Today's Natural Cure: Coconut Oil

This article is from  preventdisease.com

Coconut Oil Is The Superfood of All Oils

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial and soothing properties.



Coconut oil is used extensively in tropical countries especially India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines etc., which have a good production of coconut oil. The oil was also once popular in western countries such as United States and Canada; however, there was a strong propaganda in 1970s spread by the corn oil and soy oil industry against coconut oil. Coconut oil was considered harmful for the human body due to its high saturated fat content till the last decade (2000s) when people started questioning this propaganda. Let us get into some details of how coconut oil works for our body.

How is lauric acid used by our body?

The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. As a result of these various health benefits of coconut oil, though its exact mechanism of action was unknown, it has been extensively used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system. The Coconut Research Center has compiled various benefits in both traditional and modern medicine.

Before we move on to the benefits of coconut oil in detail, let us understand its composition.

Composition of Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent of saturated fats (Don’t panic! First read to the last word. Your opinion may change), with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Virgin coconut oil is no different from this. Let us have a bit detailed study of this..

Saturated fatty acids: Most of them are medium chain triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well. Lauric acid is the chief contributor, with more than forty percent of the share, followed by capric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid and palmitic.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids: Linoleic acid.

Monounsaturated fatty acids: Oleic acid.

Poly-phenols: Coconut contains Gallic acid, which is phenolic acid. These poly-phenols are supposed to be responsible for the fragrance and the taste of coconut oil and Virgin Coconut Oil is rich in these poly-phenols.

Certain derivatives of fatty acid like betaines, ethanolamide, ethoxylates, fatty esters, fatty polysorbates, monoglycerides and polyol esters.

Fatty chlorides, fatty alcohol sulphate and fatty alcohol ether sulphate, all of which are derivatives of fatty alcohols.

Vitamin-E and vitamin K and minerals such as Iron.

Health benefits of coconut oil

Let us now explore the benefits of coconut oil in detail:

Hair care:

Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. It is effective in reducing the protein loss for damaged and undamaged hair.

Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. Most of the people in these countries apply coconut oil on their hair daily after bath. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. Research study indicates that coconut oil provides better protection to hair from damage caused by hygral fatigue.

Regular head massage with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, even if your scalp is dry. It also helps in keeping hair and scalp free from lice and lice eggs.

It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.

Skin care

Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care. Coconut oil also helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.

Heart diseases

There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.

Weight loss

Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.

Digestion

Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Immunity

Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

Candida

Coconut is beneficial in preventing and curing candida. It provides relief from the inflammation caused by candida, externally and internally. Its high moisture retaining capacity does not let the skin crack or peel off. Further, unlike other drugs for candida, the effects of coconut oil is gradual and not drastic or sudden, which gives the patient ample time to cope up with the die-off symptoms or Herxheimer Reactions (the name given to the symptoms accompanying body’s rejection of toxins generated during elimination of these fungi). But, this is one condition that you systematically and gradually increase your dosages of coconut oil and do not start with a large quantity all of a sudden.

Candida, also known as Systemic Candidiasis, is a dreaded disease caused due to excessive and uncontrolled growth of yeast called Candida Albicans in stomach. This yeast is more or less present in everybody’s stomach, but it does not show any adverse effects since its growth is controlled by some beneficial bacteria which reside in our stomach. When, due to any reason such as growth of other bacteria who destroy these beneficial bacteria or use of antibiotics which ultimately end up in eliminating these bacteria in addition to disease causing ones or due to bleaching or washing of stomach with medicines or excessive use of chemical laxatives or ingestion of poisonous stuff etc.; this yeast or fungi starts growing very fast and cause candida.

Symptoms of candida: The symptoms of candida include infection in genitals, urinary tract and bladder, stomach & intestines, ear, nose and throat, itchy and dry skin, inflammations in internal organs and skin, patching & peeling off of skin (particularly in scalp), digestive and excretory disorders and problems with hair, nail etc.

This disease is very common in Europe and America, may be due to cold and moist climate and food habits. In these places, a large portion of their food is comprised of food stuffs which, in some way or the other, are processed with yeast or fermented; such as breads, other baked items, cheese and above all, wine and other alcoholic drinks. These things also assist growth of Candida Albicans in the body. The various fatty acids found in the coconut oil are beneficial in treating candida.

Capric acid, a medium chain fatty acid (a Saturated Fat) present in coconut oil has antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties. This is the same fatty acid which is present in mother’s milk and protects the baby from bacterial, viral and fungal infections. In the body, it reacts with certain enzymes secreted by other bacteria or otherwise, which covert it to a powerful antimicrobial agent, monocaprin. On systematically using coconut oil for candida, capric acid has been found very effective in killing this yeast.

Caprylic acid, caproic acid, myristic acid and lauric acid found in coconut oil and have antimicrobial and antifungal properties which also aid in the elimination of candida albicans. Lauric acid a saturated fat and a medium chain fatty acid form a compound called monolaurin, upon reaction with enzymes. This monolaurin is an expert germ and fungus killer.

Healing and infections

When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.

Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to theCoconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhoea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.

Other

Coconut oil is strongly recommended for other benefits which are given below. Usage of coconut oils mildly helps for the following:

Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.

Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.

Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful in treating pancreatitis.

Stress relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.

Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.

Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.

Canker Sore Remedy
If your diet consists primarily of fresh pineapple and sour soothers, one of the (likely many) health issues you’ve endured is the dreaded canker sore. Coconut oil has been said to speed up the healing process.

Dental care: Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay. Combine coconut oil with baking soda to make your pearly whites gleam. Antibacterial Action of Coconut Oil Combats Tooth Decay When Consumed.

HIV and cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients. Preliminary research has shown indications of the effect of coconut oil on reducing the viral load of HIV patients (Reference).

Finally, coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

Coconut oil and Alzheimer’s disease: There are reports of research conducted by Dr. Newport stating that coconut oil is useful for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Apart from this there is no scientific evidence or traditional knowledge of coconut oil being used for treating Alzheimer’s. It was also not known traditionally that coconut oil helps in boosting the function of the brain in any form.

Why is coconut oil solid?: Unlike most other oils, coconut oil has a high melting point -- about 24 to 25 degress Celsius or 76-78 Fahrenheit. Therefore it is solid at room temperature and melts only when the temperatures go high. Hence, if you buy a bottle of coconut oil and find it solid, don’t think that there is some problem with it. Coconut oil is like this only. And of course, don’t keep it in your refrigerator.

