Categories
The Best Years In Life

Exposed Toothbrushes Risk Unhealthy Bacterial and Viral Contamination

by: Tony Isaacs

(NaturalNews) Many of us have heard that flushing toilets could result in unsanitary airborne particles that make their way onto our toothbrushes. In recent years, largely to a segment on the popular "Mythbusters" show, the idea of water droplets traveling from the toilet to our toothbrushes has been cast as a sort of urban myth. However, what Mythbusters actually found did not disprove the idea of particles traveling from the toilet to toothbrushes, nor did it provide any rationale for leaving toothbrushes exposed.

Advanced Colloidal Silver

 

Anyone who has ever flushed a toilet while sitting on it has likely felt droplets of water splash upwards. The spread of toilet water is not limited to just those particles large enough to be felt. Thanks to "the aerosol effect", a veritable cloud of tiny droplets travels far outside the toilet when it is flushed.

The aerosol effect was first brought to light by University of Arizona environmental microbiologist Charles Gerba when he published a scientific article in 1975 describing the disturbing results of his tests on bacterial and viral aerosols due to toilet flushing. He conducted tests by placing pieces of gauze in different locations around the bathroom and measuring the bacterial and viral levels on them after a toilet flush. His results were more than a little disturbing: he found that the aerosols traveled as far as six to eight feet away from the toilet.

"Droplets are going all over the place – it's like the Fourth of July," Gerba said. "One way to see this is to put a dye in the toilet, flush it, and then hold a piece of paper over it"

In the Mythbusters segment, which has been cited to prove the idea that particles do in fact travel outside the toilet, what the Mythbusters team actually found was that fecal coliform bacteria can be found everywhere – including on a pair of "control" toothbrushes they put away in a medicine cabinet in another room. Such a finding is hardly reassuring nor is it in any way proof that particles do not travel from the toilet to exposed toothbrushes. Plus, the Mythbusters team only tested for bacteria and not actual particles nor viruses.

It is true that many do not consider fecal coliform bacteria to be a health risk since they are found naturally in the human body – primarily in the lower digestive tract where the body processes and eliminates waste. However, that does not mean that it is a good idea to introduce the bacteria into our mouths.

Fecal coliform grows in an environment similar to other waterborne bacteria, and thus their presence outside of the body means that other bacteria like hepatitis A or dysentery could also be present. Notably, municipal water districts test for the presence of fecal coliform bacteria to determine whether waste treatment is being conducted properly.

Obviously, it is not healthy to leave toothbrushes exposed in the bath room. Toothbrushes should be covered and protected and toilet lids should be closed before flushing. Since bacteria can accumulate on toothbrushes wherever they are located, it would also be a good idea to regularly clean them with an item such as a UV device made for that purpose and/or to spritz some colloidal silver on them prior to use. Another good idea would be to use a natural antiseptic toothpaste product such as one which contains tea tree oil.

Categories
Featured Articles

B Vitamins Proven To Slow Progression of Dementia, Alzheimer’s

by: David Gutierrez

(NaturalNews) Mega-doses of B vitamins may significantly slow brain shrinkage and slow the progression of dementia, according to a study conducted by researchers from Oxford University and published in the journal PLoS One.

B12

IntraMax

"This is a very dramatic and striking result," lead researcher David Smith said. "It's much more than we could have predicted."

"It is our hope that this simple and safe treatment will delay development of Alzheimer's in many people who suffer from mild memory problems."

Researchers assigned 168 people suffering from mild cognitive impairment to take either a placebo or a pill containing 15 times the recommended daily dose of vitamin B6, four times the recommended dose of B9 and 300 times the recommended dose of B12. These vitamins are known to lower levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which has been linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Approximately 50 percent of people who suffer from mild cognitive impairment eventually develop a more severe form of dementia.

On average, the brains of patients taking the vitamins shrank at half the rate of those taking a placebo. The benefit was most pronounced in patients whose homocysteine levels were high at the start of the study.

An estimated 35 million people around the world suffer from dementia, including 26.6 million with Alzheimer's disease. In the United States, Alzheimer's rates are estimated at 1.2 percent of the general population, climbing to as high as 42 percent of those older than 84.

"Clearly, in the Western World, dementia is not a rare problem," write doctors Abram Hoffer and Harold D. Foster in Feel Better, Live Longer with Vitamin B-3.

"Indeed, R. Katzman and colleagues have argued that in people more than 75 years of age, new cases of dementia occur as frequently as myocardial infarction and twice as often as stroke."

