Free Eco Toys for Baby!

Our friends at Z Recs have started a blog called Prizey, a directory of online giveaways related to children. This month, they are featuring an Eco Baby Giveaway! This giveaway features over $200 in eco-friendly baby products.

To enter, you must email the folks at Prizey:

a theme idea you’d love to see in a future PRIZEY giveaway, with one company whose products you think would be a great fit for it, and
your mailing address (even if you’ve entered a past contest, because we don’t store your personal info at PRIZEY)

by Midnight CST Nov. 27.

Featured in this eco baby giveaway are a set of BPA-free bottles, a bamboo velour baby blanket, wooden and plush infant toys, a set of natural rubber pacifiers, and an Amnesty International toddler t-shirt.

Since Prizey is giving away pacifiers, I will share my opinion on them. Neither of my children had a pacifier (well, my son used one for two weeks while in the hospital after open-heart surgery). I do not think children need pacifiers, if they are allowed to nurse at will anytime there is no need. It is true that sucking is important for children’s oral and emotional development, but I hate to see toddlers with pacifiers pinned to their shirts and never without one in their mouths. If you think about it, much of the human race survives without pacifiers and have done so from the beginning.

I’ve been wracking my brain to come up with an entry idea, but this giveaway is exactly what I would suggest. I wish you luck and hope the folks at Prizey will continue to giveaway quality eco-friendly gifts.

The Deadly Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill 2

Long-term use of birth control pills may increase artery buildups in your body that may raise your risk of heart disease, Belgium researchers found.

In a study of 1,300 healthy women between the ages of 35 and 55, there was a 20 percent to 30 percent increased prevalence of plaque for every 10 years of oral contraceptive use.

Though the researchers pointed out that the plaques identified were small and not large enough to block an artery, any plaque is thought to raise your risk of heart disease.

Many of the women in the study had used older, first-generation birth control pills, which had twice the estrogen levels as most oral contraceptives used today.

About 100 million women worldwide currently take birth control pills, and hundreds of millions of women have used them since they were first introduced in 1960.

Sources:

American Heart Association Conference November 6, 2007, Orlando, Florida

Yahoo News November 6, 2007

Do You Know the Dangerous Chemicals in Common Baby Products?

The Environmental Working Group is again sharing shocking news. After surveying 3,300 parents, comparing the baby products they use to lists of chemicals known to cause allergies, hormone disruption, damage to the nervous system, and cancer, the group found that children are exposed to 27 chemical ingredients on a daily basis that have never been assessed for safety.

Not by the industry, nor by the government. Dr. Rebecca Sutton, the environmental scientist who conducted the study, points out that:

2 bromo, 2 nitropropane, and 3-DIOL create allergies and skin irritations, and in certain products can break down to form new cancer causing agents

Desitin diaper cream contains sodium borate, which can collect in your child’s brain and liver, causing detrimental health effects

Sunscreen with oxybenzone can trigger allergies, and disrupts your delicate hormone system.

Surprisingly, 89 percent of products labeled “Recommended by doctor” are actually some of your worst offenders, containing what Dr. Sutton considers dangerous chemicals.

Manufacturers have responded with the following statement from the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association: "Companies utilize a complex, multi-tiered scientific approach to extensively evaluate the safety of individual ingredients and finished products. These processes can take many months to several years to complete and utilize the expertise of leading chemists, toxicologists, biologists, dermatologists and experts from other scientific disciplines and medical specialty areas."

Sources:
Environmental Working Group October 31, 2007

Antioxidants in Food Stop Both Cancer and Heart Disease

According to new research published in the November 2007 issue of The FASEB Journal a common ingredient in red wine, fruits and vegetables, has the ability to affect cancerous tumors, and can battle heart disease.

The French team found that high and low doses of polyphenols have different effects.
Most notably, very high doses of antioxidant polyphenols– equivalent of one bottle of red wine per day -- were able to shut down and prevent cancerous tumors, by cutting off the formation of new blood vessels needed for tumor growth.

Alternatively, relatively low doses of polyphenols – equivalent to approximately one glass of wine a day -- were found to play a beneficial role in combating heart disease, benefiting your circulatory system by facilitating blood vessel growth.
Polyphenols are commonly found in:

Red wine
Fruits
Vegetables
Green tea.