How to use coconut oil?: If you are using coconut oil for topical purposes, especially hair care, just melt the oil (if it is solid) by keeping the bottle in the sun or warm water. You can also take some coconut oil out and put it in a small bowl and heat the bowl over a flame (do not use microwave). Then take the oil on your palm and apply it to your hair. If you want to use it for internal consumption, simply replace butter or vegetable oils with coconut oil in your recipes. Remember, you need not switch to coconut oil completely, as you will miss the benefits of other oils and dairy products.

Can I use coconut oil for cooking?: Yes, in most of the tropical coastal regions, people use coconut oil for cooking.

I don’t like the taste of coconut oil. What should I do?: Try using coconut oil in some different recipe. That may help. If you get nauseated after eating coconut oil, don’t force yourself. As it happens with any other food item, your body may be allergic to coconut oil and it is best not to consume it.

Varieties of Coconut Oil

There are primarily 6 varieties of coconut oil that you will find in the market. These are pure coconut oil, refined coconut oil, organic coconut oil, virgin coconut oil, organic virgin coconut oil and extra virgin coconut oil.

Pure Coconut Oil: This oil is our good old friend. Extracted from dried coconut kernels, also called copra. It is crude, unrefined and without any additives. It is mainly extracted by compression of copra in a mill, either driven by bullocks or by power. However, the one extracted by bullock driven oil mills is preferred. Pure coconut oil has multiple uses such as edible oil, massaging oil, hair oil, cosmetics, medicinal and industrial usage.

Refined Coconut Oil: This is sometimes also called the RBD coconut oil, which is an abbreviated form for refined, bleached & deodorized coconut oil. As the name suggests, this is obtained by mechanically and chemically refining, bleaching and deodorizing the crude coconut oil, to make it thin, colorless, odorless and without any type of particle (such as those of proteins) suspended in it. What we get is only pure saturated fats and nothing else.

Virgin Coconut Oil: Virgin coconut oil is derived from the milk obtained from fresh coconut meat, and not from copra, by processes like fermentation, centrifugal separation and enzyme action. Care is taken to use no or as less heat as possible in the extraction of this oil. Produced this way, this oil tastes and smells the best and is laden with antioxidants and medium chain fatty Acids. It also has remarkable anti microbial properties. This is one of the most respected varieties of coconut oil.

Organic Coconut Oil: The coconut oil that has been extracted from coconuts obtained from coconut palms raised only on organic manure and no synthetic fertilizers, insecticides etc., and without the involvement of any chemical in its extraction or processing, is called the organic coconut oil. This again, is a very much respected variety of coconut oil. Organic coconut oil forms an integral part of a number of organic cosmetic products such as organic soaps, organic skin creams and lotions, organic snacks etc. and thousands of such products. Some of the organic programmes and authorities who certify organic coconut oil include Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), USDA National Organic Program (NOP), European Organic Regulations (EU 2092/91), Export Certificates for Japan (JAS Equivalent), Indian National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), Quebec Organic Reference Standard (CAAQ), Bio Suisse Standards, IOFAM Basic Standards, ECOCERT.

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil: You can very well understand what does that mean. It means virgin coconut oil produced from the organic coconuts, the organic way. This is perhaps the best and purest form of coconut oil one can imagine of (of course, if it is that real).

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil: Among all the varieties of coconut oil, this is the most challenged and doubted one, as its very existence is doubted and the name hardly makes any sense. Further, there are no set standards for virginity of coconut oil. Moreover, reputed firms and government bodies are still neither saying anything on it, nor are they selling it. So, speaking something on this will be too early.

The properties of coconut oil do not differ much with their varieties and remain more or less the same. So, think well and make a wise decision before you put your hands in your pocket.

Coconut Oil as a Carrier Oil: Coconut oil can be very efficient as carrier oil. Carrier oils hold a place of high importance in Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicines and all other systems of medicine which involve massaging. Carrier oils are those oils which easily penetrate or absorb into the skin and thus facilitate seepage or absorption of other oils (such as essential oils) and herbal extracts through skin, when mixed into it. Coconut oil is very easily absorbed through the skin pores and thus used as carrier oil. Further, being one of the most stable oils, it does neither go rancid itself nor does it let the other oils or herbal extracts or medicines spoil in it for a long time. Thus, you can mix your desired thing it and keep it for future for a long-long time. Due to its anti-fungal and anti-microbial property coconut oil keeps the oils, herbal extracts and medicines that are mixed in it protected from microbial or fungal actions. It also does not alter the properties of the oils and herbs mixed in it. Coconut oil is expensive in several countries; however, in tropical countries its cost is low enough to make it affordable carrier oil.

Coconut oil extraction

Cold pressing is one of the preferred methods of extraction of coconut oil.The quality and goodness of coconut oil depends much on the method of its extraction. Basically, there are two main methods of extraction of coconut oil. First one is cold pressing of copra (dried coconut kernels) and the second is boiling of fresh coconut milk. Since boiling or heating destroys many nutrients and volatile components, hence coconut oil obtained this way is not considered as good as that obtained by cold pressing, as cold pressing retains much of oil’s goodness. Machine pressing and bullock/manual pressing are two methods of cold pressing.

Machine pressing: In this cold pressing is done with the help of an electrically or diesel-engine driven oil mill. Most of cold pressed oil used in the world is obtained this way.

Bullock/manual pressing: The oil obtained this way has a better taste and fragrance and is dearer since the production is less, consumes more time and energy and wastage is more. It has higher price, lower availability and better quality.

Buying Coconut Oil

First of all, you need to decide why you need coconut oil, i.e. where you are going to use it. Your choice should be based on your need, i.e. whether you want it for edible purposes or as a carrier oil to be used in aromatherapy or for massaging or for weight loss or for medicinal purposes etc. As mentioned earlier there are different varieties for different purposes. Their properties do not differ much, unless they are mixed with some base or additives and do not contain 100% coconut oil. Given below is a list of such purposes and the type of coconut oil to buy.

