Circumcision

I have been busy and the things I have wanted to FIF about just keeps on growing so without further ado todays topic circumcision.

Here's the background: Just about 8 years ago I found out I was pregnant. I went to the OBGYN, while I was being weighed and blood pressure taken I was asked a series of questions. Questions that I now wonder why they were asking me at 11 weeks pregnant, but asked non the less. Questions one, do you want and epidural when you are in labor, answer; yes. Question two, if it is a boy do you want to circumsize him, answer a little more hesitantly, yes. Reason for the hesitation I hadn't discussed this with Danny, and I actually didn't know if religiously I needed to. All the little boys I had ever babysat where circumsized, Danny was, all my brothers were, but no one from church had ever laid out doctrine to me stating that we needed to do this. At the time I stuck with my yes, went home and asked Danny and he looked at me like duh, of course we will. Fast forward 9 weeks, we found out we were having twin girls and the subject wasn't revisited. A few years later I was pregnant again, with a girl, the answer was the same at the OB life goes on.

Then we moved to GA, were a lot changed for us, I got pregnant we decided not to find out what we were having. BUT this time I wanted to know why we should circumsize, if in fact we were supposed to, and I wanted to make sure I was doing what I felt right in my heart. So I researched, and read, and talked with people, and asked others why they did what they did. We had a boy 2 years ago, and he is intact.

Generally at this point in my post I copy and paste my relevant article, but because the article I have selected uses correct terminology, I would like to avoid crazy google hits to my blog, please click the link read the article and come back and finish my post :) CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

My argument for circumsision: I have none.
My argument against circumsision: The article referenced above states that it is more painful and more difficult to recover from if done as an adult. I would argue that if a grown man feels pain when cut, a small fresh infant is going to feel the exact same pain when cut, he just can't vocalize it as well. If there is no commandment from God to circumsize than there is no reason to remove something on a boys body, I don't think the foreskin was placed there by "accident". Also to answer this I would like to share what the last two years have been like with an intact boy. It has been just the same as a parents experience with a circumsized boy. Wait a few differences I have noticed, not once did Nathan pee on me during a diaper change. And I didn't have to care for a fresh wound on my newborn. The foreskin doesn't retract until puberty so hygene has been a non issue, one is not cleaner than the other. Nathan hasn't asked, and I don't think he will ask why his dad and him don't look the same. On a side note, Danny's dad being born in Germany, is intact this never caused concern for Danny.

These are the two most common arguments I have heard as to why people have chosen to circ their son. It is my job to teach my son hygene, and good self esteem. If someone were teasing him for being intact I would want to know what's up with the kid that is not only checking my sons "stuff" out but making this fact known by teasing him about it.

This is a question of truth versus tradition. Do you do it cause your parents did, or because of the truth and conviction you feel for the matter.

Link for LDS parents who want to know:ASK GRAMPS
MORONI 8:8

My Unassisted Homebirth

This is the whole story, with all the details. On my personal blog I did a little more editing as so much of this was a surprise to so many. If you find youself with questions or a desire for more information, let me know I am happy to answer any and all questions!

My UCI had a c-section for my third pregnancy and wasn’t happy about it, my baby boy had been breech for sometime but my midwife never “noticed” and claimed that he must have flipped right before I went into labor. My instincts had told me for some time that something was off, but because I was under the care of a professional I didn’t question what my intuition was telling me. When I found out I was pregnant again I new that I wanted something different from last time, and at first I thought that would be a natural childbirth in the hospital with the same midwife. I had done more research, and learned more about pregnancy and birth since my third pregnancy and had some definite plans about what I wanted for this pregnancy and delivery. I waited until I was 13 weeks to go to my first prenatal appointment as I knew that it wasn’t necessary to go before than. I told my midwife that I didn’t want blood work done, but accepted that as a formality of going with her. I lay down on the exam table and my midwife exclaimed how big I looked, and was sure that it might be twins. Had she had her ultrasound equipment in the room she would have proceeded to try to do an ultrasound, we would have battled as I didn’t want any ultrasounds this pregnancy. Fortunately she didn’t have the equipment, but proceeded to tell me that I would need an ultrasound at 16 weeks I told her at this point that I didn’t want any ultrasounds, and she told me that I HAD to have one at 20 weeks. I was starting to feel helpless at this point, I was intimidated, and although I knew what I wanted I was having a hard time standing up for myself. Danny was a little taken aback, as he knew what I wanted as well, and was surprised that I wasn’t standing up for myself. After the visit on the car ride home I asked Danny what he thought, “It was awful, I hated it.” I wasn’t expecting that, but was relieved to know that I wasn’t the only one who was not happy with the visit. He then said ‘let’s do it at home”, I said “okay, should I call the homebirth midwife I had read about?” He said “no let’s just do it ourselves.” I agreed and said “okay”, his surprised reply was “It’s not illegal?” I said “nope.” The decision was made, and I never looked back. I knew that I didn’t need any “traditional prenatal care.” I know that I am ultimately responsible for my health and wellbeing and while pregnant I am guardian over my baby as well. I didn’t need a midwife or OBGYN telling me that I was okay, or that something was wrong. I would know well before them if something was off, and at that point I would get the type of care that I needed. I was in charge of my nutrition, exercise, and thoughts through my pregnancy. This was my fourth pregnancy, and the best of them all. I was more in tune with my body, more aware of my body, and more relaxed. It was a good day when I realized that this goodness came from me knowing these things myself. In the past I remember anxiously waiting for that monthly doctors appointment to be told that things were okay. I didn’t have to wait this time, I knew daily that I was okay. Upon finding out our plans to UC my mother asked point blank “What makes you think you know more than a midwife or OB about pregnancy and childbirth?” I replied, “Nothing, I don’t think I know more than them about it, HOWEVER, I do know more about my own body during pregnancy and that is what matters.” After the decision to UC I become a researcher of all things natural and childbirth. This is in my nature, and became a passion for several months early on. After feeling like I had acquired an adequate amount of knowledge I made myself stop looking. I knew that in order for this to go the best for me I had to rely on my faith in my Heavenly Father, myself, and my husband. Again this added to the enjoyment of the pregnancy. I learned to trust more than I had before, I learned to pray and listen and to quietly meditate.I loved getting all of the birthing supplies together, and am glad I took my time doing it. What started out as a really long list of things turned in to just a few. I knew that I wanted a water birth and so I got a birthing pool. I knew that I would want some of the blue “chux” pads to sit on or lay on. I started out with a list of several herbal remedies that was narrowed down to two, shepards purse and afterease tincture. I haven’t used either. A friend from church offered a homebirthing kit she had purchased and never used from there we got the umbilical cord clamps. To cut the cord I planned on using my hair scissors. To fill the pool I was going to buy a hose to hook to the kitchen sink but my Herculean husband was willing to carry 5 gallon buckets from the bathroom to the pool. We had a closet full of towels, and was reassured by other UCers that hydrogen peroxide would take any blood out (it does.) I got my receiving blankets ready for the baby, a hat, diaper, and some onsies, knowing that a baby really only needs something to help keep it warm, and a something to suck (breast) after birth. Once getting this all together the game was waiting. I never told anyone a specific due date, as babies come “due” when they are ready. I was aware of about where things were at, and going off of previous pregnancies I thought I would go into labor. As that day came and went, and then that week past on I started to feel the effects of being pregnant. My body got larger, my movements slower, the desire for donuts stronger, and the fatigue of the last 9 months started to catch up to me. I did stay focused on my belief that this baby would come when it was good and ready, I didn’t get to be the boss this time, I got to trust. On February 16 I had the distinct feeling in the evening that this baby would be arriving in the next 24 hours. Being an optimist I thought for sure that a few hours after that I would be in labor. I woke up the next morning pregnant but still had the “feeling”. I spent the day doing things as if I were going into labor soon. I let things slide with the kids, I skipped my Tuesday swim, I had Doritos and donuts for lunch, and when we cleaned up for the night I went into overdrive. I told Danny that he needed to have his phone with him, and needed to check in with me. At about 7:30 I started having contractions, nothing regular, or to intense, but enough to know that things were starting to move. I knew this was the case when I didn’t tell anyone what was going on. Danny got home from school and we watched American Idol and the Biggest Loser. We got into bed about 11:30 and I was still having contractions about 7 minutes apart, but again not enough for me to say anything to anyone. Shortly after getting into bed we were joined by Annika, and Nathan, just as we were all settled in my water broke! This is the second time this has happened, and I love it! I told Danny and for a minute he just lay there. I told him I needed a towel so I could get up, and avoid getting to much fluid on the bed. We got up, put Annika into her bed and starting to get things together. This was very easy, it consisted of moving a small box of supplies from our room to the “birthing arena” as my husband called it. My first two labors were 4 hours start to finish so I thought this would be the same. After a few hours Danny started to fill up the pool and I got in. I will never labor anywhere else again! It was so nice to be in the warm water, and while I think this contributed to my labor lasting a little longer it was okay with me. Every hour I would get up and go to the bathroom and knew that if I wanted things to get moving I would probably have to spend some time out of the pool. At one point I thought I needed to know what was going on so I tried to “check” myself. I didn’t know what I was looking for and was only able to confirm that the baby was in fact head down. After doing this a few times I realized it was futile and needed to stop. At this time I started to feel like I was going to be in labor forever and that things weren’t progressing. Danny found a homeopathic remedy for me (arnica) and while I denied that I needed it he gave it to me, and I am glad that he did. Within a few minutes of taking the arnica I had a new found resolve and trust in my body. I knew that I wouldn’t be in labor forever, but if it lasted 24 hours then that is what needed to happen. I knew I needed to get out of the water, this was at 8 am. I told myself that I would have this baby at 10 am. The time went by so quickly, I think my contractions got a little closer together, and their intensity increased. I went from silent breathing to low oooos. At 10 am I wasn’t ready to push but I was ready to get back into the water, I think in my subconscious mind I needed my other children away for the actual delivery to happen. I was so grateful that our friend Rudi was here, and that is was Wednesday. Annika has a tumbling class at the YMCA on Wednesday and so Rudi and the four kids gathered up and left at about 10:30. Once they were gone things started to move, I was concerned about pushing to soon and wanted to make sure that it was my body telling me to push and not my desire to be done. After trying to hold back through one contraction I knew that it was time. Danny knew this as well as the deep ooooos started to end in what he called opera singing. The pushing sensation all but overcame my body and I knew it was time. I pushed and thought I wasn’t getting anywhere until I felt the aptly named “ring of fire”. Since I had never felt this before it scared me a little and I thought for sure I was ripping in half. Luckily I knew that this was the time to slow it down and let things stretch. After a second push and feeling things move, everything seemed to stop. Time stood still for just a moment, every pain from the contraction and stretching was gone, it was as if I could get up and walk away from the whole thing. Then the next contraction hit and my babies head was born. I was on my hands and knees in the pool and was so happy to have Danny behind me to reassure me that he could see our baby’s eyes and nose and forehead, it was exactly what I needed to get me through the next big push. He checked to make sure there was no cord around the neck, but other than that he kept his hands off until after our baby was delivered. Once out he gently guided the baby from behind me, and I scooped her up and felt euphoria like I never had before. I couldn’t believe that I had done it, the feeling was so overwhelming and the beauty of the moment is one that can’t be put into words. I was leaned up against the side of the pool clutching my baby and was so grateful to know that I didn’t have to let her go until I was good and ready. Danny embraced me from behind, and we shared a moment of pure joy. About a minute after this our friend who was going to video the birth for us walked in the door. He was a bit shocked at the scene he saw as I was the first thing you saw from the front door but he came in and quickly took over the camera duties. After a little bit Danny finally asked me if I was going to look and see what the baby was, it was a girl. I knew all along that would be the case, had she been a boy I probably would have dropped him in the pool! About 20 minutes after she was born I was ready to get out of the pool, and ready to get things moving with the placenta, I didn’t feel like I could nurse her very well in the pool, we checked to see if the cord had stopped pulsing, it had so we cut the cord and we got out of the pool. We moved over to the couch and I put her to my breast, she wasn’t interested in nursing but the close contact got the contractions moving to get the placenta out. About 45 minutes after her birth I felt like I should stand a little to get gravity on our side, I hadn’t rushed anything with the delivery of the baby, but I was more than a little anxious to deliver the placenta. I stood a little and pushed and gently pulled on the cord just to see if anything was moving. The first time I tried this nothing happened so I left it alone a few minutes later I tried again and felt the cord move so I pushed a little harder and delivered the placenta. I had never felt this part of the process before, and in the moment I felt more relief from this than delivering the baby. My other four children arrived home shortly after that and things got a little whirlwind after that. They were so excited to see their baby sister, Annika was so happy that she could in fact call the baby rainbow girl. In a flurry of activity I held the baby and shared her with the other kids, Danny inspected and cut up the placenta and I finally remembered how hungry I was. Through the entire labor I remember how hungry I was but I refused to eat because of the nausea I felt every time I thought about eating. After a piece of toast and some vitamin water I started to feel very light headed. I hadn’t torn at all when I delivered the baby, and my bleeding was minimal after delivering the placenta. Just to make sure things were okay Danny took my blood pressure and that was fine, I think it was just a combination of exhaustion, low blood sugar, and a drop from the adrenaline rush. Because I knew that it would help I asked for a piece of placenta, Danny dropped it on my tongue and I swallowed it down, and surprised myself when I asked for another piece. Arrangements were quickly made for the girls to go spend the afternoon with Chris and Rudi, and Nathan was put down for a nap. At this point we weighed and measured and decided on the name. I liked the middle name Joy or Noel, but Danny wasn’t sold, after a few minutes he said what about Rose. At first I thought Rose? But after saying her full name in my head a few times I knew that was it. Her name is Katelyn Rose Hansen, she weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. A little side note that makes the name even more special is Danny’s older brother, who died several years ago, when he and his girlfriend where expecting had chosen the name Katelyn spelled the exact same way me and Danny decided upon, we didn’t know this until after Danny had talked to his mom and told her the name. I knew the name was special, because it means pure, and that is what I felt about this whole experience. I also know that the angels where there to help guide and protect me through the experience. And I know that Katelyn knew her uncle Michael before she joined us. My recovery has been the best I have had, the joy and gratitude I feel in my heart has increased ten fold. I know that it was through my previous labors and deliveries I was led to UC, and I wouldn’t change a single one of them. They are all special to me, I learned and grew from each of them and they all had an impact on my decision to UC. The greatest difference to me with my UC was the amount it increased my spirituality. My faith is deeper and stronger, my love for my husband has increased and my gratitude and testimony of eternal families has only strengthened. The joy I feel when I look at all five of my children causes me to rejoice. I know that each and every one of them is a gift from God. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and watches over me. I know that when I pray I will receive an answer and that he is guiding me and helping me with the Holy Ghost, and the people that have been put into my life. Although I felt pain like I had never felt before during the height of my delivery, I have since experienced joy like I have never felt before. Because of the deeper ability to feel joy and love I wouldn’t change a single contraction, or discomfort that I experienced during my pregnancy, labor, or delivery. We are only able to feel joy to the extent that we have felt pain, making the entire journey, the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional journey worth every second.

Holistic Approach to Ear Infections

It is amazing to me that some children suffer bout after bout of ear "infection". With all of my children this hasn't been the case, with Nathan at 18 months old he can put a check in the NO column after ear infection. I think to many of us (I was one of them so I can say this without being judgemental) rush to the doctor at the first sign of tugging at the ear, fever and possible ear problem, or one that I wasn't a victim of, having the doctor tell you your perfectly happy child has an infection because at a well child visit the ears were examined and appeared to be red. I am not saying everyone should adopt my philosophy, however get educated so the next time your doctor says it's an infection and wants to prescribe antibiotics you can as the pertinent questions; 1. How do you know it is bacterial (the only type antibiotics will work on) vs. viral. 2. Is it just red, is there fluid? 3. And the ringer questions: According to the AAP it is suggested the antibiotics NOT be used until 48 hours after the intial diagnosis, what are your feelings on this?
This isn't about making everyone holistic it is encouraging everyone to become the boss, advocate, and decision maker in your child's health. Without knowing about ear infections it would be hard to double check what the doctor is telling your. The following article is written by an M.D.


Holistic Approach to Ear Infections
by Lawrence P. Palvesky, M.D., F.A.A.P., A.B.H.M.Jan-Feb 2003 It is 3am and your child wakes up complaining of ear pain. What can you do? Ear pain is one of the most common complaints in the pediatric population. Parents exchange frequent stories about the number of times their child has taken a banana or cherry flavored antibiotic for one or more ear infections. It is the rare parent who sits by, not wanting to add to the anxiety of other parents, with the knowledge that their child has never taken an antibiotic for an ear ache. What's more, the child has never had a serious problem resulting from not using antibiotics.When I went through my medical school and residency training, we were warned about the serious complications of allowing an ear infection to progress without antibiotic treatment-mastoiditis, an inflammation and infection of the bony area behind the ear at the base of the skull, and meningitis, an inflammation and infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord which could lead to permanent brain damage, not to mention, the possibility of permanent hearing loss. Over the last 13 years, evidence from the European medical literature and observation of the medical practice of some of our own pioneering primary care providers and ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) physicians, has taught us that the majority of cases of ear pain can and will resolve on their own. Without antibiotics. Without serious outcomes. With good clinical follow-up. Yet, many children receive antibiotics, and sometimes multiple antibiotics, for ear aches. And their ear aches continue to recur. Are Ear Aches Really Ear Infections? Inflammation occurs in the body as characterized by the following five observations--redness, swelling, heat, pain and loss of function. When a young child has an ear ache, the ear drum is usually found to be red (redness) with clear fluid or mucus buildup in the middle ear (swelling) causing pain, often accompanied by fever (heat) and occasionally accompanied by an acute loss of hearing; clearly a description of inflammation. Even if there were an infection, most studies confirm that viruses are the main organisms responsible for causing the development of these symptoms, not bacteria. Neither a viral infection, nor an inflammation in the ears responds to treatment with antibiotics. Only bacteria respond to antibiotic treatment. Therefore, in the majority of cases, antibiotics do not help. And, in many cases, antibiotics may cause more harm than good when they are used inappropriately.A child is found on exam to have a red ear and no complaint of ear pain even though a fever is present. A pre-verbal infant or toddler with a red ear drum or fluid behind the ear appears well and is smiling. Another child presents with ear fluid and is no longer in pain. Most often these children are not suffering from ear infections and do not warrant antibiotic treatment. By definition, these children simply have inflamed ears which often respond better to other types of treatment. Children who have infections, on the other hand, also present with these five signs of inflammation but, for the most part, do not look clinically well and often have an illness that is more serious than a simple ear infection. A child in pain who appears not to look well should be re-evaluated after the pain is relieved. Early in my pediatric practice, I often gave a child a ten day course of an antibiotic for what I believed was a classic ear infection using the criteria I described for inflammation. More often than not, 2-3 days after completing the antibiotic, the child returned with the same symptoms. I would subsequently write another antibiotic prescription. Frequently, the same pattern would recur. Conventional training taught me that the child had an infection caused by a bacterium that was resistant to the antibiotic. Therefore, a different and stronger antibiotic was needed. Eventually it occurred to me that perhaps the child never needed the antibiotic in the first place. Perhaps there was a different process going on that required a different set of treatments and understanding. Why do infants & children get ear aches? How do the ears become inflamed?Conventional pediatric practice focuses on prescribing treatment interventions once a child's symptoms have already appeared. Non-conventional approaches concentrate on preventing the development of inflammation and infection and attempt to evaluate the causes that contribute to their presentation. In addition, non-conventional approaches use remedies and interventions that facilitate the body's natural healing abilities in a nourishing way in an attempt to avoid suppressing the inherent healing mechanisms that are present in the body. Often, elimination of the factors that are known to contribute to the development of the underlying symptoms is sufficient to treat the problem(s) without introducing additional remedies. This is especially true when it comes to ear pain and ear inflammation. Infants and children have a natural tendency to generate a lot of mucus. The production and the amount of mucus lessen as the child grows older and the developing immune system strengthens. When a child has a build up of excess mucus (one of the primary indicators of inflammation), his/her body attempts to "burn off" this mucus in order to return to a balanced state, also known as homeostasis. This is accomplished by the onset of an illness accompanied by a fever. Children, even without the presence of a fever, tend to run on the hot side. Most of their heat rises towards the head. Heat generated by a fever (another of the primary indicators of inflammation), further raises the energy towards the head. With an abundance of mucus already present in the nose and throat during an upper respiratory infection it is no coincidence that the ears repeatedly become inflamed.Many clinicians and parents report that after a child has recovered from an illness with a fever without the use of suppressive pharmaceuticals, he/she experiences a growth spurt in neurological, developmental and behavioral milestones. Clearly, the immune system is now stronger. Children, who develop excess mucus and need to burn it off through an array of normal childhood febrile illnesses, and are blocked from accomplishing this through the use of inappropriate, suppressive pharmaceutical treatments, often remain in a state of chronic mucus production, i.e., chronic inflammation. This can be seen today in many of our children who live with excess mucus, are often sick and never quite fully recover and have a life of chronic illnesses and delays in reaching their milestones. Prevention & TreatmentUltimately, the goal is to reduce the production of excess mucus, support the process of acute illnesses with good clinical follow-up and safe and effective, non-suppressive, supportive interventions and offer information for families that will both prevent and treat serious acute and chronic illnesses. In the case of ear inflammation, the two approaches that I have seen work most effectively to reduce ear fluid, ear pain and chronic ear problems is a change in the child's and family's diet and the incorporation of manipulative modalities into the treatment plan, i.e., chiropractic, osteopathic and/or cranial sacral therapy.Children have undeveloped digestive systems. Spitting up, vomiting, frequent burping, excess gas and loose stools are frequent pediatric complaints indicative of poor digestive function. Often, children are given a food or a combination of foods that serve to further weaken and stress their digestive systems. Invariably, food is incompletely digested and, as a result, children are confronted with having to deal with nourishment that does not serve them. Consequently, the body's response is to produce additional mucusAs described in immunology, Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and nutritional medicine, mucus in the nose, throat, sinuses, airways, ears and other parts of the body can arise merely from the failure of the digestive system to accomplish its task successfully. Adults may suffer from the same process as well. Those foods most likely to increase mucus production and further stress a child's already weak digestive system are: dairy, soy (especially overly processed soy products), commercial formulas, a heavy diet of raw fruits and vegetables, iced or cold foods and beverages, wheat and most flour products, baby cereals and commercial cereals, thick, creamy and heavy foods, processed grains, juice, soda, soft drinks, refined sugars, processed and refined foods, fried foods and oils, multiple food choices at a time and overfeeding. Reducing and/or eliminating these foods from a child's diet will often quiet the inflammation and prevent the development of further problems in acute flare-ups and, more specifically, in chronic inflammation of the ears. On the other hand, offering a child warm, cooked, simple, smooth, easy to digest, whole, non-processed foods, accompanied by small amounts of food herbs and spices, will strengthen and support a weak digestive system and keep mucus production and inflammation at a minimum. Immediate ManagementSo, it is still 3am and your child's body is doing its best to purge the excess mucus. Yet, the fluid is not draining and the pain is the main focus. Ultimately, the goal is to rid the body of the mucus. The following is a list of suggestions for parents to help them get through this difficult situation:1) Hold and comfort your child.2) Try to raise the head of the bed. For smaller children, place blankets or pillows under the mattress.3) Keep your child hydrated with room temperature water, clear soup and/or tea. Herbs that help to break up the mucus and comfort your child include thyme, ginger, licorice, eyebright, elder flowers and chamomile. Keep the diet simple. Keep solid foods to a minimum. Offer small doses of vitamin C throughout the day with fluids. Start children's Echinacea within the first 24 hours of illness.4) Diffuse lavender essential oil in the room to help calm any anxiety you may have.5) Place several drops of mullein oil in a container and warm inside a pot of water on the stove. Take several drops of the mullein oil and place them in the affected ear canal. Gently pull and massage the ear lobe away from your child's head and in a slightly downward direction. Use extra virgin olive oil in the same manner if no mullein oil is available or, 6) Take 1-2 drops of organic tea tree essential oil and mix in a base of 20 drops of olive oil and place several warmed drops of this mixture into the affected ear canal. Use any one of the ear drop remedies several times a day to relieve the discomforts of the inflammation. Please be sure to use essential oils that are organic and top grade quality whenever possible.7) Use the tea tree oil combination and massage it into the front of your child's chest below the collarbones in a horizontal fashion. Then rub the oil behind the affected ear(s) and massage down the side of the neck towards the collarbones. This will help open the drainage of lymph fluid into the chest cavity and allow the congestion to drain from the head. This can be done 2-3 times per day until the congestion has resolved.8) See your chiropractor, osteopath or cranial sacral worker the next day. Repeat visits as discussed with your provider.9) Contact your medical health care provider if your child does not improve within 48 hours, develops drainage from the ear or appears to be getting worse.Dr. Lawrence B. Palevsky, MD is a board certified pediatrician who received his medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine. He completed a pediatric residency at the Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC and a one year fellowship at Bellevue Hospital-NYU School of Medicine in the outpatient department and emergency room. Dr. Palevsky's clinical experience includes pediatric emergency room and pediatric acute care medicine, in-patient and out-patient pediatric medicine, neonatal intensive care, newborn and delivery room medicine and private practice. Most recently he was in practice as the holistic and integrative pediatrician at the Center for Health & Healing, a complementary medical facility affiliated with the Beth Israel Medical Center in NYC. Dr. Palevsky is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Diplomate of the American Board of Holistic Medicine.

The Balance Between Allopathy and Homeopathy

The Balance between Allopathy and Homeopathy:
Where Are We Twenty Years later?
by Dr. Luc De Schepper

Call it coincidence, but twenty years ago is when I immigrated to
California from my native Belgium as a medical doctor, acupuncturist
and above all, in my heart and mind, a homeopath. I have been
fortunate to have encountered the most brilliant medical minds in
Europe and here in the US. New drugs, new vaccinations, new genetic
discoveries, new techniques to probe deeper and deeper in the human
body ... there seems to be no limit to the wonders we can expect from
allopathy. Most people believe that modern medicine has arrived at
the peak of scientific achievement, from which it will go from
triumph to triumph.

Yet there is disturbing news on the horizon. Since World War II we
have considered infectious diseases on the verge of eradication; in
fact Secretary of State George Marshall made a speech to that effect
in1948. Yet they are the number one cause of death in the world, and
old-fashioned diseases like whooping cough, TB and cholera are coming
back in record numbers. Microbes are becoming more and more
resistant, due in part to the flagrant overuse of antibiotics by
medical doctors and factory farms. These antibiotics, which we
thought would eradicate infectious diseases in our lifetime, are
becoming increasingly powerless against the new strains of resistant
bacteria. Diarrhea, which we think of as a relatively harmless
infectious disease, kills millions of children worldwide every year,
making it the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular
disease. TB, malaria, diarrhea, and sexually transmitted diseases are
the real silent epidemics. Our attention may be diverted by the
horror stories about AIDS and the Ebola virus, but these silent
epidemics affect far more people.

Nor is much said about the 600,000 new victims of cancer every year
in the US. In fact, in light of the newest genetic therapies,
allopathic scientists predict that cancer will be conquered by the
year 2010. As a medical doctor, I do pray that they are right, but as
a homeopath, I doubt it. There are too many risk factors in the
unhealthy American lifestyle and too many hereditary factors (which
in homeopathy we call miasms) which allopathic medicine cannot touch
with genetic therapy. Cancer is now the number two cause of death,
not a hopeful sign for the immediate future.

Medical practices outside of "official" medicine always have been an
important part of the public's health care. In fact, until the early
decades of this century, allopathic medicine coexisted with
homeopathic and herbal medicine in this country, as it still does in
nearly every other country in the world. In fact I know of no other
country in which one form of medicine has such a monopoly of legal
protection and insurance reimbursement as allopathic medicine does in
this country. Alternative healers, through the centuries, have
offered a multiplicity of ways to address the confusion and suffering
that accompany disease. The notion of alternative medicine as
quackery (a term originally applied to allopathic physicians for
using toxic doses of mercury to "cure" syphilis ) has been reinforced
by a once commonly heard definition of it as any treatment not taught
in an accredited medical school. This definition is no longer valid,
as most medical schools have added nontraditional courses in response
to growing public interest in alternative therapies. With this change
in attitude came a change in name to complementary or integrative
medicine, indicating that allopathy and alternative methods can be
used together to support each other.

At the same time that we see tremendous interest in complementary
medicine among the public-and a slow but increasing interest among
medical doctors-we also see tremendous ignorance. One mistake I see
among allopathic practitioners is to lump all the different forms of
non-allopathic healing into one basket. But certain forms-notably
acupuncture, homeopathy, and chiropractic- require years of study of
health sciences comparable to the years of training in conventional
medicine, and they should not be lumped together with psychic
healers, pendulum dowsers and tarot card readers. This does a
disservice to forms of healing which are based on scientific laws and
principles and which merit the serious inquiry of the open-minded allopath.

In my lectures about homeopathy at medical schools and hospitals,
certain lines of questioning keep coming up. One is the argument that
homeopathy, like herbal and other "eclectic" medicines, is an
old-fashioned form of healing, practiced by people with little to no
training, regulation of practice or standards for quality of care.
While it is true that in allopathic medicine we certainly would not
accept any drug or procedure from more than 50 years ago (and most
drugs are out of date within a few years), it is a strength of
homeopathy that we use the same remedies discovered when homeopathy
was founded nearly 200 years ago. When a new drug comes out, often
side effects and serious problems are discovered only when millions
of people start using it. It gives me confidence in homeopathy to
know that the remedies have already been used by millions of people
worldwide for many decades, and their effects are well-known. Our
knowledge in homeopathy keeps building and building on strong solid
scientific principles; we do not have to keep discarding what we know
as allopathic medicine does.

When we study the history of homeopathic medicine in this country, we
also see that in the nineteenth century, when homeopathy enjoyed such
widespread support especially among the educated classes, homeopathic
physicians received the same training as their allopathic colleagues
plus an additional two years of homeopathy. It was well known that
the most brilliant medical students would go on to become homeopaths.
Unfortunately the American Medical Association (formed two years
after the American Homeopathic Association, and with the express
purpose of rooting out homeopathy in this country) succeeded in using
legal and economic pressure to prevent homeopathic physicians from
practicing. Homeopathic medical schools were forced to convert to
allopathy or their graduates would not qualify for licensure exams;
homeopathic physicians were taken into court to have their licenses taken away.

