This Infographic Shows What Soda Does to Your Body

Just one sip of soda can have health consequences on your body. This infographic explains the dangers of what happens when soda enters your body.

11 Toxic Chemicals Affecting Brain Development In Children
Alice G. Walton

The list of chemicals that can affect brain development in children has grown. In a study out today in The Lancet Neurology, researchers outline new chemicals that may be contributing to what they dub the “global, silent pandemic of neurodevelopmental toxicity.” In 2006, the team had released a list of five neurotoxins that may contribute to everything from cognitive deficits to attention problems. Now that list is expanded, based on new research that has since accumulated on chemicals linked to developmental disorders in children. Today, they outline six more.

“The greatest concern is the large numbers of children who are affected by toxic damage to brain development in the absence of a formal diagnosis,” said study author Philippe Grandjean, of the Harvard School of Public Health. “They suffer reduced attention span, delayed development, and poor school performance. Industrial chemicals are now emerging as likely causes.”

Neurobehavioral problems, like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, affect about 10-15% of kids born today, the authors say. Genes play a large role in some of these disorders – but not that large. Only about 30-40% of the cases of the disorders can be accounted for by genes alone, so environment must make up the other part. Outlining those compounds can be difficult, but the research is mounting, and pointing to a growing list of chemicals that we should avoid.

Because of the frequency with which these chemicals are present in our everyday lives – even banned ones – and the rising rates of developmental disorders in children, the authors say that urgent change should take place: “A new framework of action is needed.”

Here are the 11 chemicals for which there is strong evidence of connection to neurodevelopmental disorders in children:

Lead–This is one of the most extensively researched compounds in terms of neurodevelopment, and has been consistently linked to serious deficits, including low IQ. Its effects seem to be permanent, leading to the conclusion that there is no safe level of exposure.

Methylmercury–Affecting the neurological development of the fetus,exposure often comes from maternal intake of fish containing high levels of mercury, according to the World Health Organization and the EPA.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) – This family of chemicals has routinely been associated with reduced cognitive function in infancy and childhood. It is often present in foods, particularly fish, and can be passed along in breast milk.

Arsenic – When absorbed through drinking water, this chemical has been linked to reduced cognitive function in schoolchildren. Follow-up studies from the Morinaga milk poisoning incident have linked it to neurological disease in adulthood.

Toluene – Used as a solvent, maternal exposure has been linked to brain development problems and attention deficit in the child, according to the EPA and OSHA.

Manganese – In the drinking water in Bangladesh, for example, this chemical has been linked to lower scores in math, diminished intellectual function, and ADHD.

Fluoride – Higher levels of this chemical has been connected with a 7-point decrease in IQ in children.

Chlorpyrifos and DDT (pesticides) – Linked to structural abnormalities of the brain and neurodevelopmental problems that persist up to age 7. These pesticides are banned in many parts of the world (U.S. included), but still used in many lower-income countries. They have recently been linked to Alzheimer’s disease as well.

Tetrachloroethylene (AKAperchlorethylene)– These solvents have been linked to hyperactivity and aggressive behavior, and increased risk of psychiatric diagnosis. Mothers in certain professional roles, like nurse, chemist, cleaner, hairdresser, and beautician had higher levels of exposure.

The polybrominateddiphenyl ethers – These flame retardants are banned now, but believed to be neurotoxins. Prenatal exposure has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in the child.

Two more compounds of concern are bisphenol A (BPA), a common plastics additive, and phthalate, found in many cosmetics. BPA is an endocrine (hormone) disruptor, and, strongly suspected to affect neurodevelopment in children, it has been banned in baby bottles and sippy cups. Phthalates, which are common in personal products like nail polish and hair spray, have been routinely linked to shortened attention span and impaired social interactions in children.

The developing human brain is incredibly vulnerable to chemical exposures, both in utero and in early childhood, and these changes can be lifelong. “During these sensitive life stages,” say the authors, “chemicals can cause permanent brain injury at low levels of exposure that would have little or no adverse effect in an adult.”

The neurotoxin “pandemic” is disturbing enough that the authors strongly recommend having mandatory tests for chemicals, which many have been arguing for years. One common complaint has been that when one compound does finally become banned, another equally toxic and often untested chemical may take its place. More rigorous testing, though complicated to carry out, might address this major issue.

“The problem is international in scope,” says Grandjean,“and the solution must therefore also be international. We have the methods in place to test industrial chemicals for harmful effects on children’s brain development—now is the time to make that testing mandatory.”

Avoiding these chemicals can be difficult, because they are so prevalent, and present in food, cosmetics, receipt papers, and containers. 

But reading labels and avoiding certain products is a start.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2014/02/15/11-toxic-chemicals-afffecting-brain-development-in-children/

The Top 9 Best Herbs For Kidney Cleansing

by Arjun Walia

Out of the 783,936 annual deaths from conventional medicine mistakes, approximately 106,000 of those are the result of prescription drug use [1]. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, two-hundred and ninety people in the United States are killed by prescription drugs every day [2].

