Your Drinking Water and the Politics of Arsenic 

Many of our patients who undergo testing for heavy metals often are found to have elevated levels of such poisons in their body.  These include toxic levels of  aluminum, mercury, lead, and tin, among others,  that contribute to many chronic diseases.

Being told that their test results show high levels of arsenic may lead some patients to wonder, "Is my spouse trying to poison me?" The answer is usually "No." A far more likely explanation lies in government regulations that have allowed excessive amounts of this poison to be present in our drinking water. 

It is well documented in scientific literature that arsenic levels greater than 10 parts per billion (ppb) in drinking water significantly increase the risk of bladder and lung cancer.  Alarmingly, government standards have allowed 50 ppb in our water. The Clinton administration signed a bill to restrict arsenic levels to 10 ppb. When President Bush came into office, however, his administration’s ties to the chemical industry led him to rescind this bill.  Fortunately, Environmental Protection Agency chief and former New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman is reexamining this standard and calling for even stricter guidelines. 

Arsenic also tends to concentrate in eggs.  Why would eggs have elevated levels of arsenic?  The answer is disturbing.  Chickens are often fed arsenic to stimulate their appetite, leading them to grow larger and produce more eggs.  To be on the safe side, we therefore advise our patients to eat only organically grown eggs that have lower levels of pesticides and other toxic agents.  Organic farms also do not use arsenic in raising their chickens. 

As for heavy metals in your drinking water, you can check with your local water company or the EPA to find out what levels it contains.

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The Corn-Oil Colon-Cancer Link

We have been studying the effects of fats and cancer for years, and have seen how some fats are protective, while others are dangerous.  A four-year study has just been completed showing that animals fed a corn-oil based diet are more likely to develop colon cancer, while those fed a fish-oil diet were protected from colon tumors. Why? A corn-oil diet created the chemical environment needed to encourage the growth of cancerous cells in the colon.

These findings offer further scientific backing for the use of polyunsaturated fats such as fish oil as cancer preventives.  Fish oil belongs to the Omega-3 fatty acid family now considered so important in reducing the occurrence of cancer.  Flax, walnuts, almonds, and pecans are also rich in beneficial Omega-3 fats.

So instead of using corn oil, we recommend you try cooking with olive or canola oils, in case you haven’t yet made the switch to these healthier fats.

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When the FDA approved the new class of anti-inflammatory painkillers known as Cox-2 inhibitors, television
commercials and newspaper advertisements lead us to believe that these new agents were medical
breakthroughs.  The drugs, Celebrex and Vioxx, were touted as miracle cures for pain that did not cause
stomach ulcers.  While the risk of stomach ulcers has proven to be lower in those using the new Cox-2 drugs,
their chances of developing a more serious condition may be significantly increased.

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic reviewed data from approximately 16,000 patients taking either Celebrex or Vioxx, and their results were alarming. They found that patients taking Vioxx had twice the risk of serious cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke as patients taking another pain reliever. Celebrex was also found to increase the potential for heart problems.

What is also disturbing is that several studies have proven that neither of these drugs, which cost at least $65 per month, is a more effective pain reliever than naproxen, the medicine found in the over-the-counter drug Aleve.  All of which serves to further show that when dealing with pain problems, it is necessary to weigh the risks and benefits of all therapies rather than simply swallowing the claims of those being touted as the latest and greatest.

At the Magaziner Center we have found the most effective cures for chronic pain are those that have stood the test of time, such as prolotherapy, glucosamine, and the supplement MSM.

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Many people suffer disabling pain in their jaw known as TMJ.  When arthritis occurs in this joint, life can be miserable, and even normal tasks such as eating can prove challenging.  In a study conducted in the Journal of Rheumatology, glucosamine was shown to be more effective than ibuprofen in relieving TMJ pain.  Glucosamine users also found it easier to cope with jaw problems and get back to their normal activities.

Why would this nutrient be more beneficial than a drug?  Because it treats the underlying problem and does not just mask the symptoms.  We have found that glucosamine along with other key nutrients can also help to relieve other chronically painful joints as well.

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In the hottest days of the summer months, we have been warned about poor air quality from dangerous levels of ozone. Ozone gas, which is the main pollutant in smog, affects millions of Americans each day, and studies have shown this gas leads to decreased lung function.  This may cause serious trouble for asthmatics and those with emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

In keeping with the belief of scientists that ozone damage may be mediated through free-radical oxidation, antioxidant vitamins known to reduce free-radical damage were recently  put to the test.  Thirty-one adults were placed on a vitamin-C restricted diet.  Half of the subjects were given an antioxidant supplement and the other half a placebo. Then both groups were exposed to ozone during two hours of exercise, and their lung function was measured.  While this may seem like some kind of inhumane torture, the researchers from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discovered that the group taking antioxidants showed a 25-30% greater lung capacity than those in the placebo group.

This study provides us with additional good data to support the use of antioxidant supplements in those with lung disease, asthma, and in those who suffer from environmental illness.

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