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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Low Vitamin D Linked to Heart Disease, Death (NIH.gov)
Low vitamin D linked to heart disease, death
Friday, November 25, 2011
Related MedlinePlus Pages
Heart Diseases--Prevention
Vitamin D
By Kimberly Hayes Taylor
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In people with low blood levels of vitamin D, boosting them with supplements more than halved a person's risk of dying from any cause compared to someone who remained deficient, in a large new study.
Analyzing data on more than 10,000 patients, University of Kansas researchers found that 70 percent were deficient in vitamin D and they were at significantly higher risk for a variety of heart diseases.
D-deficiency also nearly doubled a person's likelihood of dying, whereas correcting the deficiency with supplements lowered their risk of death by 60 percent.
"We expected to see that there was a relationship between heart disease and vitamin D deficiency; we were surprised at how strong it was," Dr. James L. Vacek, a professor of cardiology at the University of Kansas Hospital and Medical Center, told Reuters Health.
"It was so much more profound than we expected."
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a range of illnesses, but few studies have demonstrated the reverse -- that supplements could prevent those outcomes.
Vacek and his team reviewed data from 10,899 adults whose vitamin D serum levels had been tested at the University of Kansas Hospital, and found that more than 70 percent of the patients were below 30 nanograms per milliliter, the level many experts consider sufficient for good health.
After taking into account the patients' medical history, medications and other factors, the cardiologists found that people with deficient levels of vitamin D were more than twice as likely to have diabetes, 40 percent more likely to have high blood pressure and about 30 percent more likely to suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a diseased heart muscle -- as people without D deficiency.
Overall, those who were deficient in D had a three-fold higher likelihood of dying from any cause than those who weren't deficient, the researchers reported in the American Journal of Cardiology. Moreover, when the team looked at people who took vitamin D supplements, their risk of death from any cause was about 60 percent lower than the rest of the patients, although the effect was strongest among those who were vitamin D deficient at the time they were tested.
The study does not prove that vitamin D is the cause of the effects seen -- other factors, like disease, could be responsible both for the differences in health and the differences in vitamin D levels, for instance.
Previous research has indicated that many Americans don't have sufficient levels of vitamin D, however. The latest National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimated that 25 percent to 57 percent of adults have insufficient levels of D, and other studies have suggested the number is as high as 70 percent.
Vacek said he believes so many people are deficient because we should get about 90 percent of our Vitamin D from the sun and only about 10 percent from our food. The human body makes vitamin D in response to skin exposure to sunlight.
Certain foods, like oily fish, eggs and enriched milk products are also good sources of D. A sufficient amount of Vitamin D absorption from the sun would require at least 20 minutes of full-body exposure each day in warmer seasons, and most people aren't outside enough, Vacek said.
In the northern United States and throughout Canada, experts say the sun isn't strong enough during the winter months to make sufficient vitamin D, even if the weather was warm enough to expose the skin for a long time.
It means that adults should consider getting their Vitamin D levels checked through a simple blood test, Vacek said, and take vitamin D supplements. Generally, Vacek recommends that adults take between 1,000 to 2,000 international units (IU) of Vitamin D each day.
"If you're not deficient, Vitamin D is not a magic pill that will make you live longer," Vacek said.
"Its benefit is in people who are deficient. If you're low, it makes sense to be put on replacement therapy and have a follow-up a couple months later to make sure your levels come up."
SOURCE: http://1.usa.gov/v61Owu
The American Journal of Cardiology, online November 7, 2011.
Reuters Health
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
When To Worry About Smart Kids And Drugs (NPR News)
When To Worry About Smart Kids And Drugs
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by Nancy Shute
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10:09 am
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November 18, 2011
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All parents hope their children will be smart. But no parents want their children to grow up to have problems with drugs like cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines.
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So it's no surprise that a study out this week linking high IQ in children with illegal drug use as adults has been giving parents the willies. "I think it's kind of scary that this article is out there," says Lisa Boesky, a mom in San Diego.
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Boesky's speaking not just as a parent, but as an expert on parental worries. She's a psychologist, and author of the book When to Worry: How to Tell if Your Teen Needs Help — And What To Do About It.
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She has nits to pick with the IQ-and-drugs study, which was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. There are plenty of well-known risk factors for substance and alcohol abuse, and being smart isn't among them.
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Think instead of family history; untreated mental health problems like ADHD, depression, and anxiety; lack of parental supervision; and poverty. So worry about that first.
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And since no family is immune from the potential for drug and alcohol problems, Boesky urges parents to study up on evidence-based techniques to reduce those risks. "You can't change your teen's IQ," Boesky says. "But there are many more things you can change."
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She lists protective factors:
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Have a close, positive relationships with children
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Minimize abuse and trauma
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Get treatment for mental health disorders
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Make sure that parents manage their own drug and alcohol use responsibly
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On the last point, she says teens really take notice.
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The IQ and drugs analysis , which was done by combing through data on 8,000 people born in 1970 in England, found that people with high scores on intelligence tests as children were more likely to recently have used marijuana, cocaine, and other illegal drugs as adults.
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That finding flies in the face of many other studies that show people who test smarter are usually healthier, because they are more likely to exercise, eat right, and have other healthful behaviors. They're also more likely to have higher incomes, which helps, too.
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The authors of the latest study speculated that highly intelligent people may be more keen on novelty and stimulation, or more bored.
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Even if this new study turns out to be true, parents can do a lot to reduce the risks for their children, Boesky says. First and most important is to not freak out. "Ask your teens about their views of substance abuse, and listen nonjudgmentally without interrupting them," she advises.
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If you've managed that without gasping, go on to Part 2. "Be clear that you do not want your teen using alcohol and drugs, and say how disappointed with them you would be if they did," Boesky says. "Be clear about the risks and dangers." The point is to address drugs, alcohol and smoking as a health and safety issue, not a moral issue.
