Anxiety disorders represent the most common mental illness in the U.S., with 40 million U.S. adults affected.1 Meanwhile, one-third of U.S. adults usually do not get enough sleep2 — a factor that can make mental health, including anxiety, worse. It may seem overly simplistic, or even cliché, to suggest that getting proper sleep could help relieve the sometimes-debilitating effects of anxiety, but research continues to show that the connection is not only relevant but significant. In fact, if you struggle with anxiety, tending to your sleep should be a primary part of your treatment plan. 'Overanxious and Underslept' — Poor Sleep Affects AnxietyWriting in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, researchers with the University of California (UC), Berkeley, delved into the connections between sleep and anxiety, finding many strong links. In their study, "Overanxious and Underslept," it's noted:3
For the first part of the study, brain scans were conducted on 18 young adults as they watched emotional videos, both after a good night's rest and a sleepless night. Questionnaires were used to gauge anxiety levels in the study participants, while the brain scans revealed that lack of sleep dampened activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain area known to help quell anxiety, and amped up emotional centers.4 Meanwhile, those who slept well demonstrated notable declines in anxiety, with slow wave nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep appearing particularly beneficial. It's during slow-wave NREM deep sleep that neural oscillations become synchronized and heart rate and blood pressure drop. "Deep sleep had restored the brain's prefrontal mechanism that regulates our emotions, lowering emotional and physiological reactivity and preventing the escalation of anxiety," Eti Ben Simon, the study's lead author, said in a news release.5 The results were confirmed in a second set of experiments involving another 30 people, and an online survey of 280 people, which asked questions about sleep and anxiety levels over a period of four consecutive days, and further revealed that even minor sleep disruptions could affect anxiety. "Of societal relevance," the researchers wrote, "we establish that even modest night-to-night reductions in sleep across the population predict consequential day-to-day increases in anxiety."6 Deep Sleep Inhibits AnxietyIf you've ever had a poor night's rest, you're probably familiar with the heightened emotional state it can contribute to the following day. The featured study revealed one reason for this may be due to the anxiety-relieving effects of deep sleep. Speaking with UC Berkeley News, senior study author Matthew Walker, a UC Berkeley professor of neuroscience and psychology, explained:7
Lack of sleep could increase anxiety levels by up to 30%, the study found, with Walker noting, "Without sleep, it's almost as if the brain is too heavy on the emotional accelerator pedal, without enough brake."8 If you regularly feel emotionally off-kilter, too little sleep could be to blame. In a separate study, Walker and colleagues revealed that sleep deprivation fuels feelings of loneliness, for instance.9 In short, the more sleep-deprived you are, the less social you become, and others pick up on this largely subconscious cue to be left alone, essentially turning people into "social lepers" and fueling an epidemic of loneliness, as Walker put it.10 Lack of Sleep Can Make You RudeA short temper and unwanted behaviors such as rudeness can also be the result of a poor night's rest. Research conducted by Laura M. Giurge from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University in the Netherlands, found that even one night of too little sleep may lead to unwanted behavior at work the next day.11 Giurge conducted the study by sending out text messages to employees, who rated their sleep quality and reported on unwanted behaviors at work, such as acting rude toward co-workers, going home early without notifying their boss or taking a longer lunch break than allowed. Sleep quality was found to influence behavior at work the next day, especially in people with a low "moral identity." These people put less value on moral traits like fairness and kindness overall, and were also more likely to engage in unwanted behaviors at work after a night of poor sleep. " … [D]isplay of unwanted behavior is not a fixed character trait," said Giurge, adding that such behaviors can vary from day to day. Poor sleep may make it harder for people to stop engaging in such behaviors, as well as to overcome feelings of failure when displaying the undesirable behaviors. In turn, Giurge said, "This can lead into a possibly destructive cycle."12 It could be that poor sleep lessens a person's self-control, which in turn increases the rate of selfish impulses leading to unwanted behaviors — even workplace theft.13 According to the Rotterdam School of Management, employees' "misbehaving" at work adds up to the tune of $200 billion a year in the U.S. alone.14 Sleeplessness May Shorten Your LifeIn the video above, you can view Walker, who also wrote the book "Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams," share reasons why lack of sleep is easily one of the greatest public health challenges, one that is causing premature death and disability. I read Walker's book and strongly agree that sleep is profoundly important — perhaps even more so than diet and exercise. There are practical consequences to too little sleep, such as an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents and falls, and sleeplessness has also been shown to contribute to chronic illnesses such as dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. As for its effects on your brain, lack of sleep heightens anxiety and may contribute to depression. It's also known to affect areas of the brain involved with concentration and problem-solving, making them sluggish.15 Further, in one animal study, sleep-deprived mice lost neurons located in their locus coeruleus, a nucleus in the brainstem associated with wakefulness and cognitive processes.16 The research also showed that "catching up" on sleep on the weekend will not prevent this damage. In the video, Walker further highlighted sleep's connections to mental health, stating, "We are now finding significant links between sleep disruption and depression, anxiety (including post-traumatic stress disorder), schizophrenia and, tragically, suicide as well. In fact, we cannot find a single psychiatric condition in which [the subject's] sleep is normal." He also cites the following brain-related effects from lack of sleep:
Sleeping Your Way to Better Mental HealthMaking sleep a priority is the first step to better mental health. It's truly a necessity, not a luxury, and if you struggle with anxiety, sleeping for a solid eight hours or so could make a major difference in your quality of life. If racing thoughts are problematic and you find yourself in bed unable to shut them off, try keeping a journal nearby and writing down the thoughts as they come. Paying attention to sleep hygiene — items like darkness and proper temperature in your bedroom and shutting off electronics early — is also important. For instance, avoiding exposure to blue light, including LEDs, after sunset can help you get a good night's rest and is easily achievable by wearing blue-blocking glasses after sunset. If you need help improving your sleep hygiene, check out my "33 Secrets to a Good Night's Sleep" for tips to help you fall asleep and stay asleep all night. In the short term, natural sleep remedies, such as melatonin, valerian root, chamomile, cannabidiol (CBD) oil and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) can also be helpful. However, stay away from prescription sleep aids including benzodiazepines (Valium, Ativan) and "Z-drugs" (Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta), which are associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, one of the most serious fall injuries, in older adults17 along with other health risks. Got Anxiety? Natural Strategies May HelpWhile sleep is emerging as an essential tool in the fight against anxiety, it's only one component of a comprehensive treatment plan. There are many natural strategies that can help, including lavender aromatherapy, which has a calming effect. "Several animal and human investigations suggest anxiolytic [anxiety reducing], mood stabilizer, sedative, analgesic and anticonvulsive and neuroprotective properties for lavender," researchers explained.18 What's more, lavender is also an effective sleep aid. One study showed orally administered lavender oil is effective in the treatment of subsyndromal (or preclinical) anxiety disorder, improving sleep quality and duration along with general mental and physical health, without causing any unwanted sedative or other side effects, making it doubly useful.19 Anxiety is a normal response to stress, but in some people the anxiety becomes overwhelming and difficult to cope with, to the point that it affects their day-to-day living. Another strategy for dealing with this is to reframe anxiety as excitement — an emotion that's not that different from anxiety, although it's generally regarded as a positive emotion instead of a negative one, like anxiety. Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks conducted a series of experiments in 2014 to evaluate reappraising anxiety as excitement, writing in the Journal of Experimental Psychology:20
Using a combination of natural tools, along with tending to your body's sleep needs, may resolve anxiety for many people. However, if your anxiety is so severe that it's interfering with your daily life, speak with a holistic health care provider who can help you develop a comprehensive plan for healing. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/21/poor-sleep-affects-anxiety.aspx
