Month: February 2011

"I started getting tingling in my fingertips," said Mark Jacoby, a Fixodent victim, to ABC News' 20/20 anchor Chris Cuomo. "I started getting weaker and, you know, I couldn't walk right, off balance and I'm at this point now."

The Fixodent ingredient in question is zinc, which unless taken along with copper, can rob the body of the necessary mineral over time and cause irreversible nerve damage. And since denture users affix zinc-containing creams to their gums every single day, their long-term absorption rates of zinc are much higher than normal than an average person's.

P&G insists that Fixodent contains only a minimal amount of zinc to help dentures stay in place, and that the amount used is less than what one would find in an average multivitamin or serving of raw beef. But this reassurance has not stopped several crippled Fixodent users from banding together to file a class-action lawsuit against P&G.

"I don't know if you can put a dollar value on my health or anybody else's, for that matter," said 48-year-old Ann Coffman, who was diagnosed with zinc poisoning and is now stuck in a wheelchair with limited use of her hands and legs. "I would prefer to see [P&G] take the zinc right out of the product … or take the product right off the market."

Fixodent is one of the only brands of denture cream that still uses zinc in its formula. GlaxoSmithKline's Poligrip and even most drug store denture cream brands do not contain zinc. However further study may be necessary to determine whether or not zinc is the actual culprit in Fixodent.

Every vaccine on the market is associated with certain risks. Flu vaccines are no exception. As government agencies and medical authorities around the world urge entire populations to protect themselves from the latest strains of flu, little is said about the potential risks associated with this year's miracle cures.

The 1976 swine flu vaccination campaign was abruptly halted when 500 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) were diagnosed after vaccination. GBS is a rare, life threatening disease in which the body's immune system attacks peripheral nerves (those outside the brain and spinal cord) destroying the myelin sheath surrounding them. This destruction leads to a multitude of possible symptoms, usually beginning with weakness or tingling in the legs. The unusual sensations increase in intensity until the muscles can no longer be used. Symptoms progress rapidly toward the upper body, sometimes resulting in total paralysis and death.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is associated with several flu vaccines, the most common being swine flu vaccine. There is no cure for GBS, but therapy can sometimes lessen the severity and restore some of the original muscle function.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is considered to be a severe enough threat that prior to the 2009 flu season, the Health Protection Agency in the United Kingdom sent a warning letter to 600 neurologists throughout the country telling them to watch for GBS symptoms because it could be triggered by the swine flu vaccine. This letter sparked a huge protest when leaked to the public because the Health Protection Agency did nothing to warn the millions of potential recipients of the vaccine prior to their National Flu Vaccination Campaign. (See verification here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art….

Nerve damage resulting from flu vaccines can also present itself as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). CIDP is closely related to GBS in the fact that it is also a result of nerve damage caused by destruction of the myelin sheaths surrounding peripheral nerves. CIDP also begins with unusual sensations in the arms and legs, progressive weakness and loss of muscle use. The only real difference between GBS and CIDP is the latter does not come on so suddenly and is a long-lasting or chronic condition.

On 1 February 2011, The Washington Post published, "Finland: link between swine flu shot, narcolepsy."? Narcolepsy is a rare neurological disorder that causes the brain to be unable to regulate a person's sleep cycles. A person with nerve damage causing this disorder could be talking to you and suddenly just fall asleep for a few seconds, minutes, or hours. Of the 60 young people in Finland who were diagnosed with this disorder during the 2009 flu season, almost 90 percent had recently received a vaccine to combat the flu. (for more information see: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn….

It seems medical consumers are left with a serious question. Is it better to take your chances with the flu, or take your chances with a flu vaccine?

SaneVax believes only Safe, Affordable, Necessary & Effective vaccines and vaccination practices should be offered to the public. Our primary goal is to provide scientific information/resources for those concerned about vaccine safety, efficacy and need.

