Archive for February, 2008

Feingold Program can help resolve behavior, health and sleep problems.

29 February 2008

When Toxins and Genes Collide.

Dr. Feingold is often described as having believed that food additives cause behavior problems; but he did not. His hypothesis was that there are many things that combine to make one child more sensitive than another. These factors include the genetic inheritance, any “insults” (i.e., trauma, exposure to toxins) during pregnancy, difficulties during delivery (such as temporary loss of oxygen), and exposure to toxins after birth. For a child who is already vulnerable as a result, he said that the petroleum-based additives could “trigger” (not cause) the disturbed behaviors.

He did not rule out other causes, but believed that since things like synthetic dyes and flavorings have no nutritional value and are easily replaced with natural additives; this is a good place to start in the search for causes and treatments.

This article is reprinted from Pure Facts, the newsletter of the Feingold Association of the United States, www.Feingold.org

Who are the Feingold Organization?

Almost three years ago when I was looking for a reason, and hopefully a solution, as to why our son was having difficulty keeping on track with his developmental stages I, as many of us do, hit the Google search on my computer.  In addition to his development, we had also noticed something else (we had no reason to think this was associated with the development issue), the problem was that if our son ate certain fruits, such as berries, it would make him a little frantic; he would get hyper, giddy, and act almost as if he was drunk, it was both funny and disturbing at the same time.  One night while searching message boards for answers on how to potentially help our son, I came across the Feingold Organization.   I made a decision to purchase the book “Why Can’t my Child Behave.” and while reading the book I discovered that my son could possibly be salicylate sensitive. A list of salicylate reactions are available at Web MD  this list is certainly comprehensive but not all inclusive.  It also occurred to us that not only was he reacting negatively to food, but we realized he had been having reactions to perfumes, cleaners and air fresheners (he would sneeze uncontrollably if he walked into a room that had just been cleaned or had scented candles). Almost immediately we decided that both he and his sister would be well served by us if we removed the toxic chemicals out of, not only their food, but also out of their environment. 

We ultimately made the decision to join the Feingold Organization and now do all our shopping and eating out (we can even still eat at some Fast Food restaurants) using the guide that comes with the membership materials.  We often get asked if this is a hard way to live, “isn’t it inconvenient?” or  “aren’t you being a little too obsessive?” even “Isn’t your grocery bill more expensive?” We have so many answers to those questions and not all of them polite, but we feel the real question everyone should be asking is actually - “how inconvenient or obsessive is it to feed our children chemical free, healthy, nutritious food?” In regards to the question of grocery shopping our answer is a resounding “No, we shop at the same local grocery stores we always have, we now just make better choices and pay more attention to what is in those groceries that we are buying.” We personally have made the choice to eat mostly organic products, particularly when purchasing fruits and vegetables, but it is important to know that, organic, is certainly not a requirement of the Feingold program.
The Feingold Program eliminates these additives:
• Artificial (synthetic) coloring
• Artificial (synthetic) flavoring
• Aspartame (Nutrasweet, an artificial sweetener)
• Artificial (synthetic) preservatives BHA, BHT, TBHQ
The idea is to remove any food dyes, chemical additives, preservatives and salicylates from our food. The Feingold program believes many children and adults are intolerant of these chemicals and many kids with ADHD, ADD or behavior problems can be helped by eliminating these core items.  Eventually the salicylates are added back into your diet individually to see if any reactions are noticed; some people find that healthy food they fed their kids every day was causing their negative behaviors, for us it was definitely strawberries and blueberries that caused the strongest reactions. However, as a side note to that, my son now tolerates both these fruits in small amounts. We have taken many approaches to resolve our son’s digestive problems, one being the Feingold program, and he now tolerates and absorbs many vitamins, minerals and foods without reactions. It’s also important to know that although our daughter is ok eating all dairy and gluten products, our son has  been tested and is intolerant to both of those items, so we make sure to avoid those allergens for him. 

