1. Environmentally friendly leather thanks to toxic-free dyes
Although synthetic dyes will not be so easily replaced, the leather industry is making considerable progress in improving its environmental performance.
The European Union is leading the way in banning toxic dyes. The chemicals used to produce dyes today are often highly toxic, carcinogenic, or even explosive! And the problem isn’t restricted to the leather as the chemicals pose an environmental hazard too: almost every industrial dye process involves a solution of a dye in water. After dying a batch of fabric, dye factories across the world will take the cheap and nasty option of dumping the dye effluent into rivers, rather than cleaning and re-using the water in the factory.
Responsible dye manufactures are, however, investigating ways to treat their dye effluent with organic materials and bacteria, rather than chemical treatments, and improve dye manufacture and processing in an effort to minimise the use of hazardous chemicals.
The realistic solution to current toxic dyes is likely to be a combination of more responsible synthetic dye production free of any heavy metal and carcinogenic AZO colours*, together with a sustainable development of natural dyes reaped from natural sources such as tree bark extracts, roots, leaves, wood, nuts and fruit.
*There is a European ban on certain AZO dyes, which can break down under reductive conditions to release aromatic amines – organic compounds shown to be carcinogenic.
2. Vitamin E may protect against liver cancer
It may be time to up your vitamin E consumption as Chinese researchers have found that higher vitamin E intake, either from diet or supplements, significantly lowers the risk of liver cancer in people between the ages of 40 and 70.1
Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that protects your cells against free radicals that can play a part in diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Foods rich in vitamin E include: nuts such as almonds, peanuts and pine nuts (not salted or roasted, but raw); dried herbs such as basil and oregano; dried apricots; green olives; avocados; cooked spinach; the spices paprika and red chilli powder; and sunflower seeds.
When supplementing with vitamin E be sure to take the natural form, d-alpha-tocopherol, rather than the synthetic counterpart, dl-tocopherylacetate, as the natural form is more easily absorbed and stimulates the immune system more effectively. An average daily dosage is 400 to 800 mg.
Caution: too much vitamin E from supplements can lead to excessive bleeding, or haemorrhaging.
Reference
Zhang W, et al. Vitamin intake and liver cancer risk: A report from two cohort studies in China. J Natl Cancer Inst 2012; DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djs277.
3. No short cuts to anti-ageing
Dr Christian Kollar, President of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association (MCA), says there are no short cuts when it comes to anti-ageing.
Here are some of his helpful daily anti-ageing tips to ensure a long and healthy life:
- Make sure to keep your body moving every day, even if it's just walking at the mall, up and down stairs at work or taking a stroll around the block. Exercise is key.
- Hydration is important for cellular functioning, so drink water regularly throughout the day.
- The nutrients in plant-based foods are essential for health and wellness. Eat plenty of vegetables and low-sugar fruits every day.
- Incorporate a fibre-rich diet which can help slow the ageing process.
- Don't underestimate the fun factor. Studies have shown that social support and positive experiences are beneficial to health.
- Rest is necessary for your body to run optimally.
Chiropractic adjustments correct misalignments. This reduces spinal nerve irritation, improves circulation, and releases muscle tension, which then helps the body return to a balanced, relaxed state. For other therapies, see our page Natural Therapies
4. Some health benefits of seaweed
As research pushes on, science and medicine are finding out more and more that seaweed has incredible health benefits. A host of new plant varieties now called sea vegetables are finally being incorporated into Western diets.
And even though seaweed is a relatively new addition to our cuisine, some cultures have been eating it for almost 3 000 years. Among the sea vegetables are hijiki, rame, Ecklonia maxima (sea bamboo) kombu, wakame, laver, dulse, and nori. In the same way that regular vegetables provide essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to the body, seaweed provides its own set of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, some of which are hard to find in land based vegetables. Ecklonia Maxima contains as much as 50 times more minerals than land grown plants.
The best news is that we don't need to replenish the soil when it comes to ocean vegetables. The ocean is self-replenishing. There are a number of health benefits associated with seaweed and sea vegetables. Researchers have seen a direct correlation between regular seaweed consumption and an extended period of youthfulness and vitality. This is partly because seaweed has been shown to have a positive effect on both the hair and the skin.
