Big belly = bad sperm!

Stop genetic damage before it happens--maintain an ideal weight!
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By MARIA CHENG, AP Medical Writer Wed Jul 9, 12:14 PM ET
BARCELONA, Spain - Too many fatty foods are dangerous not only to men's waistlines, but to their sperm production.

In research presented Wednesday at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, scientists found that obese men have worse sperm than normal-weight men.

"There is a very long list of health hazards from being overweight," said Ghiyath Shayeb, the study's lead researcher at the University of Aberdeen. "Now we can add poor semen quality to the list."

But experts aren't sure if that necessarily means obese men face major difficulties having children.

"If you have a man who isn't fantastically fertile with a normal partner who is fertile, her fertility will compensate," said Dr. William Ledger, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Britain's University of Sheffield, who was unconnected to the study.

But if both partners are heavy, Ledger said that could be a problem, since obesity is known to decrease women's fertility.

Shayeb and colleagues analyzed the sperm samples of more than 5,000 men in Scotland, and divided the men into groups according to their Body Mass Index. Men who had an optimal BMI (20 to 25) had higher levels of normal sperm than those who were overweight or obese.

Fat men had a 60 percent higher chance of having a low volume of semen, according to Shayeb's research. They also had a 40 percent higher chance of having some sperm abnormalities.

Shayeb and colleagues found that underweight men were just as likely to have the same problems as obese men. "But there were not many underweight men in Scotland," he noted.

The researchers adjusted their analysis to account for other factors that could have affected men's sperm count, like smoking, alcohol intake, history of drug abuse, and age.

"Male fitness and health are clearly linked to a man's fertility," said Neil McClure, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Queen's University in Belfast.

The study supported results of an earlier sperm study done by doctors at hospitals and universities in Denmark.

There are several theories about why obese men might have bad sperm. Because fat tissue influences the metabolism of sex hormones, scientists think it might also disrupt sperm production.

It could also be a temperature problem. Sperm is best produced at a temperature two degrees cooler than normal body temperature. But because obese men have more fat, Shayeb said their bodies might be overheated.

Another study presented at the conference concluded that diabetes in men damages their sperm and is linked to male infertility.

Con Mallidis and colleagues at Queen's University in Belfast examined semen samples from nearly 40 men who were being treated for diabetes, but were not overweight. They found significant DNA damage linked to the excess sugar in the body from diabetes.

They found that diabetic men had twice the rate of DNA damage in their sperm as men without diabetes.

American Academy Of Pediatrics: Put 'em on Drugs!

I am aware that doctors really hate it when patients look to empower themselves by looking up stuff on the internet, but right here, right now, I have to say the American Academy of Pediatrics is WACKED. Putting 8-year olds on cholesterol lowering drugs when it already seems like this drugs may be harming ADULTS?

When we first had J, because MAN FERTILITY and I had no clue about how to raise a kid, we took every word from our pedi as the gospel truth. Now I question everything the AAP says and does (hello, ridiculous vaccine schedule, anyone?), and I urge you to, too.

p.s. our pedi hinted I was a hysterical mom when I insisted there was something wrong with J. Turned out it was his spinal cord tumor that almost paralyzed him. Needless to say, she is our ex-pediatrician. She never apologized for that and other major screwups. I hate feeling like I have to practically spend as much time studying biology, etc., as she did for a career that makes her $$$, thus, the Fertility Bitch. But what are you going to do to protect yourself and your loved ones? I am grateful to have the resources of the science library here at Brown.

p.s. if you have a child with autism/vaccine damage, check out this site: www.reversingautism.org. This is run by a person who is doing some original thinking to help her own kids--and mine--in the gentlest way possible.

From the New York Times:

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8 Year olds on Statins?

By TARA PARKER-POPE

Cholesterol drugs for 8-year-olds?

This aggressive new recommendation for warding off heart disease in some children has stirred a furious debate among pediatricians since the American Academy of Pediatrics issued it on Monday.

While some doctors applauded the idea, others were incredulous. In particular, these doctors called attention to a lack of evidence that the use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins, in children would prevent heart attacks later in life.

“What are the data that show this is helpful preventing heart attacks?” asked Dr. Darshak Sanghavi, a pediatric cardiologist and assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “How many heart attacks do we hope to prevent this way? There’s no data regarding that.”

Nor, Dr. Sanghavi added, are there data on the possible side effects of taking statins for 40 or 50 years. [ahhh, but think of the revenue!]

Other doctors said the recommendation would distract from common-sense changes in diet and exercise, which are also part of the new guidelines.

“To be frank, I’m embarrassed for the A.A.P. today,” said Dr. Lawrence Rosen of Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, vice chairman of an academy panel on traditional and alternative medicine. He added: “Treatment with medications in the absence of any clear data? I hope they’re ready for the public backlash.”

Doctors who sat on the academy’s committee on nutrition, which issued the guidelines, agree there are no long-term data on statin use in children. But they say there are adequate safety data to justify the recommendations. One statin, Pravachol, has already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in children as young as 8.

read more here.

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Metal earrings and tooth fillings 'cause chronic back pain'

My father, an acupuncturist, was SOOOOO against me getting my ears pierced. So I waited until I was in college. It was kin dof a yucky process (and now my students have multiple piercings, eeek). The good thing is that when I was training for my black belt in Korea, I was working out 2x/day and didn't wear earrings at all because I'd have to take them out. So guess what, the holes closed. Now, clip ons are good enough for me.

Best not to fool with Mother Nature...

From the UK's Daily Mail:

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Metal earrings and tooth fillings could be the cause of chronic back pain, experts claimed last night.

Pieces of metal that pierce or even just touch the skin could be setting off a massive chain reaction in the body, sending hundreds of muscles out of alignment.

And even the smallest bits of metal - such as tooth fillings - could be the cause of major agony in muscles far away.

Experts say the nervous system automatically tries to move body parts away from metal objects because they are uncomfortable to the skin that surrounds them.

The muscles used in that movement will then place strain on other, larger muscles as they constantly try to maintain a distance.

The result, according to a growing school of thought, is whole body stresses that cannot be cured by any amount of rest, exercise or nutrition.

However, experts say the good news is that something as simple as removing jewellery or having a metal filling replaced with an acrylic one could be all that is needed to end years of agony.

Chiropractor Simon King is one of around 250 professionals who are telling patients that the answer to their chronic back pain could be very straight-forward indeed.