A great place to start to see where you may be eating or ingesting salicylates is to refer to the article posted at WebMD.  For more in-depth articles, previous newsletters and information on reactions to chemical additives, food dyes, and salicylates go to the Feingold website and be sure to read not only the information about the program, but also the success stories posted. In addition to personal stories there are many great articles available at the Feingold website, including one titled “Many learning and behavior problems begin in your grocery cart!” It is a very enlightening read.

So if you find you have trouble concentrating, or someone has suggested your child is not able to focus or behave in school, go to the Feingold website, you might find that just by eliminating some basic things you not only solve the behavior or focus problems, but also resolve those frequent physical complaints (ear infections, asthma, bedwetting, stomach problems, headaches, even seizures), sleep problems, and learning problems, just by diet changes alone.

Make an adjustment, stay healthy ~ be happy: Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com

Industrial Chemicals cause damage to children

25 February 2008

Industrial Chemicals Cause Damage to Children.

Children who are exposed to the thousands of synthetic chemicals in our environment are at greater risk of developing various health, behavior and learning problems. When the exposure takes place before birth or in the early months of life, the potential for damage is particularly high. What’s more, the research suggests that’s not only is the infant likely to be harmed, but succeeding generations may be impacted as well.

In 2007 two hundred scientists from around the world met at the Faroe Islands to share their findings and call for decisive steps to address the thousands of toxic chemicals in our environment that are causing harm. Industries and governmental agencies have resisted taking any action, claiming that there is little evidence of harm from the thousands of chemicals in our air, water, food and consumer products.

In the United States, a key figure in determining policy has been James L. Connaughton, Senior Environmental Advisor and Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. His appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in June of 2001.  The Environmental Working Group reports “Before being appointed to this position, Connaughton was one of the Capitol Hill’s most successful lobbyists for the mining, chemical, industrial and asbestos industries.”

Of all the organs impacted by exposure, the developing brain is the most vulnerable. Not only is the child’s IQ likely to be reduced, the early exposure can impact on the muscles and nerves and possibly lead to Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases later in life.

Exposure to lead, pesticides and cigarette smoke has been found to set a child up for ADHD symptoms.

The baby’s immune system and cardiovascular system can be damaged by chemical exposure and the reproductive system is especially vulnerable.

If an infant’s metabolic system is damaged by such chemicals he will have a difficult time using nutrients appropriately, putting him at risk for obesity and diabetes.

Among chemicals named as most hazardous by the researchers are: pesticides, lead, arsenic, mercury, flame retardants and PCB’s.

Prenatal Exposure to Cigarettes

Researchers at the University of Washington studied a group of 133 children ages 7 to 15 with behavioral disorders. They found that children whose mother’s smoked during their pregnancy or whose mother’s were exposed to second-hand smoke during the pregnancy had more severe behavior problems than those who did not have the exposure. They believe that exposure to nicotine could make the child more likely to exhibit impulsive behaviors.

Reprinted from Pure Facts, the newsletter of the Feingold Association of the United States, http://www.feingold.org/

Make an adjustment, stay healthy ~ be happy: Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com

Probiotics, Prebiotics, and other natural digestive aids.

22 February 2008

PROBITOICS AND DAILY LIVING

Probiotics have been making the news recently with the advent of specially formulated yogurts, cereals and other fortified foods.  More and more we see foods appearing on the supermarket shelves boasting added bacteria strains for healthy digestion. In reality if you have no remarkable digestive issues and you don’t want to add another supplement to your daily regime, the easiest way to introduce good bacteria into your diet is through yogurt, buttermilk or kefir (available at any health food store), these products all contain strains of healthy bacteria. However you need to eat them regularly, and in quantity, to make sure you make the most of the benefits.  If you do have some indigestion, stomach upsets, digestive disorders, or are interested in adding some positive changes to your routine and helping that digestive process along, you might want to look at adding healthy bacteria to your diet.  When you mention the words bacteria and healthy in the same sentence it confuses people, but we must remember not all bacteria are detrimental to your health, and may, in fact, provide some health benefits, particularly those in the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria genera.  And here is where the Probiotic comes in.

