general, as the symptoms or testing improves the treatment frequency can decrease. With all the variables, this is as much a clinical art as a science.
With children, chelation is done slowly, gently and almost exclusively orally. Many people have seen improvements in autism and ADD/ADHD with a safe chelating protocol. Unfortunately, the opposite can be true; many have been injured with an improper protocol.
When to stop chelation is a personal decision. This is where the value of testing and retesting comes in. But I think the answer for people who want to remain healthy their whole lives is never. We are living in a world of ever increasing pollution (think more and more coal burning fireplants in China and the burning of electronic waste that spews metals into the air), and we will need some kind of chelation maintenance program (once a month, for example) to protect our investment in wellness and prevent the re-accumulation of heavy metals.
I turned middle age today. That’s correct, the Big 5-0. Now when I say middle age, I don’t think it’s the halfway point of my life. I believe that I have just entered the middle third of my life. With all the breakthroughs going on now in Age Management and Regenerative Medicine, such as stem cell research, telomerase enhancement, genetic testing for personalized medicine, energy medicine and other medical interventions, I believe a great deal of people will survive to 150 in my lifetime.
Now having said that, there is a lot of work to be done. I believe that right now we have the tools available to lay the foundation for a long, vibrant life, and I use them everyday. I can honestly say that I am in the best condition of my life today, but I work to make it so. I do all the things I ask my patients to do. I post all of my medical records for my patients to see, and I avail myself of the advanced specialty testing that we offer our patients. It’s these special functional tests we use that let’s us pick up on a problem before it surfaces, which is often missed with conventional medical testing. How many times are sick people told that since there is nothing wrong on standard tests that the problem “is all in your head?”
I first started with the foundation of having a healthy diet (by diet I mean pattern of eating, not a short-term regimen for losing weight) and a comprehensive exercise program. Eighty percent of wellness is diet and exercise, in my estimation. They are the foundations of Preventive Medicine. I follow a Mediterranean Diet with Zone Diet proportions. While I eat as organically as I can, and stay away from processed foods and grains, I do an intermittent fast once or twice a week. I take plenty of high-quality nutritional supplements, since even eating a great diet today will not provide all the nutrients I need to perform at a high level. Although I’m careful about what I eat, I never feel deprived. I enjoy organic coffee in the morning and organic red wine with dinner. I have a little organic chocolate a few times a week and cannoli on special occasions.
My exercise program consists of high-intensity resistance training (HIT) 3 times per week and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for cardio-respiratory fitness at least twice per week. I also do stretching and yoga for flexibility. I also walk 3 to 6 miles a few times per week for additional fat burning and to enjoy the stress reduction benefits as well. Exercise has more beneficial effects for your brain than it does for your body. It’s important.
The next step was having my hormones balanced and optimized. This did a lot for my energy levels and also helps with the exercise. I also found using a growth hormone releaser, such as Sermorelin, helps with exercise recovery and fat loss, as well as improving sleep. I monitor my hormones every few months to make sure they are in the optimal range. Don’t forget that Vitamin D is really a hormone, too, and I try to get plenty of sunshine and also supplement it daily.
 Dr. Garry Gordon Many of you, no doubt, are familiar with EDTA Chelation Therapy, but this interview goes in depth and provides much useful information. Feel free to share this interview with your friends and family when they ask about the benefits of chelation therapy. Garry Gordon, M.D., D.O., is one of the world’s experts in chelation therapy, nutrition and mineral metabolism. Dr. Gordon wrote the original protocol for the safe and effective use of EDTA oral chelation therapy and is the author of numerous scientific papers on the subject.
The Health Benefits of EDTA Chelation Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Garry Gordon by David Jay Brown
Chelation is a chemical process in which a metal or mineral—such as lead, mercury, or calcium—is bonded to another substance. This is a natural process that goes on continually in our bodies. However, our bodies evolved in a less polluted world and they are not prepared to handle the heavy load of environmental toxins to which they are now confronted with on a daily basis. A recent study at the Tulane University School of Public Health demonstrated that the average blood level of lead found among Americans is high enough to increase the likelihood of heart attack and stroke. In other words, lead toxicity is ubiquitous in America and everyone’s health is compromised to some extent as a result.
Chelation therapy—which employs the weak acid EDTA—has the potential to enhance virtually everyone’s health and performance because it removes lead and other toxic heavy metals from our bodies. Although many alternative physicians use EDTA chelation therapy in their practice because of its proven cardiovascular benefits and anti-aging properties, lead removal is the one area where conventional medicine agrees that EDTA chelation therapy should be utilized and we now know that everyone is suffering from enough lead toxicity to—at the very least—increase their risk of cardiovascular disease.
But chelation therapy actually does much more than lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and remove lead and other toxic heavy metals from the body. An abundance of compelling scientific evidence suggests that EDTA chelation therapy can dramatically enhance many people’s health and performance. It has been shown to help prevent arteriosclerosis, improve blood circulation, and reduce harmful clotting mechanisms. Some of the other reported benefits from EDTA chelation therapy include better skin texture and skin tone, improvements with arthritis, and better vision and hearing. It has also been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Although EDTA chelation therapy has been shown to reduce calcium accumulation in the blood vessels, it is actually used as a treatment for osteoporosis because it has been shown to stimulate bone growth and to make bones stronger. EDTA chelation therapy has been shown to significantly improve physical energy levels due to mitochondrial stimulation, and it is known to have antiviral and antioxidant activity. Perhaps most importantly, because it increases circulation to the brain, EDTA chelation therapy can also help to improve cognitive function and memory. In other words, in addition to making us stronger and healthier, EDTA chelation therapy can actually make us smarter.
I interviewed Dr. Gordon on September 14, 2006. Dr. Gordon speaks enthusiastically about chelation therapy and his excitement is contagious. We spoke about EDTA’s antioxidant activity, how it effects nitric oxide levels in the body, the differences between oral and I.V. chelation therapies, how chelation therapy effects bone growth, and about the dangers of environmental toxins.
Click here to read the full interview.
Q: How does EDTA chelation therapy affect blood circulation and how can it be used to promote cardiovascular health?
Q: How does EDTA effect nitric oxide levels in the body?
Q: Can you talk about EDTA’s antiviral and antioxidant activity?
Q: Can you talk about the difference between calcium EDTA and other forms of EDTA?
Q: How has EDTA been shown to stimulate mitochondrial activity?
Q: I’m curious about how chelation therapy effects the brain. How has EDTA been shown to help improve memory, enhance concentration, and act as an antidepressant?
Q: Why does EDTA remove important metals and minerals from the body, such as zinc, and why is it essential to take a multi-mineral while on an EDTA program?
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