"I've always been fascinated and confused that some people with massive injuries made a quick recovery while others with minor strains took forever to get better," he said.

"Then I made a remarkable discovery. Most patients who struggled to recover from pain or injury had metal touching or piercing their skin."

Mr King says earrings are a common cause of back and neck pain, dentistry and jewellery such as necklaces and watches can cause pain and arthritis.

read more here.

Americans Wasting Food

With all the hunger around the world (think of the Haitians and their dirt biscuits), it's astounding to think we waste a pound of food per person per day. Yikes! My solution is growing some of our own food in our dinky backyard. With all the sweat that goes into growing things, I'm diving after every dropped lettuce leaf. Don't take your food for granted!

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By Inspired Protagonist - June 2, 2008

It's hard for most of us to imagine what it's like to go to sleep hungry, let alone to watch a child die slowly from starvation. We read the headlines about global food prices. We see charts that show how prices of corn, wheat, rice, and soybeans have more than doubled in the last year. And we watch pictures of food riots on the TV news. But it seems there's little that we can do to make things right.

Two years ago, I purchased a diesel car that I converted to run on vegetable oil. Even though I no longer own it, I wonder if my well-intended decision, which seemed so clear back then, makes any sense today?

Andrew Martin, of the New York Times -- one of my hiking companions on a recent trek through Costa Rica's rainforest -- did some research on how much of the food we grow ends up in the trash instead of on the dinner table. "As it turns out, Americans waste an astounding amount of food -- an estimated 27 percent of the food available for consumption, according to a government study -- and it happens at the supermarket, in restaurants and cafeterias, and in your very own kitchen. It works out to about a pound of food every day for every American.

Fireworks and Thyroid

I'm not a big fireworks person--the noise! I'm sensitive. But Mary Shomon from About.Com has another reason I migh tnot like them: My thyroid!
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As America gears up for the traditional Fourth of July fireworks displays, scientists are looking at ways to make fireworks more environmentally friendly, while minimizing potential health risks. Chemical & Engineering News has an interesting story, Pyrotechnics For The Planet, that focuses on the use of potassium perchlorate in fireworks, and the connection between perchlorate to thyroid problems. You can also read Roland Piquepaille's blog recap of the situation at ZDNet.

Also, learn more about how the thyroid is affected by perchlorate -- which is a byproduct of rocket and firework production that is contaminating water supplies around the nation.

_{Photo: clipart.com}

Don't Eat Rock Hard pears

Conceptually, eating food that's been picked in one place and shipped over ungodly distances already seems unappetizing. But there are also real nutritional factors involved (i.e., eat local when you can! plant a garden and fruit trees!)


From Realage.com
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We’ve all seen those hard-as-rock pears at the supermarket, picked well before their prime. Well, here’s a reason you might want to pass on them.

Or at least let them ripen on your kitchen counter before you bite. A pear (or an apple) at its peak offers something extra -- a special kind of antioxidant that only develops once it’s ripe.

Do It Ripe
We know fruits like apples and pears are chock-full of flavonoids. Now, research shows that when ripe, these fruits contain additional potent disease fighters: NCCs (short for nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites -- say that three times). As fruit ripens, chlorophyll breaks down and forms NCCs. And it turns out NCCs pack quite the antioxidant wallop!
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p.s. I'm not the hugest pear fan, but I do believe there are some sorts of pears that never get squishy, just the way there are several varieties of persimmon. Ask you friendly fruit seller.

Another bonus: pears don't feed yeast!

REVIEW: Living Nutz Wild Blueberry Lip Balm

The guys at LivingNutz sent me, along with some nutz (that I am going to review) this wild blueberry lip balm that I get a total kick out of because it reminds me of those gigantic fruit flavored Bonne Bell lip balms that we all used to have (any girls of the 80s out there??) in high school.

BUT, these are made from organic cold pressed hemp seed oil. Plus, the Nutz Guys prepare their our own infused oils with certified organic calendula in virgin olive oil (infused in low temps over several days), pure Maine beeswax, jojoba oil (lip balm only) and 100% pure essential oils or natural flavors.

So for a trip down an olfactory memory lane but with sustainability and organic-ness, try these!

Read more here.

Cloth to clean up the Mercury in your CFLs

Compact flourescent lights, CFLs have been a point of contention among some environmentalists including myself. I tell anyone who'll listen that CFL's aren't the BEST idea since they contain mercury and have a recycle rate of around 2%--which means 98% of them are getting broken, thrown into landfills, thereby releasing Hg into the air.

We use LEDs (light emitting diodes), which are more expensive, but the light is nicer, too.

Anyway, always love to see what those clever Brown students are up to: they invented a cloth to mop up the mercury after you break your CFL. Doesn't make me feel better about compact flourescents, but I admire their cleverness.

p.s. the secret mercury absorber is selenium--make sure you get enough in your diet! Brazil nuts are one of the natural sources with the highest amounts.

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Brown University researchers have discovered a nanomaterial that can absorb the mercury emitted from a broken compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). The researchers, led by Robert Hurt, professor of engineering, and engineering student Natalie Johnson, have created a mercury-absorbent container lining that can be used commercially. The packaging invention, for which Brown has applied for federal patents, would relieve a major concern with CFL use and comes as CFL sales are projected to skyrocket.

read more here.

Kids Connect Alcohol Odors with Mom’s Emotions

I've always believed that children, even in utero, pick up on their mother's emotions...so this is an interesting finding. From Newswise, the journalists'-only site:
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Newswise — How children respond to the smell of alcoholic beverages is related to their mothers’ reasons for drinking, according to a new study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center. When asked to smell both the odor of beer and an unpleasant odor and then indicate which they liked better, children of mothers classified as ‘Escape drinkers’ were more likely than children of Non-escape drinkers to select the unpleasant odor over beer.

“Children’s responses to odors provide us with a window into their emotions,” says study lead author Julie Mennella, PhD, a Monell biopsychologist. “When given a choice between beer and pyridine – the smell of rotten eggs – children of mothers who drink to relieve tension and worry choose pyridine as smelling better. That’s pretty powerful.”

In the study, which appears in the journal Alcohol, 145 children between the ages of 5 and 8 years were presented with seven pairs of odors. One of the odors was always beer; the others were bubblegum, chocolate, cola, coffee, green tea, pyridine, and cigarette smoke. For each pair, the children indicated which odor they liked better.