What are Probiotics?

One widely used definition, developed by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is that “Probiotics are live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” (Microorganisms are tiny living organisms—such as bacteria, viruses, and yeasts—that can be seen only under a microscope.) The live microorganisms that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called “friendly bacteria” or “good bacteria.” The most common strains are thought to be Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus.

A few common Probiotics (the word means “for life”), such as Saccharomyces boulardii, are YEASTS, which are different from bacteria.  My son takes a combination of Prebiotics (Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial microorganisms already in people’s colons), Probiotics, in addition to a daily dose of Saccharomyces.  We utilize all three remedies to combat reactions to antibiotics prescribed for parasites, anaerobic bacteria and a yeast overgrowth which we have found through testing of his gut.  

For those who suffer from Celiac disease, or similar reactive gut disorders, you may find that Probiotics helps with some of the symptoms associated with flare-ups of these conditions.

Probiotics are widely available, usually in the refrigerator section of your health food store. To learn more about how Probiotics were discovered and the positive actions of Probiotics check out THE NIBBLE.

A good Probiotic should not be terribly expensive; in fact we consider it a fairly inexpensive investment for good stomach health.  Many of my friends with toddlers or infants will use Probiotics to combat what GI specialists term as “Toddler diarrhea” apparently a common complaint in children from age 6 months to 5 years old. 

If you are taking antibiotics it’s a great time to add the Probiotics to your diet along with your daily medication, especially if the course is going to be longer than the standard ten days. If you expect to be on the antibiotics for a long period, you may consider adding in the Saccharomyces boulardii in addition to the Probiotics, to further combat the yeast overgrowth that often occurs while taking antibiotics.

When it comes around to immunization time, a good dose over several days before and after the immunizations of Probiotics, vitamin C and Omega 3 fish oils may actually counteract some of the negative side effects we often see with the shots; it also may help those internal pathways remove toxins from our bodies more efficiently. 

The effect of a yeast infection on a child can be very troubling, and you may not realize the behaviors associated with yeast overgrowth.  My son in particular will become very noise sensitive, hyperactive, unable to focus and generally quite aggressive when his yeast gets out of control. The first sign we watch for is him covering his ears and telling us that sounds make his ears hurt, a quick check of his tongue usually confirms it’s a yeast problem.  He uses pro/prebiotics combinations daily and we expect this will continue at least through his childhood if not his adult life.  Read more about how childhood yeast problems may affect your child. 

Is there a link between yeast and Autism behaviours?  

Read one study that concludes “There is a great deal of evidence that a form of yeast, candida (rhymes with “Canada”) albicans, may cause autism and may exacerbate many behavior and health problems in autistic individuals, especially those with late-onset autism”. The paper linking autism, developmental delays, behaviour problems and yeast, by The Center for the Study of Autism  can be read here.

One brand of probiotic is Udo’s Choice™ these, like all Probiotics, work to maintain the delicate balance of “good” or “friendly” bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract. According to the Udo’s Choice website: Probiotics derive from the extensive group of friendly micro-organisms already present in nature that we commonly obtain from yogurt and raw foods. Udo’s Choice™ Probiotic Blends consist of SIX distinct varieties, each engineered for a specific age group or condition:

• Infant’s Blend, Children’s Blend,
  Adult’s Blend,
  Advanced Adult’s Blend (for seniors),
  Hi-Potency Bowel Blend,
  Super 8 Hi-Potency,
  And Super 5 Lozenge. 

You can go to UDO’s Choice  to learn more about their products and the strains of Probiotics available.

Make an adjustment, stay healthy ~ be happy: Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com

Chiropractic care may prevent the flu.

