http://www.realnatural.org Responsible Natural Health News Sat, 18 May 2013 00:07:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://www.realnatural.org/gingivitis-bacteria-linked-with-arthritis/ http://www.realnatural.org/gingivitis-bacteria-linked-with-arthritis/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 19:57:35 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5874
A growing body of research is confirming that the bacteria that infect our gums may well be the cause of many cases of arthritis. Could your gingivitis be swelling up your joints?]]>
A growing body of research is confirming that the bacteria that infect our gums may well be the cause of many cases of arthritis. Could your gingivitis be swelling up your joints? Dentistry researchers from Germany’s Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg recently analyzed the synovial fluid of 42 patients - average age of 54 years old - with rheumatoid arthritis. They compared this information with 114 control subjects around the same age who had no arthritis and no other rheumatoid conditions. The synovial fluid is the fluid within the joint capsule, which will typically contain inflammatory components relating to the arthritis. The researchers analyzed the synovial fluid for DNA that matched the genome of oral bacteria – specifically Porphyromonas gingivalis – the bacteria most known to be at the root of most gingivitis infections. The researchers found that the rheumatoid arthritis patients were about four-and-a-half times more likely to harbor the DNA of the Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria within their synovial fluid compared to the non-arthritic adults. They also found that the arthritic patients were 12 times more likely to have Porphyromonas gingivalis infections and Porphyromonas gingivalis DNA in the joint fluid. Furthermore, missing teeth correlated directly with cases of rheumatoid arthritis in this study. In other words, the more missing teeth, the more likely the patients had rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers concluded: “DNA of periodontopathogens can be found in synovial fluid and oral bacteria may play a role in the pathogenesis of arthritis.” Learn about natural solutions for arthritis. This study underscores similar findings in other studies. Last year researchers from New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases analyzed newly diagnosed and new onset rheumatoid arthritis patients for links between gingivitis and their arthritis. The researchers utilized pyrosequencing to analyze the joints along with their oral cavities. They also compared these findings with healthy control patients and with existing chronic rheumatoid arthritis patients. The researchers also utilized analysis of the anti-porphyromonas gingivalis antibody to determine previous exposure to P. gingivalis. The researchers found that the patients with arthritis had an increased amount of gingivitis bacteria exposure, notably of P. gingivalis. They also found that the worse the gingivitis infection and periodontal disease, the more severe the rheumatoid arthritis. The newly onset RA patients had a 78% similar match with the P. gingivalis in their oral cavity. In their conclusion, the researchers stated: “Patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis exhibited a high prevalence of periodontal disease at disease onset, despite their young age and paucity of smoking history.” Research from Case Western Reserve University reviewed multiple studies and reports of arthritis and other infections linked to oral bacteria or the DNA of oral bacteria. The researchers found that oral bacteria including Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Campylobacter rectus are implicated in what the scientists referred to as “extra-oral translocation.” Quite simply “extra-oral translocation” means the bacteria are moving – translocating – from the oral cavity to other parts of the body. Researchers from the European University of Brittany and the University of Rennes have determined that another oral bacteria - Capnocytophaga spp. – which will infect both human gums and animal gums – have been found infecting joints of immune-suppressed people and causing arthritis as well as bone implant infections. Researchers from Japan’s Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences studied 54 patients with both rheumatoid arthritis and chronic periodontitis (also considered gingivitis). The researchers found that the inflammatory agents found among the oral cavities – especially evident during probing – correlated with the inflammatory responses found that related to their arthritis. This is specific to changes in a bone inflammation agent called matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), relating to interleukin-6 (IL-6). Researchers from New Zealand’s Dunedin School of Medicine have also found the correlation. Their findings stated that: “The oral cavity has its own characteristic microbiota, which concentrates in periodontal tissues and is in close association with a permeable epithelium.” They went on to state: “Evidence is presented to support the theory that an altered microbiota is a factor in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis....” and “Mechanisms through which the microbiota may be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases include altered epithelial and mucosal permeability, loss of immune tolerance to components of the indigenous microbiota, and trafficking of both activated immune cells and antigenic material to the joints.” Belgium doctors have described two cases where Streptococcus gordonii has been implicated in arthritis. The doctors found the same bacteria in the oral cavity and in the joint. Learn more about oral bacteria and oral probiotics. In a surprise study, microbiology researchers from India’s Barkatullah University found that the probiotics Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus slowed down the inflammatory response related to arthritis in rats. The rats given Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus orally had significant improvement in their arthritic condition when compared to controls. Apparently the means of this improvement was through the immune system’s cytokines. After measuring levels of Interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and other cytokines, they found that the rats fed the probiotics had inflammation down-regulating cytokine levels – associated with reductions in inflammation and faster healing times. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES: Piau C, Arvieux C, Bonnaure-Mallet M, Jolivet-Gougeon A. Capnocytophaga spp. involvement in bone infections: a review. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2013 Jun;41(6):509-15. Scher JU, Ubeda C, Equinda M, Khanin R, Buischi Y, Viale A, Lipuma L, Attur M, Pillinger MH, Weissmann G, Littman DR, Pamer EG, Bretz WA, Abramson SB. Periodontal disease and the oral microbiota in new-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Oct;64(10):3083-94. Han YW, Wang X. Mobile Microbiome: Oral Bacteria in Extra-oral Infections and Inflammation. J Dent Res. 2013 Jun;92(6):485-91. Reichert S, Haffner M, Keyßer G, Schäfer C, Stein JM, Schaller HG, Wienke A, Strauss H, Heide S, Schulz S. Detection of oral bacterial DNA in synovial fluid. J Clin Periodontol. 2013 Jun;40(6):591-8. Kobayashi T, Okada M, Ito S, Kobayashi D, Ishida K, Kojima A, Narita I, Murasawa A, Yoshie H. Assessment of Interleukin-6 Receptor Inhibition Therapy on Periodontal Condition in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chronic Periodontitis. J Periodontol. 