Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Gene mutations, there’s something alluring about it—face it, everyone wants to be a superhero. We’d all take a little radioactive dust to the face if it meant we could fly or shoot laser beams from our eyes. Now, not to make jokes, but this report by The Associated Press made me think of the X-men.

Martin Griffith explains some children affected by the northern Nevada leukemia cluster are more prone to a gene variation that may actually help combat unsafe chemicals. Pretty amazing right? Recent research discovered this trait:

The study released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the latest to suggest genetics and toxins play a role in the cancer cluster plaguing the agricultural community…

…"It might mean that it alters susceptibility (to leukemia) but it doesn't cause leukemia," Dr. Karen Steinberg, chief science officer of the CDC's Coordinating Center for Health Promotion said at a media briefing Wednesday, adding there would have to be other factors to alter susceptibility.

Now, let me be clear, I do feel bad for every child involved in the leukemia cluster, but the idea that our bodies might be able to adapt to or even combat the effects of pollution is fascinating. In a world that seems to be getting more and more contaminated everyday, what an asset this would be.

Because right now, according to Dr. Fuhrman, exposure to toxic chemicals and pesticides can be bad news for people of all ages, especially kids. Here’s an example from Is Organic Food Safer? Take a look:

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the majority of pesticides now in use are probable or possible cancer causers. Studies of farm workers who work with pesticides suggest a link between pesticide use and brain cancer, Parkinson's disease, multiple myloma, leukemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the stomach, prostate, and testes.1

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According to a recent article in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers from the University of Alabama have uncovered ten reasons why people overeat. The Detroit Free Press passes along the top three:

• We don't get enough sleep. Studies on animals and humans have shown that too little sleep increases appetite. Other studies have found that fewer hours of sleep at night are associated with being overweight.
• We have more air conditioning. As the temperature goes up, appetite goes down and we tend to burn more calories, say scientists (and people who live in the Bahamas). But when air conditioning keeps temperatures even, so the thinking goes, our bodies expend less energy (calories) to stay cool.
• Disrupted hormones. DDT, PCBs and other industrial chemicals can mess up our metabolism, say scientists. Maybe that's why we're too fat.

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Reuters reports people who ate soy regularly are less likely to develop breast cancer. And, men who eat fish several times a week have a lower risk of colon cancer. Wait, so you’re telling me diet has something to do with cancer? No way! Yes way. Here’s more from this double discovery:

The women who ate the most soy-based foods such as tofu and miso when aged 5 to 11 reduced their risk of developing breast cancer by 58 percent, the researchers found…

…A second study presented at the meeting showed that men who ate fish five times a week or more had a 40 percent lower risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with men who ate fish less than once a week.

Researchers believe the isoflavones in soy and the omega-3s in fish have something to do with it. If you’re a DiseaseProof reader you already know how important macro- and micro-nutrients can be. But there are some important things to consider about fish and soy.

• According to Dr. Fuhrman some people unwisely base their diets on soy products: Too Much Soy?
• After all there are some legitimate causes for concern with soy consumption: Soy Bean Thoughts from the Member Center
• Now, maybe fish is a better choice of animal food, but it’s got problems too—namely mercury: Fishing for the Truth
• And remember, fish isn’t the only place you can get those healthful omega-3s: Eating Seeds

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• You’ve got to hand it to the Brits. Lately they’ve been on a tear trying to stabilize their obesity crisis. Now they’re clamping down on television advertising. According to the AFP no junk food ads can run during programs aimed at children under sixteen. But some people say this isn’t enough:

Consumer and health groups protested that they did not go far enough -- saying that junk food ads should be banned from all programming before 9:00 pm, whether for adults or children.

• Sally Squires of The Washington Post investigates the recent claim that a compound in red wine can help protect against obesity and extend life. Don’t run out and buy your resveratrol supplements just yet:

Safe and effective doses in humans have not been established, and there could be downsides to taking resveratrol. Preliminary studies point to some cancer protection, but there's also evidence that it may increase the risk of breast cancer -- a reminder that tinkering with nutritional substances can be complex.