The "dirty tricks" of the allopathic medical societies in the early
years of this century, plus the lure of the "magic bullet" of the new
antibiotic drugs, led to a decline in homeopathy in the middle of
this century, to the point that 20 years ago very few medical doctors
were practicing it. The old guard had almost all died off and very
few new doctors were joining. With the rise of interest in
alternative medicine a quarter-century ago, the gap was filled at
first with lay homeopaths. Now we have a tremendous interest in
homeopathy among MDs, osteopaths, naturopaths, veterinarians, nurse
practitioners, chiropractors, and acupuncturists. I can see this in
my own school, where dozens of health care professionals are learning
to incorporate homeopathy into their practices.

Another major change I see in the past 20 years is the research being
done in homeopathy, both in the US and abroad. So often we see in the
popular press-and even in medical journals, whose authors should know
better-that homeopathy is "unproven" and "there is no scientific
evidence to support it." The fact is that homeopathy does have good
scientific evidence to back it up. Unfortunately most of the research
has been done overseas and is not easily available here. Until
recently, the US government has not funded research in alternative
medicine, and it still has not committed funds in any way comparable
to the funding of drug research in this country. And some of the
research on homeopathy is faulty simply because it is difficult to
apply the double-blind method (in which normally one drug is tested
against a placebo) to homeopathy, which gives a different remedy to
almost every patient with the same diagnosis (due to homeopathy's
principle of individualizing) . Yet the meta-analyses (overviews of
all the studies on homeopathy) have shown that the better designed
the study, the more likely it was to demonstrate the effectiveness of
homeopathy. Within the past few years some good research on
homeopathy has been done in this country and published in mainstream
medical journals. With the government finally funding research, we
can look forward to more of it in the years to come.

I have no problem with my allopathic colleagues scrutinizing the
potential risks and benefits of alternative medicine. Let's examine
some of them and see if homeopathy can pass muster.

Quality of care is often the first argument brought up by my
colleagues. Homeopathy definitely has the potential to provide the
same (or better) quality of care as allopathic medicine. In the past,
as we mentioned, the most brilliant physicians were the homeopaths,
and homeopathic licensure had the same components as allopathic
licensure (in terms of the content and length of time of training,
testing and certification, a defined scope of practice, review and
audit and codified disciplinary action). The fact that homeopathy
does not currently have this licensure system is a reflection on the
political and economic forces at work in this country, not a
reflection on homeopathy itself. Licensure efforts for homeopathy are
underway in a number of states, at the same time that an increasing
number of already-licensed professionals are incorporating homeopathy
into their practices. In other words, this objection is only a
temporary one until the United States can catch up with Europe, the
former Soviet States and India in providing professional training and
licensure for homeopaths.

Quality of products is another potential argument against alternative
modalities. Random tests of supplements and herbs often show that the
contents do not measure up to what is on the label. And the labels do
not contain adequate warnings about the potentially toxic effects of
large overdoses of some supplements and herbs. But homeopathic
remedies are completely safe, non-toxic (in most potencies they don't
even contain one molecule) and very inexpensive. And a true homeopath
prescribes one single remedy at a time, therefore avoiding possible
interactions among multiple remedies. Allopathy would do well to
learn from this, since we physicians have the tendency to prescribe a
multitude of drugs for various symptoms. This has never worked before
and it never will, for it creates a jungle of side effects on top of
the symptoms of the disease itself. And we may not forget that
100,000 deaths a year in this country are caused by conventional drugs.

Quality of science is probably one of the main allopathic arguments.
Conventional medicine is touted as the leader in the management of
infectious and surgical diseases. But allopathic medicine still does
not have good weapons against cholera, for example. Yet homeopathy
was already successful against the great epidemic diseases of 150
years ago: cholera, typhoid fever, diphtheria, scarlet fever. In a
great flu epidemic earlier in this century, the statistics in London
hospitals showed the mortality rate at allopathic hospitals was 55%,
but less than 5% at homeopathic hospitals. Allopathic medicine claims
to be based on the double-blind method, and discredits any form of
alternative medicine which cannot fully support every remedy or
procedure with double-blind research studies. Yet allopathic medicine
itself violates this principle every day. Surgeries, for example, are
difficult to test by this method. When surgeries are assessed by
outcomes (how many people were doing better at the end of five years,
for example), millions of surgeries per year are shown to be futile
or unnecessary. And sadly enough, according to allopathic research,
67% of prescriptions are made based on the side-effects of drugs-in
other words, not according to the original double-blind protocol.

When we look at the last twenty years, homeopathy as a healing
modality has gained the attention of the public. Without any doubt,
homeopathy could be advanced by professional standards and greater
availability of instruction to interested health care professionals.
That the public has embraced alternative medicine has been proven by
the excellent 1998 study by David Eisenberg of Harvard Medical
School, which indicated that 70% of the population had consulted an
alternative practitioner. Because of its great results in the past
and present, homeopathy will undoubtedly catch the attention of
patients ready to embrace a scientific approach that has proven its
validity in the last two hundred years. I hope that allopathic
physicians will show a serious interest in this marvelous approach
before they reject it. Humankind will be the better for it!

Dr. Luc De Schepper
Renaissance Institute of Classical Homeopathy (RICH)
Full of Life Publishing (FLOP)

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 31025
Santa Fe, NM 87594

Email: drluc@cybermesa. comwww.drluc.com/allopathy.htm

The Power of Intention

I'm BACK! It's been a nice break, and I later in February I will probably take another little hiatus (although birth may give me a whole new place to blog from!)

If this wasn't Free Info Friday I would have titled this post, "I am not my check engine light." I am not sure how many are familiar with the Ekhart Tolle book a "A New Earth" or with Oprah talking about being your true self, and being present, but we have taken on studying this. We have gone further out, up and down than just Oprah and her book of the month, and it is finally starting to sink in. The difference between being present, and not takes a bit to conquer. Overcoming your Ego, is what it takes to get there. I am further on this journey today than I was last year at this time, and to be completely honest than a was a mere 6 weeks ago.

My first realization that I was getting there happened just the other night. I got in the car to go and get some frozen yogurt. After starting the van and heading out I noticed the check engine light was on. Previously as this has happened my adrenaline immediately starts to pump, my mind starts to wonder what is wrong (this doesn't last long I am not to familiar with things under the hood) and then the biggie, how much is it going to cost. My thoughts become all consumed with this until Danny takes the van to AutoZone to have the free diagnostic test run on it, truthfully this almost increases the anxiety, worry, wonder as I am not sure what the codes mean. The next step is to call our friend and mechanic and ask him what, when, and how much. These answer either calm me down a bit or ramp things up as the bigger the cost the bigger the worry for me.

The check engine light has gone on a few times since we have lived in GA. My reaction has been similar every time to what I described above. At this moment I could only tell you one of the repairs that have been done, I have know idea how much it cost, and the best thing... It DOESN'T matter. This hasn't changed how I take care of my children, myself, or my house. This hasn't changed how I drive, pay for things, or vacations I take. The only thing I was doing was raising my heart rate, blood pressure, and stress level.

Back to a few nights ago when I noticed the check engine light was on. I looked and saw, the check engine light was on. As I sat for a moment the desire to panic was there, but it was faint. I was curious as to whether or not it had just turned on so I called Danny and asked, his reply "It's been on all day." And that is where it ended. At some point we will need to take care of this, but the van is running, it doesn't smell, it's starting, and I am not the van, or the check engine light. I did ask Danny if was going to take it to Auto Zone, and he said yeah I guess, and I have been able to leave it there. It feels good to have the control over the situation. It's also nice to recognize that what I thought was "controlling" the situation before was simply me freaking out over a small thing that didn't change me.

So far in all the books I have read and the speakers I have heard there is one that stands out above the rest. I really enjoy his style, it is basic, anyone can get it and that is because being present and overcoming your ego is basic and anyone can get it. I highly recommend buying the book (after reading 5 pages I bought one for my sister) and I am going to include a link to a video you can watch online. I have only watched the first 20 or so minutes but it was so powerful that I asked Danny to stop so I could digest what Dr. Dyer had said. Here is a link to his book "The Power of Intention". This is only one of the many books he has written, he has actually written 2 children's books on the importance of being you that I think everyone child should have. Here is a link to his video online: "Dr. Wayne Dyer video."

And here is how he sums up the first chapter in his book, and what gave me the realization that I am not my check engine light:

"At this point, as I am writing about my excitement of realizing a long-obscured truth, I knew that intention is a force that we all have within us. Intention is a field of energy that flows invisibly beyond the reach of our normal, everyday habitual patterns. It's there even before our actual conception. We have the means to attract this energy to us and experience life in an exciting new way." (To me it makes perfect sense that this "energy" that is being referred to is our spirit, it existed long before our physical bodies did and is our true self.)
"Ego is made of six primary ingredients that account for how we experience ourselves as disconnected. By allowing ego to determine your life path, you deactivate the power of intention. Briefly, here are the six ego beliefs. I've written more extensively about them in several of my previous books, most notably "Your Sacred Self."

1. I am what I have. My possessions define me.
2. I am what I do. My achievements define me.
3. I am what other think of me. My reputation defines me. (I really think this one affects a lot of us...)
4. I am separate from everyone. My body defines me as alone.
5. I am separate from all that is missing in my life. My life space is disconnected from my desires.
6. I am separate from God. My life depends on God's assessment of my worthiness.

No matter how hard you try, intention can't be accessed through ego, so take some time to recognize and readjust any or all of these six beliefs. When the supremacy of ego is weakened in your life, you can seek intention and maximize your potential."

**One note, oft time in these books, videos etc. they talk of the power of the universe, or source, and energy and intention. It didn't take me more than a second to recognize that these things are simply another term that describes God, and the Spirit. Dr. Dyer does acknowledge this in a sense in his video and his book, but I know that this makes some people uncomfortable... my advice, get over your ego ;)***

Death by prescription

It is interesting to me that in all the searches I did for this I was unable to find a government sponsored website that was willing to share the information on iatrongenic deaths, "The term iatrogenic is defined as "induced in a patient by a physician's activity, manner, or therapy. Used especially to pertain to a complication of treatment." Some may lean to the conclusion that this information is false and it is not supported by the government, I lean to the conclusion that the entities supporting the government pay a hefty sum to keep that information out of the statistics. If you would like further information click on either link for the list of statistics, the one that really catches my eye is the DEATHS from use of PROPERLY used drugs.

I am prepared to now take my health into my own hands, I accept that it is my responsibility to provide my body with the nutrition, environment, and energy that it needs to treat me well. Garbage in, Garbage out. I am becoming acutely aware that a quick fix, or a prescription pill is simply that a quick fix, no pharmaceautical drug can claim to eradicate the CAUSE of the symptom or disease that you are experiencing. A prescription pill simply suppresses the symptom. I was amused one day to hear a lady on a asthma medication commercial comment in surprise that even when she was taking the competitors pill her asthma didn't go away! I am not a "hater" of modern medicine, it has it's place. At my house it is the last resort, a we need to buy more time situation. If I am in a car accident and my guts are hanging outside of me please don't take me to my chiropractor, I would like to be rushed to the nearest, and best hospital to have my parts put back together. If I have a fever, please take me to my chiropractor, give me lots of fluids, and time to rest, I will pass on the Tylenol.

Incidentally I was at my chiropractors office today and overheard a older woman discussing how she was just diagnosed yesterday with type II diabetes. She was surprised, and I am sure upset with the life changing information. She reported that she was still just borderline, and went on to give her geneology about how no one on her side of the family had diabetes. She needed help, and commented that she had taken her first pill last night. Quite honestly I wasn't surprised at the diagnonsis, however I was disappointed at the doctors decision to so quickly give her medication. She was overweight, and I am sure a closer look at her records would show to any educated person that the body had held off as long as it could. Our pancreases can only take so much of a beating of a garbage lifestyle! At some point after we have failed our bodies for so long they WILL start to fail us. Type II diabetes can not only be managed it can be CURED by diet and exercise! I am not offereing medical advice, I am offering an alternative. I love the show the Biggest Loser and every season without fail someone arrives at the ranch with diabetes, by the end (if not midway through) the season the type II diabetes gone, along with things such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea.

At what point are you going to be willing to say that prevention is more important the a quick fix later. Aren't you better off putting the realiable pipes into your home, giving yourself more of a gurantee against leaks? I have found the chiropractic lifestyle that we have adopted to be the realiable pipes. Admittedly it seems to cost a little more upfront, but I am worth it, Danny is worth it and so are my kids. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the cost for it seems to pan out that way as well. Knowing what I do now about the benefit of good nutrition and alternative health care I ask the question can you put a price on good health?

If you have a symptom I have a mirred of suggestions as to what you can do to help your body heal itself. There is a good chance that your will first have to wrap your mind around the fact that it won't come in the form of a pill, I won't want to take your blood pressure, or have you pee in a cup. Chances are you won't ever have to take your health insurance card out of your wallet. You won't have to find out if I am in your network of preferred providers, double check how many visits you can have a year, and what if any of my services are covered. To some it is at this moment that the panic sets in, I assure you this is the exact opposite of what you should feel. The moment you stop looking to Blue Cross and Blue Shield, IHC, UHC, Aetna (should I go on) to be responsible for your health and well being is the moment you have accepted responsibilty for your health, and can truly begin to heal.


Heart disease: 652,091

Cancer: 559,312

250,000 Total deaths per year from iatrogenic* causes (This is somehow left off the list the CDC publishes, I added from my own research, link is below)

Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 143,579

Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 130,933

Accidents (unintentional injuries): 117,809

Diabetes: 75,119

Alzheimer's disease: 71,599

Influenza/Pneumonia: 63,001

Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 43,901

Septicemia: 34,136
CDC death statistics 2005

106,000 Non-error, negative effects of drugs2
80,000 Infections in hospitals10
45,000 Other errors in hospitals10
12,000 Unnecessary surgery8
7,000 Medication errors in hospitals9
250,000 Total deaths per year from iatrogenic* causes
Iatrogenic Deaths

Maternity Care: High Tech vs. High Touch

From Consumer Reports:
Back to basics for safer childbirth
Too many doctors and hospitals are overusing high-tech procedures

Noninvasive measures can mean better outcomes for baby and Mom.
When it's time to bring a new baby into the world, there's a lot to be said for letting nature take the lead. The normal, hormone-driven changes in the body that naturally occur during delivery can optimize infant health and encourage the easy establishment and continuation of breastfeeding and mother-baby attachment.

"Evidence-Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve," co-authored by Carol Sakala and Maureen P. Corry of the nonprofit Childbirth Connection analyzed hundreds of the most recent studies and systematic reviews of maternity care. The 70-page report was issued collaboratively by Childbirth Connection, the Reforming States Group (a voluntary association of state-level health policymakers), and Milbank Memorial Fund, and released on Oct. 8, 2008.
Overuse of high-tech measures
The report found that, in the U.S., too many healthy women with low-risk pregnancies are being routinely subjected to high-tech or invasive interventions that should be reserved for higher-risk pregnancies. Such measures include:
Inducing labor. The percentage of women whose labor was induced more than doubled between 1990 and 2005
Use of epidural painkillers, which might cause adverse effects, including rapid fetal heart rate and poor performance on newborn assessment tests
Delivery by Caesarean section, which is estimated to account for one-third of all U.S births in 2008, will far exceed the World Health Organization's recommended national rate of 5 to 10 percent
Electronic fetal monitoring, unnecessarily adding to delivery costs
Rupturing membranes ("breaking the waters"), intending to hasten onset of labor
Episiotomy, which is often unnecessary
In fact, the current style of maternity care is so procedure-intensive that 6 of the 15 most common hospital procedures used in the entire U.S. are related to childbirth. Although most childbearing women in this country are healthy and at low risk for childbirth complications, national surveys reveal that essentially all women who give birth in U.S. hospitals have high rates of use of complex interventions, with risks of adverse effects.
The reasons for this overuse might have more to do with profit and liability issues than with optimal care, the report points out. Hospitals and care providers can increase their insurance reimbursements by administering costly high-tech interventions rather than just watching, waiting, and shepherding the natural process of childbirth.
Convenience for health care workers and patients might be another factor. Naturally occurring labor is not limited to typical working hours. Evidence also shows that a disproportionate amount of tech-driven interventions like Caesarean sections occur during weekday "business hours," rather than at night, on weekends, or on holidays.
Underuse of high-touch, noninvasive measures
Many practices that have been proven effective and do little to no harm are underused in today's maternity care for healthy low-risk women. They include:
Prenatal vitamins
Use of midwife or family physician
Continuous presence of a companion for the mother during labor
Upright and side-lying positions during labor and delivery, which are associated with less severe pain than lying down on one's back
Vaginal birth (VBAC) for most women who have had a previous Caesarean section
Early mother-baby skin-to-skin contact
The study suggests that those and other low-cost, beneficial practices are not routinely practiced for several reasons, including limited scope for economic gain, lack of national standards to measure providers' performance, and a medical tradition that doesn't prioritize the measurement of adverse effects, or take them into account. Article on the Web

Chiropractic and Ear Infections

I have 3 blogs, this one, one dedicated to FIF, and lastly my chiropractic blog. While I love them all, I take special pride in my chiropractic blog. As chiropractic has changed my life it brings a little joy to see all the visits from around the world on my chiropractic blog. The number one topic that gets hit is chiropractic and ear infections. I have had other authors link to my blog specifically for these articles. The articles weren't written by me, but are more easily accessible on my blog.

Yesterday when I arrived at the YMCA for Annika's music class I joined in a conversation that two mothers were having about their childrens recurrent ear infections. I mentioned they should see a chiropractor, to which I received a look of whatever crazy. As the conversation progressed it moved to the need for tubes. I took this as another opportunity to mention chiropractic, but with a more personal story to share. I have a friend who's daughter had entered the evil ear infection antibiotic cycle and the doctor had mentioned that the next step would be tubes in the ears. Wanting to avoid this at all cost she finally called me and asked for my chiropractors number. Her daughter went in for one visit, one, just one visit, the ear infection cleared up and has yet to return. Major surgery avoided for a $7.00 visit to the chiropractor. The women were suprised, and wanted to know how a "back" doctor could help with ear infections. I gave them a really quick explanation and one women asked if I had the chiropractors card. I also shared that my 17 month old hadn't had a single ear infection and that he had been adjusted at 6 hours old. She wanted to know why it would be necassary to adjust such a small baby. Think of the first thing that happens as soon as the babies head is out of the birth canal, your doctor pulls on it to help get the rest of the baby out. He may not pull hard enough to pull your babies head off (let's hope) but it doesn't take much to move those fragile bones out of alignment. Here is one of the articles from my other blog that explains how chiropractic works with ear infections, and it's not from some secret chiropractic journal it is from Ladies Home Journal.

"Chiropractic Helps in Prevention of Recurring Ear Infections.
In the October 1998 issue of the Ladies Home Journal appeared an article entitled, "Chiropractic Adjustments for Chronic Ear Infections." This article reviewed several studies showing the effectiveness of chiropractic care for preventing re-occurring ear infections known as Otitis Media or OM.

According to the article, reoccurring ear infections account for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States. Sometimes these infections are due to bacteria and sometimes these are due to a virus. The most common medical care for this situation has been antibiotics, even though antibiotics have no effect on viruses. While the article mentions that the antibiotic may be effective in an acute bacterial infection, they do nothing to stop repeat infections. Research and statistics is now showing that repeated use of antibiotics is contributing to future infections by creating drug-resistant infections. The surgical approach has met with little long term results as the "tubes" placed in children’s ears often come out and usually require a child to be put under general anesthesia to do the surgery.

The article in the Ladies Home Journal states, "Chiropractic care is thought to prevent recurrent infections by correcting misalignments (called subluxations) and allowing normal fluid drainage from the middle ear." What the article took special note of was that 6 months after the chiropractic care was given to the children in the study, 80 percent had not suffered a recurrence of ear infections.

In closing the article did make a profound statement. They made a recommendation to parents on this subject. "If your child is between ear infections and his doctor suggests ear-tube surgery, ask if you can try chiropractic treatment first." While we agree with that sentiment, we suggest you not wait for a period between episodes, and you don’t have to "ask" permission from any other doctor to seek chiropractic care. As the sneaker company said, "just do it!"

Don't wait around for Danny to make it back to Utah, you can come and see him when he gets there. Help your kids be ear infection free take them to a chiropractor today! Article on the Web

28 Laws of Attraction

Danny, being in chiropractic school, has afforded us several opportunities to experience greatness. Every quarter the school lines up speakers that Danny hears as part of the curriculum. They have additional seminars called lifesource, and these are filled with amazing speakers as well. This weekend is homecoming, and it is more of the same, wonderful speakers. Knowing my passion Danny and I either go together or divide and conquer to experience as much of this powerful knowledge as possible. Thursday night I had the chance to hear Dr. Guy Reikeman. When I have the chance to hear these empowering speakers I can't take it in fast enough. I leave on a high and know that I can take on the world. Someday I will be standing on a stage and sharing the passion that I have for life with others. I only hope to do it as well as those that have inspired me, and to lead others to want to experience life.
Tonight Dr. Reikeman shared the 28 laws of attraction. I am not going to share all 28, you will have to find that on your own, I have picked several of my favorites to share. Danny also wanted me to add that when FIF gets to long he won't read it so he encourages a short post.

**While the ideas are from the speaker the words and thoughts are my own**

1. The people who attract abundance are selfish. Not in a negative way, but in focusing on learning and growing and becoming better so they can give more to others. How many times have you heard that a mother that isn't taking care of her own needs will struggle to meet all of her children's needs. You can't help others unless you are helping yourself.

2. Unhook from the future. The law of attraction works in the present. If you are spending all of your time focusing on what is to come, you will miss what has arrived. On Oprah a few years back there was a man who mentioned the habit of holding out for what is coming is like a disease. Along with having a misguided focus, you miss out on the goodness that is happening RIGHT NOW!

3. Become irresistibly attractive to yourself. Learn to love yourself. The more your love yourself the more attractive you become to others. I will never forget the day that I was thinking about love. I was thinking about why Danny would love me, and I had a life changing moment when my first thought was "why wouldn't he love me, I love me, and think that I am worth and deserve his love." If you had asked me if I loved myself before this I would have said yes, but I know that until that moment I wouldn't have meant it from my core. Now I know that I love myself all the way, and I think that I am deserving of the love I get from others.

A great life is attractive a great LIFESTYLE is seductive.

4. Eliminate delay, time is expensive. Wasting time is unattractive, are we wasting the moment. As Danny and I start making plans to finish school and start a practice this advice has become invaluable. I remember hearing my grandma say often, why put off until tomorrow, what you can do today.

5. Get your needs met, find your own happiness. It is the complainers in this life that are seeking for others to meet their needs. Until you realize that you and your needs are your responsibility you will drag others down as you wait for them to bring you up. If your needs are unmet you will attract other likes that. My mom always said misery loves company...

6. Tolerate nothing, how do you hold others, and yourself responsible for what is going on. I didn't truly learn this lesson until I worked at Discover Card. It is one of life's most important lessons, the ability to accept responsibility for the good AND the bad.

7. Show others how to please you, don't make them guess. Dr. Phil has always said you teach people how to treat you. If someone does something to you that you don't like, they won't stop doing it until you show them how you WANT to be treated.

8. Endorse your worst weakness, when you can accept your own weaknesses you can understand others better. See my FIF from last week empathy is empowering.

9. Sensitize yourself, the more you can feel the more you'll connect to others.

10. See perfection in the present, even when it's clearly not there. I LOVE THIS ONE!

11. Have a vision, when you can see what's coming you don't need to create a future.

12. Be more human, at the end of the day we are all human, and just want someone to connect with.

***Celebrate what is right with the world, don't wallow in what is wrong****

Ignorance

Ignorance.
I think this is something that is hard to admit that we have, or we delightfully exclaim that ignorance is bliss. I am guilty of both, however, my feelings towards admitting ignorance has changed as well as my thoughts that it is bliss.

In order to better prepare myself for this I looked up ignorance in the dictionary. While the first definition was slightly insulting, LACK OF EDUCATION, stupidity, foolishness, blindness, illiteracy, benightedness, unenlightenment, unintelligence, mental darkness. I found the second definition to more accurately describe the ignorance I have or have had. It described ignorance as UNAWARENESS OF, inexperience of, unfamiliarity with, innocence of, unconsciousness of, greenness about, oblivion about. The two adjectives that stick out most to me are unawareness and innocence of. I think both are something that I have overcome, or am working on overcoming.

In all the changes we have made regarding our health and lifestyles the thing I have learned the most about has been sympathy and empathy. While I have always had a knack for listening and comforting others this has been taken to a new level. Because I have experienced life one way, and now experience life another my ability to be sympathetic is greater. My capacity to love, and show compassion without sharing my own obstacles has heightened, and the way I show my sympathy has changed. I used to listen and be compassionate by sharing my own similar experiences. I choose now to listen and comfort while trying to redirect energy to the positive and expand on the good, or simply stick with listening. While I have experienced life events that seem devastating at the time one thing has been consistent for me, life moves on. With this I have two choices, I can pick up as many pieces as I can put a smile on my face and move on with life, or I can sit in my misery puddle and let life pass me by. Having done both I know which one is more beneficial for me and those around me.

I am often confronted by those who are shocked and amazed that I have four children with a fifth on the way. Just today a woman commented that she was surprised that I still had hair. Confused I touched my hair and said what? She responded saying she was surprised that I hadn’t pulled it all out with the stress that I must have from my children and having a husband who is gone so much. She asked how I did it. I have a simple answer for that, I just do. And I try my hardest to do it with a smile. Some days are hard or really hard and I won’t lie and say that I think raising four kids is easy, but is it supposed to be? Is being a parent supposed to be easy? A parent with two children faces challenges just as a parent with eight children does. It is not the challenge that needs focus it is having the skills to deal with the challenge that are important. In this situation size does not matter, skills do.

I told Danny I struggle with how to respond when people comment to me that I sure have my hands full, or something of that nature, I always felt my response played into the fact that indeed my hands were full and I was overworked and underpaid. I was so grateful the day the inspired response came to me of “I know, aren’t I lucky.” This has stopped a few people in their tracks, and usually puts a smile on the comment maker’s face. Positive energy is sometimes hard to come by, I try my hardest to deliver it wherever I can. The best thing about this response is that some days I do feel like my hands aren’t big enough, but I redirect myself when I focus on the blessing and not the challenge.

What does this have to do with ignorance? I was ignorant in my understanding that my reactions to others could affect their energy as well as my own and I was a more selfish person. I learned a great lesson from a healer. He has studied for many years and is very learned in what he practices. When explaining to us what his response to those who tell him that what he is doing is foolish or stupid, he doesn’t respond with anger or malice. He told us that it simply causes him to love them more. I believe that this is how Christ loves us. He loves us for the things we know, but loves us even more for the things we are ignorant in. I know that if we have a sincere desire in our heart to replace ignorance with truth Christ with bless us with a path to gain this knowledge. I have had moments of pure intelligence, and simple epiphanies that I know are a blessing for having my heart in the right place, and my mind open to receive the answers to my questions.

Am I still ignorant, certainly, am I working on this? My desire to gain knowledge is greater now than it has ever been before. I know that next to my relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus, and my family the knowledge that I have and gain is the most important thing to me. I am grateful to have the gift of the Holy Ghost who lets my heart know when I have found truth, or when I am simply dealing with the philosophies of men. My mom said it best to me the other day as I was describing what is what like listening to Dr. Ted Morter speak. I mentioned that I almost felt like I was listening to general conference, to that she replied “truth is truth is doesn’t matter where it is coming from.” It made me realize that sometimes you will know the truth in your heart long before you are able to accept it in your head.

Flu, Influenza Quick Facts

It's that time of year again, the weather is starting to change, the leaves are changing colors, and it's time to pull out the winter clothes. As my mind turns to the beauty of the changing of the seasons, one can't help but think about the illness that comes with colder weather. To some this means it's time for the Flu Shot. So today I thought I would take a moment to hit some highlights about influenza, and the flu shot.
(This is all information from a wonderful book Vaccine Safety Manual by Neil Z. Miller, every statistic that I quote below is documented in a medical/scientific journal somewhere. If you are curious for more specifics please let me know.Amazon.com Vaccine Safety Manual)

What is the Flu (Influenza)?
A contagious respiratory infection, that is viral in nature. It usually strikes during the winter. Symptoms include; fever, chills, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite. Improvement is usually seen within 2-3 days. Best to allow it to run course while increasing fluids and resting. NO ANTIBIOTICS, it's viral...

How dangerous is the flu?
In HIGH RISK GROUPS it can lead to pneumonia. Those who are considered high risk are; elderly people, people with preexisting medical problems , such as heart, lung or kidney dysfunctions. People with diabetes, anemia, or compromised immune systems are also at greater risk of complications from the flu.

How common is the flu?
Thousands of people contract the flu annually. It is common because the three main flu viruses can mutate from year to year making it difficult to develop immunity.

Preventing the flu WITHOUT a shot:
The CDC itself has a few common sense suggestions to helping prevent the flu
1. Wash your hands with warm soap and water.
Everyday when my girls get home from school the first thing they do is wash their hands.
2. Stay home if you are sick, this helps you heal faster, and helps stop the spread of the flu.
3. Do things to stay healthy.
I took a moment and thought about what makes the summer different than the winter in respect to why we become more susceptible to the flu. (The flu virus is just as prevalent in June as it is in December, it doesn't fly in on Santa's Sleigh). These are just a few of the things I came up with.
Food: in the summer we are surrounded by fresh fruits and vegetables, insuring we are getting adequate Vitamin C. So I recommend a Vitamin C supplement and this is the brand I would highly suggest Himalaya Amla C. You can buy it online are at a whole foods store.
Sunlight: Vitamin D is essential to our health, 15 minutes in the sunshine withOUT sunscreen helps with this. If you can't get that than I suggest a supplement for this as well.
Activity: In the summer there is always so much going on in the winter we can get caught in sitting a lot. Go EXERCISE!
Stress: With all of the holidays there is a lot on our plates (literally and figuratively). Take is easy, pace yourself, and don't be afraid to say no to some things. Do it for your Health!
PREVENTION is the best medicine!

Is there a flu vaccine?
Yes, every year in January or February authorities travel overseas to start their "guessing" of what strains will be at play the next flue season. I remember that just last year the guess was wrong, rendering the shot that so many got completely ineffective. The doctor may argue that by getting the shot you are lessing the effect of the flu virus you don't contract, if anyone can explain the logic behind this I'm all ears. To me this is the same logic as saying that if you get a flu vaccine and contract the chicken pox it will be less severe. The strain is also chosen by how well it is grown in eggs. Anyone with an egg allergy should NOT get the shot.