18 February 2008

Flu season is here… what to do!

The headlines all scream “Flu shot only protects against 40% of viruses this season.”  As we read on we find that all but five states are at code red on the influenza report map, faring best in the current epidemic seems to be Florida. To make matters worse for those with the dreaded bug, it is being reported by the CDC that one particular vaccine strain this year is showing resistance to the popular antiviral drug, Tamiflu. This is showing true in about 4.5% of all patients reporting incidents of the flu.

Why isn’t the vaccine effective? Of the stains included in this year’s vaccine, two of the three that are currently causing infections, were excluded.  These vaccines are made each year on what is basically a best guess as to which strains will cause the most problems the following flu season. Apparently, in the years the drug companies have been doing this, it has been consistent against the flu for 16 of the last 19 years, however as the companies have no real way to know for sure which strains are going to be most prevalent until flu season actually arrives it is not an exact science. The two strains causing problems this year are the Brisbane and Yamagata strains, and it has been reported that these two strains are involved in more than 40% of the US cases so far this year, unfortunately its estimated that the vaccine may only be 50% effective against both. Statistically, the vaccine aims to be 70-90% effective each year. So why even have the vaccine? The CDC reports instances of approximately 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospital cases of the flu each year so their best advice is for people to have an annual vaccination, however as we just read, that can be unreliable in many instances.

Of course, the best protection would be to not get the virus in the first place, and we all know good hygiene is a must, especially for our kids. Teaching kids effective hand washing is probably the easiest way to stop them from carrying home all kinds of great bugs and viruses to the rest of the household.  Chances are though, you are not always around to monitor such critical hygiene practices, so what else can we do if and when the flu bug strikes your area?

A release in 2004 from the Director of Communication for the World Chiropractic Alliance stated that:

Flu season wellness plan should include chiropractic care

CHANDLER, ARIZ, Nov. 8, 2004 — The World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) is recommending that people of all ages add chiropractic to their strategy for warding off and fighting the flu and its effects this season.

Spinal adjustments can have a positive effect on immune function, the WCA asserts, citing a growing number of researchers who are exploring the common denominators in disease processes, and the role of the nervous, immune, and hormonal systems in development of immune related illnesses, … Read the complete article at: WCA and be sure to discuss preventative care with either Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan well before next year’s flu season gets under way. Remember the ultimate goal is to avoid contracting the flu altogether.

With that being said, once the flu takes hold it can be worse than miserable to endure. We found some other helpful tips to combat the ailment at Health 911  :

• “Put your toothbrush in a glass of hydrogen peroxide. This will keep you from reinfecting yourself.
• A study done at the University of California at Davis found that those who ate 3/4 cup of yogurt daily had 25% fewer colds than non-yogurt eaters. Apparently this was from a four-fold increase in the production of infection-fighting gamma interferon.
• Hydrogen Peroxide. From what we have read, hydrogen peroxide works quite well and is supposed to be effective 80% of the time, especially if done when the symptoms first appear. While it seems contrary to what we have been taught about colds and flu we know quite a few people who have tried it with great success. … “

Check out their website to understand the inner ear connection with flu and colds, and also some ideas on how to combat both conditions using hydrogen peroxide.

Some other tips we found included:

• When you come down with a cold or the flu, your respiratory tract works hard to expel the invading viruses along a veritable “Slip ’n Slide” of mucus. Rather than drying those mucus secretions with an over-the-counter antihistamine, it’s better to accelerate the healing process by thinning them, thus making it easier to expel them.  The best way to thin mucus secretions is to add water to your system by drinking warm liquids, especially herbal teas and soup broth. If you have access to a steam shower, use it. If not, bring a quart-size pot of water to a boil, remove it from the stove and place your face a comfortable distance from the steam, then cover your head with a towel. Inhale through your nose if you’re stuffy, or through your mouth for chest congestion. 

Check out Mother Earth News  for some other great ideas on natural remedies for the flu or the common cold.

