THE HIGH COST OF FOOD SENSITIVITIES
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In a recently published study, the yearly economic cost of food allergies in allergic American children was found to be over $4,000. Less than 20% of that can be attributed to the actual medical costs. Where is the expense coming from? According to Dr. Ruchi Gupta of Northwestern University in Chicago, most of it is coming from career sacrifices being 'forced' upon the parents, who have to change jobs, leave jobs ---- essentially giving up income so they can care for the sick child. Dr Gupta recently told the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology that this cost was conservatively estimated at $2,400. This means that Food Allergies cost over 25 billion dollars in America. And this has not even touched on FOOD SENSITIVITIES, which are far more common than Food Allergies, but can be tougher to diagnose. How many children are affected by these Food Allergies? According to Gupta and his team, between 8 and 10 percent.
ANTIBIOTIC USE IN INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, DECIMATES HEALTH LATER IN LIFE
 Photo courtesy of Bmramon School has started. Its that time of year when kids get sick, and parents take them to the doctor for antibiotics. In January of last year I reported to you that a study from Yale University's School of Public Health showed that children receiving antibiotics by age 6 months had a much greater (52%) chance of having ASTHMA & ALLERGIES by age 6 than children who did not take antibiotics. The American Journal of Epidemiology, who published the study, stated that this was true even without any sort of genetic predisposition toward asthma. Just a few months prior to this, research from Canada's University of Winnipeg in Manitoba, that was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, came to chillingly similar conclusion --- antibiotics given to infants cause health problems later in life. They showed how infants treated with antibiotics have a greater chance of developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, etc) later in childhood. What did these medical scientists think was the likely culprit? Autoimmunity induced by destroying the gut's good bacteria and letting the bad bacteria run amok ( DYSBIOSIS). And now we get this. A study published in last week's edition of the International Journal of Obesity, stated that children given antibiotics prior to 5 months of age were significantly heavier than antibiotic-free children at 38 months of age. New York University's School of Medicine showed that this trend continued into childhood. If there is one thing that I have tried to get across to my patients over the past two decades, it's that antibiotics in no way, shape, or form, strengthen the immune system. The truth is, antibiotics weaken and destroy the immune system. Sure, antibiotics have the potential to save lives, but in America this is certainly not the norm. The "norm" is children being prescribed round after round after round of antibiotics for every sniffle, sneeze, and cough that comes down the pike. And just why is this bad? Pay attention.  The insignia of Croatia's Kill 'Em All Company by Nanin7 Since the release of a groundbreaking scientific study in the prestigious medical journal, the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY nearly 15 years ago, we have known that fully 80% of the entire human immune system is found in the gut (intestines). Most of this is in the form of good bacteria we refer to as healthy "Flora". But this begs the question as to what unhealthy flora is. When a child gets sick in America, far too many patients fail to heed the advice of " America's Pediatrician", DR ROBERT MENDLESOHN. Instead, we make sure our doctor prescribes antibiotics ---- and prescribe they will! We use far more antibiotics both grossly and per capita than any other nation on the planet ---- and it's not even close. When your child takes the antibiotics, those bad little bacteria that we call "infection" tend to die. But guess what? The good bacteria are killed right along with them. It reminds me of the shirts and bumper stickers that were popular when I was a child during the later portion of the Vietnam era; KILL EM ALL, AND LET GOD SORT EM OUT. That is exactly how antibiotics work! And because the immune system is made up largely of bacteria found in the gut, each and every time your child takes an antibiotic, their immune system becomes progressively weakened. Because the immune system is weak, the child is susceptible to the next infection that comes along. What does the doctor do? Prescribes more antibiotics. Repeat Cycle ad infinitum until the immune system is destroyed. Cancer anyone? How about some AUTOIMMUNITY?
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUR CHILD AVOID SICKNESS AND ANTIBIOTICS AS WE MOVE INTO COLD AND FLU SEASON?
- EAT A HEALTHY DIET OF WHOLE FOODS, AND TAKE WHOLE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS: Listen folks; care enough about your children to quit feeding them so much crap! Take charge of their health (after all; you are the parent) and make sure that they are getting a diet (and supplements) based on WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION.
- AVOID SUGAR AND PROCESSED CARBS: If you understand what these bad bacteria like to eat, this is a no-brainer. Just do a Google search on "Sugar Feeds Infection" and see what comes up. I promise you will be more than a little bit freaked out. While you are at it, take a couple of minutes and read my #1 BLOG POST of all time.
- GET YOUR KIDS OUTSIDE, ACTIVE, AND DIRTY: OK; you understand that fresh air and exercise are good for your kids. But what about the "dirty" thing? Numerous studies have shown that as crazy as it might sound, Americans are by and large too clean. Yes, you heard me. We are so clean that we are destroying the good bacteria that are on our skin (some of the same that should be found in our gut). This is one of the reasons why antibacterial soap is no longer recommended (another reason is that it, like antibiotic use, creates "superbugs").
- TAKE A GOOD PROBIOTIC: Probiotics are the opposite of antibiotics. Instead of killing bacteria, they actually restore the good bacteria to your gut. Think of your gut as a movie theater that has only so many seats available. Once these seats are taken, there is no where else to sit. Your gut is the same way. Restore good bacteria, and you push / crowd the bad bacteria out. And since there are only so many bacteria that your body can support, it is only supporting the good ones. Because of this, we highly recommend that you take a probiotic that is based on HSO's (Homeostatic Soil Organisms ---- HERE). Our probiotics contain the same bacteria that are found in organic soil --- the same bacteria that should be in your gut.