2013 Mar 14. Pääkkönen M, Peltola H. Bone and joint infections. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Apr;60(2):425-36. Yeoh N, Burton JP, Suppiah P, Reid G, Stebbings S. The role of the microbiome in rheumatic diseases. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013 Mar;15(3):314. Yombi Jc, Belkhir L, Jonckheere S, Wilmes D, Cornu O, Vandercam B, Rodriguez-Villalobos H. Streptococcus gordonii septic arthritis: two cases and review of literature. BMC Infect Dis. 2012 Sep 13;12:215. Amdekar S, Singh V, Kumar A, Sharma P, Singh R. Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus regulate inflammatory pathway and improve antioxidant status in collagen-induced arthritic rats. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2013 Jan;33(1):1-8. ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/gingivitis-bacteria-linked-with-arthritis/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/can-chinese-herbal-medicine-successfully-treat-cancer-the-research-says-yes/ http://www.realnatural.org/can-chinese-herbal-medicine-successfully-treat-cancer-the-research-says-yes/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 18:25:11 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5856
A large scale review of research from Australian and Chinese University scientists has proven with thousands of studies using hundreds of thousands of cancer patients that Chinese herbal medicine offers significant treatment for many cancers ... ]]>
A large scale review of research from Australian and Chinese University scientists has proven with thousands of studies using hundreds of thousands of cancer patients that Chinese herbal medicine offers significant treatment for most types of cancers - including breast cancer. The research comes from Australia’s University of Western Sydney and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The researchers analyzed and reviewed 2,964 human clinical studies that involved 253,434 cancer patients. Among these were 2,385 randomized controlled studies and 579 non-randomized controlled studies. These studies covered most of the cancer types, but the cancers most studied were lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer and nasopharyngeal (throat and sinus) cancer. Yes, breast cancer was the fourth most-studied type of cancer among these thousands of clinical studies. The researchers discovered that the overwhelming majority of studies – 90% of the clinical studies - utilized herbal medicine. The researchers found that 72% of these studies applied Traditional Chinese Medicine alongside conventional treatment, but a full 28% applied Traditional Chinese Medicine separately to experimental groups. In terms of cancer patients, about 64% were given both TCM and conventional medical treatments. The rest were given TCM therapy alone, but a little over half of them did not qualify whether the patient was given conventional treatment at some point in the past. Because of the large number of studies, there were different types of results, depending upon the type of study, the type of treatment, and the outcome measures tested. Still, in a full 1,015 studies or 85% of those that reported on symptoms, TCM treatment resulted in improvement of cancer symptoms with many of those reporting reduced pain. Another 883 studies – 70% – showed increased survival rates. Another 38% showed reduced tumor size, and 28% showed increased quality of life. Another 19% showed lower relapse rates and another 7% showed reduced complications. The researchers also found that only a few studies tested TCM acupuncture treatment in cancer therapy. In their discussion they qualified that acupuncture treatment in cancer therapy to alleviate pain is quite popular in the U.S., but in Chinese cancer studies, herbal medicine therapy is the leading type of holistic treatment for cancer. This study follows another extensive review of research published in 2012 on TCM cancer treatment. This study comes from Norway’s National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the University of Tromsø, Norway, also with collaboration with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. This earlier study reviewed significantly fewer studies, compiling 716 trials that included 1,198 cancer patients with either leukemia, stomach cancer, liver cancer or esophageal cancer. Among these studies, 98.5% used herbal medicine, and again, acupuncture therapy was rare. In this study, symptom improvement was achieved in 85% of the patients that used the TCM therapy. In yet another study - this one much larger than the second - 1,217 clinical studies between 1958 and 2011, involving 92,945 patients were analyzed and reviewed by researchers from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Among these studies, 66% of the patients were treated with TCM therapy alone, while 34% of the patients were treated with a combination of TCM and conventional cancer therapy. Also, 82% of the patients were given herbal medicines orally. Only 5% of the patients were given more than one type of TCM therapy. This means that 95% were treated with one type of TCM therapy. This study found that among the studies treating cancer, symptom relief was the prominent result among 88% of the studies and among 88% of the patients tested with TCM therapy. Increased survival rates resulted in 73% of patients. Among all the rest of the studies, 96% of the trials resulted in symptom relief and 92% of the patients reported cancer symptom relief. Did we get this right? Was that 88% and 92% symptom improvement or relief among thousands of studies and nearly 100,000 cancer patients? And 85% improvement of cancer symptoms among 716 clinical studies? And 85% symptom improvement among 1,015 clinical studies among a review involving over 250,000 cancer patients that tested the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine against cancer? It sounds pretty solid that Chinese herbal medicine does indeed treat cancer and overwhelmingly results in the improvement or relief of symptoms as well as longer survival rates and reduced metastases. Now why again is Western conventional medicine still refusing to at least consider herbal medicine therapy in cancer treatment? Could there be a profit motive involved? Could it have to do with the fact that herbal medicines cannot be patented? In other words, is Western conventional medicine ignoring inexpensive natural treatments that could help millions of cancer patients simply because of profits? We’ll let them answer this question, as actions speak louder than words. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES: Li X, Yang G, Li X, Zhang Y, Yang J, Chang J, Sun X, Zhou X, Guo Y, Xu Y, Liu J, Bensoussan A. Traditional chinese medicine in cancer care: a review of controlled clinical studies published in chinese. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60338. Liu J, Li X, Liu J, Ma L, Li X, Fønnebø V. Traditional Chinese medicine in cancer care: a review of case reports published in Chinese literature. Forsch Komplementmed. 2011;18(5):257-63. Yang G, Li X, Li X, Wang L, Li J, Song X, Chen J, Guo Y, Sun X, Wang S, Zhang Z, Zhou X, Liu J. Traditional chinese medicine in cancer care: a review of case series published in the chinese literature. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:751046. Read this article at GreenMedInfo. ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/can-chinese-herbal-medicine-successfully-treat-cancer-the-research-says-yes/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/essentials-oils-found-effective-against-tonsillitis-bacteria/ http://www.realnatural.org/essentials-oils-found-effective-against-tonsillitis-bacteria/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 19:58:58 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5835
