General (9)
Recommendations for Safer Use of Wireless Devices
on 2020-05-29 23:55:39
by
Leanne Aster
Posted in
General
Here are some excellent tips from the Physicians for Safe Technology website. I suggest everyone (especially those with young children) incorporate these suggestions into your daily life. This website has excellent resources and info regarding the effects of wireless radiation on our health. Quick rundown of tips:RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFER USE OF WIRELESS DEVICES Do not let babies or young children use a cell phone, tablet or laptopChildren should use a cell phone for emergencies onlyAvoid sleeping with your cell phone next to your head or as an alarm unless phone is on Airplane Mode (it still works as an alarm)Turn off Wi-Fi router at night and plug into an on/off surge protector for ease of useConvert back to a wired connection in your house. It is easy. Visit https://www.emfanalysis.com/Replace the DECT cordless phone with a landline corded phone. Keep landline.Keep tablets and laptops on the tabletop and not on the lap. Standards are for 7 inches awayKeep cell phones away from the head and do not put your cell phone in a bra or pocket unless on Airplane ModeDo not keep router in the bedroom or near child’s room. The farther away the betterhttps://mdsafetech.org/safety-tips-for-wireless-devices/
What sub-optimal water intake looks like in the modern day worker
on 2020-05-26 02:20:27
by
Leanne Aster
Posted in
General
IS POOR WATER INTAKE CAUSING YOU SYMPTOMS? The fact that human beings require water to survive has definitely been known since, well, forever. Three days without water and most of us won’t last much longer. However, one of the main things I see in my clinic is the full-time worker (often in an office) who comes in with chronic health issues and when asked about their water intake – it is often well under the suggested daily intake. Some people even go days without drinking a glass of water. Dehyration is obviously well known, and in extreme conditions can lead to death. Yet a lot of people still don’t get enough water. Even for myself I know there have been days where I have been oblivious to how little water I am actually drinking, especially when it’s busy or the weather is fairly cold so you don’t feel thirst as easily as you do in warmer weather. So what are some of the symptoms that can manifest in the average full-time worker (or anyone really)? Headaches and migraines can be common – especially if it’s combined with working at a computer for long periods of time and especially if you are inside with air-conditioning. Other symptoms may be having dry, chapped lips. If you find yourself reaching for lip balm – ask yourself how much water you have had that day. If it’s been a while since you had a glass of water - it’s time to drink up! Make a habit of drinking water rather than reaching for the chap-stick. What else? How about fatigue? This is extremely common in a lot of people – chronic ongoing fatigue. As it turns out, hydration isn’t just essential to ensure we don’t die – it’s a major key role in our body’s homeostasis (balance) on both a physiological and cognitive level. Drinking water just to remain alive is one thing, drinking the right amount of water to function at an optimal level is another thing altogether. Back in 2012 there was a study done among 20 healthy women – all who were deprived of water for just 24 hours so they could observe changes in selected mood and physiological parameters. The symptoms these healthy women started to experience compared to a healthy control group included a progression of confusion and fatigue alongside a decrease in physical strength and alertness. What was particularly interesting about these symptoms is that two of these symptoms – fatigue and vigour (energy levels) were not improved after water was re-introduced. Therefore if you are someone who suffers chronic sleep issues, fatigue and often feel weak or lethargic – check how much water you are drinking on average every day. This may be one of the hidden causes you didn’t even consider. Other changes in this study included less urine output (and more concentrated urine so darker in colour), as well as an increase in heart rate. When urine becomes less frequent but more concentrated, it means we are not flushing toxins out of our body as successfully as we should be. For those who are prone to things such as urinary tract infections – this is also another reason to ensure you are getting enough water as it also allows things like potentially harmful bacteria in the urinary tract to increase. And for those suffering constipation – the same thing applies. If you don’t get enough water each day, it is much harder on your digestive system to flush out all the toxins that builds up over time. An increase in heart rate is extremely important to take note of as something as simple as drinking an optimal level of water daily could help reduce risk of cardiovascular issues in the long term. Given that cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death among Australians, this is definitely worth taking note of. There was also another study which looked at the difference in cognition and happiness between a group of children who could drink water compared to a group of children who had no access to water (obviously only for a short amount of time). In this study they found that 45 minutes after drinking water, happiness levels were markedly higher in the water group compared to the group of children not drinking water. So for those who have children with lack of concentration, mood swings and some of the other symptoms listed above – check how much water they are drinking each day. Especially when they are at school or away from home – it may be as simple as that (not always of course – but definitely worth checking). So how much water should we be drinking? For the average adult female – about 2-2.5L and for the average adult male – 2.5-3L. Having said that, we are all different and therefore it may be slightly different how much we need – however as long as it’s definitely 2 litres or above then that’s a good starting point. Another way to know is to pay attention to your body – look for the signs and symptoms which could be associated with sub-optimal hydration (ie dry lips, confusion, brain fog, fatigue etc). But the most important thing is getting into the routine of having an optimal level of water every day, not just when you notice the symptoms. As found in that study, by the time you feel fatigued and weak, a glass of water won’t immediately make those symptoms improve. Obviously for ethical reasons these studies are very short term (you can only deny water to study participants for a small amount of time!) – and yet look at the changes which occurred in these women after 24 hours only! So drink up everyone – your health depends on it.
Leaky Gut Syndrome? This cannot be a good thing
on 2020-05-26 02:20:26
by
Leanne Aster
Posted in
General
WHAT IS LEAKY GUT It was almost a decade ago that I came across the term “leaky gut syndrome”, whilst scavenging the internet to research my symptoms (prior to studying nutritional medicine that is). It sounded disgusting. In fact it sounded exactly like what it turned out to be – a gut which leaked out stuff and led me to being unhappy and ill. However, it didn’t exactly sound like something which would be found in the medical literature so back then I was sceptical – even though I knew my gut was in trouble. How did I know this? Well, mostly from the cramping, spasms, bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea… it seemed logical that my digestive system was in some sort of trouble. As it turned out, it was in the medical literature but not as ‘leaky gut’ – instead it was referred to as increased gut permeability or intestinal hyper-permeability. So what is this intestinal hyper-permeability (or leaky gut syndrome – let’s just go with leaky gut) and why do some people have it? Basically leaky gut occurs when the lining of the short intestine becomes more permeable (allowing material to pass through it) than it should be – this can be due to low-grade chronic inflammation which can be due to various possible causes, such as: · A diet high in processed/refined foods, caffeine and alcohol · Ongoing exposure to GM (genetically modified) foods · Exposure to chemicals (ie. pesticides, cleaning products, beauty products etc) · Exposure to pathogens (bacterial, fungal, viral or parasitic infections) in the GI tract · Overuse of medications which affect the GI tract lining (eg. NSAID’s) · Long term use of the oral contraceptive pill · Overuse of antibiotics · Ongoing stress and anxiety Medications (such as NSAID’s - a common over the counter medication) can lead to bleeding and holes in the intestinal lining while the overuse of antibiotics can reduce the levels of beneficial bacteria and also introduce antibiotic-resistant strained bacteria in our gut microbiome which can lead to leaky gut. (1) This is due to the fact that our microbiome (that not-so-tiny group of literally billions of gut bacteria which colonise our gut) plays an important role in maintaining the function of the intestinal barrier as well as our overall immunity. (2) LET’S LOOK MORE AT THIS GUT BARRIER! To understand this gut barrier more, let's break it down to two significant parts – the epithelium (thin tissue which is kept together by tight junctions) and the mucous layer, which provides the breeding ground and nutrients for the microflora in the gut. (3) These two parts of the intestinal tract work together to keep the intestines separated from the rest of the body. (3) When the intestinal lining becomes leaky (for example, due to an imbalanced gut microbiota leading to chronic inflammation and reduced immunity from pathogens etc) – the tight junctions in the epithelium become compromised and allow for tiny gaps or holes in the barrier between the intestines and our bloodstream. These tiny holes allow for things to slip into the bloodstream which normally wouldn’t be there – such as