Month: March 2012

Statin drugs, which are widely known as cholesterol-lowering medications, are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world with annual sales of tens of billions of dollars. In the United States alone, almost 32 million people regularly take statins. Despite the new warnings and several studies linking statins to increased incidences of a wide variety of health problems, FDA officials and some mainstream medical professionals said the new warnings should not scare people away from statins.

Dr. Amy G. Egan, deputy director for safety in the FDA's division of metabolism and endocrinology products, was quoted in a New York Times article as saying, "The value of statins in preventing heart disease has been clearly established. Their benefit is indisputable, but they need to be taken with care and knowledge of their side effects."

In the same article, Dr. Steven Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, said that diabetic patients and even those who develop diabetes while taking statins should continue taking the medicines. According to Nissen, the new warnings "are not major issues" and should not "alter the decision-making process with regard to statins."

The questionable benefits and indisputable dangers of statin drugs
Although studies have indicated that statin drugs can reduce the risk of heart disease for some high-risk patients, their effectiveness, actions and touted benefits have become increasingly questionable. For example, a 2010 study published in the British Medical Journal found that statin drugs helped lower the risk of heart disease, averting 271 cases for every 10,000 high-risk patients treated. However, the same study also found that statin drugs significantly increase a person's risk of cataracts, muscle weakness, liver dysfunction and kidney failure.

Other studies and reports have indicated that statin drugs result in increased risks of potentially deadly irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), diabetes, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, or pain or numbness in the extremities like fingers and toes, heartbeats, elevated blood glucose, tendon problems and even cancer. Increased risks of arrhythmias, diabetes and muscle weakness are particularly worrisome, given statin drugs intended use to prevent heart disease. As Natural News reported January 12, 2012 in the article "Study – statin drugs linked to higher diabetes risk":

"Although statins are supposed to be helping our hearts, they may be doing just the opposite. The link between diabetes and heart disease is frighteningly strong. The official website for the American Heart Association says, 'Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke than adults without diabetes.'"

Statin drugs inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver. The theory is that lower cholesterol equates to better cardiovascular health, though there has been no proven cause and effect and the body needs a healthy amount of cholesterol. Arterial plaque and inflammation are much more likely culprits for heart disease.

Statins also inhibit natural production of Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is vital to good health, particularly muscle health. One of the most important roles CoQ10 plays is helping the body's cells produce energy, particularly muscle cells. As it so happens, the largest and most important muscle in the body is none other than the heart.

This research shows that naturally occurring compounds called flavanones in citrus fruits are linked to reduced risk for ischemic stroke in women. Ischemic stroke occurs if there is a decrease in blood supply to the brain due to a blocked artery. The compounds also improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation and improve overall cardiovascular health.

The researchers followed a group of 70,000 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study for 14 years. Women in the study filled out questionnaires every four years to report their eating habits. The research team calculated the flavonoid content in food by using the flavonoid database from the US Department of Agriculture.

Whole oranges are better than juice or supplements
Some of the women in the study consumed these compounds by drinking orange and grapefruit juice. However, the researchers mention that it is better to eat the whole fruit to increase intake of the healthy flavanones from citrus fruits.

Researchers also concluded that it is better to eat the whole fruit instead of vitamin C supplements. In their study, vitamin C did not correlate with reduction of stroke risk.

They believe that flavanones such as naringenin and hesperetin may be responsible because they have strong anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds also have an impact on the production of nitric oxide which relaxes blood vessels.

Oranges are good for men too
Previous research showed that flavonoids in oranges decrease cholesterol levels in the body. They also decrease your blood pressure. In a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that oranges have flavonoid compounds called hesperidin which reduce blood pressure and lower cardiovascular risk. All the volunteers in this hesperidin study were men; evidence that oranges are good for men's cardiovascular health as well.

Since the link between citrus fruits and reduced stroke risk is based on an observational study, the study authors suggest that randomized trials are needed to confirm the association.

For their study, Emilie Clair and her colleagues from the Universite de Caen Basse-Normandie Institute of Biology in France tested the effects of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, on testicular cells from rats. Ranging in dilution from one part per million (ppm) to 10,000 ppm, which accounts for varying exposure levels in real life situations, each of the tests revealed undeniable cell toxicity caused by Roundup.