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging study that allows your physician to see detailed pictures of your organs and tissues. The MRI machine uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to take detailed cross-sectional pictures of your internal organs and tissues.1 The scanner looks like a tube with a table that enables you to slide into the tunnel of the machine to gather data. Unlike CT scans or X-rays that use ionizing radiation known to damage DNA, the MRI uses magnetic fields. Images from an MRI give physicians better information about abnormalities, tumors, cysts and specific organ problems with your heart, liver, uterus, kidneys and other organs. In some instances, your physician may want an enhanced MRI, one using a contrast agent or dye to improve the clarity of the images produced. According to a recent international poll,2 a majority of radiologists avoid informing patients when deposits of toxic contrast agents are discovered. FDA Guidance on GadoliniumGadolinium is the contrast agent of choice in about one-third of cases.3 It's injected into your body, allowing for greater detail to show up in the MRI images. There's a price for this, however, as gadolinium is a highly toxic heavy metal. To reduce its toxicity, the gadolinium is administered with a chelating agent.4 However, research suggests as much as 25% of the gadolinium injected in certain patients is not excreted,5,6 and deposits are still found in some patients long afterward. In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began investigating the potential health effects from brain deposits of gadolinium, and released guidelines7 on the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) to lower any potential risk. Two years later, the agency issued an update8 saying "Gadolinium retention has not been directly linked to adverse health effects in patients with normal kidney function," and that the benefits of GBCAs outweigh potential risks. Still, the agency required a new class warning and certain safety measures to be implemented. In its December 19, 2017, safety announcement, the FDA stated:9
Patients Responsible for Requesting Medication GuideHowever, while MRI centers are required to provide the gadolinium medication guide to all first-time patients scheduled for an enhanced MRI, hospital inpatients are not required to receive the guide unless the patient specifically requests it. A rather disconcerting detail mentioned in the FDA's May 16, 2018, update is that:10
In other words, if they think you might say no to the procedure because you're worried about heavy metal toxicity, the health professional is allowed to simply withhold the safety information. Only if you specifically ask for it must that guide be provided to you. While the FDA decided not to restrict the use of any GBCAs, the European Medicines Agency's Pharmacovigilance and Risk Assessment Committee has recommended suspending the use of four linear gadolinium contrast agents shown to be less stable (and therefore more likely to accumulate in the brain and cause issues in those with kidney problems) than macrocyclic GBCAs.11 Most Radiologists Hide Findings of Gadolinium DepositsAn equally disturbing finding12 is that 58% of radiologists hide findings of gadolinium deposits from patients when they're found on scans. As reported by Health Imaging,13 the most commonly cited justification for omitting any mention of gadolinium deposits in their radiology report was to avoid provoking "unnecessary patient anxiety." However, this also prevents patients from taking action to protect their health, which could be really important if they're experiencing effects of gadolinium toxicity and haven't put 2 and 2 together yet. To date, the greatest danger of GBCA has been thought to be relegated to those with severe kidney disease, in whom GBCA exposure has been linked to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF),14 a debilitating disease involving progressive tissue fibrosis involving skin and subcutaneous tissues.15 To avoid this, those with kidney disease need to receive more stable forms of chelate with the gadolinium.16 However, the fact that gadolinium can accumulate in the brain (and throughout your body) even if you do not have kidney problems could have significant, hitherto unrecognized, dangers. For example, use of GBCAs has been linked to hypersensitivity in two brain regions (the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus),17 the consequences of which are still unknown. Hyperintensity in the dentate nucleus has previously been linked to multiple sclerosis, and according to more recent research, this hyperintensity may actually be the result of the large number of enhanced MRI scans MS patients tend to receive.18 Hyperintensity of the globus pallidus, meanwhile, has been linked to liver dysfunction. Researchers Propose New Gadolinium Disease CategoryIn the 2016 paper,19 "Gadolinium in Humans: A Family of Disorders," the researchers actually propose that GBCA deposits in the body should be viewed as a new disease category. They write:
The researchers go on to note other common signs and symptoms of "gadolinium deposition disease," such as persistent headache, bone, joint, tendon and ligament pain (often described as sharp pins and needles, cutting or burning), tightness in the hands and feet, brain fog and soft-tissue thickening that "clinically appears somewhat spongy or rubbery without the hardness and redness observed in NSF." Lawsuit Highlights Gadolinium Dangers"Gadolinium deposition disease" is what Chuck Norris' wife Gena claims to have developed after undergoing three contrast-enhanced MRIs in a single week to evaluate her rheumatoid arthritis. The study cited above is part of the evidence included in the Norris' lawsuit20,21 (filed in November 2017) against several manufacturers and distributors of GBCAs. According to the lawsuit, the risks of gadolinium were known, yet patients are not warned. Gena's symptoms began with a burning sensation in her skin. In a 2017 Full Measure interview, she described it as if there was acid burning her skin, slowly covering her body.22 Mental confusion, muscle spasms, kidney damage and muscle wasting followed. She visited the emergency room several nights in a row, where doctors ran tests for ALS, MS, cancer and Parkinson's disease. The couple's attorney, Todd Walburg, told CBS News,23 "We have clients who have been misdiagnosed with Lyme disease, ALS, and then they've eventually ruled all those things out and the culprit remaining is the gadolinium." In fact, it was Gena who made the connection between her symptoms and the MRIs she had undergone. She told Full Measure:24
The Norrises claim they've spent nearly $2 million on efforts to restore Gena's health, with little progress. Even chelation therapy has had limited success.25 Heavy Metal Toxicity Is a Common Modern HazardHeavy metals are widely distributed throughout the environment from industrial, agricultural, medical and technical pollution. Heavy metal toxicity has documented potential for serious health consequences, including kidney, neurological, cardiovascular, skeletal and endocrine damage. Heavy metals most commonly associated with poisoning are arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium, which are also the heavy metals most commonly found in environmental pollution. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning vary based on the organ systems affected. Scientists have found that heavy metals also increase oxidative stress secondary to free radical formation.26 Testing for heavy metal toxicity includes blood, urine and hair and nail analysis for cumulative exposure. Detoxification can be difficult, and needs to be done with proper care. I've written several articles about this. More information can be found in "The Three Pillars of Heavy Metal Detoxification" and "The Walsh Detoxification Program." Carefully Consider Your Need for Contrast MRIThe key take-home message here is to avoid using MRI scans with contrast unless absolutely necessary. Many times, physicians will order these tests just to be complete and cover themselves from a legal perspective. If that is your case, then simply refuse to have the test done with contrast. If necessary, consult with other physicians that can provide you with a different perspective. This is particularly important if you have a condition such as MS in which multiple MRIs are done. Also remember that multiple MRIs with contrast will be particularly dangerous the closer they're done together. If You Need an MRI, It Pays to Shop AroundWhile I always recommend being judicious in your use of medical diagnostic procedures, there are times when it is appropriate and useful for you to have a certain test. What many don't realize is that the fees for these procedures can vary tremendously, depending on where they are performed. Hospitals tend to be the most expensive option for diagnostics and outpatient procedures, sometimes by an enormous margin. Freestanding diagnostic centers are alternative places to obtain services such as lab studies, X-rays and MRIs, often at a fraction of the cost charged by hospitals. Private imaging centers are not affiliated with any particular hospital and are typically open for Monday through Friday business hours, as opposed to hospital radiology centers that require round-the-clock staffing. Hospitals often charge higher fees for their services to offset the costs of their 24/7 operations. Hospitals also may charge exorbitant fees for high-tech diagnostics, like MRIs, to subsidize other poorly reimbursed services. And, hospitals are allowed to charge Medicare and other third-party insurers a "facility fee," leading to even more price inflation. So, if you do find that you need an MRI, don't be afraid to shop around. With a few phone calls to diagnostic centers in your area, you could save up to 85% over what a hospital would charge for the same service. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/20/mri-contrast-gadolinium.aspx A fishery is an organized means of catching fish, an activity otherwise known as fishing. This is different from fish farms, also known as aquaculture. On fish farms, the fish are commercially raised in enclosures for food, while a fishery is organized fishing for wild fish. Farmed fish are some of the most toxic foods; this is especially true for farmed salmon, according to one study. Researchers found that farmed salmon tested five times more toxic than other food products. Farmed salmon contain half the omega-3 of wild salmon and are often fed a genetically modified diet. Many are given antibiotics and exposed to pesticides and other toxins to offset the unsanitary conditions in which they live. Although farmed fish are exposed to purposely applied pesticides, fisheries in Japan have experienced a significant decline in fish and eel populations after neonicotinoids were sprayed in adjacent fields. Also known as neonics, this is a relatively new classification of insecticide that is water soluble and operates systemically. This means the plants absorb the pesticide. The toxin in neonics operates on the central nervous system of the insects, causing death or impairing the ability to forage in pollinators. The idea was to create a defense mechanism for the plant so insects feeding on them would die before they did significant damage to the crops. Fish Starved When Their Food Source Affected by NeonicsThis widely used type of pesticide has now been associated with a declining harvest from Lake Shinji in Japan. Once a thriving fishery, researchers have found annual catches of smelt have fallen by 90% in the 10 years