Category: Environmental Toxicity and Cancer

In the last 30 years of treating patients one question has always been asked by my patients “Dr. Nemec how did I get this condition or disease?”

And this is how I explain to them that the condition or disease is not the problem it is only the effect of a bad cellular environment. This is like the computer science or information and communications technology phrase “garbage in, garbage out” meaning whatever you put in is going to come out in the program. Your cells work in communication technology also just a million times more advanced.

So to answer the question: You have this condition or disease because you put garbage in and made a bad environment around your cells which caused them to malfunction into your present state. You have 50 trillion cells and if you put garbage in then a certain percent of those cells are going to die prematurely- this is know as inflammation. If the cellular environment does not change then the inflammation will progress through 6 stages until it culminates with full blown disease.

The good news is that YOU put the garbage in (whether you knew it or not) and YOU can clean up the garbage and make a new health promoting cellular environment which means the cells, tissues, glands, organs and systems will respond to the pure environment by restoring your health and vitality. Almost every cell in your body is replaced in one year. This is like planting new seeds of total health. What you plant today can produce a harvest of health 6 months to one year from now.

Genes are the blueprints and that is all. You are not your genes or your heredity. If you change your environment you will change the expression of your genes.

Experiments have shown that stem cells which are base cells, identical clone cells, when put into different environments in a Petri dish, the same exact cell, but changing the environment that the cell was in, the cells themselves changed form. One environment caused the same identical clone cell to become a muscle cell that would contract. When the environment is switched, it causes them to change into another form which would be a bone cell, yet another change in the environment would cause the same cloned cell, identical cell, to cause them to turn in to be a fat cell.

When you change the environment you can actually change the cells. This is tremendous because all you have to do to reverse symptoms, conditions and diseases is change your environment. Change your environment physically, but also change our environment mentally and emotionally, change how you perceive your environment.

What air, water and food are you putting into your body? Are you getting the proper sleep and exercise? Are you living a fasted lifestyle? Do you spend regular time in prayer, meditating on the Word and being still so you can hear His voice spoken to your heart?

As a man thinks in his heart so is he.

Fifty chemicals the public is exposed to on a daily basis may trigger cancer when combined. A global taskforce of 174 scientists from leading research centers across 28 countries studied the link between mixtures of commonly encountered chemicals and the development of cancer. The study selected 85 chemicals not considered carcinogenic to humans and found 50 supported key cancer-related mechanisms at exposures found in the environment today.

Longstanding concerns about the combined and additive effects of everyday chemicals prompted research into what is known about mixtures against the full spectrum of cancer biology for the first time.

Lead cancer researcher commented regarding genes and molecular changes during cancer development. He said: “This research backs up the idea that chemicals not considered harmful by themselves are combining and accumulating in our bodies to trigger cancer and might lie behind the global cancer epidemic we are witnessing. We urgently need to focus more resources to research the effect of low dose exposure to mixtures of chemicals in the food we eat, air we breathe and water we drink.”

Another lead researcher who contributed in the area of cancer epigenetics and the environment, said: “A review on this scale, looking at environmental chemicals from the perspective of all the major hallmarks of cancer, is unprecedented.”

Last in the research team who contributed to an examination of how such typical environmental exposures influence dysfunctional metabolism in cancer endorsed this view.

He said: “Despite a rising incidence of many cancers, far too little research has been invested into examining the pivotal role of environmental causative agents. This worldwide team of researchers refocuses our attention on this under-researched area.”

In light of the compelling evidence the taskforce is calling for an increased emphasis on and support for research into low dose exposures to mixtures of environmental chemicals. Current research estimates chemicals could be responsible for as many as one in five cancers. With the human population routinely exposed to thousands of chemicals, the effects need to be better understood to reduce the incidence of cancer globally.

-Carcinogenesis

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec’s comments on “When nontoxic chemicals are mixed together they trigger cancer”:

This is how chemistry works: if you mix nontoxic substance A with nontoxic substance B with nontoxic substance C you get toxic substance ABC.

This study showed that at least 20% of all cancers come from toxic chemicals in the air we breathe, water we drink and food we eat. These toxic chemicals have many times passed below the radar screen because they are not classified as toxic themselves BUT and that is a big BUT when you mix them together they are now classified as toxic. So now testing has to start over to test the never ending combinations of nontoxic chemicals that become toxic when combined.

What is the answer? Live simple, eat simple, drink simple, and make sure everything that goes in your mouth you know the ingredients and they are simple and you can pronounce them. If it sounds like a chemical on the label then it is. If you cannot pronounce the word then do not eat or drink it.

Some steps to get started:

1. Only drink purified water- distilled or reverse osmosis
2. Eat organic food whenever possible
3. Check labels for ingredients and keep it simple
4. Use natural cleaning solutions only in your home. Things like vinegar and water and all natural cleaning solutions that have simple ingredients.
5. Open the windows in your home for at least 30 minutes per day year round to ventilate any chemicals that outgass from building materials.
6. Purchase a quality air purifier
7. Make sure you live a Seven Basic Steps to Total Health Lifestyle. The Seven BASICS.

There are many things that can increase a person’s risk for developing cancer. Lifestyle and diet are two of the most obvious, followed closely by environmental toxins and pollution. However, cancer causing agents can sometimes lurk in the most unexpected places. Even when we are hyper vigilant and taking care of our health to the best of our ability, we may still be unknowingly putting ourselves at risk for developing cancer and other chronic disorders. Good dental health is an important part of the body’s total well-being. For example, it has been understood for a long time now that poor dental hygiene (cavities, abscesses, gum disease, etc.) can lead to heart disease and blood poisoning. Only recently, however, has there been any real understanding of the connection between dental health and cancer. Surprisingly, recent European studies are now indicating that there may be a direct correlation between instances of cancer, particularly breast cancer, and the common silver amalgam fillings that continue to be used to treat cavities and root canals.