Interestingly, the findings revealed that even at one ppm, Roundup was responsible for causing severe endocrine disruption that reduced testosterone levels by 35 percent. And a one ppm exposure level is considered to be extremely low, and much lower than typical exposure levels in everyday environmental situations.

At higher exposure levels, Roundup was shown to induce testicular cell death in a little as one hour, and typically no later than 48 hours after exposure. And this is only acute toxicity, as the study did not analyze the long-term effects of continual and repeated exposure to Roundup, which has already been shown to seep into rivers and groundwater supplies.

A similar study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology back in 2007 found similar results. In vivo tests with Roundup revealed that the ducks exposed to Roundup exhibited "alterations in the structure of the testis and epididymal (a part of the male reproductive system) region as well as in the serum levels of testosterone and estradiol, with changes in the expression of androgen receptors restricted to the testis."

So contrary to the claims made by Monsanto, there is truly no safe exposure level to Roundup. At typical exposure levels, it has been proven to destroy human cells and cause serious reproductive harm. And at trace levels, it has been proven to severely disrupt proper hormonal function and lead to low testosterone in men.

"Because it's a systemic pesticide and sprayed in high doses, produce and fruit and nut trees often take up the poison into the parts of the food we eat," writes Leah Zerbe in a recent Rodale News piece on Roundup. "Three easy ways to reduce your exposure? Eat organically grown foods … [a]dopt organic lawn care techniques in your yard, and start an organic garden to further reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals."

by Mike Adams

(NaturalNews) Rawesome Foods defendants James Steward and Sharon Palmer were ambushed in California court yesterday when they appeared for a preliminary hearing about the multiple felony charges that have been ludicrously placed against them for engaging in farm-fresh food production and distribution. In court, they were ambushed with a $1 million arrest warrant (James) and a $2 million arrest warrant (Sharon), then handcuffed and marched away by agents of the corrupt state.

This appears to all be part of California's open war on family farming and real food. Observers present at the hearing described the ambush as something "done out of pure unadulterated intimidation" by a rogue government that has abandoned all law.

NaturalNews is holding the continuation of this story until more research and fact checking can be completed

In our original announcement of this, we stated that by Sunday evening we would roll out documented evidence that James Stewart has been targeted by rogue shadow government agents who have infiltrated California's executive and judicial branches. Additional details are pouring in surrounding the arrest of James Stewart and Sharon Palmer, and until we can sort through all these details and fact-check the reports, we are holding our follow up story on this until sometime next week.

Something nefarious is afoot with all this, I assure you. We aim to get to the bottom of it and bring you the updated breaking news here on NaturalNews.com.

A very good overview of recent events both in Wisconsin (Vernon Hershberger) and Ventura County (James Stewart and Sharon Palmer) has been posted by The Complete Patient, a very informative website covering raw milk.

One thought that immediately comes to mind in the finance-related charges against Sharon Palmer is that first the state of California made it impossible for Sharon to repay her loans on the farm by fining her and terrorizing her business beginning in 2008. And then, we she was unable to repay those loans, they charged her with multiple counts of felony financial fraud for failing to repay the loans. Or at least that's the simplified version of what appears to be happening. It's quite complex and there are many players, including at least one person in Wisconsin who is an enemy of James Stewart. So there is definitely some in-fighting going on across this industry.

Worried parents feared an infectious disease epidemic. However, a complete review of the air quality and mold in the school buildings by the state department of health and a private agency hired by the school found no substances that could cause health problems.

"Mass Hysteria?"
The afflicted students were said to be involuntarily shaking and jerking in their necks and heads. One student who did not want to be identified said it started when she woke up from a nap and could not speak because the shaking was so severe, according to WKBW. Some of the troubled studentssufferingfromthe strange outbreak have posted videos on YouTube and appeared on U.S. television to respond to claims that they are faking their symptoms.

After much speculation, Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, a neurologist who has treated10 of the girls, identified the cause of the outbreak as a rare, stress-induced condition known as conversion disorder or "mass hysteria," a psychological problem that can occur in groups such as teenage girls.

According to Mechtler, one of the girls — the "index case" — may have a neurological disorder. Suddenly the symptoms spread and several other girlsbeganexhibitingthe same strange behavior.

"The girls are not faking it,"Mechtler told Matt Lauer on the Today show. "This is a subconscious effect that occurs in patients that may be prone to anxiety or mood disorders." The most famous case of mass hysteria was the well known Salem Witch Trials.