Purpose---Preferable Type to Buy

Cooking---Refined Coconut Oil

Weight Loss---Virgin Coconut Oil

As a Carrier Oil---Virgin Coconut Oil, Fractionated Coconut Oil

Good Health---Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Oil

Massaging---Pure Coconut Oil, Refined Coconut Oil

Hair---Pure Coconut Oil, Refined Coconut Oil

Medicinal uses---Virgin Coconut Oil, Virgin Organic Coconut Oil

Further, before you buy coconut oil, it should be kept in mind that for edible and therapeutic uses, refined coconut oil is the best as it is hygienic and clean. Unrefined coconut oil is good for external applications such as hair care and skin care.

Where to buy from? Except some of the special varieties, such as virgin coconut oil and organic coconut oil, other varieties like the pure coconut oil and refined coconut oil are easily available with most of the grocers, at least in tropical countries. For special ones, you need to search the big departmental stores or sometimes a drug store too. Things may be a little different in countries which do not produce coconut oil, e.g. US, Canada, most of Europe, etc. You need to visit big grocers in these countries. You will also get coconut oil easily at grocery stores in localities what have higher population of people from India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and coastal Africa. And of course, you can find it online.

Which brand to buy?: No problem if someone in your village extracts coconut oil (quite normal in Philippines, Thailand, Burma, coastal India, Sri Lanka etc.) and you know that person well or see him/her expelling the oil. But when you are to buy coconut oil in packs, go for the reliable and reputed brands. Read the contents carefully. Watch the manufacturing date (although coconut oil has a long shelf life, still, the fresher the better).

How much to pay? Now, this is really a difficult question to answer. The price of coconut oil depends on many factors such as its availability (cheaper where it is produced and dearer otherwise, further dearer if ordered via phone, Internet etc.), demand, variety (the refined one costs least, followed by the fractionated, the virgin, the organic and the organic virgin coconut oils etc.), brand, quantity (buying in bulk costs a little less), packaging etc.

How much to buy? Buy only as much you can consume in few months, because despite the fact that coconut oil does not go rancid for a long time, it is not wise to store it unnecessarily. Better go for fresh lot each time.

Storage: After you buy coconut oil, the next question comes to your mind is that of storage. In colder countries, coconut oil comes in good broad containers. However, if you get it in a pack (tetra-pack or plastic pouch), after opening the pack keep the oil in containers with tight lid and broad mouth so that you can scoop it out with a spoon if it solidifies. Keeping it sealed or lidded is necessary because there are other admirers of coconut oil (ants, cockroaches, other insects and rodents just love it!). That’s all.

Sources:
organicfacts.net
huffingtonpost.ca 
gnet.org

Today's Natural Cure: Don't Microwave Anything

This article is from  bewellbuzz.com

Truth about Microwave Ovens

(BeWellBuzz) We are always looking to discover new ways of making our life easier. Nothing wrong with that but what we often fail to understand is that – not all inventions are good for us. Microwave oven is one such invention that has been widely mistaken.

Are you one of those who feel lazy to use the stove and choose to heat your food in the microwave instead? If yes, then you may need to stop and think again before placing your life in the hands on this so called “harmless” man-made machine.

Microwave Oven – Not Really Harmless!

The first microwave oven was invented by Raytheon after the World War II. Back then, it didn’t seem like such an important invention for home use. A few years later, microwave ovens gained a lot of popularity for reheating previously-cooked foods and cooking vegetables. Over the last couple of decades, microwave ovens have become a necessity, and now you will rarely find a kitchen without a microwave!

Today, over 90% of homes in America, use microwave ovens for re-heating foods, and for daily meal preparations.  It is so easy to use as it just takes a few minutes to get the meal on the table “ready to eat”. However, as you may already know, a microwave oven essentially uses microwave radiations to heat polarized molecules in food. Unfortunately, these microwave radiations have been found to distort the molecular structure of foods. As a result, microwave preparations lack healthy nutrients as most of them are destroyed during heating!

Did you know that the Soviet Union banned microwaves in 1976? Why do you think they would do so and yet the American Government still hasn’t warned us anything about it? Microwave ovens continue to be used in every home, and the reason is simple – microwaves are convenient and energy efficient way of preparing food.

Is the microwaved food really healthy? Here, are a few studies and results that indicate the truth about microwave heating of foods.

#1: Microwaves Are Harmful For Baby Food

It has been found that cooking food in microwaves is an unhealthy and unnatural approach for preparing baby food. According to Young Families, the Minnesota Extension Service of the University of Minnesota published in 1989, milk bottle heated in microwaves may cause harm to the baby who drinks it. High milk temperature (often resulted due to overheating) could not only burn a baby’s mouth and throat, the steam all encapsulated in the bottle may also cause the bottle to explode due to the presence of radiation gases within it.

Maybe these effects can be ignored or averted, but the fact that milk heated in a microwave may change the molecular structure of the milk is something that calls for attention. Microwave radiations can cause the essential nutrients in the baby foods to be lost, making them unfit for consumption. It’s just like feeding fake milk to the child with no real nutrients at all. The study further confirmed that it may be better and much safer to heat the bottle by placing it under a tap of warm waterfor a few minutes than to heat it in a microwave oven.

#2: Microwaves Can Destroy Your Blood

Another shocking discovery about microwave radiations came into the limelight when a nurse in an Oklahoma hospital used microwaves for warming the blood used for transfusion in a patient. The patient immediately died because of this transfusion. It was found that microwaves injected some kind of destructive substances in our food when we heat it.

#3: Microwaves Reduces Hemoglobin Levels

To understand why microwaves are dangerous for health, a study was carried out by Raum & Zelt in 1992 which showed some noticeable changes in the human build after consuming microwave heated milk and vegetables.

In this study, 8 volunteers ate different combinations of the same food cooked in different ways, which caused different changes in the blood of the volunteers. Hemoglobin, which is an important constituent of blood decreased while white blood cells and cholesterol increased. Lymphocytes, which provide immunity to the body, also decreased which is quite an alarming sign. Bacteria also increased after eating the microwave heated food.

#4: Microwaved Food Can Cause Cancer

A food scientist by the name of Dr. Hans ulrich Hertel who worked with one of the major companies of Switzerland carried out a research which showed striking discoveries about cooking food in microwaves. Dr. Hertel was fired from his company because of raising questions on how the food was prepared.  His famous research with a Lausanne university professor which showed that food cooked in microwaves has cancerous effects.