pathogens or undigested food particles - which the body recognises as foreign and therefore the immune system creates antibodies to target these foreign substances – causing systemic inflammation and damage to the tissues targeted by the antibodies, which can eventually result in disease. (1) When we are first born we have a leaky gut. Prior to birth, it is thought that the infants GI tract is sterile – hence the importance of the mother’s gut bacteria which gets colonised in the infants gut during birth (if it’s vaginal) and after birth (via breastfeeding). (3) The colostrum in the breast milk provides the growth factors required to close the tight junctions in the infants gut wall and thereby build their immune system (hence why breastfeeding is so important in the early stages of life). After birth, the immune system develops in conjunction with the gut microflora development which leads to a life-long co-existence between the host (infant) and the microflora. (3) The maturation of the immune system involves both the innate system (inbuilt or pre-programmed immunity) and the adaptive immune system (as the name suggests – this system adapts to specific microbes or pathogens after exposure). (3) The importance of early-life gut health in infants and the connection with the mother’s microbiome (before/during and after birth) will be explored further in later blog posts. One of the first signs you might have leaky gut is multiple food sensitivities. Food particles which get released into the bloodstream via a leaky gut can lead to a systemic reaction in which the body tries to deal with the foreign particles. The difference between food sensitivies and food allergies are the type of antibodies produced by the body during an immune reaction. Allergies release immunoglobulin E type antibodies (IgE) which cause an immediate reaction (anywhere between minutes to a few hours after exposure) with the release of histamine and chemicals to attack the foreign invader, while immunoglobulin G and A (IgG and IgA) have a delayed reaction and therefore it is harder to pinpoint which foods or ingredients are causing a reaction. The symptoms garnered from a leaky gut don’t just include digestive symptoms either (like I originally thought ) – they can also include skin rashes, joint pain, headaches, migraine, nausea, brain fog, depression, anxiety and many more symptoms. Although it was initially due to my gut symptoms during and after a parasitic infection (followed by antibiotic overuse) which lead me to finding out about leaky gut syndrome, I realised soon after that I had been exhibiting symptoms well before these gut symptoms started – such as skin rashes and foggy brain – and it was this discovery which made me realise just how prevalent leaky gut is in our society. If you can recognise these early signs and symptoms of a leaky gut and make the necessary changes to your diet and lifestyle, it may be the most important thing to preventing disease further down the track. Chronic long-term leaky gut combined with the chronic over-activation of the immune system (leading to chronic inflammation) can eventually lead to biochemical changes in the body which results in disease. It is much easier to reduce the inflammation and heal the gut before disease sets in – which is why prevention is something this website focuses heavily on. However, once disease has set in – nutritional medicine works by looking at why this has occurred, which nutritional imbalances have resulted (or caused this to happen) and how it can be addressed through dietary, lifestyle and supplemental intervention. Some of the diseases now linked with an underlying leaky gut include irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, grave’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and many more. (4) As mentioned earlier, the link between leaky gut and autoimmune disease is gaining more attention in the medical literature. In reference to where disease occurs depends on multiple factors – such as genetics, diet, lifestyle, exposure to environmental toxins and a person’s genetic predisposition – which is where the location of inflammation occurs in the body (ie. for rheumatoid arthritis - the inflammation occurs in the joints) (1). There are various ways to diagnose leaky gut. It can be done based off signs and symptoms in conjunction with a full health history by a doctor or natural medicine practitioner. A more certain way is to get testing done – with an intestinal permability urine test (which is often used to monitor the success of a gluten-free diet amongst coeliacs) but can be ordered by any GP or registered natural health professional. To assess food allergies and sensitivities – there are allergy panels for IgE, IgG and IgA which can also be ordered (keep in mind - not all these tests are covered under medicare unfortunately). A holistic practitioner will also take into account all the reasons why leaky gut may have occurred – through diet, health history, stress factors, lifestyle and so forth and find ways to help restore