There is a wealth of information out there for those of us who would rather treat our flu without the vaccine, however, discuss your needs and requirements for the vaccine with either Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan, before you make the decision to forgo the shot. For some folks having the vaccine can be very important.  You can find more information at WebMD on both natural herbal remedies for the flu as well as some more information on the use of the vaccine. 

So if you get that high fever, the familiar aching in the knees and joints, headache, coughing, and runny nose, all accompanied by a general malaise, chances are you are experiencing the flu.  Remember to stay at home, grab a blanket, some pain killers, plenty of fluids and a good book, to wait it out. The good news is that the flu only usually lasts 4-7 days. 

Make an adjustment, stay healthy ~ be happy: Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com

Why I chose the DRX-9000 over back surgery.

14 February 2008

Deciding to do the DRX-9000 Treatment.

By the time I heard about the DRX-9000 (Axiom Worldwide), I had already spent two years in pain. One year of the pain getting slowly worse, and one year trying to find a solution to the back and sciatic pain I was desperately trying to live with.

I had been to my family doctor, who prescribed pain pills, then more pain pills, and then at the third visit when he suggested MORE pain pills, I decided to find a new GP. My new doctor quickly referred me to the local Bone and Joint clinic in Charlotte NC. I had to start back at the beginning, but at least this referral came with a set of X-rays; unfortunately they didn’t show the extent of the damage in my back. My Doctor did his best, including referring me to a neurologist who finally ordered an MRI of my back.

It turned out after seeing the MRI that I had ruptured my L4 and L5 discs, toward the bottom of my spine.  This accounted for the pain I had been getting. During the year that I was with the Bone and Joint clinic, I tried pain medications, steroid injections (these were so painful I could barely walk the day after each shot), Novocain injections, and a long course of physical therapy.  I stretched and gently exercised my back every day, twice a day, trying to repair the damage that had already been done to my discs.  Unfortunately during that time, not one of the therapists suggested I rest my back, or that I ice my back daily, they allowed me to carry on my normal activities which involved lifting my then 2 and 1 year old children, multiple times a day. Basically I was continuing to damage my back as fast as I was trying to heal it.

Finally, after a conversation between my sister and Dr. Paul at Fontana Chiropractic, I heard about the DRX-9000 machine. Dr. Paul had explained how the decompression therapy could help my back heal itself and avoid the ever closer, inevitable surgery. I found a location about 30 miles from my house, it turned out at the time it was the only place in our area with this particular machine.  I made an appointment and went over there with my MRI results. This was by no means a quick fix, or a guaranteed treatment, I had to pass several different criteria with the chiropractor before he would schedule me time on the machine.  He explained that the DRX was very effective at treating certain problems with the back; however it was important to note that it couldn’t be effective to all back pain sufferers.

My treatment consisted of 22 visits all together, 5 the first week, 5 the second, then 3 for two weeks, then 2 and then an additional treatment on a weekly basis until I really felt I no longer needed them.  After about the third of fourth treatment I began to feel much relief from my pain, I went from around a 7 or 8 on the pain scale to a 4 or 5, I was ecstatic; it really seemed as if the treatment was working. However, part way through the treatment I made the mistake of taking my son upstairs to his room, he was angry and fighting with me as we made our way upstairs and it twisted my back awkwardly, I felt like the previous treatments had been a waste of time, thankfully although it did set me back, it only took a couple more treatments before I began to progress again. 

Part of my treatment during the DRX  regime was to have a 20 minute water massage before getting on the DRX, and then I would have 10 minutes of cold laser therapy after each treatment.  I was also ordered to wear an ice pack and back-brace-belt at all times, for the duration of the entire therapy. I hated that belt; it was the most annoying thing in the world for me to wear that belt. However, as every good patient should, every morning I got up, put in the ice pack, and wore the belt all day long, I would ice for 20 minute rotations, and I did it for about an hour in the morning and several hours at night, changing out the ice pack, every 20 minutes.  Even now, if I over-strain my back or have any pain, however slight, I go straight back to the ice and the belt, and the pain is usually gone within hours.