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Parents should also keep an eye on teenagers, knowing where they are, who they're with and what they're doing. Boesky recommends being awake when teenagers get home at night, to scope out their state of mind and sobriety.
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And her last bit of advice is a happy one: Have dinner together. Multiple studies have found that when families eat dinner together regularly, children are much less likely to have problems including obesity, behavior issues, and substance abuse.
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We hope you're less worried now.
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Friday, November 11, 2011
More Evidence That HPV Vaccine Shields Against Cervical Cancer (MedLine Plus)
More Evidence That HPV Vaccine Shields Against Cervical Cancer
Coverage against precancerous lesion called 'excellent' in large, multinational study
By Robert Preidt
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 9 (HealthDay News) -- A new study suggests that the Cervarix cervical cancer vaccine may provide "excellent" protection against a precancerous lesion that is often a forerunner to invasive cervical cancer.
Cervarix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, protects against human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, which cause 70 percent of cervical cancers. The vaccine is particularly effective when given to adolescent girls before they become sexually active.
Cervarix is one of two HPV vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the other being Merck's Gardasil.
The four-year study included nearly 20,000 women aged 15 to 25 in 14 countries in North America, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The vaccine was found to be more than 93 percent effective against the CIN3 lesion, a precancerous anomaly that often appears before invasive cancer.
The vaccine was 100 percent effective against cancer in young women who were not infected with HPV before they were immunized, the study found, and it was 46 percent effective against CIN3 and 77 percent effective against cancer in the general population of women (who may or may not have been previously exposed to HPV).
Cervarix was 100 percent effective against CIN3 lesions specifically linked to the HPV 16 and HPV 18 strains in previously unexposed women, and it was nearly 46 percent effective in the general population.
The study appears online Nov. 8 in The Lancet Oncology.
One expert said the new findings "are further evidence of the benefits of HPV vaccine."
Dr. Stephanie V. Blank, an assistant professor in clinical gynecologic oncology at NYU School of Medicine, said, "Although not perfect, this study is the largest trial of HPV 16/18 vaccine to date. It is significant because with longer time of follow-up, we are better able to show the true effect of the vaccine."
Blank added that the study "shows that the HPV vaccine will be most protective among adolescent girls but that it is also effective among HPV-exposed women."
Along with specifically targeting HPV 16 and 18, Cervarix also partially protects against four other types of HPV (31, 33, 45 and 51) that account for 15 percent of cervical cancers, according to another study in the same issue of the journal.
Increasing vaccination rates, particularly among young females who aren't sexually active, should be a focus of HPV vaccination efforts, Dr. Mark Schiffman and Sholom Wacholder of the U.S. National Cancer Institute stressed in an accompanying commentary.
Blank agreed with that assessment. "There are several take-home messages here: Vaccinate early; catch-up programs are also worth it; the positive impact of the HPV vaccine may be even more than we had expected; and the vaccine has an effect even if a woman is already exposed to HPV," she said.
SOURCES: Stephanie V. Blank, MD, assistant professor, clinical gynecologic oncology, NYU School of Medicine, New York City; The Lancet Oncology, news release, Nov. 4, 2011
HealthDay
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Microwave containers leaching toxins into food at alarming rates (NATURAL NEWS.COM)
Microwave containers leaching toxins into food at alarming rates
Wednesday, November 09, 2011 by: S. D. Wells
(NaturalNews) Microwaving food inside containers made of plastic, cellophane, cardboard and styrofoam may leach toxins into the food and increases the levels of carcinogens being consumed. Since most containers do not visibly melt or get hot, consumers have the false notion that the synthetic boxes and wrappers are not releasing toxins, but new research shows they are, and at levels that are alarming.
Consumers are guaranteeing a triple dose of poison when they buy processed food (which contains synthetic ingredients), "nuke" them in a microwave, and then consume the radiated chemicals and vapors from the packaging.
The FDA claims that if it's labeled microwave safe, then it's fine, but there are several major gray areas being exploited. The FDA also says that microwave-safe plastic wrap should never directly touch the food. The labels on many plastic wraps recommend a one inch space between the plastic and the food, but it's all locked in the oven with your food anyway.
For starters, chemical migration from packaging material to a food does not require direct contact. Excessive heat applied to the container drives off the chemical gases from the container. It is now proven that chemicals like BPA, Bisphenol-A, seep out of the container and affect humans, causing hormonal imbalances, lowered sperm count, and various other forms of cancer.
Watch out for rubber lids and their containers. Also put on the caution list freezer bags which can emit phthalates and BPA. The amount of toxins released from the synthetic depends on how long you freeze or cook them for, and also the strength of each particular microwave oven.
Meat trays, foam containers, coated cardboard, and most soup and noodle cups top the danger list. It is very common to cover a plate of food with Saran wrap. These "methods" are not safe at all.
The FDA claims that leached substances pose no threat to a person's health. They say to use containers and materials that are specifically labeled as microwave-safe, but not to microwave margarine tubs and carryout containers from restaurants.
That brings us to research the difference between margarine tubs and all other plastic containers. Some plastics marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 can actually be made with BPA. Yogurt, butter, margarine, cottage cheese, sour cream, and many more similar foods are all sold in plastic containers, many of which are made from Polypropylene (plastic # 5), one of the least-recyclable plastics. Most city recycling centers won't even accept it!
How can the FDA allow toxic chemicals in food containers that are not recyclable? Understanding this is important to realizing the true betrayal we face with the FDA. In other words, it is not acceptable to incur the expense of sorting, collecting, cleaning and reprocessing containers, but it is acceptable that we treat millions of Americans with chemotherapy after "eating" cancer.
Radiation is the result of nuclear decay. In simplest terms, a microwave oven decays the molecular structure of the food and packaging by using radiation. Had the manufacturers named them radiation ovens, it's very doubtful they would be popular today.
Solution: Get rid of the microwave oven right now, and just deal with cleaning your own safe pot or stainless steel pan. Then drastically reduce your use of plastic. Look for natural alternatives like textiles, solid wood, bamboo, and glass.