Mennella notes that because odor information travels directly to areas of the brain that deal with non-verbal aspects of emotion and memory, studying children’s responses to odors provides insights into their emotional worlds.

“Like adults, children are not very good at identifying odors,” she says. “However, they are good at telling us whether they like an odor or not. This study shows that whether they like the odor of beer depends not just on how often their mother drinks, but on why she drinks.”

The children’s mothers completed a questionnaire about their drinking habits, including their reasons for drinking; 35 were classified as ‘Escape drinkers,’ based on their indicating having at least two escape reasons for drinking. These included: helps to relax, need when tense and nervous, helps to cheer up when in a bad mood, helps to forget worries, and helps to forget everything.

Mothers’ reasons for drinking influenced how children responded to the odor of beer. Relative to children of Non-escape drinkers, children whose mothers were Escape drinkers showed greater dislike for the odor of beer, even when beer was compared with unpleasant odors such as pyridine and cigarette smoke.

See Salt, Sea Salt?

Regular table salt is probably not something you think about having weird stuff in, but think again! It can have dextrose, weird fillers, and gluten. Plus it's whitened by some weird bleaching process, and turned nito another typical American non-food. We use sea salt and Himalayan salt. True sea salt isn't white but a little grayish because of the minerals...

According to Donna Gates, a nutritionist, here's the deal on processed salt:

Flavorful Poison

Regular table salt, or iodized salt, is highly refined and has additives like sugar, chemicals, and preservatives. Many of the preservatives are not required to be listed on the container and include ferrocyanide, magnesium carbonate, and aluminum hydroxide.

These extra ingredients improve the pour-ability of standard salt, but they are not necessarily meant for human consumption. In fact, high levels of aluminum are believed to be a major factor in the prevalence of Alzheimer's in the U.S.

Standard salt undergoes a refining process that strips it of 60 trace minerals, leaving a nutrient-free flavoring. Manufacturers put this refined salt into almost every prepared food, and it's even present in municipal water sources.

Read more:

http://bodyecology.com/07/02/08/what_you_dont_know_can_harm_you.php

Worrisome rise in underweight babies

This is interesting given that low-birthweight babies are most often an indicator of poor prenatal conditions, something we would associate with underdeveloped countries. Is it possible that our crappy food, over abundance of chemicals, lack of green space, heavy reliance on drugs (including IVF drugs) etc., is doing this? Also, instead of letting people have their babies naturally, c-sections are on the rise!

We are 32 out of 33 countries in term of child well being? Starting to sound a little Third Worldy to me!

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By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer Thu Jun 12, 7:59 AM ET

NEW YORK - The percentage of underweight babies born in the U.S. has increased to its highest rate in 40 years, according to a new report that also documents a recent rise in the number of children living in poverty.

The data on low birth weights is worrisome because such babies — those born at less than 5.5 pounds — are at greater risk of dying in infancy or experiencing long-term disabilities.

The findings were released Thursday in the annual Kids Count report on the health and well-being of America's youth, which measures the states in 10 categories. Overall, the report found progress, as well as some setbacks.

"Well-being indicators have largely gotten better for teens, and they've gotten worse for babies," said Laura Beavers, coordinator of the Kids Count project for the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The report documented improvements in the child death rate, teen death rate, teen birth rate, high school dropout rate, and teens not in school and not working. There was no change in the infant mortality rate, while four areas worsened: low-birthweight babies, children living in with jobless or underemployed parents, children in poverty, and children in single-parent families.

In composite rankings for all 10 indicators, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Utah ranked the highest, while Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama and South Carolina ranked the lowest.

Beavers noted that in many categories, the United States compares poorly to other developed countries. A recent study released by UNICEF ranked the U.S. second worst out of 33 industrialized nations in a composite index on child well-being, and it was 29th in regard to the percentage of babies with low birth weights.

According to Kids Count, the latest available federal data, from 2005, showed that 8.2 percent of U.S. babies were born at low birth weight, a level not seen since 1968.

The worst rate — 11.8 percent in Mississippi — was nearly twice the 6.1 percent rate in the best states — Alaska, Oregon and Washington.

Beavers said part of the overall increase in low-birthweight babies was due to a rise in multiple births as more older women use fertility treatments to conceive. But she said the birth-weight problem also has been worsening for single-baby deliveries.

The rate of low-weight births is sharply higher for blacks (13.6 percent) than for whites (7.3 percent) or Hispanics (6.9 percent). One important factor, Beavers said, is the mother's overall health at the time of pregnancy and her access to good prenatal care.

Dr. Alan Fleischman, medical director of the March of Dimes, said the increase in underweight newborns is closely linked to a rise in premature births.

He agreed with Beavers that better socio-economic conditions for pregnant mothers would help. But Fleischman also said the U.S. medical profession should be more rigorous in encouraging women to continue their pregnancies as close to term as feasible, and reduce the number of early, induced deliveries, often caesarian, that frequently produce underweight infants.

read more here.

Review: SuperNutrition's Antioxidant Power

Oxidants are a natural process of aging, stress, and environmental toxins. For that reason, most women trying to conceive could probably benefit from from a little antioxidant help. Dr. Randine Lewis the natural fertility expert suggested I take grape seed extract and CoQ10. Dr. Beer wanted me on extra folate and b12, and I was aware I need silica and a bunch of other things. I love this AntiOxidant Power because it puts it all together. And it doesn't skimp on the ingredients. Vitamin E comes in many forms, and the Vitamin E succinate is a particularly bioavailable form. Selenium helps ward off thyroid problems. And everyone could probably use a little daily alpha lipoic acid, the master antioxidant.

Even more appealing is a mix of herbs (organic when possible), so you are truly supplementing with what you need, not just popping a synthetic vitamin pill. PLUS, the ingredients don't have any of those allergenic fertility unfriendly ingredients like gluten, soy, dairy.

I've taken these for about a month and I feel more energetic, plus my husband says my hair looks fantastic.

This is a small family run company but you can often find their products tucked away on the shelf at Whole Foods and places like that. Check it out here.

Get the lead out: Children's $$ pajamas

I just saw a notice in our CVS that they're recalling some kiddie sunglasses because of lead. In general, I think it's best to make your own kiddie products from unbleached muslin and cornhusks. Think you're avoiding lead by merely avoiding cheap crap? Think again!

