In the U.S., about 3 million adults have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.1 IBD is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and in the case of ulcerative colitis occurs in the large intestine (colon) and rectum.2 Symptoms range from mild to severe, and while most people have periods of remission when symptoms disappear, it can be debilitating when symptoms flare up, causing frequent, urgent bowel movements, fatigue, nausea, weight loss, fever and anemia. In about 10% of cases, ulcerative colitis is severe and may lead to bloody bowel movements and severe abdominal cramping.3 There is no cure for ulcerative colitis, and many sufferers of this chronic condition take medications to relieve symptoms, while up to one-third of patients even undergo surgery to remove the colon and rectum.4 Natural treatments can be helpful, however, including ginger, an anti-inflammatory powerhouse shown to reduce disease activity in ulcerative colitis.5 Ginger Reduces Oxidative Stress in Ulcerative ColitisThe causes of ulcerative colitis remain unknown, but it’s thought to involve a mix of genetic factors, immune response, intestinal flora and environmental factors. It’s on the rise worldwide, particularly in areas where a western diet is predominant, suggesting a likely dietary component. Oxidative stress is also known to play an essential role in the onset and severity of the disease. If the immune system is impaired, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolites may be excessively produced, leading to damage to the integrity of intestinal mucosa, along with delays in its repair and healing. While medications can be helpful, they are associated with serious side effects to the eyes, bones, GI tract, liver, pancreas and immune system,6 making natural therapies with fewer side effects preferable. Ginger (Zingiberofficinale root), which has antioxidant properties, has been used since ancient times in the treatment of GI issues, including nausea and vomiting, leading researchers to assess whether it could also help improve quality of life and disease in people with ulcerative colitis. For the study, 46 patients with active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis received either 2,000 milligrams a day of dried ginger powder in four capsules or similar placebo capsules for 12 weeks.7 Researchers used blood sampling and questionnaires to measure disease activity, quality of life and oxidative stress among the participants. After six and 12 weeks, ginger was found to reduce malondialdehyde (MDA), a biomarker of oxidative stress, significantly. Ginger also led to reductions in severity of disease activity and increased patients’ quality of life significantly after 12 weeks. The researchers believed that the dosage and duration of supplementation used in the study may have been too low to induce significant improvement overall, leading them to suggest further studies to determine the best dosages and duration. “Our data indicate that ginger supplementation can improve treatment of patients with UC. Further clinical trials with different dosages and duration of ginger or its standard extract supplementation are needed to obtain firm conclusion,” they wrote.8 Potent Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects of GingerGinger has a range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic (potential anticarcinogenic) effects.9 In an animal study of rats with ulcerative colitis, ginger extract was beneficial in reducing markers of the disease, likely due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and the effects were comparable to that of the highest dose of sulfasalazine, an anti-inflammatory drug often used to treat ulcerative colitis.10 In another animal study, researchers looked at the effects of 6-shogaol, one of the active components in ginger, on ulcerative colitis. In this case, the researchers used nanoparticles capable of colitis tissue-targeted delivery to deliver 6-shogaol, which was intended to reduce some of the challenges often encountered with taking supplements orally, namely instability of the substances in the GI tract, low targeting of disease tissues and potential adverse effects. Oral delivery of the nanoparticles loaded with 6-shogaol attenuated ulcerative colitis and promoted wound healing while alleviating symptoms, leading researchers to suggest, “This system may represent a promising therapeutic approach for treating inflammatory bowel disease [IBD].”11 Ginger-derived nanoparticles (GDNPs) have been studied as an attractive treatment strategy for IBD, in part because they can deliver drugs to inflamed mucosa in the GI tract over extended time periods, and, once in the colon, taken up by both intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages, offering dual cellular targeting that wasn’t seen with grape- and grapefruit-derived nanoparticles.12 What’s more, intestinal inflammation is associated with cancer, and those suffering from ulcerative colitis are at increased risk of colitis-associated cancer (CAC). “Colorectal cancer is in fact a major cause of morbidity and mortality in IBD patients,” researchers wrote in Nanomedicine.13 This is yet another area where ginger may be helpful. According to the study:
Probiotics Are Also Important for Ulcerative ColitisStudies suggest alterations in the microbiota living in your gut may affect the severity of ulcerative colitis.15 Research presented at the 2011 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) annual meeting by researchers at the University College Cork in Ireland showed that people with inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis, chronic fatigue syndrome or psoriasis who took the probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium infantis for eight weeks had lower levels of inflammation than those taking a placebo. The simple strategy appeared to lower levels of inflammation among a wide variety of conditions. "The human immunological response to B. infantis further supports the hypothesis that manipulation of the microbiota with specific therapeutic microbes can have a significant effect on host inflammatory processes," said Dr. Eamonn M.M. Quigley, who presented the findings. "This anti-inflammatory effect is not restricted to a specific disease state, suggesting that B.infantis induces a critical cellular response, which may include the induction of regulatory cell subsets."16 So, in addition to ginger, adding probiotics may be an important step for anyone battling ulcerative colitis. This can be done via dietary additions as well, as naturally fermented foods are an excellent source of these anti-inflammatory microbes. Interestingly, when combined with probiotics, blueberry husks not only reduce inflammation-inducing bacteria, but also increase the amount of health-promoting Lactobacilla,17 making them a useful therapeutic addition. Curcumin, Vitamin D and Other Options for Ulcerative ColitisTurmeric plants (Curcuma longa L.), are a member of the ginger family and contain the active component curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. There is some research that suggests curcumin may help to induce and maintain remission in ulcerative colitis patients without serious side effects.18 In fact, one study comparing curcumin with placebo found that only 4.65% of ulcerative colitis patients receiving curcumin relapsed compared to 20.51% of those receiving a placebo.19 Considering that both ginger and turmeric/curcumin are safe dietary additions for most people, adding them to your daily routine is a simple, low risk intervention for people with ulcerative colitis. Animal-based omega-3 fats are another absolutely essential element of preventing and controlling IBD. The omega-3 fats in krill oil, EPA and DHA, have immune-boosting qualities along with anti-inflammatory properties proven to benefit disorders of the gut, including ulcerative colitis.20 Optimizing vitamin D levels is also an important and often-overlooked strategy. In vitamin D-deficient patients with ulcerative colitis, vitamin D supplementation was associated with reduced intestinal inflammation in one study.21 Further, people with ulcerative colitis are more likely to have low vitamin D levels than their healthy peers, and vitamin D levels were lowest among those with the most severe disease.22 The level you're aiming for is between 60 and 80 ng/mL, with 40 ng/mL being the low cutoff point for sufficiency to prevent a wide range of diseases, including cancer. Research suggests it would require 9,600 IUs of vitamin D per day to get 97.5% of the population to reach 40 ng/mL,23 but individual requirements can vary widely, and you’ll need to get your levels tested to ensure you take the correct dosage required to get you into the optimal range. Regular sunlight exposure is the ideal way to optimize your vitamin D (as well as glean the other health benefits of sun exposure). What Else Is Ginger Good For?One of the benefits of whole food options for ulcerative colitis is that ginger offers many other benefits aside from its role in relieving ulcerative colitis. Ginger, for instance, shows promise for:
If you’re living with a serious condition like ulcerative colitis, work with a knowledgeable natural health care practitioner who can develop a comprehensive treatment protocol. However, most people can benefit from adding more fresh ginger to their meals as well as sipping it as a tea. While you can purchase powdered ginger in teabags, you can also make ginger tea simply by boiling sliced ginger root in water. For even more antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, particularly for ulcerative colitis or similar conditions, you can try turmeric-ginger tea, made as follows:29 Turmeric-Ginger Tea Ingredients
Method Mix all ingredients together and boil the water on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, then strain into a cup. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/23/can-ginger-help-ulcerative-colitis.aspx
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With the novel coronavirus COVID-19 spreading across the world at a rapid clip, health authorities are stressing the importance of frequent hand-washing. Indeed, strategic hand-washing is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce the spread of the virus and your own risk of illness. Airport Hand Hygiene Can Significantly Reduce Pandemic RisksAs noted in a December 2019 study1 in the Risk Analysis journal, which investigated the spread patterns of flu-type viruses, intercontinental flights allow infectious pathogens to spread like wildfire. Aside from the speed of which an infected person can travel from one country to the next, the risk of spreading pandemic disease is exacerbated when traveling by air for the simple reason that airplanes crowd large groups of people together in a confined space with scarce opportunities for proper hygiene. Were people to more frequently wash their hands during travel, the risk of pandemic infection could be significantly reduced — by as much as 69% according to this study — which is nothing to sneeze at. As explained by the authors:2