Sources for this article include:
http://environment.about.com/od/red...
http://www.riversideonline.com/heal...
http://healthychild.org/5steps/5_st...
http://curezone.com/foods/microwave...
http://www.comfortncolor.com/HTML/P...
http://www.chasinggreen.org/article...
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/pro...
http://www.plasticsinfo.org/babybot...
http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ftsep...
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034101_microwaveable_containers_plastics.html#ixzz1dFA0mWg0
HOW TO KEEP ANGER IN CHECK (HEALTH DAY NEWS.COM)
Health Tip: How to Keep Anger in Check
Breathe, relax and focus
By Diana Kohnle
Monday, November 7, 2011
(HealthDay News) -- Anger, while a normal emotion, can quickly spin into something more if not controlled.
The American Psychological Association offers these suggestions for managing anger:
Take deep breaths that come from the diaphragm, not just the chest.
Calmly and slowly repeat a phrase or word, such as "relax" or "take it easy," until you feel that you've calmed down.
Imagine a peaceful, relaxing experience.
Practice daily yoga or another slow, relaxing type of exercise.
HealthDay
Shock finding: More than 75 percent of all 'honey' sold in grocery stores contains no honey at all (Natural News.com)
Shock finding: More than 75 percent of all 'honey' sold in grocery stores contains no honey at all
Wednesday, November 09, 2011 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
(NaturalNews) Just because those cute little bear-shaped bottles at the grocery store say "honey" on them does not necessarily mean that they actually contain honey. A comprehensive investigation conducted by Food Safety News (FSN) has found that the vast majority of so-called honey products sold at grocery stores, big box stores, drug stores, and restaurants do not contain any pollen, which means they are not real honey.
For the investigation, Vaughn Bryant, one of the nation's leading melissopalynologists, or experts in identifying pollen in honey, and director of the Palynology Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University, evaluated more than 60 products labeled as "honey" that had been purchased by FSN from ten states and the District of Columbia.
Bryant found that 76 percent of "honey" samples purchased from major grocery store chains like Kroger and Safeway, and 77 percent of samples purchased from big box chains like Sam's Club and Wal-Mart, did not contain any pollen. Even worse were "honey" samples taken from drug stores like Walgreens and CVS, and fast food restaurants like McDonald's and KFC, 100 percent of which were found to contain not a trace of pollen.
The full FSN report with a list of all the pollen-less "honey" brands can be accessed here:
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/...
So what is all this phony honey made of? It is difficult to say for sure, as pollen is the key to verifying that honey is real. According to FSN, much of this imposter honey is more likely being secretly imported from China, and may even be contaminated with antibiotic drugs and other foreign materials.
Most conventional honey products have been illegally ultra-filtered to hide their true nature
According to FSN, the lack of pollen in most conventional "honey" products is due to these products having been ultra-filtered. This means that they have been intensely heated, forced through extremely tiny filters, and potentially even watered down or adulterated in some way prior to hitting store shelves.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) holds the position that any so-called honey products that have been ultra-filtered are not actually honey. But the agency refuses to do anything to stop this influx of illegitimate "honey" from flooding the North American market. It also continues to stonewall all petitions to establish a national regulatory standard for verifying the integrity of honey.
Ultra-filtering eliminates and destroys all medicinal properties of honey
Assuming that there is any real honey at all in the phony honey products tested by FSN, the removal of pollen and other delicate materials via ultra-filtering renders them medicinally dead. Raw honey is a health-promoting food that can help alleviate stomach problems, anemia, allergies, and other health conditions. Ultra-filtered honey is nothing more than a health-destroying processed sugar in the same vein as white table sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
The good news is that all of the honey products FSN tested from farmers markets, food cooperatives, and "natural" stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, were found to contain pollen and a full array of antioxidants and other nutrients. Local beekeepers are another great source of obtaining raw, unprocessed, real honey.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034102_honey_consumer_alert.html#ixzz1dF99VbDH
Monday, November 7, 2011
HOW TO PERFORM A BREAST SELF-EXAM (Health Day News)
Health Tip: Perform a Breast Self-Exam
Seek to identify any changes
By Diana Kohnle
Thursday, November 3, 2011
(HealthDay News) -- A monthly breast self-exam can help you identify any changes or abnormalities early, which could lead to a better chance of successful breast cancer treatment.
The American Cancer Society offers these guidelines for performing a breast self-exam:
•Lying down with your right arm behind your head, use the middle three fingers on your left hand to look for abnormalities using a small, circular motion.
•Alternate between using light, medium and firm pressure.
•Continue the exam moving up and down in imaginary lines on your breast, making sure that you examine all areas of the breast, chest and underarm.
•Repeat the exam with your other hand and other breast.
•Stand up and examine your breasts in the mirror, also raising your arms to inspect underarms.
•Look for any changes in the size, shape or color of the skin, including redness, scaling or dimpling.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Aspirin may reduce risk of bowel cancer by half (MEDLINE.COM)
Aspirin may reduce risk of bowel cancer by half:
Study Published on October 31, 2011 at 7:43 PM ·
Dr Ananya Mandal, MD
According to a new study published in The Lancet, a regular dose of aspirin may not only stave off heart disease but also cut the risk of developing hereditary cancer in half. The study looked at 1000 patients in 16 countries for more than four years. Researchers at Queens University and Newcastle University in the UK focused principally on people with Lynch syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder that causes cancer by affecting genes responsible for detecting and repairing DNA damage.
Around 50% of those with Lynch syndrome develop cancer, and an estimated three of every 100 cases of colon cancer are caused by the syndrome. The study looked at all cancers related to the syndrome–including colon, rectal, stomach, and endometrial. Researchers found that almost 30% of the patients not taking aspirin (they took a starch-based placebo) had developed cancer compared to around 15% of those taking daily aspirin. For colorectal cancer, the risk reduction was 63%. More than 600,000 people die of colorectal cancer worldwide every year, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the U.S.
