Table of contents for Breast Cancer Risk & Your Wardrobe

1. Breast Cancer and Your Wardrobe Choices Part 1
2. Breast Cancer and Your Wardrobe Choices Part 2

This is Part 2 of a two-part post; we’ll discuss Health Risks from Underwire Bras, Simple Wardrobe Changes for Better Health, and Relief for Fibrocystic Cysts.  In Part 1, we covered which wardrobe choices increase cancer risks and important study results. If you missed Part 1, use the series link above.

The Health Risks of Underwire Bras

According to Dr. Mercola, even though the underwire is plastic coated, there are long-term health risks involved by having that metal on your body. Underwire bras put continual pressure on vital lymphatic reflex points which are located below each breast. He says,

Below your breasts are two important neuro-lymphatic reflex points. The one below your right breast corresponds to your liver and gallbladder. The one below your left breast goes to your stomach. In addition, the metal wire can also act as an antenna attracting electromagnetic fields, which can also increase your risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Mercola quotes a study by John D. Andre, D.C., N.D., to describe the harm underwires do to these reflex points. Here is an excerpt:

These reflexes, like all acupuncture points, follow the Law of Stimulation. In the beginning of stimulating a point, it is stimulated – often causing an increase in associated function. Later on, this continued stimulation causes sedation of that point and a subsequent decrease in its associated function. It’s a mechanical thing. If a woman keeps the metal underwires on top of those reflex points, over time that WILL mess up the functioning of the associated circuits: Liver, gallbladder, and stomach. Bottom Line: It will likely make her sick; slowly and quietly. John D. Andre, D.C., N.D

Simple Wardrobe Changes for Better Health

The Best Option:

Dr Mercola recommends a wireless style for your greatest health improvements–

An even better option is to opt for a wireless style bra, which are now available in most brands, and for various levels of support. Sports bras and camisoles with a built-in shelf bra are other options that can work well, especially if your bust is on the smaller side.

Option for Those Needing Underwires:

He says that wearing metal needs to be avoided and recommends switching to a plastic wire instead of a metal one–

BraMakersSupply.com is one of the few companies that carry the whole range of plastic wire sizes and ship across the world. And at $2 per pair, protecting your long-term health couldn’t be much more affordable.

Other Helpful Resources for Breast Health and Relief of Fibrocystic Breasts

These two articles are sources I came across which you should find helpful:

A “must read” for anyone with breast pain and/or cysts is the article on Relieving Breast Pain by Woman-to-Woman.com. 

Carolyn Chambers has a long list of holistic helps, but of specific interest is her list of dietary changes, listed about half way down her webpage.  Click here for to read the Healing Diet.

The above excerpts are from Dr. Joseph Mercola’s email newsletter. Please use this link to read his full article.

Table of contents for Breast Cancer Risk & Your Wardrobe

1. Breast Cancer and Your Wardrobe Choices Part 1
2. Breast Cancer and Your Wardrobe Choices Part 2

What’s in your wardrobe? Studies are showing that the most popular style of bras hinder lymph node function, increasing breast cancer risk.

Ill-fitting bras, as well as the most popular style of bra, the metal underwire, increase your potential health risks. Lymph nodes, which purpose are to daily excrete toxins from your body, are unable to drain properly when tight-fitting bras or underwire bras consistently press on their reflex points.

Dr. Joseph Mercola recently sent out a newsletter with data from various doctors and researchers studying the effects of impaired lymph node drainage due to constrictive clothing. We are exposed to many dangerous toxins everyday that the body needs to eliminate. Dr. Mercola says that even the aluminum in antiperspirants is a dangerous toxin which the body needs to eliminate.

I’m categorizing below a few excerpts from this essential information related to breast cancer. Please use the newsletter link here or the one at the end of this post to read Dr. Mercola’s full article.

How do ill-fitting bras, underwire bras, and other constrictive clothing increase cancer risk as well as fibrocystic breasts?

Read the important medical findings from these 3 excerpts:

Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes. Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow…as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast. Dr. Michael Schacter, M.D, The Prevention and Complementary Treatment of Breast Cancer

Constricting bras have also been implicated in the rise of benign (non-cancerous) but often painful breast cysts and lumps. Dr. John McDougall, M.D., The McDougall Program for a Healthy Heart

After repeated bouts of inflammation, the breasts develop scar tissue in many places, and some of the milk ducts become plugged, forming cysts. Fibrocystic breast disease, not surprisingly, is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Edinburgh Breast Group, UK, Lancet May 1999

As a woman’s body is constantly changing throughout life, re-measuring should take place fairly often to ensure that your bra is not only comfortable, but a safe fit. Though many sites offer complex calculations, Dr. Mercola referred to a site by a company called Linda’s Bra School out of New York which automatically calculates your correct bra size after entering 2 simple measurements. Click here to use the bra size calculator on Linda’s site in her Bra Fitting Room.  Though it may sound unusual, proper fit is actually a serious health issue.

It is obvious through the warnings on commercials or the fine print on labels that prescription drugs contain a wide variety of potential negative side effects. A large number of vitamins are made synthetically through a chemical process, rather than derived directly from plants. (1) [Links to research articles will be posted at the end of the post.] The more you can derive health benefits directly from the food you eat, the better off you will be.