New research from France’s University of Angers has determined that certain essential oils are effective in killing the bacteria known to cause tonsillitis.]]>
Research from France’s University of Angers has determined that certain essential oils are effective in killing the bacteria known to cause tonsillitis. The researchers utilized 18 different essential oils provided by a French manufacturer of essential oils (Pranarôm Science). The researchers tested essential oils of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), Oregano (Origanum compactum), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris – two species), Winter Savory (Satureja montana), Clove (Eugenia caryophyllus), Palmarosa lemongrass (Cymbopogon martinii), Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora – two species), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Marjoram (Origanum marjorana), Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Cajeput (Melaleuca cajuputi), Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Naiouli Tea tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia), and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). The researchers extracted the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes from the throat (pharynx) of a child who had tonsillitis. They incubated the bacteria and then tested each of the essential oils against it. The researchers found 14 of the 18 essential oils had antibacterial activity against the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial. Of these the Cinnamon oil, the Thyme oil, the Lemongrass oil, the Marjoram oil, and the Winter Savory oil had the greatest antibiotic activity against the tonsillitis bacteria S. pyogenes. The zone of inhibition for these five oils with the most antibiotic potential ranged from 48 to 35 millimeters. (Note that the greater the zone of inhibition, the stronger the antibiotic potency.) Two other oils – Clove oil and Palmarosa lemongrass oil – came in at 18 and 15 mm respectively. The remaining seven oils with antibiotic activity against the S. pyogenes ranged from 13 to 9 mm zone of inhibition. They were Camphor oil (CT linalool), Peppermint oil, Thyme oil (CT thujanol), Marjoram oil, Lavender oil, Cajeput oil, and Tea tree oil. The obvious question is how this antibacterial activity, measured by inhibition zone, measures up against those of the most successful antibiotics. Well, a 2009 study published in the Journal of Bacteriology measured precisely that: The inhibition zones of the most popular antibiotics against Streptococcus pyogenes. Zones of inhibition against S. pyogenes of Amoxicillin was 22.3 mm, Ampicillin 34.5 mm, Ampiciox 18.7 mm, Chloramphenicol 22.0 mm, Ciprofolxacin 30 mm, Erythromycin 14.5 mm, Fulcin 6.0 mm, Gentamicin 2.0 mm, Penicillin 39.0 mm, Rifampicin 27.0 mm, Septrin 19.0 mm, Tetracycline 10.5 mm, and Vancomycin 14.5 mm. The average Zone of inhibition for the entire range of 13 antibiotics against S. pyogenes was 20.1, and as mentioned, the greatest was Penicillin at 39. This compares to zones of inhibition between 48 mm and 35 mm for the Cinnamon oil, the Thyme oil, the Lemongrass oil, the Marjoram oil, and the Winter Savory oil. And we must add to this that the 2009 study tested antibiotics that many species of bacteria – including some S. pyogenes – have since become more resistant to. During these past four years, many of these pharmaceutical antibiotics have lost some of their antibiotic potency against S. pyogenes and other bacteria. The researchers noted that the essential oils’ antibiotic mechanisms varied, and ranged from their monoterpene content, aldehydes such as cinnamaldehyde (Cinnamon), phenols such as thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and others, and many other compounds. Other studies have also indicated some essential oils are significantly antibiotic. Thyme and Lavender oils in particular have been found to have significant activity against some bacteria. In 2011, Moroccan researchers also found that two species of Thyme essential oil were synergistic with antibiotic therapy. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES: Sfeir J, Lefrançois C, Baudoux D, Derbré S, Licznar P. In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils against Streptococcus pyogenes. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:269161. Fadli M, Saad A, Sayadi S, Chevalier J, Mezrioui NE, Pagès JM, Hassani L. Antibacterial activity of Thymus maroccanus and Thymus broussonetii essential oils against nosocomial infection - bacteria and their synergistic potential with antibiotics. Phytomedicine. 2012 Mar 15;19(5):464-71. Nkang AO, Okonko IO, Fowotade A, Udeze AO, Ogunnusi TA, Fajobi EA, Adewale OG, Mejeha OK. Antibiotics susceptibility profiles of bacteria from clinical samples in Calabar, Nigeria. Jnl Bacter. 2009 Nov 1(8):089-096. ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/essentials-oils-found-effective-against-tonsillitis-bacteria/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/toxic-parabens-found-in-u-s-food-supply/ http://www.realnatural.org/toxic-parabens-found-in-u-s-food-supply/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 19:59:14 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5816
Researchers may have solved a vexing mystery as to why parabens contamination in humans has been so high in recent studies: Parabens are increasingly contaminating our food supply. ]]>
Researchers may have solved a vexing mystery as to why parabens contamination in humans has been so high in recent studies: Parabens are increasingly contaminating our food supply. Researchers from the New York State Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, along with the University of New York at Albany have determined in a study of foods that much of the U.S. food supply is contaminated with parabens – a group of chemicals thought previously to be primarily ingested through the skin in cosmetics and lotions containing preservatives. This may explain an increasing body of evidence showing that humans have much higher concentrations of parabens than could be explained with the use of body lotions and cosmetics. The researchers tested 267 samples of food collected from stores and markets around Albany New York. These included juices, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, infant formula, dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream, oils, fats, breads, flours, rice, pasta, corn, fruits, baked goods, meats, shellfish and seafoods and many others. Once collected and categorized, the foods were analyzed using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry – which measure the biochemical content of the food from the molecular level. Five different types of parabens were tested. These were butyl-parabens, benzyl-parabens, propyl-parabens, methyl- parabens, and ethyl-parabens. The researchers found that an astounding 90% of the food samples tested contained “measurable” concentrations of parabens. The concentration level averaged 9.7 nanograms per gram – equivalent to about 10 parts per billion. Of the five parabens tested, the paraben types that made up more than 90% of the concentrations were methyl-, ethyl-, and propyl-parabens. Of all the foods, pancake