The authors note that Hoffman has been prescribing vitamin B3 to patients who show preliminary signs of age-related cognitive impairment since 1955.

Categories
Featured Articles

Banned Toxic Chemicals Found in 100 percent of Pregnant Women

by Mike Adams

(NaturalNews) A new study from the University of California, San Francisco reveals that 100 percent of expectant mothers (sample size = 268) are contaminated with highly toxic synthetic chemicals. The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, concluded, "Certain PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, PFCs, phenols, PBDEs, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and perchlorate were detected in 99 to 100% of pregnant women."

EDTA

These chemicals are known to exhibit various harmful effects on human biology, covering everything from neurological and infertility problems to cancer and hormonal disorders. Many of the chemicals found in these women have been banned for not just years, but decades.

The poisoning of our bodies by chemical companies
Where do all these chemicals come from? Pesticides are sprayed on crops, of course, and the new so-called "Food Safety" bill passed by Congress does absolutely nothing to reduce pesticide levels of food (that's not part of their definition of "safety," apparently). In addition, S.510 actually places a new burden on U.S. farmers, shifting the competitive advantage to food importations from countries where the most toxic pesticides are still legal to use. (Yes, farms outside the U.S. can spray DDT on their crops, then import them into the USA for consumption.)

Phthalates are chemical plasticizers. Pharmaceutical pills are often coated with phthalates to give them a shiny finish. They're also used in children's toys, medical devices, personal care products, sunscreens and even sex toys. On the personal care side, phthalates are found in perfumes, eye shadow, liquid soap, nail polish and hair spray (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art…).

Phthalates are known as "endocrine disruptors" because they interfere with normal endocrine system function — potentially leading to obesity and birth defects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthal…).

Perchlorate, also known as the "rocket fuel chemical," is used in the manufacture of automobile airbags and other vehicle parts. It's also present in many fireworks, and is frequently found contaminating the water supply.

We could go on with more details, but here's the point: We live in a toxic stew of synthetic chemicals — chemicals that the plastics industry and the American Chemistry Council tend to say are all completely harmless, of course. The FDA allows thousands of other chemicals to be used in food and personal care products, and the processed food manufacturers inject an alarming array of toxic chemicals into their foods (and food packaging materials).

The average U.S. consumer bathes their clothing in extremely toxic fabric softeners and perfumed laundry detergents that make them smell like walking fragrance factories. The exhaust air from dryer vents even pollutes the air in residential neighborhoods and apartment buildings.

With all this going on, is anybody really surprised that 100% of pregnant women are contaminated with toxic chemicals?

The Roman Empire poisoned itself with lead in the water supply. The American empire has decided to poison itself with the "miracle of modern chemistry" as found in all the pesticides, plasticizers, additives, preservatives and other chemicals that a typical first-world consumer poisons themselves with a thousand times a day.

You just gotta love Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and all the other consumer product companies using synthetic chemicals to manufacture personal care products. It is corporations like these, in my opinion, whose products are poisoning our bodies and contaminating our world with dangerous synthetic chemicals. That's why I personally refuse to buy any products manufactured by such companies.

Ten powerful ways to protect yourself from toxic chemicals
If you want to protect yourself from these toxic chemicals, here's how to do it:

#1) Don't put anything on your skin you wouldn't eat! Avoid all mainstream consumer skin care, cosmetics and personal care products, period! Need soap? Try natural, organic brands like Dr Bronner's, AnnMarie Gianni or Pangea Organics.

#2) Don't eat foods made with chemicals you can't pronounce. Read the ingredients labels. If the list of ingredients is too long and complex to figure out, it's probably made more with chemicals than actual food.

#3) Don't poison your body with over-the-counter drugs or prescription pharmaceuticals. If you do need to use medication for short-term emergency use, be sure to detoxify your liver afterwards.

#4) Detox your liver, kidneys and colon at least once a year. You can do this with a juice fast combined with detox supplements such as those offered by www.GlobalHealingCenter.com or www.BaselineNutritionals.com (get professional guidance from a naturopath before fasting).

#5) Drink more water. Most people simply don't consume enough water to effectively remove toxins from their bodies. If you don't like water by itself, drink fresh vegetable juices such as celery or cucumber juice (which are actually structured water).

#6) Cleanse your body with parsley, alfalfa, red clover, chlorella or chlorophyll. All these substances can help cleanse your body and eliminate toxic substances that may be detrimental to your health.