The most germ-ridden surfaces frequently touched by passengers at airports and inside aircraft include self-service check-in screens, gate bench armrests, railings, water fountain buttons, door handles, seats, tray tables and bathroom handles. The 10 key airports with the greatest infection spread rate, according to this study, are:
Face-Touching Is a Vector for Disease TransmissionIf you think your hands are clean simply because they look and feel clean, it's time to rethink. Viruses and bacteria are microscopic, and there's absolutely no way to ascertain whether your hands are germ-free. The assumption needs to be that they're not. Frequently washing your hands during influenza season and other pandemic outbreaks is a crucial safety measure, in part because most people touch their face an average of 23 times per hour.3 As noted in the American Journal of Infection Control,4 habituated face-touching behavior is a vector for self-inoculation and transmission of infectious diseases. In other words, each time you touch your face, you run the risk of introducing disease-causing pathogens into your body as they transfer from your hands to your face. According to this study:5
The take-home message here is that mouth, nose and eye touching is a common, and largely unconscious, behavior by which infectious diseases are spread. The remedy for this behavior is to make sure you wash your hands on a regular basis, and especially after certain activities, such as:
When out in public, the opportunities for picking up germs on your hands are incalculable. Door knobs, door and cart handles, counters, railings, airport security bins — every conceivable surface has the potential for contamination. Get Into the Habit of Cleaning Your Cellphone TooCellphones, by the way, are another significant vector of infectious disease. Even if you wash your hands frequently, as soon as you touch your cellphone you've contaminated your hands again and can deposit those germs on everything you touch.7 So, getting into the habit of regularly cleaning your cellphone would be in your best interest too. For instructions on how to safely sanitize your cellphone, see the video above. PC Magazine suggests using alcohol-containing lens wipes, typically used for cleaning camera lenses. Also, remember to wipe down the case of your phone, and pay attention to the back if you use a fingerprint reader to unlock your phone. Proper Hand-Washing TechniqueNow, even people who wash their hands on a regular basis may not do it correctly, thus missing an important opportunity to quell the spread of germs. To make sure you're actually removing the germs when you wash your hands, follow these guidelines:
Why Soap Is Most Effective Against VirusesYou also want to make sure you're using the most effective products. Contrary to popular belief, antibacterial soap is NOT ideal for killing disease-causing viruses on your hands. Like antibiotics, antibacterial soap only affects bacteria, not viruses. Even for bacteria, research has demonstrated that antibacterial soap provides no additional benefit over nonantibacterial soap. As noted in a 2007 systematic review8 published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases:
When it comes to viruses, regular soap works the best. As detailed in a series of Twitter posts9 by professor Palli Thordarson,10 who specializes in bio-mimetic, supramolecular and biophysical chemistry and nanomedicine, soap very effectively kills the COVID-19 virus, "and indeed most viruses." The reason for this is because the virus is "a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid (fatty) bilayer." Soap dissolves this fat membrane, causing the virus to fall apart, thus rendering it harmless. Not even alcohol is as effective for inactivating viruses, although it may be more practical for using surfaces other than your hands and body. Soap Mechanics 101A soap molecule is suited for mixing oil and water as it shares qualities of each. Soap molecules are amphipathic,11 meaning they have both polar and nonpolar properties, giving them the ability to dissolve most kinds of molecules. As noted by Thordarson, the amphiphiles (fat-like substances) in soap are "structurally very similar to the lipids in the virus membrane," so "soap molecules 'compete' with the lipids in the virus membrane." In short, the soap dissolves the "glue" that holds the virus together. The alkalinity of soap also creates an electric charge that makes the soap hydrophilic (water-loving).12 Hydrogen atoms in water molecules have a slightly positive charge, so when you wet your hands and then use soap, this molecule will readily bond with the nearest water molecule. Hence, when you wash your hands under running water, the now deconstructed virus is easily washed away. The New York Times explains the process this way:13
Using Alcohol-Based DisinfectantsThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands with soap and water. Only when soap and water are unavailable are alcohol-based hand sanitizers recommended. As noted on the CDC website:14
As noted by Thordarson, the drawback of ethanol and other alcohols is that they cannot dissolve the lipid membrane holding the virus together. This is precisely why soap and water works best. That said, a 2017 review15 in the Journal of Hospital Infection found 80% ethanol solutions were "highly effective" against 21 different viruses within 30 seconds, although some viruses (poliovirus type 1, calicivirus, polyomavirus, hepatitis A virus and foot-and-mouth disease virus) were hardier and required a 95% solution. According to the authors, "The spectrum of virucidal activity of ethanol at 95% … covers the majority of clinically relevant viruses." A hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60% is also thought to eliminate the COVID-19 virus.16 Just keep in mind that frequent use of alcohol-based products is rough on your skin and can dry it out. This could actually make things worse, as cracked skin renders you more susceptible to infection, as it provides germs a perfect entryway into your body. Does Bar Soap Harbor Germs?Another common misconception is that liquid soap is more hygienic than bar soap, since many different hands might touch a single bar of soap. The fear that bar soap may harbor germs is unfounded, however. While occasional studies have documented environmental bacteria on bar soap, no study has demonstrated bar soap to be a source of infection.17 The first rigorous study to look into this question was published in 1965.18 Researchers intentionally contaminated their hands with nearly 5 billion bacteria, including disease-causing strains such as staphylococcus and E. coli. They then washed their hands with bar soap, after which a second person washed with the same bar of soap. The second person's hands were cultured and researchers found the bacteria were not transferred. The researchers concluded:19
Nearly 20 years later, another study20 (sponsored by a soap manufacturer) confirmed these findings. Here, they inoculated bars of soap with pathogenic bacteria; 16 participants washed their hands with those bars. After washing, none of the participants' hands had detectable levels of bacteria. According to the researchers,21 "little hazard exists in routine hand-washing with previously used soap bars and support the frequent use of soap and water for hand-washing to prevent the spread of disease." Towel Dry or Air Dry — Which Is Better?Many believe using an air dryer is preferable to using a towel when in a public restroom. Surprising as it may seem, air dryers may actually spread far more germs than paper towels. In the 2017 paper "Cleanliness in Context: Reconciling Hygiene With a Modern Microbial Perspective,"22,23 microbial ecologists at the University of Oregon examine different methods of hand drying, noting that "most research has shown that warm air dryers may increase the number of bacteria on the hands after use." The reason for the increase in bacterial load is thought to be due to:
Other research24 found high-speed jet dryers spray 1,300 times more viral material into the surrounding area than paper towels, dispersing the viral load up to 10 feet from the dryer.25,26 A 2012 meta-analysis in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, which looked at a dozen studies, came to a similar conclusion, noting:27
The take-home message here is that when using a public restroom, you may be better off forgoing the air dryers and using a paper towel instead. Be sure to dispose it properly, in the trash bin, and use a clean paper towel to open the door when exiting. The drawback of paper towels is the environmental impact. In the video below, Joe Smith of Oregon outlines how you can reduce the amount of paper towels you use, while still getting your hands dry. Two key points: First, shake your hands to eliminate as much water as possible. Next, fold the paper towel to increase absorbency. Avoid Cloth Towels and Rags During PandemicsCloth towels are the least hygienic alternative during influenza season or pandemics, as they have the highest risk of cross-contamination. According to a 2014 University of Arizona study,28 towels may be the most germ-ridden item in your home. Tests revealed a staggering 89% of kitchen towels and nearly 26% of bathroom towels were contaminated with Coliform bacteria — microbes associated with food poisoning and diarrhea. The primary reason for this is the moisture cloth towels retain, which serves as a perfect breeding ground for germs. Moist towels and rags are also hospitable places for viruses. As noted in a 2012 study29 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, cloth rags can easily spread viruses from one surface to another. So, when sanitizing your home (which is advisable when someone in the household is ill), it's best to use a paper towel. Once the immediate risk of infection has passed, you can go back to using reusable rags for everyday cleaning. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/23/best-hand-soap-for-frequent-hand-washing.aspx 1 Which of the following nutraceuticals is currently being investigated as a potential treatment against COVID-19 infection?
2 Which of the following statements is accurate?
3 How much of the plastic waste created since 1950 has been recycled at least once?
4 According to CDC data, what ratio of U.S. adults has experienced four or more types of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), placing them at increased risk for at least five of the top 10 leading causes of death?