How Safe is the Flu Vaccine?
Although the doctors may claim that a negative reaction to the flu shot is not possible it is documented, VAERS reports show otherwise. Also, how many times have you spoken with someone (or been that someone) who gets the flu after getting the shot? The speaks to what the vaccine is designed for, to stimulate the immune system by mimicking the disease. I would rather do things to improve my health, and take my chances that I "might" get the flu, rather than inject the flu into mine or my child's arm. More adverse reactions

How effective is the Flu Shot?
In 2005 the Lancet published a review of all pertinent studies done on children and the flu vaccine. The review concluded that the safety of the flu vaccine in children in unknown. Most studies were not designed to assess severe reactions, and they also found evidence of systematic suppression of safety data. Researchers also found NO EVIDENCE that the vaccine prevented the flu in children under two. READ= VACCINE DOESN'T WORK IN CHILDREN UNDER TWO.
In 2004 they vaccine was under produced and only 50% of the people who usually get a shot were able to be vaccinated. That year the death rate from the flu was 1,265, 527 LESS than the previous year. A 30% reduction hmmmmm
A study was done worldwide and determined that in healthy children from 2 years old and up was only 33% effective, and again showed that in children under 2 they reached the same results as the placebo.

In 1999 just 25 children under the age of 5 died from the flu, in 2003 after the CDC began recommending the vaccine 90 children under the age of 5 died a 7 fold increase...
I know how we will be approaching the "flu season" and it WON'T include a trip to the doctor!

Most prescription drugs kids take not approved for their use

Most prescription drugs kids take not approved for their use
Here's what you should know
BY HEATHER NEWMAN • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • September 21, 2008


All of the prescription drugs your kids are taking probably aren't approved for them.
If you didn't know that, you've got company.

The majority of parents surveyed in a recent poll think whatever their pediatrician prescribes is safe.

But according to doctors and researchers at the University of Michigan, 70% of available drugs -- including those being used to treat kids for everything from respiratory illnesses to weight issues -- have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by children.

The FDA is reviewing the use of cold medicines in children ages 2 to 11. The drugs were pulled off store shelves for kids under 2 earlier this year after several kids died from accidental overdoses.

The two FDA committees overseeing the review are to meet in October.

The statistics used to be worse. About a decade ago, 80% to 90% of drugs were not approved for kids.

And while the numbers are improving, pediatricians and researchers say they're not comfortable.

"It's business as usual, but it's not business the way you want it to be done," said Dr. Richard Gorman, a pediatrician and chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. The gap is a huge concern for doctors, who must use educated guesses about which medicines might be effective and what dosages to prescribe.

The academy's official position is that it's up to the pediatrician to prescribe off-label drugs to children if there's a scientific reason to expect they'll be helpful and when there is a lack of realistic alternatives -- the situation those doctors and parents are faced with every day, he said.

Finding child test subjects can be difficult.

For Mike and Connie Wall of Plymouth, the decision to put their 11-year-old daughter Christine into a study for a cancer vaccine last October was a hard one. She had a rare type of cancer -- a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor -- with a high return rate; the vaccine, if successful, would help.

"We prayed and agonized over it a lot," Mike Wall said. "We don't know if it could be a lifesaver or harmful. We may not know forever."

He said that if her condition hadn't been life-threatening, they wouldn't have participated in the research. Christine now appears to be in remission.

Researchers say traditionally there has not been much financial incentive for drug companies to test children, who may represent a tiny portion of the market for a particular drug, and finding parents willing to have drugs tested on their children can be difficult.

"That leaves parents and doctors in a tough situation," said Dr. Matthew Davis, U-M associate professor of pediatrics, a pediatrician at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor and coauthor of the National Poll on Children's Health that was released in May. The study surveyed more than 2,000 parents and found that 83% believe that their child's last prescription was FDA-approved.

Test subjects
While about 30% of medicines have been approved for kids, some drugs, like those to treat Alzheimer's, truly are useful only for adult conditions. The percentage of drugs that children are prescribed off-label hasn't been specifically nailed down.

But parents often end up effectively testing drugs on their children without knowing it.

Children are not just small adults, said Dr. Esther Yoon a lecturer in the U-M division of pediatrics, a practicing pediatrician in Canton and the poll's coauthor. "They metabolize substances differently."

Beth Hurley, 42, of Canton said she made the tough decision to turn down Elidel skin cream for her son Aiden's eczema after reading that it hadn't been approved for children. The condition left him with cracking and bleeding skin behind his knees as a toddler. Nothing helped. One doctor suggested the new cream.

"It had not been approved for children 2 years and younger," Hurley said. On a TV commercial, she noted that the side effects included possible cancer or death. "I said, 'Are you kidding me?' "

A few years later in 2005, the drug was given a "black box" warning, the most serious the FDA can add, because of its role as a possible cause of skin cancer.

"I really felt, thank God we made that decision," said Hurley, who was a paid discussion leader for the Free Press' former MotorCityMoms.com site. "We have always erred on the side of caution. Cracking, bleeding skin -- that's horrible, but I'm not willing to risk death for it."

That said, the family decided to allow their son, who has allergies, to use Zyrtec, which had not been approved for children his age. That was after reading up on potential side effects and quizzing their doctor. "It's been because we were desperate, and there were no dire warnings," Hurley said. "When your child can't breathe..."

If not this, what?
Because of legislation passed in the past 10 years, pediatric assessments -- how likely it is that a drug will be prescribed to kids -- are now required as part of the approval process. The FDA also has the power to require companies to conduct pediatric tests.

Dr. Lisa Mathis, associate director for maternal and pediatric health staff in the office for new drugs at the FDA, said much has been learned in recent years. But, she said, "We're still in a position that there are still more drugs that aren't labeled than are. But the whole environment has changed. We now have the opportunity to intervene. That said, we're not satisfied that we're where we need to be."In June, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that doctors use some statin cholesterol-lowering drugs in children as young as 8. Pravastatin, commonly sold as Pravachol or Selektine, was approved by the FDA for children after studies that included a two-year trial on 214 children. The drug had side effects including heartburn and muscle pain.

"That's the only one that is approved for children of that age," said Nicolas Stettler, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the committee that approved the new recommendations. The group had been waiting for something to help younger kids with cholesterol issues.

"The major benefit of having FDA approval is that approval indicates significant information about safety and dosing," U-M's Davis said.

Other, more common drugs for kids, such as Amoxicillin, are tested and approved for kids. But if the child has an allergy to penicillin, making amoxicillin an unsafe choice, doctors find themselves in a bind, especially for infants.

Most doctors would reach for azithromycin (sold under the brand name Zithromax), which is an excellent drug, said Yoon. The problem: It's only approved for babies over six months.

Another example is albuterol, a drug that increases air flow to the lungs, which is commonly prescribed to children with bronchiolitis, a common illness of the respiratory tract that makes it difficult for kids to breathe. Babies and toddlers are susceptible to the condition, especially in winter, Yoon said, but albuterol isn't approved for children under age 2.

"As a physician, would I use this medication? Of course. I have no other real alternatives that are FDA-approved," she said.

No one size fits all
The FDA approves about 95% of all adult medications. But getting drug approval for children involves hurdles:

• There isn't one blanket approval. A drug can be approved for children over 6 months, 2, 6 or even 12 years of age.

"There's a whole range of pediatric patients and they all present different issues in terms of drug development," said Alan Goldhammer, deputy vice president of regulatory affairs for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the industry trade association for drug makers. "You can't do a study on teenagers and extrapolate it down to a baby."

• There often aren't many incentives for drug companies to get older medicines approved. If the drug is already off-patent (available in generic form), there's almost no financial advantage to do the tests.

• Finally, there's the problem of finding enough kids to do studies. About 60% of those parents polled say they would not let their children participate in tests.

Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering medication approved for kids ages 10 and up, was tested on children ranging from 2 to 16 before it was approved, said Dr. Halit Bander, executive director, Pfizer's Cardiovascular Medical Team, Lipitor lead. There just weren't enough patients in the study younger than 10 to allow for that kind of labeling.

A followup test focused on children ages 10-17 and the drug was labeled for children that age in 2002, six years after it was approved for adults.

Testing incentives
The Food and Drug Administration has taken several steps over the past six years to encourage more manufacturers to test their drugs for children. A study released early this year by the FDA showed that drugs tested for kids at the FDA's request generally ended up getting critical changes in dosages as a result.

The Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, passed in 2002, gives drug companies an extra six months of exclusivity on the market if they test their medicine for children at the FDA's request. The Pediatric Research Equity Act went into effect in 2003, requiring drug companies to put new medicines through pediatric testing unless they successfully won a waiver for their products.

Potential grounds for waivers include drugs where the population of kids would be too small -- typically 50,000 or fewer nationwide -- to reasonably allow testing; or drugs that are unlikely to be used in children and offer no substantial benefit over existing drugs for them.

Since last year, 100 applications for waivers have been filed by drug companies. Another 50 requested a deferral to do pediatric research after the drug hit the market. And 50 new drugs were actually tested for kids.

"I think the best policy is for doctors to hold an open discussion with parents," Davis said. "I explain to parents the situation if I'm faced with an illness with a child where only non-FDA-approved drugs are available."

Contact HEATHER NEWMAN at 313-223-3336 or hnewman@freepress.com.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

An overweight America may be fixated on fat and obsessed with carbs, but nutritionists say the real problem is much sweeter -- we're awash in sugar.

Not just any sugar, but high fructose corn syrup.

The country eats more sweetener made from corn than from sugarcane or beets, gulping it down in drinks as well as in frozen food and baked goods. Even ketchup is laced with it.

Almost all nutritionists finger high fructose corn syrup consumption as a major culprit in the nation's obesity crisis. The inexpensive sweetener flooded the American food supply in the early 1980s, just about the time the nation's obesity rate started its unprecedented climb.

The question is why did it make us so fat. Is it simply the Big Gulp syndrome -- that we're eating too many empty calories in ever-increasing portion sizes? Or does the fructose in all that corn syrup do something more insidious -- literally short-wire our metabolism and force us to gain weight?

The debate can divide a group of nutritional researchers almost as fast as whether the low-carb craze is fact or fad.

Loading high fructose corn syrup into increasingly larger portions of soda and processed food has packed more calories into us and more money into food processing companies, say nutritionists and food activists. But some health experts argue that the issue is bigger than mere calories. The theory goes like this: The body processes the fructose in high fructose corn syrup differently than it does old-fashioned cane or beet sugar, which in turn alters the way metabolic-regulating hormones function. It also forces the liver to kick more fat out into the bloodstream.

The end result is that our bodies are essentially tricked into wanting to eat more and at the same time, we are storing more fat.

"One of the issues is the ease with which you can consume this stuff," says Carol Porter, director of nutrition and food services at UC San Francisco. "It's not that fructose itself is so bad, but they put it in so much food that you consume so much of it without knowing it."

A single 12-ounce can of soda has as much as 13 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup. And because the amount of soda we drink has more than doubled since 1970 to about 56 gallons per person a year, so has the amount of high fructose corn syrup we take in. In 2001, we consumed almost 63 pounds of it, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA suggests most of us limit our intake of added sugar -- that's everything from the high fructose corn syrup hidden in your breakfast cereal to the sugar cube you drop into your after-dinner espresso -- to about 10 to 12 teaspoons a day. But we're not doing so well. In 2000, we ate an average of 31 teaspoons a day, which was more than 15 percent of our caloric intake. And much of that was in sweetened drinks.

Beyond soda

So, the answer is to just avoid soda, right? Unfortunately, it's not that simple, because the inexpensive, versatile sweetener has crept into plenty of other places -- foods you might not expect to have any at all. A low-fat, fruit-flavored yogurt, for example, can have 10 teaspoons of fructose-based sweetener in one serving.

Because high fructose corn syrup mixes easily, extends shelf-life and is as much as 20 percent cheaper than other sources of sugar, large-scale food manufacturers love it. It can help prevent freezer burn, so you'll find it on the labels of many frozen foods. It helps breads brown and keeps them soft, which is why hot dog buns and even English muffins hold unexpected amounts.

The question remains just how much more dangerous high fructose corn syrup is than other sugars.

Fructose, as the name implies, is the sugar found naturally in fruit. It can be extracted, turned into granules and used like sugar in the kitchen. It used to be considered a healthier alternative to sucrose -- plain old table sugar. It's sweeter, so less is needed to achieve the same taste. Diabetics use it because fructose doesn't stimulate insulin production, so blood sugar levels remain stable.

The process of pulling sugar from cornstarch wasn't perfected until the early 1970s, when Japanese researchers developed a reliable way to turn cornstarch into syrup sweet enough to compete with liquid sugar. After some tinkering, they landed on a formula that was 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose -- sweet enough and cheap enough to make most soda companies jump from liquid sugar to high fructose corn syrup by the 1980s.

The results were dramatic. -- a whopping increase of 4,080 percent.

Journalist Greg Critser lays out a compelling case against high fructose corn syrup in his 2003 book, "Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World." He argues that federal policies that aimed to stabilize food prices and support corn production in the 1970s led to a glut of corn and then to high fructose corn syrup. With a cheaper way to sweeten food, producers pumped up the size and amount of sweet snacks and drinks on the market and increased profits.

It's not natural

Critser writes that despite the food industry's arguments that sugar is sugar, whether fructose or sucrose, no group "has yet refuted the growing scientific concern that, when all is said and done, fructose ... is about the furthest thing from natural that one can imagine, let alone eat."

Although some researchers have long been suspicious that too much fructose can cause problems, the latest case against high fructose corn syrup began in earnest a few years ago. Dr. George Bray, principal investigator of the Diabetes Prevention Program at Louisiana State University Medical Center told the International Congress on Obesity that in 1980, just after high fructose corn syrup was introduced in mass quantities, relatively stable obesity rates began to climb. By 2000, they had doubled.

Further, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2002 published research that showed that teenagers' milk consumption between 1965 and 1996 decreased by 36 percent, while soda consumption increased by more than 200 percent. Bray argues that without calcium, which nutritionists agree can help the body regulate weight, kids got fatter. He says that he could find no other single combination of environmental or food changes that were as significant to the rise in obesity.

Other studies by researchers at UC Davis and the University of Michigan have shown that consuming fructose, which is more readily converted to fat by the liver, increases the levels of fat in the bloodstream in the form of triglycerides.

And unlike other types of carbohydrate made up of glucose, fructose does not stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin. Peter Havel, a nutrition researcher at UC Davis who studies the metabolic effects of fructose, has also shown that fructose fails to increase the production of leptin, a hormone produced by the body's fat cells.

Both insulin and leptin act as signals to the brain to turn down the appetite and control body weight. And in another metabolic twist, Havel's research shows that fructose does not appear to suppress the production of ghrelin, a hormone that increases hunger and appetite.

"Because fructose in isolation doesn't activate the hormones that regulate body weight as do other types of carbohydrate composed of glucose, consuming a diet high in fructose could lead to taking in more calories and, over time, to weight gain," he says.

However, Havel isn't convinced high fructose corn syrup is by itself the problem. That's in part because it is composed of 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose, which is similar to the 50-50 combination of fructose and glucose found in table sugar. Havel's studies have focused on fructose by itself and not as part of a high fructose corn syrup mixture.

"Whether there is an important difference in the effects of consuming beverages sweetened with a mixture of 55 percent as opposed to 50 percent fructose would be hard to measure," he says. "Additional studies are needed to better understand the nutritional impact of consuming different types of sugars in humans."

Still, other researchers are finding new problems with high fructose corn syrup. A study in last month's Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that women whose diet was high in total carbohydrate and fructose intake had an increased risk of colorectal cancer. And Dr. Mel Heyman, chief of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at UCSF, is seeing sick children whose bodies have been overloaded with fructose from naturally occurring fructose in fruit juice combined with soda and processed food.

"The way the body handles glucose is different than fructose,'' he says. "It can overload the intestines' ability to absorb carbohydrate by giving it too much fructose. That can cause cramps, bloating and loose stools."

The jury's still out

Like others in the field, he says there is much to discover in how sugar works, but he disagrees that high fructose corn syrup is somehow reprogramming our bodies toward obesity. Rather, he says, we're just eating too much of it.

Nutrition theory holds that the basic make-up of fructose-laced corn syrup is not much different than table sugar. They react about the same in the body, says Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. "There are some modest differences in metabolism, but I don't think fructose per se is the culprit."

Neither do the food companies that use it in copious amounts.

Says Stephanie Childs, a spokesperson for the Grocery Manufacturers Association: "At the end of the day, how any sweetener affects your weight depends on how many calories you are taking in overall. Overemphasizing one nutrient at the detriment of others is not going to solve the problem."

Even some leading nutrition reformers aren't convinced that high fructose corn syrup is of itself the issue. The bigger battle, says Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group, is to get added sugars listed on food labels with a percentage of daily value. That means a consumer could look at a package and see that, for example, one soda provides almost all the sugar a person should eat in a day.

"It simply comes down to this,'' he says. "We're eating too much refined sugars, be it sucrose or high fructose corn syrup or any other refined sugar."


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A sugar glossary
Here's a rundown of the various types of sugar you'll find on product labels.

Brown sugar. Sugar crystals contained in a molasses syrup, with natural flavor and color; 91 to 96 percent sucrose

Corn syrup. Made from cornstarch. Mostly glucose. Can have maltose

Dextrose. Commonly known as corn sugar and grape sugar. Naturally occurring form of glucose

Fructose. Sugar found in fruit and honey. Sweetest natural sugar

Galactose. Sugar found linked to glucose to form lactose, or milk sugar

Glucose. Also called dextrose. The human body's primary source of energy. Most of the carbohydrates you eat are converted to glucose in the body.

High fructose corn syrup. Derived from cornstarch, usually a combination of 55 percent fructose and 45 percent sucrose. Treated with an enzyme that converts glucose to fructose, which results in a sweeter product. Used in soft drinks, baked goods, jelly, syrups, fruits and desserts

Honey. Sweet syrupy fluid made by bees from the nectar collected from flowers and stored in nests or hives as food. Composed of fructose and glucose

Lactose. Sugar found in milk and milk products that is made of glucose and galactose

Maltose. Also called malt sugar. Used in the fermentation of alcohol by converting starch to sugar

Maple syrup. A concentrated sucrose solution made from mature sugar maple tree sap that flows in spring. Mostly replaced by pancake syrup, a mixture of sucrose and artificial maple flavorings

Molasses. Thick syrup left after making sugar from sugarcane. Brown in color with a high sugar concentration

Powdered or confectioner's sugar. Granulated sugar that has been pulverized. Available in several degrees of fineness

Sucrose. Commonly called cane sugar, table sugar or simply sugar

Sugar (granulated). Refined cane or beet sugar; 100 percent sucrose

Turbinado sugar. Raw sugar that has been partially refined and washed


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Awash in corn syrup
It should come as no shock to most consumers that a Pepsi or a Fig Newton has plenty of sugar - most of it from high fructose corn syrup. But what's surprising is the products where the sweetener hides out and how disguised it can be by the deceptively small serving size listed on the nutrition label. Although the numbers below show teaspoons of sugar per serving, people often eat more than one serving. The U.S. Department of Agriculture advises most people to limit themselves to 10 to 12 teaspoons of added sugars a day.

How much is too much?

The list below shows how much sugar, mostly in the form of high fructose corn syrup, is in each of these single servings.

Sunkist soda: 10 1/2 teaspoons of sugar

Berkeley Farms low-fat yogurt with fruit: 10 teaspoons of sugar

Mott's applesauce: 5 teaspoons of sugar

Slim-Fast chocolate cookie dough meal bar: 5 teaspoons of sugar

1 tablespoon ketchup: 1 teaspoon of sugar

Hansen's Super Vita orange-carrot Smoothie: 10 teaspoons of sugar

E-mail Kim Severson at kseverson@sfchronicle.com.
Article on the Web

Aspartame

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 by: Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D.

NaturalNews) Aspartame, more commonly known as NutraSweet or Equal, is one of the most toxic substances being consumed today. The artificial sweetener, currently used in over 4,000 products worldwide, entertains a sordid past and has been one of the most tested and debated food additives in the history of the FDA. While the manufacturer maintains that aspartame is not a danger to your health, the scientific studies don’t necessarily agree. The FDA has approved the product for mass consumption, in spite of overwhelming evidence that aspartame can have neurotoxic, metabolic, allergenic, fetal and carcinogenic effects. When you question how such a substance has not been banned, one simply needs to look at the billions of dollars generated by the sale of aspartame each year. In light of the staggering number of dollar signs involved, it’s easy to see that the artificial sweetener industry has reached Big Tobacco status. With so much money at stake, the truth suffers almost as much as the health of the consumers, while the shareholders' wealth continues to grow exponentially.

The Ingredients

In 1965, James Schlatter, a chemist for G.D. Searle, was developing an anti-ulcer drug when he accidentally stumbled upon aspartame. Made up of aspartic acid (40%), phenylalanine (50%) and methanol (10%), aspartame is 200 times sweeter than natural sugar.

* Aspartic Acid

Aspartate is a neurotransmitter in the brain, facilitating information from one neuron to another. Too much aspartate allows an influx of calcium into the brain cells, triggering an excessive amount of free radicals which kill the cells. Aspartate is referred to as an “excitotoxin” because of the nerve cell damage that it causes. Many chronic illnesses have been attributed to long term excitotoxin exposure, including multiple sclerosis, ALS, memory loss, hormonal problems, hearing loss, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, hypoglycemia, dementia, brain lesions and neuroendocrine disorders.

In 1971, Dr. John Olney, neuroscientist and one of the world’s foremost experts on excitotoxins, informed G.D. Searle that his research had revealed that aspartic acid caused holes in the brains of mice. Searle did not inform the FDA of these findings until after aspartame's approval in 1981. This would prove to be one event in a startling pattern of lies and deception.

* Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine is an amino acid normally found in the brain. Human testing has shown phenylalanine levels in the blood are increased significantly in those who chronically use aspartame. Excessive levels of phenylalanine in the brain can cause the levels of serotonin to decrease, which can lead to depression, schizophrenia and make one more susceptible to seizures.

Studies conducted on rats by G.D. Searle found phenylalanine to be safe for humans. However, Louis J. Elsas, II, M.D., Director of Medical Genetics and Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine told the U.S. Senate in 1987 that, “Normal humans do not metabolize phenylalanine as efficiently as do lower species such as rodents and thus most of the previous studies on aspartame effects on rodents are irrelevant.” Unfortunately, this fell on deaf ears and failed to garner additional testing.

* Methanol

By far, the most controversial ingredient in aspartame is methanol (aka wood alcohol). An EPA assessment of methanol states that it is “considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. In the body, methanol is oxidated to formaldehyde and formic acid; both of these metabolites are toxic.” This oxidation occurs when methanol reaches 86 degrees F (30 degrees C).

* Formaldehyde

A product broken down from aspartate is a known carcinogen and causes retinal damage, birth defects and interferes with DNA replications.

The EPA recommends a consumption limit of 7.8 mg/day. A 1 Liter aspartame sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol, seven times the EPA limit.

The most common maladies related to methanol poisoning are vision problems including misty vision, progressive contraction of visual fields, blurring of vision, obscuration of vision, retinal damage and blindness.

The History of Aspartame

In 1973, G.D. Searle submitted aspartame to the FDA for approval as a sweetening agent. Approval was granted in July of 1974 but pulled in December after objections to its safety were filed by neuroscience researcher, John Olney, and consumer attorney, James Turner. Questions regarding G.D. Searle’s research practices were subsequently raised and an FDA investigation was launched.

It is important to note that of the 164 studies that were conducted, 74 of them had industry related sponsorship and 90 were funded without any industry money. Of the 90 non-industry sponsored studies, 83 (92%) identified one of more problems with aspartame.

In 1976, an FDA task force investigation revealed numerous faults in G.D. Searle’s studies. FDA Toxicologist and Task Force member, Dr. Adrian Gross stated, “They [G.D. Searle] lied and they didn’t submit the real nature of their observations because, had they done that, it is more likely that a great number of these studies would have been rejected for adequacy. What Searle did, they took great pains to camouflage these shortcomings of the study... For instance, animals would develop tumors while they were under study. Well, they would remove these tumors from the animals.” In July 1976 the FDA created another task force, headed by Jerome Bressler, to investigate the discrepancies in three studies in particular.

In 1977, a Grand Jury investigation into Searle’s violation of the law was launched, headed by U.S. Attorney William Conlon. Conlon failed to follow through and the statute of limitations ran out. 15 months later, Conlon accepted a job with the law firm representing G.D. Searle in the investigation.

In August of 1977, the Bressler Report was released, citing a myriad of lies and inconsistencies with Searle’s studies. Senior Scientist on the FDA's task force, Jacqueline Verrett, testified in front of the U.S. Senate, “It would appear that the safety of aspartame and its breakdown products has still not been satisfactorily determines, since the flaws cited in these three studies were also present in all of the other studies submitted by Searle.” Due to these findings, a Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) was launched.

In 1980, the PBOI voted unanimously to reject the use of aspartame until additional studies on its potential to cause brain tumors could be done.

In January of 1981, G.D. Searle reapplied for approval, submitting new studies with its application. In March, a 5 member FDA panel of scientists reviewed the PBOI’s findings. The panel referred to the brain tumor data as “worrisome” and could not recommend approval. In July of 1981, FDA Commissioner Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr. overruled the PBOI and approved aspartame for dry foods use, ignoring the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 348) which states that a food additive should not be approved if tests are inconclusive.

In October 1982, Searle petitioned the FDA for approval to use aspartame in soft drinks and children’s vitamins. The FDA approved the use in soft drinks in 1983. Shortly after approval, Commissioner Hayes left the FDA under charges of improprieties and was hired as a consultant for G.D. Searle’s PR Firm, Burson Marstellar.

In July of 1983, both Woodrow Monte, Director of the Science and Nutrition Laboratory at Arizona State University and James Turner, Esq. filed petitions objecting to the approval of aspartame based on possible serious adverse side effects from chronic intake of aspartame. In November, the FDA denied the petitions “because public interest did not require it.”

In 1984, 6,900,000 lbs of aspartame were consumed in the U.S.

In 1985, G.D. Searle was bought out by Monsanto, creating the NutraSweet Company as a separate subsidiary from G.D. Searle. 14,400,000 lbs. of aspartame were consumed in the U.S. that same year.

15,700,000 lbs of aspartame were consumed in the U.S. in 1986. 17,100,000 lbs were consumed in 1987. NutraSweet stopped providing consumption data to the USDA after 1987.

In 1996, the FDA removed all restrictions on aspartame and authorized its use in all products, including heated and baked goods. This was done in spite of the fact that aspartame breaks down into formaldehyde above 86 degrees F.

Today, aspartame accounts for over 75% of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. How sweet it is? A few of the 90 different documented symptoms include: headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss and joint pain. Which one are you ready for?Natural News Aspartme Article

An Autism Mom's Open Letter to Dr. Paul Offit

http://www.ageofaut ism.com/2008/ 09/an-autism- moms.html

September 15, 2008

An Autism Mom's Open Letter to Dr. Paul Offit

By Julie Obradovic

Dear Dr. Offit,

I am writing in regard to your new book, Autism’s
False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine and Finding a Cure.

It would be premature to say for sure, but I am
willing to bet I would be considered a “False
Prophet” in your eyes. I am a mother who
witnessed her daughter regress into Autism, and I
am a mother who believes it was because of her
vaccines. I dedicate much of my time to helping
other parents who experienced the same thing with their own children.

I also make it a point to encourage parents to
research vaccine safety carefully before blindly
subjecting their children to it. In fact, I can
count at least 10 children under the age of 3
right now who have been spared the
one-size-fits- all approach to administering
vaccines because of my advice. They are
undoubtedly part of any decrease in vaccination rates.

Some critics call me an irresponsible
anti-vaccine zealot for this. Frankly, I am
baffled by that; I am simply advocating for more
independent and relevant research into their
safety and administration. I am also simply
telling parents to do their homework; any
decision they make not to vaccinate is theirs.

I have serious, unanswered questions about the
current state of vaccination, and the bullying,
fear-mongering, and hateful discourse spewed
towards someone like myself does nothing to
squelch my concerns, or more important, the
concerns my family, friends and neighbors having children right now.

These people know that I am a rational, logical,
courageous, highly educated, intelligent mother
who pulled her own child out of the depths of
Autism. They saw with their own eyes the descent
of my perfectly healthy baby girl at birth until
6 months of age into the lost, sick state of
Autism by age 2. It’s not me telling them a
version of what happened; they saw it for themselves.

They also saw us claw our way out of that
hell-hole. They witnessed our family do what-ever
it took for however long to get our little girl
back. Despite the terrible odds against us, we
got her. My daughter no longer qualifies as having Autism.

With 1 in 20 families now being affected by
Autism, and thousands of those families
recovering their children as we did, you can only
imagine this trend (of parents not trusting you)
growing. You continue to tell these family
members, friends and neighbors that what they
witnessed wasn’t real. That doesn’t sit well with
most people I know, including you. If I’m not
mistaken, the real reason for your book is
because you don’t like it when people call you a liar. It goes both ways.

*****

Instead of critics thanking me for preventing one
more person from being dependent on the state for
the rest of her life, thus saving them thousands
of tax dollars in lifetime care, I am portrayed
as an irresponsible parent who just couldn’t
accept that she is genetically flawed. Worse, I
am now using my denial to hurt other children and
society as a whole by scaring parents away from vaccinations.

For starters, I find it interesting that
encouraging parents to research and question
vaccines, including their ingredients and
administrative protocol, is threatening. If there
truly is nothing for parents to be afraid of,
then what is the problem with telling them to
look into it for themselves? The idea that
overwhelmingly the medical community would rather
parents not question anything in this area,
thereby “just trusting us”, gives them reason to pause.

I trust my financial adviser, but I certainly
won’t let him do whatever he wants with my money
before researching it first. And I trust my
child’s teacher, but that doesn’t mean I don’t
participate in obtaining the learning outcomes
desired for my child. Certainly you can
understand that when it comes to a parent’s baby,
they are going to be involved in the decision
making process of the most important thing that baby has…her health.

Perhaps your resentment of educated parents stems
from the fact that there are legitimate
unanswered questions about vaccines that research
fosters….like what is the safe amount of aluminum
that can be injected into a tiny baby and how do
you know that? (A biological study that has never
been performed and a question that has never been answered.)

When a parent objects that you would subject
their child to such an experiment, you are
frustrated. Why? Because it appears to be safe
for the general public, and that should be a good enough answer?