#7) Don't fill your home or apartment with products that off-gas toxic chemicals: Air fresheners, perfumed candles, particle board furniture, carpets, glues, etc.

#8) Don't cook on non-stick cookware. These are the worst! Invest in quality copper-clad stainless steel pans and use those. They'll last a lifetime and they don't contaminate your body with chemicals. Don't eat at restaurants that use non-stick cookware. (That's just about every restaurant in the world, it seems…)

#9) Buy certified organic products. In the USA, the USDA Organic Seal is a trusted seal that genuinely indicates organic quality (both in foods and personal care products). Don't be fooled by brand names that use the word "organics" in their name but aren't really organic. For example, "Bob's Organics" may or may not actually be organic. The Organic Consumers Association (www.OrganicConsumers.org) can keep you posted on what's what.

#10) Get the cancer out of your laundry! Stop washing your clothes in toxic brand-name laundry detergents, and stop using brand-name fabric softeners or dryer sheets. Do you have any idea what chemicals are used in those products? The truth would astonish you.

And, of course, keep reading NaturalNews.com to stay up to speed on what's really good for you versus things that actually threaten your health. There is absolutely no question that the average chemical contamination of NaturalNews readers is far below that of typical American consumers.

Stay healthy by staying informed. Don't become another contaminated victim of the chemical industry.

Categories
Featured Articles

Male Pattern Baldness Drug Makes Men Impotent, Grows Man Boobs

by: S. L. Baker

(NaturalNews) Here's a story that shows how the "cure" truly can be worse than the disease. Specifically, it's a true life horror story of how a Big Pharma drug prescribed frequently for totally benign conditions can produce serious, life altering side effects in men — including loss of their sex drive, impotence, depression and even the growth of "man boobs".

For years, doctors have been prescribing medications in the group known as 5a-reductase inhibitors (5a-RIs) to treat a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In plain English, this simply means a prostate gland that has become larger with age. It does not indicate prostate cancer. In some men it can cause symptoms such as more frequent urination and urinary hesitancy.

But, as the name states, the condition is benign, meaning it is never going to be a deadly disease. In fact, while mainstream medical doctors are often quick to prescribe drugs to treat any sign of BPH, statistics show that although the condition affects about 75% of men by the time they are 80 years old less than half ever have BPH symptoms that are truly clinically significant (such as pain on urination and extremely frequent urination).

So what does this have to do with male pattern baldness and "man boobs"? Plenty. It turns out, as more and more men were prescribed (5a-RIs), an unexpected side effect started showing up. Many who were balding began to grow their hair back. Voila! Big Pharma had another way to push the drugs. Now prescriptions for the 5a-RI known as finasteride (brand name Propecia) are handed out to countless young men who have no BPH problems at all in order to fight their male pattern baldness. Unfortunately, with huge numbers of men now taking the meds for two benign conditions, BPH and baldness, other far less welcome side effects than hair growth have become all too common.

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), in collaboration with colleagues at Lahey Clinic and from Denmark and Germany, have documented that 5a-RIs produce significant adverse effects in some men including loss of libido, impotence, ejaculatory dysfunction, depression and the growth of "man boobs" (known by the medical term gynecomastia). And here's an extra worrisome fact — the side effects don't always go away when the drugs are stopped. Bottom line: the scientists are urging extreme caution before doctors prescribe 5a-RIs therapy to patients to promote hair growth or for BPH.

For their study, which was just published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the researchers investigated data reported in numerous clinical studies concerning the side effects of two 5a-RIs, finasteride and dutasteride. Their results showed that some men treated with these drugs suffered prolonged adverse effects on sexual function such as erectile dysfunction and diminished libido, raising the strong possibility the medications were the cause.

What's more, the scientists noted that the side effects of 5a-RIs on sexual function, gynecomastia (the development of "man boobs") and the impact on the overall health of men taking these drugs has received minimal attention despite the fact such side effects can wreak havoc on sexual function, take an emotional toll and decrease the quality of life.

"Honest and open discussion with patients to educate them on these serious issues must be pursued prior to commencing therapy because, in some patients, these adverse effects are persistent and may be prolonged and patients do not recover well after discontinuation from drug use," lead author Abdulmaged M. Traish, MBA, PhD, a professor of biochemistry and professor of Urology at BUSM, said in a statement to the media.