syrup had the highest levels of myethyl-parabens. Others that contained high levels included muffins, iced tea, pudding and turkey roast. The highest levels of propyl-parabens were found in turkey breasts, yogurt, turkey roast and 'good-ole' apple pie. The highest levels of ethyl-parabens were found in red wine. The researchers found parabens in 98% of grain foods, 91% of fish and shellfish, 87% of dairy products, and 85% of fruit products. The researchers then utilized these concentrations to estimate what the daily consumption of parabens would occur when eating these foods. They separated the foods into the food types – by age groups – and found that shockingly, infants have the highest intake concentrations of parabens, at 940 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day. Toddlers followed with 879 ng/kb bw/day, followed by children, teenagers and adults. Adults’ average consumption of parabens through foods equated to 307 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day. These findings not only surprised many experts, but the researchers were surprised with the results. They stated that, “to our knowledge, this is the first study to report the occurrence of parabens in foodstuffs.” Parabens will form as chemical esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid – a preservative increasingly used in a number of consumer products. These include skin lotions, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals – and now we know they include a variety of foods and beverages. And more recent studies have found paraben content among our waterways, soils and even house dust. Learn about gentle and effective cleansing and detoxification measures. This research now explains the pervasive finding of parabens in the urine of children and adults. A recent study from Copenhagen University Hospital two different parabens in the urine of 50% of children tested. Furthermore, the mothers of the children typically had similar concentration of parabens, indicating yet another route of toxicity to the children. Methyl-paraben and propyl-paraben were the primary parabens found in the urine samples. Meanwhile, researchers from China’s Nankai University collected urine samples from 70 Chinese children, 40 U.S. children and 26 Chinese adults. They found that the average urinary concentration among the U.S. children was 54 nanograms per milliliter of urine, while the Chinese children had only 10 ng/mL for total parbens. But when parabens metabolite p-hydroxybenzoic acid was compared, the Chinese children had two to three times the metabolite concentration in their urine compared to U.S. children. When the researchers calculated how much consumption this related to, they determined that the Chinese children consumed as much as 11 milligrams per day of propyl-parabens while U.S. children are consuming less than 1 milligram per day. Meanwhile Chinese adults also are consuming even more amounts of parabens every day in their foods, converting to about 27 milligrams a day. Environmental parabens contamination is also increasing. A recent study from University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health found that surface waters of Pittsburgh waterways contained up to 17 parts per trillion of methyl- parabens and up to 12 parts per trillion of propyl-parabens. A recent study from the UK’s University of Reading established that parabens in human breast tissue can proliferate into cancer cells. The researchers also found significant parabens concentrations within the breast tissue of 160 people who submitted tissue samples. They found that 27% of all the samples contained parabens concentrations that could potentially stimulate breast cancer growth. One of the reasons parabens are in focus for breast cancer is their ability to disrupt estrogen production. The jury is in. We humans are poisoning ourselves, and it's only getting worse. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES: Liao C, Liu F, Kannan K. Occurrence of and dietary exposure to parabens in foodstuffs from the United States. Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Apr 16;47(8):3918-25. Frederiksen H, Nielsen JK, Mørck TA, Hansen PW, Jensen JF, Nielsen O, Andersson AM, Knudsen LE. Urinary excretion of phthalate metabolites, phenols and parabens in rural and urban Danish mother-child pairs. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2013 Mar 13. Kirchhof MG, de Gannes GC. The health controversies of parabens. Skin Therapy Lett. 2013 Feb;18(2):5-7. Renz L, Volz C, Michanowicz D, Ferrar K, Christian C, Lenzner D, El-Hefnawy T. A study of parabens and bisphenol A in surface water and fish brain tissue from the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Ecotoxicology. 2013 May;22(4):632-41. Meeker JD, Cantonwine DE, Rivera-González LO, Ferguson KK, Mukherjee B, Calafat AM, Ye X, Anzalota Del Toro LV, Crespo-Hernández N, Jiménez-Vélez B, Alshawabkeh AN, Cordero JF. Distribution, variability, and predictors of urinary concentrations of phenols and parabens among pregnant women in Puerto Rico. Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Apr 2;47(7):3439-47. Charles AK, Darbre PD. Combinations of parabens at concentrations measured in human breast tissue can increase proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. J Appl Toxicol. 2013 May;33(5):390-8. Wang L, Wu Y, Zhang W, Kannan K. Characteristic profiles of urinary p-hydroxybenzoic acid and its esters (parabens) in children and adults from the United States and China. Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Feb 19;47(4):2069-76. Koeppe ES, Ferguson KK, Colacino JA, Meeker JD. Relationship between urinary triclosan and paraben concentrations and serum thyroid measures in NHANES 2007-2008. Sci Total Environ. 2013 Feb 15;445-446:299-305. Read this article on GreenMedInfo.]]> http://www.realnatural.org/toxic-parabens-found-in-u-s-food-supply/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/bpa-exposure-linked-to-type-1-and-type-2-diabetes/ http://www.realnatural.org/bpa-exposure-linked-to-type-1-and-type-2-diabetes/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 19:22:48 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5800
New research from the West Virginia University School of Medicine has confirmed other research finding that Bisphenol A (BPA) – found among various plastics and resins in consumer goods – may lead or contribute to diabetes. ]]>
New research from the West Virginia University School of Medicine has confirmed other research finding that Bisphenol A (BPA) – found among various plastics and resins in consumer goods – may lead or contribute to type 2 diabetes. The researchers examined 3,516 people using the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey of 2003-2008. The researchers compared the urinary BPA levels with fasting glucose levels to determine if there was a relationship between higher BPA concentration in the body and a prediabetic condition. The researchers used the range for fasting glucose of 100-125 mg/dL and two-hour glucose levels of 140-199 mg/dL or a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) value of 5.7-6.4 % as the standard for a prediabetic condition. A normal A1C range is between 4% and 6%, and the lower the level, the better. The researchers found that those subjects with BPA levels in the highest third (tertile) range of BPA concentration in the urine had an average of 34% increased incidence of prediabetic condition in terms of their glucose or A1C levels. The researchers eliminated other possible known factors