In last month’s issue, I told you about an unexpected source of pollution that can contribute to many chronic illnesses. That pollution is the electromagnetic frequencies emitted from appliances like cell phones, TVs, and hair dryers. Some insist these frequencies are benign. But I showed you a number of scientific studies that prove that electronic frequencies bombard us every day and harm our health. And as companies develop new electronic devices to make our lives easier or more fun, this problem will increase.

The problem is so big, you may not be able to avoid heavy exposure to electrical pollutants. You may live near cell towers and power lines and can’t move. Perhaps you make your living using a computer for hours every day. Or perhaps you use a cordless phone or cell phone frequently. Or maybe you just have a houseful of electronics. Whatever your situation, there’s good news and bad news about solving the problem.

The bad news is that most of the suggested solutions for dealing with this problem are impractical. Let’s face it. How many of you are going to move if you live near a cell tower? Or spend thousands of dollars with an electrician who specializes in reducing emissions in homes and offices? Even protective pendants and discs with little science behind them cost hundreds of dollars. The problem is huge and widespread. But don’t be discouraged. There is good news: There are solutions that work. And one solution in particular is very easy and quite affordable.

EMF protectors

Electromagnetic fields are invisible force fields that surround all electrical devices. Because they’re invisible, many people believe they’re harmless. They’re wrong.

EMFs turn on your stress hormones, and since you’re being exposed to these pollutants in one form or another constantly, they cause chronic stress. As you may remember from prior articles, stress uses up essential nutrients that your body needs to produce antioxidants. For instance, low levels of EMFs can suppress your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that naturally boosts the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione.

Lower melatonin means lower levels of other antioxidants vital to your health.
In fact, low melatonin causes a myriad of diseases from breast cancer and melanoma to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Bottom line: EMFs reduce major antioxidants causing free radical DNA damage to your cells. They suppress your immune system and stimulate the root cause of most major illnesses: inflammation. The good news is all you have to do is boost your intake of these nutrients. Doing so will help protect you from some of the harmful effects of electromagnetic pollutants. When you add them to your diet, you reduce your body’s exposure to these harmful toxins.

Protective foods

Although glutathione is poorly absorbed orally, foods high in this and other antioxidants are still beneficial and worth incorporating into your diet. One reason is that they contain co-factors, which enhance their antioxidant activity and absorption.

Asparagus is the food highest in glutathione. Five spears contain as much glutathione as two pounds of avocado — the next highest. Asparagus is also high in selenium and zinc, which are protective against EMFs.

Sulfur boosts your body’s production of glutathione, so include cruciferous vegetables in your diet. They include kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. They’re available year-round. And they also contain zinc, selenium, and sulforaphane — a cancer-fighting nutrient. You can read more about sulforaphane in the September 2010 newsletter.

Berries are particularly high in antioxidant activity, so include blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, and acai berries in your daily smoothie or as a healthful dessert. They help fight inflammation.

Add olive oil to your list of glutathione boosters. If you use extra virgin olive oil, it will contain higher amounts of oleic acid — and you’ll get the added benefit of increased anti-inflammatory effects. Buy it in tinted or dark bottles to keep it from going rancid, and store it in a dark closet.

Tart cherries are high in melatonin — higher than sweet fresh cherries. Sound scientific studies have found melatonin to be protective against the harmful effects of radiation by preventing free-radical damage. Drink some diluted tart cherry juice each day, add it to a smoothie, or snack on dried tart cherries. If you can’t find them in your supermarket, look for them in all health food stores.

Protective supplements

Glutathione — Your body needs antioxidants to neutralize the free radicals produced by EMFs and RFs, and to cleanse your cells. This is why boosting your glutathione level may be the most important step you can take to protect yourself from electronic pollutants. You see, glutathione is the body’s “master” antioxidant. It is actually thousands of times more powerful than other antioxidants in your body.