We've become a society that instantly turns to medication and drugs whenever something is wrong. Our dependence on medications has gone up tremendously, with few people realizing the healing power of food, which is real medicine. It seems that almost any drug out there, as well as any disease can be cured or treated with the right food. This has been proven time and time again.  We've become so used to taking drugs that when food is thrown into the picture, people often become confused and gaze at the one recommending it in disbelief, often paying no attention to the truth about food.

While you are considering medication, it’s also important to consider the food you are eating and what changes you can make  to help cure whatever ailment you suffer from.

“Let food by thy medicine” - Hippocrates

“The first duties of the physcision is to educate the masses not to take medicine”- William Osler, Canadian physician and one of the four founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital

There are many essential parts to the body that, in today’s toxic world, need extra attention and care if you want to keep them healthy and functioning properly. Your kidneys are important for a number of reasons, one of them being that they regulate water. Kidneys remove excess water from the body, or retain it when the body is lacking. They also help remove excess wastes from the body through urine, and also help regulate minerals in the body like sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphate.

Kidneys also help to remove wastes like eureka and creatinine. Many waste products are toxic if they are not removed from the body, chemical waste that is produced in the body is removed by the kidneys.

Last but not least, kidneys produce hormones. These hormones circulate in the bloodstream and regulate various bodily functions like blood pressure, the production of red blood cells and the uptake of calcium from the intestine. They also produce an active form of vitamin D.

The kidneys play a key role in the detoxification of the body, and here’s how you can ensure they stay healthy and clean.

Sources are provided for you to see the legitimacy of the claims, but we recommend that you further your research if truly interested.

1. Chanca Piedra

Chanca piedra, or “stone breaker,” is a favorite in South America for supporting the kidneys and clinical trials have confirmed the plant’s effectiveness. It’s common in regions and its widespread use has earned it a positive reputation in Ayurvedic medicine as a helpful herb for kidney, bladder and liver health.

2. Goldenrod

Goldenrod was used extensively among many Native American tribes for promoting urinary tract health. Research has found that the herb tones the urinary tract and is helpful for detoxifying the kidneys. (source)(source)

3. Hydrangea Root

Hydrangea root was popular among Native Americans and early settlers, both of whom used the plant for promoting kidney and bladder health. Hydrangea root acts as a solvent and is thought to smooth the jagged edges of kidney stones. Hydrangea root also appears to help the body properly use calcium, an action that may be helpful for discouraging kidney stones from forming in the first place. (source)

4. Celery Root

Both the root and seeds of celery have been used for centuries as a natural diuretic. What positive feature do diuretics have? They can help your body eliminate toxins by increasing urine output. Celery root has long been considered a stimulating tonic for the kidneys as it contains nutrients like potassium and sodium. (source)

5. Gravel Root

Also known as Joe Pye weed, gravel root has a long history of use by Native Americans and early American colonists for promoting kidney and urinary health. Its effectiveness may be partly due to its euparin content — a solvent with potent activity against harmful organisms. [6] This may explain why many believe it’s effective at discouraging infections.(source)

6. Uva-Ursi

Also called “bearberry,” uva-ursi has been used by many cultures. It’s an astringent that can soothe and tone the urinary tract and research has also found evidence to support its traditional use for cleansing the kidneys. (source)

7. Marshmallow Root

As a soothing herb, marshmallow root may calm the tissues of the urinary tract. It’s also a gentle diuretic that encourages urination. Few scientific studies have examined the effects of marshmallow, the herb, not the white puffy snack, but they have a long history in traditional healing systems. Studies do confirm that they help sooth irritated mucous membranes. (source)

8. Dandelion root

Often mistaken as an annoying weed with no useful purpose, dandelion is actually loaded with benefits — both the leaf and the root. [9] Dandelion root, specifically, is a diuretic and promotes waste elimination. (source)

9. Parsley

A favorite herb among chefs, parsley is an aromatic, flavorful herb commonly used in herbal medicine. As a diuretic, it’s helpful for reducing the build up of toxins in the kidneys and entire urinary tract. (source)

Sources:

(1)  1. Null, G PHD. (2011). Death by Medicine. Mount Jackson, VA: Praktikos Books.

(2)4. Starfield, B. (2000). The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Vol 284, No 4. Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.

http://www.kidney.org/kidneydisease/howkidneyswrk.cfm

http://www.healthdigezt.com/top-10-best-herbs-for-kidney-cleansing/

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/07/27/the-top-9-best-herbs-for-kidney-cleansing/

Colour of urine can tell a lot about your overall health

By Sheryl Ubelacker

TORONTO – It’s something we all get rid of several times a day – and sometimes in the middle of the night – but it’s not exactly a topic of everyday or, let’s face it, polite conversation.

Still, urine, pee – call it what you will – can tell a lot about a person’s health, especially when it comes to colour.

Urine is comprised of waste products and excess fluid that are filtered from the blood by the kidneys. When healthy, these twin fist-sized organs filter up to about 150 litres of blood each day, producing one to two litres of urine that is passed through the tube-like ureters to the bladder for elimination through the urethra.