Dr. Hertel and Dr. Bernard H. Blanc collaborated on a clinical study at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the University Institute for Biochemistry. Determined to study the physiology of the human body, Dr. Hertel carried out experiments to find out the effects of “microwaved” nutrients on human blood. He showed that microwave radiations completely destroy the nutrients in the food and could cause very bad effects on the human body. He also found out that microwaved food decreased hemoglobin in our body and could increase the cholesterol levels.

Comfort OR Health? The Choice Is Yours!

The FDA or the government may never tell you these harmful effects of cooking food in microwaves. As it is evident, microwave ovens are not really the recommended method of cooking. You could either live in denial and keep on using it or give your life some value and start cooking food on stoves. Use the conventional and the safer way!

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven

http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1825144/

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Microwave_Ovens_and_Food_Safety/index.asp

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/health-hazards-to-know-about/microwave-ovens-the-proven-dangers

http://www.jrussellshealth.org/microwaves.html

Today's Natural Cure: Oranges

This article is from  greenmedinfo.com

9 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties of Oranges

The orange is both a literal and symbolic embodiment of the sun, from whose light it is formed. As a whole food it irradiates us with a spectrum of healing properties, the most prominent of which some call "vitamin C activity," but which is not reducible to the chemical skeleton known as 'ascorbic acid.' Science now confirms the orange has a broad range of medicinal properties, which is why the ancients knew it both as a food and a medicine.

"It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician."
~ Meryl Streep

 As our increasingly overdiagnosed and overmedicated population leaps lemming-like over the cliff of conventional medicine, with most drugs carrying a dozen or more adverse side effects for every benefit advertised, we can find great wisdom in Meryl Streep's quote.

Indeed, many common fruits and vegetables "crouching" at the local produce stand have "hidden healing powers," and have been used as both medicines and nourishing foods since time immemorial.

I firmly believe that access to fresh, organic produce is as vital a health necessity as access to water, and clean air. Over the course of hundreds of millions of years, the bodies of our ancestors (whose genes became ours) co-evolved with higher, flowering and fruiting plants, and the tens of thousands of phytocompounds they contain, many of which now regulate and maintain the expression and health of our genes. Therefore, without the regular consumption of these foods, suboptimal health, and likely many diseases, is inevitable. One could rightly say that chemotherapy and radiotherapy were invented mainly to treat fruit and vegetable deficiency, but of course providing a solution far worse than the disease, and certainly eternally incapable of addressing the root causes of cancer.

Orange is one such food-medicine marvel, containing a broad range of compounds increasingly being recognized to be essential for human health. We consider it a sweet treat, its juice a refreshing beverage, but do we ever really reflect on its medicinal properties?  GreenMedInfo.com has indexed no less than 37 distinct health benefits its use may confer, all of which can be explored on our Orange Medicinal Properties research page.  What follows are some of its most well-established therapeutic applications, divided into three parts: the juice, the peel and the aroma:

The Juice of the Orange

Many of us mistakenly look to orange juice today as a dangerous source of highly concentrated fructose – simple "carbs" - without recognizing its profound medicinal properties. We sometimes think we can get the vitamin C activity oranges contain through the semi-synthetic 'nutrient' ascorbic acid, without realizing that an orange embodies (as do all whole foods) a complex orchestra of chemistries, the handiwork of millions of years of evolution, which is to say a process of intelligent biological design.  The 'monochemical nutrient' – ascorbic acid – is merely a shadow of the vitamin C activity that is carried and expressed through only living foods. The orange, after all, looks like a miniature sun, is formed as a condensation of energy and information from sunlight, and therefore is capable of storing and after being eaten irradiating us with life-giving packets of information-dense gene-regulating nutrition, by a mechanism that will never be fully reducible to or intelligible by the chemical skeleton we know of as ascorbic acid. 

Given that thought, here are some of the evidence-based benefits of orange juice:

• Orange Juice Improves "Good" Cholesterol: While it is debatable that lowering so-called "LDL" cholesterol is nearly as good for heart health as statin drug manufacturers would like for us to believe, raising "HDL" cholesterol does seem to have real health benefits. This is, however, quite hard to do with diet and nutrition, and impossible through medication. Other than taking high-dose fish oil, few things have been studied to be effective. Except, that is, orange juice.  A 2000 study found that the consumption of 750 mL of orange juice a day, over a 4 weeks, improved blood lipid profiles by decreasing the LDL-HDL cholesterol ratio by 16% in patients with elevated cholesterol.[1]
• Orange Juice Boosts Bone Health: A 2006 animal study in male rats found that orange juice positively influenced antioxidant status and bone strength.[2]
• Orange Juice (mixed with Blackcurrant Juice) Reduces Inflammation: A 2009 study in patients with peripheral artery disease found that orange and blackcurrant juice reduced C-reactive protein (11%)  and fibrinogen levels (3%), two concrete measures of systemic inflammation.[3] A 2010 study found that Orange juice neutralizes the proinflammatory effect of a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal and prevents endotoxin induced toxicity.[4]
• Orange Juice Boosts Weight Loss: A 2011 study found that children who regularly drank orange juice consumed an average of 523 calories a day more than children who did not drink orange juice regularly. Yet surprisingly, there was no difference in the weight levels between the orange juice consumers and the non-orange juice consumers.[5]
• Orange Juice May Dissolve Kidney Stones: A 2006 study found that orange juice consumption was associated with lower calculated calcium oxalate supersaturation and lower calculated undissociated uric acid, two indices of lowered urinary calcium stone formation.[6]
• Orange Juice Extract Suppresses Prostate Proliferation: Despite the fructose content, a 2006 study found a standardized extract of red orange juice inhibited the proliferation of human prostate cells in vitro.[7]

The Peel of the Orange

The peel of the orange contains a broad range of potent, potentially therapeutic compounds.  These include pectin and flavonoid constituents, such as hersperiden, naringin, polymethoxyflavones, quercetin and rutin, various carotenoids, and a major odor constituent known as d-limonene, which makes up 90% of the citrus peel oil content, and is a compound that gets its name from the rind of the lemon, which contains a significant quantity of it. It is listed in the US Code of Federal Regulations as generally recognized as safe (GRAS), and is commonly used as a flavoring agent.  D-limonene has been studied to have potent anti-cancer properties, including against metastatic melanoma.[8]

The whole peel extract has been studied to have a wide range of benefits:

• Orange Peel exhibits Anti-Arthritic Properties: A 2010 study found that orange peel extract significant suppressed vaccine adjuvant-induced arthritis in a preclinical model.[9]
• Orange Peel (Flavonoids) Exhibit Anti-Cancer Properties:  A 2007 study found that orange peel extract inhibited tumorigenesis in a preclinical mouse model of adenomatous polyposis and increases programmed cell death.[i]  Two additional 2007studies found that orange peel extract has anti-breast cancer properties. The first, by exhibiting chemopreventive properties against mammary tumor lesions in an animal model.[10] The second, by inhibiting breast cancer cell lines in vitro.[11] Additionally, a 2000 study found that flavanone intake is inversely associated with esophageal cancer risk and may account, with vitamin C, for the protective effect of fruit, especially citrus fruit, on esophageal cancer. [12] Finally, a 2005 study found that carotenoids from orange may help to reverse multidrug resistance.