• In Eat to Live Dr. Fuhrman warns about the ineffectiveness of invasive cardiovascular procedures, well, it seems he may be onto something. According to Denise Gellene of The Los Angeles Times angioplasty may actually increase the chances of someone having another attack:

The study of more than 2,000 patients in 27 countries focused on the outcomes of angioplasties performed more than 24 hours and up to 28 days after the patients first developed symptoms of a heart attack.

• Blogging about smoking is easy—bad, bad, bad, bad, bad! Robert Preidt of HealthDay News reports a new study shows smoking can quadruples children’s asthma risk. Here’s more:

"The results of our study provide clear evidence that regular smoking increases the risk for asthma and that important chronic adverse consequences of smoking are not restricted to individuals who have smoked for many years," Dr. Frank D. Gilliland, of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, said in a prepared statement.

• Another thing Dr. Fuhrman talks a lot about is making sure you get adequate sun exposure, that way your body produces vitamin D. Seems like a good idea because according to Reuters woman living in sunnier regions of the world have less risk of developing ovarian cancer:

The theory is that vitamin D explains the link. Sunlight triggers vitamin D synthesis in the skin, so a person’s stores of the vitamin depend, in part, on where he or she lives. Moreover, a growing number of studies have linked vitamin D intake and vitamin D levels in the blood to cancer risk.

• Now, I don’t know about this next item, but a new study finds chocolate milk works best in helping athletes recover. I’m not sure Dr. Fuhrman would agree. Eddie Pells of the Associated Press reports:

The test was repeated three times -- once with each kind of drink -- and the data showed that the cyclists were able to go between 49 and 54 percent longer on the second stint after drinking chocolate milk than when they drank the carbohydrate drink. The difference between the milk and the fluid-replacement drink was not significant.

• I know I say it a lot, but mercury contamination is a hot-button issue here at DiseaseProof. So I’m always eager to read what’s being done about it. Sandy Bauers of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports Pennsylvania is taking measures to lower mercury emission by 90% over the next nine years:

The plan, vigorously debated for two years and heavily opposed by power plants and mining companies, trumps a weaker federal rule. Pennsylvania would join Illinois as the first major coal-producing states to move beyond the federal limits and make them tougher - if measures to do so in both states become final.

• Have you noticed the newcomers in the pear-market? You haven’t? Well get ready the Asian pears are coming. David Karp of The New York Times reports:

In recent decades Chinese government policy and market reforms have encouraged farmers to sharply increase pear production, which is expected to reach 12.5 million metric tons this year, more than two-thirds of the world’s supply. Virtually all are Asian pears, crunchy and ripe off the tree, not the European kind, such as Bartlett and Bosc, which develop their desired buttery texture and rich flavor after harvest.

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Okay, last week I shamefully admitted to some sushi indiscretions. Now in hindsight my dietary glitch wasn’t that bad, sure I ate a little white rice and possibly some contaminated salmon—I say possibly because I’m not exactly sure what variety of salmon I ate. If you check out OceansAlive.org you’ll see most salmon is safe for consumption, but some isn't.

But if you ignore those two concessions, my “cheat” could have been a lot worse, after all I could have splurged on deep-fried snickers bars. And, the sushi was prepared with cucumber, avocado, and carrots—hello phytonutrients! So I’m not too upset with myself.

Of course if I ate as much sushi as this guy—I’d still be kicking myself! Fifty-two pieces of sushi in twenty minutes and the meal is free. Now that’s hardcore. Check it out. So between my slip up and this video I think its time to revisit Dr. Fuhrman’s recommendation for how much fish people should eat. In Fishing for the Truth he lays it on the line:

Choose fish over other animal products, but be aware that the place where it was caught, and the type of fish, matters. Don't accept recreational fish from questionable waters. Farmed fish is safer. Never eat high-mercury-content fish. Don't eat fish more than twice a week, and if you have a family history of hemorrhagic stroke, limit it further to only once a month.

I wonder how fifty-two pieces of fish stacks up against this recommendation. I wish you could make out the types of fish the guy ordered, because as I found out in the Bonefish Grill edition of Eating to Live on the Outside, when it comes to contamination the type of fish you order makes all the difference.