Adding these key foods into your daily intake will help boost your immune system, lower cholesterol, as well as fight heart disease and various forms of cancer.

Tomatoes - Lycopene is a cancer-fighting antioxidant from tomatoes and other red fruits. Of all the carotenoids, lycopene is one of the most potent antioxidants; researchers have found a correlation between increasing the consumption of tomatoes and reducing the risk of cancer. (2) With most foods, the health benefits are lost through the heat of cooking. Lycopene is one of the few necessary substances that is more easily absorbed into the body after being cooked. Tomatoes can decrease your risk of bad cholesterol building up inside arteries (plaque formation) and help prevent future heart attacks. (3) In another study done over a 6 year period by Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, the diets of more than 47,000 men were studied. Of 46 fruits and vegetables evaluated, only the tomato products showed a measurable relationship to reduce prostate cancer risk. (4)

Lemons - Easily boost your immune system by just squeezing a slice of lemon into your drinking water. Lemons are rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin C, having enough to boost your immune system or help fight off a cold. (5) I add lemon to every glass of water I drink during the day.

Water – More water than what most of us drink is necessary for the proper functioning of our bodies, including flushing out toxins. Up to 60 percent of the human body is water, the brain being composed of 70 percent water, and the lungs nearly 90 percent water. (6) Be sure to drink water that is as free of toxins as you can afford. (See my post on Water Filter for Drinking Water for info on clean drinking water in your home. ) To know how much water you should drink per day, take your weight in pounds, divide it by 2, and drink that many ounces. For example, a 200 lb. man should drink a minimum of 100 oz. of water per day.

Dark berries - Purple, red, and blue berries boost anti-oxidants as well as ward off UV damage. A landmark study shows that just one cup of berries provides all the disease-fighting antioxidants you need in a single day.This newest study used updated technology to assess antioxidant levels in more than 100 foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, breads, nuts, and spices. Blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries ranked highest among the fruits studied. Wild blue berries had 10 times the USDA recommendation of antioxidants in 1 cup. (7)

I was reminded of this information while we were harvesting our purple muscadine grapes the past few weeks.  We enjoy stocking the freezer for the coming year with a variety of baked goods made with muscadines, as well as just eating them off the vine. One plant, about 6 years old, provides us with 5 to 6 tall stock pots of grapes, and that is with cutting the vine back to fit the arbor each spring. University studies have found that muscadine grapes are one of the richest sources of antioxidants in nature, having 40 times more antioxidants than any other fruit, with high concentrations of resveratrol and ellagic acid. (13)

Spices – B vitamins are the most difficult vitamin for our bodies to absorb. Spices can be one source for your B vitamins. The vitamin B-6 content of 42 spices was measured in duplicate using a microbiological assay. Relatively high sources were the red pepper spices such as chili, cayenne, and paprika, garlic, and certain leaves such as basil, bay leaf, dill weed, oregano, rosemary, sage, and tarragon. (8)

Honey – Honey has long been known to contain a large amount of anti-oxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, and can easily be incorporated into your daily intake by substituting it for sugar in coffee, tea, oatmeal, on toast, etc. Be sure to buy an uncooked type. Honey also contains protein, vitamins and minerals, but no cholesterol. Darker honeys have more nutrients and antioxidants than light ones and the antioxidant levels vary with the flower type. Buckwheat flower honey has the highest antioxidants of any honey, clover is in the middle of the range. For allergy sufferers, eating locally grown honey can prevent seasonal allergies. Recent studies are now able to prove its as an antibacterial topical treatment for burns and ulcers. It also produces hydrogen peroxide, which generate highly reactive free radicals in the body, killing bacteria, further contributing to its antibacterial properties. (9)

Olive Oil – Omega 3 fatty acids are very publicized now as a necessary element for good health, of which olive oil is a good source. The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. Studies have shown that it lowers heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. Studies have also shown that it reduces the risk of colon cancer and gallstone formation by activating the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones naturally. It has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis, too. (10) It is important to not just eliminate harmful fats from the diet, but incorporate healthy ones. Increasing your intake of healthy fats also enables you to absorb more anti-oxidants from your food. 2 tablespoons daily is recommended for healthy cholesterol levels. I use light tasting olive oil (Lighter tasting will be specified on the label.), usually immediately before a snack or meal just to get the taste out of my mouth. Check the label to get a brand that is extra virgin oil and cold pressed, as this will be the least processed and retain the most health benefits.

Flax seed – This is another healthy source of plant-derived omega 3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Though we personally still eat wild caught fish, some doctors do not recommend fish at all as your omega 3 source due to problems with toxic mercury levels. Studies show flax seed lowering total cholesterol and the bad cholesterol levels, as well as helping to lower blood triglyceride and blood pressure. It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack. Flax seed is also believed to reduce the risk of cancers, especially breast cancer. In addition, the oil from flax seed benefits those with Crohn’s disease and Colitis. (11) I buy a 14 oz. package of Spectrum Naturals Organic Ground Flax Seed at The Vitamin Shoppe (also online at vitaminshoppe.com) for about $5 US and take 1 tablespoon per day in cereal or oatmeal. For women who have trouble with fibrocystic breast disease, in addition to eliminating caffeine and toxins from the diet, adding flax seed to the your food intake helps to decrease cyst size and pain.