Categories
Featured Articles

Bananas, Herbs May Help Prevent HIV Transmission

by: Jonathan Benson

(NaturalNews) A study published in the March 19, 2010, issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry found that banana lectins, the proteins that bind to sugars, also bind to HIV-infected cells and prevent their replication and transmission. And several other studies have found similar anti-HIV effects from various herbs and plants like the hyssop herb, pine cone seed extracts, "pokeweed" extracts, Reishi mushrooms and even cannabis (marijuana).

Researchers from the University of Michigan (UM) found in a laboratory study that banana lectins bind to HIV-infected cells and basically envelop them so that they cannot reproduce. So scientists are now working on a highly-concentrated extract of these lectins known as "Ban Tec" that they say may one day be widely used to prevent HIV transmission.

Pine cone seeds contain a high lignan extract that has been shown not only to inhibit HIV transmission, but also reverse the damage caused to the body by HIV-infected white blood cells. The "pokeweed" plant and at least three other North American prairie plants have shown HIV-preventive effects as well. And plant sterols in general seem to protect healthy cells from being invaded by HIV. These and other details came from a recent report by FOX News.

For treating HIV-related symptoms like "wasting syndrome" and neuropathy, cannabis, also known as marijuana, has proven itself to be highly effective. Cannabis spurs appetite in those with "wasting syndrome", helping them to eat more and gain weight, and it also reduces or completely eliminates the severe pain associated with neuropathy.

And the Reishi mushroom, which is known for its powerful immune-boosting activity, is also a favorite among Chinese herbalists treating HIV because it can help improve overall condition and even potentially help reverse the disease altogether.

Categories
Featured Articles

90 Percent Of Americans Are Nutrient Deficient

by: Ethan A. Huff

(NaturalNews) The Milk Processor Education Program Dairy Research Institute recently released a study entitled "What America's Missing: A 2011 Report on the Nation's Nutrient Gap," revealing that 90 percent of Americans are nutrient deficient. But the group's solution, to drink more processed milk, is hardly the answer to the nutrient crisis.

According to the report, nine out of ten Americans are deficient in 11 key nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and potassium. And while this fact definitely translates into a serious health crisis, finding these nutrients in pasteurized, homogenized milk products that come from feedlot cows treated with artificial growth hormones like rBGH, is not the solution.

But the same people that put together the "got milk?" campaign would like everyone to think so, as they have now launched an initiative to pressure mothers to give their children more processed milk in order to fill the nutrient gap. And they are hiring celebrities like Susan Sarandon, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, to help market the message to the masses.

By now, NaturalNews readers probably already know that the vast majority of humankind is deficient in vitamin D. And the best way to get vitamin D is from natural sunlight exposure, because when ultraviolet rays hit they skin they trigger the natural production of the vitamin in the body. Supplementation with vitamin D3 is another viable option when sunlight exposure is limited, as it synthesizes easily in the body.

But the processed milk crusaders are claiming that processed milk is the best source of vitamin D, even though the type commonly used is vitamin D2, a form that is not that easily absorbed by the body. Vitamin D2 does not occur naturally in processed milk, and is added in such limited amounts that it hardly provides much significant benefit.

There are also better sources of potassium and calcium than processed milk, including bananas, nuts, beans and spinach, to name a few. And raw, grass-fed milk that has not been processed is another great natural source of vital nutrients, minerals and enzymes.

Categories
Featured Articles

Treat Chronic Hives With Vitamin D, Says University Study

by: Jonathan Benson

(NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) have found that vitamin D plays an important role in mitigating chronic hives. Jill Poole, M.D., and her colleagues observed that patients with chronic hives typically have very low vitamin D levels, and that supplementing with the vitamin may help to alleviate their condition and improve their overall health.

"Chronic hives can be quite frustrating for patients as treatment options are limited. They can make you feel miserable," explained Dr. Poole, an allergist, concerning the condition. "Vitamin D may be one part of the answer to this troublesome disease. Given the health benefits, there's no harm in taking vitamin D if you don't overdo it. It's easy, inexpensive and can be taken daily at 1,000 to 2,000 international units (IUs)."

Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the study revealed that nearly half of the chronic hives patients evaluated were deficient in vitamin D, which is a step lower than insufficient vitamin D levels. Consequently, Poole believes that chronic hives patients who either expose themselves to more sunlight to generate vitamin D, or take vitamin D supplements to up their levels, will experience improved health.