The Truth About Silver Dental Fillings

Most of us at some point in our lives have had a tooth drilled and a cavity filled. It is not a pleasant experience, but it is a necessary one. The most common filling material used by dentists today is the so-called “silver amalgam” filling. At first glance, one would assume that the predominant ingredient in ‘silver amalgam’ fillings is, in fact silver. However, you may be surprised to learn that the major ingredient in silver fillings is in reality mercury. In fact, ‘silver amalgam’ fillings actually contain as much as 50% Mercury, with Silver only making up 25% of the amalgam.

The Hazards of Silver Amalgam Fillings

Mercury, as we all know, is a highly toxic heavy metal as mentioned in this post on leaky gut syndrome. Even low levels of exposure can lead to a variety of adverse health conditions. Still, it continues to be used as a major component in silver amalgam fillings. While you may think your fillings are stable and solid, and are not leaching into your system, any amount of friction can cause the fillings to release small amounts of Mercury gas. This gas may subsequently be absorbed into the body, resulting in Mercury toxicity. The connection between ‘silver amalgam’ fillings and cancer was first discovered in Europe, and many countries within the European Union have since banned, or greatly restricted, their use. Unfortunately, the United States has yet to follow suit, and mercury contaminated ‘silver amalgam’ fillings are still the most common type of filling used by dentists in the US.

The Effect of Mercury on the Body

Mercury is a carcinogen, and prolonged exposure can seriously compromise the body’s immune system. The immune system is the body’s first line of defense against cancer and other chronic diseases, and when it is compromised cancer is better able to take hold and proliferate. Mercury exposure can also increase the production of free radicals, which can in turn damage the body’s DNA at the cellular level leading to an increased risk for a variety of different types of cancer.

Limiting Your Exposure

If you wish to limit your exposure to mercury from ‘silver amalgam’ fillings the best course of action is, of course, to take good care of your teeth and avoid cavities. That being said, there are resin compound alternatives to ‘silver amalgam’ fillings, which, while not as long lasting will eliminate the hazardous exposure to mercury. If you already have a number of ‘silver amalgam’ fillings, there are dentists who specialize in their safe removal. Most dentists in the US will not inform their patients of the possible hazards of ‘silver amalgam’ fillings, so if you are having any dental work done be sure to ask your dentist about the types of filling compounds they use, and if they offer an alternative to mercury contaminated ‘silver amalgam’ fillings. Your due dental health diligence may help to reduce your risk for developing a variety of different types of cancer.

When discussing possible cancer risk factors, most people focus on lifestyle, genetics, and diet. This is understandable, as these are major players in the potential risk for developing many different types of cancer. But it also ignores the common environmental hazards to which we are all exposed. Every day, people are exposed to toxins and potential carcinogens, both at work and at home. Remaining cancer free begins with learning how to reduce your exposure to these environmental toxins. Your home is the environment you can most easily control, so let’s look at some simple tips to help cancer proof your home and maintain your total health.

Testing Your Home for Radon

Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that is formed by the natural breakdown of uranium deposits in the earth. It can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, well water, and faulty plumbing fixtures. Once in the home, it binds to air particles and is breathed into the lungs. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, surpassed only by the smoking of tobacco. To cancer proof your home against radon, have your home tested for radon either by a professional service or by using a home testing kit. If radon levels exceed the EPA’s recommended limits, contact a licensed radon service professional to locate the source and affect the necessary repairs. These may include sealing cracks in the floors and walls, increasing ventilation, and replacing faulting pipes and plumbing fixtures.

Replacing Your Cookware

Teflon coated pots and pans become popular in the 1970’s. What we didn’t know then was that Teflon releases carcinogens when heated. Aluminum pots and pans are little better, and also release toxins when heated to high temperatures. To avoid possible contamination, switch your aluminum or Teflon coated pots and pans for cast iron. Once oiled and seasoned, cast iron provides the non-stick features cooks want without the risk of exposure to toxins. If you are uncomfortable with cast iron, consider ceramic coated metal pots and pans, or even tempered glass alternatives.

Choosing Safer Home Furnishings

Fire retardant bedding and furniture have become very popular, but they also present an added risk for cancer. The chemicals used to make a piece of fabric or furniture flame resistant give off carcinogenic gases, making your home environment more toxic. The same is true for the particle board which is often used to make inexpensive furniture. In fact, particle board has the potential to be as toxic as asbestos. To best cancer proof your home when buying furniture, stick with traditional pieces made out of wood and metal, and avoid any home furnishings that have been treated with flame retardants.

Using Plastic Food Containers

BPA, or bisphenol A, is a common ingredient in many commercial plastics. It has also been linked to cancer and heart disease. An easy way to cancer proof your home is for families to avoid the use of plastic containers for the storage of reheating of foods. If this is not possible, than dispose of any questionable plastic containers or bottles, and replace them with BPA free alternatives. However, even with BPA free plastics it is advisable not to use them for the cooking or reheating of foods, as heat will release possible carcinogens into the food.

Cancer Proof Cleaning Supplies

It is important to keep your home clean, both for health reasons and for aesthetic reasons. However, many common household cleaners are full of toxins and potentially carcinogenic chemicals. Beware of cleaning products that contain chlorine bleach or ammonia, both of which can elevate your family’s risk for cancer. Air fresheners are also to be avoided, as they release Isopar and paradichlorobenzene into the air, both of which are toxic to the liver, lungs and kidneys. Switch to so-called ‘green’ cleaning products that use all natural ingredients to clean and disinfect your home.