1 Click here for further reading on synthetic versus natural vitamins.

2 Lycopene info

3 Lycopene and heart attack prevention

4 Lycopene reduces prostate cancer

5 Lemon info

6 Water and the body

7 Dark Berries and antioxidants

8 Spices and B vitamins

9 Honey for burns and wounds
Honey and antioxidant rates

10 Olive Oil benefits

11 Flax Seed benefits

13 Muscadine grapes

If you have a wide variety of health issues and have not been able to locate the source, you may want to check your B12 levels.

B12 is a vitally important nutrient in many bodily functions, yet studies show that 1 out of 4 adults in the US are B12 deficient, and nearly ½ the population has sub-optimal B12 levels. Most people over 50 are likely you are to have a vitamin B12 deficiency, as you absorb less with age. Strict vegetarians and vegans are at risk as the only dietary source are animal products. Studies in India show about 80% of adults there are deficient in vitamin B12.

Today’s research are excerpts from a newsletter by Dr. Joseph Mercola. Click here to read his full article. His B12 article is very lengthy, but if, after reading these excerpts, you feel that the info applies to you, you will probably want to read his article in its entirety.

B12′s Work in the Body

Take a look at this extensive list of B12′s involvement in your health.

• Proper digestion, food absorption, iron use, carbohydrate and fat
  metabolism
• Healthy nervous system function. B12 builds the myelin which
  insulates and protects your nerve endings, allowing them to
  communicate.
• Promotion of normal nerve growth and development
• Help with regulation of the formation of red blood cells
  cell formation and longevity
• Proper circulation
• Adrenal hormone production
• Healthy immune system function
• Support of female reproductive health and pregnancy 
• Feelings of well-being and mood regulation
• Mental clarity, concentration, memory function
• Physical, emotional and mental energy

Common Health Risks from B12 Deficiency

This is a partial list of health problems for which a B12 deficiency could create increased risk:

1. pernicious anemia
2. cancer, specifically breast and cervical cancer, due to B12′s role in DNA synthesis
3. heart disease and stroke, due to elevated homocysteine levels
4. birth defects, also due to elevated homocysteine levels
5. infertility and repeated miscarriages
5. dementia
6. Alzheimer’s*
7. Also, possibility of link to migraines
*(Research links B12 deficiency reversible dementia in the elderly. This type of treatable dementia differs from Alzheimer’s, though seniors with a lack of B12 do suffer more from brain atrophy or shrinkage – a characteristic of Alzheimer’s.)

Other General Symptoms of B12 Deficiency

Obviously, any health issues in the above areas could signify a B12 deficiency. Other general symptoms may include:

- mental fogginess
- mood swings
- lack of motivation
- feelings of apathy
- difficulty sleeping
- muscle weakness
- tingling in your extremities
- depression
- symptoms mimicking multiple sclerosis

Common Causes B12 Deficiency

Reading through the list below makes it becomes clear why so much of the population is B12 deficient. There is a wide variety of causes!

Aging - B12 absorption typically decreases with age.
Strict Veg Diet - B12 deficiency is extremely common in strict vegetarians and vegans.
Antacids – Both antacids and ant-ulcer drugs decrease stomach acid, a crucial ingredient for the body to absorb B12 .
Diabetes Medication - Metformin© (brand names Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet, Riomet, Glumetza) interferes with calcium metabolism needed for B12 absorption. The longer a person with Type 2 diabetes takes Metformin© and the higher the dose, the greater the risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.
Excessive coffee drinking - more than 4 cups per day
Bacterial infection - Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a common contributor to stomach ulcers
Gastric bypass surgery
Laughing Gas - ample evidence points possible destruction of the body’s B12 reserve by nitrous oxide exposure
Food-Cobalamin Malabsorption Syndrome - Your stomach lining loses its ability to produce protein that binds to vitamin B12 for absorption. Atrophic gastritis is the most common cause (chronic inflammation of mucous membranes in the stomach). Again, more common with age.
Prescription Drugs - A large variety can cause B12 deficiency. See Dr. Mercola’s full article for the list.

Natural Sources of B12

Vitamin B12 is present in natural form only in animal sources of food. Though seafood is a good source of B12, Dr. Mercola does not recommend it due to mercury levels. Other good sources are:

Beef and beef liver – preferably grass fed
Chicken – preferably organic
Milk – preferably non-pasteurized
Eggs – preferably free range (Omega-3 enhanced are less healthy than regular eggs.) Raw or soft-boiling gives the most health benefits.

Testing for B12 Deficiency

Blood tests for vitamin B12 deficiency aren’t as clear cut or helpful as they are for other nutritional deficiencies. Read Dr. Mercola’s full article for details. Though it is water soluble, B12 doesn’t exit your body quickly in urine. It is stored in your liver, kidneys and other body tissues. As a result, a deficiency may not show itself for a number of years, depending on your diet and your body’s ability to efficiently absorb B12. After about seven years of B12 deficiency, irreversible brain damage can result.