"Environmental Toxicity?"
U.S.television doctor Drew Pinsky disagrees with Mechtler's diagnosis. After meeting some of the girls, he felt their symptoms smack more of biology than psychiatry. Some parents have disputed the mass hysteria diagnosis as well and feel that officials should investigate further the possibility that an environmental toxin has attacked the nervous system of these girls. Their concern comes on the heels of reports of an orange-yellow substance oozing up from the school's sports ground.

Erin Brockovich to the Rescue
At the request of local parents, leading environmental activist Erin Brockovich stepped in and sent her team out to test the area for clues to a possible chemical spill that would explain the oozing
substance and possibly the cause of the strange symptoms. She is looking into a 1970 train accident that spilled cyanide and an industrial solvent called trichloroethene close to the site of the school.

A member of her team, Bob Bowcock, inspected ground water and soil at a nearby park for anything out of the ordinary. But whenthe team tried to collect soil samples, local police and school officials blocked their attempt by placing locks on all the entrances to the sports field until the school superintendent and a district spokesman arrived, reported NBC's Rochester, NY,station. Officials did agree to let parents, Bowcock and his team walk the grounds, without media, if they agreed to not take samples.

According to school superintendent Kim Cox, the decision to prevent the sample taking was "to avoid striking more fear into the already confused town of 7,500 people." Said Cox: "This has taken us away from our mission to return normality to our school district, which every medical professional says is critical for the health and well-being of all students."

In a report entitled Feeding the Future, the Soil Association, a U.K.-based organic farming advocacy group, makes the case that organic and other agro-ecological farming systems are not only the solution to the world's hunger problems, but when implemented, these holistic methods of growing food actually facilitate bringing the world's poorest out of poverty.

On the flip side, GM farming systems perpetuate and even create poverty because they lock farmers into an endless cycle of dependence on corporations for both the next season's batch of self-destructing seeds, and the toxic chemical cocktails required to grow them. GM agriculture, in other words, is toxic to the world's economies, toxic to human health, and toxic to the environment.

As was shown in a recent Rodale Institute study, which was the culmination of more than 30 years worth of research, organic farming systems actually produce higher yields than GM and non-GM conventional farming systems. Organic farming is also fully self-renewing and sustainable, as composting, manure, and other organic fertilizing methods naturally enrich soil and eliminate the need for toxic pesticides and herbicides.

A much as 40 percent of the world's grains are fed to factory farm animals
Besides the GMO issue, factory farming systems in general, including confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), are needlessly depleting much of the world's supply of grains. According to the Soil Association, as much as 40 percent of all the world's cereals are fed to livestock, and this could rise to 50 percent by 2050 if current trends continue.

Ruminating animals like cows and sheep were meant to eat grasses on pasture, not GM soy, corn, and the many other grains that are routinely fed to them on factory farms. Besides making the animals sick, as they were not designed to eat them, these grain mixtures require an intense amount of resources to grow and produce.

By letting animals graze naturally on pasture grasses, which humans cannot eat anyway, these grains could instead be used to feed humans. And grass-fed animals produce far healthier meat than grain-fed animals anyway, which means that human health across the globe would improve dramatically just from making the switch.

One third of the world's food ends up in the trash heap as waste
Particularly in the developed world, humans waste an incredible amount of food. The Soil Association says that roughly one third of all food produced for human consumption ends up getting wasted. So if more people simply made a conscious effort to conserve food, or at least come up with simple ways to share unused food with those in need, hunger in many areas of the world would subside dramatically.

The group also mentions a type of food rationing system as another option, but such a tyrannical approach would be wholly unnecessary if the other methods were implemented, and if more people began growing their own organic food at home.

A new study and report by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) entitled, Buried No Longer: Confronting America's Water Infrastructure Challenge, improving and expanding the nation's underground water systems will cost upwards of $1 trillion over the next 25 years. And, as is always the case, water system users are going to get soaked with the bill.

What does that mean in real dollars and cents? Right now the average family household pays about $400 a year. The fixes that are needed over the next quarter century mean that bills could rise anywhere from $300-$550 a year, meaning water bills could skyrocket to $900 a year or more.

Crumbling infrastructure

Experts will tell you that investing now, rather than later, is a good idea and cheaper in the long run. But that's hard to swallow for wage earners whose incomes have been stuck in neutral or worse, declining for the past decade. Add to that a raft of new tax hikes and cuts in benefits, and hard-hit Americans are in no mood to fork out even more money in new fees and rate increases.