To cancer proof your home, make some informed choices about the products you buy regularly. When combined with smart lifestyle and diet choices, a cancer proof home can greatly reduce the risk for a number of common cancers as well as a variety of other chronic illnesses. Environment can be a major factor in the risk for cancer, and protecting yourself and your loved ones begins at home.

Generally, when we talk about lung cancer and its causes, our initial focus is on smoking. That’s to be expected, as smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer for men and women around the world. However, there are other environmental factors that can contribute to an increased risk for developing lung cancer. Radon, a colorless and odorless gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Americans, and the single most common cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Unfortunately, the hazards of radon are rarely discussed, and many people may be risking exposure without even knowing it. However, there are proactive steps that people can take to limit their exposure to this dangerous gas, and to reduce their risks for developing radon induced lung cancer.

Radon – A Primer

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is produced by the normal decay of uranium deposits in soil. As the uranium decays, the radon gas is released into the surrounding soil, or into the atmosphere. Radon is both odorless and colorless, making it difficult to detect without proper testing equipment. Radon can enter people’s homes through cracks in the foundation and walls, through gaps around sump pumps or drains, and through cracked or poorly fitted pipes. Radon has also been detected in the water supplies of people whose home’s depend on well water.

Radon and Lung Cancer

Radon gas carries a low level of radiation, which has been linked to an increased risk for a number of disorders, including lung cancer. When radon is released into the home, it binds with particles in the air which are then breathed in by the inhabitants. Smokers are particularly susceptible to radon related lung cancer, mostly due to the prolonged damage that has already been done to their lungs. But people who live with smokers are also at a greater risk, as smoking produces an abundance of air particles that the radon gas can bind with to produce a toxic home environment. Some people may be at a greater risk for radon related cancers due to infirmity or a genetic predisposition to cancer. Children and the elderly are at a significantly higher risk than otherwise healthy adults.

Testing for Radon

While the thought of a colorless and odorless cancer causing gas permeating your home is certainly frightening, there is some good news. Testing your home for radon gas is easy and inexpensive. The EPA recommends that all home owners, and anyone considering the purchase of a new home, should have the property tested for radon gas. Testing kits are available at most hardware stores, and typically cost between $20 and $40. After the test has been performed according to instructions, the kit should be returned to the manufacturer who will process the results and send you a detailed report. In the United States, any radon level above 4pCi/L (pico curies per liter) is deemed hazardous to the home owner’s health. In Canada and Europe, radon levels over 2pCi/L are considered abnormal. Ideally you want as low a reading as possible.

What to Do if Your Home Has Elevated Radon Levels

If, after testing, your home shows signs of elevated radon levels there are some simple steps you can take to reduce your exposure. Hire a certified contractor to inspect your home. Many licensed contractors are certified by the EPA for radon detection and repairs, and these firms will be able to located the source of the exposure and suggest repairs to eliminate the problem. In most cases repair costs are minimal, averaging between $1200 and $2200.

The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 15% of all lung cancer cases worldwide are the result of radon exposure. To put that into perspective, a person exposed to a radon level of 4pCi/L is five times more likely to die of lung cancer than in a car crash. The statistics are startling, and more than a little chilling. Fortunately, there are steps everyone can take to limit their exposure to this dangerous gas. If you are a home owner, or are thinking of buying a new home, now is the time to have it tested for radon. If you are an apartment dweller, contact your landlord and ask if they have tested the property, and if they have taken steps to limit the potential radon exposure. Your health, and the health of your family, may depend upon it.

When we talk about cancer prevention, much of the focus is on lifestyle. Diet, exercise, and personal habits are major contributing factors in the development of many common cancers. However, environment also plays a large role in cancer statistics. Unfortunately, when we talk about environmental cancer risks most people tend to only see the big picture, focusing on pollution, radiation, or toxic waste disposal. But there are many cancer causing agents that might be lurking closer to home. Many of the household products that we take for granted may actually be increasing our risk for developing cancer. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to cancer-proof our homes. But before we can do that, we have to identify the cancer causing household products that we need to avoid.

Household Cleaners

We all want to keep a clean house, both for appearance sake and for our own good health. But many of the common household cleaners we have relied on for years actually contain harmful chemicals that have been linked to a variety of health issues, including asthma, cancer and neurological disorders. Many common household cleaners and detergents contain toxic chemicals, such as Acetone, Diethanolamine, Ethoxylated Nonyl Phenol, and Methylene Chloride. The names of the chemicals alone are a good indicator that we really don’t want these products in our homes. A majority of these household cleaners can be replaced with all natural alternatives, such as hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and white vinegar. For example, a general all-purpose cleaner can be made from simply combining one cup of white vinegar with one cup of water. A simple solution that can handle most common kitchen and bathroom messes and yet is perfectly safe for the home and family.

Nonstick Cookware

The Teflon revolution was major news in the 1950’s and 1960’s, and housewives all around the country were trading in their cast-iron skillets for new-fangled non-stick cookware. Unfortunately, what we didn’t know at the time was that the main chemical in those non-stick coatings, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), was carcinogenic. We know better now, but many people are still using non-stick cookware on a regular basis. Now is the time to get rid of any chemical based non-stick cookware in your kitchen, and switch to traditional glass or cast-iron, or try some of the new chemical free non-stick cookware that uses ceramic or titanium as a surface coating.

