Deadly new ‘superbug’ sweeps Southern California hospitals, nursing homes

(NaturalNews) Move over methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), there is a new “superbug” in town. Reports from CBS 2 in Los Angeles say that a deadly new bacteria known as CRKP is rapidly making the rounds in hospitals and care facilities throughout Southern California. According to reports, the bacteria has no known cure, and it may never have one. CRKP, also known as Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, is not actually a new superbug. As early as 2006, it was known to have spread throughout an Israeli hospital, and shortly thereafter to every hospital in Israel (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554704). And now, it is becoming a serious problem worldwide. ABC 7 in Los Angeles quotes its own Dr. Richard Besser who stated that CRKP is “very fatal” and that it kills roughly 40 percent of people who contract it (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=8034776). And reports indicate that 350 people in the Los Angeles area already became infected with CRKP within a seven-month time frame last year. Some experts are blaming a lack of new antibiotic drug development as the reason why CRKP and other superbugs are allegedly incurable. But inquiry into superbugs has actually revealed that overuse of antibiotics is to blame for their existence in the first place, whether it is humans taking too many antibiotics for minor ailments, or factory farmers giving them to animals to accelerate their growth and cover up filthy, disease-ridden conditions. Last year, a study published in the journal Science revealed that superbugs appear to be the direct descendants of mutated bacteria created as a result of the introduction of synthetic antibiotic drugs. By analyzing the course of mutation of MRSA over the years, scientists were able to pinpoint antibiotics and their overuse as the primary culprit (http://www.naturalnews.com/028479_superbugs_antibiotics.html). When taken by humans, antibiotics actually destroy all the good bacteria in the gut along with the bad, which ends up destroying proper immune function. Without balanced and healthy gut flora, the body is essentially crippled from being able to ward off harmful pathogens, including deadly superbugs (http://www.naturalnews.com/superbugs.html). Sources for this story include: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/03/24/drug-resistant-super-bug-hits-la-county-hospitals-nursing-homes/

Genetic testing proves antioxidants prevent, treat cancer

(NaturalNews) The role of antioxidants in improving health has been a popular topic of study in recent years, as researchers continue to learn how the scavenging of free radicals and reduction in oxidative stress brought about by antioxidants helps prevent a variety of diseases. Now, a new study published in the journal Cancer Biology and Therapy provides actual genetic evidence that antioxidants are crucial in stopping tumor growth and fighting cancer. Michael P. Lisanti, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cancer biology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and his colleagues, found genetic proof that a certain type of oxidative stress that antioxidants work to prevent is responsible for driving tumor growth. As a result, the use of antioxidants in cancer treatments is highly effective, they say. Lisanti and his team constructed a scientific model to assess how cells react under oxidative stress, and how antioxidants affect this process. They discovered that oxidative stress, and the resulting process of autophagy, or cell component degradation, directly fuels tumor growth. But antioxidants stop this cancer-feeding oxidative process directly. “Antioxidants have been associated with cancer reducing effects — beta carotene, for example — but the mechanisms, the genetic evidence, has been lacking,” explained Lisanti. “This study provides the necessary genetic evidence that reducing oxidative stress in the body will decrease tumor growth.” In 2008, a study published in the journal Science revealed specifically how antioxidants interfere with cancer call communication by both halting and reversing their growth and spread throughout the body. Like the new study, it revealed that antioxidants like N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) eliminate toxins, boost immunity, and fight cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/024447_cancer_antioxidants_antioxidant.html). “Now that we have genetic proof that oxidative stress and resulting autophagy are important for driving tumor growth, we should reconsider using antioxidants … as anti-cancer agents,” added Lisanti. Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/tju-jrp021011.php

