HealthBeat News

Category: Childrens Health

  • What About Soy Milk For Babies?

    It is great to know that people are reading our posts, and we get some interesting questions and comments as a result.

    Gary commented on our soy article to ask: “What about soy milk for babys” ?

     To which we respond:

    Yikes! Soy milk for babies? I don’t think so!

    Neither Dr. Myatt nor I would advocate feeding soy milk to a baby as a substitute for mothers milk for several reasons, all of which were mentioned in the article.

    First, soy is estrogenic. Babies are generally pretty perfectly hormonally balanced little creatures and they are also fragile little creatures; very sensitive to hormonal imbalances in their critical growing time. Would we really want to give a baby something that could alter those delicately balanced hormones?

    Next, soy can be goitrogenic, meaning it can suppress the function of the thyroid gland. As you might imagine, this is definitely not a good thing for adults, and it could be disastrous for a baby – thyroid suppression in a baby is called “Cretinism”!

    Finally, soy is a challenging protein to digest at the very best of times – many adults, with their better-developed digestive systems have trouble digesting it properly and experience gas and diarrhea – in a baby this would be described as “Colic” but it is actually much more serious than that as it can result in malabsorption and serious allergy and even auto-immune problems.

    There is ample evidence in medical literature that the very best nutrition for a baby comes from mothers milk – the kind that comes from mothers breast. Improved brain and intellectual development, and improved immune system function are well-documented in babies fed breast milk over those fed dairy or soy or synthetic products.

    So, what about babies who cannot tolerate dairy (cows milk) based formulas? Certainly there are babies who are “allergic” to cows milk – I remember seeing those poor little souls when I worked as a floor nurse in a pediatric ward. They would come in sick, fussing, gassy, cramping, and miserable with mom complaining that “none of the baby formulas I’ve tried seem to make him happy…” (even though she had not tried the “original formula” – the milk from her own breast!) The poor little tyke would be “diagnosed” as having “a milk allergy” and then put on a soy substitute. Often things would improve briefly, as the tiny gut was no longer being assaulted by proteins that it was not really designed to have to deal with, but then things would go downhill again, as that tiny digestive system rebelled against yet another foreign protein.

    I can hear the question now: “What about goat milk or sheep’s milk?” Well, many babies who are sensitive to the proteins in cows milk are cross-sensitive to the proteins in goat and sheep’s milk. Further, cows milk, goat milk, and sheep’s milk are likely to contain hormones and antibiotics, and most certainly will have been pasteurized which is very destructive to the proteins and natural enzymes of the milk.

    How many kids out there have been unfairly labeled as being “allergic to everything” or “just a sickly kid” or “a failure to thrive” when they could have been healthy, robust little bundles of joy if they had been breast fed?

    Nothing beats Mothers Milk for a baby!

  • Bisphenol A Back In The News – More Big Industry / FDA Hall Of Shame!

    We’ve answered questions about the safety of plastics and in particular about Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound found in may forms of plastics. Our answer has always been, don’t use plastics to contain food or drink any more than is absolutely necessary, and most especially, NEVER heat food or drink in plastics – the risks are just too great.

    Now the word is out – major newspapers across the nation are reporting it, there is no-where for the plastics industry to hide or for the FDA to escape to: this report, though it is written in the most careful, gentle, non-alarmist language possible, shows that even large government research organizations are concerned about the effects of Bisphenol A.

    The National Toxicology Program, a part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, which in turn is part of the U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services (are you confused yet?) has released a report titled “DRAFT NTP BRIEF ON BISPHENOL A”   in which the research team ever-so gently concludes: “The NTP concurs with the conclusion of the CERHR Expert Panel on Bisphenol A that there is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures. The NTP also has some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.”

    In other words, the stuff is poisonous.