Cosmetics

The majority of over the counter cosmetics are full of potential carcinogens. The chemicals used in many so-called “health and beauty” products are actually toxic, and over time can have a disastrous effect on our health. Again, just a list of the chemicals used in most cosmetics is indicative of the health hazards they contain. Consider the following common chemicals found in most cosmetics:

• Formaldehyde
• Hydroquinone
• Pheylenediamine
• Mercury
• Lead
• Coal Tar
• Diethanolamine

Fortunately, there are healthy alternatives out there. All natural cosmetics are now available, and offer an alternative to the chemical dependent products that dominate the marketplace. Also, look for fragrance free products, as the term ‘fragrance’ typically indicates the use of chemical additives.

Pesticides and Weed Killers

Many common chemicals in pesticides marketed for home use have been linked to instances of cancer. Particularly disturbing is the apparent link between these pesticides and weed killers and the occurrence of brain cancer in children. Carcinogenic chemicals found in many common lawn and garden products include chlordane, tetrachlorvinphos, dichlorvus, and permethren. Again, even the ingredient names should give one pause. The healthy alternative to using pesticides and weed killers on your lawn is to learn to garden organically. Pull weeds by hand, and use natural pest repellents whenever possible. Also consider introducing natural predators into your home garden that will feed off of the pests but will leave the plants themselves untouched.

These are just a few examples of the carcinogens that can be lurking in our household products. If cancer prevention is to be effective, it must extend beyond diet and lifestyle to include the environment we occupy most – our own homes. Now is the time to take a good look in your cupboards and garage for cancer causing products that may be threatening the health of you and your family.

Exposure to fumes emitted by cleaning products in the home could cause asthma in children, a study shows. The study found that children exposed to higher levels of volatile organic compounds were four times more likely to suffer from asthma than children who were not.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are found in solvents, paints, floor adhesives, cleaning products, polishes, room fresheners and fitted carpets, the study said.

The study included 88 children who were treated for asthma at the emergency department of the Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth.

The study also found that volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations were higher in homes where people smoked indoors, as well as homes that had been recently painted or had new carpets.  VOCs are carcinogenic (cancer causing) and some may be significantly related to asthma. -Thorax Asthma

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec comments on Cleaning Products Cause Asthma:

Asthma and respiratory disease (which is the fourth leading cause of death in America) are a large cause of not living life to the fullest. Important things we can learn about asthma and respiratory disease:

1. Use the most natural cleaning supplies, always buy them at the health food store.
2. Remove carpets, they are extremely toxic, a mold and dust collector and a major health hazard not only for asthma and respiratory disease but also for your entire health.
3. When painting use only the best non-toxic paints available.
4. Purchase the best air purifiers that have a combination of ionization, ozonation, and ultraviolet.
5. Do not look at asthma and respiratory disease as diseases to take something or do something to get rid of them.

There are steps you can take to help manage asthma and respiratory disease which have been mentioned in these articles but the most important step is to not look at the effect which is the disease but instead focus on the cause, the root cause of imbalance in your body, mind and emotions that will cause anything from asthma to cancer to depression to heart disease.

Take your eyes off the things and start a journey into total health so that you will make an environment where NO DISEASE, CONDITION OR SYMPTOM could ever develop or grow in.  Remember your problem is not your asthma or your respiratory disease, it is not your cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disease, your chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia your anxiety/depression.  Your problem is that you have broken the fundamental law of sowing and reaping and have not taken care of your body (the temple of God’s Spirit).  You are not living the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health™.

Once you start living the  7 Basic Steps to Total Health™ everyday of your life, you will absolutely see changes and balance will start to be restored to your being and you will see a progressive decrease in your symptoms, condition and diseases. Some additional action steps you can take with asthma and respiratory disease are:

1. Asthma is linked to carbohydrate maldigestion/malabsorption so get away from the refined sugar and flour.  They will always make it worse.
2. Asthma is related to general maldigestion from the stomach.  This is why those with reflux or heartburn have a higher incidence of asthma.

Start decreasing the digestive load by eating more living/raw plant food which are uncooked and higher in enzymes.  When food is cooked the enzymes are destroyed which causes a tremendous digestive burden for your system.  This result in heartburn, reflux, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and gas.  This will change as you eat less cooked food more living/raw plant food.  If you eat cooked food make sure you take digestive enzymes with every meal.    Dairy products are the number one food allergen and they clog and congest the sinuses, respiratory tract and the digestive tract.  This clogging and congestion will worsen all respiratory tract disorders, so eliminate them as soon as possible.

 

According to a new study released, Americans are exposed to a variety of potentially dangerous chemicals and toxic dust in their homes from products such as computers, frying pans and shower curtains.

The study, called “Sick of Dust,” found 35 hazardous industrial chemicals in household dust samples from 70 homes in seven states, including Michigan and California. It was commissioned by nine environmental groups, including the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland and the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition in San Jose.

“It literally brings home the fact that hazardous chemicals are in our daily lives,” said Beverly Thorpe, international director for Clean Production Action, one of the study’s sponsors. “We feel now is a prime opportunity to overhaul chemical regulation in the United States.”

The researchers tested the dust samples for six types of chemicals, including pesticides and flame retardants. All the chemicals are legal, but many are known to be harmful to immune, respiratory, cardiovascular and reproductive systems. They said infants and young children are especially vulnerable to exposure.

But the American Chemistry Council, which represents major chemistry companies, said that just because a substance is found in toxic dust or in the body at low levels doesn’t necessarily mean it causes health problems.

The study’s backers said they decided to test dust samples in U.S. homes after seeing similar studies that found high levels of toxic chemicals in households in Europe, where lawmakers are tightening regulation of chemical production.