after the introduction of the pesticide to the surrounding fields.1 The study,2 published in Science, showed there was an immediate decline in the number of insects and plankton in the lake after neonics were used in adjoining rice paddies. This was rapidly followed by a collapse of the smelt and eel populations that rely on the insects and plankton for food. The populations of smelt and eel had been stable for several decades, and while the analysis shows a strong correlation, the study was not designed to prove a causal link. Damage to pollinators by neonics has been well-documented. The die-off to freshwater species has been studied more heavily in Europe, where data have linked the toxin to a collapse in the population of dragonflies, snails and mayflies associated with a decline in populations of birds feeding on those insects. Other groups were recording the salt and pollution content in the lake, but the scientists didn't believe the reduction in the fish population was coinciding with those results. Masumi Yamamuro is a scientist with the Geological Survey of Japan and lead author on the study who investigated the cause of the decimation to the fish population.3 The researchers noticed one fish population had not declined and they determined the species had a more diverse diet and could survive on algae, not affected by insecticides. As the food sources for smelt and eel food were vanishing, the fish were dying as well. One Chemical Has a Complicated Effect on the EcosystemPurdue University ecologist Jason Hoverman, who was not involved in the study, commented on the interrelationship of ecosystems often overlooked by agrochemical companies and big business. He said to NPR reporter Dan Charles:4
In 1962, Rachel Carson predicted the decline of the insect population, which she foretold would touch every living ecosystem on the earth. She was a celebrated biologist, ecologist and writer who called for responsible action to steward the Earth's resources. She warned the federal government was part of the problem that could lead to environmental failure. Events predicted in her book have since come to pass in the last few decades. The Japanese researchers quoted Carson's "Silent Spring":5
Matt Shardlow6 is a conservationist, author and CEO of Buglife, the only organization in Europe dedicated to saving invertebrates. The organization works to save bug habitats from destruction and to improve freshwater ecosystems. He commented to the Guardian on the results of this study:7
Vanishing Insect Population Affects Human Food SupplyIn speaking with NPR Hoverman raised more specific questions about the cause of the problems:8
Other scientists studying the effects have acknowledged how these killer chemicals have damaged the environment, both immediately after application and years later. Yamamuro writes in the study,9 "This disruption likely also occurs elsewhere, as neonicotinoids are currently the most widely used class of insecticides globally." If you remember going on a road trip as a child, you likely have a memory of bugs being smashed on your windshield. If you think about it for a minute, you may realize it's been awhile since your windshield was covered with insects. This has been called the "windshield phenomenon" by entomologists and is an ominous warning of the decline in insect species. In one study evaluating the total flying insect biomass over 27 years in 63 protected areas in Germany, researchers discovered there had been a 76% decline. These reductions happened regardless of the type of habitat and were not explained solely by changes in weather, land use or habitat characteristics. The researchers cautioned the loss of diversity and abundance could provoke a cascading effect on food ecosystems and the ramifications should not be taken lightly. Experts estimate 80% of wild plants depend on insects for pollination, 60% of birds depend on them for food and ecosystem services in the U.S. estimate their worth at $57 billion annually. A study by researchers from the University of Nevada followed 67 butterfly species over 20 years in four locations. They discovered a significant reduction in the butterfly population was closely linked to the increased use of neonicotinoids. Neonics Have High Risk and Little RewardOne study found agricultural lands in the U.S. are now 48 times more toxic than they were a short 25 years ago. The researchers found synthetic insecticide use shifted from organophosphorus pesticide to a mix of neonicotinoids and pyrethroids. The number of crops treated with neonicotinoids has risen precipitously and seed suppliers have doubled the amount of insecticide applied to each seed. In the 1990s, only 35% of U.S. corn and 5% of soybean acres were treated with neonicotinoids. At that level of application, the pest population was not damaging enough to crops to cause economic harm, suggesting that treating hundreds of millions of acres is not necessary. Despite years of evidence that neonics have a damaging effect on the environment with long-term damage on humanity, the use of this class of insecticide has continued. To compound the problem, farmers are not experiencing great benefits from the practice. The investigators of one study compared results of farmers using regenerative practices to those who were using current monoculture methods. They discovered regenerative fields had a 29% lower production, but a 78% higher profit. In their review of pest management, they found corn fields treated with insecticides had 10 times more pests than those of regenerative farms. Reduce Pesticide Use and Support Regenerative FarmsOne key to reducing damage to the environment, wildlife and ultimately human health is to reduce the use of pesticides. Although the application is so commonplace it may seem necessary, researchers have demonstrated that pesticides can be cut without harming yields. The results from some studies suggest reducing pesticide use may reduce crop losses since neonic coated seeds injure useful insects that help kill other pests naturally. Ecologically-based farming practices to help kill soybean aphids could save farmers in four states from hundreds of millions in losses each year. Despite these findings, farmers are inundated with neonic-treated seeds and have limited ability to avoid them. Regenerative farming improves the biodiversity of the soil. It does not harm the environment and it ultimately increases the farmers' net profits, allowing them to continue providing food for the world and supporting their families. Regenerative practices rebuild the topsoil, protect water sources, protect the insect population and offer you optimal nutrition. If you're not able to grow your own food, choose fresh, organic produce from local growers and seek out farmers who provide organic, grass fed beef, poultry and dairy products. Certifications indicating farmers are using regenerative principles include Demeter biodynamic certification and American Grassfed Association (AGA) certification. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/20/pesticides-cause-fishery-collapse.aspx A study found that in urban homes, where the use of cleaning products is usually more prevalent than in rural homes, fungal diversity was higher, not lower as might be expected. The study, "Home Chemical and Microbial Transitions Across Urbanization," was published in the journal Nature Microbiology.1 Researchers investigated and compared the chemical and microbial conditions of urban and rural homes in the Amazon basin and of the people who lived in them. The dwellings ranged from a rainforest village with thatched huts that had no walls to a Peruvian rural town with wooden houses but no indoor plumbing, to a more populous Peruvian city of 400,000 with more modern appurtenances, to the high-rise dotted metropolis of Manaus, Brazil.2 What the researchers found from the wide cross section of urban and rural living was surprising:
Cleaning Products May Be Encouraging FungiMany people are aware of the serious dangers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are caused by excessive antibiotic usage. But do fungi also become resistant to cleaning products and chemicals as the study suggests? Fungal resistance to cleaning products and chemicals is only one explanation the researchers postulate in the study, but the substances are major suspects. The researchers also question whether the fungi are flourishing because of the warmer temperatures typically found in urban homes and from other factors more likely to be found in urban homes than less developed housing, like reduced air exchange and lower levels of natural light. There is even another facet to urbanization that could be at play in the increased fungal presence, says Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello, a professor in the biochemistry and microbiology department and the anthropology department at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and senior author of the Nature Microbiology research. Modern living shuts us inside with industrial compounds and higher carbon dioxide levels, she says.4 It is not surprising that being cut off from the healing properties of nature can have negative health consequences. The documentary, “Call of the Forest — The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees,” revealed how forest bathing produces positive psychological and physiological effects and trees boost the immune system by emitting specific and healthy compounds. Similarly, in the documentary “Down to Earth,” grounding or earthing, in which foot contact is made with the Earth without shoes, is found to neutralize free radicals in the body through access to the negatively charged electrons in soil. Grounding is also said to reduce the unwanted voltage humans can receive from electromagnetic fields that are ubiquitous in developed countries. Urbanization Includes Many Harmful FactorsAs would be expected, the researchers found molecules from medications and cleaning agents in urban homes but not in the rural or rainforest homes. And researchers made another fascinating discovery: In rural or rainforest homes, there was a greater variety of bacteria and fungi that live outdoors and fewer that colonize the human body and are harmful. A study in Science Advances confirms the presence of desirable microbes in the gut microbiomes of those living in isolated areas and less touched by urbanization, but surprisingly also points out the existence of antibiotic resistance genes:5