It would be a blatant lie to say these concerns
are only fostered by desperate parents giving bad
information and promoting bad science on the
internet, but you perpetuate that myth
none-the-less. It’s easier to paint us as silly
fools than to admit that you don’t have all the
answers. You probably find it shocking that of
those 10 children I mentioned, 3 of them have
parents who are physicians trained in
evidence-based medicine. These are not stupid people.

As such, they can’t help but be suspicious of
someone like you who claims “I don’t get paid to
talk about vaccines” and “vaccines are the safest
thing you can put in your body” knowing you just
sold a patent for one worth $182 million dollars
(a vaccine that as one version had to be pulled
because it actually killed some children).

They can’t help but question you when they learn
that millions of dollars have been paid out to
people hurt by vaccines in a special “vaccine
court” designed to protect vaccine manufacturers.

They can’t help but wonder what you are talking
about when they read the list of ingredients in a
vaccine for themselves, or when they realize
those ingredients have never been independently tested for safety.

They also can’t help but wonder about your sanity
when you crazily suggest a child could get
100,000 vaccines in one day, no problem. (Would
100,000 traces of thimerosal still be considered a trace?)

And they certainly can’t help but wonder why
someone so confident about his knowledge about
what does not cause Autism has actually never treated someone with it.

Coupled with the fact that you refuse to debate
any Autism specialists, journalists, parents or
scientists in person, you end up being as credible as a used car salesman.

*****

In light of their research, and not just with
regard to Autism, more and more parents are
growing skeptical of vaccines for other reasons
as well. Much of it is due to the current state
of children’s health in our country.

You don’t have to have a child with Autism to
know something is wrong: We have the most
vaccinated children in the world, and the
sickest. That may or may not be related, but it
certainly warrants investigation. An epidemic of
immune system dysfunction taking place in kids
who are given more vaccines to provoke their
immune systems at an earlier age than ever is disturbing, isn’t it?

Right now, 1 in 5 children is in Special
Education; allergies and asthma plague millions;
diabetes and other chronic diseases are at an all
time high; speech delay, learning disabilities,
ADHD, and occupational needs continue to soar;
and certainly 1 in 64 boys being diagnosed with Autism is beyond comprehension.

In spite of these shameful statistics, medical
authorities are doing their best to pretend this
is all normal. They just can’t figure out whether
or not this is a problem (is it better diagnosis
or not?), thereby continuing to deny calling this what it is: An epidemic.

We all know, however, that epidemics can never be
genetic; something environmentally must be
triggering the problem. This is becoming obvious
enough that even the CDC is claiming to look for
that trigger (which begs the question, why look
for a trigger of an epidemic you claim doesn’t
exist?). It will add to the others that have also been conducted.

In one study, they found it could be the television causing Autism.

In another, they suggested dog shampoo could be doing it.

And now, as Dr. Harvey Karp mentioned on Larry
King Live!, they are even looking into the flame
retardant used in children’s pajamas and their mattresses.

The sad thing about these studies is how truly
insulting and wasteful they are. I have yet to
meet or read about one parent of a child with
Autism who says, “You know, I turned on the
television one day, and wouldn’t you know it, my
baby got non-stop diarrhea everywhere!”

Or, “By golly, we washed the dog, and the next
day, she stopped looking me in the eye!”

Or my favorite, “I put my child in new pajamas,
and I swear he regressed right into Autism!”

Yet thousands upon thousands of parents all have
the same story: They vaccinated their babies, and
something happened….chronic illnesses began,
gastro-intestinal stress started, tantrums
ensued, seizures took place and their sensory
perception changed (among many other problems).

Still, the authorities refuse to make it a
priority to look first and foremost at the
chemicals INJECTED INTO THEIR BODIES as being the
probable cause. No, instead, we’re looking at their pajamas.

Could these stupid studies be necessary because
actually finding the real trigger may be too
frightening? As Dr. Bernadine Healy eloquently
stated on the CBS Evening News, there is an
expressed concern that finding that answer would
jeopardize the vaccination program.

This means there are people in great positions of
power who could investigate this issue thoroughly
and instead have clearly stated, “We don’t want
to know if vaccines are causing Autism because
the ramifications of that answer are too huge.”

*****

I assume your response would be two-fold: One,
that you think Dr. Healy is misinformed as you
stated at the AAP Press Conference (it’s
interesting how everyone who disagrees with you
is misinformed) ; and Two, that this question has
been answered and re-answered: Vaccines have nothing do with it.

You will probably support this belief by
referencing studies that supposedly exonerate not
only vaccines, but their ingredients as well, from playing any part.

Unfortunately, I know from years of being
involved in this debate that the average person
doesn’t have a clue about any of these studies.
Instead, they hear a prominent physician like you
referring to them on the nightly news or NPR and believe they must be true.

What they don’t realize is that these studies in
fact do very little to determine the role
vaccines or their ingredients play in the Autism epidemic.

*****

To “prove” that vaccines don’t cause Autism,
physicians like you have compiled studies they
believe put the issue to rest. Most of these studies are population in nature.

The paradigm supported by their compilation is
that epidemiological studies would confirm if
vaccines were indeed implicated in Autism; the
fact that they repeatedly do not allows them to
close the book on the subject. In other words,
because they haven’t found the association in the
general population, the debate is over.

There are 4 major flaws with this.

1. Study Bias

These studies are done by the people who have the
most to lose if the outcome is a bad one.

Your paradigm assumes that these compiled studies
are independent studies that are not trying to generate a desired outcome.

I do not believe there is a conspiracy in the
vaccines-causing- Autism controversy (a common
tactic used to discredit my character). That
would mean I believe from the very beginning,
someone purposely set out to hurt my child. I do not.

But I am not naïve either. It is appropriate to
be skeptical of certain scientists’ objectivity,
especially when one considers the consequences of
what their oversight may have caused (a foreign
policy nightmare, lowered vaccination rates and a
possible collapse of the vaccination program, law
suits, billions in lost revenue, criminal
charges). One needs only look at the tobacco
industry as an example of the lengths people will
go to protect themselves. This issue dwarfs tobacco.

Not only is there is high level conflict of
interest on part of many of the authors, but in
most instances, they are employees of vaccine
manufacturers and/or work for the CDC (an
organization responsible for keeping vaccination
rates high). This clearly makes them biased.

As an example, consider the Taylor article
published in the Lancet (1999). As a response to
the Wakefield study (1998), this article attempts
to exonerate the MMR from being involved with
regressive Autism. The study was performed by
several members of the UK Immunization Division
of the Public Health Department. In the discussion of their study, they state:

“We hope that our results will reassure parents
and others who have been concerned about the
possibility that MMR is likely to cause Autism
and that they will help to restore confidence in the MMR vaccine.”

A good scientist doesn’t set out to “reassure”
anybody of anything with his or her hypothesis.
They simply want to find the truth.

Only scientists who are truly independent can be
trusted with this important research, which is
why there is federal legislation currently pending for such action.

2. Poor Study Design

The methodology employed in these studies is not
properly structured to test the hypothesis it is trying to.

You mention bad science as being a part of the
problem in this debate; you even mention it in
your book title. In this regard, we couldn’t
agree more. Over and over and over, studies that
set out to test one hypothesis actually end up
being irrelevant or inconclusive for finding it
out if it’s true, but get reported as conclusive none-the-less.

Consider these examples.

In 2002, Pinichero et al. performed a study to
test for thimerosal safety. He reasoned that
exposing children to typical thimerosal
containing vaccinations and then collecting
blood, stool and urine samples would verify its
rapid excretion, thus proving its safety.

For starters, the study is limited it to only 40
children; provided Autism affects 1 in 150
children, it is highly probable his sample size
was too small. Regardless, the author could still
only account for a small percentage of the
mercury injected into the children. To explain
this, he assumes the rest of it was excreted when
he didn’t catch it. However, thimerosal is now
documented as entering tissue quickly, including
the brain. Without a biopsy of these children’s
organs, it is impossible to know where all the mercury went.

Even more, he fails to explain why the two month
old baby who received half the amount of
thimerosal as the others had the highest
percentage blood concentration of mercury. This
would seem to fit the theory that not all
children have the same detoxification abilities, but this fact is ignored.

None-the-less, this study is widely quoted as proving thimerosal is safe.

Another example of this problem, and perhaps the
most important of them all, is the CDC population
study conducted in the United States on the role
of thimerosal exposure in the development of
Autism and other developmental disorders.

Of primary concern, the CDC should have never
been allowed to conduct this study in the first
place. In perhaps the first instance of its kind,
the CDC was investigating a health outcome that they may have caused.

People accused of a crime do not have the luxury
of investigating themselves to find out if indeed
they are guilty. From the get-go, ethical and
responsible researchers should have identified
this conflict and given the task to someone on the outside. They did not.

Even after being redone 4 times before
publication, noting the correlation “just won’t
go away”, the study could still only report
finding a “neutral” association between the two.

This neutral association was present in spite of
the fact that a child’s cumulative exposure to
thimerosal was not accurately tabulated. Flu
shots, Rhogam shots given to their mothers while
pregnant, and other thimerosal containing
vaccines were eliminated from being used to
tabulate their total exposure. (Which is odd,
isn’t it? If you want to see if it’s having an
effect, why not include all of it?)

And now, the original data sets have been lost,
destroyed (both punishable as a Federal crime) or
stored in off-shore accounts where they cannot be accessed for replication.

Interestingly, Dr. Julie Gerberding, Head of the
CDC, recently declared the study “useless” and
not helpful in ruling out an association between the two.

Provided this study was a large part of the
Institute of Medicine’s 2004 ruling that
thimerosal did not play a causal role in the
development of Autism, and no longer warranted
further study, it is fair to say that their
ruling no longer stands. A “useless” study can
certainly not support such a position.

The list of examples I could site with this kind
of methodology flaw used to exonerate vaccines or
their components goes on and on. In fact, there
is not one study in your compilation that isn’t
subject to this scrutiny, including the recently released study on the MMR.

Because of this, I’m thinking about writing a
book too. I’m going to call it, Autism’s False
Offits: Biased Science, An absence of Medicine, and No Attempt to Find a Cure.

3. Irrelevant Findings

The studies used to exonerate vaccines from
causing Autism are extremely focused, although
the question is a broad based one that hasn’t been sufficiently addressed.

Once again, the theory behind vaccines triggering
Autism is that there is a genetically susceptible
group of individuals who upon exposure to vaccination regress into Autism.

To properly test this theory, multiple studies
have yet to be conducted. A study of the never
vaccinated versus the vaccinated would help
determine if vaccines were indeed implicated, but
not necessarily explain why. Additional study of
the children with these health impairments is
prudent. They need to be tested for vaccine
strain viruses that may have not properly cleared
the body and/or left behind damage (immediately
following regression preferably); they need to be
tested for heavy metal toxicity, which may have
sparked the problem to begin with; and they need
to be tested for any and all evidence that may
demonstrate how all of these issues are related.

But we don’t have these studies yet. Instead,
what we have are studies that have suggested, not
proved, that thimerosal ALONE does not cause
Autism in the general population (no longer
admissible) and current studies that suggest the MMR ALONE does not either.

Claiming the debate over whether or not vaccines
are involved in Autism based on this is
irresponsible. We don’t have a study on the
effect of the combination of the two, or on all
of the other vaccines given in combination.
Considering there are now dozens of routine
childhood vaccines, the causal possibilities are numerous.

*****

None-the-less, let’s assume that all of that
science is actually perfect. Let’s assume that
none of the authors, whether or not they are
vaccine patent holders like you, or employees of
vaccination companies, or members of the CDC are
unethical in any capacity. Let’s say that each
and every individual conducting these studies has
the highest professional standards and would not
compromise something so important in any
capacity. And let’s assume that all of the
studies were designed and methodically carried out to the tee.

They still don’t prove Autism isn’t caused by vaccines.

4. Epidemiology can never prove causation.

While population studies are useful for
identifying large-scale problems, they are not
useful in identifying genetic susceptibilities,
and again, can never stand alone in proving
something did or did not happen in an individual.

Suppose I have a grove of multiple kinds of fruit
trees, and every time I spray the grove with
pesticide, my orange trees get sick but none of
the other trees do. If I study the entire grove
over and over again and don’t come up with an
association between the pesticide and the sick
orange trees, I still can’t rule out that it was
the pesticide that did it to them.

That doesn’t mean my study of the fruit trees was
wrong, and it doesn’t mean the pesticide is bad
for all the trees; it just means my study was
irrelevant to the question at hand. At best I
know most of my fruit trees are fine when exposed
to this chemical. It doesn’t change the fact
something’s still wrong when my oranges are, or that I still don’t know why.

Provided none of the Autism studies touted
exclusively studies the children who did regress
after their vaccines, it is baffling that medical
professionals are so willing to claim the issue is closed for debate.

Ethical and compassionate physicians would make
it a priority to say, “Although I don’t
understand why this is happening to these
children, and although some studies are telling
me it didn’t happen to the general population of
children (Thank God!), I have an obligation to
find out why it did to this child. Why did this
child regress after his vaccines, and what
evidence does he show me that it was or wasn’t causal?”

This is a substantially different take from
saying “Population studies told me it didn’t
happen, therefore it didn’t. Case closed.”

*****

Those physicians who do feel obligated to look
beyond epidemiology are conducting such research.
Together they and scientists from prestigious
universities like Harvard and Colombia have
compiled significant scientific evidence
demonstrating that indeed vaccines may be involved.

Evidence

1. Anecdotal

Hundreds of thousands of parents globally all
have the same story: They vaccinated their
children and something happened. In some
instances, the something happened immediately. In
others, it happened slowly over time and got
worse with each series of vaccines. Regardless,
they all subscribe to the same story. They
witnessed their children’s health deteriorate
after vaccines, and subsequently their children were diagnosed with Autism.

While this is not conclusive as being causal, it
certainly is valid. Anecdotal evidence is revered
as being scientific and the fact that so many
parents are telling the same story should raise
red flags everywhere. Instead, parents are
irresponsibly dismissed as imagining it or remembering things inaccurately.

Furthermore, the timing of the onset of Autism
and vaccines is identical. This too makes it
highly plausible they are involved.

2. Epidemiological

Multiple studies done, including those sponsored
by the CDC, prove that there has been a
substantial increase in Autism and other
developmental disorders in the last 2 decades.
This increase starts precisely when the Hepatitis
B shot was administered at birth, beginning in the late 1980’s.

Many doctors have written this increase off as an
indication of better diagnosis. However, the
better diagnosis belief would mean that about 97%
of cases of Autism in 1985 and prior were missed.
In other words, 1 in 64 40 year old males is
walking around right now with Autism and doesn’t know it.

Finally, no wide-scale study has been done on the
vaccinated versus never vaccinated children of
this country (a study that also has legislation
behind it). It is absolutely impossible to know
the true differences in health outcomes between
them. In this case, it is a lack of epidemiology that is hurting our kids.

3. Biological

Incredibly, the symptoms of mercury poisoning and
Autism are identical. They aren’t kind of
similar, or sort of the same, they are identical.
The idea that we are actually debating whether or
not injecting kids with mercury can cause the
symptoms of mercury is ridiculous.

I’ve included a table in case you are one of
those ignorant physicians often quoted who only
know mercury toxicity in the form of Acrodynia or
Minimata Disease and fail to understand the other
ways it may manifest. There is no doubt the
comparison of mercury toxicity to Autism is stunning.

*Borrowed from Changing the Course of Autism (Jepsen)

Mercury Toxicity Autism
Biochemistry Biochemistry
• Binds SH groups; blocks sulfate transporter in intestines and kidneys
• Reduces glutathione availability, inhibits
enzymes of glutathione metabolism; glutathione
needed in neurons, cells, and liver to detoxify
heavy metals; reduces glutathione peroxidase and reductase
• Disrupts purine and pyrimidine metabolism
• Disrupts mitochondrial activities, especially
in the brain • Low sulfate levels
• Low levels of glutathione; decreased ability of
liver to detoxify xenobiotics; abnormal
glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes
• Purine and pyrimidine metabolism errors lead to autistic features
• Mitochondrial dysfunction, especially in the brain
Immune System Immune System
• Sensitive individuals more likely to have
allergies, asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms, especially rheumatoid-like ones
• Can produce an immune response in CNS, causes brain/MBP autoantibodies
• Causes overproduction of Th2 subset;
kills/inhibits lymphocytes, T-cells, and
monocytes; decreases NK T-cell activity; induces
or suppresses IGNg & IL-2 • More likely to have
allergies and asthma; familial presence of
autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis; IgA deficiencies
• On-going immune response in CNS; brain/MBP autoantibodies present
• Skewed immune-cell subset in the Th2 direction;
decreased response to T-cells mitogens; reduced
NK T0cell function; increased IFNg & IL-12
CNS (Central Nervous System) structure CNS Structure
• Selectively targets brain areas unable to
detoxify or reduce Hg-induced oxidative stress
• Accummulates in amygdale, hippocampus, basal
ganglia, cerebral cortex; damages Purkinje and
granule cells in cerebellum; brain stem defects in some cases
• Causes abnormal neuroanoal cytoarchitecture;
disrupts neuronal migration, microtubules, and cell division; reduces NCAMs
• Progressive microcephaly • Specific areas of
brain pathology; many functions spared (area 36)
• Pathology in amygdale, hippocampus, basal
ganglia, cerebral brain stem defects in some cases
• Nauronal disorganization; increased neuronal
cell replication, increased glial cells; depressed expression of NCAMs
• Progressive microephaly and macroephaly
Neuro-chemistry Neuro-chemistry
• Prevents presynaptic serotonin release and
inhibits serotonin transport; causes calcium disruptions
• Alters dopamine systems; peroxidine deficiency
in rats resembles mercurialism in humans
• Elevates epinephrine and norepinephrine levels
by blocking enzyme that degrades epinephrine
• Elevates glutamate
• Leads to cortical acetylcholine deficiency;
increases muscarinic receptor density in hippocampus and cerebellum
• Causes demyelinating neuropathy • Decreased
serotonin synthesis in children; abnormal calcium metabolisjm
• Either high or low dopamine levels; positive
response to peroxidine, which lowers dopamine levels
• Elevated norepinephrine and epinephrine
• Elevated glutamate and aspirate
• Cortical acetylcholine deficiency; reduced
muscarinic receptor binding in hippocampus
• Demylelination in brain
Neurophysiology Neurophysiology
• Causes abnormal EEGs, epileptiform activity,
variable patterns, e.g., subtle, low amplitude seizure activities
• Causes abnormal vestibular nystagums responses;
loss of sense of position in space
• Results in autonomic disturbance: excessive
sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate •
Abnormal EEGs, epileptiform activity, variable
patterns, including subtle, low amplitude seizure activities
• Abnormal vestibular nystagmus responses; loss of sense of position in space
• Autonomic disturbance: unusual sweating, poor
circulation, elevated heart rate
Psychiatric Disturbances Psychiatric Disturbances
• Social deficits, shyness social withdrawal
• Repetitive, preservative, stereotypic
behaviors; obsessive-compulsiv e tendencies
• Depression/depressi ve traits, mood swings, flat
affect; impaired face recognition
• Anxiety; schizoid tendencies; irrational fears
• Irritability, aggression, temper-tantrums
• Lacks eye contact; impaired visual fixation,
problems in joint attention • Social deficits, shyness social withdrawal
• Repetitive, preservative, stereotypic
behaviors; obsessive-compulsiv e tendencies
• Depression/depressi ve traits, mood swings, flat
affect; impaired face recognition
• Anxiety; schizoid tendencies; irrational fears
• Irritability, aggression, temper-tantrums
• Lacks eye contact; impaired visual fixation, problems in joint attention
Speech and Language Deficits Speech and Language Deficits
• Loss of speech, delayed language, failure to develop speech
• Dysarthria; articulation problems
• Speech comprehension deficits
• Verbalizing and word retrieval problems;
echolalia, word use and pragmatic errors • Loss
of speech, delayed language, failure to develop speech
• Dysarthria; articulation problems
• Speech comprehension deficits
• Verbalizing and word retrieval problems;
echolalia, word use and pragmatic errors
Sensory Abnormalities Sensory Abnormalities
• Abnormal sensation in mouth and extremities
• Sound sensitivity; mild to profound hearing loss
• Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion
• Over-sensitivity to light; blurred vision, loss of color perception
• Under-sensitive or over-sensitive to pain •
Abnormal sensation in mouth and extremities
• Sound sensitivity; mild to profound hearing loss
• Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion
• Over-sensitivity to light; blurred vision
• Under-sensitive or over-sensitive to pain
Motor Disorders Motor Disorders
• Flapping, myoclonal jerks, choreiform
movements, circling, rocking, toe walking, unusual postures
• Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb
apraxia; intention tremors, problems with intentional movement or imitation
• Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and
incoordination; difficulties sitting, lying,
crawling, and walking; problem on one side of
body • Flapping, myoclonal jerks, choreiform
movements, circling, rocking, toe walking, unusual postures
• Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb
apraxia; intention tremors, problems with intentional movement or imitation
• Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and
incoordination; difficulties sitting, lying,
crawling, and walking; problem on one side of body
Cognitive Impairments Cognitive Impairments
• Borderline intelligence, mental retardation- some cases reversible
• Poor concentration, attention, response inhibition
• Poor visual and perceptual motor skills; impairment in simple reaction time
• Deficits in understanding abstract ideas &
symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers,
sequencing, planning and organization •
Borderline intelligence, mental retardation- some cases reversible
• Poor concentration, shifting attention
• Poor visual and perceptual motor skills;
impairment in simple reaction time lower performance on timed tests
• Difficulty in carrying out complex commands
• Deficits in understanding abstract ideas &
symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers,
sequencing planning and organizing
Unusual Behaviors Unusual Behaviors
• Self-injurious behavior, head banging
• Inability to focus or concentrate; hyperactivity
• Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing and staring spells
• Sleep disturbances and impairments
• Self-stimulatory behaviors
• Obsessive compulsive behaviors • Self-injurious behavior, head banging
• ADHD traits
• Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing and staring spells
• Sleep disturbances and impairments
• Self-stimulatory behaviors
• Obsessive compulsive behaviors
Physical Disturbances Physical Disturbances
• Hyper or hypotonia; abnormal reflexes;
decreased muscle strength; especially upper body;
incontinence; problems chewing and swallowing
• Rashes, dermatitis, eczema, itching
• Peeling skin (hands and feet)
• Diarrhea; abdominal pain/discomfort, constipation, colitis
• Anorexia, nausea, vomiting; poor appetite, restricted diet
• Lesions of ileum and colon; increased gut
permeability • Hyper or hypotonia; abnormal
reflexes; decreased muscle strength; especially
upper body; incontinence; problems chewing and swallowing
• Rashes, dermatitis, eczema, itching
• Diarrhea; abdominal pain/discomfort, constipation, colitis
• Anorexia, nausea, vomiting; poor appetite, restricted diet
• Lesions of ileum and colon; increased gut permeability

It is impossible for a parent like myself, who
witnessed her daughter regress into Autism more
and more with each set of vaccines she received,
to believe that it is a coincidence that she was
repeatedly injected with mercury (including at
birth), and then developed the symptoms of mercury poisoning.

This is the equivalent of someone saying that
they went into the sun for 2 hours on a sunny day
and got the symptoms of a sun burn, but the sun
didn’t do it because everybody else they know
always gets a tan, (and they better not treat
themselves or tell anyone what happened because
the sun is good). It is completely and totally
illogical to believe such a thing.

Further evidence to support a toxicological base
in Autism comes from studies that demonstrate
higher rates of Autism among children who live
near coal-burning plants; a study that
demonstrates glutathione levels (a substance
necessary for detoxification) being 68% lower in
children with Autism than their nuerotypical
peers; and a study on mice with a predisposition
for auto-immune conditions that shows a markedly
different response to thimerosal exposure than the mice who did not.

Then there are the studies that show thimerosal
causes mitochondrial dysfunction, the exact same
condition the Dept. of Health and Human Services
(in a medical decision, not a legal one) just
said caused Hannah Poling’s symptoms of Autism
after receiving 9 vaccines at once.

Not to mention, the very first cases of Autism
ever diagnosed in the world or anywhere in
medical literature were done shortly after
thimerosal was introduced on the market. Among
those cases, many of them had parents who worked
with or lived near ethyl mercury, the same kind of mercury used in thimerosal.

In fact, there is so much evidence against
thimerosal that an entire book was written on it
by an award-winning journalist in 2005: Evidence of Harm, by David Kirby.

At a minimum, this evidence substantiates ruling
out mercury toxicity in all children with Autism.
That was my purpose when finding a qualified specialist to test my daughter.

Why wouldn’t I rule it out as a possibility?
Because one flawed epidemiological study done by
those who would be held accountable told me maybe
it happened, maybe it didn’t? Because vaccines
save lives and questioning them is wrong? How
irrelevant! How irresponsible! My daughter was
injected with mercury and subsequently developed
the symptoms of what it causes! How could I not test her?

Naturally, when it was confirmed she was mercury
toxic, I was outraged. Well first, I actually vomited.

I don’t believe anyone tried to poison my
daughter, but they did. As a result, her entire
life and what she will be able to do with it has been permanently altered.

More urgent, she needed to be treated. Under a
doctor’s care, using only medication approved for mercury poisoning, she was.

Today, I’m thrilled to report; she no longer has mercury poisoning….or Autism.

*****

Dr. Offit, time limits my ability in this letter
to list each and every study that supports
evidence that children with Autism have
substantial health problems, including but not
limited to their immune system, their central
nervous system, and their gastro-intestinal
system. They have severe nutritional
deficiencies; tolerate horrific yeast overgrowth
in their guts coupled with leaky gut syndrome and
dysbiosis; are in a constant state of battling
viruses and infection; have lowered
detoxification capabilities and suffer from heavy
metal toxicity; and live daily with intense pain,
inflammation, and sensory issues.

All of these health issues are well-documented in
the medical literature. All a responsible physician has to do is look.

But instead, they are told not to because
according to physicians like you, all of it is
garbage. Somehow only the studies done by those
who have the most to lose, the CDC, the AAP, and
the vaccine manufacturing companies, are actually quality.

According to your (and their) logic:

It’s a coincidence that Autism didn’t appear in
the medical literature until right after
thimerosal came on the market. (It’s been around
for centuries, we just never bothered to document it.)

It’s a coincidence the symptoms of Autism and
mercury poisoning are the same. (Sometimes these things happen.)

It’s a coincidence that as children are being
treated for their medical problems they are
losing their diagnosis. (It’s both a lifelong
genetic condition and something people spontaneously recover from.)

It’s a coincidence that these children are
regressing into Autism at the same time they are
getting their vaccines. (Unfortunate timing.)

It’s a coincidence that four times as many boys
have Autism than girls, even though we know
mercury is synergistic with testosterone.
(Mercury has nothing to do with Autism.)

It’s a coincidence that the rate of Autism and
other developmental disorders has sky-rocketed as
we added more vaccines to the schedule. (We have
gotten better at diagnosing, that’s all.)

It’s a coincidence parent after parent has the
same story. They vaccinated and their child
shortly developed Autism thereafter. (It’s the internet’s fault.)

At the same time, you perpetuate the myth that
thimerosal is a safe substance and that it is no
longer in vaccines; you even state that in trace
amounts it is the equivalent of being exposed to
the mercury that we breathe or eat. I certainly
hope I am misunderstanding that you believe
breathing or eating a substance is the same as
having it injected into your body. They most certainly are not.

We both know that if you ever tried to convince a
parent that injecting their child with just a
little bit of lead, simply because lead is in a
pencil they use or in the food they eat, the
parent would run fast and far away from you. Yet
mercury is 500 times more toxic.

Additionally, you know that thimerosal has never
been tested for safety. It is labeled as poison
and the bottle clearly states that exposure may
result in neurological harm. It is so toxic that
it was banned from over-the-counter products in
1982 and form animal vaccines in 1991. It’s so
toxic that when put on the umbilical cords of 7
babies in a hospital in 1977, they all died.

Still, it inexplicably remains in human vaccines
to this day. Despite claims to the contrary, it
was never “removed”. To date, no one has verified
that indeed it is no longer on the shelves of
doctor’s everywhere. At best, it is only in
smaller amounts, not zero amounts. Even worse, it
is now recommended that all pregnant women and
children get a flu shot, which has the full dose
of 25 micrograms in it (unless they know to ask otherwise).

Considering the argument has always been there is
a genetic susceptibility to this substance, it is
irresponsible to claim that less of it would
automatically be less dangerous to such a
person. A person with a peanut allergy only
needs 1 peanut to go into anaphylactic shock, not
a bowl full, and sometimes less than that.

*****

By continuing to promote to this coincidental and
toxicological non-sense, you are denying the
right to medical care for millions across the
globe, a human right’s violation.

Our children are perhaps the sickest children on
the planet, and yet they are shamefully not given
medical care. Instead, they are told to go home
with their parents where they should get
behavioral therapy alone, and worse, look into an
institution. They are written off from society as
being hopeless causes and a burden to their families.

This is the equivalent of a parent whose child
has cancer being told to just forget about
treating them and go buy a burial plot.

In an even crueler twist of fate, our children
can’t tell us what is wrong or where it hurts
because their ability to speak has been taken
from them. To communicate sometimes, they scream
and hurt themselves and throw tantrums. They have
chronic gastro-intestinal distress and
unimaginable pain; are overly sensitive to
everything; often can’t ever get a good night’s
sleep; and sometimes can’t even tolerate being
touched as their parents try to comfort them. All
the while they are expected to learn or behave
properly. Can you imagine their hell?

And now parents are being told by ignorant
members of society that their precious kids are
simply brats who don’t know how to behave in
public. Supposedly they are just putting on act
because their fathers have disappeared or their
mom doesn’t know how to discipline. I suppose if
I weren’t an insider I would tell myself that
too; the idea that this is real is enough to
scare anyone into rationalizing it away.

Make no mistake, the torture of watching your
child succumb to this disease and being told that
there’s nothing you can or should do; well
frankly, it is enough to drive some people over
the edge. It should not be surprising parents of
children with Autism are killing themselves and
their children, jumping with them off bridges,
drowning them, and suffocating them.

It doesn’t get any more real than that.

*****

Dr. Offit, there is a generation of children who
are on fire right now. Their health is in flames,
and rather than doing everything in your power to
put them out, you have chosen to debate about
whether or not there really is a fire; if and how
it started; and whether or not there is any real reason to put them out.

Worse, you have taken it upon yourself to
ridicule and criticize those of us parents who
have decided to douse our children in water,
despite your inaction. You criticize the kind of
water we are using, where we are getting it from,
how much we are using, who is helping us get
it, and have the audacity to suggest that us
attempting to put out the flames is more irresponsible than letting them burn.