They said they hope the test results will help prompt state and federal legislation to curb the use of dangerous chemicals in the production of household goods, ranging from furniture and clothes to carpets and nail polish.

-Associated Press

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec comments on Toxic Dust and Mold Weaken Immune System:

Your home is your sanctuary and your bedroom is your inner sanctuary. Four things are major offenders of your health in your household environment.

1. Mold

2. Dust

3. Chemicals

4. Bacteria and viruses

As these studies have shown, the mold will weaken the immune system and trigger many types of immune disorders one being asthma. Toxic dust represents the chemicals in your house and the world. This study shows 35 hazardous industrial chemicals in household dust, some including pesticides, toxic chemicals, and flame retardants just to name a few.

Another study shows that common house dust aka toxic dust contained 33 chemicals that promote breast cancer formation.

What is the answer?

First purify your home environment by the following steps:

1. Never use standard cleaning supplies in your house, only all natural, nontoxic substances.

2. Remove all carpets as soon as possible. Carpets are loaded with chemicals, mold and toxic dust. Replace with hardwood floors.

3. Get rid of draperies, window treatments and any other dust collectors.

4. Purchase an air purifier which detoxifies chemicals, kills mold, bacteria and settles floating dust to the ground.

About 130 million Americans swallow, inject, inhale, infuse, spray, and pat on prescribed medication every month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates. Americans buy much more medicine per person than any other country in the world.

The number of prescriptions has grown by two-thirds over the past decade to 3.5 billion yearly, according to IMS Health, a pharmaceutical consulting company. Americans consume even more nonprescription drugs, polling suggests.Recently, safety questions have beset some depression and anti-inflammatory drugs, pushing pain relievers Vioxx and – most recently – Bextra from the market. Rising ranks of doctors, researchers and public health experts are saying that America is overmedicating itself.

It is buying and taking far too much medicine, too readily and carelessly, for its own health and wealth, they say.Well over 125,000 Americans die from drug reactions and mistakes each year, according to Associated Press projections from landmark medical studies of the 1990s. That could make pharmaceuticals the fourth-leading national cause of death after heart disease, cancer and stroke. The pharmaceutical industry served up more than $250 billion worth of sales last year, the vast majority in prescriptions, according to industry consultants. That is about $850 spent on drugs for every American.

“We are taking way too many drugs for dubious or exaggerated ailments,’’ says Dr. Marcia Angell, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and author of “The Truth About the Drug Companies.’’ “What the drug companies are doing now is promoting drugs for long-term use to essentially healthy people. Why? Because it’s the biggest market.’’ The nation also overindulges far too often with its medication use, the critics say, and violates the classic proscription of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates: “First, do no harm.’’

Drug safety researcher Dr. James Kaye, of Boston University, remembers a medical school teacher telling the class: “All drugs are poisonous!’’ Hospital patients suffer seven hard-to-foresee adverse drug reactions and another three outright drug mistakes for every 100 admissions, estimates Dr. David Bates, a researcher at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. That translates into 3.6 million drug misadventures a year.

Drug makers, doctors and patients have all been quick to medicate some conditions once accepted simply as part of the human condition. Around the country, prescription drug sales have pushed relentlessly upward by an annual average of 11 percent over the past five years. The aging population is partly at fault, with its attendant ailments like cancer, heart attacks, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Other conditions have mysteriously proliferated, including asthma, diabetes and obesity. Exercise and better diet ward off heart disease and diabetes just as effectively as drugs do, studies show. However, says Fred Eckel, who teaches pharmacy practice at the University of North Carolina, “There tends to be a reliance on drugs as the first option.’’

–AOL News

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec comments on Americans Are Overmedicating:

There are way to heal the body without and medications. Diet, exercise, and stress relief are healing to the body.

This study is just further confirmation of how far we have fallen from Hippocrates’s, the father of medicine, words. “Let your food be your medicine.” And Thomas Edison’s wise words, “The doctor of the future will use no medicine but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame in diet and the cause and prevention of disease.”This is just further confirmation of how far we have fallen from Hippocrates’s, the father of medicine, words. “Let your food be your medicine.” And Thomas Edison’s wise words, “The doctor of the future will use no medicine but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame in diet and the cause and prevention of disease.”So aptly put was the doctor’s statement “all drugs are poisonous.”This is just further confirmation of how far we have fallen from Hippocrates’s, the father of medicine, words. “Let your food be your medicine.” And Thomas Edison’s wise words, “The doctor of the future will use no medicine but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame in diet and the cause and prevention of disease.”So aptly put was the doctor’s statement “all drugs are poisonous.”If you keep medications in their proper place which is emergency medical necessity then they will help not hinder one’s total health but if you use them as a band aid to get rid of all your symptoms and conditions that you were designed to heal with the Seven Basic Steps to Total Health:

1. Air
2. Water
3. Food
4. Sleep
5. Exercise
6. Fasting
7. Prayer

This is just further confirmation of how far we have fallen from Hippocrates’s, the father of medicine, words. “Let your food be your medicine.” And Thomas Edison’s wise words, “The doctor of the future will use no medicine but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame in diet and the cause and prevention of disease.”So aptly put was the doctor’s statement “all drugs are poisonous.”If you keep medications in their proper place which is emergency medical necessity then they will help not hinder one’s total health but if you use them as a band aid to get rid of all your symptoms and conditions that you were designed to heal with proper diet, exercise, lifestyle, diaphragm breathing, water intake, sleep, fasting/detoxing and pray/meditation/stillness (these are all part of the then they will greatly hinder one’s total health. Remember the Seven Basic Steps to Total Health each and every day.

