By: Dr. Joseph Mercola
A Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advisory panel has met to
examine the safety and effectiveness of antibacterial soaps.
Could Cause Problems
The American Medical Association (AMA), and a number of
scientists, have cast doubts on the use of antibacterial soap.
They point out that there is no evidence that these products
stop infection any better than regular soap, and they worry that
increased use of antibacterial products might lead to
antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Alcohol-Based Sanitizers are Safer
Some at the FDA's meeting recommended the use of alcohol-based
hand sanitizers for this reason, rather than the antibacterial
additives triclosan (for liquid soaps) and triclocarban (for
hard soaps).
Industry Denies There is a Problem
The AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs suggested in 2002 that
consumers stop using antibacterial soaps. Promoters of the soaps
say that studies have shown antibacterial soaps cause no
increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, although the
studies quoted did say that long-term use of the products could
be problematic and should be studied.
Yahoo News October 18, 2005USA Today October 20, 2005
Dr. Mercola's Comment:A growing number of critics, including
me, believe antibacterial soaps are no better than regular soaps
in reducing infections.
You see, yourstandard non-bacterialhousehold soap separates
bacteria fromyour skin so germs go down the drain or get
attached to towels when drying your hands. On the other hand,
antibacterial soaps kill germs on the spot. At least, most of
them ...
The few that survive, with the help of antibacterial compounds
-- synthetic chemicals like triclosan -- create germs resistant
to soaps and antibiotics over the long haul.
It used to be that antibacterial soaps were used mainly in
clinical health care environments, like scrubbing up prior to
surgery. Now, antibacterial soaps are used in households across
the country where they amount to a $16 billion-a-year industry.
Some 72 percent of all liquid soap sold in the United States now
contains antibacterial ingredients.
But studies have shown that people who use antibacterial soaps
and cleansers develop cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever,
vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms just as often as people
who use products that do not contain antibacterial ingredients.
Further,increasing numbers oftraditional medicalexperts now
accept the hygiene hypothesis, which centers on the idea that
children exposedto bacteria in early childhoodactually
havestrongerimmune systems. Children who are not exposed to
common bacteria, which areeliminated by excessive use ofsoap,
may actually be more prone to allergies and asthma.
Even the American Medical Association (AMA) does not recommend
antibacterial soaps.
So why do they persist?
Simple --the manufacturers have relied on using fear to convince
people that they need to use them to stay healthy. So, avoid
being duped by these companies. All you need to use is a plain,
chemical-free soap that you can pick up in your local health
food store, as washing with plain soap and water will get rid of
most all bacteria.
Many of you also understand that it is not lack of washing your
hands that actually gets you sick but rather a weakened immune
system, which results from poor lifestyle choicesregarding
foods, sleep, exercise and sun exposure.
Yes, you can decrease your risk of getting coughs and colds by
washing your hands (with regular soap), but you can virtually
eliminate your risk by following the Total Health Program and
not washing your hands. The key is optimizing your immune
system, not decreasing your exposure to infectious agents.
About the author:
This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most
visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a
limited time only, you can take the FREE "Metabolic Type Test"
to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type
so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to
http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this
quick test!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Little Known Facts About Changes In Our Diet
By: Brennan Howe
To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is an
understatement! Pick up any magazine, tune-in or turn-on any
source of advertising and you're bombarded with the latest diet
schemes and food fads. More often than not, they are endorsed by
some familiar Hollywood celebrity, or promoted using some other
cleaver technique.
It's no mystery that the weight-loss industry has built a
thriving empire. In America, for example, we spend about 35
billion dollars every year on an assortment of weight loss
products and plans. In addition, we spend another 79 billion
dollars for medication, hospitalization, and doctors to treat
obesity-related problems. Even with this, the obesity epidemic
continues to spread. Sadly, we have become the heaviest
generation in our Nation's history.
The National Center for Health Statistics reports that we have
some very good reasons to be concerned about our weight-gain.
Americans, for example are packing-on the pounds faster than
ever before and weight-related medical problems are taking
center stage. Diseases like heart disease, diabetes and
yes...even certain forms of cancer have all been linked to
obesity.
Here are a few of the surprising statistics about our weight:
- A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or
obese. That's up approximately 8 percent from overweight
estimates obtained in a 1988 report.
- The percent of children who are overweight is also continuing
to increase. Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or
almost 9 million are overweight. That's triple what the rate was
in 1980!
- Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified as obese. At
present, 31 percent of adults 20 years of age and over or nearly
59 million people have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater,
compared with 23 percent in 1994.
(The BMI is a number that shows body weight adjusted for height.
For adults, a BMI of 18.5 - 24.9 is considered normal. A BMI of
25.0 - 29.9 is overweight and 30.0 or above, is considered
obese.)
Modern life both at home and at work has come to revolve around
moving from one "seated" position to another: whether it's
television, computers, remote controls, or automobiles, we seem
to be broadening the scope of our inactive endeavors.
At times, life seems to have gotten almost too easy! For
entertainment, we can now just sit-down, dial-up our favorite TV
program or DVD movie and enjoy hours of uninterrupted
entertainment...
And all those simple calorie burning activities that were once a
normal part of our daily routine not so long ago? Long gone! You
know the ones I'm talking about...activities like climbing
stairs instead of using escalators and elevators. Or, pushing a
lawn mower instead of riding around on a garden tractor. And
what about that daily walk to school? Now, our kids complain
when the school bus happens to be a few minutes late getting to
the bus stop!
Along with the convenience of our affluent lifestyle and
reduction in energy expenditure, have come changes in our diet.
We are now consuming more calorie rich and nutrient deficient
foods than ever before.
Here are a few examples of what we were eating in the 1970's
compared to our diet today (information is taken from a recent
U.S. Department of Agriculture survey):
- We are currently eating more grain products, but almost all of
them are refined grains (white bread, etc.). Grain consumption
has jumped 45 percent since the 1970s, from 138 pounds of grains
per person per year to 200 pounds! Only 2 percent of the wheat
flour is consumed as whole wheat.
- Our consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased, but
only because the U.S.D.A. includes French fries and potato chips
as a vegetable. Potato products account for almost a third of
our "produce" choices.
- We're drinking less milk, but we've more than doubled our
cheese intake. Cheese now outranks meat as the number one source
of saturated fat in our diets.
- We've cut back on red meat, but have more than made up for the
loss by increasing our intake of chicken (battered and fried),
so that overall, we're eating 13 pounds more meat today than we
did back in the 1970s.
- We're drinking three times more carbonated soft drinks than
milk, compared to the 1970's, when milk consumption was twice
that of pop.
- We use 25 percent less butter, but pour twice as much
vegetable oil on our food and salads, so our total added fat
intake has increased 32 percent.
- Sugar consumption has been another cause of our expanding
waistlines. Sugar intake is simply off the charts. According to
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, people are consuming roughly
twice the amount of sugar they need each day, about 20 teaspoons
on a 2000 calorie/day diet. The added sugar is found mostly in
junk foods, such as pop, cake, and cookies.
- In 1978, the government found that sugars constituted only 11
percent of the average person's calories. Now, this number has
ballooned to 16 percent for the average American adult and as
much as 20 percent for American teenagers.
The days of the wholesome family dinners so near and dear to our
hearts, where we all sat around the kitchen table to discuss
events of the day, are now a part of our sentimental past. They
have been replaced by our cravings for take-out and fast-food.
We have gradually come to accept that it's "OK" to sacrifice
healthy foods for the sake of convenience and that larger
serving portions mean better value.
And, since I have been throwing-out statistics, here's one more:
Americans are consuming about 300 more calories each day than we
did twenty years ago. We should actually be eating less because
of our decreased activity level, but instead are doing the
opposite!
Decide TODAY that healthy eating and exercise habits will become
a permanent part of your life!
Begin to explore your values and thoughts and other areas of
your life where change may be required, and then take action.
Begin slowly, but deliberately to make improvements in the areas
you identify. And remember, it has taken a very long time to
develop your habits, and it will take some time to undo
them...so be patient!
About the author:
Brennan Howe is owner of http://www.keepingyourhair.com. Learn
how your diet can affect your hair growth.
To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is an
understatement! Pick up any magazine, tune-in or turn-on any
source of advertising and you're bombarded with the latest diet
schemes and food fads. More often than not, they are endorsed by
some familiar Hollywood celebrity, or promoted using some other
cleaver technique.
It's no mystery that the weight-loss industry has built a
thriving empire. In America, for example, we spend about 35
billion dollars every year on an assortment of weight loss
products and plans. In addition, we spend another 79 billion
dollars for medication, hospitalization, and doctors to treat
obesity-related problems. Even with this, the obesity epidemic
continues to spread. Sadly, we have become the heaviest
generation in our Nation's history.