But that doesn't change the fact that, without improvements, the nation's supply and delivery of fresh drinking water is in peril. In fact, the AWWA believes spending to fix the pipes and other infrastructure is likely to rise from $13 billion a year today to $30 billion in 2040.

"Delaying the investment can result in degrading water service, increasing water service disruptions, and increasing expenditures for emergency repairs. Ultimately we will have to face the need to "catch up" with past deferred investments, and the more we delay the harder the job will be when the day of reckoning comes," said the report.

Not all of the expense of this upgrade will come from higher water bills, though much of it will. Some communities, the report said, will be double-tapped, so to speak.

"Other communities will need to collect significant "impact" or development fees to meet the needs of a growing population. Numerous communities will need to invest for replacement and raise funds to accommodate growth at the same time. Investments that may be required to meet new standards for drinking water quality will add even more to the bill," it said.

Higher prices for everything

Is this information new? Why, all of a sudden, is water infrastructure such a big concern? Well, nothing about this is new. In fact, the AWWA warned about the nation's crumbling water infrastructure, and the need to replace, in a report 10 years ago.

"Like many of the roads, bridges, and other public assets on which the country relies, most of our buried drinking water infrastructure was built 50 or more years ago, in the post-World War II era of rapid demographic change and economic growth. In some older urban areas, many water mains have been in the ground for a century or longer," the report said.

"Given its age, it comes as no surprise that a large proportion of US water infrastructure is approaching, or has already reached, the end of its useful life."

As unemployment remains stubbornly high at about 9 percent, as gasoline prices rise to nearly $3.75 a gallon on average nationwide, and as wages continue to remain stagnant or decline, you and your family are about to take on another cost increase: higher water bills.

Bone Up

Bone loss begins around the age of 35 and continues throughout life. Osteoporosis occurs because of an inadequate amount of calcium intake or poor absorption. The body seeks the most accessible source for this important mineral and leeches calcium from your bones, causing the disease. Because calcium and other minerals are critical to healthy bone maintenance, it's important to diagnose the problem early and correct it through changes in diet and calcium supplementation. The question is, which calcium supplement provides the best protection and at what dosage?

Calcium hydroxyapatite
Although many foods supply various calcium salts, human and animal bones are the only natural source of calcium hydroxyapatite. According to The Weston A. Price Foundation, the most efficacious calcium hydroxyapatite is microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate — also called MCHC — which is extracted from the raw bones of free-range cattle from New Zealand. These cows are raised with no exposure to antibiotics, pesticides, hormones or other toxic chemicals. To maintain its full spectrum of nutrients and minerals, the bone extract needs to be processed at very low temperatures. This kind of calcium is significantly more usable by the body and much easier to absorb.

Magnesium and boron
Most calcium supplements, including MCHC, have various amounts of magnesium and boron added, which increase absorption. Magnesium is needed to produce energy, cellular replication, and to help form proteins in the body. It reduces blood pressure, enhances heart function, lessens cramping in muscles, and supports the regulation of calcium metabolism. Certain types of magnesium are more easily absorbed such as magnesium aspartate, magnesium glycinate, and magnesium oxide. Look for these in supplements combined with MCHC.

Boron is needed for the development of healthy bones and joints. It works with magnesium to regulate calcium absorption and metabolism by regulating the body's steroid hormones, such as cortisol and vitamin D. Both minerals are necessary for proper calcium metabolism and a strong skeleton.

Calcium absorption and food
A mere 30 percentof calcium consumed in our food is actually absorbed, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT). Calcium absorption is inhibited by various factors including the type of calcium consumed, as well as the presence of aluminum, which enters your body through aluminum-clad cookware, antiperspirants, antacids, foil and possibly from chem trails crisscrossing the sky.

Many of the best sources of calcium originate in our foods, not from supplements. Soups and broths made from bone are best because they provide MCHC; followed by whole raw milk, raw milk products, sea vegetables such as kelp, Celtic sea salt, brewer's yeast, green leafy vegetables and molasses.

Supplements
Most calcium supplements should be taken with food for maximum absorption. MIT notes that taking several doses in smaller amounts throughout the day helps ensure absorption. The Weston A. Price Foundation suggests consuming 500 milligrams of MCHC at a time each day and doubling or tripling that amount if you don't have access to raw milk. Look for a supplement that includes boron and magnesium to obtain the correct mineral balance for the most optimal results. Additionally, taking a vitamin D supplement daily helps to round out the beneficial effects of calcium for bone health. Always consult a health practitioner before adjusting dosage of vitamins and minerals.