 

 

Exposure to pesticides, may boost the long-term risk for developing Parkinson’s disease by 70 percent, a new study suggests.

These findings do back up earlier animal studies linking pesticide exposure to motor function abnormalities and lower levels of the brain neurotransmitter dopamine. Declines in dopamine have long been associated with Parkinson’s.
“This is the first large human study that shows that exposure to pesticide is associated with a higher incidence of Parkinson’s,” said study lead author Dr. Alberto Ascherio, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

The researchers studied 413 participants who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Exposed patients were twice as likely to be blue-collar workers and 14 times more likely to work as either a farmer, rancher, or fisherman.

However, the same risk of disease was found between patients who experienced exposure because of their work, such as farmers, and those who came into contact with the chemicals because of home or garden use.
The Harvard team found that, regardless of occupation, pesticide exposure boosted long-term Parkinson’s risk by 70 percent over the long-term.
-Annals of Neurology.

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on pesticides could raise Parkinson’s risk.
This study which was published in the Annals of Neurology was the first to show that exposure to pesticides may increase long term risk for developing Parkinson’s Disease by 70%, and was the first large human study that showed exposure to pesticides is associated with higher incidences of Parkinson’s according to lead author.  Another interesting note in the study was exposure was 14 times more likely to be found in workers that either were farmers, ranchers or fishermen.  Equally important as a risk factor was the home and garden pesticides that we are putting on our lawns and in our gardens. These chemicals are weakening our immune systems and increasing the risk of all types of diseases and as this study confirms Parkinson’s Disease, but also know that these chemicals will also increase our to immune suppressive diseases like cancer. The most alternative cancer treatment is prevention. What’s the answer? Very simply, go natural.

You can find by planting certain herbs in your garden they repel insects. By not needing to have a green, green lawn but tolerating some dandelions you might just save your life. Also chemicals enter your body by the food you eat so buy organic food whenever possible, eat a plant based diet instead of an animal based diet, animal concentrate chemicals, toxins and hormones in their fat tissue. You don’t have a risk of this when you are eating plant material. And you especially have no risk at all when you eat plant material that is organic. So in comparing organic plant material to eating animal products, there’s up to a thousand times greater toxins, chemicals, in the animal sources. So the more chemicals and toxins that  go into the body, the higher the risks of all diseases. So if one adopts the 7 Basics Steps to Total Health Lifestyle, one becomes more disease protective in all areas.

Using hair dye may increase the risk of a type of cancer known as lymphoma, a European study shows.

Dr. Silvia de Sanjose of the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Barcelona and colleagues published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The researchers found an overall 19 percent increased risk of lymphoma among people who reported coloring their hair. The increased risk was 26 percent among those who used hair dye 12 or more times a year.

People who began coloring their hair before 1980 showed a 37 percent increased lymphoma risk, while those who had only dyed their hair before 1980, but not afterwards, showed a 62 percent increased risk.

Based on the findings, de Sanjose and her team calculate that roughly 10 percent of lymphomas in women could be due to the use of hair dye.
Source: American Journal of Epidemiology

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on studies supports hair dye lymphoma link.

In this study published by the American Journal of Epidemiology, it showed that researchers found an overall 19% risk of lymphoma among people who reported coloring their hair. The increased risk was 26% among those who used hair dye 12 times or more a year. People who began coloring their hair before 1980 showed a 37% increase lymphoma risk. The summary of the report showed roughly 10% of lymphomas in women could be due to the use of hair dyes. Now what we want to state in this is very simply, not to just pin point one thing in a disease, but all the things that link to disease, in this we want to state chemicals and toxins entering the system. Now these chemicals and toxins are of course entering through the hair follicles. They can be entering through chemicals in the food, in the water, in the air, as we stated it could be pesticides. Any chemical or toxin entering the system is going to weaken the immune system and increase the risk of cancer and all diseases. So the answer is, the Seven Basic Steps to Total Health™, as detailed below:

1. Air – you are not deep diaphragm breathing to oxygenate your body.
2. Water – you are not drinking 32 ounces of distilled water per 50/lbs per body weight per day.
3. Food – you are not consuming a diet of living/raw plant food which has the highest energy, bioelectricity, enzymes and bioavailable nutrient content to either maintain or restore your health.
4. Sleep – you are not sleeping 9.5 hours with 3.5 of them before midnight.
5. Exercise – you are not exercising 30 minutes every day.
6. Fasting – you are not fasting from the normal Standard American Diet (SAD).
7. Prayer – you are taking the time throughout your day to regularly still your mind so you can hear the voice of God spoken into your heart.

When we live the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health day in and day out and we actively or proactively avoid chemical intake into our body through air, food, water and things that contact our skin and hair, remember anything that is on your skin within 30 seconds is in your blood stream. So anything you put on your scalp, your hair, your skin, lotions, chemicals of any type can increase the risk of disease. Your general rule is this, if it goes on your skin you should be able to eat it, because it is entering into the blood and into the cells anyway, so if we live by this general rule, if we eat organic fruits and vegetables, if we’re eating plant based diets, if all of our materials are organic we decrease all the chemical intake from those sources. If our water is distilled, water that has been post carbon filtered, we reverse all chemical intake from that source, and lastly is our air.  We cannot decrease the chemical content in the air in the cities we live in, in a short period of time, but what we can do is put air purification units in our homes to make that air as pure as possible.

Exposure to pesticides causes changes to rats’ nervous systems, according to preliminary results of a project led by the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota (UND).

The project seeks to identify the dangers posed by pesticides, how exposure occurs, and ways to reduce pesticide-related human health risks.

