News For Health Letter # 1
SUNSCREEN AND THE PREVENTION OF
CANCER
The idea that sunscreen prevents cancer is a myth. It's a myth promoted by
a profit-seeking tag-team effort between the cancer industry and the
sunscreen industry. The sunscreen industry makes money by selling lotion
products that actually contain cancer-causing chemicals. It then donates a
portion of that money to the cancer industry through non-profit groups
like the American Cancer Society which, in turn, run heart-breaking public
service ads urging people to use sunscreen to "prevent cancer."
The scientific evidence, however, shows quite clearly that sunscreen actually
promotes cancer by blocking the body's absorption of ultraviolet radiation,
which produces vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D, as recent studies have
shown, prevents up to 77 of ALL cancers in women (breast cancer, colon
cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors, multiple myeloma... you
name it). Meanwhile, the toxic chemical ingredients used in most sunscreen
products are actually carcinogenic and have never been safety tested or
safety approved by the FDA. They get absorbed right through the skin (a
porous organ that absorbs most substances it comes into contact with)
and enter the bloodstream.
The benefits of sunscreen are a myth. Proponents say sunscreen prevents
sunburn, but in fact, the real cause of sunburn is not merely UV exposure:
It is a lack of antioxidant nutrition. Start eating lots of berries and
microalgae (spirulina, astaxanthin, blue-green algae, etc.), and you'll build
up an internal sunscreen that will protect your skin from sunburn from the
inside out. Sunburn is actually caused by nutritional deficiencies that leave
the skin vulnerable to DNA mutations from radiation, but if you boost your
nutrition and protect your nervous system with plant-based nutrients,
you'll be naturally resistant to sunburn. The same nutrients, by the way,
also protect the optic nerve and eyes from radiation damage. That's why
the consumption of berries and carrots, for example, has historically been
associated with healthy eye function. (The same nutrients that protect the
eyes also protect the skin.)
EARTH CHILD NEWS LETTER
Fish Oil
What is fish oil? Why do we need it?
Fish oil is derived from fatty types of fish such as salmon and mackerel. The two
main components of fish oil are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA), a pair of omega-3 fatty acids. Both help lower levels of blood
triglycerides and may stop the progression of atherosclerosis.
EPA and DHA are associated with numerous other health benefits as well. They
can help treat inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease and rheumatoid
arthritis; are vital in the creation of prostaglandins (which help dilate blood
vessels); and may be useful in the treatment of schizophrenia. EPA and DHA also
improve the functioning of the immune system. Animal studies have shown that
fish oil can prevent some types of cancer in animals, but these results have not
been duplicated in humans.
How much fish oil should I take?
Healthy people who frequently eat fatty fish usually do not need to take fish oil
supplements. Most researchers who have studied EPA and DHA have used
dosages equivalent to 10 grams of fish oil per day. Some positive effects have
been in studies that used larger amounts (up to 21 grams per day).
What forms of fish oil are available?
Fish oil comes from oil fish such as mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, cod,
anchovies, and albacore tuna. The largest amounts of EPA and DHA are found in
cod liver oil. The typical fish oil supplement contains 18 percent EPA and 12
percent DHA; more purified supplements contain higher amounts of DHA and
EPA. Fish oil is available as a capsule, pill or extract.
What can happen if I take too much fish oil? Are there any interactions I should be
aware of? What precautions should I take?
Taking more than 3 grams of fish oil per day for several months may increase
blood sugar and cholesterol levels. As a result, patients with heart disease and
diabetes should consult with a health care provider before taking fish oil
supplements. Some research suggests that the increase in blood sugar levels may
be ameliorated by taking vitamin E.
Fish oil may also interact with certain medications, including cyclosporine,
pravastatin and simvastatin. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health
care practitioner before taking fish oil or any other dietary supplement or herbal
remedy.
How to get rid of a migraine headache
Been hitting your head against the wall too much? By releasing endorphins, you
can stimulate your body's natural painkilling ability and stop your headache.
1. Feel the top ridge of your eyesocket under the eyebrow. You will discover a
small groove in your skull about the center of the top of the eyesocket. In this
groove is a nerve which is very sensitive to pressure. If you compress this nerve, it
will be very painful. However, the pain will stimulate the pituitary to release
endorphins immediately. The endorphins are the body's own natural painkillers and
are more powerful than morphine.
2. To stimulate the nerve, push hard against it for about 10 seconds.
3. Lean your head over and hit the back of it with medium pressure.
4. Repeat about 20 times and then rest to see if enough endorphin was released
to stop the headache.
5. A similar method for releasing endorphins is to take 10 teaspoons of cayenne
pepper in a glass of water. This is not harmful. When the cayenne hits the
stomach lining, endorphins will be released by the brain to stop the pain.
6. Try putting a cold compress on your forehead or behind the neck. Many
headaches are caused by tense neck muscles. Conversely, use a moist hot pack
to loosen up tense muscles - see which works best for you.
7. Massage the ears and ear lobes.
8. Similar in concept to the endorphin release - nerve stimulation through
acupressure can offer some relief of symptoms. Search for "Do-in" or
"acupressure" on the web.
More Tips
* Another option is to get a bottle of magnesium citrate at the grocery store. It is
in the pharmacy section and comes in a little green bottle. Cost is $1. Take 5
ounces of the magnesium on an empty stomach and the headache will go away.
The magnesium citrate is sold as a laxative however 5 ounces will not have this
effect. Magnesium citrate hydrates the gut - it is not a true cathartic laxative. If
you suffer from migrane headaches, try taking HTP6 and Iodine tabs daily. They
help increase blood flow in the brain, relieving headaches.
* Get off the computer and go to a light, quiet room and read.
* Grab the sternoclediomastoid muscle (the muscle that sticks out in the front of
your neck if you turn your head to either side) between your thumb and index
finger. If you work up or down the muscle you find tender points. Hold a tender
point for 5-10mins as hard as you feel comfortable but definetly enough to feels
some discomfort. The pain may refer up into the temples then you know you hit a
good one.
* If you have a headache that last more than a day, consult your Chiropractor.
Your headache may be caused by a subluxation of the vertebrae in your neck.
* Massage the "crown" of your head. There is a ring of muscles that circle the
head where a crown would sit. Once the muscles have relaxed, your headache will
disappear!
WARNING
Overdosing with Tylenol is highly toxic to the liver. No more than 2 in a four hour
period!