In an even more despicable twist, you go so far
as to accuse us of actually wanting and causing
other children to get hurt because we warn
parents about how our fire started; it’s easier
to blame us rather than acknowledge your pitiful
display of incompetence as being the real reason for the spark. How dare you.

I love my children more than anything in the
world. I also love the children of my family
members, my neighbors, and my friends. I would
lie down in traffic for any one of them if that’s
what it took to save their life. For anyone to
suggest that I would recklessly put their lives
or other people’s children at risk because I
encourage them to research vaccine safety is pouring salt on a gaping wound.

The pain I feel about what happened to my middle
child is often times intolerable, and I’m one of
the lucky ones. I got her back. There isn’t a day
that goes by that I don’t wish I didn’t believe
vaccines hurt her. I’ve lost faith in my
government, my media, and my medical institution
(but am hopeful it can be restored). To top it
off, I am subjected to the vile of anonymous
bullies and threatened physicians who are angry
that my experience differs from what they think it should have.

The saddest thing is we’re both on the same side.
We both want children to be protected, except I
believe we can and have to do better. To be sure
though, I would not wish what happened to my
daughter on my worst enemy, even them.

Can you imagine what it feels like to hold your
child down to be poisoned at the hands of people
you trusted; to watch her suffer in silence
unable to communicate her pain and fear; to
confirm she was poisoned after wasting years of
time; and to live with the never-ending pain of
not knowing what irreparable damage was caused or
who she was meant to be…Only to be told that what
you lived wasn’t real; that trying to help her is
irresponsible; and that by speaking out about it
and trying to prevent it from happening to
another child you are recklessly putting society at risk?

Let’s get something straight: my daughter is the
victim here, not the medical community. And as
for society, our debt has been paid a thousand fold.

When I followed the rules….When I listened to the
advice of my doctors and showed up at their
doorstep exactly on the day my baby was scheduled
to receive her shots, something horrible happened.

I don’t know why it happened to my daughter and
not my son. I don’t know why it happens to some
children and not others. I don’t have those
answers, Dr. Offit, but I do know this: It happened.

I’m sorry that makes you defensive. I’m sorry you
have chosen to take it personally rather than
admit you don’t have all the answers. I’m sorry
you cannot acknowledge the existing studies have
their limitations and that you, being a vaccine
patent holder are probably not the best person to
be promoting or dictating your version of vaccine safety.

But I am not sorry that I have chosen to speak
out about it. I am not sorry that those 10
children I mentioned earlier, including my own,
will no longer be subjected to blindly following
along a path that so many have for so long. I am
not sorry that parents everywhere are beginning
to think for themselves and are demanding answers.

And I absolutely will not apologize that I have
the courage to stand up and ask you if in the
name of good we have inadvertently swapped
infectious disease for chronic disease. No
responsible person wants a resurgence of vaccine
preventable diseases, but no responsible person
wants chronic disease to be the cost of
preventing them, especially if it is our children who are making that payment.

We have been vaccinating human beings for decades
now, and we have yet to take a step back and look
at any unintended consequences we may have
caused. We have a responsibility to humanity to
study that possibility, no matter how unpleasant the answer may be.

And no, despite your claim to the contrary, we haven’t.

Sincerely,
Julie Obradovic

Julie Obradovic is the mom of a recovered child.
http://www.ageofaut ism.com/2008/ 09/an-autism- moms.html

Overall Health

The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That’s why the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. He also said that we should retire to our beds early and arise early (see D&C 88:124), that we should not run faster than we have strength (see D&C 10:4), and that we should use moderation in all good things.

In general, the more food we eat in its natural state—the less it is refined, and the fewer additives it contains—the healthier it will be for us. Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies in certain elements in the body can promote mental depression.

A good physical examination periodically is a safeguard and may spot problems that can be remedied. Rest and physical exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit. Wholesome recreation is part of our religion and is a necessary change of pace; even its anticipation can lift the spirit.
By President Ezra Taft Benson
Do Not Despair

I have spent the last few weeks preparing for a class I am teaching to the women at my church tomorrow. The topic is Family Nutrition and the Word of Wisdom. For those not familiar with the LDS church, or the Word of Wisdom it is a revelation given to Joseph Smith Jr. What is so wonderful about it is that at the time there was no science surrounding the counsel, it was from the Lord. However over the years science has come to prove that it is not only good counsel but sound scientific advice.
Those who are familiar with the Word of Wisdom know that it is filled with many do's and don'ts but isn't a definitive list. Many ask "you can't drink coffee, but you can drink coke?" Upon searching further church documents, and counsel from subsequent prophets and leaders the information is there to help us pray and receive our own answers as to whether or not we should be drinking Coke, and other things that fall into the grey category. I like to point out at the time the revelation was given Coke wasn't around, I imagine it would have done more harm than good to have the Lord reference Coke. Just a few of the things that I have further found on this is the advice given that anything addictive in nature should be avoided, if you can't get through the day without X, Y, or Z, you should take some time to think further into it. Life is better when we can live it without vices.
Danny and I were discussing this the other day and came to our own, but I think very good conclusion. If you are having to justify why you are doing something, you have already received your answer from the Lord as to whether or not you should be doing it. When we don't have explain why we are doing something, this includes explaining to ourselves, it is because we are at peace with the decision to do it.
I personally have a testimony of living the word of wisdom and know that the harder I try to live it more fully the more blessed my life has become. There are several promises given to us if we follow the Word of Wisdom, one being that we will discover untold treasures, I know this is true in my life. Here is the Word of Wisdom directly from the Doctrine and Covenants from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have also posted a list of link (they are not active you will have to cut and paste) to other talks that further explain, edify the do's from the Word of Wisdom. As we begin to live the do's more fully the don'ts become less and less of an issue. I would like to reiterate that the Word of Wisdom is something personal, to be read, prayed over and personal decisions to be made between you and the Lord.
THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 89
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. HC 1: 327–329. As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result. The first three verses were originally written as an inspired introduction and description by the Prophet.
1–9, Use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks proscribed; 10–17, Herbs, fruits, flesh, and grain are ordained for the use of man and of animals; 18–21, Obedience to gospel law, including the Word of Wisdom, brings temporal and spiritual blessings.
1 A Word OF Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—
3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
Word of Wisdom
LDS.org


My Obsession with Food
By Aleta Goodman Breakwell
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=c77c76e6ffe0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

A Principle with a Promise
President Ezra Taft Benson
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=da609c84f5d6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____

Cancer, Nutrition, and the Word of Wisdom
By William T. Stephenson, MD
Dr. Stephenson is a physician at Kansas City Cancer Center, Kansas City, Missouri.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=86c33645a2cba110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

The Do’s in the Word of Wisdom
By Lora Beth Larson
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=728c1f26d596b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

Emotional Health

I know that I have said it before, I am here to say it again: "emotions DO affect your physical health!" Every time you get sick take a look back at the previous few weeks (or days) and see what type of connections you can draw. In the past 2 weeks I have had two experiences one myself and one with my children that I have seen the illness directly related to an emotional experience. That is why our emotional health is just as important as our physical health, if you can even draw a distinction between the two because of how interconnected they are.
Emotional Health
Memory patterns shape our health
When accidents and negative experiences occur in our lives, the dominant feeling of that incident can get stored subconsciously along with its defensive physiology. Since these PATTERNS are memory-retained, your body will manifest some of the symptoms of that grievance every time you think about it or have that dominant feeling again.
Layers of feelings-activated-physiologies...
Over TIME, these PATTERNS can become very detrimental to our health.

Often, individuals will have layers of "feelings-activated-physiologies," the accumulation of broken relationships, the loss of a loved one, past abuse/neglect, a career or financial failure, an injury or accident, some huge disappointments, all chronic-stress related.



Most of these issues became issues because they were "consciously" mismanaged; the patient got STUCK, did not forgive, did not remain positive, and did not define the experience as a lesson learned so he could move on.

These are neuro-emotional or spiritual issues, not just physical issues. So the standard physical approach of treating the body's symptoms will probably get dismal results. Why? Because drugs just add another layer of "physical responses" to the layers of already detrimental physiologies; physiologies that are activated each time the patient replays a feeling associated with a harmful memory PATTERN.

If these PATTERNS cause an EMOTIONAL OVERRIDE (a "fight or flight" response in your body from emotional overload), they can disrupt the flow of information through the energy system and nervous system which negatively impacts the functioning of the physical body on every level; the nervous system can lose glandular/hormonal control, the immune system can be inhibited, the body can go into DEFENSE where healing slows or cannot occur; other systems of the body can be compromised, and spinal asymmetry, as well as other physical problems you'll feel in your body may result.
Since we live our lives through our nervous system and the memories we have stored subconsciously, it is actually these MEMORY PATTERNS (memory engrams) that shape our health.
Positive THOUGHTS enhance our health; negative thoughts hinder our health because the patterns they birth, and the EMOTIONS they create, can disrupt accurate communication through the pathways of your body.

So, when we clear the neuro-emotional cause of these MEMORY PATTERNS that are stored in your nervous system (and reflected into your energy field), it frees the healing potential of your body so that you can begin to think, feel, and function the way you should.

Fear

"Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”: FDR’s First Inaugural Address

What does that mean? What is fear? Hearing this statement means a lot to me now. I have overcome a lot of fears. I am more sure of myself having done so. I know with several things because I am not afraid, I will be able to stand up for myself. Going into certain life situations I am able to focus on what I want and this helps avert the attention from the fear of what I don't want.

Fear is an adjective, a state of being. To define it by saying it means to be afraid simply changes the word but not the state of being. A visit to the dictionary defines each word using the other, so I'm afraid this time we don't get as much from the dictionary as I had hoped for. The dictionary did offer up a little by concluding that it was a state of being. Now, if you remember back I have posted before on the topic of our thoughts and our ability, and right, to control them. This being said fear is an emotion that we choose, whether it is done consciously or not.

To choose to live in fear, we are choosing to live with our glass half empty. Can you truly have a positive perspective and outlook on life if you are living in fear? What does you fear stem from? The unknown, a lack of knowledge, a previous experience, lack of control, because someone else had a bad experience? Rather than putting the focus on alleviating the fear, you must first focus on what is causing the fear. Once you have established this you will find more ways to help eliminate your fears.

I have learned that knowledge is power, and you cannot fear if you possess this power of knowledge. To simply accept what you have been told, and then fear that which may come with it, is to allow someone else to direct your path. To look fear boldly in the face and take all the necessary steps to eliminate it you become a more powerful and knowledgeable person. As you take down one fear you may experience a domino effect, it becomes easier with each challenge.

To fear is healthy, to live in fear is not. When we feel those feelings of fear it is simply a challenge from our subconscious to do the work to put our mind at ease.

Spiritual Health

It is your perspective that defines happiness, not your circumstances.

Spiritual health is just as important as emotional, physical, and mental health. As a matter of fact when we are experiencing dis-ease in any one of these areas all four are impacted. For instances having a bad day emotionally can affect your physical health, just as bad physical health can affect your mental health so on and so forth. As I thought about putting this post together I was on the hunt for a good definition of spiritual health, what I discovered is that it is a personal thing. Peoples view on what exactly makes up our spirit is so broad that it changes the definition for everyone. I pushed forward though with the desire to explain it somehow and ended up in my bible dictionary. I didn’t find the phrase spiritual health there but combing the two words dealt me a definition that I was very pleased with.

Spirit: The spirit is in the likeness of the physical body. Furthermore, all spirit is matter, but is more refined and pure than mortal element. As defined in scripture, the spirit and the body constitute the mortal soul. A spirit can live independent of a body, but a body cannot live without the spirit.

Health: In old English this word denoted healing power, deliverance, and salvation. In Acts 27:34 health=safety.

From this I derive that spiritual health is, when the immortal part of us that is refined and pure has the power to heal, offer us deliverance, safety and salvation. When our spirit is poor in health we will lack the ability to be our best self healers, we will become weak in other aspects our lives thereby affecting our safety and salvation. Chiropractic philosophy contends that "The power that made the body will heal the body." The spirit is an important power that helped make the body, and it has the power to heal it.

Because of my religious beliefs from, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I take the definition one step further and know that if I am not in tune with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ my spiritual health will be affected as well. This is not only due to the fact that a belief in a higher being is needed for my spirit, but because I know when life is the most demanding I can turn to them for guidance and cast my burdens upon Christ. I do not say this lightly. There have been some experiences in my life when looking back I know that I did not do it alone, that the hand of Christ was there, scooped me up and carried me past through the challenge. I am grateful for this knowledge and know that it directly impacts my spiritual health as well as my overall health.

I believe that when Heavenly Father designed man he did it without flaw. BJ Palmer said "Nature needs no help, just no interference." When we are willing to learn the power that our mortal body combined with our spirit holds we are able to unlock the keys to self healing, and more importantly continual health. Our bodies were designed to be healthy and we have a choice to nurture this innate desire. This is done when we take into consideration the six things I shared a few weeks ago, here they are again:
1. What you eat.
2. What you drink.
3. How your exercise.
4. How your rest.
5. How and what you breath.
6. Most important, what you think about.

When we are taking responsibility for these 6 things in our life we are making the choice for overall health. When I say responsibility I mean the same thing I do when I say research vaccines before you just do it. Research what you are putting into your mouth, read the labels on the food, and understand what the ingredients mean. I focus on my four ingredients, aspartame/splenda/nutrasweet/sucralose, monosodium glutamate, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils. I have found that by choosing to avoid these four ingredients I have found healthier ways to nourish my body. What we drink falls into the same four ingredient test, it’s why I gave up Diet Coke and severally limit my intake of anything accept filtered water. Exercise comes a little harder for me but I recognize the need and importance of it, currently it consist of walking slowly on the treadmill and stretching my body. I struggle with getting enough sleep but I am to the point where I can admit it is me that is causing the deficiency and no one else. I am practicing my breathing, and know that just by taking a moment to do some four squared breathing I can alter my entire state of being.

Lastly what we think. I believe this directly impacts our spiritual health, my chiropractor told me, "everything we think is a tiny prayer so we need to make sure we are thinking things that we want." At first it is hard to transfer your thoughts from what you don’t want to what you do want, but I promise as you do this your cup with go from half empty, to half full, to overflowing. I feel often that my cup runneth over, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I was directed to this youtube video through a interesting series of searches last night and I believe it is a perfect example of the importance of our thoughts. Henry Ford said "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." My mother always said, "It’s not what you say it’s how you say it." I would like to say "It’s not WHAT you think, it’s HOW you think about it." Please do yourself a favor and watch this video I promise you two things, it will improve your spiritual health and you will leave knowing you can.

An ounce of prevention

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Benjamin Franklin

I have heard this in the past and really thought that early detection was prevention. After learning that we are responsible for what happens to us I understand what it means a little better. Prevention is acutally doing something to stop a disease before it starts. The online dictionary defines it as:
1. To keep from happening: took steps to prevent the strike.
2. To keep (someone) from doing something; impede: prevented us from winning.
3. Archaic To anticipate or counter in advance.
4. Archaic To come before; precede.
Below I have added the definition of cure. The first three definitions all apply to health, it is unfortunate that there is not mention of avoiding disease in the prevention definition.

Yesterday I was driving behind a car that had two of the ribbon magnets on it. One was yellow for the troops and one was orange. This is the first time I had seen an orange one, it was for leukemia awareness. It was struck with the realization that as disease becomes more prevelant we are going to run out of ribbon colors before we are able to recognize all the diseases that people are passionate about finding a cure for. What does cure mean? According to the online dictionary you have 7 choices:
1. Restoration of health; recovery from disease.
2. A method or course of medical treatment used to restore health.
3. An agent, such as a drug, that restores health; a remedy.
4. Something that corrects or relieves a harmful or disturbing situation: The cats proved to be a good cure for our mouse problem.
5. Ecclesiastical Spiritual charge or care, as of a priest for a congregation.
6. The office or duties of a curate.
7. The act or process of preserving a product.
I think number one is what people are after when they are searching for a cure, unfortunately the cure usually comes in the form of number three, a drug. I used to think that a drug "cured" the problem.

If I had a headache and took a Tylenol then the tylenol "cured" my headache because it went away. Further, the reason I had the headache was because I was deficient in Tylenol. This logic seems funny, but if you believe the Tylenol "cured" the headache the logic works. In reality the Tylenol only masks the symtoms of the headache. To take this a step further the headache is only a signal your body is giving that something is wrong. You don't just "get" headaches. For me I was having daily headaches for two reasons: 1. I was dependent on caffine in my life. It took me awhile to acknowledge this for what it was, but every afternoon if I hadn't had my Diet Coke, I had a headache. 2. I had spinal subluxations (I needed a chiropractic adjustment). Once I started under chiropractic care the headaches reduced substanially, once I kicked the caffine habit they were gone. Notice that no where did I have a need for Tylenol, therefore the headaches weren't caused by a Tylenol deficiency. I recognized what I was doing to my body, and rather than look for a cure, something to make the disease go away after I already had it, I did what I needed to do to prevent the headaches.

I know you may be thinking that is good for headaches, and to date I haven't seen a headache awareness ribbon, but what about cancer, diabetes, parkinson's disease, gall bladder problems, etc., etc., etc.? This are all symptoms of something that is going on in our bodies. Two years ago I would have told you that these are things that just happen. I was wrong. There are six decisions we make in regards to our bodies. Depending on our choices in these six things we get the resulting outcome. Now there is no gurantee that poor choices will result in the disease, (but it is highly likely) and there is a chance that the disease may come anyway, but we increase our chances of living in total health when we become aware that everything we do to or with our bodies has an impact whether positive or negative.

The list of six:
1. What you eat.
2. What you drink.
3. How your exercise.
4. How your rest.
5. How and what you breath.
6. Most important, what you think about.
To read more in depth about each of these 6 items please vist this website www.dinoffchiro.com
You will learn that you make the choice with each of these six items but you cannot control the outcome. You are better off doing the best, ths way your body can give you the best results!

What is the cost to find a cure? I don't think you can answer that, Kelly Ripa recently raised 3.7 MILLION to help find a cure for breast cancer, I don't think they are any closer than they were pre 3.7.

I am going to design a ribbon, I think pink with green polka dots, and it isn't going to champion a cure for anything instead it is going to promote prevention, cost FREE!

"Instead of buying, begging, or stealing a cure, it is better to stop building disease. Disease is of man's own building, and one worse thing than the stupidity of buying a cure is to remain so ignorant as to believe in cures. The false theories of salvation and cures have built man into a mental mendicant, when he could be the arbiter of his own salvation, and certainly his own doctor, instead of being a slave to a profession that has neither worked out its own salvation from disease nor discovered a single cure in all the age-long period of man's existence on earth.." J.Tilden M.D.

How Independent are Vaccine Defenders?

How Independent Are Vaccine Defenders?
Sharyl Attkisson Investigates Vaccine Advocates Taking Funding From The
Companies Whose Vaccines They Endorse


Pediatrician, Vaccine Scrutiny
Government officials and some scientists say there's no link between
vaccines and autism ? And they're often backed by independent experts. But
how "independent" are they? Sharyl Attkisson reports.
(CBS) For years some parents and scientists have raised concerns about
vaccine safety, including a possible link to autism and ADD. Many
independent experts have sided with government officials and other
scientists who say there's no possible connection. But how "independent" are
they? CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson shares here's
what she found.




They're some of the most trusted voices in the defense of vaccine safety:
the American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two, and pediatrician Dr.
Paul Offit.

But CBS News has found these three have something more in common - strong
financial ties to the industry whose products they promote and defend.

The vaccine industry gives millions to the Academy of Pediatrics for
conferences, grants, medical education classes and even helped build their
headquarters. The totals are kept secret, but public documents reveal bits
and pieces.


A $342,000 payment from Wyeth, maker of the pneumococcal vaccine - which
makes $2 billion a year in sales.

A $433,000 contribution from Merck, the same year the academy endorsed Merck
s HPV vaccine - which made $1.5 billion a year in sales.

Another top donor: Sanofi Aventis, maker of 17 vaccines and a new
five-in-one combo shot just added to the childhood vaccine schedule last
month.

Every Child By Two, a group that promotes early immunization for all
children, admits the group takes money from the vaccine industry, too - but
wouldn't tell us how much.

A spokesman told CBS News: "There are simply no conflicts to be unearthed."
But guess who's listed as the group's treasurers? Officials from Wyeth and a
paid advisor to big pharmaceutical clients.

Then there's Paul Offit, perhaps the most widely-quoted defender of vaccine
safety.

He's gone so far as to say babies can tolerate "10,000 vaccines at once."

This is how Offit described himself in a previous interview: "I'm the chief
of infectious disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor
of pediatrics at Penn's medical school," he said.

Offit was not willing to be interviewed on this subject but like others in
this CBS News investigation, he has strong industry ties. In fact, he's a
vaccine industry insider.

Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children's Hospital,
funded by Merck. He holds the patent on an anti-diarrhea vaccine he
developed with Merck, Rotateq, which has prevented thousands of
hospitalizations.

And future royalties for the vaccine were just sold for $182 million cash.
Dr. Offit's share of vaccine profits? Unknown.

There's nothing illegal about the financial relationships, but to critics,
they pose a serious risk for conflicts of interest. As one member of
Congress put it, money from the pharmaceutical industry can shape the
practices of those who hold themselves out to be "independent. "

The American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two and Dr. Offit would
not agree to interviews, but all told us they're up front about the money
they receive, and it doesn't sway their opinions.

Today's immunization schedule now calls for kids to get 55 doses of vaccines
by age 6.

Ideally, it makes for a healthier society. But critics worry that industry
ties could impact the advice given to the public about all those vaccines. Article on the Web

HPV Vaccine Info

It has been awhile since I have been on my HPV vaccine soap box but in the last month I heard/read reports of more than 8 deaths from the vaccine! The part that upsets me the most is they are calling it a cancer vaccine, but contracting HPV doesn't automatically mean you will develop cervical cancer. Most cases clear on their own, with the person never even knowing they had it! Below is a list that was compiled recently with some of the main facts about the vaccine (the ones your doctor isn't going to be telling you). It also includes a link to the VAERS website which will show just how many adverse reactions have been reported (again the FDA estimates only 10% of adverse reactions are reported...) Stepping down now ;)
Marci


Doctors are pushing the HPV Vaccine, Gardasil on many women, young
girls, and there is talk of it being marketed for boys (throat
cancer).

What the doctors fail to tell their patients is:

There are over 100 subtypes of HPV. You are only vaccinating against
4. If you are sexually active and have been exposed to one of the 4
strains that you are vaccinating against, you dramatically increase
your risk of cervical cancer.

95% of HPV cases resolve on their own and do not turn into cervical
cancer (without vaccinating for it).

This vaccine was approved for use in girls 9 - 26 years of age.

It was only tested by the drug manufacturer on 1,200 girls (none young)
before the FDA approved it. They are relying on adverse reactions
reported to determine its true safety (which they do with most
vaccines - post market studies). The FDA doesn't test anything - they
leave that to all drug manufacturers.

Several young girls who have never had sex before reportedly developed
genital warts from the vaccine.

The vaccine actually contains a cultered sexually transmitted disease.

The vaccine contains Boric Acid (aka Sodium Borate) which is a known
ant-killer. Although the FDA has banned Boric Acid in any amount in
our food supply, they approved it for use in the vaccine. It is also
known to decrease fertility in lab animals.

After this vaccine came on the market, within 15 months there were over
3,400 adverse reaction reports filed (to include death and many life-
threatening situations were the patient did not recover). This is
pretty scary considering the Center for Disease Control Admits that
less than 10% of reactions are even reported and less than 1% of
serious reactions are ever reported also.

This vaccine comes with a long list of side effects to include:

Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Loss of Consciousness, Seizures, Convulsions,
Swollen Body Parts, Facial Paralysis (a form of GBS), Heart/Kidney
Disorders, Arthritis, Joint Pain, Difficulty Breathing, Miscarriages,
Birth Defects, Menstrual Irregularities, Genital Warts, Vaginal
Lesions, HPV infection, and Death.

If you wish to view all reports filed on this vaccine, click on the
link below.

vaers.hhs.gov

Herd Immunity

The term "herd immunity" is one that is used often when speaking of vaccines. The medical, or allopathic theory is that since not everyone can be vaccinated, everyone that can be vaccinated needs to be, to protect "the herd". As I have gotten farther into my research and education on vaccines I wasn't surprised (though you may be) to find that there are those of us who do NOT want protection from these diseases in any other form than natural immunity. My children would be far better off with a case of the measles and life long immunity this way, than a vaccine that claims to last around 5-10 years with lifelong boosters required. Initially I was extremely fearful of my children contracting these "vaccine preventable" diseases. I want all to know in my research of vaccines I have also spent countless hours learning about the reality of these diseases. The doctors who support vaccination, media, and fearful parents do a good job of instilling fear into parents causing them to think that vaccines are the best route. Once you recognize the fear that is built around these once common childhood illnesses, it becomes hard to justify a vaccine. As more and more vaccines are produced when are you going to say enough! Looking at the list of vaccines do you know what they are for? Do you know the reality of the disease? Did you know that as vaccines suppress one disease others are emerging. Even if you aren't questioning vaccines and their safety, you should question how much you know about them. Vaccine encyclopedia Vaccine Information Website. Also educate yourself on vaccine reactions, the paper that the doctor gives you before the shots are administered are a great starting point. Just because it is listed on that paper doesn't mean it is normal, just common. Fevers, screaming, lethargy, are 3 of the most common, and while a doctor would have you believe okay, a fever after a shot is the bodies way of trying to rid itself of poinsons (along the same lines of fever when sick). Ask yourself how much you know, and then ask how much you want to know... We are only able to become voices of safety for ours, and our children's health when we are educated! The following is an excellent explanation of herd immunity written by Meryl Dorey of Australia's vaccine advocate organization avn.org (a great place to start your research)


"And actually, herd immunity itself never had any relation to
vaccination. I remember hearing Viera Scheibner speak about this and I
think it's in her book which is now out of print, as well.

There was a researcher in the 1930's named Hedrich (not sure if I've
spelled that right or not - doing this from memory) who was studying
cattle - an actual HERD! LOL Anyway, there was a disease that lots of
cattle get and what he found was that when enough of the calves had
contracted this disease and recovered from it, there would be a long
inter-epidemic period when there might be a sporadic case or two, but
there would not be any epidemics until there were enough susceptible
young cattle around to sustain a larger outbreak. This was then called
herd immunity. He found that when approximately 60-65% of the cattle
were immune due to infection, there would be a period of 3 to 4 years
without an outbreak. Then, the outbreak would occur - not because of any
lifetime immunity amongst the population - but simply because young
cattle had been born and did not have this native immunity from
infection.

Herd immunity NEVER had anything to do with vaccinations.. It was simply
a concept which was opportunistically grabbed by people who had a
vaccine barrow to push and spread by the media which neither thinks nor
questions any statements made by doctors or pharmaceutical company
goons.

Today in both the US and Australia (the only countries whose statistics
I am familiar enough with to make this comment) though vaccination
against whooping cough is in excess of the rates postulated to represent
herd immunity - when we have been told that there will be no disease at
all - we have more cases of whooping cough per capita than at any time
since prior to mass vaccination campaigns began.

Now, if whooping cough vaccination provided even MINIMAL protection from
the disease, we would expect to have seen a decline in incidence.
Instead, we have seen incidence shoot up.

This is because vaccines only produce antibodies - and as has been said
many times - antibodies do not equal immunity.

Herd immunity has nothing to do with vaccination and will never mean the
end of disease - it is only a term meant to indicate that there are
either more or less susceptible individuals in the 'herd' being studied.

And as an interesting side note - one effect that vaccinations have had
on the herd immunity has been to shorten the inter-epidemic period
between outbreaks. These used to occur with most childhood diseases in
3-5 year cycles. That cycle has now been shortened for most of these
illnesses to 2-3 years apart. Great job vaccine! NOT!"

All the best,
Meryl

The LIVER

I have wanted to do a post on this for a long time, but the information is so much, and condensing it is a challenge. Therefore, there may be some good follow up articles on this, as well as many more updates on this alone. I hear you ask what is it? The LIVER! I didn't know much about how my body worked (the basics from high school health class) and to be honest didn't really care. As I became more enlightend about my health, my desire to know how my body worked grew. The first organ that I learned more about was the liver, and to date it is still my favorite. It helped encourage me to change me diet, upon learning that I really am what I eat. I am sure that at another time in my life I would have recieved this information and brushed it off with an, that will never happen to me attitude. Now I am grateful for the information and the knowledge that I AM in control of what happens to my body, the illnesses, the diesease, and complications that may arise are a direct result of my choices. Let's begin:
What is the Liver? The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body and is present in vertebrates and some other animals. The liver is necessary for survival; a human can only last up to 24 hours without liver function. The adult human liver normally weighs between 1.4 - 1.6 kilograms (3.1 - 3.5 pounds),[4] and it is a soft, pinkish-brown, triangular organ. Averaging about the size of an American football in adults, it is both the largest internal organ and the largest gland in the human body. It is located on the right side of the upper abdomen below the diaphragm anatomy. The liver lies to the right of the stomach and overlies the gallbladder. wikipedia.org/liver

What does my liver do? Your liver acts as a processing plant. It receives everything that you put into your mouth and that ends up in your blood stream, does its best to sort out useful nutrients and harmful substances, and then packages these nutrients and harmful substances to be delivered to your cells and eliminated from your body, respectively. chetday.com/healthyliver The liver is responsible for regulating most chemical levels in the blood. When you swallow a pill, the medication typically travels via the bloodstream from your stomach to your liver. There, one or more types of liver enzyme process the drug, breaking it down into forms that are easier for the rest of the body to use. Some of the drug travels on through your bloodstream; the rest is tagged as poisonous and filtered out.
washingtonpost.com

How does what I consume affect my liver? Let's take medication for an example. How often do you hear on the medication commercials on tv that if you have liver failure to not take the medication and that you will need to have you blood tested so your doctor can monitor you liver function? Okay you might not hear that part but because I am sensitive to it I hear it! Danny had what we thought was some type of fungus growing under his big toenail for a really long time, he went to the doctor (this was about 7 years ago) and was given a prescription for Lamisil. The doctor said to take it but after 2 weeks come back for blood work to check your liver function. Blindly Danny complied. After 2 weeks he got the blood work done and the doctor advised him to stop taking the medication. A few thoughts on this: I am grateful the doctor knew enough to advise the bloodwork, and I grateful that Danny complied and didn't just keep taking the drup, I wish we had known more to have helped Danny avoid taking the liver damaging medicine in the first place. After a year in Chiropractic School Danny was able to diagnos his condition on his own. Psoriasis. The medication given by the doctor was for this, but there was never any communication to that point. The medication doesn't "cure" the condition it masks the symptoms, and can cause liver damage. Yes there are natural way to help psoriasis, a healthy immune system and body is the number one way. Upon changing our lifestyles Danny's condition has improved considerably and his liver is better for it too!

