Direct Link Found Between Breast Cancer and This Chemical...

"Women whose mothers had higher levels of DDT in their blood while pregnant were nearly four times more likely to develop breast cancer as adults, a new study finds.

The report provides one of the strongest links yet between exposure to DDT - still widely used globally - and cancer. It's especially reliable because the researchers found 50-year-old blood samples to show how much DDT was in the pregnant women's systems, rather than rely on possibly faulty memories or other indirect measurements.

"Environmental chemicals have long been suspected causes of breast cancer, but until now, there have been few human studies to support this idea," said Barbara Cohn of the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California, who worked on the study.

"This 54-year study is the first to provide direct evidence that chemical exposures for pregnant women may have lifelong consequences for their daughters' breast cancer risk."

Let me provide a little background on DDT:

This  chemical was developed in the 40's as a method to eradicate mosquitoes...a major source of malaria, a disease that was killing untold tens of thousands of people.  It was hailed as a "miracle pesticide" with no known significant consequences.  The inventor was even given the Nobel Peace Prize.  The US military used it to delouse servicemen in WW2.  Farmers used it on their fields.

It was not until Rachel Carson (a scientist) researched this chemical and wrote the book, "Silent Spring," in the early 60's, that the consequences of this pesticide began to become known...the complete eradication of all carnivorous birds.  Because of her diligence, we were able to come back from the brink of the extinction of robins, hawks and other meat-eating birds.  The DDT weakened the shells of the eggs, thus causing the death of the birds. This chemical found its way into our water supply and it was banned in the US under the Nixon Administration, but the problem existed of what to do with all that DDT.

The US sold the DDT to any country that wanted it.  And, now, look at the results...breast cancer in the children of women who were exposed over the years.

The "better living through chemistry" chemical industry loves to deny any connection between pesticides and herbicides and health risks.  Up until now, with few exceptions, they have been successful because it has been nearly impossible to "scientifically" prove the connection.  After all, you would have to expose a randomized population to potentially hazardous chemicals, purposefully.  Well, it appears as though we now have that irrefutable evidence.

The real problem, here, is that we are an interconnected world via the air and water.  What affects one or more countries will inevitably eventually affect all of us.  The question is: "What are we going to do about it?"

Dr. Esther
drkollars@gmail.com

Solutions for Women Whose Lives Have Changed

Do any of the following symptoms sound familiar?

Difficulty sleeping                Lethargy                  Weight gain
Hot flashes                          Moodiness                Very dry skin
Unwanted hair growth       Disinterest in sex      Depression/sadness

These symptoms typically have been associated with the onset of menopause, but many of us health care professionals are seeing women as young as in their 30's presenting with these symptoms.

Frequently, women choose to try hormone replacement therapy or bio-identical hormone therapy.  In many cases,  some of these symptoms are relieved or eliminated by such therapies.  However, in my experience, some of the above-mentioned symptoms do not completely respond with such therapy for many women.

Sometimes, a thorough nutritional workup reveals physiological deficiencies that progesterone, estrogen and/or testosterone therapy aren't able to fully address.  Imbalances in hormones such as thyroid, DHEA, cortisol and  aldosterone  (to name some) can lead to many of the same unrelenting symptoms. 

The use of targeted formulations that help to support all of a person's nutritional needs can truly make a difference in one's quality of life...I've seen it happen many times.  Taking the time to go through a complete nutritional analysis may be vital in helping to identify which direction is best to take.

Dr. Esther
drkollars@gmail.com

Children With ADHD need to be Active in School

A new study just published in the journal of Child Neuropsychology from UC Davis, shows what many parents of children with ADHD already suspect:  allowing movement (instead of trying to curtail it) contributes to better long-term behavior and learning.

The physical activity appears to allow the child to focus better on difficult tasks, including cognitive activities.

"It's not anything conscious, but you see children use hyperactivity to boost their attention," said study co-author Julie Schweitzer, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and head of the UC Davis ADHD Program.

"They go up and down the room, and jump on chairs and dive under the tables when something is very demanding or boring," she told NBC News. "When they are concentrating hard, their tongues are moving. There is always movement." 

"The ADHD students with the highest number of correct answers, showed the greatest degree of movement. There was no correlation between movement and cognition in children without the disorder."

Not only is activity important for the correctly diagnosed hyperactive child, but also for those who are not hyperactive, but who are kinesthetic, mechanical learners.  We all learn in multiple ways, but the kinesthetic learner needs movement in order to process new information.  This is the child that might tap on his desk with a pencil or finger while studying or listening to the teacher during a lesson in class.  I have personal experience with a kinesthetic, mechanical learner and his teachers were not very understanding...probably because the different intelligent pathways with which we learn are not widely taught in colleges to teaching students.