the gut and immune system. Other ways to reduce your risk of leaky gut can be the following: Eat plenty of daily fruit and vegetablesReduce your intake of highly processed or refined foodsReduce your intake of alcoholDaily movement or exercisePlenty of natural sunlightReduce stress levels – meditation, breathing exercises, doing things you love, getting outside into the sun and nature, sleeping well, eating well etc.Sources Cited:Wyatt, Douglas A 2014, "Leaky gut syndrome: A Modern epidemic with an ancient solution?" Townsend Letter vol. 371, 68-73, Alt HealthWatch http://www.townsendletter.com/June2014/leaky0614.htmlJohn R, Kelly et al 2015, "Breaking down the barriers: The Gut Microbiome, Intestinal Permeability and Stress-Related Psychiatric Disorders." Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, vol. 9 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604320/Kerr, Caroline et al 2015 "Early life events influence Whole-Of-Life Metabolic Health via Gut Microflora and Gut Permeability." Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 41; 3, pp. 326-340 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24645635/Salles Teixeira, T.F. et al 2014, "Intestinal permeability measurements: general aspects and possible pitfalls." Nutricion Hospitalaria, 29 (2), 269-281 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24528342/
What is Glyphosate? And why should we care?
on 2020-05-26 02:20:22
by
Leanne Aster
Posted in
General
GLYPHOSATE Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide. Despite its widespread use, the devastating effect it has on human health is only just coming to the surface in the last decade or so – decades after it has been substantially added to our ecosystem. Glyphosate originally started out as a chelating agent prior to being acquired by a well-known powerful multinational corporation in the 1970’s, where it then went on to be used as the main chemical in a well known and widely used herbicide (chelating agents are chemical compounds which can form bonds to a metal ion or other substrate). Glyphosate residues are found in a high number of foods which are most commonly consumed in the daily western diet - the top four being wheat, soy, corn and sugar.To put it frankly, glyphosate is a toxic agent which can initiate damaging effects on the body via several mechanisms leading to potential serious chronic health issues. One of those mechanisms is by inhibiting a very important group of liver enzymes in the body (called cytochrome P450 enzymes). These enzymes play many roles in the body – a major one being their role in liver detoxification of xenobiotics (synthetic chemicals which are foreign to the body). Not only is glyphosate toxic to the body, but by inhibiting these liver enzymes to detoxify other chemicals/toxins from the body – it actually enhances the damaging effects of those other chemicals and toxins (from our food and the environment).In the United States, 80% of genetically engineered crops are bioengineered for pesticide resistance – which is more than likely due to the fact that by 2005 the top five biotech companies were also chemical companies (1). One of the most concerning food sources to watch out for is soybean products – in particular the Roundup Ready GM (genetically modified) soy – which is calculated at 94% of total global soy production in 2016. (2) These soybeans have been genetically modified to tolerate exposure to glyphosate herbicides – therefore allowing for these plants to be sprayed more intensively then conventional or organic soybeans (conventional meaning no genetic modification but still using herbicides and organic using no chemicals/herbicides). Back in 1999, the multinational corporation using this herbicide claimed the residues of glyphosate in their GM soy were lower than conventional soy which measured up to 16-17mg/kg of residue. They claimed that the maximum residue levels were 5.6mg/kg and this was considered extreme levels and not typically found in their GM soy. However, in a more recent study in 2014 (not produced by this corporation), the glyphosate/pesticide residues were studied and it was found that 7 out of 10 of the GM-soy samples tested between 10-15mg/kg of residue (remember – 5.6mg/kg was considered extreme levels!) while the conventional soy and organic soy had no residue. (3) The graph below shows the results from the study (AMPA is aminomethylphosphonic acid which is what roughly 2% of glyphosate is metabolized into in the body, while the rest enters the blood stream and is eventually eliminated through our urine). (4) So what does this mean for consumers? This means that soy products, more often than not, are genetically modified and also contain extremely high amounts of glyphosate residue – and this is globally, so Australia is definitely affected - all of which can have devastating consequences on our genes and overall health. A list of the GM foods currently grown and imported can be found on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website – the main ones being