The liver is the gateway to the body and in this chemical age its detoxification systems are easily overloaded. Thousands of chemicals are added to food and over 700 have been identified in drinking water. Plants are sprayed with toxic chemicals, animals are injected with potent hormones and antibiotics and a significant amount of our food is genetically engineered, processed, refined, frozen and cooked. All this can lead to destruction of delicate vitamins and minerals, which are needed for the detoxification pathways in the liver. The liver must try to cope with every toxic chemical in our environment, as well as damaged fats that are present in processed and fried foods.liverdoctor.com

If you are taking medication I would hope that you would reevaluate the necesity of the drug. Can a change in lifestyle eliminate the need? Is it really necassary? Find out the complications is may cause and insist on bloodwork being done by your practitioner. Furthermore, if you must continue the medication take extra care as to what else you consume lessening the burden on your AWESOME liver!

I know the following list is a long one, but double check if for youself and your loved ones. (it hasn't been updated since 2003 so I can only imagine the number of drugs that it is missing of special note the new cholesterol lowering drugs can be highly dangerous for you liver, and from what I have read don't really work!click for more on statins)

This list is just a general guideline. Many drugs affect the liver to one degree or another and we can't list all of them here; new drugs are always being approved for general use. Read the accompanying literature with your prescriptions and always consult with your doctor or pharmacist about any new medication if you have liver disease! Click to go to the list

Fluoride II

And you thought I was going to skip out again! A little late, but always great! The flouride discussion continues:

When several regions in the former East Germany halted the artificial fluoridation of their water, they braced themselves for an expected rise in dental caries (cavities). However, as it turns out, they needn't have worried at all, since dental decay rates actually WENT DOWN.

Although this outcome would seem contrary to commonly held beliefs, researchers hypothesize that the broader availability and application of preventive measures such as fluoride toothpaste, as well as improvements in attitudes towards oral health behavior.

According to researchers, following the cessation of public water fluoridation, " ... a significant fall in caries prevalence was observed. This trend corresponded to the national caries decline and appeared to be a new population-wide phenomenon."

In other words, cavity rates are coming down throughout Germany, irrelevant to whether or not the water is fluoridated.


Researchers studied more than 15,000 children in the formerly fluoridated German towns of Spremberg and Zittau.

Children had been examined repeatedly over the last 20 years.

Caries levels for 12-year-old children significantly decreased during the years 1993 through 1996.

DMFT fell from 2.36 to 1.45 (38.5%) in Spremberg and from 2.47 to 1.96 (20.6%) in Zittau.

According to the study, the results provide " ... further support for the contention that caries prevalence may continue to fall after the reduction of fluoride concentration in the water supply from about 1 ppm to below 0.2 ppm F."

The authors not that similar findings have been reported following the removal of fluoridation programs in the towns of Chemnitz and Plauen.

They also note that the average DMFT of 1.81 for the 12-year-old children in the 4 fluoride-free towns " ... is the lowest observed in East Germany during the past 40 years".

Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology October 2000; 28: 382-9

The use of professional dental applications of fluoride may not be providing any benefit to children, even though they are widely used and generally accepted to reduce the rate of tooth decay.

This study evaluated the association between this practice and the number of cavities. The data from over 15,000 children and for treatment provided by over 1,500 different dentists, were analyzed.

The researchers followed-up with the children for a period averaging over 5 years. No difference in tooth decay rates were seen for "baby" or permanent teeth.

The authors note that there are already numerous recommendations that professionally applied topical fluorides should be used only in children with moderate to high rates of decay.

However, they question whether these guidelines are being followed, considering the fact that approximately two-thirds of the children in the study received topical fluoride at every recall visit, nearly two times per year.

J Public Health Dent 2000; 60: 33-8

Hmmmmm very interesting...

Fluoride in the Water

I have to gather my thoughts on this and will give it my all later today, as for now the laundry and children beckon, read on this research and let me know what you think! FLUORIDE!!!!!

Water Fluoridation & Tooth Decay :

1) The addition of fluoride to water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay began in the 1940s with the belief that fluoride's primary benefit came from ingestion of fluoride during the tooth-forming years. It is now acknowledged by the dental research community, however, that fluoride's primary benefit comes from topical contact with teeth, and not from ingestion as previously assumed. It is also now acknowledged that fluoride is ineffective at preventing tooth decay in the pits & fissures of teeth - where the majority of decay occurs.

2) It is well recognized that tooth decay rates declined quite dramatically in all western countries in the latter half of the 20th century - irrespective of whether the country fluoridated its water or not. Today, tooth decay rates thoughout continental western Europe - where 98% of the population does not drink fluoridated water - are as low as the tooth decay rates in the United States, where a majority of the population drinks fluoridated water.

3) Within countries that fluoridate their water, recent large-scale surveys of dental health - utilizing modern scientific methods not employed in the early surveys from the 1930s-1950s - have found little difference in tooth decay , including "baby bottle tooth decay", between fluoridated and unfluoridated communities.

4) The largest dental survey ever conducted in the United States, by the National Institute of Dental Research in 1986-87, found no difference in Decayed, Missing & Filled Teeth, and a minimal difference in Decayed, Missing & Filled Surfaces among children who had lived their entire lives in a fluoridated or unfluoridated community.

5) Since 2000, four studies have reported that tooth decay does not increase, but continues to decrease, after water fluoridation is stopped.

6) Water fluoridation is often promoted as a means of preventing dental crises within low-income populations. It is becoming evident, however, that water fluoridation has been ineffective at preventing widespread tooth decay in poor urban areas of the United States - most of which have been fluoridated for 20 to 50 years.

Article on the web.

Recycling

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. I have heard my grandma say that more than once. She said it was the motto during the depression, and war times. And to this day my Grandma lives this way. She has a whole drawer dedicated to storing the plastic bags from her produce, elastic bands, sour cream and butter containers, styrafoam trays, used foil, paper clips, push pins and more. She is such an organized lady that there is a place for everything and everything is in it's place.
Since we have become more conscious about our bodies and what we are putting into them, and doing to them it has naturally progressed to an awareness about the world around us. Translation, I am concerned about the environment. To put it out there I don't believe in Global Warming and I am still upset about the Nobel Peace Prize Al Gore won from his fear based documentary on it. That aside, I feel I have a duty to do what I can to help take care of the earth that my Heavenly Father and Jesus created for me. I have come to think that it is disrespectful to not have and awareness and desire to do my part in helping to maintain, preserve and beautify the gift of the earth.

A few months ago my friend said to me "did you know that Harry's (Whole Food Store) has a recycling center behind it?" I said "yes". But I didn't do anything with it, for two big reasons, I am lazy, and I fear new things. What if I got back there and didn't know how to use the recycling center? What if someone saw and laughed because I didn't know what I was doing? Yes it is much easier to just throw it away.

We recycle now. I have always had intentions to recycle but as I said above I was holding myself back. What changed? It was a box of Organic Bunnies (organic version of goldfish) that sparked the start. I was reading the side of the box and is had a reminder to not throw the box made of recycled paper away, but to recycle it. I started thinking about how full my garbage can was day after day, and how many boxes I put in there. We buy cereal bars, granola bars, bunnies, graham crackers, and cereal. Most everything that comes out of the freezer is in a box.

The next step for me was were to put it? We live in an apartment and I use the excuse all the time that there isn't room for anything else. But, a box is so small once it is folded down, and I have a space on the floor in my pantry. So that is my current recycling center. When I go to Harry's now I take my 5 gallon bottles to refill with water, my paper bags to reuse for my groceries, and now I fill up a bag with my cardboard boxes. It brought me a great sense of satisfaction to throw them into the recycling can, and a proud moment when Alison said to me afterwors, "mom we are saving the earth." It wasn't hard to do at all. There are 3 big garbages each are labled for what you can put in there, done deal. The scariest part of it is that I drive down a one way street the wrong way to avoid driving around the building!

One other effort we have made is to reduce the amount of water bottles we buy. Danny and I have each purchased a water bottle, and I know they have already payed for themselves in the amount we save from buying water bottles. I bought my water bottle about 3 months ago so I have already saved on buying over 12 water bottles!

For more information on Recycling
From the Web:
Why Recycling Is Important
As stewards of the environment, we are responsible for preserving and protecting our resources for ourselves and for future generations.

Getting Back to Basics
Recycling is really just common sense, and until the “modern era,” it was a common household activity. Before the 1920s, 70% of U.S. cities ran programs to recycle certain materials. During World War II, industry recycled and reused about 25% of the waste stream. Because of concern for the environment, recycling is again on the upswing. The nation's composting and recycling rate rose from 7.7% of the waste stream in 1960 to 17% in 1990. It's currently up to around 33%.

The Garbage Crisis
The world has changed a lot in the past century. From individually packaged food servings to disposable diapers, more garbage is generated now than ever before. The average American discards 7.5 pounds of garbage every day. This garbage, the solid waste stream, goes mostly to landfills, where it's compacted and buried. As the waste stream continues to grow, so will pressure on our landfills, our resources and our environment.

Last year the amount of energy saved from recycling aluminum and steel cans, plastic PET and glass containers, newsprint and corrugated packaging was equivalent to:

• The amount of electricity consumed by 17.8 million Americans in one year.
• 29% of nuclear electricity generation in the U.S. in one year.
• 7.9% of electricity generation from fossil fuels in the U.S. in one year.
• 11% of the energy produced by coal-fired power plants in the U.S.
• The energy supplied from 2.7% of imported barrels of crude oil into the U.S.
• The amount of gasoline used in almost 11 million passenger automobiles in one year.

I ask everyone to find out what your excuse is for not recycling, and then figure out what you can do to change it. We have a responsiblity to keep the earth beautiful because it is a gift from God. I know you will be blessed for even the smallest effort, we have.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, To ME!!!! I was thinking of taking the day off, but that wouldn't be any fun. I told Danny I needed some ideas and he had a great one sunscreen, but as I got looking into it I realized it would take me some time to put a FIF together for that. You will have that one to look forward to. Instead I decided to go for some shameless vitamin promoting! I mentioned last Friday that we were looking, and we found what we were looking for. I am now a proud independent distributor of Shaklee vitamins. Go ahead and google it, and you will be as suprised as I was at the sheer volume of happy users. I am really liking the vitamins, we just recently started on those, and the cleaning products are just down right amazing! And to know that they are so natural and kid friendly. I can't believe the number of people that have shared with me the improvement with children's asthma and allergies after using the Get Clean products. To see a cost comparison on how they add up next to traditional cleaning products Click Here. Now since it is my birthday my wish is that you will all just visit my website and see what they have to offer. Our website address is www.shaklee.net/drhansen20. AND when you see something you know someone else would love pass the link along!
Lastly, I just read this article this morning and it was a real eye opener as to the money and conflict of interest that is involved in the vaccine making industry, I highly suggest you read it, even if you believe vaccines work this will make you think twice the next time a new vaccine is introduced.
Here is the link casiquest.org/upi.htm
Just a small thank you to everyone who loves FIF, or loves to hate FIF, I look forward to doing this every week.
Marci

Whole Food Vitamins

Why should I take a vitamin? Does it matter what kind of vitamin I take? Aren't they all the same? In the past two weeks I have started a journey to find the type of supplememt we want to carry in our chiropractic office. The reason the journey has started so early (a year early to be exact) is because I will not ever suggest or advise on anything that I haven't turned inside out and/or tried myself. We are pretty close to finding a winner and when we do I will let you all know. As for now to answer myself, a vitamin is a supplement of nutrition. We would be hard pressed to get all the vitamins and minerals we need each and every day just from the food we eat. One of the reasons behind this is because our fruits and vegetables don't contain as much as they used to (we can get into the science of this another day). It does matter what type of vitamin or supplement you take. They aren't all the same.

To narrow it down there are two catergories whole food and synthetic. A synthetic vitamin is made from isolated portions of the whole food. Your body is only able to use a portion of what is actually in the synthetic vitamin, and even that portion isn't absored to well. This should help you understand why your urine is a fluorscent yellow after taking a synthetic vitamin, that is where the majority of the nutrients end up, in the toilet. A whole food vitamin contains everything from the food. Thereby making it all available to your body. I have taken both, and am happy to report no fluorscent pee after the whole food vitamin.

Now there is an important thing to realize, if you are getting the whole food vitamin, you will be paying more. There is no gentle way to put it, quality products cost more. The cheaper the vitamin, the cheaper the processing that went into it. I am not saying the you need to find the most expensive whole food vitamin to have a quality product, I am saying that the bottle of Equate (Wal-Mart) brand where you get 240 capsules for $6.00, will provide you with flourscent yellow pee. Really you are beter off flushing your $6.00 down the toilet as that is where most of the "vitamins" end up! Here is an article that helps me explain what I am trying to say. ;)
Whole Food Vitamins ROCK!

If quality and natural matters to you, then make sure the source of your vitamins is whole foods. Is your supplement a synthetic (made up in lab) vitamin? If it is a whole food vitamin then the company will usually be proud to advertise as such and list the source of the vitamin. Here are the critical points you should know about whole food vitamins.

Don't ever select a vitamin based solely on price point. There are significant reasons why one vitamin is cheaper than the other. When you decide on what is an acceptable quality, then comparison shop for that similar quality vitamin so you are comparing oranges with oranges and apples with apples. Watch out for companies with well recognized names who have purchasing power. Read the label even more.

Your body prefers to absorb vitamins and other nutrients from natural or whole foods. In other words, these are foods in their natural, unprocessed or unpolished states. Therefore, most health and wellness experts agree that whole food sources of vitamins and minerals and other nutrients are superior. Synthetic may mimic but will not be superior as good as natural. Your body will absorb and utilize the whole food vitamins more than synthetic.

The fewer additives the better and the fewer opportunities there are for allergic reactions. Remember, avoid artificial flavoring and colors. The supplement market is very competitive; the better the quality the better and more prominent the labeling stating such. Vague labels with minimal information are strong indicators of lower quality.

Find out if your vitamin is made by a company with rigorous quality control standards that are validated by a third party certification provider such as the NSF or ISO. Your vitamin needs to be NSF or ISO certified. Why would you take any dietary or nutrition supplement made by a company without one of these certifications? NSF certification for example assures the consumer that the product has been tested and will continue to be tested through periodic audits. In other words, the certification of a product is continuous, not a one time process. The product should have the high quality ingredients and manufacturing process that a company claims.

Vitamins are supplements. Just as all dietary supplements, they are not cure alls for disease states. They supply what the body is missing to heal itself for perform natural physiologic functions. They are not medicines. However, if not used in an appropriate manner they can harm you. For example, if you are on a blood thinner such as coumadin for whatever reason, you would not want to take vitamin K supplementation. It will oppose the coumadin to try and thicken the blood.

The question is frequently asked, who should take vitamins? The answer is most people. Most do not get enough vitamins because of a deficiency of adequate fruits and vegetables and whole foods in the diet. Look at the plate of most people eating around you. Are those plates colorful with fruits and vegetables or are do they lack color because of all the starch and meat?

Use a vitamin that is from a whole food source and that is NSF or ISO certified. Choose a supplement based on quality not price.

Emotional Health

I spend most of my day at home with my kids. Doing housework, playing, feeding, cooking, taxing kids around, going to the park etc. This means I am in my head with my thoughts a lot. Sometimes I like to turn my brain off and the only way I have found to do this is to sing. When I am not singing, or referring my kids, I am thinking. You can't turn it off, it is going to happen, the only control you have is what you think!

After marrying Danny he pointed out to me often that I control my moods. In hindsight I am grateful for his assistance in realizing this, but at the time it would make me so mad. If I was grumpy after waking up, he would tell me that I chose to be grumpy. I would spend the next 30 minutes in my mind telling myself why it is okay for me to grumpy. The more I told myself it was okay, the grumpier I became. Now when I wake up on the wrong side of the bed I stop myself and acknowledge that I have a choice to make, grumpy, or happy but mine alone to choose. I will be honest, I don't always choose happy, but I don't get nearly as grumpy as I used to, because I accept that I am choosing to be grumpy.

Accepting responsibility for our thoughts and actions is sometimes hard to do, but the sooner we are willing to admit that ultimately everything that happens to us is a direct result of our thinking the easier it is to roll with the punches. President Gordon B. Hinckley gave a talk once and told us we could choose to act or react. When we are acting we are taking responsibility for ourselves. When we react our emotions take over, and we can lose control. I still get caught up in myself and like to play the blame game, because sometimes it is hard to accept responsibility for my actions. But I am learning the more I focus on making something good, the easier it is to accept responsibility.

I am a very forgiving person I don't like to hold a grudge it takes far to much energy. I like to clear the air, I try not to avoid confrontation (hard as it may be), and I am learning to apologize. This last one has been hard, but the most rewarding as I have changed my thoughts. I recognize that I get back what I give, if I am giving off positive energy that is what I will receive, and negative thoughts garner negative feedback. I've yet to be with a group of women who don't like to throw fuel on the each others fire. Once the negative comes out very few of us want to think about the positive, husband bashing comes to mind. Several years ago I recognized that by complaining about Danny the more focused I became on his faults. I made a commitment to not complain about him to anyone other than him. I can say this has only strengthen my marriage. Danny has his faults, we all do, I don't want Danny airing my dirty laundry to his friends, and I love and respect him and don't do it either.

I love to find the positive in things, and I have always had a knack for this. My mom calls me PollyAnna (if you've seen the movie you know what I am talking about, if not you missed out as a child) I prefer to live life playing the glad game. In so many of lifes hard times the only thing we can change is our attitude.

I have learned that our thoughts not only control our actions, and our words but our health as well. Danny is learning a new chiropractic technique, that deals with the emotions. At first glance it may seem a little voodoo, but I have been amazed as he has learned more and tested it out on me how powerful our thoughts and subconscious mind really is. Our thoughts really do have power over our physical well being. The following is from the chiropractor Danny is learning the technique from. Here is the link to his site that is full of wonderful information Dr. Dinoff.com.

With around 60-70,000 THOUGHTS everyday, it would be pretty hard to regulate them individually. Based on how we’re thinking, we experience or perceive FEELINGS. If you bask in that sequence of thought and feeling, expect it to solidify into EMOTIONS which are chemical and have a definitive effect on your body.

So, if you don’t like the way you are feeling, go back and change the way you are thinking. Your feelings are an “early warning” system before major chemical changes occur! Pre-empt health problems by focusing your thoughts on gratitude and thankfulness; start counting your blessings. Acknowledge that stuff happens in your life so you can learn from it. CHOOSE to be a victor, not a victim. Don’t wallow in “what happened to me” as if you’re some kind of victim in life. You get to CHOOSE! BE optimistic; it will change the way you feel and that will avert your body’s harmful EMOTIONAL (chemical) response which will protect your health (4).

Thoughts, feelings, and emotions are different stages of that “dynamic flow of information” between all of the cells in our bodies. Knowing this encourages us to properly manage our thoughts, and their direct effects caused by feelings and emotions in our lives.

Note: TRAUMA, TOXICITY, and THOUGHT are the three major stresses in our lives. Each or any combination of these three stresses can affect the way we feel and our emotions. In the preceding discussion, we looked at the power of our thoughts on our feelings and emotions because it is an area of our lives we can control. We can CHOOSE our thoughts, and in so doing, we directly affect our feelings and emotions and the health we manifest.

About My Journey

As many of you know, and if you don't now you do. Since Danny has started Chiropractic school, we have changed the way we do a lot of things. Most days this has about zero impact on my life. At first it took me a little longer to do my grocery shopping at Wal-mart because it required me to read ALL the labels on the things we buy. It was really quite amazing to me the things I had been putting into my body! Needless to say I try to have a partially hydrogenated oil free house and well as high fructose corn syrup, oh yeah and I can't forget the dreaded aspartame (nutra-sweet, splenda etc). If you want more info on why leave me a comment I am always more than happy to get on my soap box about it, we aren't perfect, my current weakness is Ritz crackers but I have yet to find a suitable replacement for them, and I just love the way they melt in your mouth. My kids have adjusted to organic, or at least high fructose corn syrup free applesauce. (I am a stickler on the aspartame thing it is an absolutely not kind of a thing.) Anyway we have done it in baby steps, and although it took me about 9 months to get over the shakes every time I went down the diet coke aisles I gave up the sauce 15 months ago. It has been fairly easy, sometimes I am the first one to make the change and sometimes Danny is but eventually we all come around to being on the same page. I have spent and do spend hour upon hour researching these things, so please be aware the changes weren't made lightly, all angles and information have been taken into account. The first hard hoop was when we got kicked out of the pediatricians office because we refused vaccinations. The only good reason the nurse could give us to do the vaccines was that there was some polio outbreaks in the US. She couldn't tell us where, didn't know when, and most importantly she didn't have the info that the last case of wild polio was back in 1979. All current cases of polio have been induced by the vaccine itself. Knowing this I knew that she hadn't done all the research that I had, and it would be a pointless discussion. I simply asked to get all of my paperwork back from the office, all personal info that I had given them. She said that we would have to pay for a canceled appointment, I told her I would not because I didn't cancel the appt. the pediatrician did. She told me it was my job to ask when I called if they would treat my children without vaccines. I told her it was their job to ask if I wanted vaccines when I called to make the appointment. Needless to say, I left in tears and Danny called and told them they would be hearing from our attorney if they tried to charge us, we haven't heard from them since. We have been lucky enough to find a pediatrician who respects our decisions (his wife is a chiropractor) and doesn't push anything on us, and he is the greatest ever! He acts as though you are the only patient that he has to see and is willing to sit down and talk with you. We have only seen him 3 times, and his nurse practitioner 2 times. None of these visit were because our kids were sick. Two were for school check ups, one was Nathans two week check, and Annika has been in twice, once for a well child check up and once to check on the ear wax in her ear. (apparently selective deafness has nothing to do with ear wax!) But I am happy to say that in the last two years my kids haven't had any antibiotics, any Tylenol or Motrin and they are doing just fine. This isn't to say that we have all had perfect health, but the things we do come down with we prevent and treat with Chiropractic, and homeopathy (again let me know if you want more info). At this point someone usually likes to tell me that kids can't go to school without vaccines, but I am living proof they can because that is where Alison and Lisa are right now! Nathan is completely vaccine free and has only been to the pediatrician once, when he was two weeks old. Now to the reason for the post today, really I am making a very short story very long, I called the dentist today to make and appointment for Alison and Lisa. We have researched and decided that fluoride is on the list of things we don't want anything to do with, and so I asked when I made the appointment if this would be a problem for the dentist (I had learned my lesson). The office person said "no, but why wouldn't you want it?" To save myself from having to climb on my soapbox I said that we had researched and as a family have decided that it just isn't something we do. She said, very snottily "well, it is a really great way to prevent cavities." I replied, "we have done our research and have decided against it." I am pretty sure she was going to just hang up but I confirmed the appointment very kindly and ended the call. (again for more info, contact me) Reading this I am not sure you can really appreciate the way the call transpired but it was a big ringing bell that reminded me that I am different. Now I can handle the office staff and dentist for that matter, but as a mother I don't care what you do or how you do it, you don't want your kids to be labeled, ostracized, or treated differently because of decision that you are making in their best interest. The other option would be to take them to the holistic dentist down the street, and if $200.00 falls from the sky we will be going to see the fluoride free dentist. If not I have to grin and defend it! In this moment I always remember what my sister has said to me, that I think of often, "Different isn't wrong, it's just different." So please remember this when I get on my soapbox, and you start to think I am a nut, I am not wrong, just different.

Why I Breastfeed

Watch Your Language
By Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC

The lactation consultant says, "You have the best chance to provide
your baby with the best possible start in life, through the special
bond of breastfeeding. The wonderful advantages to you and your baby
will last a lifetime." And then the mother bottlefeeds. Why?

In part because that sales pitch could just as easily have come from
a commercial baby milk pamphlet. When our phrasing and that of the
baby milk industry are interchangeable, one of us is going about it
wrong...and it probably isn't the multinationals. Here is some of the
language that I think subverts our good intentions every time we use
it.

Best possible, ideal, optimal, perfect. Are you the best possible
parent? Is your home life ideal? Do you provide optimal meals? Of
course not. Those are admirable goals, not minimum standards. Let's
rephrase. Is your parenting inadequate? Is your home life subnormal?
Do you provide deficient meals? Now it hurts. You may not expect to
be far above normal, but you certainly don't want to be below normal.

When we (and the artificial milk manufacturers) say that
breastfeeding is the best possible way to feed babies because it
provides their ideal food, perfectly balanced for optimal infant
nutrition, the logical response is, "So what?" Our own experience
tells us that optimal is not necessary. Normal is fine, and implied
in this language is the absolute normalcy--and thus safety and
adequacy--of artificial feeding. The truth is, breastfeeding is
nothing more than normal. Artificial feeding, which is neither the
same nor superior, is therefore deficient, incomplete, and inferior.
Those are difficult words, but they have an appropriate place in our
vocabulary.

Advantages. When we talk about the advantages of breastfeeding--
the "lower rates" of cancer, the "reduced risk" of allergies,
the "enhanced" bonding, the "stronger" immune system--we reinforce
bottlefeeding yet again as the accepted, acceptable norm.

Health comparisons use a biological, not cultural, norm, whether the
deviation is harmful or helpful. Smokers have higher rates of
illness; increasing prenatal folic acid may reduce fetal defects.
Because breastfeeding is the biological norm, breastfed babies are
not "healthier;" artificially-fed babies are ill more often and more
seriously. Breastfed babies do not "smell better;" artificial feeding
results in an abnormal and unpleasant odor that reflects problems in
an infant's gut. We cannot expect to create a breastfeeding culture
if we do not insist on a breastfeeding model of health in both our
language and our literature.

We must not let inverted phrasing by the media and by our peers go
unchallenged. When we fail to describe the hazards of artificial
feeding, we deprive mothers of crucial decision-making information.
The mother having difficulty with breastfeeding may not seek help
just to achieve a "special bonus;" but she may clamor for help if she
knows how much she and her baby stand to lose. She is less likely to
use artificial milk just "to get him used to a bottle" if she knows
that the contents of that bottle cause harm.

Nowhere is the comfortable illusion of bottlefed normalcy more
carefully preserved than in discussions of cognitive development.
When I ask groups of health professionals if they are familiar with
the study on parental smoking and IQ (1), someone always tells me
that the children of smoking mothers had "lower IQs." When I ask
about the study of premature infants fed either human milk or
artificial milk (2), someone always knows that the breastmilk-fed
babies were "smarter." I have never seen either study presented any
other way by the media--or even by the authors themselves. Even
health professionals are shocked when I rephrase the results using
breastfeeding as the norm: the artificially-fed children, like
children of smokers, had lower IQs.

Inverting reality becomes even more misleading when we use
percentages, because the numbers change depending on what we choose
as our standard. If B is 3/4 of A, then a is 4/3 of B. Choose A as
the standard, and B is 25% less. Choose B as the standard, and A is
33 1/3% more. Thus, if an item costing 100 units is put on sale
for "25% less,"the price becomes 75. When the sale is over, and the
item is marked back up, it must be marked up 33 1/3% to get the price
up to 100. Those same figures appear in a recent study (3), which
found a "25% decrease" in breast cancer rates among women who were
breastfed as infants. Restated using breastfed health as the norm,
there was a 33-1/3% increase in breast cancer rates among women who
were artificially fed. Imagine the different impact those two
statements would have on the public.

Special. "Breastfeeding is a special relationship." "Set up a special
nursing corner." In or family, special meals take extra time. Special
occasions mean extra work. Special is nice, but it is complicated, it
is not an ongoing part of life, and it is not something we want to do
very often. For most women, nursing must fit easily into a busy life--
and, of course, it does. "Special" is weaning advice, not
breastfeeding advice.

Breastfeeding is best; artificial milk is second best. Not according
to the World Health Organization. Its hierarchy is: 1) breastfeeding;
2) the mother's own milk expressed and given to her child some other
way; 3) the milk of another human mother; and 4) artificial milk
feeds (4). We need to keep this clear in our own minds and make it
clear to others. "The next best thing to mother herself" comes from a
breast, not from a can. The free sample perched so enticingly on the
shelf at the doctor's office is only the fourth best solution to
breastfeeding problems.

There is a need for standard formula in some situations. Only because
we do not have human milk banks. The person who needs additional
blood does not turn to a fourth-rate substitute; there are blood
banks that provide human blood for human beings. He does not need to
have a special illness to qualify. All he needs is a personal
shortage of blood. Yet only those infants who cannot tolerate fourth
best are privileged enough to receive third best. I wonder what will
happen when a relatively inexpensive commercial blood is designed
that carries a substantially higher health risk than donor blood. Who
will be considered unimportant enough to receive it? When we find
ourselves using artificial milk with a client, let's remind her and
her health care providers that banked human milk ought to be
available. Milk banks are more likely to become part of our culture
if they first become part of our language.

We do not want to make bottlefeeding mothers feel guilty. Guilt is a
concept that many women embrace automatically, even when they know
that circumstances are truly beyond their control. (My mother has
been known to apologize for the weather.)

Women's (nearly) automatic assumption of guilt is evident in their
responses to this scenario: Suppose you have taken a class in
aerodynamics. You have also seen pilots fly planes. Now, imagine that
you are the passenger in a two-seat plane. The pilot has a heart
attack, and it is up to you to fly the plane. You crash. Do you feel
guilty?

The males I asked responded, "No. Knowing about aerodynamics doesn't
mean you can fly an airplane." "No, because I would have done my
best." "No. I might feel really bad about the plane and pilot, but I
wouldn't feel guilty." "No. Planes are complicated to fly, even if
you've seen someone do it." What did the females say? "I wouldn't
feel guilty about the plane, but I might about the pilot because
there was a slight chance that I could have managed to land that
plane." "Yes, because I'm very hard on myself about my mistakes.
Feeling bad and feeling guilty are all mixed up for me." "Yes, I
mean, of course. I know I shouldn't, but I probably would." "Did I
kill someone else? If I didn't kill anyone else, then I don't feel
guilty." Note the phrases "my mistakes," "I know I shouldn't,"
and "Did I kill anyone?" for an event over which these women would
have had no control!