5 Which of the following will allow you to burn more calories during your workout?
6 Which of the following has been shown to adversely influence gut bacteria, such that it promotes obesity and diabetes?
7 Which of the following is a scientifically documented effect of blood flow restriction (BFR) training?
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/23/week-122-health-quiz.aspx People have relied on honey for centuries for its health benefits and the enjoyment of its taste. Scientists have found that honey has antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica.1 It has demonstrated activity against antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.2 It has been used to treat infected wounds, and some researchers have even suggested its use on difficult-to-heal wounds, while being careful to select those that will do well with honey.3 It's also been infused into wound dressings but only recently has evidence been presented to explain honey's effectiveness in health care. Specifically, Manuka honey has been used in wound care products because of its ability to inhibit bacterial growth and stimulate a local immune response, all while suppressing inflammation.4 When compared to dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine in the treatment of coughs and upper respiratory illnesses, researchers found a 2.5 ml dose of honey before sleep was more effective than either drug.5 However, take care to never give honey to children younger than 1 year as their digestive system can't process some common contaminants, including botulism. The benefits of using honey externally and internally are significant, but as I've warned in the past, do not use the processed honey you find on the grocery store shelves, as it's often little more than fructose syrup. That honey should never be used on wounds as it may increase your risk of infection. Manufacturers Latch Onto Honey as Next Great Food EnterpriseWith a growing recognition of the health benefits associated with raw honey, sales of the product have grown by over 40% in the past 20 years. In 2018, the Honey Council reported sales had reached 575 million pounds,6 a significant jump from the 350 million pounds sold in 1997. Yet, the numbers may be artificially low as the council says, "There are reasons to believe that honey consumption is higher because certain arenas of sales are not fully captured in the data." Part of the attraction honey holds is its use as a sugar replacement packed with enzymes and pollen to help reduce allergies. It's become a growing luxury foodstuff in high demand, which may lead you to believe the price is rising. Yet, as Vice reports,7 the price of honey is falling, in large part due to adulterated "fake" honey that's been processed, heated, diluted with sugar or syrups and then resin-treated to remove contaminants that include unpalatable smells and tastes that would otherwise make it difficult to sell. Resin treatments remove healthy enzymes in honey. Jim Gawenis, a biochemist and owner of the only honey testing facility in the U.S., uses up-to-date technology at Sweetwater Science. He explains how this process can take Indian gum honey that "tastes and smells like old gym socks," and make it sellable.8
On the other hand, ultrafiltration helps manufacturers hide the country of origin. As Gawenis explains:9
The production and sale of fraudulent honey is the focus of a series of class action lawsuits filed in 2019 by two Chicago-based lawyers. After testing honey from more than 50 companies they found that 50% to 60% of the product was not pure honey as advertised. In other words, the honey on the grocery store shelves is not the honey you think you're buying. One group named in the lawsuits was created to protect the industry and has failed miserably. Self-Regulation Results in FailureThe Inside Hook boils the situation down. On the one hand is a growing market for honey, driven by a market looking for health products. On the other hand, there continues to be a global drop and collapse in bee populations.10 It isn't logical that a rising demand and supply could be supported by a collapsing bee population. That is, unless the honey you're buying isn't all the honey it's cracked up to be. True Source Honey is the industry certification organization founded in 2010 when Chinese honey appeared on the U.S. market after tariffs were imposed. The executive director of True Source Honey, Gordon Marks, explained to Vice:11
Marks qualified the organization's intent, saying they address where the honey originates and not the quality of the product. But their website says differently:12
Beekeepers and Packagers Fear RetributionIn dozens of conversations with beekeepers, honey importers and packers, Vice reporter Shayla Love learned that True Source is being used as a shield to provide adulterated and "fake" honey without repercussions. They spoke anonymously in fear of retribution in a market that is slowly losing profitability. Importers knew they were buying adulterated honey since the prices were lower than market value. The group said the certification agency existed in name only and not practice. But most wouldn't speak openly fearing they wouldn't be able to buy or sell honey. One importer was quoted in Vice, saying:13
Kent Heitzinger is one of the Chicago attorneys involved in the lawsuits. He and his partner have tested many of the certified products. Love wrote this about their conversation:14
Deceit Goes Deep in the Honey IndustryAs of the publication of the Vice article, there have been several lawsuits filed by Heitzinger and his partner. Several companies, including Kroger, True Source Honey and Strange Honey Farms have filed court motions to dismiss the claims that the honey has been heated and sugars have been added. The companies are scrambling to find arguments to dispute the allegations. Nature Nate's claims their honey is "gently warmed" and not heated, while Kroger alleges there is no consensus on the meaning of "raw." The Nashville distributor for Strange Honey Farm took another step in a press release indicating the Illinois Bar Association (IBA) was investigating complaints against the attorneys. However, Love found the IBA doesn't regulate these matters and the regulatory agency that does handle them has no record of discipline or pending proceedings. In other words, it wasn't the truth. In an effort to get to the truth herself, Love sent four bottles of honey for testing to Gawenis and QSI lab in Germany. Both labs used nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMR) to image the honey and test for 36 different components. The results were compared to a database of samples used to identify the country of origin. Gawenis first tests the scent of the honey. Next, he observes the viscosity or thickness of the product. Pure honey is thick and sticky. Currently Sweetwater Science is the only lab in the U.S. utilizing NMR technology to test honey. At the time of the article, Gawenis estimated he was testing less than 1% of all the honey packaged and sold in the U.S. However, when True Source Honey was asked if they use NMR testing in their audits, they said they did. Gawenis is confident in his ability to test all honey passing through customs to date, estimating there would be a minimal additional charge per pound to the honey sold. After testing, Gawenis found the Strange Farm honey labeled from Tennessee was from Vietnam, Whole Foods honey had been heated and the Busy Bee brand honey appeared to have been resin treated, which confused test results. The only honey that tested just as it was labeled was the Great Value honey from Walmart. In addition to originating from Vietnam, QSI lab classified the Strange Farm honey as "… basically syrup with a pinch of honey." After reaching out to Strange Farm, Love was told "random testing from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in May of 2019 did not find added sugar." However, the department said no samples were collected during their safety inspection. Hagen wrote to Love in an email, saying:15
Multiple Reasons Hives Collapse, Affect Food SupplyHiatt Honey, in business for over 50 years, lost half their hive a year ago.16 In the 2018-2019 winter season scientists recorded a 37.7% loss in bee population,17 and in the 2015-2016 winter season the loss was a record 44.2%.18 Just a few weeks after the Honeybee Colonies survey report was released, the Trump administration stopped collecting data in order to save money. The last survey completed by the governmental agency showed nearly half of all managed bee colonies had been lost in the past winter.19 Devastating to the environment, the loss of these pollinators is also affecting crop production. Commercial beekeepers live a nomadic life, traveling with their bees to pollinate crops. For eight months each year Hiatt hoofs his 10,000 hives to California and then sends them to his brothers in Washington, all at a cost of $3.50 each mile. His bees are responsible for pollinating almonds in California, the largest almond producing state in the world20 and apples in Washington. Each time the bees are moved it costs $250,000.21 Losses to the hives likely have multiple factors, including the use of pesticides such as neonicotinoids and glyphosate. Most soybeans, corn and other GE crop seeds are coated with neonics that travel through the plant system and kill the insects that feed on the pollen, roots and leaves.22 Test Your Honey at HomeInstead of grocery store honey, seek your liquid gold from local producers at farmers markets. Since honey doesn't ever expire — even after opening23 — it's safe to purchase enough in the summer to last until the following spring. It also pays to know how to test your honey at home. You may not have access to NMR testing, but there are precautions you can take to help determine if the honey you're buying is honey. These are some of the physical properties you may test at home:24