The Aroma of the Orange

The physiological mechanisms by which aromas may have therapeutic properties (aroma-therapy) are well-established. The small molecules that comprise the aroma of things, are capable of entering directly through the nostrils and into the olfactory lobe, thus enabling them to have profound affects on deep structures within our brain, and as a result our entire bodily and emotional infrastructure.

• Orange Scent Reduces Anxiety, Boosts Mood:  A 2000 study found that the aroma of orange essential oil reduces anxiety, generates a more positive mood, and a higher level of calmness in women exposed to it in a dental office waiting room.[13]  This finding was confirmed again in a 2005 study, where ambient odors of reduced anxiety and improved mood in patients waiting for dental treatment.[14]

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[1] E M Kurowska, J D Spence, J Jordan, S Wetmore, D J Freeman, L A Piché, P Serratore. HDL-cholesterol-raising effect of orange juice in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Nov;72(5):1095-100. PMID: 11063434

[2] Farzad Deyhim, Kristy Garica, Erica Lopez, Julia Gonzalez, Sumiyo Ino, Michelle Garcia, Bhimanagouda S Patil. Citrus juice modulates bone strength in male senescent rat model of osteoporosis. Nutrition. 2006 May;22(5):559-63. Epub 2006 Feb 10. PMID: 16472977

[3] Christine Dalgård, Flemming Nielsen, Jason D Morrow, Henrik Enghusen-Poulsen, Torbjörn Jonung, Mogens Hørder, Moniek P M de Maat. Supplementation with orange and blackcurrant juice, but not vitamin E, improves inflammatory markers in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Br J Nutr. 2009 Jan;101(2):263-9. Epub 2008 May 28. PMID: 18507878

[4] Husam Ghanim, Chang Ling Sia, Manish Upadhyay, Mannish Upadhyay, Kelly Korzeniewski, Prabhakar Viswanathan, Sanaa Abuaysheh, Priya Mohanty, Paresh Dandona. Orange juice neutralizes the proinflammatory effect of a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal and prevents endotoxin increase and Toll-like receptor expression. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Apr;91(4):940-9. Epub 2010 Mar 3. PMID: 20200256

[5] O'Neil CE, Nicklas TA, Rampersaud GC, Fulgoni VL 3rd. One hundred percent orange juice consumption is associated with better diet quality, improved nutrient adequacy, and no increased risk for overweight/obesity in children. Nutr Res. 2011 Sep;31(9):673-82.associated with better diet quality, improved nutrient adequacy, and no increased risk for overweight/obesity in children. Nutr Res. 2011 Sep;31(9):673-82.

[6] Clarita V Odvina. Comparative value of orange juice versus lemonade in reducing stone-forming risk. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2006 Nov;1(6):1269-74. Epub 2006 Aug 30. PMID: 17699358

[7] Federica Vitali, Claudia Pennisi, Antonio Tomaino, Francesco Bonina, Anna De Pasquale, Antonella Saija, Beatrice Tita. Effect of a standardized extract of red orange juice on proliferation of human prostate cells in vitro. Fitoterapia. 2006 Apr;77(3):151-5. Epub 2006 Feb 23. PMID:16530345

[8] GreenMedInfo.com, D-Limenone's Anti-Cancer Properties

[9] Gang Chen, Zhongyi Yin, Xuxu Zheng. [Effect and mechanism of total flavonoids of orange peel on rat adjuvant arthritis]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2010 May;35(10):1298-301. PMID:20707201

[10] Sadanori Abe, Kunhua Fan, Chi-Tang Ho, Geetha Ghai, Kan Yang. Chemopreventive effects of orange peel extract (OPE). II: OPE inhibits atypical hyperplastic lesions in rodent mammary gland. J Med Food. 2007 Mar;10(1):18-24. PMID: 17472462

[11] Igor N Sergeev, Chi-Tang Ho, Shiming Li, Julie Colby, Slavik Dushenkov. Apoptosis-inducing activity of hydroxylated polymethoxyflavones and polymethoxyflavones from orange peel in human breast cancer cells. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Dec;51(12):1478-84. PMID: 17979096

[12] Marta Rossi, Werner Garavello, Renato Talamini, Carlo La Vecchia, Silvia Franceschi, Pagona Lagiou, Paola Zambon, Luigino Dal Maso, Cristina Bosetti, Eva Negri. Flavonoids and risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer. Arch Intern Med. 2000 Apr 10;160(7):1009-13. PMID:17192901

[13] J Lehrner, C Eckersberger, P Walla, G Pötsch, L Deecke. Ambient odor of orange in a dental office reduces anxiety and improves mood in female patients. Physiol Behav. 2000 Oct 1-15;71(1-2):83-6. PMID: 11134689

[14] J Lehrner, G Marwinski, S Lehr, P Johren, L Deecke. Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office. Physiol Behav. 2005 Sep 15;86(1-2):92-5. PMID: 16095639

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[i] Kunhua Fan, Naoto Kurihara, Sadanori Abe, Chi-Tang Ho, Geetha Ghai, Kan Yang.Chemopreventive effects of orange peel extract (OPE). I: OPE inhibits intestinal tumor growth in ApcMin/+ mice. J Med Food. 2007 Mar;10(1):11-7. PMID: 17472461

Today's Natural Cure: Avoid The Poison And Dangers Of Vaccines

This article is from  healthimpactnews.com

Dr. Kurt: Why I Will Never Choose to Vaccinate my Own Son and Any Future Kids my Wife and I Have

...VACCINATION vs. IMMUNIZATION:

Clarification needs to be created regarding VACCINATION vs. IMMUNIZATION.  I’m all for immunization.  The problem created by media and pharmaceutical influence is that people equate immunization with vaccination.  Vaccination is simply injecting something into your body.  This does not create immunity for your body.  These are 2 totally separate entities.