The mother who opts not to breastfeed, or who does not do so as long
as she planned, is doing the best she can with the resources at hand.
She may have had the standard "breast is best" spiel (the course in
aerodynamics) and she may have seen a few mothers nursing at the mall
(like watching the pilot on the plane's overhead screen). That is
clearly not enough information or training. But she may still feel
guilty. She's female.

Most of us have seen well-informed mothers struggle unsuccessfully to
establish breastfeeding, and turn to bottlefeeding with a sense of
acceptance because they know they did their best. And we have seen
less well-informed mothers later rage against a system that did not
give them the resources they later discovered they needed. Help a
mother who says she feels guilty to analyze her feelings, and you may
uncover a very different emotion. Someone long ago handed these
mothers the word "guilt." It is the wrong word.

Try this on: You have been crippled in a serious accident. Your
physicians and physical therapists explain that learning to walk
again would involve months of extremely painful and difficult work
with no guarantee of success. They help you adjust to life in a
wheelchair, and support you through the difficulties that result.
Twenty years later, when your legs have withered beyond all hope, you
meet someone whose accident matched your own. "It was difficult," she
says. "It was three months of sheer hell. But I've been walking every
since." Would you feel guilty?

Women to whom I posed this scenario told me they would feel angry,
betrayed, cheated. They would wish they could do it over with better
information. They would feel regret for opportunities lost. Some of
the women said they would feel guilty for not having sought out more
opinions, for not having persevered in the absence of information and
support. But gender-engendered guilt aside, we do not feel guilty
about having been deprived of a pleasure. The mother who does not
breastfeed impairs her own health, increases the difficulty and
expense of infant and child rearing, and dismisses one of life's most
delightful relationships. She has lost something basic to her own
well-being. What image of the satisfactions of breastfeeding do we
convey when we use the word "guilt"?

Let's rephrase, using the words women themselves gave me: "We don't
want to make bottlefeeding mothers feel angry. We don't want to make
them feel betrayed. We don't want to make them feel cheated." Peel
back the layered implications of "we don't want to make them feel
guilty," and you will find a system trying to cover its own tracks.
It is not trying to protect her. It is trying to protect itself.
Let's level with mothers, support them when breastfeeding doesn't
work, and help them move beyond this inaccurate and ineffective word.

Pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages. Breastfeeding is a
straight-forward health issue, not one of two equivalent
choices. "One disadvantage of not smoking is that you are more likely
to find secondhand smoke annoying. One advantage of smoking is that
it can contribute to weight loss." The real issue is differential
morbidity and mortality. The rest--whether we are talking about
tobacco or commercial baby milks--is just smoke.

One maternity center uses a "balanced" approach on an "infant feeding
preference card" (5) that lists odorless stools and a return of the
uterus to its normal size on the five lines of breastfeeding
advantages. (Does this mean the bottlefeeding mother's uterus never
returns to normal?) Leaking breasts and an inability to see how much
the baby is getting are included on the four lines of disadvantages.
A formula-feeding advantage is that some mothers find it "less
inhibiting and embarrassing." The maternity facility reported good
acceptance by the pediatric medical staff and no marked change in the
rates of breastfeeding or bottlefeeding. That is not surprising. The
information is not substantially different from the "balanced" lists
that the artificial milk salesmen have peddled for years. It is
probably an even better sales pitch because it now carries very clear
hospital endorsement. "Fully informed," the mother now feels
confident making a life-long health decision based on relative diaper
smells and the amount of skin that shows during feedings.

Why do the commercial baby milk companies offer pro and con lists
that acknowledge some of their product's shortcomings? Because
any "balanced" approach that is presented in a heavily biased culture
automatically supports the bias. If A and B are nearly equivalent,
and if more than 90% of mothers ultimately choose B, as mothers in
the United States do (according to an unpublished 1992 Mothers'
Survey by Ross Laboratories that indicated fewer than 10% of U.S.
mothers nursing at a year), it makes sense to follow the majority. If
there were an important difference, surely the health profession
would make a point of staying out of the decision-making process. It
is the parents' choice to make. True. But deliberately stepping out
of the process implies that the "balanced" list was accurate. In a
recent issue of Parenting magazine, a pediatrician comments, "When I
first visit a new mother in the hospital, I ask, 'Are you
breastfeeding or bottlefeeding?' If she says she is going to
bottlefeed, I nod and move on to my next questions. Supporting new
parents means supporting them in whatever choices they make; you
don't march in postpartum and tell someone she's making a terrible
mistake, depriving herself and her child." (6)

Yet if a woman announced to her doctor, midway through a routine
physical examination, that she took up smoking a few days earlier,
the physician would make sure she understood the hazards, reasoning
that now was the easiest time for her to change her mind. It is
hypocritical and irresponsible to take a clear position on smoking
and "let parents decide" about breastfeeding without first making
sure of their information base. Life choices are always the
individual's to make. That does not mean his or her information
sources should be mute, nor that the parents who opt for
bottlefeeding should be denied information that might prompt a
different decision with a subsequent child.

Breastfeeding. Most other mammals never even see their own milk, and
I doubt that any other mammalian mother deliberately "feeds" her
young by basing her nursing intervals on what she infers the baby's
hunger level to be. Nursing quiets her young and no doubt feels good.
We are the only mammal that consciously uses nursing to transfer
calories...and we're the only mammal that has chronic trouble making
that transfer.

Women may say they "breastfed" for three months, but they usually say
they "nursed" for three years. Easy, long-term breastfeeding involves
forgetting about the "breast" and the "feeding" (and the duration,
and the interval, and the transmission of the right nutrients in the
right amounts, and the difference between nutritive and non-nutritive
suckling needs, all of which form the focus of artificial milk
pamphlets) and focusing instead on the relationship. Let's all tell
mothers that we hope they won't "breastfeed"--that the real joys and
satisfactions of the experience begin when they stop "breastfeeding"
and start mothering at the breast.

All of us within the profession want breastfeeding to be our
biological reference point. We want it to be the cultural norm; we
want human milk to be made available to all human babies, regardless
of other circumstances. A vital first step toward achieving those
goals is within immediate reach of every one of us. All we have to do
is...watch our language.

If you found this article of interest, you may desire to ensure you
regularly receive your own copy of the Journal of Human Lactation
(JHL). Taking out membership in the International Lactation
Consultant Association(ILCA)includes the benefit of four issues of
the JHL a year. See www.ilca.org for how to join.
Article on the Web

Is Fear of Fever Hurting our Children?

This is a good one guys, Is fear of Fever hurting our children? The reason why it is so great to post this today is that in the past week 3 of my 4 have had fevers. How high you ask? I don't know I can't find my thermometor, and regardless of the temp the treatment at my house is the same. I have to admit that at the height of Nathans fever I had to sit on my hands to keep from reaching for the tylenol (okay not really we don't have any childrens tylenol or ibuprofen in the house...) it was hard to watch but I knew that his body was doing what it needed to do. With homeopathy and most importantly a lot of TLC he is doing much better today. This article that I am going to post a portion of is very long, but so very good! I will post the link to the entire article at the end of the excerpt that I post here! Fevers are a GOOD thing! Happy Friday.
Oh yeah, the book referenced here "how to raise your child inspite of your pediatrician" is a good reassuring book, written by a pediatrician!

"...The pervasive belief that fever is dangerous and must be suppressed disregards the scientific evidence demonstrating its beneficial role in inflammatory diseases. The immune system depends on the essential role of fever to accomplish myriad tasks when gearing up to fight infections. New Zealand researcher Hilary Butler has assembled an impressive list of citations from medical literature to prove this point. We are grateful for her work, and include these excerpts as an addendum to this article.
“Doctors do a great disservice to you and your child when they prescribe drugs to reduce fever” says Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, pediatrician and author of How To Raise A Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor. “Fever phobia is a disease of pediatricians, not parents, and to the extent that parents are victimized by it, doctors are at fault.” Parents are left to fear that their child’s temperature will keep rising unless measures are taken to control it . “They don’t tell you that reducing his temperature will do nothing to make the patient well or that our bodies have a built-in mechanism, not fully explained, that will prevent an infection-induced temperature from reaching 106 degrees F (41 degrees C) (3)
Mendelsohn emphasizes that, “Only in the case of heatstroke, poisoning, or other externally caused fevers is this bodily mechanism overwhelmed and inoperative.” This would also include drug reactions and overdose.
Fever: Your Body’s Defense Against Disease is the title of chapter 7 in Dr. Mendeloshn’s book, and undoubtedly one of the best guidelines ever written for parents seeking a balanced and accurate perspective of the beneficial and defensive role of fevers in childhood. He condemns the useless and dangerous practice of fever suppression through drugs. “If your child contracts an infection, the fever that accompanies it is a blessing, not a curse. The spontaneous release of pyrogens cause the body temperature to rise, a natural defense mechanism needed to fight disease. The presence of fever tells you that the repair mechanisms of the body have gone into high gear. It is something to rejoice over, not to fear.”(3)
He counters the myth that high fever causes seizures. “Many parents are fearful of fevers because they have witnessed a convulsive seizure and believe that their child may experience one if his temperature is allowed to rise too high. High fevers do not cause convulsions. They result when the temperature rises at an extremely rapid rate and are relatively uncommon. It is estimated that only 4 percent of children with high fever experience fever related convulsions. There is no evidence that those who do have them suffer any serious aftereffects as a result.” (3)
“Fevers produced by viral or bacterial infections will not cause brain damage or permanent physical harm. Fevers are a common symptom in children and are not an indication of serious illness unless associated with major changes in appearance and behavior or other additional symptoms such as respiratory difficulty, extreme listlessness or loss of consciousness. The height of a fever is not a measure of the severity of an illness.” (3)
Numerous studies have shown that fever enhances the immune response by increasing mobility and activity of white cells called leucocytes which disable bacteria and viruses and remove damaged tissue from the body. A complex sequence of immune activities is activated by fever. Antiviral and antibacterial properties of interferon are also increased with fever. With a rise in temperature, iron is removed from the blood and stored in the liver, further disabling the rate at which bacteria can multiply. Studies of artificially induced fevers in laboratory animals infected with disease have shown that elevated temperatures enhance survival, while lowered temperatures increase the death rate. (4)
There is an exception however. When fever arises in a newborn baby in the first few weeks of life, there is a heightened level of caution. “Newborn babies may suffer from infections related to obstetrical interventions during delivery, prenatal or hereditary conditions, aspiration pneumonia from amniotic fluid forced into the lungs because of overmedication of the mother during delivery…and exposure to the legion of germs that abound in the hospital itself”, writes Dr. Mendelsohn who advises parents to seek medical help if a baby runs a fever in the first two months of life. Breastfeeding plays a critical role in preventing infections in infants. Breastfed babies are superbly protected from a vast range of pathogens and have a lesser risk of developing fevers in the newborn phase of life.
It is known that the blood-brain barrier is not intact until at least 6 weeks of life. This is why fever in very young infants, raises a big caution flag because of the ease with which pathogens, viruses/bacteria can gain access to the baby's brain/nervous system creating a higher risk for meningitis..."
Click HERE for entire article

Curing a Symptom or Healing a Life?

This is an excerpt from and article from Pathways magazine. To read an additional excerpt you can visit their website at pathwaystofamilywellness.org If you like what you read you can get a free copy of the entire magazine. I really enjoy this mag because unlike the other parenting magazines, it's not loaded with a bunch of useless advertising, and the articles are really uplifting, enlightening, and empowering. So with out further ado here it is:
"Through illness the body gives us a message- it tells us that something is out of balance. This is not a punishment for bad behaviour; rather it is, nature's way of creating equilibrium. By listening to the message we have a chance to contribute to our own healing and to participate with our body in bringing us back to a state of wholeness and balance. So, rather than blaming ourselves by saying "Why did I choose to have cancer?" we can ask "How am I choosing to use this cancer?" We can use whatever difficulties we are confronted with in order to learn and grow, to release old patterns of negativity, and to deepen compassion, forgiveness and insight. Our difficulties can then become stepping stones along the way rather than stumbling blocks. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness and guilt that we are responsible for everything that happens to us, illness can be seen as a tremendous challenge and opportunity for awakening. In this way illness can be a great gift- a chance for us to find ourselves." Debbie Shapiro

Vinegar

Free Info Friday!
I remembered this song this morning as I was thinking about what enlightened piece of info to share with you this Friday. I learned it from Mrs. Cook in the third grade what a lovely little song. Onto the info! As you all can tell (or know) we have changed our lifestyle a bit and in an effort to become a little more "green" I started researching alternatives for cleaning. I found vinegar! Okay I didn't find it people all over have been using vinegar for the longest time to clean with, I just recently made the discovery. I must tell you I was a bit of a skeptic, but I gave it a try. People let me tell you what, even if I wasn't trying to be a little more "green" the results of cleaning my shower with vinegar has been AMAZING! I simply made a mixture of 50/50 white vinegar and water, put it in a spray bottle, sprayed the shower down, let soak for a minute wiped it down. It was so sparkly and white it made me want to clean the shower again (okay at least made me want to do it sooner than a month later). To have a little fun with it and make some bubbles the next time I made a paste of baking soda and water, slathered that onto the shower wall, then sprayed with the solution (vinegar and baking soda make such a nice fizzing sound together.) Even more sparkly this time. Having read that baking soda can be used to clean silver I thought I would give it a try. I have some tarnished silver that was almost black, I dumped a pile of baking soda into the sink was going to get it a little wet to make a paste but first just rubbed it into the silver, and wala tarnish gone, it rubbed right off. I feel a little "crunchy" handing out this au naturale cleaning advice, but I tell you what it is awesome! I found this awesome website that list all the things that you can do with white vinegar and baking soda, you've got to check it out, then try it and let me know what you think! Vinegar is for so much more than fish and chips!
I didn't know vinegar could do that! www.vinegartips.com

Top 17 Organic Foods

We are trying our hardest to eat as much organic food as we can, and I thought I would pass along some of the reasons why. Here is a list of the 17 foods that are best when eaten organic. To find out even more about organic foods and why they are better for you, as well as a wealth of other great info visit the site I borrowed this from at Organicfoods.com
17 Most Important Foods to Eat Organic


1. Baby Food. The very young are extraordinarily susceptible to pesticides. Here are some organic baby food brands, Earth's Best, Tender Harvest, and Healthy Times, which are available for your baby's safety and health. Or better yet, make your own baby food by cooking and pureeing organic produce. See "Make Your Own Baby Food".
2. Strawberries. Enjoy them while they are in season from local organic farms or buy frozen organic strawberries from your local whole market.
3. Rice. Domestic rice is splattered with mega-doses of pesticides, and now, the chemicals companies are producing "pharm" rice used to produce and store pharmaceuticals. Buy organic rice where you can find it and store it in an airtight container. It stores very well.
4. Green and Red Bell Peppers. Super sources of Vitamin C, but wrought with pesticides. Buy organic, or, better yet, grow your own. Seeds of Change has a plethora of organic seeds, and pepper plants prove to be a hardy bunch!
5. Got Milk? We hope not, at least, not from conventionally raised cows. Today's commercial brands are loaded with antibiotics and growth hormones. Make sure your milk and other dairy is from organically-fed cows without the extra rBST, rBGH and antibiotics.
If you are feeding your child goat milk, and/or goat products, be aware that our science community has now genetically mutated a goat to spin silk in her milk. See the New Scientist article.
6. Corn. Corn is typically not a scale tipper when it comes to pesticide residues. But, take into account that 75- 90% of all domestic corn has been genetically-modified, that the average American eats 11 pounds of it, that most cooking oils include corn oil, and that most everything is sweetened with corn syrup, and suddenly, buying organic corn and corn products, makes more than a little sense. Eat local organic corn in season and freeze some for later, or, leave some kernels to dry, and plant them in the spring.
7. Bananas. This tropical favorite has a short window of ripeness and a very long distance to market (quick, how many local banana farms does your town have?). All of which adds up to a lot of heavy chemical dousing along the way.
8. Green Beans. Over 60 different pesticides are used on green beans. Even beans used in baby food have been found to be contaminated.
9. Peaches. Nothing beats a peach. Until you realize that they often have the highest rates of illegally-applied pesticides. Isn't that just peachy . . .
10. Apples. A decade after the dangers of Alar were exposed, apples are still soaked in pesticides. Put only organic apples in your pie.
11. Cherries. Cherries, so expensive, so rich, so fabulous, . . . so heavily doused in poison. Make sure that the cherries in your Cherries Jubilee or Bing Cherry Ice Creams are as clean and wonderful as they were meant to be.
12. Celery. Why would anyone think of spraying the heck out of that innocuous little stem vegetable?! But they do. Stay organic, the taste of organic celery will amaze you and make you a celery-nibbler once again.
13. Apricots and Grapes. Apricots, Peaches and Grapes, what would summer be without them? Less toxic! Keep conventionally grown fruits and veggies, and their pesticide residuals, out of your system or minimize them with a vegetable rinse, such as the one by Healthy Harvest.
14. Soybeans.
If you are not yet a label-reader, it is time to start.
Everything you buy, from bread to cookies to crackers to margerine to dry mixes, has some sort of soy product in it. Most soybean in the USA is genetically-modified.
So, why the fuss over modified soy?
Monsanto, in an effort to increase the use (and profit potential) of Round-Up Ready, spliced the herbicide into soybean plant DNA. Two problems with this action.

1) No matter what you or I do, we can never wash RoundUp Ready herbicide off the soybean--ever. It is "permanently imbedded".
2) It appears that soy increases production of estrogen. High estrogen levels facilitate the potential for contracting various cancers and for hastening puberty in young children.

Although the jury is still out on whether soy consumption, in general, is beneficial, or whether only fermented soy should be consumed, never, we mean NEVER, consume foods laced with poisons.
15. Potatoes.
Mashed potatoes are delicious and worth the calories, unless they're laden with pesticides or have been genetically-modified.
When genetically modified, potatoes impair the immune system and shrink the brain, liver and heart.
So, mash a clean, real, organic potato and forgo the new-fangled monstrosity.
Got soft, green-sprouting organic potatoes? Don't toss them,bury them!
16. Raisins.Concentrated little grapes, concentrated levels of pesticides.
17. Cucumbers. Ever wonder why this delicious crisp vegetable was loosing its appeal on your palate? Yep! The answer is, once again, pesticides. The answer to pesticides, is, once again, go organic, or grow your own.

Why I go to the Chiropractor

It is actually Thursday night, but I am so prepared these days that I am getting Friday's info up a day early! This is a great (short) video about chiropractic and a little about innate intelligence. I went from being a person who had about zero knowledge about chiropractic and it's benefits to a 100% believer, who couldn't live without it. Chiropractic has helped me in so many ways. I found relief from symptoms that I didn't even know I had. Our bodies have a way of making us function, and after feeling the pain for awhile, we become numb to it. It was first (and best) explained to me like this; pinch the thumb on your left hand with your thumb and first finger of your right hand. Hold this for a few minutes, as the time goes on the pinching sensation seems to lesson, and almost go away. This is your bodies way of adapting so it can function. After being adjusted the first time it felt like a 15 pound weight had been lifted off of my left shoulder. Five years ago I had pain underneath my left shoulder blade. It was right after I had Alison and Lisa and although it got worse for a period of time it slowly went away, until I couldn't feel the pain anymore. I thought I was healed, cured, fine. After my first adjustment I immediately knew why I was feeling the relief, and was amazed that although I wasn't feeling the pain, my body was still silently suffering from the problem. After a few months of adjustments I started to know when I was "out" because I had a hard time falling asleep at night. Being in alignment I am able to put my head on the pillow and in a matter of minutes be asleep for the night. I am now practically headache free, when I do feel one coming on I get adjusted and it goes away. I had a headache for the first time, in a long time, when I was sick and couldn't believe that I used to accept it as something that just happened and I would fix with a Diet Coke! As you can tell I could go on for quite some time about why I love and believe in chiropractic, but I will save some for another Friday. In the mean time enjoy the show. (the slides do go a little fast, I am sorry about that but it's not my video so you may have to watch it twice.)

And if you would like to know more about innate intelligence visit Why Chiropractic Innate Intelligence.

MSG: Monosodium Glutamate

Yeah! We made it to the end of the week! The information that I have for today, is a little muddled in my mind. There is sooooo much information and this is something I definitely urge everyone to research further on there own. The topic of my choice for today it MSG, monosodium glutamate. I am more than willing to admit to my own ignorance, thinking that this is something that is sometimes in Chinese food, but most restaurants have a sign that says no MSG so I thought I was fine. I thought the only thing that MSG did was give you diarrhea, and help the food taste better, because it was like a spice of some sort. I was alarmed when Danny came home from school having learned more about it, and started reading labels. First I didn't realize that MSG was short for monosodium glutamate. It was draw dropping to see just how many of the foods in my pantry had it in them. Once I knew the long name, I decided it was time to research it. I believe Danny when he comes home and tells me what he has learned but I always do my own research, so that when I tell someone why I am doing something, I know all the reasons first hand. The research that I did initially was enough to make me get rid of some of the easy things, or find replacements for others. But it is literally in so many food items that it is difficult to eliminate it completely. I would be lying if I said that it was 100% out of my house. There are so many different aspects of why MSG is dangerous so I am sure I will revisit this on another Friday. However, I urge everyone to do some serious looking of there own onto the dangers of MSG. Instead of posting a portion of an article I am including some great links, as well as some general information.

MSG's job is to trick the brain about the food that you are eating. Making you sense more protein, and nutrition benefit than is actually there. Causing you to eat more, and enable the the food company to put less of real ingredients in the food. This is why MSG is labeled as a culprit in causing weight gain. It makes you eat more. At first I thought seriously, can an ingredient really trick you into thinking these things and eating more? But then, a few months ago I read an article in Forbes about the company who makes MSG pushing to put it in all food in nursing homes to help the elderly who have failure to thrive eat more. The left out the part about it working on the brain and not the stomach or taste buds, but non the less admitted that it would/could make you eat more.

I grew up thinking MSG would give you diarrhea. I was right, it is estimated that some 60% of the population has a sensitivity to MSG, and the result is diarrhea. Okay now is the moment for a possible amount of TMI (to much information). After eating certain foods I would always have to make a run for the toilet, and often times felt like I would certainly die while there. My mother, and sister suffer from this as well. It could hit at the worst times, driving in the car, on a date, on the phone just to name a few. We are very familiar with all of the gas station between Salt Lake and San Diego, and not because we had a small gas tank. In our family it is affectionately called a "gas attack". After reading up on MSG I realized that we all suffer in some degree from MSG sensitivity. As we have changed our diet in the past few years my "attacks" have become virtually non existent. I daresay this is from eliminating the vast amounts of vast food that I was eating, because again I was shocked at how many things in my home contained it. Small example almost ALL ketchup contains MSG, under the title "natural flavor."

It's in cream of chicken soup, bad new for mormon funeral potatoes... (I have struggled with this one since that soup is in a lot of good recipes...)

There are so many other ways MSG can affect you and I again urge all of you to look into this as some point in time. Even if it isn't right now. I know that with aspartame, it took me about 6 months until I got informed. The reason I waited wasn't because I didn't want to know but I wasn't ready to embrace the information I received and make a change. Again I am still trying to wrap my head around MSG and eliminating it from out diet ( this is complicated by the fact that it goes by several names). But I am starting the elimination process, and I am aware that to be 100% free of it is most likely not possible. But I want to get rid of as much of is as I can!
What is MSG?
http://msgmyth.com/
These ALWAYS contain MSG:
Glutamate
Glutamic acid
Gelatin
Monosodium glutamate
Calcium caseinate
Textured protein
Monopotassium glutamate
Sodium caseinate
Yeast nutrient
Yeast extract
Yeast food A
Autolyzed yeast
Hydrolyzed protein
(any protein that is hydrolyzed) Hydrolyzed corn gluten Natrium glutamate (natrium is Latin/German for sodium
YIKES!For more sources of MSG

Will I have to see the Chiropractor Forever?

It was mentioned to me the other day that once you see a chiropractor you will HAVE To go forever, this was my response:
The basic philosophy of chiropractic is not to relieve a symptom but to enable your body to function at it's optimal level. They do this through the nervous system, which is mostly located in your spine, hence the adjusment in the spine. If the nervous system is at's it's best this will enable the other systems in the body to be as well. This is done by finding and correcting subluxations (nerve interference in the spinal column this can be because of physical, emotional, or chemical trauma to the body). Once recognizing that not just physcial trauma can cause a subluxation needing chiropractic care for more than just headaches or car accidents becomes more clear. For most people care can be frequent at first, as much as three times a week. But after this initial period it becomes a matter of maintenance. Once a week, once a month, every other month. It is whatever you decide is best for you.
For myself personally I didn't think I NEEDED care. I felt pretty good most of the time, and Diet Coke helped the headaches (haven't touched one in almost 18 months!) After going I was amazed at how much better I felt overall, headaches were gone, my sleep improved, little aches and pains that I wasn't aware of until they were gone disappeared. For me it is worth going once or twice a month to prevent these things. You could really call it one of two things wellness care or preventative care.
As a parent that last thing I want it to see my children suffer. By getting them preventative or wellness care they are sick less often, and I have been amazed at what a wonder a small adjustment can do to help with things such as ear infections, coughs, stomach bugs. It is pretty wonderful to see your child suffering, receive an adjustment, spike a fever and be over the illness in 24-48 hours. For me and my family it is a choice of prevention and wellness. Just as I wouldn't skimp and buy cheap vitamins, or other supplements, I make sure I am doing the best to maintain my nervous system. Choose to spend the time and money to stay healthy, or choose to spend the time and money being sick and then geting better but never experiencing your highest level of health.
Chiropractic philosophy is the power that made the body will heal the body; The chiropractor didn't fix the body, they put the body in it's optimal state to heal itself (same philosophy of homeopathy and vital force). This is evidenced in something like low back pain. You may be feeling the pain in your low back, but the subluxation may be located in between your shoulder blades. By correcting this the low back pain is alleviated. That is also why chiropractic can help with things such as blood pressure, emotions, digestive problems, carpal tunnel, sciatica just to name a few.
I know this probably sounds like an infomercial, so I want to give a little more of my own history with chiropractic. I was raised entirely allopathic, my first three children did as well. I used drugs, and doctors to their fullest extent. Had anyone told me about chiropractors I would have probably politely agreed and then talked a mean storm about what a nut they were behind their back. (this was the case with my sister-in-law who doesn't vax, I thought she was for sure her kids were going to bring every ailment to my kids, I have since apologized.) I have learned from the ground up, done so much research and been so grateful to the things my eyes have been opened up to as a result of chiropractic (this happened when my husband started chiropractic school). My children were all fully vaxxed up until needing kindergarten shots, which we happily passed on. We ate fast food several times a week, and ate mostly processed food at home. This has changed almost completely, and I am excited with how much I have learned, how much more I have to learn, and the opportunity to share this with as many people as I can. Wow this got long, I hope this answered you question. And as my husband says, if you have a nervous system, you need a chiropractor.
Marci

Coconut Oil

Thanks for your patience! Lucky for me since I started this on Friday it will still post that way, and not throw my rhythm off. Coconut oil, what? When Danny came home and first told me about it I was like okay sure. So I went to find information at my first source for all my questions, wikipedia. I readn and I thought, well it sounds like good stuff, but I will stick with Olive Oil and Butter. He brought home a jar, it looks like criso, smells like coconuts. I didn't want to cook with it because I didn't want everything to start tasting like coconut. So it sat in the cupboard, and the one or so days of the week that Danny would cook he would use it. I believed what I had read about it's health benefits, but I wasn't sold until... I was going to saute some zucchini squash, as a new food for us, I wanted the girls to like it. I thought to myself, well the sweet of the coconut may just be good. Well I was right about that! A little coconut oil, chopped up zucchini, and some sea salt was great! It is what we use now to do most all of our cooking EXCEPT potatoes. Those little buggers do a good job of holding onto the taste of coconut, so unless that is what you are going for I advise olive oil.
I also use it to make popcorn on the stove (that is one of the latest to get the boot at our house microwave popcorn. A couple of tablespoons coconut oil, 1/2 cup popcorn seeds med-high heat =really gooooood popcorn.

I use it after I shave on my legs. I usually have some itchy, burning after I shave, not after using the coconut oil. It has antioxidants in it so on my face it goes. It is the only "lotion" I use on Nathan, and Annika thinks it marvelous. Alison and Lisa associate it the smell with popcorn, but they think that makes it even better. We had the bottle about 4 months before I decided to really start using it. We had about 2/3 of the bottle left when I made the switch. In just under a month it is almost gone! Can I say I LOVE IT! Please keep reading to find all the goodness it has to offer.
What makes it so good for you? Among several things is that it contains Lauric Acid, the only other abundant supply of lauric acid is found in breastmilk. Well you ask, what is lauric acid? I found this information at Lauric Acid (this is were I copy/pasted from, the information showed up in several places.)

"Much research on the nutritional and medicinal benefits on coconut oil has surfaced in recent years. Much of that research has been done by Dr. Mary Enig. Dr. Enig has classified coconuts as a "functional food," which provides health benefits over and beyond the basic nutrients. She has specifically identified lauric acid as a key ingredient in coconut products:

"Approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid. Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid, which has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. Monolaurin is the antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, various pathogenic bacteria including listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. Some studies have also shown some antimicrobial effects of the free lauric acid."

Now if that isn't enough to make you want to run out and buy some here are 7 more reasons! Seven reasons coconut oil good:

Wait don't read on yet, I do want to point out before you buy any coconut oil that it MUST be RAW, Extra Virgin, and Pure White to receive the health benefits. The best places to find it would most likely be a health food store such as Whole Foods Store.

This is the brand we buy.

7 Reason to use coconut oil

1. Coconut oil doesn't turn to fat in your body.

Unlike many other common oils, like soy (vegetable) and corn, coconut oil won't make you fat. Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which are an easy fuel for the body to burn, without turning to fat. Most other cooking oils and fats contain long-chain triglycerides (LCT). LCT's are usually stored as fat. Since coconut oil is a MCT, it is more easily absorbed and converted to energy quicker.

People in the tropics have relied on coconuts as a traditional staple in their diet for centuries. They consume large amounts of coconut oil every day. Instead of getting fatter, it helps them stay healthy, lean and trim. When they switch from coconut oil to our modern oils, they develop obesity and the health problems that our modern society faces.

Some other people who have known this truth for a long time are people who are in the animal feed business. When livestock are fed vegetable oils, they put on weight and produce more fatty meat. When they are fed coconut oil, they become very lean.

2. Coconut oil increases your metabolism.

Not only does coconut oil convert to energy quicker in your body, it increases your metabolism, which promotes weight loss. Because it boosts your metabolism, it helps your body burn fat more effectively.