Sources:
Eurekalert October 30, 2007

The FASEB Journal November 2007;21:3511-3521

Black Tea Shows Blood Sugar Benefits

Drinking black tea may be beneficial for people with diabetes, as it appears to stimulate an insulin response and reduce blood sugar levels, according to researchers from King's College London and the University of Central Lancashire.Sixteen participants drank glucose in either water, water plus a small amount of caffeine, or water plus instant black tea.

After two hours, plasma glucose concentrations were significantly reduced in those who consumed 1 gram of tea, compared to the plain water and caffeine drinks. Drinking black tea also increased insulin levels compared with the other drinks, after 90 minutes.Tea’s protective benefits have been linked to polyphenols,

including:
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Epigallocatechin
Epicatechin gallate
Epicatechin

These compounds may offer blood sugar benefits by stimulating B-cells -- pancreatic cells responsible for insulin production -- to produce insulin in your body, according to researchers.Black tea makes up about 78 percent of the global tea market.

Sources:
Journal of the American College of Nutrition October 2007 Vol. 26, No. 5, 471-477

NutraIngredients.com October 24, 2007

Energy Drinks Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease

A recent study showed that there is a link between the consumption of energy drinks, high blood pressure, and heart disease risk.15 healthy young adult volunteers were given energy drinks, and then had their blood pressure and heart rate measured, over a period of seven days.

The numbers went up at every measurement done after the first day, and their heart rate had increased up to 11 percent by the seventh day.

Sources:
eFluxMedia November 9, 2007

Merck Unblinds AIDS Study

Merck plans to tell thousands of people who volunteered to test an experimental AIDS vaccine whether they received the actual shot or a placebo. The vaccine may have actually raised the risk of HIV infection.

Two international trials of the vaccine were halted in September after it became clear that the vaccine did not prevent infection. In early November, researchers saw worrying indications that the vaccine could raised the risk of HIV infection, although they have asserted that the vaccine itself could not cause an infection.

In many tests of new drugs, neither the researchers nor the volunteers know who gets the actual drug and who gets a placebo, in order to avoid any bias in determining how well the treatment works.

Sources:
Reuters November 13, 2007

Vitamin C Gives Staying Power to Antioxidants

Those who take lemon juice in their tea may be getting far more of the health benefits.
Catechins are naturally occurring antioxidants found in tea; complementing green tea with either citrus juices or vitamin C increases the amount of catechins available for the body to absorb.

Catechins may be responsible for some of green tea's reported health benefits, such as a reduced risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke. But catechins are relatively unstable in the intestines meaning that less than 20 percent of the total generally remains after digestion.

Citrus juice increased available catechin levels by more than five times, and vitamin C increased recovered levels of the two most abundant catechins by six-fold and thirteen-fold.
Lemon juice caused 80 percent of tea's catechins to remain available.

Sources:
Science Blog November 13, 2007

U.S. STD Rates On the Rise

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections rose again in the United States in 2006, the second year in a row that rates of these sexually transmitted bacterial infections increased. The rate of chlamydia increased by 5.6 percent 2005 to 2006.

In 2006, more than 1 million chlamydia cases were reported. 2006 saw the most since the CDC began tracking the disease in 1984, and the highest number of annual U.S. cases ever for any sexually transmitted disease.

In addition, according to the CDC, reported cases of chlamydia are likely less than half the actual occurrence, the CDC said.

The rate of gonorrhea rose 5.5 percent in 2006, with more than 350,000 cases reported, and the rate of syphilis rose 13.8 percent, with nearly 10,000 cases.
About 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year in the U.S., almost half among people ages 15 to 24.

Sources:
Yahoo News November 13, 2007

The Deadly Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill

Oral contraceptives, especially the high-estrogen ones sold decades ago, might increase the chances of artery buildups that can raise the risk of heart disease, according to a new Belgian study.
About 16 million American women are presently taking birth control pills, and hundreds of millions have used them at some time. They are already known to raise the risk of blood clots and high blood pressure.Ultrasound exams showed a 20 to 30 percent increased prevalence of plaque for every 10 years of oral contraceptive use, and any amount of plaque is believed to raise the risk of heart disease.