Another thing that irks me is my ‘mom’s’ comments about me leaving out stuff and therefore destroying my credibility.   I would like to add I make ZERO money off of this blog.  I may book some speaking gigs from it but those revenues will come nowhere near the $20 BILLION per year the makers of vaccines cherish.  Who do you think has more weight on their shoulders to hide information?  Huh, mom?  Huh?

With building immunity, it’s a natural process.  With that natural process, your body uses many defenses.  The first layer of defense is your skin.  This blocks out any harmful opportunistic buggers.  With a vaccine, this law of nature is totally bypassed by injecting you with a needle full of stuff your skin would never allow past it.

You also have a respiratory system that also aids in defense.  You cough, you sneeze, and you blow your nose, in attempt to expel the potential invader.  Coughing, sneezing, and snorting are results of your immune system working.  Don’t suppress it with fever reducers, anti-histamines, etc.  You’re just making it easier for the invader.

You also have your gut-associated lymph system to fight with the stronger stuff.  If your system is so deficient to get past these natural defenses,  the potential invader, live or dead, enters the blood stream.  Once something is in your blood stream, it can be transported any anywhere in your body, not good at all.  It’s like open bar at a chiropractic convention.

A vaccine violates all laws of natural immune defenses by taking a potential pathogen along with all the TOXIC ingredients(aluminum, formaldehyde, adjuvants, etc) directly into your blood system.  This process would never occur in building natural immunity.  That last sentence is kind of an oxy-moron.  Immunity is a natural thing.  Vaccines are an artificial thing.

FLAWED RESEARCH:

The scientific mantra of vaccines is that they are safe and effective based on their research.  Their research is flawed and is a double standard from any other drug product studied.  The Gold Standard in research design is the double blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT).

This means that people are split into 2 groups randomly and participants are given either the real thing or the fake thing being tested.  Then progress is charted on who gets better, who gets worse, and the like.  In theory there should be no bias as to reporting because the researchers don’t know who is in the placebo or the real intervention group.

How many vaccines have ever been studied in this manner?  ZERO!  The reason?  The researchers will say they cannot perform an RCT because it would be unethical to NOT give a child a vaccine because if that child dies of something that could have been prevented, then they don’t want to be responsible.  But if someone dies in their trials from taking their anti-depressants, it must be OK.

Hey drug companies, I will volunteer my child to be in the placebo group and compare him to the health and well being of those that have gotten all the recommended vaccines.  I’m sure I can gather a few hundred thousand more to be in the placebo group to create a large sample.

Instead of research to see safety and effectiveness, they instead see if the person builds anti-bodies to the antigen (the foreign invader) that is in the vaccine.  If antibodies are built, then it’s ‘safe and effective,’ or so they lead us to believe.  These studies are rarely, if ever done on kids younger than 4 years old.  How can you say it’s safe or effective for a baby if it’s never studied on a baby?

The 2 populations that have limited production of anti-bodies are infants and geriatrics, the 2 most heavily vaccinated populations.  If they can’t produce anti-bodies, then the vaccine would be pointless.  The whole premise of the vaccine is that you get injected with a foreign invader and you produce anti-bodies against it.  If you can’t produce anti-bodies well then what’s the use of injecting something to try and stimulate that reaction?

With kids, they don’t produce any anybodies until after age 6 months.  So why give a vaccine to anyone under the age of 6 months if they can’t produce antibodies.  Even if the whole vaccine theory really worked, it would be absolutely pointless to inject a baby of 6 months or less with a vaccine .  With a child’s immune system being very immature until age 2, the overload of 36 vaccines by the age of 18 months seems about as logical as drinking from a fire hydrant.

BOOSTER BUST:  

This is another aspect to the junk science of vaccines that exposes kids only 18 months old to 36 shots.  In their research of efficacy (how long something will work), they have no idea.  For this reason, we have multiple shots for multiple antigens.  Just take the latest HPV vaccine, the 3 series shot given to 12 year old girls to prevent HPV (an STD) which “MIGHT” but has never been confirmed, contribute to cervical cancer.

The manufacturer is only claiming 5 years of efficacy.  The problem with this is 2 fold.  1. The average age of cervical cancer is 50.  2. The shot is administered to 12 year old girls.
So we have a system pushing multiple shots (boosters) with a supposed 5 year efficacy timeline onto pre-teen girls, that was never tested on them, for a disease that has an average age of 50.  You give it a 12 year old and by the time she’s 17 the effects are worn off and then you claim you can prevent cervical cancer as they get older.  And I’m the quack for speaking out against vaccines.

So what are the efficacy rates of other vaccines?  Who knows?  They don’t study that, they assume and say we need more.  Once the vaccine is FDA approved and on the market, there’s no need to put any more money into it to study the effects.  Instead, we have a test tube of 4 million new subjects each and every year where they can just sit back, relax and never worry about a law suit because the government has protected them from any and all liability.

Since no studies go into how long the vaccine would last, then there can be an endless recommendation of potential booster shots.  The part that really confuses me are the shots that are 4 part series.  If the first 3 didn’t confirm immunity, how do we know that the last shot was ‘the one’ that provides lifetime immunity?  Why would the 2nd to last shot be good for only a year but the last one be good for an entire lifetime?  That’s pretty arrogant and sketchy logic.

POLIO PUSHERS:

If I were to ask you what polio looks like, you probably have images of wheel chairs, crutches and kids limping around.  You would be absolutely correct…less than 0.5-2% of the time.  I want to make it clear that I am not downplaying the devastation of that 2%.  The point I’m making, hopefully it’s clear enough, is that I am making decisions based on statistics not emotion. As a parent, it’s very hard to separate the two sometimes.

In over 95% of the time, polio presents with the following symptoms: slight fever, malaise, headache, sore throat, and vomiting.  These start 3-5 days after exposure and recovery is 24-72 hours with a result of lifetime immunity.  Bet you never heard that from your pharma influenced media or doctor?