    Will we see the FDA move to protect Americans from this toxic onslaught? Not likely – though Reuters news reports that some Democratic congressmen have asked the FDA to reconsider it’s position that Bisphenol A is safe for consumption by infants and children. Unfortunately, the plastics industry is a large and powerful influence in Washington, with close ties to the Pharmaceutical industry. There are immense profits at stake – far too valuable to let any concern for the safety of mere human infants and children interfere! Perhaps Canada does not have as highly developed a plastics industry – for the Canadian national newspaper The Globe And Mail is reporting that the Canadian Health Ministry is very close to declaring Bisphenol A a “dangerous substance” – a declaration which would be a first for any governmental regulatory agency anywhere, and which would strike a heavy blow to the plastics industry.

    This is another breaking news story that we will be watching carefully here at The Wellness Club…

  • 10 Dangers of Carbohydrates

    The US Food Pyramid advises us to eat 5-10 servings per day of carbohydrates, but high carbohydrate diets are the primary causes of our current overweight/obesity epidemic. 66% of adult Americans are overweight and 33% of these are obese. Diets high in carbohydrates (grains, beans, sugary fruits— anything that quickly turns into sugar in the blood stream) are making Americans some of the fattest people on Earth.

    Here are 10 reasons why carbohydrates — “carbs” — are so dangerous.

    I.) Carbs are not “essential” and high consumption displaces necessary nutrients. “Essential” means that a certain food is absolutely required by the body (like gasoline or diesel in a car), is not manufactured by the body, and so must be consumed in the diet.

    Have you ever heard of an “essential fatty acid”? (EFA)? Some types of fats — Omega 6’s and Omega 3’s — are absolutely required by the body.

    Have you heard of “essential amino acids”? Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are 8 amino acids that are “essential.” Without them, muscles, hormones and the heart (a muscle) cease to function properly. Muscles have a high protein requirement.

    Have you ever heard of an “essential carbohydrate”? I hope not, because there’s no such thing!

    Of the three calorie containing molecules — proteins, fats and carbohydrates — only certain fats and proteins are “essential.” When the diet is high in carbohydrates, it is often deficient in the necessary essential fats and proteins. Deficiencies of essential fats and proteins causes all manner of diseases, from mood disorders (neurotransmitters are made from essential fats and proteins) to muscle weakness (muscles have a high protein requirement), hormone imbalances, heart disease and premature aging.

    II.) Carbs cause overweight. What do we feed cows to fatten them up quickly? Carbohydrates, especially corn. “Corn fed beef” is wonderful — loaded with marbled fat. Cows don’t eat meat, so obviously the vilified eggs, butter and meat aren’t what is putting weight on these animals.

    And pigs? Although pigs are omnivores (like humans, they’ll eat anything), they are fed carbohydrates including corn, soybeans and barley for maximum weight gain. A piglet can go from 60 pounds to 250 pounds in 3 months on a diet high in carbohydrates.

    III.) Carbs cause adult-onset diabetes and “syndrome X” (pre diabetes). Fats and proteins have very little effect on blood sugar. Carbs have a BIG effect on blood sugar, causing rapid spike in glucose followed by a rapid rise in insulin. In the near-absence of carbohydrates, nearly all type II diabetics will fully recover from the “disease” in under three months. (I put type II diabetes in parenthesis because I don’t consider it a disease so much as a dietary imbalance. When the diet is corrected, the diabetes goes away).

    IV.) Carbs cause high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Look at the name of this molecule: carbo – “hydrate.” Hydrate means to combine with water. Each molecule of carbohydrate draws eight molecules of water to itself. This means that carbs cause water retention.

    Many cases of high blood pressure are caused by simple water retention. This is why one of the first drugs given for blood pressure is a diuretic — something that makes you urinate and hence, eliminate fluid.

    Congestive heart failure is caused by the body retaining too much water and literally “water logging” the heart, impeding it’s ability to beat. Eliminate the carbs, and blood pressure drops — often dramatically — in as little as a week.

    V.) Carbohydrates harbor deadly fungus and yeasts. Yeasts and fungus (which are really different forms of the same organism) feed on sugar. Many carbohydrate foods have a high propensity to become infected with fungus. What’s the danger of fungus? Please read Fungus, Yeasts and Molds: Hidden Cause of Many “Unexplained” Diseases.