The study revealed that those who had taken aspirin still developed the same number of polyps as those who did not take aspirin. Polyps are abnormal tissue growths of the mucus membrane that are frequently identified as precursors of cancer. The difference for the aspirin takers is that their polyps did not go on to develop cancer, suggesting that aspirin could possibly be causing pre-cancerous cells to self-destruct before they turn cancerous. The study authors add that unlike the daily 80 mg aspirin regime recommended for those at risk of developing heart disease, patients in this study took 600 mg a day (in two 300 mg pills). That’s a large dose, and taking that much aspirin increases the risk of developing other problems related to degradation of stomach lining, like ulcers, and bleeding complications.
Additionally Bayer was one of the study’s sponsors. Previous observational studies have also suggested that aspirin could be an effective tool against cancer, but this is the first randomized study to test the hypothesis directly. “This is one more piece of evidence that there are some very positive effects of aspirin, and it should be considered very seriously for people who are at risk of colorectal cancer,” says Tim Bishop, one of the authors of the study and a professor of epidemiology at Leeds University in England. John Burn, lead author of the study and a professor at Newcastle University, said, “We have clear proof that aspirin prevents cancer in people at high genetic risk.
We now have new questions to answer: Will low dose be as effective as two aspirins? Should all people at increased risk take aspirin?” Bishop says researchers don't know for sure how aspirin works to prevent cancer, “but one speculation is that the active part of aspirin causes DNA-damaged cells to die.”
“This adds to the growing body of evidence showing the importance of aspirin, and aspirin-like drugs, in the fight against cancer and emphasizes how critical it is to carry out long-term international research,” said Prof Chris Paraskeva, a bowel cancer expert at the University of Bristol.
Eric Jacobs, an epidemiologist with the American Cancer Society, said in statement that “there is good evidence that long-term regular aspirin use can also modestly reduce risk of colorectal cancer in people who do not have Lynch syndrome…However, aspirin use is not currently recommended specifically for cancer prevention because even low-dose aspirin can increase risk of serious stomach bleeding.” Aspirin use should be discussed with a health care provider, he says.
There are many ways to help prevent colorectal cancer, Jacobs adds. “All people 50 or older should get tested for colon cancer, so that precancerous polyps can be found and removed before they ever turn into cancer. In addition, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, not smoking and eating less red meat can help lower risk of colorectal cancer.”
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force already recommends daily low-dose aspirin for healthy men between 45 and 75 and healthy women between 55 and 75 to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. Scientists who led the study said people with several family members with cancers other than breast, blood and prostate might be advised to start taking aspirin daily from the age of 45.
On Friday the researchers will launch a website to recruit 3,000 people with Lynch syndrome worldwide to take part in a five-year trial to determine the best dose of aspirin to take.
Heal with honey (Natural News.com)
(NaturalNews) Honey is known for its many healing properties.
Many believe that adding unfiltered, unprocessed, unheated honey to your daily diet can alleviate arthritis, reduce heart disease, lower cholesterol and reduce allergies. Honey has also been known to calm an upset stomach, lessen cold symptoms, strengthen the immune system and provide extra energy during a workout. As one of nature's natural anti-biotics, honey also heals wounds while minimizing scarring.
Honeys that have a wide variety of pollens have achieved wonderful results in minimizing many people's allergies. A tablespoon of lavender honey before bed helps people achieve a restful night's sleep. Cinnamon and turmeric combined with buckwheat honey reduces inflammation in the joints, thus relieving pain from arthritis and strengthening the immune system. Cinnamon honey is also known to help people recover from strokes, help lower cholesterol and eliminate bad breath. There are many types of honey and not all honey has the same healing properties. Honey that has been processed or heated will not have the enzymes that aid in digestion.
Filtering honey removes many types of pollen and other properties that aid in digestion, alleviate cold symptoms and reduce allergies. When purchasing honey, you should know that USDA Organic does not mean the honey is from the United States. Currently the United States has not defined organic honey. Tests completed on honey produced in the U.S. (that is not organic) has shown extremely small traces of pesticide. It is more important however that the honey be processed organically.
It is during this stage that pesticides and other contaminants can penetrate the honey at high levels. Beekeepers Scott Shurman and Jean Vasicek suggest asking the following questions from the beekeeper you purchase your honey from.
1. How many beehives do you have? If they do not have any beehives, then they are not in control of how their honey is being processed.
2. How do you treat for mites? You are looking to make sure that pesticides are not used.
3. How do you feed your bees? Bees should be fed their own honey for most of the year. You do not want to purchase honey from a beekeeper that only feeds the bees sugar water.