I was instructed to basically put myself on bed rest; in fact if I had not agreed to the complete down-time protocol, the chiropractor would not have started my treatments.  I didn’t literally have to stay in bed, they obviously allowed me to do what I needed to do, however their rule was “think as if you are on bed rest, no vacuuming, no laundry, no carrying heavy shopping.” It was incredibly difficult as the treatments lasted almost three months, and I had two small toddlers.  Prior to beginning the treatment we set the house up for success,  I hired a babysitter to help me a couple of days a week, we got them both sleeping in big kids beds to solve the problem of lifting them in and out, I didn’t even lift them to change them, the most difficult part was car seats, I had to lift them in and out of those, but otherwise I lifted as little as possible to rest my back.

Every morning and every night I did gentle stretching exercises.  By the end of my 22 treatments my pain level was a 1 or 2. This was a huge improvement from where I started and in just three short months. The last two weeks of my treatments were more maintenance and to check my continued progress, the chiropractor had given me an exercise ball and some gentle stretching exercises to strengthen my back, I had started walking with a goal to increase to one mile per day, and I was given a pair of specially fitted insoles for my shoes. 

It has been a full year since I began my treatment, I haven’t needed to go back for any further treatments, but it has taken the rest of that time, being careful and re-building the muscles in my back to now be a  point where I would say I am 98% better. I have also gained almost 2 inches in height. I do know from other people that if I had chosen back surgery the recovery would have been much harder, and much longer.  Now I think before I swing my children up and around the room, I bend my knees when I have to lift something, and I ask for help when something is heavier than I think I should be lifting. Its easy to fall back into bad back practice but when you have been in so much pain its hard to sit or stand for any period of time, you learn to pay better attention to the signals your body gives you.  I truly believe the DRX-9000 saved me from painful, lengthy, expensive, back surgery and the best part was that it was non-invasive; no recovery from an operation, no risky back surgery, all it took was a time and effort, and a solid commitment from me to recover my back to where it was before I ruptured my discs.

Even though we don’t live in Colorado, I am forever grateful to Dr. Paul for talking to my sister about this technology.  Without his input and advice I would have carried on taking pain medication and injections until they no longer worked, and then the next step was going to be surgery. I encourage anyone who has sciatic pain, back pain or herniated discs to speak to their chiropractor regarding alternatives to surgery. The DRX-9000 might not be able to help everyone, but it certainly helped in my case.

To read a PDF report on the DRX-9000

For more information on the DRX-9000 call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com
 

What’s in Your Water?

11 February 2008

Bottled Water – To Drink or Not to Drink.

I was reading the February 2008 copy of the Readers Digest  this week and came across a really interesting article about bottled water.  I admit I am the consumer who purchases an average of 48 bottles of water a month just for myself, and I then I also buy 48 of the little half bottles to send to school in my children’s lunch boxes.  The basis of the article explained that not only is bottled water not regulated and checked as it should be, it also comes in those little toxin leaking plastic bottles, that leach nasty chemicals into the water. Adding to the health problems it also causes an excess of plastic in our landfills; and according to the article up to 80% of those bottles are trashed rather than recycled.  Yikes! I set out on a quest to find some information to A: make myself feel better about all the bottled water I have already consumed and B: if it really is that detrimental to my health what can I do instead, after all I aim for my eight 8oz glasses of water a day to keep me in my best health possible… right?

The more research I did the more confused I got, is it safe to drink or not?   I discovered that it is often straight municipal tap water put it into a convenient plastic bottle that we are drinking. The problem comes when we accidentally allow these bottles to heat up either from storage, transportation or simply leaving them in a hot car. The tap water can become contaminated from leaching plastic and then you drink it causing a negative effect on our hormonal systems resulting in all kinds of health problems. 