My advice is to share this information with your school principal/teachers and to always advocate for your children. I chose to home school as our remedy and that was highly successful.  There are many other ways to chose; it's just what's best for your child.

You May be at Risk of Heart Attack if you use These Heartburn Medications

You may have heard about the latest study that links a 15% increase in the risk of heart attacks in those using a class of medications known as "PPI" inhibitors. Proton-pump Inhibitors decrease the amount of hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach.  After following some three million people taking this class of drugs, it was discovered that using them on a daily basis lead to damaged vessels, including those feeding the heart.

I have found that the role that hydrochloric acid plays in our health is very much misunderstood by many people.  HCl plays a vital role in both digestion of food and assimilation of vital minerals.  Frequently, the problem that causes the heart burn is not too much acid, but too little.

One cannot digest protein without the proper amount of HCl in the stomach. Undigested protein will cause heart burn.  The body cannot break down and assimilate calcium and other minerals without HCl. Therefore, a risk is run for developing osteoporosis if a sufficient amount of stomach acid is not available.

Here are some suggestions that I have given to patients suffering from chronic heartburn, over the years.

1.  Cut out the caffeine....coffee, tea (herbal is fine) and chocolate
2.  Never drink an fluids with the meal....fluids dilute HCl concentration
3.  Cut down or out spicy foods....excessive amounts of spices inhibit digestion
4.  Cut out the simple (white) carbohydrates, especially when eaten along with protein...sugars inhibit protein assimilation and undigested protein leads to heartburn.
5.  Decrease the amount of animal protein eaten daily to 4 ounces a day...get the rest of your protein via plants.
6.  Some might need some nutritional supplementation of HCl and other enzymes for a period of time until the body re-balances itself.  Please remember that not all HCL and enzyme supplements are equal or helpful.

There are other types of medications that you can talk with your medical doctor about if that is the path you choose.  Just remember, there is always a chance of unintended consequences.

Dr. Esther
drkollars@gmail.com

Are There Feces on your Toothbrush?

I know this sounds a bit far-fetched, but recent studies show that a very significant percentage of us are exposing ourselves to some pretty nasty bacteria...among them is e.coli.  How does this happen?

Each time we flush solids (or liquids, for that matter) and do not lower the toilet seat cover, air borne particles are carried on the swirling water into the air.  Many of us store our toothbrush either on the tank covers or on shelves that are located directly above the commode. This is how the transfer of bacteria takes place.

I know some of you must be thinking, "Oh, great, now not only do I have to remind the males in the house to put down the seat when they are finished, but to put down the seat cover before they flush!"  May I suggest that describing this problem in graphic detail might help to "facilitate compliance."  Good luck.

Dr. Esther
drkollars@gmail.com

Is Tuna the Best Source of Protein After Exercise?

One of my readers posted a comment on google+ concerning a friend's suggestion that she eat canned tuna after her workouts.  She was questioning whether or not this was a good idea, as she was concerned about the levels of mercury in tuna.

If tuna were the only source of mercury that we are exposed to on a daily basis, I wouldn't be highly concerned.  Unfortunately, it is not.  We are exposed to mercury in our water, air, other fish and game on a daily basis.  A significant source of the contamination is from the Midwest as these states use coal as their primary method of generating electricity...the winds blow west to east and bring the mercury-laden air to the eastern states.  PA, NJ and all of New England have mercury concentrations high enough to have issued fish-consumption advisories for all fish caught in these areas.

For those looking to optimize their exercise experience, including the proper way to feed their bodies after working out, it is important to remember that the body digests meat protein differently than vegetable (pea) or grain (rice, hemp) protein.  It can take up to 5 days for meat protein to be completely digested, while vegetable and grain protein is digested, utilized and assimilated very quickly. 

It is my opinion that it's important to feed the body, properly, both before and after a workout.  To that end, I recommend an organic protein and superfood greens drink, mixed with either water, hemp or coconut milk, part of which should be consumed before the workout and the other, after exercise.  Asking the body to perform strenuous exercise while starved of essential nutrients (many people choose not to eat before exercise) may lead to injury...such as micro-tears in the muscles, ligaments, tendons or joints. 

If you enjoy fish and the wonderful essential fatty acids they provide, it is my suggestion that you eat young fish (making certain that it is wild caught and not farmed), as they haven't the concentration of toxins that a large and older fish, such as tuna, has. 

If you are interested in learning more about mercury, its affects and sources, here is an excellent reference:  http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/