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/23/fake-honey.aspx Drug resistant infections are on the rise, the novel coronavirus COVID-19 is spreading rapidly and research has demonstrated you may be participating in activities that exacerbate the issue. Preventing the spread of contagious disease is the best option as there is no cure for viral infections and COVID-19 isn't a simple virus. However, the key to prevention is to be smart about it. One of the primary ways is using proper handwashing techniques with safe products. Unfortunately, many still work under the assumption that antibacterial soap or hand sanitizer will get the job done safely and correctly. Yet even the FDA acknowledges antibacterial soaps haven’t been proven effective and they have potentially negative health effects.1 The authors of one study2 suggested hospital-based health care providers had a hand hygiene compliance rate of 70% to 72%. This means that at least 28% of the health care providers were not practicing safe handwashing techniques. Yet, proper handwashing is especially important in the hospital where close contact among patients is common. Critically ill patients are especially susceptible to the risks introduced in hospital environments. The results of one study suggested that using a patient hand hygiene protocol reduced infection rates.3 Washing your hands helps remove harmful bacteria that may contaminate your immediate surroundings. It also stops the spread of infection and reduces the chances that germs may be transferred to your internal systems when you touch your nose, mouth or eyes.4 By learning to use proper handwashing techniques you and others may reduce the number of people who get a diarrheal illness by at least 23% and you can contribute to reducing respiratory infections by up to 21%. Immediate Disease Prevention Strategy — Proper HandwashingIn the past decade there's been a rapid emergence of resistant bacteria; this has rather quickly risen to the level of a crisis. The overuse and misuse of antibiotic medications has accelerated what is supposed to be a natural process.5 Antibiotic resistance has made it more difficult to treat diseases such as gonorrhea, tuberculosis and pneumonia — one of the secondary infections occurring in individuals with COVID-19. The World Health Organization says antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. It can affect anyone and leads to higher medical costs and mortality rates. Yet, the simple act of handwashing may help reduce the potential for infection. In a unique study designed by the U.S. military, the Navy studied incoming recruits to evaluate the rate of respiratory illnesses. By the early 2000s, respiratory illnesses had become the most common cause of lost duty time.6,7 In the past, the military used ultraviolet lights, vaccines and disinfectant vapors to help reduce the number of lost hours. In this study, recruits were ordered to wash their hands five times a day and drill instructors underwent monthly education on the importance of handwashing. After just two years, recruits had a 45% reduced rate of respiratory illnesses than the recruits from the year before the program began. The simple act of washing their hands consistently and appropriately had nearly halved the number of recruits who developed a respiratory illness. While recent news reports have said a review of multiple studies showed that handwashing can reduce respiratory illness risks by as much as 54%, none of the news agencies has linked directly to the source. According to a 2019 study, the reality of measuring implementation has challenges:8
The reason for this, the authors explain, is that:
The bottom line is, research does show that diligently washing your hands helps stave off infections, including respiratory illnesses. So, the best thing to do is be sure to follow the CDC’s advice and make good handwashing a regular practice. Step-by-Step: How to Effectively Wash Your HandsTo enjoy the greatest benefit, handwashing must be done effectively and correctly as demonstrated in this short video. This probably sounds obvious! Yet, one study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found 97% of the time consumers were not washing their hands correctly.9 Said another way, only 3% were using the correct handwashing technique to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. The following are times that are especially important to wash your hands:
To be truly effective you must wash for at least 20 seconds, address all aspects of your hands, use soap and running water and dry your hands appropriately. Consider using these strategies in your approach to wash your hands: • Use warm, running water and a mild soap. You do NOT need antibacterial soap. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated,10 “ … there isn’t enough science to show that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. To date, the benefits of using antibacterial hand soap haven’t been proven. In addition, the wide use of these products over a long time has raised the question of potential negative effects on your health.” • Start with wet hands, add soap and work up a good lather, all the way up to your wrists, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds (most people only wash for about six seconds). A good way to time this is to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. • Make sure you cover all surfaces, including the insides and backs of your hands, your wrists, your fingers and the areas between them and in around and below your fingernails. Wash your fingertips by clasping your hands, fingers to fingers and twisting your hands back and forth. This places friction against your fingertips. Next, scrub your fingertips over the palm of your hands to get the ends of your fingers. • Rinse thoroughly under running water. • Thoroughly dry your hands, ideally using a paper towel. Use a paper towel to shut off the sink and open the door at home when someone is ill to prevent the spread of germs. Do this regularly in public places. How You Dry Your Hands Is Also ImportantThe next step is to dry your hands. If you're depositing more germs by using the wrong tool, you may not be as protected as you think. In one study11 researchers demonstrated how hot air hand dryers in public restrooms spread bacteria; this was supported by previous research with similar findings.12 It turns out the warm moist air inside hot air dryers is the perfect place for bacteria and germs to grow. Researchers from Connecticut theorized the appliance intake brings in bacteria where colonies grow and are then dispersed when the appliances are used. The team concluded that:13
A bathroom towel is also not a great option since you transfer bacteria onto the surface each time you use it.14 A warm, damp bathroom is the perfect environment for bacteria and other microorganisms to thrive. Experts recommend if you keep towels in the kitchen or bathroom, they should be washed every two days. Using a paper towel may be the best cleanliness option, but also has an impact on the environment. Each year the global market for paper towels reaches $12 billion, of which Americans spend $5.7 billion.15 Joe Smith of Oregon has a solution, as outlined in a TED Talk (link below). By using his system it's apparent we can reduce the amount of paper towels we use while still getting our hands dry. There are two points to this. The first is to shake your hands in order to eliminate as much free water as possible. The second is the method he uses to fold a towel to increase absorbency by increasing interstitial spaces while reducing the amount of paper towel used. Too Much Hand Washing Can Be HarmfulIt’s important to find a balance between keeping hands clean and scrubbing so much you damage the skin barrier. Of course, you don't want to unnecessarily open yourself to disease-carrying germs, but exposure is inevitable. Without proper hygiene you can't achieve optimal health, yet over-washing can irritate your skin and take away protective oils. This causes your skin to crack, potentially bleed and sometimes invite trouble. Consider adding coconut oil as a moisturizer for your hands. Lauric acid makes up 40% of the fat in coconut oil, best known for its antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Coconut oil offers several additional benefits to your health and home. Your First Line of Defense Resides in Your GutWhile handwashing is important to help prevent the spread of disease, your first line of defense against COVID-19 and other viral and bacterial pathogens is a strong immune system. There are several steps you can take to support this and create a strong foundation to help your body fight off pathogens and reduce your risk for chronic diseases. The first step is to cut out sugar and avoid processed foods. • Nutrition -- Your body needs healthy amounts of protein found in lean meats, bone broth, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds to repair tissue and fight infection. Antioxidants in chaga tea can help with immunity because it's also packed with Beta D Glucan, a compound that increases macrophage killer cell efficiency. • Vitamins and minerals -- Eating foods rich in vitamins, including vitamins K1 and K2, zinc, selenium, quercetin and B vitamins support your immune system. Vitamin D plays a large part and may be found in limited quantities in raw grass fed milk, wild-caught Alaskan salmon and organic pastured eggs. The ideal way to optimize your Vitamin D level is through sensible sun exposure. Vitamin C-rich foods include leafy greens, bell peppers, broccoli and citrus fruits. Vitamin A can help lower your risk of infection and support wound healing. Foods high in vitamin A include sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, wild-caught Alaskan salmon, organic pastured eggs and grass fed beef. • Support your gut microbiome -- One of the easiest and quickest ways to provide your gut with a diverse source of probiotic bacteria is to eat fermented vegetables. Other beneficial fermented foods include natto, kimchi, pickles, sauerkraut and raw yogurt made from the milk of grass fed cows. Be sure to steer clear of yogurt with added sugar; this is found in most commercial varieties. Fiber-rich foods also help by promoting bowel movements, which keeps waste moving smoothly through your intestinal tract. • Sleep -- A lack of sleep will quickly impact your immune function and leave you vulnerable to environmental threats, including viruses and bacteria. Consistently sleeping less than six hours increases your risk for psychological and physical effects. For suggestions on improving your sleep hygiene, see “Top 33 Tips to Optimize Your Sleep Routine.” from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/21/proper-handwashing-techniques.aspx As a medical journalist for BBC in the U.K., Dr. Michael Mosley has put a number of different health strategies under the proverbial loupe, including the ketogenic diet, which I interviewed him about in 2014. In this BBC program, “The Truth About Sleep,” which originally aired in 2017, Mosley investigates the health ramifications of insomnia, which is a problem he shares with many others in the world. In it, he reviews the hazards of sleep deprivation, and shares a variety of methods found to improve sleep quality and quantity. About 70% of Britons feel they get less sleep than they need, and about a third report suffering from insomnia, Mosley says. His own problem has to do with staying asleep. While he has no problem falling asleep initially, he wakes up around 3 a.m. and has a hard time drifting off again. “I’m simply not getting enough sleep,” he says. How Much Sleep Is Required for Health?As noted by Mosley, the standard recommendation for adults is to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Teenagers need around nine hours, while younger school-age children may need upward of 11 hours. While insomnia is one reason cited for lack of sleep, there are many other causes as well, including shift work and excessive partying. Our modern lifestyle, which glamorizes constant internet connectivity and round-the-clock activity, essentially conspires to keep us awake far longer than is healthy. How can you tell if you’re actually sleep deprived or getting the “right” amount of sleep for you? Mosley demonstrates a test that can clue you in. It’s simple. Just go to bed in the middle of the afternoon and time how long it takes you to fall asleep. To conduct this sleep onset latency test, all you need is a watch, a metal spoon and a metal tray. Place the metal tray next to your bed and lay down, holding the spoon in your hand so that when it falls, it will fall onto the tray. Relax. When you start falling asleep, the muscles in your hand will relax, causing the spoon to drop. The clanking will wake you up. Look at your watch. How long did it take you to drift off? If it takes you more than 15 minutes, you’re getting enough sleep. If you fall asleep in less than 10 minutes, you’re moderately sleep deprived. Falling asleep in five minutes or less is indicative of severe sleep deprivation. The High Cost of Sleep DeprivationThe price tag for sleep deprivation is steep. A bleary-eyed workforce costs the U.K. up to £40 billion (about $59 billion) a year in low productivity and absenteeism, Mosley notes. When asking random people on the street what keeps them up at night, the answers are manifold. Many younger