A decline in the richness of humans' microbiomes may be linked to the increase of immunological and metabolic diseases such as asthma, allergies, diabetes and obesity in recent years, points out Dominguez-Bello.6 Even autism is associated with urbanization, which in turn is linked to a loss of microbiome diversity.7 Western Medications Deplete Beneficial BacteriaThe repeated use of antibiotics, seen in urban environments and seldom in rainforest and rural environments, may raise the risk for Type 2 diabetes by altering gut bacteria, write researchers in the European Journal of Endocrinology:8
There are other gut microbiome risks from urbanization. Pesticides, processed food and Caesarean sections may also contribute to the dramatic decline in the richness of the human gut microbiome. These factors are seldom seen in less developed cultures but abound in urban environments. In fact, one study even suggests that sophisticated sanitation and sewage systems, the hallmark of developed cultures, may be a factor in destroying microbial diversity, perhaps more consequentially than antibiotics.9 Human Fungal Infections Are IncreasingIn the last few decades, fungal infections have increased, mostly because of the growing population of immunocompromised individuals undergoing intensive chemotherapy and those with HIV.10 One fungal disease, Cryptococcosis, has become strongly associated with immunocompromised HIV patients.11 But in 1999, a different species of fungus called Cryptococcus gattii or C. gatti surfaced and it was not linked to HIV patients. Previously a tropical disease, C. gattii began to infect healthy individuals across the Pacific Northwest, leading doctors to wonder if environmental change could increase the domain of some fungal pathogens.12 Then in 2009, Candida auris, a deadly yeast fungus no one had ever encountered, emerged. First described in a Japanese patient with an ear infection, it has since become a rapidly spreading pathogen, especially ominous because it is often multidrug-resistant.13 C. auris mostly affects those who are already seriously ill and kills one-third of those it infects.14 Its multidrug-resistance means hospitals have a difficult time eradicating it.15 The origin and spread of C. auris is unprecedented, says NBC News:16
What is especially odd, says NBC News, is that fungi normally gravitate toward the coolest parts of the human body like feet and nail beds. In the past, fungi didn't cause internal infections because they can't survive the body's warmer temperatures, which hover around 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, this may be changing.17 Fungicides May Be a Factor in the Fungal BoomThe emergence of aggressive, drug-resistant fungi could also stem from fungicides used agriculturally. The chemicals are widely used in farming. Mother Jones states:18
The wide use of chemicals with one specific means of killing fungi in agriculture, known as single-target-site fungicides, could morph into more drug-resistant fungal infections in humans, say experts.19 In Europe, the Americas and Asia, drug-resistant strains of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus have also been found. Since drug-resistant Aspergillosis has even been identified in patients who have never been treated with antifungals, environmental sources are suspected.20 Spread of Fungal Infections Is an Environmental Red FlagThe spread of fungal infections raises many questions. The discovery of a greater incidence of fungi in urban areas suggests that the pathogens may be becoming resistant to cleaning products or even opportunistically replacing bacteria that have been eliminated since, as they say, "nature abhors a vacuum." The preponderance of the urban-located fungi also highlights the unhealthy aspects of urban living. Major questions also exist about environmental change and the use of agricultural fungicides, both of which could be causing or contributing to fungal resistance. The phenomenon of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from excessive farm use in livestock is well-documented and another significant danger. How Can You Avoid Infections?Minimizing your use of antibacterial cleaners may help protect the natural diversity of microorganisms in your home and on your body, but you can also help to avoid infections — including fungal infections — by boosting your immune system. Toward this end:
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/20/antibacterial-cleaners-increase-molds.aspx The fact that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accepts millions of dollars in funding from drug companies and vaccine makers is no minor problem. It may in fact be at the very heart of why so many harmful and nonsensical health recommendations end up being pushed down our throats. The CDC has long fostered the perception of independence by stating it does not accept funding from special interests. In disclaimers peppered throughout the CDC website1 and in its publications, it says the agency “does not accept commercial support” and has “no financial interests or other relationships with the manufacturers of commercial products.” Several watchdog groups — including the U.S. Right to Know (USRTK), Public Citizen, Knowledge Ecology International, Liberty Coalition and the Project on Government Oversight — are now petitioning2 the CDC to cease making these false disclaimers.3 CDC Gets Millions From Corporate InterestsIn reality, the CDC does in fact accept millions of dollars each year from commercial interests through its government-chartered foundation, the CDC Foundation, which funnels those contributions to the CDC after deducting a fee.4 On the CDC Foundation’s website, you’ll find a long list5 of “corporate partners” that have provided the CDC with funding over the years. The petition also points out that the CDC media office states the agency “has, can and does accept commercial support,” which is a clear contradiction to its printed disclaimers. Furthermore:
CDC Petitioned to Quit Making False ClaimsAccording to the petition,7 the CDC accepted $79.6 million from drug companies and commercial manufacturers between 2014 and 2018 alone. Since its inception in 1995, the CDC Foundation has accepted $161 million from private corporations. As reported by the Lown Institute,8 which aims to advance “a just and caring system for health to replace the current, failing model rooted in profit-driven, low-value care”:9
The petition asks the CDC to stop publishing the false and misleading disclaimers, remove all previously published disclaimers from the CDC website and its publications, and to issue corrections, retroactively disclosing the agency’s financial relationships with industry.
Government-Chartered Foundations Gives Control to IndustryIn a November 5, 2019, press release, Dr. Michael Carome, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group stated:12
Gary Ruskin, co-director of USRTK added:13
The CDC is supposed to be a public health watchdog. It has tremendous credibility within the medical community, and part of this credibility hinges on the idea that it’s free of industry bias and conflicts of interest. By accepting money from drug companies and vaccine makers, one has to wonder whether that money might be having an impact on the agency’s health recommendations. Again and again, investigations have shown that funding plays an enormous role in decision-making and in research outcomes. As noted by Shannon Brownlee, senior vice president for the Lown Institute, government-chartered foundations:14
Telltale Signs of Impropriety AboundWhen you start to investigate, there’s no shortage of telltale signs suggesting the CDC isn’t nearly as independent as it claims to be. Some have already been noted in the CDC petition, but there are plenty of others as well. For example, in 2016, Barbara Bowman, Ph.D., director of the CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, quickly resigned after it was revealed she aided a Coca-Cola representative in efforts to get World Health Organization officials to relax WHO’s sugar limits. I wrote about this in “CDC Executive Resigns After Being Caught Colluding with Coca-Cola to Salvage Soda Market.” Shortly thereafter, CDC director Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald was found to have received funding from Coca-Cola for her anti-obesity campaign, which had a near-exclusive focus on exercise, not the impact of soda and sugary junk food. This was reported in “Public Health Agency Sued for Coke Collusion.” CDC Promotes Drug Industry AgendaIn a November 4, 2019, article15 in Eye on Annapolis, Josh Mazer discusses how the CDC is funding state health programs aimed at implementing mandatory HPV vaccinations:
CDC Front Group Lobbies for Mandatory VaccinationsMazer’s observations are unlikely to be coincidental, as the CDC is a primary contributor to the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), which lobbies for mandatory vaccinations and the elimination of personal belief exemptions to vaccination nationwide.16 As such, the CDC is actively using industry donations to promote a for-profit industry agenda. It should be clear by now that the justifications given for why personal belief exemptions need to be abolished are nothing but a ploy to make money off mandatory vaccines. In recent times, the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been the target vaccine used to ban vaccine exemptions, under the pretense that measles is a lethal disease that needs to be eradicated. However, as predicted, it didn’t take long before other, completely unnecessary vaccines were tacked on to the mandated vaccines list. As just one egregious example, a bill introduced in New York (S298/A2912) now seeks to require children to receive the HPV vaccine — one of the most dangerous and unnecessary vaccines ever made — in order to attend public school or day care. There are hundreds of vaccines in the pipeline for children and adults, and once vaccine exemptions are eliminated in your state, you can expect many more to be mandated. At that point, you’ll have no way of opting out of any of them. Measles was really just the Trojan Horse used to eliminate vaccine exemptions and strengthen mandatory vaccination laws. As noted by Children’s Health Defense in a June 6, 2019 article:17
Children’s Health Defense goes on to cite an in-depth investigation by Mark Blaxill, published in Age of Autism, in which he notes that:21
Your Help Is Needed!To help push for greater transparency, please contact the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services today at [email protected] and let them know that you demand the CDC:
>>>>> Click Here <<<<< As noted by Lown Institute, disclosing existing conflicts of interests is an important first step in the creation of a “clearer separation between government agencies meant to serve the public interest and industry companies,” but it shouldn’t end there. We also need to abolish the loophole that allowed this hidden industry influence to take root in the first place — the government-chartered foundations.