Coconut oil may triple your calorie burn. Since coconut oil is a MCT, it is converted to energy so quickly that it creates a lot of heat. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, MCT's burn three times more calories for six hours after a meal than LCT's.

The February 15, 2005 issue of Woman's World magazine stated that coconut oil is the "underground high-metabolism secret."

This is great news for people who have thyroid problems, since coconut oil improves sluggish thyroids by stimulating the production of extra thyroid hormones. Most other common oils, like vegetable (soy) and corn have been shown to inhibit thyroid function.

3. Coconut oil contains healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

Most cooking oils contain omega 6 fatty acids, something we get way too much of in the United States. Our omega 6 to omega 3 ratio should be 1:1 but it is more like 50:1. We need to drastically cut back our omega 6 oils and consume much more omega 3 oils to be healthy. And coconut oil is filled with these healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

4. Coconut oil gives you energy.

Because of the healthy omega 3 fatty acids and the fact that it increases the metabolism, most people that switch to coconut oil feel a burst of added energy in their daily life.

This is because coconut oil is nature’s richest source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT's), which increase metabolic rates and lead to weight loss. MCT's promote thermogenesis, which increases the body's metabolism, producing energy.

This is because coconut oil is nature’s richest source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT's), which increase metabolic rates and lead to weight loss. MCT's promote thermogenesis, which increases the body's metabolism, producing energy. Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have found that adding coconut and coconut oil to their diet was helpful to them.

5. Coconut oil is one of the best things you can use on your skin and hair.

One of the best things you can apply directly on your skin and hair is coconut oil. It gives temporary relief to skin problems like rashes. It aids in healing and restoring skin to a younger appearance. It has also been known to help with people who suffer from yeast infections in the skin, as well as many other skin problems.

Not only does is soften and smooth your skin, coconut oil has antioxidant properties that protect the skin from free radical damage. Coconut oil makes excellent massage oil too.

6. Coconut oil has healthy benefits that most other oils do not.

Evidence is mounting that coconut oil has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects when both consumed and used topically on the skin.

Most oils oxidize and turn rancid very quickly causing free radical damage in our bodies. Coconut oil is not easily oxidized and does not cause harmful free radical damage like polyunsaturated vegetable oils. Free radical damage is thought to be responsible for many ailments in our body from arthritis to increased susceptibility to cancers.

Coconut oil also helps our bodies absorb other nutrients more effectively, such as Vitamin E.

7. Coconut oil is one of the best oils you can use for cooking.

It has a higher smoke point than olive oil, which means it can take higher temperatures better. There are several healthy omega 3 oils we can choose to consume, such as flax and olive oil, but they don't do well under the high heat we use for cooking. Coconut oil can be used in higher cooking temperatures.

It is harder for coconut oil to go rancid, unlike other cooking oils, which are usually rancid long before you even bring them home. Rancid oils cause free radical damage in the body, which is a leading cause of cancer. Coconut oil is stable for over a year at room temperature.

Vaccine Schedule II

I posted these in the wrong order read Vaccine Schedule first to get a better idea to what I am responding to.
I received a comment on my free info Friday (thank you) and wanted to respond. As I started I realized it was going to be quite lengthy, I was also aware that Kristen was more than likely stating what most people thought. So I have responded below. Please note when reading this that it was written to show what I have learned, and to share my personal journey. Tone cannot be heard when reading a blog, please read this with my nice voice in your head and know that this comes from my heart. When I urge you to research vaccines it isn’t to get you to agree with me it is simply to get you to research.

Kristen said
Uh oh Marci. You have struck a sore spot for me with this one. I am a big fan of getting vaccines. I believe that half of the reason that people don't have to get immunized is that so many of us did that most of these diseases/illnesses have disappeared because of that. And by not having your children immunized you are taking a huge risk-with so many people coming from other countries where they carry diseases that we can help take care of-they can get these. But yes, you don't have to have them when they are recommended, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't get them.

Kristen,
Thank you so much for you comments. I am glad to know that people actually read what I write on Fridays whether they agree or not. I can hear myself in your comments; I was saying that exact thing 2 years ago. Several Fridays ago I wrote about my progression to not vaccinating anymore. I had your exact same sentiments. Everyone needs to be vaxed, the diseases are deadly, and those who are not vaxxing are putting MY children at risk. More specifically my sister-in-law, who wasn’t vaxxing her daughter was putting my children at risk because they were exposed to each other all the time. I asked my pediatrician what risk were my kids at? I was actually surprised at his answer, he hesitated a little and replied a little bit but don’t make that stop you from seeing her. I had my first 3 vaccinated with EVERYTHING! Before we left to come to Georgia I specifically asked for them to receive everything they would need, and/or could get because I didn’t know when we would be getting health insurance. So they got it ALL. So please believe me, when I say I know what you are thinking, I literally do.

My kids haven’t suffered from any noticeable reaction to vaccines, thankfully, and that is actually not my only reasoning behind my decision to not vaccinate. When I knew that I would have to look into it, I did so with the attitude that I would be convincing Danny that we did in fact NEED to continue vaxxing our kids. The first web site I visited was Thinktwice.com. I am going to be honest I don’t remember my reaction to it, other than I knew that I needed to do more research. For me, the website that furthered my decision to research even more was the CDC website.

The first vaccine that I decided against washepatitis B. It is ironic that I actually decided against this 6 years ago when I had Alison and Lisa. I signed the form and REFUSED the shot at birth. I had no idea how vaccines were supposed to work, but I did know that my little children who were born 6 weeks early didn’t need anymore taxing their little systems at that time, and it felt right to say no. The nurses messed up and gave one of the girls the shot. They came rushing in, asked me to sign a consent form, this was maybe 3 hours after I had given birth, I was in no condition to think what had happened through (can you say lawsuit?). At any rate I wanted the vaccine tracking the same for both and said well go ahead and do the other one as well. Four years later I learned that I was right in my thinking. Another Free Info Friday that I have posted is about hepatitis B. This was the first, and for me the easiest, vaccine to just say no to. It is mainly contracted as an STD, blood transfer, or dirty needle transfer. The CDC openly admits the reason they vaccinate babies is that they are unable to get their desired results when they try to get the vaccines to the target group, homosexuals, and drug users. It was a domino effect after that, some vaccines easier to make the decision about than others. The hardest part in all of this was probably telling my parents. I knew that they wouldn’t like the decision, but I knew in my heart it was right for my family.

I made this choice just over two years ago, I haven’t stopped researching since. The more I learn the more convinced I am in the choice that we made. I understand the desire to think that what your doctor is telling you is pure truth. However, after researching I have learned that I need to do additional research every time my doctor give me a diagnosis, and look at both sides of the coin, because, the doctor is only giving me his side of the story. This was put to the test several months after moving to Georgia. I was at the “women” doctor and was told I had some type of bacterial infection. When I asked the doctor to provide me more specifics about it, he looked surprised fumbled over his words for a few minutes, and then told me to read about it in the package insert of the medication he was going to give me to treat it. I don’t think he was a bad doctor, but all he was doing was reiterating to me the results of a urine sample, you don’t need a medical degree to do that, he wasn’t even vaguely familiar with the condition. A whole other side to this argument is the way the pharmaceutical industry has intertwined itself into the FDA. All of the pharmaceutical industry is protected by the federal government, read, they cannot be sued or be held accountable for any adverse reaction to the vaccines they provide. That in itself is a whole other topic, so I will leave it at that (for now). A great book that really educated me on the FDA is Death by Prescription. This book was neither pro or anti anything it really just layed the facts out there.
To address you comment about the diseases being in decline since mass vaccinations were put into effect in the I have learned that this is not so. The diseases were actually in decline before this happened. Many of the diseases were a result of poor sanitation, dirty living conditions, contaminated water, and improper nutrition. As these conditions improved the instances of the diseases decreased. When mass vaccinations started there was actually an increase of the disease again, before they fell. Won’t you be surprised to know that I would have no problem having my children exposed to any of these diseases. I do not understand the fear of vaccinated children being around non-vaxed kids, and remember I was once one of the fearful mothers. If the vaccines do in fact work, where is the harm? Look at the number of vaccines your children receive, aren’t you just as much of a threat to them as my un-vaxed child because you haven’t been vaccinated either? The chicken pox vaccine is actually a live vaccine, and it is advisable that you not be around anyone with a compromised immune system for 6 weeks after receiving the shot. So in reality, there is no way of knowing who the “true” carries of the diseases are, but society is ready to point the finger at the non vaxxed child. Many argue in behalf of “herd” immunity. They use this in the case of small pox, a disease that is eradicated. Only 10% of the world population received the vaccine, yet the disease is eradicated.

I have also had a chance to learn the reality of the disease, the actual dangers associated with it, and the body’s power to heal itself. My children haven’t been to the pediatrician for illness in almost 2 ½ years. The only times we have gone is to get the paper work signed for school. Nathan only went for his 2 week check up.
Did you get the chicken pox when you were little? Ask if your parents know anyone who had the mumps, or measles. My grandma sent my dad to school with the mumps! Rotavirus one of the newest vaccines, is something I saw my OWN children get, and weathered it just fine.

The final, and for me the most important reason that we no longer vaccinate is the power within the human body. It has been amazing to me to learn the capabilities of the body. This does delve into chiropractic philosophy, and the importance of being in alignment, for more info on the visit my other blog WhyChiropractic. How many years did mankind exist without these vaccines? I know the argument to that is the deaths associated with the diseases, but as I addressed before the conditions that existed then don’t exist now. We are all exposed daily to hundreds of thousands of viruses, bacteria, and disease. What impacts whether or not we develop the condition is directly related to the health of our bodies. Just because you are exposed to someone who is ill is only part of what would cause you to get sick. The other (more important, and controllable) part is the state of well being that you are in.
Again I ask that if you have done research, and yes this means more than just asking your pediatrician what they think, and have decided that having your child receive a vaccine is best, than I can support that decision. However, if you do this without ever giving it a second thought, because a man with white coat and stethoscope says you should, I would implore you to do more research. I realized how blindly I vaccinated my first three when someone pointed out to me: I researched the car seat for safety, the stroller, and the crib, I baby proofed every inch of my house, and made sure everyone washed there hands before they even looked at my baby. I didn’t give the safety or necessity of vaccines second thought. You can always choose to wait, you can’t un-vaccinate. Stay tuned for this Fridays free info, do you know What's In a Vaccine.

Vaccine Schedule

How many vaccines will your child get? If you give your child all on the recommend list it will be 80! EIGHTY. 80. Back in the 1980's when I was vaccinated I received at total of 25:
2 months first diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis
(DTP) and polio (OPV)
4 months second DTP and OPV
6 months third DTP
15 months Measles-mumps-rubella, fourth DTP,
and third OPV
24 months Hemophilus b polysaccharide vaccine
for Hemophilus influenza type b
4-6 years fifth DTP and fourth OPV vaccines
(I am working under the assumption that I received all recommended vaccines, I do remember drinking the OPV (oral polio, since removed because it was causing polio))
What's wrong with Vaccines?
This is the EIGHTY that your child is recommended to get if s/he was born since 2006:
(at bottom the name of disease the vaccine is for is listed.)

Birth Hep B

1 MONTH Hep B

2 MONTH DTap each shot has 3 vaccines
Hib each shot has 2 vaccines
IPV
PCV each shot has 8 vaccines
Rotavirus

4 MONTH DTaP each shot has 3 vaccines
Hib each shot has 2 vaccines
IPV
PCV each shot has 8 vaccines
Rotavirus

6 MONTH DTaP each shot has 3 vaccines
Flu
Hep B
Hib each shot has 2 vaccines
IPV
PCV each shot has 8 vaccines
Rotavirus

12 MONTH Hep A
HIB each shot has 2 vaccines
MMR each shot has 3 vaccines
PCV each shot has 8 vaccines
Varicella

15 MONTH DTaP

18 MONTH Flu (anually throughout lifetime)
Hep A

4-6 YEAR DTaP each shot has 3 vaccines
IPV
MMR each shot has 3 vaccines

11-12 MCV 4
HPV (for girls although trying to get it approved for boys as well
it is "supposed" to prevent cervical cancer, any irony in that?)
DID YOU KNOW:
You don't HAVE to have your child recieve ANY of the vaccines.
None of the vaccines are REQUIRED to attend school. You only have to sign a waiver.State Exemptions .
You can pick and choose which vaccines you child recieves.
You can DELAY when your child starts receiving the vaccines.
Again I ask do you have ALL the information BEFORE you vaccinate?
You can always choose to wait, you can't ever unvaccinate.
To learn more about the disease visit Vaccine Information
If you have any questions or would like me to personally help you with getting ALL the information you can email me at marci_hansen at yahoo dot com.
IPV - inactivated polio virus
DTaP- Diptheria, Tetanus and pertussis
MMR - Measles, mumps, rubella
Varicella - chicken pox
PCV/Prevnar - pneumococcal conjugate
MCV-4 - meningococcal
HPV - human papilloma virus vaccine
If you don't know what this diseases are, research before your child is vaccinated. Make your decision an EDUCATED one.

10 Myths about Chiropractic

I am calling in sick today! I have a lovely, changing of the seasons sinus congestion thing. I tried the neti pot today and loved the relief it gave. So I am going to cheat a little and share something from my other blog here. Ten Myths of Chiropractic. Enjoy!
The Top 10 Myths About Chiropractic
10. Chiropractors are not real doctors.

The public has come to think of a doctor as someone who prescribes pills or removes organs. Sadly, many people also think this is the best, or only, method of viable health care. Being as this aggressive approach is the third leading cause of death (1) , the public needs to understand that there is more to health care then drugs and surgery - much more.

In order to practice as a chiropractor in Canada you must graduate from a recognised school of chiropractic as a doctor of chiropractic. Then you must pass both national and provincial board exams to qualify for a license. In Ontario a chiropractor is one of 5 health professionals legally entitled to use the title doctor. A chiropractor has an equally extensive education in basic human health sciences as any other doctor. How a chiropractor differs is the philosophy behind how those basic health sciences are applied to help an individual to maximise their health.
***This is the same in the U.S. a Chiropractor must graduate from a recognized school of chiropractic as a D.C. (doctor of chiropractic) and pass national, and state board exams to qualify for a license***
So, is a chiropractor a real doctor? Absolutely! A real doctor with a unique purpose. What your doctor of chiropractic can offer, no other doctor can.

1. Public Citizen, '94; JAMA, '98; JAMA '01

9 It only helps adults, not children.

Chiropractic can make a major impact on ANYONE's health, from newborns to geriatrics. Reducing nerve interference allows the body's inborn ability to look after its own needs to thrive, regardless of age.
Link to How it Works
Link to Children and chiropractic.

8 Chiropractic is only effective for back pain.

Some chiropractors focus only on caring for people who have back pain. The vertebral subluxation complex often contributes to this condition and the available research indicates that chiropractic is the most effective approach in helping people with this condition. The benefits of chiropractic are much greater than helping with back pain.The wide- ranging detrimental effects of the vertebral subluxation manifest in a wide variety of health challenges and conditions besides back pain. Most chiropractors focus their practice on improving an individuals overall health by correcting all subluxations in the body and not just the ones associated with back pain or any other symptom. The reality is, most subluxations will not have associated symptoms for years. Correcting these subluxations is still very important because they are a detriment to your health whenever they are present.

7 Chiropractic Care is too expensive.

Quality of life is key to understanding this myth. Those who have experienced long-term care and the chiropractic lifestyle recognise that chiropractic care doesn't cost, IT PAYS!!! A study done in 1996 (Coulter et al, TopClinChiro) showed 87% of long-time chiropractic patients considered their health as excellent, took less medications, and experienced less chronic conditions associated with ageing. Think of chiropractic as an RRSP for your body...it may cost a bit now, but the payoff is immeasurable.

In fact, even in a publicly funded health care system where some other approaches are 100% covered by our tax dollars, millions of people value chiropractic enough to be more than willing to pay for their care with their own hard-earned money. We appreciate that fact, and it encourages us to work as hard as possible to deliver the best care possible to our patients.

6 Spinal adjustments are uncomfortable.

Most times a spinal adjustment itself will not hurt at all. If fact a great sense of relief will be experienced. On some occasions it may feel like someone is momentarily pressing on a bruise. As your body adapts to your adjustments, you may experience some additional discomfort, similar to the sensation of tender muscles after starting an exercise program. Over time, as your nervous system integrates the effects of the adjustments, most people feel a continuing sense of ease. This is one reason many people make chiropractic the cornerstone of their wellness lifestyle.

5 An adjustment will cause a stroke.

The truth is, there is no scientific evidence that there is an increased risk of ANY serious event following a chiropractic adjustment. There are some who suggest that the chance of having a stroke from a chiropractic adjustment is about 1 in 1,000,000. While this number has never been scientifically verified, only estimated, if it is even remotely accurate, it indicates that you have a better chance of being struck by lightning, being killed on a bicycle, or dying from taking aspirin, than you have of being seriously injured by chiropractic.

4 Once you start to go, you always have to go.

The inference of that statement is that chiropractic care is addictive. If continuing to do something that gives you an increased level of health and vitality is addictive, then perhaps it is. The amount of chiropractic care you utilise is always up to you. Most patients who see the huge changes in their energy, immune function, sleep patterns and general well-being choose to maintain chiropractic care as part of their wellness lifestyle. It soon becomes an integral approach to enjoying a higher quality of life.

3 Modern chiropractic is just a health trend.

If chiropractic is a health trend, it is the country's longest trend since it has been around over 100 years. Chiropractic is the largest drug-free form of health care and the third largest form of ANY health care in North America.

2 No scientific proof that it works.

Over the years, there have been hundreds of studies proving its validity in improving the health of millions of people all over the world. Studies in the past five years have shown the positive benefits on increasing immune function, general wellbeing in the elderly and increased brain function. The science is there, all one has to do is take a look.

1 It can't help me with my health problems, because...

Many people complete this statement with with "I'm too old", "of my genetics", "I've been told I have to live with it", "the specialist said nothing can be done". Only a chiropractor can tell you how chiropractic can help you improve your health. Remember that the nervous system controls every cell, tissue and organ in the human body, and vertebral subluxation interferes with normal nerve function. An alteration in nerve function leads to an alteration in tissue function. As such, the key to optimum health is maintaining normal nerve function. No other profession is qualified to make decisions on chiropractic care. You wouldn't ask your plumber how to fix your car. If you want to understand chiropractic, talk with a doctor of chiropractic. Contact a CAC chiropractor near you to see how chiropractic can help you live life to the fullest!
Chiropractic Awareness Council (Great Site!)

Vaccine Ingredients

Do you know what's in a vaccine? I didn't until I started researching. If you would have asked me a few years ago I would have guessed some saline, and some of the virus. Not so much. I was shocked at what is in vaccines, you couldn't drink the vaccine they inject in you because of the poisons that are in it. Here is the list, if it appears in a different color it is a link to give further information on the substance. Many vaccines are touted as being mercury free, this unfortunately isn't exactly true, they have traces amounts, and as far as I am concerned a trace is still to much.

Ammonium sulfate: suspected gastrointestinal, liver, nerve, and respiratory system poison

Beta-Propiolactone: KNOWN to cause CANCER

Genetically modified yeast; animal, bacterial and viral DNA: can be incorporated into the recipient's DNA and cause unknown genetic mutations

latex rubber: can cause severe life threatening allergic reactions. When babies are are hours or days old is is impossible to know if the have and allergy.

Monosodium Glutamate: being studied for mutagenic, teratogenic, and reproductive effects. A neurotoxin. Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe. Again when a baby is only hours old is is impossible to know.

Aluminum: Implicated as a cause of brain damage; suspected factor in Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, seizures and comas. Allergic reaction (see above)

Formaldehyde (formalin): Major constituent of embalming fluid; poisonous if ingested. Linked to leukemia, brain, colon and lymphatic cancer.

polysorbate 80: known to cause cancer in animals. I am so ignorant I used to joke about this. I would say it may cause cancer in a rat, but I am not a rat. What a fool I was.

tri(n)butylphosphate: suspected kidney and nerve poison.

Glutaraldehyde: poisonous if ingested. Causes birth defects in experimental animals.

gelatin: produced from selected pieces of calf and cattle skin, de-mineralized cattle bones and pork skin. Allergic reactions have been reported.*

mercury (thimerosal): one of the most poisonous substances known. Minute amounts can cause nerve damage. Symptoms of mercury toxicity are similar to those of autism.

neomycin sulfate: interferes with vitamin B6 absorption. An error in the uptake of B6 can cause a rare form of epilepsy and mental retardation.

phenol/phenoxyethanol: Used as antifreeze. Toxic to all cells and capable of disabling the immune system's primary response mechanism.

human and animal cells: Human cells from aborted fetal tissue and human albumin. Pig blood, hose blood, rabbit brain, guinea pig, dog kidney, cow heart, monkey kidney, check embryo, chicken egg, duck egg, calf serum, sheep blood and others.

It is easy to assume that since your child seems okay that they haven't been affected by the toxins in vaccines. Remember it only takes ONE. Reactions aren't always immediate, or may worsen with each additional round of vaccines. Here is a link to a list of vaccines and their package inserts. To know what is exactly in the vaccine your child is receiving you can ask your doctor for a copy of the vaccine insert. This insert also contains eye opening data to the possible reactions from the vaccine, testing that was actually done, and what is known about the vaccine. It is a lot to go through, but worth the extra investigation.Specific Vaccine Ingredients
Please note that there are several different manufacturers of each vaccine, therefore the ingredients may differ from maker.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

For starters today I would like to thank Haley for her take on my Free Info Friday, she renamed it Freak Out Friday. Before you stand an applaud her for calling me a freak, she said it is because my information made her want to freak out. To this I say, when reading what I offer on Friday's please keep in mind; my adoption of this lifestyle has and is a gradual process. It didn't happen overnight. Some things have taken longer to do and others we are still working on. We are in no way perfect, but we are better off than where we started. That said if what you read inspires you to make a change don't fret if you can't do it all at once. To quote a great movie line (What about Bob) "baby steps, baby steps..."
On with the show High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is the topic of choice today. To help us understand a little more about it I have borrowed a page from this website.

Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup
by Kevin Millard, Jul 4, 2007

High fructose corn syrup is the new silent killer. Sadly, it is found in almost everything we eat. find out how to avoid it.
One of the greatest ways we can improve our health is to eliminate high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from our diets.

What is HFCS?HFCS is not the run of the mill corn syrup found on the grocery store shelf, nor is it the fructose naturally found in fruits and honey. HFCS is a highly refined clear liquid derived from corn starch. Food manufactures love to use it because of its long shelf life an it's relative low cost.

Why is HFCS Bad for us?
Since HFCS's widespread introduction in the 1980's North American obesity rates have skyrocketed. Obesity has been linked to may heath issues including heart disease and many forms of cancer. When HFCS is ingested, it travels straight to the liver which turns the sugary liquid into fat, and unlike other carbohydrates HFCS does not cause the pancreas to produce insulin; which acts as a hunger quenching signal to the brain. So we get stuck in a vicious cycle, eating food that gets immediately stored as fat and never feeling full.

Where is HFCS found?
HFCS is found in almost everything we eat today. However, the worst culprit has to be soft drinks. A single 12 oz can of cola has up to 13 tsp of sugar, most of it fructose from HFCS. There is HFCS hidden in many of our other food as well, like ketchup, relish, cookies, and most alarmingly in low-fat diet foods. Manufactures substitute HFCS for the fat in food like mayo and salad dressings, then mark them as diet foods.

How Can We Avoid HFCS?
Avoiding HFCS will take a lifestyle change for the better. The first food to go has to be the soft drinks; this includes fruit punch, fruit cocktails, and Kool-Aid since they are all laden with HFCS.

Second, eat more meals at home. Restaurant foods are mostly prepackaged foods reheated and served to you. Use of HFCS in these foods is wide spread because of their increased shelf life.

Third, diet while you shop. Since you are going to be eating most of your meals at home, you're going to want to fill your cupboards with the best foods. While shopping, read the labels, if HFCS, fructose, or modified corn starch appears within the first five ingredients place it back on the shelf an move on. Sounds easy right? Wrong. As you make your way through the store you will begin to realize just how much of what you have been eating on a daily basis contains HFCS.

Reducing HFCS will not alway be easy, but the health benefits are well worth it. You will feel stronger and more vital, it will lift your mood and give you increased concentration. Limiting your intake of HFCS will not only shrink your midsection but also do wonders for your over all health.

This was a slow process for us, but has changed what we eat. This again is why for awhile it took so long to shop, because I read every label. There were days that it was really hard to put things back on the shelf and not in the cart, and some days that they went into the cart instead of back on the shelf. We still get HFCS, because we do eat out occasionally, and have a candy bowl at the top of the pantry. We do limit the times we eat out, and the times we snack from the candy bowl. It has gotten easier, the last thing to go for me was Sprite. I gave up diet drinks, as well as caffeine a long time ago. I do like the fizz of a pop every now and again, but just recently even Sprite has lost it's appeal. This is the second of the three ingredients that we avoid bringing into the house. MSG is one of the others, and the last is partially hydrogenated oils , so just you wait and that will make it into a Free Info Friday soon!
More On HFCS:
Easy to Read HFCS
DR. Oz on HFCS
More From DR. OZ
Wikipedia HFCS (The technical description)

Partially Hydrogenated

Partially hydrogenated fats or oils are in just about everything! I've had to modify several of my recipes to avoid using something that contains it. It is in everything from crackers and peanut butter to packaged gravy mixes! To cut this out of our diet was a challenge, can you say Ritz Crackers? But we have done it! I definitely know we are healthy for it, in the link at the bottom of this information is an article that talks about how it can affect PMS, cramps and headaches. I can say that as we have come further in our journey for health this things have decreased enormously, or ceased completely! "FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS EAT PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED FATS!"
Full Article with links and References
There are four kinds of fats: monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, saturated fat, and trans fat. Monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat are the "good" fats. It is generally accepted that consumption of saturated fat should be kept low, especially for adults. Trans fat (which means trans fatty acids) is the worst kind of fat, far worse than saturated fat.

Partial hydrogenation is an industrial process used to make a perfectly good oil, such as soybean oil, into a perfectly bad oil. The process is used to make an oil more solid; provide longer shelf-life in baked products; provide longer fry-life for cooking oils, and provide a certain kind of texture or "mouthfeel." The big problem is that partially hydrogenated oil is laden with lethal trans fat.

It is only the trans fat created by the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils that we are concerned about and that should be eliminated completely from your diet. We at BanTransFats.com are not concerned with the kind of naturally occurring trans fat found in small amounts in pomegranates, cabbage, peas, or the type found in the meat and milk of cows, sheep and goats.
Partially hydrogenated oils are commonly found in processed foods like commercial baked products such as cookies, cakes and crackers, and even in bread. They are also used as cooking oils (called "liquid shortening") for frying in restaurants.

One of the reasons that partially hydrogenated oils are used is to increase the product's shelf life, but they decrease your shelf life.
Trans fats cause significant and serious lowering of HDL (good) cholesterol and a significant and serious increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol; make the arteries more rigid; cause major clogging of arteries; cause insulin resistance; cause or contribute to type 2 diabetes; and cause or contribute to other serious health problems.

Tommy Thompson, the Secretary of HHS, said at a news conference on the Guidelines on January 12, 2005 that the FDA may recommend that daily intake of trans fat be less than 2 grams, perhaps less than 1 gram. In effect, that would mean totally avoiding any food containing partially hydrogenated oils.

In March 2003, Denmark issued new regulations limiting the amount of trans fat in processed foods. Denmark's food minister said: "We put the public health above the industry's interests." Why can't the United States do the same?

The American Heart Association position

On the subject of trans fat, the AHA recommends that your daily intake of trans fats be limited to 1 percent of total calories, which is equivalent to roughly 2 to 2.5 grams of trans fat per day. (The AHA also recommends that you limit saturated fat to about 15 to 19 grams per day.)

How much trans fat do we consume in a day? Some of us are consuming virtually none, because we are being extremely selective about what we eat. Some of us are consuming in excess of 15 grams of trans fat per day. If that sounds unbelievable, look at the following figures:

One McDonald's large fries contains 8 grams of trans fat.
A McDonald's apple pie contains 4.5 grams of trans fat.
Four Girl Scout shortbread cookies contain 1.5 grams of trans fat.
A large order of KFC Popcorn Chicken contains 7 grams of trans fat.
KFC's Chicken Pot Pie contains 14 grams of trans fat.
A typical 3-piece KFC Extra Crispy combo meal, with a drumstick, two thighs, potato wedges, and a biscuit contains 15 grams of trans fat. Incidentally, don't think that the problem is only at McDonald's or other fast-food chains. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many other restaurants, including "quality" restaurants, fry their food in partially hydrogenated oil and served baked goods containing partially hydrogenated fat. Many of them serve larger portions with more trans fat than McDonald's.

What not to eat

Here are six rules to help you avoid consuming partially hydrogenated oils.

1. Don't eat any product which has the words "partially hydrogenated" or "shortening" in the ingredients list.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises:

Consumers can know if a food contains trans fat by looking at the ingredient list on the food label. If the ingredient list includes the words “shortening,” “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “hydrogenated vegetable oil,” the food contains trans fat. Because ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance, smaller amounts are present when the ingredient is close to the end of the list.


2. If the label says zero trans fats, don't believe it. If the words "partially hydrogenated" or "shortening" are in the ingredients list, it DOES contain trans fat.

Under FDA regulations in effect in the United States, "if the serving contains less than 0.5 gram [of trans fat], the content, when declared, shall be expressed as zero." Suppose a product contains 0.4 grams per serving and you eat four servings (which is not uncommon). You have just consumed 1.6 grams of trans fat, despite the fact that the package claims that the product contains zero grams of trans fat per serving. Changing this rule is a high priority for BanTransFats.com. We are working on it.

3. Be careful when consuming products with labels from outside the United States. Sometimes they contain partially hydrogenated oil but it's not on the label.

4. In restaurants, bakeries, and other eateries, ask whether they use partially hydrogenated oil for frying or baking or in salad dressings. If they say they use vegetable oil, ask whether it is partially hydrogenated. Don't be shy about asking. Assume that all unlabeled baked and fried goods contain partially hydrogenated oil, unless you know otherwise.

5. Keep saturated fat intake low too. This is very important.

6. Remember that polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fats are good fats.

More information here
Trans Fats FAQs

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The Purpose of this Blog is to help spread the knowledge that I have gained that has put me onto the journey of good health! I borrow info from other sources for the purpose of education. This site is for education only, please supplement this information with your own research! Enjoy, comment if you have questions.