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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2008 Release #08-302

Firm's Recall Hotline: (877) 752-2387 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

The Children�s Place Recalls Camouflage Pajama Sets Due to Excessive Lead

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Camouflage Pajama Sets

Units: About 28,000

Manufacturer: The Children�s Place Retail Stores Inc., of Secaucus, N.J.

Hazard: The screen print on the shirt contains excess levels of lead.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves long- and short-sleeved pajama sets. The sets have a blue shirt with a red screen print that reads �Athletics 90� and coordinating camouflage pants. The pajama sets were sold in boys� sizes XXS (2/3) to XL (14).

Sold exclusively at: The Children�s Place stores nationwide and www.childrensplace.com from December 2006 to January 2008 for between $15 and $17.

Manufactured in: Vietnam

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the pajama sets from children and return them to any The Children�s Place store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact The Children�s Place at (877) 752-2387 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm�s Web site at www.childrensplace.com. Consumers can also email the firm at customerservice@childrensplace.com

'Disposable Heroes': Veterans Used To Test Suicide-Linked Drugs

Can we say we're surprised?
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An ABC News and Washington Times Investigation Reveals Vets Are Being Recruited for Government Tests on Drugs with Violent Side Effects

By BRIAN ROSS and VIC WALTER
June 17, 2008

Mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are being recruited for government tests on pharmaceutical drugs linked to suicide and other violent side effects, an investigation by ABC News and The Washington Times has found.

The report will air on Good Morning America and will also appear in The Washington Times on Tuesday. (click here to read the Washington Times coverage of "Disposable Heroes")

In one of the human experiments, involving the anti-smoking drug Chantix, Veterans Administration doctors waited more than three months before warning veterans about the possible serious side effects, including suicide and neuropsychiatric behavior.

"Lab rat, guinea pig, disposable hero," said former US Army sniper James Elliott in describing how he felt he was betrayed by the Veterans Administration.

Elliott, 38, of suburban Washington, D.C., was recruited, at $30 a month, for the Chantix anti-smoking study three years after being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He served a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq from 2003-2004.

Months after he began taking the drug, Elliott suffered a mental breakdown, experiencing a relapse of Iraq combat nightmares he blames on Chantix.

"They never told me that I was going to be suicidal, that I would cease sleeping. They never told me anything except this will help me quit smoking," Elliott told ABC News and The Washington Times.

read more here

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It's not like they didn't know this drug had problems. Click on these for more stories:

FDA Issues Public Health Advisory on Chantix

FAA bans anti-smoking drug Chantix for pilots, air controllers

plenty more where this came from...

Social Trust Builds Good Health

Fertility is more than just about having perfect FSH numbers, I think there's a lot of spiritual factors that promote good health and then fertility. Now that it's barbeque season, why not cue up the grill (marinate the stuff in lemon juice beforehand to make it less carcinogenic!) and invite some friends over?

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Newswise — The friendly Freddy next door — the guy that organizes block parties — probably believes himself to be in good health. As it turns out, he may be right, according to a study that measures how “social capital” affects physical and mental well-being.

“Social trust, sense of belonging and community participation were each significantly associated with health outcomes,” the researchers found. Physical health — as reported by the study participants —“remained significantly associated with social trust” even among twins.

However, social capital — the factors that add up to a feeling of connection to the community — did not affect rates of major depression, found the study appearing in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The study looked at survey data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S., focusing on 944 sets of twins, all between ages 25 and 74. More than 1,000 of the 1,888 participants said they were either in very good or excellent health.

“We directly compared twins, and found the effect of social trust regardless of genetics and upbringing,” said study coauthor Takeo Fujiwara.

An overwhelming majority of participants — 95 percent — perceived an absolute connection between their physical health and social trust, said Fujiwara. He is chief of the Section of Behavioral Science, Department of Health Promotion and Research at the National Institute of Public Health in Japan.

Fujiwara and co-author Ichiro Kawachi, a professor of social epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, say social capital includes factors such as community participation, volunteer work and comfort within a neighborhood..

“This is very encouraging,” Fujiwara said. “What society or community can do may change the health of residents, regardless of predisposing factors.”

Green Tea Compounds Beat OSA-Related Brain Deficits

More good stuff from green tea--it can help stave off cognitive deficits related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

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Newswise — Researchers examined the effects green tea polyphenols (GTP), administered through drinking water, on rats who were intermittently deprived of oxygen during 12-hour “night” cycles, mimicking the intermittent hypoxia (IH) that humans with OSA experience.

People with OSA have been reported to have increased markers of oxidative stress and exhibit architectural changes in their brain tissue in areas involved in learning and memory. Chronic IH in rats produce similar neurological deficit patterns.

“OSA has been increasingly recognized as a serious and frequent health condition with potential long-term morbidities that include learning and psychological disabilities […],” wrote David Gozal, M.D., professor and director of Kosair Children’s Hospital Research Institute at the University of Louisville, lead author of the article. “A growing body of evidence suggests that the adverse neurobehavioral consequences imposed by IH stem, at least in part, from oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling cascades.”

GTPs are known to possess anti-oxidant properties, acting as a free radical scavengers, and research has shown that the compounds may reduce the risk of a variety of different diseases.

“Recent studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective activity of GTP in animal models of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease,” wrote Dr. Gozal.

In this study, the researchers divided 106 male rats into two groups that underwent intermittent oxygen depletion during the 12-hour “night” cycle for 14 days. One group received drinking water treated with GTP; the other received plain drinking water.

They were then tested for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as for performance in spatial learning and memory tasks—namely a water “maze” in which the rat had to memorize the location of a hidden platform.

The IH-rats that received the green tea-treated water performed significantly better in a water maze than the rats that drank plain water. “GTP-treated rats exposed to IH displayed significantly greater spatial bias for the previous hidden platform position, indicating that GTPs are capable of attenuating IH-induced spatial learning deficits,” wrote Dr. Gozal, adding that GTPs “may represent a potential interventional strategy for patients” with sleep-disordered breathing.

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Green tea seems to have an effect of improving circulation as well as being a top-notch antioxidant, which is why it's often added (as an extract) to "fertility improving formulas". Rather than an extract, why not drink the real thing and get all the benefits of the mysterious botanical polyphenols and things and enjoy a relaxing cuppa?

Check out Tea Guys. Worried about caffeine? They also have a few varieties that are naturally low in caffeine. Try this Dragon Well (pictured above)--you can also infuse it 2-3 times, which makes it an economical organic choice.

Too much iced tea?