Another plus is that chlorophyll (found in algae) is one of the strongest detoxers known to man. Furthermore, seaweed is a powerful source of trace minerals and the body can always utilise minerals in foods better than minerals in pills.
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5. Friendly bugs keep sinuses happy
Healthy sinuses, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine, depend on a balance of both good and bad bacteria and the more bacteria the better.
Sinusitis may be caused by a loss of normal microbial diversity following an infection and the subsequent colonisation of the sinuses by the culprit bacterium, Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum, researchers suggest.
In the study, a common bacterium, Lactobacillus sakei, was found in the sinuses of healthy participants. This bacterium appears to ward off sinusitis. Restoring the naturally-occurring good bacteria to the sinus cavities may be an effective way of fighting this common condition, but this observation still needs to be tested for safety and efficacy in human clinical trials.
6. Risks associated with teething gels
Well-meaning parents may inadvertently be placing their children in danger by using gels on their teething babies.
A local anaesthetic called benzocaine is added to some teething products such as Baby Orajel, Anbesol and Orabase. Benzocaine numbs babies’ gums and mouth, but it can cause a rare blood disorder called methaemoglobinaemia.
Natural remedies for teething babies do not include benozocaine, and gentle homeopathic alternatives are available.
7. Prescription Drugs to Avoid
Sometimes the benefits of clinically-approved pharmaceutical drugs do not outweigh the risks. Here are six classes of prescription drugs that should be regarded with caution:
1. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are taken to relieve the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which occurs when food and acid in the stomach leaks back into the oesophagus. PPIs such as Nexium (exomeprazole) and Prevacid (lansoprazole), however, may block nutrient absorption and inhibit the production of necessary stomach acid, causing a series of other health problems such as an increased risk of bacterial diarrhoea; magnesium deficiency; bone fractures; pneumonia; and unhealthy weight gain.
2. Statins are regarded in the medical field as a cure for high cholesterol and heart disease. But Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) and Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) can increase the risk of diabetes, liver disease, brain damage, muscle atrophy, and even early death. Studies have also shown that when taken as primary prevention statins do little, if anything, to prevent heart disease and strokes.
3. Antibiotics are a class of drugs that are so unnecessarily over-prescribed that a plague of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ has been created. Levaquin (levofloxacin), Vancocin (vancomycin hydrochloride), and Bactrim (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) are the three most dangerous antibiotics prescribed at the moment. Quinolones, the most commonly prescribed, are also dangerous while Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin HCL), and Floxin (ofloxacin) can cause severe and permanent disability.
4. Antipsychotics are very dangerous and are commonly prescribed for mood disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe major depression, as well as mild mood disorder and everyday anxiety. But popular antipsychotic drugs like Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate), Abilify (aripiprazole), Risperdal (risperidone), and Zyprexa (olanzapine) have been shown to increase blood sugar levels, elevate lipid and cholesterol levels, and promote weight gain. Antipsychotics can also result in long-term neurological and brain damage, as well as the increased risk of metabolic syndrome, which can include major health conditions like cardio- vascular disease and diabetes.
5. Opioid-based pain relievers such as Vicodin (hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen), OxyContin (oxycodone HCI), Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen), codeine, and morphine are examples of prescription painkillers now responsible for causing more fatal overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined.
6. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include antidepressants like Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), and Lexapro. Suicidal tendencies1, sexual dysfunction2, gastrointestinal bleeding3, and heart disease (rare)4 are just a few of the side effects of SSRIs.
References
- Hall WD. et al. How have the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants affected suicide mortality?. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2006. 40 (11–12): 941–50.
- Coleman E. Impulsive/ compulsive sexual behavior: Assessment and treatment. In Grant, Jon E.; Potenza, Marc N. The Oxford Handbook of Impulse Control Disorders. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 385. 2011.
- Weinrieb RM. et al. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and the risk of bleeding. Expert opinion on drug safety. 2005 March. 4 (2): 337–4
- Huffman GB. Cardiac effects in patients using SSRI antidepressants – selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor – Tips from Other Journals. August 1997. American Family Physician.
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