Since Vitamin B12 supplementation is completely non-toxic and inexpensive, Dr. Mercola recommends supplementing your diet with B12 and see if your symptoms improve.

Adjusting your diet can be helpful unless the cause of the deficiency is a digestion absorption issue. If you aren’t getting sufficient B12 in your diet, or you suspect your body isn’t able to efficiently absorb the vitamin, Dr. Mercola recommends you begin supplementation immediately with either an under-the-tongue fine mist spray or vitamin B12 injections.

Excerpts from “Potentially Life-Threatening Vitamin Deficiency Affects 25% of Adults,” Dr. Joseph Mercola.

What’s in your wardrobe? Studies are showing that the most popular style of bras hinder lymph node function, increasing breast cancer risk.

Ill-fitting bras, as well as the most popular style of bra, the metal underwire, increase your potential health risks. Lymph nodes, which purpose are to daily excrete toxins from your body, are unable to drain properly when tight-fitting bras or underwire bras consistently press on their reflex points.

Dr. Joseph Mercola recently sent out a newsletter with data from various doctors and researchers studying the effects of impaired lymph node drainage due to constrictive clothing. We are exposed to many dangerous toxins everyday that the body needs to eliminate. Dr. Mercola says that even the aluminum in antiperspirants is a dangerous toxin which the body needs to eliminate.

I’m categorizing below a few excerpts from this essential information related to breast cancer. Please use the newsletter link here or the one at the end of this post to read Dr. Mercola’s full article.

How do ill-fitting bras, underwire bras, and other constrictive clothing increase cancer risk as well as fibrocystic breasts?

Read the important medical findings from these 3 excerpts:

Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes. Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow…as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast. Dr. Michael Schacter, M.D, The Prevention and Complementary Treatment of Breast Cancer

Constricting bras have also been implicated in the rise of benign (non-cancerous) but often painful breast cysts and lumps. Dr. John McDougall, M.D., The McDougall Program for a Healthy Heart

After repeated bouts of inflammation, the breasts develop scar tissue in many places, and some of the milk ducts become plugged, forming cysts. Fibrocystic breast disease, not surprisingly, is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Edinburgh Breast Group, UK, Lancet May 1999

As a woman’s body is constantly changing throughout life, re-measuring should take place fairly often to ensure that your bra is not only comfortable, but a safe fit. Though many sites offer complex calculations, Dr. Mercola referred to a site by a company called Linda’s Bra School out of New York which automatically calculates your correct bra size after entering 2 simple measurements. Click here to use the bra size calculator on Linda’s site in her Bra Fitting Room.  Though it may sound funny, remember that the proper fit is a serious health issue.

The Health Risks of Underwire Bras

According to Dr. Mercola, even though the underwire is plastic coated, there are long-term health risks involved by having that metal on your body. Underwire bras put continual pressure on vital lymphatic reflex points which are located below each breast. He says,

Below your breasts are two important neuro-lymphatic reflex points. The one below your right breast corresponds to your liver and gallbladder. The one below your left breast goes to your stomach. In addition, the metal wire can also act as an antenna attracting electromagnetic fields, which can also increase your risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Mercola quotes a study by John D. Andre, D.C., N.D., to describe the harm underwires do to these reflex points. Here is an excerpt:

These reflexes, like all acupuncture points, follow the Law of Stimulation. In the beginning of stimulating a point, it is stimulated – often causing an increase in associated function. Later on, this continued stimulation causes sedation of that point and a subsequent decrease in its associated function. It’s a mechanical thing. If a woman keeps the metal underwires on top of those reflex points, over time that WILL mess up the functioning of the associated circuits: Liver, gallbladder, and stomach. Bottom Line: It will likely make her sick; slowly and quietly. John D. Andre, D.C., N.D

Simple Wardrobe Changes for Better Health

The Best Option:

Dr Mercola recommends a wireless style for your greatest health improvements–

An even better option is to opt for a wireless style bra, which are now available in most brands, and for various levels of support. Sports bras and camisoles with a built-in shelf bra are other options that can work well, especially if your bust is on the smaller side.

Option for Those Needing Underwires:

He says that wearing metal needs to be avoided and recommends switching to a plastic wire instead of a metal one–

BraMakersSupply.com is one of the few companies that carry the whole range of plastic wire sizes and ship across the world. And at $2 per pair, protecting your long-term health couldn’t be much more affordable.

Other Helpful Resources for Breast Health and Relief of Fibrocystic Breasts

These two other articles are sources I came across which you should find helpful:

A “must read” for anyone with breast pain and/or cysts is the article on Relieving Breast Pain by Woman-to-Woman.com. 

Carolyn Chambers has a long list of holistic helps, but of specific interest is her list of dietary changes, listed about half way down her webpage.  Click here for to read the healing Diet.

The quotes/excerpts are from Dr. Joseph Mercola’s email newsletter. Please use this link to read his full article.