However not all bottled water is taken from the tap.  There are plenty of companies who do bottle from an underground water source. This then poses both the problem of ensuring water purity and the heated plastic bottle problem.

According to the website Fastcompany.com “… Thirty years ago, bottled water barely existed as a business in the United States. Last year, we spent more on Poland Spring, Fiji Water, Evian, Aquafina, and Dasani than we spent on iPods or movie tickets–$15 billion. It will be $16 billion this year. …”  Its worth reading the entire article  – especially to read their take on the social responsibilities of drinking bottled water. The story is often more far reaching than we can ever first imagine. In part of the article we learn that “Fiji Water produces more than a million bottles a day, while more than half the people in Fiji do not have reliable drinking water. …” Which makes me ask “how socially responsible is that?”  Is there a way we can ensure that Americans have all the bottled water they desire while also ensuring that a basic need for the Fiji people, amongst others, are actually met. Personally I have no idea how much it costs the makers of Fiji Water to collect, bottle and market their product, however I do know that from my own limited experience, it is the most expensive bottle on the shelf at our local supermarket, and its also the bottle I see certain famous folks carrying in the photos of the tabloid magazines I read while in the aforementioned supermarket. Thankfully, for their part Fiji Water is actually making strides to help the Fijian people in their quest for clean drinking water, you can learn about their efforts at Fijiwater.  It certainly looks as if they are taking some of their social responsibility seriously and giving back to the community in Fiji.

The Natural Resource Defense Council [NRDC] has an article on their website – it is an online petition to the FDA (1999), their report is in bullet format, so it’s a nice easy read.  It also helps to answer my ‘Is bottled water really safe” question.  And if you go to read the article you can see that their answer is “not necessarily”. Their 4 year study of the industry and the governing body concluded that you cannot be sure you are getting a better product than the tap water you can get out of your kitchen sink. More worrying for me is the answer to question 3. in this article:

“… Could the plastic in water bottles pose a health risk?

Recent research suggests that there could be cause for concern, and that the issue should be studied closely. Studies have shown that chemicals called phthalates, which are known to disrupt testosterone and other hormones, can leach into bottled water over time. One study found that water that had been stored for 10 weeks in plastic and in glass bottles contained phthalates, suggesting that the chemicals could be coming from the plastic cap or liner. Although there are regulatory standards limiting phthalates in tap water, there are no legal limits for phthalates in bottled water — the bottled water industry waged a successful campaign opposing the FDA proposal to set a legal limit for these chemicals.”

Now why would they do that? Why would they wage a campaign against better regulations affecting our health? Wouldn’t it behoove us all to know exactly what we are dealing with here? Wouldn’t it be more responsible to worry about people’s health than profits?  Believe me, I am not against these companies making a profit, I like to have a choice, and I am aware a free market ensures that, but I would also like to know that I am making a good choice, not one that can negatively impact say, my ability to have children a few years from now.

As for me, after reading all this on bottled water, I am going to install a good filtration system on our kitchen faucet, and I am going to purchase some of the stainless steel water bottles I have seen in the local health food store and start filling my own bottles before I leave the house. When choosing your water vessel of choice be sure to read these two articles before you head to the store (Plastic Water Bottles and Nalgene Update). While at home I am going to ensure we all drink from a glass; how civilized!  If nothing else, I did realize that even though the stainless steel or glass drinking bottles may be over $10.00 each as an initial expense, I am already paying for the tap water in my kitchen, meaning I will save hundreds of dollars a year after my initial investment in the filter system and re-useable safe bottles.  How to ensure your municipal water supply is a good choice: You should get a water-quality or consumer-confidence report from your local water company, or if you are on well-water get it tested yearly – for more information call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800.426.4791 or visit the safe-drinking-water site.

Now with all that money saved… maybe a trip to Fiji could be in the works after all!