(1)

an ignorant pretender to medical skill, (2) one who professes to have knowledge or skill concerning subjects of which he is ignorant, (3) an empiric or impostor in medicine. In other words a person who professes to be a doctor when s/he is not. The word is an abbreviation for quacksalver. Mercury, known as quicksilver, was used as a treatment in medicine for many conditions including syphilis. It is of course ubiquitous in so called silver amalgams which contain over fifty percent mercury. Mercury amalgam was introduced into the United States about 1833 by two semi charlatans who inspired suspicion in more conservative dentists. Many U.S.A. dentists were opposed to the amalgam because of the toxic mercury. The German word for “quicksilver” was “quecksilber”. American dentists shortened it to “quack” to describe the amalgam-hucksters. Quick-silver Associates write “It is sobering to realize that the original “quacks” were dentists who advocated the use of mercury amalgam.” (see book reviews page 233)

Let us see how this original definition fits the modern problems being generated by the defenders of the faith, of the old paradigm.

(1)

An ignorant pretender to medical skill–I do not see how any physician who has passed his university examinations, has been accepted by the medical state boards and Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons as fit to practice (many with specialty training) can be said to pretend to have medical skill. If they did not have the requisite medical skills they should have been flunked out and rejected by the colleges and state boards. The term medical quack has therefore no meaning whatever. It does not exist. A quack can only be a person who pretends to be a doctor. This is illegal; legal sanctions are available for these real quacks. They do not have to be deprived of their license to practice, they do not have one or should never have been given one. And they should be charged.

(2)

One who professes to have knowledge or skill concerning subjects of which he is ignorant. One of the main concerns of this committee was the use of chelation therapy. They appear to be really fearful of the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). But before the committee can legitimately be critical of this procedure one would expect that they would have knowledge and skill concerning this subject. In fact they appear to be almost totally ignorant of the subject, how it is used and the results that are obtained. On the other hand, the people they have labeled as quacks do have the skill and knowledge about the treatment they have been using for so many years on over one million patients.

(3)

An empiric or impostor in medicine. Empiric is defined as follows (1) one of the sect of ancient physicians called Empirici who drew their rules of practice only from experiences (2) one who in matters of science relies solely upon observation and experiment (3) one who practices phisic or surgery without scientific knowledge. Definition number 3 does not apply since the same argument I have used in the paragraph above deals with this. The first two definitions seem pretty good to me. Where would modern medicine have been without reliable observations and experiments. Thus being called an empiric is probably more of an honor since it describes what physicians should try to do.

For their study, researchers from Harvard Medical School tracked more than 75,000 dementia patients living in nursing homes that were being prescribed antipsychotic drugs like haloperidol (Haldol) and quetiapine (Seroquel) for their conditions. Antipsychotic drugs are not typically administered to dementia patients, which means this is an "atypical" or "off-label" use of these drugs, despite the fact than an increasing number of doctors and nursing home personnel are prescribing them to dementia patients.

In the end, it was confirmed by the team that the use of antipsychotics by dementia patients is responsible for a surge in drug-related deaths, presumably as a result of negative side effects both internally to the body, and externally in the form of altered behavior. The findings also confirmed previous ones that identified an uptick in at least 1,800 additional deaths a year as a result of dementia patients taking antipsychotic drugs.

"For a minority of people with dementia, antipsychotics should be used, but then only for up to 12 weeks, and under the correct circumstances," said Dr. Anne Corbett, research manager at the Alzheimer's Society, commenting on the research. "For the majority (of patients), they do far more harm than good."

These 1,800 deaths, of course, are just the additional deaths caused by antipsychotic drugs when they are used for off-label purposes in those with dementia, which means there are tens of thousands — and perhaps even hundreds of thousands — of deaths every year in other patients taking antipsychotics for other purposes. This means that far more people die every single year than have ever died from so-called terrorist attacks.

According to the 2003 report Death by Medicine, which was authored by Drs. Gary Null, Carolyn Dean, Martin Feldman, Debora Rasio, and Dorothy Smith, more than 783,000 people in the U.S. die every year as a result of conventional medicine, which is more than 261 times more than the number who died on 9/11.