UnSymmetrical

Testing prompted by an Associated Press story that revealed trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies has shown that more Americans are affected by the problem than previously thought — at least 46 million.

That's up from 41 million people reported by the AP in March as part of an investigation into the presence of pharmaceuticals in the nation's waterways.

The AP stories prompted federal and local legislative hearings, brought about calls for mandatory testing and disclosure, and led officials in at least 27 additional metropolitan areas to analyze their drinking water. Positive tests were reported in 17 cases, including Reno, Nev., Savannah, Ga., Colorado Springs, Colo., and Huntsville, Ala. Results are pending in three others.

The test results, added to data from communities and water utilities that bowed to pressure to disclose earlier test results, produce the new total of Americans known to be exposed to drug-contaminated drinking water supplies.

The overwhelming majority of U.S. cities have not tested drinking water while eight cities — including Boston, Phoenix and Seattle — were relieved that tests showed no detections.

"We didn't think we'd find anything because our water comes from a pristine source, but after the AP stories we wanted to make sure and reassure our customers," said Andy Ryan, spokesman for Seattle Public Utilities.

Continue reading "46 Million Affected By Trace Amounts Of Drugs In Drinking Water" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 10:38 PM | Permalink

A Check-up six months ago revealed Denis Vaughan's prostate cancer was becoming more active.

Vaughan, an orchestral conductor and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the National Lottery, has had prostate cancer for 12 years.

Because the tumour wasn't considered aggressive enough for surgery or radiotherapy, his consultant at University College Hospital had agreed on a policy of watchful waiting, while Denis kept it at bay with diet and exercise.

Then, his prostate specific antigen (PSA) score, which measures how active the tumour is, went from 13 to 18.5 'and the watching became a bit anxious'.

His oncologist wanted him to take drugs or begin radiotherapy, but Vaughan, who is a strong believer in a natural approach to health, preferred to try a treatment offered by his London GP that involved infusing vitamin C into the bloodstream.

He underwent weekly treatment - with up to 75 grams of vitamin C at a time (the recommended daily amount is 60mg).

The treatment, which cost £100 a time, appears to have worked - after seven weeks, his PSA dropped back down to 13, a level described as moderately elevated, and he's back on watchful waiting. His oncologist has said he now doesn't need to see Vaughan for another year.

Continue reading "British Conductor Claims Vitamin C Reversed His Cancer" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 07:51 PM | Permalink

One dangerous, widely used and well researched chemicals that is found in many plastics is called Bisphenol A, or BPA for short. This chemical is found in sippy cups, the epoxy linings of canned food, baby bottles and countless other items. The organisations producing these products have fought hard and must have somehow bought out the FDA. It is obviously clear through years of research that the hormone disrupting chemical is dangerous, but through aggressive Search Engine Marketing, the creation of websites such as bisphenol-a.org, by employing their own scientists and lobbyists, and possibly buying out the FDA, Big Plastic has triumphed as the FDA has given their ruling that BPA is not dangerous. This has outraged the scientific community, including scientists, doctors and politicians with half a brain.

The main problem with BPA is that it's being used in CANNED FOODS and baby bottles such at Avent's plastic baby bottles. Numerous studies have shown that when the baby bottles are exposed to boiling water or when they are put through the dishwasher they break down and the BPA seeps into the baby's milk/formula.

When legitimate scientists have conducted studies on BPA, it is consistently linked to obesity, developmental problems, risk for heart attack, and breast and prostate cancer. Even if there was the slightest chance that BPA was dangerous the FDA should've banned it from plastics, especially BABY BOTTLES. What could be worse for a baby then to expose them to these risks?!?!?!

Continue reading "Big Plastic Paid Off The FDA?" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 05:46 PM | Permalink

Red Bull may claim to “give you wings” but drinking too much of the popular energy drink may also lead to heart damage, a study suggests.

A study of 30 university students aged between 20 and 24 years old found that drinking just one 250ml sugar-free can of the caffeinated energy drink increased the “stickiness” of the blood and raised the risk of blood clots forming.

Using tests to measure blood pressure and the state of blood vessels around the body, the Australian researchers said that after drinking one can participants had shown a cardiovascular profile similar to that of someone with heart disease.

Red Bull today emphatically denied that the drink, which is distributed to 143 countries worldwide, was dangerous. In a statement, it said that Red Bull had been proved safe by “numerous scientific studies”, and that it had never been banned from anywhere it had been introduced.

Scott Willoughby, of the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Adelaide University, said that he was alarmed at the results, and suggested that older adults who already have symptoms of heart disease should refrain from drinking too much of the energy drink.

Continue reading "Red Bull Gives You Wings - and Heart Trouble?" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 05:47 PM | Permalink

For the first time, the Federal Trade Commission is being sued over the use of history.

A New Mexico herb company says the First Amendment gives it the right to tell customers the historical use of herbs in treating serious diseases. The FTC says this violates its guidelines.

Now the issue is headed to court. Native Essence Herb Company, and its owners Mark and Marianne Hershiser, has sued to strike down the FTC's guidelines.

The lawsuit was filed by Houston attorney Richard A. Jaffe, Esq., a leading health care attorney and the author of "Galileo's Lawyer," an insider's look into the battles between the government and the complementary medicine field.

"Herb sellers should be able to tell consumers that an herb has a long historical use to treat a disease," says Jaffe. "The FTC's prohibition of this kind of truthful information is unreasonable and unconstitutional."

The lawsuit asks the federal court to declare the FTC's guidelines on "historical use claims" for herbal remedies a violation of the First Amendment.

Company owner Hershiser wants to post this historical use information on his website, much of which is taken from federal government websites, and he wants the courts to allow him that right.

Continue reading "Native Essence Herb Company Sues FTC" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 10:26 PM | Permalink

Fasting for one day each month may reduce the risk of clogged arteries by 40 percent, according to a new study conducted by researchers from Intermountain Medical Center and the University of Utah and presented at a conference of the American Heart Association.

Researchers first began to study fasting when an analysis of a health registry indicated that significantly fewer Mormons than non-Mormons in Utah suffered from the clogged arteries indicative of heart disease, even after different smoking rates were taken into account.

The researchers then conducted a survey of 515 people, 92 percent of whom were Mormon. Participants were asked about a number of habits associated with the practice of the Mormon religion, including fasting one day per month, avoidance of caffeine and alcohol, observance of a day of rest, church attendance and donation of either time or money to charity.

Of the five religious practices, only observance of the monthly fast showed any correlation with heart disease rates, with 59 percent of regular fasters developing heart disease, compared with 67 percent of those who did not fast. The difference between fasters and non-fasters remained even after the researchers adjusted for age, weight and health status, including high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure.

Continue reading "Fasting One Day a Month Causes Significant Reduction in Clogged Arteries" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 06:13 PM | Permalink