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/19/center-for-disease-control-and-prevention-funding.aspx The Maine Board of Dental Practice may be engaging in antitrust violations, according to a petition filed with the Federal Trade Commission by three nonprofit groups — Consumers for Dental Choice, Organic Consumers Association and Mercury Policy Project. At issue is what the complaint calls two competitive factions that have divided modern day dentists: those who use mercury and those who do not. "The differences are so distinct," the petition notes, "that they can be classified into competitive submarkets." But the complaint alleges that the Maine Board of Dental Practice "is indisputably on one side — working to keep public funds going to that faction of dentists and not enforcing distribution of the Maine amalgam fact sheet, as required by law."1 State Dental Board Accused of Breaking Mercury LawsState law requires that dentists who use amalgam, or mercury, fillings (also known, misleadingly, as "silver" fillings) give patients a fact sheet approved by the state, which is intended to explain "advantages or disadvantages" of the use of mercury, mercury amalgams and other materials used for dental fillings.2 The Maine fact sheet was created because dentists using amalgams were referring to them as silver fillings, a misleading statement that was putting patients at risk. According to the petition, only 11% of dentists tell their patients that amalgam contains mercury. Further, African-American patients are three times less likely to be told that amalgam contains mercury, as are patients making under $50,000 a year.3 According to the petition:4
The petition alleges, however, that the Maine dental board is engaging in a variety of actions to evade enforcing this requirement. In a news release, it's stated:5
The petition sums up, "The board continues its combinations to keep the public uninformed, the fact sheet law unenforced, and the amalgam-using dentists shielded from the statutory mandate to post the state-prescribed fact sheet and to give to patients and parents/guardians."6 Maine Dental Board 'Not Above the Law'The petition asks the FTC to investigate the Maine Board of Dental Practice to reveal whether they're enforcing and adhering to the law — and suggests that if not, the state's governor should appoint a new dental board. As noted by Katherine Paul of the Organic Consumers Association, "The Maine Dental Board is not above the law."7 Charlie Brown of Consumers for Dental Choice, a former antitrust law specialist, further explained, "The behavior of the Maine Dental Board raises serious antitrust questions because the board is protecting the income of the pro-mercury dentists. This board must redirect its loyalty from protecting sales of amalgam to protecting Maine's families and consumers."8 It's essential for people to be aware of the true make up of "silver" fillings, as they are approximately 50% mercury. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal, one that can cause harmful effects to your nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems. It's known to damage both the kidneys and the lungs in humans. The World Health Organization notes that health effects from mercury exposure include tremors, impaired vision and hearing, emotional instability, paralysis, insomnia and developmental deficits during fetal development.9 Mercury exposure has also been linked to attention deficit and developmental delays during childhood, with WHO noting, "[M]ercury may have no threshold below which some adverse effects do not occur."10 In other words, even very small doses of mercury may be harmful. It's for this reason that, in 2018, the European Union banned the use of amalgam for children under 15 as well as for pregnant or nursing women. Will FDA Finally End Amalgam for Children?The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a sluggard when it comes to acting against mercury dental fillings. The 28-nation European Union stepped up in 2018 and eliminated dental mercury for pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children under age 15. So, Charlie Brown launched a campaign in 2018 to bring the European Union's example across the Atlantic. As Brown stated in an interview with me:
I now have breaking news from Washington that could change things at FDA. Brown and his capable team had a series of meetings with FDA in 2018 and 2019. Then — to his real credit — director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Jeff Shuren, assembled a panel of science advisers to convene and consider whether the science merits a new FDA policy on amalgam. Those hearings were held on November 13 and 14, 2019. Brown brought incredibly talented and diverse public speakers to testify, including:
The science committee, by consensus, called on FDA to end its silence on amalgam, and to start getting information about amalgam's risks to American patients, especially to vulnerable populations. But we have witnessed two decades of FDA inaction on amalgam, and a big question looms: Will FDA ignore even its own scientific bodies? Send Your Message to the FDA Today!I urge you to take a moment to send your message to FDA. Call on the agency to listen to its own scientists and, this time, take action. You may comment now by clicking this button. >>>>> Click Here <<<<< FDA must now decide what information to give directly to patients and parents, because so many pro-mercury dentists have not leveled with patients, or don't read enough to know what to say. Please choose from these questions, and then write your comment to the FDA!
Minamata Convention Impetus for Action Against AmalgamIn an intense three-year campaign (2010 through 2013), the global umbrella founded by Consumers for Dental Choice, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, succeeded in securing a strong amalgam plan in that treaty. The Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into legal force in 2017, triggering conferences of the parties to implement it worldwide. At the first Conference of the Parties of the Minamata Convention, held in Geneva last October, Brown challenged the world to equal or exceed the new amalgam policy of the EU, launching the "Make Dental Amalgam History" campaign. Brown concluded his speech with these stirring words to an audience of delegates from well over 100 nations: "Your nation should end amalgam use for children, because the children of your nation are equally important to the children of Europe." The worldwide campaign to end amalgam for children — as a springboard to ending its use entirely — continues. American Association of Dental Boards Operates Within ADAThe American Dental Association (ADA) is among those who have long defended the use of mercury fillings. Not coincidently, they also hold two amalgam patents.11 The ADA Foundation, which "provides grants, scholarships, awards, and facilitated in-kind product donations to programs that are in alignment with the organization's efforts to advance oral health, expand access to dental care, and drive game-changing research," is located in Chicago12 — in the same building as the American Association of Dental Boards.13 The American Association of Dental Boards is a national association that heads up the individual state dental boards. Its mission is to "serve as a resource by providing a national forum for exchange, development and dissemination of information to assist dental regulatory boards with their obligation to protect the public."14 What's more, the American Association of Dental Boards states:15
But the American Association of Dental Boards, whose role is to protect the public and regulate dentistry, is housed inside the offices of the American Dental Association; they even operate together on the same telephone lines. What a massive conflict of interest! Brown also brought this conflict of interest to the attention of the FTC. It explains a lot of why dental boards have been so cozy with the ADA, helping protect the mercury secret and keep it from American parents and consumers. The continued use of mercury in dental fillings, and the lack of transparency in disclosing the toxic truth about amalgam's contents to consumers, is just another outcome of this conflicted relationship. Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project stated in a news release, "Consumers must be told that amalgam is mainly mercury, but also that there are nonmercury alternatives available that work just as well or better."16 Mercury-Free Alternatives Are Readily AvailableOne of the most popular alternatives to amalgam is resin composite, which is made of a type of plastic reinforced with powdered glass. It's already common throughout the U.S. and the rest of the developed world, offering notable improvements over amalgam, as, according to Consumers for Dental Choice, it:17 • Is environmentally safe — Composite, which contains no mercury, does not pollute the environment. This saves taxpayers from paying the costs of cleaning up dental mercury pollution in our water, air and land — and the costs of health problems associated with mercury pollution. • Preserves healthy tooth structure, because, unlike amalgam, it does not require the removal of significant amounts of healthy tooth matter. Over the long term, composite preserves healthy tooth structure and actually strengthens teeth, leading to better oral health and less extensive dental work over the long term. • Is long-lasting — While some claim that amalgam fillings last longer than composite fillings, the science reveals this claim to be baseless. The latest studies show that composite not only lasts as long as amalgam, but actually has a higher overall survival rate. Unfortunately, many private dental insurance companies do not cover mercury-free fillings for all teeth, so be sure to read the fine print if you're considering a new plan. Choose a Mercury-Free DentistIf your current dentist is still using mercury in his or her practice — even if they also offer mercury-free options — seek out a dentist that offers only mercury-free fillings for all patients. And, be sure to inform your dentist about the reason you're transferring. One place to look is on the website of Consumers for Dental Choice: www.toxicteeth.org: (scroll down the home page, and click "Find a mercury-free dentist" For those of you who have mercury fillings, I recommend seeking advice from a qualified health professional about whether to have them removed. If the answer is yes, then go ONLY to a competent biological dentist who follows professional protocols for amalgam removal. Do not, however, remove fillings while pregnant, as this will expose you to increased mercury vapors. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/19/dentists-breaking-toxic-mercury-laws.aspx Trees are one of nature’s greatest gifts, one that could be harnessed to strategically reduce air pollution in some of the most problematic spaces, such as near factories, industrial sites, roadways and power plants. In fact, nature-based solutions can compete with technology to reduce toxic air emissions across the U.S., according to research published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.1 What’s intriguing is that existing natural areas, including forest, grassland and shrubland vegetation, are already responsible for mitigating a significant portion of U.S. air emissions, according to the study, which suggests that restoring natural land cover where possible could be a key strategy to improving air quality. Restoring Nature Near Factories Could Reduce Air PollutionUsing data on annual emissions in U.S. counties and existing land cover, researchers from The Ohio State University revealed that restoring natural areas to county-level average canopy cover could reduce air pollution by an average of 27%. Further, in 75% of the counties, nature-based solutions ended up being less expensive than technological interventions such as smokestack scrubbers in mitigating pollution.2 Lead study author Bhavik Bakshi, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at The Ohio State University, said in a news release:3