One in ten women regularly consumes organic food during pregnancy

(NaturalNews) The growth of the organic food and personal care product sectors over the past decade-or-so has been truly astounding, with reports indicating, for instance, that organic fruit and vegetable sales increased by almost 375 percent between 2000 and 2010 (http://www.naturalnews.com/028721_organics_food.html). And now, a new report out of Norway has found that one in ten pregnant Norwegian women has gone organic. Researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health evaluated roughly 65,000 pregnant women from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, assessing their organic buying habits in six categories: milk and dairy products, bread and cereals, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and meat. “We know little about the consumption of organic food during pregnancy, and the goal of this study was to find out what is consumed and the characteristics of women who choose organic food,” said Hanne Torjusen, a Ph.D. student who worked on the study. They found that women who chose organic during their pregnancies had varying nutritional habits and lifestyle preferences. Some of the women were low income, others were students, and some even smoked or drank during their pregnancies, which are considered to be generally unhealthy behaviors. In other words, it was not simply the well-to-do, health-guru women that recognized the value of consuming organic food. “We see that although there are several elements that are consistent with health recommendations, organic food consumption in pregnancy is not unambiguously associated with what is perceived as a healthy lifestyle — those with the highest education and income,” said Torjusen. “This shows that it is important to take into account other factors besides education and income in the further research of possible health effects of organic foods in the diet.” Research has indicated that organic food generally contains denser nutrient profiles and more vitamins and minerals than conventional food. This idea is supported by a study published in the Journal of Applied Nutrition that found that the nutritional value of food depends on how and in what conditions it is grown (http://www.naturalnews.com/026266_organic_foods_food.html). Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-01/niop-ofi012711.php

Bananas, herbs may help prevent HIV transmission

(NaturalNews) A study published in the March 19, 2010, issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry found that banana lectins, the proteins that bind to sugars, also bind to HIV-infected cells and prevent their replication and transmission. And several other studies have found similar anti-HIV effects from various herbs and plants like the hyssop herb, pine cone seed extracts, “pokeweed” extracts, Reishi mushrooms and even cannabis (marijuana). Researchers from the University of Michigan (UM) found in a laboratory study that banana lectins bind to HIV-infected cells and basically envelop them so that they cannot reproduce. So scientists are now working on a highly-concentrated extract of these lectins known as “Ban Tec” that they say may one day be widely used to prevent HIV transmission. Pine cone seeds contain a high lignan extract that has been shown not only to inhibit HIV transmission, but also reverse the damage caused to the body by HIV-infected white blood cells. The “pokeweed” plant and at least three other North American prairie plants have shown HIV-preventive effects as well. And plant sterols in general seem to protect healthy cells from being invaded by HIV. These and other details came from a recent report by FOX News. For treating HIV-related symptoms like “wasting syndrome” and neuropathy, cannabis, also known as marijuana, has proven itself to be highly effective. Cannabis spurs appetite in those with “wasting syndrome”, helping them to eat more and gain weight, and it also reduces or completely eliminates the severe pain associated with neuropathy. And the Reishi mushroom, which is known for its powerful immune-boosting activity, is also a favorite among Chinese herbalists treating HIV because it can help improve overall condition and even potentially help reverse the disease altogether. Sources for this story include: http://www.jbc.org/content/285/12/8646.abstract http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/01/11/bananas-herbs-prevent-transmission-hiv/

Councilman to introduce legislation to stop fluoridation of New York City water supply

(NaturalNews) The momentum to remove fluoride from America’s water supplies is picking up steam, thanks to mounting evidence that the toxic chemical byproduct of the aluminum and phosphate fertilizer industries causes brain damage, thyroid problems and cancer. Councilman Peter Vallone (D-Queens) recently told those attending a city council meeting that he plans to introduce legislation to remove fluoride from the nation’s most populous city. “This amounts to forced medication by the government,” said Vallone concerning the addition of fluoride to the city’s water supply. “What’s next? They decide we’re depressed and add Prozac to our drinking water?” Though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal and state agencies continue to insist that fluoride is safe and that it benefits teeth, actual science says otherwise. Most recently, a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found a direct correlation between blood levels of fluoride and brain damage in children (http://www.naturalnews.com/030819_fluoride_brain_damage.html). Besides that study, fluoride has been shown numerous times to work topically, not systemically. So it makes no logical sense to add it to drinking water any more than it does to add shampoo to drinking water for the purpose of cleaning hair. Fluoride is also linked to bone fractures, teeth mottling, pineal gland damage and various other diseases. And contrary to popular belief, the fluoride added to drinking water is not a natural mineral. It is a toxic industry byproduct so dangerous that it requires the use of Hazmat suits during handling. And much of it also contains other toxins like arsenic, barium and lead, that also get dumped into the water. New York City alone spends $7 million a year to purchase fluoride waste from the industries that produce it, a significant taxpayer expense that many say is a waste since the chemical has never actually been proven to provide any legitimate health benefit. Sources for this story include: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/12/28/2010-12-28_city_pol_wants_remove_fluoride_from_new_yorks_drinking_water_citing_safety_conce.html?r=lifestyle/health http://www.nsf.org/business/water_distribution/pdf/NSF_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Potato chips, fries linked to cancer