Oxalates are contained in many foods including spinach. Too many oxalates may cause kidney stones, or before that, very very painful urination as those calcium oxalate crystals come "down the tube." As the weather heats up, something to keep in mind. From Newswise, the journalists'-only site:
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Newswise — Do you quench your summer thirst by drinking lots of ice tea? The dehydration that summer frequently brings combined with swilling too much ice tea increases your risk of kidney stones, says James Cummings, M.D., professor of urology at Saint Louis University. Ice tea contains the chemical oxalate, which is the key culprit in the formation of kidney stones, a painful and common disorder of the urinary tract. Cummings is available to talk about ways to prevent kidney stones.

Human Ovulation picture

This is from our local paper, the Projo. Very cool. My one question is, if the woman is ovulating so healthily and nicely, why's she getting a hysterectomy??

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Human ovulation photographed in living color

Jacques Donnez

Ovulation moment caught on camera by a bystander, really. BBC:

A human egg has been filmed in close-up emerging from the ovary for the first time, captured by chance during a routine operation....

Gynaecologist Dr Jacques Donnez spotted it in progress during a hysterectomy.

...He said that some theories had suggested an "explosive" release for the egg, but the ovulation he witnessed took 15 minutes to complete.

I know I've felt a twinge -- a brief sharp pain -- and suspected I was ovulating, which may have given rise to the idea of an "explosive" release.

These photos are more than fascinating. I wish they were larger -- you can't really see the egg inside its coating of translucent support cells. The idea that my body does this "without me" was strong in pregnancy, and here's the beginning of that process.

The woman whose ovulation was photographed was not named.

Dr. Donnez's pictures are to be published in Fertility and Sterility -- fertstert.org --- according to New Scientist, which first reported their existence.

REVIEW: Ahnu Sustainable Action Footwear

I can never get MAN FERTILITY to wear sandals, even when it's nearly 100 here (plus, we have no A/C--yippee). Socks, even organic, and sneakers are still too steamy, but MAN FERTILITY hates the goofy look of sandals.

Ahnu to the rescue! Rugged and functional, it has a comfy leather upper with HEMP laces AND a charred bamboo lining that's naturally antimicrobial (i.e., anti-stink)--and much nicer that the weird nanoparticles and such some of the other companies use.

MAN FERTILITY attests that is wears like a sneaker and doesn't look "too" goofy. The company, besides making their shoes from sustainable materials like bamboo and hemp, practices sustainability and reuse in their catalogs, their manufacturing, and so forth. What's not to like?

Click here and get a pair!

Chemical peels for 9-year-olds

It's interesting how these cosmetic treatments become part of our daily (and therefore "safe") routines. I still remember how bad perms smelled...

What is it about "chemical" that these mothers don't understand?

http://gmy.news.yahoo.com/v/7891594

Is Sugar Bad for Your Eyes?

Does Jack Lalanne wear glasses???

From Realage.com:
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Looks like there may be yet another reason to kick sugar and white flour out of your diet: eye health.

Cutting back on processed carbs could lower your risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in people 60 and older.

The Carb Connection
What makes refined carbs so bad for your peepers? Seems their high glycemic index may be partly to blame. High-glycemic-index foods boost a whole bunch of bad things linked to AMD -- like increases in oxidative stress, inflammation, and blood-fat levels. (Get a simple breakdown on what high or low glycemic index means.)

Another Reason to use pads...

Found this today. Hm, I've never had a urinary tract infection, but I hear they are painful and apparently the MAJORITY of women will get at least one in her life! I wonder if tampons have anything to do with it:

Use pads instead of tampons. "I advise those of my patients experiencing chronic infection at the time of menstruation to quit using tampons and replace them with pads," says Joseph Corriere, M.D., director of the Division of Urology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. For the same reason, he cautions that some women may want to reconsider use of a diaphragm.

REVIEW: Party in my Pants ORGANIC cloth pads

Ahhh, finally a cloth pad that's organic, fun, and doesn't make you feel like you're wearing one of those sumo wrestler things.

In Asian medicine and naturopathic healing, it's not nice to plug up mother nature. Click here to find out why. Even tho' most Gynies will scoff if you refer to your menses as a cleansing process, just think back to...toxic shock syndrome!

These guys are thin and because they have a waterproof lining, really don't leak. Plus, they come in fun patterns. It's kind of a paradigm shift to go back to "the rag," but like many things (I made my own organic raw milk butter the other day--then clarified it myself!) the old fashioned way works well for a reason.

Check it out here.

Flat Carbonated Drinks not Suitable for Oral Rehydration

If you care about your health, you should seriously limit your intake of sugary, chemical-y (and, it's made out of tap water, fyi), phosphorus-draining soda. And don't think drinking flat gingerale is doing yourself any favors either, especially for children!

From Newswise, the journalists'-only site:

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Newswise — ‘Flat’ carbonated drinks should not be used as an alternative for oral rehydration solution to prevent dehydration in children with acute vomiting and diarrhoea, according to advice published in the May issue of Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Oral rehydration solution is a liquid containing the ideal balance of salts and sugars for avoiding dehydration in people with gastroenteritis who are losing fluids, salts and sugars through diarrhoea and vomiting.

It is commonly believed that ‘flat’ carbonated drinks are an effective alternative to these solutions, particularly for children who don’t like their taste. However, researchers at the children’s emergency department at Watford General Hospital were unable to find any published trials to back this up, so they looked for information about the contents of different types of liquids and compared them.

Carbonated drinks were found to contain too much sugar and not enough salts.

...The authors concluded there was little information available from clinical studies on the effectiveness of using carbonated drinks compared with oral rehydration solution for the prevention of dehydration in children with gastroenteritis, but that there were many scientific analyses demonstrating their inappropriateness.

“Carbonated drinks, ‘flat’ or otherwise, including cola, provide inadequate fluid and electrolyte replacement and cannot be recommended,” they conclude.

Click here to view the paper in full: http://press.psprings.co.uk/adc/may/ac142521.pdf

REVIEW: Jigsaw Health Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that basically are all over the place, including out guts. Having these beneficial guys helps keep the pathogenic ones at bay. The article I did for Natural Health on fermented foods showed how ancient people got their probiotics from food.

But like so much in our modern life, our food is so processed--as is the soil--so these naturally occurring probiotics aren't as numerous as they should be. To get benefits from probiotics, especially if you aren't a big kimchi orkefir fan, you may wish to take a supplement. And if you're going on a course of antibiotics, it's always a good idea to supplement with probiotics.