    VI.) Carbohydrates cause nutrient deficiencies. Carbs require B complex vitamins for their utilization in the body. Unfortunately, it is the B vitamins that are removed during the processing of grains. Because refined grains are low in B vitamins and yet require high B vitamins for their utilization, they lead to B complex vitamin deficiencies.

    Problems associated with B vitamin deficiencies include depression, memory loss, heart disease, insomnia, cataracts, atherosclerosis, fatigue, muscle cramps, allergies and GI symptoms to name just a few.

    VII.) Carbs suppress the immune system. The immune system requires protein and certain fats to function normally. Sugar suppresses the immune system. (Remember, carbohydrates turn into sugar in the body). Three ounces of sugar in any form (can you say “fruit juice” or “soda pop” or “sports drink”?) suppress the activity of white blood cells for up to 5 hours.

    VIII.) Many carbohydrates are allergens. Although a person can be allergic to any type of protein or carbohydrate, grains and beans are some of the most allergenic of all foods.

    Subtle allergies to grains and carbs can cause GI problems (“tear up the gut”) and result in increased intestinal permeability, where toxins are allowed to leak into the bloodstream from the colon.

    IX.) Carbohydrates fuel cancer cells. Cancer cells use glucose — blood sugar — as their “food.” Unlike normal cells, they are not equipped to burn ketones (the product of fat breakdown) for fuel.

    Carbs suppress the immune system, making a person more susceptible to cancer. Then, the high blood sugar provides fuel for the cancer, like throwing gasoline on a fire. If you want to avoid cancer, limit your intake of carbohydrates.

    X.) Carbs are addictive. When you eat carbs, your blood sugar rapidly rises. You get a temporary “high” when your blood sugar is high. Next, a blast of insulin from the pancreas causes a precipitous drop in blood sugar. At this point, feelings of weakness, fatigue, shakiness and even anxiety set in. In order to feel good again, a person will “self medicate” by eating another blast of carbs. This vicious cycle is exactly what happens to drug addicts, who must continue to have repeated “fixes” of their drug in order to feel good. No such addiction occurs with fats and proteins.

    When a person is addicted to carbs, they repeatedly eat them. This results in overweight or obesity, decreased immunity, increased risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and depression to name just a few.

    Isn’t it time you “got hip” and switched to a luxurious, low carbohydrate, high-health diet? Lose weight and reclaim health fast with the Super Fast Diet!

  • Fungus, Yeasts and Molds: Hidden Cause of Many “Unexplained” Diseases

    Every day, thousands of microscopic, decay-eating organisms find their way into our bodies in the food we eat and the air we breathe. These organisms are part of  The Fungi Kingdom and include yeasts, molds, mildew, mushrooms, fungi and others. Although most fungi feed on dead and decaying organisms, a number of them also feed on living organisms. Athlete’s foot is a common fungus which feeds on a living host.

    The entire class of Fungi are “opportunistic,” and the ones which feed on humans can establish themselves in a human body during a time of weakness, such as during an infection or when the immune system is suppressed with drugs. There are also many fungi that do not require a weak immune system in order to establish themselves in a host. In addition to the direct effects of the fungi, which act like parasites in a human host, many also manufacture highly toxic substances called “mycotoxins.”

    Who Cares About Fungi and Mycotoxins?

    Fungi produce toxins called mycotoxins (“Myco” from the Greek “Mykes”, means “fungus”). Mycotoxins cannot be destroyed by heat, are known to suppress the immune system, and have a wide range of effects in both animals and humans. A number of these mycotoxins are quite poisonous.

    Aflatoxin, a common toxin found in peanuts and some grains and a result of Aspergillus flavus fungus, is one of the most potent carcinogens known to man. Because of this, peanuts and grains must be constantly “screened” for aflatoxin. Even with this government-mandated screening, a person eating according to the US Food-pyramid is eating between 0.15-0.5 grams per day. (A lethal dose is considered to be 10-20mg). But at these everyday, low-grade exposures, negative health effects can still be experienced.