In laboratory tests with rats, the researchers found that pesticide exposure caused changes in the same areas of the brain involved in multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Pesticides can also cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal system and cause neurological dysfunction, the researchers said.
-University of North Dakota, news release, HealthDay News

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on pesticide exposure damages nervous system, brain, and gastro-intestinal system.
What this article showed was that pesticide exposure caused changes in rat studies in the same areas of the brain involved in multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. They also found that pesticides can also cause severe damage to the gastro-intestinal system and cause neurological dysfunction. Many other studies have shown that pesticide exposure increases cancer risk and once you have been diagnosed with cancer the best choice is alternative cancer treatment. What we have to realize is that we are toxifying the world we live in with our toxic lifestyle.

Chemicals are being pumped into the air, the water, and the food. So the only way around this is a two fold answer. Number 1, try to change the laws, try to change the government to put more restrictions on the chemical produces that are toxifying the world. That is a much slower way, a way that we do need to adopt, but a way that we will not see the change immediately. The second fold of the two fold approach is to make personal changes in our life that will have immediate benefits. So let’s look at where these pesticides and chemicals and toxins are coming from. Pesticides of course are sprayed not only on non organic food, fruits and vegetables, but also one of the highest sources of pesticides are just what’s in your home, what you would be putting in your lawn and garden. So how can we minimize pesticides and all other chemicals? Well we have to look at the 3 sources, air, water and food. So, we’ll look at air first? How can we make the purest air? Well we want to breath fresh air, we don’t want to be exposed to chemical, it is very important we minimize chemical exposure.

The biggest source of chemicals in a day to day environment in breathing, is when we are inside buildings, and inside newer homes, or toxic chemical laden buildings. This is why the more we can open windows and get ventilation, the more we will minimize that risk. We can also use certain air purifiers,  that are designed to detoxify chemicals in the air, and make it pure air (call the Institute for more information on the Fresh Air at 630-871-0000). The second is the water. And the way we are going to purify the water is by putting shower filters, like the Waterwise Shower Filter System on our showers so we do not absorb the chemical and toxins from the ground water and from the water being put into our body. Because we breathe in the water vapors, which chlorine gas is very toxic and we breathe it in in a standard 20 minute shower, we breathe in an excessive amount of chlorine and also we absorb 2-3 pounds of water in a 20 minute shower in through our skin, and again if this is non filtered water, this is toxicity entering the system, so we use Waterwise Filter System for the shower, and we can put carbon filtration systems for the whole house. I do not recommend drinking that water, but at least we’re reducing the chemical load that would go on our hands, skin and going in the water that we use daily. And then as far as drinking water, we recommend steamed distilled post carbon filtered water for the purest water on the planet.

And the Waterwise 8800 unit is one of the best on the market to do this. So we have fresh air, pure air, pure water now we want to get the chemicals out of the food. And this is pure living raw, organic plant based food. It is the purest food on the planet and it’s the most health promoting on the planet in every way. It’s the food that the planet started with in the beginning of creation and it’s the food that will sustain this planet for the years to come. When we adopt a living, raw plant based lifestyle, not only do we bring the highest level of health to our bodies, minds and emotions from a dietary aspect, but also we promote the saving of the resources of the planet and the tremendous amount of waste and cost that is produced in promoting an animal food, animal diet lifestyle. This living, raw organic diet consists of vegetables, root vegetables, sea vegetables, sprouts, sprouted material, seeds, nuts, avocados, and legumes. All in the living, raw state. The more we cook, the more we kill, the more we destroy the two most important nutrients in the food which is the bioenergy and the enzymes. The bioenergy is the life in the food, and life brings forth life, and the enzymes are critical for biological functioning in the cells of the body. And the enzymes are denatured by any heat higher than 110°F. This heat destroys all enzyme activity. So when we cook food, even wonderful plant based food, we destroy the two most important nutrients, the bioenergy, and the enzymes. So if we adopt the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health lifestyle, we promote health at the highest level in body, mind, emotions and spirit.

Growing scientific evidence suggests the most widespread industrial contaminant in drinking water — a solvent used in adhesives, paint and spot removers — can cause cancer in people.

The National Academy of Sciences reported that a lot more is known about the cancer risks and other health hazards from exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) than there was five years ago when the Environmental Protection Agency took steps to regulate it more strictly.

TCE, which is also widely used to remove grease from metal parts in airplanes and to clean fuel lines at missile sites, is known to cause cancer in some laboratory animals. EPA was blocked from elevating its assessment of the chemical’s risks in people by the Defense Department, Energy Department and NASA, all of which have sites polluted with it.

TCE is a colorless liquid that evaporates at room temperatures and has a somewhat sweet odor and taste. It is one of the most common pollutants found in the air, soil and water at U.S. military bases. Until the mid-1970s, it also was used as a surgical anesthetic.

It also has been found at about 60 percent of the nation’s worst contaminated sites in the Superfund cleanup program, the academy said.

A committee of academy experts said “a large body of epidemiologic data is available” on TCE showing the chemical is a possible cause of kidney cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, impaired neurological function and autoimmune disease.

“The committee found that the evidence on carcinogenic risk and other health hazards from exposure to trichloroethylene has strengthened since 2001,” the report said. “Hundreds of waste sites are contaminated with trichloroethylene, and it is well documented that individuals in many communities are exposed to the chemical, with associated health risks.”
– Associated Press

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on chemicals in drinking water causes cancer.
What this article showed was the chemical trichloroethylene abbreviated TCE, has been increasingly showing up in water sources and this chemical, is a possible cause of: kidney cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, impaired neurological function and auto immune disease. Important thing to understand is it’s not just one chemical it’s all chemicals. We live in a chemical world now, and all these chemicals are leaking down into the ground water, which is the water that we all draw our source from. So the problem is the more we toxify and pollute the world, the more it increases our risk of all cancer and all diseases. It begins with changing our world, to change the government, to put greater restrictions, and that is a noble task and one that should be undergone. But, on a personal level, what can you do right now that is going to affect the toxicity of the water.