adults cite internet videos and social media. Working out in the evening, mental worries and a disruptive partner are other reasons people give for not getting enough shut-eye. What Happens During Sleep?Sleep is not just one long, solid state. Healthy sleep consists of several stages,1 each stage lasting five to 15 minutes, with a complete cycle (light, deep and rapid eye movement or REM sleep) taking between 90 and 120 minutes. A full sleep cycle starts out in light sleep and progresses through to deep sleep, then reverses back from deep to light sleep before entering REM. You cycle through each of these stages four to six times during the night, and this cycling is tremendously important, from both a biological and psychological perspective. • Stages 1 and 2 (light sleep; non-REM) — During the initial stages of sleep, biological processes in your body slow down but your brain remains active as it begins the editing process where decisions are made about which memories to store and which to discard. As noted by Mosley, you drift in and out of consciousness in stage 1, before ultimately entering stage 2, at which point your brainwaves slow down. • Stages 3 and 4 (deep sleep; non-REM) — In these deeper sleep stages you enter into a near coma-like state, during which physiological cleansing and detoxification processes in the brain2 take place. Your brain cells actually shrink by about 60% during this deep sleep phase. This creates more space in-between the cells, giving your cerebrospinal fluid more space to flush out the debris. Before entering stage 5 REM sleep, you cycle back into stage 2. • Stage 5 (REM) — During this last phase, you enter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, where dreaming takes place. In this phase, your brain is as active as it is during wakefulness, but your body is paralyzed, which prevents you from acting out your dreams. The frightening experience of sleep paralysis occurs when you awaken during this phase and find your body unresponsive. The “treatment” for this disorder is knowledge. You simply need to be educated about what’s happening so that you can calmly ride out the episode, which typically will not last more than a few minutes. All of these stages are important, and it’s important to cycle through them enough times each night — especially the deeper stages. When stages 3 and 4 are interrupted or missing, your brain gets clogged with debris associated with Alzheimer’s disease and, indeed, sleep deprivation is a risk factor for severe dementia. Stages 1 through 4 are also what allow you to feel refreshed in the morning, while stage 5 is important for memory. Genetic InfluencesTo investigate the influence of genetics, Mosley sends off a blood sample for DNA analysis. Simon Archer, Ph.D., a chronobiologist at the Surrey Clinical Research Centre, is investigating genetic markers related to sleep characteristics and hereditary sleep problems. Fifty-one DNA markers have so far been found that appear to influence sleep. Mosley has three genetic markers that are predictive of being a morning person. He also has five markers for long sleep duration. Taken together, these genetic markers suggest Mosley needs slightly more sleep than the average person. He also has a marker that increases his risk for insomnia, and one associated with “low sleep efficiency in people exposed to high levels of work-related stress,” Archer says. These two markers may well help explain Mosley’s inability to stay asleep throughout the night — especially when stressed. Lastly, Mosley has a marker for increased caffeine sensitivity and caffeine-induced sleep disruption. Caffeine is a common culprit in sleep deprivation, although many (including Mosley) believe they “can drink coffee with impunity.” Many also turn to alcohol, thinking it helps them nod off faster. Alas, research shows alcohol consumption promotes poor sleep quality. By relaxing your throat muscles, it also promotes snoring, which can be problematic not just for the sleeper but others in the household as well. Sleep Quality Affects Your Heart HealthSleeping poorly has a number of concerning health ramifications, including the promotion of diabetes, excess weight, heart disease, cancer and cognitive decline, just to name a few. One interesting study3 found poor sleep excessively ages your heart, thus putting you at increased risk for heart disease at an earlier age. People who got seven hours of sleep each night had hearts showing signs of being 3.7 years older, based on biological age, than their chronological age. People who regularly slept either six or eight hours had hearts that were on average 4.5 years older than their chronological age, while those who got just five hours or less of sleep each night had the oldest biological heart age — 5.1 years older than their chronological age. Other research4 has found that even if you sleep a healthy number of hours, the quality of that sleep can have a significant impact on your risk for high blood pressure and vascular inflammation associated with heart disease. Women who had mild sleep disturbance such as taking longer to fall asleep or waking up one or more times during the night were “significantly more likely to have high blood pressure than those who fell asleep quickly and slept soundly,” Forbes reports.5 Other Health Impacts of Sleep DeprivationOther examples of health problems linked to insufficient sleep include:
Sleep Deprivation Affects Your Gut BacteriaMosley also investigates how sleep deprivation affects gut bacteria, which is yet another way in which it can influence your obesity risk. As explained in “The Truth About Sleep,” gut bacteria help extract nutrients from the food you eat and act as a barrier against infectious agents. So, not only do they play a key role in your metabolism, they also influence your immune system function. By looking at stool samples, researchers have noted that sleep deprivation increases the ratio of two types of bacteria associated with obesity. The way these bacteria promote obesity is by increasing your energy uptake. When you eat, the bacteria in your gut largely determine how many calories are absorbed. Interestingly, when sleep deprived, your gut becomes more efficient at absorbing calories, even if the amount of food you eat remains unchanged. This may be quite beneficial if food is scarce, but when combined with round-the-clock food availability, it tends to promote obesity. According to Mosley, research has shown that half of those sleeping five hours or less per night are in fact obese. Sleeping Pills Are Far From IdealSleeping pills are a common go-to solution for those struggling with poor or insufficient sleep. Mosley interviews Dr. Sara Kayat, a general practitioner, about her views on sleeping pills. She only recommends and prescribes them for acute, short-term issues. In the long term, they’re simply not a good solution, as they create dependency. You also build up a tolerance to them, so you end up needing higher and higher doses to get the same effect. While not addressed in “The Truth About Sleep,” research has repeatedly shown sleeping pills don’t provide a significant amount of extra sleep, while having a range of potentially dangerous side effects. For example, the best performing sleep drug in Consumer Reports’ “Best Buy Drugs Report” for 2015, zolpiderm, allowed patients to fall asleep 20 minutes faster and sleep 34 minutes longer on average, compared to placebo.15,16 Similarly, a 2012 meta-analysis17 of data from 13 studies submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found Z drugs (nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics) decreased the time it took to fall asleep by 11 to 33 minutes (average 22 minutes) compared with placebo. Far from contributing to health, the minor increase in sleep time that sleeping pills provide has been shown to actually increase your mortality risk over the long term. A Norwegian study18 published in 2007, which included data from 14,451 men and women aged 40 to 42 who were followed for 18 years, found frequent use of sleeping pills increased men’s risk of death by 150% and women’s risk by 170%, after adjusting for confounding factors. A 2010 Canadian study19 of 14,117 people between the ages of 18 and 102 also found those who used sleeping pills were 1.36 times (136%) more likely to die than nonusers. You can learn more about the hazards of sleeping pills in my May 2019 article “Sleeping Pills Get Black Box Warning Following Accidental Deaths.” Resetting Your Body Clock to Sleep BetterMosley goes on to visit the University of Oxford, where scientists are investigating how the human body clock or circadian rhythm influences sleep. Russel Foster, a professor of circadian neuroscience, explains how the master clock in your hypothalamus is influenced by a third light-sensing system in your eyes. Your rods and cones grab light, allowing us to see. But you also have another set of light sensors in your eyes that register dawn and dusk signals, and these cells are responsible for controlling your circadian rhythm, by communicating with the master clock in your hypothalamus. In addition, every cell in your body has its own circadian rhythm, and all of these are coordinated by and synced to your master clock. When your master clock gets desynchronized or shifted out of phase — which can easily happen if you stay up too late watching TV or perusing your cellphone — all the other internal clocks start desynchronizing, which can trigger a cascade of health problems. Artificial light exposure in the evening, combined with a deficiency of light exposure during daytime hours, significantly contributes to master clock desynchronization and poor sleep. Mosley visits a research laboratory on a Danish island. Built entirely of glass, the house allows your body to synchronize to the rising and setting sun. While living in a glass house is impractical, you can reset your master clock each day by making sure you get plenty of bright sunlight first thing in the morning and around midday. Remove electronic screens from your bedroom, such as TVs, laptops and cellphones, and stop using them at least one hour before bedtime. Really make an effort to keep your bedroom for sleeping only, without the distractions of work, school, hobbies and entertainment. Novel Sleep SolutionsWhile many insomnia treatments are obvious, Mosley found a few that are a bit more unusual, yet have published papers suggesting they might be useful. These include:
Mosley and three volunteers each tried one of these strategies for seven days, and agreed they all helped improve their insomnia to some degree. Prebiotic supplementation appeared to be one of the most effective of these strategies. Data collected by Mosley’s activity bracelet showed he went from 21% activity or wakefulness during the night before taking the supplement, to 8% activity after taking it for five days. Subjectively he also felt like he slept better when taking it. For additional sleep tips, see my “Top 33 Tips to Optimize Your Sleep Routine.” from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/21/the-truth-about-sleep.aspx Excess alcohol consumption is known to harm brain health. In the case of binge drinking or heavy alcohol consumption, it may even make it more likely that your brain may accumulate damaging beta-amyloid proteins, potentially contributing to the development of Alzheimer's disease.1 However, controversy remains over whether all alcohol consumption is harmful, with some research suggesting that moderate intake may instead have a protective effect. Preclinical studies from both animal and cell culture models have shown that consuming moderate amounts of alcohol may be protective against Alzheimer's by attenuating beta-amyloid production, but little is known about how this affects beta-amyloid deposition in the human brain — leading researchers to conduct a study to find out.2 Moderate Drinkers Had Less Beta-Amyloid in the BrainResearchers from Seoul National University College of Medicine conducted a study involving 414 middle- and old-aged individuals who were free from dementia and did not have an alcohol-related disorder. The participants were interviewed about their current and past alcohol intake and had brain imaging to check for Alzheimer's disease pathologies. Moderate drinking was defined as one to 13 standard drinks a week, with a standard drink defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. Those who drank moderately over the course of decades indeed saw benefits, with a 66% lower rate of beta-amyloid deposits in their brains compared to nondrinkers.3 Those who recently started drinking moderately did not have the same results, however, nor did those who drank more than 13 standard drinks a week. According to the study:4