Please visit our site at http://sanevax.org

About the author:
THE SANE VAX MISSION is to promote Safe, Affordable, Necessary & Effective vaccines and vaccination practices through education and information. We believe in science-based medicine. Our primary goal is to provide the information necessary for you to make informed decisions regarding your health and well-being. We also provide referrals to helpful resources for those unfortunate enough to have experienced vaccine-related injuries.

Articles on this site are written by Norma Erickson, President and Leslie Carol Botha, women's health educator, broadcast journalist and Vice-President Public Relations for SANE Vax, Inc. Other members include Rosemary Mathis, mother of a Gardasil-injured daughter and Vice President Victim Support; Janny Stokvis, Vice-President Research, Freda Birrell, Secretary and HPV vaccine lobbyist United Kingdom /Scotland, and Linda Thompson, Treasurer.

We are demanding the HPV vaccines be taken off the market until an independent study on their safety and efficacy has been conducted. Until then, we are committing our efforts to an educational media campaign to alert the public about the dangers of the HPV vaccines.

The Mexican govenment seems to have had enough of the games, it seems, having recently denied any further expansions of the Monsanto test sites. With its many varieties of heritage corn, Mexico has a lot to lose if its corn stocks become contaminated with Monsanto's patented corn varieties. So it is pressing for more safety studies before any further plantings take place.

To date, there has never been a single, verifiable safety study proving that any GMO is safe for people or for the environment. GMO residues, however, are known to travel to nearby fields and contaminate conventional and organic crop varieties. In fact, most of North Dakota is now blanketed in GMO canola, as the mutant crop now infests fields and meadows, and grows by roadside all across the midwestern plain state (http://www.naturalnews.com/030810_G…).

GMOs are linked to a host of animal and human health problems as well, including rapid aging, organ dysfunction, infertility, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal problems, and altered insulin regulation, among other conditions. In fact, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called for a moratorium on GMOs back in 2009, and warned the public to avoid them

Megan Horton, a postdoctoral research fellow from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, and her team tracked 348 mothers from around New York City for their study. They took both air and blood samples of the women to track their exposure to PBO, and compared the intelligence levels of children from each exposure grouping. Based on this assessment, the team observed a significant connection between high levels of PBO exposure and delayed development in children.

"Kids who were in the highest quartile range of exposure to PBO were three times as likely to be in the delayed category, compared to kids with lower exposure," said Horton, noting that the research took into account other factors that may affect development, including exposure to tobacco.

Pyrethroid insecticides have largely taken the place of organophosphorus (OP) insecticides, which were used more widely in the past but are now known to cause serious nerve damage and other problems in birds and mammals. But based on the evidence, pyrethroids are not much better as they cause significant harm to both children and adults.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pyrethroids are used in over 3,500 registered insecticide products. Known side effects caused by exposure include breathing problems, chest pains, rashes, blisters, endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, learning disorders, chromosome damage, blood abnormalities, and thyroid problems.

How Magnesium Benefits Heart Health

Magnesium prevents platelet clotting, dilates blood vessels and regulates heart rhythms. It can also inhibit spasms in the arteries of the heart, which block blood flow and could result in a heart attack. Magnesium also helps to keep blood pressure stable.

Magnesium Prevents Heart Attack Deaths

Researchers have concluded that intravenous magnesium can reduce the odds of heart attack death when given to heart attack patients immediately after the onset of a heart attack. The fact that magnesium is widely available, inexpensive and generally very safe makes it even more viable as a treatment for heart attack patients. Unfortunately, its benefits are often lost in the scramble to promote profitable pharmaceutical drugs.

Are You Deficient in Magnesium?

Unfortunately, many studies show that few people consume enough magnesium in their diets these days. But how does one know if his or her levels of magnesium are too low? One indication of a low magnesium level is a low level of red blood cells. Depression, anxiety, muscle spasms and stomach problems are other indicators that a person might need to have his or her magnesium levels checked by a physician.