in diabetes such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and alcohol consumption. In their conclusion the researchers stated: “Higher urinary BPA levels are found to be associated with prediabetes independent of traditional diabetes risk factors.” The reality of this association has been strengthened not only by other human research, but also animal and laboratory studies. For example, researchers from Korea’s Keimyung University studied 1,210 Korean adults between 40 and 69 years old. This study crossed demographics and utilized medical records to confirm type 2 diabetic condition. The subjects were surveyed through questionaire, and their urine was tested for BPA concentration. The study found that the average BPA concentration in the urine for the healthy adults was 2.03 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter), while the average BPA concentration among the type 2 diabetic adults was 2.40 ng/mL. This is a difference of over 18%. A significant difference. Learn about safe cleansing and detoxification strategies. Several animal studies have found the same correlation. Studies from France and China have both linked BPA with diabetes. The French study and others in fact have found BPA linked with type 1 diabetes as well. Laboratory studies have shown that at least one of the mechanisms of BPA relates to a derangement among the cells of the pancreas - which produce insulin. BPA has been found to speed up the formation of amyloid proteins secreted by beta-cells of the pancreas. The human islet amyloid polypeptide or hIAPP secretion is speeded up in the presence of BPA, found researchers from China’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology. hIAPP secretion speeds up the early death of the pancreas beta cells. This is because it will destroy the beta cells’ membrane integrity. This research and others has found that BPA also increases oxidation among the beta cells, which heightens their early death. This was also found in research from Southern University and A&M College. Here the researchers found that the phenoxyl radicals from BPA were more toxic to cells than radicals from similar phenols. The researchers stated that this meant that the BPA-related oxidative stress factors lead to “higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and abnormalities in hepatic enzymes.” Meanwhile, researchers from China’s Tongji Medical College also found that BPA produced swelling among the mitochondria of pancreatic beta cells. This “impaired mitochondrial function” among the beta-cells was found related to an altered secretion of insulin among the cells. Bisphenol A (BPA), found in larger concentration in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is most known for its endocrine disruption. Other studies have found BPA concentrations in more than 90% of urine samples of all ages, as well as umbilical cord blood. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES Sabanayagam C, Teppala S, Shankar A. Relationship between urinary bisphenol A levels and prediabetes among subjects free of diabetes. Acta Diabetol. 2013 May 1. Bodin J, Bølling AK, Samuelsen M, Becher R, Løvik M, Nygaard UC. Long-term bisphenol A exposure accelerates insulitis development in diabetes-prone NOD mice. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2013 Mar 18. Gong H, Zhang X, Cheng B, Sun Y, Li C, Li T, Zheng L, Huang K. Bisphenol A accelerates toxic amyloid formation of human islet amyloid polypeptide: a possible link between bisphenol A exposure and type 2 diabetes. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54198. Babu S, Uppu S, Claville MO, Uppu RM. Prooxidant actions of bisphenol A (BPA) phenoxyl radicals: implications to BPA-related oxidative stress and toxicity. Toxicol Mech Methods. 2013 May;23(4):273-80. Song L, Xia W, Zhou Z, Li Y, Lin Y, Wei J, Wei Z, Xu B, Shen J, Li W, Xu S. Low-level phenolic estrogen pollutants impair islet morphology and β-cell function in isolated rat islets. J Endocrinol. 2012 Nov;215(2):303-11. Kim K, Park H. Association between urinary concentrations of bisphenol A and type 2 diabetes in Korean adults: A population-based cross-sectional study. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2012 Aug 23. Read this article on GreenMedInfo. ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/bpa-exposure-linked-to-type-1-and-type-2-diabetes/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/seafood-fraud-linked-to-illegal-fishing-and-foodborne-illness/ http://www.realnatural.org/seafood-fraud-linked-to-illegal-fishing-and-foodborne-illness/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 19:54:14 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5789
Oceana has just released a report that finds illegal fishing is linked to seafood fraud as uncovered in a recent study on fish mislabeling, along with foodborne illness and a massive loss of marine life species throughout the world.]]>
Oceana has just released a report that finds illegal fishing is linked to seafood fraud as uncovered in a recent study on fish mislabeling, along with foodborne illness. Oceana is sounding the alarm that illegal fishing is also leading to a massive loss of marine life species throughout the world. The report - titled “Stolen Seafood: The Impact of Pirate Fishing on Our Oceans” – documents that illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing is threatening economies, consumers and marine species. The report estimates that illegal fishing comprises about 20 percent of the global marine catch. According to the report, illegal fishing leads to the massive mislabeling of fish found in a study published a few months ago. This research – also funded by Oceana – found that over a third of fish sold in the U.S. is mislabeled. The research gathered 1,215 samples from 21 states. The highest rates of mislabeling occurred with snapper and tuna – mislabeled 87% and 59% of the time respectively. The research found that in Southern California, 52% of all fish is mislabeled, and in New York City, 39% of all fish is mislabeled. The study also identified that 44% of all the retail outlets sampled are selling mislabeled fish. Illegal fishing is also threatening the survival of many marine species. For example, the shark find trade in Hong Kong indicates three or four times more sharks are killed than documented reporting shows. The new Oceana report shows that Russian salmon, Chilean sea bass, Swordfish and many species of tuna are being caught at far higher levels considered sustainable and being reported by fisheries agencies. Meanwhile lobster, scallops and other bottom-feeders are being increasingly caught illegally. As marine species are becoming increasingly threatened and fisheries limitations are put in place, illegal fishing is increasing. Illegally caught fish has also been linked to increased food safety concerns, as the fish are being shipped in contaminated containers. Even cooked seafood is being contaminated during shipping. For example, a recent cholera outbreak sickened U.S. seafood consumers with seafood illegally shipped from South America. A Hong Kong government agency recently issued a warning to consumers buying seafood of the risk of cholera among its seafood vendors – many of which are selling illegally fished seafood. Learn about the scientifically-superior and ecologically friendlier diet. Illegal fishing is threatening valuable marine life species such as many rare species that dwell around the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. Illustrating the devastation, in the summer of 2011, park rangers and navy personnel arrested 30 fishermen in a fishing boat containing 357 sharks. An arrest off of Malaysia caught fishermen red-handed with 250 sea turtles on board – all dead but 20. This followed an arrest two days earlier of a vessel containing 72 dead turtles. These illegal catches and many others around the world are threatening the marine ecosystem. Oceana senior scientist Margot Stiles commented on the report. “Similar to the illegal ivory trade, pirate fishing is decimating the ocean’s most vulnerable and valuable wildlife - we are losing the elephants of the sea to poachers. By fishing illegally, including in national parks, and targeting endangered species with destructive gear, poachers provoke economic losses in the billions of dollars every year, undermining decades of conservation by more responsible fishermen.” Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES: Stiles ML, Kagan A, Shaftel E, Lowell B. Stolen Seafood: The Impact of Pirate Fishing on Our Oceans. Oceana, 2013. http://oceana.org/sites/default/files/reports/Oceana_StolenSeafood.pdf Warner K, Timme W, Lowell B, Hirschfield M. Oceana Study Reveals Seafood Fraud Nationwide. Oceana Feb. 2013. http://oceana.org/sites/default/files/National_Seafood_Fraud_Testing_Results_FINAL.pdf ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/seafood-fraud-linked-to-illegal-fishing-and-foodborne-illness/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/lifestyle-factors-linked-to-balding-and-hair-loss/ http://www.realnatural.org/lifestyle-factors-linked-to-balding-and-hair-loss/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 19:59:28 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5775
Scientists have confirmed that baldness and premature hair loss are associated with a number of lifestyle choices, including drinking, smoking and others.]]>
Scientists have confirmed that baldness and premature hair loss are associated with a number of lifestyle choices, including drinking, smoking, caffeine use and others. The researchers, including faculty from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, studied 92 identical male twins between 2009 and 2011. They tested each of the twins and quantified their level of baldness, along with their testosterone levels using saliva analysis. The baldness analysis utilized digital imagery that measured and segregated hair loss of the front above the forehead (frontal), above the temples (temporal) and around the crown of the head (vertex). The researchers then conducted an extensive survey of each of the subjects' lifestyle factors, including drinking, smoking, exercise, use of hats and many other factors. They then compared these results with levels of hair loss between the pairs. By utilizing identical twins, the researchers effectively eliminated the factors related to genetics, since it is accepted that identical twins will carry the same set of genes. The researchers found that frontal hair loss was significantly associated with having smoked for longer and the presence of dandruff. They found that temporal hair loss – loss above the temples – was significantly associated with drinking more than four alcoholic drinks per week; using more hair products, and increased exercise duration (longer workouts). Lower levels of hair loss on over the temples was associated with higher testosterone levels, wearing hats and having greater body weight. Greater loss of hair at the vertex – the crown of the head – was also associated with increased alcohol use – more than four drinks a week. It was also associated with smoking, longer workouts and increased levels of stress. Hair thinning was associated with having more children, increased stress, thinness, more caffeine consumption and a history of skin disorders. Some of the results of this study confirm research presented at the 2011 annual conference of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This research also examined twin sets – one study of 84 female identical twins and another study of 66 male identical twins. In these studies, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption were both associated with greater hair loss. Dandruff was also associated with hair loss, along with hypertension and a lack of regular exercise. Being divorced or widowed also was associated with increased hair loss, especially among women in this study. And men with elevated testosterone levels had increased hair loss among the men. There are several hair loss types, including andronogenic alopecia - male pattern baldness - and areata alopecia. Areata alopecia is often related to lifestyle and nutritional factors. Even genetically-oriented male pattern baldness can be related to nutritional deficiencies among ancestors. Research has traced ancestral baldness to zinc and copper deficiencies, for example. Because the hair follicle cells are frequently replaced, ones diet can greatly effect the health of the replacement follicle cells. Nutrients that can affect the health of hair follicle cells include essential fatty acids, minerals, amino acids and vitamins. Dandruff is associated with an even faster skin cell turnover - from the typical 3-4 weeks to inside of a week. This hastened turnover of skin cells has been linked with chemical hair shampoos and hair products, as well as a type of skin fungus called Malassezia globosa. Malassezia globosa changes the fatty acid and amino acid composition among the skin cells to produce the dandruff. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES: Gatherwright J, Liu MT, Amirlak B, Gliniak C, Totonchi A, Guyuron B. The contribution of endogenous and exogenous factors to male alopecia: a study of identical twins. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 May;131(5):794e-801e. James Gatherwright, Bardia Amirlak, David Rowe, Mengyuan Liu, Christy Gliniak, Ali Totonchi, Bahman Guyuron. “The Relative Contribution of Endogenous and Exogenous Factors to Male Alopecia: A Study of 66 Genetically Identical Males” and “The Relative Contribution of Endogenous and Exogenous Factors to Female Alopecia: A Study of 84 Genetically Identical Females.” Presented at the 2011 Annual Conf of the Assn of Plastic Surgeons. Sept 23-27, 2011. Finner AM. Nutrition and hair: deficiencies and supplements. Dermatol Clin. 2013 Jan;31(1):167-72. James AG, Abraham KH, Cox DS, Moore AE, Pople JE. Metabolic analysis of the cutaneous fungi Malassezia globosa and M. restricta for insights on scalp condition and dandruff. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2013 Apr;35(2):169-75. ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/lifestyle-factors-linked-to-balding-and-hair-loss/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/garlic-and-ginger-found-to-inhibit-superbugs/ http://www.realnatural.org/garlic-and-ginger-found-to-inhibit-superbugs/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 19:59:27 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5744
Recent research has confirmed and quantified that whole extracts of Garlic and Ginger have the ability to stop several species of multi-drug resistant bacteria.]]>