4. Are you state certified for beekeeping and for your bottling facility? This answer should be yes.
5. Do you heat your honey? Purchase honey that has not been heated.
6. Do you filter your honey? The more honey is filtered the less medicinal benefits it will have.
Shurman, Scott and Vasicek, Jean. Interview September 28, 2011. http://www.winterparkhoney.com Stefan Bogdanov. Honey in Medicine. Web. May 5, 2011. http://www.bee-hexagon.net Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Honey Can Serve as an Effective Carbohydrate Replacement During Endurance Exercise. 2004;18(3): 466-72. Web. http://www.honey.com/nhb About the author Traci Brosman is co-founder of World Wellness Education, owner of Coaching to Success, a professional speaker and author. She is also a local television and radio host. Believing in the value of doing what it takes to improve her life and the lives of those she meets, Traci thoroughly enjoys her work with World Wellness Education and Coaching to Success. "I love the fact that I get to connect with so many professionals on what it means to be healthy -- body, mind and spirit. Then I get to take this information and share it with the world. It is wonderful to be able to do the things I love and then give back to others what I learn." Brosman is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring others with honesty and integrity. http://www.worldwellnesseducation.org Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034026_honey_healing.html#ixzz1cUZIzbb9
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Research Shows Apples Prevent Stroke (Natural News)
Research shows apples prevent stroke - NaturalNews.com Oct 23, 2011 1:07 AM 1 person liked this (NaturalNews) Strokes can occur at any age but three-quarters strike those over the age of 65. Many people are always on the hunt for the superfood that will protect them from degenerative diseases, and few are as scary as the aftermath of a stroke. If you survive, you are usually left with debilitating health consequences due to lack of oxygen to the brain, which can leave you mild health issues or requiring around the clock nursing care. Fruits and vegetables are staples of health and are sure to assist in prevention, but which are best for people specifically concerned with a pending stroke in terms of prevention? A recent study from researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association indicates fruits with white flesh such as apples and pears can reduce the risk of stroke by 52%. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United states with over 143,579 people dying each year. Approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke annually meaning 650,000 survive their stroke and are left to suffer the post-stroke health conditions for the remainder of their lives. These post-stroke health conditions include (in no specific order): difficulty moving one side of the body and trouble speaking, which cause many mini-symptoms in and of themselves such as difficulty swallowing, aphasia (slurred speech or inability to speak at all), hemiplegia (weakness on one side of the body), or difficulty with bowel and bladder control. Some conditions do resolve depending on the severity of the stroke but worst case scenarios for survivors include loss of cognitive functioning equal to Alzheimer's, inability to walk or use appendages and never being able to speak again. All of these problems can be life altering if they are unable to return to normal post stroke. This study compared vegetables and fruits of different colors to determine which would be most beneficial in preventing a stroke. The fruits and vegetables were broken down in color into the following groups: -cabbages, lettuces and other dark green leafy vegetables -orange and yellow colors, most of which were citrus fruits -red and purple colors, most of which were red vegetables -white colors, apples and pears making up 55% of the whites The follow-up period was 10 years and the researches documented 233 strokes. They observed that strokes were not reduced in any significant manner by consumption of orange/yellow and red /purple fruits. However, vegetables and white fruits were found to lower the risk of developing stroke by 52%. A reduction of this size is significant considering the size of the study included 20,069 adults with an average age of 41 years old (none of whom had any cardiovascular disease when the study began). Many people base a lot of their fruit and vegetable purchase on the dark colors of leafy greens and fruits because of the knowledge that they contain more antioxidants, but it appears white fruits also play an important part of the puzzle in lowering the risk of strokes. By increasing your white fruit and vegetable consumption by 25 grams there was a 9% reduction in stroke risk. On average an apple weights 120 grams, meaning for every quarter apple you eat you average close to 10% less chance of having a stroke. These researchers indicated that further studies are needed to verify their work. If apples, pears and other fruits with white edible portions can reduce the risk of developing stroke by 52%, pass the apple pie please. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/234574.php http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/stats.htm http://www.medicinenet.com/stroke/article.htm About the author Duke Mansell is a personal trainer with a complementing life style of organic and natural living. A researcher of health and wellness, his client training emphasizes a whole foods approach to weight loss and fitness. He is a student of applied kinesiology, trained in muscle testing to address body issues from hormone disfunction to leaky gut. He is also completing a BA and Masters in acupuncture and medicinal herbs. Duke Mansell maintains a blog devoted to overall fitness and health at AlltheWayFitness.blogspot.com
Thursday, October 20, 2011
How to avoid being like the 11 percent of Americans who now take antidepressant drugs every day (NaturalNews.com)
How to avoid being like the 11 percent of Americans who now take antidepressant drugs every day - NaturalNews.com
Oct 20, 2011 1:13 AM
(NaturalNews) The admitted goal of the pharmaceutical industry is to have every man, woman and child in America taking at least two prescription medications every day of their lives (whether they're sick or not). Through Big Pharma's corruption of the FDA, medical journals, med schools and the mainstream media, it creeps ever closer to accomplishing that goal, and today it has been revealed that one in ten Americans are now on SSRI antidepressant drugs.
This is the conclusion of a survey conducted by the CDC. It also revealed that antidepressant use jumped 400% from 2005 - 2008, while women are 2.5 times more likely to use antidepressants than men. (And whites are far more likely to use them than blacks, the CDC found.) (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/19/us-usa-antidepressants-idUSTRE79I7FI20111019)
I could write thousands of words about the dangerous side effects of prolonged antidepressant use (diabetes, psychosis, detachment from reality, etc.), but for this article, I'd rather approach things from a solutions angle and share what I know about getting OFF antidepressant drugs using nutrition and holistic health principles.
How to get off the SSRI meds and save your brain
First, realize that the fictions being sold you by the false advertising of the pharmaceutical industry must be abandoned. Depression is not caused by a "chemical imbalance in the brain" that can be resolved by paying monopoly prices for a patented synthetic chemical sold by a local pharmacy. That's just a fabrication which was engineered to sell you more overpriced pills.
In reality, "depression" is the red flag warning that multiple areas of your life are out of balance and need to be brought back into balance before you'll really feel better. After talking with probably hundreds of people about their experiences with so-called "mental disorders" over the past eight years, I've come to the conclusion that there are at least four powerful strategies for permanently reversing depression without using any drugs whatsoever. They are:
#1) Spend more time in nature.
Spending time in nature reverses depression at so many levels it's almost difficult to overstate the benefits. Sunlight exposure beats back depression at the hormonal level. Breathing fresh air that's filled with negative ions from trees and plants prevents depression at a bioelectric level. Touching the earth with your bare hands, hearing the sounds of nature, feeling the bark of a tree or even just seeing lush green foliage is all vibrational, sensory medicine that also helps reverse diabetes.
If you look at most people who are depressed, they almost all have one thing in common: The LIVE and WORK indoors! They never get out. They never run barefoot in the grass. They are depressed because they are disconnected from the real world. And that's not what the human body and mind was designed to experience.
#2) Get some regular physical exercise
Did you know that when you exercise, your brain manufactures antidepressant drugs for free? No prescription needed, either. One walk on a treadmill might save you $20 worth of drugs!