How much urine an individual produces depends on many factors, including the amount of liquids and types of foods ingested and how much fluid is lost through perspiration and respiration.

Ever wonder why urine can look amber-coloured in the morning, but range from straw to sunshine yellow at different times throughout the day?

It’s all to do with the amount of water and other liquids a person consumes at any given time, says urologist Dr. Daniel Shoskes of the Cleveland Clinic, which has created an online chart entitled “The Colour of Pee.”

“People may wonder why their urine is a little dark or a little lighter,” says Shoskes, who served as a consultant on the project.

“What the chart sort of helps with is first of all with all the variations of yellow, from very pale to very dark,” he says. “It’s a measure of hydration. So certainly the more you drink, the closer to water it’s going to look like.”

Indeed, if the urine is colourless, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic who created the chart suggest the person is drinking a lot of water and “may want to cut back.”

Pee that’s reminiscent of pale straw or a transparent yellow is considered normal. A slightly darker sunshine yellow is also in the normal range, but the chart recommends drinking some water “soon.”

Seeing amber- or honey-coloured urine is an indication the body isn’t getting adequate water. “Drink some now,” the chart recommends.

Urine can be darker in the morning because it’s more concentrated, says the American-born Shoskes, who grew up in Toronto and did his medical training at the University of Toronto, followed by a research fellowship at the University of Alberta.

“That’s natural. If you sleep for eight hours, you’re not drinking for eight hours, then you’re going to be relatively dehydrated when you wake up … If you’re very dehydrated, healthy kidneys are very good at being able to conserve water and concentrate urine, so it gets a lot darker.

“And I think the chart shows that that’s pretty much a normal thing.”

What isn’t normal is urine that passes out of the yellow end of the spectrum into various other colours of the rainbow.

Urine that looks like a bottle of dark ale or syrup could indicate severe dehydration or liver disease. If drinking lots of water fails to eliminate the brownish hue and the colour persists, a visit to the doctor is called for.

Pink to reddish urine should raise a red flag – or at least start one wondering what’s been recently ingested that might account for that blush of colour.

“When unusual colours come out, fortunately sometimes it’s just in response to certain foods and everyone reacts differently,” says Shoskes, a surgeon who specializes in kidney transplants. “I know if I eat fresh beets, I’m going to have red urine that day. That’s me, but that’s not other people.”

Confirmed: Urine Is Not Sterile

The popular notion that urine is sterile is a myth, new research finds.

Yes, the myth that comes up every time someone pees in a pool (or drinking water reservoir) is actually false. In fact, bacteria do live in urine, Loyola University researchers reported this week at the general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Boston.

Some of the bacteria may even be linked to certain bladderconditions that have long been believed to be neuromuscular, not infectious, in origin.

"We need to reassess everything we think we know about urine," study researcher Evann Hilt, a graduate student at Loyola, told Live Science.

Not-so-sterile pee

For years, even doctors believed urine was sterile. The myth goes back 50 years, Hilt said, when a screening method for kidney infections was developed. It was a simple and easy test that was soon applied to bladder infections, too.

But the test involved culturing only a small amount of urine in open air, at a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) for 24 hours. Not all bacteria grow in those conditions. [Gallery: Bacteria in Your Belly Button]

Hilt and her colleagues suspected bacteria might be present in healthy urine because a previous Loyola study found bacterial DNA in healthy urine. But those results, published in April 2012 in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, did not prove that the bacteria were living.

To get to the bottom of the mystery, the researchers cultured urine (collected via catheter) on various substrates and in different conditions, such as without oxygen or with more carbon dioxide. If the original test was like a single seed planted in sandy soil in full sun, this new version was like planting 100 seeds in a variety of soils and locations. The researchers also let the bacteria grow for 48 hours, not just 24.

They found whole swaths of bacteria not detected before in healthy urine, simply because no one had ever looked.

Link to disorders?

The urine in the study came from patients at a clinic, including some with overactive bladder, a disorder that causes the sudden, frequent and urgent need to pee. Some bacteria seen in the study were more common in patients with overactive bladder than in women without urinary issues, suggesting these germs may play a role in the disorder.

"We don't know if they're a consequence of overactive bladder or if they are a cause of overactive bladder," Hilt said. "We still have to perform more studies."

But about 15 percent of women have overactive bladder, and about half aren't helped by medications that target their muscles and nerves, Hilt added.

Among the bacteria discovered was Actinobaculum schaalii, which is known to sometimes cause infections in the lower urinary tract (though the women in this study did not have urinary tract infections). Another was Aerococcus urinae, which can cause urinary and heart infections, particularly in the elderly.

Medical researchers are very excited about studying the microbiome, or the bacterial populations that live in and on the human body.

"We want to know who is good, who is bad, how they interact with one another and how they interact with the host," she said.

http://www.livescience.com/45800-confirmed-urine-not-sterile.html