(NaturalNews) When potato products are fried in oil at high temperatures, they produce a chemical called acrylamide that can cause cancer. And a new study in the British Journal of Cancer adds to the mounting evidence against the chemical, showing that acrylamide is associated with a 20 percent increased risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. Back in July, a study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment found that women with the highest intake of acrylamide were 31 percent more likely to develop ER+ breast cancer, 47 percent more likely to develop PR+ breast cancer, and 43 percent more likely to develop ER+PR+ breast cancer, compared to women who consumed the least or no acrylamide. In 2009, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that acrylamide intake caused an increase in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, increased inflammation markers in antioxidants, which would otherwise remove acrylamide, and other neurological damage (http://www.naturalnews.com/025774_acrylamide_food_health.html). And in 2008, a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology found that women who eat roughly one serving of potato chips a day are twice as likely as those who do not to develop ovarian or endometrial cancers. Fried potatoes are not the only foods that contain acrylamide, though. Any starchy foods that are cooked too long or at too high a temperature can form acrylamide, including even grilled meats and vegetables with grill marks on them. Toasted breads and cereals, baked foods, browned meats, and even some dried fruits also contain acrylamide (http://www.naturalnews.com/024942_acrylamides_acrylamide_foods.html). “Consumers can reduce their exposure to acrylamide by limiting their intake of potato chips and French fries…and quitting smoking, which is a major source of acrylamide,” said Mary Ann Johnson, PhD, a spokesperson at the American Society for Nutrition. Sources for this story include: http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Safety/chemical/carcinogen_in_fries_linked_to_breast_cancer_2810100734.html http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Safety/chemical/fries_chips_linked_to_breast_cancer_1910100751.html

Vaccine Zombie hip hop song questions safety of flu season vaccinations

(NaturalNews) A new hip hop song and video hits the ‘net today, just in time for the flu season vaccination push: “Vaccine Zombie” unleashes a rocking, hard-hitting message about the health risks of routine flu season vaccination and the availability of safer, less expensive and more effective alternatives such as vitamin D supplementation. The video and downloadable MP3 song are available at www.VaccineZombie.com where visitors can also find the song lyrics, articles about vaccines and an audio commentary by the song creator, Mike Adams. As the editor of NaturalNews.com and the executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center, Adams is also an award-winning journalist and an accomplished songwriter. His previous songs such as “I Want My Bailout Money” have been heard by millions, and Vaccine Zombie is his most ambitious production yet. “We planned the launch of this song to coincide with the start of this year’s big vaccine push,” explains Adams. “People need to know that vaccines can cause extremely dangerous side effects such as seizures and nervous system disorders. They have even paralyzed and killed many children and teens around the world,” Adams explains. The Vaccine Zombie song offers humorous, edgy commentary that challenges the propaganda of the vaccine industry, which intentionally neglects to mention vitamin D as an effective defense against seasonal flu while focusing entirely on vaccine interventions. Recent scientific evidence has shown that vitamin D supplements work better than vaccines at preventing seasonal flu infections. A study published in the journal PLoS also revealed that seasonal flu vaccination actually increases the risk of H1N1 swine flu infections (“Does Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Increase the Risk of Illness with the 2009 A/H1N1 Pandemic Virus?” Viboud C, Simonsen L (2010) PLoS Med 7(4): e1000259). The Vaccine Zombie video features dancing zombie characters and a mischievous animated nurse wielding talkative vaccine syringes. The lyrics make fun of the seemingly illogical thought processes of people who believe in vaccines, including lines such as, “Those herbs are woo woo quackery; I get my food from a fast food factory; I got my psych drugs talking back to me; modern medical myths are like fact to me.” Hear more in the Vaccine Zombie song, available now at www.VaccineZombie.com and www.NaturalNews.TV where the music video is now featured.