canola, cotton (found in many vegetable oils), soybean, corn, potato, sugar beet, wheat and rice (5). Our fruits and vegetables are not GM, however more and more GM ingredients are sneaking into processed foods on the shelves – and it’s these hidden GM products which may be causing havoc on our health and the health of our children.So, what exactly is it doing to our body?The industry claims glyphosate is harmless and non-toxic to humans. Short-term studies on rodents show no toxicity – therefore it is considered safe to consume for humans. However, other studies on rodents tell a very different story. “Studies involving life-long exposure in rodents have demonstrated liver and kidney dysfunction and a greatly increased risk of cancer, with shortened lifespan”. (4) The reason the industry promotes glyphosate as safe in humans is due to its disruption of a biochemical pathway which is present in plant cells, but not in human cells. This pathway is called the shikimate pathway and is involved with the synthesis of phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine – essential amino acids found in plants and humans. The shikimate pathway is not present in human cells; therefore it should be safe… right?Unfortunately, what isn’t mentioned by the industry is that the shikimate pathway is present in our gut bacteria. And our gut bacteria is extremely important to our health as it plays several key roles in the body – involved in our immunity, digestion, the metabolism and synthesis of vitamins and minerals, detoxification of xenobiotics and keeping our gut impermeable (which prevents something called leaky gut – I have written a separate article about this which can be found here). Therefore, glyphosate’s disruption of this pathway is occurring in our own bodies; leaving a negative impact on our health via increased chronic inflammation which can damage various systems in the body on a cellular level. This long term chronic inflammation and cellular damage could be linked with many of the chronic disease states commonly found in our country today – such as cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, cardiovascular and liver disease, obesity, depression, infertility, autism, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease (4). One study analysed the capacity of glyphosate to alter gene expression of a variety of genes in vitro (meaning they isolated cells in a test tube) – and it was found that this chemical has the capacity to alter estrogen-regulated gene expression – possibly causing damaging affects to both adult and foetal/infant cells. (6) These alterations can affect cell apoptosis (cell death which is required for normal health maintenance) in brain and heart tissues and can aid tumour growth, hypertension and retardation in infants. (6)So, how can we avoid or limit our exposure to these GM products with high glyphosate levels? The best way is to aim for a whole food diet (meaning fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds) while limiting or eliminating processed foods and processed meats, as well as highly refined foods. Where possible, organic foods are the best option but if price or access to organic foods is an issue – ensure to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water before consuming. When buying processed foods – download an app on to your phone which enables you to search ingredients to see if they are GM or potentially unsafe (there are plenty of apps these days – chemical maze, eat informed-food additives, e codes free etc). Avoid vegetable oils and aim for olive or coconut oils as a healthier option. In the end, making a conscious effort to know where your food comes from, how it is grown and whether or not it is having a negative or positive effect on your health, the health of your children and future generations is crucial - especially while figures of chronic disease and cancer are on the rise.Sources cited:Shrader-Frechette, K 2005, 'Property rights and genetic engineering: developing nations at risk', Science And Engineering Ethics, 11:1, 137-149, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15727008Recent trends in GE Adoption, USDA, https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption.aspxBohn, T et al 2014, 'Compositional differences in soybeans on the market: Glyphosate accumulates in Roundup Ready GM soybeans', Food Chemistry, 153, 207-215, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24491722/Samsel, A, Seneff, S 2013, 'Glyphosate's Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases', Entropy, vol.15, no.4, pp. 1416-1463Food Standards, Australia and New Zealand, https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/gmfood/applications/pages/default.aspx#potatoHokanson, R et al 2007, 'Alteration of estrogen-regulated gene expression in human cells induced by the agricultural and horticultural herbicide glyphosate', Human & Experimental Toxicology, 26:9, 747-752, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17984146/
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