Dangerous Chemical Found in Plastic - Dr Mercola

An oestrogen-like compound widely used in plastic products is thought to be causing serious reproductive disorders, according to a statement by several dozen scientists, including four from federal health agencies. The compound, bisphenol A (BPA), is one of the most-produced chemicals in the world, and almost everyone has traces of it -- or more -- in their bodies.
After reviewing about 700 studies, the scientists concluded that people are exposed to levels of BPA in excess of those that have harmed lab animals. Among the most vulnerable are infants and foetuses, who are still developing.

BPA is used to make hard plastic that’s used in numerous products including:
• Polycarbonate plastic baby bottles
• Large water-cooler containers and sports bottles
• Microwave-oven dishes
• Canned-food liners
• Some dental sealants for children
The statement appeared alongside five accompanying scientific reviews and a new study by the National Institutes of Health that found newborn animals exposed to BPA suffered from uterine damage. The damage could indicate that the chemical causes reproductive disorders in women ranging from fibroids to endometriosis to cancer.

While studies have yet to be conducted to directly examine BPA’s influence on humans, past animal studies have found low doses of the chemical to be associated with early-stage prostate and *** cancers and decreased sperm count.

No governmental agency worldwide has restricted the use of BPA, but a U.S. expert panel is meeting to discuss whether the chemical should be declared a human reproductive toxin, which could lead to regulatory action.

The chemical industry maintains that BPA is safe, and has called the scientists’ statement “alarmist and biased.”
Reproductive Toxicology July 2007
Seattle Times August 3, 2007

Dr Mercola Comment
The use of BPA has clearly spiralled out of control, and now we are having to face the dire consequences. The scientists found that 95% of the people tested had levels of BPA in their bodies that could be harmful.

Perhaps the biggest victims in all of this are foetuses and infants, who may be exposed to the chemical in utero or quite literally “fed” the chemical via plastic baby bottles and toys (which they often put in their mouths).

The problem with BPA is that it doesn’t stay in the plastic. It leeches into whatever food or beverage you put in a plastic container, canned good, or plastic baby bottle. And if you microwave the containers or bottles, you are likely increasing the amount of BPA that leaches into your food.

Another point worth noting is that BPA supposedly does not hang around in your body long after you’re exposed. Yet, this chemical is so pervasive that the scientists think people are simply being continually exposed to it from food, air, dust, and even just by touching items that contain BPA.

BPA mimics the sex hormone estradiol, which can trigger major changes in your body. The problems associated with even small amounts of BPA include:
• Structural damage to your brain
• Hyperactivity
• Abnormal sexual behaviour
• Increased fat formation and risk of obesity
• Early puberty and disrupted reproductive cycles

The potential risks of BPA have been being debated for years. Meanwhile, people just keep on ingesting this toxin -- at levels that are anyone’s guess.

Several readers have commented that, even if BPA does eventually get restricted, there are countless other dangerous chemicals still out there. This is, sadly, very true. The EPA approves new chemicals to the tune of some 700 every year! Still, every step you take toward eliminating a toxin from the products you use is a good one.

Of course, I personally would not wait for a government restriction to begin reducing my exposure to this toxin. The evidence that has amassed thus far is enough to convince me. To be fair, you probably can no longer completely eliminate your exposure to BPA (since it’s likely in our air, water, and food, too) but you can certainly reduce it. The following tips will not only reduce your exposure to BPA, but also to many of the other dangerous plastics chemicals as well.

Ten Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA
1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby
2. Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic ones
3. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic -- containers
4. IF you choose to use a microwave, don’t microwave food in a plastic container
5. Stop buying and consuming canned foods and drinks
6. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it)
7. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with glass varieties
8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don’t wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food
9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis filter instead
10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to you, or your children’s, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA

In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your food, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.

Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 do not contain BPA (however they may contain other unsavoury chemicals that you’re best off avoiding by using glass instead).

Related Articles
Common Plastics May Increase Your Child's Obesity Risks
How Safe is Your Food Container?
Our Oceans are Turning Into Plastic

Source: Dr Mercola Newsletter #994, 25 August 2007

Cancer Update from John Hopkins

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do
not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a
few billion.When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more
cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the
tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not
reached the detectable
size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's
lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will
be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple
nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic,
environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet
and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells
and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow,
gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause o rgan damage, like
liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and
damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often
reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and
radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and
radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed,
hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and
complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and
become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause
cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells
by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one
important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like
NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is
harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or
molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical
added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's
aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the
gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk
and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being
starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is
acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than
beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth
hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people
with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole
grains,seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an
alkaline environment.About 20% can be from cooked food including
beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily
absorbed and reach
down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance
growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy
cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including
bean sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes
are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine.Green
tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.
Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known
toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic,
avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of
digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become
putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining
from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein
walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy
the cancer
cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6,
Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to
enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other
supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or
programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of
damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive
and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor.
Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and
acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit.
Learn to relax
and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment.
Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to
the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to
destroy cancer cells.

(PLEASE FORWARD IT TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT)

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHNHOPKINSHOSPITAL, U S - PLEASE READ

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This
information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
as well.
Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.
Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this
releases dioxins from the plastic.
Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at
CastleHospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.
He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.

He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave
using plastic containers.
This especially applies to foods that contain fat.

He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics
releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the
body.

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or
ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only
without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and
soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in
something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just
safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.