Studies show that petroleum-based plastics leach harmful chemicals into our food and drinks.

Plastics are so convenient to our lives that they have flooded our environment. It is difficult to imagine life without them, but we can reduce our cancer risk by choosing to buy food and drink and store foods in safer types of plastic.

Most plastic containers are marked with a recycle symbol that surrounds a number. That number is how you can determine whether the plastic is one of the safer types or definitely dangerous to your health. If a container is not labeled, it is safer not to use it. In this post, I’ll first list the choices for safer living, then list the more technical info about which plastics cause which diseases.

Here are 2 lists of safer living suggestions, one from HealthyChild.org and the other from the Health Observation Library.

Safer Choices With Plastics, List 1:

1. Plastics leach more harmful chemical into foods and drinks when the food is oily or fatty foods, during heating and microwaving, or exposed to excessive moisture or harsh cleaners. Plastics degrade from the heat and moisture in dishwashers. Avoid these practices.

2. Select safe plastics that use polyethylene (#1, #2, and #4) and polypropylene (#5), which require the use of less toxic additives. They also are non-chlorinated.
Avoid choosing products that use polyvinyl chloride (#3), polystyrene (#6), and polycarbonate (#7) which often are found in baby bottles or sippy cups.

3. Use safe plastic alternatives such as glass, ceramic that’s lead-free, and stainless steel whenever possible. Particularly use glass or ceramic containers to microwave food and beverages.

4. Be cautious of cling wraps, especially for microwave use. Wrap foods in butcher paper, waxed paper, or paper towels. Store food in glass or ceramic.

5. Look for products that state “no phthalates” or “no bisphenol A (BPA).”

6. Wash plastic containers by hand with a mild soap. (See Footnote A below for link to full article.)

Safer Living With Plastics, List 2:

1. Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave.

2. Beware of cling wraps, especially for microwave use. Use waxed paper or paper towel for covering foods.

3. Avoid plastics for storing fatty foods.

4. For food and drink use only use plastics labeled 1,2,4,5 inside the recycle symbol. Avoid 3,6,7, and items with the letter “V” underneath the symbol.

5. Avoid plastic bottled water unless you’re traveling or your quality of water is questionable. If you’re worried about tap water quality, consider a good water filter. (See my post on Water Filters for Drinking Water http://receivehealing.com/blog/94/water-filter-for-drinking-water/ )

5. If you do use plastic water bottles, do not use for warm or hot liquids. Water bottles from #1 or #2 plastics are recommended for single use only.

6. Most plastic baby bottles and sippy cups are made of polycarbonate. Use a safe alternative, such as baby bottles made of glass, polyethylene or polypropylene. Those made of pliable, milky-colored plastic contain no polycarbonates. (See Footnote B below for link to full article.)

Some Addition General Need-to-Know Information:

Be aware of other harmful soft PVC plastic items that have a distinct odor, such as vinyl shower curtains. The odor itself is a sign that harmful toxins are being released into the air. The types of plastics shown to leach the most toxic chemicals are polycarbonate, PVC and styrene. Realize that these plastic types have received the most study, so the results do no imply that other plastics are completely safe.

While it is still legal for US retailers to sell dangerous PVC toys (with phthalates), the European Parliament already permanently banned such toxic toys in 2005. One EPA study found that vinyl shower curtains can release dangerous levels of air toxins for more than a month. Irreversible health threats may come from poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates. (C Link to full article below.)

The following quotes specify many of the illnesses to which plastic exposure contributes.

Your level of exposure to plastics can contribute to illnesses such as prostate and breast cancers, impaired brain function, learning disabilities, birth defects, and more. Plastics have been linked to endocrine disruption in babies, cancers, birth defects, and poor brain/nervous system development. Recent studies suggest that BPA exposure can impair brain function, leading to learning disabilities and age-related neurodegenerative disease. BPA has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor and to simulate the action of estrogen. Doses of BPA lower than current EPA limits in female rats inhibited estrogen-induction of synaptic connections in the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved with the expression of sexually differentiated behaviors. Another study found that exposure to BPA before birth permanently changed DNA signaling in rats, predisposing them to developing cancer much later. However, this study injected BPA directly into the subject animals’ blood, whereas most human exposure is via ingestion. (See Footnote A for link to full article.)

Bisphenol A (BPA), #7 inside the Recycle Symbol, is a chemical that mimics the action of the human hormone estrogen, can leach from polycarbonate plastic. Human exposure to BPA is widespread. A Centers for Disease Control study de-tected BPA in the urine of 95 percent of adults sampled. Bisphenol A has been found to stimulate prostate cancer cells and causes breast tissue changes in mice that resemble early stages of breast cancer in both mice and humans. Early-life exposure to BPA can also cause genetic damage. )ver 90 percent of government-funded studies did so. Adverse effects include:
• Early onset of puberty in females
• Changes in gender-specific behavior
• Changes in hormones
• Increased prostate size
• Decreased sperm production
• Altered immune function
• Behavioral changes such as hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, impaired learning

Styrene, #6 inside the Recycle Symbol, leaches from polystyrene plastic. Styrene is toxic to the brain and nervous system, among workers with longer-term exposures, but also has been found to adversely affect red blood cells, liver, kidneys and stomach in animal studies. Behavioral changes include hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning.