Actually, your body's own brain drugs are better than any synthetic drugs, too. That's because your biochemistry has no negative side effects. You simply feel good after exercising, and the good feeling may continue for as long as 24 hours.
Your exercise doesn't have to be crazy to make a world of difference. Just walking 45 minutes a day can have a HUGE impact on your life. Don't have 45 minutes a day? I bet you do. I bet you watch 45 minutes of TV a day that you could ditch, or you spend 45 minutes a day engaging in pointless activities that don't contribute to your happiness in any sort of meaningful way. Why not spend those 45 minutes taking a walk instead? You'll not only feel happier, but your body will get healthier too!
#3) Eat more omega-3 oils and organic plants.
Depression also has a powerful nutritional component. Most "depressed" people are living on processed dead foods. They're eating way too much sugar, white flour, breads, pasteurized dairy and other depressing foods. No wonder they feel so blue!
To reverse all this, eat more omega-3 oils from dietary supplements, wild-caught salmon, flax seeds, chia seeds and other sources. Boost your mineral intake by consuming (or juicing) lots of fresh organic produce. Make sure it's organic, because that means it has a higher mineral content. Trace minerals drastically improve cognitive function and moods.
Finally, eat more living foods and less "dead" food. Living foods make you feel alive because they are alive! Dead foods make you feel dead. So get yourself a juicer (the Breville juicers are the best all-around, high-quality juicers), buy some organic carrots, apples, celery and parsley, and start juicing your way to a happier life! (Yes, it really does make you happier.)
#4) Find meaning in your work and in your life.
Many people who are "depressed" also work at a thankless job, or exist in a torturous personal relationship, and they typically live a life with no real purpose or meaning. Having a purpose in life is very inspiring. Pursuing it with daily action can completely reverse any signs of depression and help turn despair into positive, constructive action.
That's why I say if you feel depressed start searching for your real purpose in life!
I know my purpose. It is to protect the diversity of life on our planet and in our universe. Each day, I diligently work as the editor of NaturalNews toward that fulfilling purpose. This is what allows me to keep moving forward regardless of what happens in the world around me. I know that the universe has granted me the opportunity and the tools to live a life with purpose, in service of what I believe is the most noble cause in the entire universe: The protection of life and truth (against destructive forces, against darkness, against deception, etc.).
I challenge you: What can you find in your own life that is an important purpose serving a higher good? If your work is unfulfilling, can you find a way to transition to a more meaningful line of work that would make you happier? (Yes, it might mean earning less money, but you can't buy happiness, so it's priceless!)
Can you find a way to work in the service of others so that the people around you experience an improvement in their own lives? Can you teach others? Can you lead by example? Can you write inspiring books?
This may take some soul searching, but you may find solutions through meditation or yoga or even just taking long hikes in nature and thinking about your life for a change. I've never seen a purpose-driven person feeling depressed for very long. Once you find a driving purpose in your life, you'll be so busy pursuing that mission that you won't even have time to feel depressed!
Or you could just take SSRI drugs and fake like you're happy
Now, if you really can't stand going outside in the sunshine, and you absolutely love to eat donuts for breakfast and pizza for dinner, and you have no purpose in your life other than to inhale more snack chips in front of the TV set, then SSRI drugs may be the perfect thing. With one little pill, you can temporarily alter your brain chemistry to add illusion to insult, making you "feel" like your life is okay even though you know in your heart that it isn't.
Getting off SSRI drugs requires courage. Taking responsibility for your life may be the hardest thing you've ever done, but it might also be the most rewarding. Subsisting on mind-altering drugs while living a life of despair is no life at all. And the longer you take these SSRI drugs, the more detached you will feel, making you even more isolated and depressed.
That's why I say get off your meds NOW! Turn off the TV and take your life back! Get off the couch, out of the pharmacy and away from your toxic doctor with his deadly prescription pad that probably has a Pfizer logo on it. Get out into nature, eat real foods, get into regular exercise and find a meaningful purpose in your life. This will get you back on track to not just happiness, but spiritual fulfillment as well.
After all, being here isn't just about feeling happy all the time. It's about something far more important: Standing for something that matters so that your life is lived with purpose. Who's got time to be depressed when you're serving a higher purpose?
Monday, October 17, 2011
Flu shots often result in delayed side effects and long-term injury (Natural News)
Flu shots often result in delayed side effects and long-term injury
(NaturalNews)
You may have seen recent articles on how different retail outlets and pharmacies are pushing in-house flu shots. Maybe you've experienced the push yourself. Lately, even more reasons have been discovered for avoiding flu shots. Getting a flu shot is fraught with health risks.
Delayed vaccine injury
You may think occasional cases of paralysis or a lifetimes of seizures after flu shots are too rare to consider flu shots hazardous. But let's focus on delayed reactions and long term health downturns, you know, the kind of adverse reactions vaccine pushers easily dismiss.
Flu vaccines can't even guarantee protection, because they may not have the right viral strain for that year's flu bug. Yet there are those who have bragged about how their annual flu shots left them flu free every year. One wonders how many of them will soon be getting familiar first hand with Alzheimer's disease.
Recently, Dr. Hugh Fudenberg, a world renowned immunogeneticist announced that you have a ten-fold increased chance of Alzheimer's after receiving five flu shots. That's ten times more likely than no flu shots or one, not ten percent more likely.
Dr. Fudenberg did his study covering the years 1970 through 1980. He and other researchers consider this increased risk of Alzheimer's has resulted from the combination of mercury (thimerosal) and aluminum that builds up over time in the brain.
Interestingly, Alzheimer's has been on a steep rise over the last few decades, coinciding with the advent and increased promotion of flu shots for senior citizens. A 1998 John Hopkins newsletter predicted a quadrupling of Alzheimer's cases over the next decade.
Flu vaccines clear and present danger
According to the CDC, "The following substances are found in vaccines: aluminum,(brain toxin) antibiotics, egg protein, formaldehyde (now listed as carcinogenic), MSG or monosodium glutamate (a known neurotoxin),and thimerosal(neurotoxic mercury)."