Because the study relied on participants' recall for alcohol drinking history and was observational in nature, it does not prove that alcohol consumption caused the reduction in beta-amyloid. However, the study's senior author, Dong Young Lee, told The New York Times, "In people without dementia and without alcohol abuse or dependency, moderate drinking appears to be helpful as far as brain health is concerned."5 Other Brain Benefits of Moderate DrinkingOther studies have also found benefits to moderate amounts of alcohol on the brain, including one published in the journal Scientific Reports.6 While high alcohol exposure increased brain inflammation and impaired function of the glymphatic system, which removes waste products from the brain, acting as a "brainwide metabolite clearance system,"7 moderate drinking had the opposite effect. Surprisingly, drinking the equivalent of about 2.5 alcoholic drinks a day not only reduced brain inflammation in mice but also increased function of the glymphatic system.8 By pumping cerebral spinal fluid through your brain's tissues, your glymphatic system flushes waste from your brain back into your circulatory system and liver for elimination. The findings should be taken with a grain of salt, with researchers noting, "Naturally, this study performed in mice should not be viewed as a recommendation for alcohol consumption guidelines in humans." What's more, there's still much to be learned, as while low-to-moderate alcohol intake has been associated with a lower risk of dementia, heavy drinking may enhance cognitive decline. Further, the researchers noted, "Daily intake of alcohol for 30 years at doses scalable to those in the present study reduces human hippocampal volume by 3.4% to 5.8% compared to abstainers."9 Adding to the controversy over whether or not modest amounts of alcohol are a good thing, a study of 9,000 adults that took place over 23 years found a sweet spot of sorts in terms of alcohol consumption and dementia.10 Both heavy drinkers and abstainers had a higher risk of dementia than moderate drinkers, which was defined as no more than 14 units of alcohol a day, or roughly one medium-sized glass of wine or pint of beer daily. Separate research found that light-to-moderate alcohol intake, especially wine, was associated with larger total brain volume, suggesting it is potentially beneficial for brain aging.11 Is Moderate Drinking Harmful?Despite some of the positive findings, I do not recommend chronic drinking, regardless of the amount. As demonstrated in the BBC investigation above, drinking tends to do far more harm than good, even if you're within guidelines for "moderate" alcohol consumption. In the film, using identical twin brothers as guinea pigs, they each drink 21 units of alcohol over differing time scales — one consumes them all in one night while the other has three drinks per day over the course of a week. Twenty-one units amounts to three-quarters of a bottle of whiskey, two bottles of wine or 10.5 pints of beer. The test continues for a month. Medical tests before and after assesses the physical effects and potential damage. Overall, the tests reveal that alcohol consumption is quite detrimental in general, no matter how it's consumed. Even the doctor was surprised at how bad moderate drinking was, considering it's within the U.K. guidelines for alcohol consumption. Whether or not a smaller amount of alcohol would have had a different effect is unknown, but there exists a wealth of data showing that alcohol can damage your body, including your brain. Daily Drinking Accelerates Brain AgingDrinking even 1 gram of alcohol daily is enough to accelerate aging in your brain, according to one of the largest studies ever conducted on brain aging and alcohol.12 Researchers from the University of Southern California examined 17,308 human brain scans from people between 45.2 years and 80.7 years old, revealing that each additional gram of alcohol consumption per day was associated with 0.02 years, or 7.5 days, of increased relative brain age (RBA), which is a measure of a person's brain age relative to their peers, based on whole-brain anatomical measurements. One gram of alcohol is equal to 0.035 ounces, and most people who drink alcohol are going to consume 1 ounce or more, which is equal to approximately 29 grams — an amount that would increase RBA by 0.58 years, or 211.5 days. It could be that daily, or almost daily, drinking is part of the problem, as the study did not find a significant difference in RBA among those who drank less frequently or abstained from drinking. A 2019 review published in Frontiers in Neuroscience also addressed the complex interplay between alcohol consumption and cognitive decline, noting that chronic alcohol abuse leads to "changes in neuronal structure caused by complex neuroadaptations in the brain."13 Does Alcohol Really Reduce Alzheimer's Risk?As mentioned earlier, heavy drinking may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's,14 but the featured study suggested that moderate drinking may decrease the condition. However, this was based on the finding that alcohol consumption reduction beta-amyloid in the brain. Whether or not this translates to a reduced risk of Alzheimer's is also controversial. With no known cure, researchers are scrambling to find Alzheimer's treatments, often with a misguided focus on drugs designed to remove excess beta-amyloid in the brain. Drug development for Alzheimer's has so far been a dismal failure, with 300 failed trials to date.15 Now, with experimental drugs failing to lead to improvements, researchers are asking if the focus on drugs to target and neutralize beta-amyloid in the brain is all wrong, and other potential targets should become the focus of future research.16 The reason why beta-amyloid drugs continue to fail to improve Alzheimer's disease, however, is because beta-amyloid is a symptom of Alzheimer's — not the cause. And when you consider this, then it's possible that moderate drinking may not actually reduce Alzheimer's risk just because it reduces beta-amyloid deposits. Alzheimer's has many causes, as discussed by Dr. Dale Bredesen, professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, and author of "The End of Alzheimer's: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline."17 Bredesen's ReCODE protocol evaluates 150 factors, including biochemistry, genetics and historical imaging, known to contribute to Alzheimer's disease. This identifies your disease subtype or combination of subtypes so an effective treatment protocol can be devised. An algorithm is used to determine a percentage for each subtype based on the variables evaluated, and an individualized treatment protocol is created. Exercise Is Important if You Drink AlcoholExercise is important for everyone, but if you consume alcohol getting physical activity may help to buffer some of alcohol's ill effects. According to a report published in the International Review of Neurobiology:18
Indeed, chronic drinkers who exercise regularly have less damaged white matter in their brains compared to those who rarely or never exercise.19 The white matter is considered the "wiring" of your brain's communication system and is known to decline in quality with age and heavy alcohol consumption. Even among chronic drinkers, those who got at least 2.5 hours a week of moderately intense exercise significantly reduced the biological impact of their drinking,20 including reducing some of the cancer and all-cause mortality risks associated with alcohol drinking.21 Should Moderate Alcohol Be Advised for Brain Health?Even though some research suggests moderate alcohol intake may have a protective effect on some measures of health, I do not recommend drinking alcohol, especially if your purpose is to obtain better health. There are many other foods and beverages you can consume that are linked to positive brain health but do not have the corresponding downside that alcohol does. Whole, healthy foods are best when it comes to protecting your brain, and this includes foods like animal-based omega-3 fats, cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens, pastured organic eggs and blueberries. As for beverages, organic coffee and tea consumption has shown some promise, and drinking one to two cups of coffee daily may lower your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, cognitive decline and cognitive impairment compared to drinking less than one cup.22 If you choose to drink alcohol, keep your consumption to moderate levels or less, and if you don't, do not feel compelled to start drinking to stay healthy — there are plenty of other ways to do that. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/19/does-alcohol-reduce-alzheimers-risk.aspx Prolonged stress can have life-threatening consequences not only for adults but also for children. Research shows adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can predispose them to any number of health problems later in life. In the early days of mankind’s evolution, the stress response saved our lives by enabling us to run from predators or take down prey. Today, however, such dire circumstances are few and far between, yet we still turn on the same “life-saving” reaction to cope with countless everyday situations. Constantly being in a stress response may have you marinating in corrosive hormones around the clock, which can raise your blood pressure, add fat to your belly, shrink your brain and even unravel your chromosomes.1 Stress disrupts your neuroendocrine and immune systems and appears to trigger a degenerative process in your brain that can result in Alzheimer’s disease. Stress can also accelerate aging by shortening your telomeres, the protective genetic structures that regulate how your cells age. In the words of Dr. Lissa Rankin, author of “Mind Over Medicine”:2
Childhood Stress and Mental HealthIn a March 2020 Newsweek article,3 Adam Piore discusses the work of Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, founder of a children’s medical clinical in one of San Francisco’s poorest neighborhoods. A surprisingly large portion of her young patients struggled with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the hallmarks of which include an inability to focus, impulsivity and abnormal restlessness. Many also had severe health problems and depression. Piore writes:
Alarmed by the obvious trend she was witnessing in her clinic, Harris began searching for answers in the medical literature. Was childhood trauma responsible for the poor state of health of so many of her young patients?