DEHA (di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate), #3 inside the Recycle Symbol, is one of several plastic (softeners) to which people have daily exposure through food, water, air and consumer products. PVC cling wrap contains DEHA, which can leach into oily foods on contact and when heated. DEHA exposure is linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight. It is also a possible human carcinogen, affecting the liver. (See Footnote B for link to full article.)

Plastics and Breast Cancer- At Tufts Medical School in Boston in 1987, Soto and Sonnenschein serendipitously discovered that plastic test tubes thought to be inert contained a chemical that stimulated breast cancer cells to grow and proliferate wildly. Manufacturers routinely add nonlyphenols to polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They concluded that p-nonylphenol acted like an estrogen. When isolated from estrogen, the cells would stop multiplying.

In 1993, at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dave Feldman, professor of medicine was experimenting and found that the polycarbonate bottles used to hold drinking water contained bisphenol-A. The Stanford team found that 2-5 parts per billion of bisphenol-A was enough to cause the breast cancer to proliferate; the manufacturer’s lab equipment did not detect samples at this limit.

One Dartmouth University Study showed that plastic wrap heated in a microwave oven with vegetable oil had 500,000 times the minimum amount of xenoestrogens needed to stimulate breast cancer cells to grow in the test tube. (See Footnote D for link to full article.)http://www.nobreastcyst.com/xeno.html

(A) HealthChild.org Safety List
(B) Health Observation Library Safety List
(C) Campaign for Safe, Healthy Consumer Products
(D) Cure Breast Cyst Site

It is obvious through the warnings on commercials or the fine print on labels that prescription drugs contain a wide variety of potential negative side effects. A large number of vitamins are made synthetically through a chemical process, rather than derived directly from plants. (1) [Links to research articles will be posted at the end of the post.] The more you can derive health benefits directly from the food you eat, the better off you will be.

Adding these key foods into your daily intake will help boost your immune system, lower cholesterol, as well as fight heart disease and various forms of cancer.

Tomatoes - Lycopene is a cancer-fighting antioxidant from tomatoes and other red fruits. Of all the carotenoids, lycopene is one of the most potent antioxidants; researchers have found a correlation between increasing the consumption of tomatoes and reducing the risk of cancer. (2) With most foods, the health benefits are lost through the heat of cooking. Lycopene is one of the few necessary substances that is more easily absorbed into the body after being cooked. Tomatoes can decrease your risk of bad cholesterol building up inside arteries (plaque formation) and help prevent future heart attacks. (3) In another study done over a 6 year period by Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, the diets of more than 47,000 men were studied. Of 46 fruits and vegetables evaluated, only the tomato products showed a measurable relationship to reduce prostate cancer risk. (4)

Lemons - Easily boost your immune system by just squeezing a slice of lemon into your drinking water. Lemons are rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin C, having enough to boost your immune system or help fight off a cold. (5) I add lemon to every glass of water I drink during the day.

Water – More water than what most of us drink is necessary for the proper functioning of our bodies, including flushing out toxins. Up to 60 percent of the human body is water, the brain being composed of 70 percent water, and the lungs nearly 90 percent water. (6) Be sure to drink water that is as free of toxins as you can afford. (See my post on Water Filter for Drinking Water for info on clean drinking water in your home. ) To know how much water you should drink per day, take your weight in pounds, divide it by 2, and drink that many ounces. For example, a 200 lb. man should drink a minimum of 100 oz. of water per day.

Dark berries - Purple, red, and blue berries boost anti-oxidants as well as ward off UV damage. A landmark study shows that just one cup of berries provides all the disease-fighting antioxidants you need in a single day.This newest study used updated technology to assess antioxidant levels in more than 100 foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, breads, nuts, and spices. Blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries ranked highest among the fruits studied. Wild blue berries had 10 times the USDA recommendation of antioxidants in 1 cup. (7)
Spices – B vitamins are the most difficult vitamin for our bodies to absorb. Spices can be one source for your B vitamins. The vitamin B-6 content of 42 spices was measured in duplicate using a microbiological assay. Relatively high sources were the red pepper spices such as chili, cayenne, and paprika, garlic, and certain leaves such as basil, bay leaf, dill weed, oregano, rosemary, sage, and tarragon. (8)

Honey – Honey has long been known to contain a large amount of anti-oxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, and can easily be incorporated into your daily intake by substituting it for sugar in coffee, tea, oatmeal, on toast, etc. Be sure to buy an uncooked type. Honey also contains protein, vitamins and minerals, but no cholesterol. Darker honeys have more nutrients and antioxidants than light ones and the antioxidant levels vary with the flower type. Buckwheat flower honey has the highest antioxidants of any honey, clover is in the middle of the range. For allergy sufferers, eating locally grown honey can prevent seasonal allergies. Recent studies are now able to prove its as an antibacterial topical treatment for burns and ulcers. It also produces hydrogen peroxide, which generate highly reactive free radicals in the body, killing bacteria, further contributing to its antibacterial properties. (9)

