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

Sadly, our world seemingly gets more and more polluted each day. And news like this really puts it into perspective. A new study has determined people who regularly breathe in heavy traffic fumes face increased heart attack risk. Ed Edelson of HealthDay News reports:

"It's not limited to freeways," said lead researcher Barbara Hoffmann, head of the unit of environmental epidemiology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. "We see it in inner-city dwellings on heavily traveled streets as well."


Her team published the findings in the July 17 issue of Circulation.

The damage to the arteries seen in such people is similar to that produced by inhaling secondhand tobacco smoke, "although the effect we see here in this study is even larger than that caused by secondhand smoke," Hoffmann said.

Most of the blood vessel damage is due to high levels of particulate pollutants in vehicle exhaust fumes, Hoffmann speculated, although there might be other contributing factors, such as the constant noise of heavy traffic "which can contribute to high blood pressure."

For more on the dangers of toxins, check out DiseaseProof’s toxins category.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Share Link

The Cancer Blog was pretty shocked to find out asbestos is still a major issue in Canada. Take a look:

Asbestos still lurks in many buildings here in Canada, and it's was apparently responsible for 1,097 workplaces deaths in 2005. I guess the rumors of asbestos in the old lecture halls at my old university could have had some merit.


And yet despite the facts that asbestos can cause death, there are still asbestos defenders out there, who insist that the building material is safe if properly used. It's inexpensive, durable, and deadly. What's more important? I am definitely in favor of a ban ... are you?

I’m with The Cancer Blog—BAN IT!

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Share Link

From Dr. Fuhrman’s book Fasting and Eating for Health:

In the first pharmacology lecture that I head in medical school, the physician impressed on us that all drugs are toxic and we should never forget this. We were taught that medications work because of their pharmacologic properties—properties that enable the substance to interfere with, block, or stimulate an activity of the body. Drugs typically modify the way the body expresses the signs and symptoms of disease, but in chronic disease states, they do no undo the damage or remove the disease.

Of course, medications can be lifesaving in emergencies and in the case of severe infections, such as pneumonia or meningitis. However, the modern drug approaches to chronic degenerative illnesses fail to offer a safe, effective solution for most chronic medical problems.

So medications, alcohol, over-the-counter remedies, and even most herbal remedies (because their primary mode of action is via pharmacologic or toxic effects) can add to the toxic load the body must deal with.

The average person suffers from the effects of toxicosis, or the retention of excessive quantities of waste within the body. This modern type of malnutrition is the result of consuming too much of certain food elements (fat, protein, simple sugars) and too little of others (vitamins, minerals, fiber). When we eat freely of relatively rich foods instead of predominantly natural plant material, we disturb the function of every one of our millions of cells. This results in a buildup of unwanted substances inside and around every cell, contributing to disease.

Improper diet exposes us to many offending substances and is the largest cause of disease. The chief cause of disease in this country is not vitamin or nutrient deficiency. Though specific nutrient deficiencies and imbalances may contribute to the disease process, as does everything from the air we breathe to exposure to chemicals in the home or workplace, their contribution is no so great as the destruction of the body from food-borne toxins and excess nutrients, such as excess fats, proteins, and refined sweeteners.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Share Link

Smoking bans are everywhere—are people finally through with smoking! Maybe. The Cancer Blog is on it:

With Britain, Germany, Scotland, Australia and many large cities in the U.S. now banning smoking (or about to), it seems clear that much of the world is sick and tired of smoking. A bigger driver of this is the publicity second-hand smoke has gotten recently.


As a result, smoking bans are popping up all over the world. Also, many cancer groups are seeing that more and more people will end up quitting the habit once and for all. That, or find a corner in an isolated, outdoor space in which to light up.

Honestly, I’m not sure if the world is done with smoking just yet. After all, a dimly lit smoke-filled bar is still a pretty cool image—even if they don’t exist anymore.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Share Link