I can't stress enough that ALL birth control pills and injections can have serious health risks. There is always a safer option when it comes to birth control pills. Admittedly, it may not be as convenient, but other, far safer options exist.
We certainly don't know everything about estrogen or estrogen dominance, as it is called when estrogen levels remain high (throughout the menstrual cycle) without being balanced by progesterone, but among the effects we do know are:

Increased risk of breast cancer
Increased risk of blood clotting, heart attack and stroke
Migraines
Nausea, irregular bleeding or spotting
Gall bladder disease
Increased blood pressure
Benign liver tumors

Barrier methods and natural family planning (NFP) offer much safer, albeit less convenient, options than hormonal contraceptives. With NFP, there are no side effects and no toxic substances to put in your body and women often feel empowered as they become aware of their fertility cycle. I do recommend that you learn the method from a reliable source and if preventing pregnancy is an absolute must you may want to use a backup barrier method. Because these other safer options exist, I try to tell people to stop hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills as soon as possible.

Sources:
Yahoo News November 6, 2007

www.provedorcrescenet.com

Newest Thoughts on Brain Food

This intriguing editorial from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looks at the effects of omega-3 fats on brain health. Now that more than 5 million Americans have some form of Alzheimer’s disease, and just as many suffer from vascular dementia, preventing and slowing the progression of neurodegenerative disorders is a public health imperative.
A host of recent studies, in the AJCN and elsewhere, have looked at the relation between omega-3 fats and cognitive function. These studies could eventually lead to opportunities for early intervention to maintain brain function and slow progression to dementia.
One of the best things you can do to prevent dementia--and a variety of other chronic disease--is to adhere to a nutritious diet, suitable for your nutritional type. Increase the amount of fresh vegetables, which are high in folate, in your diet, and restrict grains and sugars.
One of the crucial balancing acts on the course to better health, and warding off dementia, is mastering the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fats in your daily diet. Both are essential for your health. However, the typical American consumes far too many omega-6 fats and not enough omega-3 fats, like DHA.
The ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats should be 1:1. Today, your intake ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 averages from 20:1 to 50:1!
The easiest way to balance your ratio is to consume more omega-3 fats from good sources and to reduce your intake of omega-6 fats. The primary sources of omega-6 are corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower oil, so avoid or limit these oils. Your best source for omega-3 is from fish oil or krill oil. This is a clean, safe and pure alternative to fresh fish.

Omega Guard The World's Finest Fish Oil

Sources:
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 86(5), 1259-1260, November 2007

Crestor Fails to Save Lives

Heart-failure patients who are given Crestor, a cholesterol-lowering statin drug, are just as likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes, and other fatal cardiovascular problems as those on standard therapy alone.
Results of a 5,000-patient study showed that Crestor is, in fact, no better than a placebo when it comes to saving lives. Although Crestor's cholesterol-lowering ability is well-documented, the so-called CORONA study was the first to test whether the drug actually improves patient outcomes in the long run.
No statin has before been tested to assess its ability to protect heart-failure patients from fatal health consequences. In fact, trials of statins have traditionally excluded heart-failure patients.

Natural Alternatives to Heart Health and Cholesterol Management

Sources:
Reuters November 5, 2007

Merck to Pay $4.85 Billion Vioxx Settlement

Merck plans to pay $4.85 billion to end as many as 50,000 lawsuits regarding its painkiller Vioxx. The deal, if accepted, would be one of the largest drug settlements ever.
Merck pulled Vioxx from the market in 2004 after its was revealed that the popular drug doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Before it was pulled, Vioxx may have resulted in 60,000 fatalities in the U.S.
Merck executive vice president Kenneth Frazier called the agreement "responsible and reasonable," although Merck’s financial responsibility has been estimated as being as high as $50 billion.
Negotiating teams in eight states have been working out this deal over the course of many months.To qualify to receive part of the settlement, plaintiffs must have presented medical proof that they suffered a heart attack or stroke, and that they received at least 30 Vioxx pills. Previously, Merck had attempted to claim that Vioxx caused harm only after 18 months of use, although these claimes were dismissed by independent scientists and the plaintiffs’ lawyers.