I really like Jigsaw Health's Essential Blend Probiotics, among other things because they don't have a lot of weird fillers and because they actually contain a human strain of probiotics, which is pretty hard to find.

Probiotics in general may help:

• Restore balance of essential friendly bacteria after antibiotic use.
• Alleviate digestive disorders.
• Enhance synthesis of B-vitamins.
• Absorb calcium, copper, iron, and magnesium.
• Protect against bacterial irritations.
• Ease yeast infections.
• Improve lactose intolerance.
• Improve immune function.

Don't Use Soap on Private Parts

Hm, I never thought about this, but it makes sense. I've always advocated organic undies for the reason that this area is not only sensitive, but very absorbent (think suppositories, anyone?)

Dr. Ben Kim's newsletter is always a source of sensible health info. Here's what he has to say:

Over the years, I have found that many people aren't aware that soap should not be used to clean the vaginal opening, the tip of the penis (urethral opening), and the anal sphincter.

Regularly applying soap to these areas can cause the mucosal lining in these areas to become dry and unhealthy. A chronically dry mucosal lining can lead to a number of uncomfortable health conditions, such as anal fissures, lichen sclerosus, chronic inflammation and a tendency to experience infections.

If you use soap to clean your body, you should limit its contact to your skin. Your skin is lined with sebaceous glands that secrete an oily substance called sebum, which serves to keep your skin waterproof and resistant to infection by undesirable microorganisms.

Typically, the presence of sebum prevents soap from drying out skin to a point where significant health challenges can arise. Still, unless you work with grease and oil, it's best to use soap sparingly - just enough to remove objectionable odors and to feel clean and refreshed.

The mucosal linings of the vaginal opening, the penile opening, and the anal sphincter don't secrete sebum to offer protection against the drying effects of soap. Actually, the labia minora does contain some sebaceous glands, but in most women, there aren't nearly enough sebaceous glands in this region to keep the vaginal opening healthy if regularly washed with soap.

So how do you wash the vaginal opening, the penile opening, and the anal sphincter? Ideally, with warm or hot water. And when more intense cleaning is desired, you can use warm or hot salt water.

I've worked with enough people who have experienced health challenges from using soap in the private areas to know that this advice is worth heeding. Please share this information with family and friends, as my experiences have led me to believe that most people aren't aware of this issue.

Jack Lalanne, Going strong at 93!

Jack Lalanne has basically been conducting an experiment on himself for more than 90 years! He exercises every day and eats no white flour or sugar...(plus, his wife still looks great, too!).

p.s. he also invented that leg extension thingie ubiquitous to all gyms--this was back in the 30s. To see what clean livin' can do for you:

http://gmy.news.yahoo.com/v/7891594

Maternal Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants Linked to Urologic Conditions in Boys

My advice? Eat organic!

Newswise — Higher incidences of congenital anomalies, including cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and hypospadias, were found in boys whose mothers had higher serum levels of certain organochlorine compounds, researchers say. Two separate studies presented today during the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Orlando confirmed existing hypotheses that maternal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals – including total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, such as Arochlor) and organochlorinated pesticides (such as dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane, or DDT) may contribute to an increased incidence of these conditions.

The data was presented to the media on Sunday, May 18, 2008, during press conferences starting at 8:00 a.m.

Mothers with high levels of organochlorine compounds in their bodies are at a greater risk of bearing sons with undescended testicles (cryptorchidism). In a study (abstract #276) of 40 boys undergoing surgical treatment for the condition, researchers from New York and Michigan analyzed PCB serum levels from both the patient and the mother and compared the readings to residual PCB levels in the patients’ fatty tissue samples (taken at surgery). Patients ranged from eight to 18 months of age at the time of treatment.

...Of the sons whose mothers had measurable PBB levels at the time of conception, 35 reported GU conditions, including hernias (13), hydroceles (10), undescended testicles (9), hypospadias (5), phimosis (2) and varicocele (1). Sons whose mothers had PBB levels greater than 5 parts per billion were more likely to report these conditions than those whose mothers had lower levels. Maternal PBB levels were not found to have an impact on birth weight or estimated gestational age. 12.2 percent of boys with maternal serum levels greater than 5 were more likely to report GU conditions, compared to 5.5 percent of boys with lower maternal PBB levels.

“Mothers with known exposure to these enduring compounds should tell not only their own doctors but also their sons’ pediatricians,” said Anthony Y. Smith, M.D., a spokesman for the AUA. “These data underscore the importance of regular ‘well-baby checkups’ so that these easily treatable conditions are diagnosed promptly.”

Is Tyson's Antibiotic-Free Chicken Really Antibiotic-Free?

These days you have to do more than closely read labels to keep from poisoning yourself and your family. From the New York Times:

A federal judge has ordered Tyson Foods to withdraw advertisements claiming its chickens are “raised without antibiotics that impact antibiotic resistance in humans.”

Two competitors said the ads were untrue because Tyson injects it eggs with antibiotics and used antibiotic molecules in its feed.

Tyson maintained that its claim was truthful, and intends to appeal the decision.

“The claim we’re making is ‘raised without.’ And our consumer research would say that ‘raised without’ in the consumer’s mind, is from hatchery to when they buy the chicken in the store,” said Dave Hogberg, senior vice president for consumer products at Tyson.

• The New York Times April 23, 2008

Teflon Chemical May Harm Thyroid

From Mary Shomon's About.com Thyroid newsletter, yet ANOTHER reason to get teflon out of your house (try cookware like Le Creuset instead!)

Don't forget that the thryoid is one of the most important glands for fertility and you have to be nice to it!
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is focusing attention on a new study that has found that PFOA, a chemical used to make Teflon, food wrappers and other products, may be dangerous to health. The study, which looked at 69,000 people in West Virginia and Ohio who live near a DuPont manufacturing plant where the chemical is used, found that the chemical may harm the immune system, liver and thyroid and cause raise cholesterol levels in children.

In addition to various health concerns, the study found that "thyroid function was clearly affected in PFOA-exposed people, with the effect strongest at moderate levels of exposure, rather than the highest exposures."

Read about the study now.

Review: Applesac MacBook Sleeve

MAN FERTILITY was nice enough to lend his man muscle to help me drag my iMac to the Apple Store to get it fixed (the dreaded spinning beach ball!). I saw him longingly looking at some of the MacBook laptop cases (he currently uses a sophisticated bubble pak envelope--used!), but I noticed they smelled vinyl-y or chemical-y. Glue, PVC (possible lead hazard), basically yech, as he carries his computer with him every day.