In instances of combating air pollution from agriculture, dust emissions, power generation, metal processing, certain manufacturing plants and on-road emissions, ecosystems are less expensive than technologies. Only in the case of emissions from industrial boilers and some cases of manufacturing did pollution-control technologies win out. Maintaining current levels of vegetation as well as restoring vegetation cover in industrial areas could help reduce some of the most common types of air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Further, while the study didn’t look into how well different types of plants “scrubbed” the air, it’s likely that certain plant species could be more effective than others.4 Both urban and rural areas stand to benefit from ecosystem-based approaches to combating air pollution. “This suggests that even though vegetation cannot fully negate the impact of emissions at all times, policies encouraging ecosystems as control measures in addition to technological solutions may promote large investments in ecological restoration and provide several societal benefits,” the study noted.5 Health Hazards of Air PollutionBy mitigating air pollution, trees and other plants could save lives across the globe, as contaminated air is a leading cause of death. Research published in The Lancet revealed that 9 million premature deaths were caused by pollution in 2015, which is 16% of deaths worldwide — “three times more deaths than from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, and 15 times more than from all wars and other forms of violence,” the researchers wrote.6 Among the pollution-related deaths, the majority — 6.5 million — were caused by airborne contaminants.7 A World Health Organization (WHO) report also found that 93% of children live in areas with air pollution at levels above WHO guidelines.8 Further, more than 1 in 4 deaths among children under 5 years is related to environmental risks, including air pollution. In 2016, ambient (outside) and household air pollution contributed to respiratory tract infections that led to 543,000 deaths in children under 5. In some areas of the world, like New Delhi, India, polluted air has reached crisis levels, with officials warning residents to stay indoors and handing out face masks to children. The air is so polluted due to agriculture and transportation that it causes burning eyes and a thick fog that makes visibility difficult.9 “Over the past days,” The Atlantic reported in November 2019, “[air pollution] levels in New Delhi have exceeded 10 times what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deems safe. (The idea that any level is ‘safe’ is disputed, as even very low levels have been found to cause disease.) The effect is lethal, in India and beyond.”10 While industry can certainly contribute to dangerous levels of air pollution, many are surprised to learn that the No. 1 cause of air pollution in much of the U.S., China, Russia and Europe is linked to farming and fertilizer — specifically to the nitrogen component of fertilizer used to supposedly enrich the soil and grow bigger crops. In fact, research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters demonstrated that in certain densely populated areas, emissions from farming far outweigh other sources of particulate matter air pollution.11 So, when considering the best types of plants to combat pollution, it’s important to understand that clearing grasslands and other natural spaces to plant monocrops is part of the problem — not part of the solution. Planting 1.2 Trillion Trees Could Save the EarthPlanting 1.2 trillion trees could be the answer to saving the Earth and would be capable of storing so much carbon dioxide (CO2) that they would cancel out a decade’s worth of human-made CO2 emissions.12 The findings come from the work of ecologist Thomas Crowther and colleagues at Swiss university ETH Zurich, who also revealed that there’s room for an additional 1.2 trillion trees on the planet. Writing in the journal Science, Crowther and colleagues explained:13
Currently, the Earth is home to 3 trillion trees, which is seven times more than previously believed. “There’s 400 gigatons [of carbon] now, in the 3 trillion trees, and if you were to scale that up by another trillion trees that’s in the order of hundreds of gigatons captured from the atmosphere — at least 10 years of anthropogenic emissions completely wiped out,” Crowther told the Independent.14 The United Nations responded to the findings, changing their Billion Tree Campaign to the Trillion Tree Campaign, which states, “Global reforestation could capture 25 percent of global annual carbon emissions and create wealth in the global south.” More than 13.6 billion trees have already been planted as part of the campaign,15 which tracks not only where trees have been planted, but also where forests currently exist and where forests could be restored. The Trillion Tree Campaign states that there is actually space for up to 600 billion mature trees on the planet, without taking space away from agricultural land. However, since some planted trees won’t survive, the target is to plant at least 1 trillion trees to reach the 600 billion mature tree goal. “Additionally, we must protect the 170 billion trees in imminent risk of destruction. They are crucial carbon storages and essential ecosystems to protect biodiversity,” they state.16 Worldwide, communities have been coming together to encourage reforestation. In Kenya, 51 million trees have been planted since the late 1970s, largely at the hands of local, rural women. Likewise, in Colombia, more than 54,000 trees have been planted in 32 communities since 2016, and each area has its own local tree nursery. Pakistan is also committed to the Billion Tree Tsunami, with plans to reforest more than 860,000 acres of deforested land.17 The Root Brain and the Intelligence of TreesAmidst the growing realization that plant life may be key to undoing some of the harm man-made pollutants have done to the Earth is the acknowledgement that plants are not benign objects but rather living beings. An extensive underground network connects plants by their roots, serving as a complex interplant communication system or “plant Internet,” if you will. One organism is responsible for this amazing biochemical highway: a type of fungus called mycorrhizae. Suzanne Simard, a professor in the Department of Forest & Conservation at the University of British Columbia, is among those who have revealed that this mycorrhizae network connects trees to each other in mind-blowing ways, such that trees might be viewed as beings with a capacity for intelligence, decision-making, learning and memory. Speaking to Nautilus, Simard expanded on the root brain hypothesis first suggested by Charles and Francis Darwin:18
Among some of Simard’s and colleagues’ fascinating work is evidence that old trees recognize their own seedlings and change their behavior to provide them advantages. “A parent tree will even kill off its own offspring if they’re not in a good place to grow,” Simard explained.19 She points out that while such ideas may seem wild, ancient peoples also expressed them:20
Everyone Can Help Plant TreesOne of the simplest ways to get involved in supporting the environment and reconnecting to nature is by planting trees. Even if you live in a region where you can’t plant trees, or in an apartment with no backyard, you can donate or gift trees to be planted. Every tree makes a difference, and if you’re feeling competitive, the Trillion Tree Campaign website has a tool for you to set a tree-planting goal and keep track of your target. The Campaign suggests everybody should plant at least 150 trees, with those those in wealthy countries setting a higher target of 1,000. Mercola.com, in partnership with Trees for the Future, is also getting involved and has planted over 200,000 trees to date. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/19/trees-for-air-pollution.aspx Teatime is an honored tradition in Great Britain and much of Asia, and tea plays an important role in cultures around the world. Teatime in the West often focuses on the food served with the beverage, while in Eastern cultures, serving tea has been elevated to an art form. It’s an ancient beverage that has demonstrated dramatic and positive effects on health. Tea is one of the most popular beverages served around the world, second only to water. Nearly 80% of all U.S. households have tea in the kitchen cabinets and it's the only beverage commonly served hot or cold. In the U.S., 84% of the tea consumed is black tea, 15% is green tea and the remaining 1% is split between oolong, white and pu’erh. The popularity of this wildly healthy tea is not any greater around the world as it accounts for just 2% of tea consumption worldwide. Although some say oolong is a black tea, and others a green tea, it does not fall into either category. There are four varieties of tea produced from the Camellia sinensis plant: black, white, green and oolong. Although called tea, herbal teas are not true teas as they do not originate from the Camellia sinensis. One of the benefits oolong shares with green tea is its ability to change the rate of your metabolism. Oolong Tea May Boost Your Metabolism and Weight Loss EffortsScientists have been intrigued by what they found to be weight regulating chemicals in tea, identified as catechins, which are commonly found in green and oolong varieties. The two most interesting have been epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and theaflavins.1 Researchers recently reviewed tea data in the hope of identifying functional foods affecting energy metabolism that may be used as a complementary dietary strategy in weight management. In their review of oolong studies, they found that oolong tea had an effect on the modulation of energy balance, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. It also affected activity in the liver, fat, muscle and pancreatic cells after ingestion due to its high levels of EGCG and theaflavins. The catechins appeared to inhibit the development of fat by down-regulating gene expression and stimulating energy consumption in the mitochondria. Another noted mechanism was an enhanced noradrenaline-induced fat breakdown after drinking oolong tea water extract. The researchers theorized this effect could be partially due to the caffeine and other bioactive compounds found in the tea. In one animal study included in the review, researchers found ethanol extract of oolong tea triggered weight loss in mice. Oolong May Boost Insulin SensitivityDuring their review of the literature2 researchers identified increased insulin activity after consuming oolong tea, in addition to reduced plasma glucose, which had a positive effect on diabetic rats. They believe the tea could be an effective adjunct in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. They found research supporting the combination therapy of oral antihyperglycemic medications and oolong tea, which was more effective at lowering blood glucose than using medications alone. Improved insulin utilization may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes, both of which can assist with weight control. The results of the literature review were similar to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition,3 in which researchers evaluated the energy expenditure of 12 men. The researchers designed a randomized crossover study to compare 24 hours of calorie burning after the participants underwent one of four interventions. For four days prior to the study, volunteers did not drink any beverages with caffeine or flavonoids. The participants took each treatment for three consecutive days, and on the third day their energy expenditure was measured. They either drank water, full strength tea, half strength tea or water that contained 270 mg of caffeine. The results demonstrated that energy expenditure was increased by 2.9% for those drinking full-strength tea and 3.4% for those who consumed caffeinated water, as compared to those who drank just water. An additional 281 calories were burned by those drinking full strength tea and an extra 331 calories were burned by those drinking caffeinated water. The researchers also measured fat oxidation, which was significantly higher in those who drank the full-strength tea as compared to those drinking water. Look for Tea, Not Weight Loss TeaJust as there’s a difference between herbal tea and true tea from the Camellia sinensis plant, products sold as “weight loss teas” usually contain more than you bargain for. Actress Jameela Jamil started a campaign to warn men and women that these types of products may lead to dehydration and diarrhea. As Insider writes:4