Natural Pain Relief that works

Sources:
Yahoo News November 9, 2007

Is Goji Juice Really as Good as it is Being Promoted As?

That’s the million-dollar question being asked, and answered, in this video, which exposes the truth about the latest health craze sweeping across Canada and into the United States.
Goji juice is hyped as the cure-all remedy for 34 different ailments, including arthritis, diabetes and cancer. But the truth is both shocking and infuriating, as they uncover the lack of nutritional value of the goji juice in the lab.
Earl Mendel—the well-respected author of the Vitamin Bible—is the face of Himalayan Goji, and he’s making some pretty hefty claims about the berry. And that’s the problem. Upon probing, he admits he’s talking about the berry—not necessarily the juice!
Himalayan Goji juice is not sold in stores, but rather through a multi-level marketing plan. At about $50 per bottle, there’s lots of money being made, but there does not seem to be enough proof to back up the amazing health claims of the juice itself.

CBC News Marketplace January 24, 2007


Watch this video of the interview and some findings with Earl Mendel the face of Himalayan Goji
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/marketplace/goji.wmv

A Drug That Quadruples Your Risk of Fatal Bleeding

Prasugrel, an experimental anticlotting drug from Eli Lilly reduces the risk of heart attacks when compared with the common drug Plavix in experimental trials. But it also increases your risk of fatal bleeding by an astonishing 400 percent.

In spite of this, Lilly and Daiichi Sankyo, the drug’s co-developer, say that they are “pleased” with the results of the trials. They plan to apply for FDA approval for the drug as early as the end of 2007, which means it could be on the market by the end of 2008.
Dr. Tim Anderson, a former emergency room doctor and current drug industry analyst, was skeptical of Prasugrel. Although it has better efficacy, he noted that, “... higher bleeding, including fatal bleeding -- it’s a question mark, a serious question mark, both regulatory and commercial.”
Nonetheless, if Prasugrel is approved, worldwide sales could reach $1.6 billion a year by 2012.
It’s truly disheartening to know that drugs like Prasugrel will probably be approved, judging by the U.S. FDA’s previous history. Remember, Plavix was found to elevate your risk of developing ulcers by a factor of 12 versus aspirin and Nexium. Prasugrel, with its 400 percent increased risk of fatal bleeding, is obviously not a better choice.

No matter what your doctor may tell you, aspirin, or worse, even more expensive aspirin-like drugs, are not your solution for decreasing your risk from heart disease or stroke.
So what can you do to authentically, safely and inexpensively lower your risk of heart disease?
A safe and effective alternative to aspirin is nattokinase, a powerful enzyme derived from the food natto. Unlike aspirin, and other pharmaceutical agents, nattokinase has been used safely for over 20 years, has not been known to produce any negative side effects -- and it is not known to be an allergen.

You can also use these other lifestyle modifications to protect your heart:
Get moving on an exercise program today
Eat a healthy diet according to your nutritional type
Take a high-quality omega-3 oil, like Omega Guard from Shaklee The finest fish oil in the world, daily

Sources:
New York Times November 5, 2007

New Research on How Sunshine Decreases Infections

A study of more than 2,000 women has found those with higher vitamin D levels showed fewer aging-related changes in their DNA. A second study, examining almost 1,000 patients in West Africa, showed that low vitamin D levels are common among tuberculosis (TB) patients. Lack of vitamin D has been linked in previous studies to multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases.
Cells have built-in DNA clocks, known as telomeres. Measuring the length of these strands of DNA is one way of examining the aging process at a cellular level.
Women with higher levels of vitamin D are more likely to have longer telomeres, and vice versa. This means that people with higher levels of vitamin D may actually age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D. No wonder vitamin D has a protective effect on so many diseases, ranging from MS and TB to heart disease and cancer -- it keeps your body young!