What can cause a magnesium deficiency? Prescription drugs such as antibiotics, antidepressants, or estrogen can lower magnesium levels. Too much vitamin D can cause the same result. Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine can cause the body to flush this valuable vitamin through their diuretic actions. Over consumption of monosodium glutamate (MSG) can also deplete the body of magnesium. Communities that have hard water, which contains magnesium, have shown decreases in ischemic heart disease among their residents, indicating that those who drink soft water might be more prone to magnesium deficiency.

Replenishing Magnesium Levels

What is the best way to rebuild a healthy level of magnesium? Supplements are one option, but natural foods are certainly the preferred method of getting more magnesium. Magnesium is found naturally in whole grains, brazil nuts, almonds, and leafy vegetables such as spinach. Chocolate is also a good source of magnesium (and magnesium deficiency may help explain why some people have intense cravings for chocolate).

Liquid trace minerals are an easy way to get more magnesium into your normal foods and beverages. Epsom salt baths are also highly effective for replenishing your magnesium levels.

A number of studies on male infertility were reviewed by researchers in New Zealand and reported in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The review focused on 34 controlled trials involving couples undergoing assisted reproductive techniques such as invitro fertilisation and sperm injections. Most men in the trials had low sperm counts or low sperm motility and were classed as sub-fertile, those with below-average fertility who are still able to father a child. The review found that those who took antioxidants had four times greater chance to get their partners pregnant than sub-fertile men who did not take the antioxidant supplements.

"Oral supplementation with antioxidants may go some way to improve a couple's chance of conception," said lead researcher Marian Showell of New Zealand's University of Auckland.

Approximately 1 in 20 men are sub-fertile and seminal oxidative stress is thought to be a major contributing factor. The amount of sperm a man produces is not the only determinant of fertility. A high percentage of the sperm must be healthy and motive. However, sperm are easily damaged by naturally occurring free radicals. The purpose of the review was to determine if taking antioxidants could protect cells from oxidative stress by keeping damaging free radicals at bay.

Some Of The Reviewed Study Data
964 couples took part in 15 studies. In the control groups (no antioxidants taken), the 449 couples had 18 pregnancies (3%). There were 82 pregnancies in the group of 515 couples who took antioxidant supplements (16%) . This indicated that antioxidant use by the male partner significantly increased the likelihood of conception

214 couples took part in another group of 3 separate studies. 20 live births occurred where men took antioxidants. Men taking oral antioxidants had an associated statistically significant increase in live birth rate when compared with the men in the control group taking the placebo.

Unfortunately the included studies did not use the same types or dosage of antioxidants, so the results are said to be inconclusive. These were considered observational studies without the ability to establish clear cause and effect. Further clinical trials would have to be done to confirm the link.

The findings reported in the Cochrane Database have come under fire from some fertility specialists who have labeled them a 'scam'. Fertility doctor Sherman Silber, the head of The Infertility Center of St. Louis, warned that trying antioxidants as a step before seeking fertility treatments would likely hurt rather than help, as the woman's eggs would only get older with the delay. He also labeled the review as a publicity stunt by vitamin manufacturers.

Other Studies On Vitamin C and Sperm Motility

Vitamin C is probably one of the most widely known antioxidants and has been the subject of numerous small studies to determine its effect on the motility of sperm. One study done with 97 non-smoking men showed that higher antioxidant consumption was associated with higher sperm numbers and motility. Semen naturally contains vitamin C to scavenge free radicals but these defenses can be overwhelmed. Increased levels of oxidative stress brought on by environmental factors like high temperatures and pollution, lifestyle factors like older age and poor diet, and health issues like infections and chronic disease all affect sperm motility.

There are four distinct types of omega-3 fats that are differentiated based on the number of carbon atoms (C) they contain along with the number of double bonds (DB) they hold.

