SUNBURN MOMENT
SUNBURNED MOMENT
We know that too much sun exposure is harmful. Sunburns before the age of 18 are linked to squamous and basal cell cancers later. There is a new sunscreen on the market that promises to be easier; however, don't rush to buy this product. The novelty is that you drink it.
It is the first drinkable SPF sunscreen. You drink it and the molecules vibrate on the skin supposedly canceling out 97 percent of UVA and UVB rays. At $30.00 per bottle it comes in two flavors - tanning and non-tanning. Sunscreens are not federally regulated and have not been for the past 40 plus years. No claims have been approved for Harmonized H20 UV. Another catch is the dosage and timing. Take 2 ml every 4 hours while in the sun with 2 oz. of water, but wait one hour before exposure to the sun. Take a second dose if you are still in the sun 3 hours after the first dose. If you're doing intense exercise then use alternate protection after 30-40 minutes. This is definitely not a confident builder like the boastful marketing. Unless Environmental Working Group approves it for use - don't drink any. It's common sense to not ingest sunscreen internally. Check out EWG's sunscreen database for non-toxic brands.
THE SWEET SPOT
The FDA approved a new high-intensity artificial sweetener called advantame. We needed a high-intensity high on top of our sugar high. It is classifed as a food additive, considered safe for use as a sweetener and flavor enhancer in food, except in poultry and meat. Water soluble, free-flowing Advantame is a crystalline powder that can withstand high temperatures. It will be used in a variety of products - soft drinks, baked goods, gum, frostings, frozen desserts, puddings, jams, jellies, processed fruits, toppings and syrups.
This the 6th high intensity sweetener to pass the safety studies approved by the FDA. Put this on your label list of what not to buy. I'll try to post the other 5 high intensity sweeteners so you can teach your children what to look for and how to spell these additives. We're going to turn this sugar addiction into a spelling bee. Spelling bees might be the only bees left after the Monsanto bee genocide. A bit of history. Monsanto's first product was saccharin - the original carcinogen.
EVERYDAY HEROES
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found out what two of my environmental colleagues, Dr. Susan Shaw in Maine and Dr. Chris Spooner in Canada knew over a decade ago. Firefighters have higher rates of cancer than the general population. Respiratory, digestive and urinary tract cancers plus double the reported cases of mesothelioma account for the reported cases. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that attacks thin tissues that cover many internal organs.
These everyday heroes risk everything even after the fire is quenched because they are left with an internal four-alarm fire that continues to burn in their bodies. Firefighters will save 6 people out of a burning building, sit down on the curb for a break and then slump over from a massive heart attack. They are at high risk for cardiovascular events because of environmental exposures. If they don't have a fatal cardiac event they live and work in environments that perpetuate a slow fuse burning towards cancer.
Why the higher risk? Ironically, the same chemicals that are supposed to protect us from fire are the chemicals that cause cancer - flame-retardants. Firefighters touch, breathe and eat flame-retardants.
I met with Fire Commissioner, Gordon Wren, on a few occasions who is in charge of 3000 plus volunteer firefighters in my area. He talked about the loss of firefighters due to environmental exposures as he would have to attend funerals on a regular basis. I made myself available to speak to firefighters pro bono so we could develop a protective program. Ten years ago, the data wasn't in and the firefighters were not interested in making lifestyle changes. I wanted to approach Home Depot and have them donate non-toxic wood so we could build a firefighter's sauna. Sauna has been proven to eliminate environmental toxins post-exposure as shown by the Tom Cruise project in NYC post-911. I stand committed to support our everyday heroes. For those who want a sample of my Four-Alarm FireFighter Detox Program: Go to my virtual pharmacy to get to the real companies. Pass this on to any firefighter than you know. I individualize every protocol based on the individual, genetics and the exposures.
- Xymogen's XenoProtX - 2 caps twice a day inbetween meals
- Xymogen's NAC or S-acetyl glutathione - 2 caps twice a day inbetween meals
- Xymogen's CurcuPlex 95 - 3 caps per day
- Xymogen's MedCaps DPO and Liver Protect - 2 caps of each inbetween meals
- Xymogen's AlaMax Protect - 2 caps twice a day
- Swedish or Infra-Red Sauna 3 times per week - drink yarrow, ginger, milk thistle tea before the sauna
- Get your baseline labs checked and include MTHFR, COMT, GSH
- Green juices every day with parsley, cilantro, kale, apple, ginger - add in some fresh ground hemp, chia, flax or acai seeds
- Xymogen's Melatonin CR
- GOOD GUT products - Probiotics + immune, Repair and Detox - significant discounts for all firefighters
LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS OH MY!
Paints, degreasers, adhesives and glue exposure on a regular basis can create memory loss, concentration issues and affect your cognitive speed decades later. In a nutshell, it makes it hard to think. Solvents in the short term make it hard to think and now researchers are looking at long-term affects on cognition after the person has retired. A study used French Utility workers and looked at over 2000 male retirees. They found that individuals who had the most solvent exposures (chlorinated solvents, petroleum solvents, benzene and non-benzene aromatic solvents) over time and then were recently exposed to solvents had cognitive difficulties in areas associated with solvent exposure and other areas of cognitive function. More areas of the brain became involved.