We recommend two things. First of all don’t let regular tap water ever touch your food, don’t let regular tap water ever enter your body, don’t ever shower with regular tap water unless it is filtered.

We recommend for whole house water filtration systems, at least carbon tank on the whole system. This is for all water in the house. We also recommend a two carbon tank system, which not only filters out general chlorine, and general chemicals, but the second type of carbon tank will filter out the more refined chemicals like MTBE gasoline derivative in ground water that is also linked to certain types of cancers.

Another very easy step to take is, and most important, are using a shower filter on the shower, which we recommend the Showerwise unit, because this will filter out a majority of all chlorine that comes through the standard water and other chemicals. Remember in a standard 20 minute shower with hot water, your skin and body absorbs up to 2-3 pounds of water and not only that is going into your body through your skin, but you are also breathing the fumes, the chlorinated vapors which is highly toxic to the body. This can be alleviated with the Showerwise shower system, very easily installed.

Now the other thing is, the most important of all, is the water that you drink. The water that you drink has to be the purest water on the planet, devoid of all chemicals and toxins. The water that we found that fulfills these requirements is steamed distilled post carbon filtered water. The unit which we recommend the Waterwise 8800 unit. What this unit does is not only distills the water, it filters it after distillation. Because even in distilled water, which is the purest water, some volatile organic compounds can make it past the distillation and still be in the water, so with the post carbon filtration is filters our any residual chemical that could have past through the distillation process.

This steamed distilled post carbon filtered water is the purest water that you can drink, and this is the one we recommend not only for detox purposes, but just to keep the body healthy. So, to sum this all up. The water is toxic, you cannot drink it, you cannot bathe with it. You cannot do much with it if it has not gone through some filtration. The highest filtration, of course, has to be for water that we drink. This is the steamed distilled post carbon filter water, but you should have water filters on your showers, and possibly carbon tanks as a whole water system on your house. And remember water is one of the Seven Basic Steps to Total Health™

This first-person account from National Geographic details the reporter David Ewing Duncan’s quest to identify the chemicals his body has absorbed over his lifetime.

His story began a year ago, shortly after a battery of 14 blood tests to find levels of 320 chemicals residing in his body, acquired “by merely living.” Like, for example, chemicals absorbed from the dump near his boyhood Kansas home that’s now an EPA superfund site.

Recently, Duncan was told, among other alarming news, that his test for the presence of flame-retarding compounds called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s), which can interfere with thyroid function, cause reproductive and neurological problems, and hamper neurological development, showed alarmingly high levels — 10 times the average found in U.S. residents and more than 200 times the average for Swedes.

The probable cause was extensive air travel (some 200,000 miles annually) leading to exposure to airplane interiors sprayed with flame retardants.

Other chemicals that were found in his body include PFOA’s, PCB’s, mercury, and phthalates.

Duncan decided to test his body for mercury after eating swordfish, one of the most toxic fish around, and halibut.

After taking a blood test 24 hours after eating the fish, his levels of mercury had more than doubled to 12 micrograms per liter, a huge increase, since children have experienced measurable losses in IQ with mercury levels in their blood at 5.8 micrograms.

Duncan notes that several illnesses have been rising mysteriously, such as autism, leukemia, male birth defects, and childhood brain cancer, and notes that some experts suspect a link to the many man-made chemicals in our food, water, and air.
-National Geographic

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on toxic living
This was a fascinating article from a reporter of the National Geographic, where he decided to analyze his own health and he did that by doing a series of blood tests. And in these blood tests he found 320 chemicals residing in his body, that he says, were acquired by mere living. Just living you are going to absorb these chemicals because we live in a toxic environment and this is why this generation is the most unhealthy of all generations and your children will be more unhealthy than you are and your grandchildren will be more unhealthy than your children, because they are being exposed to more and more chemicals, and their level of diet and nutrition is becoming less and less. So interesting in this study is that some of the chemicals like polybrominiated diphenyl ethers, or abbreviated PBDE. It said the PBDE’s interfered with thyroid function, cause reproductions and neurological problems and hamper neurological development. These are found very commonly, it’s a chemical that’s found in as a flame retardant, that is put in mattresses in the past and also is found in airplanes, as he found out with his extensive air travel. Other things to note was after he tested his body for mercury after eating fish, and the interesting thing was that 24 hours after eating the fish, his mercury level had doubled to 12 micrograms. This is so huge to understand that at 5.8 micrograms you start to have a measurable loss I.Q. in children. His levels went up to 12 micrograms after eating fish. So, when people say fish is healthy, we disagree, as this study showed it has toxic levels of mercury and with the rise in the chemicals in the environment that are going into the body, it’s so important that we lead a Total Health lifestyle to detoxify our body. Because when we lead the lifestyle that God designed us to lead, we will minimize the chemicals coming into our body, we will maximize the chemical and toxins going out of our body. We will also minimize the harmful effects of these chemicals and toxins once they are in our body.   Another side note is you try to decrease your chemical exposure as much as possible. You would be doing this by eating more organic plant based food, because as you eat up the food chain, you concentrate the toxins that are stored in the fat tissue of animals. This includes all animal products, including fish, as the study showed, it also includes dairy products, any type of animal product can store these toxins. Animal products as opposed to organic plant products, there’s up to a thousand time increase of toxins in the food.