Detox teas contain more ingredients than black or green tea leaves and their producers make claims that consuming the beverages will detoxify your body. These campaigns are targeted toward those who want to lose weight.5 Beginning September 18, 2019, Instagram started blocking ads for weight loss products aimed at users younger than 18 years of age. They also blocked ads that promised miraculous fixes for issues related to body image. Although tea is healthy, too much of a good thing is not usually a better thing. Tea from the Camellia sinensis plant contains oxalates, which may contribute to the formation of kidney stones and other kidney conditions. Oolong Produced Differently Than Black or Green TeaWhile oolong is neither black nor green, the flavor and characteristics of the tea may fall closer to the black tea or green tea range depending on how it was processed. During processing, the leaves are oxidized between the level of green tea, which keeps much of the original color and flavor, and black tea, which is fully oxidized.6 This may be described as partial oxidation, or partial fermentation.7 However, depending on the tea master, oxidation can vary from 8% to 80%, which explains the variation in flavors. Oolong tea leaves are also traditionally rolled, curled or twisted to alter the appearance, color and aroma of the final product. Black, green and oolong tea begin the processing journey in the same way. The leaves are first bruised and then allowed to wither, beginning the oxidation process. They are laid out to dry in the sun for several hours and then removed and cooled away from the heat. Once fully cool, the leaves destined to become oolong tea are rolled and bruised to break down the cell walls. The leaves continue oxidation until the tea master is satisfied with the process and then are roasted to stop fermentation. Once fully dried they are sorted according to size and color. Just as the color and flavor fall between green and black tea, so does the caffeine content. If the tea leaves were lightly oxidized, they'll have a lower level of caffeine, but higher levels of oxidation increase measurable caffeine. Long-Term Health Benefits of Oolong TeaResearchers have long studied the benefits of coffee and tea on neurological, vision, bone and metabolic health. Different types of tea offer different benefits, many of which are tied to the processing method used to manufacture the tea. One of the benefits of oolong being oxidized slightly more than green tea and slightly less than black tea is that this specific level offers some of the benefits of both, making it one of the healthiest types of tea you can drink. The tea is rich in polyphenol antioxidants, which your body uses to fight the damage triggered by reactive oxygen species and free radicals. Drinking green tea is associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, lowered blood pressure and reduced chronic inflammation. The EGCG is responsible for helping your arteries relax and improve blood flow. Drinking a cup each day may do more than boost your metabolic rate. It can go a long way toward improving your overall health and well-being. Oolong tea has also demonstrated the ability to lower the risk of brain function decline. The tea is rich in theanine, which is believed to help improve attention and relieve anxiety. The antioxidants in oolong tea may reduce your risk of heart disease if you drink 8 ounces or more every day. In one study researchers found that those who drank 16 ounces of green tea or oolong tea daily experienced a 39% reduced risk of stroke. How to Store and Brew Oolong for the Best FlavorWhile oolong is healthy, it is important to use loose tea leaves. Tea bags may be more convenient, but many are made with heat-resistant polypropylene to prevent the bag from breaking apart in hot water. This means minute pieces of plastic likely end up in your drink. Paper tea bags are treated with epichlorohydrin, a chemical to prevent tears, which has been found to be a probable human carcinogen. Epichlorohydrin reacts with water to form 3-MCPD, another possible human carcinogen. The fermentation process extends the shelf life of the tea, with heavily oxidized varieties lasting as long as two years. Loose leaf oolong tea tends to quickly become stale, so it's important to store it properly. The tea should be placed in an airtight container and kept in a dry, dark cabinet away from direct sunlight and heat. If stored close to spices and coffee the tea may pick up their flavors and odors. Variation, oxidation and processing techniques mean a difference in the ideal brewing temperature. Look for the directions on the packaging for brewing instructions. Here are a few general tips to consider.8
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/18/oolong-tea-benefits.aspx Your body is a complex organism requiring quality sleep to function optimally. Your body’s circadian rhythms are a combination of biological clocks regulating everything from your metabolism to psychological functioning. One sure way to cause dysregulation of your biological clock is to skimp on sleep. Although you have a master clock in your brain to synchronize bodily functions, every organ and cell has its own biological clock as well. In a stunning discovery published in 2017, researchers found half your genes are controlled by circadian rhythms that turn them on and off in a cyclical wave. The whole-body circadian rhythm is largely dictated by your pineal gland, which is responsible for secreting melatonin or N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine. This hormone normalizes your circadian rhythm as it signals your body it’s time for sleep. The production of melatonin will depend on how much and when your body absorbs light. The gland is located near the center of your brain and usually starts secreting melatonin near 9 p.m. Without an adequate amount of sleep and exposure to sunlight, your levels will naturally drop. Researchers have found an association between melatonin and rising levels of inflammation. Melatonin Reduced Inflammation and Obesity Markers in MiceIn a combined effort, scientists from universities in Brazil and Italy1 sought to identify the role melatonin may have in improving disorders commonly found in those who are obese. The researchers used mice who were induced to become obese and treated them for 10 weeks with melatonin. The objective was to determine if the hormone could effectively delay or block the damage from eating too much. The researchers found multiple results supporting their theory that melatonin supplementation could have a significant effect on the animals, including reducing triglyceride levels and total and LDL cholesterol levels. They also found that supplementation prevented larger weight gain by reducing the formation of fat tissue and increasing the capacity to break down white fat. This combination of effects helped to prevent the hypertrophy of fat cells caused by excessive eating. Additionally, the researchers noted the supplementation reduced a characteristic inflammatory process found in obese subjects where macrophages infiltrate adipose tissue. The mice also experienced a reduction in inflammatory related factors through a decrease in gene expression. Overall, at the end of the 10-week trial, the group of mice eating an excessive amount without melatonin gained 49% body mass over the control group that ate a normal diet. The group of mice supplemented with melatonin increased their body mass 28% over the control group, but 13% lower than the group eating excess food without melatonin. The researchers believe the data suggest that melatonin could be considered as a therapeutic agent to help mitigate the metabolic and inflammatory conditions triggered in those who are obese. The Importance of Melatonin to Sleep/Wake CyclesAs with many hormones and chemicals in the body, melatonin has more than one function. The best known role it plays is in controlling your sleep/wake cycle. This well-publicized function may be due to the fact that sleep plays a significant role in your overall physical and mental health. An estimated 40% of Americans are sleep deprived every day, with many people getting less than 5 hours of sleep per night. Millions struggle to fall asleep and others find it challenging to stay asleep. Some wake up too early in the morning. There are a number of hazards associated with sleep deprivation; you can read about these in my past article, “Nobel Prize-Winning Science Highlights Importance of Good Sleep for Health.” Melatonin is a marker your body uses to influence what time of day or night it thinks it is. This happens regardless of the actual time. During a normal night of sleep, levels stay elevated for about 12 hours. As the sun rises, the pineal gland reduces production until the level in your blood is hardly measurable. If you experience disruption to your circadian rhythms, your body will produce less melatonin and you will experience poor quality sleep. This can happen to those who work the night shift, have jet lag or are exposed to light during the night. Melatonin Benefits More Than SleepA deficiency in this hormone may come with profound biological risks, such as potentially having higher levels of inflammation, a weaker immune system and an increased chance of developing cancer. The hormone interacts with receptor proteins that help control the different stages of sleep and are present in other organs and immune cells.2,3 Additionally, melatonin is a potent antioxidant that can raise the levels of other antioxidants, such as glutathione. Melatonin plays a role in the health and survival of mitochondria,4 your body's powerhouse, where energy production takes place at a cellular level. Melatonin has shown some promise for pain control in those suffering from endometriosis. In one study,5 10 mg per day decreased pain by 39.8% and dysmenorrhea by 38.01%. Topical application may help prevent sunburn,6 while oral supplementation was 150 times more effective at treating tinnitus as compared to other drugs. Melatonin may also play a protective role in:7
Boost Your Melatonin NaturallyMelatonin does come in supplemental form, but it's also possible to raise your levels naturally. Researchers recognize nonpharmacological approaches to insomnia include better sleep hygiene, physical exercise and mindfulness meditation. It makes sense to engage in simple habits to increase your natural production and improve your overall health and sleep without adding supplements. Four simple strategies include: • Sunshine during the morning -- Melatonin is affected by your exposure to light and dark. When it's light, production of melatonin naturally drops. Getting at least 15 minutes of sunlight in the morning hours helps to regulate the production of melatonin, dropping it to normal daytime levels, so you feel awake during the day and sleep better at night. • Sleep in the dark -- Your body produces and secretes melatonin in the dark, helping you to go to sleep and stay asleep. Sleeping in a completely darkened room, without lights from alarm clocks, televisions or other sources will improve your sleep quality. If you get up during the night to use the bathroom, it's important to keep the lights off so you don't shut off your production of melatonin. Also, wear blue-light blocking glasses after sunset to avoid blue-light exposure. • Lower your stress level and your cortisol level -- The release of melatonin is dependent on the release of another hormone, norepinephrine. Excess stress and the resulting release of cortisol inhibits the release of norepinephrine, and therefore the release of melatonin. Stress-reducing strategies you may find helpful before bed include yoga, stretching, meditation and prayer. • Increase foods high in magnesium -- Magnesium plays a role in reducing brain activity at night, helping you to relax and fall asleep more easily. It works in tandem with melatonin. Foods containing higher levels of magnesium include almonds, avocados, pumpkin seeds and green, leafy vegetables. Supplementation and Potential Negative EffectsThe beneficial effects associated with melatonin suggest it may primarily have a function as an antioxidant. In speaking with Time magazine, Helen Burgess, co-director of the Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan, said:8