Recent research has confirmed and quantified that whole extracts of Garlic and Ginger have the ability to stop several species of multi-drug resistant bacteria. The newest research comes from Italy's University of Pisa. The researchers tested garlic against the infective bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The research found that all three bacteria species were inhibited by the Garlic extract, which was taken from fresh Garlic bulbs. This research confirmed another recent study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, and conducted by researchers from King Saud University and India’s Rangasamy College. This study focused on seven of the most dangerous superbugs – called MDRs or multidrug resistant bacteria. These included E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus cloacae and Bacillus subtilis. The particular strains used in the study were some of the most multi-drug resistant strains known. Some of the bacteria strains tested against the Garlic and Ginger were resistant to more than 10 different antibiotics. These antibiotics included ampicillin, amoxicillin, amikacin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, clindamycin, co-trimoxazole, erythromycin, gentamycin, kanamycin, methicillin, novobiocin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, penicillin, rifampicin, streptomycin, tetracyclin and vancomycin. The researchers utilized whole Garlic and Ginger for the tests - ground with mortar and pestle. They utilized dimethyl sulphoxide as an extract medium. The researchers conducted repeated multiple laboratory tests using four different concentrations of the two herbal extracts, both separately and together. With the exception of Enterobacter sp. and Klebsiella sp., the researchers found that all of the bacteria tested were inhibited to some degree by the ginger and garlic. The bacteria inhibited the most by Ginger included P. aeruginosa, E. coli and Bacillus sp. The Garlic extract inhibited P. aeruginosa the greatest, followed by E. coli and Bacillus sp. The Garlic cloves ethanol extract showed similar zone of inhibition of against Proteus sp., Enterobacter sp. and S. aureus. The researchers added: "It is interesting to note that even crude extracts of these plants showed good activity against multidrug resistant strains where modern antibiotic therapy has limited effect." The research also indicated that the antibiotic potential of these two herbs was due to their combination of biochemicals - including their tannin, saponin, phenol, flavonoid and essential oil content. Learn more strategies to increase immunity and combat infection. The antibiotic effects of these two herbs have been supported by other studies, including one from researchers at India's University of the Punjab. This study tested both Garlic and Ginger extracts against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcusepidermidis and Salmonella typhi. While the inhibitory effect with Ginger was less, the Garlic extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against these bacteria - some of the most lethal infective species to humans. The two quantifications used to measure the ability of these herbs against the bacteria in these studies included Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Zone of Inhibition measurements. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration measures the concentration of a substance in solution that will inhibit the bacteria, and the Zone of Inhibition is the range of inhibition - typically measured in millimeters. These measurements are also used to quantify the ability of antibiotic drugs to inhibit bacteria. Lower MIC levels and greater inhibition zones equate to higher levels of antibiotic potential. Both Garlic and Ginger have been used for centuries to combat infections of different types. The use of these herbs has crossed over many traditional medicines around the world as well. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES: Casella S, Leonardi M, Melai B, Fratini F, Pistelli L. The role of diallyl sulfides and dipropyl sulfides in the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of garlic, Allium sativum L., and Leek, Allium porrum L. Phytother Res. 2013 Mar;27(3):380-3. Karuppiah P, Rajaram S. Antibacterial effect of Allium sativum cloves and Zingiber officinale rhizomes against multiple-drug resistant clinical pathogens. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012 Aug;2(8):597-601. Gull I, Saeed M, Shaukat H, Aslam SM, Samra ZQ, Athar AM. Inhibitory effect of Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale extracts on clinically important drug resistant pathogenic bacteria. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2012 Apr 27;11:8. See this article on GreenMedInfo. ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/garlic-and-ginger-found-to-inhibit-superbugs/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/dramatic-rise-in-childhood-food-and-skin-allergies-puzzles-conventional-medicine/ http://www.realnatural.org/dramatic-rise-in-childhood-food-and-skin-allergies-puzzles-conventional-medicine/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 19:28:29 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5729
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control has determined that food and skin allergies among children have dramatically increased over the past decade. Conventional medicine has no idea what is causing this nearly epidemic rise in allergies.]]>
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control has determined that food and skin allergies among children have dramatically increased over the past decade. Conventional medicine has no idea what is causing this nearly epidemic rise in allergies. The research was produced by researchers from the CDC and funded by the National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Department of Health and Human services. The researchers conducted personal phone surveys from a representative population of thousands of parents between 2009 and 2011. This was matched with a similar survey performed between 1997 and 1999 with the same research methods. The survey was conducted with parents or responsible adults, who answered questions regarding their children to the interviewers. The survey collected data on children between the ages of infancy through 17 years of age. The research found that 5.1% of all children have food allergies. This converts to about one in twenty children. The 1997-1999 survey found that 3.4% of children had food allergies, or about one in thirty children. This computes to a growth rate of 50% - meaning 50% more U.S. children have food allergies than a decade earlier. Learn about natural solutions for food allergies. The researchers also found that skin allergies increased during the same period - from 7.4% of children in 1997-1999 to 12.5% of children in 2009-2011. That equates to a growth rate of nearly 70% for skin allergies during the decade. And it means that one out of every eight children have skin allergies. The study also found that the most common type of allergies among American children were respiratory allergies. Approximately 17% of children have respiratory allergies – equating to nearly 1 out of 5 children. Learn about natural solutions for hay fever and other respiratory allergies. However, there was no significant rise in respiratory allergies during the decade. As Realnatural reported on yesterday, if we factor in the fact that emissions have been reduced by nearly 7% in the U.S. since 2005, this means that respiratory allergies are in fact rising against the backdrop of lower emissions. The CDC researchers, led by senior author Dr. Lara Akinbami, were puzzled with the findings. “We don’t really have the answer,” Dr. Akinbami said when asked her opinion on the cause for the dramatic rise in allergies among children. The research also found that younger children have a higher incidence of skin allergies while older kids have more respiratory