He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food r estaurants
moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem
is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as
dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As
the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually
melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with
a paper towel instead



This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

KOMO TV has recently reported this non well-known cancer so that to call upon the awareness of everyone regarding this cancer.

Reported by Michelle Esteban in KOMO-TV on 7th May 2007, and below is her report.

SEATTLE - Breast cancer is something women think they know all about: Look for lumps; have mammograms; see our doctors.

But none of that will save you from one silent breast cancer killer that women know virtually nothing about.

It's called "inflammatory breast cancer," and it's something every woman must know about.

Nancy Key didn't know.

"I was furious and at the same time, terrified that I was going to die, 'cause I didn't know," she said.

What Marilyn Willingham didn't know, killed her.

"She smiled and took a breath and went to sleep," says Phil Willingham, Marilyn's husband.

And Kristine Turck didn't know.

"It's gonna be a tough fight," says Kristine.

They didn't know there was more than one kind of breast cancer.

They didn't know they could get breast cancer without a lump.

They didn't know a mammogram would not detect this kind of breast cancer.

They didn't know Inflammatory Breast Cancer - or IBC - is the most aggressive form of breast cancer.

They didn't know, until they got it.

Almost Never A Tell-Tale Lump

"How can I have something when I go to the doctor every year, I do self breast exams every month and what is this? Why am I surprised?" asks Nancy.

We've all been taught the same thing when it comes to breast cancer -- we look for a lump. But when it comes to IBC, forget that! You won't find a lump.

"Inflammatory breast cancer almost always presents itself without a lump," says Breast Cancer Specialist Dr. Julie Gralow.

Inflammatory breast cancer appears in sheets of cancer, or what doctors call cancer nests. The cancer clogs breast tissue vessels.

"If I had heard of it prior, I probably would have been more suspect that something was wrong rather than just young and dumb," says Kristine Turck.

Kristine was just 37 when she was diagnosed with IBC, three years away from the recommended age to start mammograms.

Patti Bradfield can never forget the day her daughter Kristine told her.

"I have the kind that I'm gonna die," says Patti Bradfield.

Patti had never heard of IBC either.

"Ignorance is causing death," says Bradfield.

Getting The Word Out

Patti is determined to warn every woman she meets.

"Have you heard of inflammatory breast cancer?" Bradfield asks a woman walking by on a Kirkland street corner. "I'm not trying to sell anything. My daughter has stage 4 and I'm just trying to alert women." She stopped 46 people on that corner, and 42 never heard of IBC.

"Oh my God, I never even heard of it, thank you for the information," says a young mother.

"The interesting thing is most women have never heard about IBC and most physicians heard about it in med school but never have seen a case," says Dr. Gralow.

Nancy and Marilyn's doctors told them they had bug bites on their breasts and prescribed antibiotics. By the time Marilyn was diagnosed, she was stage 4 and the cancer was everywhere.

"I never dealt with stages of cancer, I didn't know there wasn't a stage 5," says a dumfounded Bradfield.

Know The Symptoms

Andi was just 16 when she died from IBC. She was too embarrassed to tell her mother her breast looked funny. It was slightly enlarged and her nipple was inverted -classic IBC symptoms.

Other symptoms include: rapid increase in breast size, redness, skin hot to the touch, persistent itching, an orange peel texture to the breast and thickening of breast tissue.

"It's important to understand your breast, no one knows your breasts better than you," advices Dr. Gralow.

"It doesn't happen very often so there isn't as much awareness about it," says Lynn Hagerman, Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Puget Sound Affiliate. IBC accounts for about 6% of all invasive breast cancer cases.

Lynn Hagerman runs the local chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. With their pink ribbons and messaging heard nationwide, they are the undisputed leader in breast cancer awareness.

In 20 years the foundation's work has helped boost survival rates from 75% to 95%.

"One in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime," says Hagerman.

Hard To Find IBC Information

She admits with all the emphasis on a lump, inflammatory breast cancer patients may not get enough warning. In fact, it's hard to find information on IBC even on the Komen Web site.

IBC survivors say that and not being included in awareness campaigns makes them feel left out.

"It's all about them, it's not about the good for everyone else," says Turck.

And, survivors tell KOMO 4 when they were diagnosed, they called Cancer Centers and couldn't get help.

So, we called four cancer help lines in Seattle, and 3 out of 4 didn't know about IBC.

"It stands for Inflammatory Breast Cancer, 3 separate words," I tell one center.

Even when I spelled it out, they still didn't know.

"I just want to be sure, I called the resource desk at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, is that right?" I asked.

When her own helpline didn't know, that shocked Dr. Gralow.

"Wow... which means we have education of our own staff to do," admits Dr. Gralow.

More Money Going To Research

All the cancer centers do a good job creating breast cancer awareness, but more information on IBC will help to ensure that women know what to look for.

Dr. Gralow assured us that the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is spending research dollars on IBC. Komen says it is too.

Dr. Gralow is also working with the National Cancer Institute and will participate in the " State of Science" conference to be held next April in Bethesda, Maryland. She says IBC is on the agenda.

Since our initial report, the Susan G. Komen Foundation told KOMO 4 News they need to do a better job with IBC awareness and that they're redesigning their Web site and creating a better search engine to make all information, including IBC, more accessible.

The best way to detect IBC is to know the warning signs and ask for an MRI or a biopsy for detection.

For More stories and the follow-up regarding this IBC, you can read the it HERE.

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I just created this blog and will add in more and more health, illnesses, medicines and natural supplements solutions articles.

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Regards,
Calvin Chin