The National Center for Health Statistics reports that we have
some very good reasons to be concerned about our weight-gain.
Americans, for example are packing-on the pounds faster than
ever before and weight-related medical problems are taking
center stage. Diseases like heart disease, diabetes and
yes...even certain forms of cancer have all been linked to
obesity.
Here are a few of the surprising statistics about our weight:
- A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or
obese. That's up approximately 8 percent from overweight
estimates obtained in a 1988 report.
- The percent of children who are overweight is also continuing
to increase. Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or
almost 9 million are overweight. That's triple what the rate was
in 1980!
- Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified as obese. At
present, 31 percent of adults 20 years of age and over or nearly
59 million people have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater,
compared with 23 percent in 1994.
(The BMI is a number that shows body weight adjusted for height.
For adults, a BMI of 18.5 - 24.9 is considered normal. A BMI of
25.0 - 29.9 is overweight and 30.0 or above, is considered
obese.)
Modern life both at home and at work has come to revolve around
moving from one "seated" position to another: whether it's
television, computers, remote controls, or automobiles, we seem
to be broadening the scope of our inactive endeavors.
At times, life seems to have gotten almost too easy! For
entertainment, we can now just sit-down, dial-up our favorite TV
program or DVD movie and enjoy hours of uninterrupted
entertainment...
And all those simple calorie burning activities that were once a
normal part of our daily routine not so long ago? Long gone! You
know the ones I'm talking about...activities like climbing
stairs instead of using escalators and elevators. Or, pushing a
lawn mower instead of riding around on a garden tractor. And
what about that daily walk to school? Now, our kids complain
when the school bus happens to be a few minutes late getting to
the bus stop!
Along with the convenience of our affluent lifestyle and
reduction in energy expenditure, have come changes in our diet.
We are now consuming more calorie rich and nutrient deficient
foods than ever before.
Here are a few examples of what we were eating in the 1970's
compared to our diet today (information is taken from a recent
U.S. Department of Agriculture survey):
- We are currently eating more grain products, but almost all of
them are refined grains (white bread, etc.). Grain consumption
has jumped 45 percent since the 1970s, from 138 pounds of grains
per person per year to 200 pounds! Only 2 percent of the wheat
flour is consumed as whole wheat.
- Our consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased, but
only because the U.S.D.A. includes French fries and potato chips
as a vegetable. Potato products account for almost a third of
our "produce" choices.
- We're drinking less milk, but we've more than doubled our
cheese intake. Cheese now outranks meat as the number one source
of saturated fat in our diets.
- We've cut back on red meat, but have more than made up for the
loss by increasing our intake of chicken (battered and fried),
so that overall, we're eating 13 pounds more meat today than we
did back in the 1970s.
- We're drinking three times more carbonated soft drinks than
milk, compared to the 1970's, when milk consumption was twice
that of pop.
- We use 25 percent less butter, but pour twice as much
vegetable oil on our food and salads, so our total added fat
intake has increased 32 percent.
- Sugar consumption has been another cause of our expanding
waistlines. Sugar intake is simply off the charts. According to
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, people are consuming roughly
twice the amount of sugar they need each day, about 20 teaspoons
on a 2000 calorie/day diet. The added sugar is found mostly in
junk foods, such as pop, cake, and cookies.
- In 1978, the government found that sugars constituted only 11
percent of the average person's calories. Now, this number has
ballooned to 16 percent for the average American adult and as
much as 20 percent for American teenagers.
The days of the wholesome family dinners so near and dear to our
hearts, where we all sat around the kitchen table to discuss
events of the day, are now a part of our sentimental past. They
have been replaced by our cravings for take-out and fast-food.
We have gradually come to accept that it's "OK" to sacrifice
healthy foods for the sake of convenience and that larger
serving portions mean better value.
And, since I have been throwing-out statistics, here's one more:
Americans are consuming about 300 more calories each day than we
did twenty years ago. We should actually be eating less because
of our decreased activity level, but instead are doing the
opposite!
Decide TODAY that healthy eating and exercise habits will become
a permanent part of your life!
Begin to explore your values and thoughts and other areas of
your life where change may be required, and then take action.
Begin slowly, but deliberately to make improvements in the areas
you identify. And remember, it has taken a very long time to
develop your habits, and it will take some time to undo
them...so be patient!