Not all of these additives are used in all vaccines all the time, but many flu vaccines do contain most of them most of the time. Some flu vaccines contain other toxins not mentioned, such as Triton X 100, a detergent.
Neurosurgeon/author Dr. Russell Blaylock says that many attenuated (weakened) viruses in flu shots remain in the body, mutating to possibly turning virulent. The nasal spray flu vaccines for kids contain live viruses.
There have been many vaccine injury reports for the H1N1(swine flu) shots. Recently, Finland agreed to pick up the lifelong medical tabs for treating several children with narcolepsy, characterized by uncontrollably falling asleep at any time. Their cases were conclusively linked to their swine flu shots.
Just in case you're thinking the swine flu shot is the only dangerous flu shot out there, remember the Washing...
Friday, October 14, 2011
The HPV vaccine - what do you really know about it? (Natural News)
(NaturalNews) If you are considering vaccinating your child with an HPV vaccine, what information have you read, and what questions have you asked?
What do you KNOW about the human papillomaviruses (HPV) which the medical profession says causes cervical cancer?
If you are going to vaccinate your child on the word of the medical profession, and don't want any further information, then stop right here. But be aware that ignorance is not bliss. And that the medical system has deliberately not told you everything you need to know about either the viruses, or the vaccine.If you want to take responsibility for your own decisions, rather than hand over responsibility to the medical profession, then you might be interested in some of the following questions and answers, which deserve truthful answers that the vaccine industry doesn't want to give you:
Question: Publicity for Gardasil says that girls should have this HPV vaccine before sexual intercourse, because they don't catch this virus until they are sexually active. Is this correct?No, this is not correct. Over the last 20 years, the medical profession has documented that human papillomaviruses can be transmitted during pregnancy, after pregnancy, from child to child, and adult to child.
Question: Why then are we told that these human papillomaviruses can only be contracted after sex?
Because adolescents are the market Merck was targeting, and to admit that the viruses can be acquired naturally before sex, doesn't suit Merck. The medical literature for the last 20 years has also stated that to ignore the fact that HPV viruses can cause silent infection at any age 'has implications for any vaccination programme,' though those 'implications' have never been spelled out. However, they expect parents to naively believe that intelligent human papillomaviruses know they aren't allowed to let themselves loose, until the first act of sexual intercourse. And for some reason, most parents believe this sort of nonsense statement.
Question: Are these viruses implicated in cervical cancers, and other cancers?
Yes they are - but primarily in people, whose innate immune system is struggling because they eat rubbish, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, don't get enough sleep, and burn the candle at 12 ends. Much more than a virus is required for a woman to get cervical cancer.
Question: Doesn't everyone get human papillomavirus infections?
Yes. Not only has 'everyone' but just about any species that breathes gets papillomavirus infections - even lizards. The medical literature shows that a good diet, correct mineral and vitamin intake, and living a healthy lifestyle, normally results in the recipient throwing off HP infections easier than a cold, and all they have to show for it, is lifelong natural immunity. Healthy lifestyles don't fill Big Pharma bank balances, so you won't be told about that.
Question: But I've been told this vaccine is so importanto! Is that wrong?
This vaccine is very important for Merck's accountants - vitally important. It's 'the' product that is supposed to dig Merck out of its current financial woes. But is it important for your child? No. The cervical smear programme stopped people dying of cervical cancer long before 'fear-no-longer' Gardasil came along. And because the vaccine only covers two types out of at least 20 supposedly carcinogenic HP virus types (amongst at least 300 different strains), people who have cancer phobia will still want to have smears anyway. Today, 90% of all deaths from cervical cancer occur in the third world countries which don't have such a programme, or the ability to deal with abnormal smears even if they had a smear programme. The primary drivers of cervical cancer in third world countries are chronic malnutrition, and fundamentally atrocious living conditions, which happens to create the most susceptible population with the least resources.
Question: So why have I been recommended to inject my child with three Gardasil vaccines?
Because if a vaccine is available the medical system tries to scare everyone into using it. After all, it's much easier to 'believe' their assumption that antibodies from Gardasil will still be around 40 years from now. It's much easier not to have to pay attention to diet, and all the other things which would make sure most people never got cancer in the first place.But the bottom line is that Merck developed Gardasil in the hope that it would be a 'block-buster' vaccine which would help pay for all the litigation Merck faces as the result of another Merck drug, called Vioxx, which maimed and killed lots of people, whose families then turned around and sued Merck for millions of dollars.
Obviously, Merck isn't going to make any money from the third world -the countries that really need it, according to Dr Frazer who co-patented the vaccine. So Merck decided to target all the rich countries that do not need Gardasil. By charging wealthy countries lots of money, then maybe someday about forty years from now..., they might get around to providing it to people in the third world, if they are still around. Which is a bit farcical, when in those countries, what the people could really do with, is decent food, clean water, getting rid of nepotistic dictators and warring tribes, being provided with basic healthcare, and the means of growing their own food... but all that's much too hard. Particularly when Merck's main aim is making money and staying in business.
Question: What is in Gardasil?
According to the data sheet, the vaccine supposedly contains 'no viral DNA1' and each 0.5 mL dose of the vaccine contains:20 mcg of HPV 6 L1 protein40 mcg of HPV 11 L1 protein40 mcg of HPV 16 L1 protein20 mcg of HPV 18 L1 protein225 mcg aluminum (as amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate adjuvant2)9.56 mg of sodium chloride0.78 mg of L-histidine50 mcg of polysorbate 80 (shown to induce infertility in mice, which is why it's the main ingredient in depo-provera, and which also makes the brain blood barrier easier to penetrate)35 mcg of sodium boratewater for injectionQuestion: What do you mean,'Supposedly'?
Contrary to the manufacturers' documents, the vaccine does actually contain Viral DNA. According to documents filed with Medsafe New Zealand, each vaccine also has a much higher amount of HPV protein than stated on the product insert, in order to ensure that as the vaccine degrades over time, at the END of the shelf life, the vaccine will actually contain the stated dose on the vial.