So....Applesac to the rescue! Thick, sustainable hemp and snuggly poly fleece. According to the website, hemp is much stronger and more durable than cotton, and you know how much the FertilityBitch likes to promote hemp for its sustainability and how she chafes at the silly US restrictions on growing it because of its tenuous connection to marijuana (Canada seems to deem it's okay).

At first I thought the thing was TOO SMALL when we got it, but it's made to fit the dimensions of the laptop exactly, so no sloshing around in the messenger bag. A handy pocket on the outside, and an unpretentious look (the website says this may even prevent theft--who looks for a nice laptop in a hemp bag?), no yechy glue smell. I love its simplicity--it's sewn! Plus, it looks a wee bit more professional than the used bubble pak envelope, but will give him street cred with the environmental studies types on campus. Yay Applesac!

Their website: www. applesac.com

More than 50% INSURED Americans Medicated

My mother, who is a social worker, once had an elderly client who was so demented she needed to be institutionalized...until they thought to try taking her off her 1000 meds--antihypertensives, stuff for her digestion, SSRIs, you name it. Interestingly, she "snapped out of it" and was able to remain as a productive member of the senior center she was living in. Go figure.

With so many people taking so many drugs and no one having any idea how they interact (not to mention this is all being peed out into the water supply), it's one of these things that makes you go, Hmmmmmmm.

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By LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Business Writer

TRENTON, N.J. - For the first time, it appears that more than half of all insured Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems, a study shows.

The most widely used drugs are those to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol — problems often linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

The numbers were gathered last year by Medco Health Solutions Inc., which manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans.

Experts say the data reflect not just worsening public health but better medicines for chronic conditions and more aggressive treatment by doctors. For example, more people are now taking blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medicines because they need them, said Dr. Daniel W. Jones, president of the American Heart Association.

In addition, there is the pharmaceutical industry's relentless advertising. With those factors unlikely to change, doctors say the proportion of Americans on chronic medications can only grow.

read more here.

REVIEW: Terracycle Plant Food

Terracycle plant food has totally charmed the FertlityBitch. Not only is their stuff made from non toxic worm poops, but they re-use old soda bottles and things by merely refilling, instead of something having to go thru the energy-intensive recycling process. How cool is that?

Plus, the stuff works. I even had a live worm in my Terrcycle potting soil that had been outside all winter. When I lived in NYC, I desperately tried growing stuff in my tiny window and I wish I had this. The food kept my herbs happy all winter long and I even coaxed a berry out of my dormant strawberry plant.

You can get this at Whole Foods--and start bugging your local Home Depot to expand their choices! Scott's (who makes Miracle-Gro) unfairly tried to sue Terracycle for some copyright infringement over "similar" colors in their packaging--imagine, using the color GREEN for their packaging!

Help keep this small and earth-mindful company afloat!

Scotts/Miracle-Gro sues Terracycle.

Scotts Miracle-Gro conducting a recall of four pesticides that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 alleges were unregistered, falsely and misleadingly labeled, or both.

Green Babies, Sage Moms

So reader Ali gave Green Babies, Sage Moms: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby two thumbs up. Lynda Fassa, the author, makes the adorable Green Babies organic kids' clothes--one of the first organic companies to do so. She asked the FertilityBitch to write the chapter on environmental toxins (includes vaccines, and more). I was pleased at how open (but discerning) she was toward the various views of the "green gurus" in the book.

This book is incredibly well researched AND fun to read. I sure wish I had this book when my guy was young!

You can get this at any bookstore and Whole Foods is also carrying it.

Info:

From the trailblazing founder of Green Babies organic clothing comes the very first guide for new mothers in raising a "green" family-and doing it simply and inexpensively. Filled with necessary and convenient advice that takes the reader from the first months of pregnancy and beyond, this indispensable book explains:

• The safest ways to get the house ready for the baby

• The best baby gear-from clothes to crib mattresses

• Organic recipes for health-conscious breastfeeding moms

• How to throw a green baby shower

• The best solutions for storing breast milk safely

• How to keep play areas safe from chemicals

• How to handle the diaper dilemma: wash vs. toss

• And much more!

Biography

Lynda Fassa is the founder of Green Babies, which offers the largest selection of organic cotton clothing in the world.

Edible Sunscreen?

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I don't use sunscreen unless I'm going to be out in the middle of the day (e.g., on a boat). Dr. Christiane Northrup and other actually advocate daily sun exposure (again, about 20 mins, not baking on the beach!) to help with fertility (helps reset hormones, Vitamin D, etc.)

We also notice that if we're very well nourished (plenty of antioxidants, etc.) we tend not to burn, anyway. Shea butter is also a nice protective against sun exposure.

Again, you are what you eat.

This is from the very informative newsletter of Vital Choice seafood.


Edible Sunscreen?
Colorful Foods Seen to Deter Sun Damage
Tomato paste seen to reduce skin’s damage from UV sunrays; Other allies include tea, berries, cocoa, and fish
by Craig Weatherby

Moderate sun exposure seems to reduce the overall risk of cancer, probably thanks to UV-induced creation of vitamin D in the skin.

Last year, we wrote about the exaggerated cancer risks of sun exposure – and the long-overlooked anti-cancer benefits of sun-generated vitamin D – see “Cancer Society’s Anti-Sun Ads Decried as Deceptive”.

On a related front, recent years have witnessed a plethora of studies linking diet to protection against sun-induced skin damage, including burning, wrinkling, and pre-cancerous DNA changes.

For example, higher intake of omega-3s – and lower intake of competing, pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats – appears to blunt the adverse effects of overexposure to strong sunlight.

(Dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, M.D., deserves credit for bringing the “cosmeceutical” effects of dietary omega-3s to public attention, and for identifying wild Salmon as their healthiest food source. See “Fish Fats Called Credible Foes of Skin Aging and Skin Cancer”.)

And a fast-growing roster of research results suggest that antioxidant-rich vegetables, fruits, teas and plant extracts can reduce damage to skin cells caused by UV sunrays.

Aussies' study identifies food allies and foes

In 2001, Australian researchers published the results of a population study designed to test the proposition that food-borne antioxidants might blunt UV-induced skin damage.