In fact, if you went to your doctor with those symptoms and you were told you had polio, you would leave his office laughing and write bad reviews on his Google Places page.
The remaining 3% was non-paralytic polio.  This presented for 2-10 days as high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, hyperesthesia/paresthesia in extremities and some asymmetrical limb weakness.  Take this list of symptoms to your doctor and you will probably get a label of meningitis, not polio.

But Dr. Kurt, the vaccine saved all those people from getting the paralyzing version.  If you look at the charts below, you will see that Polio was already massively decreasing prior to any vaccine ever introduced.  I would also like to add that the highest incidence came at a time our country was in despair (poor sanitation, hygiene, nutrition) during the depression.

Polio was already on the way out prior to any introduction of vaccines.

It was a time where sanitation was poor, hygiene was poor, and nutrition was poor.  These are the reasons that third world countries have problems with communicable diseases, not lack of vaccines.  As the Great Depression was clearing up, people were living cleaner and healthier and there was also the introduction of a drug class called antibiotics that was given for any sniffle, cough, or fever.

The last natural case of polio in the US was 1979, yet we still give kids 4 rounds of this vaccine at 2, 4, 6-12 months, and 4-6 years.  But the fear tactics continue of, “it can come back or you don’t know about the destruction it caused.”  I’m not being ignorant to history.  I’m being reasonable about the present.

What about Typhoid and Scarlet Fever?  They had just as much devastation and with no vaccine, they are not a problem.  Nature took its course and with the advent of better sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition, they wiped themselves out.

Notice no vaccine for Typhoid of Scarlet Fever, yet they naturally decreased?

RUBELLA RANT:

This was another scary moment for women back in the middle part of the last century, as stated by my ‘mom’s’ criticism above.  You may be more familiar with this being called German measles.  Symptoms for Rubella are a mild rash, fever of 99+, and joint soreness.

There was a big scare back in 1964-65 with 12.5 million cases diagnosed, with 20,000 of those cases or 0.16% of them being newborns.  As a result there were 11,000 or 0.088 % abortions (surgical and spontaneous) as well as 2,100 or 0.017% neonate deaths.  Again, having a child die is something I hope I or you never have to experience.  I can’t even imagine that experience but when I look at the actual chances of my child being infected or dying from this illness, there’s not much cause for concern in present day.

Here’s the thing with Rubella.   It’s the mom that is in danger, not the child.  The problem is if mom gets infected with Rubella in her first 4 months of pregnancy then she can pass it along to her fetus.  The child is born with it.

So why even give the shot to kids?  There’s no concern about them getting pregnant.  My only concern is that the easiest place to contract a communicable illness in our country is the hospital or OBGYN’s office, the places you’re going to bring your child for the‘Well Baby Check.’  If you really are concerned about the Rubella, why not wait until you are planning on getting pregnant to get the shot as an adult?

I know, because that would deplete a massive piece of the market away from the drug companies.  It just decreased that market from a potential 4 million babies each year to about ½ of that by just targeting women.  As a man, why would I worry about German measles?   The market would be decreased even more because not all women want kids.

But Rubella is tied into a vaccine that includes regular measles as well as mumps.  Name a day in history that anyone got all three infections, measles, German measles, and mumps ALL on the same day.  It doesn’t happen.  Then why create vaccines like this?

This is getting lengthy so let me throw in some charts for your viewing pleasure.

MEASLY MEASLES: 

The only stat I could find for deaths from measles in the US was in 2003 we had 2 deaths.  1 death was attributed to post bone marrow transplant surgery and the other was a 75 year old with pneumonia.  Media loves to report when there are measles outbreaks but what you’ll never hear in their reports is that anyone died from it.

Even at its peak around 1920, with a mortality of 15 per 100,000, the chance of death was 0.014%.

Again, around 1918, the death rate for PERTUSSIS was about 17 per 100,000 or 0.017%. By the time the pertussis vaccine was widely used, the rate of death was around 0.002%.

PERTUSSIS PUSH 

You can see from the charts above that pertussis or Whooping Cough was virtually wiped out prior to any vaccine ever introduced.  Whooping cough gets a lot of media attention with outbreaks happening in California.  What gets failed to mention is that the overwhelming majority of the kids that have been diagnosed have been fully vaccinated.

I’m just waiting for an onslaught of media that people need to get MORE booster shots of DPT.  It’s already given at 2, 4, and 6 months (useless due to no way of building anti bodies).  It’s also given at 15-18 months and then boosters at 4-6 years.  Seriously?  If 5 shots aren’t working, how many more until it does?

Why does pertussis travel so well in communities?  Poor sanitation, poor hygiene, poor nutrition.

This seems to be a very emotional issue as no parent enjoys hearing the awful cough and wheezing associated with Pertussis.  But is the shot safe?  According the research of the last 50 years, the vaccine is safe.  But what test showed it was safe?

It’s called the Mouse Weight Gain Test.  “Researchers” would vaccinate mice at their stomachs.  If the mice continue to gain weight and don’t die right away, it’s considered safe. I wish I could make this stuff up.

Should I go on?  After all, I don’t want to leave anything out.

HEPATITIS B.S.

You should only be scared of this illness if you have sex with an infected person, have multiple sex partners, have other STDs, you are a man that has sex with other men, inject drugs (isn’t that a vaccine?), or share needles, syringes, or other drug equipment.

I’m failing to see the need for 3 shots of this into a baby at birth, 1-2 months, and then again at 6-18 months.  I could be wrong.  Maybe there are IV drug using, prostitute babies out there.

DIPHTHERIA DUPED

The symptoms that warrant 4 shots of this vaccine before the age of 15 months are: sore throat with a low grade fever with an adherent membrane at the back of the throat. The weird thing is that in order for the toxins to be released, a specific strain of bacteria has to be infected with a specific virus called a B phage.  In other words, a certain bacteria has to make out with a certain virus.  In any case, it’s nothing a simple antibiotic can clear up, no need for a vaccine.

TRICKED by TETANUS

One thing I would like to point out is the ridiculousness of giving a tetanus shot AFTER you have a puncture wound.  Why get a puncture wound that definitely contains tetanus after a puncture wound that might not contain tetanus?  It’s sketchy enough to say you’re immune from tetanus from the regular vaccine schedule but to say there are curative powers by getting the vaccine AFTER the puncture wound is pretty ballsy, yet many line up to get injected after they think they might have tetanus.