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to a host of diseases including diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, hypertension and cancer. The body produces vitamin D naturally from regular sunlight exposure but, especially during the winter, many people spend too little time in the sun to derive any significant benefit. And when they do venture out, they typically lather themselves in chemical-laden, UV-blocking sunscreens that prevent the vitamin D-producing sun rays from penetrating the skin.

Categories
Featured Articles

Arsenic Shows Promise As Treatment For Deadly Brain Tumors

by: S. L. Baker

(NaturalNews) Arsenic and its related compounds are mostly thought of as killers — and these natural substances can be just that. Notoriously poisonous to myriad forms of life, arsenic is often used in pesticides. And water supplies in many parts of the world that are contaminated by the natural occurrence of arsenic compounds can cause serious health problems. But despite it's reputation as a dangerous chemical, arsenic has been used in tiny amounts in medicine for over 2,000 years.

Sound crazy? Not any more. Mainstream science has learned that traditional healers were on to something when they treated certain cancers and other difficult-to-treat problems with remedies containing arsenic. It turns out that while a high level of arsenic is known to be carcinogenic, low doses can be an anti-cancer therapy in some cases. For example, a Dutch population study found low levels of arsenic concentrations in drinking water not only didn't increase cancer incidence in people who drank it, but resulted in a decrease in skin cancers.

What's more, starting in the 17th century, arsenic was the primary therapy for treating a type of leukemia known as chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Today the arsenic compound arsenic trioxide (ATO) is FDA approved for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. And now there's more remarkably good news about normally feared arsenic.

A team of researchers, led by Aykut Uren of Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., has found evidence that arsenic might be a therapy for hard-or-impossible-to-treat types of brain tumors as well as connective tissue tumors. Specifically, years of research have revealed a common pathway (the hedgehog/GLI1 signaling pathway) that is activated in tumors called medulloblastomas and connective tissue tumors known as Ewing sarcoma (ES). This activation causes cancer tumors to grow and spread.

In research just published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the Georgetown scientists described how they used the arsenic trioxide compound to shut down that pathway in mice models of ES and medulloblastoma. The result? The growth of cancer cells was dramatically suppressed.

According to a media statement, Dr. Uren explained that this pathway is also commonly activated in other cancers, including colon, pancreatic, and basal cell skin cancer. That means the arsenic compound can and should be tested immediately on these other malignancies.

Categories
Ask Utopia Silver

Rose Laurel

Q:
Utopia,

Have you heard of any instances where someone taking the oleander capsules have experienced heart rhythm issues? I'm diagnosed w/ cancer and have an irregular heartbeat. I've tried several natural and alternative approaches w/o much success so i'm very interested in the oleander caps. Is there a suggested protocol that comes w/a purchase?

Thanks,
Brent in Tennessee

A:
Hi Brent,
Go to Natural Cellular Immune Booster Protocol , which is recommended if doing any kind of therapeutic healing. That protocol is by an MD/ND who does consultation for us. It is always recommended to do a Liver Cleanse and to take the Membrane Complex prior to doing any IP-6 or Rose Laurel (oleander) since IP-6 can accelerate the body’s use of calcium and magnesium and any deficiency of these can be the root cause of weaken heart rhythms or arrhythmias.  The use of either IP-6 or Rose Laurel should start with a minimal amount and build up to therapeutic levels if your body responds OK.

You are appreciated in Utopia.

Categories
Ask Utopia Silver

Multiple Sclerosis

Q:
Hello Utopia,
I was reading your testimonials and the one regarding Multiple Sclerosis.  The person stated that they drank 16 ounces per day for a certain period of time.  I have been ordering your colloidal silver for some time but take the recommended dose.  I have MS and wonder if it's safe to ingest that amount daily.  Is it?

Any response is appreciated.
Bonnie California

A:
Hi Bonnie,

16 ounces per day is a lot, I certainly wouldn’t consume that much for very long, but I have on occasion for 2-3 days consumed 3-6 ounces per day when I was catching a cold or virus. With heavy therapeutic use I would start off with ½ – 1 oz. for a few days and then increase as you feel appropriate. If I had MS developing, I would probably try almost anything. You may also want to look at the Immune System Booster Protocol.

Any longer term silver consumption should be followed an hour or two afterward by Probiotics to replenish the colon flora for proper digestion.

Have you considered colloidal gold?

Please stay in touch and feel free to call or email if you need further input. You might also want to do a consultation with Dr. Ken O’Neal MD, ND Look for his link on the Protocol page.

You are appreciated in Utopia.