They looked for correlations between dietary habits and the extent of skin wrinkling in older people of various ethnic backgrounds living in Greece, Sweden, and Australia.

Their reported results supported the food-as-sunscreen hypothesis, and pinpointed some helpful and harmful foods:

“…a high intake of … olive oil, legumes, fish, vegetables and cereal appeared to be protective [against skin damage] … In contrast, a high intake of meat, sugar and its products and [full-fat, unfermented] dairy products appeared to be adverse.”

… This study illustrates that skin wrinkling … may be influenced by the types of foods consumed.” (Purba MB et al. 2001)

Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain

Boy, this is depressing. No one's sure (we need more industry-funded studies, right? Like the tobacco ones) why, but it may have something to do with the histamines being blocked, causing increased appetite. It also makes you wonder, what OTHER parts of your body's biochemistry are being affected?

Also, getting diabetes or some other obesity related condition will just add to your depression. See a naturopath or an acupuncturist and check out St. John's wort and fish oils, first, people!
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From WebMd:

Seeking help for depression -- and following through with antidepressant medication -- is a courageous and important first step on the road to recovery. But too often, those who take that step find themselves faced with another troubling problem: weight gain.

Experts say that for up to 25% of people, most antidepressant medications -- including the popular SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs like Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, and Zoloft -- can cause a weight gain of 10 pounds or more.

"This is a phenomenon that I first noticed years ago when Prozac first came on the market. It didn't initially show up in the clinical trials because most of them were eight to 12 weeks in length, and the weight gain generally occurs with longer use. But it's definitely one of the side effects of this and other antidepressant medications," says Norman Sussman, MD, a psychiatrist and associate dean for postgraduate medical programs at the NYU School of Medicine.

A review published in 2003 in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine stated that while weight gain is a possible side effect with SSRI antidepressant drugs, it may be more likely to occur after six months or more of use.

But SSRIs aren't the only class of antidepressants that may have weight gain as a side effect. Other antidepressant medications, including tricylics (like Elavil and Tofranil) and MAO inhibitors (drugs like Parnate and Nardil), may also cause patients to gain weight with both long-term and short-term use.

Mountain Rose Herbs

I take a lot of Chinese herbs, and I'd been a little leery of the ones coming from China, not because of contaminants (like with the heparin scandal) but because with its pollution, even organic products, I feel, can be compromised. Organic does not mean free of heavy metals (e.g., for our CSA, I asked our farmer to test the soil--it was clean). Some suppliers have even admitted their products may have "a little" pollution in them and were trying to convince me that "a little" heavy metals wouldn't hurt me. Eeek!

So in my search for an American sourced ginseng, I found Mountain Rose herbs. They grow their herbs organically and keep 'em fresh. In their own words:

Organic Herbal Products All of the products processed and offered by Mountain Rose Herbs are handled, analyzed and supervised by a full time quality control department. Every aspect of all our products, from the procurement, and the receiving, to the processing and packaging, is done in accordance to strict quality control and organic handling procedures.

The products we offer you are guaranteed fresh, fragrant and colorful, and unlike traditional suppliers of herbal products who keep their merchandise stored in warehouses for several years, Mountain Rose Herbs will never sell or stock products that are more than a few months from harvest (except for seasonal items). This in itself guarantees you a fresh, and effective botanical preparation. Since 1987 Mountain Rose Herbs has placed a priority on our general health and well-being, and in this time we have completely removed all conventionally grown materials from our product line entirely.

I tried the ginseng, it was great in soup, so I'm exploring more for my spice, herb, and seeds needs. I put a little banner up on the side so you'll always know where to go!

Bonus Friday Post: What It's like On a Book Tour

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be on a book tour (fun? boring? lots of groupies?) here's an entertaining minute-by-minute Blog by bestselling writer (and Brown alum!) Tony Horwitz as he travels around the country to promote his new book, A Voyage Long and Strange. He's a fun Virgil to curious book loving Dantes.

Read here.

This post involves escorts.

Antidote to SuperSize Me Diet

Got this from Newswise the journalists'-only site (p.s. Thumbelina nicely pointed out that one of the recommendations is diet soda; please note, this is NOT a GreenFertility recommendation. Diet soda hardly counts as a whole food. However, the larger point--children with cirrhosis!--stands) :

Newswise — It was probably enough to make many Americans lose their appetite: A recent study from Europe showed that eating too much fast food – a diet high in fat and sugar – could cause serious damage to your liver.

Yet for those who overdo it with too many trips to their favorite burger joint, there’s good news. You can likely reverse the damage to your liver and other vital organs if you simply give up the unhealthy lifestyle, according to a leading liver specialist at Saint Louis University who conducted a similar study with mice.

“There’s strong evidence now that a fast-food type of diet – high in fat and sugar, the kind of diet many Americans subsist on – can cause significant damage to your liver and have extremely serious consequences for your health,” says Brent Tetri, M.D., professor of internal medicine at the Saint Louis University Liver Center and one of the country’s leading experts on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease....

Particularly alarming, says Tetri, is that physicians are starting to see children and teenagers with cirrhosis, a serious liver disease once seen mostly in adults with a history of alcohol abuse or hepatitis C. Tetri suspects this is because many kids today eat far too much fast food or junk food and get far too little exercise – the kind of behaviors that can lead to liver damage.

For adults and children who’ve repeatedly indulged in fast food, Tetri urges four key steps to help reverse the damage they’ve done to their liver.

• 1. Limit yourself to no more than one fast-food meal a week. For some people, that’s going to be a major downshift. But for the sake of your health, a visit to a fast-food restaurant should be considered a treat – not a regular event.
• 2. When you do eat fast food, eat as healthfully as possible. Try the burger without mayo and cheese, and avoid fries and sugary soft drinks. Better yet, go for a grilled chicken sandwich, a salad with a lower-fat dressing and bottled water or a diet soft drink.
• 3. Get active. If you don’t already exercise at least three times a week, start now. Regular exercise helps keep your weight down and helps your body better metabolize and process the food you eat.
• 4. Ask your doctor to do a blood test to check your level of liver enzymes, a key measure of the health of your liver. Many doctors now order test this routinely when doing blood work on adults, but kids who eat a lot of fast food especially need to have their liver enzymes checked.

“Even for those people with the worst kind of diets, it’s not too late to start exercising and eating right,” Tetri says.

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p.s. the herb milk thistle and artichoke extract are both good liver tonics