Adverse Childhood Experiences ScreeningIn 2020, California is allocating $105 million to promote screening for ACEs, which have been shown to trigger toxic stress responses and epigenetic changes linked to a variety of health problems. As reported by Piore, the biological switches flipped during ACEs increase a child’s risk for:5
What’s more, these stress-induced epigenetic changes can be passed on to future generations. Indeed, you will often find that childhood trauma “runs in families,” with each subsequent generation playing out the same interpersonal dramas as their parents. According to Harris, "The social determinants of health are to the 21st century, what infectious disease was to the 20th century."6 The ACE StudyMuch of what we now know about ACEs are the result of the 1998 ACE Study,7 which examined the relationship between childhood trauma and subsequent risky behaviors and diseases in adulthood. Categories of ACEs examined included:8,9
Of the 13,494 adults who received the questionnaire and had completed a standard medical evaluation, 70.5% responded. Of those, more than half reported experiencing at least one ACE; one-fourth reported two or more. Not only did they find a direct “dose-dependent” relationship between the number of ACEs and future health problems and risky behaviors, childhood trauma appeared to be an independent risk factor for leading causes of death. According to the authors:10
Origins of ACEsIn the June 2019 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, (full text is behind a paywall)11 Dr. Vincent J. Felitti commented on his 1998 ACE Study:
Upon investigation, 55% of 286 patients enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente weight loss study acknowledged sexual abuse — an absolutely staggering statistic Felitti could hardly believe at first. Many of these patients also spoke about other childhood traumas. Since these patients unconsciously used obesity as a defense mechanism, their weight loss efforts were often unsustainable, and they’d gain all the weight back. Since the publication of the 1998 ACE Study, Felitti and co-principal investigator Dr. Robert Anda have published more than 75 articles on its findings and other follow-up investigations. The Importance of Sharing and AcceptanceUnfortunately, while interest in ACEs has grown, there’s been a strong resistance to using the information in clinical medical practice. For example, there were fears that questions about ACEs might enrage patients or trigger suicide. However, when Felitti conducted an investigation, he found that when the ACE questions were included in an adult medical history intake, outpatient visits were actually reduced by 35% and emergency room visits declined by 11% in the subsequent year, compared to the year before the ACE questions were added. They also found there was no rise in referrals to psychotherapy, so the reduction was not due to more people seeking psychiatric help. What they eventually discovered was that the mere ability to talk about their ACEs had a tremendously beneficial effect. Felitti writes:12
Mind-Body ConnectionIn the two decades since the ACE Study came out, researchers have investigated the connection between childhood trauma and adult disease states from a variety of angles, looking for biological mechanisms to explain it. One proposed mechanism involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls stress reactions and regulates immune function, energy storage and expenditure, moods and emotions by way of hormones. A key hormone involved is cortisol, which plays a role in energy regulation. As explained by Piore:13
ACEs and Cortisol DysregulationInterestingly, researchers have discovered that different ACEs impact cortisol regulation in different ways. Children who experience severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse tend to have abnormally high cortisol levels first thing in the morning, while children experiencing severe neglect tend to have abnormally low morning levels. Low morning cortisol has been linked to delinquency and alcohol use, while high morning cortisol levels are associated with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Excessive amounts of cortisol also lower immune function, thus raising the risk of infection, and raises the risk of high blood pressure, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease. On the other hand, too little cortisol increases the risk of an inflammatory immune response and exaggerated inflammatory response to stress. “Sickness behavior” — lack of appetite, fatigue, social withdrawal, depressed mood, irritability and poor cognitive functioning — has also been shown to be related to insufficient cortisol, Piore reports. Genetics Also Play a RoleResearchers have also discovered that the presence of ACEs is in and of itself not enough to trigger toxic stress. Genetics also appear to play a role, as does interpersonal intervention. If someone is around to offer soothing reassurance, a sense of safety can be restored, allowing cortisol levels to normalize. The problem is that chronic abuse is typically because no one is intervening on the child’s behalf. “Adversity and stress without adequate buffering can turn on genes that flood the system with enzymes that prime the body to respond to further stress by making it easier to produce adrenaline and reactivate the fight-or-flight response quickly, which can make it harder for children with toxic stress to control their emotions,” Piore notes.14 Childhood Trauma Is a Significant Health RiskIn 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data from 144,017 individuals in 25 states, finding:15,16
Interventions to Combat the Stress ResponseThe good news is that as the role of ACEs and toxic stress is becoming more widely recognized, doctors can begin to address these issues, which is what Harris is pushing for in California. Caregivers of stressed or traumatized children also need to be educated on the importance of emotional and physical buffering. Piore writes:17
A 2017 paper18 in Health & Justice delineates further “action steps using ACEs and trauma-informed care” to improve patient resiliency without retraumatizing them. Resilience is the ability of your body to rapidly return to normal, physically and emotionally, after a stressful situation. One way to improve resilience is through breath work, as described in “Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Develop Greater Resiliency.” The Health & Justice paper19 also highlights the importance of incorporating neuroscience concepts to trauma-informed care programs and therapies, and stresses the use of a resilience-oriented approach in order to move “from trauma information to neuroscience-based action with practical skills to build greater capacity for self-regulation and self-care in both service providers and clients.” Problems and Challenges: ACE Score May Be MisleadingCalifornia’s Department of Health Care Services ACEs Aware Initiative kicked off January 1, 2020.20 Health care providers in the state are encouraged to screen patients for ACEs that might influence their health, and connecting patients in need with the appropriate interventions and resources. Some, however, including Anda, who helped develop the ACE score with Felitti, worry that the ACE score might not work well when applied to individual patients, as it does not take into account caregiver buffering and other factors that tend to be protective. Piore writes:21
While screening tools can indeed be misused and lead to inappropriate labeling, recognizing the influence of ACEs in public health is an important step forward. In coming years, we’re likely to see more advances in screening methods as well. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/19/adverse-childhood-experiences.aspx It may sometimes look like alphabet soup when scientists begin writing about perfluorinated chemicals, historically abbreviated PFC. Interestingly, the abbreviation PFC refers to two similar, yet distinctly different chemicals: perfluorinated chemicals and perfluorocarbons.1 Perfluorinated chemicals include perfluorocarbons and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, such as PFOA and PFOS. To reduce confusion, the EPA made the move to use “PFAS” to refer to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that describe chemicals in this group, including perfluorocarbons. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are closely related to PFASs, but these persistent chemicals have different effects. The EPA describes PFCs as “among the most potent and longest-lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities; the chief impact of environmental concern is global climate change.”2 PFAS is a large group of chemical compounds, sometimes referred to as "The Teflon Chemicals"3 or "forever chemicals."4 These are the chemicals that make products water-, oil-, grease- and stain-resistant; they also are found in firefighting foam. PFOS and PFOA are two PFAS chemicals that were voluntarily phased out by manufacturers DuPont and 3M — which also happens to sell fluoridated treatment products5 for teeth. A fluoride-awareness group, Fluoride Action Network (FAN) posted on their website that they began tracking these chemicals in 2000 “because of their use in several pesticides.”6 In the phase-out, the first PFOA was voluntarily removed by 3M under pressure from the EPA in 2002. DuPont agreed in 2005 to phase out PFOA by 2015.7 While they are no longer manufactured in the U.S., these are only two of many PFAS chemicals. On top of all this, the EPA reveals “phased out” doesn’t mean “not being used.”8 “There are some limited ongoing uses of PFOS (see 40 CFR §721.9582)” and “Existing stocks of PFOA might still be used and there might be PFOA in some imported articles,” the EPA says. EPA Investigating PFAS-Related PollutionIncreasingly, scientific data have demonstrated the lethal effects PFAS chemicals have on human health and the environment. This may have been one of the motivating factors for the EPA to launch criminal inquiries into the forever chemicals. The EPA PFAS Action Plan: Program Update9 of February 2020 reveals the "agency has multiple criminal investigations underway concerning PFAS-related pollution.” They write, "Since 2002, the agency has initiated 12 enforcement actions, including four since 2017." Earth & Water Law Group founder Brent Fewell is encouraged by the action, as noted in his comments to Bloomberg:10
But he also says less than half of the criminal cases the EPA investigates each year will be prosecuted. The chemicals were originally produced in the 1940s and scientists have been aware the chemicals could leach from packaging into food since the 1950s.11,12 When EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler spoke with Bloomberg Law, he said the agency was committed to addressing contamination but could not give details on an ongoing investigation. However, a 3M filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for fiscal year 2019 revealed they were at least one company that had received a subpoena.13
Clean Up Is Extensive and ExpensiveChemours is the company that emerged from the Dow Chemical and DuPont merger in 2015.14 The company was developed so Chemours would cover liabilities associated with cleanup of PFOA in the environment. Not long after the company was created, they sought a legal remedy to limit their liability, claiming DuPont’s estimates were “spectacularly wrong.” Litigation and inquiries against both companies allege “fraudulent transfer” in the spinoff.15 This also includes possible criminal investigation by:
The tangled web of lies and deceit began nearly 60 years ago, making it difficult to unwind in a court of law. However, after recognizing the damage these chemicals were wreaking on human and environmental health, it should have been apparent to manufacturers they could have developed safer alternatives while still enjoying prosperity. Don’t Be Fooled — Food Packaging Leaches ChemicalsIt’s unfortunate that many believe if a product is released on the market it must be safe. Regrettably, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, 33 scientists included 1,200 peer-reviewed studies in a consensus statement16 to plead with lawmakers "to take swift action to reduce exposure" to plastics in food packaging.17 Jane Muncke from the Food Packaging Forum, and one of the consensus contributors, commented to Food & Environment Reporting Network, expressing concern over the sheer volume of chemicals used in food packaging. Nearly 10 years ago that number was 6,000 authorized chemicals, “Now the latest number we’ve produced is almost 12,000. It just keeps growing and growing.”18 Pete Myers, founder of Environmental Health Services and publisher of Environmental Health News, was also a contributor to the statement. In an editorial on the consensus statement, he wrote:19
And concluded:
Mischaracterization: FDA Acceptance of Food Contact PlasticThe Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has written about the FDA process leading to the acceptance of plastics in contact with food and clarified a few misconceptions about the process to "help ensure the public and policy makers understand the shortcomings of FDA’s review and questions regarding the safety of PFAS in food packaging."20 Some of those mischaracterizations include:
It is apparent that manufacturers would like you to believe their products are safe when classified as GRAS, yet instead they are using legal loopholes to destroy human and environmental health. The list of health concerns associated with PFAS products is not small. They include multiple types of cancers such as breast, liver, ovarian, testicular, prostate and kidney, as well as Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.21,22 Cancer-Causing Mechanisms of PFAS ChemicalsThe association between cancer and PFAS chemicals is well established. These are some of the same chemicals found in drinking water in cities through the U.S., in foods and in people. In 2015,23 data from the 2007 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found 97% to 100% of serum samples taken contained PFAS chemicals PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and PFNA. The authors of a recent study24 undertook an analysis of 26 different PFASs to determine the mechanism these chemicals may use to trigger cancer growth in humans and animals. They used the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens framework to identify hazards. The researchers looked at how the chemicals may change DNA, affect the immune system, alter cellular communication, trigger inflammation and other factors. One of the toxicologists involved in the study commented on the carcinogenic nature: “We found that every single one of them exhibited at least one of the key characteristics.”25 PFOA and PFOS chemicals had the greatest number, with each chemical exhibiting up to five characteristics that may trigger cancer. Chemical substitutions are also likely not safe. DuPont introduced GenX as a replacement for PFOA in Teflon in 2009 and it has since tested positive to affect hormone activity.26 The EPA has also classified GenX as "having suggestive evidence of carcinogenic potential."27 How to Avoid PFAS ChemicalsIn May 2015, more than 200 scientists from 40 countries signed another consensus statement, called the Madrid Statement on PFAS. This warned about the potential harmful effects of the chemicals, including associations with liver toxicity, adverse neurobehavioral effects, hypothyroidism and obesity. The scientists recommended avoiding any and all products containing PFAS. You may find additional helpful tips in the Environmental Working Group's "Guide to Avoiding PFCS."28 Here are several items to avoid that I’ve suggested in the past:
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/18/pfas-chemical-producers-under-criminal-investigation.aspx As plastic pollution has become a more well-recognized problem, public awareness about the need for recycling has grown as well. The question is whether or not recycling is a viable answer. Growing evidence suggests plastic recycling efforts can have only a minor impact even under the best of circumstances. As reported by The Guardian:1
Increasing recycling may sound like the answer, but as Jim Puckett, executive director of the Basel Action Network, tells Tim Dickinson of Rolling Stone magazine,2 “When you drill down into plastics recycling, you realize it’s a myth.”