As I mentioned earlier, the biggest problem with glutathione is that your body doesn’t absorb it well when you take it orally. The majority of supplements on the market will not give you the results you’re looking for. But there are several ways to increase your glutathione levels. You can take its precursors, get regular IV pushes in a doctor’s office, or take one of the very few forms of glutathione with high absorption.

Lipoceutical Glutathione is a well-absorbed oral liposomal form of this antioxidant. I take it daily and have given it to patients, who have seen tremendous success with it. You can get it from Advanced Bionutritionals (800-791-3395). It’s more expensive than the products you can find in health food stores, but it works much better.

Melatonin — If you have trouble sleeping, you may be low in melatonin. The older we get, the more our melatonin levels drop. In addition, electropollution can reduce your body’s production of this hormone. This results in lower levels of SOD (superoxide dismutase), which is a powerful antioxidant, and glutathione. You can find melatonin supplements in health food stores. I use Melatonin SR (2 mg sustained release) from ProThera (888-488-2488). But you may want a higher or lower dose. If you feel groggy the next morning, reduce your dose.

Minerals help make the precursors to glutathione. Make sure you’re taking a hefty multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplement like Women’s Vitality (800-791-3395). A one-a-day just won’t do. It’s not strong enough to make a difference in protecting you from the hazards of EMFs.

Oxi-Key from Uni-Key Health (800-888-4353) contains the highest doses of SOD and Catalase – antioxidants destroyed by EMFs. In addition, their sulfur-rich amino acids help detoxify toxins and pollutants.

Alpha Lipoic Acid has several important properties. It increases glutathione and reduces blood sugar. Some free radical scavengers actually become free radicals, but ALA prevents some of this from occurring.

SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) is an antioxidant that repairs damage to cells from free radicals. This supplement reduces tissue injury caused by radiation treatments. I highly recommend taking high amounts of SOD daily (5,000 IU or more per day) if you are sensitive to EMFs or have reason to believe they’re affecting you negatively.

There are other foods and supplements that are protective against electropullution. You can find them in Gittleman’s valuable book. Consider buying an extra copy of Zapped for your health care provider and together you can create an optimum protocol for your condition and exposure.

Your first step is to acknowledge the problems caused by electropollution. Your second step — one that many people miss — is to look for solutions. Traditional methods of protection may be expensive, but you can reduce damage from EMFs just by modifying your diet and supplements. For more detailed information, references, and resources, be sure to get a copy of Zapped.

Why I Don’t Wear Sunscreen Even After Three Biopsies

Whenever I go outdoors, I wear glasses with UV protection. I’m convinced from all the studies I’ve read and conversations with my knowledgeable optometrist that they help prevent macular degeneration. On sunny days, I also wear a visor to keep the sun out of my eyes. But I don’t wear sunscreen. Even after three biopsies on suspicious-looking lesions on my face, I still won’t use it. I’m protecting my skin in other ways, and all my biopsies have been negative.

Still, I realize I’m in the minority and that most dermatologists disagree vehemently with my choice to avoid sunscreen. But I’m not alone in thinking that sunscreen is often unnecessary — and possibly even dangerous.

What we’re being told

The American Cancer Society (ACS) tells us that spending time outdoors in the sun and its UV rays increases our risk for melanoma and other skin cancers. So they tell you to always use sunscreen. But several papers concluded that people exposed to sunlight in their jobs actually had fewer melanomas.

A study on Navy personnel in 1990 changed my mind. It found that sailors who worked outdoors had less melanoma than those who stayed indoors. Those who worked both indoors and outside had the least skin cancers.

But that’s not all.

Most melanomas occurred on the sailors’ trunks, not on their face or arms! This, alone, suggests that sunlight exposure doesn’t cause melanoma.

The real skin cancer risks include a diet high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables, along with having fair skin (because it burns easily). In fact, it’s sunburn, not sunlight that most often causes melanoma.

What’s really going on?