Oh, and be sure to check out Fishing for the Truth for the varieties of fish Dr. Fuhrman considers low contamination risks.

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If you haven’t noticed, we do a lot blogging—don’t blink! You might miss something. In case you did, here are some highlights from the past couple of months:

• Do you remember Canto and Owen? You don’t? What if I said healthy monkey, grumpy monkey? Still no? Okay I’ll remind you. They're the two monkeys helping scientists determine the benefits of a calorie restrictive diet. It appeared in The New York Times about a week ago:

The New York Times introduces us to Canto and Owen, two rhesus monkeys on totally different sides of the calorie restriction spectrum. Canto who eats 445 calories a day is healthier and much younger looking than his buddy Owen who consumes 885 calories daily—Owen doesn’t appear happy about it. Some scientists believe the plight of Canto and Owen sheds serious light on the benefits of calorie restriction for humans.

• Here’s another one from The New York Times. I was very alarmed to read that more and more children are going through puberty earlier and earlier. Puberty in preschool is pretty hard to believe, but according to Dr. Fuhrman a vegetable-based diet can help buck this trend:

Fat cells produce estrogen, so excess fat on the body during childhood results in more estrogen production. A large volume of high fiber from fruits and vegetables in the gut serves to lower circulating estrogen naturally. The high fiber and the resultant healthy bacteria that colonize the gut of a person consuming a high produce diet conjugates (binds together) estrogens so they are more readily excreted in the stool. As estrogen cycles into and out of the digestive tract, a person eating more animal products and less high-fiber vegetation reabsorbs more estrogen from the digestive tract, rather than losing more in the stool.

• Sometimes you’ve just got to stick with what you’re good at—someone should pass on this bit of knowledge to Chicago Bears wide-receiver Bernard Berrian. Last month he talked to school children about the benefits of eating bacon and maple syrup. No, I’m not joking:

What ensued was a melee of animal fat drizzled in hearty helpings of liquid sugar. Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t these the types of things school food reforms are trying to knock out? It gets worse, here’s my favorite—well not-so-favorite—quote from Bernard:

It’s the perfect combination, you should eat it everyday and you’ll be in the NFL too.

• This next post really got the low-carb loonies in a twist. According to The Washington Post many adults still embrace childish reasons why they won’t eat their veggies. In fact, one low-carber even had some pretty cockamamie thoughts on the importance of vegetables:

Who the hell cares about the veggies anyway? You don't need them and there is absolutely nothing essential about them. Don't let the acculturated veggie sympathizers tell you otherwise.

• After a hard fought day of soccer what would you reach for, water, orange slices, how about some chips and Ho Ho’s? In this New York Times Op-Ed piece author Harlan Coben rails against soccer moms and dads who serve up junk-food after the big game:

Are none of us reading about the obesity of our young people? Do you think it helps their well-being that after every sporting event our children gorge themselves Fall-of-Roman-Empire style on extra calories, extra sugar, extra hydrogenated fat? I recently sat down with Annette O’Neill, a registered dietitian and bona fide nutritionist, and asked her, “Do you think it’s a good idea for our kids to have Cheetos and Kool-Aid after a sporting event?” Her response: “Uh, no.”

• I admit I don’t blog about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) very often, but in this post fellow doctor blogger Dr. Flea discusses the over-diagnosis of ADHD:

In Disease-Proof Your Child Dr. Fuhrman says, “The diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has skyrocketed in recent years, with a tremendous increase in the percentage of our elementary school children who are taking amphetamines and stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Cylert, and others.” So as a layman, I wonder—what's going on here? Is this some kind of epidemic?

• This might be the most alarming news item I’ve read over the past few months. Back in October the FDA rejected a petition to further limit the use of mercury in vaccines—pretty unnerving. Dr. Fuhrman is equally concerned because mercury is one bad mama-jama:

The injection of even this small amount of mercury repeatedly year after year from multiple vaccines can cause neurotoxicity (brain damage). The American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Public Health Service have issued a joint statement calling for the removal of mercury from vaccines. Chronic low dose mercury exposures may cause subtle neurological abnormalities that rear their head later in life.