About the author:
Brennan Howe is owner of http://www.keepingyourhair.com. Learn
how your diet can affect your hair growth.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Sleep Apnea And Snoring
By: Dale Smith
Of all the snoring related physical ailments, arguably the most
severe and ironically least understood is a condition called
Sleep Apnea. These two words should be emblazoned in the minds
of every snorer, and anyone who lives with or cares about the
safety and well being of a snorer.
The word apnea in the term sleep apnea derives from the Greek
term for absence of breathing. That, in a nutshell, gives a
sense of how dangerous sleep apnea can be; it literally refers
to a condition where breathing stops during sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
1) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - This most common form of
apnea occurs when throat muscles relax.
2) Central Sleep Apnea - This form of apnea occurs when the
brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control
breathing.
Sleep apnea and snoring are directly linked because during
snoring the airway of the trachea is constantly subjected to
repetitive collapse and obstruction; in fact, it is that
collapse and obstruction that leads to the vibration that,
ultimately, manifests itself as audible snoring. Obstructive
Sleep Apnea thus occurs when, due to that continuous collapse of
the airway, breathing actually stops.
Although Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs two to three times as
often in older male adults, it can affect young or old, male or
female. Even children can have sleep apnea, a problem more
common than once thought.
Certain factors can put you more at risk of getting sleep apnea:
Obesity & excess weight (leading to an enlarged neck and
excess soft tissue in the trachea)
Enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils (airway can become
blocked when tonsils or adenoids are too large)
Sex and age (older men are more likely to suffer from
sleep apnea than women are)
Drinking alcohol (sedates the throat muscles and causes
them to collapse)
Cigarette smoking (which inflames the upper airway)
While death is obviously possible due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea
(and subsequent lack of breathing), there are many very serious
effects that, while not fatal, are most certainly severe.
Even when it is not fatal, Sleep apnea deprives the body of
essential oxygen; and hence, overall blood oxygen levels are
reduced and concurrently, carbon dioxide levels rise. This can
lead to toxic buildup that can cause heart disease, stroke, and
brain damage.
About the author:
Dale Smith is founder of http://www.stop-snoring-101.com and
author of the online guide "Stop Snoring Remedies &
Snoring Treatments". Visit his site for free information how
to stop snoring without surgery, using safe and proven stop
snoring remedies, aids, & treatments.
Of all the snoring related physical ailments, arguably the most
severe and ironically least understood is a condition called
Sleep Apnea. These two words should be emblazoned in the minds
of every snorer, and anyone who lives with or cares about the
safety and well being of a snorer.
The word apnea in the term sleep apnea derives from the Greek
term for absence of breathing. That, in a nutshell, gives a
sense of how dangerous sleep apnea can be; it literally refers
to a condition where breathing stops during sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
1) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - This most common form of
apnea occurs when throat muscles relax.
2) Central Sleep Apnea - This form of apnea occurs when the
brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control
breathing.
Sleep apnea and snoring are directly linked because during
snoring the airway of the trachea is constantly subjected to
repetitive collapse and obstruction; in fact, it is that
collapse and obstruction that leads to the vibration that,
ultimately, manifests itself as audible snoring. Obstructive
Sleep Apnea thus occurs when, due to that continuous collapse of
the airway, breathing actually stops.
Although Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs two to three times as
often in older male adults, it can affect young or old, male or
female. Even children can have sleep apnea, a problem more
common than once thought.
Certain factors can put you more at risk of getting sleep apnea:
Obesity & excess weight (leading to an enlarged neck and
excess soft tissue in the trachea)
Enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils (airway can become
blocked when tonsils or adenoids are too large)
Sex and age (older men are more likely to suffer from
sleep apnea than women are)
Drinking alcohol (sedates the throat muscles and causes
them to collapse)
Cigarette smoking (which inflames the upper airway)
While death is obviously possible due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea
(and subsequent lack of breathing), there are many very serious
effects that, while not fatal, are most certainly severe.
Even when it is not fatal, Sleep apnea deprives the body of
essential oxygen; and hence, overall blood oxygen levels are
reduced and concurrently, carbon dioxide levels rise. This can
lead to toxic buildup that can cause heart disease, stroke, and
brain damage.
About the author:
Dale Smith is founder of http://www.stop-snoring-101.com and
author of the online guide "Stop Snoring Remedies &
Snoring Treatments". Visit his site for free information how
to stop snoring without surgery, using safe and proven stop
snoring remedies, aids, & treatments.
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