Adults Beware -- New Vaccine Guidelines Released

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has released the 2007-2008 recommended immunization schedules for adults in the US.The schedule includes 11 different types of vaccines for adults, including:

Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Td/Tdap)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Influenza
Herpes zoster (shingles)
Key changes in this year's recommendations include:
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination is recommended for all adults that have no apparent immunity to the virus
Zoster (shingles) vaccination is advised for all adults 60 years of age and older, regardless of whether they have had a prior shingles episode
HPV vaccine is recommended for women over the age of 26, who have not already completed the three-dose series
It is recommended that flu vaccination be administered to anyone with the following medical conditions:
Chronic disorders of the cardiovascular or pulmonary systems, including asthma
Chronic metabolic diseases, such as diabetes
Renal or hepatic dysfunction
Immunosuppression, including suppression caused by medications or HIV
Pregnancy during flu season

Sources:
Reuters October 18, 2007
Annals of Internal Medicine October 18, 2007; 147(10) (Free Full-Text Guidelines)


Vaccinations of all kinds hit you right at the core of your fears, no matter what vaccine we’re talking about. Just take a look at these examples:
A West Nile Virus vaccine
Antibiotics to fight anthrax
Chickenpox vaccine
A drug for breast cancer (for women who DO NOT HAVE breast cancer)
A human vaccine for bird flu

Did you know they’re even working on a vaccine for dental caries (cavities)?

I could not believe it when I read that one. But it’s true. The CDC actually defines dental caries as an infectious, communicable disease, and a vaccine may be here sooner than you think.
This is beyond ridiculous when you consider that there are many cultures in the world that simply have virtually NO tooth decay and I can strongly assure you that it has absolutely nothing related to any vaccine. It is because they are not eating processed foods and sugars and are mostly consuming foods appropriate for their nutritional type.

Why do People Still Believe in the Flu Shot?

But getting back to the vaccines, Big Pharma may appear idiotic, but they are no fools. They know people want guaranteed safety. “Here, take this shot and nothing bad will happen to you,” they say. And a lot of people believe them, even when evidence of the opposite comes out. They just want the magic pill to be true.

Some hard-hitting evidence released just a couple of months ago should make anyone think twice about the flu shot: flu vaccines have NEVER been proven to prevent flu-related deaths in people over age 65, which is one of the primary groups for which they’re recommended.You may also be shocked to learn that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grossly distorts the facts about flu deaths. If you go to the CDC’s main flu page, you’ll see their statistic that about 36,000 people die from the flu in the United States each year. But if you search a little harder, you can find the actual number of people who died from the flu in 2005 (this is the most recent data that’s available). Want to take a guess at what it is?

In 2005, 1,806 people died from influenza, not 36,000. And in 2004, there were just 1,100 flu deaths.The statistics the CDC gives are skewed partly because they classify those dying from pneumonia as dying from the flu, which is not at all true or accurate. For instance, their 2005 statistics lump influenza and pneumonia deaths together, at 62,804 deaths.But broken down, there were 60,998 deaths from pneumonia and just 1,806 from the flu.This will not stop the powers-that-be from touting their yearly fall warnings about this year’s upcoming flu season, and all the flu deaths that will follow.

The media (which is largely controlled by corporations, many of which are making or selling the flu shots or the junk food that will actually make you more vulnerable to the flu) would have you believe that getting the flu shot is all you need to do to stay healthy all winter.

How to Prevent the Flu Naturally
For most people the flu shot does not make you healthy; it does just the opposite, as it weakens your immune system. It appears that some of you in the medical field are beginning to catch on to this, with less than 40 percent of health care workers getting flu shots in 2006.The truth is, if you follow a healthy lifestyle, you will not have to worry about getting the flu.
Take it from me -- I’ve never received a flu shot, and I have not been sick in over 7 years.

The key steps that I follow to stay flu-free, which I suggest you follow too, include:

Get plenty of sunshine or vitamin D
Eating right for your nutritional needs , including avoiding sugar
Plenty of exercise
Get adequate sleep
Wash your hands regulary with regular soaps.

Looking for the best natural products, look no further.
www.Shaklee.net/greenglobalhealth

Take the Time to Make Informed Decisions

Whether or not you will subject yourself to the flu shot, or any of the other recommended vaccinations, is an important decision. Unless you’ve already studied it carefully, I would implore you to spend some time analyzing both sides of the argument before you make up your mind. Rushing blindly ahead could have dire consequences, especially if you’ve never considered the potential for side effects.
If you do the research and decide that a vaccination is NOT for you, you do have the legal right to refuse it.