Companies Sued for Creating Plastic PollutionAs reported by The Guardian,4 Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit against 10 major companies at the end of February 2020, in an effort to force them to take responsibility and pay for the environmental and ecological destruction their products are causing. According to Environmental Health News,5 “Two-thirds of all plastic ever produced remains in the environment,” which helps explain why tap water, bottled water,6 sea salt7 and a variety of seafood8 all come with a “side order” of microplastic. At the rate we’re going, plastic will outweigh fish in our oceans by 2050.9,10 Already, plastic outweighs phytoplankton 6-to-1, and zooplankton 50-to-1,11 and more than half of the plastic currently inundating every corner of the globe was created in the last 18 years alone.12 With plastic pollution estimated to double in the next decade,13 it’s quite clear we’re traveling full speed ahead on an unsustainable path. The companies named in the suit — Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestlé, Clorox, Crystal Geyser, Mars, Danone, Mondelēz International, Colgate-Palmolive and Procter & Gamble — were identified as the top producers of the plastic debris collected during a worldwide audit in 2019, in which 72,000 Break Free From Plastic volunteers picked up beach trash. These companies, Earth Island Institute says, rely on single-use packaging that never gets recycled and ends up as environmental litter instead. The lawsuit also demands an end to advertising claiming these kinds of single-use products are recyclable, since a vast majority never are. David Phillips, executive director of Earth Island Institute, tells The Guardian:14
Landfills Clogged With Recycled PlasticA little-known problem that contributes to the misperception that plastic is being properly recycled — provided you put it in your recycling bin — is the fact that many recycling facilities cannot process mixed plastics, even though many mixed plastic products are marked and marketed as being recyclable. A 2020 Greenpeace survey of hundreds of U.S. recycling facilities reveal none were able to process coffee pods, for example, and each pod may take up to 500 years to degrade naturally.15 “Fewer than 15% accepted plastic clamshells … and only a tiny percentage took plates, cups, bags and trays,” The Guardian reports.16 Rather than getting better, U.S. recycling efforts are faltering since China stopped accepting plastic waste for recycling in 2018. With infrastructure lacking, much of the plastic being collected for recycling is simply sent to landfills. John Hocevar, director of Greenpeace’s Oceans Campaign tells The Guardian:
Based on its findings, Greenpeace is considering filing federal complaints against companies that “mislead the public about the recyclability of their packaging,” as such claims violate the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides that state “marketers must ensure that all reasonable interpretations of their claims are truthful, not misleading and supported by a reasonable basis.” Being more transparent about the recyclability of plastics would also save municipalities lots of money. According to The Guardian,17 Berkeley, California, alone spends $50,000 a year “attempting to recycle material that largely isn’t recyclable.” So, rather than making a profit, recycling facilities end up subsidizing brands that falsely claim their products are recyclable when in fact they aren’t. Shocking Amount of Plastic Ingested Over a LifetimeThe plastic pollution extends to our own bodies. According to a study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund and carried out by University of Newcastle, Australia, people consume, on average, 5 grams of plastic per week.18 Based on an average human life span of 79 years, the average person will consume 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of plastic, which equates to about two recycling bins’ worth. While seafood may sound like a logical source of most of this plastic, data reveal that drinking water is actually the primary source. Investigators have found plastic particles in all water sources, including groundwater, surface water, tap water and bottled water19 throughout the world. In the U.S., 94.4% of tap water samples have been shown to contain plastic fibers, as have 82.4% of tap water samples from India and 72.2% of those from Europe.20 Research21 has also shown we inhale microscopic particles of plastic each day. Plastic particles identified in indoor air include synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyethylene and nylon, and nonsynthetic particles composed of protein and cellulose.22 As in the environment, plastic does not break down in the human body, and many of the chemicals used in the manufacture of plastics are known to disrupt embryonic development, dysregulate hormones and gene expression, and cause organ damage. They also have been linked to obesity, heart disease and cancer. So, while researchers claim the health effects of all this plastic in our diet are still unknown, it seems logical to suspect it can wreak havoc on public health, especially younger people who are exposed right from birth. As Pete Myers, Ph.D., founder and chief scientist of the nonprofit Environmental Health Sciences and an adjunct professor of chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University told Consumer Reports, “There cannot be no effect.”23 Coca-Cola Accused of Undermining Recycling EffortsOf the 10 companies named in the Earth Island Institute’s lawsuit, Coca-Cola is responsible for the creation of more plastic trash worldwide than the next three top polluters — Nestlé, PepsiCo and Mondelēz International — combined.24,25 And, while Coca-Cola claims it is “working to … help turn off the tap in terms of plastic waste” and that it is “investing locally in every market to increase recovery of our bottles and cans,”26 evidence suggests the company has in fact been undermining recycling efforts by lobbying against so-called “bottle bills” or deposit laws that require companies to add a deposit charge to their bottled beverages that is then refunded when the bottle is returned for recycling.27 As reported by The Intercept:28
However, these kinds of bills also place a portion of the responsibility and cost of recycling on the companies selling the bottles which, undoubtedly, is why Coca-Cola and other beverage makers keep fighting against them whenever they come up. Coca-Cola also doesn’t appear to be sincere in its promises to “turn off the tap” of plastic waste, considering it uses virgin plastic (so-called nurdles, which are a key plastic pollutant) to make bottles rather than using recycled materials. The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020Lawsuits are not the only route being taken to rein in plastic pollution at its source. As reported by Rolling Stone,30 New Mexico Senator Tom Udall has introduced new legislation — the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 — which would hold companies that profit from plastic accountable for the pollution they create. Aside from banning certain single-use plastic items, the bill would require companies selling plastic products to finance “end of life” programs to ensure the plastic doesn’t end up polluting the environment. The bill stands like David against Goliath, considering the plastic industry involves not only global food and beverage companies but also Big Oil and the tobacco industry. All of these industries have deep pockets and are notorious for their extensive lobbying and PR expertise. As just one example, Rolling Stone highlights the industry-funded nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, which in the early 1970s aired public-service announcements decrying littering. “People start pollution. People can stop it,” the ads said. Little did the public realize that this was simply a clever way to shift the blame of mounting plastic pollution onto consumers. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Keep America Beautiful fought to prevent bans on single-use packaging. As noted by Rolling Stone, Big Oil plays a significant yet largely hidden role in all of this. As countries around the world are weaning its citizens off gas powered transportation, oil companies are homing in on the plastic industry for its continued growth. Hopefully, the bill will receive the support it needs despite the inevitable industry pressure to kill it. At present, plastic pollution carries a societal price tag of $139 billion a year. By 2025, it’s expected to be around $209 billion.31 By forcing companies to solve the pollution problems their products produce, and pay for the implementation of those solutions, they just might rethink their unwillingness to switch to materials that are recyclable not just once but repeatedly, such as glass or aluminum. We as consumers can also incentivize such changes by minimizing our day-to-day use of plastic items of all kinds. Reduce Your Dependency on PlasticIt can be extraordinarily difficult to avoid plastic, considering most food and consumer goods are enshrined in plastic packaging. However, you can certainly minimize your dependency on these products. For example, consider:
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/03/18/plastic-recycling-scam.aspx |
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