Back in 1998, Dr. Marianne Berwick, an epidemiologist at Memorial Sloan-Cancer Center in New York, analyzed 10 studies on melanoma and sunscreen. In half of them, people who used sunscreen were more likely to get melanoma than non-users. There was no connection between skin cancers and sunscreen in three studies and modest protection in the remaining two studies.

Sunscreens with SPF contain synthetic chemicals. Some of these chemicals are known carcinogens. Perhaps that’s why 50% of people who used sunscreen in Berwick’s meta-analysis developed melanoma.

What should you do?

First, see your dermatologist for a full-body exam every year. It’s better to have a benign spot removed than miss one that’s malignant.

Next, take 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily.

Get some sun, but don’t get burned.

If you want a product with non-toxic sunscreen chemicals, choose one with micronized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide labeled SPF 30. Be sure to apply it every two to three hours. Your arms and face will be white and your face may feel sticky with layers of day cream and daily skin-care products, but they’re some of the only known safe ingredients in sunscreens that block UV rays when applied throughout the day.

Are there products with micronized zinc that won’t turn you white? Yes, but they come with a warning. To make the zinc product feel good and smooth, the manufacturers must include silicones (plastics like those used in non-stick cookware). I’ve told you in the past how these plastics can cause health problems. Plus, zinc and titanium take up a lot of space in a cream or lotion. So I typically don’t recommend these creams.

If you’re looking for protection from skin aging, you’re better off using a product with plenty of antioxidants. Otherwise you’ll use jars and jars of day cream and you’ll block your body’s production of vitamin D.

To use sunscreen properly, you need to apply it to your eyelids, temples, scalp, ears, and neck. Research shows that the majority of people are omitting some of these areas and only protecting 25% of the exposed areas on their heads. Then there’s your hands, arms, and legs. But I have a better solution.

My personal solution

My mother used to say, “You’re allergic to the combination of soap and water.” I’ve never liked putting anything on my face, and my skin has always looked pretty good. My biggest problem has always been dry, slightly rough skin. Then last year my friend and colleague, acupuncturist and naturopath Janet Zand asked me what I used on my skin. “Nothing,” I replied. Then my horrified friend sent me some skin care products that completely changed my skin. Instead of dry, rough skin, I now have moist and soft skin. I noticed a marked difference in three days. And my friends noticed it, too.

But Janet wasn’t satisfied with her formulas. That is until she re-formulated them into the best products she and a number of her celebrity clients have ever used. I wish I could tell you their names, but I can’t. But I can tell you that their skin is magnificent.

Janet’s skin care kit, Système 41, is now available by calling 800-791-3446. Instead of containing sunscreen, the products include natural essential oils that
protect the skin from UV damage. I found that the eye treatment reduced deep
wrinkles in my brow and puffiness under my eyes.

I continue to take plenty of vitamin D every day and spend some time in the sun without getting burned. My diet and skin-care products are high in antioxidants. My face looks better, healthier, and younger than it has in decades. And I’m not worried about skin cancer, especially since I continue to see my dermatologist yearly.

www.cancerdecisions.com

NUTRITION DETECTIVE

When Painkillers Kill More Than Your Pain

You may think that pain is just uncomfortable and manageable with medications. But if you keep taking certain painkillers, they may not kill just your pain. They may kill you as well. It all depends on which drugs you use and for how long.

The three most popular types of painkillers are NSAIDs (non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs) like aspirin, COX inhibitors (Coxibs) like Celebrex, and
opioids. Opioids are powerful painkillers sold under the names OxyContin, Demerol, Percodan, Vicodin, and Lomotil (among others).

You probably already know about some of the side effects of NSAIDs and COX inhibitors. I’ve told you about them in the past. But now a study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston says taking opioids could cause more than just a few annoying side effects. They could cause severe side effects — or worse. They could kill you.

In this study, the researchers followed older adults who regularly took one of these painkillers. They found that opioids had more serious side effects — including death — than the other painkillers.