Olive Oil – Omega 3 fatty acids are very publicized now as a necessary element for good health, of which olive oil is a good source. The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. Studies have shown that it lowers heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. Studies have also shown that it reduces the risk of colon cancer and gallstone formation by activating the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones naturally. It has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis, too. (10) It is important to not just eliminate harmful fats from the diet, but incorporate healthy ones. Increasing your intake of healthy fats also enables you to absorb more anti-oxidants from your food. 2 tablespoons daily is recommended for healthy cholesterol levels. I use light tasting olive oil (Lighter tasting will be specified on the label.), usually immediately before a snack or meal just to get the taste out of my mouth. Check the label to get a brand that is extra virgin oil and cold pressed, as this will be the least processed and retain the most health benefits.

Flax seed – This is another healthy source of plant-derived omega 3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Though we personally still eat wild caught fish, some doctors do not recommend fish at all as your omega 3 source due to problems with toxic mercury levels. Studies show flax seed lowering total cholesterol and the bad cholesterol levels, as well as helping to lower blood triglyceride and blood pressure. It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack. Flax seed is also believed to reduce the risk of cancers, especially breast cancer. In addition, the oil from flax seed benefits those with Crohn’s disease and Colitis. (11) I buy a 14 oz. package of Spectrum Naturals Organic Ground Flax Seed at The Vitamin Shoppe (also online at vitaminshoppe.com) for about $5 US and take 1 tablespoon per day in cereal or oatmeal. For women who have trouble with fibrocystic breast disease, in addition to eliminating caffeine and toxins from the diet, adding flax seed to the your food intake helps to decrease cyst size and pain.

1 Click here for further reading on synthetic versus natural vitamins.

2 Lycopene info

3 Lycopene and heart attack prevention

4 Lycopene reduces prostate cancer

5 Lemon info

6 Water and the body

7 Dark Berries and antioxidants

8 Spices and B vitamins

9 Honey for burns and wounds
Honey and antioxidant rates

10 Olive Oil benefits

11 Flax Seed benefits

Research shows that our harmful exposure to chlorine via shower water can be 100 times greater than through the ingestion of drinking water. (1)

Though we absorb a significant amount of toxins through ingestion (eating/drinking), an even greater amount of toxins are absorbed through our skin. “Researchers have estimated that dermal [skin] absorption of contaminants in drinking water [tap water] accounts for an average of 64% of the dose incurred (2).” Also during showering, any contaminants in the water are absorbed through the inhalation of steam.

Many diseases such as breast cancer, other cancers, asthma, bronchitis are linked to chlorine absorption.

Though most of our diseases appear to be the result of the absorption of a variety of toxins in our environment, we should not discount the affect of chlorine in our daily environment as, first, it is easy to remove, and second, high levels of it have been found in many people with these diseases. Take a moment to read these research results:

Chloroform (a Trihalomethane or THM) and trichloroethylene (TCE) are two highly volatile toxic chemicals that have been identified in your drinking-water supplies. In 1986 The National Academy of Sciences in the USA has estimated that 200 to 1000 people may die in the U.S. each year from cancers caused by ingesting these contaminants in water.

One of the most shocking components to all of these studies is that up to 2/3s of our harmful exposure to chlorine is due to inhalation of steam and skin absorption while showering. A warm shower opens up the pores of the skin and allows for accelerated absorption of chlorine and other chemicals in water. The steam we inhale while showering can contain up to 50 times the level of chemicals than tap water due to the fact that chlorine and most other contaminants vaporise much faster and at a lower temperature than water.

The inhalation of chlorine is a suspected cause of asthma and bronchitis, especially in children, which has increased 300% in the last two decades. “Showering is suspected as the primary cause of elevated levels of chloroform in nearly every home because of chlorine in the water.” Dr Lance Wallace, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Breast cancer, which now affects one in every eight women in North America, has recently been linked to the accumulation of chlorine compounds in the breast tissue. A study carried out in Hartford Connecticut, the first of it’s kind in North America, found that, “women with breast cancer have 50% to 60% higher levels of organochlorines (chlorination byproducts) in their breast tissue than women without breast cancer (3).”

The good news is that chlorine is one of the easiest substances to remove from our water.

In our related article on drinking water filters, we gave you some inexpensive yet effective options. I’ll post the link below in case you missed it. Shower head filters for chlorine are also relatively expensive and easy to install. The filter is suggested to be replaced between 6 months to 1 year based on use. As we have only two people per shower head, ours lasted 1 year before needing to be changed. Before getting the filter, my skin would actually feel sunburned from the level of chlorine in our water after showering. Many companies across the Internet offer shower heads that remove chlorine, including some of those referenced below. I would think most of you could find ones in your own country to save on shipping costs. If not, it should be easy to find ones that ship overseas. This is the info on the one we ordered. We were extremely happy with it. I thought that I was getting just the filter adapter to attach to my own shower head; when it arrived, the filter came with the best shower massage head we’ve ever owned!