The short and long of this segment is that you need to use a respirator and be in a well-ventilated area if you are exposed to solvents. Barriers like respirators, air filters, gloves and coverings for clothes can reduce your exposure. For the weekend home remodelers, investigate your product choices first and always opt for the less-toxic versions of paint, adhesives, glues, etc. These are easy to find on the internet. If you need more expertise, contact my colleague Mary Cordaro in CA. She is a certified Bau-Biologist who has been doing environmentally sound design for over 20 years. Mary Cordaro Inc.
Locally, we can provide environmental medical assistance for exposures with testing and treatment for all exposures. We have an I.V. suite in our Piermont office, colonics in Nyack and we can refer out for hyperbaric oxygen.
FOOD NEWS - Recalls, Recipe and Rights
Don't dip that chip too fast. Close to 15,000 pounds of hummus was recalled by Lansal Inc. because of bacterial contamination. Brands sold in Target, Giant Eagle and Trader's Joe's were recalled.
This is nuts - Walnuts from Sherman Produce were recalled against possible Listeria bacteria which can cause fatal infections in the immunocompromised like children, individuals with chronic disease and the elderly. Symptoms of listeria infection can be mild, but symptoms to watch out for include: diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle aches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Pregnant women must be careful because listeria infections can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage, premature delivery or a life-threatening infection in the newborn baby.
The list gets rounded out with ground beef - 1.8 million pounds because of an E. coli contamination. E. coli infections cause severe diarrhea with or without blood in the stool, abdominal pains and vomiting. Most need to be hospitalized and do I.V. hydration, but some individuals don't recover within 7 days and suffer severe complications to the kidneys called hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Children and the elderly are at the highest risk for this complication. Every year, I think of going completely vegan which makes sense and then I read about contamination in sprouts and walnuts. It's hard to pass by that intoxicating grilled burger smell. Of course, you don't want to overcook the meat and get unnecessary oxidative stress. Cook the burgers well this year and the internal temp should be between 160-170 degrees. The hard fact is that any food can become contaminated at anytime although I'd like to think that my kim-chee and sauerkraut is safer.
Food-borne illnesses will become more common and more deadly because of lack of oversight, high use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, poor hygiene and global cross-contamination of food. Our legislators voted for your chicken to be slaughtered here and processed in China. I predict that hospital admissions will dramatically increase due to food-borne illnesses.
Food Tips for better health protection
- If you're sick don't handle food. Stay out of the kitchen.
- Keep your food prep surfaces clean. Wash your hands.
- Buy organic and antibiotic-free. Grow your own sprouts.
- Don't eat too much of anything.
- Take Xymogen's ProbioMax DF 100 billion, IgG 2000 CWP, XymoZyme andDFH's G.I. Microbix every day.
- If you live through another day, then try to enjoy foods that would be part of your last meal the next day. If it doesn't kill you then it probably will make you stronger.
Recipe
This sweet-tart dessert is a great finish to a summertime picnic. It’s also delicious when made with lemon juice. To store, pack squares in a tightly covered plastic container and refrigerate. Makes 24 bars.
Filling
Water
⅓ cup key lime juice, bottled or fresh squeezed
2 large egg yolks
⅔ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder
Zest of one lime
Crumb Mixture
1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour blend of choice (or recipe below)
½ cup potato starch or corn starch
1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup plus 3 tablespoons butter or margarine or shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup quinoa flakes or gluten-free oatmeal
powdered sugar, optional
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x12-inch pan that’s lined with aluminum foil.
2. To make filling, add enough water to lime juice to equal 1½ cups liquid. Whisk juice together with egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch and zest in a heavy-bottom saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture has thickened and there are no lumps. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together flour blend, potato starch, baking powder, xanthan gum and salt. Set aside.
4. Cream butter or shortening. Add brown sugar and mix well.
5. Add flour mixture slowly to sugar mixture, scraping bowl often. Do not over-mix. Mixture will be crumbly. Add quinoa flakes or oatmeal.
6. Firmly pat about half of crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan with your fingertips, making a smooth layer. Spoon the key lime filling over the crumb layer. Sprinkle remaining crumbs over the top of the filling. Some filling will show through.
7. Bake 30 to 35 minutes in preheated oven until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into squares. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
Gluten-Free Flour Blend
Makes 1½ Cups
½ cup sorghum flour
½ cup tapioca starch
¼ cup potato starch (not potato flour)
¼ cup rice flour
1. Mix ingredients together. Store in tight-fitting container until used.
Each serving contains: 137 calories, 6g total fat, 3g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 31g cholesterol, 79mg sodium, 21 total carbohydrates, 1g protein
This recipe is reprinted with permission from Simple, Delicious Solutions for Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Cooking (Special Eats), by Sueson Vess
Rights
52 countries marched against Monsanto this weekend. Keep the pressure on. Consumers have the right to choose. Visit Vermont - the only state to pass legislation for mandatory GMO labelling.
Look for my upcoming blogs about Fertility, Infant allergies and dermatitis and the latest on the intestinal microbiome or your gut health. We are your Detox Experts. We specialize in reversing chronic disease, autoimmune conditions, cancer care and environmental medicine.