ALA: 18 C & 3 DB: Found in green plants, flax, chia, hemp, pumpkin seeds & walnuts
DPA: 20 C & 4 DB: Found in mother's milk, algae, fish & krill oil & grass-fed meat products
EPA: 20 C & 5 DB: Found in mother's milk, algae, fish & krill oil & grass-fed meat products
DHA: 22 C & 6 DB: Found in mother's milk, algae, fish & krill oil & grass-fed meat products

The more double bonds within the structure the more fluid the fatty acid becomes. This is important because fatty acids are used to structure the membrane of every one of the 75 trillion cells within our body. A healthy cell membrane consists of very solid structures (saturated fats & cholesterol) and very fluid structures (polyunsaturated fats).

The fluid aspect of the cell is essential for the mobility and function of embedded protein receptors, diffusion of proteins and other molecules laterally across the membrane for signaling reactions, and proper separation of membranes during cell division. These fluid based fats are also very fragile and highly vulnerable to oxidative stress and heat.

The cell membranes within the brain, spinal cord, & nervous system are especially dependent upon fluid based membranes for proper signaling and neurotransmitter dynamics. EPA & DHA with 5 and 6 double bonds are very critical players in healthy nervous system function. The brain is made up of 60% fat and 10-15% of that is DHA.

Optimal brain structure depends upon a healthy array of saturated fat and cholesterol on the membrane to hold the fluid based fats tight at the corners. Then a load of EPA & DHA in-between the solid structures give it a great level of fluid mobility. A diet that is deficient in saturated fat, EPA, & DHA is very dangerous for the nervous system.

The body can and must convert ALA & DPA into the brain enhancing nutrients EPA & DHA if they are to be of any significant use in the body. This process depends upon the enzymatic systems within our liver. If we have any sort of liver toxicity, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic diseases or infections, our ability to effectively convert ALA into EPA & DHA will be significantly hampered. Because of the fragile aspect of essential fats, unhealthy individuals should always begin their healing process with a diet rich in phytonutrient anti-oxidants, zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins among other things. A whole-food multi-vitamin or supergreens powder is also highly advisable at this time. After 2 weeks of introducing heavy loads of anti-oxidants into the system it is then time to begin introducing EPA & DHA in the form of purified fish oils.

American culture takes in the majority of its fat in the form of processed vegetable oils and grain-fed meat products. These sources are very scarce in quality omega-3 fats and therefore many are deficient in the necessary EPA & DHA for optimal brain development. Begin supporting your nervous system appropriately with an anti-oxidant rich diet and purified EPA & DHA supplementation.

MS, which frequently involves flare-ups of symptoms that are recurring, often starts with a first episode of the disease marked by neurological symptoms that last anywhere from a few days to many weeks. The new research, conducted by scientists at the Australian National University in Canberra, is the first study to look at people have experienced the very first symptoms of MS before they were officially diagnosed with the disease.

"Other studies have looked at people who already have MS — then it's hard to know whether having the disease led them to change their habits in the sun or in their diet," study author Robyn Lucas, PhD, said in a statement to the media.

The multi-site study included 216 research subjects between the ages of 18 and 59 who had a first episode of symptoms that indicated MS. This group of study participants was matched with 395 people with no symptoms of possible MS who were of similar ages, of the same sex and lived in the same locations in Australia. All the participants reported how much sun exposure they'd had at different times in their lives. The scientists also documented the amount of skin damage participants had from sun exposure and the amount of melanin in their skin. Blood tests were used to measure vitamin D levels (from sun exposure, diet and supplement use) in each research subject, too.

The results showed that people with the most evidence of skin damage from sun exposure were 60 percent less likely to develop the first symptoms of MS than the people with the least damage. In addition, those with the highest levels of vitamin D also were less likely to have a diagnosed first MS event than people with the lowest levels.

The Australian study also confirmed previous studies that have shown that MS is more common in latitudes further away from the equator. "Added together, the differences in sun exposure, vitamin D levels and skin type accounted for a 32 percent increase in a diagnosed first event from the low to the high latitude regions of Australia," Dr. Lucas stated.

He pointed out that the effects of sun exposure and vitamin D acted independently of each other when it came to the risk of initial MS symptoms. "Further research should evaluate both sun exposure and vitamin D for the prevention of MS," Dr. Lucas concluded in the press statement.