Make an adjustment, stay healthy ~ be happy: Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com

Hyperactivity, Additives & Vitamin D3 ~ Is there a link?

7 February 2008

Study on Hyperactivity and Additives.

The January, 2008 issue of DISCOVER magazine features the 100 top science stories of 2007. One of the scientific events they selected is the 2007 study of food additives and hyperactivity, conducted at the University of Southampton in England. The children, who were drawn from the general population, were placed on a diet that eliminated food dyes and the preservative sodium benzoate. They were given either a fruit juice drink or a drink that contained the additives. Both drinks looked and tasted the same.

The children were observed and tested to determine their level of hyperactivity. When they consumed the drinks with the additives their hyperactivity scores were nearly double compared to when they drank the plain fruit juice. The test design was double blind, which means nobody was aware of when the children consumed the additives and when they did not until the study was completed. The research, published in the September 6 issues of THE LANCET, is considered to be the most well designed to date.

Also in Discover Magazine…

Several new studies on the value of Vitamin D3 continue to add to our knowledge of the many benefits of this vitamin, which was virtually ignored until recently. It appears that most tissues and cells in the body require it in order to function well; this may explain why low levels of D3 have been linked with such a broad range of health problems. The amount of vitamin D needed has been grossly underestimated, according to many researchers, and the Canadian Pediatric Society now recommends that pregnant and breast-feeding women supplement their diet with 2,000 IU of it each day.

MORE ON RECOMMENDED LEVELS OF VITAMIN D.

A new study, published in November, is titled “Molecular basis of the potential of Vitamin D to prevent cancer.” The authors write, “Currently, most experts in the field believe that intakes of between 2000 and 4000 IU will lead to a more healthy level of [the vitamin] that will offer significant protective effects against cancers of the breast, colon, prostate, ovary, lungs, and pancreas.

Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Nov 21

The November issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICA carried a comprehensive article on vitamin D, repeating what many researchers are finding: the vitamin is essential for optimum health and the current recommendations are inadequate. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a minimum daily intake of only 200 IU for children.

Our bodies will create vitamin D through exposure to sunlight so geography plays a part in the amount of supplementation one would need. People living in Canada and Northern Europe receive insufficient sunlight for most of the year. Those living in Northern Africa, Southern Europe and in all of the United States (including the deep South) still do not receive sufficient sunlight to supply the amount of the vitamin that is needed for good health. John Taylor, PhD, Notes “Vitamin D3 affects the immune system, and anything that affects the immune system affects ADHD.”

Reprinted with permission from Pure Facts, the newsletter of the Feingold Association of the United States,  www.feingold.org

Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com 

No Long term benefits of ADHD Drugs?!

4 February 2008

No long-term benefits of ADHD drugs?

 

Treating children with drugs does not work in the long term and can stunt growth and lead to other unwanted side effects.

 

The Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD began in 1990 and followed the treatment of 600 children. The study looked at 4 options:

 

• 1. Drugs alone,

• 2. Behavioral treatment,

• 3. Drugs + behavior treatment,

• 4. No special treatments.

(Other treatments were not considered such as the removal of additives and salicylates, supplementation with essential fatty acids, vitamins or other nutrients, vision therapy, sensory integration therapy, food or environmental allergies, heavy metal exposure).

(more…)

Sensory Processing Disorder, ADD, ADHD or a Naughty child?

1 February 2008

SENSORY DISORDERS MAY BE MISDIAGNOSED AS ADHD

“Students who can’t control their impulses and pay attention are popping up in classrooms across the nation.”

This headline appeared in the local Charlotte N.C., newspaper just before Christmas. It quotes a therapist at the center my son attends. My son has been receiving occupational therapy as part of his Autism therapy for many months now. Often times my sons is viewed by other people as either just plain naughty or as hyperactive / ADD. But what he really has is a “Sensory Processing Disorder”. For him this disorder goes hand-in-hand with his diagnosis of (more…)