Question: What do you mean, this vaccine has recombinant HPV viral DNA! What is recombinant HPV viral DNA?
This is where small lengths of genes from two different sources, are combined to make a single recombined length of genes which will perform a specific function.
Question: The New Zealand Government, the manufacturers and all the health authorities not only assured us that there is no DNA, but they say SANE Vax Inc.'s allegations of contamination with DNA are a load of smelly porkies! Explain yourself please?
No-one from the Government, FDA, EMA, or Health Departments have at any time, asked to see the test results of the vaccine, which SANE Vax Inc. commissioned. So, on what basis do they think that the test results are incorrect?Gardasil was made by taking a DNA sequence (which makes the virus "envelope") from different types of papillomaviruses found in cancerous cervical cells.
This viral genetic sequence was then spliced into a plasmid 3 - a circular piece of bacterial DNA (which helps divide the bacterial chromosomes) and allows the HPV DNA to be cloned into yeast. Plasmid DNA also encourages quick manufacture of the 'balls,' by the HPV genes. The genetically engineered mix then makes lots of little empty balls, or 'virus like particles' as seen in photo4 of the Gardasil vaccine.
Then according to Merck's patent5, they have a highly sophisticated process which is supposed to filter out and remove 'contaminating biomolecules, including DNA, lipids and proteins.'What the test results found, was that some recombinant DNA sequences originating from different types of the virus DNA used to make the vaccine, are still in the vaccine.
Question: What are all those other bits in that photo?
Aluminium, and presumably more mashed up virus like particles. But according to the tests commissioned by SANE Vax Inc., viral DNA used to make those little balls and mashed up pieces, are not removed from Gardasil.
Question: But FDA says that these recombinant DNA are "expected" when using this process. Isn't that true?
No. If those DNA fragments were "expected" components of Gardasil, they would have been listed in the ingredients of the vaccine, and documentation should exist showing why they are a safe and 'essential' ingredient in the vaccine.
Question: How does this fancy patented purification process tell the difference between culture medium DNA, yeast DNA and HPV DNA?
You tell me and we'll both know.
Question: If SANE-vax's tests ARE actually correct, why did a purification process which is supposed to remove DNA lipids, proteins, and biomolecules not work?
I think Merck would like to know the answer to that as well. In the meantime, FDA are covering Merck's butt for them.
Question: But isn't there a final product purity test for Gardasil?
In New Zealand, according to paper work submitted to Medsafe, there are no final purity tests, because Merck believes their filtration process is good enough without them.
Question: But aren't there filtration tests designed to make sure the process is good enough?
According to paper work submitted to Medsafe, there are no filtration "adequacy" tests because Merck believes their process is good enough without them.
Question: Isn't Gardasil made the same way as the Hepatitis B vaccine?
Yes, and according to FDA6 documentation, "Assays for cesium, polysaccharides, DNA, pyrogens and sterility are performed" on the Hepatitis B bulk product. You'd think the same would be done for Gardasil, wouldn't you?
Question: Does the Hepatitis B vaccine also contain genetically engineered, recombinant DNA?
It would appear that the Hepatitis B vaccine could ALSO contain a similar kind of genetically manipulated DNA (in spite of tests to ensure DNA removal). Such recombinant DNA in the Hepatitis B vaccines is also not mentioned in its data sheet or constituent list.FDA, in its reply to SANE Vax Inc., intimated that Hepatitis B vaccine also contains recombinant DNA, and that such unstated DNA was quite "acceptable". So they are covering Merck's butt for that as well.
Question: FDA says these particles are no big deal because they can't cause infection. Is that true?
No it's not. The point of a vaccine is to form antibodies to various substances called "antigens" in the vaccine. DNA doesn't have to cause infection to spell trouble. Because the recombinant DNA is tightly bound to the aluminium, the aluminium turns the DNA into an 'antigen,' something the immune system has to react to. But an abnormal immune response, especially to an aluminium-bound DNA, could result in antibodies which cross react and turn against healthy DNA. That could cause autoimmune disease, brain inflammation, joint inflammation, and major disruption to energy pathways, hormone functions and a vast array of other biological pathways, which normally keep an adolescent healthy, physically and mentally.
Question: But FDA says that Gardasil is very safe and doesn't cause anything more than a sore arm. Isn't that true?
No. America's FDA and all medical authorities say that all vaccines are safe apart from sore arms, and that everything else that happens after a vaccine is a coincidence..., and anyone who says otherwise, needs their head looked at.FDA monitors all vaccines by using a system called VAERS, short for the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which is known to only collect 10% of reactions at most, and reporting is voluntary, not mandatory. On the one hand, they 'consult' this system, but on the other, they consider that all reactions sent to this system have nothing to do with the vaccine at all.
So in terms of a monitoring system, they might as well not have one at all. In fact, they might as well do away with it altogether, since to them, the fact that Gardasil reports comprise 20% of all reported reactions appears to them to be some fabricated nuisance. It doesn't seem to occur to the FDA, that perhaps there is something badly wrong with this 'lovely safe' vaccine, which their crystal ball says will prevent your child from having cervical cancer, by the (average) age of 54.
Question: Are you telling me, I shouldn't trust the FDA, health authorities and governmental agencies?
Why would you want to trust anyone who tells you something ludicrous like, "Human papillomaviruses have a label on their foreheads saying 'No entry until sex'" when that is patently, proveably untrue? If FDA can spread such ridiculous comments world-wide, without corrective advice from the scientists who know that isn't true, why would the FDA (or silent scientists) bother with the'truth' when it came to anything else?
Question: So what do I do now?
I don't know. It's your choice. You could vaccinate your child, and see what happens. Does that sound like a good idea? If it doesn't, you better tell your child, because in some countries, they can be vaccinated without your consent!
By Hilary Butler, Contributing Author SANE Vax Inc.Learn more:
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