allergies. Incidence of skin allergies is over 14% in four year-olds and younger; 13% between five years and nine years old; and 11% between the ages of 10 and 17 years old. Hispanic children have significantly lower rates of both food and skin allergies, at 3.6% and 10% respectively. Meanwhile, Black children have significantly higher rates of skin allergies, at over 17%, but lower rates of respiratory allergies than Whites, at 15.6%. Among White children only, 12% have skin allergies and over 19% have respiratory allergies. The research also discovered that the higher the family income, the more incidence of allergies among the children in the family. In families below the poverty level, 4.4% have food allergies and 15% have respiratory allergies. Among families with income over the poverty level, 5% have food allergies and 15.8% have respiratory allergies. And in children in families with income more than double the poverty level, 5.4% have food allergies and 18.3% have respiratory allergies. That means that children in significantly-higher income families have over 20% more food allergies and respiratory allergies than do children in families below the poverty level. Conventional medical researchers are puzzled not only with this, but by the dramatic rise in food and skin allergies among children: They are also mystified as to the causes of these allergies in general. This does not mean those causes are unknown. Find the real causes for food allergies. Find the real causes for hay fever and other respiratory allergies. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCE: Jackson KD, LeJeana DH, Akinbami LJ. Trends in Allergic Conditions Among Children. HCHS Data Brief, Natl Ctr for Health Stats. No. 121, May 2013 ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/dramatic-rise-in-childhood-food-and-skin-allergies-puzzles-conventional-medicine/feed/ 0 http://www.realnatural.org/u-s-greenhouse-emissions-down-while-chinas-is-killing-millions-a-year/ http://www.realnatural.org/u-s-greenhouse-emissions-down-while-chinas-is-killing-millions-a-year/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 00:22:43 +0000 Realnatural http://www.realnatural.org/?p=5718
The EPA recently released a report showing that U.S. greenhouse emissions are down, but another recent study found over a million Chinese people die early every year from air pollution.]]>
In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released a report showing that U.S. greenhouse emissions are down. This news provided the backdrop for another study that found over a million Chinese people die early every year from air pollution. Greenhouse gases include emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. These serve to line the atmosphere, causing temperature changes on earth due to the trapping of heat in the atmosphere. While much of the carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere result from natural respiration, when this is added to other forms of emission such as factories, vehicles, factory farms and others – the result is that carbon builds up in the atmosphere faster than it can be removed. According to the EPA report, the leading producer of greenhouse gases in the U.S. is electricity generation, at 35%, followed by transportation at 28%, industry at 20%, commercial and residential emission at 11% and agriculture at 8%. The EPA has been conducting studies of greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, and this annual report – conducted for 2011 - details a 1.6% drop in overall U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2010 emissions. The 2011 emission rate was also nearly seven percent less than 2005 greenhouse emission levels. The EPA attributed the decreases in greenhouse gases from changes in electricity generation, fuel efficiency improvements among vehicles and miles driven reduction, along with weather-related changes. The report found that 2011’s emissions of the six gases were about 6.7 billion metric tons – using carbon dioxide as a weighted measure. When compared to 1990 when the testing began however, electricity emissions have increased 8.4%. Electricity emissions have been the bulk of this increase, with 18% over 1990. This reduction also relates directly to respiratory illnesses. Of the entire emissions, according the EPA report, 84% is carbon dioxide, 9% is methane, 5% is nitrious oxide and 2% is fluorinated gases. Unfortunately, many countries are on the upward swing with regard to greenhouse emissions. This of course relates to India, China and countries of Latin America that are buying more cars and building more factories. China's pollution emissions are suffocating its citizens - producing a rapid growth of respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The U.S. has already experienced this hike in asthma and related respiratory diseases. Research published in the British Journal of Medicine Lancet - found that at least 1.2 million Chinese people die early each year from respiratory diseases related to air pollution. Air pollution-related death is the fourth cause of death among Chinese. Dr. Robert O'Keefe of Boston's Health Effects Institute who presented those findings in Beijing this week, said: "This is the highest toll in the world and it really reflects the very high levels of air pollution that exist in China today." Recent reports from China indicate that many people are forced to wear masks, and the pollution is so bad in the cities that it is difficult to see across the street. Learn natural solutions for asthma and other respiratory conditions. Meanwhile, the improvement in air quality throughout the U.S. is encouraging. The process and methodology of emission inventory is steered to a great degree by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was ratified by the U.S. in 1992. Because of a lack of progress, six UN countries formed The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) in February of 2012. “Short-lived climate pollutants” (SLCPs) include black carbon (soot), methane, ozone and certain hydrofluorocarbons. These are seen by scientists as the primary agents involved in the increases in global warming that researchers have found. Researchers funded by the National Academy of Science determined that the earth’s average surface temperature has increased by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit – equivalent to .8 degrees Celsius since the early 1900s. National science academies from other industrialized countries have confirmed and recognized this finding. The research has also established that at its present rate, temperatures will increase another 2 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 6 degrees Celsius) during this century. International scientists have determined that reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 100% under current levels would allow the atmosphere to naturally begin to decrease its CO2 concentration. But this would require an almost elimination of industrial CO2 production. Written by Case Adams, Naturopath REFERENCES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. National Greenhouse Gase Emissions Data. April 12, 2013. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html National Research Council. Committee on America’s Climate Choices. National Academies Press, 2011. Lai HK, Tsang H, Wong CM. Meta-analysis of adverse health effects due to air pollution in Chinese populations. BMC Public Health. 2013 Apr 18;13(1):360. ]]> http://www.realnatural.org/u-s-greenhouse-emissions-down-while-chinas-is-killing-millions-a-year/feed/ 0