The authors of past studies have associated a deficiency in melatonin with obesity. It also may address inflammation, as supplementation has been associated with lowering oxidative stress and regulating adipokines involved in the inflammatory process. While believed to be relatively safe for up to 18 months, the long-term effects are largely unknown. Possible negative interactions have been suggested for those with epilepsy or those taking Warfarin, a blood thinner. Melatonin is sometimes used in children to benefit those with sleep disorders, but long-term effects in children are also unknown. There has been some research suggesting that using melatonin during puberty may interfere with natural production of the hormone. Researchers leading one study cautioned that supplementation should be limited in those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They suggest considering the supplement only for those who also have chronic insomnia. It's crucial to remember that melatonin is a hormone, and long-term supplementation with hormones can have unknown effects on the body. In addition to the strategies listed above to boost your natural production, you may benefit from sleep habits information in my past article, “Top 33 Tips to Optimize Your Sleep Routine.” from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/18/melatonin-reduces-inflammation.aspx Magnesium1 is involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions in your body,2,3 and deficiency can contribute to significant health problems. Two common pathologies associated with magnesium deficiency are Type 2 diabetes4,5 and heart disease. According to one scientific review,6 low magnesium may actually be the greatest predictor of heart disease, and other recent research7 published in Open Heart journal suggests even subclinical magnesium deficiency can compromise your cardiovascular health. As noted in a 2018 scientific review8,9 published in Open Heart journal, a “vast majority of people in modern societies are at risk for magnesium deficiency” due to “chronic diseases, medications, decreases in food crop magnesium contents, and the availability of refined and processed foods.” According to this review, most fail to meet the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for magnesium; 48% of Americans do not get sufficient magnesium from their diet. Among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, the rate of magnesium deficiency is 84%.10 Type 2 diabetics also tend to be more prone to magnesium deficiency, and magnesium depletion has been found in 75% of patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes, the review states.11 Magnesium Protects Your Heart HealthLow magnesium has been linked to a higher risk for high blood pressure,12 stroke13 and sudden cardiac death.14 According to the Open Heart study authors,15 “most people need an additional 300 mg of magnesium per day in order to lower their risk of developing numerous chronic diseases,” and this includes heart disease and diabetes. Magnesium supports healthy heart function and helps prevent heart disease by:16
Magnesium Status Impacts Diabetes and Blood PressureMagnesium also plays an important role in diabetes, and this is not nearly as recognized as it needs to be. Low magnesium levels have been linked to a higher risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to Type 2 diabetes,17 as it impairs your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, which is important for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes.18,19,20,21 In one study,22 prediabetics with the highest magnesium intake reduced their risk for blood sugar and metabolic problems by 71%, compared to those with the lowest intake. High levels of insulin in the blood, common with insulin resistance, also lead to further loss of magnesium.23 Most recently, a study24 published in October 2019 in the online issue of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice again linked low magnesium levels with both diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. As reported by the authors:25
Other Studies Linking Magnesium Status to Diabetes RiskAn earlier meta-analysis,26 published in 2007, also found that magnesium intake was inversely associated with Type 2 diabetes incidence. This analysis included seven cohort studies looking at magnesium from either food or diet and supplements combined. According to the authors:
Magnesium supplementation not only can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes, but also has been shown to improve your condition if you already have full-blown diabetes. This was demonstrated in a 2018 study27 in the journal Nutrients. Type 2 diabetics who took 250 milligrams (mg) of magnesium per day for three months saw a significant improvement in insulin levels and HbA1C (hemoglobin A1c, which is a marker of long-term glucose control) compared to controls. As noted by the authors,28 “The results of this study matched previous studies that concluded that daily oral Mg supplementation substantially improved insulin sensitivity by 10% and reduced blood sugar by 37%.” Are You Deficient in Magnesium?The best way to ascertain your magnesium status is to do an RBC magnesium test, which measures the amount of magnesium in your red blood cells, along with tracking any signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency, such as:29,30
A more exhaustive list can be found in Dr. Carolyn Dean’s blog post, “Gauging Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms,”32 which will give you a checklist to go through every few weeks. This will also help you gauge how much magnesium you need to resolve your deficiency symptoms. Get Tested TodayGrassrootsHealth, which is conducting consumer-sponsored research into vitamin D and omega-3, has now added magnesium to its nutrient research. Their Vitamin D, Magnesium and Omega 3 PLUS Elements test kit is an excellent and cost-effective way to check the status of several vital nutrients, along with the essential minerals selenium, zinc and copper and the harmful heavy metals cadmium, lead and mercury. Each kit contains instructions for how to collect your blood sample. You then mail in your sample and fill out a quick online health questionnaire through GrassrootsHealth. Your participation in this research project will enable GrassrootsHealth researchers to provide accurate data about the magnesium status in the population, the level at which disease prevention is actually obtained, and guidance on dosing to achieve optimal levels. All of this is crucial information that can go a long way toward improving public health. As explained by GrassrootsHealth, questions about magnesium that this particular project aims to provide answers for include:33
Your test results will be emailed to you in about 10 to 20 days after your samples are received. Your health data are used anonymously. Please note that 100% of the proceeds from the kits go to fund the research project. I do not charge anything extra as a distributor of these test kits. >>>>> Click Here <<<<< Why Most People Need More MagnesiumOne of the reasons why magnesium insufficiency or deficiency is so common, both among adults34 and teens,35 is in part due to the fact that most people don’t eat enough plant foods. Magnesium is actually part of the chlorophyll molecule responsible for the plant’s green color. If you frequently eat processed foods, your risk of deficiency is magnified. That said, even if you eat plenty of greens you might still need to take a supplement, as most foods are grown in mineral-depleted soils and are thus much lower in magnesium than they have been historically. Magnesium absorption is also dependent on having sufficient amounts of selenium, parathyroid hormone and vitamins B6 and D, and is hindered by excess ethanol, salt, coffee and phosphoric acid in soda. Sweating, stress, lack of sleep, excessive menstruation, certain drugs (especially diuretics and proton-pump inhibitors) also deplete your body of magnesium.36 For these reasons, most people probably need to take supplemental magnesium. Taking a magnesium supplement is particularly advisable if you:37
Eat More Magnesium-Rich FoodsThe recommended dietary allowance for magnesium is around 310 to 420 mg per day depending on your age and sex,41 but many experts believe you may need 600 to 900 mg per day.42 Personally, I believe many may benefit from amounts as high as 1 to 2 grams (1,000 to 2,000 mg) of elemental magnesium per day, as most of us have electromagnetic field exposures that simply cannot be mitigated, and the extra magnesium may help lower the damage from that exposure. If your veggie consumption is low to begin with, consider including more magnesium-rich vegetables in your daily diet. Dark-green leafy vegetables lead the pack when it comes to magnesium content, and juicing your greens is an excellent way to boost your intake. Other foods that are particularly rich in magnesium include natto, raw cacao nibs, unsweetened cocoa powder, avocados, pumpkin and sesame seeds, and herbs like chives and basil.43 One way to check your daily magnesium intake from foods is to use a free online nutritional tracker such as Cronometer. Other Ways to Boost Your Magnesium LevelIf your magnesium intake from food is found lacking, it would certainly be wise to supplement, either orally or topically. For oral supplementation, my personal preference is magnesium threonate, as it appears to be the most efficient at penetrating cell membranes, including your mitochondria and blood-brain barrier. As a general rule, I recommend starting out on a dose of 200 mg of oral magnesium citrate per day, gradually increasing your dose until you develop slightly loose stools. To use this method, you need to use magnesium citrate, as it's known for having a laxative effect. Once you know your cutoff, you can switch to other forms if you like. Other effective ways to boost your magnesium level include: • Taking Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths, as the magnesium will effectively absorb through your skin. • Using a topical solution — I prepare a supersaturated solution of Epsom salt by dissolving 7 tablespoons of the salt into 6 ounces of water and heating it until all the salt has dissolved. I pour it into a dropper bottle and then apply it to my skin and rub fresh aloe leaves over it to dissolve it. This is an easy and inexpensive way to increase your magnesium and will allow you to get higher dosages into your body without having to deal with its laxative effects. Magnesium can be taken with or without food. If you’re also taking calcium, take them together. If you exercise regularly, consider taking your calcium and magnesium in a ratio of one part calcium to two parts magnesium with your pre-workout meal. While the ideal ratio of magnesium to calcium is thought to be 1-to-1, most people get far more calcium than magnesium from their diet; hence, your need for supplemental magnesium may be two to three times greater than calcium. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/11/18/low-magnesium-diabetes.aspx |
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