What’s more disturbing to me is that we have less information on opioids than on other painkillers. Their side effects may be even more serious than we know.

The issue gets more complicated because contrary to popular belief, different opioids have different risks. Researchers have to evaluate each one separately.

Then there’s the problem of nutrient depletion. All drugs have the potential to rob you of essential nutrients that can lead to more health problems.

The developers of painkillers designed them for short-term use. When used correctly, they cause few problems (except to sensitive people). But if you’re taking painkillers for months or longer — or any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, for that matter — make sure they’re not contributing to other problems.

You can do this by getting a copy of Dr. Hyla Cass’s excellent reference book, Supplement Your Prescription (Basic Health, 2007). In it you can look up every medication you’re taking and its side effects. Pay particular attention to the nutrients these medications deplete. Then look for safe, natural alternatives.

For example, painkillers often work by reducing inflammation. So does curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric root. Unlike aspirin and many other anti-inflammatory drugs, it has no side effects. Turmeric is one of several safe anti-inflammatory ingredients in Reduloxin (call 800-791-3395 to order). And this is a stronger formula than those found in health food stores. Give it a try before you take drugs for months on end. It’s safer and could be just as effective.

Solomon, Daniel H., Jeremy A. Rassen, Robert J. Glynn, Katie Garneau, Raisa Levin, J­oy Lee, Sebastian Schneeweiss, “The Comparative Safety of Opioids for Nonmalignant Pain in Older Adults,” Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(22):1979-1986. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2010.450.

LETTERS

Q: I’m concerned about Bisphenol-A (BPA), the toxin found in many plastic bottles. Do any of your products eliminate it from the body tissues? What do you recommend? — J.B., e-mail

A: My first suggestion is obvious: Reduce your exposure to all plastics that contain BPA. This means not buying water in pre-packaged bottles and filling BPA-free water bottles from a clean source instead. And by all means, never heat foods in plastic bags or containers.

Unfortunately, I’ve not seen any studies on removing BPA from tissues. But I think a regime using two PectaSol detoxification products can help. We do know that PectaSol Chelation Complex (PCC) and PectaSol Detox Complete (PDC) can help excrete some environmental toxins, including heavy metals. So it stands to reason that they will help remove BPA.

Both of these products use a patented form of modified citrus pectin to bind to contaminants and carry them out of the body. PCC, which contains sodium alginate, removes toxins from the blood- stream. This prevents them from getting trapped in tissues.

PDC contains a complex combination of ingredients that removes toxins from tissues. It works best when taken after PCC. Take two capsules of PCC twice a day on an empty stomach for one month. Then add one capsule of PDC twice a day with food for three to six months. Remember to eat lots of fiber and drink plenty of water to prevent your body from re-absorbing the toxins.

You can learn more about PCC on my website or by calling Advanced Bionutritionals (800-791-3395). PDC is available from EcoNugenics (800-308-5518). This program will definitely reduce the total body burden of toxins in your body. In time, we may see studies on PectaSol and BPA. Until then, you can reduce your body’s overall toxic burden, which may very well include BPA.

Q: My doctor says I have acid reflux (GERD), although my only symptom is feeling like I have something in my throat. An endoscopy found chronic gastritis. Medications haven’t helped. Can you suggest anything? — J.C., West Orange, NJ

A: It’s very possible that your symptom is the result of acid reflux. This condition, called globus pharyngis, is common — especially in women. One thing you can do is to eliminate certain foods that cause discomfort. One food in particular is chocolate. I’ve written about foods to avoid for people with GERD. You can read about them in past articles on my website at www.womenshealthletter.com.

Traditional Chinese medicine has other explanations. It says stagnant liver energy or chronic sinusitis could be the culprit. A single visit to an acupuncturist in your area could give you a diagnosis and suggestions to eliminate this problem. Acupuncture treatments might move this stagnant energy and solve your problem. It really could be that simple.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.c4675