- THINK TWICE ABOUT HAVING YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED: At the very least, study this issue closely. I promise it will be an eye opener for you. Vaccines --- particularly in the numbers that we are giving our children today ---- can be exceedingly damaging to immune system function. Where do you start? My blog; where else (HERE).
DO YOU HAVE A MOLD PROBLEM?
IF SO, IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU DEAL WITH IT.... ASAP!
 Photo by Infrogmation Most Chronic Health Problems are driven by INFLAMMATION ---- normal Immune System chemicals that for one reason or another, are occurring in amounts far greater than they should be. Although sometimes we know exactly what is causing inflammation (i.e. a crappy diet), in many cases, the root cause of inflammation is hidden. Sometimes it is a food sensitivity to things like milk or GLUTEN. It could be a subclinical viral or bacterial infection. Sometimes heavy metals (lead, mercury, etc) are to blame. Today we are going to tackle another one of the body's potential " inflammation-drivers" ------ mold. Although you may not realize it, mold is everywhere! Mold spores are a common component of household and workplace dust, and can be found on just about every surface in your home. The truth is that this type of mold is usually not a problem for the majority of people. But give mold the environment it needs to grow (high moisture content, nutrients, temperature, etc), and you will soon have a huge problem on your hands --- quite possibly a nightmare you could never have even imagined. I know because I have seen how mold has destroyed some of my patient's lives! When mold spores are present in abnormally high quantities, they can present a serious health hazard to humans. Mold's symptoms come in the form of reactions to molds themselves, reactions to mycotoxins (toxic chemical byproducts of molds), or fungal infections (aka mycosis). Some of the more common health issues associated with mold exposure include... - Allergic Reactions (Current research says that over half of all Asthmatics have Respiratory allergies --- one of the most common being mold.)
- Ear, Nose, & Throat Problems
- Sinus Congestion / Infections
- A vast array of Respiratory Problems including Infections and Bronchitis
- Fungal Infections of the Sinus, Skin, Lungs, and Digestive Tract with prolonged exposure
- Hypersensitivity Reactions of all kinds (A 2003 issue of The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine called, "Adverse human health effects associated with molds in the indoor environment" said that at least 5% of the American population is affected at some time in their life with Hypersensitivity to Mold.)
- Fibromyalgia / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (HERE)
- Immune Suppression / Autoimmunity (This is extremely serious --- CLICK HERE)
- Neurotoxicity / Neurological Problems
- Cancer (Darn right! For the fun of it, Google "Cancer Mold" or "Cancer Fungus" and prepare to be truly freaked out.)
Although there are diagnostic methods of determining whether or not your health issues might have mold at their core, the best method of defeating mold is prevention. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the best ways to reduce your chances of mold exposure are the following......... - When water leaks or spills occur indoors - ACT QUICKLY. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
- Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
- Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
- Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
- Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.
- If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes ACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.
- Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible. (Combustion appliances such as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.)
- Use air conditioners and / or de-humidifiers when needed.
- Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.
- Reduce the humidity.
- Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and / or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.
- Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
Prevention is critical, but if you already have mold in your home or business (or suspect the possibility of mold), you MUST get an inspection by a qualified individual ASAP! It is important to find out how extensive your mold problem is, what kind of mold it is, as well as how long it may have been there. Just remember that in many cases you will never see the mold that is causing the problem, as it is behind walls or in some other "hidden" spot. In our neck of the Ozarks, the only person I would trust to do a complete / thorough / accurate Mold Inspection is Alan Willis of Ozarks Mold Inspection, LLC. Alan is a devout Christian family-man, whom I would trust with my life. If Alan says you have a problem with mold in your home or business, rest assured, he is telling you the truth. Better yet, Alan has the experience and know-how to effectively deal with mold. Alan's phone number is (417) 293-8195, and his website is........
Taking Antibiotics in the First Six Months of Life,
Nearly Doubles Chances of Asthma & Allergies
 Go ahead and say it. It's true. I do sound like a broken record. Antibiotics are a big factor in the destruction of America's health! In case you have not been following along, antibiotics destroy bacteria. Most of us think this is a good thing. It's not! The American Journal of Physiology reported back in 1999 that 80% of your Immune System is found in the digestive tract (the gut). Unfortunately, antibiotics kill the good bacteria that make up such a huge part of your Immune System. What are you left with? DYSBIOSIS! Bad bacteria, yeast, fungus, parasites, and God only knows what else, are allowed to take over your digestive tract when you take antibiotics. As you can imagine, this is not a good thing when it comes to your health. Again, people get Dysbiois because of antibiotics, and they feed it with a diet heavy on both starch and sugar. The result is a veritable Who's Who of dysfunction and disease. Does the medical community agree with this assessment? Absolutely! Are they changing the way that they treat patients? Absolutely not! Case in point is a study that was published earlier this year in the February issue of The American Journal of Epidemiology. The study, done by four doctors at Yale University's School of Public Health's Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, hit us with yet another example of the problems with current antibiotic prescription habits. This study looked at the relationship between early antibiotic use (1st 6 months of life), and the incidence of asthma & allergies at 6 years of age ---- in over 1,400 children. Antibiotic exposure was associated with a 52% increased risk of asthma overall. However, there was a staggering 89% increase in both problems in children with no prior family history! The authors concluded that early antibiotic use is associated with developing both asthma and allergies. Is this information anything new? Not really. In the June 2007 issue of CHEST, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, carried a similar study concluding that, "children receiving antibiotics in the first year of life were at greater risk for developing asthma by age 7 than those not receiving antibiotics". The risk for asthma doubled (100% increase) in children receiving antibiotics during their first year. Do you think that maybe its time to avoid antibiotics?
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