    Symptoms and Diseases Associated with Mycotoxins and the Fungi Kingdom

    When the World Health Organization recently convened, Dr. A.V. Costantini, head of the organization, an internist who modestly claims to be a “just a country doctor,” listed fourteen diseases wherein fungal (mold & Candida Albicans) forms of microorganisms have been found include the following: atherosclerosis, cancer, AIDS, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic lupus , erythematosus, gout, Crohn’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, hyperactivity syndrome, Infertility, psoriasis, cirrhosis of the liver, Alzheimer’s disease, Scleroderma, Raynaud’s Disease, sarcoidosis, kidney stones, amyloidosis, vasculitis, and Cushing’s disease. 

    Other conditions known to be caused by fungi, yeasts and their mycotoxins include: postpartum depression, immune system weakness, bladder disease (especially non-bacterial interstitial cystitis in women and chronic non-bacterial prostatitis in men), pneumonitis and lung infections, endometriosis and weight gain.

    A person suffering from yeast of fungal overgrowth may have any of these symptoms:

    • In the intestinal tract: bloating, excessive feeling of fullness, diarrhea, constipation, alternating diarrhea and constipation, “rolling gas,” abdominal cramping, heartburn, indigestion, gas or belching, mucous in the stool, hemorrhoids.
    • In the female genital tract: recurrent yeast vaginitis, persistent vaginal itching or burning, persistent vaginal discharge, endometriosis, PMS.
    • In the male genital tract: prostatitis, impotence, loss of sexual desire.
    • In the urinary tract: urgency or urinary frequency, recurrent urinary tract “infections” but bacteria are NOT found to be the cause.
    • In the nervous system: numbness, burning, or tingling, spots in front of the eyes, erratic vision, impaired coordination, irritability or jitteriness, dizziness or loss of balance, failing vision, ear pain or deafness.
    • In the immune system: rashes, post nasal drip, sore or dry throat, wheezing or shortness of breath, recurrent infections, burning or tearing of eyes, cough.
    • In the skin and mucous membranes: recurrent skin fungal infections, nail-bed fungus, “jock itch,” thrush (yeast overgrowth in the mouth and esophagus)
    • In general: fatigue, mental “cloudiness,” joint aches and pains, obesity, depression, memory loss.

    There are quite probably many other medical conditions associated with fungi, yeasts and mycotoxins in the human body. Because this is a largely overlooked topic in conventional medicine, our understanding of the disease-fungi connection is weak at best.

    Your conventional doctor is unlikely to be aware of or to tell you about these mycotoxin-induced problems. You can learn more about candidiasis here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/candidiasis.htm . If you believe that you may be experiencing any of these symptoms or problems a Candida stool test is a good place to start your investigation.
     
    References:
    Mycotoxins in the food chain: human health implications. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2007;16 Suppl 1:95-101.
    Contamination of food with mycotoxins and human health. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2001 Mar;52(1):23-35.
    Limits and regulations for mycotoxins in food and feed.
    Toxic effects of mycotoxins in humans. Bull World Health Organ. 1999;77(9):754-66
    Toxins of filamentous fungi. Food Addit Contam. 2005 Feb;22(2):150-7
    Mycotoxins in infant cereal foods from the Canadian retail market. Food Addit Contam. 2003 May;20(5):494-504.

  • Hay Fever – Natural Remedies for Pollen and Seasonal Allergies

    Hay Fever – (Seasonal Allergies, Allergic Rhinitis)

    Natural Remedies for Pollen and Seasonal Allergies

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

    Hay Fever (also known as seasonal allergy) is caused by an over-reaction of the immune system to harmless airborne particles such as pollen.Symptoms of Hay fever can include any of the following:

    • stuffy or runny nose and nasal congestion
    • itchy, watery eyes
    • sneezing
    • coughing
    • post nasal drip
    • sinus pain or pressure
    • fatigue

    Hay fever is common in the Spring and Fall when airborne pollen counts are highest.Although hay fever effects some 40 million people annually, not everyone is susceptible to airborne pollens and particulates. So what makes a person vulnerable to seasonal allergies?