Let’s look at who is at risk for tetanus?  Is it babies?

After all, where do you find tetanus?  It’s in soil and the intestines of animals and humans. I want my son to experience nature but I draw the line at playing in the intestines of animals or humans.

In 23 years, there were only 1,277 cases of tetanus, with close to 1000 of those being people over the age of 40. I'm not too concerned about my baby.

POINTLESS PNEUMOCOCCAL 

Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcal pneumonia bacteria.  The interesting thing is that there are more than 90 subtypes but the vaccine only contains 7 subtypes.  Are the other 83 subtypes not important or am I playing roulette with another shot?  I got accused of leaving out stuff, what about this vaccine?

It’s estimated based on population studies (estimates), not actual stats that there are 40,000 cases of pneumococcal disease each year.  There is also an estimated (not confirmed) about 4,400 deaths (0.0014% chance of death) each year, with the highest mortality rate being in the elderly with underlying conditions (deficiency and toxicity).
With the shots given at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months, what chance does a baby have of developing anti-bodies against this disease?  Next to nil. The first 3 shots are pointless.

RARE ROTAVIRUS  

Rotavirus is responsible for diarrhea.  It’s estimated that 55,000 children are hospitalized each year in the US.  There’s an estimated 527,000 deaths worldwide due to rotavirus.
How many die in the US?  The only stat I could find was from 1996 Journal of Infectious Disease where less than 40 kids died of rotavirus.  Again, any death from anything for a child is devastating.  But let’s compare rotavirus to lighting strike deaths.Lighting strikes kill about 60 people each year.  You have a greater chance of dying from lightning than you do rotavirus.

Not to mention the rotavirus shots are administered at ages 2, 4, and 6 months, a time where a baby cannot develop antibodies against the antigen.

All those worldwide deaths?  Those are coming from the same reasons we had a polio epidemic, poor sanitation, poor hygiene, poor nutrition.

MUMPS BUMPS

In 2004, there were 350 deaths due to mumps.  312 were from Egypt.  2 were from the US, leaving you with a 0.00000065% chance of dying from mumps.

Mumps never posed a threat to the health and vitality of the American public.  In regards to the incidence of mumps, even the CDC states, “before vaccination, mumps was a common illness in children, infants, and adults.”  Why create a vaccine?  There’s big money in vaccines.  The vaccine industry has 4,000,000 potential new clients every year that will be repeat buyers until the age of 18.

ABRACADABRA VARICELLA

From 1990-1994, there was about 100 deaths each year due to chicken pox split between kids and adults.  Your chance of death by chicken pox is 0.000032%.  I’ll take my chances by not giving this shot to my child.  My decision. You have to do what’s best for your family.  If my kid does get chicken pox and your kid is vaccinated, then you shouldn’t worry about it, right?  Your child is protected.

HEPATITIS A-HOLE

How do you contract Hepatitis A?  Eat food that someone else pooped in that is infected with Hepatitis A.  There are no statistical reports of deaths from Hep A, just a 0.0098% chance of contracting it.  The solution is good sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition.  Eating out is going to be a risk but again, I’ll take my chances of eating food prepared by other people.  I have a greater chance of dying from a lightning strike.

HiB-izness

This series of 4 shots are given at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months.  Again, if a baby cannot develop antibodies until after 6 months, what’s the point of giving a child any shot this early?  HiB is a common cause of bacterial meningitis.  If it’s bacterial than a simple antibiotic should do the trick.  There’s no need to add more shots that contain heavy metals into a child’s ecosystem.

FLU and H1N1 HOAX

Do I even have to discuss these?  Even people pro vaccine think these are ridiculous.   

The TRUE COST.

The cost of vaccinating is WAY larger than the cost of not-vaccinating.  Check out this German study.  I wish someone in the states would do this.  It will probably never happen because there is too much lobby money going into the Sacred Cow of Vaccines.  If this were done in the US, I would throw in rates forAutism (1 in 88 or 1.14% chance), Type-1 Diabetes, andchildhood cancer.

In the US, 1/4 of children have a chronic illness.  Any nation that adopts our style of health care sees similar results.

Other costs are not just the chronic illness rates but the actual costs of vaccine damages.  In 1986, President Reagan signed the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act into public law (Public Law 99-660).

On October 1, 1988, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was created.  The government also set up the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System.  Since 1991$1.8 BILLION has been awarded to those vaccine injured.  75% has been awarded for reactions to the DPT shots.

To clarify my position on vaccines, I am not, nor will not ever lobby for cleaner ingredients for vaccines.  If vaccines had organic ingredients, I still would choose to not vaccinate.

I will lobby and help those that lobby for vaccines to be a parental decision, not a state or federal mandate.

I will not kick anyone out of my practice that chooses to vaccinate but I will welcome the masses of those parents that choose to NOT vaccinate with open arms or a homey hug.

I will continue to educate and support those that educate in the name of choice.  There are some great organizations and doctors out there that do it much better and bigger than I can.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE:

National Vaccine Information Center
Dr. Tim O’Shea
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny
Dr. Lawrence Palevsky

POOR NUTRITION 

I keep harping on the poor sanitation, poor hygiene, and poor nutrition aspect of why communicable diseases spread but you’re probably wondering about the poor nutrition.  In our infants, breast milk is going to be the absolute best form of nutrition.  Antibodies get passed from mom to baby until baby can start forming some on his/her own.

I know there are some women out there having trouble breast feeding.  There are options like buying breast milk from other nursing moms.  This may sound gross but genetically, it’s a heck of a lot saner than giving a child milk from a cow, a totally different species.

There are also ways to make your own infant formula that aren’t full of cow’s milk, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavorings, etc.  Just Google it.

But mom needs to get good nutrition.  By good nutrition, I’m not talking about the food pyramid/plate garbage pushed by the government that includes all the foods subsidized by the government. I’m talking about genetically compatible nutrition. Read more on my thoughts regarding nutrition.  I want to be clear.

I sincerely hope my point is clear.  Obviously there are 2 sides to the story and I presented the one less known, hardly ever heard, and greatly ignored.  You can take it and choose to not vaccinate, get extra vaccines or pick and choose certain ones, it doesn’t affect me one bit.  Just make sure you look at both sides to make an informed decision.