Vitamin D is essential for activating immune system function

(NaturalNews) Researchers have discovered that vitamin D plays a crucial role in activating the immune system’s ability to recognize and fight pathogens. While scientists have long known that vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health, recent research has begun to suggest that it also serves to regulate the immune system, helping prevent infection, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Until now, the mechanism by which the vitamin acts on the immune system has been unknown. In a study published in the journal Nature Immunology , researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that when a variety of white blood cells known as a T-cell comes across a pathogen in the bloodstream, it extends a receptor in search of vitamin D. If it encounters the vitamin, the T cell becomes “activated.” If there is not enough vitamin D in the blood, the cell remains passive and no immune response occurs. The body produces vitamin D upon exposure to sunlight. It can also be found in eggs, fatty fish, fortified milk and in supplement form. Once activated, a T-cell transforms into one of two kinds of cells. One type seeks out and destroys all traces of the infectious agent, while the other records information about the pathogen and transmits it to other parts of the immune system. These latter (“helper”) cells help the immune system respond quickly should infection with a similar pathogen occur at a later date. In addition to providing new information about the importance of vitamin D, the study provides hope for better understanding — and perhaps prevention — of the unhelpful immune responses that result in autoimmune disorders like allergies or Type 1 diabetes, as well as those that cause the body to reject transplanted organs. The researchers were able to determine what chemical steps occur to transform a T-cell from active to inactive, suggesting the possibility that doctors may eventually be able to initiate or block this process, depending on the patient’s need. Sources for this story include: http://news.ku.dk/all_news/2010/2010.3/d_vitamin/; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1256149/Sunshine-play-vital-role-in.html.

Prostate Cancer Screening: 50 Percent False Positives

(NaturalNews) As many as 50 percent of all prostate cancer diagnoses may be cases of over-diagnosis, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal . Over-diagnosis refers to the detection of a cancer that, if left untreated, would never have any negative effects on a person’s life. This happens with cancers that grow slowly and do not spread to other organs, so that a patient dies of other causes before ever experiencing any symptoms. Because prostate cancers tend to be very slow growing, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended against screening men over the age of 74 for prostate cancer. Treatments for the disease can have severe side effects, including impotence and incontinence, and may even increase the risk of early death. Another paper, published in the same issue of the journal, found that the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test commonly used to assess prostate cancer risk cannot reliably predict this risk in most cases. The PSA is a marker of prostate inflammation, which in turn is believed to be a risk factor for prostate cancer. Yet in a study on 1,540 Swedish men, researchers found that PSA levels were not correlated with prostate cancer risk. The only exception was levels below 1 nanogram per mililiter, which suggest a prostate cancer risk of almost zero. The British National Health Service recommends referral for cancer screening such as biopsies for men between the ages of 50 and 59 who have a PSA level of 3 nanograms per mililiter or higher, and for older men who have levels of 5 nanograms per mililiter or higher. Another recent study found that regular PSA screenings did not decrease men’s risk of dying from prostate cancer. The British Parliament has been considering promoting more regular PSA screening, but so far has declined to do so. According to general practitioner James Kingsland, a member of the government advisory group on prostate cancer risk management, the new studies lend support to this decision. “It is using a test for something which it was never designed for, which is always dangerous,” he said. Sources for this story include: news.bbc.co.uk.

« Previous Page