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Seattle schools are having quite a hard time with their water lately. According to the Seattle Times thirty-five public schools had their water tested only to reveal “higher-than-normal” levels of lead. Now, the odd part is, one health official insists parents really shouldn’t worry about this:

Experts said the higher-than-normal levels should not cause parents to worry. "I would not be concerned that [the reported levels] would be a problem," said Dr. William Robertson, medical director of the Washington Poison Center. "I would tell them to keep on drinking the water."

How’s this recommendation sit with you? It concerns me, especially if you remember that this past spring drinking water from five Seattle schools contained arsenic levels that exceed government guidelines. Sure sounds like Seattle health officials have got some work to do.

As I said yesterday, childhood exposure to toxins is a big deal here on DiseaseProof. For more on this topic check out yesterday’s post: Chemicals and Young Children

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One of DiseaseProof’s major issues is childhood exposure to hazardous chemicals during and after pregnancy—whether it’s from eating contaminated seafood, pesticides on playgrounds, or anything else—according to Dr. Fuhrman it’s bad. In Disease-Proof Your Child he points to scientific findings that are difficult to ignore:

• Children whose parents work with pesticides are more likely to suffer leukemia, brain cancer, and other afflictions.
• Studies show that childhood leukemia is related to increased pesticide use around the house.
• Nine studies reviewed by the National Cancer Institute showed a correlation between pesticide exposure and brain cancer.
• Exposure to week killers in childhood increases asthma risk by more than fourfold.

And all this is just from eating produce treated with pesticide! Dr. Fuhrman encourages parents to be wary of other commonly used chemicals as well. More from Disease-Proof Your Child:

We must be careful not to expose our children to chemical cleaners, insecticides, and weed killers on our lawns. Chemicals used in pressure-treated wood used to build lawn furniture, decks, fences, and swing sets have also been shown to place children at risk. When young children are around, we must be vigilant to maintain a chemical-free environment.

So, if you haven’t already realized, this is kind of a big deal. And perhaps an issue that often goes overlooked—except when it hits us in the face, like right now. According to Reuters new research reveals exposure to industrial chemicals in the womb or early in a child’s life can impair brain development. And what’s worse is only a handful of these chemicals are controlled to protect children. Reporter Patricia explains:

"Only a few substances, such as lead and mercury, are controlled with the purpose of protecting children," said Philippe Grandjean of Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts and the University of Southern Denmark.

"The 200 other chemicals that are known to be toxic to the human brain are not regulated to prevent adverse effects on the fetus or a small child," he added.

Come on, you’ve got to be astounded by this. In this day and age where information is everywhere—does no regulatory agency think this is important? Reaney adds that even though millions of children may have been harmed by toxic chemicals, only lead, methylmercury, and polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) have been adequately studied and regulated. Pretty concerning if you ask me. Makes you wonder if this will ever change.

For a list of things Dr. Fuhrman advises women should avoid during pregnancy, check out this previous post: Precautions to Take When Pregnant or Nursing

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From the March 2004 edition of Dr. Fuhrman’s Healthy Times:

A new study has found surprisingly high levels of PCBs and dioxin in farm-raised salmon.1

The study analyzed toxic contaminants in 700 salmon collected in markets in 16 cities in Europe and North America. PCBs were found to average 36.6 parts per billion. Researchers found that levels of both dioxin and PCBs were about 10 times higher in farm-raised salmon than in wild salmon. European-raised salmon was the most contaminated.

Not unexpectedly, American health officials’ response was that this level of contamination should not stop consumers from eating salmon. But, why should consumers unnecessarily expose themselves to known toxic carcinogens? We do not have to consume salmon to get our needed EPA and DHA fat.

If you eat salmon, eat only the wild Alaskan variety. If you eat fish once a week, use mostly the lower-fat, less contaminated fish, such as tilapia. Take DHA in supplements, rather than depending on toxic fish.

Risk analysis indicates that consumption of farmed Atlantic salmon may pose health risks that detract from the beneficial effects of fish consumption.
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