    Studies have shown that people with inhalant allergies are more likely to have food allergies. A hypo allergenic diet has has shown to help some people with asthma and allergic rhinitis. (1,2,3) Remember that avoidance of a food allergen, even if it does not improve hay fever, would be expected to improve over-all health.

    Pharmaceutical anti-allergy drugs often have undesirable side effects. So what can a person do to decrease hay fever symptoms without using drugs? Here are some of the best-proven natural remedies for alleviating seasonal allergies:

    1. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus): Butterbur has been shown in studies to be as effective as drugs at relieving symptoms of hay fever but without adverse side effects (4-8)One study compared Butterbur to the drug cetirizine (Zyrtec) and found that both relieved symptoms equally well. However, the drug was associated with a higher rate of adverse side effects including drowsiness.(4)

      A second study compared butterbur extract with fexofenadine (Allegra). Butterbur was just as effective as fexofenadine at relieving symptoms.(5)

      Because butterbur may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can cause liver damage, use only extracts which have the pyrrolizidine alkaloids removed. This will be stated on the label.

      Symptom improvement is related to dosage, with higher doses producing more symptom relief. Suggested dose for best effect: 1-2 capsule, 3 times per day of an extract standardized to contain 7.5 mg of petasine per capsule. Look for formulas which state that they are pyrrolizidine alkaloid-free.(6)
       

    2. Grape seed extract — “nature’s anti-histamine.”Histamine is an irritating substance released from certain white blood cells (mast cells) in response to allergens. Anti-histamines block the histamine receptor and can improve symptoms of sneezing, itchy eyes and nose. Older antihistamines cause drowsiness, newer antihistamines are associated with heart complications. They are also expensive.

      Grape seed extract functions as an anti-histamine by stabilizing the mast cell, making it less ‘touchy” about releasing histamine. Grape seed extract has been shown to performs as a natural anti-histamine. (9-11)

      The “side effects” of grape seed extract are actually additional benefits, not unwanted side effects. Grape seed has been shown to improve chronic venous insufficiency (12-17), strengthen collagen and blood vessels(18-22),and help prevent cancer and heart disease through multiple mechanisms. (23-41) Grape seed extract is also a potent antioxidant. (27,33-34,42-47)

      Many people find grape seed extract effective for hayfever when taken 50-100mg, 3 times per day.
       

    3. Quercetin nasal spray. Quercetin is one of the most biologically active flavonoids, widely distributed in the plant kingdom in such species as oak trees (Quercus spp.), onions (Allium cepa) and tea (Camellia sinensis).Like grape seed extract, quercetin prevents acts as a natural anti-histamine by preventing the release of histamine from mast cells. (48) In fact, quercetin performs this function so well that it is used in medical experiments as a control substance for such activity (49-51). Quercetin is not well-absorbed orally, so higher doses must be taken, especially at the beginning of allergy treatment.

      A water-soluble form of quercetin, available as a nasal spray, is a safe and effective alternative to drug nasal sprays. The effects of quercetin nasal spray are felt within several minutes and last up to two hours. Pharmaceutical nasal sprays work by constricting blood vessels. They can have “addictive” effects on the nasal passages, and congestion becomes worse when they are discontinued. Quercetin does not create dependence or have rebound effects upon discontinuation. (52)

    References
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    3. Ogle KA, Bullock JD. Children with allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma treated with elimination diet. Ann Allergy 1977;39:8–11.
    4.) Schapowal A, Petasites Study Group. Randomised controlled trial of butterbur and cetirizine for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. BMJ 2002;324:144–6.
    5.) Lee DK, Gray RD, Robb FM, et al. A placebo-controlled evaluation of butterbur and fexofenadine on objective and subjective outcomes in perennial allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy 2004;34:646–9.
    6.) Schapowal A; Petasites Study Group. Butterbur Ze339 for the treatment of intermittent allergic rhinitis: dose-dependent efficacy in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Dec;130(12):1381-6.
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