Gary Null’s Shower Filter
$49.18 plus an $8.00 handling fee, free shipping for within US. They will ship overseas as well.
The refill is $21.18 with a $2.00 handling fee.
You can use the discount code GNN during checkout to get 5% off.
You can order it here. It’s the only shower filter on page. The refill is next to it. If you click on the shower filter picture, it gives you a page of details. http://www.gnhealthyliving.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=26

We are not in any way affiliated with the company. I’m only referring it because we are happy with the product. The shower filter is another simple way to improve the quality and length of your life by removing toxins from your environment.

Related Article on Water Filter for Drinking Water

(1) Quote from Professor of Water Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. This and numerous other research quotes on both shower and drinking water toxins provided by WaterCareandHealth.com.au .

(2) Quote is from “Exposure to Contaminants in Drinking Water,” S. Olin, pg. 44

(3) Quote is from this downloadable article at Freshwaterfilter.com

Changing from lotions to natural oils is an easy and inexpensive way to begin reducing toxin levels.

Most lotions, as well as many other cosmetics, contain harmful toxic substances called parabens. Parabens have been linked to various cancers as well as a wide variety of women’s health problems due to the hormone imbalances they cause. Dr. Elizabeth Smith, M.D., says,

Recently, Professor Sumpter in the U.K. discovered that Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, and Butyl Paraben are estrogen mimics and stimulate the estrogen receptor. His research was so disturbing that the European Union inquired of the European Cosmetics and Toiletry Association whether these common preservatives would increase the rate of breast cancer. The vast majority of hand lotions and gels contain this preservative. The parabens seem to be associated with cramping and worsening of endometriosis. Frequently cutting out all parabens makes menstrual cramping disappear. (1)

From my studies, countless people have experienced reduction or healing of various ailments and diseases by the elimination of such toxin intake. Here is a more detailed quote of a study relating parabens to cancer:

Early this year [2004] the media reported that English researchers identified parabens in samples of breast tumors. Parabens are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in thousands of cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceutical products, and food. There are six commonly used forms (Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, p-Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, n-Butylparaben and Benzylparaben) and it is estimated that they are used in at least 13,200 cosmetics products. According to the lead researcher of the recent study, Philippa Darbre, an oncology expert at the university of Reading, in Edinburgh, the chemical form of the parabens found in 18 of the 20 tumors tested indicated that they originated from something applied to the skin, the most likely candidates being deodorants, antiperspirants, creams, or body sprays.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, accounting for nearly one of every three cancers diagnosed in U.S. women. For 2003, it is estimated that 211,300 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in women with an additional 55,700 cases of in situ breast cancer. (2)

Contrary to what used to be popular knowledge, it is no longer believed that the main source of our toxin intake is through ingestion, or what we eat.

Yes, ingestion has a definite impact, but toxin absorption through the skin, steam from shower water (We’ll discuss that in a later post.), or vapors from pesticides is at a much higher level than the absorption of toxins via our foods. Here are a few quotes from one study by 3 toxicologists at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering:

A study was conducted by three toxicologists at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (MDEQE), into the problems of absorption of toxins through the skin. All human skin will readily transport toxic chemicals and, under certain conditions, extremely easily. . Based on the skin absorption rates derived in the study, the Boston researchers calculated doses to adults and children swimming or bathing in contaminated water and compared these to doses resulting from ingestion at similarly low levels. Absorption by the skin was almost always greater than ingestion, contributing from 29 to 91 percent of the chemicals later excreted, depending on the individual. The average was 64 percent. (3)

Thus, toxin absorption rate ingestion was low compared to that of skin absorption.

One of the easiest changes to make to cut back on toxin absorption is using natural oils instead of lotions with parabens.

My doctor told me that lotions are basically whipped petroleum products and these are safe alternatives:

• Sweet Almond
• Avocado
• Walnut
• Corn
• Castor Oil

The food oils can be found in either the baking aisle or salad dressing aisle of your grocer, usually wherever the olive oil is. I have tried the almond and found it much less expensive than what are advertised as “quality lotions.” It didn’t appear to have any odor and was very thin. I use this more in the summer. As my skin is exceptionally dry, the rest of the year I use castor oil. Castor oil is a laxative when taken internally, but has been found to have a wide variety of healing characteristics when used topically and will not have any laxative effects. It is very thick. It is a good practice to have a dark towel that won’t stain to wipe off the excess.

Though much more effort is involved to eliminate all cosmetics with parabens from your environment, there are organizations set up to help you.

You can use the search bar on this site to find the toxicity level of your cosmetics if they are already in their database. If not, there is another search in the left column which you can use for searching the toxicity level of suspicious ingredients. One caution, other than the main search, the site is a little difficult to navigate.

Cosmetics Database for Toxicity Levels

If you are a continual lotion user, I urge you to consider changing immediately to safe natural oil alternatives. Again, our environments have many toxins, but every easy-to-make change is worth the effort to reduce diseases and bring healing to your body. In future posts, we’ll discuss 2 other easy changes to make: under-the-sink drinking water filters and shower head filters.

(1) Cyst 100.com
(2) Organic Consumer Organization
(3) Study Results provided by FreshwaterFilter.com